Envision Liberty
 
Read Ayn Rand's classic story "Anthem" free!
http://www.epubbooks.com/book/541/anthem
In Anthem, Rand examines a frightening future in which individuals have no name, no independence, and no values.  Of course it's nothing like today's world.  We still have names!  Equality 7-2521 wants to control his own destiny, not be told what to do, believe, or think by the all powerful government.  Radical thought!  Find out what happens to this thought criminal!
I use ePub Reader for Firefox https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/45281
but you could use Stanza http://www.lexcycle.com/desktop
or Bookworm http://bookworm.oreilly.com/
or perhaps MobiPocket Reader http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/ProductDetailsReader.asp

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This is one of my favorite Christmas carols.  I love the strong melody and the march-like feel to the piece.... however, the lyrics are more than a little confusing.

"God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy"

Ok, if God is truly resting,  I don't know about you, but I will be full of dismay!!  I mean, how can Christ save us from Satan's power if he's resting???  I am neither merry, comforted, OR full of joy thinking about God resting.   

Anyway... a year ago my father gave us a little essay about this particular song which brought me BOTH comfort and joy. 

Turns out the meaning of certain words have changed over time.  For instance, the word "rest" used to mean "make" and the word "merry" actually meant "mighty."  So what sounded like God resting on His eternal laurels in our time of strife actually really meant, "God make ye mighty, gentlemen!"  Now that makes sense!!!

And so I want to wish everyone a mighty Christmas, for it IS Christ that makes us mighty and while Satan may have power to lead us astray, it is Christ's power to Save!

Mighty Christmas, everyone!!!
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I, admittedly,  have a "man-crush" on Milton Friedman.  I love his clarity of thought.  This clip includes Friedman and a young, whiny, Michael Moore (some things never change). 

There are some priceless moments here, so, enjoy!
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*** Ghostblogger ***
Last time I wrote on one of the stories highlighting Republican "gaffes" that really was not a mistake at all.  This time I want to expand on another from Yahoo! News:
"Church, State, and the First Amendment: What O'Donnell and Coons Need to Know"
This one revolved around Christine O'Donnell challenging her opponent to tell her where "separation of church and state" appear in the Constitution.

Of course, the words do NOT appear in the Constitution.  You can tell by watching the video that is exactly what she meant, and that the crowd understands this.  The (edited) video, with the unbiased title, appears here:

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*** Ghostblogger ***

As the 2010 election grows near, I notice more and more political stories popping up between celebrity gossip and lifestyle advice on  Yahoo! news and other internet "news" sites.

These mostly revolve around perceived Republican "gaffes", since we all know Democrats never really make mistakes or fabricate.  If a Democrat "misspeaks", the VAST majority of the time it is simply shrugged off.  Republican mistakes are clung to like lifelines.   Hell, I still find people quoting Ronald Reagan as saying "Facts are stupid things" 20 years or so later.  Never mind that it was part of a speech where he used "facts are stubborn things" as a refrain several times before the slip, and IMMEDIATELY corrected himself.

Two stories that caught my attention were:
"GOP Candidate Stephen Broden" Violent Overthrow 'On the Table' if no GOP Takeover in November", and
"Church, State, and the First Amendment: What O'Donnell and Coons Need to Know"

The first story is about a GOP candidate making the shocking statement that the founders provided a constitutional means of changing the government, but if that fails, then revolution is an option.  Of course, the reporter is appalled that in this enlightened age, anyone would consider overthrowing an oppressive and abusive government.  Not a surprise to me, since it seems that every thug dictator from Castro to Kim Jong-Il to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gets a pass.
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I think most people, even conservatives, fall into the trap of “proper” government regulation versus “liberal” government regulation.  I hope that my ideas are clear and maybe I can persuade you that these ideas make sense and are correct. 

While I am not an economist, I have worked in financial services for over a decade and I have, I think, a modicum of common sense that I try to infuse into the arguments economists make.  

