May 07, 2008
Backwards Illegal Immigration Policy
Arresting illegals trying to leave the United States. That makes sense. Thanks to Manuel Lora for the link.
A Christian View of Armed Warfare
I am pleased to announce that I have just reprinted as a hardbound photocopy as part of my Classic Reprints series, with the permission of the author, the 1969 book that has been out of print for many years, A Christian View of Armed Warfare.
The author is William Paul (no relation to Ron), a retired minister. This 116-page book is a Bible-based, exhaustive study of Christian participation in war. It contains two parts: “New Testament Teaching on Christians Participating in War” and “Common Objections to Christians Not Participating in War.” The author’s purpose is “to present plain teaching from the New Testament concerning a Christian’s relationship to carnal warfare.” This nice anti-war book also includes a Scripture index. See my Classic Reprints page for more information.
Only the Beginning
The government of Vallejo, California, files for bankruptcy, thanks to diminished returns from its tax-thefts to pay its tax-eating police, fire, and other unions. (Via Drudge.)
UPDATE from Tim Wangelin: a list of the 242 public servants publicly serving the tax-payer of Vallejo by making $100,000 or more a year.
UPDATE from Robert Mayer: "Vallejo, California's motto of 'City of Opportunity' couldn't be more appropriate...if you're government bureaucrat, that is. Using the handy online search tool you linked to, I was shocked to discover that this city of a mere 125,000 employs 77 people in the fire department who make over $150K per year! Is this the most fire-prone city on the planet or what?"
Banning it doesn't make it disappear
Time after time the state has tried to destroy a market, and every time the public is shocked that the ban did not "work". Sometimes there is a very noble reason for a ban, such as saving an amazing creature such as the elephant.
There is less ivory consumed in the US since the ivory ban was enacted, but that may be due to increased awareness, not the ban itself. I wonder if efforts to further educate, or to self-promote as selling "elephant-friendly ivory", would be higher without the ban...
New Casualties Predicted in Global Warming
The most recent alarm bells ringing about Global Warming Climate Change may have Entomophobes keeping the lights on longer, taking the long way home, and turning down the thermostats this summer.
I didn't like it when I thought the cute, fuzzy penguins would die, but the mosquitoes are going, too?! How do I speed this process up?
Ron Paul #1 on NYT Bestseller List
Ron's The Revolution: A Manifesto will be #1 on the May 18th New York Times bestseller list, to the cheers of every good libertarian and conservative, and to the snarls of every bad guy. How sweet it is.
Funny Left-Wing Review of The Revolution
An intelligent leftist would have kind words for Ron Paul's book, if only because the man is honest and says sensible and courageous things.
Well, the review I'm linking to is written by a leftist, all right, but....
(Thanks to Jeff Tucker at the Mises blog.)
The American Way...
... of doing evil that good may come.
Here are recently released photos of the obliteration of Hiroshima.
An American Professor in Japan
Writes Mark Sunwall: "I enjoyed your blog message 'Overheard in Tokyo'...and agree that yes, the Alamo approach to American history doesn't always go down well with people who have been nuked, as well it shouldn't. One of my small missions in life is to redress this imbalance to my Japanese students. For example, this morning I introduced the philosophy of American science fiction writer Philip K. Dick to my college juniors and transfer students. His themes:
1) False Realities
2) Human vs. Machine
3) Entropy
4) The Nature of God
5) Social Control
Now do we got culture or what? Well no, I haven't succeeded in setting up an active Mises Circle in Kobe yet, but I'll be damned if my students come out of their talks with me thinking that all Americans are gung ho warmongers on the pattern of 'killer Cain'!"
People Losing Confidence in Fed?
Lew: I don't understand how people could be losing confidence in the fed: isn't it filled with confidence men?
The Desperate Federal Reserve
The following headline puts The Onion to shame: "U.S. Fed Now Accepts Credit Card Debt as Collateral"
The Fed is now expanding that list of asset-backed securities to include collateralized car loans, credit card receivables, and student loans. It's doing so because the lack of demand for bonds backed by those assets has had a real political impact in an election year. Students can't get loans for American universities because investors won't buy bonds issued by the banks who made the loans to the students. No funding, no college.
Now the Fed (and the feds) are looking to guarantee a college education to all by absorbing more debt.
What will they think of next?
Revolution March, July 12
Coming to D.C. for the big event July 12? Have a look here.
Americans Losing Confidence in the Fed
About time, given that the central bank is the engine of inflation, business cycles, war finance, and redistribution to the rich and infamous. (Thanks to Jay Henderson.)
The Thug John Bolton
He is "testing the waters" for neocon murder of Persians. (Thanks to Heidi Wyss)
The Scoop on the Passing of an Entrepreneur
Let's have a 31-cone salute to a great entrepreneur, Irvine Robbins, founder of Baskin-Robbins, who passed away at age 90--having eaten "three or four scoops a day."
