Critical Massholes
A bunch of...well you know...working to achieve a critical mass in knowledge
Critical Massholes
Recent special election: good or bad for tyranny?
So a reublican got elected in Massachutsets to replace a Dead Kennedy. He's up for reelection in 2012, so it remains to be seen if it was a freak event based on a bad opponent or a greater trend.
Question: is his election good or bad?
He is against health care (although everyone in his state already has it; so its not like he'll lose the votes of his constituents)
But he's pro torture...
This posting was prompted by this article (oh, and the fact that no ones posted in awhile; so all I see on my feed for this site is Aaron telling us we have the right to F off and die...); figured it might stir up some discussion. Key grafs:
it is penny wise and pound foolish to worry about creeping tyranny via government-run health care or gun control when we’re another terrorist attack away from popular support for an archipelago of secret prisons where anyone can be whisked away and tortured without any evidence against them. Look to Europe if you doubt whether government-run health care or black sites run by secret police are a more immediate threat to the liberty of innocents.
Do you think that I exaggerate?
Know that one of the Gitmo Three [prisoners it now looks like were tortured to death one night in 2006] was arrested at age 17, held for some years without being charged, and scheduled for release at the time of his death due to the military’s conclusion that no evidence linked him to al Qaeda or the Taliban. We may never know exactly how he and his fellow detainees died: A conclusive, independent autopsy is impossible because their bodies were returned to their families with their throats missing
You have the right to FOAD
At what point does a man have the right to resist police on his own property? Or more to the point, how does one resist in unlawful order and be protected under the law. Or do we just have to submit to any and all demands by enforcement agents of the state?
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/153801
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/153801
Flight 297
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/flight297.asp
Here is a first hand account of the transgressions aboard Air Tran Flight 297 this month. Nothing was made of it in the news but there have been literally dozens of these dry run terrorist probings on domestic flights since 9/11. Its a bit sickening how the TSA blows this kind of thing off as misunderstanding and subsequently hushes it all up. I love how faceless bureaucrats are always powerless until they wish to oppress. We've essentially traded a monarchy for an army of millions of bureaucrats who oppress us on a daily basis.
Here is a first hand account of the transgressions aboard Air Tran Flight 297 this month. Nothing was made of it in the news but there have been literally dozens of these dry run terrorist probings on domestic flights since 9/11. Its a bit sickening how the TSA blows this kind of thing off as misunderstanding and subsequently hushes it all up. I love how faceless bureaucrats are always powerless until they wish to oppress. We've essentially traded a monarchy for an army of millions of bureaucrats who oppress us on a daily basis.
I always feel like somebody's watchin me (or at least asking about me)
As if we didn't already know this was going on, I thought I'd share this article.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/12/surveillance-shocker-sprint-received-8-million-law
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/12/surveillance-shocker-sprint-received-8-million-law
Huffdaddy's Links O' the Day
More links for your reading pleasure...
I have to readily admit, I had never read (or really even heard of) the Antifederalist Papers. Everyting I have been taught and read is on the Federalist Papers. I guess it was that way by design since the War for Southern Independence was lost and the modern system became what it is today. Anyway, here is an interesting article on the decreasing purchase power of FRNs... Scary to say the least.
One thing that always struck me as odd is the fact of how locked down firearms are on military bases. I mean, when you deploy, EVERYONE is carrying and carrying armed with the safety off (locked cocked and ready to rock as it were). It never occurred to me how that came to be. But, with the Judge in Tennessee issuing a ruling blocking the law allowing carry inside restaurants, it is important to remember that when seconds count, the cops are only minutes away...
I have been writing about the "S" word for a while now, and there are a lot of people discussing it. I think this article is interesting from the standpoint of bitching about Uncle Sugar's rules whilst suckling at his teet. Basically I find it amusing that people bitch about the stuff they get for free when it comes with strings attached. I mean, if'n you're gonna take it (and not "pay" for it*) then shut up and comply with the rules. And I do agree with the thrist of the article that there are way too many requirements being attached. Therefore I simply choose to vote with my feet, and take the anarcho-libertarian view of "fee for service" in that if I want something and don't like the requirements, then I bargain that away or I go somewhere else that will allow me to do what I want without the strings.
* Yes I realize payment is in the form of taxes, but really, what are you going to do about it? Vote "them" out? HA! Right....
Another take on the "S" word, not from a standpoint of actually doing it, but reclaiming the original intent of a Constitutional Republic with the individual states taking back their Constitutional rights (and clarified in the 10th Amendment...). And for the take on actually doing it, see here...
Finally, before I go too far into the whole gun thing on this thread, I'll shift gears for a moment and link to something a little different. An interesting discussion on how "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." U.S. Const. Amed. X. Or at least the Swiss take on that meaning...
HD
A History Lesson
Notice I said "A" History lesson...not "An" history or "an -istory" That really bothers me when people forget to pronounce the "H."
Not sure where this came from, but it is pretty precise...
Where were you when wood became a felony?
Here is a prime example why the govt cannot be trusted anymore. Every single new law that comes down the pipe is designed to make us all unknowing felons. The burden of proof lies with the govt to prosecute, but that burden of proof is all but myth these days. The real burden lies on the unsuspecting citizen who may or may not have run afoul of any number of obscure laws in addition to the laws of ALL other countries. I read somewhere not too long ago a blurb from a legal scholar that said on average Americans commit about three felonies every day. It sounds absurd on its face but when viewed in light of our laws (esp. the ambiguous interstate commerce clause) we have all been turned into a nation of criminals.
http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2009/10/where_were_you_2.html
http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2009/10/where_were_you_2.html
More from the "Just-Us" files
Putting on my lawyer hat for a minute, I would like to get your opinion on the following from lay perspective (and a lawyer perspective too - Ryan).
The Deputy did have a trial and was "sentenced"... Not surprisingly the legal blawgosphere is abuzz with astonishment, not just over what happened but also the showdown...
Just thinking if he was on our side of the American just-us system if he would have gotten different treatment? Maybe say, like this guy? Or how about this guy? Or maybe these folks? Nah, I think such treatment he got was more in line with this guy...
Could it be the rise of paramilitary forces in police ranks might be tipping the balance in favor of the cops? Or how about the longstanding treatment of folks on that side of the just-us system? Thoughts? Comments?
Look here for a new free tool to look up case law... Not on par (yet) with Westlaw or Lexis, but hey, it's free... And you already know how to search using the logic as opposed to learning boolean logic to search the paid sites.
Long Hiatus Interrupted
Alright CMH'ers,
I have been extremely remiss in not keeping this blog up to date... That said, I plan on trying to post interesting links daily or every other day as they come up. Don't forget you can post here too, so really I think I blame each of you! HA. Just kidding. Anyway, to get the ball rolling, I am posting some links I have run across over the past couple of months that I thought were interesting. Enjoy and lets start getting some of that critical mass back.
Let's start with the state of the fine economy:
What with all the foreclosures and unemployment at a high (well above the "official" number which is hovering just north of 10%) I am beginning to wonder where in the hell they are going to get the money to pay for all these lofty uber-socialist programs...
Oh, wait, I think I found it...
But I guess it is okay since you don't really own what you think you own.
And what of Uncle Sugar?
We're always harping on those "evil" dictatorial regimes, but what about us? Are we one? If we aren't, are we on the way?
Are we are Pat says "losing [our] nation"? And before you go accusing me of being a racist Pat follower, I actually don't agree with at least half of what he says, but does that stop me from looking critically at what he does say, if he is right? Too often people are blinded by ideology and if they are on Team Red, then everything someone from Team Blue says is automatically wrong, and vice-versa. Open your mind and see what is going on and what people say, and then critically evaluate everything before making up your mind. If we don't then we might just go the way of the Soviet Bear...
So what do we do about it?
A few people are floating ideas. The 10th Amendment states:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Some state legislatures are seizing on their "newly-found" authority that they actually have a little bit of say-so when it comes to FEDGOV ramming things down their throats. I say "newly-found" because they are now trying to enforce what they had all along (at least since the ratification of the Bill of Rights). Additionally, there are efforts to roll back authority on various fronts. And the Tenth Amendment Center is but one of the various organizations working along these lines (they are just an easy one-stop shop of the areas of effort - and I'm too lazy to keep looking for links...).
Additionally, talk of the "S" word is cropping up. I never thought I would see a time in my life when talk of secession would see the light of day outside of kook/conspiracy-theory/Buzz-type websites. And some are not talking political entity secession, but just simply "bowing out" and saying "see ya and good luck with that whole 'Great Society' thing."
Rather than keep harping on bad stuff, I choose to enjoy my life and my family. I am constantly reminded to do so. We only get one spin around (at least in theory - unless you believe in reincarnation) so make the best of it. My significant other has to remind me occasionally not to work my ass off to make money to keep up with the Joneses. I agree. Take a look around and realize there is a lot more to life than acquiring FRNs at the expense of your health and wellness. As a law-dog, I have to constantly remind myself of this and not absorb my clients' drama as my own and work 120 hours a week. Too many law-dogs do this and end up "self-medicating" with stuff to keep them up, and stuff to bring them down again, and then stuff to numb the mind and end up screwing up personally and professionally. Don't do it. Enjoy yourself and learn the rules and exploit them to your advantage. If the Pols change the rules, then as the saying goes, "improvise, adapt, and overcome."
Post Script - Anybody ever heard of this guy?
Salesmanship
For those of you interested in a new home, you may want to talk to this guy.
Or don't.
He doesn't care.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-RLqLx1iYI
Oh, and politics wise, unpopular NJ gov loses and R wins; Virginia's governor mansion now back to R, but Dems win the two house races.
Seems to be a wash.
Or don't.
He doesn't care.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-RLqLx1iYI
Oh, and politics wise, unpopular NJ gov loses and R wins; Virginia's governor mansion now back to R, but Dems win the two house races.
Seems to be a wash.