I realize that this may be an unrealistic idea in today’s political climate, but it seems to me that while regulation enforcing transparency and disclosure in the financial markets are VITAL to a vibrant and open market, any regulation that regulates actual financial instruments hurts consumers and inventiveness in the market.

Here is my over-riding principle (dare I say “generalization”  :) )for any and all government policies.  The only governing factor in any economy that works every time is self-preservation.

Here is an example.  Many often use Canada as an example of a country which has weathered our economic  storm due to their rules and regulation regarding banks lending in mortgage loans.  Some of these rules include the inability for individuals to purchase homes without putting any money down.  Of course the implication is America should have the same sort of regulations.  I whole-heartedly disagree with that conclusion.  While it is true Canada seems to be doing better right now, there is a significant price for this sort of government interference that shouldn’t be overlooked.  

 By “protecting” consumers and home values, Canada has also stymied entrepreneurship and new inventiveness in a dynamic market.    Let’s say a private bank (or individual) discovers that people with an 800 credit score and $200,000 in a bank will pay back home loans 99.9995% of the time, even if the borrower puts no money down.   Shouldn’t this entrepreneur have the option to start a business offering zero down loans to people with 800 credit scores and $200,000 in the bank?  Under Canada’s system he would not be allowed to start such a business.  

Now, let us assume that this person is wrong.  It turns out that people with an 800 credit score and $200,000 in a bank only pay back their loans 30% of the time.  Ouch!  What happens?  This company declares bankruptcy and each of those loans are sold to another company at a major discount who is willing to take the risk of collecting on these loans.  The next time a bank or company wants to start a new “no money down” loan, they can look at this example and tweak it to make it less risky, or decide not to do it at all.  The market worked naturally without some law or rule or government official making a draconian regulation. 

Of course this only works in an environment where everyone is free to fail.  Destructive capitalism is the key to ALL growth!  Which brings me to the other side of the coin (which is rarely talked about).  This downturn CAN have a major upside that can set the stage for another 20 years of economic growth.  Despite the “help” from our Federal Government, the tide of the market is driving home prices lower and lower.  If we were talking about oil, we would be SO happy about this, while oil companies made less and less money.  But because we have an economic horse in this race (i.e. our home) we scream to the heavens (or our local representative) to DO SOMETHING to artificially keep home prices inflated.  This has, in effect, caused more foreclosures and slowed any sort of recovery to zero!  Why?  Because it has not solved the real problem of putting these loans into hands of individuals who can more effectively and efficiently service these loans.  Until natural prices come down to a point that smart individuals are willing to take that risk, no recovery can happen.  It would be like moving the moon to control the tides.

I use terms like “tides” purposefully.  I believe that most people believe that the economy is like a computer and if we just punch in the right code or have the right programmer, we can fix any mess we find ourselves in.  I think this idea is both wrong and limiting.  If one thinks that an economy is like a computer, then the conclusion that a central figure (a-la the President or Alan Greenspan) can “fix” the economy or we can experience continued growth forever.  The economy isn’t broken even as the tide isn’t broken when it heads out to sea.  Our problem is we are arrogant enough to think we can keep the economic  tide from going out through regulation, but eventually this great power will overcome all these restraints and a tsunami will hit because we didn’t allow the natural and gentle ebbs and flows occur. The idea of the economy as a computer is limiting because it also assumes that an economy can only grow within the controlled environment of humans.   I think economies are more like nature.  As powerful as a volcano or the tides.  We cannot control these great powers, but if we can understand them we can use natural law to harness them. 

So my question is this.  Are customers better served with an “iron fist” (no matter how soft the velvet covering it is) holding back the “invisible hand” of individual entrepreneurship and free markets?  Obviously, I don’t think so and this is the Trojan Horse of the government.  Once government can convince the majority of people (which they have) that they can “fix” the tides of the economy they are in our lives forever.  Hence the Road to Serfdom has begun.

-Think men, think!
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Many of you may have heard this on Mark Levin's radio show.  I, personally saw it on www.therightscoop.com . A website I highly recommend. 

Ronald Reagan was called "The Great Communicator."  His response to this title was "... it's because I communicated great things." And nobody did it so well. 

