March 2007 Archives

I suppose there has always been an intellectual food chain. Hemingway's dad was a doctor. If there is one eternal factor or reminder that we are all different its quite often intellect that defines us to others. Whether or not that intellect has happy relations or sour ones with others, it does serve us well to visit the view of others. In the libertarian community of today seems to often revolve around the personality of Murray Rothbard for better or worse. When I saw Justin Raimondo's review of Brian Doherty's book I had to go back and crack his book that came about two years ago. It seemed only fair. Antiwar was what originally sent me to Lew Rockwell & the Mises Institute. I might add that I'm happily in that port and would love a chance around the decks on board.

I gotta admit I gobbled this one up. A lot of snarls about Rothbard are poking up in reform circles . While my knowledge of the man is sufficient to give his work the benefit of my reading, there are far more who have not given the benefit of the doubt as aspersions like Hitler and Lenin are associated with Rothbard. Human Action just showed up yesterday. Its a long road to awareness, Hayek might be right. The beat that JR has on BD is that Cato went yuppy. Comfy seats and stylish relations with power in DC are far more tempting than the screeching howling madness of freedom. That's a beat thing right ? In typical Raimondo magic he twirls his historical knowledge and human insight on those who would deny the efficacy or urgency of the cause. While Doherty denies any thesis, I had to see what 'ol Justin is doing for perpetuity . . .

A lot of people are picking on Kent McManigal for not being a ‘real candidate’ for President. The main reason seems to revolve around his standard not to take any money for his candidacy. This is a good and noble thing on Kent’s part. A ‘real candidate’ does take money from anyone they legally can according to the naysayers in the peanut gallery. Even though I won’t pick sides in a race which features at least a dozen candidates, I will defend Kent in this regard. I’m enjoying the LP process far more than anything Chris Matthews or David Brooks are thinking about.

How can the LP expect to run anything but a protest candidacy when one looks at the historical and electoral realities ? Unless a compromise candidate of some largesse and fame were to step forward, why would we nominate anyone who didn’t value freedom above simple pandering to get along ? The formula for a ‘successful’ third party attempt for the American Presidency is literally not known. Perot may have shown that it requires a large disgruntled ‘middling’ for any traction to be had. But is that what we want so much ? Is the risk of it being taken over by Lyndon LaRouchies or Lenora Fulanies worth it ? Certainly a little giddiness at declaring taxation as theft isn’t so bad Dr. Milstead . . .

I knew I was in trouble when three deputies and one State police officer where surrounded again by three and five various representatives from County agencies at a table with another two or three residents of the community. Supervisor McGivney indicated he would give opportunity for everyone assembled from various agencies to introduce themselves and explain what type of work that they do and what services were available to families in need. Doug (the Town's Supervisor) asked that they consider a fictional scenario where a 15 year old breaks a car window and it is soon discovered that the kid's mother is inside drunk on the couch. This lead to variety of talk about parents unable to cope and various resources available and other statist tripe ad naseum that made me wondered why this panel of expertise and stormtroopers had descended on the little hamlet that I grew up in. My quality of life is not being threatened by a few rowdy youth, but the entire apparatus of the 'State' that feels it can manage the lives of individuals better than we can. I just found out about this stuff yesterday and I live in the middle of the place !

Sometime during the various Roosevelt administrations the First Lady came to what would be known as the Valatie Colony to christen two large buildings which have been used for various semi-public purposes throughout the years. Apparently it was a women's prison at some point. As kids we called it the insane asylum because anybody brave enough to go back there was confronted by some sort of anomalous human being under some type of special care. Frightening stuff for silly over stimulated young minds. Of course as I get older and longer in the tooth, the possibility of my own demise or loss of faculties concerns me slightly more then it ever did then.
The photo is the former First Lady with former Cuban dictator Batista during the initiation of the Good Neighbor Policy.

Apparently the good folks from the State have 'given' these buildings to the locality. Tonight I'm off to a Niverville Neighborhood Watch Meeting there. Yesterday I received a notice from Town Hall indicating that such a meeting was even occurring. Apparently neighbors are forming to report 'identifiable young people' engaging in unacceptable activities. Despite a survey that indicates an overwhelming majority of people feel there is no problem, the Committee will continue to meet based on concerns about ATV's, crime etc. I'm sure some people will be surprised when I express my opposition to the group (after all I have young children . . ) more so than the teens, but we'll see. Here's letter I whipped up to be submitted to the minutes of the next Town Board meeting.