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Rights
are a moral concept—the concept that provides a
logical transition from the principles guiding an individual's actions to
the principles guiding his relationship with others—the concept that
preserves and protects individual morality in a social context—the link
between the moral code of a man and the legal code of a society, between
ethics and politics. Individual rights are the means of subordinating
society to moral law.
Ayn Rand |
Last Updated April 2, 2010
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Coercion Is Not Healthy
- Richard Winkler
Health-care is a basic right. Think about that statement...a right? To be provided by whom? If it is a right,
what then is the status of the health-care
providers - doctors, nurses, researchers, insurance companies etc.?....more...
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The 9-trillion dollar deficit is my fault
- Richard Winkler
The cause and solution to our problems
is as close as the nearest mirror. The kind of politicians we have are not principled, they are
mainly pragmatic opportunists going where the votes are, and the votes
are going to those who can deliver the bucks....more...
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Just A Little Regulation
- Richard Winkler
The best "regulation" would be to let those
institutions and individuals who made the bad decisions fail. What
better teacher than reality?
...more...
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Obama’s Moral Ideal
- Richard Winkler
He is unmasked…a socialist…a man who has failed to
learn the history screaming at him from the wreckage of all the
twentieth century attempts to built socialism. His moral ideal is
out in the open now. We glimpsed it during the elections but did not want to believe
it, or we granted him the benefit of the doubt of his good intentions.
His moral ideal is a world of economic equality.
...more...
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The politics of
self-Interest - Richard Winkler - October
10, 2008
Recently, both Barack Obama and John McCain were
interviewed by mega-evangelist Rick Warren.
Each man responded in a similar vein to two different questions.
Their answers contain a confusion that they, and most Americans,
have about an idea that most people unthinkingly accept and that is the
cause of all the suffering now going on in the world.
...more... |
Whose rights are being violated
here? - Richard Winkler
The Seattle times, in a recent editorial, titled "FCC
warns Comcast: Keep the Internet open", supported the FCC action
against Comcast for blocking a certain file-sharing program. The
Times goes even further, it supports passage of a "net-neutrality" law
that would supposedly prohibit large internet service providers like
Comcast from discriminating in the type and quantity of content it
provides to its users.
...more... |
Environmentalists of
the World Unite! - Richard Winkler
In an article entitled, “Greening
the Globe: a time for Action”, columnist Neal Peirce praises “The
Bridge at the Edge of the World", a book by James Gustave Speth which
envisions a grand coalition of environmentalists, old line leftists, and
ordinary Americans who are turning “green” in droves as a result of the endless
“green” propaganda permeating the culture.
He waxes enthusiastic over the approach of a critical mass of the
population which will buy less, eat less, and use fewer resources and thereby
achieve the environmentalists’ goal of saving the earth from humans.
...more...
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There is no Islamist
Threat - Richard Winkler
In an op-ed entitled “Paranoia
Harming out way of Life”, syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts equates
the furor caused by a popular anchor host wearing an Arab looking scarf
in a television ad with the detention of a student who downloaded an
Al-Qaida training manual.
Both incidents had apparently innocent causes, but they are not
equivalent – should we not be concerned about someone who downloads a
manual with instructions on how to murder innocent people?
...more...
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How to Win a War -
Richard Winkler
Recently, Colombia
launched a bold raid into Ecuador
killing a leader of a leftist guerilla group that has been bedeviling Colombia for
years. For this, Colombia’s president, Alvaro Uribe was roundly
denounced by Venezuelan socialist strongman Hugo Chavez and his
ideological allies running Ecuador
and Peru - but his
already huge popularity with the Colombian people only soared higher.
...more...
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“McCain-omics”: a Strange Brew of Statism and Liberty
- Richard Winkler
McCain’s honor politics and anti-intellectualism make him a moralizer
without a consistent framework of ideas within which to moralize
effectively, which means his actions are driven at least in part by his
emotions. ...more... |
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An Open Letter to President
Bollinger at Columbia University - Richard Winkler He
comes to your university and smiles and talks nicely; he cares to make
himself liked, just like Hitler did, until he can re-arm and achieve his
aims. The only difference is that Hitler did not have the atom bomb. He
will "like" you, just as long as you submit to his demands.
...more...
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Knower: Ayaan Hirsi Ali -
Richard Winkler Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s journey from Islamism to secular
Individualism is a tribute to a mind always seeking the “why” of things,
never satisfied with superficial answers and lies. It is a tribute to
placing knowing over believing.
