Saffire

I agree, this is really not that big of a deal. Let her have her day in the sun Mark, yeesh.

This is going to end with America sailing into the sunset on a Carnival Cruise with that stupid song, "I haaad, the time of my liiiiiife... and I owe it all to Chinaaaa".

I don't understand why they don't have a ob-gyn on staff to check out their privates. I'd gladly flash my willy at a doctor if it meant I could have a shot at beating Rodger Federer or some runner.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVfvYiWcA-E]YouTube - Whoops Apocalypse - UK Answer To Unemployment[/ame]

It's October 3rd I think... Nick, I MIGHT be able to do that, I'll let you know for sure in a week. Josh: Tell your mom to subsidize Nick and Jay's trip to the Mises lecture, please. We'll give her foot massages.

A bowel movement, if you will. You don't want explosive diarrhea, but at the same time you can't have it too slow or you'll get constipated.

The question is whether it could establish legitimacy. Governments, in order to gain trust, must have the "letterhead", the "brand", the "Charisma" thang going on. It's why you get a bunch of elites like Jefferson, Washington, etc starting governments in their spare time, while they're not inventing things and growing tobacco/weed on their plantations and chilling with the French aristocracy. If you establish brands for the services, people trust them, and use them. I should write a book on how to start an anarchy, this could make for a good movie/series. I'll need some hot teen love triangles to really make it fly off shelves, though. Robert Pattinson could be the CEO of the garbage collection company.

lol well I agree with his slide about all the necessary things that drive economic growth (like a stable currency, security, law enforcement, etc). The question for me is how to install these things in a society via market mechanisms. In order for an anarchy to work these services should all "appear" at nearly the same time, which makes the odds unlikely. A privatization of government is the most likely route to anarchism, I would think. But I'm only guessing, I might be wrong... maybe anarchy could rise from the ashes of a collapsed first-world democracy.

Lately the Republicans have been remarkably diet. It's driving their base nuts, who mostly listen to Beck and Limbaugh. But the politicians don't have anything to worry about - their constituents will keep checking the ® on the ballot.

lmao the "Rahn Curve"? If only the monopoly were smaller! Then it would provide better services!

Aaron, I'm so glad you're finally seeing politics for what it actually is! I used to be completely caught up in it, wasting my time worrying about individual bills, politicians, parties, etc. There is no such thing as the "Republican" and "Democrat" parties. There are only Republicrats and they all do the same thing. But don't let this make you sad, just be an observer to the stupidity and enjoy your life and your relationships with the people around you. Nobody needs government to be happy! Nick: I read some of the most disgusting anger and vitriol directed toward Glenn Beck on other message boards, and it really shows how bitter some people can get about politics. I disagree with Glenn on many things, but I'm thrilled when he says something insightful or true. Same goes with Rush Limbaugh or Bill Maher. I'm tired of this personality contest, let's judge each commentator on the content of their statements.

I have infinitely more respect for China's government. Sure, they shoot you if you disagree with them. But at least they're honest about it - they're a mafia, and they're willing to admit it! Also, it appears they understand economics MUCH better over there than we do in America. I think America will soon find that a combination of low taxes and few civil liberties trumps the combination of high taxes and many civil liberties. Who gives a damn that gays can get married when you're taking all of our money?

I've been hearing a lot of conflicting reports about how many people were at this protest (not like it matters), but I've seen figures spanning 40k all the way up to 2 million. It seems like someone could get some good air shots that could be used to estimate crowd size.

This is a combination of factors, not just Obama's FHA. Firstly, many of these people are getting laid off due to the crappy economy, so delinquencies by these folks isn't unexpected. Second, as the article states, most of these mortgages were originated with nary a question about whether or not the borrower could ever pay them back. There are people (young Americans, in particular) who make 30-50k per year and literally live like millionaires. They own a BMW, an iPhone, a 42 inch HDTV, etc. There is no incentive to save money or live within your means when the Federal Reserve tampers with the interest rates. Lots of people point to this behavior and shout, "Oh, look! Capitalism doesn't work because these people are behaving irrationally!" What is considered 'rational' consumer behavior gets terribly out-of-whack when interest rates are driven down and the government is continually stealing your income for nanny-state ponzi schemes. In a market free of interference, if you make 40k a year and own a BMW, a 3500 square foot house, an iPhone, and a 42 inch HDTV, without having saved anything for health insurance, people would literally laugh you out of the room or stage an intervention. You would be considered mentally deranged. But instead we see this as normal behavior, and the government is expected to act as the rational consumer of necessities, while we run around having a grand time at the local mall. Who wants to shop for health insurance and research it when you could instead be choosing what clothes to stock your closet with for the latest fall fashion?

