tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345886752024-03-13T14:42:55.844-04:00Tyler Stearns"As for me, I will punch anyone who calls me a conservative in the nose. I am a radical."
- Frank ChodorovUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-6428910885087872682010-03-17T21:07:00.002-04:002010-03-17T21:11:18.102-04:00Selling Silver and Gold!I am looking to unload various silver and gold pieces. I have a selection of bars, rounds, and 90% coins. All items are from well-respected minters and I offer very reasonable prices.<br /><br />Send me an email at livefreenh@hotmail.com for more information about specific products and prices.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-25462836145522439522009-08-23T20:28:00.004-04:002009-08-23T21:11:39.248-04:00Middle East Election FraudFirst we had Iran, and <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9A8NI5G0">now Afghanistan</a>. I cannot understand, however, why their was such wide condemnation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad">Mahmoud Ahmadinejad</a> and the Iranian government in the news media, but there is no such indignation over allegations of vote rigging in Afghanistan.<br /><br />So what is the difference in these two cases? Iran has been designated a "rogue regime" by our state and media overlords. Afghanistan <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> a "rogue regime" until it was duly <s>conquered</s> liberated by the United States government. And as we all know, being the U.S. government means never having to admit you're wrong. They cannot admit that trying to impose democracy at gunpoint was bound to have problems, and they cannot admit that there are striking parallels between the elections in Iran and Afghanistan.<br /><br />The U.S. will take a wait-and-see approach to the election. As Special Envoy to Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said: "The United States and the international community will respect the process set up by Afghanistan itself." Oh, okay. As long as that system was made available to the Afghan people <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/sept11/2001/11/26/warnews.htm">without the outside help of the United States</a> or any other foreign government, I guess it is all right.<br /><br />It seems to me there are two ways of looking at all of this. First, the region is generally unstable, and there is no reason we should be wasting our money trying to promote fair elections there; or second, foreign involvement in the region has <span style="font-style: italic;">contributed</span> to the instability and our continued presence will only ensure more turmoil and questioned elections.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-237945272064826282009-08-09T14:28:00.001-04:002009-08-09T14:30:33.603-04:00Where am I politically?Just reading this blog, you probably have a very good idea of where I stand. I still like to take these political spectrum quizzes, however.<br /><br /><b>My Political Views</b><br />I am a far-right social libertarian<br />Right: 8.76, Libertarian: 5.45<br /><img src="http://www.gotoquiz.com/politics/grid/38x31.gif" /><br /><a href="http://www.gotoquiz.com/politics/political-spectrum-quiz.html">Political Spectrum Quiz</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-75437682371994281712009-07-31T18:25:00.002-04:002009-07-31T18:28:28.490-04:00Live Free or Die is 200!Today, New Hampshire's beloved motto "Live Free or Die," <a href="http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Live+free+or+die%3a+Our+beloved+motto+turns+200&articleId=b7b57516-7d36-4d0d-9132-7f2c43d93b54">turns 200 years old</a>. Now let's hope the people of this state will remember its meaning over the next 200 years.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-9172648020603773652009-07-21T19:21:00.001-04:002009-07-21T19:29:13.934-04:00Ben Bernanke is an IgnoramusWe trust this guy with controlling our money?<br /><br /><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HQ79Pt2GNJo&border=1&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HQ79Pt2GNJo&border=1&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="349" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-52530035626487649392009-07-20T20:30:00.004-04:002009-07-20T20:42:31.732-04:00Letter to Paul HodesIt is not often that I write my congresscritter. It is a futile exercise that ultimately only serves to add legitimacy to their actions. We still have the "right" to voice our opinions to our representatives in government. They can claim they weighed the thoughts of the people and that they decided accordingly. A load of hullabaloo if you ask me, but I think ending the Federal Reserve (well, in this specific instance, auditing it) is one of the most important issues of our time. The evil that is this organizatin cannot be overstated. So, to further the end of auditing the Fed, I sent the following letter to the "Honorable" Paul Hodes:<br /><br /><blockquote>Rep. Hodes:<br /><br />I am writing to request that you join 271 other Representatives in sponsoring H.R. 1207, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009.