Rational Review News Digest ---------------------------------------------------------- Published Monday-Friday, except for holidays Made possible by the generous support of our readers http://www.rationalreview.com/news
Produced in cooperation with the International Society for Individual Liberty http://www.isil.org ---------------------------------------------------------- Volume IV, Issue #932 Wednesday, July 5th, 2006 Email Circulation 2,004 ------ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS -------------------------------------- LIBERTARIANS: THE GAY-FRIENDLIEST PARTY Join Outright Libertarians online or at the LP National Convention to help keep the LP true to its gay-friendly roots. http://www.outrightlibertarians.org/ SEE THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET! Want a Smart Network or Dumb Pipe? Congress is about to Vote, Make Up Your Own Mind. It's About the Future of the Internet! http://www.internetofthefuture.com/ FREE STATE PROJECT Come to the 3rd annual FSP Porcupine Freedom Festival, the largest libertarian event of the year! June 23-July 1, 2006 Roger's Campground, Lancaster, NH http://freestateproject.org/festival FREEDOMAIN RADIO! Passionate, articulate, funny and irreverent, Freedomain Radio shines a bold light on old topics -- and invents a few new ones to boot! http://www.freedomainradio.com/ RADIO FREE LIBERTY Principled Libertarian Podcasts - Changing the world one iPod at a time! http://radiofreeliberty.com/ -------------------------------------- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ----- Today's News: 1) North Korea tests 7th missile amid furor 2) CA: Kennedy stays shun of the cross 3) Afghanistan: 17 killed in latest violence 4) Chechnya: Russian invaders killed in convoy attack 5) Iran defiant on nuclear deadline 6) Israeli military to expand Gaza invasion 7) Iraq wants UN oversight in rape-murder case 8) NORAD alert status stepped up 9) Homelessness a threat for Iraq vets 10) Shuttle Discovery returns to space 11) UK: War resister moved from prison to house arrest 12) GA: Homeowner shoots burglar 13) NC: Women thwart would-be robber 14) Anti-war protesters begin July 4 fast 15) Cocaine: New status symbol in India 16) CA: Liability for HIV infection 17) Beyond the call of duty 18) Doping scandal puts cycling at a fork in road 19) Mexico just says no to funky baby names 20) Army pitch in preteen magazine? Today's Commentary: 21) Which America do you celebrate? 22) Joe Magyer's convention journal 23) Ann Coulter ain't got all the dots on her dominoes 24) Politicians should exhibit prior restraint 25) The Great Declaration 26) Nationalism: Last refuge of the political loser 27) Taking out Lieberman 28) Thoughts on the Portland experience 29) independent day 30) Libertarian Party ditches its platform? 31) Why We Celebrate July 4th 32) Fasting on the 4th of July 33) Bombs bursting in air 34) A July Fourth declaration 35) The example 36) Kuwaiti student quick to invoke all-American alibi 37) Alarms fit the 4th of July 38) Understanding the meaning of freedom 39) Rape, lies and murder 40) King George: No divine right then, nor now 41) Avoiding fireworks over US patriotism 42) A land of evil 43) A new declaration 44) The first Portland post-mortem 45) A little temporary safety 46) Love Canal redux 47) AFI's 99% perspiration 48) Put the "independence" back in Independence Day 49) Progressives: Stop waiting for a hero 50) Roots of American liberty 51) Thoreau's Declaration of Independence 52) America's increasing democracy deficit 53) The individualist code 54) State telecom taxes stay high 55) The freedom to use medical marijuana 56) Prices 57) Judicial nominations and a possible retirement Today's Movement News & Events: 58) Seminar: Liberty, Economy & Society 59) ISIL's 25th World Freedom Summit 60) Authority and autonomy in the family 61) Reason in Amsterdam 2006 Today in Political History: 62) Star Chamber, interrupted News 1) North Korea tests 7th missile amid furor Niagara Gazette "North Korea test-fired another missile Wednesday, intensifying the furor ignited when the reclusive regime launched at least six missiles, including a long-range Taepodong, earlier in the day. The missiles apparently fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan, and U.S. officials said the long-range Taepodong-2 failed shortly after take-off, calling into question the technological capability of North Korea's feared ballistic missile program. Pyongyang last fired a long-range missile in 1998. ... The White House called the tests a 'provocation,' while the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday and Tokyo warned of economic sanctions against the impoverished, communist country. North Korea remained defiant. A North Korea foreign ministry official told Japanese journalists in Pyongyang that the regime there has an undeniable right to test missiles." (07/05/06) http://tinyurl.com/h4axa ----- 2) CA: Kennedy stays shun of the cross Palm Springs Desert Sun "The U.S. Supreme Court put on hold Monday an order to remove a monumental cross that sits on public land, giving hope to supporters just weeks before the cross was to be taken down. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, acting for the high court, issued a stay of a lower court order to remove the 29-foot cross by Aug. 1, buying time for the city of San Diego and other cross supporters to continue their fight in state and federal appellate courts. The city argued the cross was part of a broader memorial that was important to the community. San Diegans for the Mount Soledad National War Memorial joined the city's appeal, saying that they wanted to avoid the 'destruction of this national treasure.' In May, U.S. District Court Judge Gordon Thompson Jr. declared the cross, a symbol of Christianity, was an unconstitutional endorsement of one religion over another. Thompson ordered the city to take down the cross or pay daily fines of $5,000 starting Aug. 2." (07/05/06) http://tinyurl.com/m8tom ----- 3) Afghanistan: 17 killed in latest violence Cleveland Plain Dealer "A bomb hidden in a cart exploded Tuesday in a crowded intersection of downtown Kabul, injuring 10 people, and five Afghan laborers were ambushed and fatally shot on their way to a U.S. military base in eastern Afghanistan. The attacks came amid a surge of violence by Taliban-led rebels, 12 of whom were killed in a clash with police." (07/05/06) http://tinyurl.com/en3gh ----- 4) Chechnya: Russian invaders killed in convoy attack Cleveland Plain Dealer "Gunmen attacked a Russian military convoy in the Chechnya region Tuesday, killing at least five soldiers and wounding as many as 25 others, officials said. Pro-rebel [sic] Web sites claimed more than 20 Russian soldiers were killed." (07/05/06) http://tinyurl.com/qhcxz ----- 5) Iran defiant on nuclear deadline CNN "Iran has reiterated that it will issue its reply in August to the Western plan for incentives and talks over the country's nuclear program, an Iranian news report said. The Islamic Republic News Agency on Tuesday quoted Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as saying the date for a reply cannot be altered. 