HUNDREDS OF ECONOMISTS: POT PROHIBITION COSTS BILLIONS. LEGISLATION WOULD EARN BILLIONS!

http://digg.com/news/technology/hundreds_of_economists_marijuana_prohibition_costs_billions_legalization_would_earn_billions_1

CHINA'S MIRACLE IS NOT SO MIRACULOUS ANYMORE

http://beforeitsnews.com/story/1475/195/NL/Chinas_Economic_Miracle_Is_Not_So_Miraculous_Anymore.html

OBAMA WORKS WONDERS FOR THE ECONOMY...OF BRAZIL

http://patriotupdate.com/15224/obama-works-wonders-for-the-economy-of-brazil

GOP AT FAULT FOR NOT CREATING JOBS - SO SAYS THE FRAUD IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Charles Bowden on Mexican drug cartels, and the American "war on drugs" - futility - all is futility

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/31/bowden.ciudad.juarez.cartels/

Gun business booming because of economy

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/24/eveningnews/main4751431.shtml?source=related_story

http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/lesley-stahl-60-minutes-time-gun-control-264002

Downsizer Dispatch and an explanation of Obama's speech on Tuesday.

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h

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Quote of the Day: "Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." -- from "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll

Subject: Obama in Wonderland

President Obama gave a speech Tuesday night. He asked the American people to believe many impossible things at once. He claims he's going to . . .

* Continue to intervene in the economy and bailout irresponsible companies and individuals
* Revolutionize health care
* Transform energy and the environment
* And cut government spending too

It was an "Alice in Wonderland" performance. His speech, to once again guote from "Alice," demonstrated a complete mastery of "The different branches of Arithmetic -- Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision."

It's hard to decide which, of all his many impossible ambitions, is the most frightening. However, since we can only fight one impossible thing at a time, we choose this one . . .

President Obama called for "cap and trade" legislation to limit carbon dioxide emissions.

"Cap and trade" would . . .

* Cap CO2 emissions
* Sell CO2 emission permits to businesses in amounts equal to the cap
* Allow companies to trade and/or sell these permits to allegedly create a market for innovations that would reduce CO2 emissions
* Use the proceeds from the permit sales to create a vast new research bureaucracy to help corporations cope with the cap

As a practical matter, "cap and trade" will . . .

* Raise your electricity and gasoline bills
* Provide politicians with new tools to control the economy, hand out favors, and punish enemies
* Be as ineffective in doing "research" as the Energy Department has been
* Probably (if the example of Europe is a reliable guide) have little impact on over-all CO2 emissions

Even if you accept that human CO2 emissions are causing problematic global warming, a government run "cap and trade" system isn't the best way to deal with this problem. Here are some points to consider . . .

* Fossil fuels create massive amounts of air pollution, quite apart from CO2.
* This pollution causes health problems, none of which are reflected in the price of fossil fuels.
* Fossil fuels enjoy a "free ride" in terms of pollution costs that make it hard for alternative energy sources to compete.
* Air pollution is a form of trespass, and preventing trespasses is a legitimate function of government.

The federal government could do this by . . .

* Taxing fossil fuels
* Cutting other taxes so that your overall financial burden would remain unchanged or even reduced

Your energy costs would rise, but your taxes would fall by an equal or greater amount. Doing this would . . .

* Eliminate any justification for a "cap and trade" boondoggle
* Make fossil fuels reflect more of their true costs
* Provide an incentive for everyone to reduce their use of fossil fuels
* Make other sources of energy cost competitive
* Limit the financial impact on you and the economy
* Help reduce air pollution, including CO2 emissions

For those Americans who fear climate change a carbon tax combined with tax cuts in other areas would be a better approach than "cap and trade." This impossible "cap and trade" proposal must be defeated, especially since the federal government already has so many other impossible things on its agenda.

Please use our quick and easy Educate the Powerful System to tell your elected representatives to oppose all "cap and trade" legislation.

Use your personal comments to point out that "cap and trade" hasn't worked in Europe.

Please also use this Dispatch to educate and recruit new members, by forwarding it to others, by re-posting on your own blog, if you have one, and by "Digging" it in on our blog.

Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army. We've added 303 net new subscribers so far this year, and 5,827 since February 27, 2007.

