Desktop Playground

To Restore A Nation - 4 Key Principles

2010-03-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

Independent Ralph Nader, Green Cynthia McKinney, Constitution Party’s Chuck Baldwin and Ron Paul agreed on the following four key principles:

Foreign Policy: The Iraq War must end as quickly as possible with removal of all our soldiers from the region. We must initiate the return of our soldiers from around the world, including Korea, Japan, Europe and the entire Middle East. We must cease the war propaganda, threats of a blockade and plans for attacks on Iran, nor should we re-ignite the cold war with Russia over Georgia. We must be willing to talk to all countries and offer friendship and trade and travel to all who are willing. We must take off the table the threat of a nuclear first strike against all nations.

Privacy: We must protect the privacy and civil liberties of all persons under US jurisdiction. We must repeal or radically change the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the FISA legislation. We must reject the notion and practice of torture, eliminations of habeas corpus, secret tribunals, and secret prisons. We must deny immunity for corporations that spy willingly on the people for the benefit of the government. We must reject the unitary presidency, the illegal use of signing statements and excessive use of executive orders.

The National Debt: We believe that there should be no increase in the national debt. The burden of debt placed on the next generation is unjust and already threatening our economy and the value of our dollar. We must pay our bills as we go along and not unfairly place this burden on a future generation.

The Federal Reserve: We seek a thorough investigation, evaluation and audit of the Federal Reserve System and its cozy relationships with the banking, corporate, and other financial institutions. The arbitrary power to create money and credit out of thin air behind closed doors for the benefit of commercial interests must be ended. There should be no taxpayer bailouts of corporations and no corporate subsidies. Corporations should be aggressively prosecuted for their crimes and frauds.

The Establishment Strikes Again.

2010-02-15T11:43:00.000-08:00

TIME mag arrived - Jeffrey Sachs claims that in order to tame the deficit the federal gov't needs to further micromanage the local economies/gov'ts. It is predictable, and unfortunately it's how the Ruling Parties "compromise", as it's merely the next logical step for aspiring statists. Privacy? Freedom? That's so passe... "WE" know how to rule in this day and age & "WE" were just waiting for the right "crisis".

Sound money in America: A solution

2009-10-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

"The #1 goal of monetary reform ought to be to get the government out of the money and banking business."

~ Gary North

What is Money? Part 9: Monetary Reform

http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north774.html

Albert Jay Nock - Class Analysis

2009-08-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

lewrockwell.com link
Our Enemy, The State

"If we look beneath the surface of our public affairs, we can discern one fundamental fact, namely: a great redistribution of power between society and the State. This is the fact that interests the student of civilization. He has only a secondary or derived interest in matters like price-fixing, wage-fixing, inflation, political banking, 'agricultural adjustment,' and similar items of State policy that fill the pages of newspapers and the mouths of publicists and politicians. All these can be run up under one head. They have an immediate and temporary importance, and for this reason they monopolize public attention, but they all come to the same thing; which is, an increase of State power and a corresponding decrease of social power."

Prof. Gates? Victim of Racism?

2009-07-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

i still place this incident under police abuse. the evidence of racism isn't known to be the case (as of yet), and even if it was, police abuse and the misuse of power/authority would still remain.

it's totally false to claim that only black people are harassed by the police. but whatever. for those fighting racism i can't stand in their way if they feel the need to fight the good fight in that respect. racism is stupid, and, all in all, this issue is merely a subset of the statist-collectivist mindset.

UPDATE:
A couple links: Police Brutality Blog, Liberty & Power Blog

The best piece yet on this story of injustice.

War and Praxeology w/ Scott Horton and Roderick Long

2009-07-24T01:10:00.000-07:00

Little Alex in Wonderland Radio @ Blogtalkradio

It’s long. 2 hours. Scott for the first half. Song. Then Long to finish.

Good stuff. Highly recommended.

Scott Horton’s blog TheStressBlog

Roderick Long’s blog austro-athenian empire

US-Israeli Relations under fire?

2009-06-05T06:44:00.000-07:00

The USS Liberty survivors are big on getting the truth out about what actually happened that otherwise beautiful day in June 1967.

[Rep. Devin Nunes] said, “The government has kept this quiet I think for too long, and I felt as my constituent [Navy Seaman Terry Halbardier] needed to get recognized for the services he made to his country.”

..When USS Liberty Captain McGonagle received his award, the White House .. was all booked up, it seems, and President Johnson .. was unavailable.