'August as a date set by Iran was determined as a result of all-out and careful study of the EU package and is unchangeable,' Mottaki is quoted as saying during a meeting with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim al-Thani." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/nt8jq ----- 6) Israeli military to expand Gaza invasion Guardian [UK] "Israeli leaders stepped up a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, authorizing troops Wednesday to move into residential areas and create a security zone to prevent militants from firing rockets into Israel. The Security Cabinet's decision indicated that Israel could be prepared to partially reoccupy Gaza, less than a year after withdrawing all troops and settlements from the coastal strip. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened the urgent meeting after militants from the ruling Hamas group fired a rocket into the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon late Tuesday. Although the attack caused no injuries, it was the first time a rocket has flown so far into Israel, signaling that militants have improved the range of the primitive weapons and escalating a crisis over a captured Israeli soldier." (07/05/06) http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5931624,00.html ----- 7) Iraq wants UN oversight in rape-murder case MSNBC "Iraq's justice minister demanded Tuesday that the U.N. Security Council ensure a group of U.S. troops is punished for allegedly raping and murdering a young Iraqi woman and executing her family, calling the attack 'monstrous and inhuman.' Justice Minister Hashim Abdul-Rahman al-Shebli condemned the attack a day after former private Steven D. Green appeared in federal court in North Carolina to face charges of killing the woman's family so he and other soldiers could rape her." (07/04/06) http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13696479/ ----- 8) NORAD alert status stepped up CNN "The Air Force station that is home to the North American Aerospace Defense Command was put on heightened security in the past two weeks, a spokesman said. The current 'Bravo-Plus' status is slightly higher than a medium threat level, said Michael Kucharek, a spokesman for NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command, which is also at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. The heightened status affects the level of security at Cheyenne Mountain and doesn't change operations at NORAD or the command, Kucharek said." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/efzec ----- 9) Homelessness a threat for Iraq vets Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel "Herold Noel had nowhere to call home after returning from military service in Iraq. He slept in his Jeep, taking care to find a parking space where he wouldn't get a ticket. 'Then the nightmares would start,' says the 26-year-old former Army private first class, who drove a fuel truck in Iraq. 'I saw a baby decapitated when it was run over by a truck -- I relived that every night.' Across America on any given evening, hundreds of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan like Noel are homeless, according to government estimates." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/ebfyx ----- 10) Shuttle Discovery returns to space Baltimore Sun "NASA gave the shuttle Discovery a majestic Fourth of July send-off and said early signs showed the spacecraft to be in good shape, despite once again being struck by the flying foam that has plagued the program. The first-ever Independence Day manned launch came after two weather delays and over objections from those within NASA who argued for more fuel-tank repairs." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/kn5oy ----- 11) UK: War resister moved from prison to house arrest Independent [UK] "An RAF doctor sentenced 12 weeks ago to eight months' imprisonment for refusing to serve in Iraq has been released from jail and put under house detention. Flt Lt Malcolm Kendall-Smith, who has been tagged and placed under a curfew, has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal. A group of celebrities, including the actor Simon Callow, the film director Ken Loach and the designer Vivienne Westwood, took part in a fundraising event for Flt Lt Kendall-Smith, who is no longer entitled to legal aid. The RAF doctor had spent his period of incarceration in a closed high-security prison, Chelmsford, instead of being transferred to an open prison, as was the general expectation, including that of Ministry of Defence officials." (07/04/06) http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article1160960.ece ----- 12) GA: Homeowner shoots burglar WSAV News "Pooler police said an armed burglary suspect is dead after a homeowner shot him in self-defense. Police said it happened in a Moore Avenue home around 10:30 Sunday night. Investigators said Dale Johnston shot the suspect, 35-year-old Christopher Baxter, several times when he heard Baxter inside his house. According to police, Baxter was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police said Johnston is not facing any charges at this time." (07/03/06) http://tinyurl.com/hl4cj ----- 13) NC: Women thwart would-be robber News 14 "Three women in northeast Charlotte overpowered a robbery suspect Sunday night and then held him until police arrived. According to a police report, the three women were walking near Sipes Lane, just after 9:30, when a man with a handgun approached them.The women were able to take the gun from the suspect and then restrain him until police officers got to the scene." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/pe6sw ----- 14) Anti-war protesters begin July 4 fast Reuters "About 150 protesters sat in front of the White House on Monday to savor their last meal before starting a hunger strike that some said will continue until American troops return from Iraq. The demonstration marking the Independence Day holiday was organized by CodePink, a women's anti-war group that called on volunteers to abstain from eating for 24 hours from midnight on Monday. Some protesters said their fast would continue beyond July 4th." (07/03/06) http://tinyurl.com/qxsmt ----- 15) Cocaine: New status symbol in India Phiillyburbs.com "What may have begun with a couple of snorts has fast become a media-driven blizzard over whether, along with German cars and French handbags, another Western import is sweeping India: cocaine. Call it the full-on yuppification of India's latte-swilling set. 