Liberty or Bust

Encouraging Public Employment

CNN has an article discussing how to get your student loans forgiven by entering into the public sector. Do we really want to encourage kids to put a drain on our universities to enter into the public sector, the sector well known for producing the worst results recorded? I don’t think we need to waste tax dollars on state-funded universities and federally funded loan forgiveness. Can’t those same kids find meaningful jobs in the private sector where their contributions would be more fully appreciated?

Wizard of Id Comic

I liked this comic.

AutoMakers Whine for Money

Stephanie referred me to an article at CNN regarding automakers hoping to get some money because it turns out their core competencies aren’t making cars. Here are a few quotes I love:

• “Congress approved a $25 billion loan program to help the automakers finance a switch in production from larger vehicles, such as pickups and full-size SUVs, to more fuel efficient vehicles.”
  This means invest in shortsighted business plans, the government will finance changes later.
• “We have said publicly that we believe the federal government should consider all of the tools available to it – some recently enacted – to support industries that are in distress and that are essential to the U.S. economy.”
  There is nothing GM, Ford, and Chrysler can do for this economy, no matter how distressed, that Toyota, Honda, and Nissan can’t do. Remember, most Toyotas and Hondas roll off American manufacturing lines.

Taxing the masses to save the few is a terrible business plan unless you are the few. People buy American cars because they are cheap, not because they are good. That is reflected in the pricing policies of American manufacturers. If they can’t maintain a business with $25 billion donated to them, they need to have their heads examined. I hope they all fail!

Why I loathe Socialism

If you can’t tell by my previous writings, I loathe socialism. All of it. The idea of being forced to share the wealth drives me nuts and keeps me up at night if my day was too easy. Until recently, all of my evidence was third party, research of others like Thomas Sowell or F. A. Hayek. But now, I have my own evidence!

My father lost his job as CFO for a title company in Texas. He quickly obtained unemployment. Socialist, right? What has happened? Our government has decided to make being unemployed a little nicer, a little more tolerable. Isn’t that nice? Well now, my dad is turning down jobs because he does not want to lose his unemployment. That’s right. He could be contributing to society by pursuing both permanent and temporary (which may lead to permanent) jobs, but instead he is only looking at permanent jobs, even though temporary jobs may pay more than unemployment. So here we have a system stifling productivity in the name of sympathy. Don’t get me wrong. My dad is making the right choice from his perspective. He knows how much money he can make from unemployment and knows how much he can make from these temporary jobs. He will let his pride and wallet stop him from accepting a job when it is pays less, as a whole, than unemployment.

In line with this steaming pile, I had a conversation with my mom regarding what I would do if I lost my job tomorrow. I told her I would immediately get a job, Starbucks, Home Depot, a local restaurant, anything to get income while I find a job that uses all of my skills (I currently design microprocessors for pace makers and implantable defibrillators). She asked, won’t that pay less than unemployment? I never thought of that. I immediately thought to be a productive person in society, not leech off of it. She said, you pay unemployment taxes, so you deserve it. That is more of a reason to eliminate unemployment taxes, than to leech, isn’t it?

The true test of your ideals is when it hits home. I know what I would do in this case, but what about you?

Why Do We Ask Government to Redistribute Our Money?

I received an email from a family member today. Its text is below.

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I  work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it  sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine  test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution  of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test. Shouldn’t one have to  pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it  for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on  their feet. I do, on the other  hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their ASS, doing drugs,  while I work. . Can you imagine how m much money the state would save if people  had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?

I quote,”I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it  sees fit … I have no problem with helping people get back on  their feet”. Why do we require our government to redistribute our money? Are we, as a civilization, do foolish, greedy, arrogant, naive to do it ourselves? John Stossel pointed out that we, Americans, are more giving, both per capita and total, than any other nation in the world. American rich donate more than other countries rich on an absolute scale. American poor donate a larger percentage of their income than any other demographic. So why is text so easily swallowed and spammed to your friends and family? Why is the subject of this email the bitterness towards welfare instead of towards the government deciding who gets your money? Additionally, why do people assume that their tax dollars are helping get people back on their feet?

Any insight is appreciated.

Socialism Causes Pulled Teeth

The BBC has an article exposing the painful truth of socialized medicine in Britian’s dental industry. They showed that as dental care was socialized, dentists started to pull teeth instead of treat them with fillings, etc. That is the ugly truth of universal health care. By offering everyone the same care, the quality must drop in order for the market to support it, unless you can afford to privately pay for the correct services.

Venezuela Nationalizes Cement Industry

The BBC has a brief article regarding Venezuela’s nationalization of its cement industry. I can’t wait to see the long term affects this has on both Venezuela’s economic and civil future as well as the global cement market. Is anyone keeping score on how aligned Venezuela is with 1930′s Nazi Germany? It blows my mind to think that this guy thinks this is what’s best for his country. I wonder how many friends he has in the cement industry? Or the housing industry? How much longer until all foreign investment in Venezuela pulls out? If I was in Venezuela, I would need a change of shorts. Scary.