Smaller government and reduced taxes bring prosperity; the alternative is diminished opportunity. Carter made America miserable, yet he schemed and regulated less than many in his party today.
From the Museum of the Moving Image. more >>
Libertarians
Reagan ’80: Door Slam
by JOHN ADAMS •
Smaller government and reduced taxes bring prosperity; the alternative is diminished opportunity.
From the Museum of the Moving Image. more >>
Libertarians
Reagan ’80: Reagan’s Record
by JOHN ADAMS •
Less than a generation ago, against considerable scorn, a major party candidate defended the confident message of limited government and free choice through markets.
He defeated an incumbent president, and brought his party to control in the Senate.
That party has since drifted far from these sound principles, and in the years ahead, there may be fewer voices to advocate wise policy.
No matter — the message of individual rights, free markets, and peace is the message that libertarians defend to this day, with confidence and conviction.
From the Museum of the Moving Image. more >>
Libertarians
Goldwater ’64: Symbols
by JOHN ADAMS •
Libertarians, be confident in this troubled season — here’s a video in which John Wayne narrates a Goldwater commercial entitled, “Symbols.” The commercial is directed, principally but only by implication, against communism.
Johnson branded Goldwater a warmonger, but Johnson’s own foreign policy record from his inauguration in 1965 to leaving office in January 1969 leaves admirers of the Johnson Administration little reason to be proud.
From the Museum of the Moving Image. more >>
Daily Bread
Daily Bread: November 3, 2008
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning, Whitewater
There are no public meetings scheduled in Whitewater today.
School’s back in session. Tonight, there’s a special meeting of the school board at 6 p.m., in executive session (not a public meeting) regarding a student disciplinary matter.
In brighter events, there’s a cross country banquet at 5:30 p.m. today at the high school, and a 6:30 p.m. music parents’ meeting, also at the high school.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for a sunny day with a high temperature of 74 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac ends its first prediction series for November with a forecast that it will be “Stormy for the Great Lakes.”
Last Week’s better predictions: Basically even — more detail from the NWS, but otherwise similar in general if not particular.
In Wisconsin History on this date, in 1936, from the Wisconsin Historical Society comes an unsurprising election result, considering the year: FDR carried Rock County, then a Republican stronghold:
On this date Rock County voted Democratic in a presidential election for the first time in 74 years. The county’s 17,987 votes for FDR eclipsed 14,689 for Republican Alf Landon. Janesville and Beloit both voted for Roosevelt, who won in the largest national election landslide in history.
(How big did Roosevelt win nationally? He won slightly over sixty percent of the popular vote, and all but two states’ electoral votes. Only Reagan has carried more states — all but Minnesota, in 1984.)
Libertarians
Goldwater ’64: Reagan’s Time for Choosing for Goldwater
by JOHN ADAMS •
Libertarians, here is a direct and clear address, the antidote to empty rhetoric in this troubled season. Reagan speaks on behalf of Goldwater against the many errors of the Johnson Administration, in an address called A Time for Choosing. Reagan delivered versions of this speech several times during the campaign.
The full address, and transcript of it, is available online at the McMiller Center for Public Affairs of the University of Virginia. more >>
Libertarians
Goldwater ’64: Punchcard
by JOHN ADAMS •
Libertarians, more cheer in this troubled season — Goldwater speaks against oppressive big government, in Punchcard, one of his 1964 campaign commercials.
Seems silly to some?
Johnson brought neither peace nor lasting prosperity. War, bloated government, administrative corruption, riots and discord — hardly a Great Society.
From the Museum of the Moving Image. more >>
Economy, Free Markets
Fortune Comes Around on the Bailout
by JOHN ADAMS •
In September, it was “Paulson to the Rescue,” and Fortune asked: “The Steely-Eyed Treasury Chief is Betting Billions on Bailouts. Can He Save Us from a Meltdown?’ Now, in November, Fortune sees something different when it asks, “Who Pays for the Bailout? You Do, Of Course!”
