VermontCampaignforLiberty.org

Economics in one short lesson

2012-01-25T16:05:00.003-05:00

Audrey Pietrucha“The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups.”- Henry HazlittThis is the one economic lesson taught in Henry Hazlitt’s aptly named classic, Economics in One Lesson. It is a lesson that has not been learned by

The Case for Christmas

2011-12-16T09:12:00.003-05:00

Audrey PietruchaT’is the season for religion in general and Christianity in particular to come under attack by the not-so-tolerant anti-god folks. Having pretty much eliminated any references to Christmas in our schools and other public spaces (Holiday Trees anyone?) they can now put all their energy into the battle against nativity scenes and Tim Tebow. At such a time it useful to consider the

The questionable value of experts

2011-11-17T11:25:00.002-05:00

By Audrey PietruchaAt the beginning of April of this year some of us were wondering if the baseball season was worth playing or if we should just go straight to the World Series. The experts had conducted their deep, thoughtful analysis and concluded, quite adamantly, it would be the Phillies and the Red Sox in the world championship games with the actual title somewhat up for grabs.It’s a good

Strange Bedfellows?

2011-10-17T09:03:00.004-04:00

The nationwide Occupy Wall Street protests (OWS) have also occupied much of the news and discussion this past month. What has gone largely unacknowledged, though, is how many concerns OWS shares with the Tea Party, which itself began as a reaction to the Wall Street bailouts and the U.S. government’s use of taxpayer money to intervene in the financial system. A few reforms OWS has called for with

US continues slide down economic freedom scale

2011-09-21T07:58:00.003-04:00

Audrey PietruchaIf economic and political liberties are necessarily linked, as many believe, then the United States’ reputation as the land of the free slipped a little further this week as documented in Economic Freedom of the World 2011 Annual Report. The 15th edition of the report, as compiled by the Cato Institute, the Frasier Institute of Canada and more than 70 think tanks from throughout

My musings for July 4th

2011-07-05T12:49:00.001-04:00

My yearly ritual of reading the Declaration of Independence with slide show.

New daily Blog on Liberty

2011-06-28T11:07:00.002-04:00

I have started a daily video blog entitled "Gadfly's Buzz" which is focussed on daily topics from the news. They are short (five minutes) takes on events and ideas I encounter each day. Check it out. I am currently working on a longer "Gadfly's Musings" which will be 15 minute weekly blogs discussing libertarian topics and ideas. So check out my channel VermontGadfly on youtube and let me know

Giving Bin Laden what he wanted

2011-06-17T19:36:00.007-04:00

The threat of war with France hung over the newly-formed United States of America when John Adams signed the Sedition Act on July 14, 1798. This law declared that treasonable activity, including the publication of "any false, scandalous and malicious writing," was a high misdemeanor, punishable by fine and imprisonment. As we look backward from our 21st century perch, we are puzzled how such a

Corporate Welfare at its Finest

2011-05-12T09:50:00.000-04:00

by Audrey PietruchaCongressman Peter Welch garnered headlines last week when he offered an amendment to HR 1230, a bill that would reopen off-shore oil leases canceled in the aftermath of the BP Gulf oil disaster. Welch’s amendment would “repeal taxpayer subsidies to the oil industry” according to a press release from his office."While oil companies are doing quite well, Vermonters are not. They

Free Market Solutions to Healthcare Dilemma

2011-03-04T12:10:00.005-05:00

Audrey PietruchaGovernor Peter Shumlin and his super legislative majority have received their federal waiver and can be expected to begin the conversion of Vermont’s health insurance system – what’s left of it – to a government-run single-payer plan in earnest and without much resistance. After two decades of government intervention in the health insurance market which, according to the

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: A Study in Unintended Consequences

2011-02-15T10:29:00.004-05:00

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s recent announcement of a plan to eliminate the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation - affectionately known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – included a shocking admission.Speaking of the federal government’s overwhelming involvement in the U.S. mortgage industry, Geithner said "I think it's absolutely the case

