Light of Liberty

Protect Liberty First And Always

2012-01-17T20:02:00.001-08:00

Jesus, The Hope For Peace

2012-01-15T10:05:00.001-08:00

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Cicero or Ron Paul?

2011-12-21T10:57:00.001-08:00

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest [great empire] become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

Quote from: Cicero, 55 BC
great empire: Rome

Thanks to Barry Ritholtz Big Picture blog twitter: @ritholtz

2011-09-30T11:37:00.001-07:00

AJM (ajmcafe) on Twitter
He lives...when not working

Stayed Tuned For MarketPunk Insights

2011-09-30T10:37:00.001-07:00

Hello earthlings (aka occupiers). My friend, LoL, has gladly lent me control of this blog to spread wise insights and/or cracks about your world at large.

I see that the earth has slowly converted to a death star: how was this possible? About 2000 years ago, someone was down their speaking about truth and light, reasons to live, life eternal...then he died, rose again, went back from whence he came...then most of you take the low road to death. Back to that sad, dark place? What's wrong with you? Gave up so soon? He's gonna come back and set things straight. You'll see...don't say I didn't warn you.

Clear The Books
Let's call the whole thing off and unwind. Don't rewind. Just start fresh. Dump the rot. Everybody keeps their body, dignity, freedom, brain, preferences, tastes. Ok, no book or fine art burnings. GAAP is a good idea but paper as money?! What kind of kooky nutjob thought of that? I've played the LoL GoldPaperFire game and it doesn't end well...

Gold Paper Fire rules
Paper covers gold
Fire burns paper
Gold still there

Ignorance is Bliss
Did you hear about the one reporter who said "gold is backed by nothing" and the Federal Reserve backs the dollar? I think she owns shares in a canned sunshine manufacturer. Send her the prospectus quick... stupid is way overvalued in the market of ideas.

Install RonPaul 2.0.1.2

2011-09-19T11:36:00.001-07:00

Avoid system crash. Install RonPaul!
Reboot for liberty and peace. Monetize your assets not the debt.
Honest man for honest money.

TheFed.end()
USConstitution.limitGovt()
if Gold.isMoney() then you.createWealth() else you.loseWealth();

Lysander Spooner: Liberty Hero

2011-09-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

http://lysanderspooner.org/

Why vote Ron Paul?

2011-09-01T22:31:00.001-07:00

Unlike the other GOP candidates, Dr. Ron Paul is running as a philosopher and prophet - not your typical mainstream campaigner. He has a powerful message of peace, prosperity and liberty that has, is and will shape the political landscape for years to come. He's all in: either be President or return to private citizen after his term as representative is done. But I'll not bore you with the same heaps of praise (the blogosphere is brimming with accolades more elegantly put) but I will share my thoughts on this model citizen.

I've never met him but I feel he is someone I've known for a long time. Yes, he exudes a grandfatherly wisdom and quiet optimism but beyond that he challenges me to learn more about our human nature. Indeed, one of his influences,Ludwig von Mises wrote an economic classic titled Human Action. I think Dr. Paul and his study of Austrian economics allows him to see clearly and speak courageously. I, too, have begun a study of vonMises and Austrian school of economics. Why? Because of the good doctor. He's prescribing tough medicine: speaking the truth isn't easy on the ears. He's also more interested in discussing ideas because he will not lower himself to win a few poll points or gain favor among the elite or powerful MSM. He's a man on a mission. Bottomline: he is simply living the way of Jesus Christ. Anyone who claims to be Christian will see how closely aligned his message is with the Gospel. His domestic and foreign policy is the closest to "love thy neighbor" that we have in modern politics. I know some who claim to know Christ find fault with him for some reason. For me, when judged against Christ's teachings, I vote my conscience and faith. I vote Ron Paul.

Soylent Green(backs)

2011-09-01T21:51:00.001-07:00

It's people. Soylent Greenbacks are made out of people. They're making our money out of people. Next thing they'll be breeding us like cattle for money. You've gotta tell them. You've gotta tell them!

Liberty Lemonade

2010-08-06T12:09:00.001-07:00

So I read the news story (http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/08/06/2010-08-06_health_inspector_shuts_down_7yearolds_summer_lemonade_stand.html) about a girl in Oregon who tried to set up a lemonade stand at a monthly fair. Some statist drone from the health department shut down the stand. Why? The girl did not have a license or permit to operate. Now, all the mindless adults blatter listlessly about "protecting public health", "health comes first" and on -- the usual statist blather. I suppose a loud voice from their government-controlled conscience declared "STOP THIS NOW" with imaginary red flags and visions of humans passed out around the lemonade stand. I suppose the last thing the government drone thought about was the liability the girl and the fair may result should bad lemonade make someone ill and that alone is good enough to discourage poor business practices. I suppose they think that the piece of paper ($120 value) will magically protect her customers from whipping up a batch of lethal lemonade. I suppose their 100-point inspection checklist would be a good substitute for common sense and tried-n-true food handling techniques (at no extra cost!). I suppose they think that $120 is best spent on government regulation versus...hmm..i dunno...a worthy business expense! For all we know, the girl's parents could be food quality experts who would be well versed in the latest food handling techniques. Or, perhaps, a kind neighbor could have helped her prepare in a way that keep the customers coming to her stand. I mean...in a free market, don't consumers have all the decisions to avoid bad products and services (vote with their pocketbook) which is incentive for businesses act appropriately.

