The profit motive in healthcare

If the people behind "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" are allowed to make a profit off of their product, then Eli Lily should be allowed to make a profit from its products as well.

Raising the national debt level

This is starting to seem more and more like a formality. Why does Congress bother with a debt limit at all if they just raise it any time they get close to exceeding that limit? The real limit on debt is the limit on how much bonds people are willing to buy before they start wondering how they'll be paid back. There's been talk of simply canceling the debt; if the federal government can screw over GM bondholders then there is nothing to step it from screwing over its own bondholders. But I think that the more likely scenario is hyperinflation. That's probably why it's still hard to get a loan...

A petition

A good friend of mine asked me to post this on his behalf.


From: Indiana Allen County Residents
To: Indiana Supreme Court
315 Indiana State House
Indianapolis, IN 46204
CC: Allen, Noble, Huntington, Whitley, DeKalb County courts
Media outlets
Petition to Reject Proposed Allen County Local Rule LR02-TR 79-01
We undersigned Allen County residents are respectfully petitioning the Indiana Supreme Court to review our objections to proposed JOINT LOCAL RULE OF THE ALLEN CIRCUIT AND SUPERIOR COURTS FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL JUDGES. If Supreme Court finds our objections found reasonable, we petition the Supreme Court to reject the proposed Allen County local rule LR02-TR 79-01 and leave existing local rule LR02-AR00-1 as is.

The existing Allen County local rule (LR02-AR00-1) stipulates the naming of a panel from which a special judge to be selected randomly from judges of Allen County and judges of four neighboring counties, Nobel, Huntington, Whitley, and DeKalb.

The proposed modified rule (LR02-TR 79-01) however excludes judges from four neighboring counties, Noble, Huntington, Whitley, and DeKalb from being appointed to a panel. Some sort of alphabetical selection in naming a panel in proposed rule replaces a random selection in existing rule. The new rule in our reading diminishes unnecessary chances that a judge from Allen Circuit Court be named in a panel compared to Allen Superior Court judges.

In support for our objections we provide the following reasons:

1. We believe the process is better served if proposed judicial rule be reasoned, discussed and a reasonable public consent sought. A period of 35 days provided for public comments (March 16th – April 20th 2009) has been far too short, especially compared to much longer time allocated for the judicial review and approval (April 21st – December 31st 2009).
2. We believe the underutilized courts of four neighboring Northeast Indiana counties can allocate more time to cases. Allen County courts are overloaded with cases, and the waiting period for a hearing can be very long. The interval between hearings can be long as well. In order to expedite hearings, it would be best to leave the existing rule and reject the new rule.


Respectfully, Allen County residents:

It shall not pass?

The healthcare bill passed by the House on Saturday might not pass the Senate. Some of you might wonder why would the House rushed on a bill that might not pass at all. The best answer that I can give you is that politics is fueled by drama, not reality.

This bill would have increased the government's financial obligations at a time when the national debt is over $12 trillion. It would have placed an additional burden on employers at a time when unemployment is over %10. The bill even prescribes jail time for those who fail to obtain health insurance. Imagine: Free healthcare, free food, and free orange jumpsuits for those who are less fortunate.

Veteran's wife allowed to stay in the US

There are times when the humane thing to do runs counter to the letter of the law. In these cases the government has the discretion to let the matter slide. In the following example, the government did the right thing.

Frances Barrios did not ask to be born in Guatemala, and she cannot be held responsible for being brought here at the age of six. She grew up in this country, married a American soldier, and bore him two children. In spite of her illegal status, she is being allowed to stay.

Split Pea Soup: Examples of Entrepreneurial Spirit abounds at the Pontiac Mall this holiday season.

As most of my really close friends are aware I am in the process of moving from the north end of the City by Glenbrook Mall to the southwest side of town. Between the adventure of getting the house ready to move into (putting visquinne on the windows, getting utilities turned on), meeting my crazy neighbors, and getting to know the neighborhood I will now reside in, I found something really cool to tell you all about.

