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Ari Armstrong's 2013 Posts

Following are consolidated blog posts I wrote in 2013, republished here on August 18, 2025. All contents copyright © by Ari Armstrong. I may not in every case still agree with my older positions. Paragraphs that begin "Comment" are notes by readers, unless marked otherwise. Because so many of the hyperlinks have since become "dead," I removed almost all of the hyperlinks and (usually) put the original url in parenthesis. Due to minor editing and formatting changes the material here may not exactly match how it originally appeared.

Major themes include gun policy, criminal justice, plea bargaining and jury trials, and more.

TOS Blog Update: Taxes, Capitalism, Egoism

January 1, 2013

Here I link to my recent blog entries for (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/) The Objective Standard. See my (http://ariarmstrong.com/category/tos/) TOS category for a complete listing of my work for TOS.

I also wrote an article for the Winter 2012—13 issue of the journal, titled, "(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2012-winter/sam-harris-unscientific-morality.asp) Sam Harris's Failure to Formulate a Scientific Morality." I explain that Harris's ethics is a form of utilitarianism (and therefore a form of hedonism), and I argue that his case is untenable. Now on the blog items:

December 2, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/u-s-president-let-people-keep-rewards-of-their-own-industry/) U.S. President: Let People Keep "Rewards of their Own Industry"

December 4, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/google-deserves-our-gratitude-ftc-deserves-our-condemnation/) Google Deserves Our Gratitude; FTC Deserves Our Condemnation

December 7, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/the-moral-cliff/) The Moral Cliff

December 14, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/government-destroys-buckyballs-assaults-the-mind/) Government Destroys Buckyballs, Assaults the Mind

December 16, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/its-a-wonderful-satire-of-government-force/) It's a Wonderful Satire (of Government Force)

December 18, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/depardieu-justly-condemns-frances-theft-by-taxation/) Depardieu Justly Condemns France's Theft by Taxation

December 19, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/the-flawed-yet-revealing-legatum-prosperity-index-and-the-path-to-prosperity/ ) The Flawed (Yet Revealing) Legatum Prosperity Index, and the Path to Prosperity

December 20, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/how-capitalism-saved-the-bees/) How Capitalism Saved the Bees

December 21, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/relative-freedom-unleashes-global-advances/) Relative Freedom Unleashes Global Advances

December 23, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/sam-harris-can-sound-like-an-egoist-too-bad-he-isnt-one/) Sam Harris Can Sound Like an Egoist; Too Bad He Isn't One

December 26, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/piers-morgan-may-not-recognize-rights-but-he-has-them/) Piers Morgan May Not Recognize Rights, but He Has Them

December 29, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/new-technology-promises-electrical-power-from-friction/) New Technology Promises Electrical Power from Friction

December 31, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/giving-what-we-can-calls-for-sacrificing-what-we-have/) "Giving What We Can" Calls for Sacrificing What We Have

The Proposed Regulatory "Takings" of Guns and Gun Magazines

January 8, 2013

A regulatory "taking" is when government legislation destroys or reduces the value of one's property. The Constitution does not prohibit the federal government from regulating away the value of property, although it does (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html) require "just compensation." (The courts have not always required compensation in cases of regulatory takings.) Recently proposed federal gun legislation would impose a regulatory "taking" on select semi-automatic guns and gun magazines, not by confiscating those items directly from their owners, but by outlawing their transfer. If one cannot sell or will an item, its value is substantially reduced.

Obviously Dianne Feinstein's (http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/assault-weapons) proposed ban on so-called "assault weapons" constitutes a regulatory "taking" of the value of the affected guns, as it would ban the "transfer" of all those guns. The NRA obtained a draft copy of Feinstein's legislation, and, by the (http://www.nraila.org/legislation/federal-legislation/2012/feinstein-goes-for-broke-with-new-gun-ban-bill.aspx) NRA's reading, "under Feinstein's new bill, 'assault weapons' would remain with their current owners until their deaths, at which point they would be forfeited to the government."

However, there seems to be nothing in Feinstein's proposal that prohibits the transfer of existing magazines by their current owners. A writer for TruthAboutGuns.com (http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/01/ralph/can-the-u-s-government-take-your-guns/) believes Feinstein's proposal would prohibit such transfers, but I see nothing in Feinstein's summary or the NRA's summary supporting that conclusion. (I have not yet seen the bill's language.)

On the other hand, legislation proposed by Representatives Carolyn McCarthy and Diana Degette apparently would ban the transfer of existing so-called "large capacity" magazines, meaning those holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. The new bill is (http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/138/text?q=hr138) H. R. 138; "As of 01/08/2013 text for H.R.138—To prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and for other purposes—has not been received."

