Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Dr. Benjamin Carson, a world renowned neurosurgeon. A man whose character and integrity has heretofore been unquestioned. A man who quite possibly has given the world more than any number of less capable individuals ever has or ever could. Because of ill advised remarks on gay marriage (ill advised from the PC perspective anyway) Dr. Carson has come under fire by progressives. Because of this he has apologized for his remarks. Even though I personally disagree with his remarks I wish he had not apologized for his beliefs. Clarifying the meaning of his remarks for those who failed to understand them is fine. Something that occurs throughout the day across the USA in schools, businesses, and in the homes of families everyday. The fine Doctor and Surgeon is not a politician. He represents no constituency. His entire adult life has been about finding ways to improve the human condition and the preservation of life. We s

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Is it surprising... I mean really? As tensions on the Korean Peninsula heat up the Obama administration responds just as the GWB's administration would have, as well as all prior U.S administrations would likely have responded. No surprise because standing behind alliances is what America does. The maniacal North Korean leadership has responded in a fashion that fuels concern, and the possibility of further hostilities. Up to and including a strike on the U.S. mainland. In fact (based on the following report) North Korean leadership has stated exactly that. We'll have to wait to see. Should such a thing actually occur I personally am comfortable that the current President would take decisive and appropriate action in response. We all of course are hopeful this does not occur. NK News – North Korea News - South Korean intelligence agencies have spotted increased activity on North Korean mid-to-long range mis

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Oops, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) selectively quoted President Abraham Lincoln when speaking of the imposing national debt. Lincoln, back in the days of a significantly more limited government, a much smaller economy, and a smaller population it seems had to deal with fiscal realities similar to those are facing today. Albeit certainly not on such a grand scale. Although it is done all the time, selective quoting that is, the liberal biased media, in this case the Huffington Post, was quick to point out that Lincoln at the time also called for a tax increase or tariff (revenue enhancement) to balance the books and set the fiscal ship right. The Huffington Post - House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) quotes Abraham Lincoln in a memo released Thursday as warning of debt, but ignores the former president's call for a tax or tariff. The messaging to House Republicans quotes Lincoln expressing concern over debt :

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Always liked Willie Nelson, even his country western music. Thinking back to Willie and Waylon. I always thought of Willie as a kind of maverick. Just a bit ahead of his times and not too worried about all that judgmental stuff. You know, the kind that doesn't really impact anybody but those involved? Maybe Willie has always been thinking outside the box of religious driven judgmental-ism. Sometimes I think the personal religious stuff somehow finds a way to influence the government. I hear Willie isn't real big on state tyranny either. I guess Willie is consistent. Something to be admired I'm thinking. TexasMonthly - Willie Nelson loves love. "Love is what I live on. Love is what keeps me going," he wrote in his 2006 book The Tao Of Willie . And Wednesday night, in an interview in Austin on his tour bus, Willie said he believes love doesn't discriminate, "and it shouldn't be discrimi

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny One of the things about progressives that has always intrigued me is their belief that being tethered to the ideology of state controlled and mandated programs is the way to achieve social equality and harmony. Perhaps it is just me, but somehow giving the government this level of control over ones life means giving up (your)individual control and acknowledging that others, in this case the Leviathan bureaucracy knows better what is good for you (and your family) than you do. Somehow, and for good cause (IMNHO) this has always bothered the hell out of me. Being the small 'L' libertarian and Objectivist that I've been since 9th grade it was natural to argue in opposition to this restrictive and self immolating philosophy. Some things never change. Reality often does however and often when you're least expecting it. Just the other day when having an after dinner brandy while engaged in lively politi

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty - vs- Tyranny The following video content is as disturbing as anything could possibly be. Racism and bigotry... are they still alive and and well in America? As pathetically evil as ever it seems as it indeed still exists. You be the judge... In a land that was founded on the principles of freedom,liberty, and equality it is incomprehensible to any thinking person that the proceeding mentality could exist in the United States of America in the 21st. More detailed commentary on this subject can be found here. A must read. Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Romney at CPAC 2013. The reemergence of the Mitten. A man that is as close to a chameleon as there ever was.The crowd eats it up. THE HILL - GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney appealed for the Republican Party to learn from the mistakes of his losing 2012 presidential campaign and, as conservatives chart their course forward, to look to GOP governors for a path to future electoral wins. Romney received perhaps the most enthusiastic reception yet of any speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference, with a packed auditorium offering him an extended standing ovation before he began. He told the CPAC crowd that while he "left the race disappointed that we didn't win," he remained optimistic for future success — if the party learns from his campaign. "We've lost races before, in the past, but those setbacks prepared us for larger victories. It's up to us to make sure that we lear