Civility does not justify censorship

2011-01-19T10:31:00.003-05:00

Audrey PietruchaMatthew Lyon is an unlikely hero. By some contemporary accounts he was somewhat of a politically- opportunistic boor. Yet early in the history of the American republic Lyons served the role of martyr to the cause of free speech and a free press and helped further our understanding of these rights as guaranteed by the first amendment to the Constitution.A short-time resident of

Why I would support the NEED Act

2010-12-21T22:14:00.003-05:00

If you said “This shouldn’t be a responsibility of the Federal government”, you’d be correct about 99% of the time. If you went on to say “This shouldn’t be a responsibility of government”, you’d be right at least 95% of the time ... giving some credit to the state and local.We certainly have ample and overwhelming evidence of the catastrophic failures resulting from central planning and

Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus!

2010-12-20T09:31:00.005-05:00

A couple of years ago my family spent some time during the Christmas season with my sisters, one of whom actually owns a Festivus pole. For those of you who don’t know, Festivus is a made-up holiday which was introduced to “the rest of us” on the television show Seinfeld. In addition to easily explainable events being labeled as "Festivus miracles,” traditions include the “Airing of Grievances,”

Washington in our pantries

2010-11-27T20:19:00.002-05:00

With Thanksgiving leftover still filling our fridges, it’s hard to think of something that brings people together more than food. This is true even in the political arena, where a controversial food safety bill is making strange bedfellows of such disparate groups as free-spirited organic farmers and other localvores and buttoned-down free-market think tanks types.At the center of debate is

Corporatism vs. Free Market Capitalism, (and a call to action)

2010-11-15T21:30:00.002-05:00

The idea of central planning as the underpinning of an economic system, whether labeled “Socialist”, “Communist”, or “Fascist” is repugnant to those who support free markets, or what might be broadly referred to as “Capitalism”.There is however an equally repugnant but more insidious system that has materialized without many open advocates or a genuine philosophical underpinning. For lack of a

Thoughts on Green Mountain Communes

2010-11-04T22:35:00.003-04:00

Green Mountain Communes: The Making of a Peoples’ Vermonthttp://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=7248I found this article giving a brief history of Vermont communes to be a fascinating read which should be enlightening for people across the political spectrum. The examples are a microcosmic genesis of contemporary political tension. I was entirely enthused with the concepts up until the

Have a cup of tea

2010-11-03T12:33:00.003-04:00

The American people have just erected the largest and most important trade barrier in history - they said no to the importation of European democratic socialism and decided it’s time to support to the greatest product this nation has ever produced domestically - constitutional government based on the principles of economic and political freedom.Oh, sure, there are still a few European wannabes

A September 12th Do-over

2010-09-11T09:30:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I fantasize about what I wish George W. Bush had said and done following the 9/11 attacks. My alternative version goes something like this:My Fellow Americans;My heart goes out to the victims of yesterday’s horrific attack at the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. It swells with deep admiration and gratitude for the courage and determination of the

Vermont Campaign for Liberty's Core Principles: Limited Constitutional Government

2010-09-09T10:28:00.005-04:00

Surprisingly one of the hardest plank in the VTC4L's "platform" to get across to people is the idea of limited Constitutional Government. Whenever it is mentioned, the average Joe's eyes glaze over and a hint of fear washes over their faces. This reaction is understandable given that we live in an age of Santa Claus politicians, entitlements, and the ubiquity of the Statist attitude. However, in

P Stands for Pravda in VPR

2010-09-02T10:20:00.002-04:00

Pravda By Deborah T. Bucknam Recently I read a story about a young American who stayed with a family in Leningrad during the Soviet era. The family would gather around the TV set every night to watch the news. The young man reported that the news was unvarying: great news from the Soviet Union, good news from Eastern Europe, and bad news from the West. Vermont Public Radio follows the

The Battle of Bennington and why it mattered

2010-08-11T11:58:00.002-04:00

On a foggy morning in August of 1777 about 2,000 men broke camp and prepared for battle. These members of the New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts militias were mostly farmers, not trained soldiers. The enemy they went to meet was a combination of regulars from the British Army, hired German soldiers, Native Americans, and even some of their own neighbors who remained loyal to the British

