Fight for the Bacon Dog

This would be classic comedic Drew Carey - if it weren't happening in real life.

I am the Very Model of a Presidential Candidate

This is absolutely classic...

The song parodies Gilbert & Sullivan's "Modern Major General" tune, which I am pretty familiar with since I performed it years ago. It's a splendid piece, and this parody keeps quite well to the spirit of the song.

I am the very model of a Presidential candidate,
I flip and flop, and like a flounder, on the issues vacillate.
I listen to the polls and say exactly what they tell me to,
And hope to make you think I have precisely the same goals as you.
I look into opponents' closets, pull out every skeleton,
But question me on policy, I'll wobble just like gelatin.
I'm highly dedicated to all matters pure political,
Compared to which the country's welfare isn't very critical.

I'm very good at telling lies with unsurpassed sincerity,
Like "All I do, I do for you, to foster your prosperity."
In short, in matters economic, social, and those of the state,
I am the very model of a Presidential candidate.

I love our Constitution and know how to make it work for me.
The Bill of Rights is just a guide that I ignore selectively.
The laws of this great land of ours were written with a lot of thought,
So when I violate them, it's important that I not get caught.
I never miss a photo op because it's free publicity.
I smile, shake hands, kiss babies and praise everyone's ethnicity.
Then I can face my rival in a widely televised debate
And cast aspersions on his record, hygiene, wife, and running mate.

My promises are all cliche' and none of them are practical,
But tax cuts, health care, schools and trees are all issues quite tactical.
I tell you what you want to hear on matters to which you relate.
I am the very model of a Presidential candidate.

In fact, when I learn how to get essential legislation passed,
When I can get more countries to reduce the nukes they have amassed,
When my vast store of expertise can fill encyclopedias,
And my affairs with interns I can hide from all the media,
When economic crises I know how correctly to avert,
When I learn more of compromise, and enemies I can convert:
In short, when I earn the respect of people all across the land,
You'll say a better President has never been so close at hand.

For how to run a country, though I know how theoretically,
Is something that you can't be taught by doing it hypothetically.
But still I hope the voters think that I can learn to do it great.
I am the very model of a Presidential candidate.

Link to Parody Song Lyrics @ amiright.com

Disingenuous scientists

I find it incredible that scientists often think they are so overwhelmingly valuable to society that they deserve the right to confiscate other's resources for their own uses. And even if their work results in some useful addition of knowledge to "society", whatever that may be, why then does it require the use of coercion?

Today I saw two articles that not only try and promulgate this scientific elitism upon people, but also contradict each other. BBC News reports that science funding is in a "precarious state". In particular, "a number of scientists said that astronomy was not being rewarded properly." Yeah, maybe in their view it isn't, but who is to judge? According to CNN, the average astronomer salary is a surprising $95,740. Honestly, unless you're saying they need to be paid less, how can this not be a proper reward?

Seriously, professors make a lot of money, compared to others who, on the average, must be subject to the market rather than state whim. And yet, in the BBC article a guy is quoted saying "If you cared about money you wouldn't be a scientist at all would you?"

C'mon, many people are losing their homes and livelihood due primarily to government intervention in the economy while these uppity state-funded scientists are sipping booze at 4 star restaurants while they wine-and-dine their associates, so I don't think they have anything to complain about.

Possible Road Privatization?

Well, only partially, thanks to the Iraq War. Apparently, it is just too dog-gone expensive to carry on war and to build infrastructure at the same time. No joke. I'd say it's too "expensive" to do them both, but especially when the war is aggressive in nature.

I haven't posted in a while, but I hope to get back to regularly writing pretty soon. Per my friend's request, I need to post about the Austrian Scholar's Conference. I have not decided, though, on whether or not to talk about the entire thing in more of a journal format, or just post the highlights. Considering my busy schedule, I'm leaning towards the latter at this time.

This has been an extraordinarily busy semester. It's quite exciting, but I'll be glad when it's all over.

Romney to Endorse McCain

Romney to Endorse McCain (and Give Away Delegates)

So for all you people who thought Romney was a good idea and that McCain is a pile'o'junk liberal (which he is, I won't dispute that, I just think Romney is only 1% less bad), how do you like that decision now?

WHY didn't you vote for the only conservative who has proven time and time again that he will not compromise for evil, Ron Paul?

Here's the embarrassing brand of "conservatism" you ended up supporting:

· It is permissible to print currency at will and distort the people’s money.

· Being in Iraq for 100 years isn’t out of the question.

· Bomb, bomb, bomb… bomb, bomb, I-ran. (Don’t forget, over 10 US intelligence agencies reported in the last 4 months that Iran has no nuclear weapons program and hasn’t for over 5 years. Not that we can realistically afford the current war, let alone another.)

· You have the right to privacy… just not with your phones, your cars, your financial data, your ID cards, your work history, or your internet usage. Because, you know, you don’t have anything to hide, right?

· You have the right of habeas corpus… but only when El Presidente says so.

· You can the right of free speech… as long as it’s approved by the government first.

· Pre-emptive, undeclared war is… OK! Because we’re America, and we can do no wrong. We’re the world policeman, remember?

· Fascism is evil… except when we do it. Then it’s patriotic.

· Socialism is tyrannical… except when it’s for medicine, welfare, education, social security, stimulus packages, and your home loans. Then it’s “helping the little guy.” And if it just doesn’t work out the way we want, blame the free market.

So pardon me if I'm not impressed with your "principled" position of voting for the lesser of two evils in support of the "cause" (see above list for "cause" details).

Because guess what: you still voted for evil.

Write-in the right-guy in November, Ron Paul, and put an end to this charade.