Here's Part Deuce of The World According to Oulsham.
1. The death penalty should be outlawed. You cannot trust your government to do trivial things well, so you should not trust your government to discern guilty from innocent 100% of the time.
2. Draconian drug laws should be struck down. Too many young lives have been wasted by foolish incarcerations than necessary to protect society from the scourge of drugs. We know which drugs are addictive and which aren't. Our governments also earn money through the addictive use of tobacco which is a travesty of hypocrisy. Countless lives have been lost due to alcohol abuse, yet government allows the production and sale of alcohol. My personal feelings about the destructiveness of drugs or alcohol have no business here.
3. Welfare has destroyed the nuclear family of those who choose to accept welfare. This is cultural slavery of the worst sort.
4. Home Rule should always be preferred over laws dictated from a central government with no real feeling for the needs of the locality.
5. Americans built this country through economic and cultural freedom. Americans will destroy this country through cultural slavery to a central government.
6. All government largess should be at the will of all the people, not the select few.
7. Strict term limits of 10 years should be imposed on the House of Representatives. All other term limits are not necessary.
8. The government should protect the wealth and welfare of its people first from foreign influence, then from domestic influence.
9. Tenure should be eliminated from all public places of learning.
10. Lotteries should be outlawed because they create an unnecessary tax burden on those who can least afford it. The government has no business conducting lotteries. Gambling should be at the will of the people, as with other vice laws.
11. All citizens should be required to perform a minimum of two years public service by the time they are twenty-five or within five years of attaining at least permanent resident status. This can range from serving on a volunteer first aid or fire department, to working with sports programs for kids, to joining the Peace Corps and other similar civilian corps.
Part Three tomorrow, or Monday if I am tired tomorrow.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
The World According to Oulsham
TWIR will be postponed this week so we can do a general review on Conservative and Libertarian principles and beliefs. Caveat: This could also be called the World According to Oulsham.
We have two dogs here at the Oulsham Ranch. Because they are stupid, we built a fence to keep them from roaming around and getting hit by cars and rickshaws. They eat when we tell them to, unless they figure out the combination to the garbage pail. They relieve themselves at our convenience. Basically, they have given up their freedom for two squares, an official PetSmart dog bed, an acre of yard to run in and an occasional table scrap. I would never want to be a dog, even when they are laying around on rainy mornings all snuggled on the couch which they are not supposed to be on.
Not in order of importance, here's what separates human beings from canines:
1. God is too big for us to conceptualize or comprehend. I know eternity is a long ass time compared to the few short years I have here on Earth, so I have to figure God's got other things in mind for my energy when I die.
2. Trying to conceptualize and speak of God in human terms is folly.
3. Human beings are extraordinary works and I have to figure we were put here by God to live extraordinary lives. Extraordinary does not mean being a rock star or famous politician. It means rising above ordinary in how we live our daily lives.
4. Government should exist to facilitate extraordinariness. It should never exist to define it.
5. Laws are meant to confine humans. The more laws a society allows, the more confined its members. We have the right to choose our level of confinement in all cases.
6. Tradition teaches values and values entrench morals. It works no other way. Period. Once the first two parts of the equation are removed the result is altered.
7. Adversity begets change. Human beings need adversity to grow. Removing adversity from the growing experience eliminates the opportunity to be extraordinary.
8. You are born alone. You will die alone. Just as you fall asleep and wake up alone. You must therefore know deeply the only person you will ever be in full contact with. If you happen to be lucky enough to share your journey with someone else you are blessed, but confusing the two dilutes yourself.
9. All human beings are created as equals. Unfortunately, it stops at birth. How we handle those who are more or less equal than us is part of our own individual journey.
10. Nothing is free in this world. Everything costs somebody something. Every time you receive something for nothing you are blind to this reality.
11. Government is foolish, all of the time. Government needs to protect our safety, protect our welfare and protect our wealth. After that, government is a leech.
12. Power corrupts - all of the time. Human beings are unable to safely wield power for any extended period of time. Power over other people will eventually destroy every person who wields it.
13. Living in a black and white world is dangerous. Wise human beings see the gray and apply it to their own principles.
14. People who form their opinions of other people or situations based on the word of other people are fools. Once you deny the words in your heart, you deny your reason for being on this planet.
15. What is common among all people is the power of choice.
16. Government should be looked at suspiciously at all times and authority should be questioned at every opportunity.
17. Societies must have common language, common tradition, and common goals or they will cease to exist. Read your history.
18. Vanity among fools is a poor way to govern and all political rhetoric is simply the spewing of vanity by fools.
19. What's mine is mine, what's yours is yours. Leave my stuff alone unless I consent for you to bother with it. I will do the same.
20. Life is to be savored, enjoyed and seized and it is with great sorrow that I look at people who are not able to rise above circumstance to do this. Government is not able to help a single person live a better life beyond ensuring personal and societal safety and freedom.
