The
Rational Argumentator
Issue CCCXI
January 10-26, 2012
Abstract Orderism Fractal XL
G. Stolyarov II
January 26, 2012
This fractal by Mr. Stolyarov consists of luminous stars, flames, and intricate pentagonal designs – all generated by the power of spontaneous order!
Politics
Stop Internet Censorship
Ron Paul
January 26, 2012
On Wednesday last week, dozens of prominent websites like Wikipedia, Reddit, and Craigslist, were blacked out in protest of two bills known in DC jargon as SOPA and PIPA. SOPA is the House bill; PIPA is its Senate companion. These bills ostensibly will combat internet piracy, and of course we also are told they will help us wage the never ending "war on terror." Rep. Ron Paul writes that what these bills actually do is force website owners to police the internet; create entry barriers to the only relatively free and open medium of communication; and threaten to break the technological structure of the internet itself. They also violate our 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech and our 4th Amendment freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
The Ultimate Consumer Protection
Ron Paul
January 26, 2012
During the first week of January, partisan games in Washington reached a fevered pitch as Congress acted to prevent recess appointments, yet the administration made them anyway. Congress has been gaveling into session for less than a minute every three days for the express purpose of technically staying in session. The 40 second "pro forma" sessions may strike supporters of the President as obstructionist, but Congress was using its clear constitutional authority and playing by the rules. Rep. Ron Paul writes that a diligent adherence to the limits of the Constitution is the best protection federal-government officials can offer to consumers.
Videos
Obomney 2012
G. Stolyarov II
January 15, 2012Believe in an America you can't hope to change. Vote Obomney for President in 2012!
Ron Paul's Solid 2nd Place in New Hampshire - More Evidence of His Electability
G. Stolyarov II
January 10, 2012
Ron Paul is clearly the 2nd-place finisher in the New Hampshire primary - and despite continued media efforts to downplay his significance, the facts all indicate that Ron Paul is the challenger to both Mitt Romney and to the political establishment in general.
References:
* New Hampshire GOP Primary Map
* "CNN's Dana Bash is Worried About Ron Paul" - Video of Dana Bash's "slip" of bias
* "CNN Reporter Dana Bash 'Worried' About Ron Paul, Asks Him 'Junk' Question" - International Business Times
* "Paul says 2nd place in NH shows strong support" - Yahoo! News and Associated Press
* "Did Ron Paul Win Iowa?" - The Classic Liberal
* "Clearing up the Iowa Delegate Misconception" - The Daily Paul
Defense of Ron Paul on Gay Marriage and Abortion
G. Stolyarov II
January 12, 2012
Mr. Stolyarov defends Ron Paul against charges that Dr. Paul would infringe on certain civil liberties - actual or perceived. In reality, Ron Paul would have neither the Constitutional authority nor the desire to restrict either gay marriage or abortion at the federal level.
Resources:
* "Defense of Marriage Act" - Wikipedia
* Ron Paul's actual views on abortion - RonPaul.com
* "Political positions of Ron Paul: Sexual orientation legislation" - Wikipedia
Ron Paul's Detractors Sink to New Lows in South Carolina
G. Stolyarov II
January 17, 2012
In South Carolina, the despicable lies, fabrications, mischaracterizations, and omissions of the mainstream media and the heinously deceitful, fraudulent "Stop Ron Paul 2012" Facebook group (orchestrated by the slanderous Jere Brower) show clearly that Ron Paul's detractors have sunk to new lows and have no regard for facts, honesty, or justice.
Resources:
* "FOX News is Falsely Reporting that South Carolina is a Closed Primary State" - Uploaded by EnemyOfTheFree on YouTube
* "Ron Paul Booed For Mentioning Golden Rule Then Cheered - SC Debate 1-16-2012" - Uploaded by LiveFreeorDieReport on YouTube -
* "Romney admits he would have signed the National Defense Authorization Act if he were president" - Uploaded by planetearthawakens on YouTube -
* "Anti-Ron Paul People Plot to Discredit Him" - The New American - by Raven Clabough
* "Anti Facebook Group Plans Fake KKK Rally in South Carolina To Smear Ron Paul" - LaCrosseWatchDog
* "Ron Paul's Haters Caught Making Fake Racially Charged Campaign Phone Calls To Voters" - LaCrosseWatchDog - January 17, 2012
* "Paul Receives More Endorsements Hours After Boos at Myrtle Beach Debate" - Shireese Bell - Irmo-SevenOaksPatch
* "The Times admits it deep-sixed Ron Paul" - by Paul Mulshine - The Star Ledger - January 16, 2012
* "News Narratives for 2012" - Arthur S. Brisbane - The New York Times - January 7, 2012
* "Ron Paul 2012: About Those First-Class Flights" - by Hao Li - International Business Times - January 16, 2012
"PROTECT IP" / SOPA Threaten YOUR Liberty
G. Stolyarov II
January 18, 2012
Your ability to create content and use the Internet without fear is threatened by two bills currently in Congress. Imagine a bleaker version of the year 1980. The "Stop Online Piracy Act" (H.R. 3261) and the "PROTECT IP Act" (S. 968) would create such a world by enacting powerful deterrents to free expression by ordinary individuals on the Internet. Fearing malicious and false accusations of copyright infringement, which could result in protracted and costly legal battles, as well as criminal penalties and the elimination of the content they worked so hard to create, many people might not bother contributing to an open Internet culture anymore. That would create a true dark age and reverse the Internet's tremendous worldwide liberating influence.
Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate to denounce SOPA in public. See "Ron Paul only GOP candidate to publicly denounce SOPA" - by Josh Peterson - The Daily Caller.
Resources:
* "Stop Online Piracy Act" - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* "PROTECT IP Act" - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* "Chris Dodd" - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* "In Fight Over Piracy Bills, New Economy Rises Against Old" by Jonathan Weisman - The New York Times - January 18, 2012
* "Two PROTECT IP sponsors drop support for their own bill" by Iain Thomson - The Register - January 18, 2012
Ron Paul's 4th Place in South Carolina: So What?
G. Stolyarov II
January 21, 2012
Ron Paul's fourth-place finish in South Carolina does not undermine his campaign, in the grand scheme of the 2012 election season. Mr. Stolyarov reiterates that this campaign is about obtaining delegates for the Republican National Convention, and about 97.6% of the 2286 delegates are still completely unaccounted for.
Resources:
* "Results of the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries" - Wikipedia
* "CNN Forced To Ask Ron Paul After Crowd Booes (Santorum False Attack)" - YouTube video
* "Why Sue Lowden lost Nevada's GOP Senate primary" - by Marc Thiessen - The Washington Post - June 9, 2010
TSA Harassment of Rand Paul: Abhorrent and Inane
G. Stolyarov II
January 23, 2012
The 2+ hours of inconvenience delivered by the TSA to Senator Dr. Rand Paul highlight again that the "security" at US airports is pure theater. There is an exactly 0% probability that a US Senator could commit an act of terrorism. Mr. Stolyarov hopes that this unfortunate experience will further galvanize the American public to oppose the infractions of liberty and dignity perpetrated by the Transportation Security Administration.
References:
* "Sen. Rand Paul on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" - 1/23/12
* "Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) on TSA Pat-Downs" - CSPAN
"A system of capitalism presumes sound money, not fiat money manipulated by a central bank. Capitalism cherishes voluntary contracts and interest rates that are determined by savings, not credit creation by a central bank."
~ Ron Paul