The
Rational Argumentator
Issue CCLXXVI
February 6-12, 2011
Panel Series I: Red II:
Wendy Stolyarov
February 6, 2011
This artwork by Mrs. Stolyarov is a companion piece to Panel Series I: Red.
Self-Portrait - January 2011:
Wendy Stolyarov
February 6, 2011
A new self-portrait by Mrs. Stolyarov, based on a pencil sketch that has been digitally refined.
History
There is No End to History, No Perfect Existence (1957):
Ludwig von Mises
February 11, 2011
All doctrines that have sought to discover in the course of human history some definite trend in the sequence of changes have disagreed, in reference to the past, with the historically established facts and where they tried to predict the future have been spectacularly proved wrong by later events. Most of these doctrines were characterized by reference to a state of perfection in human affairs. They placed this perfect state either at the beginning of history or at its end or at both its beginning and its end. Consequently, history appeared in their interpretation as a progressive deterioration or a progressive improvement or as a period of progressive deterioration to be followed by one of progressive improvement. The great Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises did not agree with these doctrines, as this excerpt from his 1957 work Theory and History explains.
Music
Rondo #4, Op. 68:
G. Stolyarov II
February 6, 2011
In this cheerful rondo, composed in the key of D major, the main melody (B) evolves from a simple scale and becomes increasingly intricate with each iteration. The structure of the composition is ABCB'DB''A'B'''. Length: 2:17.
Politics
Our 30-Year Mistake:
Ron Paul
February 11, 2011
Rep. Ron Paul hopes that Egyptians are able to work toward a more free and just society. Unfortunately, much of the blame for the unrest in Egypt and the resulting instability in the region rests with US foreign policy over the past several decades. The US government has sent more than $60 billion to the Egyptian regime since the Camp David Accords in 1978 to purchase stability, including more security for the state of Israel. We see now the folly of our interventionist foreign policy: not only has that stability fallen to pieces with the current unrest, but the years of propping up the corrupt regime in Egypt has led the people to increase their resentment of both America and Israel!
Animal Rights and the Globalist Agenda:
Kathleen Marquardt and Tom DeWeese
February 11, 2011
People confuse animal rights with animal welfare, which are as different as black and white. Kathleen Marquardt and Tom DeWeese explain the distinction. Animal Welfare is the humane caring for animals. Animal Rights are the use of animals to attack human existence.
Should Congress Raise the Debt Ceiling?:
Robert P. Murphy
February 11, 2011
At current rates of spending, the federal government may bump up against its debt limit as early as March. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warns that it will be "catastrophic to the economy" if Congress doesn't increase Uncle Sam's credit limit. Writers in conservative outlets call for Republicans to use this opportunity to extract significant spending cuts before extending the limit. And some extreme libertarians argue that the debt ceiling shouldn't be raised, because a federal government default would be a good thing for the American people. In this article Dr. Robert Murphy explains the basic situation and comment on each of these views.
Egypt: Gaining Freedom After the Revolution:
G. Stolyarov II
February 12, 2011
Demonizing Bisphenol-A: The BPA File, Part One:
Alan Caruba
February 12, 2011
This is Part One of an exposé regarding an international scare campaign directed against a chemical that has been in safe use, protecting people's health, for over fifty years! Alan Caruba will post a commentary each month through June examining the junk science behind the smears against Bisphenol-A.
The Trouble with "The Trouble with Liberty":
Bradley Doucet
February 12, 2011
~ Ayn Rand