What is a Socialist? Let's ask Bernie's Supporters

Four days ago, CNN polled Bernie Sanders' supporters in Iowa.  They asked people to define Socialism.  They had no real clue.  Frankly, the responses are downright scary.

See the next post for Senator Ben Sasse's definition of "What is Conservatism?"

Here is the clip from CNN:  cnns-baldwin-asks-sanders-supporters-to-define-the-word-socialist/

To be fair, here is an explanation of American democratic socialism from Peter Dreier, a professor of Politics at Occidental College.   See:  dreier-democratic-socialism/

To me, socialism is simply the step between heavily regulated capitalism (like we have now) and communism.

If you read between the lines in Dreier's description, you can see the the democracy part of his socialism is antithetical to our Constitutional Republic and its Constitution.  The United Sates was founded on the principles of individual freedom and responsibility, strong property rights and that the person knows best how to run their own lives.

Unfortunately, many democracies eventually end as some sort of a tyrannical state, because even with the best of intentions, democracies give their power to bureaucracies that begin to function for their own well-being, not that of the people. That is happening currently in the US.

Further reading between the lines, one can see that the appeal of socialism is based on envy and greed.  The futile quest for equality and equity is instigated by envy of the smarter, the better off, the harder worker.  That leads to re-distributionist laws that destroy the freedom concept of the Founders. That is a key point for Bernie Sanders...for 40 years he has had the same speech, that the rich are the problem and he wants their stuff.  Unfortunately, this road also leads to him wanting your stuff, via huge taxes, big government, and over-regulation.

Oh yeah, one last point:  The Tax Foundation last week published their evaluation of Sanders' tax proposals, applied to the next ten years.  It results in about 9.5% reduction in GDP and 6 million fewer FTE jobs.  His tax increases would be 13.5%, but only produce 9.8% after considering the reduction in GDP.  There would be a 10.5+% reduction in income for bottom 99% of earners, which turns into 12.8% after considering the reduction in GDP.

See here:  details-and-analysis-senator-bernie-sanders-s-tax-plan

So much for JFK's famous quote:  "A rising tide lifts all boats."  I don't think Bernie is a boater.

Here some more about Bernie as a Socialist:  bernie-sanders-claims-socialism-is-capitalism/

Here's many more insights into Bernie from IDB:    Many Sanders commentaries

Conservative Principles per Bill Whiittle

Bill Whittle sums up the conservative view of life quite nicely in this short video:  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjGsLmAXTYs

Bill as the Virtual President on Gun Control: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5ELyG9V1SY

EPA Tryanny in Wyoming

Andy Johnson is a small farmer/rancher who works as a welder to raise his family of six.  He built a stock pond a few years ago, after obtainingall needed local and state permits.  These permits were signed off by the correct agencies when the pond was completed.

Two years later EPA charged him with an illegal construction in a wetland.  They have been fining him at least $37,500 per day ever since.  The total is now over $16 million.

Watch this video to see the injustice and to see the beautiful little pond that has enhanced the local environment on Andy's property and neighborhood.

Andy Johnson Stock Pond in Wyoming - PLF video

Thankfully, Pacific Legal Foundation and many legislators have come to Andy's assistance.  However, EPA still maintains that Andy has violated teh Clean Water Act, especially now that they have declared jurisdiction of all of the "Waters of the U.S."

The scary part is that if the EPA prevails on its "Waters of the U.S." declaration, they will have destroyed private property rights for all Americans who have any type of water on their property.  Significantly, the White House supports and encourages this bureaucratic tyranny.

See PLF page here:  Pacificlegal.org/Cases/Case-johnson

RedBear encourages donations to PLF for the good work they do for freedom.

Similar story:  Mike and Chantall Sackett fought the EPA and after about 6 years finally won in the Supreme Court.  The court said things like "egregious overreach" about the EPA.  The decision was 9-0.  See here:  Sackett Case against EPA

Tryanny or Honest Mistake? Land Rover Seized by Feds

I've had dealings with California CARB about registration of foriegn vehicles.  I got it resolved and the people I dealt with were simple bureaucratics doing their jobs.  But that was 20 years ago.

It seems things are changing.  These folks had their Land Rover Defender seized because of a VIN number mix-up.  Maybe they got swindled by the previous owner, maybe it was never correct, maybe parts got replaced at some point.

For this huge crime, six vehicles and many agents swooped down on their property and grabbed the car.  They were from Homeland Security.  Now the folks can't find out where the car is located, or even get people to talk to them.  It looks like summary justify the bureaucratic way is about to happen.

