Pepsi Throwback is here to stay!

I know you don’t care.

I know most people don’t care.

I enjoyed Pepsi so much as a child that just thinking about it in a glass with that sort of crunchy barrel shaped ice is enough to make me cry.  You laugh?  You laugh at me?  DO I LAUGH AT YOUR DREAMS?  I do, you’re right…but I’m a jerk.

I rarely drink a sugary pop that often anymore but when I do, I’m reaching for Pepsi Throwback until it’s discontinued again or some knucklehead in a boardroom changes the formula to something similar to the more conventional taste of fizzy ass tonic now occupying Pepsi bottles.

You go ahead and laugh at me,  see if I care.  For this has been the happiest I’ve been all day.

Wisconsin

For some reason every job I've had the last 15 years has sent me to Wisconsin. I've been a few times and I'm going back this April.

The reason I'm going back is to attend a Financial Management conference scheduled months and months ago with regard to schools. It will be fun to hear about how they're handling things in that state given the protests in the Capitol building.

One thing that I find pretty interesting as I watch is the deliberate attempt to put a halt to business by breaking their quorum rules. Right now their state Senate assembly can only operate as a committee. Could you imagine if Federal lawmakers in Washington DC left the country to stop the healthcare bill?

Breaking a quorum to stop business is a normal parliamentary trick that is used but it's only real helpful when there are time limits set to certain types of business. The idea is that you can just wait out business based on rules that the assembly uses but in this case the legislation will wait and in fact since the remaining legislature exists as the only operating committee they are forfeiting all of the priorities of the assembly over this one issue. The democrats to fled the state are counting on protesters to bully the remaining assembly into changing their mind.

Overall this may be a good thing as the legislature can't "fix" all of their state's other problems. Maybe a shutdown of government will help people understand how little they need it most of the time.

CPAC

I could never go to CPAC. I know this to be true of myself. When I find myself in the same room with nutbar conservatives I get very uncomfortable. Hell, sometimes I'm uncomfortable hanging around other libertarians as there is usually one that jabs his elbow into my ribs and says "You know 9/11 was an inside job, right?"

So anyway, Ron Paul won the straw poll. He got 30% of the votes and you know what it means? It means that his Campaign for Liberty did a good job of organizing people to go to CPAC because paleo-conservatives and libertarians love pissing off neo-conservatives. I know...it sounds crazy to mention all these fringe groups in the same sentence, but it's true.

Ron Paul cannot win the election and more importantly cannot win a Republican primary. Too many Republicans want our military might bossing the world around, a fence to keep Mexicans in Mexico (unless they're watching their kids or doing their laundry) and of course they want gay people back in the closet...especially gay people in their own party. Insane.

The real news is that a relatively unknown candidate who introduced himself to CPAC came in a distant 3rd place with 6% of the vote. A guy who I endorsed in December of 2009. I like Gary Johnson and if he runs he will get my vote...no matter what Ron Paul decides to do.

Ron Paul should not run because he actually has a role to play in congress. His job there at a significant time in this nation is just too important. We need more sensible Republicans in congress like Ron Paul...and fewer like the current Speaker of the House.

I'll be posting on a bunch of non-political stuff soon...promise.

Well hey there!

I was never really gone, just lost my way.

I've changed up a lot of things on the home front and am trying to get used to some transitions.

1. I've been out of the Microsoft environment now for quite awhile and have been using Ubuntu more at home. I've just now replaced about everything I was doing in the Windows world. My motivations are really more economical than they are some sort of binary revolution. This is the first distribution of Linux I've used that doesn't make me say "how neat...now I'll go back to Windows and get some work done." Like always it's free and if you make a boot up disc you can just try it out on the disc without installing it on your system. It may interest you though it's probably not for everyone in the PC world.

2. Having 2 kids is more work than I thought. Let me put it a different way. Being better than my own parents has turned out more difficult...mailing it in as a parent is rather easy. I'm doing my best not to do so.

3. Politics has been rather boring lately. Same old story. Welfare/warfare rolls on...but I'm watching the newly elected federal officials and have found a couple of things to be pretty exciting. Al Franken and Rand Paul have been talking and getting along swimmingly and Ralph Nader and Ron Paul have talked about the need for a Progressive/Libertarian coalition. This could really help carve out a debate about the role of government should be in this country.

