galtgulch

Notice how the military asserted that after their investigation they found that there was nothing wrong and all rules of engagement were followed. We can see that none of the men standing in the group who were targeted were acting in any hostile manner towards the Apache helicopter. Didn't you wonder that none of the victims seemed the least concerned about the helicopter overhead? I had the impression that the helicopter was quite far away. There was such a lag from the time the guns were fired and the time that you could see the dust being kicked up. It took several seconds for the bullets to reach the target. I think the helicopter was circling at a greater distance than appears in the video. The question What in the Hell are we doing over there? comes to mind. Remember that there was no connection between the attack on 9/11 and Iraq. I remember hearing at the time that there was a building in Afghanistan thought to be occupied by Alquida but by the time Bush decided to authorize an attack the leaders were all gone three weeks later. I think the attack should have been done without delay but although the overthrow of Saddam was morally justified should not have happened at all. I recall that Clinton didn't authorize taking out Osama bin Ladin when an opportunity arose in the Sudan and that Osama was angry with the US for having military bases in Saudi Arabia where Mecca and Medina were. In other words if the U.S. had no troops stationed over there in the first place 9/11 wouldn't have happened. Sounds like the wisdom of a non interventionist foreign policy such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had in mind. Instead the U.S. has over 1200 bases in 130 countries at the cost of a trillion dollars a year. www.campaignforliberty.com 230243 www.YALiberty.org on over 170 campuses gulch

http://collateralmurder.com/ I imagine this is considered a version of friendly fire. But watch the video. Here is a link to a more elaborate presentation of the same video with commentary: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=34371 www.campaignforliberty.com 230230 gulch

Once in a while there will be a reference to Ayn Rand on the popular TV show Jeopardy. Today the contestants were asked which book had the working title "The Strike." The ultimate winner correctly answered with the question, What is Atlas Shrugged? Always good to see Ayn Rand's famous novel mentioned before an audience of several million people. www.campaignforliberty.com 230,014 gulch

Thanks for the update. I own the original recordings as well but just ordered the hard cover copy from Amazon as well as the new biographies of Ayn Rand. gulch

Robert C., Not to mention that some physicians have indicated that if this monstrosity does pass that they will stop practicing medicine. The poll was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine and is supposed to be authentic. I haven't received my copy of it yet but look forward to it with interest. Most of the 46% are in general practice and internists or family practice docs. This brings to mind the article which appeared in The Objectivist Newsletter when Saskatchewan was the first province in Canada to establish socialized medicine. The government threatened any doctors who closed their offices would be stopped at the border and drafted into the military! Rand made the point that this confirmed that socialized medicine essentially meant the enslavement of physicians in case anyone had any doubt. An article appeared on the op ed page of the Boston Globe which spelled out all the chicanery in the bill. The CBO was not presented with the proper data and therefore concluded that over ten years there would be a reduction in the deficit. Untrue as there were items not reported to them to take into consideration. Our illustrious leader is confident that Bernanke will print up all the currency he will need to pay when this countries enormous debts come due. The dollar is clearly doomed, other currencies are being inflated as well, the new head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is about to curtail manipulation of short positions in gold and silver which are more than likely to reach new highs. Is there any sign of the existence of a knight in shining armor or of the cavalry coming around the mountain or mighty mouse to save the day? It is some comfort that there are among the populace men and women armed intellectually with the correct philosophical ideas and a contingent of Americans who have awakened from their complacency. It remains to be seen whether the ideas we all know would solve the problems we face if only enough people accepted them will become the dominant ideology in the near future. gulch

CNA, I believe this kind of arrogant disregard for the basic decency and respect for the rights of the individual which is ingrained in those politicians who are intent on passage of the health care reform bill is a major factor in the anger of so many inside and outside of the Tea Party movement. Despite whatever disagreements one may have with Congressman Ron Paul, a most appealing quality of his which inspired those who came across him, is the fact that he stood alone over 300 times to vote against a congressional bill which sought a power not enumerated in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution. Would that all those who take the oath to preserve the Constitution took their oath as seriously. Rather they believe that if they can get the votes they can assume any powers they want. They may use sophistry to justify their power grabs such as the notion of "implied powers" under the necessary and proper clause. CNA, I wonder if you have ever perused the Campaign For Liberty website? Most of these folks are educating themselves, reading the books recommended by Ron Paul which includes Atlas Shrugged, and the works of Ludwig von Mises. They attend the Tea Party events and try to encourage attendees to join the C4L and to support likeminded candidates for office. Three new feature articles appear on the site daily which include those of Jacob Hornberger, founder of the Future of Freedom Foundation (www.fff.org and publisher of Freedom Daily), Sheldon Richmond, Peter Schiff etc. www.campaignforliberty.com 229384 members and growing and www.yaliberty.org on over 170 campuses both college and high school. I do think this is the kind of movement which can be influential and are open to the ideas of individualism and limited government. gulch

