These days, our corrupt political parties are virtually indistinguishable. Neither give a damn about individual rights, both will gladly march us into the bowels of statism. Both of which project either a complete ignorance, or smug disdain for the just nature of economics. In a move which will result in nothing but economic destruction (in the name of the public good), our current administration announced it’s intention to further sink it’s meddling fangs into our economy.

The Fed would become the government’s “market stability regulator,” given sweeping powers to gather information on a wide range of institutions so that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues could better detect where threats to the system might be hiding.

They, in fact, are the only threat to the system. A market left free of meddling will respond and eliminate any threats, as long as they aren’t delivered at gunpoint, in which case Government is supposed to the one responding to the threat, not the one holding the gun.

“It will have broad powers and the necessary corrective authorities to deal with deficiencies”

Well, well… wonder what they mean? Surely they aren’t implying that they’d trample the rights of a business owner by forcing him to comply with their vision of how he should do business? Not here, not in America? The deficiencies they speak of only exist in any relevancy as a result of intervention in the market. Removing the safety net introduced via government bailouts would force those who didn’t want to lose money to invest or lend it wisely. Instead, we have beaurocrats with very little to lose enforcing their will on the market, then blaming the results on the market in order to justify more meddling.

Regulation, like always is the culprit. All problems, true problems, one’s which cause destruction that impacts our country negatively in terms of years, decades and centuries; where rights are trampled, and wealth is destroyed, are caused by illegitimate government action.

Wesley Chapel, an aspiring collectivist suburb, is apparently trying to highlight its potential to big brother Charlotte, NC.

Its latest endeavor of political charades is to trample the property rights of Michael Land by criminalizing the use of firearms within “Village” (how cute) limits. Dr. Land is a fellow firearm enthusiast and has been enjoying his six acres of freedom since 1991, when the area was little more than farmland. For some odd reason, individuals who’ve moved into a subdivision adjacent to Land’s property feel comfortable using government force to compensate for their lack of thorough research when deciding to move into the area. Many of the interviewed shared hollow, emotional sentiments such as:

“If we’re sitting on our back deck and he’s firing a high-caliber machine gun, we can’t carry on our conversation,” said Mike Failor, who has lived in a Stonegate house behind Land’s property since 2001.”

Hmmm… even sweeping aside concept of property rights, which should end this debate, doesn’t the 10 years of precedent mean anything with regards to who should have to change their lifestyle?

On the other hand, there are some who are a little more explicit with their wishes:

“For now, Dr. Land lies perfectly within his rights as prescribed by current law, but what about my rights to enjoy my property? He should consider those who live around his firing range & remove the range as a sign of goodwill and buy property further out. The time has past when this was a rural area as there are many more taxpaying residents that he should take into consideration.” [bold added]

In other words, my wishes trump his right to property even though he isn’t breaking any laws. He should forfeit that right and go elsewhere as a symbol of his devotion to ‘public interest’. My gang of taxpayers is bigger than yours.

Once again we see the ominous perils of subjective law. Invoking force against an individual is only proper as a response, or as an extremely rare preclusion, to that individual’s violation of another’s right to life, liberty or property. Law based on any other basis is nothing more than mob rule, where legal objectivity is mere inconvenience.

Dr. Land has invested tens of thousands of dollars in an effort to make his personal range exceptionally safe. Although I’m not sure on what legal grounds, his property has also been “inspected” by the local sheriff and earned his approval of safety. Dr. Land has violated the rights of no one. In fact, his are the only rights that are being encroached upon.

Gibson, the corporate disintegrator of the Dobro™ brand, is now in partaking in another noble endeavor.

The games in question, both musical performance simulations, have enjoyed tremendous success in the last few years. For some reason, the G-men feel entitled to a portion of this success based on a claim of patent violation. Harmonix, creator of Guitar Hero and Rock Band offered this statement in their defense:

This lawsuit is completely without merit and we intend to defend it vigorously.

Gibson’s patent, filed nearly 10 years ago, required a 3D display, a real musical instrument and a recording of a concert. Rock Band and Guitar Hero are completely different: among other things they are games, require no headset and use a controller only shaped like a real instrument. It is unfortunate that Gibson unfairly desires to share in the tremendous success enjoyed by the developers of Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

I’m not certain of what precedence would empower them to do so, but not only have they filed suit against Activision and Harmonix, they have also taken the additional measure of going after retailers selling the games. Classy.

