Letter to the editor of the Daily Beacon, 11.09.09

I am not sure if this letter ever appeared in the U. of Tennessee student newspaper.  If it did, I missed it.
I am writing in response to Amien Essif’s November 9 column, “Media miss drama of demonstration”.  In it, he distinguishes the political environments of Europe from ours in the United States, and his distinction [...]

Letter to the editor, 10.27.09

My following letter to the Daily Beacon, the U. of Tennessee’s student newspaper, appeared on October 27, 2009.
For an exemplary misunderstanding of economics, freedom, and human action, refer to Amien Essif’s October 19 column, “Resisting self-interest an act of freedom”.
 In order to understand the human world, we must first recognize that each and every person [...]

Debunking the “beauty of the two-party system” myth

“Government is a beast” – Thomas Paine
I copy the following from a conversation I had with a Democratic friend, because I think his is one of the most common arguments in favor of the status quo, and I think it is faulty.   My friend said,
“The compromise of Democracy or Republicanism or whatever you want to [...]

The Second Amendment’s wisdom

Weapons, in the hands of a free people, are a general danger to none but tyrants and criminals. The leader who would ban private ownership of arms considers the citizens enemies, and himself above the law. To attempt such a measure without properly amending the sacred contract upon which our government is founded, is a [...]

AIG spells nationalization of entire insurance industry

With billions of government handouts, AIG is able to offer peerless premiums. In a free market, offering such low premiums would be corporate suicide. But AIG is not a free market participant. It has government backing. Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner have, on numerous occasions, voiced their intent to do whatever is necessary to keep AIG from folding. In this context, risks that would normally bankrupt the company do not restrict its behavior, because its liquidity flows from a seemingly bottomless barrel, the purse of the citizenry. Losses from these risks will continue to be subsidized, and those subsidies will encourage more risks, and bring on more losses.

Religious freedom: a confined policy

Freedom of religion is an established right in the United States; the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees it to every person.  In the U.S., no person may be discriminated against on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.  Equal opportunity is among our most cherished tenets; it is the product of much national [...]

Emerson cherished gold standard, limited government

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writing is popular among progressives, who often share his criticisms of materialism, simony, and intolerance.  When I began reading his complete works, I wrongly expected to see “progressive” economic and political views; I did not.  I was surprised to learn that, regarding the size and scope of government, Emerson is at odds [...]

Who are the true patriots?

“Complacency and fear drive our legislation without any serious objection by our elected leaders.  Sadly though, those few who do object to the self-evident trend away from personal liberty and empire building overseas are portrayed as unpatriotic and uncaring.
Though welfare and socialism always fail, opponents of them are said to lack compassion.  Though opposition to [...]

No liquidity problems for Lawson campaign

While every other entity in America is crying about its inability to access cash, BJ Lawson’s Congressional campaign just received a huge injection of liquidity.  Lawson, who is running for a U.S. House seat in North Carolina’s 4th district, raised over $150,000 from thousands of donors on Tuesday alone.
Many citizens across the nation feel betrayed [...]

If we the people leave, do they the rulers win?

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” – Ron Paul
The long-term economic outlook for this country is so grim–and this is well-researched and almost universally accepted–that I can hardly see myself sticking around to endure it. A free and great industrial republic has become a credit-addicted empire, propped up today not by human [...]