See here:  federal-agents-storm-couples-property-seize-60000-car-violating-emissions-standards

This is plain stupid.  You don't need gun-toting federal law-enforcement agents to execute a car seizure.   This another case of the EPA and it sub-agencies turning into tyrannical law-unto-themselves.

The American People are being disrespected and mistreated too often these days.

Pitkin vs. Goliath - CO Road Closure

I think these videos tell the sad story for themselves.  The Forest Service, BLM and Parks are all trying to shut down the People's lands all over the country.

Pitkin v. Goliath Part 1

Pitkin v. Goliath Part 2 

Wow, the People win for once.

And then they win again:  citizen-activists-reopen-barricaded-blm-road-near-olathe/

Six Californias

California is a huge state, with 39 million diverse people. It has had so much good happen to it that many don’t seem to realize that now is not its finest hour. One proposal to solve some of the problems is to split the state into pieces. This could make the resulting smaller states easier to govern, more responsive to their citizens, more able to be competitive with other states, etc. Think of how, once again, California could even shake up the federal system for the better.

I like the idea – at least it deserves to be talked about. Maybe it should be a ballot initiative?

Six Californias Initiative 

Keystone XL - Little Greenhouse Impact on Balance

Pipelines are the safest and most energy efficient means of moving large volumes of liquid product.  Too bad this one has become so political.

IHS: Keystone XL would have minimal greenhouse gas emissions impact

WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 9

08/09/2013

By Nick Snow
OGJ Washington Editor  

Completing the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline would not have a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions because other transportation routes used in its absence would not significantly change Alberta oil sands production growth, a recent IHS CERA study concluded.

Venezuelan heavy crude imports most likely would replace any Canadian bitumen that did not reach the US Gulf Coast, it added.
The Aug. 8 IHS CERA Canadian Oil Sands Dialogue study reached conclusions similar to the US Department of State’s Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Keystone XL’s latest cross-border permit application.
Both found that preventing the project’s construction would have little effect on oil sands production in Alberta. IHS said it expects production to rise to 4.3 million b/d in 2030 from 1.9 million b/d in 2013 and does not expect the Keystone XL decision to have a material impact.
It noted that another 3 million b/d of oil sands pipeline capacity has been proposed, 80% of which traverses exclusively through Canada and consequently does not require US government approval.
With sufficient scale and investment, the cost of transporting bitumen from Alberta to Gulf Coast refineries by rail could fall to within $6/bbl of pipeline transportation costs, the study indicated. “This would place rail well within the break-even range for most oil sands production,” it said.

Gulf Coast GHGs

The study also concluded that there would be little change in the Gulf Coast’s overall GHG emissions if bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands was not shipped there. The region, which contains 50% of the nation’s refining capacity, could process similarly heavy crudes from elsewhere, it said.
Venezuela, which now is the biggest heavy crude supplier for Gulf Coast refineries, would most likely continue in that role, it continued.
IHS said its research has found Venezuelan heavy crude to have a range of life-cycle GHG emissions similar to oil sands imported into the US. “Venezuelan heavy oil—and Venezuela—would be the number one beneficiary of a negative decision on Keystone,” the study said.
The conclusions show building Keystone XL “would leave the climate in neutral, but place the economy in drive,” Consumer Energy Alliance Executive Vice-Pres. Michael Whatley responded.
“Five billion dollars in new investment and over 40,000 jobs is nothing to shake a stick at,” he said. “Combine that with American energy consumers being able to access both Bakken and Alberta-sourced oil, and you move the US away from being beholden to [Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries] suppliers.”
Contact Nick Snow at nicks@pennwell.com.

UN Arms Trade Treaty Will Destroy 2nd Amendment

President Obama is getting ready to sign the UN's ATT, on which his administration changed allegiance in April and joined the rest of the tyranny loving countries on the latest crusade to destroy the civil right of self defense worldwide, not to mention freedom of ownership of private property. This is a summary article from NRA and Washington times:

August 19th, 2013

The U.N. Comes After America's Guns - The White House readies to sign the Arms Trade Treaty.

The Washington Times | Bob Barr

Click here to view original article

The true scope of the anti-firearm crusade of the United Nations, which began more than a dozen years ago, finally is coming into clear focus, as the White House readies to sign the Arms Trade Treaty adopted with U.S. support this past April by the U.N. General Assembly. The reach of this long-term, carefully crafted agenda is truly breathtaking, going far beyond the publicly articulated goals of even the most radical of homegrown gun-control groups.