Liberty Trivia

2010-08-06T18:50:00.000-04:00

Q: Who is known as "The Father of Liberalism'? Answers: A. Thomas HobbesB. John LockeC. Karl MarxD. Jean-Jacques RousseauE. Some other dead white guy

An Evening at Bernie's

2010-08-04T09:27:00.000-04:00

I attended one of Bernie's Town Hall Meetings in Woodstock the other night. Here's my report: Bernie's 'Town Hall' meeting was a bit one-sided. There was one conservative vs. 100+ plus sycophants in the audience. The usual parade of 'gimme groups' was represented. At the table were 5 or 6 talking heads from the Windsor County Poverty Center (needs more funding) , Head Start (needs more funding

Don't Treat the Symptoms, Cure the Cause!- part 2: A friend visits

2010-08-01T08:26:00.003-04:00

The door to Bo DePaulotic's apartment slowly opened and in trudged Bo. His face was empty of emotion and his eyes a blank stare. However, inside his head, his mind was a racing as it tried to deal with the news that he just heard. While his mind was thus occupied, his body went into auto pilot and the habits of so many years just took over.His keys found their usual place on the entry way table.

A Bad Week for Liberty

2010-07-29T22:22:00.006-04:00

I thought this article from Glenn Greenwald at salon.com was worth sharing.http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/07/29/change/index.htmlIt's titled "this week in change" summarizing a few news items from the week which provide yet more evidence that nothing has really changed. In brief:1. Congress passes legislation to provide billions of dollars in new War funding2. The

Don't Treat the Symptoms, Cure the Cause!

2010-07-24T14:29:00.005-04:00

Bo DePaulitic rushed into the room. "Doctor!" he said in a panicked voice, "you got to help me!"Bo took a seat across from his physician. "I am desperate, you see.""What's the matter?" his doctor inquired. "Look" Bo stood up and showed his arms and chest to the doctor. They were covered in horrific sores. "You see," Bo said as he pointed to each sore, "I am covered in corruption, cronyism,

Musings on this Bastille Day.

2010-07-14T10:30:00.003-04:00

Today is Bastille Day in France, the equivalent of Independence Day in the United States. Since I am part French (which explains the constant use of my hands while talking and the frequent tears in my eyes), I find myself contemplating the nation of my roots and its history.This morning I found myself thinking on a particular event that happened just 94 years ago in the hills of eastern France.

Word Play

2010-07-10T08:24:00.000-04:00

As I settle into the cantankerous, contrary and curmudgeonly secondhalf of my life the following words or phrases make me smile - orwince. You hear them all the time by serious, well meaning and awfullyearnest people. "Fair Trade"Isn't trade fair by definition unless there is a monopoly or cartel inoperation which should be dealt with? What they really mean ispreferential or even unfair trade

The Uncommon Wisdom of Calvin Coolidge

2010-07-06T10:40:00.003-04:00

Now that the last hot dog has been eaten and the fireworks have faded from the sky it is interesting to reflect on the significance of July 4th in American history. Certainly the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which anniversary we just celebrated, it the most important event to take place on that date. History buffs also marvel that the author of that work, Thomas Jefferson, and

A thank you note

2010-07-05T09:42:00.004-04:00

To: President Hancock, Mr. Adams, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Livingston, and the Congress AssembledDear Sirs:I have been taught that for every gift a note of thanks is in order. On this anniversary of your most precious gift to me and my family, I write you this note of appreciation for the gift given all those years ago.It is hard to summarize the wonder and beauty of the

Porc Fest Blog Day Seven/Eight

2010-06-28T19:20:00.003-04:00

This is the final blog entry relative to the Porc Fest for this year. I am writing this from the comfort of my own home.Day seven allowed us to sleep in a little, but by 9 am we were out and about visiting vendors, chatting with other campers, and catching more seminars including an up date about Line Plot Productions' Silver Circle Movie. I then posed for imaging photos which may be used in the

Porc Fest Blog Day Five/Six

2010-06-26T09:05:00.004-04:00

Sorry for not posting on Thursday, but the action kicked off and I didn't get home until after midnight the last two nights. Thursday morning started with setting up the Pavilion Tent and Canopy to make the "Vermont Campaign for Liberty Theater." Pictures to be posted on the meet up group when we get home. Next, we went our seperate ways, each family member following their own bliss. I went

