IPFS Menckens Ghost

More About: Philosophy: Libertarianism

Issues of the day as seen by a crackpot libertarian

By Mencken’s Ghost

Libertarianism is my political philosophy.  That means I’m a crackpot.

It’s not that libertarianism is a bad philosophy--in theory.  Actually, if the USA had subscribed to it, slavery and Jim Crow wouldn’t have happened, the welfare state wouldn’t have been needed, deep boom and bust cycles wouldn’t keep occurring, we wouldn’t be expending lives and treasure in fighting al Qaeda in some parts of the Middle East while supporting them in other parts, the government wouldn’t have huge deficits and debt, and Americans would be wealthier and better educated 

For libertarianism to work, however, humans would have to stop sticking their noses in other people’s business, stop trying to remake the world into their image, stop injecting their religious beliefs into politics, and stop wanting special privileges and money from the government at the expense of their neighbors.  

Only a crackpot would think that humans are ever going to stop this.  They wouldn’t be human if they stopped it.  It’s like expecting chimpanzees to stop behaving like monkeys and to put on a Shakespearean play.  Ain’t going to happen.

Still, the one benefit of being a libertarian crackpot is the ability to see the nuttiness of Democrats and Republicans and liberals and conservatives.

Consider the following nuttiness:

Arch-conservative Sean Hannity blames President Obama for the home ownership rate falling in the country, as if the decades of distortions and malinvestments in the housing market caused by Democrats and Republicans were the president’s fault.   Unable to see his own intellectual contradictions, Hannity preaches small government out of one side of his mouth while insinuating out of the other side that the government should do something to increase home ownership.  Worse, Hannity apparently thinks that more people should own homes, a belief that helped to create the housing bubble in the first place and that tied people to homes they couldn’t afford and restricted their ability to move to other locales to find work. Democrats embrace Keynesian economics and call for more government stimulus to end the recession.  But whatever one might think of Keynesian economics, the theory doesn’t cover a situation like the current recession, where the government and consumers were already deep in debt before the recession began.  Republicans castigate Obama and other Democrats for spending a gazillion dollars on various economic stimuli and for bailing out GM, although such spending began at the end of the Bush administration.  Do they really believe that if Romney had succeeded Bush, he wouldn’t have done the same as Obama? Republicans say that ObamaCare will cost a gazillion dollars and that they have a better plan, a plan that they never reveal.  The real cost of ObamaCare is the net difference between the cost of medical care now and what it will cost under ObamaCare (not counting the loss of liberty).  Yet Republicans keep citing the gross number, as if medical costs will go from zero to a gazillion.  (Note:  I spent considerable time and personal wealth fighting the nationalization of medical care long before Obama came on the national scene, so don’t mistake this as an endorsement of ObamaCare.) Both Democrat and Republican politicians blather about their ability to create jobs, as if they have some kind of magical foo-foo dust that will create jobs by simply adding water.  Neither party will admit that economic growth will be stunted for years due to the deleveraging that will be required after the massive accumulation of personal and public debt, following decades of easy consumer credit and deficit spending, thanks to the policies of both parties and their partner in economic folly, the Federal Reserve.  Liberals get into lather about the history of Mormon polygamy and try to tag Romney with it.  At the same time, they embrace welfare policies that encourage women to have children by multiple de facto husbands, at great physical, mental and financial harm to themselves and their children. Liberals also go apoplectic over the mention of the Koch brothers, who run legitimate businesses.  But they love George Soros, a Wall Street tycoon who made a gazillion arbitraging exchange rates.  At the same time they rail against Wall Street.  

I could go on for pages and volumes, but you get the point:  I’m a crackpot and

you’re probably a nut. 

_________________

Mencken’s Ghost is the nom de plume of an Arizona writer who can be reached at ccan2@aol.com.

