Author: Bionic Mosquito

The Libertarian Forum, edited by Murray N. Rothbard; May 15, 1969. The recent secessionist referendum in Catalunya brought some strong negative reactions from several corners of the libertarian community.  The reasons to be against such a referendum varied, from the idea that any group action is, inherently, not libertarian to the idea that secession is only to be supported by libertarians if the seceding entity is, in fact, libertarian. I came out on the other side – not only was the referendum in Catalunya worthy of libertarian support, every move toward decentralization is worthy of libertarian support, regardless of the politics of the seceding … Continue reading →

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This post has been sitting on the back burner for over three months. I will sometimes have an idea for a post but am not sure if I want to do something with it or what I want to do with it.  Well…the time has arrived for this post – and the reason will become clear shortly. The Whitest Music Ever: Prog rock was audacious, innovative—and awful.  So says James Parker at The Atlantic.  Well, he might be right in what he says in the title, but right off the bat I don’t like this guy: The trapped, eunuch ferocity of Geddy Lee’s voice, … Continue reading →

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In listening to Jordan Peterson over the last few months, he has often commented on the destructive philosophy of post-modernism, a philosophy that – in his view – is the force behind the cultural destruction underway in the west. Prior to hearing this from him, my knowledge on the matter went to the cultural Marxists of the Frankfurt School and, before this, Antonio Gramsci.  Peterson is aware of these influences, but for him the Post-Modernists are today’s driving force. What is meant by postmodernism? Postmodernism is difficult to define, because to define it would violate the postmodernist’s premise that no definite terms, boundaries, or absolute … Continue reading →

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I hate self-deluded experts who won’t make an effort…. I offer the following exchange, with some additional color thrown in by yours truly: a ware November 17, 2017 at 3:31 PM I resisted commenting but here goes. You should have stuck to your first instinct. I admire your writing and mostly agree with your analysis, though I am an anarchist rather than libertarian. Wow! A real anarchist and not a mamby-pamby libertarian!  Thanks for sharing. Time to buy old US gold coins Why this is relevant, we are given not a clue.  In any case, whenever someone who has never commented here … Continue reading →

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Day of Reckoning: the time when one is called to account for one’s actions, to pay one’s debts, or to fulfill one’s promises or obligations. When the Harvey Weinstein story broke about a month ago, I offered that the reason for such a story to break now – after decades of such behavior – might have something to do with the democrats getting tired of telling Hillary to go away. Well, the train is leaving the station: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Thursday went to a place that few Democrats have dared or cared to go when it comes to allegations of sexual assault: … Continue reading →

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The Libertarian Forum, edited by Murray N. Rothbard; May 1, 1969. All through the land, this wondrous month of April, the student revolution has spread to campus after campus, even to the most conservative and most apathetic. …the student rebellion has reached a crescendo this spring which few of us have ever dreamed could be possible. In this edition, Rothbard focusses on the campus protests of the time.  Before considering further his observations, let’s pause to review the concerns of today’s college students: Ann Coulter, Charles Murray, Heather MacDonald, Corey Lewandowski, Betsy DeVos, and Milo Yiannopoulos – they might say something that … Continue reading →

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Luther and His Progeny: 500 Years of Protestantism and Its Consequences for Church, State, and Society, edited by John C. Rao. NB (and it will be really tough in this post): in my review of this book, I am presenting the case as Catholics see it; I say nothing of my views on theology.  My intent is not to get into the theology, but to examine the impact of the Reformation on society and what this meant (and means) for the growth of the state. The period in Europe, before the Reformation, offers what I view as the longest-lasting and closest example … Continue reading →

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Luther and His Progeny: 500 Years of Protestantism and Its Consequences for Church, State, and Society, edited by John C. Rao This will be interesting…. With this post, I begin my exploration of this book edited by Rao.  The title is self-explanatory. My intent is not to get into the theology, but to examine the impact on society and what this meant (and means) for the growth of the state. Of course, I recognize that I cannot publicly conduct this examination without theological blowback; do not be offended if I do not reply to any such comments. I will also suggest: as … Continue reading →