Porc Fest Blog Day Four

2010-06-23T23:26:00.005-04:00

It's 11:27 pm as I type this and I am exhausted. This is the only chance I had today to blog about the events of the next few days.Today, we went sight seeing again with the girls and were gone just a few hours. When we got back, it was like a liberty tidal wave had hit Rogers. Free Staters/Libertarians were everywhere. Half of the sites were now occupied and even though the festivities were

Porc Fest Blog Day Three

2010-06-22T20:32:00.002-04:00

After posting last nights blog, the family and I listened to a rebroadcast of Free Talk Live, the liberty oriented radio program coming over the internet from Keene, NH (http://www.freetalklive.com/). During the program, a person from Michigan called in from the road. His name was Kurt. He and his wife were driving from Michigan straight to Lancaster, NH for the Porcupine Fest. A trip of 18 hours

Porc Fest Blog Day Two

2010-06-21T17:43:00.003-04:00

Many roads to the same destination.A nice day today. Went sight seeing all the way down to Conway, NH. The family had a good time.As part of this vacation I have been making it a point to read a book given to me at the Liberty Forum entitled "Secure the Blessings of Liberty" by Robert Jones, an attorney from out in the mid west. The book deals with the understanding of the Constitution and how

porc fest blog day one

2010-06-20T22:03:00.002-04:00

Though the Porc fest is not due to start for another four days, the family and I decided to make a week of it. So we rented an RV at Roger's Campground and spent today settling in. The area is beautiful and the campground seems a good location.Maria and I rented a tent site as well and will be putting up a 10' X 20' tent which will have displays and materials about the Vermont Campaign for

What's Wrong with States' Rights?

2010-06-16T10:08:00.003-04:00

First there were “Truthers” and then “Birthers” and now there are “Tenthers.”To be accurate, the “Tenthers” actually came first, since this newly-coined term (which is supposed to denote a “fringe” position and is therefore derogatory) refers to those who believe the tenth amendment to the Constitution actually means what it says, that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved

Duplicity on a Political Scale

2010-06-11T13:12:00.004-04:00

It is no longer amusing to experience the duplicity that reigns supreme in the political world. And it is not confined to either party as they both indulge in magnum efforts to castigate the other with nary a thought to the disastrous results. All elected and important appointed officials take an oath (or affirmation) to support and defend the constitution of the nation or the state as the

From Force to Persuasion

2010-04-14T07:27:00.001-04:00

A couple of years ago I was chatting with a neighbor about the rolling reassessment that had recently swept though our part of town. We both felt our assessments had risen disproportionately in comparison with similar homes in our area. After a few minutes of grumbling the man shrugged his shoulders and sighed. “Taxes are the price you pay for civilized society,” he said.With all due respect to

Tour Report

2010-04-12T10:58:00.005-04:00

The We Can’t Afford It Tour is approaching it’s last two stops. So far it has been a great success and very well received by the public. Montpelier has an attendance of nine people and Burlington had twenty-two. Both crowds were active and engaged. With the Burlington stop, we shot through the 100 attendees goal I set for the tour with a few to spare. In Montpelier, Andy Potter of WCAX came

A humble proposal by J Kennedy

2010-04-09T09:47:00.002-04:00

I was asked by a member, J. Kennedy, to post an article discussing his idea. I am happy to oblige.Congress and the Federal Reserve have approved trillions to bail out privileged financiers and manufacturers for reasons ranging from incompetence to fraud, and doing so, they have disregarded overwhelming public disapproval.Dr. Paul's bill in congress to audit the Federal Reserve (HR 1207) and

The needs of the individual vs. the demands of the State

2010-04-06T09:06:00.003-04:00

Each day I am buried under by a wave of emails, hyperlinks, and articles from news sites which make a variety of claims regarding the current administration, or to be more accurate President Obama. These items filling my email and overwhelming my net-surfing activities can be divided into two camps: either its “Obama is taking us into a socialist hell” or “Obama is a sell out to the Corporations”

