Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness

Be scared!

by Reena Kapoor

Here is an excellent video The American Form of Government which provides a real civics education.  Besides providing more evidence for the fact that public education has failed (how many Americans know we were designed to be a Republic and not a Democracy) it also offers great illustration of why Democracy (which US was not designed to be) is often antithetical to liberty.  We should be scared! And while I hate the cynicism that has come upon my own thinking I am convinced USA has turned into a tyranny of the elite - an oligarchy - where the rest of us are ...well...not important.  Wall Street + Obama's henchmen, Obama + UAW + GM or Obamacare + AMA .....   The only thing that remains to be debated is how soon the police state will descend upon our everyday lives. 

An Indomitable Spirit

by Reena Kapoor

I was pointed to this fascinating read A Civil Heretic by a friend about Freeman Dyson and why he's opposed to the alarmist and anthropogenic view of global warming.  His criticisms are worth noting - especially because he's a self-proclaimed "liberal" - but more interesting is his sheer genius and his uncompromising independent thinking. I could not help but wonder how much we owe to men like these to keep us honest.  An insightful read also on what makes a genius and a renaissance man.  Unbelievably refreshing for folks on all sides of the global warming debate!

We could all learn to think a little more independently.

Self Ownership - A Novel Idea?

by Anisha Kahai

Why is the simple philosophy of Liberty so hard for so many people to get? Isn't it the most natural, logical way to think? Here is an elegant attempt at making these ideas accessible.

Brilliant Comments worth sharing...

by Reena Kapoor

We love to hear comments from readers and it makes blogging all the more interesting and worthwhile.  But every once in a while, someone posts a set of comments that takes the discussion to a new level.  Such comments were posted by Irfan Khwaja (a professor of philosophy, "best kind" objectivist and a dear friend) in response to Anurag's post on Slumdog Millionaire and the reactions the film evoked.  Irfan's comments are simply too insightful to remain in the comments section so I have pasted them below for your edification. Hope Irfan won't mind us borrowing his content. Here you go:

The Europeanization of America?

By Anisha Kahai

Insightful piece in the WSJ on what's ahead if (or should I say when?) Obama becomes president. Pete Du Pont predicts that "...Mr. Obama will most likely be our most liberal public policy president since Franklin D. Roosevelt." Here is an excerpt from his article:

Wanted: More - and authentic - Capitalism!

by Reena Kapoor

Worthwhile commentary The Goal is Freedom: Government Failure on the great economic debacle we tax-payers are watching from the sidelines (by Sheldon Richman of Foundation for Economic Education). This trillion dollar bailout of the rich by us should be a matter of national shame. The second issue he points to is that it's government regulation and intereference - including the promise of constant bailouts - that created this mess in the first place. And the third and truly terrible outcome is how the socialists are out once again in full red garb decrying the failure of the market. 

'Tis Religion...

by Reena Kapoor

According to this article Kids Your time is Up, Australian Broadcasting company is promoting a Global Warming Game which allows kids to calculate by what age they should be dead in order to avoid leaving a carbon footprint.  Here is what the article says...

Watch out, Australians. According to the state-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), most of you have overstayed your welcome on this good earth.

The colorful flash site, called Planet Slayer starts with a cartoon called the "Adventures of Greena" and ends by suggesting to vulnerable children that they are pigs whose very existence has a horrible impact on the global environment.

And the award goes to...

by Reena Kapoor

The US used to be called the sweet land of liberty, the land of dreams, etc. But given what's been going on here over the past few months, the US should now be known all over the world as the most hypocritical country in the world: we preach capitalism to the world and resort to tax-payer funded bail-outs and nationalization of large companies at the first sign of trouble!

The US can also bag the award for having done the most damage to the good name of Capitalism.  And oh - how could I forget - having remarkably divisive elections over two primary choices that remain indistiguishable when it comes to being antithetical to our liberties.

And a populace that fails to even notice this irony.

I could go on and on.... Any other great awards you can think of?

World's Smallest Political Quiz

by Reena Kapoor

You've perhaps seen this one already but here is a very short - yet telling - Quiz for you to take.  It asks you a very quick set of political questions about the role of government on social and economic issues.  The result is this pictorial with a red dot showing where you are according to your beliefs.  Try it out!

Libertarian Quotes

by Reena Kapoor

I found this fabulous list of Ultimate Libertarian Quotes today.  Here are a few that caught my eye; the last one is particularly chilling - and instructive - for the same reasons.