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America’s Great Game: The CIA’s Secret Arabists and the Shaping of the Modern Middle East, by Hugh Wilford. For a century and a half before [Archie Roosevelt’s] arrival there, Iran had been a playing field in the Great Game.  Its location, adjoining Afghanistan (the classic arena of Anglo-Russian rivalry), British India, and Russia itself, ensured this. During World War II, a truce in the Great Game was declared between the British and Soviet Allies; in order to secure Iran for its oil fields and as a supply route for Lend-Lease supplies, the Allies deposed the shah, Reza Shah Pahlavi (later to … Continue reading →

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The west is turning more soviet every day, it seems.  This post is based on a recent Jordan Peterson video: A Call to Rebellion for Ontario Legal Professionals. Professional licensing organizations are sold to the public as entities designed to ensure high-quality standards.  They are nothing of the sort.  They are gatekeepers, agents that work to limit supply such that they can secure higher prices for the services of their members. In other words, the mission is primarily economic.  Well…welcome to the next chapter, courtesy of The Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC): All lawyers and paralegals play a vital role in Accelerating Culture Shift, one of … Continue reading →

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I find something to admire in the political left – the true left, not the version to be found in the United States.  Mostly I admire the clear vision when it comes to the Anglo-empire and its wars. But I also admire the left that is unafraid of the label socialist or even communist, the left that is unashamed of their truth.  (I hope I don’t need to add that there is much that I do not admire in the political left.) Say it Loud, Say it Proud The English-speaking world’s fear of calling communism, ‘communism’, by Ramin Mazaheri. Despite openly calling for every plank of the communist … Continue reading →

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The Libertarian Forum, edited by Murray N. Rothbard; April 15, 1969.  Just a tidbit for this post in my ongoing review of this compilation. April 15, that dread Income Tax day, is around again, and gives us a chance to ruminate on the nature of taxes and of the government itself. The first great lesson to learn about taxation is that taxation is simply robbery. No more and no less. This who claim that taxation is, in some mystical sense, really “voluntary” should have no qualms about getting rid of that vital feature of the law which says that failure to pay one’s … Continue reading →

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Preamble The longbeards, as they were to be known, was a tribe of the very early Middle Ages.  What we know of their fifth-century origins comes from the Origo Gentis Langobardorum, a short 7th-century, Latin account offering the founding myth. Regarding the Winnili: their ruler was a woman called Gambara; they were about to enter battle against the Vandals; they went to Odin and his wife Frea for help; Frea suggested that the women of Winnili tie their long hair in front of their faces such that they pass as men with beards in the battle. At sunrise, Frea turned her husband’s … Continue reading →

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America’s Great Game: The CIA’s Secret Arabists and the Shaping of the Modern Middle East, by Hugh Wilford. Americans had ventured into the Arab world for many decades prior to the end of World War Two.  Much of this time, the interaction was driven by private means: missionaries, universities, archeologists, charitable organizations.  For those Americans exposed to this world, the overwhelming description that could be applied would be to label these as Arabists: understanding and appreciating both the Arab people and the Arab culture. This was even true in the early years of official US government intervention in the region.  In many ways, … Continue reading →

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We’re on a road to nowhere Come on inside Takin’ that ride to nowhere We’ll take that ride I’m feelin’ okay this mornin’ And you know We’re on the road to paradise Here we go, here we go –        Talking Heads Sheldon Richman has written a piece addressing secession: “TGIF: Is Secession by Referendum Libertarian?”  I call it the libertarian road to nowhere, but this is standard fare and to be expected from many who self-describe as left-libertarians. Living in the vacuum of theory or in some libertarian fantasy world (both of which happen to be places where many libertarian thinkers live), … Continue reading →

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