In a humorous, yet admittedly distant way, this reminds me of this sarcastic episode of patent law absurdity.

I don’t acknowledge the word “greed” as one that merits legitimate status as an active word in my thoughts or discourse, but what Gibson looks to be doing in this case is the closest portrayal in principle of what could be an objective meaning to the term. Attempting to profit by means of a legitimate instrument, but invoking that instrument through the use of evasive, or possibly even dishonest premises, is a vile assault on reality. Maybe fraud is still the most applicable term.

My interest in Gibson stems from their involvement in the resophonic guitar market, of which I am also an active member. In 1993, they acquired the originating entity which pioneered the instrument. Also, well within their rights to do so, they assumed ownership of the trade name associated with the resophonic/resonator guitar. As a newcomer, they could’ve embraced the market at very little cost, paid just a little attention to detail and competency, and they could easily be one of, if not the, major player in a market that’s just about ready to burst into the realm of economies of scale. Instead of offering instruments that are well constructed, aesthetically pleasing and thorough performers, they attempted to get by on overpriced instruments which are sloppy in construction, cosmetics and setup. Instead of embracing the growing community (and its accompanying profits) they, in effect, scorned the market by snooty insistence regarding the use of the word, and betraying the legacy of the Dopyera’s (the inventors) by smearing the traditional Dobro™ logo with Gibson’s own brand.

Again, well within their rights, but incredibly stupid tactics.

The best we can hope for is that they wrangle their way into bankruptcy, and the brand we love could find its way into able hands who prefer to earn revenue by offering value and innovation for its customers - as opposed to incompetent coasting on an established brand of the past, or specious legal action based on questionable grounds.

The purpose of this communication is to raise questions regarding your February 21, 2008 article ‘Parents worry as I-SS loses therapists, struggles to hire teachers‘.

I know one of the therapists to whom the article referred. She is my wife of 8 years. She is a wonderful spouse, an excellent mother, and a passionate SLP (Speech Language Pathologist). In addition to her genuine concern for special needs children, she has the crafty intelligence, objective reasoning and tenacious work ethic to be arguably one of the best therapists around.

From all accounts, I’ve heard she’s also rather pleasant to work with – and she’s pretty.

Throughout her 7 years in ISS, she’s consistently gone well beyond the extra mile to be successful in her profession, which is worthy of praise in any work environment, but deserves even more credit in the public school system, a system with the odds stacked against its success and effectiveness.

My wife has given her time and energy during late evenings and weekends for years. She accepted a meager salary well below her potential in the public sector as trade-off for the fulfillment she finds in helping children communicate, and the purpose of the system as a whole.

Throughout 7 years of hassle and headache, she maintained a positive outlook. Her only occasional complaints consistently revolved around the “blocking and tackling” of running any organization successfully – communication, competency and execution.

Whether it was being constantly inundated with excessive and redundant paperwork (still not effectively automated or digitized even in our age of relatively affordable IT solutions), or having to walk to the office to use the office phone for her many daily phone calls despite the fact that there was a functioning phone in her office which the system refused to activate, she kept her attitude positive, and her intent focused.

The amount of paperwork that SLP’s are assaulted with is truly unbelievable. Manual data-entry regarding children and their specifics is often required redundantly amongst and within different departments. And by manual, I mean pen and paper… sometimes even with a specific requirement for ink color. Many times a submitted form will be returned for violation of very subtle technicalities, all in what seems to be an organized attempt to achieve acute progress by means of obtuse labor. If effective therapy were appropriately gauged by the number of forms the therapists complete, this system would be very highly ranked.

The administration mandates new regulations and guidelines so frequently that therapists are always guessing if their latest paperwork will be returned for failure to meet newest specs, specs which were likely not communicated effectively. Shortages in the time or energy required to clearly communicate the purpose and justify the burden of additional red tape can be mitigated by having the therapists keep turning forms in until they are acceptable.

Clunky and inadequate software “solutions” are half implemented, often times not replacing the same data requirement on paper, but in addition to it.

These are just a few of the hurdles I’ve heard mentioned. Yet, despite what seems like every attempt by the system to render her impotent, my wife stayed in the game.

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I’m appalled at the nerve of our crooked, meddling government to stick its fangs in the National Football League.

When exactly did the Congressional NFL Oversight Committee originate?

