Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny The presses at Rational Nation USA will be silent this Saturday. For this day is reserved exclusively to my inspiration and better half... My gracious and lovely bride of 24 years. We are celebrating our anniversary today and all else, except maybe our grandson, will take a back seat. See you Sunday!

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny I am not religious. I do respect the right of all peaceful religions to worship as their theocratic theological (religious) dogma would have them. How they worship, or the symbols of their religion do not affect me. Unless they are engaged in trying to force change in places they have no moral or legal right to do so. Which is precisely why the following article reporting on Muslims attempting to force change on Catholic University {a private institution} because of alleged human rights violations should tick everyone of rational mind off greatly. The Washington, D.C. Office of Human Rights confirmed that it is investigating allegations that Catholic University violated the human rights of Muslim students by not allowing them to form a Muslim student group and by not providing them rooms without Christian symbols for their daily prayers. The investigation alleges that Muslim students “must perform their prayers surr...

Crossposted at the Left Coast Rebel This is simply just too cool. You can almost hear the collective "Occupy-I-am-entitled-to-everything-I-want-simply-because-I-have-a-pulse" synapses misfiring in the crowd as Peter Schiff engages them (poor saps have probably never even heard his viewpoint that he aptly expresses). There are too many quotable moments from Schiff here, "WalMart doesn't hold a gun to their head" may just go down in interweb infamy: I love how Allahpundit notes that Schiff pulls this thing off like an Austrian-school ninja . Indeed. More from Nick Gillespie at Reason.com : "Did a corporation end slavery, or did the government end slavery?!?!" That's the sort of question investment guru and radio show host Peter Schiff fielded as he debated Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protesters last week in New York's Zuccotti Park. Schiff is no ordinary observer. As the prinicipal of the financial firm Euro Pacific Capital , he's a full-f...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny James Carville , you know the man, Mary Matalin's democratic husband. We all know Mary is by far the brighter of the two and probably keeps him around for entertainment value. Today, for the first time in my blogging journey I ran across something he offered up that actually made some sense. So, I decided to pass his quote on with some additional commentary from POLITICO , as well as yours truly "Everything worries me in this environment. Nobody’s gotten elected with these kinds of numbers. So, I’m worried in the general election. I profoundly admit that. Again, Romney’s just making a technocratic kind of confidence argument, and he’s really kind of a windsock of a guy. If you don’t like his position on something, give it a day he’ll change it." James is right, nobody gets elected with the kind of numbers Obama is sporting these days. Indications are the economic situation is not going to improve much ...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny Capitalism is the economic system responsible for the United States of America becoming the great economic power it did. Our democratic republic is the system of government that gave us great liberty and freedom from oppressive governmemnt. The dynamics of the two systems together gave us the greatest middle class the world has ever seen and resulted in a measure of economic freedom only dreamed about in other lands. Today these realities seems to be rapidly slipping away. Perhaps We the People took too much for granted, and thought we need not keep a watchful eye on government. The result over time has been an unholy alliance between corporations and government. The crony capitalism, corporatism, government bailouts of private sector companies, the impact of pull peddlers and lobbyists has changed the dynamics of our once capitalist system and our democratic republic form of governmemnt. We are heading towards a fascist...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny Rush Limbaugh, the the man with self proclaimed talent from God, and with half his brain tied behind his back just to make things fair {or something along those lines} probably isn't gaining any converts lately. Especially given his comments last week with respect to Obama's decision to send American troops to Uganda to hunt down the leader of Lord's Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, and other members of the LRA. With just a bit of research it is relatively easy to find information about the Lord's Resistance Army. Most of the information ain't pretty . It exposes the atrocities the organization has committed, from abducting thousands of people, the largest share being children, to torture, murder, and looting and the destruction of property. What is most disturbing is Limbaugh apparently failed to do any significant research into the LRA and its record before his comments. When Limbaugh's remar...