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

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The Libertarianrepublican Blog

http://libertarianrepublican.blogspot.com/2009/02/obamas-economic-recovery-plan-carbon.html

Socialism vs. Jeudeo-Christian Economy by Col. Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired

Socialism vs. Judeo-Christian Economy

by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired

If you would like to listen to an audio reading of this column click here.

“Considering the unabated flood of illegal immigrants, the steady exodus of living-wage jobs, escalating costs of home and transportation ownership, the largest Federal Budget and deficit in history, devaluation of the dollar, and huge trade imbalances, to name a few salient factors, it should be apparent that the national economy, despite marginal recent good news, faces enormous, if not overwhelming pressure.” Article titled, Matthew 10:23, August 1st, 2003

Stating the obvious, the United States is engaged in a war that will define its future. Note for CNN, Shepard Smith of Fox News and others in the media: the “War against Terrorism” is one war with fronts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Columbia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and covert skirmishes in a hundred other places are but one aspect of a far more defining war. However, the ultimate war is raging within the nation’s borders and is for the future of freedom and righteousness. One can only conclude from the outrageous content of liberal politicians’ daily attacks on their own nation for the past six years that they have been on the side of evil and treachery, not righteousness and good.

Of course now that Obama has descended, or should I say ascended, the nation is suddenly on the right track again. His cheap shots during the inauguration at former President Bush were over the top and low class, what else could one expect from him a man who is the ultimate empty suit? Yet some writers called it a “serious speech.” The speech was in a word, “constipated.” Gone were the high floating words, the soaring rhetoric, the angelic prose, now, “we will rebuild America.” Whereas one may agree that some of it needs rebuilding, conservatives should work with him when he is right, and oppose him with vigor when he is wrong; and, so far, on the economy, Iraq, Guantanamo, and the “stimulus” package, he is wrong.

Many Republicans, so called “conservatives” tell us they want Obama to succeed. At what? If he succeeds at his promises, the U.S. will descend the ladder to third world status in less than a decade. The poor chap doesn’t have a clue how the U.S. economy works, any more so than he knows how national security, or virtually the entire gamut of U.S. government functions work. Government is not the solution Mr. “O,” it is the problem. Government bureaucrats are empire builders. Creation of four hundred thousand new bureaucratic jobs does not boost the economy, it burdens it. Government does not create economies, it may regulate them, it may harm them, but central planning czars are reminiscent of Soviet central economic planning. Message to Obama, “it didn’t work.”

Illegal immigration from south of the border continues largely unchecked and presents an entire range of security, social and economic challenges. The “global economy,” driven by multinational corporations and fostered by successive U.S. administrations and congresses is decimating the nation’s manufacturing infrastructure; millions of US jobs have moved overseas and additional millions are in jeopardy of following. Labor unions, once good for workers, and mega-multi-national corporate exploitation and greed have devastated local economies, wreaked havoc with retirement plans and laid bare employees’ health care safety nets.

China’s, India’s, and Indonesia’s vast educated populations, with largely “third world” standards of living are vast labor pools and irresistible magnets for companies eager to improve profits—profits that will largely benefit corporate officers not American middle class or poor workers. The cost to produce goods in the U.S. makes most them largely noncompetitive on the international market and too often too expensive at home. Today, most consumer goods are produced in the Far East, and agricultural products increasingly come from south of the border. The latter squeezes out U.S. farm products and invites, if not promotes, the use of illegal immigrants in U.S. farming operations.

An analysis of U.S. production costs reveals that raw materials in virtually any production process are a relatively small fraction of the total costs to produce an end item. High taxes and outrageous union contracts do nothing but drive costs higher and more businesses overseas into the waiting arms of the aforementioned countries above, to name only a few. Seafood products, increasingly imported from Asia, undercut, squeeze and put domestic operations out of business, and its labor force becomes an additional unemployment and/or retraining burden on U.S. taxpayers.

The problems and challenges noted pale in comparison to the most serious threat to the nation, the war for the nation’s soul. Some liberal readers have observed that the writer is intolerant, and they are right. He is intolerant of evil, as everyone should be. The definitions of evil and good hinge on whether or not historical/traditional moral standards properly and adequately define them, or upon new age, so called, “enlightenment.”