4. A federal judge amazingly ruled that not engaging in commerce is well...not commerce. Imagine that!

5. We've put the Dave and Steve Show on hiatus while we're working on other projects (Dave is working on being fancy animator, Steve is opening a hot dog stand, and my Business Analyst job rolls on while I'm pounding out a new writing project that I'll share later.

Anyway, I missed you. You know who you are.

Another Korean War?

The news seems to indicate that North Korea is agitated and shelled an island in the Yellow Sea along part of the disputed border on the peninsula.

So what had them agitated? Besides the fact that they are looking to make a transition from one psycho dictator to another, they seemed to want to send a message in response to another event.

The US and South Korea were doing their own military and naval exercises earlier hoping to send some sort of message. Now that the North has shelled a few houses we've responded by sending a aircraft carrier task force to the region.

I've said for years that if you want to find a war, send your navy out into the sea and they'll find one for you. Now as the situation remains tense, we're only one accident or misunderstanding from it escalating into a war on a small highly populated peninsula.

Of course we're told that we can't remain neutral because we have too much as stake. But somehow China has remained neutral despite being a neighbor to the region and would more than likely would be a host to millions of refugees if a war broke out. With more at stake they seem to understand that staying out of it may be a good idea.

South Korea has a GDP ten times that of North Korea. If they were able to defend themselves without our intervention, I would imagine that North Korea would never attack them for fear of being completely destroyed.

On the bright side it may spark a brand new M*A*S*H sitcom.

So, how did the election go?

I cast a vote on my ballot for only a single candidate and he's hanging on by a thread as more votes roll in. I'm sad to say that the returns indicated that my cat did not win a single race for which he was a write-in. Chairman Meow is already over it.

Prop 19 in California failed and this saddened me quite a bit. It's only a matter of time before it passes in some state.

In my state we seem to like state-run liquor stores. I voted to allow liquor to be sold in public schools and daycare centers but it failed.

My state elected a pro warfare/welfare senator (Patty Murray) who is just an embarrassment in so many ways. She ran against Dino Rossi who is a neocon flavored warfare/welfare candidate. I had nobody to vote for on this one and on many as my party is routinely shut out of ballots due to election laws in my state.

I voted against the introduction of an Income Tax in my state and it was soundly defeated. I'm against an income tax on principle. Taxing someone's productive effort to survive is immoral in my view. It was sold to voters as a tax on the rich (accurately) but as Washington State will no doubt suffer from more budget crises in the future, I can only imagine the eligible marginal rates dropping until I find myself paying both an income and sales tax.

Barney Frank was elected again and I couldn't be happier. He is the one Democrat not named Dennis Kucinich that will state very plainly where federal spending can be cut. The Pentagon may hate him but I'd vote for him.

Excise taxes on candy and soda were repealed in Washington state. I voted to repeal it though I had no passion about it. It's a fair tax probably.

Rand Paul won and he could be an interesting senator. Even many liberal blogs who spent the night and next day after the election whining could at least admit that Rand Paul's views on civil liberties, gay marriage, and the drug war could be a bright side. I hope Rand responds more like a libertarian than the paleo-conservative that won the election.

Oh, and while everyone is still talking about the election, the Federal Reserve introduced QE2 to centrally stimulate idle resources in the economic structure. I'd take bets with anyone who thinks the quantitative easing will amount to a lasting recovery, but you'll need to pony up with gold. Economic jokes are so lame.

I'm looking forward to the blessed gridlock that is sure to come. It worked for Clinton, and it will work for Obama too...prepare for the results from this last election to usher in the reelection of President Obama in 2012.

Nullification

There seems to be a reshaping of our republic going on lately with citizens of many states showing themselves as uncomfortable with the size and scope of government. 

Now I know just using the phrase “size and scope” of government seems like John Birch Society bunker dwelling language but in the modern age of government creep, the idea is reaching across the left/right political spectrum.

