It’s Not Our Job to Greece the Wheels

Q. What is your views on Greece given all the hubub? Would it be better for them to fail and hopefully rise from the ashes, all the while keeping the Euro and staying a full member of the EU or would it be better to at least reinstate the Drachma and break off from the Eurozone…? — nowahklrk, from tumblr.

A. Pardon the title pun — it’s just way too obvious to pass up.

I haven’t closely followed the situation in Greece, though I know it’s been growing steadily worse for quite a while now.  Like most Americans, I am unfortunately ignorant of the politics of most other countries (but hey, at least I’m aware of it, right?  And I hope to remedy that sooner than later).  It’s not that I don’t care; it’s just that reading, writing, and working in American politics kind of takes all the capacity for politics which I have at this point.

That said, my main thought on the subject is that the citizens of other countries in general, but especially America (I mean, we’re not even in Europe — geez), should not be forced to pay for the Greek government’s failure and apparently rampant corruption.  That’s just not our job.  Daniel Mitchell at Cato makes this argument better than I can:

It appears that American taxpayers are about to subsidize another Greek bailout (via the Keystone Cops at the IMF). This is way beyond economically foolish. It is also morally offensive.

To turn Winston Churchill’s famous quote upside down, “Never have so many paid so much to subsidize such an undeserving few.” Let’s start with a few facts:

• Greece’s GDP is roughly equal to the GDP of Maryland.
• Greece’s population is roughly equal to the population of Ohio.
• Despite that small size, in both terms of population and economic output, Greece already has received a bailout of about $150 billion (actual amount fluctuates with the exchange rate).

Anonymous Goes after Orlando

Earlier this month, we reported the story of the Orlando-based organization Food Not Bombs being forced to cease feeding homeless people on city land after some of its members were arrested for violating a city ordinance regarding large gatherings in public parks. As that case makes its way through the court system, the renegade samaritans are now receiving help from an unlikely source: computer hackers who made Orlando their next target.

This week, it has been reported that the mysterious computer hacking troop Anonymous is coming to the aid of the beleaguered group through a web campaign called "Operation Orlando". The purpose of this mission is to attack "city web assets" as well as Orlando tourism sites on the internet in revenge for the arrests. Also, the group is promoting a boycott of the city of Orlando until the city repents on its treatment of the organization. Calling Orlando city officials "human rights abusers," as well as deeming the arrest for Food Not Bombs president Keith McHenry a "declaration of war," the attacks will be aimed at disrupting city communications and Internet accounts in an effort to get the men released and let them go on serving free lunches to needy residents. Yesterday they launched their first attack of their "war" by disabling the website orlandofloridaguide.com for much of the day, and will be continuing their hack attacks until the men are released.  More at www.silverunderground.com.

EconomicFreedom.org Launches

The Charles G Koch Charitable Foundation just launched a new website project at EconomicFreedom.org.  The domain name says it all -- Economic Freedom -- and the video below explains it all. Share it with some of your friends today and sign up at EconomicFreedom.org.

Ron Paul & Barney Frank Introduce Pot Legalization Bill to House

Are the days of smoking pot in fear of arrest coming to an end? After a report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy stated that the international War on Drugs has failed, Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) have sponsored a bill that would end the federal prohibition on marijuana, and leave the decision of legalization to the states.

The bill would also reduce Washington's role in the War on Drugs to combatting organized crime and illegal smuggling, rather than individual possession offenses. Rep. Frank supports marijuana laws moving to the states, stating that "prosecuting responsible adults who make the decision ...to smoke marijuana interferes with their personal freedom," and likened this proposed piece of legislation to the 21st Amendment that repealed federal alcohol prohibition. However, due to the large number of pot prohibitionists in Congress, Rep. Frank admitted that the bill has "no chance of passing" but introducing the piece will help the "educational process" of marijuana laws within government, and lead to change down the road. More at www.silverunderground.com.