Letters to the Editor
DrEast
Published Letters: 23
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On environmentalism
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Here's an interesting video, about forty-five minutes long, that explains the basic flaws of the federal reserve system, the destruction of which is somewhat central to Dr. Paul's platform, in an easily-understood manner:
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279
There is a very simple argument that moving away from fiat currency is the best thing we can do for the global environment. Fiat currency requires constant infusions of bank credit (money) in order to keep the economy afloat, since money represents debt and debt has interest and interest needs to be paid with... money. An exponentially increasing scale.
In order to prevent either a) a collapse of the system from a loss of debt due to overabundant foreclosures (the Great Depression) or b) a collapse of the system from hyperinflation (as bank credit, or money, becomes exponentially increasingly available), the economy must continue to grow, and exponentially.
And what is the economy but the conversion of natural resources and energy to garbage and smog?
Thus, due to the (impossible to maintain) exponential increase in the economy (remember, every year's 3% is based on last year's values, and that's an exponential curve), there is a corresponding exponential increase in the destruction of natural goods and resources... all to keep the federal reserve system alive and well in banking.
It's an interesting argument, although it can't be soundbyted, and it makes Ron Paul seem a lot less crazy for preferring a hard currency system to the current abomination.
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While we're talking about distortions and smears...
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Anyone see Glenn Beck's attack on Ron Paul and his donors on his show on CNN tonight? Can I even possibly talk about it without invoking Godwin's Law on myself?
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Backatcha, tempus
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Tempus,
Woodrow Wilson signed into existence the Federal Reserve in 1913, 16 years before the great depression. We were still on a form of gold standard then, but fractional reserve banking divorces the notes used from actual gold held, rendering not a true hard currency at all. Note that I did not speak against fiat currency as such, or if I did, I misrepresented my position on the matter, and I therefore apologize. It is the fractional reserve system, not fiat currency, that causes the problems of an infinitely exponential increase in the need for economic growth.
The problem with the current system is essentially this: Money represents debt in our system, instead of value. Value is finite and is slow to change, and thus makes a fine medium of exchange. Debt is infinite, and experiences exponential growth.
The Gold standard is not the answer in and of itself, but a value-based monetary system at least has the advantage of not failing when the debt-based system does.
And it will fail. I believe it will do so soon, but it mathematically can not... can not... continue forever. You can't have untamed exponential growth in any finite system and expect the system to hold.
As a side note, the fractional reserve system and the current incarnation of the federal reserve could be brought crashing down very simply by any president without consulting congress. The president would simply appear on national TV and engender a banking panic. He could even do it by telling the truth: The current banking system is absolutely bankrupt (TECHNICALLY true) and unless you go RIGHT NOW, you won't get your money back out. Go! Go! Save yourselves!
This wouldn't particularly solve anything, simply leading to a massive depression, and I do believe anyone who has taken the Hippocratic oath and takes their oaths as seriously as Dr. Paul takes his would not handle it in this manner, but he would technically be telling the truth.
The problem, of course, is that the laws that allow fractional reserve banking would still be on the books, and the root problem would not be solved.
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Oh, there it is
[Read the article: Ron Paul distortions and smears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yeah, I did say fiat currency when I meant fractional reserve currency. They are of course interchangeable units in the current system, but they are still not identical ideas.
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I'm not sure where the line blurred
[Read the article: When did we become like Syria?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]between interpreting the constitution and ignoring it. I truly wish I did. But I have been convinced, as I saw our rights absolutely stripped away by the current regime (a word I use without reservation), that no interpretation that gave greater power to the respective branches of government should have been allowed in the first place.
We have forgotten, as Americans, that our first job was to elect representatives, senators and presidents that would uphold the constitution, above every other concern.
We have voted ourselves careless expenditures and feel-good policy. We have ignored character as irrelevant and despised principles as lunacy. The Republic is shaken to its very foundation.
I have but one hope that it can hold even for four more years. I hope and pray that the American citizens will awaken from their engorged slumber before all is lost.
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Forget warrantless surveillance...
[Read the article: Important day for FISA and amnesty]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...at the moment, in light of the rumored seizure of several tons of gold, silver, and platinum from an Evansville private currency company by the FBI and the Secret Service, I'm more worried about warrantless seizure.
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On Republicants
[Read the article: Self-satire scales new heights]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Bush-style Republicans are limited to the very uninformed and the elites currently running the joint. The rest of the Republicans tend to call those dictators who are running our country (and our media) and the sheep-like tube-watchers that support them "neocons." I'm pretty sure that the term neoconservative is an oxymoron in any event.
So, if you wish to come up with a derogatory term for Bush-style Republicans, I highly recommend the existing one, but just spit when you say it. You'll find a lot of people agreeing with you on the other wing.
I'm hoping beyond all hope that we get a little more sanity in the 2008 elections. Every day that passes, though, I get a little more doubtful that we'll even be allowed to pass 'em. If Bush declares military law when the dollar crashes and millions of Americans are put out in the streets, goodbye Republic!