this is my take

Ayn Rand got it right

2009-01-10T05:35:00.000-08:00

By STEPHEN MOORE http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123146363567166677.html?mod=todays_us_weekend_journal

Some years ago when I worked at the libertarian Cato Institute, we used to label any new hire who had not yet read "Atlas Shrugged" a "virgin." Being conversant in Ayn Rand's classic novel about the economic carnage caused by big government run amok was practically a job requirement. If only "Atlas" were required reading for every member of Congress and political appointee in the Obama administration. I'm confident that we'd get out of the current financial mess a lot faster.
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The art for a 1999 postage stamp.
Many of us who know Rand's work have noticed that with each passing week, and with each successive bailout plan and economic-stimulus scheme out of Washington, our current politicians are committing the very acts of economic lunacy that "Atlas Shrugged" parodied in 1957, when this 1,000-page novel was first published and became an instant hit.
Rand, who had come to America from Soviet Russia with striking insights into totalitarianism and the destructiveness of socialism, was already a celebrity. The left, naturally, hated her. But as recently as 1991, a survey by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club found that readers rated "Atlas" as the second-most influential book in their lives, behind only the Bible.
For the uninitiated, the moral of the story is simply this: Politicians invariably respond to crises -- that in most cases they themselves created -- by spawning new government programs, laws and regulations. These, in turn, generate more havoc and poverty, which inspires the politicians to create more programs . . . and the downward spiral repeats itself until the productive sectors of the economy collapse under the collective weight of taxes and other burdens imposed in the name of fairness, equality and do-goodism.
In the book, these relentless wealth redistributionists and their programs are disparaged as "the looters and their laws." Every new act of government futility and stupidity carries with it a benevolent-sounding title. These include the "Anti-Greed Act" to redistribute income (sounds like Charlie Rangel's promises soak-the-rich tax bill) and the "Equalization of Opportunity Act" to prevent people from starting more than one business (to give other people a chance). My personal favorite, the "Anti Dog-Eat-Dog Act," aims to restrict cut-throat competition between firms and thus slow the wave of business bankruptcies. Why didn't Hank Paulson think of that?
These acts and edicts sound farcical, yes, but no more so than the actual events in Washington, circa 2008. We already have been served up the $700 billion "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act" and the "Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act." Now that Barack Obama is in town, he will soon sign into law with great urgency the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." This latest Hail Mary pass will increase the federal budget (which has already expanded by $1.5 trillion in eight years under George Bush) by an additional $1 trillion -- in roughly his first 100 days in office.
The current economic strategy is right out of "Atlas Shrugged": The more incompetent you are in business, the more handouts the politicians will bestow on you. That's the justification for the $2 trillion of subsidies doled out already to keep afloat distressed insurance companies, banks, Wall Street investment houses, and auto companies -- while standing next in line for their share of the booty are real-estate developers, the steel industry, chemical companies, airlines, ethanol producers, construction firms and even catfish farmers. With each successive bailout to "calm the markets," another trillion of national wealth is subsequently lost. Yet, as "Atlas" grimly foretold, we now treat the incompetent who wreck their companies as victims, while those resourceful business owners who manage to make a profit are portrayed as recipients of illegitimate "windfalls."
When Rand was writing in the 1950s, one of the pillars of American industrial might was the railroads. In her novel the railroad owner, Dagny Taggart, an enterprising industrialist, has a FedEx-like vision for expansion and first-rate service by rail. But she is continuously badgered, cajoled, taxed, ruled and regulated -- always in the public interest -- into bankruptcy. Sound far-fetched? On the day I sat down to write this ode to "Atlas," a Wall Street Journal headline blared: "Rail Shippers Ask Congress to Regulate Freight Prices."
In one chapter of the book, an entrepreneur invents a new miracle metal -- stronger but lighter than steel. The government immediately appropriates the invention in "the public good." The politicians demand that the metal inventor come to Washington and sign over ownership of his invention or lose everything.
The scene is eerily similar to an event late last year when six bank presidents were summoned by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to Washington, and then shuttled into a conference room and told, in effect, that they could not leave until they collectively signed a document handing over percentages of their future profits to the government. The Treasury folks insisted that this shakedown, too, was all in "the public interest."
Ultimately, "Atlas Shrugged" is a celebration of the entrepreneur, the risk taker and the cultivator of wealth through human intellect. Critics dismissed the novel as simple-minded, and even some of Rand's political admirers complained that she lacked compassion. Yet one pertinent warning resounds throughout the book: When profits and wealth and creativity are denigrated in society, they start to disappear -- leaving everyone the poorer.
One memorable moment in "Atlas" occurs near the very end, when the economy has been rendered comatose by all the great economic minds in Washington. Finally, and out of desperation, the politicians come to the heroic businessman John Galt (who has resisted their assault on capitalism) and beg him to help them get the economy back on track. The discussion sounds much like what would happen today:
Galt: "You want me to be Economic Dictator?"
Mr. Thompson: "Yes!"
"And you'll obey any order I give?"
"Implicitly!"
"Then start by abolishing all income taxes."
"Oh no!" screamed Mr. Thompson, leaping to his feet. "We couldn't do that . . . How would we pay government employees?"
"Fire your government employees."
"Oh, no!"
Abolishing the income tax. Now that really would be a genuine economic stimulus. But Mr. Obama and the Democrats in Washington want to do the opposite: to raise the income tax "for purposes of fairness" as Barack Obama puts it.
David Kelley, the president of the Atlas Society, which is dedicated to promoting Rand's ideas, explains that "the older the book gets, the more timely its message." He tells me that there are plans to make "Atlas Shrugged" into a major motion picture -- it is the only classic novel of recent decades that was never made into a movie. "We don't need to make a movie out of the book," Mr. Kelley jokes. "We are living it right now."

Mr. Moore is senior economics writer for The Wall Street Journal editorial page.

Israel has no choice - peace through strength

2008-12-28T04:42:00.000-08:00

United Nations Secretary General Ban was quick to condemn the retaliation by the Israelian army against Hamas forces in Gaza. It exemplifies the composition of the UN, with most countries being totalitarian regimes and only very few of them being friends of Israel. That might also explain Ban Ki-Moon's silence about the coninuous attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel.

