According to a recent article on an Atlantic Media page, Colin Powell recently said that "Americans do want to pay taxes for services. Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less."
I hate to tell you this, Mr. Powell, but you are wrong. Certainly you do not speak for ME. And I am an American, and I used to be a strong Republican.
I do NOT want to pay taxes for services. I not NOT want more government in my life. I want LESS GOVERNMENT.
The reason I have left the Republican Party is because they were all for bigger government, not smaller. The government is way too big already.
I want Smaller Government, Lower Taxes, and More Freedom.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Right to Religion - of OUR Choice...
It always amazes me that many Christians are Republicans.
I understand that perhaps the Republican party "champions" the Religious Right. But the Libertarian actually is the party that stands for religious freedom.
So, while the Republicans are going to support what Christians want FOR NOW, what about if Christianity becomes the minority religion? As long as the majority favors what you want, you can be in charge. But what about when the majority DOESN'T favor what you want? Then, would you not want the freedom to practice whatever religion you chose?
Our Founding Fathers of this country specifically did not want the Church to become involved with the State, or Government. You must remember that the early Americans DID NOT WANT the government to be able to tell them what religion they had to practice. At the time the government of England wanted them to practice a religion that they did not agree with.
So, it is a FREEDOM, and even though you may not be persecuted for your religious choice right now, you need to fight to preserve that freedom. Freedom of Religion. You may practice whatever religion you choose. But you may NOT tell me how to think or what to believe. Just as I can't tell you what to think or how to believe.
We, as Libertarians, are not arguing for YOUR RELIGION, we are arguing for YOUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The government doesn't have any business poking their noses in our FREEDOM. Once they do, you lose the right to choose.
Smaller Government. A good thing.
I understand that perhaps the Republican party "champions" the Religious Right. But the Libertarian actually is the party that stands for religious freedom.
So, while the Republicans are going to support what Christians want FOR NOW, what about if Christianity becomes the minority religion? As long as the majority favors what you want, you can be in charge. But what about when the majority DOESN'T favor what you want? Then, would you not want the freedom to practice whatever religion you chose?
Our Founding Fathers of this country specifically did not want the Church to become involved with the State, or Government. You must remember that the early Americans DID NOT WANT the government to be able to tell them what religion they had to practice. At the time the government of England wanted them to practice a religion that they did not agree with.
So, it is a FREEDOM, and even though you may not be persecuted for your religious choice right now, you need to fight to preserve that freedom. Freedom of Religion. You may practice whatever religion you choose. But you may NOT tell me how to think or what to believe. Just as I can't tell you what to think or how to believe.
We, as Libertarians, are not arguing for YOUR RELIGION, we are arguing for YOUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The government doesn't have any business poking their noses in our FREEDOM. Once they do, you lose the right to choose.
Smaller Government. A good thing.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Moochers in our Lives Today
If you have ever visited this blog before, you will know that I absolutely love the book Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.
In the book, there is one Moocher in particular, James Taggart, president of the Taggart Transcontinental Railroad.
He is a Moocher because even though he is in a position of power, the railroad company is actually run by Dagny Taggart, Vice President of Operations. James is the ultimate Moocher. He won't take a stand on anything, expecting Dagny to make all the decisions. When the decisions work out well, he takes the credit. When he thinks they might turn out badly, he insists that she take the responsibility. When the railroad company starts to lose money, he blames it on everything and everyone but himself. "Economic conditions are terrible," he cries.
In fact, the James Taggart character in the book sounds sooo much like our politians and big company CEOs today that it gives me the creeps to realize that the book was first published in 1957.
How could Ayn Rand have known what these characters would do 52 years ago? Some of the conversations in the book are almost identical to the speeches we are hearing today.
She must have had an idea of where the philosophical trends were headed.
She must have been one smart woman.
In the book, there is one Moocher in particular, James Taggart, president of the Taggart Transcontinental Railroad.