This is why speeches he gave as far back as 45 years ago his ideas are still applicable today.  If Obama and Reagan debated I don't think Reagan would say much different.  It is the principles that matter.  It is the principles and the ideas that made this country great and if we don't pass these principles on to our children, personal, individual freedom will be driven off the face of this earth.

One last point I must make.  There are no new arguments.  The agents of "change and hope" have played by the same playbook since the beginning of time.  Universal healthcare, education, unions, so called "positive government rights."  These are ideas that go back at least to the French Revolution.

There will always be a small group of people who will try to dominate the majority in the name of the "common good," security and peace.  They think they are smarter than we are.  They think everything should be micromanaged and controlled to create a "new man."  A "better world." They may be called Pharisees, Kings, Emperors, King-men, Nazi's, Communists, Democrats, Homeowner Associations, etc.  But their institutions eventually crumble to ash.  Why?  In my opinion it is because these institutions supplant our God-given moral agency for the servitude to the loud and obnoxious few. 

-Think men, think.
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Warning: This video contains graphic material:
We in the west, and especially in America wish to keep our heads in the sand regarding the evil that is in our world.  We wish to see the best in everybody.  Because our culture has been so infused by Judeo-Christianity, we think every culture, past and present, here or abroad, hold the same values as we do.  Even if we aren't Christian or Jewish we, in our heart of hearts, believe everyone should recieve a fair trial, be allowed to live and worship as they please, or even rise above their current status and live a life of abundance.

Due to the fact our culture is so egalitarian in nautre, we also believe so much drivel like "all paths lead to heaven," or "all religions worship the same god, but call him (it) by different names."

All of these are very dangerous assumptions.  The fact is these classical liberal values are so incredibly rare in history and even in the world today.  These values go against human nature in every way.  We want freedom for ourselves, but we wish to dominate others.  We want to have abundance for ourselves, but we are jealous and hope the worst for someone who has actually achieved abundance.  We want the right to a free and open trial for ourselves, but human nature seems to demand revenge for wrongs against us.  (Two eyes for an eye.)

There is ultimately only one thing that keeps the natural man in check and that is true religion.  True religion doesn't "feel good."  True religion doesn't "demand justice."  True relgion gives each of us the tools to individually overcome the natural man.  This is what makes a great and lasting society of free men and women abundantly living their lives in peace.  Recognizing our faults thereby giving us the ability to forgive others for theirs.

False religion, on the other hand, props up the natural man.  It encourages the domination of others in the name of false "gods."  It hopes to suspend liberty and force others to obey its satanic idols.   It leads to despair and poverty where ever it is tried.

So my point.  Allah is NOT the God of the Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Allah is NOT the God of the New Testament or the New Word.  Allah is a dead god just like Baal and a dead god is no god.

In my opinion, Muslims are better than their own "god."  Most are relatively kind, gentle, and peaceful.  Hmmm- a "god" who's followers are better than it.

-Think men, think!
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I like some of the new bands out there.  Muse.  The Mars Volta.  Closure in Moscow.  Three.  These all have fantastic musicians and write great songs.  But none of these combine great musicianship with transending lyrics like Rush. 

For example.  How did I first learn to look beyond the obvious consequences and try to see the unseen consequences for decisions?  The Trees.  (I can't tell you how often I used these particular lyrics in some High School English class assignment. : ) )
What re-enforced the ideas of individual liberty and the destructive power of bad government?  2112.  (This concept album also introduce me to Ayn Rand's "Anthem" before I ever read it.)
Red Barchetta is about how an opressive regeme cannot keep the spirit of individual liberty down. (Notice how beautiful this song is.  The end of the song actually sounds like a car motor cooling down.  It is BRILLIANT!!)
How does a kid learn to take time to stop and enjoy and appreciate the journey?  With songs like  Time Stand Still.
Will someone point me in the direction of a modern band who enjoys musical clarity like this?  Most bands try to confuse through either incomprehensible lyrics or incomprehensible music.  And the popular stuff is just cotton candy for the brain.
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