A January 3 (http://degette.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1234:reps-degette-and-mccarthy-introduce-bill-to-ban-high-capacity-assault-magazines&catid=76:press-releases-&Itemid=227) release from McCarthy and Degette states, "The High Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act, as the bill is formally known, bans the sale or transfer of ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Such a standard was federal law between 1994 and 2004, when the assault weapons ban was in effect." The Denver Post claims, "DeGette introduced legislation that would ban high-capacity magazine clips in the week-old 113th Congress. The legislation mirrors failed legislation that she and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York introduced last year. . . . This restriction was in place from 1994 to 2004, during the assault weapons ban, but has since been lifted."

Although both Degette and and the Post claim the new proposal mirrors the 1994 ban, that does not seem to be the case. The 1994 ban did not ban the transfer (or importation) of existing magazines; the new proposal apparently does both.

First consider the language of the 1994 ban: "[I]t shall be unlawful for a person to transfer or possess a large capacity ammunition feeding device," except that provision "shall not apply to the possession or transfer of any large capacity ammunition feeding device otherwise lawfully possessed on or before the date of the enactment of this subsection." This was known as a "grandfathering" clause.

Contrast that with the language of (http://beta.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/308/text) H. R. 308, which McCarthy introduced in 2011: "[I]t shall be unlawful for a person to transfer or possess a large capacity ammunition feeding device," except that provision "shall not apply to the possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device otherwise lawfully possessed within the United States on or before the date of the enactment of this subsection."

Notice the absence of the word "transfer" in the "grandfather" clause of H. R. 308. Notably, while the bill appears to ban the transfer of all affected magazines, it makes no provision for what's supposed to happen to those magazines upon death—they apparently cannot be "transferred" to children or other heirs.

If the newly proposed legislation in fact prohibits the transfer of magazines holding more than ten rounds—the overwhelming majority of which are factory-standard magazines owned by tens of millions of Americans—that will constitute a significant regulatory "taking" of those items.

Such legislation would, over the years, also turn millions of peaceable Americans into criminals under federal law when—either by lack of familiarity with the provisions or by intentional civil disobedience—they illegally transfer their magazines to their children, spouses, or others.

How turning millions of peaceable Americans in federal criminals is supposed to stop violent crime, is beyond me. Perhaps Representative DeGette can explain that.

Clowns Should Go Home, Shut Up, and Quit Pretending to Be a Friend of the Second Amendment

January 9, 2013

Update below.

We all know that many journalists and pundits will ignore, as much as they can, the violence and craziness at union rallies and Occupy events, and they will go out of their way to cast—in defiance of the facts—any right-leaning rally as racist, violent, and all-out nuts. So why do some right-leaners go out of their way to write the left-leaning media's scrips for them?

Alex Jones has read Piers Morgan the riot act on guns. Jones has also called for Morgan's deportation—a (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/piers-morgan-may-not-recognize-rights-but-he-has-them/) violation of Morgan's rights—and he has (http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/trutherism/2011/09/where_did_911_conspiracies_come_from.html) led the charge on concocting ridiculous 9/11 conspiracy theories. It doesn't even matter if some of what Jones says about guns is accurate and defensible; he has disqualified himself as a sensible commentator, about anything. If I were into spinning conspiracies theories as absurd as those pronounced by Jones, I'd claim that Jones is actually a closet leftist who has made it his mission in life to discredit the right (a line I adapted from a Facebook friend.)

(By the way, it is only recently that I started self-identifying as on "the right," and only in the respect (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2012/06/political-left-and-right-properly-defined/) described by Craig Biddle, meaning an advocate of individual rights.)

Locally, we have Neal Pashman, whom I've met (and whom I've de-friended on Facebook for posting grotesquely offensive imagery), who publicly announced he'd illegally carry a gun openly at a gun-rights rally in Denver February 9. As the Denver Post gleefully (http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22334706/pro-gun-rally-at-start-colorado-legislature-could) reported, Pashman wrote the following on Facebook: "[W]e should be openly carrying our high-capacity capable, semi-automatic rifles and handguns! Let thousands of us show up with loaded weapons!!! Put the fear of God into the police and the legislature, and that scumbag governor!! Let them know what will come next!!!"

What's coming next, Mr. Pashman: Are you going to flap your lips even harder next time? Perhaps insert that magical fourth exclamation point? Please, for God's sake, just shut the hell up. Zip it!