Coach Bill Belichick said it best with this phrase — “It’s a league matter.” You’re exactly right coach!

The thug spearheading this witch hunt is Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter.

Mr. Specter, a lifelong Eagles fan who still calls Philadelphia sports radio stations most Monday mornings, said he was concerned about the integrity of sports as much as any fan.

Sorry Mr. Specter, your concern isn’t a legitimate legal backing for this intrusion, nor does it entitle you to super constitutional powers.

By what right does some pandering, conniving bureaucrat make an inquiry into the affairs of a private entity? The manner with which the league handles its private rules and regulations only pertains to the league and its affiliates.

Apparently, raping the NFL has been a personal goal for Mr. Specter for some time. In late 2006 he further illustrated his anti-capitalism:

“Wouldn’t consumers be better off if teams could negotiate [individually]?” Specter said. “This is the NFL exerting its power right down to the last nickel.”

“As I look at what the NFL is doing today with the NFL channel with the DirectTV … a lot of people, including myself, would like to be able to have that ticket,”

Sorry again Mr. Specter, your desires for a specialty cable channel don’t trump the rights of a private entity…. Unless, that is, you’re a privileged politician who enjoys the monopolized wielding of legal force. To hell with the Constitution, Capitalism and individual rights. Who needs those when you can use government to enforce your vision of perfection on the ignorant and needy electorate. You are the entity that’s “exerting it’s power”.

Johnette Howard of Newsday offers a few other worthy insights:

Now Specter is threatening to call Goodell before his committee to not only talk about the NFL’s antitrust status but Goodell’s destruction of those Patriots home movies that confirmed they were stealing the Jets’ signals Sept. 9.

“That requires an explanation,” Specter told the Times. “The NFL has a very preferred status in our country with their antitrust exemption. The American people are entitled to be sure about the integrity of the game. It’s analogous to the CIA destruction of tapes. Or any time you have records destroyed.”

Forgetting for a moment that the American people seem busier right now buying salsa and chips for their Super Bowl extravaganzas than plumbing the morality of the Spygate scandal, it is funny to see We the People invoked every time some politician has a self-aggrandizing idea that he needs to cloak in some big-picture rationale.

But Goodell, the son of a former New York politician, handled the matter smoothly when question after question at his annual state of the NFL address Friday was about the Spygate scandal.

He certainly wasn’t about to poke another stick in Specter’s cage when a reporter wryly asked if he thought Specter’s enthusiasm for this fight had anything to do with Specter’s second-biggest financial contributor of 2008 being Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp., a cable concern that has been fighting with the NFL over how to carry its NFL Network.[emphasis added]

Now we have mention of the tangled, syrupy blob of anti-capitalist contradictions affectionately know as “Antitrust”. It’s only a matter of time before the league falls prey to one of the fed’s favorite destructive meddling devices. I also wasn’t aware that I as an American citizen am entitled to sporting with integrity. Either Specter doesn’t understand individual rights, or worse, he’s simply willing to sacrifice them for kickbacks. Ah… the bowels of the politico machine. Such an honorable calling.

And sure, the fact that this repulsive encroachment happened only days before what could be the single biggest sporting event in history is only coincidental. I wonder which bookie could’ve padded Arlen’s pockets in order for him to bring this up with such *interesting* timing? Howard suggests it may just be an attempt to wrangle the “Senate NFL office Pool”.

Yes, I am bitter about this. It was only a few months back when Major League Baseball was the victim of government groping. That episode was equally outrageous, but due to its core relevancy to substance abuse, I dismissed it as yet another effort in our silly “War On Drugs”. Now I rather suspect it was just another power play to construct the vision of the anointed.

Like ‘em or not, professional sports leagues are money printing enterprises, and bastions of Capitalism. They are also one of the last venues, despite the wishes of commentators and analysts, where selfish boasting by individuals isn’t sacrificed to the collective. Although I don’t enjoy the showboating at times, it does bring me joy to see someone blatantly saying “I did this. I am good.”

Step by step, our looting imperial GovCo. (courtesy of minions like Republican Specter) is dismantling this once great nation by not only violating individual property rights, but also conspiring to erase the concept of the individual as a whole.

I buy quite a bit of merchandise online. Between Brownells, and Stew-Mac, I usually get a package or two per week. The online shopping experience at Brownells is first class with one caveat - USPS. Their e-commerce system is well written and adequately sends notifications as your order progresses through the system. The notifications that alert you of the shipping of your order are great… unless you ended up with USPS shipping.

