A timely quote out of the past. Attributable to Margaret Thatcher.
"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."
How very true...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
A Redress of Grievance
Mr. Anthony Dolpies, of the Thomas Jefferson Club, has drafted a Petition for the Redress of Grievance, to be sent to and read by the United States Congress. While I have no hopes of it actually changing anything, if we can get enough concerned citizens to sign the petition perhaps it will at the least serve as a notice of warning to politicians that there are many who are displeased with their reckless abuse of power.
Petition for Redress of Grievance
Please take a few moments to read this eloquently crafted petition patterned after the Declaration of Independence, and if you agree with what is written then sign the petition and pass it on to those you believe would be interested in signing as well.
It seems that an inherent characteristic of libertarians and constitutionalists is cynicism towards the government of today. No doubt this characteristic is caused by the wayward straying of our three branches of government from the principles of individual and economic freedoms upon which our country was founded.
"The stench produced by an abuse of power has befouled every branch of our government"
And it may be a good idea to reread the Declaration of Independence as well, just to remind ourselves of the similarity of situations which they faced and which we face today.
And it may be a good idea to reread the Declaration of Independence as well, just to remind ourselves of the similarity of situations which they faced and which we face today.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Skewed Statistics
It's well known that statistics can be used to prove that which isn't true. The common phrase is 'statistics lie'. However, much like the old computer acronym 'GIGO' (garbage in, garbage out), it's not the statistics that lie so much as it is the people using those statistics to prove what they wish.
It seems sometimes that the world is down on the United States. Even some of those who live here think that we are the great 'evil empire'. The current fashion is to blame the United States for some of the world's ills such as energy use.
The most bandied about statistic is that 'The United States uses 20% of the world's resources (read: energy) with only 5% of the world's population'. On the surface that does indeed seem to make us look like we're energy hogs, using well more than what would be considered a 'fair share', whatever that means, than the rest of the world.
The flaw in that logic is that energy/resource use means nothing if you tie it in relation to population. It's not as if the population of the United States is just sitting around with the lights on while our cars idle in the garage. It would make much more sense to tie energy use to production, since that's mostly for what the energy is being used.
Production is typically measured by what's called GDP, or gross domestic product. For the year 2008, the world's GDP, that is the value of every product or service that the world produced (in so far as it's possible to measure such things) was just under $60.7 Trillion dollars. The GDP of the United States for the same year was just under $14.3 Trillion dollars. (Numbers provided by the International Monetary Fund)
This means that, with 5% of the world's population and using 20% of the world's resources, the United States produced approximately 24% of the world's goods and services. These numbers would indicate that far from using more resources than we should, we're actually more efficient than the rest of the world at producing goods and services.
Of course, this shouldn't come as any big surprise. We've been doing it for more time, and far better than most of the rest of the world. One of the other things these statistics doesn't show is the value of the technological advances the United States provides.
Almost all of the advances in technology in the past 30 years have come from the free market economy of the U.S. and for good reason. We're the ones who don't count the pennies when it comes to making things better. At least, we didn't in the past.
It seems sometimes that the world is down on the United States. Even some of those who live here think that we are the great 'evil empire'. The current fashion is to blame the United States for some of the world's ills such as energy use.
The most bandied about statistic is that 'The United States uses 20% of the world's resources (read: energy) with only 5% of the world's population'. On the surface that does indeed seem to make us look like we're energy hogs, using well more than what would be considered a 'fair share', whatever that means, than the rest of the world.
The flaw in that logic is that energy/resource use means nothing if you tie it in relation to population. It's not as if the population of the United States is just sitting around with the lights on while our cars idle in the garage. It would make much more sense to tie energy use to production, since that's mostly for what the energy is being used.
Production is typically measured by what's called GDP, or gross domestic product. For the year 2008, the world's GDP, that is the value of every product or service that the world produced (in so far as it's possible to measure such things) was just under $60.7 Trillion dollars. The GDP of the United States for the same year was just under $14.3 Trillion dollars. (Numbers provided by the International Monetary Fund)
This means that, with 5% of the world's population and using 20% of the world's resources, the United States produced approximately 24% of the world's goods and services. These numbers would indicate that far from using more resources than we should, we're actually more efficient than the rest of the world at producing goods and services.
Of course, this shouldn't come as any big surprise. We've been doing it for more time, and far better than most of the rest of the world. One of the other things these statistics doesn't show is the value of the technological advances the United States provides.