'It's all linked with purchasing power,' said Kiran Bedi, a police official who runs a drug treatment center. 'Cocaine is expensive. You've got to have money for it, and now more people have money. It becomes a matter of keeping up with the Joneses.' It's natural to see many Indian trends through the prism of the country's economic boom, and this story is no different. Exposed in increasing numbers to clothes, music and mores of the West, some well-off Indians have, perhaps inevitably, picked up its less savory habits. That's clear on any given weekend at New Delhi's trendy clubs and bars -- places with velvet ropes and steep cover charges -- where drugs are readily on offer, and, occasionally, openly in use." (07/04/06) http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/90-07042006-679226.html ----- 16) CA: Liability for HIV infection San Francisco Chronicle "A man who is accused of infecting his wife or longtime sexual partner with the AIDS virus may have to disclose his past sexual activities to determine whether he should have known he was HIV-positive, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday. Emphasizing that the ruling applied to married or monogamous couples and not necessarily to those in casual relationships, the justices voted 4-2 to allow damages against someone who knew, or had reason to know, that he or she was infected with the human immunodeficiency virus before spreading it to a partner. Among the information that a lawsuit defendant may have to reveal are the dates and frequency of high-risk sexual behavior, such as unprotected sex between two men or between someone of either sex and an intravenous drug user. A defendant may also have to disclose any medical tests or symptoms that might have indicated that he or a partner was infected." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/m5ra9 ----- 17) Beyond the call of duty Cincinnati Enquirer "When the Defense Department letter came to Jim Dillinger's Mount Orab home in May 2004 telling him that he was one of 5,600 members of the Individual Ready Reserve being called back for duty in Iraq, there was never any question that he would answer the call. He would go, despite being 43 years old and eight years removed from his service in the Ohio National Guard, despite the fact that he would have to leave his wife, Tammy, behind to care for their three children and that he would have to walk away from a good job for at least a year. He would go and serve for a year with a combat engineer battalion in one of the most dangerous jobs in a dangerous place, searching out and destroying the roadside bombs that had taken the lives of so many fellow soldiers and Marines. And, when he returned, he discovered a truth that shook him to the core and made him question his faith in the military he had served most of his adult life: The Army sent him to Iraq by mistake. Because of a clerical error, Dillinger was taken from his family for 14 months to serve in a war zone when his legal obligation to serve had ended five years earlier." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/hwq6o ----- 18) Doping scandal puts cycling at a fork in road Christian Science Monitor "The doping scandal that knocked the favorites out of the Tour de France Friday could mark a fork in the road not only for cycling's premier event, but for the sport as a whole. The unprecedented scope (implicating 58 cyclists) and dramatic timing of this crackdown may also set a new standard for other sports dogged by allegations of illegal drug use. It also shows that police investigations -- rather than testing by sports authorities -- have so far proved the most effective way to catch cheaters. 'Either this is the worst day in the history of cycling or it's the day when they finally start getting a handle on the problems,' says Dick Pound, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal. After years of suspicion over widespread cheating in the sport, Spanish authorities claim to have uncovered a major doping network." (07/04/06) http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0703/p01s02-woeu.html ----- 19) Mexico just says no to funky baby names Fox News "Oh baby! You can make it, carry it around for nine months and bring it onto the planet whenever, wherever and with whomever you'd like (theoretically, at least), but when it comes to naming it, one Mexican state says you'd better say adios to your favorite funky baby names. Authorities in the state of Chihuahua are enforcing a new set of rules -- extremely specific rules at that -- on what the baby-makers can call their kiddos, KVIA reports. It seems the state was displeased with a rash of tots running around with odd, creative and foreign names, so it decided to issue a reminder of what's considered appropriate and what isn't. Among the names deemed 'improper' by the state are Lluvia, which means rain, Azul, which means blue and Kevin, which means well, who knows. The rules dictate that if parents must name their child a foreign-sounding name, then it has to be followed by a Spanish middle name, like Maria." [editor's note: I wonder what they'd say about the mother in Alabama who named her son, "Shithead" ... pronounced "Shuh-THEED!" - SAT] (07/03/06) http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,201868,00.html ----- 20) Army pitch in preteen magazine? Boston Globe "What began as an attempt to educate middle-school students about the military has set off a string of complaints from parents and teachers that new learning materials designed by a New Hampshire publisher for 9- to 14-year-olds amount to little more than an early recruiting pitch for the Army. The latest issue of Cobblestone magazine, distributed nationwide to schools and libraries, is dedicated to the Army, a first for the popular periodical. Titled 'Duty, Honor, Country,' the issue depicts a soldier in Iraq manning a machine gun on its glossy cover and includes articles ranging from what it's like to go through boot camp -- 'You're in the Army Now' -- to a rundown of the Army's 'awesome arsenal,' to a detailed description of Army career opportunities." (07/03/06) http://tinyurl.com/m3vd4 ---------------------------------------------------------- HEALTH-OF-THE-STATE-O-METER, 06/30/06 Civilian Casualties in Iraq: Min - 38,839 ... Max - 43,269 (source: iraqbodycount.org) American Military Deaths in Iraq: 2,537 (source: www.antiwar.com/casualties/) ---------------------------------------------------------- Commentary 21) Which America do you celebrate? LewRockwell.Com by Anthony Gregory "Conservatives particularly love those holidays that they view as the best opportunities to display their patriotism. On the Fourth of July, they will predictably be among the loudest to cheer on the symbols of the day -- the waving flags, the fireworks, the parades -- as a show of their devotion to