Wednesday, August 22, 2007

That Hurts the Pocketbook

Zimbabwe’s inflation—already the highest in the world—hit 7,634.8 percent in July, reminding Zimbabweans there is no relief in sight from daily hardships including chronic food, fuel and foreign currency shortages.

Naturally, muddle minded Mugabe blames it on the West.

Mugabe has accused some businesses of raising prices without justification as part of a Western plot to oust him.

Zimbabwe inflation hits record as Mugabe tightens grip

Posted by John Venlet on 08/22 at 11:35 AM
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Strident Anti Religion Cautions

Hitchens’, Dawkins’, Harris’ and Denkins’ recent contributions to the library of volumes denouncing religion(s) and promoting atheism have generated much discussion, of both the hurrahing and raspberrying sort.

For religious individuals, as opposed to parroting dogmatic religion(s) individuals, the above authors’ writings are necessarily worthy of contemplation, while the parroting dogmatic religion(s) individuals would probably recommend a good ol’ fashioned book burning.

With that said, there are a couple of interesting pieces to read cautioning against stridency among atheists.  First, a piece by Tom Krattenmaker titled Secularists, what happened to the open mind? From Krattenmaker’s piece.

Nevertheless, I find myself wanting to leap to religion’s defense when I encounter broadsides against all religion. Yes, many religious people behave in foolish and obnoxious ways, and some do cause harm in the name of their belief system. Yet the same could be said of non-believers. When a Stalin, Pol Pot, or Hitler commits monstrous deeds in connection with an ideology opposed to religion, does that somehow prove the inherent delusion and danger of non-belief?

Second, a piece by Michael Shermer titled Rational Atheism. From Shermer’s piece.

Whenever religious beliefs conflict with scientific facts or violate principles of political liberty, we must respond with appropriate aplomb. Nevertheless, we should be cautious about irrational exuberance.

For a more detailed explanation of what I think of as a religious individual, versus a parroting dogmatic religion(s) individual, see my post of June 9, 2003 titled A Short Religious Discourse Regarding Natural Law, which you’ll have to scroll down to at my old Blogspot site.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/22 at 09:43 AM
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Clueless

Most US adults in the dark about world politics

Two-thirds of US adults admit to being in the dark about political issues outside the United States, and only a third are well-versed in US politics, the results of a poll published Tuesday showed.

No surprises in that headline or factoid.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/22 at 06:10 AM
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Global Free Markets Effectively Bomb Poverty

Many left leaning individuals decry global free markets and trade, citing the impoverished status of individuals throughout the world as supposed evidence of the failings of free markets and trade.  Well, these individuals would be wrong.

Finally, the boom has reduced acute poverty. The share of the world’s population living on $1 a day or less has dropped from 40 percent in 1981 to 18 percent in 2004, the World Bank estimates.

Noted in a Washington Post op-ed written by Robert J. Samuelson titled Is the Boom in Peril?

Posted by John Venlet on 08/22 at 04:37 AM
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Venezuelan Alms for the London Poor

Up to a million people on income support will be eligible for half fares on London’s buses under Ken Livingstone’s oil deal with Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s president.

A development which brings a whole new meaning to being on the dole.

Chávez deal to aid low-income Londoners

Via Best of the Web Today.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/21 at 01:04 PM
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Ted Nugent for Governor of Michigan?

The Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, may possibly throw his hunting hat into the ring and run for Governor of the State of Michigan in 2010, which would seriously cut into his 200 or so days of hunting each year.  I recommend against it, Ted.

Though I think Ted would be ill advised to become any more involved in politics than he already is, I think his analysis of why the State of Michigan is an economic failure hits the mark.

"Michigan was once a great state. Michigan was a state that rewarded the entrepreneur and the most productive, work-ethic families of the state. Now the pimps and the whores and the welfare brats are basically the state’s babies."

