Comments for International Liberty

Comment on Should Republicans Have Compromised to Produce a Less-Bad Healthcare Bill? by S R Larson

S R Larson — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:41:01 +0000

I know from personal contacts with Republicans in the House and the Senate that they went out of their way trying to talk some sense with the Democrats. They tried desperately to interest them in a more market-oriented approach, to no avail. The frustration I have picked up from GOPers on Capitol Hill is unmistakable. Evidently Bruce Bartlett has been nowhere near the epicenter of this debate, nor has he talked to anyone who has.

It is hard to imagine a more radical, destructive fringe of liberals than those who currently run Congress and the White House. Bartlett wants Republicans to compromise with them as if the radicalism of BO, Reid and Pelosi is somehow the fault of Republicans. Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it…?

Comment on Fortunately Child Protective Services Didn’t See this Photo by Pat

Pat — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:18:28 +0000

Good Lord, buy that child a balaclava and a pair of goggles!

You know the locals will sell you flatlanders ski gear if’n ya ask nice and buy some maple syrup.

Did you get waffles from the Waffle Haus at the base lodge? Best. Waffles. EVAR. Esp. if you get them with chocolate sauce drizzled on them.

Comment on Fortunately Child Protective Services Didn’t See this Photo by sophie

sophie — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:48:00 +0000

in the EU we surely have a directive against this kind of treatment.

Comment on Fortunately Child Protective Services Didn’t See this Photo by leviramsey

leviramsey — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:58:57 +0000

I think climatologists (not “climate scientists”) would be more interested in the oldest sun freezing than Child Protective Services

(Also, there are several perfectly good ski resorts in the Somewhat-Free State of New Hampshire…)

Comment on Ski Update: My Encounter with Local Government by Pat McIntosh

Pat McIntosh — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:56:55 +0000

Was this in Mendon or Wallingford, Vermont, by chance? And was the Townie in question named Nelson Tift? (grin)

Comment on Hitting the Slopes by Your Mother

Your Mother — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:57:55 +0000

I love you and miss you.

Comment on Hitting the Slopes by Alpha Maser

Alpha Maser — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:36:23 +0000

Enjoy the ski trip Dan. Your blog looks great.
-Alpha

Comment on TSA Announces New Anti-Terrorism Rule for Air Travel by Nicki

Nicki — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:23:03 +0000

Because obviously painting a big, red, metaphorical bullseye on the back of every airline passenger will make them safer. That’s quite the Orwellian doublethink.

Comment on More TSA Incompetence by Nicki

Nicki — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:20:44 +0000

Anyone’s rights can be violated in the name of “national security.” Any kind of funding can be wasted, and the mantra has been used in all types of tyrannical and wasteful legislation.

What’s next? Well… TSA claims they won’t be grabbing your scrotum anytime soon, but they will be doing a full body scan.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/Airports-Slow-to-Receive-Whole-Body-Imaging-Scanners-80233757.html

My guess is this will cause less people to fly, eat into the profits of the airline industry, prompting calls for a bailout (in the name of national security, of course, since airlines can apparently be federalized in times of national emergency).

Comment on More TSA Incompetence by Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:10:24 +0000

I’ve always questioned why the TSA has any authority over people getting on planes. People pay to fly. They should be able to choose whether they want the security-screened flight or a non-security-screened flight, like smoking vs. non-smoking. It’s not the government’s business.

If a person can’t be trusted to not try to blow up other people then he/she shouldn’t be allowed in the country altogether (plane, bus, train, sidewalk, …). That is the government’s business. Once, you’re here, it should be the “land of the free”, and freedom means not being harassed by TSA goons.

Comment on TSA Announces New Anti-Terrorism Rule for Air Travel by J. Neil Schulman

J. Neil Schulman — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:53:35 +0000

I just love that every time the passengers are the only ones to stop terrorists on commercial jetliners, security is tightened to immobilize and harass the passengers even more.

Comment on TSA Announces New Anti-Terrorism Rule for Air Travel by Michelle Raand

Michelle Raand — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:02:39 +0000

Talking about spreading infections, one thing that bugs me in the plane is the people who cough and sneeze without restraint. Most times they do that without consideration for the people sitting next to them and pass on their germs to us. I’ve wished for some form of protection from the microbes they are spewing out. I could wear a face mask but it is so uncomfortable and moreover it scares away everyone. So I came up with a product idea and patented it. I want to know how many others like me will find this product useful and so created a survey. Just fill it up and give me your valuable feedback. Thanks!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/air-travel

Comment on Story on GOP Hypocrisy Illustrates that Sometimes It’s Better to Lose an Election by johnwaylon

johnwaylon — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:42:53 +0000

The current economic meltdown is not the fault of former President Bush. The current economic recession is the result of the “Community Reinvestment Act” started my Jimmy Carter and the Democrats and escalated by Clinton that forced Banks to make bad mortgage loans to unqualified low income buyers. Bush tried to fix the problem but was blocked by the Democrats lead by Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. It was Obama’s community action group, ACORN that further intimidated the banks and mortgage companies to push the bad loans. Obama was one of the Senators that is most responsible for forcing the irresponsible loans made Fannie Mae and Freddi Mac.

