Highlights included:

• Paul Krugman being completely unable to understand that while he tries to play off Ron Paul for trying to pretend we are living 150 years in the past, Krugman is advocating the exact policies that brought down the Roman Empire. (Ron Paul totally took that one straight out of Ludwig von Mises’s Human Action. Doesn’t he know that book is, like, 70 years old?!)
  

  RP: “Professor Krugman indicates we just want to go back 100 years or so. That’s not exactly true. We want to improve on what life was like back then. But he wants to go back 1,000 years or 2,000 years just as the Romans and the Greeks and all other countries debased their currency. They didn’t have a computer. This idea that we need a Federal Reserve to run things or a central bank — that is just a modern times.

  What did the Romans do to their currency? The Byzantine Empire had a gold standard for a thousand years and they did quite well and they didn’t fight wars. But the Roman empire eventually destroyed their currency. They put in wage and price controls before they diluted the metals. They inflated. They thought wealth could come by fooling the people. Who would want today – if they had 10 years to send their kid to college, would they put their money in gold coins or a Treasury bill making 1% or 2%? They can’t keep up with the inflation or the devaluation of the currency.”
  PK: “I’m not a defender of the economic policies of the Emperor Diocletion, let’s make that clear.” (YES YOU ARE!)

  Also, this wasn’t mentioned, but the thirteenth century policies of Gaikhatu Khan were hardly different from what Krugman calls for either.

• Paul Krugman being completely unable to comprehend competing currencies.
  

  PK: “You can do barter with all kinds of stuff.”

• Paul Krugman being completely unable to comprehend how the Federal Reserve is a counterfeiting organization.
  

  RP: “If a private company commits fraud, they go to jail. If the Federal Reserve commits fraud, they get nothing…. If you had a private issue of money and you committed a fraud, you would go to jail. But, no, governments can debase the currency and injure a lot of people and cause the business cycle and cause inflation and cause unemployment and get off scot-free.”
  PK: “I have been pretty harsh on Ben Bernanke, but fraud is not one of the things I would charge him with.”
  RP: “You want him to print more money faster.”
  PK: “Well, of course I do.”

In the end, it was like watching Muhammad Ali box an infant. Economic reality is much to difficult to see from way up in that Ivory Tower. As always, Ron Paul patiently picks apart the economic fallacies of his foes and calmly advocates more sound economic policy (or rather, lack of policy), while his opponent scurries around him flailing his hands without making a real argument. One day maybe we’ll get to see Robert Murphy finally knock some business cycle sense into Krugman. This particular scuffle with Ron Paul was plenty entertaining, though. Someone out there watching is bound to pick up on Dr. Paul’s message.

Oh, and after the debate, Bloomberg TV did not fail to ask the obligatory “When are you going to drop out?” that every media outlet has been throwing at him since forever.

The debate in a nutshell:

Ron Paul taunts Paul Krugman

Ron Paul brings his message to the University of Texas

With the 2012 election around the corner, Ron Paul and his supporters won’t go down without a fight no matter how much the mainstream media attempts to black them out from the news. If you had been at the LBJ Lawn at 7PM you would have witnessed that his campaign has a youthful following. The founder of the Tea Party drew over 6,000 supporters, liberty-inclined students, and area residents to hear his message of smaller government, peace, free-market economics, and the protection of civil liberties. Ron Paul’s visit to the University of Texas at Austin couldn’t be described as anything but EPIC. Prior to Ron Paul’s arrival, local Austin activists and founders of the Ron Paul Marches chanted, “What do we want? PEACE! When do we want it?” The audience would follow immediately with, “NOW!!!”

As supporters gazed on with bated breath, Ron Paul walked up the stairs to the podium the crowd’s energy was tangible, his supporters emphatically cheered “PRESIDENT PAUL”! For activists in the movement, it is truly a beautiful thing to see so many people inspired by the message of liberty and freedom. We are winning the fight of ideas and we have Ron Paul to thank for being the gateway drug to freedom.

If you have ever been to a venue where Ron Paul is speaking you can expect nothing but a lively, enthusiastic crowd of supporters chanting in unison “END THE FED!!!” As someone who has seen Ron Paul speak on numerous occasions, I still get goosebumps when he educates the audience on the moral and ethical issues of America’s flawed foreign policy. He speaks the truth, and, given the failed two-party system we have in place, for those who are apathetic or disillusioned with the left/right paradigm, Paul’s message is refreshing.