I obviously don't agree with every policy decision Washington made, but his achievements far outweigh any of my minor disagreements. By the way, I like the four-part James Thomas Flexner biography. Check it out! Ed, I recently read "TO TRY MEN'S SOULS : A NOVEL OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE FIGHT FOR AMERICAN FREEDOM" by Newt Gingrich and found it to be filled with details which brought the story to life. I will keep my eyes open for the Flexner bio. On the subject of the loose interpretation of the "necessary and proper" clause, I think it is important that the sovereign people are made aware of it rather than leave it up to the Supreme Court. If we are ever going to restore our constitutional republic I believe only widespread knowledge and understanding of such issues must occur. That is one reason why I am willing to be involved in the Campaign For Liberty which is still growing although not anywhere near the rate of its first year. At least these people have been awakened to the importance Ron Paul considers the Constitution to be, and the need for each to enlighten themselves and then their neighbors to the ideas of Ron Paul, Murray Rothbard, Ludwig von Mises and Ayn Rand among others. My impression is that George Washington didn't make a thoughtful policy decision rather just caved to the contention of Hamilton on the subject of a central bank. Of course that was long before the Austrian school emerged. I am surprised he didn't ask to have time to think about the issue and to discuss it with his other advisors. Our present situation is certainly more compelling and in need of a solution. It is one thing to know the ideal and to have the antidote and quite another to get the patient to swallow it. Rand was correct when she pointed out that it is a struggle for man's mind. Wm www.campaignforliberty.com 228,187

Ed, I share your appreciation and admiration for George Washington. I have read several versions of the story of his role in the revolution including Howard Fast's The Crossing. His commitment to the cause is always impressive, more so because of all the losses he had to endure. One think that bothers me is his acceptance of Hamilton's contention that having a central bank was constitutional as an implied power. Fortunately Jefferson succeeded in abolishing it when he was in office. Still I wonder why Washington didn't consult with others such as Jefferson and Madison and the anti federalists first. Wm

<<<" the nature of the proper governmental services must be constitutionally defined and delimited, leaving the government no power to enlarge the scope of its services at its own arbitrary discretion. ">>> Peter, This was accomplished once, as we all know, by the writers of the Constitution, in Article 1 Section 8, the so called "enumerated powers." The last clause of which said that the Congress shall have the power to pass any and all laws, 'necessary and proper' to implement the forementioned powers. As I have learned recently Alexander Hamilton persuaded President Washington at the get go that it was in the interest of the country for there to be created a central bank. When Washington questioned the Constitutionality of such, Hamilton replied that it was an "implied power." Ever since the Supreme Court has ruled that the Congress would be the entity which would decide which powers were in the best interest of the country. It is about time that the electorate understood this issue as a first step in reducing the Federal government back down to its limited and enumerated powers and that the Federal Reserve System, for one thing, be abolished once and for all. www.campaignforliberty.com 228,143

Peter, Perhaps you are aware of the new book by James Dines entitled Goldbug! There is a three part interview with Dines on King World News-Broadcast in which he discusses many of the topics covered in his book: http://kingworldnews.com/kingworldnews/Broadcast/Entries/2010/2/20_James_Dines.html I was born during the last years of the Great Depression. I don't know what my parents were thinking to have a couple of children with the war looming in Europe as well. When I see young children or babies nowadays I experience a sense of foreboding for them. I hear pundits speak about trends into the next several decades and marvel that they actual are unaware of the financial tsunami gathering power. It is hard to envision the chaos which might or will ensue if the dollar collapses. If Obama is still in power he will certainly take advantage to grasp more powers for the government. It is all rather difficult to contemplate. Not to mention the message of Chris Martenson in his crash coarse: www.chrismartenson.com I have pointed this out here before but no one has cared to watch it and to comment. gulch www.campaignforliberty.com 228,103, next AM: 228,148

I was amused to see a naked Fed chairman with a couple of dollars emanating from his behind and thought I would share this with you. Despite the recent uptick in the rate the Fed charges the outlook is the same for the markets and the economy. Curious that Ron Paul won the straw poll at the conservative get together with 31% over Romney's 22%. He will turn 75 years of age in August so despite the adoration of his followers even I doubt that he will run in 2012. Hopefully the Tea Party will come together with the Campaign For Liberty and retake the Congress and the Senate in 2010. Perhaps then we will find out if there really is 8000 tons of gold in Fort Knox? http://seekingalpha.com/article/189741-inflation-why-markets-ignored-the-fed-rate-hike?source=article_sb_popular www.campaignforliberty.com 228,078

here is the link to a video of Daniel Hannan speaking to the present Prime Minister in no uncertain terms: http://tinyurl.com/ykpd4zk Just thought OL members would enjoy watching a free market oriented politician speaking truth to power. The video is only three minutes in duration and reminds me of Ayn Rand's For Three Minutes I Felt Free article in The Objectivist. I found it on King World News where there are many other worthwhile interviews as well. www.campaignforliberty.com 227,769 gulch

