21 January 2011

CIA Fun Facts About the World

Zero Hedge has an excellent article analyzing the fun facts that the CIA compiles for it's "World Book."  Take a look here.

The Crazy Cunucks are Ahead of US?

Well, when it comes to the free market, yes, those crazy northern neighbors that say "Eh?" are ahead of the United States.  Seems that our free market economy is now the 9th most free in the world. 

Ninth?  The worlds biggest economy is not the most free?  According the Heritage Foundation's Index on Economic Freedom, we are behind Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Ireland, and Denmark.  DENMARK?  CANADA?!?  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! 
These nations all outscored the U.S. across ten categories, including taxes, free trade, regulation, monetary policy, and corruption.
As the article continues, it seems that the top ten ranking is only by the skin of our teeth.  We beat out No. 10 Bahrain by one tenth of a point and No. 11 Chile by four tenths of a point.  (Yeesh, what a rough crowd to be thrown in with.)  Breaking down the results in further detail, the study shows that the world's poorest nation, Rwanda, is advancing by jumping to the No. 75th rank from 93 in the year prior.  A backwards, poor nation is better able to advance it's personal freedom, opportunity and hope for it's citizens in one year while we continue a slide?  Just how far has the US slid into the doldrums of ineptitude? 

Facts remain, that until we can become more like (shudders) Rwanda and move away from big government and big regulation, big bureaucracy, our economy will not right itself.  There is hope, yes that's true, but we have to fix the mess in Washington first, before we can actually start to solve our own house. 

Socialist Utopia: School Admins Create Soft Citizens

While this kind of reaction is expected in the UK, it is highly disgusting here in the USA! 

Seriously?  Giving a child detention for making a "gun gesture?"  It is utter rubbish!  I speak from personal experience as a kid who grew up with BB guns and air pistols at an early age as well has a pair of "six shooter" cap guns, replete with their own cheesy leather holsters and cowboy hat.  I was taught the difference between what was real (bb guns and true firearms that could hurt and maim people) as well as what was pretend (the cap guns and eventually Nerf products). 

The question is, what lesson does a seven year old learn when they are given detention for making their thumb and index finger into the infamous shape of a gun?


I propose that from now on, this become the standard way that all citizens in the United States shall point at anything.  Signs, products on the shelve, or stupid people in the education system.  Perhaps they will attempt to ban us from making this pointing gesture because it makes their willy nilly go all invert and change orientation?  Who cares!

The point here is that attempting to create an environment where aggression is punished and pacifism is rewarded only works to breakdown the civil and self reliant society.  When we see stories such as these, it only confirms our thoughts that leftists exist inside the halls of academia. 

John Lott on Magazine Bans

Finally, a real pundit gets to talk on a socialist radio station!  John Lott tackles the magazine ban controversy with smart and real facts on SoCal Public Radio.  Going opposite of Ladd Everitt, Lott even gets equal (or perhaps even more) air time with the pusher.

Grab a beer (or a sandwich for lunch) and catch the whole 30 minute segment, as you'll hear everything from waiting laws, licensing laws, magazine capacities, and murder rates from around the world debated, discussed, and debunked with some intelegent (and nitwit) callers thrown in.  Holly run on sentence gun nut! 

Trump: China can Foxtrot October!

Well, ok, he didn't exactly say that China can F'off.  However, using business language and "off the record" sovereign trade talk speak, he did.  Finally, an American businessman and potential leader that has the balls to actually say what most mainstream Americans think.

This clip is from a phone interview on CNBC's Larry Kudlow & Company's show earlier this week.  If you have ten minutes, it is highly worth the time to watch The Donald explain what he would do to solve the manipulative Red Chinese's trade practices.  Additionally, Kudlow pushes at Trump to see if he might be a contender for the 2012 Presidential race.  Seems that he might have a contract conflict with a certain show that will prevent him from saying yes until later this year. 

Of course, I'm already on record as saying he'd have my support.  Watch the vid, it's worth the listen. 

H/T to AK Fan, of course.