Every person with a lick of common sense knows that Pashman is just an ignoramus who likes to hear himself talk. Unfortunately, we are not talking about people with common sense, here, we are talking about professional journalists. And journalists stick to crazy like stink on s**t (as my wife put it earlier this evening). Journalists will try every conceivable means to paint the gun rally as crazy, nutty, loony, scary. With dumbasses like Pashman around, they don't even have to try.

Unfortunately, the organizers of the rally have hardly been the voice of reason. They have, if not openly invited people to illegally carry nonconcealed handguns in Denver, openly tolerated it. In a January 8 comment on the group's Facebook page (the "Pro-Gun Rally at the Capitol" organized by "Guns for Everyone), they write, "People should act on their convictions, know the risks involved with OC [open carry], and use good judgment." Sorry, but "good judgment" left this crowd's building long ago.

Look, I was in Denver in 2001 when Rick Stanley (http://www.freecolorado.com/colib/0201civdis.html) openly carried a handgun on his hip, knowing he'd be arrested for it. I applauded his courageous act of civil disobedience. (Later, I also applauded the courts for handing him a felony conviction after he threatened a judge.) But the fight now is not over open carry in Denver. Apparently the organizers of the rally have failed to notice this fact, but the fight now is about gun bans, magazine bans, and expanded gun-owner registration. So what in the hell are they doing, allowing open carry at their rally? It's sheer stupidity, from the standpoint of political strategy.

I have attended dozens of pro-liberty rallies. I even organized one. And I've been writing about politics on the web since before the term "blog" was even coined. Although certainly I've made some mistakes myself, I think I've picked up a thing or two about political tactics over the years.

At a minimum, the organizers of the rally should have insisted that participants not violate any laws and not advocate violence or racist views—on penalty of ejection from the event. That the organizers failed to do so tells me they're irresponsible morons who could care less whether their rally actually ends up promoting or damaging gun rights.

While we're on the topic of crazy, consider this little gem from the rally's organizers (from a January 3 Facebook post):

People who are attending, please remember to remove the batteries from your cell phones if you care about your movements being tracked. Call me a conspiracy theorist but the DPD has a history of recording protest attendees by their cell phone signals as well as a history of keeping secret spy files on activists.

God forbid that the Denver Police waste their time trying to pick up my cell phone. I mean, these guys might as well hand out tin-foil hats at the gate. (However, it's true that the Denver Police once maintained files on ralliers; I was (http://www.freecolorado.com/2002/09/cofreefile.html) among those on whom Denver police kept a file.)

All that said, nearly all of the people who attend the rally will be reasonable, sensible people. It would be pleasant—though I won't hold my breath waiting for it—if local journalists would actually interview some normal people, rather than just the tiny minority of Pashman-types.

The Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution is far too important for thoughtless clowns to impede the real gun-rights movement. Many great scholars and activists have devoted significant portions of their lives to defending the fundamental, inalienable human right of self-defense, and its corollary right to bear arms. If you refuse to devote enough brain cells to actually help, rather than hinder, that movement, then, please, shut up, go home, and stay the hell out of the way.

Update: Thankfully, the (http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22340887/pro-gun-rally-near-colorado-capitol-low-key) rally was peaceful and "low key." Thank you, ralliers (including Pashman) for behaving intelligently. And thank you, Kurtis Lee of the Denver Post, for (http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22340887/pro-gun-rally-near-colorado-capitol-low-key) reporting the rally fairly and getting some good, representative interviews.

TOS Blog Update: Self-Defense, Star Trek, Taxes

January 10, 2013

January 2, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/senators-representatives-and-americans-to-blame-for-tax-hikes/) Senators, Representatives—and Americans Who Voted for Them—to Blame for Increased Spending and Tax Hikes

January 4, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/nascar-and-rum-makers-got-tax-cuts-you-should-have-too/) Nascar and Rum Makers Got Tax Cuts; You Should Have, Too

January 5, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/william-shatners-tweet-and-the-power-of-art/) William Shatner's Tweet and the Power of Art

January 8, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/of-hurricanes-pork-and-subsidies/) Of Hurricanes, Pork, and Subsidies

January 10, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/interview-linn-armstrong-on-self-defense-and-guns/) Interview: Linn Armstrong on Self-Defense and Guns

The Right to Own a Gun: My Unpublished Letter to the Denver Post

January 17, 2013

As the Denver Post apparently has declined to publish my reply to its (http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_22342375/stop-these-tools-mass-murder) hysterical and misleading op-ed of January 10, I reproduce it here:

Contrary to the claims of the Denver Post's Jan. 10 editorial, many millions of Americans own semi-automatic rifles demonized as "assault weapons," as well as semi-automatic handguns with factory-standard magazines between 11 and 20 rounds, for self-defense. Such guns and magazines are common not only for personal protection but for every-day police work.