Ted Nugent May Run for Gov. of Michigan

Via Alan K. Henderson’s Weblog.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/21 at 04:51 AM
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Spot on Analysis of Michael Vick Plea Deal

In short, Michael Vick has destroyed a very bright football career for the supposed pleasure of watching dogs rip each other to shreds. If that’s not irrational, then I’m not sure what is.

That’s Diana Hsieh in a post titled Vicious and Stupid.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/21 at 04:45 AM
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Monday, August 20, 2007

"Extort-O-Rama" Connection

In a post Billy Beck titled Extort-O-Rama, the catalyst for which was this post at Coyote Blog, he presents, without comment, a few words from Chris Horner, posted at National Review’s Blog Row, wherein Horner notes the next feeding frenzy for trial lawyers will very likely be centered around alleged global warming, since they’ve had ample time to digest the gluttony of tobacco litigation.

I thought of the above when I read this headline.  Eco-millionaires see boom times ahead

The eco-millionaire article begins this way.

Mankind’s response to climate change will shift how the world gets its energy and is already making “green barons” out of early investors in renewable energy, clean technologies and carbon trading.

Reuters spoke to four entrepreneurs who are cashing in on the energy revolution and who say there is more money to be made.

The article continues with Reuters’ Chris Wills asking each of the four “entrepreneurs” the two questions. “How did you get rich?,” and “Is ‘the business of green’ a bubble?”

Here are abbreviated responses to the questions, mostly with the same underlying theme.  First, Bruce Khouri of Solar Integrated Technologies.

...As long ago as the early 1990s Khouri saw a market for flexible solar panels which could be laminated on to large roofs, such as warehouses. He did not found Solar Integrated until 2001 once tax and subsidy incentives made the market more attractive.

Second, Pedro Moura Costa of EcoSecurities.

...“The only chance of it being a bubble is if we lack the political commitment to drive emission reductions worldwide—and if we do that we might as well forget about any environmental effort whatsoever because climate change is hitting us hard and the trend is likely to accelerate. I think it’s very unlikely political support will go away."

Next up, David Scaysbrook of Novera Energy.

First, people were more worried about energy security and producing energy themselves. Second, the cost of traditional energy sources such as oil and gas had gone up. Third, tax breaks, subsidies and emissions caps had prompted even more conservative investors “to finally move off their perch”.

And last, but not least, Neil Eckert of Climate Exchange PLC, whose website link was not functional when I attempted to access it.

...but it’s vital we listen to the scientific consensus and create a financial solution.

Note, if you will, the portions of the above responses which I have put in bold type.  Each of the so called “eco-millionaire” entreprenuers have profited handsomely only because of state interventions, whether in the form of tax breaks, tax subsidies, or legislation.  And without “political support,” as Pedro Moura Costa notes, or supposed “scientific consensus,” as Neil Eckert states, these eco-millionaires would in all likelihood be beating a dead horse with all the hype and lack of success of the Segway.

There’s definitely money to be made in the “green” business, unfortunately not honorably.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/20 at 11:32 AM
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Down on the Farm

Dan McLaughlin, writing at the Mises Economics Blog, reiterates why state subsidized farms are not beneficial to society in a piece titled Farm Bill Follies.

A farm is a business, nothing more, nothing less. It’s reason for existence is to serve society, and the sign it is doing so is measured by its profitability.

Any business that cannot succeed without government support is unsound. It needs to change, to improve, to become more efficient, or get out of the business. Government support of inefficient producers in any industry only makes it more difficult for those who are efficient and trying to do it right. It also encourages special interests to fight for their share of the loot from the shakedown of taxpayers...

Posted by John Venlet on 08/20 at 06:27 AM
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Back to School - Bulletproof

The new school year is about to begin, once again, and retailers are of course hawking pencils, tenny shoes, spiral notebooks and such.  The normal detritus for kids going back to school.

The above items are nothing new for back to school, but there is one item out there that is new for back to school.  Bulletproof backpacks.

Dads Mike Pelonzi, 43, and Joe Curran, 42, dreamed up the bullet-proof backpack, which also blunts knife attacks, to protect their own children after witnessing the Columbine massacre in 1999.