A month before the last elections in March 2006 I urged voters in an op-ed (see belown in comments) to vote for Benjamin Netanjahu as I saw this to be the only chance to enforce peace in the Middle East. Apart from the fact that current prime minister Olmert faces serious corruption charges, the Kadima-led government did little to create a sustainable peace with its neighbours and the so-called "Palestinian National Authority".

Only an army that retaliates when its citizens are attacked creates the incentive for its enemies to opt for peaceful cooperation and coexistence. Therefore it is right that the only true democracy in the Middle East strikes back when threatened and should do so with a clear committment and dedication to protect the citizens of Israel.

Lasting peace can only be secured through strength. Bibi, take over!

The free world has convincing arguments

2008-12-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

If you believed, it is freedom of speech, the right to travel within your means or access to decent information that makes the western capitalist world superior - you are wrong.

It is the innovation that stems from a free society that provides the edge over those systems where thinking out of the box is heavily discouraged.

Today's Washington Post exemplifies that brilliantly. Extracting information from the rural and not so well educated Afghan population on what and where the Taliban are plotting their next attacks have not been to successful until ... they tried Viagra.

Originally it was developed for hypertension and angina pectoris, but the scientist of Pfizer in the British city Sandwich thought one step beyond and provided the international intellegence agencies with a compelling tool to work towards a free and western world.

Sex sells.

17.4 billion USD drained into lake Erie

2008-12-21T04:43:00.000-08:00

There are many jobs at risk in Detroit. For centuries GM, Ford and Chrysler have relied on big cars with little fuel-efficiency. Fair enough, if enough consumers are buying those, but apparently they do not. Corporations offering products that are not longer sought after are seen every day, everywhere. They file for bankrupcy and go out of business or restructure and come back with a new business model.

Why then does Congress alongside with the Bush administration pour 17.4 billion greenbacks into these car manufacturers? It will not change the basic environment. The UAW ensures that wages per hour are fifty percent higher than for other auto workers employed by foreign companies like Toyota. So instead of pouring money into a failing system, it makes more sense to file for Chapter 11, restructure the business, slash cost, create new models that are competitive on the market and then lead a healthy life of a sound corporation. That will not happen though when money is being granted to early. Who will make the concessions necessary to turn the American car business around then?

It took a Margaret Thatcher to transform the british industry in the early 80s and "redefine" the role of the trade unions. Who could do that job for Detroit? Welcome Barack Obama.

reason comes to Poznan - thank God

2008-12-13T05:25:00.000-08:00

Gone are the days or so it seems that the European Union aimed to unilaterally cut down carbon emission to zero without the rest of the world having to do anything. Welcome Silvio Berlusconi, the savior of the European economy, whose insistence on linking the EU efforts to a commitment from the United States and China at the Copenhagen Climate Summit introduced reason into the climate debate, that seemed to be more relying on faith then facts.

Only one in six emission particles stems from Western Europe - if one imagines the rate the Chinese build new coal-based power plants, surpassing the United States as the worlds biggest producer of carbondioxide, it becomes obvious that whatever efforts Europe undertakes, it will not even create a minor decline in the emissions chart.

Why should we then sacrifice our industry by imposing extra emission cost, making sectors like steel, paper and chemicals, to name just a few, uncompetetive and forcing them to relocate to Russia and other countries outside our climate regime?

Angie saves the world ... and who saves us from her wrongdoing?

2008-12-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

Ever since Angela Merkel, now head of the German government, has been minister for the environment, she is committed in her actions against climate change. One might even get the impression that she still co-chairs that cabinet post with her colleague Sigmar Gabriel.

Of the 8% reduction that the European Union promised until 2012 Germany will take up three quarters of the overall burden by reducing its own emissions by more than 20% under the level of 1990. That makes Angela Merkel the role model for politicians worldwide and the only one in Europe to meets the target. Her spanish colleague for example has had a target of a 5% increase and he will miss it by 45% (!). Zapatero even does not want to promise his 2012 target for 2020. Obviously there is little commitment in the rest of Europe. So, what should Germany do? Increase their own reductions by forcing the German industry out of the country?Nothing else but the complete dismantlement of the energy-intense industry in Germany will be the consequence of that intended wrongdoing of Merkel and Gabriel.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. After a new study showed that full auctioning of emission certificates would destroy more than 300.000 jobs in Germany alone Merkel seems to have seen it, at least partially:

Adressing the German Bundestag on December 4th, she said:

We must ensure that our energy-intensive industry, which is driven by exports, is of course excluded from the trading of (emissions quotas) in order to make sure they are not disadvantaged on the global market. The way things stand, we cannot spoil our export chances and stand by while jobs in the chemicals, steel and other industries move to regions of the world where climate protection is less stringent than here.

Why does it have to take trememdous efforts to pursuade our political leaders to see the consequence of their doing? Sustainable climate policy should focus on technology, on innovation and on preservation of the environment. Cripling the economy by imposing massive extra emission trading cost on the industry will not lead to any solution and only make things worse. The European Union should follow the path of China, India and the United States of America and other countries.

It's not only the economy, it's also the technology, stupid.

India: We fell your pain

2008-11-26T14:58:00.000-08:00

Another terrorist incident - apparently though not clearly confirmed yet by muslim fundamentalist. And the words of Joe Biden, future Vice-President of the United States ring in my ears: Obama will be tested within the first six month of his presidency.

Now President-elect Barack Obama has to show which side he is on even before his term starts. Will he follow the path of George W. Bush and make the War on Terrorism a key agenda point of his for years as commander in chief or will he chose to reign like Bill Clinton who had to chance to act swiftly again islamic terrorism and let his country down.

The threat of religious fundamentalist is a important as the task to put the economy back on track. Let us hope that the 44th President is up to the task.

NO - We Cannot

2008-11-20T06:34:00.001-08:00

For over a decade, European Gutmenschen (people pretending to do good and talk at length about it) have been blaming the United States for not doing enough to fight climate change. Back then (under the Clinton administration) the Senate unanimously rejected any Kyoto-style agreement.

Now that the Obama administration is transitioning in and the ecological-industrial complex is preparing for a major overhaul of American politics, European politicians finally have to reveal how little they cared as well. With the exception of Germany, who shut down the East-German economy after re-unification, no country has actually reduced any emissions, some countries like Spain are up by more than 50% to the year 1990.