Almost all of the advances in technology in the past 30 years have come from the free market economy of the U.S. and for good reason. We're the ones who don't count the pennies when it comes to making things better. At least, we didn't in the past.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sweat the Small Stuff
Every civilization has had certain problems. The act of bringing together a large number of people has inherent difficulties regarding how people treat each other and their environment. Such a civilization that desires peace and harmony among its citizens institutes laws governing behaviors which would be a detriment to that harmony. It's not just the big laws that are important. Obviously laws are necessary to protect people from physical harm from others. But it's not the law that plays the biggest part in prevention of crime. The law goes hand in hand with punishment, which can only be enacted after the crime is committed. A law which prohibits assault does not keep the angry person from committing assault. It punishes him after the fact.
That which plays this biggest part in prevention of crime is more fundamental. It is the societal taboo system at work. When society as a whole frowns upon and takes seriously those crimes it considers harmful to itself, societal pressures play a huge part in prevention of those crimes. A person who knows that everyone will think poorly of his actions is less likely to perform a criminal act. When those societal strictures break down, when apathy rears its head and removes those barriers, the pressure to act responsibly is relieved, allowing a greater number of crimes to take place without retribution.
Malcolm Gladwell hits this point quite well in his book, 'The Tipping Point', when he discusses crime and the standard of living in New York City in the 1980's. Mr. Gladwell points out that crime has a certain epidemic quality to it, and much like your chances are increased of getting sick if you don't take care of the little things (washing your hands and bathing regularly, getting enough vitamins daily), when you allow the little crimes to slide without repercussions on the criminals then you run the risk of increasing levels of serious crimes as well.
This can be seen in many places around the United States right now, though we are hardly the only country with these problems. If you wander around any number of cities; Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, etc. you can see the indicators of apathy practically everywhere. On a bright, beautifully sunny day I drove around Stockton, CA for an hour or so. I was looking for interesting architecture to shoot. Instead, I found this:
This is the problem. Not foreclosures, though they certainly contribute. Not unemployment, though that certainly adds to the problem and increases the number of people who feel they have nothing to do. The real problem leapt out at me when I stopped to shoot this scene. Apathy. The lack of concern about the small inconveniences and minor infractions lead to worsening conditions and eventually a society without those bonds which hold the center together.
In spite of advice and admonitions to 'don't sweat the small stuff', therein lies the solution. Sweat the small stuff. Make it go away. Dangerous epidemics are avoided by innoculating the citizenry with a vaccine. The efforts that go into such a widespread solution clearly indicate a desire to keep society as a whole healthy and safe. No less effort should be given to keep people safe from those minor annoyances that diminish the quality of life. Sweat the small stuff. Down with apathy!
Ah, forget it. It's not worth it.
That which plays this biggest part in prevention of crime is more fundamental. It is the societal taboo system at work. When society as a whole frowns upon and takes seriously those crimes it considers harmful to itself, societal pressures play a huge part in prevention of those crimes. A person who knows that everyone will think poorly of his actions is less likely to perform a criminal act. When those societal strictures break down, when apathy rears its head and removes those barriers, the pressure to act responsibly is relieved, allowing a greater number of crimes to take place without retribution.
Malcolm Gladwell hits this point quite well in his book, 'The Tipping Point', when he discusses crime and the standard of living in New York City in the 1980's. Mr. Gladwell points out that crime has a certain epidemic quality to it, and much like your chances are increased of getting sick if you don't take care of the little things (washing your hands and bathing regularly, getting enough vitamins daily), when you allow the little crimes to slide without repercussions on the criminals then you run the risk of increasing levels of serious crimes as well.
This can be seen in many places around the United States right now, though we are hardly the only country with these problems. If you wander around any number of cities; Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, etc. you can see the indicators of apathy practically everywhere. On a bright, beautifully sunny day I drove around Stockton, CA for an hour or so. I was looking for interesting architecture to shoot. Instead, I found this:
This is the problem. Not foreclosures, though they certainly contribute. Not unemployment, though that certainly adds to the problem and increases the number of people who feel they have nothing to do. The real problem leapt out at me when I stopped to shoot this scene. Apathy. The lack of concern about the small inconveniences and minor infractions lead to worsening conditions and eventually a society without those bonds which hold the center together.
In spite of advice and admonitions to 'don't sweat the small stuff', therein lies the solution. Sweat the small stuff. Make it go away. Dangerous epidemics are avoided by innoculating the citizenry with a vaccine. The efforts that go into such a widespread solution clearly indicate a desire to keep society as a whole healthy and safe. No less effort should be given to keep people safe from those minor annoyances that diminish the quality of life. Sweat the small stuff. Down with apathy!
