About This Blog

Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) was the greatest economist of my time. His greatest works can be accessed here at no charge.

Mises believed that property, freedom and peace are and should be the hallmarks of a satisfying and prosperous society. I agree. Mises proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the prospect for general and individual prosperity is maximized, indeed, is only possible, if the principle of private property reigns supreme. What's yours is yours. What's mine is mine. When the line between yours and mine is smudged, the door to conflict opens. Without freedom (individual liberty of action) the principle of private property is neutered and the free market, which is the child of property and freedom and the mother of prosperity and satisfaction, cannot exist. Peace is the goal of a prosperous and satisfying society of free individuals, not peace which is purchased by submission to the enemies of property and freedom, but peace which results from the unyielding defense of these principles against all who challenge them.

In this blog I measure American society against the metrics of property, freedom and peace.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Deeds Not Words!!!!!!!

The video below shows Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania ranting against big government on the House floor. The video is going viral. Kelly's words hit the nerve of Tea Partiers' frustration.





The problem is Rep. Kelly's votes in the House are not in sync with his rant. Tad DeHaven at the Cato Institute documents the Congressman's votes FOR big government:
  • He voted against an amendment that would have terminated the Economic Development Administration.
  • He voted against an amendment that would have defunded the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia program, a new corporate welfare program requested by the Obama administration.
  • He voted to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank.
  • He voted against an amendment that would have terminated the Essential Air Service subsidy program.
  • He voted against an amendment that would have shut down the Department of Energy’s Title 17 loan guarantee program—the program that gave birth to Solyndra.
  • He voted against an amendment that would have terminated the Community Development Block Grant program.
This is very, very frustrating. The guys we send to Washington have to understand that the only way to end big government programs is to actually vote against them!!!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am trying to hang onto the hope that in four or five election cycles we will habe elected enough small government conservatives to finally make a difference. But, sadly, it is rare when we elect someone who can withstand the temptation to join with the establishment big government Republicans.

Sherman Broder said...

So, so correct.

And when we do elect someone with courage to resist the establishment, he is shunned to the back bench, without power, committee assignments, etc.

I think you hit on it. It will take a few election cycles to replace the Boehners and McConnells of the world.