Obama Follows Down Bush's Path

With the release of the CIA memos, there has been an outcry by many to at least investigate the Bush Administration's use of questionable interrogation practices in Guantanamo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. However, President Obama has stated repeatedly that he sees no point in prosecuting the torturers themselves or those from the Bush Administration that approved it. It has come to light now that the Department of Justice wants to at least look into the matter. A source from the Department of Justice has said lawyers at the DOJ are incensed over the White House getting in the way of any independent investigation.

Bush was ridiculed for interfering with DOJ investigation. Towards the end of his administration his handling of the DOJ became a blemish on his legacy. Although never proven, many suspected Karl Rove and others of encouraging the prosecution of others based on their political affiliations. Now Obama is becoming entrenched in DOJ affairs when he has no place to do so. Bush blurred the line between justice and politics and Obama is doing the same. Obama does not want to offend moderate voters, many of who voted for Bush twice, by investigating the previous administration. By doing so, he is destroying the criminal justice system. To not even allow an investigation is ludicrous.

An example needs to be made of the Bush Administration that no one is above the Constitution or the law. There is now credible evidence that the Bush Administration endorsed torture methods for enemy combatants. Let's take advantage of this moment so that future political figures understand that when break the law, they must pay the price.

A Valid Point About Lobbyists

Jacob Weisberg discusses the unintended consequences of banning current lobbyists from the Obama Administration.

Tea Parties Hijacked by Conservative Opportunists

If I am correct in understanding this, those at the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Parties are taking a stand against bailouts and tax increases. And If I am correct in my understanding of current and past events, they are idiots.

The Tea Parties have been an on-going event for several years. It started as a Libertarian event to showcase a belief in minimal taxes and regulations. Unlike this year's Tea Party, these actually had a single coherent message: in principle taxes are a necessary evil and ought to be kept to absolute low levels while keeping the government out of private affairs of all sorts.

This year's Tea Party was hijacked by Conservatives and Republican think-tanks however. The relationship between Libertarians and Conservatives has also been a very uncomfortable one of forced marriage forged by fiscal issues. The difference is that Libertarians are consistent in their message and are very critical of any tax or regulation. Conservatives are when they see it as politically feasible.

The Stimulus Plan passed by the federal government actually reduced taxes. About $400 billion of the $1 trillion Stimulus Plan was in tax breaks to the middle class. So what are they protesting, a reduction in taxes? Maybe its because the rich didn't get as a great as tax break? Oh right, the tax on the top tax bracket is 10% less than under Mr. Neo-Con Ronald Regan. So why weren't Conservatives protesting back in the 1980s when they saw their wealth was being taken from them at a higher rate?

The truth is they really didn't care. Whereas Libertarians have always protested taxes, Conservatives see this year as a political opportunity time to jump on the anti-tax bandwagon and join the populist movement. The rise of Ron Paul has not gone unnoticed by Republicans and Conservatives. They want to tap into the Libertarian movement to build up votes for 2010 mid-term elections. This has become apparent in recent days as Gov. Rick Perry (R) of Texas has threatened secession from the Union. It is no doubt a empty threat to appeal to Constitutionists and Libertarians.

This wouldn't be the first time Conservatives joined forces with a sub-section of society to garner votes. In the 1980s they reached out to Evangelicals to win votes in the South and MidWest. And now everyone can start to see that their relationship is souring. Gay marriage is becoming more socially acceptable and the abortion debate is dying. The Christian Right are becoming irrelvent after years of success. And I do not doubt that Libertarians will dropped years from now when another opportunity arises to get votes.

Libertarians have a fundamental difference with Conservatives. It is that Libertarians believe the government has no right to interfere with any private, whether economic or social, matters while Conservatives believe the government should interfere with social matters like drug use and gay marriage. Neo-Cons especially are in conflict of Libertarians. Neo-Cons want to concentrate federal powers while Libertarians want more state rights.

Do Conservatives really love freedom? Yes, as long as what you are doing is deemed okay by them? Do Conservatives really want the government out of your paycheck? Yes, as long as it damages the Liberal's reputation. Libertarians would be wise not align with Conservatives and become entrenched in partisan politics. Hold your own and keep your values true because Conservatives will dump you as soon as they see another opportunity on the horizon.

Piracy A Result of Failed Interventionism

Journalist Matthew Yglesias describes how the Clinton and Bush Administrations have helped create the failed Somali state in which pirates thrive.

It's ridiculous that anyone is contemplating the idea of invading Somalia to fight the pirates on land. The best we can do is protect our own ships to the fullest extent and stop interfering with Somalian politics. You don't fight a forest fire by jumping into the middle of it. You contain it and stop its spread. Only then can you start to reduce its effects. I thought this was obvious after Iraq and Vietnam.

Tax Rates Around the World

According to the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) the United States has the third lowest tax rate for individuals who are married with two kids. Without kids and single the United States ranks in the middle. Which begs the question, why do people with kids pay less when their kids put more burden on the system with education and such?

The Socialist Republic of the United States?

A poll recently released suggests that Americans are taking a second look at socialism.

Karl Marx always said the United States would be the biggest proponent of socialism in time.

Damn Facist Homosexuals

This is a press release from the conservative Family Research Council in response to the legislative and judicial actions taken by Iowa, Vermont, and DC to allow gay marriage in the past week.

I did not know that a legislature voting to allow gay marriage was considered un-democratic.
Ridiculous. Just ridiculous.

The North Korean Boogeyman

As I am sure many of you have heard, North Korea launched a rocket last week over the Pacific Ocean. Many people are declaring North Korea is a real threat to American security. (I think I heard that same argument in 2002. Something about Saddam Hussein and his link to Al-Qaeda) Yes, North Korea is believed to have a nuclear bomb. Yes, Kim Jong Il is crazy. Refer here. Yes they have a million man army. And yes, they have developed a long range missile. Sort of.

The missile developed by the North Koreans was a complete failure. Stage 3 of the rocket crashed and burned into the Pacific Ocean. It was an improvement over the last rocket they developed which only successfully completed Stage 1. Also, the payload of the rocket was only 300 lbs. Far short of the standard one ton nuclear payload. In conclusion, North Korea is basically bringing a knife to a gun fight.

This was the third failed rocket launch since 1998 for North Korea. In comparison, the United States accomplished this feat in the 1950s. The North Koreans are not looking to bomb anyone. They just want leverage and use fear to gain it. Every time they detonate a bomb or launch a rocket the United Nations go running to North Korea giving them incentives to stop.

The international community is in many ways encouraging this behavior by North Korea. We should definitely keep an eye on North Korea and be wary of their actions. However, we do not need to start beating the war drums and start discussing military actions. Because what America needs is another unnecessary war.

Why Can't Education Be Free?

This time of year of produces great success and disappointment. Every year at this time millions of college applicants find out whether or not they got into the college of their dreams. College has become a major part of the American fabric. What was once only a institution for the rich is now the expected for many of middle and lower class Americans. And as the cost of college rises, how will the millions of college students pay for its ever rising cost? Loans, loans, and more loans.

By the time I am done with graduate school, I will be about $43,000 in debt. What I am paying is a modest amount compared to most. College has always been a private venture in the United States except for a few states and the federal government helping those below the poverty line. But if you are not lucky enough to live in one of those states or poor enough to get federal aid, then you are stuck bearing incredible costs. It can be very difficult for middle class families to pay for college, often causing some to forego it.

It is time the federal government start looking at college as an investment for the nation. An educated population is essential for a democracy to survive. The success of a democracy is based on the educated decisions of its citizens. When you have a dumb population, you have a failed democracy. And I fear that is where America is headed. The early success of the United States is in part due to its public education system. So why not extend public education to the college level?

I am not proposing a model that now dominates the current K-12 public education system. I am however proposing a system where the federal government rewards students with GPAs over 3.2 in high school with a free ride to any college they want to attend. However, if they drop out or if they fail to achieve a GPA above 3.0 by graduation, then they must pay back at least half of the money. This would encourage students to achieve good grades and produce a more educated population during a time when the United States faces many difficult choices. Of course, the federal government would have no say in what is being taught in colleges because if they did, they would ruin college.

A lot more could be written about this but that could be discussed a later time.

This Just In...

The Iowa State Supreme Court has ruled that the state ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates the rights of gays. This is a huge victory for human rights.

A Reminder from Theodore Roosevelt

"The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life."

I believe this is important to keep in mind while we sort out our economic mess. There are really two things I take from this quote. First, although we should encourage the expansion of wealth, we need to make sure it is responsible expansion. Not the type of expansion propped up on stilts but on a solid foundation. And even though the executives at AIG, Bear Stearns, and Goldman Sachs are private citizens, they have incredible power that needs to be reigned in at times. When your actions have the capability of sending shockwaves throughout the entire world economy, the government needs to step in and regulate.

Second, we should not turn to heavy regulation to solve this crisis. We need to keep our composure and make responsible and methodical decisions that chip away at the problem. Taxing AIG 99% or watching every move of financial companies is not going to make our situation better. Captialism, in its many form, has boosted standard of living more than any other economic theory. Likewise, we need to come to an understanding however that pure capitialism has its down falls and regulation is necessary to keep our country and the world stable.