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Senator Rubio tossing out some red meat for the hungry at CPAC. HuffPo - Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) threw some social conservative red meat to CPAC-goers on Thursday in a rant against Democrats who criticize him and members of his party for opposing same-sex marriage and abortion rights. "Just because I believe that states should have the right to define marriage in a traditional way does not make me a bigot," he said, his words drowned out by cheers from the crowd as he talked about his belief in the protection of human life "at every stage of its development." "The people who are actually closed-minded in American politics are the people who love to preach about the certainty of science with regards to our climate but ignore the absolute fact that science has proven that life begins at conception," he continued. Rubio does not often speak so forcefully on social issues, but if ther

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -VS- Tyranny And just when we thought (and hoped) the pontificating socon ex Senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum had taken his last gasp of political hot air in 2012. Guess we might not be so lucky... The Hill - Former Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum on Friday delivered an emotional address at the Conservative Political Action Conference, inspired by the death of his nephew the night before, that indicated he has no plans to fade from the political spotlight anytime soon. Speaking to a full auditorium that received him with enthusiastic but sometimes uneven applause, Santorum attacked the left for currying favor with Americans by offering "stuff" and charged that conservatives need to stand by their principles. "What does it profit a movement to gain the count and lose its own soul?" he said. And in a line that echoed Romney's comment about losing because President Obama gave certa

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Senator Rob Portman There is not much anyone needs to add to the following. Other than an additional thumbs up for Senator Portman. My hat's off to the Republican senator from Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch - I have come to believe that if two people are prepared to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for each other in good times and in bad, the government shouldn’t deny them the opportunity to get married. That isn’t how I’ve always felt. As a congressman, and more recently as a senator, I opposed marriage for same-sex couples. Then something happened that led me to think through my position in a much deeper way. Two years ago, my son Will, then a college freshman, told my wife, Jane, and me that he is gay. He said he’d known for some time, and that his sexual orientation wasn’t something he chose; it was simply a part of who he is. Jane and I were proud of him for his honesty and courage. We were surp

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib erty -vs- Tyra nny Lately I've been thinking about American political parties and how hide bound they have become to a particular ideology. Unfortunately both major parties share the counter productive pursuit of the absurd. Humans (as individuals) are programmed to seek acceptance into a group that shares their basic beliefs, desires, and principles. Being accepted and liked is a primary driving motivation in human behavior. This is accepted as the social norm and in fact is reinforced by the socialist perspective in society. Acceptance by ones peers is a major driving force for a majority of people. By extension this caries over to and spills into communal associations such as political parties. Thus the communal mentality and associated behavior associated with party loyalty. On a macro level, consider this to be our nation, we are failing miserably precisely because of the desire to be accepted into a communal and supporti

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny The Catholic Cardinals elected a "new" 76 year old Pope, hereafter known as Pope Francis. Early indications are the "new" Pope will carry on the outdated doctrines of past religious dogma and bigotry. One would think sooner, rather than later, the Church, and by Church I mean the congregations of the faithful, would demand real ethical/moral change in the Church hierarchy. However, when all is said and done, the Catholic Church is as close to a dictatorship as any statist nation ever was. I'm certainly not a Catholic, or even a "believer" in the conventional sense, but I feel safe in stating that unless the Catholic Church changes its dogma to reflect modern science and 21st century thinking it will, like the rEpublican party in America find itself becoming less relevant. GAWKER - Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now to be known forever as Pope Francis, sounds likeable enough, to peop

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Rand Paul, disliked by the progressives and perhaps by many in the establishment rEpublican power base. Hard to listen to at times, but if one does listen closely Senator Paul makes lots of sense. Perhaps Senator Paul, having a more tolerant attitude towards the civil liberties of all Americans will galvanize a large enough following to overturn the stale and static present rEpublican leadership and build a more inclusive and tolerant party. THE HILL - Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Thursday told conservative activists the Republican Party had grown "stale and moss covered" and said the GOP needs a more libertarian approach that makes freedom the movement's defining principle. Addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the Kentucky senator offered a revamped version of his father's hands-off libertarian vision for Republicans — and positioned himself as a leader capable of conf

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny One thing we can be sure of with the progressives, they like the emotional. Senator Feinstein of the progressive haven that is California demonstrates it well in the following. Yes Senator, we are all painfully aware of your longevity in Washington. Since you were the one to bring it up isn't it time for you to retire? After all you've been on the nation's payroll long enough to walk away with a platinum plated government retirement package. Putting that aside, it is time reasonable uniform firearm ownership regulations be put in place nationally. Regulations should include required firearm safety training, extensive back ground checks, additional waiting for firearms purchased at gun shows, and restricting high capacity magazines and semi automatic assault style firearms. Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs - Tyranny 2016? I suppose anything is a possibility. Washington Examiner - Hillary Clinton hasn't stepped into the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries yet and there's already buzz growing for the ultimate grrl power ticket: Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama. "All due respect for President Obama and Vice President Biden, but that would truly be a dream team for America," said former Clinton spokeswoman Karen Finney. "Both women are proven effective leaders who've raise children, so dealing with Congress would be a snap!" added Finney, also a former Democratic Party spokeswoman. "More than anything else, this reflects the growing awareness that it is time for the glass ceiling of the last old boys club to be firmly shattered," added Democratic strategist Chris Lehane. t's not just talk. Bumper stickers reading "2016-Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama," and &