He is a Moocher because even though he is in a position of power, the railroad company is actually run by Dagny Taggart, Vice President of Operations. James is the ultimate Moocher. He won't take a stand on anything, expecting Dagny to make all the decisions. When the decisions work out well, he takes the credit. When he thinks they might turn out badly, he insists that she take the responsibility. When the railroad company starts to lose money, he blames it on everything and everyone but himself. "Economic conditions are terrible," he cries.
In fact, the James Taggart character in the book sounds sooo much like our politians and big company CEOs today that it gives me the creeps to realize that the book was first published in 1957.
How could Ayn Rand have known what these characters would do 52 years ago? Some of the conversations in the book are almost identical to the speeches we are hearing today.
She must have had an idea of where the philosophical trends were headed.
She must have been one smart woman.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
When Obama told Joe the Plumber that we needed to "Spread the Wealth,"
it sounded frighteningly like this quote...
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."
Know who said that?
Karl Marx. And Marxism isn't socialism, it is communism, as stated on the Marxist's own website.
Scary, huh?
This philosophy will only turn us into a Nation of Needers. And then we can only argue over who is the neediest. No one will want to be the man of ability.
it sounded frighteningly like this quote...
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."
Know who said that?
Karl Marx. And Marxism isn't socialism, it is communism, as stated on the Marxist's own website.
Scary, huh?
This philosophy will only turn us into a Nation of Needers. And then we can only argue over who is the neediest. No one will want to be the man of ability.
Monday, May 04, 2009
If you haven't read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, you are missing out on one of the most important books of the 20th Century. And you can buy it from this site for cheap...http://www.aynrandbookstore2.com/
I don't think there is a lower price anywhere for it.
Another great book by Ayn Rand is Why Businessmen Need Philosophy.
If you are a Business Owner and you haven't read these 2 books, you probably don't understand why you feel so bad when you make money. You shouldn't. Not only should you be proud to make money, but you should understand why. This 2nd book will tell you, and help you explain how you feel.
Business Owners are railed against in our society. Everyone thinks that Business Owners who are making profits are evil, and they are not. Without us, our nation probably wouldn't exist, and certainly cannot prosper. But no one stands up for us, and we must begin to stand up for ourselves.
Why are you in business? To make money. You want to please your customers, you say? Why? So that you can make money. You want your business to have a good reputation? Why? To make money. You want to be successful. And what does that mean? To make money.
Is it selfish? Yes. Wonderfully, happily selfish.
I pay my employees as much money as I can. Why? So they will stay with me, be loyal to me, and do a good job, so that I can MAKE MONEY.
I am an honest businessperson. Why? Because that honesty relates to my business relationship with my customers, and they buy more from me. And I make money.
I don't try to cheat my customers. Why? So they will return for my services and I will MAKE MONEY.
Any employee who works for me wants to make money. They don't want to work for the "betterment of their fellow man," heck no. They don't want to work for nothing, they want to EARN MONEY. If my store does not do well, then I will not make money, and they cannot earn money. They want to earn money and be successful for themselves and their families, and when they are successful, so am I. I make money.
Isn't this why our founding father's created this country?
Why would I allow a burglar to enter my home and steal my things? I wouldn't, of course. So why should I sit back while my government steals my hard-earned money?
Hmmmmmm..........
I don't think there is a lower price anywhere for it.
Another great book by Ayn Rand is Why Businessmen Need Philosophy.
If you are a Business Owner and you haven't read these 2 books, you probably don't understand why you feel so bad when you make money. You shouldn't. Not only should you be proud to make money, but you should understand why. This 2nd book will tell you, and help you explain how you feel.
Business Owners are railed against in our society. Everyone thinks that Business Owners who are making profits are evil, and they are not. Without us, our nation probably wouldn't exist, and certainly cannot prosper. But no one stands up for us, and we must begin to stand up for ourselves.
Why are you in business? To make money. You want to please your customers, you say? Why? So that you can make money. You want your business to have a good reputation? Why? To make money. You want to be successful. And what does that mean? To make money.
Is it selfish? Yes. Wonderfully, happily selfish.
I pay my employees as much money as I can. Why? So they will stay with me, be loyal to me, and do a good job, so that I can MAKE MONEY.