America. But what is it that they are cheering on this year? Which America is the subject of their admiration, the inspiration for their barbecues and red-white-and-bluedecorated homes? As many of them would describe it, they are celebrating the America that freed itself from British rule in the late 18th century, the America whose birth as a nation was the origin of Independence Day observances ever since, the America that has fought wars for freedom all over the world for the last century and is currently entrenched in a war on terror in the Middle East. There is a contradiction here, however." (07/04/06) http://www.lewrockwell.com/gregory/gregory118.html ----- 22) Joe Magyer's convention journal Third Party Watch by Joe Magyer "Table of contents" page for a series of articles written from (and covering the events of) the Libertarian Party's 2006 national convention in Portland, Oregon. (06/30/06-07/03/06) http://thirdpartywatch.com/2006/07/04/joe-magyers-convention-journal/ ----- 23) Ann Coulter ain't got all the dots on her dominoes Rational Review by Michell L. "What's the deal with this chick? In her latest rant, Dame Colter has the audacity to equate the New York Times' publishing revelations concerning the US government's examination of international banking records with 'treason' (her seemingly favorite word; at least when it comes to liberals and not the current residents of the White House)." (07/05/06) http://www.rationalreview.com/content/14278 ----- 24) Politicians should exhibit prior restraint Independent Institute by Ivan Eland "Last week the U.S. House of Representatives, on a party line vote, passed an innocuous-sounding resolution that 'expects the cooperation of all news media organizations in protecting the lives of Americans and the capability of the government to identify, disrupt, and capture terrorists by not disclosing classified intelligence programs such as the Terrorist Financing Tracking Program.' The program in question involves government monitoring of international electronic banking transfers for suspected terrorist activity. In reality, the resolution, passed just before the celebration of U.S. independence from autocratic oppression, was aimed at intimidating a free press -- a major component of American freedom." (07/03/06) http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1760 ----- 25) The Great Declaration Founding Fathers by Henry William Elson "Let us now go back for half a year and shift the scene again to Philadelphia, and the scene, covering some eight months, is the most dramatic of all the scenes in the drama. Early in the autumn of 1775 Congress was waiting to hear from the king. In deference to his Majesty, who would not recognize Congress as a legal body, the members had signed their humble petition, not as a body, but separately, as individuals representing their respective colonies. This alone proves their sincerity, and absolutely disproves any intention to strike for independence at that time. The petition reached London in August. The answer came late in October, and it was a stunning blow, even to the most sanguine. King George had declined to receive the petition, or to see the messenger that bore it!" (written 1904) http://tinyurl.com/z3rg9 ----- 26) Nationalism: Last refuge of the political loser LewRockwell.Com by Leon Hadar "It was only yesterday that American pundits were writing political obituaries for US President George W. Bush and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill. With the anti-American violence in Iraq showing no signs of ending any time soon and helping to force Mr. Bush's approval ratings in the public opinion polls to the low 30s, the consensus among political analysts in Washington was that the Republicans would suffer a major blow in the coming mid-term Congressional elections in November. Indeed, some observers speculated that if the opposition Democrats took control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, they would not only launch investigations into the Bush administration's conduct in the events leading to the decision to attack Iraq, but they might event consider taking steps to impeach the current White House occupant. This doomsday scenario (from the Republican perspective) seems less likely now that President Bush and the Republicans have decided to embrace an aggressive nationalist agenda aimed at igniting more fear of The Terrorists (or anyone who looks and sounds like The Terrorists) and hostility towards those who allegedly appease The Terrorists, including the 'liberal' press and the Democrats." (07/05/06) http://www.lewrockwell.com/hadar/hadar63.html ----- 27) Taking out Lieberman AntiWar.Com by Justin Raimondo "[T]here are signs the War Party's stranglehold over the leadership of at least one major party is beginning to fray. This unraveling is a response to the grassroots antiwar sentiment that is energizing a burgeoning number of Democratic Party activists -- both old and new -- forcing the moribund leadership to either come out against the occupation of Iraq or else join Sen. Joe Lieberman, the president's most stalwart supporter when it comes to the war. Indeed, Lieberman is more royalist than the king, attacking any idea of a drawdown in troops as impermissible, and even demanding an end to all discussion of withdrawal. This last is what the Lieberman wing of Democrats has always been about: limiting debate, shutting down discussion, and policing the party's candidates and organizational structure at the precinct level to ensure that no challenge to interventionism and militarism arises from the grassroots." (07/05/06) http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=9249 ----- 28) Thoughts on the Portland experience This is not an exit by Morey Straus "Many principled/consistent/purist libertarians feel that the party is now lost to the 'Republican-lite' faction, and are disassociating themselves from the LP. My own anecdotal evidence suggests the number quitting for that reason now eclipses the number of pragmatists quitting the party because of our failure to gain ground in the electoral arena. At least for now. ... I hope we are not nearing the end, and that the party can persevere and regain its place at the forefront of the freedom movement." (07/03/06) http://tinyurl.com/r4s77 ----- 29) independent day Free State Observer by S.C. Pierre "I have loved being a member of the Libertarian Party. I've met many fine people through the organization, and have been proud to stand beside them. However, I will no longer be affiliated with it, as I no longer have any particular reason to do so." (07/04/06) http://www.freestateobserver.com/?p=97 ----- 30) Libertarian Party ditches its platform? free libertarian by Mike Renzulli "The last thing voters need is a party that claims to be principled but takes unprincipled stances on issues from guns, to drugs, to taxation, to immigration. If the pragmatists are so hell-bent on making the L.P. into a major party, their hopes will be dashed since the interest groups in place that benefit from the current system in place now will do all they can to ensure that the L.P. doesn't get any farther than electing someone to a city council seat in rural Alaska or a legislator or two in the Vermont or New Hampshire state legislatures." (07/02/06) http://tinyurl.com/lpvp3 ----- 31) Why We Celebrate July 4th The Libertarian Enterprise by Tim Wingate "In 1776, fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence declaring that, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident.' What truths were 'these truths?'" (07/03/06) http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2006/tle374-20060702-04.html ----- 32) Fasting on the 4th of July Common Dreams by Elisa Salasin "Yesterday, when I told a friend that I would be fasting on July 4th, he looked at me and asked. 