We have two dogs here at the Oulsham Ranch. Because they are stupid, we built a fence to keep them from roaming around and getting hit by cars and rickshaws. They eat when we tell them to, unless they figure out the combination to the garbage pail. They relieve themselves at our convenience. Basically, they have given up their freedom for two squares, an official PetSmart dog bed, an acre of yard to run in and an occasional table scrap. I would never want to be a dog, even when they are laying around on rainy mornings all snuggled on the couch which they are not supposed to be on.
Not in order of importance, here's what separates human beings from canines:
1. God is too big for us to conceptualize or comprehend. I know eternity is a long ass time compared to the few short years I have here on Earth, so I have to figure God's got other things in mind for my energy when I die.
2. Trying to conceptualize and speak of God in human terms is folly.
3. Human beings are extraordinary works and I have to figure we were put here by God to live extraordinary lives. Extraordinary does not mean being a rock star or famous politician. It means rising above ordinary in how we live our daily lives.
4. Government should exist to facilitate extraordinariness. It should never exist to define it.
5. Laws are meant to confine humans. The more laws a society allows, the more confined its members. We have the right to choose our level of confinement in all cases.
6. Tradition teaches values and values entrench morals. It works no other way. Period. Once the first two parts of the equation are removed the result is altered.
7. Adversity begets change. Human beings need adversity to grow. Removing adversity from the growing experience eliminates the opportunity to be extraordinary.
8. You are born alone. You will die alone. Just as you fall asleep and wake up alone. You must therefore know deeply the only person you will ever be in full contact with. If you happen to be lucky enough to share your journey with someone else you are blessed, but confusing the two dilutes yourself.
9. All human beings are created as equals. Unfortunately, it stops at birth. How we handle those who are more or less equal than us is part of our own individual journey.
10. Nothing is free in this world. Everything costs somebody something. Every time you receive something for nothing you are blind to this reality.
11. Government is foolish, all of the time. Government needs to protect our safety, protect our welfare and protect our wealth. After that, government is a leech.
12. Power corrupts - all of the time. Human beings are unable to safely wield power for any extended period of time. Power over other people will eventually destroy every person who wields it.
13. Living in a black and white world is dangerous. Wise human beings see the gray and apply it to their own principles.
14. People who form their opinions of other people or situations based on the word of other people are fools. Once you deny the words in your heart, you deny your reason for being on this planet.
15. What is common among all people is the power of choice.
16. Government should be looked at suspiciously at all times and authority should be questioned at every opportunity.
17. Societies must have common language, common tradition, and common goals or they will cease to exist. Read your history.
18. Vanity among fools is a poor way to govern and all political rhetoric is simply the spewing of vanity by fools.
19. What's mine is mine, what's yours is yours. Leave my stuff alone unless I consent for you to bother with it. I will do the same.
20. Life is to be savored, enjoyed and seized and it is with great sorrow that I look at people who are not able to rise above circumstance to do this. Government is not able to help a single person live a better life beyond ensuring personal and societal safety and freedom.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Another Country Checks In
Just when we think it's time to be serious about the current Depression we are slipping into, and all the dumb wars and stuff, Silvio Burlusconi opens his mouth.
Burlusconi, the Italian Premiere, said in a press conference in Russia yesterday that Russian President Medvedev should have no problem making deals with Obama because he has all the important qualities necessary like being "young, handsome and evenly tanned."
When questioned later about his remarks, Burlusconi said he meant them as a compliment. It's nice to see there is a at least one country out there with stupider people than we have here.
Go Italy!
Burlusconi, the Italian Premiere, said in a press conference in Russia yesterday that Russian President Medvedev should have no problem making deals with Obama because he has all the important qualities necessary like being "young, handsome and evenly tanned."
When questioned later about his remarks, Burlusconi said he meant them as a compliment. It's nice to see there is a at least one country out there with stupider people than we have here.
Go Italy!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Election In Review
First of all, congratulations to Barack Obama on running a near-seamless campaign and exploiting the foolishness of George W. Bush and his Country Club Republicans. I hope that all of you fear-mongering CC Republicans will get over it and do the right thing by supporting our new President.
Now is the time to understand that agreement and support are mutually exclusive, and that you can support your President without agreeing with him. Conservatism has taken a nasty blow to the solar plexus and if we're as smart as we say we are we'll get over it and learn from it. By the way, you cannot say America will not survive an Obama presidency at the same time you believe this is a great country. We survived Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon.
President-Elect Obama now has the daunting task of pleasing 67,000,000 Americans who voted for him and not pissing off 55,000,000 Americans who didn't. Good luck on that. I wish him well and I will do my best within my own principles to support him. Lord knows we need to come together as a country and stop the petty bickering, and I for one am hoping we voted for the right man for the job.