The “brave new world” of political liberalism is socially, economically and politically regressive in concept and application. It is fair, and accurate to state that national survival is at greater risk today, directly attributable to liberal thought and successes, than at any time in its history. Liberals,’ of all political stripes, stranglehold on the moral rudder that guides the nation’s political life is wreaking havoc in homes, schools, entertainment, media, politics, justice, legislation and churches of America.

It is not adherence to traditional Judeo-Christian principles that result in the glut of prisoners in the nation’s prisons; the rise in the number of cases of AIDS among sexual perverts and needle using drug addicts; sexual perverts as church leaders and their inherent desecration of the institution of marriage as ordained by God; greed that pervades the corporate world; lust for power and ill gotten gain that animates too many politicians; sexual abuse of children by an apostate clergy; exploitation of women and children by the pornography industry; the savage taking of millions of lives of unborn children by the abortion industry fallaciously advanced as “a woman’s choice;” destruction of families by welfare slavery; abuse, abandonment and/or neglect of millions of children and elderly people by their own families; no, these are not the result of adherence to Judeo-Christian principles, they are the fruits of liberalism.

The predictable end-state of leftist liberals’ actions combined with the inaction of a slumbering conservative majority, are anarchy and chaos. Unless there is a change in direction toward righteousness, a paradigm shift toward decency, a quantum leap in the direction of morality, the foregoing will happen, and when it does, liberals’ predictable solution will be to impose totalitarian government. And should that tragedy occur, Nikita Khrushchev’s prediction, “Your grandchildren will live under communism,” will have reached full flower.

How can the trend be reversed? By returning to the moral principles that brought greatness to this nation. By electing leaders of character, who have both knowledge of politics and history, and are well grounded in Judeo-Christian principles. Note. For a more definitive discussion of the incongruity of sexual perversion and Christian discipleship the reader is invited to read http://www.ucmpage.org/articles/rpappas.html.

Contemporary liberalism is destructive individually and to the nation. Thinking people should awaken, reject it and return to the nation’s roots found in Judeo-Christian moral principles. If liberals find that to be not inclusive, it isn’t. They can get on board or miss the flight to eternal freedom.

Semper Fidelis

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Copyright © February 12th, 2009, by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author's expressed written permission.

Jim Rogers on the Inflationary Holocaust

http://www.prisonplanet.com/rogers-global-bankers-have-unleashed-inflationary-holocaust.html

The FIRE Coalition...

is against ILLEGAL immigration. So what they do is expose those companies who hire illegals.

With the current economic situation, it may be wise to rethink illegal immigration. You may need a job! It is becoming clear, we cannot afford to lose any American job.

Here's their website: www.WeHireAliens.com

They laughed at Ron Paul...Watch Neil Cavuto eat crow...

Ron Paul on the current financial crisis

http://www.libertymaven.com/2008/09/18/ron-paul-rants-on-the-lunacy-of-foreign-aid-while-america-is-bankrupt/1952

If you have the jitters about the stability of your bank, your retirement funds, 401Ks, your stock portfolio, you have good reason.

Ron Paul again offers sound economic policy, if only the rest of "them" would take it to heart and decide our best interests are what will propel the US into economic and financial security. Included in this entry from Liberty Maven, are videos.

Washington Mutual (WAMU) is on shaky ground and is expected to slide into the pit soon.

Here are a list of bank failures. Is yours there? http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html

Next time you get paid or visit your bank, take enough out to buy one gold coin. A Krugerand if you can afford it, a silver bar (they aren't expensive), a vial of silver dimes or quarters. Hold it in your hand. Here in your hand, is wealth. Look at one of our dollar bills. What is that, anyway?
A piece of paper. Funny money. Faith based? Faith in what? The money machine switch is turned on at the Federal Reserve as needed. Bail out a trillion-dollar failing bank and brokerage - no problemo. Fixed. Your money is devalued. Worth less. It is FIAT MONEY.

My friend, a coin dealer whom I've known for years did just that for me several months ago.
He held up a tube of Krugerands and let me hold it. "Here. With this, in WWII, if you were in Italy, you could take one of these coins and get to freedom; get on a train, take it to Switzerland.
This will allow you to start over in any country in the world." With every financial crisis, with every bail out, with every collapse, our economy grows weaker. With every one dollar you deposit in the bank, they can loan out nine. They have loaned and loaned, and if you look around, are you seeing banks sprouting up like crocuses in spring? And they don't seem to have apparent business. How are they staying in business? They are the children of other banks, loaning out nine dollars for every one.