Ho-hum. This girl's plight is another brick in the wall. Another example of the individual getting stomped on by "big brother". Another reason to question the nature of government. This lemonade stand and its operator violated no one's individual rights (unlike the statist drones who violated hers). All who purchased the 50 cent cup entered in a simple exchange: 50 cents (albeit fiat money) for a cup of lemonade. Isn't that good enough? What's more appalling is the distinction between "stepping up shop right outside her home" and the fair seems to be insignificant -- downright irrational -- in this case. So, is serving lemonade from her yard more safe than from a fair?

In the words of John Stossel, "give me break!"

Malfeasance and the Medical Malpractice Fund

2010-07-19T23:41:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin State Supreme Court will decide on physician's malpractice fund raid by the Wisconsin State legislature on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. The fund is paid by physicians to cover malpractice lawsuits. Of course, this is compulsory and a requirement to practice in Wisconsin. The effect of the $200 million transfer (theft) is increased malpractice insurance rates and the risk of having less funds available for payouts. The governor and legislature has supposedly used the funds to balance the state budget in 2007.

The notion of robbing Peter to pay Paul is nothing new in state financing. The state opted for creative financing and political expediency rather than act with any fiduciary restraint. If a private financial manager had control of such a fund, they would likely be bound by contract with the physicians to ensure that funds would be managed for its sole purpose -- paying out claims from malpractice lawsuits. Of course, this is the State we're talking about, so the notion of contract has no meaning. This "fund" is just another scheme to extract private property for a social good. Just that the "good" is a facade.

Yet another example of the State (and its power-hungry enablers) acting for its own sake and not the citizens it pretends to serve.

10 Ways To Grow Your Brain - Part 1

2010-07-16T09:54:00.001-07:00

1. Read a book. The longer the better.
2. Take up a hobby. Be creative. Performing music is one of the better brain exercises.
3. Think good thoughts.
4 - 10. Visit Mises.org and your brain will be filled by the intellectual giants of the past and present. This is an excellent place to re-educate the mind. You can thank me later :D

Your Money Or Your Life

2009-02-25T11:58:00.001-08:00

Learn about the destructive nature of inflation (caused by defective monetary policy) as written by the great Henry Hazlitt:
http://mises.org/media.aspx?action=author&ID=170

Beware The Cash Monkey: Part 1

2009-02-18T08:37:00.001-08:00

"What's in your wallet?"one of television advertising's famous rhetorical questions blares at the consumer. Usually, it is precede by a rowdy bunch of primates making a scene. Eye catching. Funny. Yeah, but what IS in your wallet? ID,photo of loved one, business card, lucky token, plastic cards (credit, debit, gift, discount) and, perhaps, paper currency. A portion of our life in tri-fold form. Of course, the TV is meant to differentiate the product/service offered by the mega-bank to the interested consumer. Yet, the current economic dreariness begs for an answer that requires a bit of philosophical meandering. Let's go visit that place and examine further...

Money and monkey. Two English words that differ by a single letter but have no relation to the other until you mash them up. Just for fun let's use "cash monkey" as we play with this concept. Cash monkey plays fast and loose with reason. Much like the famous TV ads, it goes and wreaks havoc and leaves destruction in its path. Cash monkey says "Let's fix the economy by printing more money. Let's get that money flowing through increased government spending. Let's get create jobs." Cash monkey is making a scene. Unpredictable. Somewhat. Irresponsible. Most definitely. Unethical? Hmm...that's a tough one. If reason plays no role in the cash money's actions, then how exactly should it be judged?

Q: Why must the government tax everything?

2008-12-17T13:29:00.001-08:00

A: Because it can.

...and the power of coercion is strong. Forget for a moment that we live in a representative democracy and imagine that the political class, an oligarchy, exists to serve its immediate constituencies -- the government worker unions and the deep-pocket elites. Of course, they have to dress up their defense with phrases such as "for the children" or "good-paying jobs" or "cleaner environment". While we're at it, let's dazzle them with big numbers so the public will find no reason but to gawk at the proposed legislation and give tacit approval as if to say "if you say so, then it must be the right thing to do". In any case, once the tax is implemented, it is as permanent as the sun shines. There is no turning back and you can forget voluntarily opting out. Many taxes are compulsory with heavy penalties, usually backed up with serious hardware involving high speed, metallic, miniature projectiles. Score one for big brother. " So, when you get quasi-despots like the New York governor and minions proposing -- in a stealthy trial balloon manner -- tax after tax after tax, what's a guy or gal to do? Therein lies the danger (in Wisconsin winter terms, "thin ice"). When we say we'll tax you 18% on sugary carbonated drinks then end up imposing a 9% fun drink tax (that is, we'll tax you on both carbonated and non-carbonated but just as sugary drinks such as Coke, Pepsi, Hi-C, Kool-Aid, Hawaiian Punch). We'll just get the court jester -- aka mass media hack -- to advertise this as a bargain. They'll get a dude on the street walking away from a vending machine for a quick word of disappointment ("oh, bummer...another tax") then move on to the next pressing issue of the day.

If you are a thinker who is not inclined to dismiss this as another inconvenience but as an attack on liberty then I invite you to explore the world of Austrian economics in all its philosophical splendor at mises.org.

Ponder This

2008-12-10T09:47:00.001-08:00

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan

If this makes sense to you, then pass it along. Liberty is not something reserved for the few but to be shared with all.