Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Alister McGrath on what Effective Apologetics demands

"Effective apologetics demands both intellectual rigor and pastoral concern, for when all is said and done, apologetics is not about winning arguments--it is about winning people."
Alister McGrath, Intellectuals Don't Need God & Other Modern Myths: Building Bridges To Faith Through Apologetics

Alister McGrath defines the Effective Apologist

"The effective apologist is one who listens before speaking and who makes every effort to link the resources of the Christian apologetic tradition both to the needs of that person and to the level of that person's ability to handle argumentation and imagery. The art of effective apologetics is hard work. It simultaneously demands a mastery of the Christian tradition, an ability to listen sympathetically, and a willingness to take the trouble to express ideas at such a level and in such a form that the audience can understand them and respond to them."
Alister McGrath, Intellectuals Don't Need God & Other Modern Myths: Building Bridges To Faith Through Apologetics

Alister McGrath on Responsible Apologetics

Responsible apologetics is based on a knowledge of both the gospel and its audience. People have different reasons for not being Christians. They offer different points of contact for the gospel. An apologetics that is insensitive to human individuality and the variety of situations in which people find themselves is going to get nowhere--fast.
Alister McGrath, Intellectuals Don't Need God & Other Modern Myths: Building Bridges To Faith Through Apologetics

N.T. Wright on Jesus' Kingdom versus Caesar's Empire

Suddenly, as we watch what Luke is doing, the scene ceases to be a romantic pastoral idyll, with the rustic shepherds paying homage to the infant king. It becomes a fairly clear statement of two kingdoms, kingdoms that are destined to compete, kingdoms that offer radically different definitions of what peace and power and glory are all about.

Here is the old king in Rome, turning sixty in the year Jesus was born: he represents perhaps the best that pagan kingdoms can do. At least he knows that peace and stability are good things; unfortunately he has had to kill a lot of people to bring them about, and to kill a lot more, on a regular basis, to preserve them. Unfortunately, too, his real interest is in his own glory. Already, before his death, many of his subjects have begun to regard him as divine.

Here, by contrast, is the young king in Bethlehem, born with a price on his head. He represents the dangerous alternative, the possibility of a different empire, a different power, a different glory, a different peace. The two systems stand over against one another. Augustus' empire is like a well-lit room at night. The lamps are arranged beautifully; they shed pretty patterns; but they haven't defeated the darkness outside. Jesus' kingdom is like the morning star rising, signalling that it's time to blow out the candles, to throw open the curtains, and to welcome the new day that is dawning. Glory to God in the highest - and peace among those with whom he is pleased!
N.T. Wright, The Lord and His Prayer

N.T. Wright quotes Arnaldo Momigliano on Augustus' version of Peace

"And, as Arnaldo Momigliano, one of the greatest of ancient historians, once put it, '[Augustus] gave peace, as long as it was consistent with the interests of the Empire and the myth of his own glory'. There you have it in a nutshell: the whole ambiguous structure of human empire, a kingdom of absolute power, bringing glory to the man at the top, and peace to those on whom his favour rested."
N.T. Wright, The Lord and His Prayer

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Libertarian Responses to the 2012 SOTU

While the President was speaking, I was collecting the tweets and blog posts of the scholars at the Cato Institute and the reporters and editors at Reason Magazine (all libertarian).

Many of them provided links with facts rebutting or casting doubt on the President's statements.

Check it out:
Malou Innocent:
Hmmm, President Obama lobbied the Maliki government for maintaining a residual troop presence in Iraq.

Malou Innocent:
The president is taking unwarranted credit for allegedly sticking to his campaign pledge to have U.S. forces removed.

Patrick J Michaels:
Oh please we can never be energy self sufficient. No, Mr. Obama, we only did it before when we were powered by horses and wood.

Neal McCluskey:
We lead the world in spending on education. So why can't we lead in actually educating? Think top-down government control.

Malou Innocent:
War is the health of the state! The unity we bring to war is what we need to bring to the economy.....that's Obama's tie in


nickgillespie:
U.S. standing in Arab world now lower than when Bush left office, lower than Iran's #SOTU http://bit.ly/q3nx2B [via Twitter]

capreble:
#SOTU Not so surprising that he led off with Iraq. A win-win for him, even if it hasn't been for the American people. http://bit.ly/Afhguw [via Twitter]

Dan Mitchell:
The "same set of rules"? Does that mean a flat tax?

Ishapiro:
"The same set of rules." Does that mean no #Obamacare waivers for Nevada and restaurants in Pelosi's district? #SOTU #Obamacaredelendaest [via Twitter]


Dan Mitchell:
Or how about the Fed's easy-money policy?!?!

Twitter
reason:
Can we work a #solyndra ref into this #sotu, like in '10? http://tinyurl.com/6vu6a3u. It's 1,000 of those "3 million job" #obama just mentioned. [via Twitter]

Tad DeHaven:
"Banks made huge bets..." because the federal taxpayer was backing those bets:http://bit.ly/xuZ9G7

kmanguward:
http://reason.com/archives/2010/03/24/nancy-pelosi-jobs-junkie “@petersuderman: JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBSJOBSJOBSJOBSJOBS [breath] JOBS JOBS” [via Twitter]


Dan Mitchell:
Your policies are the same as Bush's - more spending, more regulation, and more intervention. No wonder we've had such an anemic expansion.