“Of Course!” Wait, wait, wait — you breathless cheerlearders smart editors at Fortune didn’t see as much only six weeks ago?
I scanned the September cover weeks ago, because a different story was sure to follow. On the November cover, even the dachshund, with a pasty complexion, looks worried. That dog’s seen his last can of Science Diet® — from here on out, it’ll probably be some no-name dog food from China listing “additional, semi-digestible ingredients.”
For a solid critique of the bailout, delivered around the time of Fortune‘s first cover, see Barry Ritholtz’s video interview, embedded in my post entitled, Four Minutes, Forty Seconds Against a Misguided Bailout.
Libertarians
Goldwater ’64: Boy on Bicycle
by JOHN ADAMS •
Libertarians, be cheerful — Goldwater speaks against oppressive big government, in Boy on Bicycle, one of his 1964 campaign commercials.
From the Museum of the Moving Image. more >>
Economy, Free Markets, Libertarians
Saving Social Security: Run, Sonny, Run
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s the final segment of a five-part series from Reason.tv entitled, Saving Social Security. The animated video comes from Lineplot, a company that creatively describes financial topics.
I posted the first of the series, Pimp My Walker, on October 4th, the second part, Boom Baby Boom! on October 11th, the third, Policy Warrior on October 18th, and the fourth, Broken Trust on October 25th.
Holiday
Boo! Scariest Things in Whitewater 2008
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s the FREE WHITEWATER list of the scariest things in Whitewater for 2008. Last year’s edition is available for comparison.
The list runs in reverse order, from mildly frightening to horrifying.
10. Nostalgia. Why is it necessary to describe everything today as a reminder of what some small, humble person in town did forty three years, seven months, and four days ago? Not merely describe it that way, but likely see it that way — so that the present is only visible through a hodgepodge of scenes from the past?
9. Temporal Imperialism. Much worse than seeing everything though a sepia-colored lens, is the idea that everything was better way-back-when. Yes, yes, I am sure that you think everyone in Whitewater was out of Norman Rockwell decades ago, as though that were a better life. They weren’t, it wasn’t, and it’s all just so much self-flattery and self-deception to think so.
8. Cheerleaders. Not just silly, but wrong, is the idea that the best a politician can do for this community is to be a cheerleader for it. A serious man would be humiliated to think this way, but it passes for profound here. If it makes so much sense to think this way, then why not dress the part, for the full effect? I’ll spring for the costume — just email your address to adams@freewhitewater.com. I won’t even charge for shipping.
7. Jaywalkers. Why even bother with an explanation — isn’t it obvious that these no-good, lawbreaking punks are a problem that should be restrained through easier ticketing? Fine away!
6. Squirrels. They’re still walking freely around here. A whole year, and what’s been done? Nothing — these beady-eyed demons should have been stopped long ago. Yet, our local politicians have done nothing. Set a few coyotes out in the downtown, and the problem will be solved.
5. Markets. Why have buyers and sellers, freely choosing, when you can have regulators, picking and deciding for us?
Leave it to the super-smart politicians on Council. You hush up, they’ll run Whitewater for you.
4. Conflicts of Interest. Like poltergeists, they’re invisible here. No one in Whitewater has ever seen a conflict of interest. One cannot see what is so easily rationalized and wished away.
Politicians and press, sycophantic friends on boards, etc. — they’re not conflicts if the town fathers insist that they’re not. It’s just that simple. Houdini couldn’t make things disappear so quickly.
3. Parental Homeowners. People from sick, disgusting communities like Waukesha, New Berlin, and Whitefish Bay are buying homes in Whitewater for their college-attending children. Can’t you stop this, town fathers? They’ve made our neighbors a wasteland, dead, Dead, DEAD!
2. Foreign Homeowners. Did you know, really did you, that there are — right here in our midst — foreign homeowners? Yes, not even God-fearing, red-blooded American parents, but people who grew up beyond our Republic. Worse, they came here. Worse still — nearly unbearable — some of them bought property in our very city.
