Austrian Economics of Von Mises now in the New England State's GOP platformFrom Eric Dondero:
The Republican Party of Maine held its convention over the weekend. Delegates adopted a hardline platform that adopted many tenents of libertarian beliefs.
From the liberal-leaning blog Maine Politics "Maine Republicans adopt Tea Party platform":
The document calls for the elimination of the Department of Education and the Federal Reserve, demands an investigation of "collusion between government and industry in the global warming myth," suggests the adoption of "Austrian Economics," declares that "'Freedom of Religion' does not mean 'freedom from religion'" (which I guess makes atheism illegal), insists that "healthcare is not a right," calls for the abrogation of the "UN Treaty on Rights of the Child" and the "Law Of The Sea Treaty" and declares that we must resist "efforts to create a one world government."
Mike Tipping of Maine Politics describes it as "a mix of right-wing fringe policies, libertarian buzzwords and outright conspiracy theories."Here's a breakdown of some of the more libertarian points:
■A declaration of state sovereignty – essentially a complaint that Federalism is dead and state’s rights and responsibilities are being squashedRepublican Liberty Caucus Chairman for Maine and former legislator Ken Lindell commented (via Liberty Republican forum):
■A call for the passage of “read the bill” legislation
■Opposition to the fairness doctrine
■Opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act
■Investigation of global warming shenanigans
■Eliminate the Department of Education
■Support for the prohibition of funding for ACORN or organizations like it
■Elimination of motor voter
■Opposition to any and all treaties with the United Nations
■Return to the principles of Austrian economics
■Balance the federal budget and pay off debt
■Audit the Federal Reserve
"There is a whole lot of stuff in the new platform that I really like... I think that it is a very positive development that activists who are new to the party have been able to succeed..."Though, he did express concerns about the appeal of the new platform to mainstream Maine voters.
The platform was endorsed by the RLC in caucus at the convention.
Another RLCer Matthew Gagnon (Pine Tree Politics) had this to say:
I have more than a few problems with this platform, but I completely disagree with Mike Tipping’s assertion that the “extremism this document represents is unique and unsettling.” It is hardly anything all that extreme.Reached for a comment by Libertarian Republican, Stravos Mendros,(photo), former Lewiston City Councilman, longtime RLC member and 2008 Ron Paul State Coordinator said:
It is certainly different, that’s for sure, but as somebody who is deeply entrenched in the libertarian community (full disclosure: I just finished a year long tenure as Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia, though I did not vote for Ron Paul in 2008 for those of you wondering), I can say without doubt that this is nowhere near the extreme edge of what many in that community would like to see.
"This party is about the grassroots. People need to understand that this was voted on overwhelmingly by the people. We are not democrats and we don't like being dictated too by the elites."Editor's Note - Photo of my friend Stravos is a bit dated, from approx. 10 years ago.
15 Bloviations:
Maine is a bizarre state in it's politics. Land of RINOs. There's a lot of folk up north that are on the dole and they count on liberal whoever to continue the trend. It would be refreshing to see classical liberal values take hold in that state.
If it were truly tea party it would be more about fiscal conservatism, reducing debt, lower taxes and similar things. Instead its a Ron Paul inspired rant about many things that the state of Maine has nothing to do with (as they are Federal issues).
Meddling in the lives of gay people and women's wombs does not sound very libertarian to me.
Its a huge improvement over the previous platform which was mussy and said nothing. However, I do wish a little less of the conspiracy stuff were in there. The last line of the document is just daft and should have been left out.
We shall see how it goes down with the voters of Maine. It certainly makes Maine politics a lot more interesting that it has been.
Personally I have issues with the strange ultra-right and Libertarian obsession with the Federal Reserve. That is fringe Wack-a-doo politics.
The Fed was set up to be independent of the passions and demands of the self righteous political hacks in Congress and the White House who are always looking to buy votes with money.
Eliminate the Fed? Then who is put in charge of credit and printing money? Barney Frank and Chris Dodd?
That is wack-a-doo.
Doesn't mean much unless you can get rid of Olympia Snowe.
Ian:
I can make a pretty good libertarian argument against abortion and in a nutshell, the fetus deserves the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The womb is just a staging ground and something unique in nature. That's the short of it. As far as gays go, I don't care what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their domicile, as long as no one is assaulted or murdered or anything done against their will.
Don't be so down on Olympia Snowe. She held tight on Health Care, when everyone thought she would fold.
For that, we should all be grateful.
"Meddling in the lives of gay people and women's wombs does not sound very libertarian to me."
