Minimum Wage

I was reading the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal today when I stumbled across an article titled Grappling Over Minimum Wage Builds as Republicans Disagree. The opening premise of the article is whether Republicans should try to pass an increase in the minimum wage after returning to the hill after Labor Day, or to let the issue pass and risk facing voters in November.

Apparently some Republicans in tough races are chomping at the bit for another chance to raise the minimum raise in order to "deprive democrats of a major campaign talking point." Where are their principles I say? Chris Shays-R Connecticut was quoted as saying, "I think it should be passed under our watch." The usual petty, party politics game in Washington is being played simply to maintain power, much to the dismay of low skilled workers who face potential job loss or work time reductions if such a measure is to pass.

Mr. Shays was also quoted saying, "... it’s not like we're increasing it in a way that would cause unemployment." I wonder how come Mr. Shays doesn't understand that the current minimum wage is causing unemployment. Of-course raising it would only serve to increase the unemployment that it is already causing. This is yet another example of a politician who does not understand simple economics.

This reminds me of the massive prescription drug plan the GOP passed in 2002 that pilfered the pockets of younger workers to line the wallets of the wealthiest group of Americans in our countries history. All the republicans cared about at that time was that they passed it first. Not much has changed.

A possible strategy for the Dems is to wait out the issue until a spending bill comes up that would provide for pay raises for legislators. The author of the article proclaims that the Dems would then be able to slam the Republicans for raising their own pay, while failing to do so for minimum wage earners.

Of-course no one in the mainstream media is going to point out the truth that law makers have no natural, legal authority to intervene in the affairs of private business in the first place.

The Da Vinci Code

Is this stuff for real?

I have been reading this book by Dan Brown called The Da Vinci Code, perhaps you heard of it. I am really enjoying learning about Da Vinci's art and all of the alleged hidden clues he left to tell the world the truth about the Church. I had up until now never heard of the sacred feminine or that Mona Lisa's name came from the fusion of the names of an Egyptian god and goddess of fertility, Amon and Isis which was once written as the pictogram for Lisa- Amon'Lisa.

All of this is new to me and I have not done any research for myself to find out how much of this novel is historically accurate, but I found one of Mr. Brown's premises quite telling. In chapter 55, one of the characters explains what he calls the fundamental irony of Christianity. This irony is said to be that the bible as we know it today was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great. He claims that Constantine simply declared Christianity as Rome’s official state religion to take advantage of Christianity’s growing popularity in order to stop the conflict between the Christians and pagans. Apparently Constantine foresaw Christianity’s rise, and fused it with pagan customs and symbols, which can still be found today, in order to appease and unite the two warring groups. It seems historians ever since have marveled at Constantine’s sales and marketing skills which allowed him to pull this off.

As I have stated, I do not know how much of this story is historically accurate, but it would not surprise me at all if in fact the head of one of the once most powerful governments on Earth altered the customs, symbols, and history of an entire religious movement in order to carry out his vision for Rome.

Help Aaron Russo

We can all do something very simple right now to help get the preview for Aaron's new movie America: Freedom to Fascism in front of more eyes.

Simply go to Veoh where you can watch a 3 minute clip of the movie to help get the viewer rating up. Then register with Veoh so you can give the clip a 5 star rating and also leave a comment about the clip.

All of this only takes a few minutes and for what better cause is there?

I've Been Tagged

One of those blog memes has passed my way due to my getting tagged by Titanium Girl

Four Jobs I’ve Had

K-Mart employee
Freelance Lawn Mower
Albertsons employee
West Teleservices CSR


Four Movies I can Watch Over and Over
The Matrix
V for Vendetta
Office Space
Equilibrium


Four Places I’ve Lived
Tulsa
Broken Arrow
yeah, pretty much just Tulsa

Four TV Shows I love
Greys Anatomy

I don't know if these count:
The O'Reilly Factor
Squawk on the Street
Mad Money

Four highly regarded and recommended TV shows I haven't seen (much of)
huh?