Dan Mitchell:
This recovery has been anemic. Data from the Minneapolis Fed shows Obamanomics doesn’t begin to compare with Reaganomics. http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/the-minneapolis-fed-compares-reaganomics-and-obamanomics/

Trevor Burrus:
Rules such as unconstitutionally delegated power to the Consumer Finance Protection Board, a part of the monstrosity of Dodd-Frank.

Tad DeHaven:
Never happens again? Folks, get familiar with the Federal Housing Administration:
http://bit.ly/A0qIGO

shikhadalmia:
The only thing Obama has manufactured are fibs -- like GM has paid its loan back in full. [via Twitter]

Neal McCluskey:
In education, fighting "obstruction" has meant unilaterally dictating education policy to states: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=13337 Sorry Congress, Constitution or not, you snooze, you lose.

Dan Mitchell:
You "bet" with my money, Mr. President. And we're billions in the hole based on GM's share price.

ishapiro:
It was unconst. to use TARP funds for auto bailout and it was unconst. to subvert secured creditors' rights in favor of UAW. #SOTU [via Twitter]

petersuderman:
Masterlock: the key to American jobs. [via Twitter]

Dan Mitchell:
This is utter nonsense.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/obamas-big-tax-hike-on-u-s-multinationals-means-fewer-american-jobs-and-reduced-competitiveness/
The President's proposal will make it harder for US companies to earn market share abroad.


Dan Mitchell:
Great, government picking winners and losers. This is why the tax code has morphed into this monstrosity.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/a-very-depressing-picture-of-tax-complexity-and-political-corruption/

Tad DeHaven:
Abolish the International Trade Administration? (http://bit.ly/zl3SJd) Nah, just create another bureaucracy.

Dan Mitchell:
Why not lower tax rates? Europe's welfare states have an average corporate tax rate of about 24 pct.

nickgillespie:
Protectionism: It worked for Hoover, can work again! #SOTU [via Twitter]

kmanguward:
This is the thing about the "fairness" theme. It quickly degenerates into whines of "that's not faaaiiiiir!" [via Twitter]

petersuderman:
A Trade Enforcement Unit? Can this be a new TV franchise -- "TEU: China" etc etc [via Twitter]

shapiro:
More govt bureaucracy, while *illegally* shutting down Keystone XL pipeline? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577172852629309954.html
#SOTU [via Twitter]

Trevor Burrus:
Our workers are the most productive on Earth, yet they are subject to the pressures of top-down agencies that unconstitutionally coerce employers into situations that neither the workers nor the employers want.

Dan Mitchell:
It's depressing that the European's have lower corporate taxes than the U.S.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/corporate-tax-rates-continue-to-fall-in-europe/

Patrick J Michaels:
The way to keep China from producing cheap solar panels is to zero the subsidies we pay to those who install this inefficient source of energy.

petersuderman:
Obama: Girls only want boyfriends with great skills. Nunchaku skills... bowhunting skills... computer hacking skills... [via Twitter]

Neal McCluskey:
More money for community colleges is no answer. Already only between 20 and 40 percent of community college students finish their programs. What a waste.

Michael F. Cannon:
He wants the American people to have one place to go when they need help. Government.

Neal McCluskey:
Not higher state standards. Just dubious national standards supporters insist aren't federal. http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11217

nickgillespie:
Dude, presidents and Congress don't create jobs, they can only get out of the way #SOTU [via Twitter]

Michael F. Cannon:
Haven't we doubled down on education in the past three decades? What do we have to show for it? Oh yeah, nothing.

Patrick J Michaels:
And that teacher should be able to negotiate his or her own contract outside of a mandatory union.

Trevor Burrus:
This time it will work....

Neal McCluskey:
Schools have the resources -- and probably way too many teachers: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/grigori-rasputin-bailout/

nickgillespie:
How about school choice, Bama, rather than teacher pay? Teachers make above avg wages http://bit.ly/oilg8n #SOTU [via Twitter]

petersuderman:
RT @TPCarney: I agree with the notion of paying teachers more, freeing them from teach-to-test, and being able to fire them. Hurray, Obama. [via Twitter]

Neal McCluskey:
"Not allowed to drop out"? I'd love to see the source for that. What makes sense isn't to force kids into school based on age, but to let them consume education when they are readuy for it.


anthonylfisher:
Work study. Problem solved. #studentloans #SOTU [via Twitter]

petersuderman:
Obama proposes turning high school into forced daycare? [via Twitter]

nickgillespie:
Mandatory schooling til 18? Are there no work houses? #SoTU [via Twitter]

barteldarcy:
Awesome a new federal education mandate! #thatwillsolvetheproblem [via Twitter]

LucyStag:
We need an education draft! Kill the homeschoolers! [via Twitter]

Patrick J Michaels:
Student loans only incentivize colleges to increase costs.

Neal McCluskey:
Tuition tax credits, work-study, and other federal aid, is largely what lets colleges raise their colleges at huge rates.

Dan Mitchell:
Has the President ever heard of the third-party payer problem?

It's a big reason why tuition keeps rising and why healthcare prices keep rising.

Maybe the lesson is for the federal government to stop making things worse.

Neal McCluskey:
Let's be clear: Colleges will not voluntarily make themselves more efficient, and Washington will not cut off funding to those that raise their prices quickly. The ivory tower is packed with lobbyists.

