Why I Finally Agree on Something with Barney Frank.
By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee
I am asked constantly by talk show hosts across the USA why I left the GOP and became the leader of a national Libertarian movement for smaller government and economic and personal freedom. Nothing could symbolize my bold decision more than the issue of online poker and gaming. It was only 5 years ago that Republicans controlled every level of government from Congress, to the U.S. Senate, to the Presidency, to a majority of Governorships, and even a majority of state legislatures. Now they control NOTHING. Now Democrats control every one of those same levels of government. The Republican brand went from wildly popular to poison. Amazingly, Republicans haven't a clue how it happened. Worse, they're digging the hole deeper. I believe the meltdown of the GOP all started and crystallized with the Republican-led ban on online poker and gaming. Once again, this issue is roaring back to life to haunt the GOP. It may be the final death-blow.
Congressman Barney Frank, a politician that I have attacked with gusto on numerous occasions for his ultra-liberal fiscal views, unveiled a plan on Wednesday to legalize online gaming. For once, I find myself on the same side as Barney Frank and actually cheering his words. I never thought the day would come where I uttered these 7 words- “I love what Barney Frank just said.” I am a Barry Goldwater/Ronald Reagan disciple who believes the GOP has abandoned its fiscal conservative roots- and therefore abandoned me. When Congressman Barney Frank and I agree on something, you know that either hell has frozen over, or the GOP is in big trouble.
Plain and simple, gambling is an issue of FREEDOM and personal responsibility. What I do in my bedroom, on my computer, with my money is none of government's business. In any free society, I have a right to enjoy gambling as my choice of either entertainment, or investment, without government getting involved. It's that simple.
Gambling in my opinion is as American as apple pie. George Washington and Benjamin Franklin both enjoyed gambling. The original colonies successfully raised money with lotteries. Virtually any business decision involves financial risk. That is why the biggest winners on Wall Street are virtually all world-class gamblers with nerves of steel. That is why our wealthiest citizens are often business owners- what could be a bigger risk (or produce a bigger reward) than betting millions on a start-up? Entrepreneurship (risk-taking) is at the very heart of capitalism. Billions are risked every day on Wall Street. Billions are risked every day on the commodities market. Billions are risked on Main Street by small business owners. Without risk, there is no reward. Without risk-takers (capitalist gamblers), America could not be the world's greatest economic power. Those who attack and denigrate gambling, have no understanding of the very roots of capitalism.
Gambling has been in our blood and DNA from the first days of America. The world's biggest gamblers left their homelands, leaving behind their safe lives, to travel on dangerous boats, filled with disease, to a New World called America- often with no money, and no friends or relatives waiting on the other side. Later the pioneers risked their lives to travel thousands of miles in covered wagons, facing starvation, Indian attacks and disease to tame the Wild West. What would you call that? Playing it safe? The very idea of America is symbolized by gambling, throwing caution to the wind, betting your life on a new start in a new land.
The Republican-led ban of online gaming badly damaged the Republican brand. It was all downhill from there. I believe this issue killed the GOP message of smaller, more limited government. Republicans may believe in just a little bit more economic freedom than President Obama and his socialist tax and spend crowd, but when it comes to personal freedom, Republicans want bigger government in your bedroom; on your computer; interfering in your personal decisions; limiting your freedoms; violating your civil rights; deciding what behavior is acceptable and “moral.” The ban of online gaming and poker morphed the GOP into Big Brother. Worse, it exposed Republicans as hypocrites and uptight prudes looking to take away our personal freedoms and limit the choices of consenting adults.
The smokescreen used to defend this ban was “morality.” But morality based on whose standards? Here's the great thing about freedom. I like to gamble. You don't. Great. So don't gamble. No one is forcing you. Feel free to teach your children not to gamble. But why would you ever want to stop me from enjoying what I want to do? What right have you got to limit my choice of entertainment? Are you upset that I'm having a good time and you're not? Are you upset that I can enjoy gambling without becoming addicted or ruining my life, while you can't? You know what they call groups that police morality and ban choices of personal freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan? The Taliban.