Three days ago I found myself in the throws of my stomach revolting against the idea of going another a hour without food, it was really warm that day so I had burned through my breakfast relatively quickly with everything going on, plus being hypoglycemic trying to stave off a protein deficiency and a sugar crash at the same time means only one option, milk product (milk has equal parts, protein and sugar, instant fix) and rest then food; cigarettes and nicotine and string cheese can only get you so far. So I went looking for a diner or cafe; I knew there had to be one somewhere. Somewhere down Pontiac Street there had to be a classic hole in the wall diner, some place with inexpensive, good quality, old soul style, food, (or as we use to call it, grubbins); the free market, my wallet, demanded nothing else. I wondered aimlessly across Pontiac looking for said restaurant, I wanted a real restaurant something with character and community fried into its pores.

After turning around one time to check back at the Pontiac Mall I happened across a sign at the very bottom that I didnt see the first time I passed thanks to a light pole and a bus blocking the sign from view at 30 mph. I park and walk in only to find a sign that said the cafe was only open from 11a-1p. Completely disheartened and my blood sugar levels close to crashing, I went into the convience store to grab a soda as a last ditch effort to give me a quick boost until I could find dinner, only to find out that the restaurant is open and the entrance is on the west-south-west (right of the main entrance) side of the building. I will be okay, yeah!

I went in and standing behind the service window of Mattie Mae's Cafe is a short and stocky middle age woman with a cheerful grin and a mild roar greeting me saying "how is you doing?" and "what will you have?" her name is Marnetta. Marnetta named the Cafe after her Aunt, there are several pictures of her in the Cafe. I would recommend that you try the signature Mattie Burger Combo which consist of a seasoned 1/4 lbs (after cooking) of meat cheese and the works including mayo, with a side of seasoned fries, and a can of Big K Soda (additional sodas are by the can at 50 cents each) for about 5.00. The other menu I can recommend is the Nachos both of these will fill anyone up easily. Mattie Mae's is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8a-7p and is located at the Pontiac Mall 1108 East Pontiac across from the Whitney Young Early Childhood Center.

The reason I am telling you all of this is because of what I found while I was there. At the service window on the counter they had a contest, for a dollar you got to guess how much candy was in this 2 pound container, if you won you got a free meal on the house. The donations from the game are going to put on a Thanksgiving dinner for the area homeless and hungry and the whole mall is participating and hosting the venture of service to those in need. So my request to each of you that read this blog is that if you like good food, and you want to spread the ideas of libertarian philosophy around, and support group of businesses that are reaching out to serve the community they are in, spend a dollar, take a guess, and then stay for dinner. At Mattie Mae's a family of four can still eat for less than a quarter of a buck (that is $25) in the Summit City and it doesnt have to be fast food.

Think about it and then do something about it!

LPIN State Chair Meat & Greet This Saturday From 5-8pm

YOU!, yes, you!, have the opportunity to meet and talk with Sam Goldstein the Chair of the Libertarian Party of Indiana at the residence of Hillary and Jack Evans at 4205 North Washington Road (map, between Taylor and Ardmore Avenue, southeast of Jefferson Boulevard, beside Noll Park) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday the 7th of November 2009.

The case against rail

The case against using rail for public transportation is being made in Philadelphia.Workers may have a right to strike, but employers have a right to replace them. It is much easier to replace striking bus drivers than rail workers, because more people have the former skill.

Doug Horner's Libertarians @ Large has a new 3 minute bumper advert running on Public Access

As most of our regular readers are aware Doug Horner hosts Libertarians @ Large a live call in show on the third Thursday of every month from 7-8 p.m. on Comcast 57 and Verizon 27. Here is the new bumper advert that Otto Boschet with Public Access put together from a clip of the September show which included Dan Drexler (center) Vice Chair for the LP of Indiana and Scott Wise (right) of Whitley County one of the contenders for the Libertarian Party's nomination for the United States Congressional Third District of Indiana in May of 2010 during the State Party's Annual Convention. The following clip was taken from a segment regarding the full ramifications of war and peace and how we as Americans have lost site of the true cost of those wars we fight in far away lands.

Libertarian Party TV show. from Otto Andrew on Vimeo

MY THOUGHTS: Freedom isnt free but We The People cant ignore the fight 4 liberty neither or forget the sacrifice so many have offered in our place. Well said Dougie!