More Liberty

Serving the Public in Style

Five of the ten wealthiest counties in the United States are in the Washington, D.C. metro area.  In fact, the top three wealthiest counties are here:  1.  Loudoun County with a median household income of $98,483; 2.  Fairfax County with a median household income of $94,610; and, 3. Howard County with a median household income of $91,184.  (The U.S. median household income is $46,242.)

Who says there isn't money to be made by working for and with the federal government?  The term "public servant," often used by the folks who work in our nation's capital to describe themselves, is accurate.  They serve themselves to the public wallet, and have the incomes to prove it.

"D.C. Suburbs Top List Of Richest Counties"  The Washington Post, 08/30/06

Kent Snyder

Democrats Plan for Statism

The criticisms leveled at the GOP by myself and other contributors to this blog should in now way be taken to suggest the Democrats are in any way on acceptable alternative.  For proof of this, look no further than Ram Emanuel's new book The Plan.  Mr. Emanuel is the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and a former advisor to former President Bill Clinton.  The Plan outlines a proposed Democratic agenda for 2006 and 2008.  (Thanks to Karen DeCoster at the LewRockwell.com blog for bringing this to my attention.)

Among the items in Emanuel's plan are universal citizen service (draft), free college tutition, more war, more Patriot Act-style crackdowns on civil liberties, new government spending to promote hybrid vehicles, and, of course, more socialized medicine.

Norm Singleton points out that the leading contender for the GOP's 2008 nomination could easily endorse most of Emanuel's plan.  Will there even be a penny's worth of difference between the Democrats and Republicans in 2008?

Richard Wilkins

For Once

For once, America's peasantry is spared hours of frustration and inconvenience by America's imperial presidency.

"HOV Traffic Waits for No Man, Even the President"  Washington Post, 08/25/06

Kent Snyder

Coming Recession Will Be Nasty

"The United States is headed for a recession that will be 'much nastier, deeper and more protected' than the 2001 recession, says Nouriel Roubini, president of Roubini Global Economics."

MarketWatch, 08/23/06

Neither Party

"On Iraq, US public trusts neither party"
Christian Science Monitor, 08/23/06

"Your Taxes Subsidize China"

"Each year the people of the United States write a check to subsidize China, one of the most brutal, anti-American regimes in the world."

Congressman Ron Paul's Weekly Column, 08/14/06

"Worst" Follower?

Congressman Ron Paul was voted "worst follower" in Washingtonian Magazine's annual rankings of Congress.  Of course, Congressman Paul is actually the best follower in Congress. The best follower of his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Richard Wilkins

Lifestyles of the Powerful and Immoral

Michelle Cottle of the New Republic looks at the phenomenon of politicians dumping their first wives for younger, prettier and more savvy second wives.  The ideal wife will either have political ambitions of her own or a successful career as a Hill staffer or lobbyist.  While this might seem to be of little more than prudent interest, it should be of concern for several reasons.  First, there is the obvious hypocrisy in men who have abandoned their family for a younger, more politically savvy second wife while lecturing the rest of us on the need to strengthen the traditional American family.  Also, do we really want people who live in such a dysfunctional environment to have such power of our lives, liberty and property?

Finally and most importantly, if we can not trust the men we elect to Congress to honor their vows to their wives, how can we trust them to remain faithful to their oath to uphold the Constitution?

Richard Wilkins

"The Other Joe"

"Former Vice Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman's loss in the Connecticut Democratic Senate primary may have grabbed the headlines, but Republican Congressman Joe Schwarz's primary loss on Tuesday may create political waves just as big."

John Berthoud, 08/09/06

What's the Real Federal Deficit?

Well, that depends on which set of federal books you look at.  According to the "official" figures, the deficit is "only" $318 billion, but according to the government's audited financial statement, the deficit is actually $760 billion.  The audited financial statement is produced using standard accounting rules.

Perhaps members of Congress should be forced to comply with Section 404 of the infamous Sarbanes-Oxley Act which would require them to personally certify the accuracy of the government's financial information or face civil and/or criminal liability if the financial information realized to the public was found to be inaccurate.

Richard Wilkins

Eminent Domain

"But now the Gambles live in their daughter's basement.  Their house stands vacant in the weedy field that was their neighborhood -- seized by the city and transferred to a developer who wants to build shops, offices and condominiums."

"Will the Government Take Your Home?"  Parade, 08/06/06

Wacky Republicans

Last week, the GOP leadership rammed a reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank through the U.S. House.  This reauthorization will spend $500 million in the next five years to help corporate interests do business with countries like Red China and Saudi Arabia.  It passed on a voice vote after the House leadership used procedural tricks to thwart Congressman Ron Paul's attempts to call for a recorded vote so House members would have to go on record in favor of giving your tax money to the Fortune 500.

Then, at around 1 a.m. Saturday morning, the so-called free-market Republican Congress passed a 40% increase in the minimum wage.  All responsible economists agree that an increase in the minimum wage harms those at the bottom of the economic ladder by pricing them out of the labor market.  But what does an increase in unemployment matter compared to the need of the GOP to pander to swing voters as "compassionate conservatives?"

Richard Wilkins