It is time to tell the truth now. No, we cannot reduce emissions in the European Union in the way we promised to do. And we will not in the foreseeable future. Even if we did it, our reduction would be made up by rising output of carbondioxid in China and India in a matter of weeks.

The European Union should join the United States, China and India in the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development to start investing in technologies that allow us to burn less fossil fuels.

For a century we let the people believe, Yes We Can, but now we have to admit: No, We Cannot.

if you have to do it, do it right, man

2008-11-19T02:06:00.000-08:00

Not that I am in favour of any of the bailout plans that US Congress has approved, unfortunately with the backing of many Republicans, John McCain being one of them.

But if you have to pump tax payers money in large quantities into a failing banking system, one at least expects the Treasury Department to make the process transparent and sound, with no chance for any chronyism of an old boys network. The direct investments that have been invested to far have been pretty much done by size of the recipient and at will and not according to what is best for the economy.

One idea to improve that is using reverse auctions with the Treasury buying so called "toxic assets" at the lowest possible price. After all, it's the taxpayers money. This is championed by Larry Ausubel and Peter Cramton of the University of Maryland and I wonder if this is not a better option than just putting tax-dollars into a black hole.

Ted Stevens should go .... fast

2008-11-17T14:11:00.000-08:00

Puzzled I learn about the decision of the GOP Senate Caucus to hold the decision to ask one of their colleagues, Ted Stevens of Alaska, to step down. He was recently found guilty for taking undeclared gifts from friends and is the architect of the famous 'bridge to nowhere'.

His election from Nov 4th has not been counted yet and it remains unclear if Stevens returns to do his (how many terms does he actually have? - six already -he got appointed in 1968) duty for the Alaskan and American people. Latest polls show his democratic opponent Mark Begich in the lead, but no result has been published yet. Therefore the Republicans did not want to ask him to leave. But they should.

Part of bringing the party back to electibility is to restore faith in the American people that the GOP does not stand for pork, earmarks and excessive spending. No one needs big government and Republicans should be the first to state that. "Uncle Ted" stands for a different approach and it is time for him to understand that. He has passed the line one shall not cross.

It's time for him to go.

A New World Order

2008-11-16T04:18:00.000-08:00

First it was the bank and financial institutions. They were providing credit for all branches in the industry and service sector. Therefore they were too important and considered too big to fail.

Now everyone is looking at the automotive industry. Car manufacturers everywhere have millions of cars on stock and consumers are cautious about investing now. Even huge discounts do not lead to a rush to the local car dealer. Time for politicians to act. If their citizens do not get it, at least their leaders should. And now they act.

After sinking hundreds of billions into ventures like AIG, the next wave of tax payers' Euros and Dollars goes to GM, Ford, Chrysler in the U.S. and Renault, Opel and presumably all others in Europe as well.

Will there be a time when our government starts realizing that hundreds of billions cannot be printed and have to raised somehow through income? And when do WE THE PEOPLE understand that these policies lead direclty to higher taxes?

If this is the new world order that the G20 is proposing, where is the valley of John Galt to where we can retreat?

the fight for small government continues

2008-11-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

the good news of today

2008-11-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

As much as I have a funny feeling about a potential President Obama, at least my worst fears of seeing Hillary Clinton in the White House will not come true. Ever!

Everyone who remembers how she screwed up health care reform in 1993, with a solid democratic majority in the House and the Senate is rightfully afraid of what might come in the next two years. At least she is doing this withhin the limites of her Senate seat and not from the Oval Office.

Whatever happens tonight, I do not see her running in four years and then time will have taken its toll and she will always be remembered as the first woman, who almost got the presidency of the United States of America, only to lose to ..... we will know that later tonite. It's either the oldest ever President to be sworn in or the first African-American to gain a new home in the White House.