I am an honest businessperson. Why? Because that honesty relates to my business relationship with my customers, and they buy more from me. And I make money.
I don't try to cheat my customers. Why? So they will return for my services and I will MAKE MONEY.
Any employee who works for me wants to make money. They don't want to work for the "betterment of their fellow man," heck no. They don't want to work for nothing, they want to EARN MONEY. If my store does not do well, then I will not make money, and they cannot earn money. They want to earn money and be successful for themselves and their families, and when they are successful, so am I. I make money.
Isn't this why our founding father's created this country?
Why would I allow a burglar to enter my home and steal my things? I wouldn't, of course. So why should I sit back while my government steals my hard-earned money?
Hmmmmmm..........
Friday, May 01, 2009
Smaller Government, Lower Taxes, More Freedom
Sounds good, doesn't it? Smaller government, lower taxes, more freedom. In the wake of the Obama presidency and a congress controlled by the insane spending spree democrats, it sounds especially good.
I'm leaning more and more these days to the Libertarian point of view. If you haven't heard much about the Libertarians, you should check them out. You can to to the Libertarian Party website to read more about their views and beliefs.
And, if you haven't read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, you are but a pup in the growth stage of your political philosophy. Ah, but if only I were the Queen of the world. Atlas Shrugged would be on every human being's required reading list.
Atlas Shrugged is the story of what will happen if the thinkers and creators of the world ever decide to NOT participate in the great experiment of socialism. Just dwell on that for a minute. What will happen when there are no rich people to tax for all of your big government desires? What will happen when they decide that they have had enough?
"Ok, so the government is going to start increasing taxes on everything I earn. I've got enough to live comfortably, maybe I oughta quit earning anything, see where THAT leaves them. Let's see them finance health care for an entire country without the wealthy!"
You see, our society CANNOT exist as it does now without the wealthy to support all those big government programs everybody seems so fond of. How long before the wealthy get tired of supporting us?
As bad as I hate Wal-Mart, I know in my heart that the free market is a good thing. I can choose NOT to shop there anytime I want. And I haven't spent a penny there, not for 2 years now. I choose not to shop there, instead choosing to support other companies. For all my complaining, I want people to follow my path and choose to let them rot. But it still will need to be their choice. As an individual in this supposedly free country, I should have the right to do business with whomever I please, any time I want.
The government needs to get out of the picture. Government and economics just don't mix well, and every time the government steps into the economic picture, we end up with a big fiasco. Like Chrysler, for instance. And GM. If the government hadn't been piddling around with the US Auto Industry for the past 30 years or so, insisting on big labor unions having a say in how they run their businesses, insisting that they follow incredible environmental rules, and generally mucking things up, we wouldn't be facing big bail-outs and inevitable bankruptcies right now.
How about the Republicans? They are not where I want our government to go, either. Always poking their collective noses into my bedroom, my religion, my schools, my local and state government, and other people's nations, I can't help but to believe that they have gotten so far off of the right track that they have also become a bad thing. Fiscal responsibility is NOT one of the Republican party's strong points any longer.
Less government. Lower Taxes. More Freedom. Sounds like the Libertarian Party fits the bill for me.
I've heard all the arguments against voting for third party candidates. But I cannot support the big 2 any longer. The left is so far left they want the government to become the ulitmate nanny state and wipe our collective behinds for us. The right is not really right any longer, they want the government to become the ulitmate nanny state and tell us what to think and believe. I find Libertarians smack in the middle, not wanting the government to do anything for us. I like that.
Smaller government, lower taxes, more freedom.
I've been reading about the tea parties and the people who are "Going Galt." Great idea. Here's some great articles and blogs on the subject....
Freedom Works' Rossputin
Why Going John Galt?
Washington Independent
How to "Go Galt"
And here are some other interesting sites about Atlas Shrugged and the heavier philosophy of Objectivism.