Michael F. Cannon:
I predict President Obama's education cost controls will be as successful as his health care cost controls: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/oops-maybe-obamacares-cost-controls-wont-work-after-all/.

Michael F. Cannon:
In both education and health care, the industry has captured the regulations. Cost control isn't going to happen in either until the government gets out of those sectors. That would deny the incumbents the power to block competition, innovation, and greater efficiency.

kmanguward:
@reason .tv: The Case Against College Entitlements http://reason.com/blog/2009/07/14/now-playing-at-reasontv-the-ca [via Twitter]


shikhadalmia:
Who'll do the manufacturing jobs that he's going to bring back if everyone goes to college? [via Twitter]

Malou Innocent:
The president is in full campaign mode. Has he ever been this animated for a SOTU?


Tad DeHaven:
Entrepreneurship? What he really means is more corporate welfare: http://bit.ly/ybBK9X


Neal McCluskey:
University-based research might be of value, but I'd love to see the evidence that we have a net gain after factoring in huge opportunity costs. What wasn't done with the money used to build university researchers great labs and cushy offices. Oh, and to let them rarely teach.


Patrick J Michaels:
Production is high because of the spinoffs from shale gas fracking, which he has not overtly supported.

Tad DeHaven:
On the sad, failed history of federal energy subsidies: http://bit.ly/vZC4kN


petersuderman:
Hey, energy people: We'll subsidize anything you can come up with. [via Twitter]

Malou Innocent:
"Administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy." So, more regulation.

Dan Mitchell:
The "green" energy program is a job destroyer. http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/the-solyndra-scandal-reeks-but-the-entire-green-energy-program-is-a-scam/
Not to mention a corruption promoter.

Patrick J Michaels:
Solar energy stocks have lost 90% of value; wind is down similarly. If this is so good, why are investors running away>

nickgillespie:
Solyndra will lead us boldly into a bright future...of debt and broken tubes. [via Twitter]

Patrick J Michaels:
He is committing our tax dollars to the most inefficient energy technologies on earth.

Malou Innocent:
Like the space race, Obama wants a "green energy" race.

Malou Innocent:
We can't cede clean energy to China...!

Dan Mitchell:
Let the bidding begin. Lobbyists are uncorking the champagne.

LucyStag:
Some companies fail, but they will fail with 500 million of your dollars, dammit. [via Twitter]

Michael F. Cannon:
If we allow Americans to choose where they purchase energy, how can I make people dependent on the political class?

Michael F. Cannon:
Lord knows manufacturers and businesses don't already have an incentive to reduce their energy costs.

nickgillespie:
How da fuck we gonna pay for all this? Anyone? #SOTU [via Twitter]

Patrick J Michaels:
He just can't get away from central planning and choosing technologies.

ishapiro:
If Obama is for an "all of the above" energy strategy, why has he rejected the Keystone XL pipeline and shale fracking? Strategery? #SOTU [via Twitter]

Tad DeHaven:
He's going to get rid of Davis Bacon rules?

Tad DeHaven:
Good piece here on federal highway financing: http://bit.ly/yQHQT0

Trevor Burrus:
Mortgage deductions and incentives encourage bad lending and borrowing: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/now-is-the-time-to-end-the-mortgage-interest-deduction/


Dan Mitchell:
"No bailouts"?!? Why did he support TARP? Why did he push the Dodd-Frank bailout bill?

Michael F. Cannon:
We all paid the price for those bad mortgages because of YOU, sir.

Dan Mitchell:
I agree with Obama. Bush favored too much regulation and red tape.

nickgillespie:
Then never again can Bush be called the Deregulator...He jacked 'em thru the roof (a big mistake!) [via Twitter]

Trevor Burrus:
Don't cut red tape, shut down the factory: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/don't-cut-red-tape-shut-down-the-factory/

Tad DeHaven:
More than 9 in 10 mortgage originated are now backed by federal taxpayers. But, hey, gotta make sure the realtor and lender lobbies remain happy.

Michael F. Cannon:
I wonder if that fewer-regs-approved-than-Bush claim is true. Could be. But I wonder what he's counting as a regulation. His administration has issued a lot of "interim final rules."

shapiro:
If the government didn't change the rules every day -- including creating new unconst. bureacracies -- we'd be a lot better off. #SOTU [via Twitter]

Michael F. Cannon:
Insurance companies NEVER had “unchecked power to cancel your policy.”

Michael F. Cannon:
Would the president forbid insurance companies from denying auto coverage to drivers who just had an accident? Or homeowners insurance to people who just had a fire?

Malou Innocent:
Well, we women do have different "equipment."

