There was a piece in the Los Angeles Times of a liberal Democrat supporting prop 8, the ban on gay marriages, to protect kids.
"Marriage (and only marriage) unites the three core dimensions of parenthood -- biological, social and legal -- into one pro-child form: the married couple."
Liberals want laws legalizing gay marriage(equal rights for all couples, gay or straight), conservatives want laws banning gay marriage (to protect straight marriages and for the children upbringing). However as a libertarian, I don't think the proper place for marriage is run by the State Government. The state is too far removed for the day to day lives of individuals and local organizations. Politicians and government hundreds if not thousands of miles away are making choices for us, where individuals and local organizations need to make their own choices. The proper place for the decision to grant or acknowledge a marriage is through the churches, fellowship organizations, and individuals.
"Marriage says to a child: The man and the woman whose sexual union made you will also be there to love and raise you. Marriage says to society as a whole: For every childborn, there is a recognized mother and a father, accountable to the child and to each other."
I know for myself, I want my child to have a Mom and Dad, and family to learn and grow together. However, I do not think the State Legal system is the appropriate way to garner these results for myself, and for others if they do choose. Just because a law is placed in the State Legal framework, does not mean it will be followed. For example, the divorce rate of hetero couples is 50%, and perhaps even 66% in Southern California. Those broken families include children. The idea that a state marriage will hold the bond for a child does not hold. The idea of accountability of a mom and dad to a child does not hold via a state marriage. When the power to grant marriages is given back to the local organization, there is a better chance, imho, that these ideas of accountability will hold. The local organization is their to help continue the bond and council in times of strife, and celebrate in times of success. For example, when was the last time the State of TX sent you a bday wish?;) But I would be local fellowship wished you a wonderful celebration.
In essence, there would be a ban and a protection of gay marriage ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Individual organizations would be able to ban gay marriage or include gay marriage. There would be some organizations that would grant gay marriages, and some that would not, and the state would have no say, just the local organization. For example, a Christian Marriage by the Church would most likely be only hetero, but another type of marriage by another local organization could be gay. However, the State would NOT be able to force a Church to grant/recongnize a homo marriage. That would be wrong.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Is America really in a Financial Crisis?
A cultural meme has been permeating America, that America is in the midst of a financial crisis, also known as an economic crisis. But I posit the question, is America really in a financial crisis?
Assume that America appears in the midst of a financial crisis, wouldn't America need to bailout out America as opposed to just bailing out Wall Street? Wouldn't America need to be bailing out individuals rather than corporations? Judging from where the bailout going to be appropriated, it appears that only Wall Street with several selected financial firms are in the financial crisis, not America as a whole.
America is NOT in a financial crisis.
Assume that America appears in the midst of a financial crisis, wouldn't America need to bailout out America as opposed to just bailing out Wall Street? Wouldn't America need to be bailing out individuals rather than corporations? Judging from where the bailout going to be appropriated, it appears that only Wall Street with several selected financial firms are in the financial crisis, not America as a whole.
America is NOT in a financial crisis.
Buyout Not Bailout
The continuing bailout of Wall Street would mean the loss of something far greater than money, jobs, and corporations, it is the loss of what America prides and defines itself, the loss capitalism.[1]
America prides itself in being a capitalistic nation. Capitalism, according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, is an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by PRIVATE owners for profit, rather than by the STATE.
As a corollary to this, while PRIVATE owners strive for profit, they also hold the risk for loss, and must take on the consequences of that risk. Risk is the name of the game. Risk may mean success or failure. With that risk, the reward of profit, or the failure of loss. Wall Street is trying to change the rules of the game where risk ALWAYS equates to success. Wall Street took the risk, they must take on the consequences of that risk, and right now, that consequence is failure and loss.
Rather than having bureaucrats and corporations set the value of the companies, why not let the market decide their value? Why not allow for the market to BUYOUT Wall Street, rather than America having to BAILOUT Wall Street? That would allow for the market to set its price, rather than arbitrarily being set by Paulson and his cohorts. It would allow the "financial crisis" to cure itself, rather than the STATE trying to fix the symptom. Having the STATE BAILOUT Wall Street kills the the core of capitalism, it is no longer a PRIVATE loss, it becomes a STATE loss. Hence it becomes the taxpayers loss.
A buyout, although risky, would be a fair greater gain for capitalism in the long run.
[1] Granted, America, nor any other nation in the world holds completely to free market capitalism, although until recently, America leaned far more free market. But its true colors are showing, private profits and socialized losses, which is NOT free market capitalism.
America prides itself in being a capitalistic nation. Capitalism, according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, is an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by PRIVATE owners for profit, rather than by the STATE.
As a corollary to this, while PRIVATE owners strive for profit, they also hold the risk for loss, and must take on the consequences of that risk. Risk is the name of the game. Risk may mean success or failure. With that risk, the reward of profit, or the failure of loss. Wall Street is trying to change the rules of the game where risk ALWAYS equates to success. Wall Street took the risk, they must take on the consequences of that risk, and right now, that consequence is failure and loss.
