Sep 06

Leaked info shows Soros spending massively to push ‘climate change’ theme

“Climate change” is a constant theme of ultra-powerful elites. It barely registers as a problem or issue among democratic majorities.

For the past 2 decades, the earth’s governments and wealthy elites have tried to ram cap-and-trade and carbon-tax laws down the throats of long-suffering taxpayers on the grounds that only socialism and central planning can save the world from catastrophic-global-warming-by-manmade-CO2.

While skeptical science survives in dark corners where intrepid dissenters bravely question the elitists’ meme, the climate-change hysterics are funded massively by governments, corporations and the world’s richest people.

Now there is leaked information that billionaire pro-government extremist financier George Soros has been secretly spending millions to promote the hysteria. See here.

Sep 06

Allegation: The New York Times bestseller list is rigged to favor ‘liberal’ titles

The terms ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ have almost no meanings. “Conservative” can sometimes designate ideas which challenge the state; while at other times the term means the precise opposite. The same goes for ‘liberal.’ What was ‘liberal’ yesteryear can be seen as ‘conservative’ today.

But such designations can illuminate certain policy debates and conflicts. Regnery Publishing, which is sometimes described as the largest conservative publisher in the United States, is alleging that the “New York Times Bestseller” list (which formerly was recognized as the gold standard measurement of how a book is selling) has become inaccurate if not fraudulent.

According to Regnery, its ‘conservative’ releases often sell hundreds of thousands if not millions of copies but tend to not even appear on the New York Times ‘Bestseller list.’

Regnery believes that its title, Dinesh D’Souza’s The Big Lie, about the American Left’s past relationship and present affinity with the Nazis and their tactics, should have been ranked at number one in sales — but the New York Times trailed it in at number seven.

The New York Times organisation admits it “surveys” hand picked booksellers across the nation.

See here.

Regnery is severing all ties with the Times ‘Bestseller’ list–which may further erode the List‘s gatekeeping status.

Sep 06

Kentucky government workers retiring early to avoid looming pension collapse

For decades, governments at every level have been overpaying government “workers.” Government employee unions have negotiated contracts in most states and large municipalities which result in government retirees living like kings among starving peasants.

In states such as California, New York and Illinois, state retirees commonly RETIRE on six-figure annual pensions. Even in districts where average household incomes remain in the $20,000 to $30,000 range.

Currently, Illinois is spending more on pensions for RETIRED university personnel than the State spends on CURRENT university operations. See here.

Now there are reports that government workers in Kentucky are sensing that long-suffering taxpayers cannot sustain the extravagant pension obligations of state retirees. They are retiring early hoping to vest their retirements before the system collapses. See here.

Minnesota’s State accountants recently took measures to correct future projections regarding the longtime viability of the State’s pensions. The State’s official ‘estimates’ had pegged the pension fund to have long-term 7% returns on investments. (Real-world returns on average investments are slightly lower.) When Minnesota accountants tried correcting future estimates, they found that the underfunding of pension obligations TRIPLED. See here.

Sep 06

More misery in socialist Venezuela

Socialist Venezuela continues spiraling into misery and environmental devastation.

Just 20 years ago, Venezuelans were the richest and healthiest people in Latin America. Then they voted for socialism.

Government took over businesses and industries, took over health care and food distribution, and chased out capitalists.

Now Venezuelans struggle for survival daily. Photos show them butchering and eating dogs on the streets. Numerous reports find Venezuelans breaking into zoos to find animals to eat. 15 % of the population reportedly survives by sifting through dumpsters and trash heaps for food.

The average Venezuelan lost 19 pounds in 2016.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s ultra-rich live like kings. The daughter of the late Venezuelan president is reportedly worth billions. The ruling socialist dictator appears to maintain power by rigging vote machines.

Sep 05

Government of Virgin Islands issues order allowing authorities to seize guns ahead of Hurricane Irma

During disasters and extreme weather, people often find their own government is a greater source of danger than their weather concerns.

Every government ultimately comes for all property, all money, all freedom, and to kill or cage all who resist.

Governments frequently wait for opportunities to disarm their subjects, and natural disasters provide one of the best opportunities.