Michael F. Cannon:
This is crass. The president appears to have no concept of the importance of prices in organizing a society. If the president thinks it’s wrong for insurers to charge women higher health insurance premiums, does he also think it’s wrong to charge men higher auto insurance premiums? What about young men? Can they help it that they are genetically driven to be more aggressive behind the wheel?

petersuderman:
No more bailouts. Except the good kind. [via Twitter]

petersuderman:
Meanwhile, under Obama, the federal regulatory apparatus has boomed: http://bit.ly/yBUVhq [via Twitter]

nickgillespie:
What about an Amish farmer selling raw milk? No, he needs the feds to raid him... [via Twitter]

shikhadalmia:
We are not bailing you out ever again because we will call it insuring you.. [via Twitte

nickgillespie:
I had not thought death had undone so many #Wasteland #SOTU crowed [via Twitter]

Dan Mitchell:
The "living will" is a good idea. This is a version of the FDIC-resolution approach that should have been used instead of TARP.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/volcker-is-right-about-resolution-authority/
If Obama is serious, this is a good development.

ishapiro:
Tort system working wrt Deepwater Horizon. Indeed, when govt arbitrarily put in drilling moratorium, judge held it in contempt. #sotu [via Twitter]

Dan Mitchell:
Cracking down on fraud? Sounds like the President is going after the Social Security trustees.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/the-case-for-social-security-personal-accounts/

ishapiro:
Richard Cordray's appointment was unconstitutional because not during a recess, wasn't even pending at the time. #sotu http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/05/obamas-sham-constitutionalism/ [via Twitter]

Michael F. Cannon:
We had a watchdog called the U.S. Constitution. Pity what happened to it.

Michael F. Cannon:
On the importance of market prices in health insurance: http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb111/hb111-16.pdf.

Dan Mitchell:
There were no cuts. Obama's using the dishonest Washington definition of a cut - not increasing spending as fast as previously planned.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/how-to-cut-spending-and-make-government-bigger-at-the-same-time/

Dan Mitchell:
Buffett and Obama have no idea what they're talking about (or they're prevaricating)
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/warren-buffetts-fiscal-innumeracy/

petersuderman:
RT @TPCarney: RT @SuzyKhimm There's still a lot of concern that Dodd-Frank won't prevent Too Big To Fail. http://wapo.st/vZ5nQ4 [via Twitter]

nickgillespie:
How is it moral to give free/cheap health care to old people just cuz they're old? Esp. when the money comes from the young/poor? [via Twitter]

nickgillespie:
RT @JimPethokoukis: Average effective income tax rate for top 1% is 24%. The bottom 50%? Just 1.85%. http://tinyurl.com/3cquum #SOTU [via Twitter]

anthonylfisher:
Obama's DOJ raided Gibson Guitars. #overzealous #SOTU @reason [via Twitter]

petersuderman:
Hey, dude who makes $250,001...sorry. [via Twitter]

Dan Mitchell:
The President should learn that higher tax rates don’t necessarily mean higher tax revenues. The rich paid five times as much after Reagan cut their tax rates. http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/a-lesson-on-the-laffer-curve-for-barack-obama/

Neal McCluskey:
Our federal "investment" in education - more than $100 billion annually - have yielded basically no net benefits. So let's cut the heck out of them. But who will be the honest politicians who speaks the truth rather than spending to appear to care about "the children"?

Dan Mitchell:
Yes, I call it class warfare. http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/obamas-tax-policy-threatens-americas-economy/

Neal McCluskey:
See what federal taxpayers "invest" in education: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d10/tables/dt10_380.asp?referrer=list

Yikes!

Michael F. Cannon:
Congress is never going to make Medicare more efficient in its current form. http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12182

Michael F. Cannon:
He just said that Buffett doesn't pay AS MUCH AS his secretary in taxes. Flat. Out. False.

Neal McCluskey:
Maybe if we didn't keep shoveling more and more aid at students, their colleges wouldn't keep ballooning prices on them.

Michael F. Cannon:
Politicians' way of life will only endure if you all feel that same sense of shared responsibility.

kmanguward:
"You can call this class warfare all you want" cool, thanks. #sotu [via Twitter]

Dan Mitchell:
European nations have been raising taxes for 40 years. Has that led to lower deficits?
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/europes-fiscal-crisis-is-caused-by-too-much-government-and-deficits-and-debt-are-merely-symptoms-of-that-problem/
Don't feed the beast.

capreble:
#SOTU we could spend far less on our military and keep our promises to veterans and retain a margin of superiority over any rival. [via Twitter]

Trevor Burrus:
It is possible that progressive income tax violates the Equal Protection Clause: "Nor shall any State deprive...any person of the equal protection of the laws."

barteldarcy:
How about a bill that admits "insider trading" is a #bullshit crime made up for cases where you can't demonstrate fraud? #sotu [via Twitter]

Dan Mitchell:
How 'bout shrinking the size and scope of the federal government so people don't feel they have to line up at the public trough?

nickgillespie:
What has kept the Democratically controlled Senate from producing a budget for 1,000 days? #SOTU [via Twitter]

ishapiro:
The senate confirmed 97% of Obama's nominees last year. http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/97-of-obama-nominations-in-2011-were-confirmed-by-the-senate/ [via Twitter]

Michael F. Cannon:
Let's restrict First Amendment rights. Let's tell people you can EITHER petition government for a redress of grievances OR you can exercise your freedom of speech. But if we let you do both, that would be a threat to the political cla...I mean, to democracy.

Dan Mitchell:
A very impressive display of Clintonian triangulation rhetoric. Too bad it’s not matched by Clinton’s fiscal restraint.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/to-fix-the-budget-bring-back-reagan-or-even-clinton/

Tad DeHaven:
Ah, the government efficiency nonsense: for those who didn't know, the president wants to create a new Department of Corporate Welfare: http://bit.ly/ybBK9X

Michael F. Cannon:
He’s got to be kidding. Half of ObamaCare’s coverage gains come from a GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. It’s called Medicaid. But I can understand if he forgot about that part. He’s only being sued over it.

