Rational Nation USA

Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth Kai Ryssdal during his interview with republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson asked a straight forward standard question regarding the debt ceiling, namely whether Dr. Carson believed we should raise the debt ceiling or not. Not raising the ceiling would of course result in the United States defaulting on its debt obligations. Dr. Carson's response made it clear he really doesn't understand the difference between the federal debt ceiling and the federal budget. Ryssdal: All right, so let's talk about debt then and the budget. As you know, Treasury Secretary Lew has come out in the last couple of days and said, "We're gonna run out of money, we're gonna run out of borrowing authority, on the fifth of November." Should the Congress then and the president not raise the debt limit? Should we default on our debt? Carson: Let me put it this way: if I were the president, I would not sign an increased budge...

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Fascism is typically viewed as a leftist political and economic system. This is true if leftist is to mean a strong central government with great influence on and regulation over a nation's economic maters. In other words private ownership of business exists but the government essentially establishes economic policy through over burdensome regulations. Ayn Rand and Dr. Leonard Peikoff shared a different view. Both view conservatives and republicans as drivers of our politics and government in the direction towards fascism. While conservatives and republicans typically may not push for as much regulation over the business sector they too have in the past and continue to so so today. When combined with other traits exhibited by fascism the case can be made conservatives and republicans are more likely to meet the criteria for fascism. Dr. Lawrence Britt posted the 14 Characteristics of fascism based on his study of 4 fascist regimes. B...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Liberty -vs- Tyranny As President Obama continues to prove his incompetency in all things economic the nation's misery continues to mount. Obama's "Hope and Change" has morphed into "Despair and Despondency" for the American people. The Misery Index became a household word in the mid 1970's during Jimmy Carter's inept presidency. Thirty years later the inept Obama presidency is on the verge of again making it a household word. From Investors.com . Economy: As if the picture weren't bleak enough, here's one more data point to worry about — the Misery Index is on the rise. Conceived by economist Arthur Okun in the early 1970s, the Misery Index simply adds together the inflation and unemployment rates to create an effective indicator of real-world suffering. It gained notoriety under President Carter, whose growth-choking, easy-money policies pushed th...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Liberty -vs- Tyranny President Obama IS beatable. With continuing anemic economic growth, sustained high unemployment, and skyrocketing deficits, it is becoming more obvious to the American voter the Hope and Change they voted for in 2008 has turned into Despondency and Despair under his leadership. The field of opposition candidates must remain focused on Obama's failures and they must do so with understandable verifiable facts. In doing so whoever ultimately gets the nod to run against Obama in the 2012 general election will have a good chance of taking the White House from him. As long as they remain focused on facts with respect to Obama's failures, AND present a positive vision for the future. A vision coupled by specific steps to realize it. Visit Rasmussen Reports for Obama's current approval index and more. Cross posted to the Left Coast Rebel Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism A four part interview with Thomas Sowell on economics. His book,  Economic Fact And Fallacies provide the basics of the interview. Discussion of race makes up a fair share of the interview. Sowell, as is so often the case, is spot on. He no doubt will have the left fit to be tied.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservativism Have fun trying to figure out what the politicians mean. For the plain, and old folk like me it is simple common sense. Live within your means, depend on none but yourself, expect no charity but be willing to give when needed and if you can, and ask nothing from your government for if you do sooner or later you will grow to depend on the government. When that happens, and it eventually will,  you lose your independence and self respect. Oh, and another thing. Learn what austerity means and practice it daily. Read an interesting article here . Cross posted to the Left Coast Rebel Via: Memeorandum

Posted By: Les Carpenter III Rational Nation USA Mr.Walker, President and CEO  Peter G.Peterson Foundation  makes many points covering a broad scope of issues. Not everyone will agree in total, however American politicians as well as all citizens need to hear the message and begin taking credible action to reverse our current course. Which as we all know id self defeating and destructive. l Nick Gillespie's  interview of David Walker took place was part of Reason Weekend, an annual conference held by Reason Foundation . This years conference took place April 15 - 18 in New Orleans. t and sustainable path., president and CEO of th discuss the deteriorating financial condition of the federal government and what needs to be done to put the country on a more prudent and sustainable path.

As the discussions over energy use and consumption world wide wages on, there is one thing we can all agree on. The amount of "conventional" energy, fossil fuel is limited and will one day run out. The impact on economic systems world wide will be enormous. Countries hit hardest will no doubt be those most dependent on the use of fossil fuels to derive a majority of their energy  needs. Common sense tells us that the world at large needs to find alternative methods to create energy. With the alternative energies alternative economic models need be developed as well. Rational Nation USA, rather than editorializing on the right approach, is merely providing a source of information for its readership to consider. The following excerpts are taken from an Article in The New York Times entitled, New School of Thought Brings Energy to the 'Dismal Science', written by Nathaniel Gronewald. SYR...