Four places I've vacationed
Utah
Hawaii
Missouri
Florida

Four of my favorite dishes
Salmon Patties
Beer Brats on the grill
salad wraps
hamburgers, (my recipe)

Four sites I visit daily
Lew Rockwell
Morningstar
Myspace
Yahoo

Four places I'd rather be right now:
nowhere

Four new bloggers I'm tagging
Titanium Girl
James Leroy Wilson
VACHE FOLLE

America: From Freedom To Fascism

Everyone needs to check out Aaron Russo's new movie titled "America: From Freedom to Fascism." Learn all about this eye opening project at this website url: http://www.freedomtofascism.com/index.html. Aaron Russo is not like Michael Moore who plays to the Left to increase polarization in America. He presents a truly American call to arms to wake up and take back our stolen liberties. He has already put up 100% of his own money just to make this film, now he needs the help of all those who still care about freedom to support the advertising and promotion of this project in any way you can. Pass this message along to everyone in your address book and tell everyone you know about the movie and website. If you can spare some extra money, then donate to this project. As I have said, Aaron has already put up his own money and given the last two years of his life to make this film, but it will take a lot more money to advertise and actually get the film to open in theatres all across America. Let's help Aaron open his movie this July with a bang all across America. This might be the best opportunity to come along ever to wake America up to the reality of what our government has done to our freedoms over past hundred years.

The Power of Now

I have been reading this interesting book on spiritual enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle titled The Power of Now.

The main premise seems to be that most humans are too caught up in worring about the past and the future. On the future side of things we seem to create this mental projection of different "what if" scenarios thas create fear inside us. We spend too much time dwelling and living in the past that we can do nothing about. According to the author the past and future do not exist, and the only thing that matters is this moment right now. To realize the present and discover Being is the ultimate achievement of true happiness and freedom from all forms of pain and suffering.

The author spends a few moments discussing what he calls psychological time in a section called "The Insanity of Psychological Time" that I thought would be appropriate for this blog.

You will not have any doubt that psychological time is a mental disease if you look at its collective manifestations. They occur, for example, in idealogies such a communism, national socialism, or any nationalism, or rigid religious belief systems, which operate under the implicit belief system that the highest good lies in the future, and that therefore the end justifies the means. The end is an idea, a point in the mind-projected future, when salvation in whatever form - happiness, fulfilment, equality, liberation, and so on - will be attained. Not infrequently, the means of getting there are the enslavement, torture, and murder of people in the present.

For example, it is estimated that as many as fifty million people were murdered to further the cause of communism, to bring about a "better world" in Russia, China, and other countries. This is a chilling example of how belief in a future heaven creates a present hell. Can there be any doubt that psychological time is a serious and dangerous mental illness.

When I bought this book I was not at all looking for material of political nature, but it appears to have found me. Funny how that works.

Myspace.com hate Walmart Group

I have now left two separate posts in the group called "Walmart is the Devil" on Myspace.com, which I have also posted to this blog. It has been over 15 days since my last post, and not a single person has responded to it. I guess these people do not desire to debate the merits of their beliefs, and that is fine, I just thought that my comments would elicit some type of reponse from at least someone in this group. I was wrong.

Walmart Must Ask Someone First

More comments from me in response to the current conversation taking place in the Myspace groupWalmart is the Devil. So far no one has responded to my previous comment in the forum, maybe this one will stir the pudding a little bit.

I agree that Walmart and Sams Club stores are large and zoo like, and I attempt to avoid them as much a possible for those reasons.

But I have a few questions for those who feel the same. Do we not live in a free country anymore? Can a business not purchase land and construct a building in which to sell goods to the local residents of the community in the free market without asking someone first?

Of-course they must ask someone first. Walmart, or Sams Club must ask the person or persons who they wish to purchase the land from (except in cases of local city councils abusing eminent domain) if that person or persons will sell them the land. Then they must ask or attempt to persuade the various individuals of the community to purchase items from their new store in order for them to stay in business. All of these various actions are voluntary on the part of all parties.