Neal McCluskey:
More competition and state and local control in education? Utterly laughable...if it didn't make me want to cry: Forcing states to adopt federal curricula and tests, and fighting to kill DC vouchers? The executive branch dictating "reforms" via NCLB waivers? That is the very opposite of what he claims.

Michael F. Cannon:
Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether the health care law is “private.” What matters is whether the decisionmaking is decentralized and voluntary. ObamaCare makes health insurance compulsory. That is socialized medicine.

Trevor Burrus:
The authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy probably already exists with the president (constitutionally). For example 5 U.S.C. Chapter 9, Sections 901-910. This "plea" is pure politics.

Michael F. Cannon:
The CBO said that with one small tweak, ObamaCare would be “essentially a governmental program.” Of course, where they draw the line is entirely subjective. Meaning it already is essentially a government program.

Malou Innocent:
One problem the Afghan government is having is trusting former militants who have decided to reconcile. Afghans are having trouble reintegrating, and for putting their trust in the government we back the Taliban is coming after them.

Michael F. Cannon:
ObamaCare's supporters knew it would be a government program in private-sector clothing, and did everything necessary to hide that fact (and the law's full cost) from the people: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/bland-cbo-memo-or-smoking-gun/.

Malou Innocent:
Qaddafi loyalists have taken Bani Walid
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/9033135/Libya-Gaddafi-loyalists-capture-Bani-Walid.html

capreble:
#SOTU OK. But there will still be twice as many U.S. troops in Afghanistan in January 2013 than there were when President Obama took office. [via Twitter]

Malou Innocent:
The United States can indeed collect actionable intelligence without a large-scale conventional presence on the ground.

Malou Innocent:
Obama tripled the number of troops, increased the number of drone strikes in neighboring Pakistan, and killed Osama bin Laden. We have more than enough “victories."

Malou Innocent:
We will stand for the rights and dignity of all humans, but not stand for the constitution.

Trevor Burrus:
And I have a follow up post to Michael Cannon's post about the constitutionality of obscuring the full costs of Obamacare: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/commandeering-the-people-to-avoid-taxation-a-reply-to-barnett-and-kerr/

Malou Innocent:
(The Libya intervention was conducted without Congressional authorization)

Malou Innocent:
Former secretary of defense Robert Gates warned that bombing Iran could trigger “generations of jihadists” and spawn other unpalatable consequences.


Malou Innocent:
Meir Dagan, the former head of Mossad, has said a strike on Iran would be “stupid."


capreble:
#SOTU The President says that Iran's leaders are faced with crippling sanctions. But who really pays? The Iranian people. [via Twitter]

jpodhoretz:
Boy is he nervous about the Jewish vote. [via Twitter]

Malou Innocent:
Again, Obama is trying to translate American leadership abroad into executive leadership in the economy.

kmanguward:
Poll: Voters say America is in decline http://thehill.com/polls/189273-the-hill-poll-most-voters-say-the-us-is-in-decline [via Twitter]

Malou Innocent:
Americans want the DoD to defend America, not democratize the Middle East, rebuild failed states, or protect wealthy allies.

capreble:
#SOTU We should stop subsidizing the defense of other countries that can and should defend themselves. [via Twitter]

nickgillespie:
Coming together: You put away all the differences, and we're one America. And that America is flat broke and on its back. #SOTU [via Twitter]

Malou Innocent:
Americans can serve themselves. Citizens don't need a higher purpose as bestowed to us by the president.

nickgillespie:
Breaking: Due to focus group input, next year the #SOTU will be called #STFU [via Twitter]

Malou Innocent:
Again, he's in campaign mode. Obama's OBL raid inoculated him from criticism on the right. Now he's draping himself in the flag to push more intervention in the economy.

Malou Innocent:
The speech is masterstroke for intervention, intervention, intervention, not jobs, jobs, jobs.

kmanguward:
Full circle: U.S. should be more like military. “@LucyStag: Seal Team togetherness=America.” [via Twitter]


Dan Mitchell:
Obamanomics compares unfavorably to Reaganomics.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/new-job-numbers-are-a-mixed-bag-for-the-economy-but-bad-news-for-obama/


Michael F. Cannon:
This nation is great because it was conceived in liberty.

Dan Mitchell:
Wow, the President said very little about jobs. And with numbers like this, I'm not surprised.
http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/new-unemployment-numbers-are-good-news-for-the-white-house-but-the-silver-cloud-has-a-dark-lining/


ishapiro:
I didn't do the math, but I'd ballpark that about 75-90% of O's proposals are unconstitutional. #SOTU [via Twitter]

Patrick J Michaels:
Long on central planning that will receive little legislative support. I suspect the bump he will get in the polls from this speech will be less than last year.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Sen. Rand Paul: ‘I’m Free!’ | CNSnews.com

(CNSNews.com) – After being stopped earlier today by TSA officials at the airport in Nashville, Tenn., Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a strong critic of TSA procedures, was interviewed on the radio where he declared, “I’m free. I’ve been released on my own recognizance.” He also, half-jokingly added, “You don’t want to travel with me either, I don’t know, I might be a magnet for problems.”
Sen. Rand Paul: ‘I’m Free!’ | CNSnews.com

Video: Intelligence Officer: Ron Paul Is Right on Iran

Friday, January 20, 2012

Video: Council on Foreign Relations Calls for Bombing Iran



This is my first time watching a John Birch Society video. I was told, after I saw this video, to be careful of this group by a conservative/libertarian friend.