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny Most members of Congress dodged Obama during his last visit to North Carolina. | AP Photo It seems President Obama has lost his once messiah like appeal. Democrats up for re-election in 2012 are avoiding the President as though he might be a liability. Hm, could there be anything to the sentiment? POLITICO - Despite President Barack Obama’s sagging poll ratings, top Democratic leaders from around the country insist they’d love for him to visit. From state party chairmen to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the message remains remarkably consistent: No one views the president as a political liability. Roughly a year out from the 2012 presidential election, that may be true. But already, as Obama’s most recent forays into battleground states indicate, there are growing signs that many Democratic politicians don’t want to get too close to him either. In trips to Michigan, North Carolina, and Pen...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny With the demise of Libyan dictator Col. Qaddafi the world now waits to see what law will replace the prior 42 years of oppression. Given early appearances it may well be a law just as oppressive as Col. Qaddafi's. Libya's interim leader outlined more radical plans to introduce Islamic law than expected as he declared the official liberation of the country. Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, the chairman of the National Transitional Council and de fact president, had already declared that Libyan laws in future would have Sharia, the Islamic code, as its "basic source". But that formulation can be interpreted in many ways - it was also the basis of Egypt's largely secular constitution under President Hosni Mubarak, and remains so after his fall. Mr Abdul-Jalil went further, specifically lifting immediately, by decree, one law from Col. Gaddafi's era that he said was in conflict with Sharia - that banning...

From the desk of: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny The Daily Caller - Virginia Democratic Rep. Jim Moran told The Daily Caller on Thursday evening that President Obama should “refinance every home mortgage” without congressional approval in order to “reset the economy.” “Absolutely, I think [Obama] should do that but there are not a lot of places where he can act unilaterally,” Moran told TheDC during Conservation International’s Oct. 20 dinner in Washington, D.C. “If he chooses to act unilaterally,” Moran said, “the likelihood is that there will be language in the appropriations bills that will prohibit him from spending money for that purpose. That’s just the political reality. But notwithstanding that, I think he should do everything he can do on his own to stimulate jobs.” Obama has already asked his Council on Jobs to identify areas of the American Jobs Act that can be implemented without congressional authorization. Moran told TheDC that he wo...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny Editors note: Given the issues we face today as a nation Rational Nation USA is re-posting this article. Originally posted on October, 22 2011 it defines the nature of, and danger in wedge politics. Politics is a strange business. Politicians are without a doubt a breed apart from the rest of the nation. Well, maybe when a person enters politics in the beginning they are just like the average person and want to make a difference. But, inevitably it seems that they lose their principles. Influenced by special interests they become part of the problem they initially hoped to change. Maybe it's just the times we live in. But doesn't it seem that we are a nation that has become so polarized by competing ideologies we are no longer able to discus issues of national concern in a civil and respectful manner? It is sad that politics, and political discourse has sank to the level of a sporting event. In the process th...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny Rep. Ron Paul, the long shot candidate for president. A member of the Republican party {why I haven't a clue} who is by far more Libertarian than Republican. A man who is different from your typical politician. Who unlike Romney, Perry, Cain, Bachmann, Gingrich, and Santorum {did I forget anyone?} is consistent in principle and his understanding of our Constitutional foundation. A man who could, if given a shot have a profoundly positive impact on the health of the nation. He is not beholden to the power structure in the party of R. Nor is he warmly in bed with the monied Wall Street monied interests. He understands the need for monetary reform and has been instrumental in exposing the need for oversight of the Federal Reserves. And he sees the definite and immediate need to reign in the MIC. Paul may not be the perfect candidate. In fact it is very likely there is no such thing as the perfect candidate. After all...