Quote of the Month

Wrote Mr. David Warren:

Democracy itself can be primitive and barbaric, or highly civilized, or decadently post-civilized, or totalitarian. The latter two trends are easily visible throughout our Western world. "The people" are capable of electing monsters, as we have seen in Palestine, where they elected Hamas, or in Zimbabwe, where they once elected Robert Mugabe.

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Poll Results: What Will Be the End Result of the Ongoing Financial Trouble?

The results for the poll, asking what will be the end result of the ongoing financial trouble, ending at midnight between 2008 and 2009, are as follows:

Total votes: 78.

• The United States (paper) dollar will survive this crisis: 36 (46 %)
• The Wilsonian World Order will come down: 15 (19 %)
• The euro will take over as world reserve currency: 10 (12 %)
• The politicos of the world will set up a world paper currency: 10 (12 %)
• Gold will return as a basis for money: 7 (8 %)

A new poll will be up shortly.

Rubber-Stamping

Here in the Kingdom of Norway, we were presented our very own “stimulus package” this Monday.

There was of course something wrong with it, but most pundits don't have a clue about what's wrong with it. We'll leave that here, however.

What we are concerned with here is procedure. The public and the media had known for quite some time that it would be presented on January 26. There was, however, no official package proposal before Monday morning. There was an extraordinary meeting of the Council of State at the Royal Palace of Oslo, where the package was approved as an official proposal.

There is apparently little time for questions in the process. The proposal is presented for His Majesty for rubber-stamping, and this rubber-stamping is apparently not only taken for granted, but there is no room for questioning that may delay the process. Of course, His Majesty could have called the Prime Minister or the Treasury Secretary to the Royal Palace, as did happen with a Church matter last year. However, this concept of formally approving a parliamentary proposal from His Majesty just minutes before it is due to be presented to the Parliament is troublesome.

More on the Spender-in-Chief

Jon Stewart compares Obama to Bush (H/T: Anthony Gregory, the LRC Blog):



Over at Taki's Magazine, Patrick J. Buchanan gives a comparison of Obama's speech to the rhetoric of Ronald Reagan.

Also at Taki's Magazine, Daniel Flynn debunks the “new New Deal.”

Over at the Daily Telegraph, Gerald Warner denounces the new POTUS and his spending.

The Southern Avenger at Taki's Magazine warns against spending those United States into oblivion at supports standing for principle rather than merely being against Obama:

Renaming in Honor of Obama

Streets, schools, etc. are being renamed in honor of the new POTUS. Some changes were even made before inauguration. So USA Today reports, and J.H. Huebert comments at the LRC Blog.

Here in the Kingdom of Norway, no one, not even the King, gets a street named after him before he has passed on.

The Dominion of India Ended

A year short of three score years ago today, the Republic of India was proclaimed, replacing the Dominion of India.

Vertical Money Supply Curve

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, USD supply increased about 94 % in just 4 months (August 1 to December 1):



Something not so pretty is about to happen, I'm afraid. I hope I'm wrong.


H/T: The Western Confucian

Bush Was a Big-Government Disaster

So says Nick Gillespie over at the Wall Street Journal.

Change

Lots of people complain about Obama not representing change.

However, if you don't specifiy what you want to change and how you want to do it, chances are you can deliver on your promise of change. Most things change is some way or another.

If you change the rate of growth of government, that is change.

If you introduce online hearings on bills or other measure on the Presidential table, even if the right advice is not heeded, that is change. Some may argue that it is just a change on the surface, but it still is change.

We could go on for quite a while. Change there will be.

Deeper into Trouble

Peter Schiff on CNBC:



Over at the Wall Street Journal, Peter Schiff comments United States debt and deficit. The previous week he wrote on the lack of pain-free cure.

And an excellent video with Ron Paul and Peter Schiff predictions (H/T: Chris Brunner, The LRC Blog):

Churchill

44 years ago today, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill passed away.

I wrote this four years ago.

This quote:

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

I regret to say that there is no documentation for it. It is commonly attributed to Churchill, but the Churchill Centre has no documentation Churchill ever said this. The Churchill Centre even believes this statement does not reflect the positive attitude Churchill had towards the average voter.

