In case any of you are interested, here are some links to websites that I like:
http://strike-the-root.com/
http://lewrockwell.com/
http://all-left.net/
http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/archivehome.html
Monday, October 15, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Ron Paul and the rise of the Libertarian Right
The political power struggle in America today is often broken down by the ignorant into a battle between two opposing forces: liberals and conservatives. This is a far too simplistic view. In fact, there are numerous ideologies within both the "liberal" label and the "conservative" label. These ideologies are frequently locked in power struggles within their own political movements
One such label that has been in frequent use for the past few years has been "neo-conservative". Not that neo-conservatism, or "new conservatism", if you will, is a new concept; it has been around for quite some time. It's just that now we have seen this bastard ideology spring from the primordal ooze of academia and pure theory to become a defining policy of both domestic and, more importantly, foreign policy within the United States. NeoCon policy on these fronts is not the same as traditional conservatism (paleo conservatism) or the libertarian right. While paleos advocate a restrained foreign policy, NeoCons advocate a policy of foreign interventionism, and anyone and everyone knows that foreign war=big government. Most people believe that neo-conservatism theory begins and ends in the realm of foreign policy; however, they are mistaken. In the United States, the NeoCon agenda seems to entail spending like a drunken pro athlete in a strip club. Whether this is on new prisons, corporate welfare, or shooting the military budget into the stratosphere, it really doesn't matter, because the fact is that spending does NOT equal being conservative. Irving Kristol, one of the most prominent figures in NeoCon history, himself said that big government should not necessarily be feared. And there are actually people who think these jokers are conservatives?! Amazing. The only thing NeoCons are are a bunch of ex-Trotskyist fringe liberal academics desperately clutching at the coattails of the GOP in some bid for legitimacy. And they succeded, at least for a time.
But, in the last one or two years, we have begun to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
People are now officially fed up with the chimp we have in office and his ridiculous foreign policy. I don't think I need to tell you how fed up they are, but lets just say that if his poll numbers get much lower, there will be more support for installing Michael Jackson as president than letting George Bush keep his position as head fuck-up. And, just as George Bush is getting flushed down the proverbial popularity toilet, so are the neoconservatives and their ideology.
http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9043308
Just today, a poll came out (released by the Associated Press) that revealed that 70% of the country feel that this country is "heading in the wrong direction". The American people are notoriously gullible when it comes to their own government, but its slowly becoming clear to them that the status quo has got to change.
And this brings us to Ron Paul.
Ron Paul has been described in the media as a two or three tier candidate. I remember watching that self proclaimed ex-pothead Glenn Beck's show (although from watching it, you get the sense that he probably still hits the bong every now and then) and listening to him say that the Republican debates were dull, but that at least Ron Paul was good for comedic relief. You got the sense that everyone dismissed Paul as not being a serious candidate, because he *gasp!* actually had ideas that differed from the Republican Party. I had only a casual interest in the man until he royally reamed Sean Hannity after a Republican debate, after which I investigated him, and he quickly became one of my heroes. The man actually has the courage to speak out for what he believes in, and whether you personally agree or disagree with him, you should at least support his candidacy becoming more mainstream so some of these issues are brought out into the open to be discussed, as many (such as personal liberties) are being flat out ignored by the media and the candidates as it stands.
And lo and behold! He isn't such a joke anymore, is he?:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jd1Fl2xtwI3ahLMkwUCVzU_IkelgD8S218RG0
To me, Ron Paul's rising grass roots support is very incouraging, not just because it represents support for the man himself, but because it represents support for the ideology he represents: the ideology of believing you have the right to be left alone by the government. Hopefully, as time goes on, Libertarianism will become the dominant philosophy of the Right, and braindead, half baked theories like neoconservatism will again be banished to the margins of academia.
One such label that has been in frequent use for the past few years has been "neo-conservative". Not that neo-conservatism, or "new conservatism", if you will, is a new concept; it has been around for quite some time. It's just that now we have seen this bastard ideology spring from the primordal ooze of academia and pure theory to become a defining policy of both domestic and, more importantly, foreign policy within the United States. NeoCon policy on these fronts is not the same as traditional conservatism (paleo conservatism) or the libertarian right. While paleos advocate a restrained foreign policy, NeoCons advocate a policy of foreign interventionism, and anyone and everyone knows that foreign war=big government. Most people believe that neo-conservatism theory begins and ends in the realm of foreign policy; however, they are mistaken. In the United States, the NeoCon agenda seems to entail spending like a drunken pro athlete in a strip club. Whether this is on new prisons, corporate welfare, or shooting the military budget into the stratosphere, it really doesn't matter, because the fact is that spending does NOT equal being conservative. Irving Kristol, one of the most prominent figures in NeoCon history, himself said that big government should not necessarily be feared. And there are actually people who think these jokers are conservatives?! Amazing. The only thing NeoCons are are a bunch of ex-Trotskyist fringe liberal academics desperately clutching at the coattails of the GOP in some bid for legitimacy. And they succeded, at least for a time.
