Latest Analysis, Commentary and Opinion*
(The title of each article is linked to the complete article)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Demercrats Set Out To Destroy Private Health Insurance
   Demercrats piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (10/21/09)

Simple scheme: “Strip the [private] health insurance industry of its current exemption from federal antitrust laws”.

Degrees in Dishonesty
   EdukShun piece by Offsite (10/21/09)

College education is a costly proposition with tuition, room and board at some colleges topping $50,000 a year. Is it worth it?

Danger: Food Supply Vulnerable to Terrorism
   Terrorism piece by Jim Kouri (10/21/09)

Imported food makes up a substantial and growing portion of the U.S. food supply and, considering the health and safety concerns of keeping American’s safe, Washington insiders seem oblivious to that part of protecting American citizens.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Taxpayers’ $ 13 Billion in $ 250 Social-Security Payments - The Politics of Accelerating Insolvency
   Social Security piece by FreeCongressFoundation: Marion Edwyn Harrison (10/20/09)

President Barack Hussein Obama has proposed that the 111th Congress authorize a supposedly one-time $ 250.00 payment to all older folks - the “in” word is seniors - who draw Social Security.  The payment would be made in 2010.  By sheer coincidence, in 2010 one-third of United States Senate and all House of Representatives seats will be up for election.  By more coincidence, most pundits are predicting various measures of Republican gains.

A Bigger Government Won’t Work
   Government piece by Offsite (10/20/09)

For at least a century, the Washington political class has been correctly known for creating more problems than it solves. This tendency to enact destructive, rather than constructive, solutions for problems (most often created by government) has now gone into hyperdrive.

U.S. Could Become a Banana Republic
   Economics piece by Offsite (10/20/09)

A leading voice for government spending restraint, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, says that the U.S. economy faces a future as a “banana republic” if current federal fiscal policies continue.

Following Arizona’s money
   Government piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Byron Schlomach (10/20/09)

Nine hundred and twenty dollars per second. That’s how fast Arizona’s state government spends our tax money. Following the recent update of the Goldwater Institute’s spending clock, people asked how we arrived at that particular number. Allow me to explain.

Congress’ Light Bulb Law: Not So Bright
   Congress piece by Offsite (10/20/09)

Thank goodness I’m not imagining it. Others also have big problems with the new-fangled light bulbs Congress is forcing on us.

Climate bill aids authors’ states
   Energy piece by Offsite (10/20/09)

A little noticed Environmental Protection Agency analysis shows that the pending climate-change bill in Congress would particularly benefit the states represented by its primary authors.

Justice concludes black voters need Democratic Party
   Police State piece by Offsite (10/20/09)

KINSTON, N.C. | Voters in this small city decided overwhelmingly last year to do away with the party affiliation of candidates in local elections, but the Obama administration recently overruled the electorate and decided that equal rights for black voters cannot be achieved without the Democratic Party.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Pelosi Value-Added Tax Devastating
   Taxes piece by Offsite (10/19/09)

Despite the hype about a value-added tax (VAT) solving some of America’s economic problems, two tax experts warn of its substantial down side.

Republic report oversimplifies school choice bottom line
   EdukShun piece by GoldwaterInstitute: Matthew Ladner (10/19/09)

Last Wednesday, the Arizona Republic ran a complex story with an unfortunately oversimplified headline: Tuition tax credits drain state money. The headline is all the more unfortunate given the fact that by the Republic reporter’s own estimation the program results in a $3 million savings to taxpayers. I wish someone would “drain” my bank account in a similar fashion.

Only Idiots Listen to these “Leaders”
   GreeenIsm piece by Alan Caruba (10/19/09)

Not long ago U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, told everyone they only had a few weeks in order to save the Earth from “climate change” and this week it’s the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Gordon Brown.

Pelosi Shuns Conservatives in Economics Forum
   Demercrats piece by Offsite (10/19/09)

This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will convene yet another “economists forum” at the Capitol to seek expert backing for yet another massive stimulus spending package.

Be Prepared For Endless High Unemployment
   Economics piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (10/19/09)

Economists suggest most of the jobs 7.2+ million lost since 2007 will not return.  Thus a “jobless recovery” seems to be the general consensus.