Amongst what Churchill said was (October 31, 1944, The House of Commons, courtesy of the Churchill Centre):

At the bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into the little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper. No amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can possibly diminish the overwhelming importance of that point. The people have the right to choose representatives in accordance with their wishes and feelings, and I cannot think of anything more odious than for a Prime Minister to attempt to carry on with a Parliament so aged, and to try to grapple with the perplexing and tremendous problems of war and peace, and of the transition from war to peace, without being refreshed by contact with the people.

And in the House of Commons on June 5, 1946 (also courtesy of the Churchill Centre):

With all their virtues, democracies are changeable. After a hot fit, comes the cold. Are we to see again, as we saw the last time, the unjust severities inflicted upon the vanquished, to be followed by a period in which we let them arm anew, and in which we then seek to appease their wrath?

Of the more skeptical view (Fifty Years Hence, Strand Magazine, December of 1931, courtesy of the Churchill Centre):

Democratic governments drift along the line of least resistance, taking short views, paying their way with sops and doles, and smoothing their path with pleasant-sounding platitudes. Never was there less continuity or design in their affairs, and yet towards them are coming swiftly changes which will revolutionize for good or ill not only the whole economic structure of the world but the social habits and moral outlook of every family....Democracy as a guide or motive to progress has long been known to be incompetent. None of the legislative assemblies of the great modern states represents in universal suffrage even a fraction of the strength or wisdom of the
community. Great nations are no longer led by their ablest men, or by those who know most about their immediate affairs, or even by those who have a coherent doctrine.

My view remains that Churchill is neither amongst the soundest on democracy nor amongst the hopeless worshippers.

Colonial Constitution

Eighteen and a half score years ago today (Jan 14 in the Julian Calendar), the first American colonial constitution, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, was adopted.

Norwegian "Stimulus"

We had some notables speaking up against the “stimulus consensus” this week and last week here in the Kingdom of Norway. His Majesty's Cabinet will be presenting our very “stimulus package” this upcoming Monday.

Obama Equals Bush on Steroids?

Glen Beck interviews Dr. Ron Paul, suggesting that Obama is a Bush on steroids:



The good Congressman comments parts of the Inaugural Address:



Professor Emeritus Dom Armentano debunks Obama's “stimulus” plan.

Dr. Michael S. Rozeff tackles “Obamanomics” and gives some fearful predictions.

An LRC reader is tired of the “historic inauguration.” And he is not alone in thinking that skin color is not important:



The Western Confucian has more here, here, and here.

The Southern Avenger at Taki's Magazine has change we really can believe in:

Louis XVI

Eighteen dozen years ago today, King Louis XVI of France was brutally murdered.


Elsewhere: Tea at Trianon, GalliaWatch, Le Fleur de Lys too (I, II, III, IV), Royal World

Oscar II

Nine score years ago today, Prince Oscar Frederik of Sweden and Norway was born to Crown Prince Oscar and Crown Princess Josephine.

Prince Oscar Frederik was the “Norwegian Prince.” Prince Oscar Frederik's chances of becoming King were slim, as he had two elder brothers. However, Prince Oscar Frederik outlived both of them without their leaving any male issue, and he ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway on September 18, 1872 as Oscar II.

The Empire Strikes Back!

Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. is President of those United States. He is the 44^th POTUS and the 17^th POTUS of the Wilsonian age.

The President was born to a subject of Her Britannic Majesty and the British Empire. Who was the last President whose father was a British subject at the time that President was born? Is the empire striking back?

Dr. Sean Gabb has made some comments in that respect here and here.

Some may wonder what I think of someone from the Land of Endless Sunshine, which once was my home, becoming President of those United States. Frankly, I couldn't care less, apart from my feeling sorry for those who are proud. I do know that there are a lot of people who have been celebrating this half African's elective victory as a victory over racial considerations. These celebrations only go to show that race does matter, and they hence disprove their claim.

If this Presidency is a victory for all black struggle in those United States, I was not aware that East Africa was a source of slaves to North America.

I will not engage in the speculation that the POTUS was not born in Honolulu. No one has ever claimed he was born in Alaska or the contiguous United States. I consider him born in the Kingdom of Hawai'i. If that makes him eligible for the office he has now taken, so be it. Some don't believe so.

The Rod Blagojevich Case arose after Obama's resignation as United States Senator. Buying votes for other peoples money is OK. So is giving favors for campaign contributions. But some corruption is apparently not OK.