Here is why I will vote for John McCain - by Curt Schilling

2008-11-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

I will vote for John McCain on Tuesday. Stop reading if you don’t care, and no, I don’t want you to vote for him because I am. Vote for the person you believe will best serve us, the American people on Tuesday.
95% of Politicians lives are spent ‘behind closed doors’. We can’t see or hear the things they do and say. We rely on these men and woman to make the right decisions, we rely on them to serve in our best interests at home and abroad.
What do I know about Barack Obama?
Listen I don’t for a second think the links to Bill Ayers, founder of the Weather Underground and known domestic terrorist, who bombed among other things a police station, the Pentagon and other buildings, I don’t think that makes Barack Obama a terrorist, contrary to what some might have you believe.
I don’t think that the links to Rashid Khalidi make him a supporter of the PLO.
I don’t think that his associations and work with ACORN means he was out soliciting and registering ‘fake’ voters.
I don’t think that his associations and ’spiritual counseling’ from Jeremiah Wright means he hates our country or wishes the country ill will.
Maybe he does, I don’t know, but I don’t believe he does.
I am very concerned about the fact that in the past 7 days the ‘floor’ of his tax plan on Americans has been given as 4 very distinctly different numbers that, depending on which one we are to believe, would affect a much larger % of Americans than we’ve been led to believe.
What I do know about Senator Obama is, I don’t really know what he is going to do other than raise taxes and put in mechanisms to parcel out that money under a ‘plan’, supposedly, we know nothing about.
But none of the points above make me think he’s a ‘bad guy’ or ‘mean person’, however they give me absolute right and I think it would be borderline negligent to NOT question his judgment in a very serious way. And isn’t that important of a President? Aren’t we supposed to vote for someone who, even if they don’t have every single interest of ours as their priority, we trust to have good judgment? Do any of those examples make me think that is the case?
(Anyone wishing to use this as a reason for me to vote against him can zip it, I don’t have a job, I am likely retired, and the tax threshold means squat to me. I am now a small business owner in a start up and there is nothing he’s proposed that is going to help me hire new employees or maintain the best health care coverage in the industry my company is in. I’m going to have to do that despite him if he’s elected)
I am not voting for John McCain for any of the reasons above in and of itself. In fact pretty much every reason I can think of to vote for Senator McCain has to do with the man himself.
I am put off by the fact that Senator Obama has made this campaign about him, and his desire to be the President of the United States, while Senator McCain has made it clear that serving as President would be an honor and privilege following a life spent doing that very thing.
But this is the reason it has all become easier for me. Neither of these men stand on platforms I am in complete agreement with. If you say otherwise, you’re lying. For one reason we don’t know what their platforms are in total, but we have an idea. Obviously my beliefs are more in line with Senator McCain but it’s not some landslide thing where I can say “Wow! That’s stupid! No way I’d vote for that guy”. No. So if I don’t agree with both of them in total, I need to go to the next check mark. Which of these men can I trust to do the “Right Thing” (Sorry Spike!).
In a scenario far beyond anything anyone reading this can imagine, on the most important day of his life, in the most life threatening peril any of us could think to imagine, no cameras, no votes to win, no political favors to gain, this man, John McCain made a decision I don’t think many of us could, or would have made.
Faced with likely death if he stayed, versus living and being nursed back to health AT HOME, IN THE U.S., John McCain stood by the code of Honor, Ethics, Morals, and Integrity we only WISH men running this country had. Broken arms, leg, shoulder, ribs, dysentery like you can’t imagine, after years of torture and beatings, solitary confinement, all of that, he choose to stay in prison, with his brothers in arms, rather than being set free because he was the son of one of the most powerful and influential men in the United States Armed Forces.
He was willing to give his life for something he believed in. Something that to many was nothing more than words on paper, but to men like Senator McCain and all those serving with him, beside him, these were much more, they were something you built a nation out of. A nation of great human beings. He did this for that reason, and that reason alone.
Having every reason in the world to go home to his wife and young child, and health, he didn’t! Why? Please answer that question in your own mind. Answer that and then tell me with a straight face this man is someone you don’t trust with our best interest? Really?
The other big piece to this is that if you have heard him he’s as honest as the day is long. For better or worse this man will be the first to admit he’s made mistakes, he’s screwed up. Show me any other person on the ticket that has been so ‘real’, his warts are out there for all to see and he makes NO EXCUSES, NONE, for his short comings. I can live with someone that’s made mistakes as long as I know those mistakes were made in our best interests, made with the notion of serving the greater good. I worry more about people failing to recognize or admit or own up to screwing up.
The one prime example of this, and you only need to pick up the paper to see it, is the war in the Middle East. 1 year ago it was front page news, every single day. Why not now? Well in addition to the Global Economy being in the tank, the bigger reason is because the ‘Surge’ that was thought to be “Political Suicide” for any politician endorsing it, is working. No one needs to be reminded who voted on which side back then, but it’s horribly convenient that it’s dismissed off hand today. Once again, with everything to lose, Senator McCain said “I’d rather lose this election than lose this war” . Against literally all odds and I would guess advice, he did what he knew to be the right thing FOR THE COUNTRY.
Senator Biden? Where was he? He’s the foreign Policy Expert guy right? The guy with a lifetime of experience and know how? Well he was here and he was wrong. Wrong then, wrong now.
Senator Obama? He was here stating emphatically“nobody wants to get U.S. troops out of Iraq more than he does, but doing so will require voters to pressure Senate Republicans, including New Hampshire Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu, to break with President Bush”. That was 16 months ago!!. In the past 16 months can ANYONE on the planet not admit the tide has turned, things have changed on an epic scale? Senator Obama still holds to the line saying “It has not worked”.
Can anyone fathom what would have happened if we’d actually followed that course of action? Can you honestly say if he’d has his way, and we’d pulled out, things would be better in this world? How can you? He was wrong, all of them were.
That’s not to say it’s over, it’s not and won’t be in the near future, any rational person knows that and should expect it to be more time and effort and unfortunately lives and least of all money, to get what needs to be done, done. Don’t we owe it to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, NATO forces of the coalition and the men, women and children of Iraq to see it through? That’s not to say it’s been easy or in any way diminish the staggering cost in lives, those things in and of themselves are horrible. But we have a country of men and women willing and able to take on that responsibility and that is a source of pride we should all take comfort in. Stop with the why’s and how’s of it all beginning. None of us can or will deny we were not given the right or proper information at the outset and I won’t disagree for a second that the people responsible will have to bear witness to their involvement and accountability. But memory is a funny thing, because I have trouble finding anyone that was out in the street screaming and hollering at President Bush in the months following 9/11. We were proud as hell to be acting how we acted, and doing what we were doing. The minute the ‘cost’ came into view people started scrambling for life boats and politicians all over this country showed you what they truly believed about us, and their agendas, in the months and years that have followed.
In the last debate Senator McCain emphatically asked us only ONE THING, one, ‘Check the record’ on both he and Senator Obama. In the white noise that has become this political campaign lots of people, me included at times, have lost focus on the people, the men, the women, and who and what they are. Isn’t that what matters?
I am voting for Senator McCain because when the lights are off, and no ones watching, I know for a fact this man is going to ALWAYS vote for and push for and make happen, the thing that is in our best interest; and by “our” I don’t mean my taxes, your salary, his 401K, her Medical, I mean he’ll always take the route that is best for US, as a whole, the country, and that’s what we need in my opinion. We must have someone who understands this job is bigger than he is. Than any one or two people are, and that this job unlike any time in our life, is going to command someone with the life long experience of instituting change, redirecting failed efforts, fighting the establishment and having to ‘go against the grain’ but most of all someone who knows and understands service to country is the most important responsibility we have. Someone who’s done it, someone who’s passed tests few have ever been asked to take, and far fewer could ever pass.
John McCain has spent his life passing tests in service of our country and at no time in my life, or my children, is this country more in need of someone new to take charge and change the very fabric of who we are, and what we are doing.

Thanks to http://38pitches.com/2008/11/02/305/

"I am more scared about Nancy Pelosi ...

2008-11-03T08:26:00.001-08:00

... and Harry Reid than about Barack Obama" was a listeners comment on National Public Radio that I heard this morning when I brought our daugther to school.

And yes, this is exactly what I am worried about when it comes to tomorrows election. Sure Obama has had many off-center ideas like pulling the troops out of Iraq by early 2008. Thank God he was not president by then.

But I give him credit for introducing health care ideas that make more sense than the absurd ideas of Hillary and for his aim to reduce taxes for small and medium income households. Not really my kind of guy but at least some signs of reason.

So my problem goes beyond. A pick-up of 15 seats in the House of Representatives is not out of question and my prayers go to all tough Senate races, do not give the Dems 60 seats. It will do the country no good.

