Weekend Update, No. 7

Timely articles on Pearl Harbor and World War II, subjects on which many mistakenly think they are well informed.

Pearl Harbor: Hawaii Was Surprised; FDR Was Not
This is a must read article for every American who has been fooled about World War II, and that is essentially all of us.  Our government did everything it could to provoke not only Japan, but also Germany into firing the first shot.  It knowingly left half the US Navy a sitting duck stranded in the middle of the Pacific, an easy target for the Japanese, despite the multiple warnings of our officers at Pearl Harbor.  The most damning truth is that we had decoded Japanese communications and knew well in advance of their plans to attack.  Intercepted November 26, 1941: "The task force, keeping its movement strictly secret and maintaining close guard against submarines and aircraft, shall advance into Hawaiian waters, and upon the very opening of hostilities shall attack the main force of the United States fleet and deal it a mortal blow. The first air raid is planned for the dawn of x-day. Exact date to be given by later order."  Jerry Bruckheimer has no clue.  Most Americans have no clue.  We were not in WWII to save the Jews.  Wake up.

John T. Flynn on Roosevelt and Pearl Harbor, by Laurence M. Vance
Mr. Vance reminds us of the writings of Flynn way back in 1944 and 1945.  Even then it was apparent that our government had misled the people into war.  Details the overt acts of war we committed against both the Germans and the Japanese well before Pearl Harbor, including the bombing of German submarines and US pilots flying for the Chinese against Japan.  Reveals Roosevelt for the arrogant yet ignorant elitist that he was.  Quite a long work, but worth your time in every way.  Remember that this was written more than fifty years before the preceding article.

You're Doing One Hell of a Job in Central Asia, Barack! by Jack D. Douglas
Explains exactly what we're up against, and why if Iraq was a hopeless situation, then words don't exist for Afghanistan.  The portions of his article where he SHOUTS are perhaps the single best denunciation of our war efforts I have read.

Requiem for the Dollar, by James Grant
The venerable Grant of Interest Rate Observer fame lays it all out for us.  History and mathematics demonstrate only one end to this latest episode of fiat madness.  At least we'll have a cheap source of wallpaper or fuel for the fireplace.

Jon Stewart Joins the Left-Wing Anti-Afghanistan Troop Escalation Chorus, posted by David Kramer
Ten minute video.  Got to give credit where it's due.  The liberal Stewart lets Obama have it.  "Is 30,000 troops the military equivalent of two Advil?"  Hilarious and sad at the same time.

Big 3 TV Ignores Climategate
Yes, our shameful media turns its backs on what the Daily Bell editors deem the scientific story of the decade.  Yet more evidence that the major media is under the near complete control of big business and government.  Not to worry, their precious global warming/climate change fearmongering is being revealed for the propaganda it is anyway.

Medical Marijuana Does Not Equal Freedom, by Sheldon Richman
In a free society adults can ingest whatever substances they wish.  Is that such a bad thing?  Conservatives think so, though their efforts have produced nothing but tremendous drain on the economy, an epidemic of violence, and a militarized police state.  Didn't we already learn this lesson with alcohol and its prohibition?

Feds 'Pinged' Sprint GPS Data 8 Million Times Over a Year
If your cell phone has a battery inserted, they know where you are.  Apparently personal privacy is no longer a reality.

Boulder Rocks, by Bill Kauffman
Argues that adoption of the Constitution was the beginning of the end.  Sound ridiculous?  Nope.  Patrick Henry was prophetic in calling it "the most fatal plan that could possibly be conceived to enslave a free people."  Those Anti-Federalists were some smart guys.  Not that the average modern public school product could ever understand their writings.

New Rules for Congress Curb but Don't End Paid Trips, By Eric Lipton and Eric Lichtblau
More disgusting evidence that our rulers are completely bought off.  Details the $15,000 European junkets our Congressmen commonly enjoy, funded by corporate lobbyists.  Thought such things were illegal?  Technically, but there's no loophole too low for these snakes to wriggle through.  One representative has been on five European jaunts in the past five years, paid for by a single "nonprofit" organization.  Gee, you think if Pfizer spent $15,000 each year to put me up in luxury hotels in Europe I might prescribe a little Viagra?  Oh yeah, right, many doctors do receive similar benefits.  I must be one of the last chumps around.