“It was after seeing what happened in Columbine that we started thinking about this. I’m a parent and so is Joe and we wanted a way of keeping kids safe at school and this is what we came up with,” said Pelonzi, co-owner of MJ Safety Solutions which produces ‘My Child’s Pack’.

The backpacks, which will cost $175, have a super-lightweight bullet-proof plate sewn into the back which weighs no more than a bottle of water. Pelonzi said the material used is a secret.

The plate material meets National Institute of Justice safety standards, said Pelonzi, and during a three-year testing phase, stood up to bullets as well as machete, hatchet and Ka-bar knife attacks.

Yep, send your kids back to school with a bulletproof backpack.  That’ll keep’em safe.

Dads push bulletproof backpacks in schools

Posted by John Venlet on 08/20 at 05:26 AM
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Friday, August 17, 2007

Out

Out for the day.  Back Saturday.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/17 at 01:52 AM
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Thursday, August 16, 2007

A Critcism of Warren Buffett

I have the utmost respect for Warren Buffett, as an astute investor, so I am taken aback by this Buffett comment, uttered at an Obama fundraiser last night, and his musings on wealth redistribution by the hands of the state.

``We really need to figure out some way not to fill the golden goose but actually to have abundance grow.’’

Sir, the methodolgy required “to have abundance grow” is to allow free markets to perform without government intervention.  There is not one political candidate who can facilitate this happening through legislation, unless their leadership is such that it demolishes the both the individual and corporate welfare state which exists in this country.

Mr. Buffett would be better advised to utilize his market knowledge and wealth to create additional businesses, and business opportunities, rather than chumming around with politicos in their quest for control, and he is delusional if he believes that politicians can lead the way.

Obama Can Spread Prosperity, Fairness, Buffett Says

Posted by John Venlet on 08/16 at 06:50 AM
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Michigan Drunk Driving Crackdown Watch

Yesterday evening, while mindlessly watching teevee, I happened to catch a teevee commercial, warning of an impending State of Michigan drunk driving crackdown, which to me played like a severe weather alert.  And much like a severe weather alert, the drunk driving crackdown watch provides individuals with a list of effected counties and times (xls file) and dire warnings of consequences for individuals who may be swept up in the storm of the crackdown.

So, if you’re idiotic enough to drink and drive, consider yourself warned.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/16 at 05:23 AM
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Japanese Free Market Vending Machines

I occasionally purchase a soda pop from a vending machine, but not much else.  And though here in the USA there are vending machines which dispense coffee, sandwiches, and maybe a dozen nightcrawlers, in Japan, vending machines dispense just about everything, it appears.  Eggs, umbrellas, and toilet paper, amongest a myriad of other items, some quite unusual.  Take a look for yourself.

Via Fred Lapides GoodShit.

Posted by John Venlet on 08/15 at 06:03 AM
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Ron Paul - Never Trust a Person with Two First Names

Never trust a person with two first names is a idiosyncratic saying thrown out from time to time by a good friend of mine.

I thought of this little saying this morning when I read the following from a post by Wendy McElroy which is in response to this Ron Paul YouTube video from the Iowa Republican straw poll wherein Ron Paul broaches the subject of abortion.

A YouTube video that makes clear that Paul’s main priority is not anti-war or free trade but the prohibition of abortion. And PLEASE don’t give me the f*cking line that he believes this matter should be left to states as though that position is some sort of benign argument. States’ rights or perogatives do not exist any more than federal rights and perogatives exist; only individuals have rights. What exists is my body and my right to everything that is beneath my own skin. I am not such a blithering idiot as to believe that a politician who wants a smaller government (a local or state government) to absolutely negate my self-ownership is a benign friend while someone who wants a larger government to do so is my vicious enemy. Both are morally equal as enemies, both are politically equal as dangerous.

Too true.  And while I think abortion is repugnant, neither state governments, nor the federal government, should have any say in the matter. 

Posted by John Venlet on 08/15 at 05:08 AM
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