'Why?' While I wanted to spill out all of my various personal and political reasons for choosing to engage in a fast, I found that I was unable to respond with anything more than a brief explanation that I was doing it in solidarity with the Code Pink 'Troops Home' Fast, that I am anti-war and anti-torture, that I would be fasting for peace. And, all of that is true. However, I have no illusions that my fasting, more or less on my own, in the progressive mecca of Berkeley, California, is going to end war or bring troops home. I am not fasting with any hope of bringing about a change of heart or mind on the part of Bush, Cheney, or any of their posse of neocon war-makers. For, indeed, I am not fasting for them." (07/04/06) http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0704-20.htm ----- 33) Bombs bursting in air Truthout by Cindy Sheehan "The star-spangled banner has been in the news quite a lot lately. Some 'courageous' senators, including one of my own, Dianne Feinstein, and everyone's favorite left-wing liberal, Hillary Clinton, bravely stuck their necks out to support an amendment that would make it illegal to burn the flag of the USA under certain circumstances. Heaven forbid one of these pusillanimous public servants introduce, or even support, a bill that would call for an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq or even require that the president set a timeline for the withdrawal of our troops from a deadly quagmire of an occupation while they are handing him more money to wage the war crime in Iraq." (07/04/06) http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070406Y.shtml ----- 34) A July Fourth declaration The Nation by Katrina vanden Heuvel "It is clear that the American Constitution is in grave danger. It is time to make the defense of the Constitution a national theme for all candidates in this year's electoral contests. The threat to the Constitution from President Bush, his administration, and an accomplice Republican Congress is all too obvious. In clear violation of established law and centuries-old political precedent, they have wiretapped American citizens; imprisoned citizens without warrants, charges, or means of redress; sanctioned and abetted the torture of foreign nationals; ignored clear Congressional legislative intent with the likes of 750 signing statements; disabled Congressional oversight of their actions; undertaken an assault on the press' right to publish the truth; and suppressed dissent and public-minded information disclosure within the Executive branch itself. This abuse and overreach of Presidential power directly challenges the 'checks and balances' at the core of our constitutional design. It proposes a government fundamentally different from that declared by the Founding Fathers." [editor's note: It's fascinating how perceptive progressives can be about "Constitutional abuses" ... as long as the abuser is not a Demeaucrat! - SAT] (07/03/06) http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?pid=98519 ----- 35) The example Truthout by William Rivers Pitt "The Fourth of July is upon us again, and with it comes the inevitable vast, rolling river of patriotic self-congratulation from every corner. Soldiers and veterans will be lionized even as they are sacrificed and ignored, flags will fly, and in cities and towns across the nation, the evening skies will be lit with pyrotechnic brilliance. Today is a cherished spot on the calendar for politicians of every stripe, simply because they can spout platitudes on a day off and not be accounted scoundrels or hypocrites for doing so. Today, they are supposed to do this. Being patriotic on the Fourth of July is like shooting fish in a barrel." (07/04/06) http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070406Z.shtml ----- 36) Kuwaiti student quick to invoke all-American alibi Arizona Republic by E. J. Montini "Last week, a young Kuwaiti woman who was lucky enough to avoid jail time after leaving the scene of a fatal accident told a local TV reporter that she had been victimized by the justice system because of her Arab roots. 'It's been hell,' 20-year-old Reem Bishara said. 'I've been to hell and back. ... I was treated very unfairly. I shouldn't be paying the price for this. I'm not the one who did anything.' Actually, she did. Bishara's attitude illustrates exactly why so many people are put off by her. It isn't because she was born a Kuwaiti. It's because she behaves like an American. Not like the early patriots whom we celebrate each July Fourth, but like the 2006 variety, who would rather blame others for their troubles than own up to them." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/pv3vf ----- 37) Alarms fit the 4th of July Truthout by George Beres "What does Daniel Ellsberg have to do with Paul Revere? The 4th of July holiday reminds that both took personal risks by sounding the alarm about problems with the country's rulers. Revere's alert was 'The British are coming!' Ellsberg's is 'The government is lying!' When lies today hide the truth about government actions, where can people turn? Since 1971, to a whistleblower like Ellsberg. As we've seen, 'whistlers' whose data contradicts government lies cannot wait until they are safely out of government work. Their impact depends on speaking out while yet on the inside, even with the dangers that implies for them. Like Paul Revere of the original 4th of July, what they reveal and what they urge is in response to malfeasance in government. In the 1700s, one of the issues was 'taxation without representation.' Today, with Ellsberg sounding the alarm, it is about declaring war without justification." (07/04/06) http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070406A.shtml ----- 38) Understanding the meaning of freedom Boston Globe by George Lakoff "Not since the Civil War has