No ones natural rights to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness is being infringed upon by any of these aforementioned actions (once again, except in cases of eminent domain abuse on the part of local governments).

So I ask the members of this group, where is the tort? What has Walmart done to you that is worse than such programs as social security, which takes 14 percent of your income and gives it to someone else. When did you consent to this action? If you did not consent, which pretty much covers all of us, then that means this income redistribution program fell upon you by the use of deadly force.

What do I mean by Deadly Force? See what happens if you stop paying your taxes for a while. Eventually the IRS will contact you about the taxes you owe them. If you refuse to cooperate with them, a court date will be set to determine what to do about you not having paid your taxes. If you refuse to show up for court, eventually the guns will come out. Men with guns will come to your home to take away your liberty and pursuit of happiness.

That is called deadly force my friends.

Why can the government do all this without asking someone first? They did not ask me and they did not ask anyone else that I know if they could confiscate 14 cents of every dollar you and I earn to give to someone else.

The Hate Wal-Mart Mentality

I was wandering around Myspace tonight when I discovered an anti-Wal-Mart group. I am not a Wal-Mart shopper and I do not own stock in the company, but the hate Wal-Mart venom was so staunch that I had to post a reply. Most of the people speaking their minds about Wal-Mart were young, and I just wish that they would find someting much more noble to speak out against. Perhaps something that actually has the power to use deadly force to accomplish its' goals. My response was as follows:

Even though so many of you all seem to hate Wal-Mart so much, I find it odd that it sounds like some of you frequent the place more than I do - which is not very much. Almost everyone here seems to be forgetting a vitally important concept. In America we still have a slightly quasi-free market capitalistic society, and it is the consumers (read: you, me, and everyone else) who get to decide if companies such as Wal-Mart live or die. If you have such a problem with them, then I have the perfect solution for you - don't shop there. If you disagree with anything they are doing, you have the ultimate power to decide for yourself that you will give them absolutely no economic support.

It would be really wonderful if all of this hate Wal-Mart venom could be redirected at putting a stop to something much more painful and unjust to the American consumer. I'm talking mainly about the 15 cents that is taken from every dollar you earn before you even realize it is gone. I am talking about the ponzi scheme being pulled on us by our government otherwise known as Social Security. None of us has a choice to peaceably abstain from participating in this draconian program, and all of us know that it will not be there for us when we reach that sacred age of eligibility - what is the age this year 65 or have they raised it to 67 yet. How can it be right for the government to confiscate 15 cents from every dollar you earn as part of a retirement program, and not even be required to pass that money on to your next of kin should you die before you reach a certain age? Any company competing in the free market could not survive running a retirement program such as the government's social insecurity scheme, but we let the government get away with it.

Why?

I can't wait to find out why all of the "hate Wal-Mart" people give the government a pass on its' tyrannical activities, but torch Wal-Malt everyday.

Rising Gas Prices

As the prices at the pump continue to rise, the people seem willing only to point their fingers at those greedy oil companies, rather than the government that has created the problem and then exacerbated it with outrageously high taxes on the product. How can Exxon Mobil justify such high gas prices, all the while paying CEO Lee Raymond a $400 million retirement package? Tom Doggett of Reuters called this action a "shamefull display of greed." But is it shameful for a successful and profitable company operating in a quasi-free market to reward its’ CEO for a job well done? Most people do not realize that the profits collected on a gallon of gasoline are actually lower than the tax collected by the government on that same gallon of gasoline. And now the politicians are playing on the ignorance of the American people by calling for a “windfall profit tax” on the oil companies to off set these rising gas prices. It is too bad that corporations do not pay taxes; they pass them on to consumers via higher prices. So how does this help the situation?