Whether I choose gambling as my form of entertainment, or investment…either way, it doesn't effect you and it's NONE OF YOUR DARN BUSINESS. Any political party that disagrees with that simple philosophy deserves to lose power at all levels of office, destroy their popularity, and tarnish their brand forever. Sound familiar?
What's the GOP's new slogan? “We are the Nanny State. We're going to save you- whether you like it or not.” If that's your political slogan, good luck. You aren't the party of smaller government. You are the party of bigger government. You are the very symbol of political hypocrisy (and stupidity). I wish you a wonderful future in the world's smallest and most uptight political minority.
The truth is that the ban of online poker and gaming is not an insignificant issue. It is a huge issue. If our government thinks it has a right to tell citizens what games they can play on their own computer, then there is no limit to what control they want to hold over our lives. The ban of online gaming cost the GOP the support of many Libertarian-leaning voters. It cost them the support of many fiscally conservative, socially tolerant small business owners (whose contributions fuel the GOP). Most importantly, it cost them the support of millions of men who love to play poker and gamble on sports.
How popular is sports gambling? It has made the Super Bowl and March Madness two of the most popular television events in the country and for all intents and purposes, national holidays. How popular is poker? Just one organization, The PPA (Poker Players Alliance) has over one million members. Experts estimate that 10 million to 12 million American citizens play online poker. Over 50 million Americans play poker as a recreational sport. The World Series of Poker held in Las Vegas each summer has become the world's richest sporting event (with over $100,000,000 in prizes). Poker TV shows dominate the television screen.
What are the demographics of these online gamblers? For the most part, they tend to be males- macho, fiscally conservative, free spirited, entrepreneurial, small business owners, stock investors, self-employed. Like me, they are passionate capitalists that believe in limited government, low taxes and free markets. They distrust and dislike government. They certainly do not trust or support Barack Obama or his plans to redistribute the wealth. Do you get the idea who we're describing? Republicans! The brilliant GOP, with this ignorant ban on online gambling, has screwed over the worst possible group of voters- their own constituents.
Instead of learning from this fiasco, it appears the tone-deaf GOP is a glutton for punishment. They appear to be gearing up to fight Congressman Barney Frank in order to uphold this ban on the freedom of their own supporters. And you wonder why millions of former lifelong, loyal Republicans just like me have changed sides? We're never going to fall into the arms of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party, with their socialist tax and spend ideas that limit our economic freedom, denigrate capitalism and greatly increase the size, scope and power of government. But we're done with the GOP. We've found a home in the only political party that supports both economic and personal freedom: the Libertarian Party.
Libertarians understand- unlike the GOP- that asking government to play Nanny; to take control over your personal behavior; to play Big Brother in your bedroom or on your computer; to limit your personal freedom; is no better than Democrats forcing big government into your personal financial decisions or trying to steal (they call it “redistribute”) your hard-earned money. It’s all about the same issue- freedom. It’s the reason our ancestors came to America (or died trying). It’s the reason we fought the American Revolution. Freedom is at the root (excuse the pun) of what America is all about.
Gambling is about freedom. Whether you like it or not, approve of it or not, that personal choice is none of government's darn business. More importantly, what difference is there between making a $100 online bet on a hand of poker; a $1000 online bet on the Dallas Cowboys or Los Angeles Lakers; or a $100,000 wager on Microsoft or ExxonMobil with your Charles Schwab or E*Trade online account? There is no difference- except that the last few years have proven Wall Street is far more dangerous and costly. Should we ban stock investing? Should we ban online stock accounts at Charles Schwab, E*Trade or TD Ameritrade? Well we shouldn’t ban online poker either.
A far bigger problem in America today is obesity. Only 6% (at most) of Americans have a gambling addiction. But as much as 60% of the U.S. population has an obesity problem. Should we ban delis? Should we ban McDonalds? Should we ban Krispy Kremes?
