Posts in "Big Government"

By Thomas Baurain at 4:55PM

Mar 8, 2010

Gordon Brown Calls for World Constitution

Clips like these really illustrate either the massive ignorance of "world leaders" or flat out lying. Gordon Brown, who in the past has been quite zealous to move us towards global governance, proposes a world constitution for the global financial system.

He uses the worldwide global economic recession, and climate change, as pretexts for such a Constitution. Most of what is said here has been heard before- what's interesting to me is not what's said, but what's left out.

He talks of a "fairer world economy," but as most proponents of Keynesian economics and central banking do, he fails to realize the problem is at the heart of the system, not a lack of central planning. It's typical "big government needs to save the world" nonsense that illustrates perfectly why they are doomed to fail.

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By Ryan Gilroy at 11:33AM

Feb 28, 2010

Vampires are Back

No popular culture references here: Fannie Mae is back in the news, this time sucking the blood from our economy with $72,000,000,0000 -- and yes that is $72 billion -- in losses for 2009. Not surprisingly, the government-created company is asking the Treasury Department for yet more billions to keep their public/private partnership afloat.

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By Jihan Huq at 2:00PM

Feb 2, 2010

“How long can the world’s biggest borrower remain the world’s biggest power?”

That question was asked by Obama's Chief Economic Adviser, Lawrence H. Summers, one year ago. It's a question worth asking, because America's skyrocketing deficits will eventually have a global political impact. This is a chilling wake up call for those who believe arrogantly that the U.S is immune to the bankruptcies of empires in the pages of our history books.

The coming year's projected deficit (not the national debt -- just this year's deficit) is about 11% of the country's economic output. Meanwhile, deficits are not anticipated to return to sustainable levels over the next decade but to increase by 2019 or 2020 by about 5% of the gross domestic product.

Are Americans Running from Big Government?

It looks like people are starting to vote against big government -- with their feet, at least. The most free states seem to be attracting quite a few newcomers, while there is a mass exodus from states with big government, according to this infographic from mint.com. infographic on interstate migration

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By Bonnie Kristian at 1:05PM

Jan 17, 2010

Why, indeed?

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By Jihan Huq at 10:31PM

Jan 11, 2010

Chavez Says Military to Control Prices

Martial law anyone?

Venezuela's uber socialist president, Hugo Chavez, has said that the Venezuelan military will control consumer prices. Since the Venezuelan currency has devalued, Chavez said, "I want the national guard in the streets, with the people, to fight speculation." He event went further and called pre-pricing a form of robbery.

Chavez has encouraged citizens to publically renounce businesses which increase their prices and threatened to appropriate businesses that do. The government would transfer the businesses to the workers, Chavez said. He is running for reelection this year.

This is what happens when a president/dictator/elected leader does not understand the fundamentals of the economy (not to mention liberty). Unfortunately, I don't think we are too far behind.

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By Alex Kharam at 6:16PM

Jan 11, 2010

Congress Sends 21 Members to Copenhagen, All Expenses Paid by You

This story is breaking news on the Drudge Report, though government waste is hardly news to me anymore.

It's also not surprising that the members of Congress taking advantage of this giant, tax-payer funded photo-op come from both sides of the aisle. Neither party is really commited to limited government, despite the fact that "EVERY PENNY COUNTS. CONGRESS SHOULD BE SHAKIN' THE COUCH CUSHIONS LOOKING FOR CHANGE, RATHER THAN SPENDING CASH FOR EVERYBODY TO GO TO COPENHAGEN."

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By Bonnie Kristian at 6:44PM

Jan 10, 2010

Want a better quality of life? Try more responsibility and less government.

Here's a recent video from the 10th Amendment Center:

Many of us, after years of indoctrination at our government schools, were left with a sense that there is a great government force working hard every day to protect us and look after our best interest. We were told that government standards keep us safe from disease, that government highway regulations keep us safe from car accidents, that federal agencies make sure that the food we eat will be healthy.

The result of all of this? Americans everywhere drive more carelessly, do not research what they put on their plate and take medications that leave them sicker, rather than healthier.

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By Seth Man at 12:06AM

Jan 6, 2010

Independent War Correspondent Michael Yon Arrested at Seattle Airport

Independent war correspondent Michael Yon arrested at Seattle airport: Would not disclose income. (H/t: Hotair.com)

Michael Yon

Here are Michael Yon's Facebook status updates describing the issue:

Got arrested at the Seattle airport for refusing to say how much money I make. (The uniformed ones say I was not "arrested", but they definitely handcuffed me.) Their videos and audios should show that I was polite, but simply refused questions that had nothing to do with national security. Port authority police eve...ntually came -- they were professionals -- and rescued me from the border bullies.
When they handcuffed me, I said that no country has ever treated me so badly. Not China. Not Vietnam. Not Afghanistan. Definitely not Singapore or India or Nepal or Germany, not Brunei, not Indonesia, or Malaysia, or Kuwait or Qatar or United Arab Emirates. No county has treated me with the disrespect can that can be expected from our border bullies.
Actually...the Gold Medal for border harassment goes to Israel. The U.S. gets the Silver on border bullying. Among the most professional that I've encountered is UAE (United Arab Emirates) and also Singapore. Very professional. UAE confiscated my body armor during one trip, but took good care of the armor and gave it back at the airport when I left.

At least the CIA has the right priorities...

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By Seth Man at 2:36PM

Jan 2, 2010

Executive Order: International Police Granted Full Immunity in US and Not Subject to FOIA Requests

Hat-tip: Larry O'Connor at BigGovernment.com

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued an Executive Order which gave permission to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to operate within the boundaries of the United States. Reagan’s EO put INTERPOL under the same basic guidelines as the CIA, FBI, ATF and other Federal law enforcement agencies.

Interpol_logo

Two weeks ago, without any announcement, debate, discussion or inquiry from journalists charged with “speaking truth to power” President Obama issued an amendment to this EO. The amendment removed part of Reagan’s order that kept INTERPOL from having full diplomatic immunity while operating within the United States. In other words: Under Reagan and right up until two weeks ago, INTERPOL was authorized to operate within the USA but they did not have full diplomatic immunity and had to adhere to certain laws set forth for investigative agencies. Laws that prohibit authorities from violating our constitutionally protected rights.

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