What about "meddling" in the lives of so called "straight" people by destroying the definition of marriage by government fiat? Does that sound "libertarian" to you people who choose to behave as lobotomized lemmings? Just how in the fucking fuck are so called "gay" people's lives being "meddled in" by NOT overturning the real definition of marriage (a several thousand year old fundament of civilized humanity) and replacing it with a farcical, five year young, fad idea?
And since when is it "libertarian" to butcher a child for profit?
Slaves are what you people yearn to be. Worst of all, you wish to be slaves to nihilism.
Devoted til death... to nothing decent. You endeavor to be dirt.
What a waste of a perfectly good life.
The platform is mostly good, except for this part:
a. Discard political correctness, make public the declaration of war (Jihad), made against the US on
23 Feb 1998, and fight the war against the United States by radical Islam to win.
Don't be so down on Olympia Snowe. She held tight on Health Care, when everyone thought she would fold
In the long run we must replace Snowe. She is too reliably progressive not to.
Not even loafo.
Eric Dondero: "Don't be so down on Olympia Snowe. She held tight on Health Care, when everyone thought she would fold."
Alas, you lost sight of her vote to move the package out of the Senate Finance Committee and onto the floor. Because of this key vote blame for the ultimate passage of Obamacare can be laid squarely on Olympia Snowe.
Watch my right hand, watch my right hand, pay no attention to what my left hand is doing.
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Maine had nothing to do with the new platform. The platform was not discussed at all at our annual meeting.
Also: That isn't my photo. That is a photo of former State Rep. Stavros Mendros. Stav is a member of the RLC - but he isn't me. (Not that there is anything wrong with that!)
Ken Lindell
Chairman, Republican Liberty Caucus of Maine
What part of Maine do you live? I own property in Jackman.
I have been reading a book called Gold and Liberty by Richard M. Salsman and re-acquainting myself with monetary policy. Between the 1820s and 1913 – inflation was relatively low because the dollar was linked to gold. Gold was $18.93 (http://www.nma.org/pdf/gold/his_gold_prices.pdf) for almost 90 years! (I didn’t take this at face value; I checked several different websites for historical prices of gold – true - some will say $20.65). There were minor recessions referred to as business panics during this time. This was the period known to practice what is called free banking. As a response to a business panic in 1907 when rumors led to run on some major New York banks, the Federal Reserve Bank was created in a practice known as central banking. During the time of the central banks (around the world) would de-link paper money from any metal primarily gold and silver; hence, the period of rapid inflation begins.
In 1933, Roosevelt furthers the devalue of the dollar by making it illegal for Americans to own gold and making the dollar worth less gold. Then after WWII, the Bretton Woods agreement was signed where countries can have Special Drawing Rights (SDR) which would give other governments rights to US gold. This worked until France in 1971 would not accept a SDR, they wanted the gold. Nixon then delinked the dollar from gold and inflation has really taken off since. During times when governments seem to be pro-business (producer), gold will decline in comparison to fiat money (dollar); gold will increase in value when governments over-regulate, over borrow and in general act fiscally irresponsible. Therefore, the dollar is backed by the full faith and guarantee of the US government.
The goods produced and services provided are still worth something. Look at the size of the US economy in terms of GDP of the US as a single pie when the pie is the GDP of the US, as we purchase and sell our G&S in US dollars. Let’s say there is $10 T that have been printed and is used to represent the GDP; now Obama had congress approve the debt ceiling by $1.9T in the past few weeks (http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201002041410dowjonesdjonline000555&title=us-house-votes-to-increase-debt-ceiling-by-19-trillion-to-143-trillion). Therefore, our current GDP must now support more debt in an environment that is not seen as friendly toward business. The increase in deficit spending will create more inflation, as the dollar is devalued (more dollars at the same GDP). A welfare state and/or a state that is at war (whether just or unjust) needs a central banking system to devalue it’s currency. This book sited examples from the 1600s through 1900s of how this has been done throughout history by governments. It is an added tax – unseen, yet felt by anyone who who tries to save, spend or invest in dollars.
The dollar is monetized debt. The US government needs money; they create notes (accounting transaction) and send to the FED. The FED reissues the notes as bills. As the US government draws down on this loan ( US government is the first users of this new money). Then the government contractors and employees deposit these funds and more money is created through the fractional reserve banking system – the bank only needs to keep a fraction of this “new” deposit and loan the rest, creating more money. One of the functions of the central bank (FED) is to have policies that are to maximize employment. I have not checked, but from what I have read, under free banking unemployment rate never topped 25% (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123413508), like in the Great Depression (under the FED’s watch). I would draw a conclusion that free banking is more responsible and freer than central banking.
Independence has what has best defined Yankee's - aka Mainiacs - since I was born there in 1958. Now I live in Montana - Go Mainers. Jason Priest
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