Sunday, November 1, 2009
Social Engineering
I've had several experiences lately that have convinced me that this administration is playing no-holds-bared social engineering. I mentioned the case where I was politically screened during a job interview.
Another example. I was on an interview with a tech company that is creating a product to enhance internet broadcasts of Obama's online speeches. They openly declared their socialist leanings and were perturbed that I wouldn't work for them for the salary that their other software engineers were making - they decided I thought I was better than everyone else, essentially that I was a capitalist pig. But even during the interview process I had solved several of their most pressing technical problems. That's why capitalism works. If I was an average software engineer, I would be satisfied with an average salary. But as studies have shown, it's typical to have a 10x difference in productivity among software engineers (and teams), and I have worked my way into that higher productivity category - I expect to be compensated for my extra production.
Currently I work for a company where, I believe, middle management is being chosen for their demographics, not their competence - and I'm wondering what strings are being pulled to make that happen.
Another example. I was on an interview with a tech company that is creating a product to enhance internet broadcasts of Obama's online speeches. They openly declared their socialist leanings and were perturbed that I wouldn't work for them for the salary that their other software engineers were making - they decided I thought I was better than everyone else, essentially that I was a capitalist pig. But even during the interview process I had solved several of their most pressing technical problems. That's why capitalism works. If I was an average software engineer, I would be satisfied with an average salary. But as studies have shown, it's typical to have a 10x difference in productivity among software engineers (and teams), and I have worked my way into that higher productivity category - I expect to be compensated for my extra production.
Currently I work for a company where, I believe, middle management is being chosen for their demographics, not their competence - and I'm wondering what strings are being pulled to make that happen.
If It Ain't Broke, Convince the Population Is, then Break It Through Your "Fix" To Set Up a Dependency
I went to the Emergency Room on Saturday. I thought I had a nasty bug bite, but it turned out to be an infected follicle. Remember, I live in one of the most expensive places in the US if not the world.
The competent staff checked me in. I waited for about 10 minutes. Was seen by a highly trained registered nurse for ~5 minutes. Waited another ~10 minutes, then was seen by one of the most highly skilled professionals in our society. He spent ~10 minutes with me discussing options and writing a prescription. I have very inexpensive insurance ($50/month) with a 50% copay: it cost me $100 and my insurance $100. I immediately went to the pharmacy and bought medicine that is the result of thousands, maybe millions, of hours of R&D and was again counselled by a highly skilled pharmacist, that cost me $20.
Are you F'ing kidding me? You can't have a nice night in the Bay Area for $120. I went on a date a few weeks ago at a very modest Italian restaurant and paid over $120. I recently bought three work shirts for ~$120. I had to register my car and get a smog check recently: $120.
If your mechanic fixes your car, pay him. If your gardener mows your lawn, pay him. If your lawyer wins your case, pay him. If your doctor makes you well again, pay him. If you teacher teaches your kids ... let the government pay him? I do NOT want the government involved in health care, 'cause their going to make things WORSE, not better, as Schiff explains via government meddling in education.
The competent staff checked me in. I waited for about 10 minutes. Was seen by a highly trained registered nurse for ~5 minutes. Waited another ~10 minutes, then was seen by one of the most highly skilled professionals in our society. He spent ~10 minutes with me discussing options and writing a prescription. I have very inexpensive insurance ($50/month) with a 50% copay: it cost me $100 and my insurance $100. I immediately went to the pharmacy and bought medicine that is the result of thousands, maybe millions, of hours of R&D and was again counselled by a highly skilled pharmacist, that cost me $20.
Are you F'ing kidding me? You can't have a nice night in the Bay Area for $120. I went on a date a few weeks ago at a very modest Italian restaurant and paid over $120. I recently bought three work shirts for ~$120. I had to register my car and get a smog check recently: $120.
If your mechanic fixes your car, pay him. If your gardener mows your lawn, pay him. If your lawyer wins your case, pay him. If your doctor makes you well again, pay him. If you teacher teaches your kids ... let the government pay him? I do NOT want the government involved in health care, 'cause their going to make things WORSE, not better, as Schiff explains via government meddling in education.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Need For State Banks
I hate Michael Moore. He is the ultimate bleeding heart liberal whose holier than thou philosophies are so detached from reality that were he to champion perfect positions for the next 80 years he could not undo the damage he's done.
That being said, I agree that we need localized banks (point 4).
We didn't have a central bank originally (1776) for a population of ~2.5 million, which is less than 1/14th the population of California today. End the Fed.
That being said, I agree that we need localized banks (point 4).
We didn't have a central bank originally (1776) for a population of ~2.5 million, which is less than 1/14th the population of California today. End the Fed.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Freedom is Radical
There are a lot of people, young folk especially, who want to find a cause to stand behind. I want to tell you, now more than ever, freedom is the most radical stance you can take - and it needs you.
Freedom is the idea that you are beholden to no one and that you can do whatever you like so long as it does not impinge on your neighbour; particularly their life, liberty, and property. It's the freedom to make mistakes and learn from your mistakes. It's the freedom to take risks. It's the freedom to fail, and the freedom to succeed. It's the freedom to claim as yours decisions that affect your life. It requires, though, that freedom loving people fight ideas, and unfortunately sometimes the physical manifestations of ideas, that would enslave us. And that is radical, and noble.
Freedom is the idea that you are beholden to no one and that you can do whatever you like so long as it does not impinge on your neighbour; particularly their life, liberty, and property. It's the freedom to make mistakes and learn from your mistakes. It's the freedom to take risks. It's the freedom to fail, and the freedom to succeed. It's the freedom to claim as yours decisions that affect your life. It requires, though, that freedom loving people fight ideas, and unfortunately sometimes the physical manifestations of ideas, that would enslave us. And that is radical, and noble.
You Can't Have War Without Collectivism
Nazi Germany was Socialist
They were beaten by one of the most collectivist US presidents ever
Collectivist power comes from a common goal. At best that goal is to provide services for the people, with only the inefficiencies of a monopoly. At worst, and more commonly, it villainizes an "other" against which the collective must unite to defeat. At best that other is an abstract daemon, such as an environmental problem. At worst, it is a foreign people easily and advantageously scapegoated for the benefit of the leaders.
Concomitantly, history teaches us that any people that does not defend itself will be conquered.
They were beaten by one of the most collectivist US presidents ever
Collectivist power comes from a common goal. At best that goal is to provide services for the people, with only the inefficiencies of a monopoly. At worst, and more commonly, it villainizes an "other" against which the collective must unite to defeat. At best that other is an abstract daemon, such as an environmental problem. At worst, it is a foreign people easily and advantageously scapegoated for the benefit of the leaders.
Concomitantly, history teaches us that any people that does not defend itself will be conquered.
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