Listen to Mr. Brookes, author of "Devil's Triangle", a new book about the threat of international terroism and weapons of mass destruction, as he discusses the accusations levelled against the Bush Administration that the intelligence on WMDs in Iraq was managed by the White House team.

In a new report, the Cato Institute notes that President George W. Bush has outspent every President of the past forty years.

On Monday, Steve Slivinski, Director of Policy Analysis for Cato (www.CATO.ORG), spoke about this not-surprising, but nonetheless troubling revelation. The forum was "Against the Grain", on WNTK and WUVR, in NH.

See the link for the Cato report.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/tbb/tbb-0510-26.pdf

The NHLA is a non-partisan coalition working to increase individual freedom in New Hampshire. They do this by encouraging private charity, a civil society, and citizen involvement. They also support pro-liberty candidates and causes with money and volunteers. They publish a really great report card tracking NH legislators and bills. And they throw great parties!

After checking with two city offices about the proper procedure to perform on city sidewalks, Lara Rines, of Dover, got no information. In fact, she was told by one office to call the fire department, which she had already called. Why was she looking into the procedure? She is a "fire dancer", and delights onlookers by performing special movements with flaming sticks.

Having gotten no satisfying information one way or the other, Ms. Rines set out to perform, and was promptly accosted by two drunk men. The men moved on, and, according to Rines, must have complained to police. Yelling at her, and throwing her still burning sticks onto the sidewalk, the police arrested her, and she is now being charged with reckless conduct, and failure to produce a permit.

What is more dangerous than an eloquent man with good intentions captured by evil ideas and desperate motives?
Only the ignorance that spawned the ideas in the first place.

Paul H. Goldsmith
Summer 1984

The Seven Principles of Foolishness
Written: December 14, 2004

Would you like to take something special with you from the holiday season?

How about a thought, an idea, a concept to help warm one’s heart?

How about a Christmas story?

Well then! Here goes…

The other day -- Sunday, December 12, to be exact -- my sister and I decided to walk from our brother’s house near the Amherst Village Green, to the center of town itself. It was nearing five in the evening, and we had been looking forward to joining other Amherst residents in the traditional “Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration”. Having both grown up in the town, we recalled the many times we had visited as kids, holding small candles, drinking hot chocolate, singing Christmas songs, awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, and gazing at the tree as it was set alight with color.

Just announced is the resignation of California Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, after admitting to accepting 2.4 million Dollars in bribes for defense contracts.

(see the link, here: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/28/D8E5M32OA.html)

It is interesting to note that Americans rely on the federal government to provide so many "services" that aren't sanctioned by the Constitution, yet when it comes to one of the few things that the central government is actually supposed to do, it can't even do that properly.

Don't expect a refund check for the politically-shifted contracts to appear on your bank account.

The "Herald News Daily", which publishes in North and South Dakota, is reporting that the $286.4 billion highway transportation bill signed into law by the supposedly conservative George Bush will not be enough to keep the Federal Highway Trust Fund from going broke in 2008. (to see the full story, click this link: http://www.heraldnewsdaily.com/stories/news-00104489.html)

In a report commissioned by the US Chamber of Commerce, the panel "concluded revenues from all levels of government will fall $500 billion short of what is needed just to maintain pavement and bridge conditions and traffic levels through 2015, and $1.1 trillion short of what is needed to improve the nation‘s infrastructure."

For your holiday pleasure...

State Senate Clerk and former Libertarian Gubernatorial candidate, Steve Winter resigned at 10 AM today, Monday, November 21.

Steve, who had to sit and watch as proposals such as SB125 were passed and allowed to become regulatory burdens to health insurance companies, said that had differences with Senate President Ted Gatsas.

This is not surprising.

Steve Winter is a man of conservative/liberty-oriented principles. Writing in his resignation letter, Steve said:

"Unfortunately, my assistance and support... Have been rebuffed." He also said his departure was "inevitable" since the departure of former Senate President, Tom Eaton.