Rather than having bureaucrats and corporations set the value of the companies, why not let the market decide their value? Why not allow for the market to BUYOUT Wall Street, rather than America having to BAILOUT Wall Street? That would allow for the market to set its price, rather than arbitrarily being set by Paulson and his cohorts. It would allow the "financial crisis" to cure itself, rather than the STATE trying to fix the symptom. Having the STATE BAILOUT Wall Street kills the the core of capitalism, it is no longer a PRIVATE loss, it becomes a STATE loss. Hence it becomes the taxpayers loss.
A buyout, although risky, would be a fair greater gain for capitalism in the long run.
[1] Granted, America, nor any other nation in the world holds completely to free market capitalism, although until recently, America leaned far more free market. But its true colors are showing, private profits and socialized losses, which is NOT free market capitalism.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Cracking Down on Market Manipulation
"We need to crack down on trading activity that crosses the line to market manipulation. We need regulators that actually enforce the rules instead of overlooking them. The SEC should investigate and punish all market manipulation." - Barack Obama
Alright Barack, let me just assume that your statement is a plausible one. Cracking down and punishing market manipulation would start, not at regulating the market, but setting the market free; it would mean not interfering with the market, but letting the market do it's work.
Market manipulation includes, subsidizing and managing schools, healthcare, and retirement. Market manipulations is the Federal Reserve adjusting interest rates up or down. Market manipulations is mandating price stabilization. If you really want to stop market manipulation, nip it at its source: abolishing central control of money and interest rates, and dismantling government programs. Let the market do it's work, set the market free.
Alright Barack, let me just assume that your statement is a plausible one. Cracking down and punishing market manipulation would start, not at regulating the market, but setting the market free; it would mean not interfering with the market, but letting the market do it's work.
Market manipulation includes, subsidizing and managing schools, healthcare, and retirement. Market manipulations is the Federal Reserve adjusting interest rates up or down. Market manipulations is mandating price stabilization. If you really want to stop market manipulation, nip it at its source: abolishing central control of money and interest rates, and dismantling government programs. Let the market do it's work, set the market free.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Pro Free Market, Anti Free Market, or Selective
“I believe that America's free market has been the engine of America's great progress. It's created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It's led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other's success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”
- Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007
"Out of work, tough luck, you're on your own. No health care, the market will fix it, you're on your own."
- Barack Obama, Speech, DNC 2008
- Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007
"Out of work, tough luck, you're on your own. No health care, the market will fix it, you're on your own."
- Barack Obama, Speech, DNC 2008
Obama's Economic Ad: Rebuttal
This is a rebuttal to Barack Obama's economic ad (text).
In the past century, since 1913, America has been rocked as the money and banking became centralized and markets became more and more regulated. But for many of you - the people I've met in person, or on the internet, our troubled economy isn't news. Every American has lost their economic freedom since 1913. Money is created out of thin air, thus devaluing our dollar. It's hard to save money if you need to put everything on credit. You're paying middlemen insurance companies, that cover less and less, rather than exchanging directly with your doctor.
This is a string of market intervention leading to more market intervention. The truth is that while personal responsibility and volition has been stripped, Washington stopped living up to its responsibility of limited government. That's why we need change. Genuine change. This is no ordinary time yet it is another ordinary election. But much of this campaign has been consumed by statist rhetoric and distractions that have nothing to do with you or how we get America back on track.
Here's what we need to do. Reform our tax system, by lowering the income tax, from 10-35% of your income to ZERO percent. Stop ALL government subsidies to ALL corporations, not only to oil companies and companies that outsource our jobs. End the 'bailout' culture on Wall Street, where not just reward, but risk and repercussions are all part of the market. No company is too big to fail. Fast track ENDING government mandated monopolies on energy creation and transmission, let the millions of individual Americans choose their energy sources. Crack down on statists - once and for all - so their back-room deal-making no longer drowns out the effectiveness of the free market and undermines our interests as individual Americans.
And yes, bring an end to pre-emptive war and interventionist policies, so we can stop spending billions each month on OTHER countries when we should be focusing on our own. Doing these things won't be easy. But we're American individuals. Individuals before us met tough challenges before. Will you meet the challenge? I'm Vienna Sausage. I have no central economic plan, but a plan for a true free market, including free entry, free exchange, and free exit. I approve this message because emotionally laden statist ideas of the left and the right will only prolong the problems we face today. But a renewed spirit of unity yet individual responsibility will.
In the past century, since 1913, America has been rocked as the money and banking became centralized and markets became more and more regulated. But for many of you - the people I've met in person, or on the internet, our troubled economy isn't news. Every American has lost their economic freedom since 1913. Money is created out of thin air, thus devaluing our dollar. It's hard to save money if you need to put everything on credit. You're paying middlemen insurance companies, that cover less and less, rather than exchanging directly with your doctor.
This is a string of market intervention leading to more market intervention. The truth is that while personal responsibility and volition has been stripped, Washington stopped living up to its responsibility of limited government. That's why we need change. Genuine change. This is no ordinary time yet it is another ordinary election. But much of this campaign has been consumed by statist rhetoric and distractions that have nothing to do with you or how we get America back on track.