Nancy Pelosi is not known for her humbleness when it comes to pushing her agenda. A potential president Obama will be pressured by a democratic Congress to not only raise taxes for his wife and Bill Clinton, but for the middle class who are already struggling enough with their mortgages and putting their kids through college. How could they be the one revitalizing the economy if more and more of their income goes to the IRS instead of their consumption?

A democratic supermajority will turn the country around and a nation that is admired for its spirit of freedom will be seen as going down the path of more regulation, less growth and therefore also less jobs. That is a path most countries in the European Union have taken for centuries and it explains why GDP per capita on this side of the Atlantic is significantly lower.

Dear American voters, for the sake of keeping my dream alive, that the United States of America is the land of the free, please be brave enough to split the power between both parties. vote John McCain into the White House and deny the Democrats a fillibuster-proof majority in the Senate. I will be forever thankful.

Doomed to fail

2008-11-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

This guy is really good. He has survived 20 months of campaigning. He has overcome Hillary Clinton who still does not understand why she is not on the ballot on Nov 4. He has raised money like no one has before. He has even outpassed the GOP grassroots that have been in place to get W. into the White House. Not bad.

And most of all, he has managed to make most of the people, even most of my friends, believe that actually he is a nice guy and will do no harm to any of us. More dialogue with some rogue regimes, more money for homeowners who actually never could afford their mortgage. Of course, universal health care so that no American is left behind. He is able to promise all this with no voter or journalist raising enough public doubt.

Sure he got some friends that he has been associated with in his distant past. Some preaching hate, some practicing terror and some committing fraud. Well, we all did some stuff in the past that we are not necessarily proud of. But actually ... not in this magnitude. Then at least his record should be beyond question. Right?

Hmm, merely four years in the U.S. Senate has not brought much change to the country, one might think he is still trying to find his position among his more senior colleagues. But no, he just went to the Senate to run for President. Great leaders have to do that. Even Jesus entered the Temple when he was just twelve years old to discuss issues of faith.

So here is our new spiritual leader who will create millions of new jobs, give every single American and even all those illegal immigrants health coverage. He will balance the budget while reducing taxes for 95% of the population (out of which 40% don't even pay taxes) and stimulate the economy. He will even stop Iran from nuking Israel out of its existence and smoke a cigar with Fidel who has freed his people from centuries of oppression and political indoctrination.

The longer I write about him I wonder why I work for the other guy. Is it maybe that I do not trust candidates that sound too good to be true? Or is it pure math that casts the doubt that his plans kind of contradict one another? All those spending programs have to be refinanced somehow and I doubt that the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet can do it alone.

I don't even want to go into the expectations internationally. He clearly stated in his address to the people of Berlin, who are second to none in support for any candidate the Democrats put up, that more troops will be send to Rwanda and Sudan. That the territorial integrity of Pakistan, an ally in the war on terror might be violated to strike against bin Laden. And of course, the Europeans are to pay for a bigger share of the overall cost and send more of their own sons and daughters. Surprisingly not a single commentator questioned this approach and wondered whether this is really in the interest of Europe.

He is a genius. He can make you believe that he can pull it all of. And many countrymen and women have already cast their votes for him. It will be devastating for all of us when we face the consequences of his doing. He is doomed to fail. His name is Barack Obama.

It's the economy, stupid!

2008-10-31T03:37:00.000-07:00

The options are clear. With an economy that has shrunk this quarter for the first time in many years, with major banks going out of business or being taken over by rivals, with a massive bailout package that Congress has passed, even with some regretable votes from the GOP, there are now two ways to tackle the growth problem. One could further decrease private spending by raising taxes and putting the cost of universal health care on small and medium enterprises or ... one could be lowering taxes and sustain economic growth.

Since the 60s we know that deficit spending and public stimulous packages don't really work and the supporters of Keynes have rightfully declined in numbers. Obviously that does not stop the candidate of the Democrats Barack Obama to go back in history and try the old tricks. Pretending there have been major scientific breakthroughs in economics that government actually spends money more wisely than its citizens. Amazing.

This is a time when the people should be put first. Don't overtax them but relieve them of a too high burden. Inspire them with the belief that the United States is known for its ability to selfheal and to reinvent itself.

America needs a president who stands for economic soundness and who gives the money in the hands of his people, because he trusts them and knows they will spend to the benefit of all.

This is a time to lower taxes! Vote McCain/Palin to let the United States come out of this turmoil stronger than ever before.

Political Consultants should focus on ... consulting!

2008-10-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

Merely a week to go before the presidential elections on Nov 4 and the republican camp is already starting the blame game. What a shame.

We might want to briefly remember that John McCain's signature issues, campaign finance reform (limiting freedom of speech), climate change (increasing the cost of energy consumption) and immigration (granting a legal status for 12 million illegal immigrants) are all not fit to get the republican base out to vote for him. Of course he is a war hero, but that did not stop him from stating, that he understands little of the economy. All in all not really the starting point for a successful campaign.

But being "mavericky" he proved smart and got himself a running mate in Sarah Palin, who made up for much of his shortcomings. She draws big crowds and manages to appeal to the average Jane and Joe that need to cast their votes if there is any chance for a McCain/Palin ticket. So far so good.

Now we learn from sources within in the McCain camp, speaking in anonymity, that Palin is a Diva, that she is going rogue. It leaves me puzzled. Don't these guys have any ethics? Is it not their job to help prevent a complete democratic domination in the House, Senate and White House?

Consultants should most of all consult. Then get paid. And then keep their mouths shut. That's their job. Spoiling their clients chances by boosting their egos is not part of it.

balance of power

2008-10-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Despite the widely spread anticipation, that the race for the White House is over there is still hope. In 1980 two weeks prior to election date Ronald Reagon was trailing Jimmi Carter. In 1988 around the same Time, Governor Dukakis was way ahead of then Vice President George H.W. Bush and we all know the outcome.

It is becoming more and more clear that the GOP will be butchered in the House and the Senate. And more and more Americans are getting a little uneasy about the prospect of giving all the power to one party - especially one that has had a lousy record when it comes to economic soundness.

If you want to see Obama's spending programmes being implemented by Pelosi and Reid, if you want to see taxes on small business being raised, if you want to pay for health care coverage of 12 million plus illegal immigrants. Then give your vote to Obama. But do not whine later and say you did not know better at the time.