The Atlas Society
The Ayn Rand Institute
Objectivism 101
Objectivism.net
Cox and Forkum
Atlas Shrugs 2000
The Intellectual Activist
The Ayn Rand Bookstore - not just Rand books, but other Objectivist topics as well
The Ayn Rand Lexicon
I know, Atlas Shrugged is a long book. But if you read only the abridged version, or the Cliff notes, you are not going to completely begin to understand Objectivism. You can get it on Audible.com, download it to your iPod or iPhone, and listen to it that way. I really enjoyed this even though I had already read the book.
By the way, while I was listening to Atlas Shrugged, I finished my first quilt. Here's a picture...
I'm leaning more and more these days to the Libertarian point of view. If you haven't heard much about the Libertarians, you should check them out. You can to to the Libertarian Party website to read more about their views and beliefs.
And, if you haven't read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, you are but a pup in the growth stage of your political philosophy. Ah, but if only I were the Queen of the world. Atlas Shrugged would be on every human being's required reading list.
Atlas Shrugged is the story of what will happen if the thinkers and creators of the world ever decide to NOT participate in the great experiment of socialism. Just dwell on that for a minute. What will happen when there are no rich people to tax for all of your big government desires? What will happen when they decide that they have had enough?
"Ok, so the government is going to start increasing taxes on everything I earn. I've got enough to live comfortably, maybe I oughta quit earning anything, see where THAT leaves them. Let's see them finance health care for an entire country without the wealthy!"
You see, our society CANNOT exist as it does now without the wealthy to support all those big government programs everybody seems so fond of. How long before the wealthy get tired of supporting us?
As bad as I hate Wal-Mart, I know in my heart that the free market is a good thing. I can choose NOT to shop there anytime I want. And I haven't spent a penny there, not for 2 years now. I choose not to shop there, instead choosing to support other companies. For all my complaining, I want people to follow my path and choose to let them rot. But it still will need to be their choice. As an individual in this supposedly free country, I should have the right to do business with whomever I please, any time I want.
The government needs to get out of the picture. Government and economics just don't mix well, and every time the government steps into the economic picture, we end up with a big fiasco. Like Chrysler, for instance. And GM. If the government hadn't been piddling around with the US Auto Industry for the past 30 years or so, insisting on big labor unions having a say in how they run their businesses, insisting that they follow incredible environmental rules, and generally mucking things up, we wouldn't be facing big bail-outs and inevitable bankruptcies right now.
How about the Republicans? They are not where I want our government to go, either. Always poking their collective noses into my bedroom, my religion, my schools, my local and state government, and other people's nations, I can't help but to believe that they have gotten so far off of the right track that they have also become a bad thing. Fiscal responsibility is NOT one of the Republican party's strong points any longer.
Less government. Lower Taxes. More Freedom. Sounds like the Libertarian Party fits the bill for me.
I've heard all the arguments against voting for third party candidates. But I cannot support the big 2 any longer. The left is so far left they want the government to become the ulitmate nanny state and wipe our collective behinds for us. The right is not really right any longer, they want the government to become the ulitmate nanny state and tell us what to think and believe. I find Libertarians smack in the middle, not wanting the government to do anything for us. I like that.
Smaller government, lower taxes, more freedom.
I've been reading about the tea parties and the people who are "Going Galt." Great idea. Here's some great articles and blogs on the subject....
Freedom Works' Rossputin
Why Going John Galt?
Washington Independent
How to "Go Galt"
And here are some other interesting sites about Atlas Shrugged and the heavier philosophy of Objectivism.
The Atlas Society
The Ayn Rand Institute
Objectivism 101
Objectivism.net
Cox and Forkum
Atlas Shrugs 2000
The Intellectual Activist
The Ayn Rand Bookstore - not just Rand books, but other Objectivist topics as well
The Ayn Rand Lexicon
I know, Atlas Shrugged is a long book. But if you read only the abridged version, or the Cliff notes, you are not going to completely begin to understand Objectivism. You can get it on Audible.com, download it to your iPod or iPhone, and listen to it that way. I really enjoyed this even though I had already read the book.
By the way, while I was listening to Atlas Shrugged, I finished my first quilt. Here's a picture...
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