Sure 20 states have given the go ahead to sue the federal government on the basis that elements of Obamacare is not constitutional.  What would you expect from a bunch of right-wing nutjobs anyway, right? 

But now California has put on the ballot an initiative to legalize marijuana.  Now forget about the compassion argument of allowing California’s sick and infirmed access to the weed, we’re talking about full-on legalization.  Just putting this on the ballot is giving the citizens the choice of whether they want to abide by a federal law or not.  This sort of democracy is not exactly the sort of right of center thinking you’d expect from those openly questioning the “size and scope” of government.  President Obama’s administration has stated in a preemptive strike that they will “aggressively” enforce the Federal Controlled Substance laws no matter how California may decide to vote.

Thomas Woods wrote what I consider to be the best modern day discussion of Nullification and discusses it here in this video Interview with a Zombie.  Woods breaks through the popular notions that nullification is just a veiled term used to give cause for bigots to deny rights to some vulnerable minority.

Our federal government has over reached into our lives to such idiotic proportions that they’ve made enemies on both the left and the right.  And while that’s not necessarily surprising, it is however very surprising that those on the left and right are actually doing something about it.

More help from the Fed!

While China and Japan fight over who should top of the list of US Treasury Bills, there is a 3rd challenger making its way toward the top…The Federal Reserve itself!

The higher the Fed goes up on this list the less likely anyone else is finding a US Treasury Bill inviting.  There is only so far China is willing to devalue their own currency to keep pace with ours.  Ya know about that right?  The reason you can only buy things made in China is because, as our own currency loses its value, they become one of the few countries that matches our own devaluation. 

In a healthy economy if our currency became devalued it would be CHEAPER to build things in the USA.  Countries would see our value and relatively skilled workforce as an invitation to build their products by American workers but when China is your banker…you never really catch up as a country…even when your money buys less.

Now that in the last two years of the Bush administration and the first two of Obama’s we’re experiencing our once every three decade reminder that Keynesian economics fails about every time it’s tried.

And while I’m already not looking forward to hearing all of my so-called progressive friends whine and doing their best Henny Penny impression when so many Democrats are going to lose in November…I simply don’t see many of our countries idiotic monetary policies stopping.  

Don’t worry, I’m sure the geniuses at the Fed will figure it all out.

Provoking Muslims to Violence

President Obama stated correctly that as a practical matter, and as Commander-in-Chief the nobody Florida pastor who shepherds a giant flock of 55 people will likely put our troops in harms way if he continues with his stunt to burn the Muslim Holy Book.

Now never mind that they may already be incited to violence because of other things like:

• US Troops on the Arabian Peninsula
• Unmanned predator drones flying over Muslim countries
• Propping up unelected dictators of Muslim countries
• Secret international prisons
• Provoking Iran continually

But no, Mr. Obama actually magnifies a situation that would probably be ignored by the entire world.  As distasteful as burning things in protest is, it is a protected right.  After all, only distasteful acts require protecting.  But what right does this president or the last one have to engage in the list above on behalf of the American people?

You’re right Mr. Obama.  The actions of this stupid pastor in Florida will spark unnecessary international violence…but probably not as much violence as you spark in a single day. 

Our brave non-combat troops still fighting in Iraq

It hasn’t been very long since the last combat brigade has left Iraq and now American troops transition forces were left to defend an Iraqi military compound which was invaded by evil doers.

Still, the deadline for all US Troops to leave Iraq is 2012.  It’ll be interesting to see if that really does happen. 

Congratulations Canada!

I’m so proud of our progressive, globally conscious, and all around awesome neighbors to the north who made the brave and forward looking decision to stop spilling their poo poo and pee pee into the waters of my state.

Congratulations Canada, welcome to the 20th Century.

2nd Phase of Fake End of War Complete

The US just completed its second fake end to the war in Iraq and invented a new type of soldier known as the "Transition Soldier".

If you remember from Bush's speech on the USS Lincoln, he declared an end of "major combat operations" which was a necessary step to usher in troops from nations who agreed to go into Iraq in a new phase. We know how that went.