America been more divided politically. The Civil War was fought over the question of what freedom in America was to be. The issue was in the open for all to see: human slavery, the bluntest effrontery to the idea of freedom. The Culture War today is once more about the question of what freedom is to be in America. But it is subtler. No slaves. Instead, 'detainees' in Guantanamo, held without due process; more than a million young African-Americans in US prisons, many held for nonviolent or victimless crimes; torture in Abu Ghraib and at secret destinations in Egypt and Syria; government spying on ordinary citizens. No slaves. Instead, illegal immigrants who want to come here to do back-breaking work for low pay and few rights. Remarkably, all this is in the name of 'freedom.'" [editor's note: The writer is of course mistaken about the real primary reasons for the "Civil War" (aka "The War of Northern Aggression"), and the rest of his words show only some comprehension of what "conservative" and "progressive" mean ... but there are some valid points here as well - SAT] (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/zddtw ----- 39) Rape, lies and murder CounterPunch by Paul Craig Roberts "Americans who get their propaganda from Fox 'News' or are told what to think by right-wing talk radio hosts are outraged at news reports that U.S. troops planned and carried out the rape and murder of a young Iraqi woman. They are not outraged that the troops committed the deed; they are outraged that the media reported it. These 'conservatives,' who proudly wear their patriotism on their sleeves, dismiss the reports of the incident as a Big Lie floated by 'the anti-American liberal media' in order to demoralize Americans and reduce public support for the war." (07/04/06) http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts07042006.html ----- 40) King George: No divine right then, nor now Tennessean by John Egerton "The recent disclosure that Bush administration spy agencies have been secretly compiling data on the private phone calls of American citizens has sparked a heated national debate about the state of our civil liberties. There are laws that provide for such surveillance with court approval, but President Bush chose to ignore them. By what authority did he do this? His supporters say the president has 'war powers' that allow him to suspend certain rights and privileges at his own discretion, secretly and independently of any judicial restraint. His opponents reply that such actions are a deliberate violation of the U. S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment prohibition against 'unreasonable search and seizure.' Some have called these and other presidential decisions 'imperial' -- more suited to a king than an elected leader." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/m8cvx ----- 41) Avoiding fireworks over US patriotism Christian Science Monitor by staff "As on every Fourth, Americans know how to throw a party. Fireworks pop in unison, burgers are grilled perfectly, strawberry shortcake is passed out like candy. But one dish is hard to get right: patriotism. It is as much political weapon as it is social glue. The word is often problematic because America is not a nation in the usual sense of the term, but an idea. 'To be an American is not to be somebody, but to believe something,' observes Gordon Wood, author of Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different. That 'something' is a commonly accepted set of values, enshrined in the country's founding history and documents, that holds together a disparate collection of ethnicities and religions. Freedom, equality, democracy -- these values work as a super epoxy, uniting the country in times of calamity, such as after a presidential assassination or a 9/11." (07/03/06) http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0703/p08s02-comv.html ----- 42) A land of evil The Power of Narrative by Arthur Silber "Many people may find it sickeningly immoral of me to highlight the following column on the Fourth of July. At the very least, I'm certain that some of my critics will find me guilty of the great crime of 'anti-Americanism.' After all, shouldn't we be celebrating the undeniably admirable and philosophically radical principles upon which our nation was founded? In response to such charges, I offer two thoughts. First, we have strayed so far from our founding principles that the American revolutionists would not even recognize this country today in terms of the issues of liberty and individual rights for which they fought. ... Second, if there is any chance at all to reclaim our birthright and change our current disastrous course -- one which is headed straight into full authoritarian dictatorship -- we need the courage to identify exactly and with intellectual precision where we are now. What better time to do that than on the day we celebrate our nation's birth?" (07/04/06) http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2006/07/land-of-evil.html ----- 43) A new declaration Free Market News Network by US Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) "It is easy to simply blame faceless bureaucrats and politicians for our current state of affairs, and they do bear much of the blame. But blame also rests with those who expect Washington DC to solve every problem under the sun. If the public demanded that Congress abide by the Constitution and pass only constitutional spending bills, politicians would have no choice but to respond. Everybody seems to agree that government waste is rampant and spending should but cut -- but not when it comes to their communities or pet projects. So members of Congress have every incentive to support spending bills and adopt a go-along, get-along attitude. This leads to the famous compromises, but the bill eventually comes due on April 15th." (07/04/06) http://www.fmnn.com/Analysis/110/5563/declaration.asp?nid=5563&wid=110 ----- 44) The first Portland post-mortem Hammer of Truth by Stuart Richards "First it was the pragmatists, getting angry about the pledge's retention. Then it was purists, angry about the dumping of the pledge. There's been a lot of despair and hope felt by both sides. It's been a wrenching, dramatic affair. However, if we all would just step back for a second and look at what's been done, I think we all can be proud of what just happened." (07/03/06) http://hammeroftruth.com/2006/07/03/the-first-portland-post-mortem/ ----- 45) A little temporary safety The Price of Liberty by L. Reichard White "Indulge me here, folks, I'm just celebrating the Fourth of July, you know, 'America's Holiday,' the official day the Declaration of Independence was signed by the founders, declaring their independence from repressive government. And now, moving right along - - - Polls have consistently shown that, being