Monthly Archives: June 2006
More on the so-called House debate on Iraq
Harry Browne departed this terrestrial ball on March 1. I’ve thought about him quite a bit since. Each time, I’ve missed my friend and mentor. ::::::There’s allegedly a debate about Iraq in Congress today. I’m sitting here trying to think about what Harry Browne would say about the overly dramatic political opera playing on C-SPAN as I write this. I conclude that today, we all miss Harry Browne’s clear, moral voice. ::::::But we must go on without Harry. ::::::What Harry Browne would say
Congress Debates Iraq!
Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::
The majority in Congress has responded to the pressure for a debate on Iraq by setting up a fake debate!:::
Starting point for Operation Everywhere
Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::
THE STARTING POINT FOR OPERATION EVERYWHERE::::
Iraq Debate Update
DISCHARGE PETITION FOR DEBATE ON IRAQ GAINS SUPPORT IN CONGRESS::::
Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::
Is Marijuana Medical? + RTBA MeetUp Group Progress
Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::
IN THIS ISSUE::::
* Is marijuana really medical?:::* RTBA MeetUp Groups off to a good start:::
Another shot at Jim Babka
TELL JIM BABKA WHAT YOU THINK::::
What campaign do you think is the most important at DownsizeDC.org? Which is your favorite? Do you think we’ve left one off the list?:::
MeetUp Progress Report
Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::
“If you build it, they will come.” This was the key phrase of the movie “Field of Dreams.” And I can say the same to you. “If you build it, they will come.” If you start an RTBA MeetUp Group enthusiastic new supporters will come to you. :::
Our “Field of Dreams” has 1,000 or more DC Downsizers descending on Capitol Hill to meet with every Congressional office. You don’t have to be one of them, but you can help find those who will go. We launched our MeetUp groups yesterday to make this happen. We’re pleased to report that we already have four groups with six members. That’s right, half the new groups already have two new members. :::
But that’s not all . . .:::
RTBA MeetUp Groups Live!!!!
Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::
We proposed it, you funded it, and we did it. “RTBA MeetUp Groups live!” As of this morning. Who will be the first to start a group? It could be you. You can get started here.:::
Work now begins to send 1,000+ DC Downsizers to Washington, DC to . . .:::
A fool and his identity are soon parted
Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::
There is something about the mass human mind that continues to make the same mistakes over and over again. The man on the street says . . .:::
Our leaders know things we don’t know, so I support whatever they want to do. Anyone who wants to protect their privacy from government scrutiny must have something to hide. Bad things are being done, but it’s the underlings who are doing it, and if only the President, or the King, or the Fuhrer, knew about it, he would stop it. I’m okay with trading freedom for security. The Federal government needs to handle this problem. :::
But history teaches a different story. Our leaders don’t know much, even when they spend billions on intelligence gathering. Governments almost always misuse personal information to harm the innocent. The President, the King, or the Fuhrer, almost always knows about the bad things his underlings are doing. We give up our freedom, but we hardly ever get increased security in return. The Federal government centralizes things, and the common result is that we all suffer.:::
The concrete examples to illustrate these points are too numerous to list. And our leaders are busy creating new ones every day. For instance, we were told that federalizing airline security would make us all safer, but avenues for terrorist attack on airplanes remain wide open, while everyone in America suffers through cumbersome airport security measures that are worse than useless. We would have been much better off if government had gotten out of the business entirely, and left the airlines to compete with a hundred different, DECENTRALIZED, approaches to airline security. :::
But the beat goes on . . .:::
We are now told that massive, centralized databases, like REAL ID and NAIS, the National Animal Identification System, will make us all safer. But the truth is that a fool and his identity are soon parted. Whenever you centralize anything, especially in the hands of government, you create conditions for massive failures that harm everyone. Perhaps you will have noticed in the news that . . .
Debate Iraq?
Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::
IN THIS ISSUE::::
* Why we are doing our first campaign on Iraq:::* Media announcement:::