..Is it too much to hope that the example set by Nunes may embolden other lawmakers to right the wrongs done to their Liberty-veteran constituents .. to chip away at what’s left of the cover-up?

The Israelis know that Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mullen knows that the attack on the Liberty was deliberate...Olmert might mount some kind of provocation involving Iran. Perhaps President Obama should send Adm. Mullen back to Israel.

Radio interview here: Ray McGovern was a CIA analyst for 27 years, from the John F. Kennedy administration to that of George H. W. Bush.

Our 11th President:

..nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.
..Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.
The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop..
..It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.

Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences....There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion, which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.

George Washington's Farewell Address 1796

NewRepublicans.net not so "new"

2009-06-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

below is my response [awaiting moderation] to their post "Is America Safer?"

come on people, shed the tough guy attitude and get a clue.

torture is not okay. it does not “make us safer”. there are many ways of obtaining information. if you think “intimidating dogs” and women’s underwear is torture then you don’t have a clue. and waterboarding, which is torture, is only one technique.

i would recommend The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days
http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=10405&SectionName=

i would also recommend Torturing the Rule of Law
http://lewrockwell.com/paul/paul530.html

Still tortured by what I saw in Iraq - Matthew Alexander
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/28/AR2008112802242.html

and hear him on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsXl46C_NSU

and does anyone want to talk about the IRF: Immediate Reaction Force? or General Taguba?

america will be safe so long as the rule of law is upheld. in the meantime, secrecy and the prolongation of carrying out any justice, and not ending these illegal “wars” will continue to be mounted as evidence against this nation.

In addition - a few articles of relevance to Taguba

Scahill's piece on "Extrajudicial Terror Squads"

"Torture is illegal!" - Jesse Ventura on the View. He turns any serious conversation into entertainment whilst making good arguments.

Twitter, IATP, and the congenial? Twilitary

2009-06-04T15:11:00.000-07:00

How well do you know IATP, the Internet Access and Training Program?

from wikipedia:

a network of Internet access sites... thousands of individuals per month receive free-of-charge ..[plus].. a wide variety of computer-related training programs.

...In the 11 countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

IATP began in the mid 1990s - aimed at providing .. access and training .. to scholars from Eurasia who had participated in US [gov't] exchange programs. -IATP gradually began to provide Internet access and training to other non-alumni groups such as journalists, lawyers, NGO representatives, and students...

Well that's interesting - considering "Moldova's Twitter Revolution":

"the protesters used their generation’s tools, gathering the crowd by enlisting text-messaging, Facebook and Twitter"....young people have looked to the West [for] economic stability and have defied Mr. Voronin’s government"

And the latest news? It's official! There is a US sponsored Afghanistan (Mili) Twitter-tary in the works:

US troops in Afghanistan can now keep in better contact with their loved ones. The military is launching a Facebook page, Twitter feeds and a YouTube site. Their plan is that it will counter the Taliban, who often publish propaganda on the Internet. ...

And we all know the latest major front in the GWOT is cyberterrorism. Yeah, I'd say things are well on track.

J-Street and AntiwarRadio link-up

2009-06-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

From antiwar.com/radio:

Isaac Luria, Campaigns Director for J Street, discusses his organization’s attempt to represent the majority opinion of American Jews on Israel policy, Obama’s limited time to leverage his political capital and push for a 2-state solution, why a second Israel lobby is good news for progressive U.S. politicians and how evenhanded U.S. diplomacy lessens the influence of radicals in Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas.

Also see: Haaretz's: U.S. Jews split over Obama's Israel remarks in Cairo speech

"President Barack Obama, in his major speech in Cairo this morning, struck a balanced tone with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that's what was wrong with this speech," said Director Matthew Brooks, Republican Jewish Coalition Executive. "American policy should not be balanced - it should side with those who fight terror, not those who either engage in it or are too weak to prevent it."

Dovish pro-peace lobby J Street applauded the address, in which Obama reaffirmed U.S. commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called on Israel to halt settlement building.

"The President was clear. Palestinians must renounce violence and accept Israel's existence, Israel must stop settlement activity and end the humiliation of the Palestinian people that comes with their occupation, and the broader Arab world must step up to a more constructive role as well," said Jeremy Ben-Ami, J-Street Executive Director

Free Keene » Trial Scheduled for Sam: 6/15, 1:30pm ET

2009-06-04T15:04:00.001-07:00

Sam Dodson receives a trial date after 2 months of unlawful detention in Keene, NH

Ch. 9: The Austrian School: Capital-Based Macroeconomics

2009-06-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

Roger Garrison explains why a recession is necessary, i.e., a "correction" - As opposed to the keynesian gov'ts buzz-word, "crisis":

"As boom turns to bust, much .. unemployment is associated with liquidations in the early stages of production. Too much capital and labor have been committed to new ventures. The liquidations release these factors of production, most of which can be reabsorbed .. not instantaneously .. elsewhere in the structure of production...

Under the most favorable conditions, the bust could be followed by a recovery in which the structural maladjustments induced by the credit expansion are corrected by the ordinary market forces. But because of the economywide nature of the intertemporal disequilibrium, the negative income effect of the unemployment may initially propel the economy deeper into depression... the downturn is likely to be all the more severe if the general operation of markets is countered by macroeconomic policies aimed at preventing liquidation and at reigniting the boom."

AIG: An Unfortunate Scapegoat

2009-03-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

From yaliberty.org
The media cycle these past few days has been a massive distraction from the much greater problem — the $11.6 trillion in bailouts the US government has committed in the past year.

When you do the math, $218 million is 1 / 53,000th of the total money committed in the bailouts. The bonuses are .000019% of the total cost. What about the other 99.99998%?!!

AIG could give out the same bonuses every day for the next 145 years and still not reach the total amount of money the US government has given away in one year.

....There were 138 million taxpayers in 2007. If these bailouts were distributed equally to every taxpayer in 2007, we would all receive a $84,000 check.

Obama - Economically Illiterate

2009-03-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

Scrambledeggconomics explains with just a few sentences:

The President warned the nation this week to expect continued economic hard times and in the next sentence he asks people not to save. Yet earlier in the week, he advised that it was a good time to invest in the stock market, which first requires people to save in the first place.

The scary thing is that a good number of economists, journalists, and politicians think this all makes perfect sense.

And another thing!...

2009-03-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

Not only is perpetuating this horrible illusion of a collective mandate false and dangerous, as it is the defining characteristic of all tyrants, there is another obvious flaw to expose during this "economic crisis".

There are those who like to say that "we must do something". These folks support this notion with a faulty and misleading rebuttal: "it would be disastrous to do nothing".

What?! Do nothing? I don't even think doing nothing is possible. But let's pretend...

Is opposing something doing nothing? No.
Is having another idea about how to proceed doing nothing? No.

This is obviously a false argument for those who choose to engage in it.
But hey, I didn't bring it up. Though I hear it time and time again.
Stop it!

At least ask some more fruitful, substantial, and sustaining questions:

What is the evidence to show that what I, or others, was doing is wrong?
Where is the guarantee that one way is better than another?
Why should I let anyone take what I earn?
Who is it that should be held responsible for the causes of the crisis?
When will the crisis be over?

The Continuity of Illusion

2009-03-05T09:56:00.000-08:00

If people like Biden understand the Constitution and the founding ideas, I don't understand how they can, in good conscience, take an oath to uphold the Supreme Law of the Land whilst also being a New Democrat/International Socialist.

It's seems obvious to reason that he knows, as do so many of his colleagues, that the continuity of power "they" seek to maintain can only occur if it is masked by the projections of the populace. That is why Obama both claims to have a mandate from "the people" but is also perceived to be a blank slate. Many people feel empowered and represented while the politics of power is simultaneously engaged and revamped.

The difference between "change" and "continuity" is so vast it seems hard to understand how "the public" could be so duped. But the fact is that "the public" is not united, and it never will be. It is divided, and diverse. The unity that Obama seems to desire is not present, it is an illusion. And he uses that illusion effectively.

Ron Paul is in favor of Peace and Defense.

2008-11-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

The American people are not hearing the whole story in the mainstream media. 30 second and 2 minute sound-bites are not sufficient for a real discussion on the issues that the public, and indeed the world, need to hear and be educated about.

Listen to this short interview with Dr Ron Paul on Antiwar Radio. Scott Horton asks Dr Paul about the nature of an American empire and the current financial situation.

Direct MP3 link.

UPDATE: For a nice history of the horrific middle east boondoggle have a listen to Eric Margolis interviewed by Lew Rockwell.
Say No to conflict with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia!!

Foreign Policy Needs to Change. Who will help us?

2008-11-26T11:31:00.000-08:00

Ron Paul and Dwight D. Eisenhower – True Patriots

"Did President Eisenhower envision that the U.S. would have troops stationed in 70% of the world’s countries? According to the Defense Department’s latest "Personnel Strengths" report, the United States now has troops stationed in 147 countries and 10 territories. This is the greatest number of countries that the United States has ever had troops in. Why are we policing the world? What is the point of having 57,000 troops in Germany and 33,000 troops in Japan? Germany and Japan each spend $40 billion per year on their military. Can’t they defend themselves at this point? We defeated them 60 years ago. It is time to leave. This is a prelude to decades of occupation in Iraq. Don’t believe the blather about withdrawal. The military has no intention of withdrawing."

"It appears that the biggest winners of the War on Terror are the CEO’s of the defense contractors. I wonder if they realized how rich they would become as they watched the Twin Towers crumble to the ground. They have virtually tripled their annual income, while the average American scratched out a 20% increase over 6 years. They have managed to generate the tremendous profits and personal wealth while only employing 10% more employees. Boeing and Raytheon were actually able to reduce their workforce. How productive. These contractors will do everything in their power to retain and increase these fabulous profits."

President Eisenhower’s final words are the most chilling. "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist." We did not heed his wisdom. Laurence Vance, author of "What’s Wrong with the U.S. Global Empire?", contends that our foreign policy "is not right, it’s unnatural, it’s very expensive, it’s against the principles of the Founding Fathers, it fosters undesirable activity, it increases hatred of Americans, it perverts the purpose of the military, it increases the size and scope of the government, it makes countries dependent on the presence of the U.S. military, and finally, because the United States is not the world’s policeman." War and non-stop conflict benefit the military industrial complex. It is in their best interest for them to support candidates that favor an aggressive foreign policy. This could lead to Defense companies using their influence to provoke conflict throughout the world.

In conclusion, I again turn to the wisdom of Ron Paul, the only presidential candidate speaking the truth to the American public. In a speech before Congress several months before the Iraq invasion, his words were reminiscent of President Eisenhower’s.

"The basic moral principle underpinning a non-interventionist foreign policy is that of rejecting the initiation of force against others. It is based on non-violence and friendship unless attacked, self-determination, and self-defense while avoiding confrontation, even when we disagree with the way other countries run their affairs. It simply means that we should mind our own business and not be influenced by special interests that have an ax to grind or benefits to gain by controlling our foreign policy. Manipulating our country into conflicts that are none of our business and unrelated to national security provides no benefits to us, while exposing us to great risks financially and militarily."

"If we followed a constitutional policy of non-intervention, we would never have to entertain the aggressive notion of preemptive war based on speculation of what a country might do at some future date. Political pressure by other countries to alter our foreign policy for their benefit would never be a consideration. Commercial interests and our citizens investing overseas could not expect our armies to follow them and protect their profits."

If as a country we continue to allow our politicians and their military industrial complex corporate sponsors to spend $700+ billion per year on weapons, to the detriment of higher education, alternative energy projects, and national infrastructure needs, we will be paying an extremely high price. We are in a classic guns or butter scenario. The Bush Administration has decided to choose guns while borrowing from our grandchildren and the Chinese to pay for the butter. This can work for a while, but as deficits accumulate, the dollar plummets, and inflation rears its ugly head, our great country will decline as other empires who overstepped their bounds declined.

Read the full article here. Complete with charts etc.
Written by Jim Quinn: Senior Director of Strategic Planning, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Neocons: Incommunicado

2008-11-11T10:10:00.001-08:00

Leave it to Christopher Manion to smash the silence that is seemingly an integral aspect in the official neoconservatives strategy on domination.

Scott Horton interviews this son of Clarence Manion, who's no Michael A. Ledeen, and they discuss some history in "conservative" ideology, who 'holds the line' on these ideas, and what the impetus is behind this grouping. This audio primer can lead one to a better understanding of what the reality and hence speculative expectations can be under neocon influences.

Manion: "Neoconservatives will always blame someone else."

Please help fund this peaceful effort.

2008-11-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

If you consider yourself a genuine stalwart in defense of the innocent go now and contribute what you can to this great source of information about who-what-when-where-and-why so much war is sold to the highest bidder and paid for by the unknown.

Why Ron Paul Lost the Nomination

2008-11-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

Peter Schiff is interviewed by people who don't understand their guests positions. [Youtube]

The fact that Peter has been interviewed so frequently in recent times is great and it is testimony to the fact that there is a demand for more and diverse voices on this ever-elusive subject. I completely encourage more discussion and debate on this topic of economics.

[For another angle on the Obama election, etc. check out this Nov 8 2008 radio broadcast]

There are seriously neglected yet valid points of view to be exploited.
And that's what I wanted to criticize....

The questions they ask are fine, and the conversation is never lame, and the point Peter makes is allowed to be heard. But....

If CNBC agreed with his position they would help promote it. Instead, they ask a question, allow Schiff to respond, and then follow up with short injections of obvious non-knowledgeable questions or outright ridiculous remarks. The video contains a few remarks like "I don't disagree with what you're saying [Peter]," "gold has no inherent value [CNBC]," "i love talking to you because sometimes it makes sense [CNBC]

I can only assume that the purpose of airing the interview and Peter's positions is genuine on some level, yet purposefully displayed to lead the viewer. If you tell a lie long enough you start to believe it as they say. Likewise, so long as any notions like that of Peter Schiff are displayed as politically unfeasible, political suicide, irrational, fringe, or misguided, and so long as those ideas that are promoted by most of the mainstream press and other political leaders, which are in obvious and stark contrast to Schiff's ideas, one can expect the general populace, short of thinking for themselves, to continue their blissful march off the edge of a cliff.

So essentially, it is reminiscent of the reaction to Ron Paul's campaign, not only did the Republican Party shut out Ron Paul and make it known that they don't believe what Ron Paul believes, the media was no help and only helped to remove Ron Paul from any spotlight and thereby deprive the voters of a more rounded discussion on the issues. (Not that the major media is ever a good example of educational material)

One can only trust that the viewers can think for themselves on some level and I hope they make it known that the treatment of such reasonable voices has been unjust and undeserving. Peter Schiff and those like him are continuing to gain popularity due to the reality of the situation. As it becomes clearer that their positions are closer to the truth than people may have wanted to admit in the past, interviews such these have become more prevalent and respectful. (Looking at older media on this same material one can see the attitude towards Schiff's positions as undeniably hostile. Ron Paul's Presidential Debate youtube clips are evidence that he was right on target, thought the press at the time either ignored him or downplayed his remarks. Attacking him gained nothing and doing so only served to give Ron Paul more media which is not what any of those in the establishment wanted to see.)

Just as Peter has been given more airtime lately, Paul has also been interviewed as a representative of the millions of people who support and acknowledge the validity of the arguments they put forth. The demand is there, the price will get cheaper and more people will buy in, but the market is being stripped of its power and replaced with red-tape and political monitors. What can we expect in the next election?

Having seen what the Party was like in the primaries this time around, it will be difficult to participate next time around, but if there is another Ron Paul, I may go once again to help gain such a person the nomination.

Economics and a Way in life.

2008-11-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Surely one of Rockwell's finest pieces of work.
LoL...

~ "Google trends records a massive increase in searches for Austrian economics, with the leading city for most such searches being Washington, DC, but extending to all areas of the world." ~ ·Lew Rockwell·
Google Trends

Lectures on current economics.

2008-11-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

Peter Boettke gives a great presentation at the FFF. The first lecture begins with the market, theory, and current interpretations vs history.

The 2 Part gives a good intro to the austrian school of economics.

World News for Nov 2, 2008

2008-11-02T11:52:00.001-08:00

Joan Mariner on Guantonamo. Let's close this monstrosity, but let's do it right.
[Listen to this little known episode in American history of what happens when POWs are left to the political whims of bureaucrats. President of the FFF tells all]

The latest [Nov 2] antiwar.com/radio interview is on the 'legality' of torture. Daphne Eviatar is lawyer and journalist for the Washington Independent.

Robert Dreyfuss gives Scott Horton the low-down on national boundaries, international militarism, and what this means to America, the next President, and ultimately the world. (I might add, the President is not the leader of the US so much as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces which are in permanent deployment, i.e., The emperor of the world.)

"The Future of Libertarianism"

2008-11-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

Justin Raimondo speaks at the Future of Freedom Foundation.
On Kochtopus and the Rothbardians...and who will prevail.
Q & A here (part 6)

Roderick T. Long presents his lecture on Rothbard's Left & Right, 40 Years Later.
Be sure to see Long's: An Anarchist Legal Order, part of the Foundation of Libertarian Ethics series.

A few more images for the times...

2008-11-02T09:08:00.000-08:00

See:

Why Nazism Was Socialism and Why Socialism Is Totalitarian

Solidarity in opposition to occupation

2008-11-02T09:06:00.000-08:00