Remember the Ladies

2010-03-26T08:19:00.003-04:00

Women’s History Month, which is celebrated in March, usually focuses on women who have championed women’s right. Even our most famous female Revolutionary War patriot, Abigail Adams, is perhaps best known for admonishing husband John to “remember the ladies” when he was going about the business of helping to form the U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately, he failed to take her advice.In the

People - The Ultimate Resource

2010-03-17T08:56:00.001-04:00

While the Olympics were being broadcast during the last two weeks of February I watched more television than I usually watch in a year. I am fascinated by this showcase of human ability, creativity, guts and determination. Watching gifted athletes take the human body to incredible heights, many of them quite literally, fills me with reverence and awe. Whether it is the soaring, twisting jumps of

Michael Moore's "Capitalism" Film

2010-03-15T21:36:00.002-04:00

(Warning: spoilers contained herein)I just rented Michael Moore’s “Capitalism: A Love Story”. As usual, Mr. Moore raises some excellent points, throws in some humor and theatrics, and completely misses the mark when it comes to identifying causes and promoting good solutions.First of all, I don’t think his definition of “capitalism” is anywhere close to the mark. He described it with the absurd

Oh No . . . Not Another Patriot Act Renewal

2010-03-01T20:01:00.001-05:00

By now, I'm sure that everyone is aware that the Congress and President Obama have decided to again renew the expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act.I had to search quite a while to find a roll call vote on the "Patriot Act Renewal". I finally found an article that explained why. The legislation to renew the expiring provisions of the Patriot Act AS IS were buried in a vote described as:

CPAC 2010 - My Story

2010-02-20T11:20:00.003-05:00

6:15 – Sparta , NJ (my in-laws’ house) – Shower in the world’s worst shower. Don’t even wash my hair – it would take three weeks to rinse the soap out. Since my haircut on Tuesday my ‘doo can survive a night’s sleep. 7:45 – We’re on the road. After an intense discussion involving several maps, a laptop and a GPS system larry has chosen his route to the den of iniquity, the whore house of all

The Current Abuse Program

2010-02-16T15:59:00.003-05:00

Current Use, who wouldn’t like it? Preserving farmland, protecting the forest, ensuring that Vermont doesn’t become just another giant strip-mall, the trouble is, it’s a double-edged sword. This program, like most spawned by well-meaning lawmakers, has grown into something that threatens to destroy the state it means to save. In last week’s Vermont Standard, our State Representative, Alison

Budget Time: A time for action.

2010-02-12T10:40:00.002-05:00

If you haven't received a copy of this letter to send to your representatives in Montpelier, please read it over and consider sending it. Make any changes you wish, but don't let them raise your taxes without at least having done something to stop it. The time for talk is over. The budget is under consideration. Several bills are out there that will raise your taxes. What few cuts they have

Social Welfare in a Free Society

2010-02-10T09:27:00.004-05:00

Since most of us have never lived in an America without a government-run social welfare system it is sometimes difficult to imagine how a liberty-oriented society might take care of the needy. Last month the owners and employees of AirNow and the people and businesses of Bennington showed us exactly how community-based charity can work. The local effort on behalf of the people of the devastated

My Testimony to the Joint Fiscal Committee

2010-02-09T10:51:00.002-05:00

Arriving late due to work, I came into the Rutland Vermont Interactive TV Site hoping to find several fellow patriots concerned about our budget. I was disappointed. The room contained about 10 other people, each from some non-profit or a beneficiary of some non-profit, concerned and saddened that their particular group was facing budget cuts. Universal Healthcare Advocates and Worker’s Center

Rule of the Hippies

2010-02-06T15:36:00.005-05:00

When I was young, I thought of myself as a bit of a hippie. Loved nature, had a copy of the Whole Earth catalog, hitchhiked everywhere. Didn’t like people telling me how to live my life. Remember how the world was going to be a better place, if we could just sing enough songs?" The Times They are A Changin’, Peace Train, the classic: Kumbayah, of course. Well, be careful what you wish for... the

The Ban on Texting Bill: A prime example of what’s wrong with Montpelier

2010-01-28T12:08:00.003-05:00

Recently in the media and in Montpelier, a certain bill out of the Vermont House is getting a lot of attention. That bill is H. 496, entitled “PROHIBITING TEXTING WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE.” On its face, this bill seems yet another effort by our legislature to do some good in the world, but the reality is that this bill is a prime example of what’s wrong with the way our government

