Obama and Dependence

Well, it is clear that BO gave one hell of a speech tonight. As usual, it was a rhetorical masterpiece with a delivery to match. And for those who have been critical of the lack of substance to date, they are going to have to find a new angle of attack (it shouldn't be hard). Obama set forth 29 specific policy proposals in the acceptance speech - the majority of which are predicated on the idea that government can solve all our ills, with the possible exception of the ones it causes, of course... So here we go. This is the vision for "change" - only it's not a fundamental change. That is, unless you view regressing to the collectivist dogma practiced by our tribal ancestors as a positive step forward... I'm just so frustrated. Furthermore, the more I think back on the speech, the one line that continues to bug me more and more by the minute was BO's attack on the "ownership society" (the single Bush policy that I whole-heartedly favor). Despite my efforts, I can't begin to understand the opposition to self-empowerment. Ownership is the essence of individualism and a pre-requisite for human liberty. And the inverse of the concept is control, dependence and enslavement. Unforuntantely, the candidate I support endorses the latter. My cynicism permeates.

Biden Remorse

It's getting harder and harder to be excited about an Obama victory in November. Luckily, McCain continues to make it far easier than it should be... But, I have to wonder aloud a bit about the Biden pick. I mean, seriously, BO. Joe Biden? (more here, here and here). Is this the "change we can believe in"??? The man who proposed, and was in favor of, the Patriot Act before 9/11? The man who proposed the creation of a federal drug czar before Nancy was telling us to "just say no"? A Great Society liberal who apparently sits up at night yearning for ways to expand state power over our lives. Um. Mr President-elect, this ain't change.

How to Destroy An Economy

Amity Shales discusses 5 policies that created and/or worsened the Great Depression (w. comparisons to today):

1. Giving in to protectionism.

2. Blaming the messenger.

3. Increasing taxes in a downturn.

4. Assuming bigger government will bring back growth.

5. Ignoring the cost of inconsistency.

Organic = Non-Sustainable?

According to Nina V. Fedoroff:

If everybody switched to organic farming, we couldn’t support the earth’s current population — maybe half.

Hm. Whole thing here.

Power of the People

Tim Lynch comments on this instance of jury nullification and federal drug laws:

The framers of the American Constitution considered it to be part and parcel of what a criminal jury trial was all about. Some state constitutions, such as Indiana, Maryland and Oregon, explicitly provide that juries have the power to judge the law and the facts in criminal cases. Judges are the ones that have undermined the “rule of law” by pretending those provisions mean the opposite of what they say.

BHO Shreds the Gnar

Stock rises.

I'm sure that most people don't care, but I kind of like the fact that BHO is down with waves. Beats pretending like he's a hunter, anyway.

Leather Clad Catwomen For Paul