Ron Paul draws thousands to LBJ Lawn

Under the program launched last week, passengers on busses run by the Houston METRO system will be subjected to random questioning and searches from “counter-terrorism experts” hired by the Transportation Security Administration. Yes, the very same TSA that has become notorious for invasive pat-downs at airports across the country are opening up a new front in their war on privacy, and it’s on Houston’s public busses.

Riders of the Houston METRO won’t be waiting in line for security checkpoints like they do before boarding flights, though. According to the press release, authorities will “ride buses, perform random bag checks and conduct K-9 sweeps, as well as place uniformed and plainclothes officers at Transit Centers and rail platforms to detect, prevent and address latent criminal activity or behavior.” Both local police and undercover TSA agents will be carrying out the city-wide searches.

Now, I don’t live in Houston, but I do ride the CapMetro here in Austin quite a bit. But, there’s no need to fear; safety shall be granted to the Austin metropolitan area soon enough by these public benefactors.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County say the searches starting in Houston are part of a national pilot program. BusSafe, it says, may be introduced in cities from coast-to-coast.

Usually the biggest danger I face on the bus is olfactory. The TSA is poised to completely change that. I’ll have no time to worry about an unsavory odor when a plain-clothed officer is demanding that I open my backpack in fear that my laptop and Mises books are actually bombs and drugs, or worst of all, declarations of my rights as a human being.

Safety first!

This all reminds me of a quote by the great sage of Austin, Philoso-Norm.

Philoso-Norm Ponders the TSA

Speak out for peace on April 14th!

There is a great misconception in our society concerning what the current government, like the past administration, is doing in the Middle East. The majority of Americans have been deceived into believing that our military campaigns overseas involve combating terrorism, but once the conduct of the operations and the details of the fighting are examined, it becomes clear that the war that we are prosecuting is the real terrorism. Indeed, U.S. foreign policy actually tends to perpetuate so-called terrorism in the countries that we audaciously invade and subsequently occupy.

The very phrase “War on Terror” is a euphemism used to conceal the fact that it is instead a war against the Muslim world. Escalating employment of “drones,” man-less aerial craft remotely controlled from hundreds or even thousands of miles away, has resulted in a substantial increase in “collateral damage” (another euphemism) as targeted air strikes against so-called “insurgents” (yet another) cause unacceptably numerous, innocent civilian deaths. With all of this in mind, current U.S. foreign policy seems more likely predicated on scaring the American people into submissive compliance to the state rather than on genuine “security” or “defense” in what can only be nakedly described as a blatant government power grab domestically and a further imperialist push for American hegemonic ambitions abroad. The effects of racial and cultural tensions fomented by the Federal propaganda machine are increasingly being felt here at home. Last week, Shaima Alwadi was murdered in what was undoubtedly a racially motivated hate crime, a victim of collective guilt unfairly attached to an innocent woman.

While the government’s imperialistic endeavors grow, the government manipulates the people at home under the guise of protecting our freedoms by encroaching on our civil liberties. More and more we are seeing the effects of these never-ending wars here at home. The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) is feeling us up and taking nude pictures of us, our local police forces are investing in tanks, helicopters, heavy armor, and other war-like materials while at the same time it seems that more and more people are being arrested and/or brutality attacked by the police for such peaceful, nonviolent activities as filming them in public areas. The fact that those who are supposed to be serving and protecting us seem to be increasingly arresting and attacking us is an extremely unsettling one that we are now forced to live with.

Despite all of this, there is hope. A new organization called the Austin Alliance For Peace (AA4P) has been founded. We are a trans-partisan organization that seeks to promote peaceful solutions in an era where violence and threats are too often employed. By educating the public on the violations of peace, mobilizing them to bring peace wherever it is absent, pursuing the redress of grievances in alignment with the tradition of nonviolent resistance, and building a constituency whose main priority is to practice diplomacy and to strive to solve problems without the use of violence, AA4P hopes to create a more peaceful, loving world now and for future generations.

The first event that AA4P is putting on will be Saturday, April 14 at noon at the south steps of the Texas Capitol and is the first annual AA4P Peace Rally. There will be speakers discussing the various forms of violence in our society, including the multiple wars that our nation is engaged in and the growing militarization of our local police forces. Keynote talks will be delivered by Iraqi-American medical doctor turned full-time peace activist Dahlia Wasfi, and host of Antiwar Radio Scott Horton. Other speakers scheduled to appear include local Austin activists such as Iraq War veteran and victim of police abuse Antonio Buehler, and Texans for Accountable Government Executive Director Heather Fazio.