Ron Paul Campaign Criticizes GOP Opponents on National Debt and Spending | CNSnews.com

Paul’s campaign notes that Gingrich, as a member of the House, voted to raise the debt ceiling in 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, twice in 1989 and twice in 1990.

Santorum, as a member of the Senate, voted to raise the debt ceiling in 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.
Ron Paul Campaign Criticizes GOP Opponents on National Debt and Spending | CNSnews.com

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

WHO concerned that H5N1 flu research findings could be used by bio-terrorists

(GoinsReport.com) – The World Health Organization is concerned about the “potential negative consequences” that could stem from bioterrorists manipulating research being conducted by several institutions on whether changes in the H5N1 influenza virus could result in more human-to-human transmissions.

“H5N1 influenza viruses are a significant health risk to people for several reasons. Although this type of influenza does not infect humans often, when it does, approximately 60% of those infected die,” the statement said.

It continued: “In addition, because these viruses can cause such severe illness in people, scientists are especially concerned that this type of influenza could one day mutate so it spreads easily between people and causes a very serious influenza pandemic.”

The WHO noted that research which sheds lights on these viruses and mitigate risks to the public is “a scientific and public health initiative” and must continue.

WHO maintains that while such research must continue to increase public knowledge, it also holds that such research has risks.

“Therefore such research should be done only after all important public health risks and benefits have been identified and reviewed, and it is certain that the necessary protections to minimize the potential for negative consequences are in place,” the statement said.

The research has caused concern within the WHO because of its potential to undermine the new Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) framework adopted by all WHO Member States.

The PIP framework, which came into effect in May 2011, is a guide “to the sharing of influenza viruses with pandemic potential and the resulting benefits,” or, in other words, the sharing physical samples of influenza virus strains and isolates.

Before the PIP framework came into effect and before negotiations over the framework began, scientists who led studies received their virus samples from the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN).

The new requirement in the PIP framework requires laboratories that received physical samples of influenza viruses with pandemic potential through the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System to “collaborate with, and appropriately acknowledge, scientists in countries where the virus originated when initiating research.”

WHO thinks it’s “critically important” that scientists who do research with influenza viruses abide by the new requirements.

WHO communications official Donna Eberwine-Villagran said that both bio-terrorists getting a hold of information in the studies and the H5N1 strain developing into something more transmissible among humans are real potential risks in this type of research but that neither one concerns WHO more than the other.

“We wouldn’t weigh one against the other,” the WHO official said.

She also said that WHO does not know if terrorists even have the capacity to utilize the research and added that WHO had no group of terrorists in mind when they released the statement in late December.

While there have been confirmed cases that appear to have involved limited human-to-human transmission of the virus, Eberwine-Villagran said that to WHO’s knowledge none of these have been used in a bio-terror attack.

The statement does not mention what institutions are conducting studies on H5N1.

Ron Paul calls for repeal of detainee rules, slams Lindsey Graham - The Hill's Floor Action

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) took to the House floor Wednesday morning to call on his colleagues to support his new legislation that would repeal controversial language that he and others believe could lead to the detention of Americans for terrorist activities without due process.

Paul’s bill would repeal Section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which President Obama has already signed into law. That section states that the government can detain anyone who has “substantially supported certain terrorist groups.”
Ron Paul calls for repeal of detainee rules, slams Lindsey Graham - The Hill's Floor Action

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

My Bio

My intellectual interests are New Perspective Theology (NP on Paul; NP on Jesus) and the life and teachings of Jesus in his original cultural and linguistic settings, Political Theory, the literature of John Updike, Austro-Libertarianism, Satire in the Bible, and the Christian anarchist tradition of Jacques Elul and Leo Tolstoy.

I am a member of the Ludwig Von Mises Institute and my reportorial work has been published in prominent newspapers in the Washington DC area.

Ron Paul is my homeboy!

Follow me on twitter @GoinsReport

What does it mean to 'support Israel'? Voddie Baucham Explains

Voddie Baucham, Pastor of Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, explains what it means to "support Israel":
But there’s a more important question: “What does it mean to “support” Israel?” Does it mean that Israel remains God’s “Chosen People,” and we must stand with them in anticipation of the coming Armageddon? Is the President to act as “Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces” and “Supreme Defender of Israel”? Or are we simply to make sure the foreign aid dollars don’t stop flowing? Here are a few things I took into to consideration in evaluating Congressman Paul’s foreign policy.

Israel is the most powerful nation in the Middle East… BY A LONG SHOT! In fact, Israel could potentially defeat all the other military powers in the Middle East simultaneously if they had to.

We not only give money to Israel; we give money to their enemies as well. That is not supporting Israel! That is using money to buy influence in a region thousands of miles away from us in the name of oil, when we happen to have the largest repository of oil on planet earth right here in the US, but refuse to go and get it (in the name of Earth-worshipping environmentalism)!