Alcohol kills more Americans than any other addiction. Yet we allow bars, restaurants and clubs to sell alcohol, don't we? We tried Prohibition in the 1920's- it was the greatest political failure ever. Our citizens kept drinking; lost respect for the law; millions of dollars of tax revenue was lost; and organized crime was born to fill the void. Nothing about online gambling is any different. Banning it will solve nothing; the people who enjoy it as entertainment will keep doing it; they will lose respect for the law; billions in tax revenues will be lost; problem gamblers will move underground; and organized crime will rake in the profits. Perhaps we should call this ban “The Gambino Family Support Bill.” Afterall, the mafia is the greatest beneficiary of this ban. It is estimated that Americans have gambled over $100 Billion per year online since the ban on online gambling. Pretty effective, huh? Once again, more proof of the utter futility and stupidity of trying to limit freedom under the guise of morality. They should just rename the morality police, “the Keystone Cops.”
This ban has nothing to do with morality. If it did, the same politicians who railed against online gaming would not have carved out exemptions for online lotteries, online horseracing, tribal casinos, or fantasy football. The next time you hear a politician say he or she supports a ban on online gaming or poker, you should ask them which organized crime family is bribing them with campaign contributions.
PriceWaterhouseCooper recently studied the issue of online gaming and concluded that legalization will produce over $50 Billion in tax revenues for the federal government. That's $50 Billion (with a “B”) at a time when our budget deficits and national debt grows by the trillions. Why would we throw away $50 Billion in revenues just waiting to be collected, at the same time we limit the freedoms of millions of Americans? Seems like a no-brainer to me. But then I also understand why the GOP brand has been ruined, leaving the party in shambles. The answer is clear: this tone-deaf obsession with limiting the personal freedom of consenting adults. It's funny how a little issue of taking away people's freedom can destroy a political party. Or even more remarkably, drive a free-market, limited-government Libertarian into the arms of…Barney Frank.
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate. His new book will be released by John Wiley & Sons this July entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts.” The book is available for pre-sale at Amazon.com. For more of Wayne's views, commentaries, or to watch his many media interviews, please visit his
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( 3 / 381 )How Obama Conducted a Mafia-Style Shakedown and Stole Chrysler From Secured Lenders and Handed the Stolen Goods to the Auto Unions.
By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee
I've been arguing for 2 years now that Barack Obama and his anti-capitalism, pro-union friends want to change the way America does business. I've stated out loud on numerous occasions that their goal is to destroy (or certainly badly damage) capitalism and tilt the playing field in favor of socialism. I've argued that Obama is trying to turn the U.S. economy into FRANCE- a country dominated by big government and big unions. Well I wish I were wrong, but my worst fears were realized last week when Obama literally stole the ownership of Chrysler from capitalist investors and risk-takers, and handed the stolen property to the auto worker unions that supported him in the recent Presidential election. It was a shakedown that would make John Gotti or the leaders of the Crips and Bloods proud.
Obama is my Columbia University Class of '83 classmate. As such, I can tell you that the vast majority of my classmates at Columbia University disdained capitalism and capitalists. Worse, Obama went on to become a law student, law professor and lawyer (as well as a “community activist” ie professional protestor). Lawyers are the natural enemies of business- they don't create jobs. To the contrary, they sue the courageous capitalist job creators and risk-takers, thereby destroying jobs. With a natural disdain of business, Obama has spent the past 25 years since our college graduation attacking and suing business, as well as teaching others how to do the same. He has never in his life started a business, funded a business, risked his money on a business, or created a single job. Now we've elected him to run the entire American economy. As a man with zero business experience, a natural disdain of capitalism, and now drunk with power, Obama has decided to abandon the rule of law and conduct a hostile takeover of American business. Frightening.
Here is what happened at the Chrysler negotiations last week. Plain and simple, Obama conducted a Mafia-style shakedown. He went to SECURED creditors who risked $6.9 Billion of their risk capital on saving Chrysler, and who rightly owned a large majority of the company, and told them their secured interest was no longer secured. Obama put a gun to their heads and told these capitalist risk-takers to accept a 86% markdown of their secured holdings in Chrysler. Next he proceeded to hand a vastly larger 55% ownership to the Auto Workers Union, which was unsecured, last on the totem pole of creditors, and therefore likely to receive little or nothing in the event of a business failure. Obama, the mafia don, decided to throw the rule of law out and shakedown the wealthy capitalists he so disdains. He told secured creditors (capitalists who happen to usually support Republicans and fiscally conservative candidates), owed $6.9 billion, that their ownership was worth pennies on the dollar, while he handed (out of the blue) majority ownership to unsecured auto workers (who happened to support Obama's Presidential campaign with millions of dollars in contributions and man-hours). He capped off the shakedown by allegedly threatening to use the White House Press Corp. to destroy the reputation of the creditors. John Gotti would be proud.