The focus of anger towards the oil companies at the problem of rising gas prices has been wholeheartedly misdirected by the people. When reporters like Doggett along with many other members of the media, and both Republican and Democrat politicians speak out against the oil companies as the root of the problem they fan the flames of an anti-capitalist, anti-free market mentality. They are doing the U.S. a great disservice with their rhetoric.

People should realize that it has been the government’s environmental policies that have created this problem, not the oil companies. Mandates set forth that have not allowed a new refinery to be built in the last thirty years have stifled competition in this industry. Regulations that require so many different blends of gasoline depending on the region the gas is sold in also contribute to higher costs associated with producing and distributing the product. Since only certain blends can be sold in certain areas, shortages are created – thus we pay higher prices.

Environmentalists have blocked oil drilling in Alaska for many years now. Floridians do not want U.S. oil companies to be able to drill for oil of the coast of Florida because they are afraid there might be an oil spill of some kind so close to their homes. Many people are probably unaware of the fact that Fidel Castro has signed agreements with Spain, Canada, and China to explore offshore drilling northeast and northwest of Havana just about 50 miles from Key West. I wonder how the Floridians feel now. They have blocked U.S. companies from exploration of this area due to fears of oil spills, but U.S. oil companies are much better equipped to safely drill for oil than China and Spain.

Now I support protecting our environment, but there has to be a way to do it without creating virtual monopolies and oil shortages as unintended consequences. World wide oil demand has increased to a point that these reckless environmental policies are going to create a gasoline price disaster. Something must be done, or better yet undone, to allow for more competition, and easier production and distribution of gasoline.

But perhaps the vilest aspect of this whole debate lies in the hidden truth about the secret taxes paid on a gallon of gasoline. I say secret because this is the one product consumers purchase that they are largely unaware of the tax rate they are paying. Why is this so? The federal government takes 18.4 cents of every gallon of gas sold and the states take an average of 27.5 cents per gallon. This is taken from consumers at the pump before they even realize that it is gone much like the federal withholding tax from their paychecks. It just so happens that the average profit made on a gallon of gasoline by the companies that produce the gas is only about 8 cents per gallon. And then these same companies pay taxes on those profits.

It is time for the American people to wake up and understand what is really going on here. We need to hold our government accountable for its’ unjust actions that have put us in this position, not the oil companies who are only responding to market forces and unjust government policies.

Martha Stewart

I know this is old news, but I was assigned a paper on this topic so I decided to put my preliminary thoughts here.

I was thinking about the Martha Stewart conviction tonight as a result of an assignment in my Business Law II class. The assignment requires the reading of several newspaper articles about the development and analysis of the trial, followed by several articles on business ethics. After having read the articles I am supposed to write my own analysis on business ethics as it relates to the Stewart case. The Prof. said that students may cite other articles if necessary. So I decided that perhaps I should cite one article I remember from Reason Magazine a year or so ago titled “Why Martha Stewart Should Go to Heaven and the SEC Should Go to Hell.” I think the title of that article alone might be enough to receive a grade of F on the assignment.

Before I even went back to reread that article from Reason for more information, I have written down my general thoughts on this case from over a year ago. I will use this assignment as an opportunity to argue that the government was the guiltiest party of ethics violations in prosecuting Stewart for allegedly lying about the reasons she dumped her stock in Imclone.

In the government’s never ending quest to punish people for crimes in which there is no victim, it created hundreds if not thousands of victims by calling out the dogs on Martha Stewart. How many stock holders of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia as well as stockholders of K-Mart lost large percentages of their investments when those stocks tanked after news of the government’s prosecution and subsequent conviction of Stewart broke? A verdict based on the government’s contention that Stewart lied to federal agents about her reasons for selling her stock in Imclone.

Which action was the greater evil?

V For Vendetta

I finally saw V For Vendetta last night. It was one of the best works of anti-state expressions Hollywood has produced in quite some time.