Now we're declaring that the last combat troops have left Iraq and crossed over into Kuwait. Hooray. Maybe they'll be redeployed to Afghanistan, but maybe not. But one problem still persists:

One of the major reason Bin Laden indicated for his continuing attacks on the US was our military presence on the Arabian peninsula, something not resolved by moving a brigade to Kuwait.

Are we any more safe with troops in Kuwait rather than Iraq? If an insurgency grows once again in Iraq is there any question that our troops will quietly return? Is this really the troop withdrawal everyone was counting on?

I just hope this is the last fake end of the war we have to celebrate.

What? Afghanistan going poorly?

I'm shocked.

Thanks to Wikileaks we're learning that even after flushing 1 billion dollars of foreign aid down the craphole that is Pakistan, their spy services are directing the Afghan insurgents with information to fight against U.S. troops.

Maybe 2 billion would get them to stop? 3 billion maybe?

Of course we have to be there in Afghanistan. How else will these poor souls, learn to have democracy unless we are there to occupy their country and eventually steal their lithium deposits.

Two years in to the Obama administration and try as I may I simply can't hear any muttering from the once active anti-war left. If any of you really are against war like you claimed then it's about time to break out your NO WAR FOR OIL LITHIUM signs.

...but on second thought you're probably still trying to figure out how to explain the most recent failures of Keynsian economics. Nevermind. In the long run we're all dead, right?

Finally a sensible policy discussion

Ron Paul and Barney Frank are engaging in a type of bi-partisan effort I couldn't be more in favor of. A reduction in federal spending to the tune of 1 Trillion dollars!

What's the catch?

It's a proposal to reduce military spending.

Many of you are already shaking your heads because military spending is off the table. To suggest cutting it is dismissed as irresponsible, unpatriotic, reckless and whatever other descriptions are thrown at the idea without even a thoughtful argument to accompany it. But here is a reality that can't really be argued: Our country is broke.

A good military spending reduction policy will not be to remove important weapons systems, but instead remove troops from hundreds of countries around the world. Yeah, yeah...I know some of you are foreign policy zombies and your knee just jerked up and hit the bottom of the desk where you're sitting as you screamed out the words "YOU'RE AN ISOLATIONIST!" Maybe it would help to give you a list of things to explore while discovering America's new role in this phase of economic disaster.

1. True Isolationism is borrowing so much foreign money that you can only afford to trade with countries that voluntarily devalue their own money. Importing from everywhere else becomes too expensive. We trade with fewer nations today than ever.

2. True isolationism is influencing trade on certain items by pressuring foreign nations with your navy and subsidizing dying industries at home. This was done prior to World War I and was called 'mercantilism". It failed then, it will fail again.

3. We station troops and our navy in Japan while they hold more US debt than any other nation. In short, we borrow from Japan to protect Japan.

4. National Guard units fighting overseas cannot assist in natural disasters or oil spills at home.

5. Being the policeman of the world is expensive in a country where true unemployment figures are hanging around 20%.

We need to come to our senses and realize that a 10 year program to reduce military spending by 1 Trillion Dollars is long overdue and needs to begin now.

Hey, I'm back

Took a month or so off to enjoy the arrival of my new son and try to sleep from time to time. Yeah, I know you missed me.

Congrats Mr. President

Your pledge to end the war in Iraq and bring 2 brigades of soldiers home each month until they were all home in 16 months was pretty much what I thought it was. You've been president 16 months now and every soldier removed from Iraq thus far has stayed in the region and replaced with more expensive military mercenaries contractors.

For every soldier that stays in the region we make five more enemies.

For every dollar of national defense spent overseas we weaken our overall defense and make Americans less safe.

Would've been nice if the "Hope" and "Change" we were promised meant a more reasonable foreign policy and not just tweaking the failed policies of Bush.

Turns out all cops aren’t heroes [UPDATED]

This area has seen some deaths among police officers and our whole region has been just worshiping these brave public servants. After all, whenever a police man is killed in the line of duty, it's never a bad cop that gets killed. It's always the mothers and fathers who were loved and respected in their community. Somehow the bad cops disappear or the media temporarily convinces everyone that they never really existed in the first place.

So now in Seattle, a freelance videographer, may have accidently discovered some bad cops. Watch it here.