For all those, who despise big government, high taxes and excessive spending, please vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

And all those of you who feel lukewarm about McCain because of his support for a cap-and-trade scheme, his campaign finance initiative and maybe even his age. See him as the lesser evil and vote for him in an effort to balance the power in Washington.

Let the United States of America remain the land of the free and the home of the brave - a country that I look upon with great pride and admiration.

Joe is my hero

2008-10-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

If anyone could turn this election around, it is Joe. Joe Wurzelbacher, who clearly sounds a bit German by heritage. Apparently according to the political pundits - and backed by John McCain - Joe was the winner of the third debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.

It was about time that somebody came and told the Americans what desastrous effects a tax and spend approach orchestrated by Obama with Pelosi and Reid assisting in Congress would have. Even in good economic times higher taxes are wrong. In times when gamblers and irresponsible bankers bring the world's biggest economy to tumble any burden on the tax payers will have the effect of further crippling the much needed economic recovery.

Small and medium enterprises are the backbone to put citizens off welfare and into jobs. Increasing their tax burden can only be seen as a signal to create jobs elsewhere and move businesses out of the United States. That is not what the country needs now, it needs hope and assurance on its continuous prosperity.

In good time, one might be able to cope with a Democrat in the White House. Now a true market advocat is in strong demand to help put the country back on track and stop the waste of tax payers money.

Mike Huckabee had this great quote during the St. Paul Convention: "I did not become a Republican because I was born rich, I became a Republican because I did not want to stay poor". That's exactly what Joe is about and I can only hope he will deliver Ohio for the GOP.

Sad to see that McCain relies on outside help. He should start campaigning. Now.

All in for the USA - call Obama's bluff

2008-10-11T04:07:00.000-07:00

By some of his followers Barack Hussein Obama is almost viewed as the new Messiahs, who bring joy and jobs to this world and most of all, rids us of the evil Republicans. And with a last remark on the record of the Bush adminstration to raise GDP per capita vom 37.000 US Dollars in 2000 to 46.000 US Dollars to date - a cool 25% unmatched by other industrialized countries. Not too bad, I would say.

But let's have a look at what Obama has in mind for the time when he wants to be the Commander in Chief of the US economy:

His first item on Obama's plan for the economy is a jump-start-program. Ok, not so bad. Surprisingly it then lists a plan to increase taxes and introduce a major government spending initiative. Hardly what the economy needs.

He then moves on to relieving Americans of the high tax burden they pay now. That's a major promise. During the debates Obama speaks of lowering taxes for 95% of the population. Too bad that 40% of Americans do not even pay taxes, not even regarding the 12 millions illegal immigrants. But at least he is trying. And why not lower taxes for all citizens to jump start the economy? Well, that would be too much to ask from a Democract.

In his health care plan, the junior senator from Illinios offeres a discount of 2.500 $ for average families while making sure that all Americans have health care coverage and overall costs are reduced. So more individuals have coverage, paying less for their premiums and that leads to and overall reducting in health care cost. Wow - could he maybe export this approach to Ulla Schmidt - the German minister for health care - as Germany faces ever increasing health care cost, while having universal health care already in place.

Obama is a magic in giving voters hope and promising cash for every single one of them. He does not even blink, which lets me think that he does that on purpose. He ruthlessly exploits the need for hope many Americans have in this time of economic turmoil.

Someone should call his bluff and go all in for the American people.

Just say No to B.O.

2008-10-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

One has the impression, only one of the two contestants for President of the United States of America actually wants to win. And unfortunately for the future growth prospects of the global economy, that one is Barack Hussein Obama.

B.O. is smiling his way through the debates, staying vague and his opponent John McCain refuses to seriously attack him and thereby loses the debate. Too bad for the American people.

Where is the reference that Obama has more than questionable friends, where is the doom scenario on what happens if Obama's tax and health care plans become law? Instead he questions the idea of the junior senator from Illinois to bomb terror camps in Pakistan. Wow.

Well, I hope the next administration will not limit itself to the territory of Afghanistan when they are chasing Osama bin Laden, else chance are slim to really catch him. The Bush Doctrin has been right when it comes to fighting terrorists and the old mantra of the Reagan era of "peace through strength" should be the cornerstone of the US foreing policy. To be more of an appeaser than Obama will not help McCain, apart from the fact that this election is not won on foreign policy issues.

The popularity of Obama can to a large extent be explained that he formed a diverse movement that wanted "change", but just to see something different and not being too specific on actual policies. If John McCain wants to turn his downward spirale around he has to wake the people up and frighten them of the consequences should his opponent get elected in a month time. The turmoil in the financial markets has laid the base, many middle-class average income citizens are scared and worried about their future. This is where the Republicans have to jump in and portray doom should Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid be joined by Hussein Obama.

McCain has shown tremendous judgement when he picked Sarah Palin as his running mate. He has shown to be tremendously out of touch with the American people when he turned his party down and advocated bi-partisan bailout plans alongside President Bush. He's got four weeks left to change course and be the advocate of ordinary citizens who will make the difference in swing states like Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Attack Obama on character, on his friends like Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers and show how his tax and health care plans will cost millions of jobs. It's time to take the gloves off and start campaigning as a Republican and not some bi-partisan Washington veteran.

The United States wants change and needs change. McCain should follow the example of his future Vice President Sarah Palin and start campaigning. Finally.

the Domino Effect

2008-10-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

Once you pass the line you shall not cross, there is no stopping. Too bad for the people of the Western world.

Once there was a country that was the role model for market economy, it stood up for freedom in Korea and Vietnam, against hostile missiles in Cuba and most of all in Berlin when it secured the liberty of two million Germans. This country was the United States of America. And we are forever indebted to our American friends.

Now the free world faces a completely different kind of challenge. Financial institutions operating on a global scale too too big a risk for their balance sheets and face bankrupcy. The media all across the western countries all portray the threat of a global meltdown. "too big to fail" is the common excuse of those who champion government interventions.

Those who champion free markets turn to the US and wish they would again be the defenders of the free world. And now we see the downside of a Congress dominated by the Democrats and a Bush administration that falls for the seduction of Pelosi and Reid and nationalizes companies in a way that was unthinkable even in Russia.

