Author: Bionic Mosquito

They want to see who can develop the most unbelievable, nonsensical story and have it work to pull the wool over the eyes of the American public.  It’s like a game, a contest, an inside joke: Jen Psaki, when responding to accusations regarding the recent attempted “changes” in Venezuela, suggested: As a matter of long-standing policy, the United States does not support political transitions by non-constitutional means. She was questioned on this…claim? What’s even more amazing than the fact the “authorities” remain so willing to publicly spout such easily disprovable propaganda, is her reaction once she realizes she’s been caught.  … Continue reading →

Religion and Legend Religion (noun) A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. In this article, I intend to explore the legends underlying the American religion.  By American religion, I mean to suggest the belief by a large segment of the population in the structures and institutions of government, and the belief that these structures and institutions are used for purposes beneficial to the people.  … Continue reading →

Here I do not refer to Frederic Bastiat’s classic work, but the law as understood in mediaeval times after and absent Rome, and before development of anything even modestly resembling today’s nation-state. Fritz Kern explains this in the second and final section of his book, “Kingship and Law in the Middle Ages.”  The section is entitled “Law and Constitution in the Middle Ages.” Here I will review his comments regarding the mediaeval law. He begins by contrasting this historic law with what is defined as law today: For us law needs only one attribute in order to give it validity; it … Continue reading →

Just ask Nelson Hultberg: In conclusion, Ayn Rand gave libertarianism a spectacular beginning, and Murray Rothbard was certainly a brilliant economist. But the primary philosophical thrusts of these two thinkers are totally wrong for the cause of liberty. I will get to exploring some of his reasons shortly; however it seems rather bold to state that these two contributors to libertarian thought (despite Rand’s protests, she didcontribute to libertarian thought) could be “totally wrong for the cause of liberty.”  Ayn Rand has sold millions of books; Murray Rothbard’s philosophy undergirds two of the most popular liberty-oriented websites of today, LewRockwell.com … Continue reading →

Page references are to The New Nation, by Merrill Jensen. The story we learn of the American Revolution is one of tea parties, Paul Revere, taxation without representation, all men created equal, Patriots against Loyalists, heroes without self-interest. The reality, for those interested and willing to dig a little deeper, is a little different – most easily understood if one accepts that the men of the revolutionary generation were not saints.  They were men with different interests, different reasons for desiring independence, and different interpretations of what independence meant for them and for their fellow travelers on the continent. Believe … Continue reading →

The Pearl Harbor Myth: Rethinking the Unthinkable George Victor In this book, George Victor addresses the several questions regarding Pearl Harbor: did U.S. Intelligence know beforehand? Did Roosevelt know? If so, why weren’t commanders in Hawaii notified? It is a well-researched and documented volume, complete with hundreds of end-notes and references. Twelve days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt surprised his advisors by saying that war with Japan was about to begin. Secretary of War Stimson noted in his diary: The question was what we should do. The question was how we should maneuver them into the … Continue reading →

Wartime: Understanding and Behavior in the Second World War, by Paul Fussell What was it about the war that moved the troops to constant verbal subversion and contempt?  It was not just the danger and fear, the boredom and uncertainty and loneliness and deprivation.  It was rather the conviction that optimistic publicity and euphemism had rendered their experience so falsely that it would never be readily communicable. Those in the war – and most specifically, the small minority on the front line – knew the sanitized version that was portrayed for those at the home front; further, they knew that … Continue reading →

President Obama recently penned an OpEd, “Our fight against violent extremism.”  It is in need of some modification. ——————————————– The United States has made significant gains against contributions toward terrorism. We’ve decimated strengthened the core al Qaeda leadership, strengthened decimatedhomeland security and worked to prevent convinced our allies not to launch another large-scale attack like 9/11. At the same time, the our threat has evolved. The al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen Weactively plots plot against you us. Since 9/11, terrorists we have murdered U.S. citizens overseas, including in the attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Here in the United States,Americans government agents … Continue reading →

Today’s Daily Bell interview is of James Jaeger.  I have posted the following comment at the site – posting there has become a very rare occurrence for me; it is only my second comment in the last year or two (the first was a comment to Wendy McElroy as an encouragement). ————————————— JJ: To shed some light on these questions I have been reading some books by Lew Rockwell, Murray Rothbard, Larken Rose and Hans-Hermann Hoppe. I’m not ready to become a card-carrying anarcho-capitalist, but if the Rights we are all supposed to have pursuant to the Bill don’t soon … Continue reading →

Joe Biden: “That’s [SIC] inviolate borders are honored…” Biden is speaking here about Ukraine.  But this refrain is trotted out whenever it is convenient – not whenever borders are violated (after all, Biden is in the employ of the biggest border-violator in the world today), but whenever it is convenient to point out that borders have been violated. Borders are an interesting thing.  In this context, they delineate the boundaries for the state’s right to exercise its monopoly of violence.  Often – unless delineated by a mountain range or body of water – there is nothing to distinguish one side … Continue reading →

Bear with me as I wander through speculation…. Alan Greenspan has been a very good commentator on all things economic in the period both before and after he became Fed Chairman; unfortunately for all of us, this wasn’t true during the time he actually was Fed Chairman (but if not him, it would have been someone just like him, so…). He has recently come out with some statements about Greece and the Euro: The former head of the US central bank, Alan Greenspan, has predicted that Greece will have to leave the eurozone. Greece wants to re-negotiate its bailout, but … Continue reading →

Well, that is what one might conclude after the events of the last week.  As is well-known, the Swiss National Bank decided to remove the peg/floor in the exchange rate for the Franc against the Euro.  This move was made suddenly, with no announcement or even a hint beforehand. There is so much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the financial media.  There is much I might say about this event; I will use the writing of two of the more prolific economic financial writers of today to help me on my way.  Both John Mauldin and Ambrose Evans-Pritchard (with … Continue reading →

The right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, etc. The right, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to express beliefs and ideas without unwarranted government restriction. The right to express information, ideas, and opinions free of government restrictions based on content and subject only to reasonable limitations… There is only speech, and government opposition to it. The protests in France and elsewhere – supposedly in support of free speech – are laughable.  France, having some of the more draconian speech laws, is … Continue reading →

“We will bring together all of our allies to discuss ways in which we can counteract this violent extremism that exists around the world.” (Emphasis added) Eric Holder . Violent extremism?  There must be something special when these two terms, violent andextremism, are joined together.  What is Holder talking about?  Let’s unpack this phrase: Violent: acting with or characterized by uncontrolled, strong, rough force; caused by injurious or destructive force; intense in force, effect, etc.; severe; extreme. We know that governments of the west don’t mind violence – being the leading cause of violent death and destruction on the planet.  … Continue reading →

There has been a global outpouring of support for free speech (more precisely, speech without consequence) in the wake of a recent tragedy…well let’s have Time Magazine tell the tale: People protesting the Paris killings unauthorized recording met in Trafalgar Square LA Live as British Prime Minister David Cameron Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and German Chancellor Angela Merkel NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the attack in Downing Street on Donald Sterling. You see, Donald Sterling was recorded – unbeknownst to him – saying a few things that the NBA found politically incorrect.  Adam Silver, and many of the other … Continue reading →