I've been in business my entire adult life. I've raised money, risked money and borrowed money on countless occasions. The rule of law is simple: whoever risks their cold, hard cash always has priority over all other creditors. Those with skin in the game are always in the drivers seat. My creativity, tenacity, organization skills, motivation skills, and thousands of hours of work always stand in line behind those who put their money at risk. Risk talks, all the rest walks. That's how capitalism works. PERIOD.
That's the rule of business…and the rule of law. Now, along comes Obama to change the rules. When a man disdains capitalism and capitalist risk-takers, suddenly the rules are out the window. Suddenly those who put up the capital, those who shoulder the majority of the risk, are no longer first in line if the business fails. Obama made it abundantly clear last week in the Chrysler negotiations that the rule of law has been replaced by the rule of street thugs and shakedown artists. Obama's plan simply ignored the secured first-in-line creditors and risk-takers, gave them pennies on the dollar, and rewarded (paid-off) the auto unions with a majority interest for risking nothing. Then he turned around and blamed the capitalists for being selfish, and unwilling to sacrifice.
Where is the sacrifice of the auto unions? Sacrifice? Obama just pulled off the biggest taxpayer and capitalist rip-off in history. Taxpayer money, and investor's money just got “crammed down” to almost nothing, to make room for majority ownership for Obama's friends at the auto unions. Of course he and his political allies will receive HUGE kickbacks in campaign contributions in the future for his thuggery.
This is a political payoff- pure and simple. It is a shakedown of epic proportions. The bankruptcy judge and courts should, of course, absolutely reject Obama's shakedown tactics and follow the rule of law. Unfortunately, with an administration that has clearly shown itself willing to operate on an intimidation, thug, and mafia level, I have no confidence that will happen. But the fair outcome to uphold the rule of law, is that the people involved in this political shakedown and theft should all be sent to prison for extortion, fraud and grand theft (just as the mafia would be for taking the same actions).
One of the biggest problems with politicians like Obama who have a total lack of understanding about business, economics and the world economy is that they do not see the unexpected consequences of their short-term political payoffs. In this case, it is none other than the destruction of capitalism and the American economy.
Since Obama took office the mantra we have heard is the need to get credit and capital flowing again. Our children's and grandchildren's futures have been mortgaged with the trillions of dollars that Obama has spent to accomplish that goal. Now, in one fell swoop of audacious ignorance for the sake of political payoffs, Obama has slammed shut the spigot of capital flow to American business. As has been made clear over the past months, foreigners control much of our capital. But, because we are a land of laws, including the law that those who provide the capital stand first in line to get it back if the business venture should fail, they have readily invested this capital in American businesses. NO MORE! Obama has just thrown that out the window and the ripple effects will be rapid and devastating.
In a global economy it is as easy to invest in a business in Europe, China, or Brazil as it is in the United States. Given the fact that President Obama now says your secured capital can be stolen from you, why would anyone (foreigners or Americans) any longer invest in American business? Obama has just made it far harder, if not impossible, to get any capitalist investor or risk-taker anywhere in the world to invest in any American business. Perhaps President Obama really hates capitalism and capitalists. Or perhaps he just doesn't understand it all. Either way, his actions have caused great damage to the American economy.
Is there a way to undo the damage? Yes. Voters can elect candidates who understand business; understand the long-term consequences of their actions; support and reward capitalism; encourage free markets without government interference, manipulation or extortion; value the rule of law; and don't support government making payoffs to political supporters.
As I close, I have a few important question for you President Obama- Without capitalism or capitalists willing to take risks, who is going to pay the bills for all your out-of-control spending plans and welfare programs disguised as “tax cuts” (for people who don't pay taxes)? Who is going to pay for your dramatically increased handouts and entitlements? Who is going to pay for your next round of bailouts? Who is going to pay for your next round of economic stimulus? I'm afraid you've got a huge problem President Obama. I'm afraid you have budget and revenue projections that you can throw out the window. I'm afraid you have tax revenue projections that are now closer to fairy tales than reality. I'm afraid you now have deficits the size of which no one has ever dared imagine in world history. Here's the moral to the story for my socialist college classmate: Be careful what you wish for, it may come true.
