The Flow of Consciousness

To PA federal Senators Specter and Casey, by e-mail 9 February 2009:

I write to urge the Senator to oppose the economic stimulus bill which will be voted on soon.

This economic stimulus bill has cut out the majority of the programs which would benefit the most from it, leaving programs which already have sufficient support from private interests.

Furthermore, this bill does absolutely nothing to stimulate the taxpayer. The money from this stimulus will simply line the pockets of government contractors at every level of government. Moreover, it will yet again increase the size of the government, creating more bureaucracy and wasting more taxpayer money.

The worst part is that it is essentially deficit spending. We’re cutting taxes while increasing spending. We’re living beyond our means, and because of it, we are destined to live beneath our means.

Since Congress often defenestrates principles such as these during heavy votes such as this, I also will point out that a vote /against/ this bill is far safer politically than a vote /for/ it. If the Senator votes for it, the bill passes and it proves ineffective and wasteful, the vote could be ammo for a political rival. If the senator votes against it and it proves ineffective, he can say “I knew it wouldn’t work.” If it doesn’t pass, he’s safe on any vote.

I again urge the Senator to oppose this legislation.

Presidential candidate Ron Paul’s latest book, The Revolution: A Manifesto was released officially today.

As of this posting, it’s #1 in Amazon’s Books section, as well as #1 in Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political Doctrines, #1 in Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Political, and #1 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Political. It’s also 45% off because of the incredibly high volume of sales.

The book is not just a campaign book by the candidate from Texas. It’s a collection of thoughts on what must be done to ensure the continuance of the American experiment of self-government and rule-by-law. He explains why the dollar is failing, why the government is growing instead of shrinking, and how we are slowly surrendering our liberties in exchange for a false sense of security.

Lew Rockwell of LewRockwell.com, a libertarian columnist site, posted a fantastic comment on the Amazon product page:

Ron Paul’s legacy–from decades of principled defense of freedom, peace, and sound money–is inculcated in this very important book. Just the right length, it convincingly and eloquently advances the Ron Paul philosophy. It’s a book for beginners and for all of us, no matter how well-read, on liberty, Austrian economics, the Federal Reserve, the free market, the welfare state, and the warfare state. No mere “campaign book,” this is one for the ages. And I especially appreciated the suggested reading list at the end. Ron, thank you for your shining example in congress, for teaching millions through your presidential race, and for being–as this extraordinary book shows–the Tom Paine of the second American revolution. Fellow Ron Paulians, we have only begun.

Ron Paul also posted a message on YouTube regarding the The Revolution: A Manifesto.

I’ve had my copy for approximately a week now, but school’s been taking precedence. I’ll be sure to post my thoughts on it when I finish it.

Update: Thomas E. Woods, Jr. wrote an excellent article for LewRockwell.com entitled What Ron Paul’s Book Accomplishes. His review, summarized in a sentence: “It is a book that can change minds.”

Update: Bill Huff also contributed to LRC an article called Manifesto Destiny.