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When Courage Upholds Truth
- Richard Winkler I have agonized a bit about how to write about Ayaan
Hirsi Ali, the brave ex-Dutch legislator, originally from Mogadishu who
was forced to flee Holland for America due to her uncompromising stand
against Islam. I have not read her latest book “Infidel”, so I will
temper my remarks by a caveat that consists of the thought “she can’t be
for real, can she?” I have called her a modern day Jeffersonian
Individualist and a true child of the Western Enlightenment. I will let
her speak for herself in these quotes culled from the
Wall
Street Journal article about her:
“Muslims must choose to follow their rational capacities as humans and
to follow reason instead of Quranic commands. At that point Islam will be
reformed." ...more...
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Fear of Dying and Love of
Living - Richard Winkler Diplomacy can and should be engaged in when
nations have conflicting interests, but not when those interests primarily
include murdering or enslaving you. What kind of compromise can we offer
the Mullah’s: submit and become subservient? They will accept no less,
does anyone doubt it? Where is the wiggle room here, what kind of
give-and-take can we engage in? Allow us to live for ten more years?
Make it a painless death? Don’t put the shackles on so tight?
...more... |
Iran's Intentions -
Richard Winkler
The jaw dropping kicker in the book is in the epilogue “The price of
Failure” where Timmerman relates in the form of a fiction story how a
non-descript civilian cargo ship could sail up to the U.S. east coast,
mingle undetected with hundreds of other ships that ply those waters every
day, and in minutes aim and fire a nuclear missile that would obliterate
the capital in a matter of seconds...more... |
Spreading the Word about
the "Religion of Peace - Richard Winkler
The "Religion of Peace", has Dutch lawmakers hiding in army barracks
watching their backs, and worrying about their loved ones. An
article in the Wall Street Journal entitled "An
Ordinary Dutch Life" highlights the plight of Geert Wilders whose
"...life is in danger because of his criticism of radical, or, as he calls
it, 'mainstream Islam'". In Mr. Wilder's view, Islam hasn't been
"hijacked" by radicals. Rather, radicalism is embedded in the faith.
"It's a violent religion, an intolerant religion," he said
matter-of-factly in an interview".
..more... |
Reason Without Religion - Richard Winkler
When the Koran or a Mullah asks followers to subjugate or kill those who
do not uphold the ideas of Islam, the line from civilized dialogue to rule
by force is crossed. Someone who is required to "accept" Islam at the
point of a gun has not made a moral choice. ..more...
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Democrat's, What's your
Solution? - Richard Winkler
The moderate Democrats remind me of that campy movie "Mars
Attacks!" Where politicians, with doves symbolizing peace flying
around, approach the aliens offering friendship and get laughed at and
then vaporized for their trouble.
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Islamic-Fascism Finds a Home
In Iran - Richard Winkler
We are not fighting just Al-Qaida, we are fighting a
set of ideas that has swept the Muslim world. Those ideas can best
be characterized as Islamic-fascism or Islamo-fascism. Iran is
dangerous because it is a state whose guiding principle is fascism, and,
being a state, can muster all
the resources of a geographic area without much internal opposition.
It is suicidal to negotiate with those whose avowed purpose is to kill or
subjugate you. We should immediately seek to remove the Iranian
regime by military means while we can.
...more...
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Islamic
Opinion Be Damned! - Richard Winkler
When a person
is physically threatened for expressing an opinion the police should be
called in to arrest those issuing the threat. When a nation or group
threatens another nation or group with physical violence for having
expressed an opinion, then the very principle of freedom of speech is
threatened. ...more...
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Attack Iran - Richard
Winkler
Rogues can wax eloquent
with speeches that include words like “freedom” and “rights”. I remember
hearing Saddam’s UN representative sounding almost like Thomas Jefferson.
Fools and cowards expose their hypocrisy when their actions don’t match
their words. So
regardless of Bush’s stated motives,
the real question, for
anyone who considers freedom the highest of political values, is: has he
actually started spreading freedom throughout the world and will freedom
prevail? ....more... |
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Going Nuclear -
Destroying Middle Eastern sourced Terrorism - Margaret Sanchez
Nuclear power is now being touted as the clean, secure and steady
source of energy needed for our Internet age. Finland has just built its
fifth plant and the protestors were marching with signs declaring
"Greenpeace go home!" Amazing. Forty seven power plants have started up or
are under construction since 2000 in Asia alone. China has plans for 100
new power plants and India for eight. Russia is also considering nuclear
power. ...more... |
Moral Self Confidence –
Have We Lost It? - Margaret Sanchez
Right now President
Bush and Prime Minister Blair are the men in the middle. They are
blanking out the truth that we are fighting rabid religious terrorists and
they mean what they say and aim to get what they want: A paradise of
Islamic fundamentalism on earth. |
The Dangers of
Agnosticism - Richard Winkler In the case of pope John Paul we were
lucky that he indeed had many fine qualities and did in fact uphold
liberty for the eastern Europeans, but he also believes that the unborn (a
fetus) should have more rights over the born (the mother), and considers
happiness on earth secondary to some pie in the sky heaven. So
agnosticism is certainly not a "safe" route to take.
