Badge of Honor

The burning of the Norwegian flag is a badge of honor for those Norwegians who re-published the Danish cartoons that have caused so much trouble. Too bad the socialist government of Norway isn't standing up for those Norwegian heroes. I looked at some of the cartoons and don't think they are offensive at all. How will Islam ever reform itself if it can't be criticized? Who can doubt that there is a strain of violence and intolerance within Islam that needs to be confronted. Unfortunately, former President Clinton has chosen to criticize the cartoons instead of addressing the intolerance of the Islamic world. It figures Clinton and the Norwegian socialists make a perfect pair. I just hope Republicans stay in power in the US and conversatives make a comeback in Norway.

Norway's Shame

I am embarrassed about the pusillanimity of the current Norwegian government which has apologized for the publication in Norway of a cartoon that was disrespectful of the prophet Mohammed. Being of Norwegian descent, I'm disgusted with a government that tries to appease a bunch of savages without regard to the right of its citizens to engage in free expression. Hurray for Denmark which has stood up for free speech. It's too bad that so many Muslims get so upset about an offensive cartoon but think its fine and dandy to blow themselves up taking as many innocent peole as possible with them.

Lobbying Objectively

I have been reading Ayn Rand's collection of essays, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, which I have found to be an excellent defense of capitalism, freedom and individualism. Her analysis of the causes of corruption in a mixed economy are right on target and can be used today as an explanation of the Abramoff scandals. She writes, "So long as a concept such as 'the public interest' (or the 'social' or 'national' or 'international' interest) is regarded as a valid principle to guide legislation -- lobbies and presure groups will necessarily continue to exist." Such groups "have to fight to the death for the privilege of being regarded as 'the public.' The government's policy has to swing like an erratic pendulum from group to group, hitting some and favoring others, at the whim of any given moment -- and so grotesque a profession as lobbying (selling 'influence') becomes a full-time job. If parasitism, favoritism, corruption, and greed fro the unearned did not exist, a mixed economy would bring them into existence." As long as Congress is in position to dole out favors, there will always be corrupt people there to use any means to get those favors. Only limiting the government's power can prevent such corruption. Unfortunately, once people get used to receiving government largesse, it is hard to wean them off it. Reading this book makes me realize more than ever that it is essential to support candidates who are pro-capitalist and who will shrink the welfare state. Unfortunately such politicians aren't easy to find. Bush is worse than Clinton in many ways. The major domestic reform during Clinton's administration was welfare reform which imposed new limits on government handouts. By contract, Bush's major domestic initiative has been the Medicare Drug benefit which has created new government entitlements. What's a Republican to do?

The Supreme Court and the States

The Supreme Court's decision in
Gonzales v. Oregon to uphold Oregon's assisted suicide law was a victory for federalism and the power of the states to decide issues democratically. The case centered on administrative law and justices such as Thomas and Scale whom you might have expected to support the state voted in favor of the feds. The case is a bit different than Gonzales v. Raich which was a disappointment to me because it rejected California's medical marijuana law. Thomas called the two results "perplexing, to say the least". The difference is that in Raich, the Controlled Substances Act clearly outlawed the possession of marijuana and the issue was whether Congress's power under the commerce clause could ban the possession of a substance that was grown completely in one state and did not enter the stream of commerce. In this case, the issue is one of statutory interpretation. The drugs used in Oregon's assisted suicide are prescribed by a doctor. The Controlled Substances Act requires that such drugs be used "for a medical purpose". The Attorney General interpreted the phrase "for a medical purpose" in a way that did not include assisted suicide. Taking the two cases together, it is pretty clear that if Congress amended the statute to clearly state that such drugs cannot be used for assisted suicide, the result would be different. At least, the Court is giving more weight to the states than to the interpretation of a Department. Personally, I think states should decide issues such as the use of marijuana and assisted suicide, whatever I think substantively about those issues. I hope congress does not amend the law but lets Oregon do whatever it wants.

The Suicidal Impulses of the Left

Mark Steyn has an excellent article on the Wall Street Journal website in which he details the way in which various leftwing ideologies are destroying Western civilization. Looking at the birthrates of various European countries which have embraced socialism and abortion and you realize that the Left is leading society to its destruction. Others have noticed this about the left. Malcolm Muggeridge spoke of "The Great Liberal Death Wish". It's so clear now that it's hard to believe anyone can deny it. What can you say about a movement for which the most important cause is the right to kill off one's offspring. Leftwing societies are literally killing themselves off. As Steyn points out, Kerry won the 16 states with the lowest birthrates. Thank God for the Red States. Europe may be a lost cause.

A more hopeful place may be India. I found this interesting article at yahoo. Whereas the West is shrinking in population, India has plenty of people. They have inherited a lot from the British, as have we. Their economy is booming and they are a democracy. They have their own problems with Muslim extremists. If we face a world with a huge and angry Muslim population in the future, India may be a good ally and trading partner.