Middle American Radicals?

An interesting article in National Journal goes into discussing the ideological makeup of those who support Trump. For those of us who activitly pay attention to politics one can agree that most of Trump support stems from Pat Buchanan style paleoconservatism. These are considered radical voices in US politics but I have to disagree with that sentiment. Being a radical in regards to politics is supporting positions outside the mainstream. Which from the naked eye yes it appears that those voters are radical but from a liberty perspective they're really not.

When you look at people like Pat Buchanan who is widely considered the face of US paleoconservative thought. The three main tenants of paleoconservative thought are economic nationalism, supporting the drug war and immigration controls. All three of these positions are not voluntary as they require men with badges and guns to enforce. Those who support them don't trust the market to come to these positions or regard the market as to slow to adopt them. For the non-political they would see this as ironic that those who are under the banner of conservative would take an anti-free market stance. However paleoconservatism was never about the free market, just less socialist than the left's economic ideas.

Using men with guns and badges to enforce a particular way of thinking, conducting one's self or business isn't radical. In the US and in pretty much most of the world this is the norm. To consider that way of thinking to be radical is absurd. When you really look at elections what is it really about? It's about getting a politician or group of them to use men with guns and badges to enforce a particular way of life. It's not radical, it's statist and the difference between the supporters of the various presidential candidates is which version of statism that they want to force on everyone else.

Darren Wolfe Presentation: The Standing Armies of Yesterday and the Police State Today

Darren Wolfe who writes for The International Libertarian gives a presentation on today's modern police state and how it came to be to the group Citizens for Liberty.

Your Absurd Government Policy of the Day

Sometimes when I read about absurd government policies I just have a chuckle but this one in Iceland takes the cake.

A 15-year-old is suing the Icelandic state for the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother. The problem? Blaer, which means "light breeze" in Icelandic, is not on a list approved by the government.

Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. In a country comfortable with a firm state role, most people don't question the Personal Names Register, a list of 1,712 male names and 1,853 female names that fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules and that officials maintain will protect children from embarrassment. Parents can take from the list or apply to a special committee that has the power to say yea or nay.

Just another area where government definitely doesn't need to be sticking it's nose in. 

The Ever Opinionated Jesse Ventura

I've always been a fan of Ventura, never afraid to speak his mind. A true anti-statist.

BlackBerry and Big Brother?

For most of us look for when the state makes it's latest power grabs to violate our rights but sometimes we tend to miss when companies attempt to get in good with the state. Yahoo News reports on Research in Motion (the company who actually makes the widely used smart phone) CEO Jim Balsillie on suggesting a national registry that governments can access messages that are sent and received on BlackBerries.

This paragraph seems to highlight the main motive behind this suggestion;

The controversy drew wide public attention last month when the United Arab Emirates announced plans to block BlackBerry e-mail, messaging and Web browsing services. Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Indonesia and India are considering or planning similar steps.

I can understand why Balsillie would suggest such a move, he wants to get a piece of the cellular market in those countries. However, kissing up to Big Brother always ends up badly in the long run. Luckily for us BlackBerry isn't the only smartphone company in town, Windows Mobile, IPhone and Android phones tend to be in the same price ranges as BlackBerry. Fighting companies that kiss up to the state should be fought with out wallets, not with more statism.