Archive for September, 2009

Anti-Nazi Rally in Riverside

Saturday, September 26th, 2009
This morning, Saturday Sept 26, 2009 more than 150 people rallied in opposition to an action by Neo-Nazis in Riverside.
 
Members of The National Socialist Movement turned out 15 strong to harass immigrant day laborers in Casa Blanca. At the Nazi rally more than 50 people counter-protested.
 
Separately, near City Hall, more than 150 rallied in opposition to the Neo-Nazis, and heard talks from our local Rabbi, representatives of The Unitarian Church, the Brown Berets, several Hispanic groups, 2 Democrat clubs in MoVal, the Peace & Freedom Party, and I spoke on behalf of The Libertarian Party.  Following are my remarks to the rally:
 
Good Morning!  Shabbes Tov!
 
I am Gene Berkman, Vice-Chair of The Riverside County Libertarian Party. I own Renaissance Bookshop on Magnolia Ave in Riverside. We offer the largest selection of anti-Nazi books in English and German for sale in Southern California.
 
Libertarian just means we are for Liberty. Libertarians oppose Nazis and National Socialism in every aspect.
 
Nazis glorify the All Powerful State.  We the members of The Libertarian Party challenge the cult of the Omnipotent State.
We strive to limit government power.
 
Nazis glorify War and Violence. Libertarians favor Peace – International Peace and Social Peace. We reject the rule of force in human affairs.
 
Nazis elevate Racial Collectivism to a fundamental principle. They denigrate, degrade and destroy individuals found guilty of belonging to a Collectively Guilty Race.
 
Libertarians defend the Dignity of the Individual and Individual Freedom. We share with Martin Luther King the dream that each individual be  judged according to his character.
 
When there was a real Nazi Empire – not just some clowns in dress-up costumes – many from Riverside County fought to liberate Europe from National Socialism – my Dad among them. There is no room in Riverside County for those who wear the uniform of an enemy of American Freedom.
 
Never Again Nazism!  Long Live Freedom and a Free America!  Viva la Libertad y America Libre!
 

Posted in Anti-Fascist | 2 Comments »

Trade Wars and Protectionism are not Free Trade

Friday, September 25th, 2009

“Two weeks ago, both the administration and the Fed announced with straight faces that the recession was over and the signs of economic recovery were clear. Then last week, the president made a stunning decision that signals the administration’s determination to repeat the mistakes of the Great Depression. Much like the Smoot-Hawley Tariffs that set off a global trade war and effectively doomed us to ten more years of economic misery, Obama’s decision to enact steep tariffs on Chinese imported tires could spark a trade war with the single most important trading partner we have. Not only does China manufacture a whole host of products that end up on American store shelves, they are also still buying our Treasury debt.”

Full commentary by Rep. Ron Paul (Rep-Tex) @ http://www.freeliberal.com/archives/003913.html

Posted in Economic Freedom | No Comments »

Cato Institute on Health Care Reform

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

The Cato Institute has put together much information on the health care debate, including proposals for market oriented reform that would make medical care more affordable and more available. Cato has set up a dedicated website @ http://healthcare.cato.org/

Posted in Health Care & Medicine | No Comments »

Americans Don’t Want It

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

David Boaz of The Cato Institute looks at the new Gallup Poll which shows Americans think government is taking too much power. Mr Boaz points out that  “The independents who swung the elections in 2006 and 2008 clearly think things have gone too far. An administration as smart as Bill Clinton’s will take the hint and rein it in.”

Full commentary by David Boaz  @ http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/09/22/americans-dont-want-it/

Posted in Big Government | No Comments »

Americans More Likely to Say Government Doing Too Much

Monday, September 21st, 2009

PRINCETON, NJ –” Americans are more likely today than in the recent past to believe that government is taking on too much responsibility for solving the nation’s problems and is over-regulating business. New Gallup data show that 57% of Americans say the government is trying to do too many things that should be left to businesses and individuals, and 45% say there is too much government regulation of business. Both reflect the highest such readings in more than a decade.”

Complete report from the Gallup Organization on their poll @ http://www.gallup.com/poll/123101/Americans-Likely-Say-Government-Doing-Too-Much.aspx

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Healthcare Reform is More Corporate Welfare

Friday, September 18th, 2009

“Last Wednesday the nation was riveted to the President’s speech on healthcare reform before Congress. While the President’s concern for the uninsured is no doubt sincere, his plan amounts to a magnanimous gift to the health insurance industry, despite any implications to the contrary.”

“For decades the insurance industry has been lobbying for mandated coverage for everyone. Imagine if the cell phone industry or the cable TV industry received such a gift from government? If government were to fine individuals simply for not buying a corporation’s product, it would be an incredible and completely unfair boon to that industry, at the expense of freedom and the free market. Yet this is what the current healthcare reform plans intend to do for the very powerful health insurance industry.”

Full column by Rep. Ron Paul (Rep.-Texas) @ http://www.freeliberal.com/archives/003908.html

Posted in Health Care & Medicine | No Comments »

Obama’s Health Care Plan: Put Up And Shut Up

Friday, September 11th, 2009

“For several months now, the American people…have been standing athwart the Democratic agenda of socialized medicine, yelling, “Stop!” But President Barack Obama showed them the policy equivalent of the middle finger Wednesday night. ”

“If there was anything bipartisan about the speech it was that he embraced every bad big-government idea from both sides. If he prevails, the American public won’t get “choice and competition” as he proclaimed, but a one-size-fits-all government-prescribed health care plan that it dare not refuse and dare not challenge.”

Shikha Dalmia looks at President Obama’s address on Healthcare Reform @http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/10/health-care-speech-obama-economics-opinions-columnists-shikha-dalmia.html

Posted in Health Care & Medicine | No Comments »

Government Solutions Lack Understanding

Friday, September 11th, 2009

“Things seem to be unraveling quickly for the new administration. The latest unemployment numbers are worse than the last reports. For all the billions of dollars spent and committed to fixing our economic problems, the situation is only getting worse. This was to be expected by those who understand the root causes of the problems.”

“Throwing money around and creating more government programs is both simplistic and damaging to the economy. Of course, the administration claims that we would have been much worse off without these efforts. You can’t improve this situation by adding to our mountain of public debt for the benefit of big banks and other special interests.”

Full column by Rep. Ron Paul  (Rep-Tex) @ http://www.freeliberal.com/archives/003903.html

Posted in Big Government | No Comments »

CNN Poll: Independents disapprove of Obama

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A majority of independent voters disapprove of how Barack Obama’s handling his job as president, according to a new national poll.

Fifty-three percent of independents questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday say they disapprove of how Obama’s handling his duties in the White House, with 43 percent in approval. That result marks the first time in a CNN poll that a majority of independents give the president’s performance a thumbs-down.

Full Report from CNN @ http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/01/cnn-poll-independents-disapprove-of-obama/

Posted in American Politics | No Comments »