Category: Current Events & Politics

I just read your thoughts regarding Memorial Day. I’ve had the opportunity to live in both a very large megaplex city area (the LA/Orange/Riverside County area) and a very small town about half way between Sacramento and the Lake Tahoe area. I’ve noticed a major difference of behavior in the two areas regarding Memorial Day. Even in the area I lived in “down south” in south Orange County (a somewhat conservative area amidst other, more liberal areas), Memorial Day was seen far more as “a day off,” with little thought generally given to thoughts about the sacrifices of our veterans. …

JWR, Just wanted to say “Thank You” for your commentary on Michael Bloomberg’s MAIG in your Odds ‘n Sods column today, May 14, 2014. I LOVE IT when people speak frankly about our current gun control dilemma. (Not to mention our other constitutional issues…) It is refreshing to read someone who does not mince words. We are subjected to entirely too much political correctness– the “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or offend anyone” mentality in our country. I have become weary of it and at this point, it is imperative that we “tell it like it is”. …

Sir, I have apparently been selected to participate in the U.S. Censes Health of America survey. The other day a representative showed up at my door. I had previously received a letter, which I filed in a certain circular file. I politely told the representative I did not wish to participate. She was very insistent. After she saw I would not budge, I was threatened with “hounding until I submitted.” I could not believe it. All I could say was “Yeah, well that’s what lawyers are for, huh.” Has any other reader been threatened with this? Is this part of …

Hugh, Considering the important position you have taken as editor on this blog, any post by you should have authoritative backing. I have concerns about parts, 3, 4, and 5 of your post “Response to Ideas Concerning a Post-Collapse World.” Part 3. Usury. Usury is simply a fee for the use of money. Not all religions prohibit it. In Judaism, it is prohibited only in loans of “brothers” to each other, not to outsiders. It is not prohibited in Christianity. Compound interest has a number of uses, including calculating the present value of an amount to be paid in the …

RegardingIdeas Concerning a Post Collapse World: If one understands the Declaration of Independence and the Republican form of government, reforming the Union of States (and their people) is a viable goal. Cooperation in the defense of private property rights from predation is one justification for the necessary evil of government. However, I would not suggest using the Constitution as a model, since it was flawed from inception. It would require extensive modification to accurately define the relationship of the sovereign people with the servant government and its servants, the citizenry, with regard to rights and liberties (natural and personal). It …

Dear Hugh, Three cheers for the article “Ideas Concerning a Post Collapse World”! “M.S.” is obviously a very bright and literate person, and while the blog offering is short, it is packed with a lot to think about. I believe the author is likely “spot on” with most of its outlook for the future with one question mark for me as to whether a foreign army (or two) would invade the CONUS or not. I see that as more likely than the author does, but only time will tell. I would though like to take the opportunity to address an …

Mr. Latimer: Your “Letter: the Circular File” brought back my encounter with government busy-bodies when I worked in manufacturing. I would get this multi-page survey form every quarter that went through sales, inventory, cost of goods sold …..yada…yada. It was enormously disruptive to my work load. It had all the penalty information on the envelope, and I was afraid not to fill it out due to any consequences to my employer. If you didn’t get it to them on time, the threats would start via mail and then go on to phone calls. The last straw was when I got …

Hi Hugh, I saw your response to the Circular File article where you mentioned you had received a request from the Census Bureau. I’m assuming you’re referring to the “American Community Survey”. I went through that colossal waste of taxpayer funds last year and thought I’d share my story. First it started with letters in the mail. Then the letters became “urgent”, with veiled threats of fines. When it really started getting ridiculous was when the local census worker came to my home. The first time she left a handwritten note. Then she showed up with the documents in hand …

HJL, I noted with amusement your reaction to all the requests for info on property you owned 15 years ago. I own a farm in Ohio and got numerous requests and demands for data on my operation in years past and and submitted them all to the circular file. After a few years of this, I received a number of calls culminating with a threat of jail time. My response was that they should give me a few days notice before they hauled me away. Never heard from them again. – Al in Ohio Hugh Adds: I’m glad to see …

Well Hugh, After promoting Mr Bundy and his militia followers as heroes perhaps you should mention the fact that the guy is a racist pig. – Marc F. Hugh Replies: What you are seeing is a classic example of Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals”. I am surprised that you have not been able to see this coming. Alinsky’s Rule 7.5 is “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.” Also, Rule 7.13 is “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. In …

Dear Editor, I am writing to you today in support of Cliven Bundy. I attended Saturday’s rally at the Bundy Ranch in support of this rancher and his family. It is true that his family history of ranching this land pre-dates the BLM. It is also true that the BLM has regulated approximately 52 ranchers out of this area of Nevada in the past several years. Mr. Bundy refused to give them anymore of his money, reasoning that why give them the funds to regulate against him to remove him from the land. The BLM has frequently used the tactics …