Online with an unconnected government.

          Nothing stifles growth and innovation like the heavy hand of government.  As if we need another demonstration of that aphorism, I fear we’re about to get one.

          The Senate could vote as early as today on a bill that would give states the power to require online retailers to collect state and local taxes on internet purchases. Under the bill, the sales taxes would be sent to the states where a shopper lives.  Right now, states can only require stores to collect sales taxes if the store has a physical presence in the state.

          The main reason that the United States has taken the lead in the Internet Economy is that the Federal Government has taken (for the most part) a hands-off approach.  In comparison to other parts of the economy, the Internet is relatively unregulated.  This “Wild West” landscape has allowed American researchers and entrepreneurs to make wonderful developments that the rest of the world has yet to catch up to.  US ingenuity has produced operating systems and accessory devices that are being used across the planet.  American companies have pioneered the field of e-commerce.  Domestic software companies have lapped their overseas competitors in almost every sector.

          The Digital Boom is a testament to what can happen when the Federal Government stays the hell out of our business.  It is an object lesson in what can happen when creative people are left to their own devices, allowed to fail, and allowed to keep the fruits of their success.

          I’m surprised the gravy train has lasted this long.  I guess I should be grateful that the Robber Barons in Washington have allowed this largely untapped source of revenue to go on unabated.  It appears the salad days will soon be over.

          What if we could apply the Government’s behavior the past 20 years on the IT economy to other sectors?  Wouldn’t it be great if we could allow businesses a chance to innovate without knowing that any success they achieve will be short-lived?  How cool would it be for creative folks to be unfettered by regulations that exist mostly to justify the existence of regulators?

          To the government, I quote Bruce Willis’ lines from “Die Hard.”  “You’re not part of the solution---you’re part of the problem!  STOP being part of the f*cking problem!!!”

Useful props

Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler:

You have my deepest sympathies. As a parent, I cannot imagine the hell you have gone through in the past few months...and I pray that I never do.

You may or may not be aware of a key fact. The proposals currently before Congress would have done NOTHING to prevent your child from being murdered. The sponsor of the bill admits it. As a matter of fact (something else you may be unaware of) the sponsor of the bill has stated that her ultimate goal is weapon confiscation. Not sure if you had heard that. Its true.

Given those facts, I hope you understand my (and others') resistance to these proposals. 

In your grief, you may be unaware of another fact. The President and his fellow Liberals are using you like a Shake-and-Bake bag. You will be discarded once you serve your purpose. The President doesn't like you, or anyone else...other than himself. In his eyes, you are useful idiots and nothing more.

I'll put it this way...if a loved one of mine were killed by a madman with a gun, I would get no satisfaction out of stripping human rights from people who had nothing to do with it. Indeed, I would feel pretty shitty if that happened.

I pray you find whatever peace and solace that you can. I hope that peace is not predicated on your ability to negatively impact the millions of law-abiding Americans who simply do not trust a most-untrustworthy Government with a key element of our personal security.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/04/13/obama-has-newtown-mom-fill-in-for-his-weekly-radio-internet-address/?fb_action_ids=3049466771327&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

1973: The Washington Post leads the way into the probe of an illegal wire-tapping scandal that brings down a Republican Administration. The Post is (rightfully) lauded by their peers and by the country at large.

2013: The Washington Post lauds the person who illegally wire-tapped a Republican Senator's office. They focus not on the illegal act, but the information that was gleaned from it---calling it, "audio gold."

Just keep telling yourself there is no media bias. The Presidential also has your best interests in mind. The President would NEVER hike taxes on the middle class. The Government would NEVER come after our guns. "That could NEVER happen here."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/david-corn-and-mother-jones-find-themselves-with-another-audio-scoop/2013/04/10/dd37a8a0-a21b-11e2-82bc-511538ae90a4_story.html

Translation: Kiss my ass, nannies!

"I have the right to do whatever I wish with my property. 

If I own a pile of wood, I can set fire to it even if it is currently nailed together in the shape of a barn. 

Cigarettes may not be healthy for me in the long run, but I have the freedom to smoke them anyway. Drinking alcohol may or may not have negative side effects, but even if it does, the government has no authority to prohibit you from consuming it, even if it is "in your own best interest." 

Since when do we let the government decide what is or isn't good for us? What the hell does Congress know about nutrition, anyway? (For that matter, what does Congress know about the Constitution?) 

If the government can use force whenever something is "in our best interest" then government should force everyone to wake up at 6am every morning for calisthenics in the front yard. Fast food establishments should be torn down and replaced with bars that serve carrot juice and alfalfa sprouts, since - "it's in your best interest." 

This paternalistic attitude that "the government knows best" and that you are merely a helpless child is insulting and reprehensible."

- Michael Badnarik

Gun for me, but not for thee

Here lies an astonishing combination of arrogance and ignorance. Yet, there are those among you who have no qualms about letting people like this make all of your basic life decisions for you. That's bad enough. That you also want these people to make basic life decisions for ME as well...we have a problem. Big problem.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/03/dem-congresswoman-mocks-concerned-pro-gun-senior-citizen-youd-probably-be-dead-anyway/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=Share+Buttons