Ah, forget it. It's not worth it.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
D-Day Anniversary
As we pass the 65th anniversary of the Allies' storming of the Normandy beaches I think it fitting that we take a moment to remember not only those brave boys who stepped from their transports into a hail of gunfire but all who would put themselves in harm's way for the principles which make this country great. Bravery in the face of personal loss of liberty is one thing (and a fine thing) but those who would put their lives at risk to preserve the liberty of others are true heroes, which is a word thrown around much too loosely these days.
Omaha Beach in Normandie, France
These small stones were the 'shingles' which troops had to run through to get to the relative safety of the bluffs
There were five beaches the Allies landed on that day. Going from west to east, using their code names, they were Utah and Omaha, where the Americans landed and Gold, Juno and Sword, where the British and Canadians landed. German resistance was much lighter on Juno and Gold beaches. The worst beach for Allied casualties was Omaha beach, whose attacking American soldiers bore the brunt of the roughly 9000 casualties that day.
While the events of June 6th, 1944 are covered extremely well in Cornelius Ryan's book, 'The Longest Day' (later made into a wonderfully done movie of the same name), one thing that must be remembered is the fact that there were still 11 more months of fighting in the European Theatre remaining. As the Allies tried to push south and east farther inland, German resistance was staggering. The city of Caen a short distance from Sword beach was supposed to be taken by the British General Bernard Law Montgomery within 72 hours of D-Day. In fact, it took almost a month before Caen would fall to the Allies, and only after the almost utter destruction of every building in the city. One of the few still standing was the Caen Cathedral.
Caen Cathedral, in the Normadie region of France
After a month of small gains, the Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower decided to re-institute General George S. Patton, giving him command of Third Army and telling him to break through the German lines. Patton's troops (of which my father was one), along with the rest of General Omar Bradley's 12th Army Group, proceeded to do just that. By the end of the war, Patton's Third Army had liberated over 12,000 towns, villages and cities, taken over 1 million German POWs and to ensure the relieval of the 101st Airborne at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, Third Army marched almost 100 miles in the course of two days, going straight into combat on the third day and pushing back the German offensive.
So let's tip our hat to all those who would put their own lives on the line so that others may breathe free air.
Salute!
Omaha Beach in Normandie, FranceThese small stones were the 'shingles' which troops had to run through to get to the relative safety of the bluffs
There were five beaches the Allies landed on that day. Going from west to east, using their code names, they were Utah and Omaha, where the Americans landed and Gold, Juno and Sword, where the British and Canadians landed. German resistance was much lighter on Juno and Gold beaches. The worst beach for Allied casualties was Omaha beach, whose attacking American soldiers bore the brunt of the roughly 9000 casualties that day.
While the events of June 6th, 1944 are covered extremely well in Cornelius Ryan's book, 'The Longest Day' (later made into a wonderfully done movie of the same name), one thing that must be remembered is the fact that there were still 11 more months of fighting in the European Theatre remaining. As the Allies tried to push south and east farther inland, German resistance was staggering. The city of Caen a short distance from Sword beach was supposed to be taken by the British General Bernard Law Montgomery within 72 hours of D-Day. In fact, it took almost a month before Caen would fall to the Allies, and only after the almost utter destruction of every building in the city. One of the few still standing was the Caen Cathedral.
Caen Cathedral, in the Normadie region of FranceAfter a month of small gains, the Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower decided to re-institute General George S. Patton, giving him command of Third Army and telling him to break through the German lines. Patton's troops (of which my father was one), along with the rest of General Omar Bradley's 12th Army Group, proceeded to do just that. By the end of the war, Patton's Third Army had liberated over 12,000 towns, villages and cities, taken over 1 million German POWs and to ensure the relieval of the 101st Airborne at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, Third Army marched almost 100 miles in the course of two days, going straight into combat on the third day and pushing back the German offensive.
So let's tip our hat to all those who would put their own lives on the line so that others may breathe free air.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Too Many Solved Mysteries
When I was a boy of 6 or 7 I got my first book on bigfoot. Within a year I was reading about the Bermuda Triangle and the Loch Ness Monster. Ah, what great days those were. Leonard Nimoy's voice saying what we were 'In Search Of'. The thrill of picturing Sasquatch carrying Albert Ostman to his hidden lair deep in the woods, the wonder at how Flight 19 could just disappear (along with the rescue plane sent to look for them) practically in sight of land. Not knowing if they really did crash (maybe they flew through a time warp!) or where the Titanic was. Not knowing.
It seems clear that the important part about not knowing is that it causes a person's mind to create a probable scenario, an answer that fits the bill. And as children, new in the world and surrounded by mysteries, one seems as plausible as any other. Why couldn't bigfoot exist? How do you know there aren't other dimensions? The child's mind (or at least this child's mind) could believe almost anything if said with enough reverence and awe.
