The big controversy going on in Washington right now deals with legislation aimed at further regulating Internet content. The purpose is supposedly to preserve intellectual property rights, but the ultimate result of the legislation, if passed and signed into law will be censorship of the Internet. In other words, freedom of speech could easily be undermined at the slightest suggestion of online piracy (even if the claim is unfounded).
And much like Ayn Rand envisioned in her novel, Atlas Shrugged, major websites like Wikipedia and Reddit, along with other groups and websites like Campaign For Liberty and Daily Paul, are participating in a blackout today as a protest to these bills.
According to Republican Liberty Caucus chairman Dave Nalle, the Senate version (known as the Protect IP Act, or PIPA) already has 40 co-sponsors, and is scheduled to be voted on this coming Tuesday, while the House version (Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA), still currently in committee, may see a vote soon thereafter.
As Jim DeMint wrote on Facebook, “” What's at stake here is Internet liberty. More than that, it's our liberty at stake here, and I hope you will contact your representatives in Congress and ask them to put an end to PIPA & SOPA. Campaign For Liberty has more on the matter of the bills, and I encourage you to read it and view the video as well. As Mr. Nalle says it, speak up for Internet liberty.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
A dose of the best medicine
Notice anything odd about this picture? Yeah, it's a screen shot of the Daily Paul website from yesterday afternoon, but that's not it. Give up? Okay, I'll show you here:
Sunday, January 15, 2012
One of those head-scratching moments
The head of a major political party is unhappy with the recent transfer of documents, considered sensitive by the government, to a college where they could be made public more easily. Would you be ticked off to hear such news? If so, you're in the same boat as Michéal Martin.
Martin, the head of one of Ireland's major parties, Fianna Fáil, sent out a statement three days ago about sensitive documents on the Irish peace process being transferred to Boston College. Uh-huh, Boston College, out of Boston, Massachusetts, in the U.S. of A.
I will be the first to admit I don't know anything about the Irish peace process, but this episode does leave me wondering, What the...? What exactly was the reasoning behind the nation's Justice Minister, Alan Shatter, in having the documents transferred across the Atlantic to a university in another country?
Mr. Martin makes two points of interest here: 1) the likelihood that getting access to the documents would be much easier at Boston College (or, for that matter, any college) and 2) the move to Boston makes it more difficult for Irishmen who may want to take a look at the documents, as they would have to travel across the Atlantic (instead of another part of the island) to do so.
To the best of my knowledge, neither Minister Shatter nor the party he represents, Fine Gael, have responded to Mr. Martin's statement. In the larger scheme of things, this may not mean much (at least not here in America), but it's one of those episodes that leaves me just scratching my head.
Martin, the head of one of Ireland's major parties, Fianna Fáil, sent out a statement three days ago about sensitive documents on the Irish peace process being transferred to Boston College. Uh-huh, Boston College, out of Boston, Massachusetts, in the U.S. of A.
I will be the first to admit I don't know anything about the Irish peace process, but this episode does leave me wondering, What the...? What exactly was the reasoning behind the nation's Justice Minister, Alan Shatter, in having the documents transferred across the Atlantic to a university in another country?
Mr. Martin makes two points of interest here: 1) the likelihood that getting access to the documents would be much easier at Boston College (or, for that matter, any college) and 2) the move to Boston makes it more difficult for Irishmen who may want to take a look at the documents, as they would have to travel across the Atlantic (instead of another part of the island) to do so.
To the best of my knowledge, neither Minister Shatter nor the party he represents, Fine Gael, have responded to Mr. Martin's statement. In the larger scheme of things, this may not mean much (at least not here in America), but it's one of those episodes that leaves me just scratching my head.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Pat Bauer's Latest Excuse
“Our actions since the session began this year has been all about having the voice of the people heard”
Those were the words of the leading Democrat in the Indiana House of Representatives, Pat Bauer, in response to the recent resumption of the House Democrats blocking a quorum in the chamber over the reintroduced Right-To-Work legislation.
The voice of the people? Really, Pat? You claim to fight for the right of the people to be heard? The same people who elected Republicans to 60 of the 100 seats in the House, thus making you the Minority Leader once again? The same people who also elected Republicans to 37 of the 50 seats in the Senate, giving Republicans the ability to conduct business without even the participation of a single Democrat necessary?
The voice of the people has been heard, and Pat Bauer has not been hearing it, let alone fighting to have it heard. Instead, he has been fighting for the voice of his masters to be heard, the voice of the labor unions, the same unions bitterly opposed to the Right-To-Work legislation, the same legislation which would balance the right of workers to be part of a union and the right of workers who want nothing to do with a union.
If Pat Bauer were truly fighting for the voice of the people to be heard, he would not be allowing this continual blocking of a quorum in the House.