Since the first major U.N. meeting in July 2001, officially launching the so-called “Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,” this bureaucratic behemoth on the banks of the East River in New York City has been attempting to stretch its tentacles into the domestic regulation of firearms. If the administration of President Obama signs the Arms Trade Treaty, the U.N. will have taken a major step toward its ultimate goal — regardless of whether the treaty is ever submitted to the Senate for ratification.

According to experts familiar with this process, the mere act of signing the treaty — a responsibility that would fall to Secretary of State John Kerry — would “obligate” the U.S. government as a signatory not to act “contrary to” its terms. Those “terms” are, to quote Ross Perot, the “devil in the detail” — found not only within the four corners of the document itself, but in companion, foundational documents on which it is based.
For example, a 2006 U.N. report (authored by an American academic, Barbara Frey) lays out with frightening clarity where advocates of the approach reflected in the Arms Trade Treaty are coming from.

According to this Eurocentric worldview, there is no “right” to self-defense, and the national government is obligated to restrict civilian ownership of firearms, including determining which citizens properly “understand” firearms and might, therefore, be permitted to possess them.

Another important but little-known set of documents that reveal the true purposes of the treaty were crafted by the U.N. Coordinating Action on Small Arms. These include the International Small Arms Control Standard, which is developing “modules” on gun control to serve as “model legislation” for countries that sign on to the treaty. The most relevant of these is the one titled, “National controls over the access of civilians to small arms and light weapons.”

One need read no further than the introduction to this missive to understand its goal. The operative focus is strict regulation of civilian possession of firearms by the “central” or national government. This is necessary because “some civilians misuse small arms” by using them illegally or “improperly stor[ing]” them. The document bases this notion of government control of firearms and ammunition on “international law” — an inaccurate interpretation of such body of laws, but one that fits conveniently the U.N.’s agenda.

From this global perspective, the International Small Arms Control Standard module then directs, in excruciating detail, the manner in which national governments should restrict access to firearms and ammunition:

• Restricting civilian possession of firearms only to those “at the lowest risk of misusing them.”
• Limiting sales and other transfers of firearms only to commercial transactions at licensed “sales premises” (in other words, no transfers at gun shows).
• Only persons licensed and periodically re-licensed by the national government could possess firearms.
• All firearms must be registered with the national government.
• All persons wishing to possess a firearm must pass a rigorous exam administered by the national government.
• All firearms must be stored in locked containers separate from ammunition, and “bolted to a heavy or immovable object.”
• Only a predetermined number of firearms and rounds of ammunition may be possessed by a properly licensed civilian.
• Magazine capacity is limited to 10 rounds.
• Possession of a firearm may only occur after a seven-day waiting period.
• No civilian could own or possess a firearm for self-defense unless he first demonstrates a clear and convincing need.
• Individuals licensed to own firearms are subject to periodic and random inspections of their homes or businesses.
• In order to be granted a license to possess a firearm, an individual must secure recommendations from “responsible members of society,” attesting to their “suitability to possess a small arm.”

The above list is by no means exhaustive of the restrictions in the U.N. model legislation, which is designed to limit the possession of firearms and ammunition to the smallest possible number of civilians, and it provides clear insight into where this process is going. If Congress fails to take swift action to prohibit the administration from implementing any part of the Arms Trade Treaty or taking any action pursuant to it, we now know exactly where we are headed.

Control

This post is about control. The control mechanism is gun control, but it will be knife control soon, and then baseball bats and golf clubs and who knows what else. It is about the vilification of a whole class of citizens (you and me) who will have done nothing illegal, but who will become criminals because of a long list of new anti-gun laws now being passed in Sacramento. These laws will do nothing to stop crime - they don't even pretend to. They are aimed squarely at the 45% of Californians who believe in the 2nd Amendment and self-defense as a human right. The majority politicians in Sacramento don't believe in those things. Thus they are attempting to control you and me with laws that will create new criminals. Because, it is true that innocent people cannot be controlled, thus you must create criminals.

Do you own a simple 60 year old Marlin Model 60 semi-auto .22 LR? If you do, soon that will be an "assault weapon" and you will be a criminal if you don't register it. After you register it, you can't loan it, or sell it, and it must be destroyed when you die.

Call your representatives and tell them to stop destroying your rights and confiscating your property. Call the Governor and tell him to veto all of these laws.

CA Ammo Tax - One More Insult

Once again the law-abiding are insulted.  We get to pay for the criminals.   This is a 10% tax.   There is another bill to tax each round or each component at 5 cents each.  Thus a 500 round box of .22 LR that is now $20 will cost $45.

See here:  california-approves-92m-ammo-tax-combat-gun-violence

Of course, none of this will stop any violence.