MM, I am reading Richard Dawkins books and find him to be very rational and a credit to the scientific tradition in his defense of evolution in particular and science in general. I just wanted to chime in here because of your comment about Dawkins. I would not have the patience to debate the irrational creationists and am comforted to know that men of his caliber are up to the task. Given that polls show over 42% of the American population believe the universe is only 6000 years old and that evolution is just a theory is distressing and disheartening. It is a question which form of irrationality is a greater threat to our future, the Islamic radicals or our very own Christian fundamentalists? Just when the answers and antidotes were known it would be a shame if irrationality wins.

G H S, I just listened to a couple of enlightening tapes about the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution and was delighted to discover that the script was written by George H. Smith! galtgulch www.campaignforliberty.com 227,655

<<<"Gulch, you should have run for that Congressional seat in Massachusetts.">>> Adam, I live in the 3rd District in MA which has been represented by The Honorable James McGovern who is reputed to be in the pocket of the unions. The district extends from Worcester all the way down along Route 495 to include enough of Fall River to guarantee the seat for the Democrats. Since the Scott Brown extravaganza due to the disenchantment of many dems and independents who voted for Obama, an unknown to me Republican has announced that he will run against McGovern in 2010. I have no idea as yet who he is or where he stands on anything. I suppose he is probably a traditional conservative, more than likely pro life, anti drug, pro antitrust, unprincipled and ignorant of Austrian economics but hope I am mistaken. The thought of running against him in the Republican primary has occurred to me. I am still working full time plus with an hour commute each way. The C4L in this district is invisible, although enough showed up who were registered Republicans to have chosen a delegate to the nominating convention. He buckled under to the goon squad there though and supported McCain so as not to alienate the party faithful for the future. The idea of getting signature to run as an independent also occurs just to get the Objectivist/Capitalist/Libertarian ideas into the debate or dialog. That might just assure that McGovern gets re elected however. Not to mention that I don't have the kind of money necessary for such an endeavor to be successful. Looks like there might be an Atlas Shrugged miniseries on TV contemplated to be produced before the end of this year by LionsGate.

Ghs, If you are the very same george h. smith who wrote Atheism: The Case Against God, I want to thank you for that. Not to mention the "other heresies" book as well. I wonder just what subjects you would find interesting if intelligently discussed? I would like to know what other sites you explore to find such? Ron Paul's Campaign For Liberty site has three new featured articles daily. www.campaignforliberty.com Just discovered www.zerohedge.com so cannot vouch but it has a manifesto which is inspiring I imagine you already know about www.mises.org and www.cafehayek.com www.fff.org and their monthly Freedom Daily is appealing. www.adamwhys.com is a favorite of mine.

The Boston Globe had an article today which suggested that several Congressional office holders are vulnerable in the up coming election in November. There is likelihood that someone in the third district, my district, that of James McGovern, is already going to challenge him. If I could afford the cut in pay if I were to win, I would be tempted to run against McGovern myself! Massachusetts may become a Republican state or an independent state perhaps with a libertarian, free market flavor soon. gulch

Adam, I was particularly impressed that Obama is quoted earlier as saying that even though he knew there was much popular opposition to his health reform plan, that once it were rammed into passage that people would find things they liked about it and that it would be good for them, despite the individual mandate, the towering cost, the soaring taxation, the intrusive panels, the rationing, etc. The fellow sees himself as a benevolent person but doesn't appreciate his tyrannical nature. I suppose they never do. I appreciate your gratitude for the vote I did cast. I was tempted to vote for the libertarian who made a decent one percent showing without my ballot. I hope this demonstrates to the socialists that their agenda is not acceptable in America. I know a few of them and know however this will not deter them in their quest to institute their dream regardless of whatever means they need to resort to in order to achieve it. Just watch Obama's reaction in the days to come. gulch www.campaignforliberty.com 226,463

If you have read your Lysander Spooner you would recall that it is a secret ballot. That way a secret band of robbers can represent those who will help themselves to the savings and earnings and inheritance of the productive members of society in order to distribute those dollars to their supporters. Yes I voted! Paid my taxes too! Also pass the torch at every opportunity by recommending both Atlas Shrugged and the Campaign For Liberty. Just planting the seeds so someday we may harvest the sweet tasting fruit. Can hardly wait.

