When you read about all the marvelous things that will happen courtesy of central planning think about how government always ends up helping the military-industrial -pharmaceutical-bankster complex on the back of the taxpayer
From My Senator’s email
Senate Democrats just passed one of the most significant pieces of legislation in my lifetime. The Inflation Reduction Act won’t just tackle rising costs for working families. It also finally gives Medicare the authority to negotiate drug prices, protect access to affordable health care for millions of Americans, reduce the national debt by more than $300 billion, and puts our Nation on track to reduce emissions 40% by 2030.
As one of my former Senate colleagues likes to say, it’s a BFD and in the coming days, I’ll have more details for you on the wins I secured for Pennsylvania’s working families in this bill. But right now, I wanted to highlight the other major bills we passed this work session, from July 11 to August 7.
In all my time in the U.S. Senate, few periods have actually delivered on many of the promises this chamber has made to the American people. Here are some highlights:
Over the next four weeks, I’ll be traveling across Pennsylvania to hear from constituents like you and discuss the victories we’ve secured, as well as what more still has to be done. I’m looking forward to it and I’ll give you an update before returning back to Washington.
Armed Federal agents busted into former President Trump’s Florida house last night, ostensibly to seek classified documents that were to be turned in to the National Archives. What’s behind this unprecedented move? Also today: Biden sends Ukraine $4 billion…to help with their budget! And finally: media races to claim Biden chalking up victories. Why?
We have a problem. Bureaucrats and politicians were never supposed to have this kind of power.
But somehow, they gained dictatorial control over whether you are allowed to run a business, go to church, or even leave your home.
Long before COVID, governments and politicians stretched the limits of their control over you—from alcohol prohibition to civil asset forfeiture, from the draft to the income tax.
But COVID proved how quickly a relatively free country can turn into a dictatorship—looking at you especially, Australia.
Being locked out of the grocery store, having your funds frozen, and your utilities shut off if you don’t OBEY has become a real possibility.
Most major institutions—healthcare, education, media, big tech—are happy to help governments oppress the people. Others stand by powerless or unwilling to stand up for individual freedom.
How do you think these institutions will act when things get really bad?
We cannot trust them, and we cannot rely on them.
Now inflation is robbing you, crime is rising, and the supply chain is quaking.
Education has turned to indoctrination, and big tech can exile you from online communities, or even financial services.
They will not give us our freedom back. We must take it back ourselves.
But we can’t do that through their rigged system.
We must build alternatives.
That’s why we need to build parallel societies…
Self-reliance is key to resisting coercion. If you don’t have control over necessities like food and shelter, you are easier to extort.
The only satisfactory answer is thoroughly chilling: it appears that having acquired all the money one can spend and all the power one can wield, the global elite remains capable of deriving perverse psychological satisfaction from engaging in large-scale acts of wanton destruction. In other words, its representatives do not seem to mind committing a spectacular suicide so long as it is a side effect of a vastly more spectacular democide.
The events of the last few years have resurrected a recurring worry among people mindful of their liberty, property, and personal dignity. This worry centers around the prospects of the emergence of the notorious “new world order,” a worldwide totalitarian plot hatched by globalist “elites” intent on destroying the surviving remains of free speech, free enterprise, and free thought.
Before asking how justified such worries are, let us note that the “new world order” narrative typically contains a “negative” and a “positive” element. The “negative” element describes how the global conspirators intend to bring about a worldwide socioeconomic collapse—i.e., eliminate the “old world order”—whereas the “positive” counterpart focuses on the nature of the global totalitarianism will be built on the ashes of destruction. In this connection, it is essential to note that new world order theorists almost always depict the totalitarianism under consideration as some form of technocratic feudalism with communist undertones, most closely reminiscent of present-day China coupled with Western-style “political correctness” and Malthusian eugenics.
When it comes to the “negative” part of the narrative in question, one can plausibly argue that far from consisting of conspiratorial speculation, it is blatantly unfolding before our eyes. Long-term coordinated global inflationism, persistent “stimulus spending,” the energy sector’s “environmentalist” strangulation, the destructive madness of lockdowns, and the relentless promotion of “woke” insanity clearly seem to be forming a perfect storm of worldwide planned chaos.
Obviously, none of these phenomena are spontaneous, and it does not take a genius to grasp the utterly ruinous consequences of their implementation. Thus, the ongoing devastation of the “old world order”—today most often referred to as the “Great Reset” or “building back better”—smacks of coordinated malevolence, giving rise to well-justified concerns.