Liberty Loss - One More Little Piece with Vehicle Data Loggers

From the American Motorcyclist Association comes this warning.  Did you know that event data loggers (black boxes) will likely be on all new vehicles after Sept 1, 2014?   When a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is announced, it is often unlikely that it will be shot down, unless strong public reaction is expressed.

Data loggers allow police and manufacturers and probably insurers to see the data on how you were driving (speed, swerving, braking, location, etc.).  This information can be used to refuse insurance coverage, to prove you were speeding or recklessly driving, to show you were visiting your mistress, just like Bay Area FASTRAK devices have been used.

Protect your privacy from event data recorders

U.S. Reps. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) will introduce the Black Box Privacy Protection Act soon and are currently seeking to add original cosponsors. The bill will protect motorcyclists’ rights by requiring dealers to prominently disclose to consumers if an event data recorder, known as a black box, is installed in their motorcycle, the data collection capabilities of such a device, and how such data may be used. The bill clarifies that the owner of the motorcycle owns the data and it may not be accessed without the permission of the owner. Furthermore, this bill requires that manufacturers provide consumers with the option of controlling the recording function in future automobiles or motorcycles that are equipped with black boxes. In other words, the ability to turn the black box on or off. Currently, no federal law exists that clarifies the rights of vehicle owners to ownership of the recorded data. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requiring black boxes in all cars manufactured after Sept. 1, 2014. The NHTSA already has disclosure requirements, but the Black Box Privacy Protection Act would make the disclosure more prominent and give consumers even greater choice and privacy protections. The American Motorcyclist Association protects motorcyclists’ freedom to ride and we support this bipartisan bill. If you are worried that your insurer will use data from a black box to increase your rates or have the ability to record data that can be used against you in a civil or criminal proceeding, then you—the motorcyclist—should urge your representative to become an original cosponsor to the Black Box Privacy Protection Act. Just follow the "Take Action" option to send a pre-written email directly to your representative. See here:  AMA Alert on Black Box Privacy

Connecticutt Also Driving out its Manufacturers

Just like in Colorado, firearms related businesses are considering leaving CT for brighter pastures. 

I just heard Mark Malkowski, owner of Stag Arms, on NRA News say that his customers are asking him to leave the state. 

Also speaking similarly, Jonathon Scalise of Ammunition Storage Components, a maker of magazines, announced ASC will probably leave New Britain, CT soon.  The new laws make their products illegal.

CT has just passed some more (as if they didn't already have some of the toughest) draconian gun control laws.  None of course would do anything to prevent the Newtown tragedy.  But they will make law-abiding citizens into criminals and they will prevent the necessary discussion about how to deal with mental illness.

CA High Speed Rail Authority Sues Everybody

When you sue everyone in the state, how must your project be faring?  Probably not to well, now that Quentin Kopp is suing the HSR over failing to follow the original referendum language.

From Mercury News:   California-high-speed-rail-sues-everybody-invites-people

Magpul Leaving Colorado - Tyranny in Colorado

With the signing of shortsighted and poorly written gun-control legislation yesterday by Gov. Hickenlooper, Magpul Industries announced that they will indeed follow through on their decision to leave Colorado.

"Our moving efforts are underway," Magpul chief operating officer Doug Smith said Wednesday. "Within the next 30 days we will manufacture our first magazine outside the state of Colorado."

See here:   Magpul-says-move-out-state-underway-and-others will follow

Magpul has about 200 employees.  Some of Magpul's suppliers have also announced they will follow Magpul to other states.

Related News:

The three anti-gun bills place limits on magazine capacity and ownership; enacted draconian background checks; andban so-called assault weapons.  As usual the language of the bills is vague and confusing, mostly because the writers don't understand guns at all.  The bills passed by small margins. As an example, the magazine bills grandfathers magazines larger than 15 rounds, but they must be destroyed if the owner dies, they cannot be sold, and if an owner lends one to his wife, that is called a transfer and both become felons with a penalty  of 1-year in jail.)

Not so usual is that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg probably caused the passage of these bills. He pledged that he will provide enough money for future elections to protect Colorado State legislators from the backlash of the people.  Indeed the basic language of the bills was provided by Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) organization.

It is significant that 100% of Colorado's sheriffs opposed these bills. Some have said they won't enforce these bills, because they are not enforceable and because they turn law abiding citizens into criminals and that is not the Sheriff's priority.

In an interview with Cam Edwards, Sheriff John Cooke of Weld Co. related how 60 sheriffs were not even listened to during the hearings: Hundreds of people testified in favor of the bills, while only one sheriff was allowed to speak in opposition, although all 60 sheriffs stood behind that man.  (The Bloomberg fix was in.)  Sheriff spoke from the Western States Sheriffs Association meeting and said a large topic there was how to defeat these bills.