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate. His new book will be released by John Wiley & Sons this July entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts.” The book is available for pre-sale at Amazon.com. For more of Wayne's views, commentaries, or to watch his many media interviews, please visit his web site at: www.ROOTforAmerica.com
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( 3 / 381 )Biden Says "No Planes, Trains, or Automobiles."
But Take Control of the Border with Mexico- "Why Would We Do That?"
By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee
The Obama Administration loves WMD's: Weapons of Mass Distraction. Swine flu is yet another opportunity to distract the public. While the public is panicking and fearing for their lives, perhaps they won't notice that Obama is misleading us about...everything.
Yesterday was a great example. Obama bragged about the success of his economic program and the 150,000 jobs he has single-handedly "created or saved." Meanwhile it was announced on the same day that our economy shrunk by a staggering 6.1% in the first quarter; job losses continued to set records (with a total of 1.2 million lost since Obama took office); and Obama's own budget projects a national debt of $17 trillion by the time he leaves office (over $7 trillion more than when he took over). Now that's what I call success. Happy Days are here again!
To make sure the public doesn't notice that our economy has fallen into the abyss, Vice President Biden in the face of a few dozen cases of the flu (all mild so far in the USA), publicly stated that he told his family to stay away from confined spaces- planes, trains, subways, automobiles and how about this one- classrooms. In a nation of 300 million people, with a few dozen cases of the flu, our confident and courageous Vice President recommends closing shop in America. None of us should go anywhere. School? Who needs school? Not our children. Travel? Who needs travel? From now on, planes, trains or automobiles are out. Our own Vice President believes we should cower in fear inside our homes in the face of a few cases of the flu.
In response to this possible flu pandemic we face, the Vice President has no answers, no solutions- just that we stop doing anything that might put us in contact with...people. That's his one bright idea. Yet the one thing that anyone with common sense would do, we don't. I understand that closing the border with Mexico is not a good option (although it is an option if things get worse); there is simply too much commerce that would be disrupted (such as much of this country's fruits and vegetables).
HOWEVER, there is one thing that Obama, Biden, and Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano refuse to do that could stop or slow any fears of a pandemic: that is to give our border authorities the right to refuse entry to anyone who has flu symptoms and is not a U.S. citizen. The current policy is: sneeze all you want, get sick right in front of a border agent, and yet we'll let you through the border so that our taxpayers can pay for your medical needs. Virtually every country in the world is telling their citizens not to go near Mexico- the epicenter of the possible pandemic. Yet our country sits on a border with Mexico and does...NOTHING.
All Biden can recommend is to stop traveling, stop using transportation, stop buying. Biden's advice will bankrupt the nation. Biden's advice will bankrupt airlines and train companies. Biden's advice will bankrupt tourist destinations like Las Vegas, Orlando, Disneyland, Manhattan and Hawaii. But turn back foreigners who show signs of the virus from ever entering America in the first place? “We can't do that!” That might offend Hispanic voters. Politically correct liberals can't offend any group of minority voters. That is not an option. Better to stop traveling and close the American economy than offend any group of Democratic voters.
Is our country stark raving mad? We've put idiots in charge of the United States economy. Complete and utter fools who think nothing of causing panic among the populace; destroying American business with a few careless words; and refuse to control our border with the country where virtually every single case of the flu has emanated. But using WMD's (Weapons of Mass Distraction) to confuse and panic the voters- on that topic Obama and his friends are as good as anyone in the history of politics.
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate. His new book will be released by John Wiley & Sons this July entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts.” The book is available now for pre-sale at Amazon.com. For more of Wayne's views, commentaries, or to watch his many media interviews, please visit his web site at: www.ROOTforAmerica.com
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( 2.9 / 611 )The Symbol of the Corruption, Arrogance, Out-Of-Control Greed and Ego of the 2-Party Political System: Senator Arlen Specter.