Glenn Beck's on the radio. He just said, "The value of the dollars is just...worthless." http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/17/beck.wallstreet/index.html?iref=topnews

Maybe you'd better listen or view the transcript of his program today. He's getting really deep, discussing US T-bills/bonds going into default. People are running to gold.

If your finances are a mystery, get smart. Don't trust so much you lose it all. Protect yourself. Your bank could fail overnight. It happened in 1929. I remember images from old newsreels of men with wheelbarrows full of paper money. It was WORTHLESS.

Ron Paul on our current financial condition...

from his website: http://www.house.gov/paul/index.shtml

No matter what you think of Rep. Paul, his financial and economic knowledge is right on our (fiat) money.

The Casey Report

The Casey Report is an interesting financial newsletter - with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, and Merrill Lynch sliding into the pit, I thought you might like to read this explanation of Freddie and Fanny. It's all linked together. The pit's getting crowded.

http://caseyresearch.com/drpRoom.php?e=true

The Truckers - do you know how hard it is for them?

Timothy Frederick, a fine photo-essayist friend from jpgmag.com, has written a wonderful piece about what the economy is doing to independent truckers, and you!

Please enjoy his portfolio and go to this link for the story. You shouldn't miss this.
http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/3758

We depend on our truckers for everything. EVERYTHING. So when you read this, consider how important they are to your life, individually, find your voice and question your elected officials, your local paper about the price of fuel and WHY we haven't built refineries in decades.
We have hydrogen cell technology that doesn't use anything but water; ethanol is bad for engines and a hit to our food supply because we are using grain crops for fuel instead of feeding our own people. My friend Sue in Missouri just bought feed for their cattle. She was in shock. She said if the price of fuel continues to rise, no one will be farming. We import one third of our food and export most of ours, grown here. Why?

How come we aren't "getting it"? How come we aren't screaming - not at each other, but the people, like your representatives and senators, who can do something about this. It's going to be a long, hard winter.

Wise words on the economy

from Congressman and Presidential candidate, Ron Paul via the excellent blog,
Liberty Maven. http://www.libertymaven.com/2008/04/15/ron-paul-at-freedom-rally-pictures-and-video-04152008/1030/

It's not too late to consider a vote for Ron Paul for President.

If you, like I, consider yourself a gray-haired pro-Republic Constitutionalist, maybe you'll be interested in the Granny Warriors, here: http://www.grannywarriors.com/index.html

We owe it to our children and grandchildren to return our government to a representative Republic, and Constitutional government. There's not one of us who can sincerely say we are giving a better United States to our children.

I just received the following as email. I've seen it before, but it sounds really good to me:


Wouldn't It Be Great To Turn On the TV and Hear Any U.S. President,
Democrat Or Republican Give the Following Speech?

My Fellow Americans:

As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been completed.
Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our
mission in Iraq is complete. This morning I gave the order for a
complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will
be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.

Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries
that have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is
short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia and Poland are
some of the countries listed there. The other list contains every one
not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list.
My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later
this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those
nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money
saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of
the Iraqi war. Then every year thereafter it'll go to our Social
Security System so it won't go broke in 20 years.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world
Hell holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.
Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this
money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home.
On that note, a word to terrorist organizations: Screw with us and we
will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face
of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try
France or maybe China.

I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with
France, Germany and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We
are retiring from NATO as well. Bonne chance, mezamies.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN
diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid
parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded
and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this.
You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those
tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be
turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New
York.

I continue to call the three major candidates, Obama, Clinton and McCain, the Three Stooges.

I'm wondering if Clinton will return the White House china and really get rid of NAFTA, which, if you remember, helped our country slide down the slippery slope to economic disaster. Obama offends me (any candidate who would ignore or challenge the Constitution) when he dismisses and disrespects my Constitutional rights, and continues to open old racial wounds to divide the country. I don't believe McCain can be trusted because what you hear of his imprisonment is not completely true, yet he is our poster child for a war hero. I know there are many soldiers more worthy than he. And these are just minor points.

For an interesting few minutes, listen to Jackie Mason on Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ5c6hxqXq4

I hope no one votes for a candidate solely on the basis of sex, race, label or fairness of face.
The country is in dire need of a real leader. I only see one. And it's not one of the Three Stooges.