Israel is a sovereign nation, and we have no right to treat her like a child. Our foreign aid has been a tool used to influence Israel’s domestic policy for far too long. If we are their friends, we should allow them to exercise their sovereignty without our interference, and certainly without our condemnation. Who do we think we are? No, I disagree with my Christian brothers and sisters who think a country who supports Israel’s enemies, interferes with Israel’s domestic policy, condemn’s Israel in efforts to keep ties with oil-rich countries in the region, and helps to destabilize and radicalize one of Israel’s historic foes lurking on her southern boarder is engaging in a foreign policy that supports Israel.
His other comments are just as important:
However, there is a deeper issue here. There is a sort of misplaced Dispensationalism that governs people’s sentimental attitude toward Israel. Let me state clearly that I do not believe the Bible demands that the U.S. support Israel. I do, however, believe that it is wise to do so for geopolitical reasons. To do so for theological reasons, I believe, is actually misguided, and quite dangerous. Nevertheless, Israel is our only true ally in the Middle East, and that is important.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

What is the market economy? (Part Two)

Mises answers again in Human Action:
The market is not a place, a thing, or a collective entity. The market is a process, actuated by the interplay of the actions of the various individuals cooperating under the division of labor. The forces determining the — continually changing — state of the market are the value judgments of these individuals and their actions as directed by these value judgments. The state of the market at any instant is the price structure, i.e., the totality of the exchange ratios as established by the interaction of those eager to buy and those eager to sell. There is nothing inhuman or mystical with regard to the market. The market process is entirely a resultant of human actions. Every market phenomenon can be traced back to definite choices of the members of the market society.
Ludwig Von Mises quoted in Mises on Money

What is the market economy? (Part One)

Mises answers in Human Action:
The market economy is the social system of the division of labor under private ownership of the means of production. Everybody acts on his own behalf; but everybody's actions aim at the satisfaction of other people's needs as well as at the satisfaction of his own. Everybody in acting serves his fellow citizens. Everybody, on the other hand, is served by his fellow citizens. Everybody is both a means and an end in himself, an ultimate end for himself and a means to other people in their endeavors to attain their own ends.
Ludwig Von Mises quoted in Mises on Money

Gary North on the Price of Liberty

What is good for the world would not be good in the short run for gold bugs, of whom I am chief. That is the price of liberty.
Gary North, Mises on Money

Video: Ron Paul Speaking @ Cato's 29th Annual Monetary Policy Conference



I was there.

For an exclusive story I wrote on this go here.

The lead is below:
Washington (GoinsReport.com) – When asked whether he agreed with GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain on his suggestion that Federal Reserve should go back to a single mandate focusing on price stability, GOP Presidential Candidate Ron Paul said that he “hardly” agrees.

Price stability refers to the concept that prices levels are constant enough that people won’t take into account price inflation when making decisions as a consumer – not that the value of the dollar will remain the same.

On numerous occasions this year, including at the CNN-Tea Party Republican debate in September and during a press conference with reporters at TeaCon 2011, Herman Cain said that he did not want to end the FED but return it to a single mandate where the central bank allegedly only focused on price stability.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

An email to a friend on why I won't vote for Gingrich

What I wrote below is kind of long so read it when you have time. It's a little sporadic

:-)

----- Why I wouldn't vote for Gingrich (continuing our talk from last time) ----

In the meantime, I don't think Newt is electable outside of South Carolina. I think he is like Santorum and Hunstman who staked their claims in the earlier primary states and are now doing poorly out of those states. Money bags Mitt ( sorry I couldn't resist) and Ron Paul have the money and the following in all states and are the only two candidates on every ballot in all 50 states. Paul is the true conservative alternative to Mitt Romney.

(Yea he's a libertarian but most if not all of his positions can be arrived at by a strict adherence to the constitution. I was a constitutionalist and paleo-conservative in 2008 before I became a libertarian in 2009ish and although I didn't vote Paul then, I would have had he not dropped out [I think that's what I was thinking then])

Even if Newt claims to be a Reagan conservative, he surely doesn't unite people like one. I think he alienates voters and says things that are offensive to really sensitive people. Like his Palestinian comment. He gives the liberal media too much ammo to fire back at him. His attitude and zingers are sometimes really insensitive and unhelpful even if there is some truth to it.

What does the liberal media have on ron paul? "Oh he wants people to die!!!"

As an African-American, as much as I don't like invoking race, I don't think he'd do very well with our group. African-American voters tend to be very conscious about laws that discriminate against African-Americans and Newt has no interest in decriminalizing drugs which, as Ron Paul rightly points out, disproportionately puts blacks in the slammer and breaks up black families.

I think Paul has some work to do in this respect, but people are coming around to him. Heck, my grandma told me she likes Ron Paul and she's a Barack supporter and hates the GOP congress.

Newt's solution has been "well, we need to encourage kids not to do drugs." His real words were: "I think the best thing is to get young people not to do drugs and then you won't be dealing with criminals that you just described."

That is not realistic and ignores too much. Drugs attract people precisely because its illegal and lucrative just like during the prohibition era with alcohol. There are no more Al Capone's of Alchohol. But drug kingpins abound.

Ron Paul has acknowledged many times about the injustices in the judicial system for many, many years. During the same time he was sending those "racist" newsletters, he also gave a speech on the racist origins of the drug war.

So despite whatever feeling he used to harbor about blacks, his policies scream "justice and anti-racism." He would also pardon all non-violent drug crimes no matter race a person is. That puts families back together. You could even say that decriminalizing drugs is a pro-family position. It also saves the prison systems, and thus the taxpayer, some cash.