The $700 Billion Man, by Laura Blumenfeld
Details the current escapades of Neel Kashkari, the TARP chief.  Essentially the evil of his work for Hank Paulson in the Treasury Department led to resignation in a mere seven months.  With his Goldman Sachs plunder, he purchased a cabin and land in the pristine mountains near Lake Tahoe, attempting to cleanse his soul by building a shed.  Nice try.  The nightmares still come.  By the end of the article, he reveals himself as utterly addicted to power and control, plotting his return to DC.  There are two kinds of people: those who have no desire for power over others, and sociopaths.  We are ruled by sociopaths.

The Only Cure for America's Health Care Woes, by Jacob Hornberger
End Medicare, end Medicaid, end medical licensing.  Sorry "old" folks.  Sorry "poor" folks.  Sorry doctors.  Freedom trumps all of your concerns.

The Problem with 'Free' Health Care, by Edwin Leap
One of my partners says it better than I could ever say it myself.  Welfare simply doesn't work.  It, physicians who must work for it, and taxpayers who must fund it are all routinely abused in the most abominable manners.

Only a Fool Defends His Country... by Jonathan M. Kolkey
...while a wise man defends himself.  The author and historian has undertaken a massive project, to analyze the causes of approximately 300 wars in recorded history.  His thesis?  That every single one was due to the "cynical, self-serving political manipulations" of those in power.  Must see also his site.  As I have done previously, I again refer you to consider War Is A Racket, written by a two-time Medal of Honor winner.

For a Greater Economic Understanding, Go Austrian, by Jeff Shipley
Awesome news that a course in Austrian economics is being offered at the University of Iowa (see course listing).  More and more are waking up to the truth, thanks to the internet.

Statement Introducing the Free Competition in Currency Act, by Ron Paul
Rep. Paul is THE authority on economics and monetary issues in Congress.  This article further reinforces his lofty status.  Those who disagree are humming loudly while sticking their fingers in their ears (that includes you, Bernanke and Krugman).

The Fact That Drunk Drivers 'Choose' to Drive Drunk Is Completely Irrelevant, by Mark R. Crovelli
Article taking an extremely controversial though entirely logical and reasonable position on one of society's biggest boogeymen.  See also the linked article from Lew Rockwell.

The Patent System: End It, Don't Mend It, by David K. Levine and Michele Boldrin
As the authors put it best, "intellectual property is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, giving a reward increases the incentive to innovate. On the other, allowing the monopolization of existing ideas taxes the creation of new ones, thereby decreasing the incentive to innovate. The bottom line: Contrary to widespread belief, economic theory does not provide support for the continuous extension of IP."  Them again, on why we are stuck currently with such a system: "vested monopolistic interests exploiting the status quo."  Basically, because patents benefit big business, and big business is in bed with government.  But you already knew that.

The 50 Best Protest Signs of 2009
Good for multiple laughs.  Warning: poor grammar, horrid spelling, and profanity.  Not all have an entirely political message.  Thank goodness.

IPCC Chairman: Flying Is Irrational (Unless You Want to Go Somewhere), by Audrey Skepburn
IPCC = International Panel on Climate Change.  Yet another carbon-spewing climate change charlatan-hypocrite.  In order to spread the propaganda, he's logged about half a million miles of flights in less than two years, including an international flight to watch one day of cricket PRACTICE.

The Real Inconvenient Truth, by Diane Francis
A true Malthusian panic-fest from north of the border.  Amazing what passes for reasonable thought worthy of publication in leading national newspapers.  Tell me, what percentage of Canada's vast landmass is populated?  Significantly less than the 60% not owned by the federal government on our side of the border.  Overpopulated?  Riiiiight.

Supplies with Obama Logo Surprise School, by Jonathon Braden
Truly amazing.  Go to your public school bookstore for a notebook, get a not-so-healthy dose of Obama propaganda.