But, in the last one or two years, we have begun to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
People are now officially fed up with the chimp we have in office and his ridiculous foreign policy. I don't think I need to tell you how fed up they are, but lets just say that if his poll numbers get much lower, there will be more support for installing Michael Jackson as president than letting George Bush keep his position as head fuck-up. And, just as George Bush is getting flushed down the proverbial popularity toilet, so are the neoconservatives and their ideology.
http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9043308
Just today, a poll came out (released by the Associated Press) that revealed that 70% of the country feel that this country is "heading in the wrong direction". The American people are notoriously gullible when it comes to their own government, but its slowly becoming clear to them that the status quo has got to change.
And this brings us to Ron Paul.
Ron Paul has been described in the media as a two or three tier candidate. I remember watching that self proclaimed ex-pothead Glenn Beck's show (although from watching it, you get the sense that he probably still hits the bong every now and then) and listening to him say that the Republican debates were dull, but that at least Ron Paul was good for comedic relief. You got the sense that everyone dismissed Paul as not being a serious candidate, because he *gasp!* actually had ideas that differed from the Republican Party. I had only a casual interest in the man until he royally reamed Sean Hannity after a Republican debate, after which I investigated him, and he quickly became one of my heroes. The man actually has the courage to speak out for what he believes in, and whether you personally agree or disagree with him, you should at least support his candidacy becoming more mainstream so some of these issues are brought out into the open to be discussed, as many (such as personal liberties) are being flat out ignored by the media and the candidates as it stands.
And lo and behold! He isn't such a joke anymore, is he?:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jd1Fl2xtwI3ahLMkwUCVzU_IkelgD8S218RG0
To me, Ron Paul's rising grass roots support is very incouraging, not just because it represents support for the man himself, but because it represents support for the ideology he represents: the ideology of believing you have the right to be left alone by the government. Hopefully, as time goes on, Libertarianism will become the dominant philosophy of the Right, and braindead, half baked theories like neoconservatism will again be banished to the margins of academia.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The mind blowing stupidity and ineptitude of the Democratic Party
The Democratic Party, as we all know, handed the GOP their own asses in November by taking over both houses of Congress, and rightfully so. It may have been worth them taking over just to see the crushed looks on the faces of the GOP leadership, whos moronic, Populist pandering strategy when it came to things like gay marriage and flag burning, and War on Terror fear mongering was beyond contempt.
However, now the Democrats are in charge, and have been in charge for quite some time now. They can no longer rely on the excuse, "The Republicans have the majority! We can't enact change!" And now, it seems, it is the Democrats who are contemptable, at least in the eyes of the American people. Some polls show Congress's approval rating to be at 11%. 11 PERCENT! Can you believe that? More people support OJ than the Democratic Congress! But of course, these whiny Statists will probably do what all politicians and political parties do, and blame it all on their opponents, a response that only the most partisan of partisans will buy into. Have we left Iraq yet, or are we at the least THINKING about leaving Iraq in the near future? Has ANY measure from the president to keep feeding tax dollars into the heinous travesty known as the Iraq War come under serious scrutiny? Has one of our most basic rights as citizens been re-instated yet, the right to Habeus Corpus? Have the turds that run our legislative branch done anything of value, besides raise the minimum wage an insignificant amount, vote for a mind numbingly stupid condemnation of Moveon.org, and ruminate on the idea of national healthcare? Please, if they have, tell me, because I'm genuinely curious.
I guess we should count our blessings, though. After all, when Congress doesn't accomplish anything, you feel that the American people, at least for the moment, are safe.
However, now the Democrats are in charge, and have been in charge for quite some time now. They can no longer rely on the excuse, "The Republicans have the majority! We can't enact change!" And now, it seems, it is the Democrats who are contemptable, at least in the eyes of the American people. Some polls show Congress's approval rating to be at 11%. 11 PERCENT! Can you believe that? More people support OJ than the Democratic Congress! But of course, these whiny Statists will probably do what all politicians and political parties do, and blame it all on their opponents, a response that only the most partisan of partisans will buy into. Have we left Iraq yet, or are we at the least THINKING about leaving Iraq in the near future? Has ANY measure from the president to keep feeding tax dollars into the heinous travesty known as the Iraq War come under serious scrutiny? Has one of our most basic rights as citizens been re-instated yet, the right to Habeus Corpus? Have the turds that run our legislative branch done anything of value, besides raise the minimum wage an insignificant amount, vote for a mind numbingly stupid condemnation of Moveon.org, and ruminate on the idea of national healthcare? Please, if they have, tell me, because I'm genuinely curious.
I guess we should count our blessings, though. After all, when Congress doesn't accomplish anything, you feel that the American people, at least for the moment, are safe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