The “positive” part of the new world order project, on the other hand, appears to be more of a bogeyman. This is because the kind of global totalitarianism that theorists typically envision is a praxeological impossibility.
First, comprehensive depopulation, far from centralizing nearly all productive resources in the hands of the parasitic “elite,” would vastly undercut its power by eliminating the bulk of the global economy’s productive potential. After all, as noted by Julian Simon, it is human beings, with their inventiveness and entrepreneurialism, that constitute the paramount driving force of economic development. Hence, by carrying out their Malthusian plans, elite globalists would saw off the branch on which they are sitting and eliminate themselves together with their victims.
Second, if the subjugated global population were to be literally enslaved rather than culled in a vast eugenic scheme, then the new world order would collapse in no time as well. This is because a stable, well-functioning international totalitarianism would have to rely on exceedingly complex technological solutions and massive amounts of high-quality capital goods.
However, armies of literal slaves cannot create or maintain such goods, nor devise and implement such solutions. After all, slaves are notoriously unproductive individuals, since they have no means and no incentive to invest in their talents, skills, contacts, and complementary resources. Furthermore, it is inconceivable that the masters would perform these tasks, since they would constitute a very small upper crust.
Third, if one were to suggest that the new world order could successfully operate based on highly advanced artificial intelligence solutions, then, once again, the natural question is who would devise and oversee the relevant infrastructure. The elite puppet masters, regardless of their cunning, would be too few to accomplish this task. Masses of slaves, as pointed out earlier, would be singularly ill-equipped to manage this feat.
One of the most frustrating things about being a libertarian is how consistently the state gets away with ripping off the people, and the people don’t even realize it.
The public has been trained to think of the people who run the state as “public servants” who “work for us.”
Let’s get one thing straight: they do not work for us. We work for them.
Their salaries come from taxing the salaries of you and me. Running afoul of their zillion and one rules and regulations can get you and me put in prison.
Imagine trying to persuade an alien from another planet that in this relationship those people work for us!
And since most people lack the necessary economic knowledge, they are easily duped into blaming forces other than the state for problems caused by the state.
So of course it’s not difficult to persuade people that rising prices are caused by greedy businessmen or whoever the current villain is.
In fact, rising prices economy-wide are caused by the fiat money system. Before we had this system, we did not have economy-wide price increases. To the contrary, prices fell over time.
So the cause of the rising prices is the regime’s crappy money, and the solution is restraining its money creation or even adopting a hard-money standard.
But they’ll never admit that.
So instead, rising prices are caused by bad guys in the private sector. Or, more recently, they’re caused by you and your wicked desire to consume.
How about that: the state causes a problem, blames you for it, and the solution is for you to suffer.
Our friend Saifedean Ammous puts it this way: a fiat system’s way of putting a lid on inflation “is for you to live like a 12th-century peasant.”
Exhibits A, B, and C:
“Climate change,” incidentally, is the ideal elite fixation. Almost any state power can be justified in its name, and the victims of the various alleged mitigation policies are the kind of poor and helpless people the elites pretend to love but actually despise.
There was a time when climate-change propaganda was just a background annoyance, but now that the people who rule us have seen what they can get away with, it’s turning into a lot more than that these days.
If you can believe it, there is actually a sliver of the libertarian world that considers AOC and “The Squad” to be the most libertarian members of Congress.
The Squad is all in on the civilization-destroying Green New Deal, but we’re evidently supposed to overlook that small matter because of their opinions on…ICE? Who even knows or cares?
At any rate, I guess one silver lining of the Covid episode is that thinking people are now far less likely to accept impositions on them in the name of some expert consensus.
One more thing: I know some of my readers are interested in homesteading, so let me point out that our friend and repeat Tom Woods Show guest John Bush, whom I’ve known since the Ron Paul days, is running a virtual summit on homesteading on a budget. He’ll cover growing food, buying inexpensive but high-quality groceries, prepping, and even buying land on a budget. If that floats your boat, check it out: http://www.tomwoods.com/budgethomestead Tom Woods
There’s always been a move towards world government on the part of a certain type of person—the kind who thinks they know what’s best for everyone else. Busybodies who are willing to use force to ensure you do what they think is right. It’s a disastrous idea. These people are the enemies of individualism, liberty, free markets, and Western values in general. They’re actually antihuman.
As I’ve often said, there are two types of people in the world: People who like to control physical reality and build things. And people who like to control other people. They’re the kind who go into government and push these ideas.
