libertas - All Comments

re: Ideas from the new chairwoman of the Finnish Social Democrats

BlackSheep — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 18:38:45 GMT

Ah, right. I didn't realize it was about electronic products... I thought that referred to the ban products...

re: Ideas from the new chairwoman of the Finnish Social Democrats

Libertas est Veritas — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:49:48 GMT

"What does she mean by this point?"

She means a product that either turns off completely (no sleep mode) or a product where you have a choice between sleep mode and completely off. I'm not sure on the specifics. In either case I have no idea why simply pulling the plug from the socket isn't enough.

"It sounds like she's a bit extreme though"

She is pretty standard. Finland doesn't really have huge differences between the parties and the main differences are usually found in who they promise to profit. The SDP is currently trying to pander to families.

"I doubt Finland has any groups advocating free markets"

This is anecdotal, but I have never met a libertarian face-to-face outside of what little promotion I did for the local (classical) Liberal party. So the future of Finland is bleak.

re: Ideas from the new chairwoman of the Finnish Social Democrats

BlackSheep — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:47:23 GMT

What does she mean by this point?

"No product, that cannot be completely turned off,

should be allowed into EU markets."

It makes no sense. She wants that every new product invented be certified or something?! If that's the case, what's the difference between banning a product at its conception instead of after the fact, when it's being traded?

(not advocating it or anything... just trying to understand her mind...)

Anyway, all those points are usual modern diluted-socialist stuff. It sounds like she's a bit extreme though, I dunno if the Finnish markets can stand the burden. They'll have to cut somewhere else. (does Finnish have much oil and gas resources like Norway?)

The scariest point may very well be the last one:

"I want to gather thinkers from all around to

study why more and more people drop out of

political activity after they have tried it."

The young generation is made up of spoiled, un-responsible brats, and I doubt Finland has any groups advocating free markets, so I see some Marxist parties coming up out of this...

re: Sweden's 23-hour work week

R. Halevy — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:36:39 GMT

Hi All,

Here in Brazil we have a 44-hour work week, and the country's economic potential is grossly underdeveloped.

I work downtown Rio de Janeiro, and today during lunchtime I stumbled upon politicians with loudspeakers, calling upon the people to sign up a petition, in order to pass a new law reducing the work week to 40 hours but keeping the wages unchanged.

This weird arrangement, according to their crazy logic, would create "x" hundred thousand new jobs...

If I had time, it would be quite funny to stop by them and ask how this economic miracle could be implemented, i.e., for instance I run a shop with 10 employees, and suddenly I'd be forced to have each one of them work 4 hours less per week, but I couldn't reduce their wages, AND still I'd push my magic wand à la Harry Potter and hire one more employee to compensate for the 40 man-hours lost???

As you see, we haven't yet arrived to the Swedish degree of perfection, but with the help of our socialist do-gooders, the populace believes the country will reach unprecedented prosperity - by working less!!!

Do you get it? See the equation below:

Less hours worked

+ more employees hired

-----------------------

Wealth increase for all

Q.E.D.: SOCIALISTS CANNOT CALCULATE !!!!

Kindest regards from Rio,

R. Halevy.

re: Hitler and Interventionism

BOG — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 19:54:38 GMT

I agree that it depends on the perspective that is used.

re: Tortured Logic from City Officials

nick — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:43:50 GMT

Most people will argue that "At least they're compensating the ones who were poisoned," and think no further. Far too many will think that this is actually a "win" for the citizens against the government!

And next year, they'll all keep complaining about increases in their property taxes.

re: Tortured Logic from City Officials

Clonnadgh — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:20:26 GMT

Except the Government at all levels will take more than 10 %. I wish we could get everyone in the world to look at it that way, then a real change could be made. Thank you, I hope you don't mind but I will be quoting you in every conversation I have, at every Holiday party I attend.

re: Fear and Loathing in the Establishment

IrishOutlaw — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:38:07 GMT

It would not serve the NeoCons well to attack Paul. They have spent the last 20 years billing themselves as THE conservative face of the US. Drawing attention to someone that fits the bill of a traditional conservative will only make their flaws more glaringly obvious to the new kids waving the NeoCon flag and calling themselves PaleoCons.

re: The Fragile Welfare State

Libertas est Veritas — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:42:55 GMT

Practicing medicine privately isn't illegal, but the private sector isn't capable of handling a large influx of patients. Theoretically the nurses and doctors could switch to the private sector, but the private sector doesn't have the facilities for serious cases.

Of course the financial issue is a problem as well, since most people have to rely on government provide medicine. They can't afford to pay and don't have insurance. And I doubt the government will be refunding taxes so people could pay for private care.

re: The Fragile Welfare State

Peter — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:21:40 GMT

I love going to the local car bureau (dmv, bmv, etc). Those are the most helpful people around. I can't wait 'til America has universal health care run by the likes that run the DMV. Or the post office, maybe we should have the post office run our hospitals. Remember all those postmen that dumped thousands of peoples mail? Those guys should run our health care system. While we are at it we should out law Fed/EX and UPS. We need to help people realize how great the post office is by not allowing them any other option!

re: The Fragile Welfare State

Ronorama — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:15:23 GMT

Libertas,

Is it illegal in Finland to practice medicine privately? I guess by your comment about the private sector being small that it isn't illegal, so what is to prevent those 13,000 nurses from going to work for private sector physicians?

~ Ron

re: Tough Guy Diplomacy

Libertas est Veritas — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:44:05 GMT

You misunderstand the dynamics of international politics. There are more options than 'attack' or 'surrender'. This is why China is actually gaining political points since it deals with other nations in a non-hostile way. Just look at Chinese influence in Africa. You don't have to be the biggest bully in the yard to get things done.

In fact, an aggressive foreign policy creates more danger. For example, in the Muslim world, only a small percentage is radicalized. But the more the US intervenes in Muslim countries, the more people are radicalized. The more you push people, the more likely they are to push back.

re: Tough Guy Diplomacy

Chris — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 04:16:06 GMT

"rational resolutions" ? Are you serious? So the west should apologize before they're beheaded. Don't you understand, our enemies are laughing behind our backs and using the leftists of our country to do their dirty work, including you.