Right, because there's an unlimited supply of healthcare to go around! It's just those greedy insurance companies that's keeping everyone from getting a hospital bed, a top-notch doctor, and all the medicine they could ever eat! Now that genius Obama is on the case, everyone can get free healthcare! Next up: Free ponies! I'm just afraid if the terrorists see that we are having so much fun, and so much freedom, then they'd get jealous and want to attack us again!

I'm going to use my 3,000th to direct peoples' attention to this video (all of my posts are of the same high quality & caliber as far as I'm concerned): [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyKR2-A0KPU]YouTube - Charlie Sheen's Video Message to President Obama[/ame] Again, I'm not suggesting it's the truth, but it definitely raises serious doubts in my mind. You're right, anarchy is horrific. Hundreds of millions slaughtered, trillions stolen, the indoctrination of children, turning neighbors against each other... oh wait, that's Statism.

Put on your thinking cap. If the possibility for malpractice exists in the marketplace for doctors, don't you think most people would fear it? And wouldn't they figure out a way to follow a doctor's reputation and research his history? Maybe something along the lines of a credit score, which follows you wherever you go in the world - but for doctors. And if a doctor chooses to not be a part of it, well, they either wouldn't get very much business, or they'd have to charge an extremely low fee. But a doctor who appears out of the blue and sets up shop in your neighborhood won't be getting the customers the established guy gets. The answer to this question was simple. People who doubt natural order just don't have very much imagination.

Because there's a limited supply of it. It would be great if everyone in the country could have a butler, as well. But there are a limited number of butlers. And landscapers, and gardeners, etc. The government can only shuffle deck chairs on the Titanic. It can't keep the ship from sinking. The AMA is a monopoly on doctors, which limits competition and supply.

The only way to solve this problem is to increase the supply of healthcare - that means doctors and technology. Unless a bill can do that, it's just rearranging who gets access to these scarce resources. The way to do this is to get the AMA out of it. No more licensure for doctors - people will choose their doctor based on reputation alone. We do this with nearly every other area of our lives, why not medicine? To argue that a medical license is necessary to be a good doctor is like saying all painters must have a license, or else they'll spill paint on your carpet and punch holes in your walls. A license isn't a magic piece of paper that bestows skills to its possessor - it is only a way for a cartel (the AMA) to limit supply, so they can prop up their members' salaries. Get the doctors off the golf courses & boats, and back to work where they belong. In the early 1900's doctors were a dime-a-dozen.

Aaron, if you see this please don't have an apoplectic fit! :laugh3:

HEY everybody, I was just stopping by to sa-- Chris. What a surprise. We meet again. *16:9 aspect ratio, closeup of our angry/determined eyes*

I hope once it becomes glaringly obvious Obama has utterly flopped as a president and reneged on most of his campaign promises (as it should be already, but whatever), Chris Martin becomes sufficiently sad/emotional to produce some awesome music for their next LP.

#1. Where were you and what were you doing when you first heard about the 9/11 attacks? In my Sociology class in high school. #2.What were some of your first thoughts and questions? Thank God I'm in this small town in the South. I wonder how many more tricks these terrorists have up their sleeves? #3.How did you spend the next few hours and afternoon? Watching the news. #4.In what ways did your emotions change as the day progressed? Started out being fascinated by the ingenuity of the terrorists, explosions, etc. then saddened by the stories of the murdered civilians. #5.Did you know anyone who was personally associated with 9/11? If so, in what way? Nope. #6. There were a number of governmental responses to the attacks and other terrorist activities ( The Patriot Act , wars in Afghanistan and Iraq , the new Department of Homeland Security , increased security at the boarders and ports of entry , and enhanced intelligence , community , etc.)Please comment on your opinion of the government's responses and what more if anything should be doing today to prevent further attacks. The government caused 9/11 by disallowing the public to carry firearms on aircraft. All other laws, pronouncements, whims, and edicts are superfluous.

Taking Woodstock 9/10 Great movie, not sure why so many people didn't like it.

Louis CK did a bit on this :D - [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpaCQKJpE9k]YouTube - Louis CK #2[/ame]