The
Rational Argumentator
Issue CCV
August 30 - September 4, 2009
Towers:
Wendy D. Stolyarov
September 4, 2009
A new painting by Wendy Stolyarov, featuring a colorful city-scape.
Blue, Blue Bunny:
Wendy D. Stolyarov
September 4, 2009
A digital painting by Mrs. Stolyarov, depicting a vibrantly blue rabbit.
Alabama Kitten:
Wendy D. Stolyarov
September 4, 2009
A painting by Mrs. Stolyarov, depicting a sleeping white kitten whom she and Mr. Stolyarov befriended in Auburn, AL in 2008.
Dreams I:
Wendy D. Stolyarov
September 4, 2009
An impressionistic painting by Mrs. Stolyarov, also containing a white kitten.
Economics
The Fed's Interesting Week:
Ron Paul
August 31, 2009
Ron Paul writes that it has been an interesting week indeed for the Federal Reserve. Early this week, it was announced that President Obama intends to reappoint Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke to a second term in January, signaling a vote of confidence in him. Bernanke seems to be popular with the administration and with Wall Street, and with good reason. His lending policies have left big banks flush with newly created cash that covers up old mistakes and allows for new ones. By buying up mountains of Treasury debt, he has also enabled spending to soar to ridiculous levels that should startle any responsible economist, and scare any American concerned about the value of the dollar.
Music
Composition for Piano, Flute, and Harpsichord, Op. 62:
G. Stolyarov II
August 30, 2009
This composition’s harmonies resemble those found in music of the late 18th-century Classical period, while some of the devices used – including the lengthy trills for the flute and the harpsichord – are more extensive than could be found in that era, as no human flute player could maintain a trill for as long as a MIDI sequencer program can. There are three basic melodies in this piece, and their orchestration is varied over time. The mood of the composition is light, cheerful, and playful – although, it is to be hoped, not frivolous.
Politics
You Be the Judge:
Marita Noon
August 31, 2009
Addressing the grassroots opposition to healthcare reform sprouting up at town hall meetings, in an interview on August 5, Nancy Pelosi challenged us all with this comment: “I think they are Astroturf; you be the judge.” “Astroturf” has become the term for formal political, advertising, or public relations campaigns—often funded by corporate interests—that hope to create the impression of being spontaneous “grassroots” behavior. In order to “be the judge,” one has to attend both types of events: grassroots and Astroturf. Once that is accomplished, it is easy to discern the spontaneous from the organized. Marita Noon has participated in both.
Obama's Unconstitutional "Czars":
Alan Caruba
August 31, 2009
Here is a question that has been nagging Alan Caruba for months. Are Obama’s ever-growing numbers of “czars” constitutional? Mr. Caruba is not a constitutional scholar, but he has read the document, and the evidence convinces Mr. Caruba that the answer to his question is negative.
The Sotomayor Scare:
Timothy Baldwin
August 31, 2009
We have all heard the remarks from those who would call themselves conservative, libertarian or the like concerning the nomination and now swearing-in of Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court, which took place on August 8, 2009. Books have been written by those conservative and libertarian editorialists and authors who have explained to us that the United States Supreme Court is "out of control" and how we must elect "conservatA painting by Mrs. Stolyarov,ive" Presidents to appoint "conservative" judges. Ironically, writes Timothy Baldwin, this infatuation with the federal government, and specifically with the judicial branch of the federal government, has actually (at least in part) created the growing enslavement of the people of these States United.
Britannia Ruled by Knaves: Savage Banned to Fill White Man Quota:
Selwyn Duke
September 1, 2009
Michael Savage was recently banned from entering Britain in order to fill an affirmative-action quota of non-Muslim extremists that need to be banned in the eyes of the British government, writes Selwyn Duke. Mr. Duke exposes yet another height of absurdity arising from the mentality of quotas -- of judging people by what they are and not by what they do.
"Man's unique reward, however, is that while animals survive by adjusting themselves to their background, man survives by adjusting his background to himself."
~ Ayn Rand