the macho folks we apparently are, we Americans don't care if the U.S. Government listens in on our phone conversations, spies on our e-mails, and/or secretely black-bags our domiciles, frames some of us, and now, peeks over our shoulders at our bank accounts. Even if 'the government' breaks its own laws doing it -- and doesn't really have to." (07/06) http://www.thepriceofliberty.org/06/07/03/white.htm ----- 46) Love Canal redux No Force, No Fraud by Bob Smith "In 1947, Hooker Chemical bought the site and used it for their own waste until it was filled in 1952, when they closed the site and backfilled the canal. The local school board tried to buy part of the site from Hooker, on which they wanted to build an elementary school. Hooker refused to sell, and went to extreme lengths to convince city officials that the site was unsafe for public use. Eventually, with the threat of eminent domain, the city forced Hooker into selling the property for a dollar. Hooker complied, only with their thorough explanation of why it was a disastrous idea. Hooker had sealed the area carefully, but the city forced their way through the seal, built the school, dug sewers, and approved construction of homes ... with no warnings to the homebuyers." (07/03/06) http://libertyed.org/noforce/2006/07/love-canal-redux.html ----- 47) AFI's 99% perspiration Reason by Tim Cavanaugh "In the eight years since the American Film Institute premiered its original list of the '100 greatest American films of all time,' the institute has shown all the dexterity of Alan Smithee in finding new ways to repackage and re-promote the same group of movies. We've seen lists of greatest stars, greatest comedies, greatest thrillers, greatest love stories, greatest movie songs and soundtracks, greatest heroes and villains, greatest lines of dialogue, and this year, '100 YEARS ... 100 CHEERS: 100 Most Inspiring Films Of All Time' -- and yet the basic group of films has remained almost unchanged. If your idea of a great movie experience is to line up for Gone With the Mockingbird Who Came To Casablanca While Saving Schindler's List of Arabia, this year's list is for you. Then again, so is every year's list." (07/03/06) http://www.reason.com/links/links070306.shtml ----- 48) Put the "independence" back in Independence Day Intellectual Conservative by Michael S. Berliner "'Independence Day' is a critically important title. It signifies the fundamental meaning of this nation, not just of the holiday. The American Revolution remains unique in human history: a revolution -- and a nation -- founded on a moral principle, the principle of individual rights. Jefferson at Philadelphia, and Washington at Valley Forge, pledged their 'lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.' For what? Not for mere separation from England, not -- like most rebels -- for the 'freedom' to set up their own tyranny. In fact, Britain's tyranny over the colonists was mild compared to what most current governments do to their citizens. Jefferson and Washington fought a war for the principle of independence, meaning the moral right of an individual to live his own life as he sees fit." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/eogmt ----- 49) Progressives: Stop waiting for a hero AlterNet by Rev. Jim Rigby "As we get closer to the presidential elections, a conversation will be heard all across America. 'Who can liberals choose that will save this country? Is he the one, or is it her?' Lists are being compiled and a debate held over which of the names is America's savior. For liberals, the correct answer is 'none of the above.' I say this without knowing who will be the nominee. I say this not because the individuals in question are inadequate. I say this because progressive values cannot be saved by heroes. Progressive values can only be saved by ordinary citizens living up to their principles." (07/04/06) http://www.alternet.org/story/38266/ ----- 50) Roots of American liberty AntiWar.Com/Orange County Register by Alan W. Bock "The Battle of Lexington and Concord in April 1775 led to other colonies raising militias and eventually driving the British out of Boston. Although they were in open rebellion and had deposed most British governors by early 1776, many Americans were still ready to be loyal subjects of King George if the king would only treat them right. But sentiment for independence was growing (helped along by Thomas Paine's anti-monarchical pamphlet 'Common Sense'), and by mid-1776 the Second Continental Congress was ready to declare independence." (07/04/06) http://www.antiwar.com/ocregister/roots-of-liberty.html ----- 51) Thoreau's Declaration of Independence The Weekly Standard by Patrick J. Walsh "On July 4,1845, Henry David Thoreau built a cabin at Walden woods in Concord and challenged what he called the 'restless, nervous, bustling, trivial 19th century.' His full message delivered in Walden is as refreshing and revolutionary as when it was first published. Sadly, Walden is more often quoted than read. Today, Thoreau is whittled down as a prop to suit the political agendas of environmentalist, naturalists, and liberals. But Walden transcends all such cloying categories." (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/guhqg ----- 52) America's increasing democracy deficit Mother Jones by Steven Hill "President George W. Bush has yet to exercise a single veto, the only president in modern history never to do so, because he doesn't need to -- he simply ignores any congressional laws he doesn't like. It leaves Congress as mostly an advisory body to the president. It leaves the courts as a peripheral institution without its historical oversight role. And it leaves civil liberties -- and Americans who are used to enjoying them -- in a very precarious position. America used to call this by another name -- autocracy." (06/30/06) http://tinyurl.com/pqmo8 ----- 53) The individualist code Ludwig von Mises Institute by Stephen Cox "What accounts for the popularity of 'The Da Vinci Code' and other crackpot exposes of Christian history? Part of it is the novelty factor: many people know so little about the history of any religion that even the oddest and dumbest falsehoods seem fresh and provocative to them. But there's another explanation too: People have an instinct for liberty, an instinct that urges them to rebel against institutions they regard as authoritarian and anti-individualistic. Rightly or wrongly, many people see Christianity in this way." (07/03/06) http://www.mises.org/story/2232 ----- 54) State telecom taxes stay high Heartland Institute by Bill Peacock "Even as the U.S. Treasury ends the century-old federal excise tax on phone service, the states continue to single out telecom services as a cash cow. Down in the Lone Star State, Texans have been focused on reducing school property taxes, and