Some quick-hit, hump-day observations...


In a previous blog post, I mentioned Barack Obama pulling even with Hillary Clinton in Iowa, and that being at least related, if not the impetus for, the anti-Obama behavior on which Robert Novak reported.  Now the results have been updated, and Obama is actually leading Clinton in Iowa.  Perhaps there is a real horserace after all on the Democratic side.
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There are some commercials that are just so bad that it makes me refuse to buy products.  My nominations to the "Hall of Shame" for advertising include the Sonic commercials with those two idiots and the Charmin commercial where one bear is cleaning toilet paper off the back of the other bear.  If I never see that commercial again, it's too soon.
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I saw an interesting story on Kudlow & Company last night on CNBC.  Apparently there's a guy in Indiana who started his own currency, the "Liberty Dollar", backed by gold and silver.  His operation was raided by the government for counterfeiting, although he claims to be honest about the fact that his "currency" (the "second most popular currency in the United States" with over $20 million in circulation) is not legal tender and is not minted by the government.  If his claims are true, his actions should not be criminal:  consenting individuals should be free to engage in commerce on terms mutually-agreed upon, free from government interference, as long as fraud and coercion are not involved (and of course as long as the individual liberties of another are not infringed upon).

I'm no lawyer, and I don't know the details of the case, but based on what I understand I hope Bernard Nothaus is found innocent and the Liberty Dollar continues circulating, caveat emptor.
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If you're looking for good, free market capitalist commentary, look no further than Cafe Hayek.  Named, of course, in honor of classical economist and Nobel Laureate Friedrich Hayek, Drs. Russell Roberts and Don Boudreaux (professors of economics at George Mason University, both) provide commentary that explores free market capitalism and individual liberty.  I highly recommend checking them out.
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Reading through another blog the other day, I read a comment about one of the candidates for US President that denigrated him for having "no energy plan".  My response was that the last thing we need is a government "energy plan".  So far, the government "plan" involves subsidies to corn growers that distort the market, increase the price of food, and encourage the use of fertilizers and pesticides that can pollute the environment. All this for an energy source that is at best a break-even in total fossil fuel consumption over the entire life cycle.  Further, we have known deposits of oil and natural gas that we are prohibited by law from obtaining.

In general, we need fewer government "plans", and more individual choice, competition, and free markets.
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Along the same lines, why in the world is the government still involved in agriculture policy?  The Department of Agriculture is a socialist boondoggle that raises prices for food, distorts the market, and leads to pollution of the environment.  We would be better off just taking the entire agriculture budget, dividing the dollar amount by the number of total farmers, and writing a check.  Or, better yet, just disband the Department of Agriculture and have no "farm bill", and let us keep more of our own money.
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The Federal Reserve has released its updated forecast on the economy, and still no recession in sight.  Basically, the forecast calls for slower economic growth, no real inflation (outside of energy costs), and stable unemployment.  Still not an opportune time, however, for the tax increases being touted by all of the Democratic candidates for President.
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Speaking of taxes, it is past time for a huge decrease in the corporate tax rate, and I would advocate for further cuts in personal income tax rates.  Republicans in Congress should be submitting bills every week that cut taxes and force the Democrats to vote against tax relief for American families and businesses.  The corporate tax rate in Ireland is 12.5%; in the US it is 35%.  Where would you start your business?
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The protectionists are still at it, trying to raise the prices we pay for goods and services with which they don't approve (i.e., not "made in America", whatever that means) and trying to "protect" favored industries from competition.  Unfortunately, the calls for more government intrusion in the marketplace are coming from the left AND the right; the trade policies of candidates Duncan Hunter and John Edwards are indistinguishable in their calls for less individual choice and more government interference.  Regardless of whether it is Pat Buchanan or the AFL-CIO calling for a return to the trade policies of Herbert Hoover, the call should fall on deaf ears.  Free market capitalism, which includes free trade, is the best way to go in terms of liberty AND prosperity.