<br /><br />The Federal Reserve, since its inception in 1913, has caused massive devaluation of the dollar and the biggest financial crises this country has ever seen, including the Great Depression. Over the past century, many influential economists, such as Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich August von Hayek, and Murray Rothbard, have noted that central banks have the power to destabilize an economy through their manipulation of the money supply.<br /><br />An audit of the Federal Reserve will likely highlight the enormous increase in the supply of money that has occurred during this current financial meltdown. The Fed has sent this money, often without congressional approval, to private companies for their own profit. The "independence" of the Fed threatens our Republic, our economy, and the quality of life for every American.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Tyler Stearns</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-82945235641842739812009-07-06T20:37:00.004-04:002009-07-06T21:04:53.668-04:00Faulty Depression HistoryEvery time I see an investment product, like a stock or mutual fund, they always list the past earnings (always positive, of course) as a selling point. But if you notice, they are always sure to put in: "past performance does not guarantee future results." This is good advice, however. The economy consists of millions, billions even, of autonomous actors making their own decisions in an ever-changing environment. It would be foolish to look exclusively to the past to see into the future.<br /><br />That is why I hate when people like Christina Romer, chairwoman of Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, <a href="http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13856176">point to empirical evidence from the Great Depression to justify the policy of today</a> as if it will have the same effects. But what I hate even more is when the empirical evidence doesn't even support the claim. Romer thinks it was a reduction in deficit spending that caused "the depression within the Depression" of 1937. Luckily we have <a href="http://mises.org/">Mises.org</a>, where a great man like <a href="http://mises.org/story/3534">Robert Murphy can post an analysis of this claim</a>. Click the link to find out why Romer's Keynesian fallacy is wrong. Hint: the empirical evidence is ambiguous and contradictory.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-24809130700487469432009-06-22T12:24:00.004-04:002009-06-22T12:26:34.977-04:00Interested in Purchasing Silver?I have a small stock of .999 silver. This includes 1 oz. rounds and 10 oz. bars. I also have various 90% coins and other collector's coins. Send an email to livefreenh@hotmail.com if you are interested.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-27214553172187809282009-03-22T21:11:00.003-04:002009-03-22T21:37:09.269-04:00I'm Glad He's HereOops. Turns out the U.S. government will have to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032001820.html?hpid=topnews">borrow $9.3 trillion over the next decade</a> to pay for Obama's inane projects. Right now the national debt stands at just <a href="http://zfacts.com/p/461.html">over $11 trillion</a>. Our total <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html#Econ">Gross Domestic Product equals $14.5 trillion</a>. So if we add all of that new debt to our current debt, we will have a national debt 140% of our total national GDP. That means it would take over an entire year to repay all the government owes; that is over a year of paying for nothing but debt and nothing else. And to bring it a little closer to home: $20.3 trillion in debt equals almost $67,000 per man, woman, and child in this country. I am sure it is all worth it, Barack.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-7000527406184815142008-07-14T17:14:00.005-04:002008-07-14T17:43:34.798-04:00Anatomy of the Bank Run<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The case of <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/14/news/companies/indymac_withdraw.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008071414">IndyMac, the largest regulated thrift institution to fail in U.S. history</a>, shows just how fundamentally unsound our government supported banking system is. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_reserve_banking">The fractional reserve banking</a> swindle can only continue so long and I hope the IndyMac failure will open some people's eyes.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Of course Murray Rothbard wrote it best in his article <a href="http://www.lewrockwell.com/rothbard/rothbard163.html">"Anatomy of the Bank Run"</a>: </span><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">"But in what sense is a bank "sound" when one whisper of doom, one faltering of public confidence, should quickly bring the bank down? In what other industry does a mere rumor or hint of doubt swiftly bring down a mighty and seemingly solid firm? What is there about banking that public confidence should play such a decisive and overwhelmingly important role?" </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Unfortunately, government bureaucrats are playing the same tune now, </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/13/news/companies/schumer_indymac/index.htm">blaming Sen. Chuck Schumer for the run on IndyMac</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">. He wrote a letter that "expressed concerns about IndyMac's viability." Schumer is correct to deny that he had any part in this, for as Rothbard noted, how can any business be sound if a mere rumor sparks a total collapse? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But Schumer is wrong to blame this on IndyMac and those "greedy capitalists." The fault lies with the government; without the Federal Reserve and the FDIC the fractional reserve banking scheme couldn't continue. We will only see sound banking and real money when the Fed, the FDIC and all those other bureaucracies are abolished.</span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-33793026213810007952008-07-01T18:06:00.002-04:002008-07-01T18:12:42.953-04:00Reality Check: The Causes of InflationFrank Shostak has written a simple yet brilliant <a href="http://mises.org/story/3018">article over at Mises.org</a> explaining the recent increases in inflation. Ben Bernanke and other establishment economists will have you believe that inflation is caused by high commodity prices, such as the record price of oil. Mr. Shostak notes, correctly, that no single commodity can cause a <span style="font-style: italic;">general</span> rise in prices. Only an increase in the supply of money and credit can cause the overall level of prices to rise. I won't try to explain any further; just read Mr. Shostak's uncomplicated and lucid essay on the true causes of inflation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-87463382936113652642008-06-03T20:19:00.003-04:002008-06-03T20:31:06.843-04:00How Many Americans Have to Die in Iraq?We should continually ask ourselves that question. Are 4,087 dead and 30,333 wounded not enough to realize there has been enough blood spilled? Remind yourself of the lives lost to this unnecessary occupation by visiting the <a href="http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/">casualties page at AntiWar.com</a>. We all need a good slap in the face now and then. If that isn't good enough, then have a glance at <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/">the faces of those who've died</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-31660040277622034772008-05-25T17:41:00.003-04:002008-05-25T17:49:02.302-04:00Congratulations to Bob BarrBob Barr just won the nomination to be the Libertarian Party's 2008 presidential candidate. As a Republican and libertarian I saw Ron Paul as the perfect candidate this election cycle. I still support Dr. Paul and he may still get my vote in November. But there is no chance I will support John McCain. From campaign finance to the war in Iraq to immigration policy McCain has been on the opposite side of true conservatives and libertarians. Bob Barr will offer us another option. He is a former Republican Congressman from Georgia so we know he can get Republican and broad-based support. He can also give an outlet for those who don't want to write in Ron Paul come November.<br /><br />I still haven't made up my mind who I am voting for, but I can say that Bob Barr is near the top of the list. Congratulations to him and the Libertarian Party. Visit <a href="http://www.bobbarr2008.com/">his website</a> to learn more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-76889492869916964412008-05-13T22:17:00.001-04:002008-05-13T22:18:27.557-04:00Back in New Hampshire!I was pretty busy at school the past month or so. I just got back to NH on Saturday. Sure is good to be back here relaxing and be done with finals. More posts will soon follow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-16836444802554850552008-04-04T22:46:00.003-04:002008-04-04T23:06:37.202-04:00The Wonders of Central BankingZimbabwe has just released a new <a href="http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=114860">$50 million bank note</a>. This comes after it was reported that <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/200804031050.html">inflation reached 165,000%</a> in the month of February. Oh what prosperity central banks can bring! I can't wait for the day it costs $15 million to buy a loaf of bread here in the United States.<br /><br />We should take note of this worst case scenario before we start <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/31/useconomy.usa?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront">expanding the powers of the Federal Reserve</a>. Economic central planning doesn't work, even in monetary policy. The Fed hasn't solved our problems this time around and sure didn't do a good job during the Great Depression. In fact, we still have business cycles and inflation. What exactly <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span> the Fed do?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-88779261814103145122008-04-03T23:14:00.005-04:002008-04-03T23:21:52.417-04:00First in the Nation 2012The <a href="http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=John+DiStaso%27s+Granite+Status%3a+GOP+says+NH+first+in+2012&articleId=e340b5ac-0ce2-49f8-8320-72729640afaa">RNC rules committee recently voted to 28-12 to set a 2012 primary schedule that affirms New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation status</a>. The proposal still needs an OK from the entire convention this year, but I think this is a good start.<br /><br />I worked with the Ron Paul campaign in New Hampshire and was a meetup organizer here at school in Ohio. The differences were quite large. The people of New Hampshire were generally more aware and open to Ron Paul's message, while everyone seemed so separated from the process in Ohio.