Airport Security: Let’s Profile Muslims

It is refreshing to see a Muslim American propose the utilization of profiling as a methodology to combat domestic terrorism.  One does not have to be a rocket scientist to recognize that the majority of attacks on airliners have been perpetrated by Muslims, some American born, some not.  The article below is by an American Muslim that has been judged an “Uncle Tom” by some in her community.

Airport Security: Let’s Profile Muslims – The Daily Beast.

Ground Zero mosque debate is about common sense, sensitivity to 9/11 vics, not religious freedom

Religious freedom is enshrined in our constitution.  I believe that all may believe what they would believe and should worship as they please.

This being said, however, it is a bad idea to put a Mosque near ground zero. After all, it was Jihadist Islamists that committed the horrendous act of plowing airplanes into the twin towers, destroying them and in the process killing themselves and nearly three thousand others.   To build a mosque on this site would be seen by many in the Arab world as a victory for the terrorists.

To build this mosque is a slap in the face of the victims families.

Let the mosque be built, but not at ground zero.

Ground Zero mosque debate is about common sense, sensitivity to 9/11 vics, not religious freedom.

IMF Survey: Government Borrowing Is Rising Risk to World Financial System

The IMF notes that though the most recent economic crisis has been averted by massive inflows of money from governments across the world, a sovereign debt crisis is currently looming.

Is the house of cards going to fall?  Hold on to your hats, folks.

IMF Survey: Government Borrowing Is Rising Risk to World Financial System.

GOP leaders seek to distance themselves from Michael Steele – TheHill.com

Ahh, to be a great man; to live the life of which others can only dream,  to walk with your head held high,to survey the landscape from your perch of power, and watch the little ones as they scurry to meet your every wish;  to feed your puerile interests with other people’s money, to inflame those around you with your self immolating actions.

There are few lthings in life more destructive to those around you than egoism, and Michael Steele has a severe and deadly case of the same.  It is astonishing to me that the party of  “family values” does not knock the knees out from under this man.   If they wish to do well in November, they would do well to put this behind them and put it behind them quickly.  Michael Steele, hale and farewell!

GOP leaders seek to distance themselves from Michael Steele – TheHill.com.

The ObamaCare Writedowns

The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.

Margaret Thatcher

One of the simplest facts of  life is  “You don’t get something for nothing,” yet  the Democratic congress has assured us that with the new health care bill, we can insure 33 million Americans and not only will it not cost us anything, we  can actually save money in doing so.   Apparently the business sector does not believe this.

Just days after passage of Obamacare, some of the largest companies in the US are taking writedowns on their profit and loss statements.  In other words, they expect this bill to cost them lots of money.

Well, heck, you might say, the big companies make millions, even billions of dollars, right?  Who cares?  You should care.  When AT&T takes a writedown of one billion dollars, that’s a billion dollars they don’t have to invest in research and development, upgrading equipment, or expansion of their business.  That means jobs, baby, and because these companies are suddenly less profitable, they are less highly valued by the investing community, the result being a lower stock price.  If you are lucky enough to have a 401k plan, I hope you’re not holding them.

It has been said that “He governs best, who governs least.”  Our  federal government has lost sight of this.  The Republican form of government exemplified at this nation’s founding with a limited central government and strong states rights has been dying, at least since the end of the Civil War, and we need desperately to resuscitate it.  I believe the chance will come as our economic plight over the next ten years continues to worsen.  The failures of our mismanaged, over-bloated central government will become apparent, even to the most die-hard liberal wacko.

Read the article below, see what the business world thinks of Obamacare.

The ObamaCare Writedowns – WSJ.com.

The Democrats Rejoice

I don’t always agree with David Brooks,  and coming from a man with a viewpoint more liberal than mine,  this piece on the current health-care legislation is very insightful.

Op-Ed Columnist – The Democrats Rejoice – NYTimes.com.

Just Another Step on the Road to Perdition

It’s over…  Obamacare is here.

I give the man credit.  His clinkers are definitely more substantial than I had imagined… I truly believed that he would not risk his presidency on such monumental legislation.  Nor did I believe he had the political will nor power to succeed.   Well I was very, very, very wrong.