Comment on Story on GOP Hypocrisy Illustrates that Sometimes It’s Better to Lose an Election by Kuzen

Kuzen — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:29:05 +0000

Politicians in the repertoire, everyone pulls on itself(himself). When already they will calm down? Whether already there are no problems in our world more.

Comment on TSA Announces New Anti-Terrorism Rule for Air Travel by Dann

Dann — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:04:29 +0000

What? Increased security measures, reminds me of a movie from the 70s…

“But Delta’s already on probation.”
“They are? Well, as of this moment, they’re on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION!”

Comment on Great Moments in Bureaucratic Stupidity by Steve Horwitz

Steve Horwitz — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Not to mention that such a rule would make it illegal for passengers to get out of their seats to stop such an attack, as they did on Friday. As of now, from what I’ve read, these rules apply only to international flights headed to the US, not domestic ones. But Bureaucratic Stupidity will likely expand to fill that void as well.

Comment on Pontificating Again, this Time on the Flat Tax by arkady

arkady — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:02:39 +0000

Dan, why do we need a flat tax? Honestly? America had no income tax until 1913 and did very well for itself (not counting the civil war). Why not instead push an agenda of cutting spending to the point where an income tax is NOT needed? I fail to see how a flat tax will remain flat with the current political system.

Comment on Standing in the Schoolhouse Door by Chad

Chad — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:01:33 +0000

Yet another reason why unions are bad for this country.

Comment on The Perfect Christmas Gift for Your Global Warming Friends by A Christmas Present for the Non-Statists on Your List « International Liberty

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:31:46 +0000

[...] by Dan Mitchell Recent posts have reviewed the enviro war against toilet paper and suggested the ideal present for your neighborhood collectivist. So it is appropriate to mix these two themes and suggest the ideal Christmas present for [...]

Comment on Digging Out by Your Mother

Your Mother — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:14:09 +0000

THanks! More, more. Pictures that is.

Comment on Great Video (sadly, not one of mine) by Candy from Obama « International Liberty

Candy from Obama « International Liberty — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:26:57 +0000

[...] 20, 2009 by Dan Mitchell A previous post had a different version, but this also is quite [...]

Comment on Great Moments in Foreign Government by sophie

sophie — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:31:25 +0000

some news in france. a new “party” (on face book) called France Paradis Fiscal advocating that France becomes one. The Elysee Palace will not be amused…
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=232964209918&ref=nf

Comment on Revenge of the Laffer Curve by Is Greece’s Fiscal Crisis Caused by too Much Spending or too Little Revenue? « International Liberty

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:43:08 +0000

[...] 90 percent tax on bank bonus payments. I don’t know if lawmakers in Athens have heard of the Laffer Curve, but they’re about to get a real-world lesson that will teach them how punitive tax rates [...]

Comment on Weekly Political Humor by Paul

Paul — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:34:36 +0000

“Free nobel peace prize with oil change” love it!
gets the point across whilst putting a smile on ppl’s faces at the same time.

Comment on Greetings from Croatia by Adam Radman

Adam Radman — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:43:10 +0000

Where did you stay in Croatia? Is this Dubrovnik?

Comment on Greetings from Croatia by Paul

Paul — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:05:44 +0000

More importantly, if they can’t control climate in a small hotel room, how can they do that on a global scale?

Comment on Finally, a CEO to Admire by links for 2009-12-08 « Overton’s Arrow

links for 2009-12-08 « Overton’s Arrow — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:35:54 +0000

[...] Finally, a CEO to Admire « International Liberty (tags: CEO business executive speech healthcare reform cap-and-trade) [...]

Comment on Dan Hannan Rips the European Bureaucracy Racket by Angela

Angela — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:11:51 +0000

You have to love how the British can say things so succinctly and cut right to the heart of what should be said rather than dancing around a topic to avoid offending others.

Comment on Obamacare and Fiscal Incontinence by Marian Rockwood

Marian Rockwood — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:56:55 +0000

Dan is obviously very intelligent and thoughtful. Good Job…

Comment on Is Ayn Rand Good for the Cause of Liberty? by John Donohue

John Donohue — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:19:06 +0000

Yes I would agree with that assessment of the 25-cent car rental by Brianna.

However, there is a tounge and cheek secondary slant, on top of the deep meaning.

It’s like if you spent a week with a group of people who used slang and called each other gross nicknames. You’d be sick of it. So you might make a funny little ironic agreement with your mate after arriving home, “Let’s call each other Sir or Miss or by our full names and speak over-elegantly for a while.”

The Strikers have heard how they are obliged to “give” so often, they just want to hurl about now. So in the Valley the agree to not use the word or do the action of giving.

Rand studded Atlas with many ironies like that, which most people do not get. The “Lot’s Wife” reference is one of them.