If we were wrong, we'll survive, but it won't be fun.
Now is the time to understand that agreement and support are mutually exclusive, and that you can support your President without agreeing with him. Conservatism has taken a nasty blow to the solar plexus and if we're as smart as we say we are we'll get over it and learn from it. By the way, you cannot say America will not survive an Obama presidency at the same time you believe this is a great country. We survived Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon.
President-Elect Obama now has the daunting task of pleasing 67,000,000 Americans who voted for him and not pissing off 55,000,000 Americans who didn't. Good luck on that. I wish him well and I will do my best within my own principles to support him. Lord knows we need to come together as a country and stop the petty bickering, and I for one am hoping we voted for the right man for the job.
If we were wrong, we'll survive, but it won't be fun.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Thank You Republicans
Conservatives are going to take a beating today and we have the Republicans to thank for it. Barack America is going to have a decisive majority in Congress. Thanks Republicans.
The Republican Party, and the George Bush Wing in particular, is not the party of smaller government and smarter regulation. Bush has pilloried limits on the power of the President (Barack is rubbing his hands with glee), and the Republicans in Congress are abject failures of principle.
There are a whole lot of Americans out here who have no representation whatsoever because the party they thought would represent them has turned their backs.
Even if McCain wins, which he won't, there will be little difference.
The Republican Party, and the George Bush Wing in particular, is not the party of smaller government and smarter regulation. Bush has pilloried limits on the power of the President (Barack is rubbing his hands with glee), and the Republicans in Congress are abject failures of principle.
There are a whole lot of Americans out here who have no representation whatsoever because the party they thought would represent them has turned their backs.
Even if McCain wins, which he won't, there will be little difference.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Election Bulletin
Don't be fooled like NBC News was (or were they?). The audio outtakes you will certainly hear today of Sarah Palin getting punked by two Canadian radio DJs pretending to be French Prime Minister Sarkozy is a fake.
When you hear the full bit and not just the bit NBC News and the other dominant media outlets will let you hear it becomes obvious. When told that he (the guy pretending to be Sarkozy) enjoyed "the documentary about [you]" entitled Nailin Palin, which is a porn movie, and Palin thanks Sarkozy effusively, you'd have to be stupid or think other people are ignorant of your agenda to think the bit is real.
You are letting the largest media fraud in American history decide this election and you apparently don't care.
When you hear the full bit and not just the bit NBC News and the other dominant media outlets will let you hear it becomes obvious. When told that he (the guy pretending to be Sarkozy) enjoyed "the documentary about [you]" entitled Nailin Palin, which is a porn movie, and Palin thanks Sarkozy effusively, you'd have to be stupid or think other people are ignorant of your agenda to think the bit is real.
You are letting the largest media fraud in American history decide this election and you apparently don't care.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
TWIR - Andy Rooney Edition
I lost my cell phone this week. It wasn't too long ago people didn't have cell phones. Now I don't have one. I kind of like not having to be connected to people every minute of the day, but I'm sure there are people who tried to get in touch with me this week who would have rathered I didn't lose my phone.
I need new brakes on my truck. I'm waiting until after the election to get them fixed. I, like millions of other Americans, are waiting for Barck Obama to get elected and fix all of our problems.
Do you think Barack Obama put too much pressure on himself to change things, since he ran on a message of changing everything, but changing things is difficult and not always necessary? I do.
I will not be surprised if John McCain wins on Tuesday. Americans have a way of talking big in public, but thinking carefully in private.
P.J. O'Rourke said Democrats believe in Santa Claus because he is nice, gives things away, and hardly expects anything in return. Republicans believe in God, because he is unpleasant alot of the time, expects us to do the right thing all the time, and only gives us what we earn. The big difference between the two is there is no Santa Claus. That's pretty clever, don't you think? I do.
This Andy Rooney bit is getting a bit worn out. Don't you think? I do. This will probably be the last Andy Rooney Edition of anything, at least for a while. Americans can rejoice in that.
I need new brakes on my truck. I'm waiting until after the election to get them fixed. I, like millions of other Americans, are waiting for Barck Obama to get elected and fix all of our problems.
Do you think Barack Obama put too much pressure on himself to change things, since he ran on a message of changing everything, but changing things is difficult and not always necessary? I do.
I will not be surprised if John McCain wins on Tuesday. Americans have a way of talking big in public, but thinking carefully in private.
P.J. O'Rourke said Democrats believe in Santa Claus because he is nice, gives things away, and hardly expects anything in return. Republicans believe in God, because he is unpleasant alot of the time, expects us to do the right thing all the time, and only gives us what we earn. The big difference between the two is there is no Santa Claus. That's pretty clever, don't you think? I do.
This Andy Rooney bit is getting a bit worn out. Don't you think? I do. This will probably be the last Andy Rooney Edition of anything, at least for a while. Americans can rejoice in that.
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