3 Comments in Response to

Comment by Anon Patriot
Entered on:
Advice from a Physician: How to Avoid Obamacare http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2012/08/advice-from-physician-how-to-avoid.html

Quote:

"Here's Dr. Dotson's prescription for dealing with your health in the era of Obamacare:


Avoid contact with the existing health care system as far as possible. Yes, emergencies arise that require the help of physicians, but by and large one can learn to care for one’s own minor issues. Though it is flawed, the internet has been an information leveler for the masses and permits each person to be his or her own physician to a large degree. Take advantage of it! Educate yourself about your own body and learn to fuel and maintain it as you would an expensive auto or a pet poodle. One does not need a medical degree to:

1. avoid excessive use of tobacco or alcohol or, for that matter, caffeine;
2. avoid poisons like fluoride, aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, and addictive drugs (legal or illicit);
3. avoid unnecessary and potentially lethal imaging studies (TSA’s radiation pornbooths, excessive mammography, repetitive CT scans – exposure to all significantly increases cancer risk);
4. avoid excessive cell phone use and exposure to other forms of EMR pollution where possible (the NSA is recording everything you say and text anyway);
5. avoid daily fast food use and abuse (remember: pink slime and silicone) ;
6. avoid untested GM foods (do you really want to become “Roundup Ready?”):
7. avoid most vaccinations and pharmaceutical agents promoted by the establishment;
8. avoid risky behaviors (and, we do not need a bunch of Nanny State bureaucrats to define and police these);
9. exercise moderately;
10. get plenty of sleep;
11. drink plenty of good quality water (buy a decent water filter to remove fluoride, chloride, and heavy metals);
12. wear protective gear at work and play where appropriate (helmets, eye-shields, knee and elbow pads, etc.):
13. seek out locally-grown, whole, organic foods and support your local food producers;
14. take appropriate nutritional supplements (multi-vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3);
15. switch off the TV and the mainstream media it represents;
16. educate yourself while you can;

And, lastly…

17. QUESTION AUTHORITY!" [End Quote]

 

Comment by Anon Patriot
Entered on:

This is mainly for anyone relatively new to “alternative” (you know, REAL) news, but also a reminder to everyone of actual SOLUTIONS to our common (government-created) problems. Remember, our STRENGTH IS IN OUR NUMBERS. Vox populi = Vox Dei. Imagine if everyone did the following: (I fully realize, that time may be way too short, to fully implement ALL of these solutions, however, what if we still have two years, before the proverbial SHTF?  People have to start somewhere!)

SOLUTIONS – What we can do – YES, WE CAN! – to save our world

1) Turn off, or throw away your T.V. (IDIOT-BOX)
2) Get out, and/or stay out, of DEBT!
3) USE CASH, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
4) Avoid using credit or debit cards as much as possible
5) Bank at a small, local bank or credit union
6) VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS!
7) Read the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
8) BUY PRODUCTS MADE IN AMERICA – Support American workers
9) Invest in precious metals, like silver and gold
10) Buy ORGANIC food!
11) Start your own garden! Using non-GMO seeds!
12) Pray/meditate – REDUCE YOUR STRESS!
13) Get exercise!
14) Read a book! You know, an actual book!
15) OPEN YOUR MIND! EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN MUSCLE!
16) Listen to soothing classical, ambient, jazz or alternative music, that you thoroughly enjoy
17) Speak out on critical issues – contact your Representatives – take action!

Below is advice from John Perkins’ book, entitled THE SECRET HISTORY
OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE (The Truth About Economic Hit Men, Jackals, And
How To Change The World), pp. 322-329:

Quote:

“AVOID SHOPPING AS ‘RETAIL THERAPY’ (Instead, jog, meditate, read, or find some other solution).

SHOP CONSCIOUSLY – if there is something you must have, purchase items
whose packaging, ingredients, and methods of production are sustainable
and support life.

MAKE EVERYTHING YOU OWN LAST AS LONG AS POSSIBLE

PURCHASE AT CONSIGNMENT AND THRIFT STORES – where everything is recycled.