Now the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands (which is supposedly subject to the American Bill of Rights) has decreed in advance of Hurricane Irma that government agents may seize any firearms belonging to private citizens. See here.

Sep 02

More proposed violence against climate change skeptics

Science is skepticism. A true scientist proposes hypotheses and challenges the whole world to show the hypotheses wrong. He invites debate.

A true scientist never proclaims he is right based on a ‘consensus’ or a committee vote. Under the scientific method, even a single observation contradicting a hypothesis is enough to scuttle the hypothesis.

But the area of climate science is dominated by government money and demands, censorship, bullying, and threats of sanctions and violence against skeptics of the government.

Here is yet another essay by a militant government truster named Brian Merchant demanding that those who question or disagree with the government be criminally punished. This adds to a long list. See here. And here.

The Merchant essay claims “Climate change denial can and will leave people dead.” Merchant proposes prosecuting skeptics under criminal negligence laws.

In fact all data show the opposite: Globally, weather-related property losses have actually decreased as a proportion of GDP by about 25% since 1990. Insured catastrophe losses have not increased as a proportion of GDP since 1960. Flood losses as a percentage of US GDP have dropped by about 75% since 1940. See here.

And the plainest measurement of all–deaths from extreme weather–shows massive declines (probably 95%) over the past century. See here.

Aug 31

Americans now spend more on taxes than on food and clothing combined

America rose to prosperity, abundance and prominence with some of the world’s lowest taxes and the fewest regulations. Property rights and a climate of individual ingenuity and industry brought Americans the world’s highest standards of living.

But the past two generations have seen America’s progress arrested. Now taxes take almost half of many Americans’ income. See here.

“From 2013 to 2016, overall personal taxes climbed from $7,432 to $10,489—an increase of $3,057 or 41.13 percent. Federal income taxes climbed from $5,743 to $8,367—an increase of $2,624 or 45.7%. State and local income taxes climbed from $1,629 to $2,046—an increase of $417 or 25.6 percent. Other taxes climbed from $60 to $75—an increase of $15 or 25 percent.”

Today’s government employees live like kings among peasants. The largest homes in many communities belong to government “workers.” Casinos and entertainment resorts are now filled with money-gorged government “workers” who spend their lives wrapped in luxury and privilege.

Meanwhile the American people are increasingly living in trailer parks and hovels. GDP growth rates have generally been below 3 percent over the past decade.

Aug 29

Hope for Denmark: Danes Seeking to Throw Off Government Shackles

Throughout the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s the people of Denmark were the most capitalistic on earth. Their merchants sailed the seas and transacted in goods throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

The people of Denmark (and Scandanavia generally) became the richest on earth. That foundation of wealth sustained them throughout the 1900s. But over time, the Danes began to tolerate the stink and stain of more government central planning.

Today, the once-free Danes suffer under some of the highest tax rates in the western world. Economic growth rates have plummeted to almost nothing.

But Bloomberg News reports that the Danes are recently demanding their freedoms back. See here.

In response to the Danes’ demands, “Denmark’s government proposed a broad range of tax cuts that will hit all income groups, make it cheaper to save toward retirement and reduce levies on cars.”

Finance Minister Kristian Jensen said “We’re increasing the gains associated with working, we’re making it more attractive to work more and we’re ensuring that it’s more worthwhile to save up toward retirement.”

Aug 27

Only 19 percent of wage gains from minimum wage increases go to families in poverty

Trusters of government often claim that government-imposed minimum wages help the poor.

But research has shown that minimum wage laws harm the poor by completely locking them out of the bottom rungs of the economy.

Minimum wage laws cause unemployment rates to increase, especially among the poorest and most desperate Americans.

Only 19 percent of the wage gains from minimum wage increases accrue to families in poverty.

See here.

Aug 27

Complexity of U.S. Tax Code Causes $67 to $378 Billion in Annual Accounting Costs

To put numbers in perspective, the entire state budget of Montana is less than $5 billion annually. Many other states operate on annual budgets of less than $5 or $10 annually.

A study by the Mercatus Center has recently found that Americans spend $67  billion to
$378 billion in annual accounting costs in the process of filing their tax returns.

See here.