Specter Puts Big Government in Control of America.
Abandons Checks & Balances, Separation of Powers That He Quoted only 5 Weeks Ago as Crucial to American People.
By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee
It was only 5 weeks ago (on March 17th) that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter said he would not even consider switching parties from Republican to Democrat because that would not be in the interests of the American people. Specter said that a switch would threaten checks and balances and the separation of powers- both so crucial to our country. A switch, he said, would create one-party rule. A switch by Specter would give Democrats a 60-vote filibuster-proof Senate majority (assuming Al Franken is seated- as expected- as Democratic Senator from Minnesota). Anything Obama and the radical, big-government, tax and spend left wanted, they could get with a switch by Specter. “The answer is no” Specter said with conviction.
Suddenly today, only five weeks after saying a switch would threaten the Constitution and destroy checks and balances, Senator Specter announced a switch to the Democratic Party. Suddenly checks and balances have lost their importance to Specter. Suddenly the Constitution and the separation of powers have lost their importance. Suddenly the fact that the American people “desperately need the 2-party system…that's the basis of politics in America” (Specter's quote) has lost its importance. What could have possibly changed his mind in the face of such important principles? I'd call it a deadly combination (at least for citizens and taxpayers) of greed and ego.
Now Arlen Specter is a Democrat and the big-government, big-tax left has achieved their dream: the elimination of dissent. What the big government socialist left could not achieve through popular vote, they engineered in the dark of night through pure bribery. What did they give you Senator Specter? What did Obama promise to burnish your legacy? What was promised to your family?
Or was this just about your own ego? Specter was a sure loser in the Pennsylvania GOP primary because of his liberal big-government voting record. Overnight his Senate seat is safe in Democratic-dominated Pennsylvania. Perhaps that's all it took to make a man a traitor to the American people; a traitor to those that voted for a Republican Senator but now are represented by a Democratic Senator; a traitor to his party; a traitor to the Constitution; a traitor to the idea of checks and balances so crucial to the visions of our Founding Fathers. Remember those were his words only 5 weeks ago.
Specter joins a long list of politicians that prove the central point of my new book, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts!”
That point is that there is no longer any 2-party system. There is no significant difference between Republicans and Democrats. Politicians of both parties are merely big and bigger, dumb and dumber. They have no interest in the will of the people. They have no interest in what the Constitution demands of them. They believe only in absolute power for themselves. They support anything that expands their power and control over the people. They are symbols of arrogance, greed and ego. They prove the infamous saying, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Did Specter switch sides to retain his seat for life (the man is 79 years old and yet he desperately wants to hang on for another 6 years)? Did he take a “legal bribe” to gain more power in the Senate; to head a powerful committee; to gain more funding for his pet projects? Or was the deal part and parcel of a far dirtier and more corrupt payoff? No matter. Either way the American people have lost. Taxpayers have been fleeced. Specter is a traitor to the ideals of smaller government, lower spending, lower taxes, free markets, and more rights for the individual that America was founded on. He has handed the keys to the country (and the economy) to big-government socialists intent on expanding the size, scope, spending and power of government for generations to come.
Is America or capitalism lost? It's certainly in danger. But I'm an optimist. In the long run I believe we'll survive and thrive. There will be a rescue of our country and our financial system. I just no longer believe that rescue can come from either of the 2 major parties. Specter's defection proves that the rescue will only come from a third party challenge to the “good old boys” political system. From someone with a fresh perspective, who is not beholden to special interests or corporate America. From someone who is not corrupted by the current system. From someone who hasn't worked for government, done business with government, or accepted checks from government. From someone who is not a career politician, but instead a Citizen Politician. From someone outside the Beltway.
I believe it's time for a Citizen Revolution. The start of that revolution could be seen when thousands of citizens and taxpayers marched at Tax Day Tea Parties across the country only 2 weeks ago. The two major parties were purposely shut out of those protests. The people who believe in limited government and the Constitution understand that both Republicans and Democrats have betrayed the people and violated the Constitution. That political revolution can only be led by the party of principle- The Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party will provide the solution by restoring limited government; by stopping the bailouts, handouts and “tax cuts” to people who never paid taxes in the first place; by instituting transparency and accountability in government; by giving power back to the citizens and taxpayers; by letting the people who earn the money and pay the taxes keep more of the money they've earned; by respecting the greatest document ever created- The United States Constitution. It's time for dramatic change all right. But I'm afraid that Obama and the corrupt politicians of the 2-party system won't appreciate the kind of change headed their way.