The rally is rapidly growing as more and more people are getting excited about attending and standing up for peace. Students from over ten universities from across the state have committed to attend, from such diverse groups as Libertarian Longhorns, the Israeli-Palestinian Alliance, and Amnesty International. In addition to the large amounts of students that are going to be in attendance, many people from throughout the state and from all different walks of life will also be there. Organizations from Code Pink to Texans for Accountable Government to Texans for Peace will also be in attendance, making this event as large as it is diverse.

Peace is a popular message that everyone can get behind. The Austin Alliance For Peace is the first truly trans-partisan peace organization in the state that is determined to build bridges and form a diverse alliance of people dedicated to bringing peace to a violent world and it begins in Austin on April 14! Please, stand in solidarity as we spread the message of peace and compassion for those who have suffered from violence.

Wikipedia, along with thousands of other sites, are protesting the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) because these two bills pose some of the most egregious violations of property rights one could imagine. In essence, the federal government would gain the power to censor almost anything at a whim. People were offended when the Feds talked about an internet “kill switch” – Egypt-style – but this is like putting an individual kill switch on every web site hosted on a server in the United States. It is bone-chillingly draconian and utterly barbaric.

If you are unaware of this legislation, please take a few moments to learn more. Wikipedia has a special page dedicated to the protest.

Here is a useful video by one of my favorite YouTube channels that deals with online culture, KnowYourMeme.com.

The weekly meetings for Libertarian Longhorns will be held on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8:30 PM in Garrison Hall (GAR) 2.112. They will start on January 26th. But, if you want more liberty, I encourage you to come at 6 PM in the same place for Youth for Ron Paul meetings and stay late for after meeting socials (most likely at Austin’s Pizza).

Upcoming topics for lecture and discussion at Libertarian Longhorns:
1/26 – “Libertarianism is Beautiful”
2/2 – Social Cooperation
2/9 – Corporatism vs. Capitalism
2/16 – For-Profit Charity

If economics is your game and praxeology is your method of choice because you know we can know a priori, come join the UT Mises Circle! We will focus on more in-depth economics topics and analysis with that Austrian perspective. I will update you as soon as possible when more information about meetings for the UT Mises Circle has been determined.

Get ready to Paul out, everyone!

A quick excerpt:

“Through libertarianism, many Christians have found a way to move past their previous beliefs about politics and embrace a more consistent, more biblical political philosophy. The message of abolishing government power is powerful on its own. In Ron Paul, many Christian libertarians see a leader who points to principles that conservatives and liberals have long forgotten… Libertarianism is not going away, and it surely will take an increasingly prominent place in the political discussion of Christians for years to come.”

Many thanks to the Washington Post for this great opportunity.

Jack Hunter reports in the Daily Caller that Rand Paul blocked an unanimous consent vote that could have had big effects:

Last week, while most senators were focused on the important national issues of war funding and Americans’ constitutional liberties, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) seemed more concerned with the fate of a foreign country. Behind the scenes, Rubio moved to have a unanimous consent vote that would have hastened Georgia’s entry into NATO. The unanimous consent vote never happened because Senator Rand Paul single-handedly prevented it.

This is not a triviality. Make no mistake: Bringing Georgia into NATO could lead to a new military conflict for the United States, which is why any move that would facilitate Georgia’s entry into the alliance should be publicly debated. Rubio’s attempt to push this through by unanimous consent — that is to say, without any formal debate or vote — is highly suspect and calls into question the senator’s better judgment.

You may remember that the small country of Georgia, which is on the border of Russia, nearly got the United States into a smoking conflict just three years ago. There is more information in the Daily Caller article and I recommend reading it. The American people are, for the most part, incredibly ignorant of foreign policy these days. I highly doubt that most could even find Georgia on a map, or even know that Georgia is a country at all. Nonetheless, this rogue government continues its imperialist ventures behind the people’s backs, ignoring the costs and building its hegemony day by day.

However, just reporting the facts in this blog post is only part of the point…

Rand Paul made a good move here, no doubt. But, we need to remember such events do not prove that politics is the be-all-and-end-all of the liberty movement as well. Rand, I am sure, knows that if the government wants a war, they can get one. The importance of Rand’s block is that it brings attention to the inner workings of the State. If the consent vote had gone through, hardly anyone would have noticed until another conflict was underway. Then, of course, boobus Americanus will fall in line, trusting that their deified overlords got it right just like they did Iraq, and Afghanistan, and Libya, and etc.

It is our job to expose the evils of the State, not “reform” them. Libertarian politicians like Rand and Ron Paul can only do so much to “fix” anything at all. Ultimately, the willingness of the people to turn a blind eye is what allows the State to thrive. We should take events like Rand’s vote as opportunities to talk to people, to teach them about liberty. Without changing the culture, any good a libertarian politician might accomplish has every possibility of being washed away the moment he leaves office.

