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The "private sector" of the economy is, in fact, the "voluntary" sector; and...the "public sector" is, in fact, the "coercive" sector. -- Henry Hazlitt

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK

Is he going to run, or isn't he? He's certainly sniffing around the Democratic presidential race enough. So, while he's sniffing ... let's just remind you that this is the man who said that America was founded on the principal of progressive taxation. Now never mind that the principal of progressive taxation was really introduced to the world by Marx and Engels in their Communist Manifesto; and never mind that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, before the 16th Amendment, that a progressive income tax was unconstitutional. If Wesley Clark says it, it must be true. After all, he served in Vietnam, didn't he? So, history according to Wesley says that American was founded on an unconstitutional principal. Got that?

HERE COME THE "LAWMAKERS"

Doesn't that sound powerful? How would you like to be a "lawmaker." Wow! You can sit there and make actual laws! You can play a giant game of "I say, you do" with over 250 million people. Talk about raw power. What a rush!

The latest from our "lawmakers" in Washington? Well, they heard these stories yesterday about the arrest of some America-hater who tried to sell a surface-to-air missile to some Islamo-goons. Now these "lawmakers" are talking about requiring (don't you love that word too!) anti-missile systems on all U.S. flagged commercial airliners. Last I heard this would cost about $3 million for each airplane. And just who will foot the bill? Why, the taxpayers, of course! Hey, it's not like the "lawmakers" have to cover the costs. Well just call it "I say, you pay."

NOTHING LIKE FREE PUBLICITY

I've told you a few times about the Free State Project. This effort is being pushed by a group of libertarians who are planning to gather enough voters in one state to take effective control of that state's government. Once control is established they will begin efforts to shrink government size and power to more closely resemble what our founding fathers were trying to create. The vice-president of the Free State Project, Elizabeth McKinstry, says "The government has gotten too big, and [project members] want to return to a lifestyle pre-PATRIOT Act and pre-Roosevelt...New Deal kind of nanny statism," You can read about this effort at freestateproject.org.

This is one of the first articles I've seen about this effort outside of libertarian newsletters and FSP writings. If the FSP effort gains steam surely more news outlets will report on their efforts. This means that more and more Americans will get some exposure to the libertarian philosophy. Some will recoil in horror at the thought of limiting government and maximizing personal liberty and responsibility. Others, though, will sign on to the idea. Just so they spell the name right. It's "libertarian," not "libertine."

WAIT FOR THIS ENTITLEMENT

There's a new wheelchair in the works. It's called the I-Bot. Some of the same technology that went into the Segway is used. It is so complicated it will require a doctor's prescription. (Yeah ... this is complicated so you have to get the government's permission to use it.) The I-Bot costs about $29,000. There are about two million Americans dependent on wheelchairs. Many of these people get their wheelchairs through taxpayer-funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. So ... pause for just a moment to imagine what it's going to cost when our wizened citizens start demanding their "free" I-Bots.

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT ...

until the recall election in California is over before the media starts concentrating on Scott Peterson and Kobe Bryant again?

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Yesterday the sting operation that netted an alleged arms dealer trying to sell a missile to Islamic terrorists in the United States was a good story for the Bush Administration. Today some news outlets are casting doubts. Are the doubts real, or a biased attempt to take the steam out of a good story?

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/World/missile030813_sting.html

In 2002 Democrats were bragging that California was the only state out of 10 largest states that is totally under Democratic control. Yes, they were actually bragging about this! As Ann Coulter says, the lab rat in this experiment has died. A great read.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/ac20030814.shtml

More on California. Larry Elder says that California taxpayers have just about had enough. I'll be including a lot of stories about California in the reading assignments for a while because this is a good place for all of us to learn what happens when Democrats really get control of a government.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/larryelder/le20030814.shtml

Linda Chavez has some advise for Arnold. Talk to Milton Friedman.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/lindachavez/lc20030813.shtml

And just who are the two principals in the California recall going to for advice? While Arnold Schwarzenegger is seeking advice from Warren Buffet, Gray Davis is going to Bill Clinton. What's wrong with this picture?

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030813-114349-4378r.htm

And Gray Davis sees the handwriting on the wall. For years he's been concentrating on fundraising and pandering to trial lawyers and unions. Now he's out there appointing judges like mad, making his mark before the voters make theirs.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030813-110336-4444r.htm

Bank customers are now being asked to remove hats and sunglasses before entering the bank. It's supposed to deter robbers. The policy doesn't apply to nuns, Orthodox Jews, Sikhs or Muslims. Does this give any of you bank robbers any ideas on a possible disguise?

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/0803/14bankrob.html

Human garbage. A shoplifter runs over her own daughter trying to escape.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/0803/14girlhit.html

Have you heard about this? A group of model airplane enthusiasts have actually flown a remote control model airplane across the Atlantic Ocean. No kidding. Here's your link.

http://tam.plannet21.com/

Are you wondering what might happen in the Senate after the 2004 elections? Here's an excellent analysis from Townhall.com.

http://www.townhall.com/election2004/senate_analysis.html

The liberating Free State Project is starting to attract some attention in the news.

http://www.townhall.com/news/politics/200308/POL20030813a.shtml

Democrats are starting to worry about extreme left-winger Howard Dean and his surging popularity in the Democratic primary process. Will Howard Dean turn into another George McGovern for the Democrats? Perhaps not, if the left can succeed in re-defining Howard Dean as a "moderate."

http://www.spectator.org/article.asp?art_id=2003_8_12_23_7_14

A good satirical piece on the wonderful world of higher education in the age of diversity. I particularly like this paragraph: "Students will be asked to phrase class comments in a manner that reflects the perspective of their group without reference to antiquated notions of individual belief or opinion. For example, "we think" and "we believe" are appropriate introductions to classroom remarks while phrases such as "I think" and "I believe" are unacceptable. Please remember that we are not interested in you as an individual. Group identity is our sole point of reference." And just what have I been telling you about a war on individualism in this country?

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/GuestColumns/Adams20030814.shtml