8-25-12 Hodgepodge

Down with Democracy

For the millionth time, America is a constitutional republic, whose government was designed to protect individual rights. This is supposed to include the government not violating them itself. Egypt shows us what actual democracy -- mob rule -- looks like in practice.

While the world persists in looking for signs of pragmatism in the Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsy is quietly taking over all the power bases in the country.

Having gotten rid of the army old guard, he replaced them with his own men - officers belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood or known sympathizers. Then he turned his attention to the media, replacing 50 editors working for the government's extensive and influential press empire - including Al- Ahram, Al-Akhbar, Al-Gomhuria. He is now busy appointing new governors to the 27 regions of the country.

Americans who truly value freedom would do well to quit calling what we (still, but barely) have "democracy" or we will end up getting the real thing ourselves.

Weekend Reading

"Monopolies affect everyone. Therefore, the introduction of private currencies should precede any attempt to change the backing of the U.S. dollar." -- Wendy Milling, in "Private Currency Competition is the Monetary Answer" at Forbes

"'Need' does not equal 'deserve'." -- Paul Hsieh, in "If You Want Human Progress To Stop, Institute A Maximum Income" at Forbes

"Here are some of Rand's thoughts; we should all be heartened if Ryan appreciates just some of them[.]" -- Richard Salsman, in "Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan And Ayn Rand: Now That's the Ticket" at Forbes

"[T]rying to compromise when none is possible is futile." -- Michael Hurd, in "Appeasement Never Works" at DrHurd.com

"Instead of criticizing Ryan's Rand connection, perhaps the question we should be asking is why her ideas have not had a much greater impact on his worldview." -- Onkar Ghate, in "Ayn Rand's Appeal" at Fox News

"Rand did not want to save Social Security; she wanted to end it." -- Don Watkins, in "WhyPaul Ryan is no Ayn Rand on Social Security" at Christian Science Monitor

"The first step of a rational, morally proper, and effective war on drugs is to fully legalize all drugs for consenting adults." -- Andrew Bernstein, in "Intensify the War on Drugs -- In a Radically New Form" at Forbes

My Two Cents

It was interesting -- right on the heels of hearing that the GOP was considering supporting a return to the gold standard -- to read Wendy Milling's arguments against the government doing so, as well as her arguments that gold need not be the backing for money. It was also interesting to learn from her piece that, "[T]he Ayn Rand Institute ... migrated its support from the gold standard to a system of free banking with private currencies."

I'll Check Back Later...

... when the Android version of this app comes out. That said, if Fleksy really can make typing on a touch screen something less than mild torture, I'll be thrilled.

--CAV