The Rational Argumentator

A Journal for Western Man

Issue CXCV

May 23-26, 2009

Culture
Why on Earth is There No Money in Star Trek?:
Bradley Doucet
May 26, 2009
Bradley Doucet argues that in the Star Trek film series, the grand prize for lack of realism goes to the fact that the United Federation of Planets maintains a variety of technological wonders—and has eradicated poverty and internal strife—largely without the benefit of a monetary system. Mr. Doucet likes the Star Trek universe and the stories in it, but he believes that Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry fell prey to the myth that money is the root of all evil.

Economics
Audit the Fed, Then End It!:
Ron Paul
May 26, 2009
Rep. Ron Paul has been very pleased with the progress of his legislation, HR 1207, which calls for a complete audit of the Federal Reserve and removes many significant barriers towards transparency of our monetary system. This bill now has nearly 170 cosponsors, with support from both Republicans and Democrats.  Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a companion bill in the Senate, S 604, which will hopefully begin to gain momentum as well.  Rep. Paul is very encouraged to see so many of his colleagues in Congress stand with him for greater transparency in government. Some have begun to push back against this bill, and Rep. Paul is very happy to address their concerns.

Switzerland Attacked!:
Edward Hudgins
May 26, 2009
The U.S. government recently forced the Swiss government to make an exception to its long-standing principle of protecting bank depositors' privacy, under threat of criminal prosecution in the United States against UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank. That bank must reveal information about as many as 300 of its American depositors who the U.S. government claims are guilty of tax evasion. Further, UBS must pay $780 million in fines.

Dr. Edward Hudgins writes that this is not some minor, soon-to-be forgotten dispute. Rather, it is part of a broad attack against productive individuals that is the logical consequence of big-government economic policies and mixed economies in the West. That’s why President Obama has now declared war on all so-called “tax havens.” In the end, the victims will be the citizens of United States and other countries, as well as those of Switzerland.

Mathematics
Hilbert's Second Problem, Godel's Incompleteness Theorems, and Consistency Proofs for Peano Arithmetic:
G. Stolyarov II
May 23, 2009
Kurt Gödel’s work on Hilbert’s second problem – which challenged mathematicians to prove the consistency of the axioms of arithmetic – led to some of the most significant results in twentieth-century mathematics, Gödel’s incompleteness theorems. Here, the formulations and implications of Hilbert’s second problem, Gödel’s incompleteness theorems, and the later work of Gentzen and Gödel will be explored, and some of the proofs involved in this work will be broadly outlined. Mr. Stolyarov also refutes some of the common misconceptions regarding Gödel’s incompleteness theorems.

Music
March #11, Op. 60:
G. Stolyarov II
May 23, 2009
This is a triumphal march by Mr. Stolyarov – a monumental celebration of great victories and accomplishments. It employs three principal related themes, with each theme being accompanied by a variation immediately after it is presented. The majority of the march is composed for two pianos, a flute, and timpani – although the second occurrence of the first theme-variation block is orchestrated differently, with the flute being replaced by a brass section and a second part added for timpani.

Politics
Torturing the Rule of Law:
Ron Paul
May 26, 2009
While Congress is sidetracked by who said what to whom and when, our nation finds itself at a crossroads on the issue of torture.  We are at a point where we must decide if torture is something that is now going to be considered justifiable and reasonable under certain circumstances, or is America better than that? Rep. Ron Paul believes that the use of torture by the United States government is shameful and evil.

On Af-Pak: Stop "Helping":
Ron Paul
May 26, 2009
While much of the country’s attention is on other issues, a serious situation is developing in Pakistan that threatens to plunge us into another fruitless and bloody war.  For Rep. Ron Paul, it is very frustrating to see that many who were so vehemently against the wars of the last administration have suddenly lost interest in foreign policy simply because we were promised change.

The Department of Homeland Security is a "Man-Caused Disaster":
Tom DeWeese
May 26, 2009
In a disgraceful recent report, the Department of Homeland Security labeled as dangerous "right-wing extremists" individuals who hold respectable and peaceful positions that criticize some of the actions of the Obama administration. Tom DeWeese believes that the Department of Homeland Security should be disbanded and Secretary Napolitano fired. The DHS is a “man-caused disaster” that only free men can rectify. 

It is Getting Very Serious Now:
Chuck Baldwin
May 26, 2009
First, it was a Missouri Analysis and Information Center (MIAC) report; then it was a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report; now it is a New York congressman's bill. Each of these items, taken on their own, is problematic enough; taken together they portend "a clear and present danger" to the liberties of the American people. Dr. Chuck Baldwin believes that it is getting very serious now.

Elderly Couple Separated by Socialists:
Edward Hudgins
May 26, 2009
For two years Sidney and Terry Kaide were not allowed to live together in the same residential care home. Why? Because government regulations allow two patients paid for by Medicaid but only one privately-paying patient to reside in that facility at the same time. This rule was meant to ensure that there are enough beds for poorer patients, who require government Medicaid funds. Dr. Edward Hudgins hopes that every case like the Kaides' frightens our fellow citizens. All individuals who are not ready surrender their status of free individuals for that of servile subjects had better see and imagine clearly what’s ahead and oppose it now before it’s too late.

"When one dies, it's like a whole universe is extinguished." 
~ G. Stolyarov II