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Monday, July 20, 2009
Back in June of 2008, I made a post here in ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) libertarianism outlining some of the reasons I expatriated from the United States. I said that, "I expatriated when my fiancee became pregnant, because I was not confident I could protect a baby and a woman from the tyranny of the Federal and State Governments in the United States, especially with the inevitable economic collapse right around the corner."
Naturally, one of our two resident Republicans, ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) thedesertmouse, explained that I'm insane: "That's the tin-foil-hattiest post I've seen on this board. Are they passing around the hat to upgrade VA mental health service? I'll toss in a $20 if they are. Protect a baby and a woman? Tyranny? Collapse? My schizo soon-to-be brother-in-law doesn't even talk like that. WTF is your imagination up to?"
Ironic since his own people know I'm right: Paulson reveals US concerns of breakdown in law and order
The Bush administration and Congress discussed the possibility of a breakdown in law and order and the logistics of feeding US citizens if commerce and banking collapsed as a result of last autumn's financial panic, it was disclosed yesterday. Making his first appearance on Capitol Hill since leaving office, the former Treasury secretary Hank Paulson said it was important at the time not to reveal the extent of officials' concerns, for fear it would "terrify the American people and lead to an even bigger problem".
Mr Paulson testified to the House Oversight Committee on the Bush administration's unpopular $700bn (£426bn) bailout of Wall Street, which was triggered by the failure of Lehman Brothers last September. In the days that followed, a run on some of the safest investment vehicles in the financial markets threatened to make it impossible for people to access their savings. Paul Kanjorski, a Pennsylvania Democrat, asked Mr Paulson to reveal details of officials' concerns, which were relayed to Congress in hasty conference calls last year. The calls included discussion of law and order and whether it would be possible to feed the American people, and for how long, according to Mr Kanjorski. No offense, thedesertmouse.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
2:15PM
this is a question for the mods- Can I try and sell stuff on here? is that allowed? thank you in advance. specifically, CD's, T-shirts, maybe a DVD or two. and of course it is related to ABQ in that I live here and want to sell to others living in ABQ or metro area
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Ok, so i've heard some economists and supporters of Keynesian economic policies talk about the possibility that the US will go into an extended period of deflation...basically where the prices of goods and services falls. Of course, there are others talking about the future possibility of inflation or even hyperinflation because of the growth in the money supply and extreme debts. Does anyone with a bit more economic literacy know more about deflation as it relates to our current economic situation and how it affect us if it does in fact happen?
Hey, there!
I've been wondering if their are any writer's critique groups in the Albuquerque area.
I could really use some external deadlines as well as the honest feedback from fellow writers. I write fiction, nonfiction, and screenwriting, no poetry.
peace,
Elizabeth
Friday, July 17, 2009
6:55PM
The US-China Ponzi scheme
Imagine becoming so successful at your job that you stack up $2 trillion in income, which you conservatively place in short-term U.S. Treasury bonds for safekeeping.
Now imagine that when you try to cash in those bonds to buy a few things for your kids, the clerk at the bank abruptly shuts her window and tells you to go away.
That is essentially the situation faced by China these days as it wonders whether its plan to manufacture goods for U.S. consumers over the past two decades in exchange for a pile of credit slips was really such a hot idea.
It really should be blatantly obvious that deficit spending can not continue indefinitely, any more than you can build a perpetual motion machine. Maybe it's the same mentality that makes people keep trying though. Well, people are likely to learn the hard way, or maybe more likely, not learn and keep bashing their head against the wall.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80695438/
White People are Going to Riot, and he's gonna join 'em.
I'm sorry if this is slightly off topic, but he is talking about "The coming revolution" and well... okay so I just couldn't stop laughing and I thought I'd share.
If it's too off topic Mods let me know and I'll delete it (or you can delete it)
Michigan: 15.2%
Puerto Rico: 14.5%
Rhode Island: 12.4%
Oregon: 12.2%
South Carolina: 12.1%
Nevada: 12%
California: 11.6%
Ohio: 11.1%
North Carolina: 11%
Kentucky: 10.9%
DC: 10.9%
Tennessee: 10.8%
Indiana: 10.7%
Florida: 10.6%
Illinois: 10.3%
Georgia: 10.1%
Alabama: 10.1%
------------------
Ouch. Meanwhile unemployment in my home state of Washington stabilized to 9.3%. My college state of Nebraska had its unemployment rate increase to 5%. Hope everyone's getting through the rough economic times ok!