USPS generates a “tracking number” which is utterly useless. I cannot remember a single occasion where a USPS tracking number successfully retrieved tracking info. I think it’s all a huge facade so that USPS can appear to track in the same vein as DHL, UPS and FedEx.

More excellent service from yet another unconstitutional government entity.

As it is proven time and time again, in every single example, and despite all the money they take by force; private enterprise will always run circles around a government bureaucracy immune to the just laws of economics.

It’s official. I’ve returned to the dreary conclusion that there’s not a single candidate in the 2008 election that I can vote for in good conscience. Yep, I’m thinking I was very wrong regarding Ron Paul. Over the past week, I’ve reconsidered my support for his campaign. Like a light switching on in a closet with rats, it’s become shockingly apparent that part of his platform is pragmatic, and built on shaky premises. I applaud his adamant defense of the constitution, his open intent of dismantling several government agencies, his unfaltering support of the second amendment (without stipulations), his defense of property rights and his acute denigration of collectivism (which he accurately summoned is as the underlying pier of racism).

I agree with lots of what he says. Unfortunately, he misses the target on some key issues. Why can’t he tie it all together?

He condemns our ridiculous degree of taxation, but his primary reason is that it would “help the economy”. Why can’t he mention the case that it’s simply wrong to take by force from person A and give to person B? He chastises collectivism in the form of racism, but he fails to criticize the largest collectivist death-blob - the welfare state.

From his letter to congress on May 22, 2002, Paul writes.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to help free senior citizens from oppressive taxation by supporting my Senior Citizens’ Tax Elimination Act and my Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act. I also urge my colleagues to ensure that moneys from the Social Security trust fund are used solely for Social Security benefits and not wasted on frivolous government programs.

Ok…. great - as if Social Security itself isn’t a collectivized frivolous government program.

Why doesn’t he connect the dots?

He correctly points out that our mission in the middle east is hugely misdirected, but just today in a South Carolina speech claims that we should be “minding our own business”.

Minding our own business? Is he a pacifist?

To completely absolve barbaric faith, and to blame the threat of terrorism on the US not “minding its own business” is absurd. Barbarians fight even amongst themselves by the same means, for the same ends… is that due to us not minding our own business as well?

Let’s be honest, there’s no way Paul will even be in the top three, so my vote is really nothing more than a symbolic gesture. That being said, I still think Paul is the way-lesser of all evils… I just wish he could fix the 20% of his premises that seem to be syrupy gray.

After this, I find myself asking…

In the land once known for freedom and the individual, should I really have to be contemplating a stockpile of real light bulbs for my home?

I’m usually not one to spin the dial on my commute. It’s a rarity for me to not have new music or an audiobook to soothe my senses while I’m driving. This week I wasn’t in the mood for any of the music in the car, so I decided to catch a few Christmas tunes and check in with a few of the local talk radio stations.

Occasionally, I endure the slightly masochistic enjoyment of hesitating when my radio dial lands on an NPR station. It never lasts more than a minute or two. Despite my experience with people and my awareness of the lack of principled morality that most people maintain, NPR never fails to surprise or annoy me. This particular segment took place in Iowa as part of the orgasmic liberal frenzy associated with the vote-buying conference known as the Iowa Caucus. The host asks individuals in a local restaurant about why they would vote for their particular collectivist. All answers were the typical catch phrases… their candidate had “good ideas” or “would turn the country in the right direction” — yea, sure they would.

This particular answer stood out as the most illustrative of how pathetically apathetic most people have become. You ready for it?

“I’m either gonna vote for Hillary or Ron Paul”

Seriously? You’re either going cast your vote for a big-government, pro-abortion socialist.. or a limited government, pro-life Capitalist?

No big deal… there’s no inner conflict of fundamental philosophical premises that a few hours on the internet can’t resolve.

This is hilarious until you ponder how this remarkable, yet typical mindset represents a prevalent segment of our population. One which plays a decisive role in what kind of country my family lives in.

Michael Vick loses two years of his life, an estimated $200,000,000, and possibly his career for a “crime” that didn’t violate any individuals right to life, liberty or property.

Yet another tragic victory for advocates of subjective law. Principles are pesky things when dwelling in the world of emotions.