Plus, Mr. Historian got his history wrong on drug decriminalization in Europe to support his stance.

I want you to take a look at Newt's response again. That response was in the exact same spirit as his response over the Patriot Act with Ron Paul. He said something to the effect of "if you don't like the Patriot Act, then don't conspire with terrorists." I think that's wrong. The Patriot Act sacrifices so many of our civil liberties over to the government. Newt's response to our grief and discomfort is "just stay in line, citizen!" -- at least thats how he comes off as: inflexible, imperious, callous.

There are still injustices in our country that are still going on and Newt's answers are quite callous, in some respects.

Other things:

~Fear mongering over an EMP attack
~His main argument seems to be he's not Obama. Yes, there are difference on taxes but his policies don't go far enough for me. He's not truly free-market.
~He comes off as a "soft technocrat," once again anti-free market.
~His recent attacks on Mitt Romney working at Bain Capital are left-wing anti-capitalistic attacks.
~He is erratic and proves Peggy Noonan's point about being a "human hand grenade who walks around with his hand on the pin, saying, "Watch this!"
~His erraticism is also why I can forgive Ron Paul's waffling on some issues, but not Newt's. Newt does it too dang much!
~Wanting to take covert actions on Iran and kill Iranian scientists.
~Constitutional Questions with the Contract With America
~Day One Executive orders sets bad precedent for future Presidents
~He's a Reagan Conservative, yet he won't completely end the Department of Education like Reagan desired; Ron Paul will.
~He's overhauling the government by making it more efficient.
~I'm not sure if he's cutting anything. Where are the cuts in his plan?
~And his contract with America asks for too much from citizens. come up with ideas yourself Newt.
~On the same note, he needs to look at what he's asking for from the eyes of the other side i.e. people who aren't his supporters. I don't want to "help Newt" if I don't support him. He has to make me believe in his cause first.

Ron Paul can end an era with his policies. Gingrich's policies keep that era in place. Ron Paul strikes at the root. Gingrich hacks at the branches.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

NIA is a Scam -- Do not promote their videos


I've distrusted this source since early last year. See my post "A Note on the National Inflation Association."

Iran: The Case Against the Next War « Antiwar.com Blog

The Case Against the Next War is “a concise package on foreign policy with Iran and Israel because [young activists] desired a resource to show parents and family something with integrity,” says Nick Hankoff. The 26 year old media consultant created the presentation for his local GOP group which as he noted in a brief interview with Antiwar.com, made up of new activists under 30. Click here for a media presentation which cuts through the now daily onslaught of anti-Iranian propaganda.
Iran: The Case Against the Next War « Antiwar.com Blog

Ron Paul says corporate medicine not much better than socialized medicine - The Hill's Healthwatch

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) said the current healthcare system is overly corporate and not much better than a socialized healthcare system during a town hall in Meredith, New Hampshire on Sunday.

Paul, a physician, said he began practicing medicine in the 1950s before Medicare and Medicaid, so the government had a minimal role in the healthcare system. He said that since President Lyndon Johnson introduced the idea of a federal role in healthcare costs have skyrocketed and the system has become controlled by corporations instead of the government.
Ron Paul says corporate medicine not much better than socialized medicine - The Hill's Healthwatch

Friday, January 6, 2012

A Constitutional Agenda for Social Conservatives by Gary North

Gary North agrees with me on so many things. He has the same solution to the same-sex marriage/homosexuality debate as I do. You have to read the article to find out.
Social conservatives need to decide: head-banging or the Constitution.

Social liberals want to free up head-banging in these five areas, so as to have more money to spend on head-banging in the areas of federal regulation of the economy.

The correct agenda for social conservatives is simple: vote for Congressmen and Senators who follow these rules: (1) Constitutional authorization of all laws; (2) reduced taxation; (3) budget in surplus; (3) debt reduction; (4) de-funding of the executive. In one phrase: Shrink the federal government. There is only one social conservative who favors this agenda.

It isn't Newt Gingrich.
A Constitutional Agenda for Social Conservatives by Gary North || LewRockwell.com

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Christian Radio Host Michael Brown speaks at Family Research Council

I saw another one of my heroes in person today. I even said "hello" but not much more than that. I might say something next time around...if there is a next time.


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Rick Santorum v. Limited Government

The following post can be read before or after you read the Ultimate Rick Santorum Take Down.

Rick Santorum v. Limited Government

Iran Missile Drill Results Exaggerated, Images Photoshopped

It turned out the missiles weren't that long range after all.

The Qhader missile, introduced in September, has a range of just 124 miles. The U.S. Navy's fifth fleet in Bahrain is 150 miles from Iran. Israel is four times farther.

"We've seen that they've photoshopped, for example, photographs of missile tests before to make it look more impressive than it actually is, so I would take all this with a grain of salt. I think this is mainly posturing. It's gamesmanship. And it's again meant to send a message that the Iranians aren't simply going to sit back while their oil is sanctioned," said Michael Singh, Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Iran Missile Drill Results Exaggerated, Images Photoshopped

WCF Chapter One "Of Holy Scripture" Sunday School (Sept.-Oct. 2021)

Our text for Sunday School (also "The Confession of Faith and Catechisms") Biblical Theology Bites What is "Biblical Theology...