Big Crash Coming, Stick With Cash
   Economics piece by Offsite (10/19/09)

Financial author and newsletter publisher Harry Dent says the explosion of U.S. public debt will spark deflation.

Arizona May Opt Out of Obamacare
   States Rights piece by Offsite (10/19/09)

Arizona Voters will cast ballots next year on a bill that would give state residents the right to opt out of any healthcare system imposed on them.

How To Create A Fairer Tax Environment
   Taxes piece by Guest: Steve Selengut (10/19/09)

Can lawmakers who don’t have the courage or intelligence to outlaw texting while driving really be expected to create a saner tax structure? Hmmm.

Rush Got a Raw Deal
   Sports piece by Aaron Goldstein (10/19/09)

(But He’s Still Wrong About Donovan McNabb) - Rush Limbaugh got a raw deal.

Climate assumptions from another planet
   GreeenIsm piece by Offsite (10/19/09)

It’s time to reexamine far-fetched claims that drive US energy and global warming policy - As the 821-page Kerry-Boxer climate bill gets fast-tracked in the Senate, as a companion to the 1427-page House bill, it is critical that we reexamine the assumptions behind cap-tax-and-trade legislation.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Obama Administration Drops ‘Gag Order’ on Private Health Insurer
   Information Police piece by Offsite (10/18/09)

The federal government, in the face of allegations it was trampling on free speech, has closed its investigation of a major insurance company for allegedly trying to scare seniors with a mailer warning they could lose important benefits under President Obama’s health reform plan.

Colo. sheriff calls balloon saga a hoax
   Crime piece by Offsite (10/18/09)

FORT COLLINS. Colo. - A sheriff said he was pursuing criminal charges in Colorado’s “balloon boy” saga, which he described Sunday as a hoax to generate publicity for a reality TV show.

Proposal: Article V Convention
   The Republic piece by Offsite (10/18/09)

The Wall Street Journal published an article today[April 23, 2009] that made a proposal that has a lot of people thinking… myself included. The article, which you can read here, makes the case for an alternative to Tea Parties and state sovereignty resolutions. Specifically, the author suggests that States begin passing a call for a Constitutional Amendment to consider a Federalism Amendment.

Freedom’s Destruction By Constitutional De-Construction
   The Republic piece by Guest: Timothy Baldwin (10/18/09)

During the Constitutional Convention, from May to September 1787, delegates from the colonies were to gather together for the express purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation to form a “more perfect union” (NOT a completely different union!). The men that met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were under direct and limited orders from their states to attend the Federal Convention explicitly to preserve the federation and State rights and to correct the errors of the existing federal government for the limited purposes of handling foreign affairs, commerce among the states and common defense.

Copenhagen goal is 1-world government
   NewWorldOrder piece by Offsite (10/18/09)

A former science adviser to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher says the real purpose of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen on Dec. 7-18 is to use global warming hype as a pretext to lay the foundation for a one-world government.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Yesterday AMC Accidentally Promoted The Survival Of The Republic
   Information piece by Malcolm T. Hedges (10/17/09)

AMC (American Movie Classics) has a pretty fair record of presenting films that draw an audience.

Raising drones of the state
   EdukShun piece by Offsite (10/17/09)

President Obama is pressing to increase the number of hours students spend in the classroom, both per day and per year. He says “American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe. ... But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom.“

Crank up the scare machine!
   Global Warming piece by Offsite (10/17/09)

Copenhagen is about to become the successor to Kyoto as the synonym for the U.N.‘s plan to control climate change. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Copenhagen Dec. 7-18. Until this meeting ends, expect to hear a growing number of climate-related horror stories, presented by a wide array of so-called environmentalists, at a rising decibel level that’s sure to drive the sane quite mad.

Wall Street Smarts
   Economics piece by Offsite (10/17/09)

“IF you really want to know why the financial system nearly collapsed in the fall of 2008, I can tell you in one simple sentence.“

Huge, Hidden Healthcare Tax
   Taxes piece by Offsite (10/17/09)

The healthcare reform bill moving through Congress would impose $400 billion in “new taxes and fees” on nearly 90 percent of Americans - most of who earn $200,000 or less, argues former John McCain adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin.