Daddy Bloomberg is right

When I was growing up my parents would not allow me to purchase booze and cigarettes with my allowance money. There was no use arguing that once given to me the money was mine to do with whatever I saw fit. In fact, I knew better than to argue the point.

Okay, I never actually tried to buy booze or cigarettes with my allowance but I did try to buy things that my parents said weren’t good for me and they were quick to tell me they were “responsible” for “ensuring” my wellbeing. Now Daddy Bloomberg is taking my parents’ attitude and applying it to New York City.

No Pop for the Poor

New York City’s mayor wants the federal government to say food stamps can’t be used to buy soda – a story that is less about the technicalities of welfare and more about political paternalism.

Now, there’s a strong argument to be made that if the government is setting the table and preparing the dinner, it should be able to choose the menu. But that argument is not being made; on the contrary, those who want soda omitted from the items obtainable by food stamps are making the link between health and public spending.

Good for him but he’s not going far enough. The list should include all processed foods, “junk” food, red meat, white bread, pasta, and potatoes. Better idea-food stamp recipients should be required to call the grocery store in advance and then the store can have acceptable food waiting for them. Think I’m kidding? Part and parcel with abdicating personal responsibility to the state should be a willingness to follow the rules of state, much as a child follows the rules of their parent.

Not fair? Stomp your foot when you say that, Missy!

Children have no choice but depend on their parents but adults have plenty of choices. People who wish to retain their ability to choose their food or housing or health care should not allow themselves to become wards of the state.

Moral imperatives and freedom

Via Instapundit I came across a very interesting post by John Stossel, Keep Your Laws Off My Body.  Mr. Stossel makes a very compelling argument for personal freedom but it was his quote from Albert Camus that caught my eye, "The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants."  That pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?

In my previous post, Paul Krugman is quoted saying, "Today, Democrats and Republicans live in different universes, both intellectually and morally."  More plainly put, Krugman believes that Democrats are intellectually and morally superior to Republicans and as such, Democrats know what is good for society.  In Krugman's overreaching smugness he is advocating tyranny for our own good.

Health care and Cap & Trade are two examples of the Left trying to impose their world view on the rest of us.  If you listen to their arguments it always comes back to we know what is best for you.  Everything is a moral imperative.  But their advanced thought capabilities aside, the Left has been wrong at every turn.  They have been wrong because they wouldn't know a moral imperative if it flew up their fascist tailpipes.

Freedom, self sufficiency and self determination are moral imperatives-dependency on government is not.  In fact, when the Left advocates for government interference rather than personal liberty, their position is immoral.

The truth is, those of us of average intelligence have managed to navigate through life quite well.  We rise to a level of success commiserate with our own efforts.  Our welfare is our own and we neither need nor want the false security of tyranny.

The Big Mouth From the Small State

How's this for the Spirit of Christmas:

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is a piece of work:

"Far from appealing to the better angels of our nature, too many colleagues are embarked on a desperate no-holds-barred mission of propaganda, obstruction and fear. History cautions us of the excesses to which these malignant, vindictive passions can ultimately lead. Tumbrils have rolled through taunting crowds, broken glass has sparkled in darkened streets. Strange fruit has hung from Southern trees. Even this great institution of government that we share has cowered before a tail-gunner waving secret lists. . . .

"We see it in Christmases and holidays ruined by the Republicans for our loyal and professional Senate employees. It’s fine for me. It’s fine for the president. We signed up for the his job, but why ruin it for all the employees condemned by the Republicans to be here?” (Emphasis added.)

Gee, don't hold back there Bucko. I'm going to skip over that first paragraph because frankly, it does little good to address the clearly unhinged. But as to your staffers ruined Christmas, go flipping home. The Republicans aren't keeping you there. Republicans don't want you there. Nobody asked you to cram this down our throats. In fact, we asked you not to. You didn't listen. You're not listening now. You stand on the floor of the United States Senate and speak like a petty, third world tyrant. Sen. Whitehouse, I will give the respect that you have earned. None. Kiss my ass.

Brainwashing 101

Via Memeorandum:

Big Hollywood has uncovered 11 more videos that show schoolchildren singing the praises of Obama. It seems that each video is even more creepier than the last. Here's and example of what our children are having foisted upon them:

GIFFEN ELEMENTARY — 2-12-09

Transcript:

Barack Obama – Recorded:

“I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world’s poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave-owners – an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.” — Barack Obama, “A More Perfect Union,” March 18, 2008.

Verse 1:

We’re here to tell you about the man. His name is Barack Obama he’s the leader of this land. He was born in Hawaii then he lived in Illinois. His father moved to Africa when he was a little boy. He got into some trouble when he was 17 and he has come clean now he’s [unintelligible] people [unintelligible] He fights for civil rights and better health care. He wants to make sure that we all will have care. He’s [unintelligible] reform [unintelligible] he’s very educated and he’s got a lot of rhythm. First black President with a heart that’s only true, he wants to make the world better for me and you. At Chicago University he used to be a teacher, [unintelligible] At the Democratic National Convention, the name Barack Obama became [unintelligible].

Chorus:

Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can, Say Yes We Can.

GOTHAM AVENUE SCHOOL — 2-7-09

Transcript:

We believe in Barack Obama
He loves you and he loves your mama
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah
With all the change he’s building
Gonna bring hope to the children
We believe in Barack Obama, yeah

Change
That we can believe in
Change
That we can believe in
Change
That we can believe in

It just keeps getting better. Check out these lyrics:

POWELL ELEMENTARY – May 6, 2009

Transcript:

Barack Obama there is none higher
Other politicians should call me sire
To burn my kingdom you must use fire
I create change till I retire!

Democratic Party come correct
Our cuts are on time our rhymes connect
Got the right to vote and will elect
Others can’t feel us but give us respect

Um, he should be called "Sire"? Well, I guess if you believe that "there is none higher" and that he, (or should that be He?) has a "kingdom" you might not object to this nonsense but those of us who haven't been drinking the magic kool aid find this offensive.

This is brainwashing and indoctrination. This has no place in our schools. Further, this isn't about Left and Right or Democrat or Republican. This is about using the classroom to teach ideology. And it is wrong.

More at:

Left Coast Rebel

Dear Mr. Friedman, There Are Worse Things Than Dirty Air

I'm not in the mood to suffer fools today so when I came across Thomas Friedman's Our One Party Democracy my immediate reaction was a F-bomb laden diatribe that left one poor co-worker quite pale. Of course, my f-bombs consist of the word "flippin'" instead of the more common word, but when I finally slowed down enough that my co-worker was able to break in the best he managed was, "wow."

Friedman is not a stupid, or at least uneducated, person. He must know that he is advocating dictatorship. And not any run of the mill dictatorship, flippin' China. That is nothing short of evil.

One-party autocracy certainly has its drawbacks. But when it is led by a reasonably enlightened group of people, as China is today, it can also have great advantages. That one party can just impose the politically difficult but critically important policies needed to move a society forward in the 21st century. It is not an accident that China is committed to overtaking us in electric cars, solar power, energy efficiency, batteries, nuclear power and wind power. China’s leaders understand that in a world of exploding populations and rising emerging-market middle classes, demand for clean power and energy efficiency is going to soar. Beijing wants to make sure that it owns that industry and is ordering the policies to do that, including boosting gasoline prices, from the top down.

That one party can just impose the politically difficult but critically important policies needed to move a society forward in the 21st century.

Surely Friedman knows the means the Chinese employ to "impose the politically difficult but critically important policies...". And he is okay with that? Encourages that? Is this the level of depravity that liberal critical thinking has sunk to in the freest country in the world.

God help us.

More coverage at:

Memeorandum
Jonah Goldberg
Mark Steyn
American Power
Babalu Blog
Troglopundit
Pundit and Pundette

Enviromental Group Equates Happiness With Tyranny

If like me you suspect that the Greenies won’t be happy until we’re all back living in caves take a gander at this list:

1. Costa Rica
2. Dominican Republic
3. Jamaica
4. Guatemala
5. Vietnam
6. Colombia
7. Cuba
8. El Salvador
9. Brazil
10. Honduras
11. Nicaragua
12. Egypt
13. Saudi Arabia
14. Philippines
15. Argentina

So, which of these countries would you want to live in? According to Ashley Seager at the Guardian, Costa Rica is the world’s greenest, happiest country. Heaven help us, the above list represents the countries that come closest to meeting the New Economics Foundation's standards for “one-planet living.”

The message is that by shrinking your “carbon footprint” you can actually be happier. Nonsense. Being dropped off in the middle of nowhere may make for a good reality show (I wouldn’t know), but I bet there are more people living in the above listed countries who given the opportunity would move to the United States than Americans who would go live in Vietnam, Cuba, Egypt, et al.

Contrast the list of “greenest” and thus “happiest” countries with the list of countries that enjoy the greatest freedom:

1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. Australia
4. Ireland
5. New Zealand
6. United States
7. Canada
8. Denmark
9. Switzerland
10. United Kingdom
11. Chile
12. Netherlands
13. Estonia
14. Iceland
15. Luxemburg

I am not at all surprised that there are no over-lapping countries on these two lists but I suspect that there is a correlation between living free and being happy that the Greenies completely discount. Environmentalists (and progressives of every stripe) would restrict individual freedom to promote their agenda. Cap and Trade is a perfect example. Cap and Trade represents huge taxation which will lower the standard of living for every American and restrict American’s abilities to pursue their own definition of happiness.

Any group whose agenda is dependent on the restriction of individual liberty and freedom, regardless of their ’good intentions’, is not a group that Americans should support. We, as citizens, need to work diligently to remain on the second list and avoid any push towards the fascism inherent in the first list.

h/t Fausta's Blog

Tyranny And The Right To Bear Arms

Josh Kraushaar at Politco finds the following tweet by Marco Rubio “curious”: “I have a feeling the situation in Iran would be a little different if they had a 2nd amendment like ours,” Rubio tweeted on Sunday.

Kraushaar says he’s “Not sure if Rubio was advocating an armed uprising from the otherwise peaceful protesters…” Um, no, he’s not. It is a simple fact that societies that do not restrict personal gun ownership are also societies that enjoy greater personal freedom. Not surprising, there is a correlation between the ability to protect one’s self from tyranny and not having to protect one’s self from tyranny. So what is it about support for the 2nd amendment that Kraushaar finds curious?

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has it right: Rubio was being glib, of course. (Can you be anything else in 140 characters or less?) However, his meaning was pretty clear, and hardly controversial or “curious”. Supporters of the 2nd Amendment offer these reminders whenever oppression makes itself obvious in the world, to help Americans recall the value of the Bill of Rights and the exceptional place it has in human history