The hero V was not only a bad ass knife thrower and combat expert, but he was also quite the intellectual. One of my favorite lines from the movie came when V, played by Hugo Weaving, was explaining to Evey, played by Natalie Portman, the reasons for his mission to take the current government down. He spoke to her in terms of Newton's Third Law - for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This was in reference to the physical and emotional scars the state had left on him and many others. He was merely the eventuality of such a tyrannical state that would rise up to lead a revolution.

I also enjoyed the references to “America’s war”, and the destruction that it had caused so many other people of the world. Of-course this movie being set some twenty years in the future, America had erupted into some kind of civil war. There was some mention of the war in Iraq, and the subsequent wars in several other Mid-Eastern countries that happened later on.

The opening scene takes place on the streets of Britain, and depicts Evey, being harassed by state thugs for being out after curfew. It is at this point that the audience is introduced to the hero V, who saves day. I know this movie was based on a graphic novel written in the 1980’s, but the opening scene really reminded me of the opening scene in Vin Suprynowicz’s novel, The Black Arrow. Now I know where Vin got his inspiration for his great tale of resistance.

I highly recommend readers check out The Black Arrow, as it is a similar tale of a revolution in the USA.

That Does It!

I have got to break my streak of avoiding movie theaters for, I think about 19 months now, and go see this great anti-state masterpiece everyone keeps talking up. That movie would be V For Vendetta.

I told myself I was going to see it last weekend, but I foolishly destroyed several parts of my lawn mower, don't ask, costing me several hours of otherwise productive time and the unecessary use of certain choice swear words while attemping to fix the damn thing. I think this weekend is shaping up to be a little lighter on the work load, so I will once again put V For Vendetta on the weekend agenda.

Guantanamo Bay

I was listening to Rusty Humphries today on my commute from work to school. He was talking about his recent visit to Guantanamo Bay where he interviewed a high ranking Army official about conditions there. Rusty's main point that he kept driving was about how much the mainstream media skews the picture of what is really happening at Gitmo. He kept telling the army officer that he wanted to see all the areas of the base including any secret rooms that might be there. At one point he asked the man if there were any secret rooms at gitmo, and of-course the man replied that there were not. He then asked if there were any "beatin' rooms" at the base, and if so he wanted to see them. I thought this was hilarious. I could just imagine the officer taking Rusty into a room at the base where large banner hangs on the wall displaying the words "beating room."

I am not alleging that there are definetely beating rooms at that base, however I do not discount the possibility that such secret rooms do exist. I just thought it was funny that Humphries was trying to prove to the listeners that said rooms do not exist based soley on the fact that his tour allowed him unfettered access to any room he wished.

I think the main point that we should be concerned about was not whether or not there are beating rooms, but that the people being held there are so held without being charged with a particular crime. For the U.S. Government to simply name someone an enemy combatant in the war on terror and hold them at Guantamano Bay indefinetely is not only unconstitutional, it is a blatant abuse of power. Our government needs to be held to account for its' actions, including those actions that violate the Constitution, the Two Laws, and basic human rights.

The Presidential Veto

I was driving to work this morning listening to President Bush defend his policies on the radio on everything from Iraq to his lack of the use of the veto. My ears perked up when he mentioned the criticism from many conservatives on the veto.

Mr. Bush gave as his excuse for never having vetoed a single spending bill passed on to him from congress the fact that under current law, the president does not have the ability to use a line item veto. He actually said that many times he agrees with the size of the pie, but he just does not agree with the slices. So he is basically saying that he only has disagreed with the types of pork barrel projects contained within past appropriations bills, not that total amounts of the bills. This proves from his own mouth that he cares nothing about limited government conservatism.

Of-course he espoused the usual rhetoric about his tax cuts, and the great things they have done so all of the uneducated Republicans in the audience will feel good about having voted for him. He failed to mention that with his out of control spending habits his tax cuts mean nonthing, because we will still have to pay for all of these new government ventures through inflation.