Here are the numbers: http://www.bls.gov/lau/
What is a freedom of speech? All petit bourgeois liberals cry out in a single throat "The whole freedom of speech means freedom from being censored or punished by government for speaking." But I've come to otherwise understanding. The strongest oppression of freedom of speech comes through "mass conspiracy of ordinary-minded law-abiding citizens". Here in Russia we know better than everywhere this true mechanism of formation of totalitarianism. That's why I'm not a "liberal". I understand that people, beyond any ideological differences, always feel unfriendly to any new unordinary fresh ideas especially if they haven't enough strength of spirit to be involved. Also, I remember one case. One old Russian émigré, which almost all his life spent in America, told "I'd never hid from my neighbors that I’m a Russian". Then I was surprised with his words. But later I understood the cause. In Soviet times, while people here looked for the products of their fucking western mass-culture, many Americans frankly believed that bears walked on the streets of Russian cities. Obviously their media brain washing machine worked much better than the Soviet Union one since a huge part of ordinary American townee still feels deep unconscious fear and mistrust to the Russians.
P.S. I've told this to declare that, because of violation of freedom of speech (IN MY UNDERSTANDING) I leave LJ communities liberal, libertarianism, talk_politics
Thursday, July 16, 2009
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2009/07/ron_paul_the_free_love_yenta.html?hpid=politics
I'm amazed someone didn't setup a dating site earlier... but there are SO many more misfit toys of the male variety that usually showup than females. actually, that reflects the majority of the online dating sites so nothing new!
;-p
edit - how DARE i forget to mention the pulldown boxes of what-seeking after a bit of investigation. yes, it's truly libertarian:
man
woman
couple
group
man or woman
any gender
One of my cats bit me last night, and because the site is now infected I went to urgent care this morning and the bite was reported to animal control.
I've searched the house and can't find my records for the cat's vaccinations anywhere so I am looking at having to board her for a 10 quarantine. Does anyone have any suggestions for a boarder that isn't going to break the bank, and at the same time not mistreat my cat?
It's bad enough that my pointer finger on my right hand has a nice infection, but now I have to fork out a bunch of money for my own cat that I know doesn't have rabies.
any help would be appreciated.
thanks!
Just wanted to let everyone know, that a new version of MemcacheD has been released. We will be rolling this out to the memcache nodes during the week of July 20th to 24th. This should have very little impact on the stability of the website; however users may see a slight increase in load times as the cache is re-populated with entries.
The software has been tested and verified to be working just fine with the application; so we perceive this to be a very minimal risk in regards to updating, and the stability of the website.
Thanks...
Current mood: busy Current music: NOFX - San Francisco Fat
Right now I'm reading the book Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt. I'm really enjoying it as it confirms concerns or fills in blanks over free-market economics and the implications of govt intervention without all the political BS that pretty much fills the economic discussions. I also recently finished reading Market for Liberty by Linda and Morris Tannehill which was also an excellent read. One except I found rather important considering current circumstances from Economics in One Lesson:
( Read more... )
Good stuff.
Another find reference Freedom Fest.
http://www.nestmann.com/catalog/product_info.php?ref=9&products_id=29&affiliate_banner_id=2
Snippets that have blown my mind more than many others this week from reading and listening including health care:
----------
You can't be innocent…the computer found you guilty.
Your bank or broker will never tell you, but every transaction you conduct through a US bank or broker--deposits, withdrawals, credit card, currency conversion –creates a secret financial profile of YOU.
The USA PATRIOT Act and similar laws actually require banks, brokers, car dealerships, jewelers, and many other types of businesses to spy on you. And none of these businesses are allowed to tell you they're doing it.
If the computer software these businesses MUST use to spy on you triggers a "guilty account" alert, you'll never know until your assets are frozen or confiscated. The law makes it a crime to tell you if you're under suspicion.
One mistake—withdrawing too much cash, writing a check to the "wrong" person, etc.—and you could be the next victim.