I have no doubts that these officers have family too. I’m sure they have neighbors and friends who can claim that these public servants are upstanding citizens. These are the very cops our community would honor if they were hurt or killed while on duty.

I hope every one of these Costume Wearing City Sanctioned Thugs spends a great deal of time in jail for what they did to this person. I hope any officer who was close to this incident and didn’t try to stop this goes to jail too. These are the very people our community needs protection from. They are not heroes, they are criminals.

[UPDATE] The primary thug has now held a press conference (See here) and apologized for the racially insensitive remarks he made while he and his badged gang of heroes kicked the innocent latino while he was on the ground. Funny he never apologized for the assault which will hopefully put him in a cell of his own. I'm sure the apology has smoothed things over...I mean how can you not forgive people for calling you racially insenstive names while they're kicking you while you lay face down on a sidewalk?

Stop inviting me to your Tea Party

I’ve always believed that if you say no often enough to party invitations, then people will eventually stop inviting you. I’m not a person who likes parties and the Tea Party is no exception. Yet people still invite me.

I’m not coming to your Tea Party. Why you ask?

1. You’re intellectually dishonest about taxation and spending
2. You’re not sufficiently anti-war
3. You’re not serious about deficits
4. You’re mostly just Republicans
5. Some of you are disenchanted lefties with no friends

Like the guy who was the fan of the unsigned band that suddenly became popular, I was against spending before being a deficit hawk was popular. I was for civil liberties way before anyone was mad that they’d be forced to purchase medical insurance. I don’t own freedom’s greatest hits album…I have the original on 8-track and still listen to it from time-to-time. You guys are posers.

So please…stop inviting me to your party. I’m not coming.

So is it Constitutional? – Part 2

[updated: Now with complete sentences]

Arizona just passed a law that may require an individual suspected of being an illegal alien to prove citizenship or their legal right to be in the country. Is it Constitutional?

This one in my view isn’t very close. It is completely unconstitutional to ask someone to show their papers or even identify themselves if they’re not involved in an actual crime.

It’s funny how conservatives who claim to be against things like a National ID card, don’t have a problem with making someone who just may “look” like an illegal and therefore undocumented alien identify themselves.

I hope this is thrown out as quickly as the health insurance mandate.

The Fake Outrage about Stimulus Package Waste

I read in the news about every week some story about wasteful spending related to the stimulus packages from both Bush and Obama. If you had the chance to confront a politician about it you'd get some fake outrage about how terrible it is and they'll promise to look into it. You must understand though that if they voted for the stimulus funds believing that they would help the economy, they are LYING about their concern for how it was spent.

You have to understand first that anyone who supports this type of economic rescue plan does not believe there is such a thing as waste when it comes to stimulus. Every politician has an economist who is close to them and assures them that this money had to enter the economy somewhere, and it mostly doesn't matter where.

President Obama introduced his stimulus as being available for "shovel ready" jobs to assure you that people would go to work immediately, but we find out everyday that pieces of the whole plan were spent on some silly projects.

As Bastiat pointed out over a hundred years ago, people who believe in this type of economic system believe that even if you use the money to hire people to break windows, the glass man gets paid and when the glass man has money he will buy food and goods and services with it. For this reason Keynesian economists and the politicians they advise will only pretend to be outraged by where the money is spent.

The fatal mistake of these plans is that they ultimately put the financial money supply in the wrong places. This cannot be centrally planned. Instead they give resources to the politically connected at the expense of those who may use it productively. So if the money is spent to hire a guy to hold a shovel, resources for someone to build and manufacture a better shovel will be scarcer. Even well-meaning ideas like "green jobs" or some other centrally planned industry will put resources in a place that a free market won't...at least not yet.

Our nation's hope to pay back the debt we've been accumulating since the 1980's will come from either currency devaluation (pay back cheaper dollars than those we borrowed) or through increased productive capacity. It's doubtful we'll reach higher productivity with an economy supported by reinflated market bubbles waiting for the next round of government influenced mal-investment to be exposed.

I'd like to see some genuine outrage about the government's role in these recessions and less fake outrage over how their "rescue" plans were enacted.