<br /><br />My anecdotal experience confirms what other people have long said: New Hampshire should have the first primary because we honestly care what is going on, it's who we are. Shouldn't those who care have an influential role in the process? I think so.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-6728606671573577852008-04-02T21:12:00.002-04:002008-04-02T21:32:37.531-04:00The Rise and Fall of SocietyI just finished reading <a href="http://www.lewrockwell.com/rothbard/rothbard141.html">Frank Chodorov</a>'s book <a href="http://mises.org/store/Rise-and-Fall-of-Society-An-Essay-on-the-Economic-Forces-That-Underlie-Social-Institutions-P343C0.aspx"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Rise and Fall of Society</span></a>. I have nothing but praise for this wonderful book. I recommend it to all interested in libertarian theories of the State, both new and experienced.<br /><br />Chodorov had a way with language. His eloquent style makes the most mundane and convoluted topics almost elementary. The book is short - only 168 pages - but that fact masks its breadth. His clear writing combined with great fluidity allow him to fit everything into so few pages.<br /><br />For Chodorov, government is created to ensure the security of a community. Production and commerce bring prosperity, and that right is protected by government. But government ceases to be a protective force when it pushes programs and reforms in the name of "society" and "justice." Chodorov reminds us, however, that society is made of individuals. The predatory State degenerates society and takes power away from the people.<br /><br />Written in 1959, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Rise and Fall of Society</span> is a classic that is just as important today as it was when it first arrived almost 50 years ago. <a href="http://mises.org/store/Rise-and-Fall-of-Society-An-Essay-on-the-Economic-Forces-That-Underlie-Social-Institutions-P343C0.aspx">Buy your copy today at the Mises Institute Store</a>. I promise you won't be disappointed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-20631497759925172182008-04-01T22:56:00.004-04:002008-04-01T23:22:16.630-04:00Insight of the WeekThis week's insight comes from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nietzsche">Friedrich</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Good-Evil-Prelude-Philosophy/dp/0679724656">Nietzsche</a>: "[E]verything that elevates an individual above the herd and intimidates the neighbor is henceforth called <span style="font-style: italic;">evil</span>; and the fair, modest, submissive, conforming mentality, the <span style="font-style: italic;">mediocrity</span> of desires attains moral designations and honors."<br /><br />The herd, the collective mentality, is a symptom of today's mass democracy. The superior in ability are not tolerated. Democracy places equality high among the virtues of civil society. Public education is a perfect example. The classroom has become a tool for leveling, not advancement, of students. In commerce, the CEO is derided as a "greedy profiteer" while the parasitic bureaucrats that seek to lessen his production are hailed as selfless givers of social justice.<br /><br />Clearly our sense of what is moral as been inverted. I really see no other cause than mass democracy and the expansion of the state. Our Constitution doesn't seem to be a limiting factor in the growth of the state. "Equality" has become more important than liberty and freedom. But what are we to do?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-51399988901521936752008-03-30T21:44:00.004-04:002008-03-30T21:52:41.300-04:00Spend, Spend, Spend!<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">CNN reported on March 24 that a clear <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/24/news/economy/rebates_poll/index.htm">majority of citizens are going to use their tax rebates to pay off debt or put in savings</a>.<span style=""> </span>The so-called economic stimulus bill will give $170 billion back to taxpayers, or about $600 per individual and $1,200 per married couple.<span style=""> </span>The professed purpose of this scheme is to help the faltering <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> economy come out of recession.<span style=""> </span>But economist Jared Bernstein is concerned about this news from CNN: “While [saving the rebate] is a valiant thing to do, what you want them to do is spend it.”<span style=""> </span><br /><br />Despite having the title of ‘economist,’ Mr. Bernstein doesn’t seem to understand the concept of economic growth and capital accumulation.<span style=""> </span>The economy can only expand, and therefore rise out of recession, with a solid base of capital.<span style=""> </span>The only way to attain the funds necessary for this is through savings.<span style=""> </span>Using Mr. Bernstein’s logic, we would all be rich and prosperous if only we spent all our money on plasma TVs and Cadillacs.<span style=""> </span>Clearly it is unwise for an individual to spend his entire paycheck and go into debt, so why does Mr. Bernstein, and most economists, think increased spending and debt works on the national scale?