Here is a link to Judge Napolitano's series on the www.campaignforliberty.com site http://www.campaignforliberty.com/index.php Here is the link to another source of the five part video : http://freedomwatchonfox.com/the-constitution-and-freedom/ I am sure someone more computer literate than I am can figure out how to bring this series here. Incidentally I had the opportunity to choose whether to vote for the man who best represents my views, Joe Kennedy, the Libertarian candidate for US Senate, or for the Republican candidate, Scott Brown, a Massachusetts state Senator, a virtual unknown. Both are running against one of the most incompetent Democrat candidates, Martha Coakley, who acted as if her election to fill the seat formerly occupied by Edward Kennedy who held the seat for 46 years was assured. Once it became evident that support for Scott Brown was escalating Martha Coakley hustled to gain the endorsements and support of President Obama himself. Even the Cambridge Police felt it necessary to come out and endorse publically their choice, Scott Brown, when Coakley kept mentioning that her husband was a retired Cambridge Policeman implying an endorsement she did not have. Both candidates alienated voters with robocalls around the clock. The polls were showing the it was close with Brown catching up and then after closing a wide gap, pulling ahead. Naturally the only poll which counts would have Scott Brown's invigorated but largely disorganized enthusiasts matched against Coakley's Democrat political machine to get voters to the polls, including no doubt the illegal efforts of the ACORN troops who are renown for their cheating in elections. What would you do if you lived in Massachusetts? Perhaps someday the enthusiasm will be for a libertarian candidate.

Adam, At the risk of disappointing you, poll wise, the headline in the Boston Globe this morning is that Coakley is ahead of Brown in their very own poll : 50 to 35. So much for polls. The only poll which will count in the end will be held on election day, January 19th. I did hear on the talk shows on the radio that even if Brown were to lose but by a narrow margin, thus depriving Martha Coakley of a landslide, it would send shock waves of tsunami proportions across the country as a portend of the potential losses by Democrats running for Congress in November. Needless to say many people are fed up with both Republicans and Democrats, with politics in general, with Obama who has not lived up to expectations of so many. Between the ideologues of the left who indoctrinate in the public schools and the religious fanatics of the right who indoctrinate in their own homes and the churches, it is no wonder that the so much of the populace remains so ignorant or misguided. And to think that the antidote exists and is known to a handful of us and is so readily available in books and on the internet. www.campaignforliberty.com 225,799 but growing too slowly after all to save the day any time soon. It appears that only a tiny number are actively recruiting to the cause. I am discouraged. Bernanke or whoever takes his place will continue to print over a trillion paper dollars a year to keep up with Obama's Keynesian deficit spending for years to come. Even if you manage to survive and prepare you will be vulnerable if your neighbors don't and come knocking when they run out. Time to invest in more guns and ammunition. gulch

Here is the link to the Post and EMail article about the challenge to Obama to produce his birth certificate by Congressman Deal of Georgia: http://tinyurl.com/yhwexoe gulch www.campaignforliberty.com 225,697

My choice would be Ron Paul who sponsored the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, HR1207 which has 317 cosponsors in the House. Ron Paul's challenging interrogation of Chairman Bernanke is responsible to some extent for Bernanke's exposure as the cause of the crisis he is mistakenly being given credit for resolving! <<<"Even president Thomas Jefferson warned us 200 years ago about private banks and allowing them such power over our currency like they have today: “I believe banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around (the banks) will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered…”">>> www.campaignforliberty.com membership 224,691 at the moment

Huh? Where did you get that nonsense? Or is that some kind of joke I'm missing? Dragon Fly, Actually it was in the library recently in a magazine which might have been Popular Mechanics or the like. We all know that water is composed of hydrogen which can be used as a fuel and oxygen which facilitates combustion. If it can be done to use electrolysis, if that is the term, to separate hydrogen from oxygen within the cylinder, which evidently can be done then ignite the hydrogen in the presence of oxygen and the deed is done. I cannot quote the source but I read the article which showed a picture of the engine. I don't recall the name of the inventor. It is becoming typical of you to refer to such things as nonsense or a joke. Assuming it can be done can you imagine how far the auto industry and the oil industry would go to stop this from becoming competition? As I recall the inventor met an untimely death. Sorry if I ruined your day. Isn't it so that one reason NASA is so eager to find water on the moon because they could use it as rocket fuel in much the same way as this inventor did? It is not far fetched at all. Admittedly it did sound unbelievable when I first heard it but perhaps my mind is more open to rational evidence or the like. gulch www.campaignforliberty.com 224,560 at the moment.