Friday, July 31, 2015

Quote of the Month

Over at Gary North's Specific Answers, writes Dr. Gary North:

Lots of people celebrate July 4. I do not.

The Declaration of Independence justified armed secession. It was signed by a handful of lawyers on July 4, 1776. Secession was a way of transferring a great deal of power to colonial legislatures, where most of these lawyers were members. It was a way of replacing governors appointed by the King with governors elected by men of the colonies.

Then the law of unintended consequences once again made itself felt: higher taxes, hyperinflation, price controls, default on state debts, and (in 1788) a new centralized government that dwarfed the power of the British Empire's distant sovereignty in 1776. Finally, a new firm of democracy arose, a democracy of nine Supreme Court justices. The sovereignty of “we the people” – the most rhetorically powerful and most misleading phrase in American history – morphed into the sovereignty of five justices.

Surprise, surprise – but not to the Anti-Federalists of 1787, and surely not to the loyalists of 1776, who had their property stolen by the new governments after 1783. A hundred thousand of them were in Canada in 1788, living under a far less centralized government.

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Schiff on the Money Madness


The Lion of Lans at 106

106 years ago today, Erik Maria Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddihn was born.

Please feel free to browse previous posts.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Tocqueville at 210

Ten score and ten years ago today, Count Alexis de Tocqueville was born.


Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Bad Ischl 101 Years Ago

101 years ago today, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. That fateful day concluded the July Crisis, with the July Ultimatum and its response. The drama of the following week was to turn the conflict into a full-blown European war.

The Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl

Monday, July 27, 2015

Austrian Independence Treaty at 60

Christoph Lingg: Occupation zones in Austria 1945-55Six decades ago today, the Austrian Independence Treaty came into force. Post-WWII occupation was over. One of the provisions read:

Austria shall have a democratic government based on elections by secret ballot and shall guarantee to all citizens free, equal and universal suffrage as well as the right to be elected to public office without discrimination as to race, sex, language, religion or political opinion.
And yes, then there is this:
Austria further undertakes to maintain the law of 3rd April, 1919, concerning the House of Hapsburg-Lorraine.


Saturday, July 25, 2015

Friday, July 24, 2015

Poll Results: What Kind of Head of State Is Better?

King, Queen, and Crown Prince
The results for the poll asking “[w]hat kind of head of state is better,” ending at midnight between June and July, are as follows:

Total votes: 32.
  • A hereditary one: 30 (93%)
  • An elected one, because it really is better: 1 (3%)
  • An elected one, because it gives me a feeling of having a say: 1 (3%)
A new poll will be up soon.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Good Intentions...

Dr. Ron Paul and Mr. Daniel McAdams:


Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Francis Joseph 185 Next Month

As an annual event, Bad Ischl celebrates Austria's Diamond Emperor, His Late Imperial and Royal Majesty Franz Josef I, around his birthday. This year is his 185th, which is in exactly four weeks – August 18. The festival takes place August 14 thru 19. More details can be found here.






Sunday, July 12, 2015

1790 and the French Clergy

France: The Civil Constitution of the ClergyA century, a score, and five years ago today, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Strutt Passing at 67

We mark 67 years since the passing of this weblog's icon, or mascot if you will, Lt.-Col. Strutt.



Please feel free to browse posts on this great officer.