Mac Johnson, columnist for Human Events Online (www.humaneventsonline.com) joined EL G Grande recently to discuss the economics of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty. Mac's analysis of the treaty is excellent. Hear him discuss it in this and part two, and read his article here: http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=11798

The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World

Enviro-Capitalists: Doing Good While Doing Well (The Political Economy Forum)

Conspirators will want to note a number of bills currently being moved through the House of Representatives in Concord.

The first notable bill is HB 1737, whose most prominent proponent is Rochester Senator Richard Green (R). The bill would impose a two-cent tax on soda, juice or water containers of less than one gallon, and a five-cent tax on containers holding more than one gallon. This would push the price of a 12-pack of soda up 24 cents, and is estimated to collect $15 million a year from NH citizens. It is proposed that 30 percent of the plunder would be spent on the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, a boondoggle created during the Shaheen administration that seizes tax money and spends it on specially favored historical sites or picaresque locations. How a "society values its heritage" is reflected by how much the individuals comprising the society spend on preserving it, not by how much politicians decide to take from their neighbors in order to preserve special interests. Voluntarism is the answer, not force.

Founded by Marshall Fritz in 1985, the Advocates for Self-Government is one of the highest-profile libertarian organizations in the United States. Its staff and board of advisors are recognized as some of the most productive libertarian thinkers of our time. Here is what Congressman Ron Paul had to say about the organization:

"...The Advocates [has made] invaluable contributions to the freedom cause. For almost twenty years, the Advocates has worked tirelessly to help libertarians better communicate the ideas of liberty. I continue to be impressed by the Advocates' work."

-- U.S. Congressman Ron Paul

Libertarianism in One Lesson: Why Libertarianism Is the Best Hope for America's Future asin: 0975432648 binding: Paperback

Origially published in 1984, "Libertariansm in One Lesson" is a concise, very readable explication of the principles of libertarianism, also known as "classical liberalism". The originall "liberals" believed in the primacy of the individual, and the peaceful fostering of a productive society through peaceful market interactions. If they believed in government at all, they believed in small government, based on the protection of Natural Rights, and th principle of "negative reciprocity". Mr. Bergland's book covers these principles and how they are used in practice. It is a valuable book.

David Bergland, the 1984 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate, and author of the famous book "Libertarianism in One Lesson" spoke with Gardner Goldsmith on January 10, 2006. The conversation covered the fundamentals of the freedom philosophy, and how it works in practice. Hear Mr. Bergland in this, and the first part of the conversation on "Against the Grain". For more information on Mr. Bergland, his work, and the work of his associates, go here: http://www.self-gov.org/ or turn to the more detailed link provided in our links section...

Libertarianism in One Lesson: Why Libertarianism Is the Best Hope for America's Future

David Bergland, the 1984 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate, and author of the famous book "Libertarianism in One Lesson" spoke with Gardner Goldsmith on January 10, 2006. The conversation covered the fundamentals of the freedom philosophy, and how it works in practice. Hear Mr. Bergland in this, and the second part of the conversation on "Against the Grain". For more information on Mr. Bergland, his work, and the work of his associates, go here: http://www.self-gov.org/ or turn to the more detailed link provided in our links section...

Libertarianism in One Lesson: Why Libertarianism Is the Best Hope for America's Future

Named after one of the most influential and important economists in history, the von Mises institute is known world-wide as a home of rigorous intellectual thought in support of individual liberty. Mises was in the vanguard of what is now known as the "Austrian School" of economics. He escaped to the United States at the time of Hitler's expansion through Austria, and brought his breakthrough thinking on freedom and markets to the US, where he published numerous books, including his opus, "Human Action".

Part two of our interview with Sheldon.

Separating School & State: How to Liberate America's Families

Hear Sheldon Richman, author of "Separating School and State", and editor of "The Freeman" magazine, discuss the troubles of FEMA, and comment on government "charity" versus the private sector, where real charity can occur.

For more from Sheldon and FEE visit www.fee.org

Separating School & State: How to Liberate America's Families

Resurgence of the Warfare State: The Crisis Since 9/11 asin: 0945999569 binding: Paperback list price: $12.95 USD amazon price: $27.65 USD

His work is highly recommended.

Higgs blends intellectual rigor, economic insight, and historical analysis into books that are essential reading for anyone interested in retaining individual liberty, and fostering a growing economy.

Robert Higgs, editor of the "Independent Review", and author of such books as "Crisis and Leviathan", and "Hazardous to Our Health", joined Gardner Goldsmith to discuss his latest work, "Resurgence of the Warfare State".

Higgs' insight regarding the "ratcheting" dynamic of "emergency/government intervention/government growth/emergency" has been recognized by economists, historians and political philosophers as one of the most important ideas to have been published on the subject of political economy. Listen to him here

Crisis and Leviathan: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government (A Pacific Research Ins

Resurgence of the Warfare State: The Crisis Since 9/11

Robert Higgs, editor of the "Independent Review", and author of such books as "Crisis and Leviathan", and "Hazardous to Our Health", joined Gardner Goldsmith to discuss his latest work, "Resurgence of the Warfare State".

Higgs' insight regarding the "ratcheting" dynamic of "emergency/government intervention/government growth/emergency" has been recognized by economists, historians and political philosophers as one of the most important ideas to have been published on the subject of political economy. Listen to him here, and in the second part of this interview.

Crisis and Leviathan: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government (A Pacific Research Ins

Resurgence of the Warfare State: The Crisis Since 9/11

Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest and Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics asin: 0517548232 binding: Paperback list price: $14.00 USD amazon price: $14.00 USD

Hazlitt, a columnist for the New York Times (when the paper was worth buying) and the Wall Street Journal, was a student of Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises. Hazlitt successfully expressed the essential elements of Mises' economic works in this valuable, readable, and insightful book. It is one of the classics of Twentieth Century economics.

Rudolph is a capitalist fable so says this Marxist review of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" Worth a fun read.. despite the leftist take on it.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Making Of The Rankin/Bass Holiday Classic

The Original Television Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Santa Claus Is Comin' t

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

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

Human Action: A Treatise on Economics asin: 0930073185 binding: Paperback list price: $29.95 USD amazon price: $29.95

The seminar masterpiece of Austrian Economics. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the cornerstones of subjective marginal utility theory. What does that mean? Each person values money differently.

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.

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.