Bush's trip to Asia:

President George Bush's trip to Japan, China and South Korea ends today with a whimper, rather than a policy bang. He went to Japan to try to convince the Japanese government to lift blocks against US beef (can you say, misplaced Japanese government fears of Mad Cow Disease?). He did not get the concession. He went to South Korea to highlight our alliance... And the South Korean government anounced that it was going to pull out its troops from Iraq. He went to China to promote freedom and to argue for the increased higher valuation of the Yuan relative to the Dollar, but two days before his arrival, innocent civilians were apprehended for the unspeakable crimes of "printing Bibles". In addition, the Chinese seem reluctant to let their Yuan rise in comparison to the Dollar at any faster rate than is already being allowed as a concession to the US. For more information, see the piece in the Washington Post

Commentary on the topic from "Against the Grain"

On November 16 the NH House Commerce Committee unanimously voted to recommend passage of an insurance regulation that would force insurance companies covering full-time students to cover those college students for up to a year if they leave school on medical leaves of absence. (See article)

The impetus of the bill was the sickness and plight of a woman named Michelle Morse, who was a full-time student at Plymouth State University, and covered under her family's health insurance package, receiving discount for being a full-time student. Upon discovering she has cancer, Michelle had to make a choice: leave school while she underwent the harsh therapy and surgery required to battle the cancer, or stay in school, and keep her lower rates for health insurance. Michelle's mother contacted state representative Will Infantine (Manchester), who proposed a new regulation forcing such insurance companies to have to continue covering students for up to a year after they might have to drop classes due to a sickness.

An issue first highlighted by the NH Associated Press and NH "Union Leader" has received national attention. Not that that is necessarily a good thing...

As some are aware, a man named Brad Wilder, of Plainfield, was shocked to discover that the valuation of his property, upon which his property tax will be based, of course, had shot up dramatically after he was cited as having a very "expensive" view!

See the Washington Post article discussing the topic...

Despite the frustration this type of government activity can inspire, it does serve a purpose... This issue is a very good point from which one can launch into a discussion about valuation of property (any type of property, including money property, ie., earnings), and how the valutaion of property is purely subjective. The reporting on the "view tax" indicates one of the few times that the mass media are recognizing the impossibility of objectively quantifying the value of something which is, by its nature, subjectively enterpreted. The "view tax" can be a terrific issue to help focus on how all taxes are of this nature, and to show how only through the free market, where prices are determined by the players involved, can price information be transmitted.

Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) in his office with an example of the big-game trophy mounts at issue in the debate over charitable tax deductions for hunters.
Photo Credit: By Robert A. Reeder -- The Washington Post
Related Article: Loophole For Hunters Targeted

It's attached to a story on a Senate debate over revocation of tax-deductions for donations made by big game hunters to museums.

The more tax savings, the better, of course. But one must wonder if we've gone a bit astray as to what things occupy the time of our reps and senators... AND, what about this guy's taste in publicity photos?!

As reported by the NH "Union Leader", Second District Congressman Charles "Three Terms" Bass announced in more than one medium that he is interested in seeing a change in House Leadership. According to Bass, the Republicans have lost their way, and they need to return to their principles. Pork spending is worrisome to Bass -- this coming from the man who announced with Jeb Bradley a few days prior that he was proud to bring NH another $250,000 from the Federal government to be spent on NH Juvenile Justice programs.

After breaking promises such as a vow to leave office after three terms, to cut federal spending, and to promote tax cuts, Bass now tells the Republicans that THEY need to return to their principles. What are those principles? Bass wants to be able to work with Democrats more often, he feels that the party is too conservative.

As reported here earlier on November 15, Michael Newdow, the California man who once sued to prevent his school district from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in classes, is moving forward with a lawsuit designed to prevent the US Treasury from printing "In God We Trust" on United States coins and paper currency.

There are a number of important threads to follow in this story, the first of which is the First Amendment of the US Constitution. It is often said that the First Amendment forbids government on any level from not only establishing a religion, but involving itself in state-sponsored, taxpayer-funded religious observances of any kind. Historically, this is not the case. In fact, during the hot summer of 1787, when the Founding Fathers were at an impasse while arguing over the wording of the Constitution (which was being designed to replace the Articles fo Confederation, our original set of government rules), it was none other than Benjamin Franklin who suggested that the delegates pause, and pray to God. Many observers said this was the breakthrough moment for the convention.

Our intrepid reporter, John Kerry, gives us the latest on the French violence.

Michael Newdow, the man who sued his California school district over the recitation of the Pledge of Allegience and its use of the term "under God", has now moved ahead with a new lawsuit. This time, he wants "In God We Trust" stricken off our government-minted and printed money. (for story and further reference)

There is also a larger written piece posted delving into the ethical and constitutional implications of this lawsuit.

Part two of our conversation with Michael Cannon, of the Cato Institute.

Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It

APPLY NOW! Reap a benefit off your neighbor! As of November 15, senior citizens can apply to get federal subsidies for their prescription drugs -- just another one of the reasons the Founding Fathers worked so hard to establish this nation, so we could prey upon one another and call it "good". Join the Conspiracy and "Against the Grain" as Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies for the Cato Institute delves into the creation of this socialistic program, and its economic ramifications.

Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It