But now look around the world. Bigfoot turned out to be a guy in a monkey suit, Loch Ness was a badly faked photo and a tourist trap and They actually found Flight 19 and the Titantic! Bastards.
I understand the reason why people go searching for the answers to mysteries in life is because they're fascinated by them too. It's the same reason we (collectively) wanted to split the atom. Because we could. But when you take mystery away from a child the world just seems a dull and scary place, with no wonder or amazement to it. It's the mystery which tells the child we don't know everything yet, it's ok not to know some things.
So maybe I was a foolish kid. Maybe even at 10 I knew that those footprints around the earth-moving equipment weren't really from a giant humanoid. Maybe I knew there were no plesiosaurs in a peaty, boggy loch in Scotland. But even at 37 there's one thing I do know. They can't take the Mary Celeste away from me.
It seems clear that the important part about not knowing is that it causes a person's mind to create a probable scenario, an answer that fits the bill. And as children, new in the world and surrounded by mysteries, one seems as plausible as any other. Why couldn't bigfoot exist? How do you know there aren't other dimensions? The child's mind (or at least this child's mind) could believe almost anything if said with enough reverence and awe.
But now look around the world. Bigfoot turned out to be a guy in a monkey suit, Loch Ness was a badly faked photo and a tourist trap and They actually found Flight 19 and the Titantic! Bastards.
I understand the reason why people go searching for the answers to mysteries in life is because they're fascinated by them too. It's the same reason we (collectively) wanted to split the atom. Because we could. But when you take mystery away from a child the world just seems a dull and scary place, with no wonder or amazement to it. It's the mystery which tells the child we don't know everything yet, it's ok not to know some things.
So maybe I was a foolish kid. Maybe even at 10 I knew that those footprints around the earth-moving equipment weren't really from a giant humanoid. Maybe I knew there were no plesiosaurs in a peaty, boggy loch in Scotland. But even at 37 there's one thing I do know. They can't take the Mary Celeste away from me.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Amend That!
I'm convinced that the main reason why the First and Second Amendments have received so much attention for the past several decades is laziness. We, as high schoolers, never really read farther into the Bill of Rights. And it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that these Rights were set down as Rights given to the people by the government.
However, if one reads the entire document it becomes evident that the writers of the Constitution didn't trust government anymore than we should. Each Amendment is written in such a way as to convey the idea that they are not 'Rights bestowed upon the People' but rather inherent rights that the government in no measure may abridge or eliminate. These Articles of Amendment to the U.S. Constitution are not even written 'to the People'. It's clear from their wording that they are written to the government, defining the boundaries of power.
Here's a good example:
However, if one reads the entire document it becomes evident that the writers of the Constitution didn't trust government anymore than we should. Each Amendment is written in such a way as to convey the idea that they are not 'Rights bestowed upon the People' but rather inherent rights that the government in no measure may abridge or eliminate. These Articles of Amendment to the U.S. Constitution are not even written 'to the People'. It's clear from their wording that they are written to the government, defining the boundaries of power.
Here's a good example:
Article Four
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated....."
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated....."
Charters of Freedom
This is something that's important to remember: the Government doesn't decide what 'Rights' we have, we do. And in Article Nine, the Constitution goes one step further;
This is something that's important to remember: the Government doesn't decide what 'Rights' we have, we do. And in Article Nine, the Constitution goes one step further;
Article Nine
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the People.
making sure that the government doesn't try any funny business. Just because the right isn't specifically granted in the Constitution doesn't mean that it doesn't belong to the People.
It's important for U.S. citizens to know what the Constitution says for a number of reasons. Not least of which is that you don't know when you're being taken advantage of if you don't know your rights. But also because it's bad to base your opinions on faulty and inaccurate information.
Just as the old expression 'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it' warns against ignorance of the past, the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution warn against ignorance of the present.
Of course, there's no question which Amendment is my favorite. It's one that wouldn't even have been needed if it weren't for another Amendment. Guess which one and register as a follower on my blog, and you will be entered to win a free 8x10 contact lith print.
Drawing will be closed and held on June 15th. Odds of winning depend upon number of entries. Winner will be the first to identify correctly my favorite Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Being 'First' will be decided by the internet time stamp of your post.
Just as the old expression 'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it' warns against ignorance of the past, the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution warn against ignorance of the present.
Of course, there's no question which Amendment is my favorite. It's one that wouldn't even have been needed if it weren't for another Amendment. Guess which one and register as a follower on my blog, and you will be entered to win a free 8x10 contact lith print.
Drawing will be closed and held on June 15th. Odds of winning depend upon number of entries. Winner will be the first to identify correctly my favorite Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Being 'First' will be decided by the internet time stamp of your post.
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