Here's what we need to do. Reform our tax system, by lowering the income tax, from 10-35% of your income to ZERO percent. Stop ALL government subsidies to ALL corporations, not only to oil companies and companies that outsource our jobs. End the 'bailout' culture on Wall Street, where not just reward, but risk and repercussions are all part of the market. No company is too big to fail. Fast track ENDING government mandated monopolies on energy creation and transmission, let the millions of individual Americans choose their energy sources. Crack down on statists - once and for all - so their back-room deal-making no longer drowns out the effectiveness of the free market and undermines our interests as individual Americans.
And yes, bring an end to pre-emptive war and interventionist policies, so we can stop spending billions each month on OTHER countries when we should be focusing on our own. Doing these things won't be easy. But we're American individuals. Individuals before us met tough challenges before. Will you meet the challenge? I'm Vienna Sausage. I have no central economic plan, but a plan for a true free market, including free entry, free exchange, and free exit. I approve this message because emotionally laden statist ideas of the left and the right will only prolong the problems we face today. But a renewed spirit of unity yet individual responsibility will.
Obama's Economic Ad: Line by Line Critique
Vienna Sausage: In the past century, since 1913, America has been rocked as the money and banking became centralized and markets became more and more regulated.
BO: But for many of you – the people I’ve met in town halls, backyards and diners across America – our troubled economy isn’t news.
VS: But for many of you - the people I've met in person, or on the internet, our troubled economy isn't news.
BO: 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January.
VS: Every American has lost their economic freedom since 1913.
BO: Paychecks are flat and home values are falling.
VS: Money is created out of thin air, thus devaluing our dollar.
BO: It’s hard to pay for gas and groceries and if you put it on a credit card they’ve probably raised your rates.
VS: It's hard to save money if you need to put everything on credit.
BO: You’re paying more than ever for health insurance that covers less and less.
VS: You're paying middlemen insurance companies, that cover less and less, rather than exchanging directly with your doctor.
BO: This isn’t just a string of bad luck.
VS: This is a string of market intervention leading to more market intervention.
BO: The truth is that while you’ve been living up to your responsibilities Washington has not.
VS: The truth is that while personal responsibility and volition has been stripped, Washington stopped living up to its responsibility of limited government.
BO: That’s why we need change. Real change.
VS: That's why we need change. Genuine change.
BO: This is no ordinary time and it shouldn’t be an ordinary election.
VS: This is no ordinary time yet it is another ordinary election.
BO: But much of this campaign has been consumed by petty attacks and distractions that have nothing to do with you or how we get America back on track.
VS: But much of this campaign has been consumed by statist rhetoric and distractions that have nothing to do with you or how we get America back on track.
BO: Here’s what I believe we need to do.
VS: Here's what we need to do.
BO: Reform our tax system to give a $1,000 tax break to the middle class instead of showering more on oil companies and corporations that outsource our jobs.
VS: Reform our tax system, by lowering the income tax, from 10-35% of your income to ZERO percent. Stop ALL government subsidies to ALL corporations, not only to oil companies and companies that outsource our jobs.
BO: End the ‘anything goes’ culture on Wall Street with real regulation that protects your investments and pensions.
VS: End the 'bailout' culture on Wall Street, where not just reward, but risk and repercussions are all part of the market. No company is too big to fail.
BO: Fast track a plan for energy ‘made-in-America’ that will free us from our dependence on mid-east oil in 10 years and put millions of Americans to work.
VS: Fast track ENDING government mandated monopolies on energy creation and transmission, let the millions of individual Americans choose their energy sources.
BO: Crack down on lobbyists – once and for all — so their back-room deal-making no longer drowns out the voices of the middle class and undermines our common interests as Americans.
VS: Crack down on statists - once and for all - so their back-room deal-making no longer drowns out the effectiveness of the free market and undermines our interests as individual Americans.
BO: And yes, bring a responsible end to this war in Iraq so we stop spending billions each month rebuilding their country when we should be rebuilding ours.
VS: And yes, bring an end to pre-emptive war and interventionist policies, so we can stop spending billions each month on OTHER countries when we should be focusing on our own.
BO: Doing these things won’t be easy.
VS: Doing these things won't be easy.
BO: But we’re Americans.
VS: But we're American individuals.
BO: We’ve met tough challenges before. And we can again.
VS: Individuals before us met tough challenges before. Will you meet the challenge?
BO: I’m Barack Obama. I hope you’ll read my economic plan.
VS: I'm Vienna Sausage. I have no central economic plan, but a plan for a true free market, including free entry, free exchange, and free exit.
BO: I approved this message because bitter, partisan fights and outworn ideas of the left and the right won’t solve the problems we face today.
VS: I approve this message because emotionally laden statist ideas of the left and the right will only prolong the problems we face today.
BO: But a new spirit of unity and shared responsibility will.
VS: But a renewed spirit of unity yet individual responsibility will.
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