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An Indecent Bill -
Margaret SanchezSince I am a reasoning person in my own right, I don't
need a nanny government to watch out for my moral state.
...more... |
Is “The Little Guy”
better Off As A Slave? - Richard Winkler
Someone who, due to unfortunate circumstances or through sheer
laziness, is unable or unwilling to take care of himself is much easier to
rule. Politicians do not produce wealth they only pass laws. When
politicians are given control over the economic life of the country
through laws and regulations such as the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill
they are given the opportunity to gain a huge constituency of the
dependent. ...more... |
America Exists Despite Christianity Not
Because Of It
In an excellent article entitled
Judeo-Christian
Philosophy and the Founding of America on
www.capitalismmagizine.com,
Michael
Marriott argues that religion is not the cornerstone of
America's unique political philosophy. Here is an excerpt from the
article:
"A curious notion is mushrooming lately on programs such as “The O’Reilly
Factor” and other current events shows. Certain commentators claim that
the United States of America owes its existence to what is termed
“Judeo-Christian” philosophy. Now I will not dispute that such a
philosophy exists or that it has proved influential for the past two
millennia. I will further stipulate that many persons subscribe to this
philosophy’s doctrines, both now and back in the 1700s. What cannot be
accepted, either on a philosophical or historical basis, is that such a
philosophy could, or in fact did, lead to the creation of the United
States. This is because the political theory underpinning the creation of
America is contradictory to every religious philosophy on earth. Thus
Judeo-Christian philosophy is incapable of creating a country such as the
United States. America exists in spite of Judeo-Christian philosophy, not
because of it."Read the entire article at:
capitalismmagazine.com
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The Only Way to Solve
the Rise in Anti-Semitism
Margaret Sanchez
The fact that an important, democratic nation in Western Europe can
be so quickly and so thoroughly undermined by anti-Semitism should also be
matter of concern-and a warning-for all Western nations, including
America. ...more...> |
Environmentalism - Code Word
for Death Margaret Sanchez
The fact that [the pesticide] Paraquat protects 40% of global food
output, is benign to the environment and without it people in certain
parts of the world are likely to die from starvation does not phase the
eco-imperialists. Their supposed concern is for eggshell density, mice,
and fish. |
Not Pressure Groups but
Individual Rights for Iraq Richard Winkler
The original plan for a constitutional assembly was to elect delegates
from the different regions in Iraq - this, apparently, in an attempt to
balance the claims of the different factions and tribes. What is needed
though is not a balancing of tribal claims, and pressure groups, but the
upholding of the claims of only one segment of Iraqi society – The
Individual – yes, Individual Rights. |
Multilateralism vs. The
Facts
Richard
Winkler
Multilateralism is an attempt to sneak altruism into
American foreign policy. If morality consists of satisfying the wishes of
others then intellectually, one should always consider the arguments of
others before those of oneself. After all isn’t the mind and one’s own
thoughts the most selfish and personal aspect of a person?
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American
PC Wimps
Margaret Sanchez
Instead of writing a constitution for Iraq ourselves as General
Douglas MacArthur did for Japan we are asking help from the United
Nations? Is this a joke?
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Hatred
of the Good
Margaret
Sanchez
Total American foreign aid including corporations, foundations,
individuals and other official sources totals an "astonishing" $60 billion
a year.
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Why is the
US Such a Rich Country?
Margaret
Sanchez
Compare the GDP of
Los Angeles of $374 billion to the combined GDP of $358 billion of Iran,
Pakistan, Algeria, Kuwait, Syria, Tunisia, Libya and Lebanon!
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The Wall
Margaret Sanchez
We place society's criminals behind walls to protect ourselves. Why
shouldn't Israel build a wall to protect themselves.
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We
Are Witnesses To The Rise Of A Tyrant
Margaret Sanchez
If you have never understood how a man like Hitler, who was voted into
power, could rise to dictator in a 'democratic' country we now have
history repeating itself with the rise of Chavez in Venezuela.
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The
Language Police
Margaret Sanchez
Voters must demand that the government get out of the business of
destroying our young. The only way for this madness to stop is to
privatize the education system and allow every parent to spend his dollar
in the school of his choosing.
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The Moral
Case For Preemptive War
Richard
Winkler
Iran and countries like it are already damned as criminal by the very
nature of their governments. Just as we do not have to tolerate a known
criminal just because he has not committed a crime lately or in our
neighborhood so we should not tolerate these rogue states. They should be
taken out now.