I support Ron Paul, but it is up to us to carry things forward in the long run. I’m not Ron Paul, you are. Think about it.

The recent meeting of the Austin Airport Advisory Commission to discuss the upcoming installation of “Advanced Imaging Technology” (AIT) at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has prompted me to revisit some of our earlier reporting about these devices. Reviewing our previously posted article, I found that, at least for the time being, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune’s news report was unavailable. It was time for some hunting…

TSA officials were scheduled for an early morning panel hearing of the House Oversight committee on March 16th – and they didn’t show up. They rescheduled for early afternoon and then testified before the committee.

The Hill reported on the subcommittee hearing that Rep. John Mica (R-FL) called the TSA’s scanners “thoroughly useless.”

"The equipment is flawed and can be subverted," House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said. "Our staff has subverted it. (TSA Administrator) Pistole said ‘GAO is very clever.’ Well what the hell does he think a terrorist is?"

The Hill covered the hearing very well, but much more was said that they did not mention about the scanners. John Mica in particular had biting criticism for the TSA’s scanning technology. You can watch the entire hearing on Youtube (more links here).

During the 29th minute of the linked Youtube video, you can hear Rep. Mica say that the Government Accountability Office report he had commissioned described the “extensive failure rate” of the AIT systems. I tried to track down any reference to this report at the GAO’s website to no avail; apparently it is still classified.

Mica also lambasted the deployment plan for the AIT systems saying, “The initial deployment of portals [security checkpoints with AIT] was a joke,” and “Even a seventh grader could come up with a better plan.” 

Even though Mica was one of the original House members to help establish the TSA, this is not his first time to take a shot at the TSA’s monstrous activities. He has repeatedly called upon the GAO to examine their policies and has routinely called attention in the media to their incompetence. In a press release issued in June of 2010, Mica said, “TSA’s failure to complete these critical risk assessments further demonstrates this bloated bureaucracy’s inability to respond effectively to the nation’s transportation security demands.  Even with more than 7,000 supervisors and administrative staff across the country and over 1,000 more in Washington, GAO confirms they can’t seem to get it right.” A month before Mica called for a complete reorganization of the TSA once again (even though they went through five administrations in the previous five years).

Here are some of the links to GAO reports that ought to disturb you to no end. All were either commissioned by Mica or recommended by Mica in the March 16th, 2011 hearing.

• Homeland Security: Better Use of Terrorist Watchlist Information and Improvements in Deployment of Passenger Screening Checkpoint Technologies Could Further Strengthen Security (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-401T)
• Aviation Security: TSA Is Increasing Procurement and Deployment of the Advanced Imaging Technology, but Challenges to This Effort and Other Areas of Aviation Security Remain (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-484T)
• Aviation Security: DHS Has Taken Steps to Enhance International Aviation Security and Facilitate Compliance with International Standards, but Challenges Remain (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-238T)
• Transportation Security: Additional Actions Could Strengthen the Security of Intermodal Transportation Facilities (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-435R)

Again, the most important report that shows the TSA’s blatant disregard for safety standards and human rights has been hidden from us. We know it exists, watch the video of Mica.

Time and time again, we see that the TSA is a joke and a fraud, and the joke is on us for accepting their word for anything of value at all. Further, they clearly make the Federal Government’s claims about the major threats of terrorism look more and more like a joke every passing day, even while they force us to be exposed to radiation or get groped if we refuse. Why trust these phonies?

Yesterday at about 11:00 pm CST, the Texas House passed – by unanimous voice vote – our bill HB 1937, which bans these patdowns. Now, although this has yet to be heard and passed in the Texas Senate or signed by the governor, this is a major victory and it is cause for rejoicing. This is the first serious TSA interposition legislation that I know of (readers correct me if I have missed legislation passed in other states), and I am so very proud to have been involved with its formulation and promotion. But it also could not have been done without the hard work of StopAustinScanners.org, TSA Tyranny, Texans for Accountable Government, the Texas Republican Liberty Caucus (and the various county parties who passed resolutions in favor of the legislation), the Libertarian Party of Texas, the many student organizations around Texas, and of course people just like you who have made it a point to get the word out there to people.

Nevertheless, this battle is not yet over. The bills need to move through the Senate and be signed by the governor first. So let’s be diligent to keep doing what we have already been doing and finish this work. If you haven’t already done so, write the Texas Legislature via our awesome tools at StopAustinScanners.org and let them know what you think.

Down with tyranny!