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny As the recession continues {the company I work for just laid off another 100 + people yesterday and today} Obama finds himself vulnerable as the possibility he may be a one term president appears to be more likely with each passing week. WASHINGTON (AP) -- The extreme funk that settled over the country during the summer has eased slightly, but Americans remain gloomy about the economy and more than half say President Barack Obama does not inspire confidence about a recovery. A sizable majority - more than 7 in 10 - believe the country is headed in the wrong direction and, in a new high, 43 percent describe the nation's economy as "very poor," according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. Among those surveyed, less than 40 percent say Obama's proposed remedies for high unemployment would increase jobs significantly. The pessimism is not a good sign for the nation's recovery hopes and presents a ...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny Like most concerned citizens OWS has held my attention as I try to analyze where the movement may eventually lead us. Certainly OWS protests represent America's unrest with the business and financial world as well as our federal government. To the degree the movement focuses on the need to end corporatism, crony capitalism, taxpayer bailouts, and an inequitable tax system the movement has a justifiable purpose. As many conservative and liberal bloggers have noted there is common ground for OWS and the Tea Party to unite and work to effect the needed changes in government's relationship with the business and financial sectors. One major issue standing in the way however is OWS has no leadership, no clear and cohesive vision, and thus no direction. Hopefully, much as the Tea Party did, OWS will quickly develop into a cohesive group of patriotic American capitalists who with the Tea Party can bring unbearable pr...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny For a President that has talked about unifying in the past it certainly seems this segment of the Presidents recent remarks focus more on divisiveness than unity. I guess politics are, after all just politics. It is more about building a base, telling people what you think they want to hear, and getting reelected than it is about telling the truth. Unfortunately this can be said about both party's. The President: "The Republican plan comes down to this, ‘Dirtier air, dirtier water, less people with health insurance.” h/t: Real Clear Politics "My plan says we’re going to put teachers back in the classrooms, construction workers back to work," President Obama said at a campaign event today. "Tax cuts for small businesses, tax cuts for hiring veterans, tax cuts if you give your workers a raise –- that’s my plan." "The Republicans plan, Obama says, boils down to this: 'Dirtier a...

Bill Buckner was one of baseball's premiere hitters from the 70s and 80s. The dude won an N.L. batting title, was exceedingly good in the clutch, and was almost impossible to strike out. He finished his career with a gaudy total of 2,715 hits, the 59 th most in Major League history. Among the players with a lesser amount include Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Willie McCovey , Mickey Mantle, Orlando Cepeda , Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Richie Ashburn , Duke Snider, Nellie Fox, Ozzie Smith, Bill Mazeroski , Luis Aparicio , Ralph Kiner , Eddie Matthews, Billy Williams, Jimmie Fox, Reggie Jackson, Ernie Banks, Joe Morgan, Ryne Sandberg , Enos Slaughter, Mike Schmidt, Willie Stargell , Yogi Berra, Gary Carter, Roy Campanella , and Harmon Killebrew - Hall of Famers , ALL..........................................................................................Now, granted, a lot of these other players either hit for more power and/or were better fielders but, still, 2,715...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny In a recent post that somehow ended up with Marxism finding its way into the discussion, it was suggested by the Griper that I do a post on Karl Marx. Realizing that I had little actual knowledge of Marx I was not in a position to do a in depth post on Marx, who by the way was above all an economist more in the vein of Adam Smith than not. Recognizing my shortcomings with respect to the depth of Marx's works, and not desirous of doing to Marx what many who lack depth of knowledge and understanding do to Ayn Rand, I went to a trusted source who majored in economics and studied Marx in depth. While he is many years removed from his studies of Marx his knowledge has not been lost nor colored by political hyperbole. Before moving on I find it necessary to make two very important statements. First, my belief is that one must always seek the truth and in so doing stay true to reason and logic. Secondly, I am, always h...