I'm thinking about buying the book Getting America Right by Edward J. Feulner and Doug Wilson, which measures the performance of Washington politicians based on true libertarian, conservative values.

Happy St. Patricks Day

It is friday and I don't have anything particularly intelligent to say today so I thought I would take this time to wish everyone a happy St. Patrick's Day. Today is one of my favorite days of the year, perhaps second only to Independence day, and the best part about this year is that St. Patty's day has fallen on a friday.

I hope any of you who plan on celebrating this evening have a safe and exciting time. Cheers!

Senator Bill Frist

I just finished watching a Neil Cavuto interview of Senate majority leader Bill Frist on the current state of government. Neil began to take the senator to task by stating that the republicans have been spending like drunkin' sailors for several years now. Senator Frist responded like the typical poltician by rattling off excuses such as the war on terror. Of-course Neil failed to call him on the fact that non-defense spending is up at the highest levels since WWII.

The comment that Senator Frist made wich angered me the most had to do with his final comments on the "rebublican way." He actually had the gall to mention that the republicans were for limited government. I just about lost it when he said that. How much longer is their charade going to continue?

We have witnessed the largest growth in the size and scope of the federal government since World War II over the last six years under a Republican Congress and Executive branch, and Mr. Frist pulls out the limited government card. In the words of Senator Zell Miller, "I wish we lived in a time when you could challenge someone to a duel."

Shame on you Senator Frist.

Libertarian Reform Caucus

I was reading my April, 2006 edition of Reason magazine when I stumbled upon an advertisement for somehting called the Libertarian Reform Caucus. Its' stated goal is to put together a new platform for the Libertarian Party to make the party more inclusive so that it may grow faster, which would allow the party to have more clout now rather than later. The caucus asserts that the current platform is too radical for some folks who might join if the party simply made a few changes.

After having visited the caucus's website, it seems that one of their main goals is to work on changing the party's pledge. They have ten proposals, each one a rewritten version of the pledge that members may vote for or against.

The site looks nice and seems to have a sizeable amount of information, but I just kept wondering to myself while I was sifting through the pages if these people are wasting their time.

My gut feeling tells me that most democrats, republicans, and independents who do not join the LP, choose not to join based mostly on other reasons that have nothing to do with the pledge or most of the platform. I believe that most democrats and republicans could not even tell you what their own respective party's platforms state.

The people who do not join the LP do so for the same reasons that consumers continue to shop at the same grocery store week after week, or purchase auto insurance from the same agent year after year. They do not believe that their lives have been affected enough by any external factors that would motivate them to exert the effort to make such a change, much less advocate for others to change. I believe the only solution to this problem is to wake these people up with a little history about the gradual decline of personal and economic liberty in this country. The movement is still in desperate need of people who will spread the ideas of liberty to others.

One point the group makes that I believe to be a good thing is the bottom up theory. This theory is based on the idea that unknown candidates who get involved in local politics have an easier chance of being elected, and therefore an area that can have a more immediate impact on our local lives.

I am not quite sure if this effort is going anywhere, but if is succeeds in bringing large numbers of people into the party, then best of luck to it. I just hope that they do not end up de-radicalizing the party so much that it no longer adheres to the founding principles.

Online Freedom of Speech Act

James Wilson of Independent Country has made me aware of the House of Representatives upcoming vote on a very crucial piece of legislation. It is called the Online Freedom of Speech Act, and it will seriously affect our blogging lives.

It seems that the Federal Election Commission is under court order to impose campaign finance regulations on the internet. That means that political expression on blogs, webpages, and even possibly emails would be regulated for content. Of-course the mainstream media would be exempt from these regulations.

We need to urge our representatives in congress to support and pass this bill if our freedom of speech is to continue unabated from government in this country.

Visit this page at DownsizeDC.org to contact your congress person to urge their support of this bill.

The Evil Quiz

I am apparently a little bit more evil than James Wilson of Independent Country.

You Are 34% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well. In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?