Those were the words of the leading Democrat in the Indiana House of Representatives, Pat Bauer, in response to the recent resumption of the House Democrats blocking a quorum in the chamber over the reintroduced Right-To-Work legislation.
The voice of the people? Really, Pat? You claim to fight for the right of the people to be heard? The same people who elected Republicans to 60 of the 100 seats in the House, thus making you the Minority Leader once again? The same people who also elected Republicans to 37 of the 50 seats in the Senate, giving Republicans the ability to conduct business without even the participation of a single Democrat necessary?
The voice of the people has been heard, and Pat Bauer has not been hearing it, let alone fighting to have it heard. Instead, he has been fighting for the voice of his masters to be heard, the voice of the labor unions, the same unions bitterly opposed to the Right-To-Work legislation, the same legislation which would balance the right of workers to be part of a union and the right of workers who want nothing to do with a union.
If Pat Bauer were truly fighting for the voice of the people to be heard, he would not be allowing this continual blocking of a quorum in the House.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Ron Paul for President
I will tell you that four years ago, if somebody had told me this would happen, I'd have told him he was out of his mind. I freely admit I was bitterly opposed to this man in 2008, and I repeatedly conveyed my own 2¢ about him here, here, here, here, here, here and here. However, in the time since Sarah Palin announced she would not run for President, time which I've spent examining the current field of candidates seeking the Republican nomination and contemplating who to support in the primaries, I have slowly come to the conclusion the best candidate in the race is none other than Ron Paul.
Over the years, many complaints have been brought up about the Congressman's qualifications, stances and history, so I'm addressing them right now before I explain why I'm supporting Ron Paul.
Over the years, many complaints have been brought up about the Congressman's qualifications, stances and history, so I'm addressing them right now before I explain why I'm supporting Ron Paul.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Truth About The Refugees
Once again, Israel's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Danny Ayalon, tells the truth about Israel and the Palestinians, and this time, it deals with the truth about the Palestinian refugees:
If you're not familiar with the truth about either the West Bank or the Peace Process, by all means, go and take a look. The videos are about five and a half minutes long each, and well worth your time. And once again, my deep thanks to Danny Ayalon and the people responsible for these videos.
If you're not familiar with the truth about either the West Bank or the Peace Process, by all means, go and take a look. The videos are about five and a half minutes long each, and well worth your time. And once again, my deep thanks to Danny Ayalon and the people responsible for these videos.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tim Tebow: A Good Man
I've tried very hard over the course of the current NFL season to ignore it; like I wrote earlier, the lockup that almost ruined the season left me not wanting to know how the Packers or the Colts are doing and so on (that also goes for the Super Bowl as well). However, one story that has become impossible to ignore is how Tim Tebow, the Heisman-winning quarterback currently playing for the Denver Broncos, is faring.
The fact Tebow is a Christian is not something he has shied away from, and a number of individuals (most notably other players, including a former Broncos QB) have resorted to mocking or criticizing him for it. Yet, despite the negative reaction to Tebow's expressions of his faith, he not only continues to express his faith freely, he also has led the Broncos to winning six of their last seven games (and putting them currently in a tie for first place in the AFC West Division).
William J. Bennett, in a piece he wrote for CNN, makes a superb defense of Tebow and his faith, which includes the stark contrast between the content of Tebow's character and the fallout which has taken place at Penn State and Syracuse. A particular portion of Dr. Bennett's piece is especially important to contemplate, as he points out the folly of suspecting hypocrisy in all good men:
The fact Tebow is a Christian is not something he has shied away from, and a number of individuals (most notably other players, including a former Broncos QB) have resorted to mocking or criticizing him for it. Yet, despite the negative reaction to Tebow's expressions of his faith, he not only continues to express his faith freely, he also has led the Broncos to winning six of their last seven games (and putting them currently in a tie for first place in the AFC West Division).
William J. Bennett, in a piece he wrote for CNN, makes a superb defense of Tebow and his faith, which includes the stark contrast between the content of Tebow's character and the fallout which has taken place at Penn State and Syracuse. A particular portion of Dr. Bennett's piece is especially important to contemplate, as he points out the folly of suspecting hypocrisy in all good men:
C.S. Lewis warned us of this. He wrote in "The Abolition of Man," "We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst." We scoff at Tebow and all that he represents and are horrified at the scandals at Penn State and Syracuse. We are right to be horrified, but we shouldn't make fun of our good men. (emphasis mine)Despite what Tim Tebow's critics have said about him and what their motivations are, he thankfully has not let them affect how he lives, or how he plays. He continues to be the very thing his detractors don't believe (and repeatedly try to prove doesn't) exist: a hero. May he continue to live as a good man of faith, may he continue to succeed as a quarterback, and may we all appreciate the existence of good men, of heroes, such as Tim Tebow.
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