From the desk of: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny The following article is quite interesting. Many are exasperated as well! For those who may have missed it. WSJ - It's as if he doesn't like people," says real-estate mogul and New York Daily News owner Mortimer Zuckerman of the president of the United States. Barack Obama doesn't seem to care for individuals, elaborates Mr. Zuckerman, though the president enjoys addressing millions of them on television. The Boston Properties CEO is trying to understand why Mr. Obama has made little effort to build relationships on Capitol Hill or negotiate a bipartisan economic plan. A longtime supporter of the Democratic Party, Mr. Zuckerman wrote in these pages two months ago that the entire business community was "pleading for some kind of adult supervision" in Washington and "desperate for strong leadership." Writing soon after the historic downgrade of U.S. Treasury debt by Sta...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny OWS has a legitimate purpose in that crony capitalism, corporatism, bailouts, and politicians bought by special interest money must go. Whether said special interest money be corporate or union. However, it will be next to impossible to support if Occupy Portland becomes typical of the movement's mentality. The likes of, for the lack of a better description, jackasses like the ones in the video below will turn off any rational and reasonable person to the issues OWS presumably stands for. h/t: Verum Serum Krugman’s Army…of fools. I think this pretty much sums up the real agenda of the Occupy movement. If this is Krugman’s Army, then this is their reveille. They aren’t gaining anything for themselves from these ridiculous protests, so they might as well defecate on the country the rest of us love. Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny You, the readership of Rational Nation USA be the judge. This from Weasel Zippers ... There has certainly been no shortage of vile anti-Semitism at the Occupy Wall Street protests. The “Occupy Wall Street” Movement — WhiteHonor (I’m not linking to it) Many racialists are unsure about, and even against, these Occupy Wall Street protests all around the country. It has been pointed out to me that many protesters are non-white and/or “communists.” Well my answer to that is: “WHO CARES?!” They are against the same evil, corrupted, degenerate capitalist elitists that WE are against! Instead of screaming, “6 million more!” The pro-white movementites should be JOINING this Occupy movement and supporting it! Seriously people, just WHO is our enemy? The unemployed left-wing 25-year-old holding up a sign, OR the judeo-capitalist banksters who swindled the American taxpayers out of A TRILLION dollars in the “bailout” sca...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny Altruism is found in the field of morality  and what constitutes ethical values. Rational Nation USA has often referred to, and identified altruism as a destructive force for the individual as well as broader societal relationships. Given the number of philosophers who have written about morality  I have found few actually understand the concept of altruism. While I acknowledge my own lack of "formal higher education" with respect to the field of ethics an morality I have spent many hours in self study and self education. It is my belief that self study, freely chosen by the individual is often the most productive. This is so because the individual who devotes the time and effort to study solely because of their desire for knowledge will ultimately learn a great deal more than the student who is merely in it to complete a scholastic requirement. As my philosophic and ethical beliefs are grounded in Objecti...

1) Robert Novak was never approached by the Bush administration.............2) Valerie Plame drove to work/Langley in public view every day.............3) Henry Waxman allowed only one rebuttal witness at the hearings; Victoria Toensing, who he constantly harangued and threatened.............4) Plame was not covert as defined by the Intelligence Identities Act of 1982 (this, in that she hadn't been stationed overseas during the previous 5 years).............5) All that Robert Novak reported was that the wife of former Ambassador, Joe Wilson, is/was "an agency operative on weapons of mass destruction". Nothing was ever reported by Mr. Novak that Joe Wilson's wife was ever covert.............6) A media brief (comprised of some 36 media outlets) clearly states that "NO CRIME HAD BEEN COMMITTED" (in this supposed outing of Valerie Plame).............7) The first indication that Valerie Plame had ever been a covert operative came from a ...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny OWS, the movement lacking leadership as well as defined objectives having a reasonable chance of success. The longer it grinds on the more it look like a bunch of misfit radicals looking for the free ride. However, on the other hand there are certainly those who have a clear vision as to what and why Wall Street needs to change. The reasonable people supporting OWS are doing so to end crony capitalism, corporatism, the unethical practices of banking executives and mortgage lenders, as well as government bailouts of businesses. They also recognize corporate lobbyist must become a extinct group. Given the majority of people would tend to agree with the above someone ought to be asking the question, why doesn't the reasonable Tea Party folks and the reasonable OWS folks come together and pool resources so to speak? Tea Party individuals want more fiscal discipline and restraint so as to bring balance to national fis...