Congressman Phil Hare Doesn't Care About Constitution

Mark Steyn On Multiculturalism

Terrorism Resurges In The Caucasus

The South: Last Bulwark Against Tyranny

In the modern political arena; politics are often couched in terms exclusive to the that of the two major parties.  What is conspicuously absent from this fairly recent understanding, is the role regionalism has played for most of American history.  Although the differences between Democrats and Republicans often take center stage; the issues that divide regions can be even more sharp. 


This has manifested itself most profoundly between the South and the New England States. From the War of 1812; when the New England States threatened secession over economic issues, to the War Between the States, when the Souths right of secession was denied.  The two regions have sparred over economic, cultural, and political issues.  One of the most contentious issues has been what the role, and the extent of federal power should be.  Dr. Clyde Wilson has written an excellent essay about the recent health care vote and why the South was the only region solidly opposed to it. Story here.

Reprisal In Russia?

Ron Paul On The Fallacy Of Obamacare

Nullifying Tyranny

Castro Gives Ringing Endorsement For Obamacare

In my discussions with those who supported the health-care reform bill, I often evoked the notion of health-care being the cornerstone of socialism.  Of course, this is always dismissed as an unfair characterization of their views.   They never seem to want to admit that the basis of their belief system is in fact socialism.  So, they devise euphemistic terms such as "liberal", and "progressive", in an attempt to conceal the obvious.  Also, in an effort to deflect criticism, they will often attempt to paint those who disagree as having irrational fears  of said proposals.  This is precisely the tactic used against Republicans by President Obama in order to silence criticism. Now comes support from Fidel Castro for Obamacare.

Revealing a gross ignorance of the intended purpose of one of America's founding documents, the island dictator stated:

"It is really incredible that 234 years after the Declaration of Independence ... the government of that country has approved medical attention for the majority of its citizens, something that Cuba was able to do half a century ago,"

Perhaps this really is a "Bolshevik Plot." Story here.

Bentonville Battlefield

     

Centurion

Getting The Constitution Right

Showdown In Switzerland

 

The recent vote by the Swiss people to ban the construction of minarets was met with the usual contempt by its governments elite class.  In many ways the United States and Europe suffer from the same pathologies inflicted from an elite class that loath their own culture and heritage.  However, unlike the United States, where elections are divorced from the making of public policy; the Swiss (at least) have managed to preserve a federal system that is actually representative of the wishes of the people.  The Swiss cantons are sovereign entities, not unlike the States of the American Union were, prior to the War Between the States. Quite apart from the recommendations made by the Swiss government, the people have voted against their elites, and instead have voted for preserving their own culture. Excellent essay by Dr. Srjda Trifkovic here.       

States Rights And The Union

One of the more troubling aspects of the mainstream American political discourse is the constant emphasis on party politics. Its as though Americans have been conditioned to believe that solutions are to be found ONLY within the political duopoly in Washington. What is often conspicuously absent from any discussion is the power of the States to check and arrest laws which they deem to be unconstitutional. This is commonly referred to as state interposition or nullification. It is folly to assume that government will somehow limit itself. Thomas Jefferson, warned that if the Federal government became the final arbiter regarding the extent of its own power, the result would be tyranny. Consider that the Kentucky Resolutions state that:

"the several States composing the United States of America, are not united on the principles of unlimited submission to their General Government; but by compact under the style and title of a Constitution for the United States and of amendments thereto, they constituted a General Government for special purposes, delegated to that Government certain definite powers, reserving each State to itself, the residuary mass of right to their own self Government; and that whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force:That to this compact each State acceded as a State, and is an integral party, its co-States forming as to itself, the other party: That the Government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself; since that would have made its discretion, and not the Constitution, the measure of its powers; but that as in all other cases of compact among parties having no common Judge, each party has an equal right to judge for itself, as well of infractions as of the mode and measure of redress."  

It was upon these principles of nullification, that the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions were penned. Now it appears that more State legislatures are awakening to the dangers of Federal tyranny, and are reasserting State sovereignty. Wyoming is now the latest State to reassert its reserved powers concerning the issue of gun rights. Story here.

Counter-Jihad In The Caucasus

The EU And The Attack On Leviathan

Just wanted to do a follow up post on the controversy concerning the British MEP member Nigel Farage,  and  the new European President Herman van Rompuy.   Dr. Srdja Trifkovic, has written yet another outstanding piece regarding the recent dust up, and the attendant implications of a European super state. Story here.

Music Break

The EU: Free Speech Comes At A Price...Literally

It is always a treat to hear the UKIP MEP leader Nigel Farage speak about the current state of European politics.  He has a way of speaking with directness that few American politicians can match.   The transformation of the formerly sovereign and independent European countries into one consolidated leviathan, is reminiscent of 19th century America.  Of course, the EU has many who subscribe to the totalitarian socialist model and would like nothing more than to silence any opposition to their vision.  Now comes an official fine from the European Parliament for Nigel Farages comments regarding the former Prime Minister of Belgium. Story here.

Weekend Warrior Break #5

Does Hollywood Ignore Islamic Terrorism?

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's, came widespread speculation as to where/when (and in what form) the next major threat would emerge. In took nearly a decade for the United States to awaken to a gathering threat, that much of the world was already familiar...that of Islamic fundamentalism. Despite the many unequivocal declarations of jihad by Al-Qaeda, and the subsequent attacks on 9/11 , Hollywood has remained strangely disengaged.

Igor Toronyi-Lalic, has written an excellent essay on the virtual Hollywood blackout of movies featuring Islamic villains. Story here.

Caucasian Games

The newly re-elected Abkhazian president Sergey Bagapsh vowed a swift response would follow any aggression on the part of Georgia, concerning its recent secession. The small nation in the Caucasus has the backing of the Russian Federation, and currently hosts a small Russian military contingency.