In a times when the United States has shed away from their moral obligation as the knights of market economy, it is not surprising that other governments happily follow suit. Tonights corporate patient is called Hypo Real Estate and in similar fashion as their counterparts in other corporations that have failed, management again seems to know little about the amount of cash needed to survive.
Taxpayers should rise and give politicians a clear signal on election night that this behaviour is not acceptable. In 1994 the Contract with America got many new Congressmen elected who fought for economic freedom and limited government. In the past years that convictions seems to have been forgotten.

It is time for the GOP to find again its roots and core beliefs. No more bailouts.

how to spoil a legacy

2008-10-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

Georg W. Bush has had his chance to be seen favourable by history books in the centuries to come. But now he blew it. By signing into law a 700 billion Dollar rescue plan for companies that simply did not perform he imposed socialism on the American people and that shall not be forgiven.

Bush 43 has not been a president with the best approval ratings. So be it. It was more important that he stuck to his philosophy of doing things, i.e. fighting terrorism not at home but in the respective countries where the enemies of a free society stemmed from. He has been a strong advocat of market economy and the tax cut of his first term was key to secure many years of far above European average economic growth.

So why did he now let his Secretary of the Treasury nationalize big chunks of the financial sector and spend hundred of billions of tax payer's Dollars on this venture? It leaves me puzzled. Not even the prospect of the McCain/Palin ticket winning the White House due to so called bi-partisan efforts to calm the financial markets can justify this action.

If ever an American president will tell a foreign leader that he has to privatize companies to gain access to money from the International Monetary Fund his colleagues will laugh and rightfully note that he should first do his homework at home before lecturing others. How sad.

This is not a good day for freedom and liberty.

time for McCain to get it

2008-09-30T01:41:00.000-07:00

If you are down in the polls, if you have stopped campaigning to help President Bush and Speaker Pelosi to drown 700 bn USD for worthless mortgages, if you have virtually shut up you biggest asset Sarah Palin and if all you do is to echo the message of your opponent, ... then your campaign is doomed.

John McCain should start listening to the American people, especially those who intend to vote for him and his colleagues in the House and the Senate. The people have turned away from the GOP because of excessive spending and earmarking. They want the Republicans to be advocates of small government and limited spending. If that is not being done, then they might as well stay home and thereby put the Democrats in power.

If the McCain/Palin ticket cannot turn this around now and Thursdays VP debate is just the right time for that, then they rightfully lose and one can only hope for the former "land of the free" that in two years time another Gingrich revolution will come and sweep Congress.

Sarah Palin should free herself from the media consultants who want to turn her into an average capitol hill politico. She is the one to activate the republican base without which John McCain could hardly win the presidency.

If you run for President, do not mistake strategy and tactics and get tangled up trying to please everyone. As we say in German: Everybody's darling is everbody's Watschenmann.

finally reason has come to Washington

2008-09-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

After weeks of devastating news about the US mortgage market, the bi-partisan attempts to bail out investors that took too big a risk for their own balance sheets climaxed when the House voted against the 700 bn USD bailout bill. Thank God!

Finally some reason has come to the Congressman, apparently mostly to Republicans as Democrats saw no reason to expand the debts by such a high amount of greenbacks. The Dems probably counted on Obama raising taxes significantly to further criple the US economy.

President Bush has had his lucky day today. Instead of entering the history books as the Leader of the free world to introduce democracy in Afghanistan, Iraq, Georgia and Ukraine, he could have ende being the Republican to introduce chinese-style communism by nationalising major institutions of the financial sector. Now it is time for him and his successor John McCain to turn things around and tell the American people, that government has had too much and not too little influence in the markets and should therefore stay out in the future.

10:1 GOP voters oppose excessive spending and rejected the major bailout plan by the administration and rightfully 133 of 199 Republicans opposed the 700 bn $ bill.

Now McCain/Palin should set themselves at the top of the anti-spending movement and explain why a vote for Obama would set the United States of America up for years of ecnomic decline.

Markets tend to fail, when there is too much intervention by the public sector. The Federal Reserve has some answering to do here.

bitte nicht den Horst

2008-09-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Die Exit-polls von heute Nachmittag (es ist jetzt 16.21) deuten darauf hin, dass die CSU heute ein schwere Watschen bekommen wird. Die FDP wird dagegen zum ersten Mal seit Jahrzehnten wieder in den Landtag einziehen.

Ich kann mir schon vorstellen, wie bei den Schwarzen langsam die Messer gewetzt werden. Erwin Huber kann einpacken und "2 Maß" Beckstein hält sich nur mit Mühe, weil gerade kein Ersatz da ist. Und was kommt dann, der Seehofer Horst. Und damit wird dann wahr, was die Tagesszeitung "Die WELT" schon zu Beginn der Legislaturperiode des Bundestags feststelle: die Ministerverteilung von Sozialdemokraten zu Konservativen ist 10:6, weil die CSU leider ihre marktwirtschaftlichen Wurzeln beerdigt hat. Schade auch.

Wenn die FDP in Bayern wieder reinkommt, ist das vor allem eine Schwäche der CSU. Gut für meine Partei, die FDP. Und auch gut für das Land. Bayern braucht mehr Markt und nicht mehr Umverteilung und Konsumentenschutz. Diese klare Botschaft sollte von München auch noch Berlin vernommen werden und Angela Merkel zum Nachdenken zwingen.

Auch für Deutschland gilt: Let's put our Country First!

more communist than China???

2008-09-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

Be suspicious when there is bi-partisan support for major spendings and the media is not crying out loud. A commentary by Congressman Ron Paul (R) - apparently the last man standing in defence of the American Taxpayer. Sad but true.