Could your seemingly innocent account activity actually indicate that you’re laundering money? Or even worse, that you're a terrorist?
The answer, sadly, is "yes." But you CAN fight back… it's perfectly legal to create international "lifeboats" of wealth and privacy that are practically invulnerable to snooping or confiscation. And The Lifeboat Strategy shows you exactly what you need to do to counter today's threats to wealth and privacy.
Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn in this book:
How you've lost your "right to privacy":
* 13 types of public records-available to anyone-that can be used to steal your identity
* Your "right to silence" is much narrower than you might think
* Five ways businesses and the government use "data mining" to learn about your interests, sources of income and lifestyle
* How "mail covers" strip away the privacy of first class mail
* The 10 most important electronic eavesdropping threats
* Your telephone dialing records have almost zero legal protection
* The giant hole in "caller ID blocking"
* The secret global network that monitors all international telecommunications
When the United States became a nation 230 years ago, only three federal criminal statutes existed. You could be punished for smuggling, piracy, or treason. But today, more than 3,000 federal criminal statutes exist, including nearly 400 offenses for which your property can be seized without a criminal conviction. Are you unknowingly violating any of them?
* Do you fit the definition of a "terrorist?"
* Tax avoidance vs. tax evasion-how to tell the difference
* Six ways government agencies can seize property, without convicting you of a crime
* If you fit any of these 40 "profiles," your assets can be seized
* Are you a "racketeer?" If you've ever made this simple mistake, you probably are
* Withdrawing lawful cash from your own bank account can land you in jail
* Emergency powers that permit the government to freeze your assets, close securities markets and more
-----------
and it goes on but i'll stop there lest i sound like i'm recommending a book i haven't even read yet nor will order next.
purpose = food and fodder for thought, discussion above.
I prefer this being a discussion community, an issues and philosophy community, but gosh darn it, sometimes you just got to point and laugh.
Communities like stupid_free and sf_drama screech and sling poo enough that it's gratifying seeing a petard returned to sender.
Some folks truly can't see a prohibition "for our own good" they can't find appealing, and expect everyone to share that opinion. Hey, let's all laugh at those fools that think they should have a "right" (wot r those?) to ingest transfats if they want to!
*Crickets*
It wasn't exactly Michael Richards at the Laugh Factory, but it turns out telemann didn't have the choir backing him.
It totally imploded on him in August of 2008. Well, I guess his ego finally recovered from that burn, because he tried a refinement of that gut-busting zinger in talk_politics in July of 2009. Well, gosh, darn, shoot, cheese and crackers, y'all, no one thinks banning all our dietary guilty pleasures is funny! C'mon! Wingnuts and their food-guzzling, right? I'm funny, like soup nazi! No transfat for you!
Not even switching from "those crazy libertarians" to "those nutty republicans" could work up the jackals into stitches. Oh well, maybe the tobacco aficionado has been marginalized enough for you to poke fun at. Look at the, out there in their uncomfortable segregated zones like that!
Hey, did you hear the one about the skateboarder getting hurt?
Current mood:  amused
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
And that's surprisingly not hyperbole this time.
Zombietime found a copy of Ecoscience, a book authored by John Holdren along with two other professors.
Washington Times article about this
Here's the good quotes.
"Indeed, it has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society."
Although free and easy association of the sexes might be tolerated in such a society, responsible parenthood ought to be encouraged and illegitimate childbearing could be strongly discouraged. One way to carry out this disapproval might be to insist that all illegitimate babies be put up for adoption—especially those born to minors, who generally are not capable of caring properly for a child alone. If a single mother really wished to keep her baby, she might be obliged to go through adoption proceedings and demonstrate her ability to support and care for it. Adoption proceedings probably should remain more difficult for single people than for married couples, in recognition of the relative difficulty of raising children alone. It would even he possible to require pregnant single women to marry or have abortions, perhaps as an alternative to placement for adoption, depending on the society.
( We're just getting started my friend )
Remember, folks, Obama wants to LIBERATE science from politics! It's a brand new fuckin' day! Also remember that this guy, this fucking batshit psycho Nazi "Scientist" who insisted we were headed for a Malthusian population crisis 30 years ago is the one who is in charge of feeding the President the facts on climate-change.