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny There are times I just can't help but like Senator Rand Paul. Especially when he makes a bunch of sense and is working against the druthers of the entrenched establishment rEpublicans. You know the ones I mean. Guys like Frick and Frack, good ole John McCain and Mittens Romney. THE HILL - Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday said the Republican Party needs to be more “tolerant” if it wants to attract the younger voters that helped propel President Obama to a second term in office. “I believe a Republican Party that is more tolerant and dedicated to keeping the government out of people’s lives as much as possible would be more appealing to the rising generation,” Paul said in an op-ed on the website PolicyMic. “Most young people I encounter simply have no desire to tell other people what to do or how to live,” he added. The op-ed was a response to criticism Paul received from some of his Republican colleagues o

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Perhaps one of the more encouraging stories of the day was the Court striking down Mayor Bloomberg's ban on large sugary drinks. Don't get me wrong here, I do not drink sugary beverages such as soda or energy drinks, and as a PFT (Personal Fitness Trainer) I advise against the consumption of such useless and potentially harmful calories. Think added weight and cavities to name just two. You might find yourself asking why a PFT, one who does not partake of sugary drinks other than a highball, a glass of beer or wine with dinner, would not welcome the nanny state mentality of Mayor Bloomberg and the rest of the big brother nanny state advocates. It's simple really, and those who understand the concepts of liberty and freedom understand why without anyone having to tell them. For the big brother big sister nanny state advocates here it is... The choice of what each individual of their own free will and inf

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee is talking about what the rEpublican party needs to do to win presidential elections as it moves forward to 2016 and beyond. I listened to the gentleman on the upcoming video twice and I can safely say I'm not sure exactly what he said that was of any real substance. It seems his prescription for future success is essentially changing the way rEpublicans do business to yield more of the same results. I have yet to hear anything about rethinking their position on DOMA or their position on the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry. The party seems paralyzed by the influence of the NRA when it comes to reasonable unified firearm legislation that would aid in reducing the incidence of mass deaths at the hands of a lunatic. I have yet to see the party make an attempt to get the socons in their ranks, those that would deny the right of a women to a safe and

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny The following has probably been seen and read before by many. The message is a powerful message, IMNHO. It is one of those messages that bears repeating, and repeating, and repeating... often. A message that should be reinforced at every turn of the bureaucratic Merry-Go-Round. But first some thoughts... We are facing difficult fiscal times that require hard decisions. So far neither the Congress or the Executive Branch has come to terms with the fiscal challenges and the global realities of the 21st century. Perhaps the fault here really rests with us, We the People. Given that we are a representative republic and power really rests in our hands (self governance or self rule), perhaps it is time we get serious about cleaning up "our house." As you read the following think about your individual situation. Your neighbors. Consider those things your government does that benefits you and your family as wel

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny The nation is indeed in serious trouble. The right and the left are so enmeshed in their own ideological perspective neither can differentiate between day and night. It's okay they keep reassuring themselves...  after all  those we elected are working hard at ensuring our well being. A sentiment that   will, in the long run, amount to exactly NOTHING. Yep, the nation's electorate, which is of course us, are happy believing those we elect are going to address the problems we face and ultimately resolve them in our best interests. However, given the present realities I guess it depends on whether or not one really understand what your interests are. At this juncture in history my bet rests on most don't have a clue what there own rational self interests are, let alone how to preserve them. Okay... whether you agree or not I'm here to tell you that 99.9% of the politicians you elect are out to accomplish

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny The political games continue. Or should we say the political inability to talk across the table with sincerity and a willingness to find workable solutions continues? This nation, sooner or later will need to come to terms with its very real, and largest problem, fiscal instability and perhaps eventual insolvency. The reality is spending cuts are needed, both defense and domestic, the antiquated tax code needs to be overhauled and simplified, tax loopholes need to be closed, and yes, some degree of revenue increases needs to be implemented. If the nation is truly serious about debt reduction and achieving a balance budget it is only going to happen through spending cuts, revenue increases, tax reform, and regulatory overhaul. The nation's lawmakers can continue acting as they have, which of course will only lead us further down the road to national fiscal destruction, or, they can take the alternative approach. Th