When A policeman confronts an armed criminal, when a fireman steps into a burning building, when a president is instrumental in enacting such legislation, there are risks involved.  I do not believe that the American citizenry wanted this bill.  Mid-term elections will tell the tale.  If republicans win big in November, Obama might be served up as a lame duck… just in time for thanksgiving.

News Analysis – Obama’s Health Care Victory Carries a Cost – NYTimes.com.

Politics Cannot Be Fixed

1913 was a watershed year for the United States of America.  Since 1813,  we had seen tremendous economic and social gain.  The average worker in the USA was living at a level that was simply inconceivable a mere 100 years before.  America was a beacon of freedom and possibilities for the entire world.  Life was good for most Americans, and there was hope always,  for a better future, but the ills were there, and well meaning folks of all stripes came to believe that government might be the vehicle to cure these ills.

Enter the progressive party.  Formed by Teddy Roosevelt in 1912, the wheels were set in motion for a line of  Presidents and political ideology that championed the use of government as a well meaning vehicle to effect social and economic change.  To do this, however requires money, and in 1913 the income tax was born, and the Federal Reserve Bank was created.  With the income tax, a revenue stream was created, and with the Federal Reserve Bank, and their ability to “provide liquidity” to the masters of a burgeoning economic powerhouse, the wheels were set in motion for a continued growth of government over the next century.

This article suggests that as government has grown, and has become more and more an arbiter in society of which businesses succeed and which businesses fail, so has grown special interest politics.  It also implies that political polarization is a natural outgrowth of  Big Government.

An interesting article from the Mises Institute, and a worthy read.

Politics Cannot Be Fixed – D.W. MacKenzie – Mises Institute.

Six Reasons Barack Obama is Still the Odds-on Favorite in 2012 — Politics Daily

Our nation has always been polarized… even in the era of “Good Feelings”, conflict over the institution of slavery was in its nascent beginnings, but times were good…  In good economic times, serious political issues can be swept under the rug…  I mean, everybody’s happy and well fed, right?

Today, the Tea Parties are the head of the boil that lies just under the surface of America’s skin.  The boil, I believe, is created by the proflgacies of the Republicrats in Washington, DC, by their inability to control the debt that has not only led to our current economic crisis, but threatens the the very economic, political, and social solvency of this nation

I don’t believe that President Obama is the man to lance that boil, yet neither do I see a republican contender with the hair or the principles to lance it either.

This article suggests that we may see Obama for another four years.  I hope not.

Six Reasons Barack Obama is Still the Odds-on Favorite in 2012 — Politics Daily.

It’s Not About Political Parties. It’s About Liberty by Michael Boldin

Many Americans believe that the constitution is a living document, that it changes with the times, or at least does its interpretation.  When this happens, tyrrany is just around the corner.

If you doubt this, consider the the supreme court case discussed briefly in this article,  Wickard vs. Filburn.

“During the Great Depression, while millions of people were out of work or starving, the FDR administration required American farmers to restrict production of wheat in order to raise prices.

As a farmer, Roscoe Filburn was told he could plant a little over 10 acres of wheat, which he did grow and sell on the market. He also decided that it was in his best interest – possibly because he had less revenue due to the production limitations – to plant another 10 or so acres. But, the “excess” wheat grown was used at home to feed his livestock, among other things. He never sold it, so he saw this as being outside the scope of Congressional power to regulate “interstate commerce.”

What did the federal government do? The expected – they ordered Roscoe to destroy his crops and pay a fine. Think about that for a moment and you’ll really understand the evil of having too much power in too few hands. At a time when large numbers of people were starving, these thugs in government forced people to reduce production for the sake of raising prices. From this, it seems clear to me that corporate bailouts have been going on a long, long time in America.

Roscoe sued, and the case went all the way to the Supreme Court. In Wickard v Filburn, the Court ruled against him and the result was that the Federal Government assumed a power that was new in the history of this country. It now had the power to control the growing and consuming of something that never left one’s back yard.

Now this from the most esteemed and highest court in the land.  What can one say to this except WTF?

Read this article.  Recognize that the federal government is not our friend.

It’s Not About Political Parties. It’s About Liberty by Michael Boldin.