An Open Letter to Scott Brown

2010-01-28T08:34:00.003-05:00

Just over a week ago the liberty community was waiting with baited breath as Massachusetts voters took the fate of the nation in their hands and cast their votes in a special senatorial election. Fifty-two out of every hundred voted for Scott Brown and by nine o’clock that night the word was in – Brown had painted a loud smear of red across a state that was considered pure blue. The second

Vermont Campaign for Liberty's Core Principles: Fiscal Responsibility

2010-01-27T15:28:00.003-05:00

At no other time in American History has there been a been a greater need for fiscal restraint. Yet, our government, whether led by either of the major parties, seems unwilling or unable to live within its means and structure our state and national finances in a sustainable way. Their irresponsible actions and spendthrift ways stand in stark contrast with the frugal intent of our founding

Why the working Vermonter should support the Vermont Campaign for Liberty.

2010-01-25T11:09:00.002-05:00

In the media and out on the streets of Vermont and the United States, there is a tendency to portray the growing liberty movement as a conservative movement. This tendency claims that the core principles of the Vermont Campaign for Liberty and its allies in the movement have nothing to offer the average working Vermonter. Yet, the truth is quite the contrary. The Vermont Campaign and the Liberty

Amazing Insanity: Montpelier's non-response to the Budget crisis

2010-01-22T15:58:00.002-05:00

With hard budget times ahead, Montpelier continues to amaze me with its almost unhinged attitude toward the fiscal state of our beloved Green Mountains. Last year, after receiving warning after warning about the huge shortfall in revenues the state was facing, our Governor and Legislature spent a vast majority of the 2009 session duking it out over gay marriage and other bills of substantially

One cheer for Mr. Brown!

2010-01-21T11:49:00.003-05:00

The election results coming out of Massachusetts has been greeted by many in the liberty movement with great joy. Mr. Brown’s victory has been heralded as the turning point in American Politics and at least one prominent magazine declared that his victory was the signal for our nation’s “return to conservatism”. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to catch the enthusiasm that some in the liberty movement

Obama Appointee Advocates Government Infiltration of Citizen Groups

2010-01-17T10:55:00.003-05:00

In a 2008 paper co-authored with Adrian Vermeule, Obama appointee Cass R. Sunstein (Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs) has some disturbing views regarding how the government should deal with political dissidents whom he labels “conspiracy theorists”. The full paper is available for download here:http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=

Constitutional Citizenship and Responsibility

2010-01-11T08:55:00.005-05:00

Below follows the portion of my convention speech that I was able to read. There was a fair bit of ad-libbing, so this is not a transcript of what was actually said. “Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a

The Danger of Political Labels

2010-01-10T21:02:00.002-05:00

This is the text of the speech I gave on January 9 at the 2nd annual Vermont Campaign for Liberty ConventionSome of my friends in the liberty movement become furious when someone calls them Republican or Conservative or by any other political description. At first I thought the reaction a bit excessive considering the common practice of grouping people according to their beliefs and

My January 9th VTC4L convention speech

2010-01-10T19:28:00.004-05:00

The following is the text of the speech I delivered at the second annual Vermont Campaign for Liberty convention on January 9th 2010 in Montpelier. Note that although the content is substantially the same, it is NOT a direct transcript of the speech "as delivered".==========================================One of the core principles of The Campaign for Liberty is:"We oppose the dehumanizing

PPIP: Yet another theft of taxpayer funds.

2010-01-07T19:14:00.000-05:00

Yet another of the myriad of programs designed to transfer trillions of dollars of bank losses onto the backs of the U.S. taxpayers is the "Public-Private Investment Partnership" or PPIP. The stated purpose of the program was to purge bank balance sheets of "distressed assets" (i.e. worthless junk). The program involves putting up taxpayer(public) funds to provide an incentive for hedge funds

No more power for a failed government.