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate. His new book will be released by John Wiley & Sons this Spring entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts.” The book is available for pre-sale at Amazon.com. For more of Wayne’s views, commentaries, or to watch his many media interviews, please visit his web site at: www.ROOTforAmerica.com
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( 2.9 / 564 )Obama loves bailouts. They are the best thing that ever happened to the radical leftist/socialist cause. When capitalism worked (meaning all of the past 200+ years), radical leftist politicians like Obama couldn't tell Wall Street or banks or developers or auto companies or Fortune 500 CEO's what to do. When CEO's were actually making money, they could (and did) tell the government, government bureaucrats and politicians like Obama to shove off. Money equals independence and individualism. No government bureaucrat could ever boss the captains of capitalism around- not as long as capitalism worked.
But here's the problem- the last year has been the worst year in the history of American big business (as reported in Fortune only days ago). Banks are failing. Public companies are failing. Previously perfect Wall Street stock firms and investment banks are failing. The Big 3 automakers are failing. Big insurance companies (like AIG) are failing. Media companies- from newspapers to television networks- are failing. This was just the opening the socialists needed to not just destroy capitalism, but to literally highjack and take control of American big business. Obama now has virtually the entire business community (and national media) by the balls. If you want his bailout money, you have to play by his rules. Dissent is silenced. Obama is the bosses of bosses, "the capo di tutti capi." Obama now orders CEO's around like the new White House puppy Bo.
If you run an auto company, you either use the bailout money to prop up bloated union contracts that destroyed your company in the first place; and limit the salaries of every top executive; and scrap all your SUV's (even if they are your most profitable and popular product- case in point: the Jeep Cherokee): and build only “green cars”- or you get fired, or the bailout money is withheld and your company fails. Either way you do what Obama says, or you lose your job (and income as CEO). The CEO's of the top automakers have been neutered like Bo.
If you run a bank, you either loan to friends of Obama in politically correct or green industries; give out mortgages to low income applicants (the very fraud that bankrupted the entire banking and credit industries); and limit the salaries of every top executive- or you get fired, or bailout money is withheld and your bank fails. Powerful bankers have been neutered like Bo.
If you are a major real estate developer, you either build “green buildings” or partner with Obama's friends (or both)- or bailout money is withheld and you fail. Real Estate tycoons have been neutered
like Bo.
If you are CEO of a media company, like Jeffrey Immelt at GE (who owns NBC), or Jeffrey Zucker of NBC, you either show deference and bias to Obama's socialist agenda on your television network, or your bailout money is withheld and your television network fails (GE and NBC are currently bleeding losses). The kings of media have been neutered like Bo.
Ditto to the NY Times and liberal newspapers in big cities across the USA who are literally begging Obama for a newspaper bailout. To get the bailout, they'll have to write only supportive and positive editorials about Obama and his political agenda. To keep the bailout (without government pulling the rug out from under them), they'll have to do the same. The publishers will have to order their journalists to report on Obama's Weapons of Mass Distraction- his Tonight Show appearances and Town Hall meetings and March Madness picks and of course, his new puppy Bo. Anything but the truth- that with each Obama decision- the deficit grows bigger, the debt grows more unmanageable, the economy falls further into the abyss, and capitalism grows weaker by the minute.
Obama now controls freedom of the press. It has been widely reported that NBC CEO Jeffrey Zucker called a dinner for top CNBC executives and asked his on-air anchors and hosts to tone down their criticism of Obama. Worse, on MSNBC (also owned by GE and NBC), a radical leftist Hollywood celebrity (is there any other kind?) Janeane Garofalo slandered Tax Day Tea Party protestors by calling them all "white racist rednecks… who hate a black man (Obama) and don't understand a thing about taxes or the Boston Tea Party." In other words everyone at those Tea Parties (including me) is ignorant and hates Obama only because he is black. The MSNBC host interviewing her (Keith Olbermann) said nothing. Not a word of protest, debate, or disagreement. Can you imagine a fiscal conservative capitalist going on NBC or CNBC or MSNBC and calling Obama a racist who hates wealthy white businessmen, and not being viciously attacked, denounced and hounded into an apology or clarification by the host?
