The Lonely Conservative discusses a documentary by Thet Sambath about the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge in Kampuchea, "Enemies of the People". Thet spends three years trying to get the truth out of the second in command of the Khmer Rouge, Nuon Chea, the man who asked Pol Pot to run the party.
According to Chea, the Khmer Rouge was a “clean regime… a peaceful regime,” until they were “sabotaged” by “enemy spies.”
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sultans of Swat
In regards to "natural" or "inalienable" rights, there is a very disturbing trend of the increasing use of swat teams across the country even against non-violent offenders of civil laws or agency regulations.
The main point is that these raids are becoming routine especially against non-violent offenders such as participants in food co-ops and that recent one in California for the suspected fraud on student loans. Why on earth would anyone authorize use of a swat team for something like that? That is the question everyone should be asking our elected officials.
John Whitehead sums it up nicely in SWAT Team Mania: The War Against the American Citizen at the Rutherford Institute. (h/t to Publius Huldah for the link who also has an interesting post about Cut, Cap, and Balance at that link which is worth a read)
The main point is that these raids are becoming routine especially against non-violent offenders such as participants in food co-ops and that recent one in California for the suspected fraud on student loans. Why on earth would anyone authorize use of a swat team for something like that? That is the question everyone should be asking our elected officials.
John Whitehead sums it up nicely in SWAT Team Mania: The War Against the American Citizen at the Rutherford Institute. (h/t to Publius Huldah for the link who also has an interesting post about Cut, Cap, and Balance at that link which is worth a read)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
What the Hell are Rights Anyway?
That's all we hear these days: Rights, freedom of speech, right to life, right to bear arms, liberty, natural rights, religion, 4th amendment rights, etc. My rights, your rights... Rights.
Imagine this… A right is the ultimate fiction, nothing more than an abstract idea propagated by men along with “the law” to control men and induce them to act in a certain way within a society. There are no rights in the natural world, only constant struggle. You are endowed by your creator or nature not with rights, but only your five senses and various characteristics or skills such as speed, agility, endurance, and intellect to assist you in that struggle. Life exists only as long as you can successfully use those senses and apply those characteristics in struggle or join with others to avoid or ward off conflict with anything bigger and badder that has a compulsion or desire to deprive you of it.
The Constitution is nothing more than a pact between mere mortal men to collaborate in a group effort to protect each other’s lives, liberty and property from those forces, both foreign and domestic, wishing to deprive them. It has been and always will be under attack and is only as good as our mutual continued support to engage in the struggle to defend it to preserve equality, justice, and fairness for all.
An intriging parallel can be drawn between the Battle at Kruger in the embedded video below and the concept of rights and the struggle of interactions between the federal and state governments and the people. Watch it, think, and then let's discuss.
Imagine this… A right is the ultimate fiction, nothing more than an abstract idea propagated by men along with “the law” to control men and induce them to act in a certain way within a society. There are no rights in the natural world, only constant struggle. You are endowed by your creator or nature not with rights, but only your five senses and various characteristics or skills such as speed, agility, endurance, and intellect to assist you in that struggle. Life exists only as long as you can successfully use those senses and apply those characteristics in struggle or join with others to avoid or ward off conflict with anything bigger and badder that has a compulsion or desire to deprive you of it.
The Constitution is nothing more than a pact between mere mortal men to collaborate in a group effort to protect each other’s lives, liberty and property from those forces, both foreign and domestic, wishing to deprive them. It has been and always will be under attack and is only as good as our mutual continued support to engage in the struggle to defend it to preserve equality, justice, and fairness for all.
An intriging parallel can be drawn between the Battle at Kruger in the embedded video below and the concept of rights and the struggle of interactions between the federal and state governments and the people. Watch it, think, and then let's discuss.
(Updates )
17 Mar 2013 - Adding this link The Right to Life - From the blog of Philip Schuyler. Interesting thoughts worth a look.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Public Unions, the War on Smokers, and ACORN - What Do They Have In Common?
Daniel Bice over at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Online informs us that, "Firefighters union throws cold water on 9-11 float". (h/t Bot for spreading the news)
The reason behind this union decision is the sponsor of this particular float, Matt Gorniak, has opted out of the union as allowed by a provision in his contract in that employees may elect to pay only their fair share of the union dues which are used for the associated costs of negotiating contracts. Under Wisconsin state law, employees do not have to pay the portion of dues that funds the union's political lobbying, social, and ideological activities to the labor organization, but may instead donate that portion to a charity. This applies as long as such a provision is approved by referendum under the bargaining unit agreement with the employees.
I've said before that we shouldn't judge all teachers (or cops or firefighters for that matter) by the spectacle of the union protests in Madison. Many were silent for obvious reasons and it's a good development to see some start opting out and speaking out. It warrants repeating:
The reason behind this union decision is the sponsor of this particular float, Matt Gorniak, has opted out of the union as allowed by a provision in his contract in that employees may elect to pay only their fair share of the union dues which are used for the associated costs of negotiating contracts. Under Wisconsin state law, employees do not have to pay the portion of dues that funds the union's political lobbying, social, and ideological activities to the labor organization, but may instead donate that portion to a charity. This applies as long as such a provision is approved by referendum under the bargaining unit agreement with the employees.
I've said before that we shouldn't judge all teachers (or cops or firefighters for that matter) by the spectacle of the union protests in Madison. Many were silent for obvious reasons and it's a good development to see some start opting out and speaking out. It warrants repeating:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)