International Man: Last year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and more than 130 countries agreed to set a minimum global corporate tax rate of 15%.
What’s your take on this push for global taxation?
Doug Casey: They say only two things in the world are inevitable: death and taxes. Both evils, to be avoided. With technology developing at its current pace, let’s discuss the inevitability of death another time. But, unlike death, taxes aren’t part of the cosmic firmament. They’re neither necessary nor desirable.
Let’s go back to the basics, define the word in question, and look at the moral concepts that surround the subject.
What is taxation? It’s actually theft. Why do I say that?
If you look up the dictionary definition of theft, it says, “the act of stealing, specifically the felonious taking and removing of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.”
There is no clause that says, “unless you’re the government, then it’s taxation and not theft anymore.” Theft is theft, even if you and a few associates set yourselves up as the government and decide to call it something else. It’s still destructive, criminal, and immoral, even if you decide the theft is for a “good” purpose.
The ideal in a moral society is voluntarism. Coercion is kept to a minimum. It certainly isn’t institutionalized and made part of the cultural fabric. If funds are needed or wanted, no one has a right to hold a gun to someone else’s head and steal them.
How you think and feel about the subject of taxation is a reflection of your worldview, your ethical makeup, and your essential character. Do you prefer voluntary exchange or coercion? Of course, coercion is the essence of government. That’s why government should be limited to the greatest degree possible.
In that light, it’s very disturbing that 130 national governments have already endorsed the notion of a 15% minimum tax. Why aren’t they, instead, talking about a 15% maximum tax?
If this destructive idea is implemented, at best, we’re going to wind up another layer of bureaucracy to administer worldwide pork barrel spending. Those who are already rich, the politically connected, and the apparatchiks will be huge beneficiaries. Society at large will suffer a big drop in the standard of living.
This trend is evil, destructive, and unnecessary. It should be fought against, not just because it will slow, distort, or even destroy the world economy. Taxes degrade everything, as does any form of theft. But taxes shouldn’t be fought with practical or economic arguments; they should be fought primarily on an ethical and a moral basis.
International Man: So far, the US government hasn’t signed on to the OECD deal even though Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen has strongly supported the creation of a minimum global corporate tax rate.
Do you think American companies and citizens will eventually be under the yoke of a global taxation regime?
Doug Casey: Yes. There’s always been a move towards world government on the part of a certain type of person—the kind who thinks they know what’s best for everyone else. Busybodies who are willing to use force to ensure you do what they think is right. It’s a disastrous idea. These people are the enemies of individualism, liberty, free markets, and Western values in general. They’re actually antihuman.
On Saturday, July 30, just after 9pm, thunderous explosions rocked central Donetsk. Shortly after, there were announcements that air defense had shot down Ukrainian-fired missiles containing ‘butterfly‘ (or ‘petal‘) mines. Given that over 300 of these explosives are packed into each of the Ukrainian-fired rockets, central Donetsk could literally become a minefield if they successfully landed.
Social media and Telegram warnings urged residents to stay inside and wait for Emergency Services to clear the streets and sidewalks – which they began doing during the night. But come daylight, untold numbers of these tiny devices still remained. More warnings were issued to stay at home – better to be late for work than lose a leg. Residents that absolutely have to go out are advised to keep their eyes down to watch where they step, avoid grassy areas, and walk extremely carefully.
While Ukraine has been using these mines on Donbass for many months, in recent days, they have intensely bombarded neighborhoods with them. Initially targeted were the hard-hit districts of Kievskiy in the north, Kirovsky in the southwest, and Kuibyshevkiy in the west. But as of Saturday night, Ukraine hammered central Donetsk with them.
And now, walking in the city center is a nightmare, one I had to endure to document how widespread these mines are here: in central streets and walkways, near apartments, in parks…
How does printing a $billion for yet another government program and making government bigger going to reduce inflation. Right! It won’t.
How will doubling the size of the IRS be of benefit to you? Right! It won’t.
Deciding that the proletariat are all honest taxpayers, giving the IRS nothing to do, ain’t gonna happen. Just as a district attorney’s job is to get convictions and will lose his/hers/it’s job if “they” don’t put people in jail…the IRS person won’t get promoted nor get to keep their job if they don’t put the hurt on a lot of people and collect a lot of fines. The bigger the fines the better. The more big time headlines of “offenders” handcuffed and entering the big house the better. “Look at us doing our job.”
I’ll bet they will have their own SWAT teams.
That grinding sound you hear is your, family’s and your friends names being engraved on the headsman’s ax.
MCViewPoint 