JB

Whenever a Great Bipartisan Consensus is announced, and a compliant media assures everyone that the wondrous actions of our wise leaders are being taken for our own good, you can know with absolute certainty that disaster is about to strike.
The events of the past week are no exception.
The bailout package that is about to be rammed down Congress' throat is not just economically foolish. It is downright sinister. It makes a mockery of our Constitution, which our leaders should never again bother pretending is still in effect. It promises the American people a never-ending nightmare of ever-greater debt liabilities they will have to shoulder. Two weeks ago, financial analyst Jim Rogers said the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made America more communist than China! "This is welfare for the rich," he said. "This is socialism for the rich. It's bailing out the financiers, the banks, the Wall Streeters."
That describes the current bailout package to a T. And we're being told it's unavoidable.
The claim that the market caused all this is so staggeringly foolish that only politicians and the media could pretend to believe it. But that has become the conventional wisdom, with the desired result that those responsible for the credit bubble and its predictable consequences - predictable, that is, to those who understand sound, Austrian economics - are being let off the hook. The Federal Reserve System is actually positioning itself as the savior, rather than the culprit, in this mess!
• The Treasury Secretary is authorized to purchase up to $700 billion in mortgage-related assets at any one time. That means $700 billion is only the very beginning of what will hit us.
• Financial institutions are "designated as financial agents of the Government." This is the New Deal to end all New Deals.
• Then there's this: "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency." Translation: the Secretary can buy up whatever junk debt he wants to, burden the American people with it, and be subject to no one in the process.
There goes your country.
Even some so-called free-market economists are calling all this "sadly necessary." Sad, yes. Necessary? Don't make me laugh.
Our one-party system is complicit in yet another crime against the American people. The two major party candidates for president themselves initially indicated their strong support for bailouts of this kind - another example of the big choice we're supposedly presented with this November: yes or yes. Now, with a backlash brewing, they're not quite sure what their views are. A sad display, really.
Although the present bailout package is almost certainly not the end of the political atrocities we'll witness in connection with the crisis, time is short. Congress may vote as soon as tomorrow. With a Rasmussen poll finding support for the bailout at an anemic seven percent, some members of Congress are afraid to vote for it. Call them! Let them hear from you! Tell them you will never vote for anyone who supports this atrocity.
The issue boils down to this: do we care about freedom? Do we care about responsibility and accountability? Do we care that our government and media have been bought and paid for? Do we care that average Americans are about to be looted in order to subsidize the fattest of cats on Wall Street and in government? Do we care?
When the chips are down, will we stand up and fight, even if it means standing up against every stripe of fashionable opinion in politics and the media?
Times like these have a way of telling us what kind of a people we are, and what kind of country we shall be.
In liberty,
Ron Paul

too big to fail?!?

2008-09-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

What a deal AIG has been. You simply give 85 bn USD, receive 8.5% interest a year over 24 months, replace the senior management with your own people and get 79.9% of the ownership. Sounds like a no-brainer (if you have 85 bn on hand). But why exactly did the US government have to become an entrepreneur and not let big funds take that risk?

History has proven, government do not run business better then private enterprises, exceptions of course in North Korea and the former Sowjet Union. The recent bailouts of Bear Stearns, Freddie and Fannie and now AIG are so well received, one might wonder whether the United States have adopted sowjet-style politics now.

Next in line will be the automotive industry that for some reason (only know to senior management) has missed developments of what cars are in demand in the future. And now the taxpayer is supposed to pick up the bill? No way.

If management fails, send them off. If companies fail, let them go bankrupt. Even if a giant like GM would go out of business, the amount of cars being sold would most likely not go down. Competitors with smarter strategic choices would easily pick up the business. That is sad for the indiviudals who suffer and lose their job due to their companies products not up to market demand any more. But it is good for the economy as a whole because better products and sounder businesses provide for safer jobs this cleaning process.

I have always believed in the last lines of the national anthem. The U.S. is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Let us hope it will stay that way.

Governments should guarantee the security of a nation, businesses ensure that the economy is sound. All other concepts have proven to be failing. There is no need to be joining this wrong philosophy. Socialism is always wrong.

the State of the Union is stronger ... than most believe

2008-09-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

No 3 of the investment banks (Merril Lynch) got taken over, No 4 (Lehman Brothers) has filed for bankrupcy and even the world's biggest insurance company (AIG) has problems finding new cash. big drama and majorly sad story for all those involved who suffer due to this.

Looking at the American economy, one might envision there is a major depression under way. But reality looks different. Second quarter growth was "down" to 3.3 percent, a growth rate that most European countries have not seen in a decade. The European Comission has just downgraded expactation on our side of the Atlantic Ocean to 1.2 from 1.7 percent.

What politicians should do now is talk about the strength of the country in general and the ability to create new products that consumers are desperately waiting for. The U.S. is a country that has proven that it will overcome big struggles. And so John McCain does talk about the strength of his country that makes it unique. And Barack? He has obviously spent too much time in Europe - bashing companies, talking about more regulations for business and increasing the tax burden on ordinary citizens as well as small and medium business owners.

Yes, we all know he lacks experience, but does he not have consultants and advisors who can teach him some reason? In a time when some countries go out of business because their CEOs have taken too hug bets to better their bonuses, it is vital to stand united and think about the Country First.

United we stand

2008-09-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

It is seven years ago today that the World Trace Centers were attacked by islamic terrorists. Seven years of fighting islamic terrorism with mixed results.

While I can happily say, that no further attacks have been executed in the United States of America, we sadly remember the bombings in Madrid and London. Every time we fly using a silly plastic bag for our toothpaste we are reminded that the enemies of free societies are still not defeated and the answer of our alliance of democracies has had far reaching effects.

Be it the Patriot Act or similar laws in western countries to limit our freedom, these measures have prevented more and much worse to happen, but have also allowed for the intrusion in the privacy of many citizens who are not at all linked to islamic terrorism.

After seven years, we see that the efforts to fight terrorism cannot be downgraded but instead we need a surge to find those training camps in the caves of Afghanistan, Pakistan and if it be just at the gates of hell.

This is not a time to elect governments that are soft on terror, this is a time to extend the fight against Al Qaeda and its partners in rogue regimes. We need NObama, but instead need to get back to a security policy that is based on "peace through strength". It has worked in the cold war and will work again in the war on islamic terror.

Free societies have overcome the Sowjet Union, free societies will overcome the threat of Islam. Then erase the Patriot Act and let us have a life with freedom and liberty again.

Es geht los

2008-09-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

Liebe Freunde,

es ist September im Jahr 2008 und ich starte meinen ersten Blog. Wurde ja auch Zeit.

Von nun an werde ich hier beständig über aktuelle Politik, vor allem über internationale Entwicklungen aber auch über Projekte meiner täglichen Arbeit schreiben. Meistens auf Deutsch, gelegentlich wohl auch auf Englisch.

I hope you will enjoy my random thoughts on politics and the ideas to make this globle a bit more free from regulation, taxation and idiocracy.

enjoy the ride

Jan