The new POTUS is going to solve all problems for America and the world, which one example demonstrates:



The POTUS has an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan:



Or is it this one?

Peter Schiff tells us this is pouring gasoline on the fire:



There are also reportedly plans for a government-run bank.

We have a POTUS with semi-divine status, he almost perfectly manifests “we are the government,” and he can claim a popular mandate with which he can do much harm.

We have here apparently had an “advanced” public speaking contest as a way of selecting the head of state. It is not far from obvious that this not a very good way of choosing a head of state. All the warnings from the ages about demagoguery seems to have come true. If you believe you have any influence in a modern mass democracy, go and pour a bucket of water in Lake Victoria and watch the water rise. Look out for the hippos and crocodiles though.

As Peter Schiff has told us, Obama has bad medicine and unfortunately is a good orator, so he will convince many people that the bad medicine is good medicine. People are going to be afraid of opposing his plans.

Via Arimathea (and American Monarchist):



Peter Hichens had some thoughts after the election.

Irish Tory had some thoughts too. So did the Joy of Curmudgeonry.

Over at the Philadelphia Inquirer, former United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Rick John Santorum has some thoughts on McBama.

The Paleo Blog gave some thoughts on the election and Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn.

At Scotland on Sunday, Gerald Warner has some thoughts.

The Western Confucian takes a look at the outgoing POTUS, whilst also lamenting the end of the Old Republic.

The Southern Avenger at Taki's Magazine also has a look at the outgoing POTUS:

Design of a Violent Century

Professor T. Hunt Tooley will be blogging this year about the 1919 peace at Design of a Violent Century, a weblog that has just been added to my blog roll. Much appreciated, Professor Tooley! Thank you!

Robert E. Lee

Two centuries and two years ago today, Robert Edward Lee was born.

Balance

Over at Natural News, Barbara Minton makes some interesting comments on the current financial situation.

H/T: Karen De Coster, The LRC Blog

Thapa on the Monarchy

Kamal Thapa says the people of the Kingdom of Nepal miss the monarchy. So the Telegraph Nepal reports.


H/T: American Monarchist

More Schiff

Over at Taki's Magazine, Peter Schiff denounces Dr. Bernanke's speech at the London School of Economics.

Peter Schiff for United States Senator?

Liberty vs. Leviathan reported earlier this month on the possibility of Peter Schiff running for the United States Senate.

See this video:



Now, I am certain that there are very few people who would make a better United States Senator than Peter Schiff, and if he runs, he has my moral support. However, direct election to the United States Senate should be abolish, and we can start with repealing Amendment XVII to the United States Constitution.

The most important point though is that we here see a campaign starting, even before the new POTUS is inaugurated. It was around this time two years ago that an exploratory committee was established for the nomination campaign of Dr. Ron Paul for the United States Presidency.

Those United States are in one constant campaigning season!

Versailles 1919

9 decades ago today, the Versailles Peace Conference commenced.

Read here, here, and here.

Fashion...

Over at Taki's Magazine, Karen De Coster laments some fashion trends and Robert Stacy McCain reflects on another part of modern culture.

Hawai'ian Overthrow

Four years short of a dozen decades ago today, the Hawai'ian monarchy was overthrown.

Women's Suffrage

The Western Confucian has some interesting material on women's suffrage.

The Blessings of Inflation

100 trillion dollar note to be launched. So Reuters reports.

The Shah Fled

Thirty years ago today, the Shah of Iran fled.

Gold Soared

29 years ago today, gold soared.

Let the Printing Press Roll!

The Daily Mail reports on the UK strategy of printing money to get out of the economic trouble.

Emperor Norton

Six score and nine years ago today, Emperor Norton passed on.

"Self-Determination"

91 years ago today, the 28^th President of those United States issued his “Fourteen Points.”

Please also find info here, here, here, and here.

Bolsheviks in Constantinople

94 years ago today, a Bolshevik envoy approached the Imperial German representative in Constantinople.

United States Presidential Electors

Eleven score years ago today, the landed gentry of those United States voted for electors to the Electoral College.

Cuban Revolution at 50

Over at Scotland on Sunday, Gerald Warner marks 50 years since the Cuban Revolution.

Humberto Fontova has said on the Cuban regime:

Castro took Cuba from being a First World economy that had to turn away European emigrants to a country that even impoverished Haitians won’t emigrate to, with among the highest suicide and abortion rates in the world.