Rational Nation USA

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a very real chance of electing a fresh new voice to the United States Senate. Dan Brown, an independent Republican, is in a virtual dead heat with Democratic candidate Martha Coakley. Dan Brown offers the voters of Massachusetts some very real common sense alternatives to both issues facing our nation. I encouraged Republican, and especially independent voters to get out to the polls next Tuesday, January 19, 2010 and cast your vote for Dan Brown. A vote for Brown is a vote for an independent voice from Massachusetts in the Senate. For additional information on how voters of Massachusetts can help Dan Brown's campaign visit Atlas Shrugs .

The third installment of "What is Capitalism" spends a good deal of time discussing values. While this segment is admittedly a bit dry, it is necessary to the discussion of capitalism and the moral basis that gives it legitimacy.

Leave it to the United States Congress to once again assemble legislation that  the majority of the American public does not approve of. The feelings of dissatisfaction for both political parties runs beep. In fact the American peoples approval of the way Congress has handled  health care reform is lower than the Presidents. The President's sagging approval rating on his handling of health care has brought his overall approval rating down.    A CBS News poll, conducted from January 6 through January 10 , finds that only thirty six percent approve of the Presidents handling of health care.  This past December forty two percent approved of the manner in which the President was handling the issue. The approval rating received by both Congressional Democrats and Republicans was lower than that of the President. Sixty percent of of Americans disapprove of how both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are handling ...

Yesterday I posted the first in a five part series on Capitalism. This Ayn Rand audio series, while obviously not a comprehensive covering of capitalism, does explains the philosophical, ethical, and moral justification for capitalism. Rand rationally, and very effectively, shows why capitalism is far superior to collectivism in all its sordid forms. She talks about the purpose of government, mans rights, voluntary choice, reason, property rights and more; illustrating how these principals relates to capitalism, making it a just and moral economic force. I hope you enjoy part two of "What is Capitalism?"

I came across this five part series on Capitalism done by Ayn Rand. This is the first in the series, and as would be expected Rand starts at the beginning. She takes the listener through the philosophical and moral basis for capitalism. I present the first in the series today for your consideration. A powerful philosophy for a just and moral society.

Some encouraging news from the Afghan front. A poll commissioned by the BBC, ABC News, and Germany's ARD shows that 70% of the 1500 people questioned believe Afghanistan is heading in the right direction. This a huge jump from the 40% that thought so just one year ago. Especially good news for the U.S. is that 68% now support the presence of American forces in their country,. This is up from 63% a year ago. The level of support for NATO forces has risen to 62%, up 3% from a year ago. 71% of those surveyed in the recent poll said they believe the situation in Afghanistan will improve in the next 12 months, while only 5% felt it would get worse. Of the 1,500 Afghans involved in the December 2009 survey 90% want their country to continue to be run by the present government. A mere 6% said they wanted a Taliban run government. A majority, 69% believe the Taliban is the biggest danger to their country while 66% blame Al Qaeda and foreign militants for the violence in Afghanista...

Those who have followed Rational Nation USA know that I have not been supportive of most of Barrack Obama's initiatives or policy since he became President. However, when the President is sounding the correct message it is only just to acknowledge he is doing so. With Yemen taking front stage because of terrorist activity in that country, one has to wonder if this will be the next front in the war on terror. I suppose only time will tell, but if the history of  U.S military intervention on foreign soils over the last sixty years is used as a barometer one must bet it will be. The President however, at least at this early stage, is sending the right message. He said in an interview with People magazine that he has no plans to send troops to Yemen because he believes that working with international partners in the war against terror is the most effective means at this point. The President said, "I have no intention  of send...

As I continues to look for meaningful quotes to publish each week there is a question to be asked. Does the readership 1)enjoy the multiple quotes each week and 2)are they found to be helpful or useful? As it takes time to find notable quotes worth publishing each week, I ask my readership to let me know if the effort is really worth continuing. If my readership thinks it is worthwhile they shall continue. If not the time now given to quotes of the week will be spent on efforts to bring current issues as well as opinions to the readers of Rational Nation USA. So, I ask my readership if they would be so kind as to indicate their preference by responding to the poll questions that will be going up later today. And now Quotes of the Week. He who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death. Thomas Paine Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its wors...