rightly so -- as a percentage of income, the per-capita property tax burden in Texas ranked us 11th worst among the states in 2004. However, there is at least one area of taxation where Texas ranks even worse: telecommunications. Texans pays a total of 29.29 percent in taxes on the average phone bill. This means Texans face the third highest tax burden in the country. Only in Virginia and Maryland are telecom levies higher." (07/06) http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=19248 ----- 55) The freedom to use medical marijuana Frontiers of Freedom by Kenneth Michael White "Proponents of medical marijuana prohibition argue that the medical use of marijuana is too dangerous to allow because it is addictive. Putting aside the fact that doctors safely recommend much more dangerous substances than medical marijuana, like cocaine and morphine, consider for the sake of argument that prohibitionists are correct in their assertion that medical marijuana is addictive. So what? Consider how a free country generally handles addictions. Coffee is addictive. Every morning, all across America, there are people (many of them idling in their cars at a drive-thru) getting java. What happens when these people do not get their coffee on time and as anticipated?" (07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/s7atv ----- 56) Prices Foundation for Economic Education by Ludwig Von Mises "The ultimate source of the determination of prices is the value judgments of the consumers. Each individual, in buying or not buying and in selling or not selling, contributes his share to the formation of market prices. But the larger the market is, the smaller is the weight of each individual's contribution. Thus the structure of market prices appears to the individual as a datum to which he must adjust his own conduct. What is called a price is always a relationship within an integrated system which is the composite effect of human relations. Money prices are exchange ratios. The divisibility of money, unlimited for all practical purposes, makes it possible to determine the exchange ratios with nicety." (written 09/81; posted 07/04/06) http://tinyurl.com/mgqqf ----- 57) Judicial nominations and a possible retirement Center For Individual Freedom by staff "Summer officially started last week, which typically means things inside the beltway slow down as the heat rises. Not so this year. Among hot items on Congress' plate are a constitutional amendment on flag burning, a line-item veto bill and summer hearings on illegal immigration. The Supreme Court just released its opinions on some of its most contentious cases this term. And, the War on Terror continues. Unfortunately, it appears the summer season will pass without much activity on President Bush's nominees for federal court appointments, some of whom continue to wait for hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee or an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor." (06/29/06) http://tinyurl.com/qy293 ----- RRND MEDIASHELF -------------------------------------------- Books, CDs and other tchotchkes from today's edition: Revolutionary Characters, by Gordon Wood http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1594200939/rationalrev08-20 Walden, by Henry David Thorea http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486284956/rationalrev08-20 The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400079179/rationalrev08-20 Note: Affiliate links generate commissions for RRND's editors. -------------------------------------------- RRND MEDIASHELF ---- Movement News & Events 58) Seminar: Liberty, Economy & Society Independent Institute 06/26-30/06 and 08/7-11/06 "To help high school and college-age students better understand the social and economic issues faced throughout life, The Independent Institute sponsors the Liberty, Economy & Society Summer Seminars as a major part of the Institute's overall program for students. These dynamic seminars help students learn what economics is, how it affects their lives, and how understanding its laws can help them achieve the things they care about." Independent Institute, 100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA. Enrollment fee $195 per student, including course materials. Tuition assistance available. http://www.independent.org/students/seminars/ ----- 59) ISIL's 25th World Freedom Summit International Society for Individual Liberty 07/07/06-07/12/06 "ISIL's international conference for 2006 is being held in the stunningly beautiful city of Prague, Czech Republic." Scholarships for students/young activists available. Watch this space for details To Be Announced! http://www.isil.org/conference/ ----- 60) Authority and autonomy in the family various 08/19/06 "August 19, 2006 at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA. Speakers confirmed so far include Nathaniel Branden, Peter Breggin (via live video), Susan Love Brown, Marshall Fritz and Sharon Presley. Topics include liberating education, liberating childrearing, encouraging critical intelligence in children, alternative family structures, egalitarian marriage, and encouraging self-esteem in children. The sponsors are Resources for Independent Thinking, the Civil Society Institute, and the Association of Libertarian Feminists." http://www.autonomyinthefamily.org ----- 61) Reason in Amsterdam 2006 Reason Foundation 08/23/06-08/26/06 "Amidst the beauty of Amsterdam's canals, flower markets and colorful people, attendees of Reason in Amsterdam, 2006 will enjoy a unique opportunity to learn about the contemporary struggle in Europe from prominent European and American intellectuals." An astounding roster of guests and speakers, including Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of the hit series "South Park," Time Magazine's Andrew Sullivan, Reason editors Nick Gillespie and Jacob Sullum, and a host of distinguished authors, activists and political leaders. August 23-26 at the Grand Amsterdam Hotel. $425. Online registration available. http://www.reason.org/amsterdam/ Today in Political History 62) Star Chamber, interrupted Details, and the "quote of the day," from Leon's Political Almanac at: http://perspicuity.net/cgi/hypercal.cgi ---------------------------------------------------------- RRND is published every weekday except on holidays. Forward freely. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or financially support RRND, visit: http://www.rationalreview.com/news To support ISIL's Free-Market.Net Project (tax deductible) http://www.isil.org/store/membership.html ---------------------------------------------------------- Thomas L. Knapp ..... Publisher Mary Lou Seymour .... Editor Steve Trinward ...... Editor R. Lee Wrights ...... Editor --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. 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