Yet anti-tax protestors can be slandered as racists with nary a word of disagreement by hosts at networks owned by GE- who happens to get billion dollar bailouts from Obama. Why? Because Obama now has GE (the parent company of NBC) squeezed by the private parts. The CEO is Obama's personal pet. Forget those wonderful images of the new White House puppy Bo. If the media was honest, they'd show Obama taking GE CEO Jefrrey Immelt and NBC CEO Zucker for a walk on the White House lawn.
Obama has now got Immelt housebroken like Bo. Can't you hear him talking to Jeffrey, “Be a good boy Jeffrey, support my agenda, or I will withhold your bailout money.” But if Jeffrey Immelt is a nice well-behaved puppy, he gets to sit at the feet of his master at the head table. Immelt was such a good puppy, Obama recently rewarded him with an appointment to his Economic Recovery Team. Recovery? Immelt has presided over the destruction of GE. What does he know about recovery? Since Immelt took over as CEO, GE's stock has dropped in value by as much as 80%. Only to someone with zero business experience like Obama, can Immelt look like an economic heavyweight. The guy is more like a paperweight. He has weighed down GE for years now.
But despite NBC's failing ratings and dramatically falling revenues, Immelt and Zucker serve their purpose. They do the dirty work of Obama like the nice little pets they are. Zucker hires radical leftist TV hosts like Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann at MSNBC (the host who nodded enthusiastically as all Tea Party protestors were called “racist rednecks”). Hosts like Maddow and Olbermann simply support every word uttered by Obama like “company men.” Zucker makes sure NBC Sports (yes I said sports) has “green nights” where they turn the lights off at the pregame football studio (while on the air). Yes, NBC hosts shows in the dark to show their support for the war against global warming. Zucker makes sure that the NBC Evening News reports (without bias, of course) positively on green technology. And guests on NBC-owned television networks are able to call all Tea Party tax protestors “ignorant racist rednecks” without nary a question or comment from the radical leftist hosts.
Yes sir, Obama owns 'em all.
The question I have is pretty simple: how come we're letting Obama abandon capitalism after only two bad years (1929 and 2008) in the last century? Yet we're putting government in charge, when government has never in history EVER had one single good year. Not one.
Government loses money every second of every day. Every department of government bleeds loses every year. Government has never heard of a profit. Government simply spends and loses trillions of dollars every year of its existence, then raises taxes next year, and somehow still manages to run a huge deficit. Government only survives because it asks capitalism and capitalists to bail out its losses, waste, corruption and inefficiency every single year (with the power of taxation). Name one year that government has ever succeeded in making a profit?
Government hasn't ever actually make one dollar. It just spends and taxes, then the following year always spends and taxes more (somehow running up an even bigger deficit). Can you imagine how good you or I could do if we had the power to tax? I could just wake up tomorrow and spend a trillion dollars, then demand a trillion dollars in taxes from businesses and individuals. And if I feel like spending $2 trillion next year, I could just raise the taxes by complaining that I don't have enough money. What a racket. The mafia has nothing on government. Bernie Madoff has nothing on government. It's one big ponzi scheme run by Obama, a guy who knows nothing about running even a bodega or a pet store.
Just remember before you willingly hand the keys over to Obama and big government, neither of them has ever in their entire lives earned a profit in business. Not once. Not one penny. Not one year. This is the guy now ordering CEO's around like hired help. This is the guy neutering CEO's like Bo the White House puppy. Didn't you hear Obama in the halls of NBC last week, “Hey Jeffrey, take out the trash.”
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate. His new book will be released by John Wiley & Sons this Spring entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts.” The book is available for pre-sale at Amazon.com. For more of Wayne's views, commentaries, or to watch his many media interviews, please visit his web site at: www.ROOTforAmerica.com
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