2009-12-19T18:54:00.003-05:00

Whereas in the present context, government has exhibited behaviors such that they have completely eroded my trust, I am opposed to any legislation that even minimally empowers them. Some might (and have) with knee-jerk style justification, concluded that I’m something of an anarchist. That, or at the very least a laissez faire capitalist longing for the days of sweat shops, pollution and the

An Economy in the ICU

2009-12-16T15:44:00.002-05:00

The Vermont economy is on life support and could slip into a coma without drastic changes in how our state government leaders approach their fiduciary responsibilities. This is the only conclusion a reasonable person can make after attending a presentation by Tom Licata, founder of Vermonters for Economic Health. VEH is a grass-roots, citizen-led organization with a simple mission: to promote

The War on the truth... I mean Poverty

2009-12-16T10:58:00.003-05:00

Helping to solve poverty, one statistic at a time.With the economy tanking and unemployment on the rise, Washington has taken a decisive step to combating the rising number of people who officially live at or below the poverty line. As you probably know, the Federal Government claims that a person is living in poverty if they make either at little less than $11,000 per year for single people or

2009-12-14T12:15:00.002-05:00

Another Chapter in the Annals of Government in the Land of Oz.This weekend, without much fanfare or coverage from the media, one of the most popular bills before the House of Representatives was given the “Washington as usual” treatment. This treatment resulted in a very good and needed bill being tied to a horrible and counter-productive piece of legislation, thereby effectively killing it while

The Gray Mountain State

2009-12-11T09:47:00.018-05:00

As longtime readers know, the Demographic Deathwatch is not a novelty dance craze but a recurring feature of this column. But it’s not just for Europe, Russia, China, and Japan anymore! Some parts of America are acquiring demographic profiles that would qualify them for EU membership. Take the Green Mountain State. As Howard Dean was fond of saying during his 2004 presidential campaign, “

The Seldom Told Story of Plymouth Commune

2009-11-17T09:05:00.003-05:00

The politicization of American History may be a natural outcome of our highly partisan society, but it is not an acceptable one. Many of the stories historians choose not to share have relevance to current situations and deserve to be told in their entirety. Partisan historians may not like the conclusions people draw from these stories, but still it is the people’s right to receive factual

Health Care Insurance: A Human Right?

2009-10-21T09:38:00.007-04:00

It has become politically popular to equate human desires and wants with human rights. This is, in fact, the battle cry of some factions in the fight for a government-run health care system. But is health care a human right? Let’s examine this premise. The human rights of Americans are defined by our two founding documents: the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Thomas

Happy Anniversary

2009-10-05T10:50:00.000-04:00

It has been only a year and look how far we have come. On October 1, 2008, the Campaign for Liberty officially launched in Vermont with eight members and a little under 100 email only members. As of today, we now have 97 members and over 550 email only members. Back in October, 2008 we were only an on-line entity with little interaction with other, like minded organizations. Now we have a working

The Constitution, 10th Amendment, and the Fourth Branch

2009-10-01T16:46:00.000-04:00

Recently a discussion has arisen in the Ron Paul Forums concerning the effectiveness of 10th Amendment Resolutions as a way to address Washington’s long history of over reaching its Constitutional Powers. As part of this discussion, a member noted that “ Our hope is not in, nor should it ever be in the Constitution”. After reading this entry, I felt compelled to write the following: “The

Grandma Gone Wild

2009-09-29T21:00:00.002-04:00

Grandma Gone WildBuying cold medicine. A great example of government overreacting.Via the Terra Haute News:Harpold is a grandmother of triplets who bought one box of Zyrtec-D cold medicine for her husband at a Rockville pharmacy. Less than seven days later, she bought a box of Mucinex-D cold medicine for her adult daughter at a Clinton pharmacy, thereby purchasing 3.6 grams total of

A passenger on the Titanic

2009-09-25T10:08:00.004-04:00

I have only a few personal phobias or hang ups which serve as an endless source of amusement for my family. Cotton balls, dirty hands, and bees are partial list of items that I can’t stand. Another is the movie, “A Night to Remember”, a 1950’s black and white film about the sinking of the Titanic. I saw it once as a child and since then I have never been able to watch it or any other movie about

Health Care Is a Human Right?

2009-09-24T12:07:00.006-04:00