I've not researched this to find out if all the numbers presented are correct, so for the sake of argument I will assume they are.

This video suggests we are being overrun by immigrants and that our population will sky rocket because of their birth rates.

Now I’m somewhat of the opinion that more people are better because you have more innovation etc, but I also believe we are experiencing some problems from this mass human migration.

I wonder if the pressure on the bottom end of the housing market is driving up prices and that the huge number of new laborers in the job market is keeping wages stagnant.  So we will experience higher costs from housing and other sources as we compete for scarcer resources (oil, natural gas, land) while having less money in real terms.

As a Libertarian where do I stand on this?  As I stated previously I think more people can spur innovation and can be a boon to the economy.  This of course assumes that new immigrants don't require many services from the government which unfortunetaly is not the case in our socialist country.  We provide many services to these people and their dependants.  So in a free society law abiding people should be able to come and go as they see fit.  However when these people expect/require services and violate the law to get here, by definition I have a problem with that. 

I have no problem with admitting an unlimited number of PhD's into this country for instance.  I have a slight problem though admitting an unlimited number of gardeners and meat cutters that will require my assistance because the Left in this country has decided to use the police power of the state to ensure my money can be forcefully taken from me and restributed to the "poor" (poorer then whom?) and "those less fortunate" (less fortunante the whom?). 

So because many of these people will be entitled to the wealth of the current citizens I don't believe the pure Libertarian argument would apply in this situation.

Here is the link, hang in there the beginning is slow but the visuals are worth it ( kind of like an acid trip ;) ):

Visual Demonstration of Immigration to the US

I am no longer a registered Republican.  I am now a Libertarian.  Yes, I finally have had enough of the Republican Jeebus please-us spend-a-thon.

I can't say I left the Republican party, I can however say the Republican party has left me behind.  I'm not concerned about monitoring grown adult's bedrooms for deviant behavior and I have long since realized that Mohammad-fearing fundamentalists are not the greatest threat to this country.

Government is the biggest threat to our republic.  George Bush likes big government.  Therefore I can no longer support him or his party.  The war in Iraq has little to do with my change in parties.  In fact my conversion is mostly due to the growth of government and the resulting deficits that Big Dubbya is going to leave my generation (Gee thanks a lot).  At least we can now get to Ketchikan.  Ah yes Ketchikan, I knew a kid from Ketchikan that almost got kicked out of school for heroine abuse but I digress.

I dream of a day when we have a two party system of Libertarians and perhaps Republicans.  By then the childish idea of Socialism as championed by the Democrats will just be another sad chapter in the history of this country much like slavery and the criminalization of recreational drugs.

Viva La Revolution!

This week's reading assignment can be found here:

We're all big babies

This guy stole my idea for my second book but I'll let that slide for now.  Our society is devolving into an ipod filled, Paris Hilton admiring child care center.  Many of my friends and contemporaries frighten me with their child like behavior and attitudes.  Actually, most of my friends and colleagues are OK, the people who truly concern me are the casual acquaintances and and people that I interact with in public at the gym or in a store, e.g. situation that I can't help but interact with these fools.

Examples:
Adult mothers wearing "MILF" t-shirts (Britney Spears style).

Adult woman dressed as teen aged hookers.  These are the woman that wear tight jeans and tops when they are in the 40's and 50's.  What is wrong with dressing in something more suitable to your age?  I find a woman much more alluring when she dresses appropriately.  I'm  not a prude I just don't want to see your mom's saggy boobs hanging out of her baby t belly shirt.  (shiver).

There is just something about a woman in the appropriate clothing (a business suit, etc) that some men find very attractive.

Men in their 50's wearing hip-hop style baggy jeans is another non-starter.  What up with that homey g pimp daddy Ted?  Ted shouldn't wear that kind of stuff.  Actually nobody should wear that kind of stuff.  I love the old movies where everyone is wearing a suit or a dress.  The people in those movies are adults.  They say adult things and make adult decisions.

An adult buying a toy on credit.

I mean taking a loan to purchase a boat, jet ski, motorcycle, etc.  These are toys.  If you must take a loan out to buy this then you are a child plain and simple.  You are ridiculous.

A hobby you can not afford.

This is related to the above example.  Do you spend every weekend involved in an activity that is utterly non productive?  Do you spend a large amount of money on this hobby?  Do you make sacrifices for this hobby?  My grandparents had hobbies.  Gardening comes to mind.  They grew their own food.  I just don't understand the elevation of golf or hunting or fishing or football watching from a waste of time to a priority.  These activities are for retirement.  You should not be wasting all your money and time as a young man on frivolous activities.

The worst part of this whole deal is that this fool will want to talk to you about this hobby as if you give two shits about their childish pursuit of the great horned snipe.

Politics is Stupid.

Arggghhhh!  I think politicians love it when people get discouraged.  If you are too stupid or lazy or both to care about politics then not voting is your best option.  Please drive your jet ski into a boat dock and spare all of us your ignorance. 

Lack of a personal philosophy.

Do you live by a set of values?  Do you have standards?  I can't imagine discussing philosophy with today's Tylers and Skylers (my code for the boy-men of our era).  What are your goals?  What do you want to do with your life?  If you simply want to golf every weekend and watch football and drink so much alcohol you piss and shit yourself then by all means philosophy is not for you.

My puppy/kitty/fish/hamster/turtle is part of the family.

Thinking a pet is part of the family is childish.  This is how children think.  I love my big fluffy doggy.  Ooohhh, how cute.  It is cute when you are 5 but not when you are 35.  Grow up.  Don't let your dog shit on my lawn.  Take care of the damned thing.  Take it for a walk, give it a bath.  I'm all for responsible pet ownership but when a childish adult refuses to take care of his or her pet it is utterly infuriating and just plain pathetic.  Oh, and if your dog bites me I will do my best to have the animal put down, even if I must do it myself.  Your stupidity does not supersede my rights.

Part 2 of the series looks at the motivation to increase your income.

Budgeting only gets you so far, after that you need to increase your income. Here is how I did it.

To quote Mel Gibson from Braveheart: "Frrreeeeeddddoommmmmmmm!!!!"

What happens when you water down the educational system and everybody gets into college?