Any other community would be happy to have willing buyers — for Whitewater, it’s an invasion.
By the way, who were all the ancestors of the local residents of our community, a few generations ago? Were their villages in Europe communities of milk and honey, streets paved with gold, fair maidens everywhere, in Germany or Scandinavia?
No, I think not — why leave if that were so?
My best guess — some vulgar, dark European rat’s nest, an overweight woman milking a scrawny cow, and not a bar of soap to be seen within a hundred miles.
They arrive here, and suddenly they’re all transformed into local versions of the Vanderbilts.
1. The Police and Fire Commission. Last year’s Number 1 was our police chief, and a year of even greater buffoonery places him as a permanent, Hall of Fame member. For this year, it’s the worst, most embarrassing board or commission in the city. Suitable for any small, reactionary town, the PFC never fails to act as a living cliché.
Why, by the way, the conjunction AND in the Commission’s title? It serves no purpose.
The PFC is a B-movie version of a rubber-stamp body, in contrast with the good and open traditions of our state.
Film these meetings, and we’ll have our own horror-movie industry, suitable for this or any other Halloween.
Daily Bread
Daily Bread: October 30, 2008
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning, Whitewater
In Whitewater today, at 7:00 p.m., there’s meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals at the municipal building.
In our schools today, there’s no school. Play.
The National Weather Service forecast calls for a sunny day with a balmy high temperature of 63 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac continues a multi-day series prediction that it will be “cold and dry just in time for trick or treaters.”
Yesterday’s better prediction: Even — like yesterday, more vital information from the NWS, but otherwise correct on both counts.
In Wisconsin History on this date, in 1914, from the Wisconsin Historical Society comes a proud report that the first 4-H Club in Wisconsin was organized:
On this date the Linn Junior Farmers Club in Walworth County was organized. This club was started five months after Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act which created the Cooperative Extension Service whereby federal, state, and county governments participate in the county agent system.
Coming Tomorrow for Halloween: the 2008 Edition of Boo! Scariest Things in Whitewater. Last year’s edition is available for ready comparison.
Daily Bread
Daily Bread: October 29, 2008
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, at 6:30 p.m., there’s a special budget meeting of the Common Council at the municipal building, rescheduled from yesterday. The agenda for the meeting is available online.
Earlier, at 5 p.m., the Community Development Housing Authority’s Housing Committee will meet at the municipal building.
In our schools today, it’s VIP day at Lincoln School, and there is a 6 p.m. Halloween Party at Lakeview School.
The National Weather Service predicts that today be sunny (no ‘mostly’ involved), with a high temperature of 51 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac ends the month with a new multi-day series prediction that it will be “cold and dry just in time for trick or treaters.”
Yesterday’s better prediction: Even — more detail from the NWS, but otherwise similar predictions.
In history today, Wired reports that it’s the anniversary of the day in 1675 on which “Leibniz Sums It All Up.” The skinny from Wired on Leibniz:
Gottfried Leibniz writes the integral sign in an unpublished manuscript, introducing the calculus notation that’s still in use today.
Leibniz was a German mathematician and philosopher who readily crossed the lines between academic disciplines. He had a doctorate in law, served as secretary of the Nuremberg alchemical society and fancied himself a poet.
He also conducted diplomatic missions in London and Paris. While visiting those cities, Leibniz acquainted himself with such scientific luminaries as Christiaan Huygens, Robert Boyle, Robert Hook, John Pell and Jacques Ozanam. He showed an unfinished calculating machine to the Royal Society, which elected him a fellow.
Never mind the wig — Leibniz was sharp where it mattered.
Free Markets
Digital Millennium Copyright Act — Ten Bad Years Against Innovation
by JOHN ADAMS •
Ten years ago today, President Clinton signed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Timothy Lee of Cato explains how this has been a stifling regulation against innovation. His podcast commentary, Troubling Copyright Law Turns Ten, is available at Cato’s website.