<span style=""> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-64136705086389506692008-03-27T20:31:00.002-04:002008-03-27T23:00:32.896-04:00Candidates to SupportJohn McCain might have the presidential nomination sealed up, but that doesn't mean true limited government Republicans don't have a chance at influencing the upcoming federal elections. I am personally supporting two candidates who I believe can win and can make a true difference in Congress: <a href="http://www.jimforsythe.com/">Jim Forsythe</a> and <a href="http://murraysabrin.com/">Murray Sabrin</a>.<br /><br />Jim Forsythe is running for U.S. Representative in New Hampshire Congressional District 1. Murray Sabrin is in the race for U.S. Senator from New Jersey. Both have a history in academia; both believe strongly in freedom; both offer solutions to America's problems.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I can't vote for either of these men. I live in CD 2 in NH, which isn't New Jersey or CD 1. I don't have a vote to offer, but I do have support to give. I recommend everyone out there who cherishes freedom and limited government to give support to these two candidates, financial and otherwise. You can Donate to <a href="https://www.jimforsythe.com/volunteer/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1">Jim Here</a> or <a href="https://www.murraysabrin.com/contribute.aspx">Murray Here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-71130008729167631892008-03-20T18:54:00.003-04:002008-03-20T21:50:09.907-04:00Reefer MadnessManchester Mayor and likely gubernatorial candidate <a href="http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Marijuana+vote+draws+fire&articleId=4f7cb02b-ee24-42a2-9185-083d0144c820">Frank Guinta has called on state Rep. David Scannell to resign</a> his position as spokesman for the Manchester school district after the representative voted in favor of decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. <br /><br />I like what School Board member Chris Herbert had to say: "I don't know what the mayor's deal is. A majority of the House voted for it." True, Scannell is in a unique position working for the school district, but shouldn't kids learn sometime that it is not contradictory to support marijuana decrim on the one hand and oppose drug use on the other. <br /><br />I also do not agree with this quote: "Scannell insisted he will not resign, saying his vote is a form of political speech protected by the U.S. Constitution." I think it would be better to invoke Article 30, Section 1 of the <span style="font-style: italic;">New Hampshire</span> Constitution: "The freedom of deliberation, speech, and debate, in either house of the legislature, is so essential to the rights of the people, that it cannot be the foundation of any action, complaint, or prosecution, in any other court or place whatsoever." Guinta's letter calling for Scannell's resignation is clearly a political ploy. However, I believe trying to make a man lose his job (which Scannell's coworkers say he does well) over something entirely political is not appropriate.<br /><br />I don't think Guinta should be worrying too much about Scannell's vote, however. Governor <a href="http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Lynch+threatens+veto+after+House+votes+to+decriminalize+pot&articleId=d749f97f-4f05-4a72-8ca1-b6d3951bda19">Lynch says he will veto the bill</a> if it reaches his desk. To boot, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Foster said: "I don't think he's going to be seeing it. I know of no interest in the Senate on either side of the aisle to entertain that bill." Why would they entertain a bill that brings the punishment closer in line with the crime?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-7842722773348268932008-03-19T14:25:00.005-04:002008-03-19T14:45:57.319-04:00State House Gun Ban DefeatedHB 1354 was defeated yesterday by a <a href="http://www.generalcourt.org/bills/2008/HB1354/status">vote of 279-19</a>. The bill would have made it <a href="http://www.generalcourt.org/bills/2008/HB1354/text">illegal to carry any firearm</a> (open or concealed) or deadly weapon within the State House.<br /><br />I am not aware of any incidents involving a misuse of firearms in the State House, and I know for a fact that some people do carry inside the building. This is not, however, a matter of how many problems firearms have caused in our state's capitol; this is a matter of whether our representatives believe in our state constitution. Article 2-a states: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state." Pretty simple and straightforward to me. Defending the State House is about as close as you can get to defending the "state" itself.<br /><br />If your representative is on the following list of those who voted against killing this bill, I would recommend sending them a polite message asking them why:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Allen, Peter Democrat Cheshire 6 Nay<br />Butcher, Suzanne Democrat Cheshire 3 Nay<br />Chase, Claudia Democrat Hillsborough 2 Nay<br />Cooney, Mary Democrat Grafton 7 Nay<br />Cunningham, Howard Democrat Carroll 3 Nay<br />Fletcher, Richard Republican Hillsborough 7 Nay<br />Gile, Mary Democrat Merrimack 10 Nay<br />Ginsburg, Ruth Democrat Hillsborough 20 Nay<br />Hall, Betty Democrat Hillsborough 5 Nay<br />Howard, Doreen Democrat Rockingham 12 Nay<br />Kepner, Susan Democrat Rockingham 15 Nay<br />Levesque, Melanie Democrat Hillsborough 5 Nay<br />Moody, Marcia Democrat Rockingham 12 Nay<br />Nielsen, Ellen Democrat Sullivan 4 Nay<br />Osborne, Jessie Democrat Merrimack 12 Nay<br />Pilotte, Maurice Democrat Hillsborough 16 Nay<br />Preston, Philip Democrat Grafton 8 Nay<br />Weed, Charles Democrat Cheshire 3 Nay<br />Yeaton, Charles Democrat Merrimack 8 Nay</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-84273117716754473992008-03-18T23:00:00.004-04:002008-03-18T23:05:17.720-04:00Marijuana Decrim Bill Passes NH House<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">HB 1623, a bill that would decriminalize possession of marijuana under 1/4 of an ounce, <a href="http://nhcommonsense.org/press/08/3/house_passes_marijuana_sentencing_reform_bill">passed the New Hampshire House of Representatives today</a> by a vote of 193-141. Current law states that anyone in possession of 1/4 of an ounce or less can be sent to jail for a year and be fined up to $2,000; if passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, the new law would abolish criminal penalties and reduce the fines to a maximum of $200.<br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-88078438074002422932008-03-16T16:44:00.002-04:002008-03-16T16:45:08.942-04:00The Message Will Never DieGreat Ron Paul video:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-3MLTvYBQy0&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-3MLTvYBQy0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34588675.post-69698388009094729932008-03-15T20:10:00.003-04:002008-03-15T21:06:26.022-04:00The Lie About Earmarks<span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >John McCain is furious that the </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/15/mccain-congress-disconnected-from-americans-2/">Senate shot down his proposal to have a one-year moratorium</a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" > on spending earmarks. The Senate blocked the proposal by a vote of 71-29 on Thursday. McCain is not a fiscal conservative in any sense of the word; thus, he attacks earmarks as some kind of financial plague that is bankrupting our country. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >The truth of the matter is earmarks are merely a way to distribute money that has already been approved for spending. The </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33295_20060306.pdf">Congressional Research Service defines earmarks</a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" > (PDF), informally, as "provisions associated with legislation (appropriations or general legislation) that specify certain congressional spending priorities."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Even if earmarks represent an increase in spending, the total for the latest budget <a href="http://www.taxpayer.net/budget/fy08earmarks/report.html">equals a grand total of </a></span><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.taxpayer.net/budget/fy08earmarks/report.html">$14.8 billion</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">. That is out of a </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/washington/04cnd-budget.html">$3.1 <span style="font-style: italic;">trillion</span> budget</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">. Will 0.4% of the latest budget really bring financial ruin? For some reason I think the </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://zfacts.com/p/461.html">$9.5 trillion of national debt</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> or the </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001519.html">inflationary policies of the Federal Reserve</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> pose a greater threat to our economy than Congressional earmarking. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">But if he wants to make an issue of negligible spending, John "Open Borders" McCain should look into the proposed </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2007/tst010807.htm">United States/Mexico Totalization Agreement</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">. This plan will give </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://azconservative.org/Barton.htm">Social Security benefits to Mexican citizens</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> who work in the United States as little as a few months. The </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/USandMexico.htm">low-end cost estimates</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (i.e. government figures) project it will cost $525 million over the first five years. Of course, that wouldn't fit into McCain's agenda of loose borders and wild spending.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wish McCain would stop pretending to be fiscally responsible. He is just another tax-and-spend Republican in the mold of George W. Bush, who was the biggest spender since LBJ and his Great Society. I also wish he, and all his Beltway buddies would stop playing these stupid games with earmarks and tackle </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.mises.org/story/2901">the real financial crises</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> we are facing. Alas, I doubt McCain will suddenly become a voting-clone of Ron Paul.</span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0