Write letters telling Monsanto, De Beers, Exxon-Mobil, Adidas, Ford, GE, Coca-Cola, WAL-MART, and other labor exploiters and environment-destroyers why you refuse to purchase from them. (Or, just don’t buy from them! Skip the letters!)

CUT BACK ON OIL AND GAS CONSUMPTION!

DOWNSIZE (your car, home, wardrobe) – everything in your life (and don’t buy what you don’t need)

SUPPORT/SEND MONEY only to non-profits, radio stations, and other organizations that promote JUST causes.

VOLUNTEER your time and energy to such organizations.

SUPPORT LOCAL MERCHANTS (Especially stores which sell organically-grown food)!

ENCOURAGE stores to buy from local growers, producers, and suppliers.

AVOID DRINKING WATER THAT IS FLUORIDATED (only your toothpaste should have non-industrial fluoride)

INSIST that those who use your money – banks, pensions, mutual funds,
companies – make socially and environmentally responsible investments.”
(End Quote)

RESEARCH EVERY COMPANY WHOSE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES YOU BUY!

RESEARCH EVERY ORGANIZATION TO WHICH YOU DONATE YOUR HARD~EARNED MONEY!

VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS!

Watch FREEDOM TO FASCISM, a film by Aaron Russo; Also – ENDGAME, and TERRORSTORM, two films by Alex Jones

EXPAND THIS LIST AND SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

 

Comment by Anon Patriot
Entered on:

The 8 MOST important issues facing us today 1) Gov't Gun Grab, 2) the 'FED', 3) GMO's, 4) Israeli wars (in which AMERICANS fight and die), 5) Obamacare, 6) Potential economic collapse or other man-made, or natural disasters, & 'FEMA' Camps, 7) DHS/TSA/NSA/FBI/CIA - (ever notice how all these gov't agencies have precisely 3 letters?), along with ABC/CBS/NBC/CNN/FOX,
& 8) Preparedness - are you prepared? 


#1 - They went door-to-door, right after H. Katrina, and confiscated guns.
#2 - END THE 'FED'! (House Vote on Audit the 'Fed', will be July 24th, 2012)
#3 - Eat organic.
#4 - No more wars for Israel
#5 - Obamacare? Repeal it!
#6 - 'FEMA' camps? Don't go!
#7 - Wall St. is our gov't. Can you say LIBOR? Our 'Representatives' represent Wall St. Wall St. owns the Media.
#8 - No time like the present.


We, the People – HAVE THE POWER. WE SIMPLY NEED TO ‘TAKE IT BACK’, meaning, become more, and more self-reliant, and expect NOTHING from the government, or anyone else. THIS IS THE ANSWER.

From the 'comments' section, at http://www.activistpost.com/2012/06/19-reasons-to-start-preparing-for.html

"The Central Bankers WANT a 'global' economic collapse, particularly in the 'EU', and eventually [possibly as early as Aug/Sept, 2012] in the U.S. Why? So, that they can step in with their PRE-PLANNED "SOLUTION": A ONE-WORLD CURRENCY, UNDER THEIR CONTROL. They may even try to back this international currency with GOLD, since Central Bankers own MOST of the above-ground, investment-grade gold - all of this, allowing them to remain in control, as we move from one monetary/currency system, to the next. REMEMBER THIS: THE CENTRAL BANKERS WANT A GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE. For that reason ALONE, people should be SERIOUSLY anticipating that IT WILL BE A REALITY, in the not-too-distant future, POSSIBLY within a few months from now, or at the end of 2012, at the earliest. PREPARE NOW: 1) WATER filtration/purification system, 2) FOOD storage, to get you through 6 months to 1 year, 3) SEEDS, non-gmo, non-hybrid, 4) EXTRA MEDICINE(S), ASPIRIN, multi-vitamins, etc., 5) EXTRA PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS, 6) DURABLE CLOTHING, especially work boots, pants, shirts (buy Made in USA), 7) PMs, SILVER & a little gold BULLION (coins, rounds, bars), 8) Barter items - alcohol, liquor, cigarettes, chocolate, and any other items that may become highly sought-after, during a total economic shutdown - where even trucks aren't routinely delivering food, or supplies to local stores. DO THE ABOVE, AT A MINIMUM - and, you'll be in MUCH better shape, than the masses of un-informed Americans, who actually believe we are in a 'recovery', right now! It's been 4 years, since the 'downturn' of 2008 - AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED! Imagine what A GLOBAL DEPRESSION would be like!

Addendum: Oh – and the new currency (the global currency) will probably arrive in credit-card form. With a micro-chip embedded in it. They could turn off the chip whenever they want.

Preparedness:
1) http://www.mypatriotsupply.com/Big_Berkey_Water_Filter_Purifier_p/z_berkey_big.htm
2) a) ttp://www.mypatriotsupply.com/Customizable_eFoods_Survival_Food_Packages_p/zz_3mo_custom.htm (CUSTOMIZABLE!)
b) http://www.naturalnews.com/032331_storable_organics_preparedness.html
c) http://www.weber.com/explore/grills/portable-charcoal-series/smokey-joe-silver-2 (this can be used ANYWHERE!)
d) http://www.stovetec.net/us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=157&Itemid=690 (utilizes almost ANY fuel source)
e) http://www.mypatriotsupply.com/Fire_Starting_s/51.htm
f) http://amazinggrass.com/category/13/Green-SuperFood-Energy-Bars.html
http://www.gomacro.com/site/our_food/
3) http://www.mypatriotsupply.com/Heritage_Heirloom_Vegetable_Seeds_s/43.htm
4) http://www.carlsonlabs.com/p-228-fish-oil-multi.aspx
http://amazinggrass.com/category/16/Green-SuperFood.html
5) In addition to extra shampoo, antibacterial soap, and the like, think about how you would SHOWER, for instance, with no running water:http://www.mypatriotsupply.com/Solar_Heated_Emergency_Shower_p/z_camp_shower.htm & about another thing: http://safetycentral.com/porun.html
6) I did a little searching around online - there's a lot of quality stuff, that is still made in the USA

Master List Of Goods Still Made In The USA
http://www.reactual.com/home-and-garden/cheatsheet-list-amercianmade-products.html

20 Highly Rated Home Goods Made In The U.S.A.
http://www.reactual.com/home-and-garden/kitchen-products-2/50-americanmade-tools-home.html

Made in USA
http://www.allseasonsuniforms.com/USA.htm#pant
http://www.allseasonsuniforms.com/ea04a.htm
http://www.allseasonsuniforms.com/ke03b.htm
http://www.backcountry.com/keen-nopo-lace-shoe-mens?rr=t&cmp_id=&rrType=ClickCP&rrProd=KEN0617
7) http://www.providentmetals.com/2012-1-oz-american-silver-eagle-bullion-coin.html (buy as many as you can safely store)

8) there are so many possibilities that fall under this category - think about necessary things - typically machined, or man-made, that would be practically impossible to come by, if grocery and other stores such as hardware stores had empty shelves for an extended period of time. Like BLEACH!, and DUCT TAPE: http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/mens-workshop/quick-fix/96825.aspx and a saw, to cut wood for the cookstove: http://www.wisementrading.com/knifeandsaw/saws.htm Also, think about important, necessary food items - SALT - would definitely fall into this category. Other items might include organic olive oil, for cooking, organic maple syrup, for pancakes, organic honey, etc.
9) END THE 'FED'! Contact your Senator(s) on S.202, if you haven't already!
10) Remember - always look for the Made in U.S.A. label! (I found this to be quite easily done, with organic food products, but more difficult with clothes.)
11) MAKE YOUR OWN LIST, of things you'd definitely need, in an economic 1930's-style-depression (I've merely enumerated the basic necessities, but haven't included EVERY item - or every item Made in the U.S. And, not every individual has the exact same needs. So, why not think of it, as an ADVENTURE - a learning process. And, make YOUR OWN LIST!)


Home Grown Food