So Colorado is now operating as a tyranny of Bloomberg and complicit super-majority Democrats. 

On Your Own - The Truth About Crime from Cops

Project Veritas is a website by James O'Keefe, which is dedicated to "expose corruption, dishonesty, self-dealing, waste, fraud, and other misconduct in both public and private institutions in order to achieve a more ethical and transparent society."  James O'Keefe was instrumental in exposing corruption at ACORN and Planned Parenthood offices.

"(Veritas) spoke with police officers from North Carolina to New York who told them the unfortunate truth about the time it takes to respond to calls for help and what citizens can do until officers arrive. Here are just a few of the frank things they had to say:"
“We try. We can’t always get there.” – NC
“Sometimes we can’t be anywhere at all because everybody’s tied up.” – Durham, NC
“Lock yourself in a bedroom, start yelling and screaming.” – Jersey City, NJ
“Some people have dogs.” – Yonkers, NY
“Go get some bleach. Go get ammonia.” - East Orange, NJ
“A rifle and shotgun is actually for luxury.” – Kew Gardens, NY

See the video at:  On Your Own

Gun Control Fantasies

Here are some links that talk about reality in gun control.

First, Bill Whittle from PJ Media:   Mr Virtual President on Guns

Second, Wild Bill:  liberals-with-guns-wild-bill

Third:  Chief hoplophobe Dianne Feinstein's rhetoric goes over-the-top:   feinstein-legal-hunt-humans

And here, unfortunately is why gun control may do a lot of damage to our liberties this time around:
I-just-voted-for-obama-because-hes-black

Firearms Companies Affirm 2nd Allegiance

Firearms companies are affirming their commitments to the Second Amendment and to free enterprise.  Decisions by politicians, in knee-jerk response to complicated and difficult news items like mass-killings, have consequences.  Some of the largest companies in the field are taking action.

See here:   gun-control-protests

Europeanization of the United States

To be a conservative, to me, means to be a person who appreciates the well-proven advances made in past times as key to understanding how new proposals in law and social development should be judged and accepted or rejected.  Underlying this is a belief in individual freedom, rule of law, moral rules set by natural or religious tradition, and conservative fiscal principles.

To be liberal, in my observation, seems to be to accept a system of legal and social development that often relies on fads of the moment, a drive toward "equality" of outcomes instead of equality of opportunity, and a simplistic reliance on the rule of government, often to the deferrence of liberties, plus an disregard for basic economics.

I have found a summary of much of my viewpoint and the impact on the U.S in an interview with author Samuel Gregg about his new book, ”Becoming Europe: Economic Decline, Culture, and How America Can Avoid a European Future.”  See the interview here: http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/27/california-illinois-and-new-york-have-have-more-or-less-become-european-argues-author/

He calls the effect "Europeanization" as a new term to describe a modern synthesis of socialistic, liberal, and large, omni-powered central government social designs.  The European Union is the example of how these ideas are producing stagnating economies populated by citizens who have, in general, lost much of their will toward individualistic effort to better themselves, instead exchanging liberties for the safety net bequeathed by a state that strives "mother" them.

 

The Human Cost of Complexity and Bureaucracy

I found this post at HotAir by happenstance.  It starts as a story about a man in Seattle importing a boat from Canada and how the DHS Customs official tried to get him to swear to a simple lie on a form.  It ends with a more important observation by Scott Adams (Dilbert author) about how the complexity of modern life is swamping our brains with trivia, leaving little room for knowledgeable thought.

See here:  dhs-steals-techcrunch-founders-boat-over-paperwork-error

Now for the additional humor and followup, see here:
the-department-of-homeland-security-is-now-bitching-at-me-on-my-blog/

If you can stand it, be sure to read some of the comments to the blog.  I'll never understand how so many people can express so much vitriol for someone they don't know.  At least the conversation gets a little more civil later on.

Property Rights: A Win for the Sacketts and All of Us!

Today the Supreme Court spoke out for the individual and affirmed that individuals have property rights that cannot be trampled by roughshod agencies like the EPA.  Hooray!

See the SCOTUS ruling here:  SACKETT+VICTORY

See the PLF posting:  Sackett's Case

The verdict was unanimous, and J. Alito and J. Ginsburg wrote concurrences.  J. Alito's was particularly strong, to wit, "The position taken in this case by the Federal Government - a position that the Court now squarely rejects - would have put the property rights of ordinary Americans entirely at the mercy of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees."