There is no worse tyranny than forcing a man to pay for what he does not want, merely because you think it would be good for him.
Robert A. Heinlein, author
Category: Libertarianism
Why We Despise Crony Capitalism Part 1043
Oklahoma State House passes bill that would require people who put up solar panels and wind turbines to be energy independent to still pay a fee to the energy utility companies! Seriously, WTF? Has this become a big enough issue in Oklahoma that it’s seriously hitting their profits?
Yet, we are in an economy where the government can tell us that we must buy certain products whether we want to or not. Combine that with companies that use armies of lobbyists for rent-seeking, and this is what results. Markets are supposed to force innovation through seeking a better product to sell to more people. Corrupt markets destroy innovation unless through carefully controlled oligarchies of companies.
It’s worse when the consumers are getting punished for doing what they’ve been told is responsible behavior. Here in Florida we have Water Management Districts. The one responsible for where I live is the Southwest Florida Water Management District, colloquially referred to as SwiftMud (and that should tell you a great deal). About a decade ago, when we were in a severe drought SwiftMud kept telling the residents to conserve water. We did it so well, that they had to raise water rates to maintain the proper revenue streams to the utility companies/organizations.
Please tell me again how giving monopolies to utilities makes things better?
Friday Quote – Ludwig Von Mises
There can be no freedom in arts and literature when the government determines who shall create them.
Ludwig Von Mises, economist
Government control, either through regulation or subsidies, does not free the artist to create, only to make him/her free to create the government-approved.
Is Clive Bundy Where We Want to Hang Our Hat?
I can understand the desire to push back against the encroaching imperial federal government and its hordes of heavily armed response teams. Especially with the increasing visibility of police acting badly with little or no accountability.
Still, is the Bundy fight really where we want to make our stand? Is this the ground that we are willing to possibly spill and shed blood?
When I started carrying, I noticed that I was far more cautious about what I involved myself in. Somethings just weren’t worth the possibility that something could escalate beyond my control and result in me drawing my pistol. I had to decide what are the real stakes and what was truly valuable to me, both in real and philosophical terms.
So, now I’m watching some of the interwebz congratulating themselves on staring down The Man. Thankfully, some of the bigger blogs are pointing out that Bundy didn’t have a legal leg to stand on.
Am I glad that someone in the federal chain of command realized that it might not look good to have a firefight with a civilian militia? Absolutely.
Do I think there will come a time when the armed citizenry will have to step up to prevent further abuses by the .gov and its legion of thugs? Unless some radical change occurs yes.
Do I think the Bundy spat was that time and place? No.
Friday Quote – Winston Churchill
Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like but if anyone says anything back, it’s an outrage.
Sir Winston Churchill, prime minister of Great Britain
It’s Scary That You Actually Believe What You’re Saying
One of Slate’s writers did a cute little animated video on why we shouldn’t worry about the debt.
I’m sorry to tell you this, but the government can’t indefinitely print money (ask the Weimar Republic) and our inflation rate is missing two key indicators (food and energy). You’re also missing something in the neighborhood of $200 trillion in unfunded obligations (Social Security, Medicare, federal pensions).
Update: Reason has a better article on what’s wrong with the video.
Slate, please go talk to a real economist and try again.
How Do You Know You’re Winning the Propaganda War?
When the opposition appropriates one of your symbols to prop up their signature failure.
Friday Quote – F. A. Hayek
The basic tools of civilization – language, morals, law, and money – are all the result of spontaneous growth and not of design.
F. A. Hayek, economist
Friday Quote – William Blum
No matter how paranoid or conspiracy minded you are, what the government is doing is worse this you imagine.
William Blum, former State Dept. Worker
My brother was telling me yesterday about discussions surrounding the security hole found in Apple’s iOS which necessitated the emergency patch, and that’s there’s been some discussion about whether the NSA might have turned an Apple employee or infiltrated Apple. Two years ago, this would have been tin-foil hat territory. Now, it seems scarily possible.
For a Company with .NET In Their Name….
They seem surprisingly foolish in how this will play on the interwebz.
Well, on the plus side, at least the idiots are making their claim here instead of across the pond.
H/t FTF