We are all fucked.
From The Tax Foundation:
July 14, 2009
If Health Surtax Is 5.4 Percent, Taxpayers in 39 States Would Pay a Top Tax Rate Over 50%
by TF Staff
Fiscal Fact No. 178
Introduction
New taxes to fund the federal government's plan for higher health insurance spending continue to be debated in Washington. According to a new Bloomberg report, the top surtax rate will be 5.4 percent in the House plan.[i] That will be the top rate in a three-tiered surtax aimed at high-income tax returns:
1 percent surtax on AGI between $350,000 and $500,000 (singles between $280,000 and $400,000)
1.5 percent surtax on AGI between $500,000 and $1,000,000 (singles between $400,000 and $800,000)
5.4 percent surtax on AGI beyond $1,000,000 (singles beyond $800,000)
States have been raising taxes on this same group, leading to concern over how high the combined tax rates would be in each state, especially in the growing number of states with double-digit tax rates. Some commentators merely sum the rates at the federal, state and local level to give a statutory total tax rate. A more accurate method is to calculate the effective marginal tax rate, which takes into consideration deductions and adjustments.
In Table 1 below we present calculations of the effective marginal tax rate on top earners. We assume that the current state and local income tax rates will remain through 2011, the top federal taxable income rate will rise as scheduled to 39.6 percent, and a new House plan for 5.4 percent surtax on AGI earned at very high-income levels will become law.
You can see the table here: http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/24863.html The top five states on the list: Oregon, Hawaii, New York, California and Rhode Island. The highest city is New York City which would exceed rates of all 50 states. The lowest states on the list are the states without an income tax themselves (including my home state of WA...but even they end up over 45%) So yeah...this whole using govt to take from the rich and give to everyone else government seems to be getting a bit over the top. If you're needing to take a SIGNIFICANT amount of money from people (regardless of income) to make a society function the way you think it should function, then something is wrong with your system and I don't want it. I'm definitely not wealthy (actually i'm pretty poor and unemployed) but we could do so much better without taking ridiculous amounts of other people's money...or my own as the rich aren't the only people being taxed like crazy. Also...when do you consider someone rich? It seems to be more of a "you know it, when you see it" thing than an actual definition.
Thousands of low-income Coloradans reliant on public assistance could get a free cellphone under a plan before the state Public Utilities Commission.
Add text messaging and chatting with your significant other(s) to the ever growing list of life's indispensables. Supposedly these are for "emergency use" but already include a number of non-emergency minutes per month. Paid for in part by a landline tax. It looks like Matlock watchers and the slightly less poor will foot the bill... way to stick it to the man.
As usual, the comments section contains many winners:
"I think a whistle would be cheaper."
"I could support this IF the phones' ringtones simply consisted of R. Lee Ermey yelling "Get a job!" everytime the phone rang or was opened to make an outgoing call."
This has either been really poorly promoted, or I just haven't been looking in the right places, but I just discovered that Ignite NM is tonight at 6:30 in the UNM SUB.
From what I understand, Ignite is kind of modeled after TED, in that it's a series of short presentations on a variety of tech-related subjects, given by people who are passionate enough about those subjects to sign up to present about them.
The lineup looks pretty intriguing, and includes presentations on video game development in NM, renewable energy, the development of the Quelab "hackerspace", and flow cytometry, among other things.
Admission appears to be free.
10:30AM
The legislation calls for a 5.4 percent tax increase on individuals making more than $1 million a year, with a gradual tax beginning at $280,000 for individuals. Employers who don't provide coverage would be hit with a penalty equal to 8 percent of workers' wages, with an exemption for small businesses. Individuals who decline an offer of affordable coverage would pay 2.5 percent of their incomes as a penalty, up to the average cost of a health insurance plan.
Taken From http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/15/house-make-health-care-right/
Can't afford Obamacare? don't want it? pay for it anyway.
This is like car insurance all over again, Want to drive? get car insurance, so now the insurance companies can charge more... because you really don't have a choice.
I'll be honest, with all the bullshit being pushed through congress lately I'm really starting to fear for the future of this country.
I guess the bright and shining future is going to happen after all. Seems all countries are going down socialist avenues. How long until this country ends up like Venezuela?
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