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Kotchebi - The Fluttering Swallows of North Korea
Margaret
Sanchez
Some people appear not to know about the horrors that go on in Cuba, North
Korea or pre-liberation Iraq, some don't care and others equate the United
States with Nazism and Bush to Hitler. While Americans live a life of ease
and freedom we may have become intellectually lazy or cowardly regarding
our defense of that life
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Why I will Not Vacation In Cuba
Margaret
Sanchez
Americans should abhor all totalitarian governments but especially when
there is one 40 miles from our shores. Lovely beaches and rum and
Coca-Cola can be had in many other exotic places as well as in our own
Florida. To travel for the purpose of a tan and some fun to a country
whose leader crushes the life and liberties of his own citizens is not the
action of a people who are steeped in the knowledge of their past and a
love and realization of the place where they are so lucky to live.
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While Science roars in the West It Squeaks in
Islam
Margaret
Sanchez
So
why is Islam ‘backward’? Why has science been squeaking in Islam and
roaring in the West? Why is there stagnation, totalitarianism and suicide
bombers in Islam and freedom, ever more progress and life in the West? The
answer lies in an examination of the ideas a culture holds
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America, The Empire of Freedom
Margaret
Sanchez
The antiwar protesters give many ‘reasons’ for their stance but one in
particular irritates me to no end. It goes something like this: Well, the
US wants a war with Iraq because it wants to expand its empire. The empire
of the United States? Huh? Where is our empire? We can’t even get Puerto
Rico to join the union
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Peta and Islamic Terrorists
Margaret
Sanchez
A terrorist is a terrorist wherever or whatever his professed ideology
because the fundamental principle uniting all terrorists is sacrifice.
Middle Eastern Islamists want to destroy the West in order to dominate
with their fundamentalist religion. PETA, ELF and other such terrorist
animal rights groups want to sacrifice humans to the alleged “rights” of
animals
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Independence is not Unilateralism
Richard
Winkler
The most courageous acts by men and nations have always been the
loneliest because most people welcome the safety of following
“multilaterally”. A nation may consult with others that share its values,
but democracies have no obligation, in fact it is obscene for them to take
into account the wishes of sundry dictatorships such as those that
populate the United Nations
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How American Leftists live in the Land of Oz
Margaret
Sanchez
While Charen exposes one appeaser of tyranny after another and sheds a
bright light on the moral confusion of the Vietnam era or the dangerous
Carter administration, she also shows how few people had the courage to
defy the leftists. One courageous person, however, was President Reagan
who staunchly defended freedom and fought tyrannical incipient revolutions
in Central America
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The Peaceniks Fantasy World
Margaret
Sanchez
We don’t live in a fantasy La-La land and we never will no matter how much
wishing you do till you’re blue in the face. We live in a world of human
beings who have to use their minds in order to figure out how to live
their lives. Many of these people are irrational, either all of the time
or part of the time. From these ranks come the murderers and terrorists.
It is up to the rational people to recognize this fact.
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Does America Deserve My Patriotism?
Margaret
Sanchez
In America our modus operandi is reason not faith. In a world filled with
nations run by evil dictators, I am an American patriot because the
goodness and benevolence of Americans is a consequence of the morality of
our system of government.
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News
Media has no Idea what Capitalism Is
Margaret
Sanchez
Some members of the media, politicians and fellow citizens have a
serious misunderstanding of what capitalism is. I feel I must clear up
this misconception since concepts such as these are not taught in our
government schools.
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Let Senator Kennedy Set The Wealth Redistribution Example
Richard Winkler
Since the rich pay most of the taxes in this country, they deserve the
greater share of the tax rebate.
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Muslims! Fight for the Principle of Separation of
Church and State
Richard
Winkler
University professors in this country use moral relativism to portray
Islam as a benign religion. Whether or not it is benign in its doctrines
is another issue. When religion rules politics totalitarianism is
inevitable. The principle of separation of church and state must prevail
over Islamism.
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Unites States Government: Modern Day Press Gangs
Margaret
Sanchez
Well today we do not have to worry about being clobbered over the head and
dragged to a foul smelling ship and ordered to work for a few years for a
pittance. Today, we have the spectacle of our politicians from the
President to the Secretary of State calling for volunteerism. President
Bush has called for all Americans to serve the nation for 2 years or 4000
hours over a lifetime.
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Sacrificing Man on the Alter of Environmentalism
Margaret
Sanchez
Come on America where are your common sense priorities? Greater than
99% of the world’s population has never been to ANWR. What’s more, around
existing Alaskan oil fields the population of caribou has increased
dramatically!
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What We Should Do About Black Tuesday Richard
Winkler
The terrorist actions of last Tuesday and the past fifty years have
been precipitated by a culture that never accepted the enlightenment and
never experienced the renaissance brought about in 16th century Europe and
America by the discovery of Reason and the ideas of the ancient Greek
thinkers like Aristotle.
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