The laws the Post endorses would divert limited police resources to harassing and registering millions of peaceable gun owners, while doing nothing to limit the ability of criminals to obtain guns or commit crimes.

People have a moral right to defend themselves and their families from violent aggressors, and they have a moral right to buy and own the tools making that possible.

I appreciate the Post publishing other letters favorable to gun rights. Just today the newspaper published a (http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2013/01/16/background-checks-fees-gun-sales-2-letters/20799/) letter from Paul Hsieh critical of "universal background checks." Hsieh writes, " If a law-abiding gun owner sells his used rifle via private sale to another law-abiding gun owner without a background check, there is no victim and no harm. . . . [M]andatory background checks for private firearms purchases merely impose unnecessary new burdens on the law-abiding, but will not stop the bad guys."

So, although the paper's editorial board has consistently come out for more infringements on the right to bear arms, it does allow for some alternative commentary.

Why Printed Books Remain So Popular

January 17, 2013

Ownership of ebook reading devices exploded by five-fold within three years, as I (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/e-book-revolution-continues-to-improve-our-lives/) review in a post for The Objective Standard. That's an extraordinary development. Still, the growth of ebooks has been slower than I once would have predicted. Although 30 percent of the population (http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/12/27/e-book-reading-jumps-print-book-reading-declines/) read an ebook in 2012, 89 percent read a printed book. Given the relatively high costs of printing, shipping, and stocking a printed book, versus the negligible costs of distributing an ebook, why is the ebook market not growing even faster?

Clearly many publishers push to make printed books the continued standard, at least for now. Whereas the retail price of a printed book covers substantial printing, shipping, and stocking costs, such costs are all but irrelevant regarding ebooks. And yet publishers successfully pushed up the price of many ebooks well above the $10 level. Indeed, sometimes at Amazon I find I can buy a paperback for less than the cost of the ebook.

A large part of the issue here is that marginal costs drop off radically with large print runs and shipping orders. Thus, whereas many small-market books appear only in ebook, the economics of a popular book support large print runs. Plus, of course, brick-and-morter retailers can display printed books, increasing "impulse" purchases.

But I think the publishing end of it is only part of the story. I think there are a variety of reasons why many consumers often prefer a printed book.

Obviously printed books offer a distinctive tactile experience, and, as a bibliophile cousin of mine notes, a good old book also has a distinctive smell. But I think there's something more important going on.

Although I was an early adopter of e-book technology, I have purchased several printed books of late. Why? I use my printed books for book clubs, book reviews, and research. E-books are difficult to cite, as they often don't offer page numbers matching the printed edition (or the page numbers do not match precisely).

Often I can remember and visualize where certain content is with respect to the printed page and the page number. With an e-book, the material becomes a constant stream, with no stable relationship to the medium.

Another important feature of a printed book is that I can write notes in the text and in the margins. Although many e-book readers accommodate notations, I have found those systems to be clunky and impractical for my needs.

So, given the current technology, I'm likely to continue to buy both printed books and e-books, depending on my needs for the book.

I also predict that ebook producers and sellers will soon (within a few years) figure out how to overcome many or all of the problems mentioned here. Once that happens, printed books will eventually become about as common as music CDs and vinyl disks are now. At least that's my guess. It will be exciting to see how it actually pans out.

How State Legislatures Can Initiate a Balanced-Budget Amendment

January 18, 2013

The U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times. Never has it been amended by state-initiated conventions. Robert Natelson, a law professor for 25 years who now works with the Independence Institute of Denver, hopes to change that. Specifically, he hopes to help persuade state legislatures to initiate and then ratify one or more amendments to restrain federal spending. With a national debt of (http://www.usdebtclock.org) $16.4 trillion and growing, that may be the only hope for fiscal sanity.

Natelson explained the history and purpose of Article V at (https://www.facebook.com/LOTRFlatirons) Liberty On the Rocks, Flatirons, on January 14. Here is his main presentation.

https://youtu.be/nig-L34AK0g

Natelson also answered a variety of questions about Article V amendments. Here he addresses the problem of state dependence on federal funding, generating grassroots support, passing state measures close enough in wording to trigger a convention, the myth of the "runaway convention," and the need for "eternal vigilance."

https://youtu.be/4f4kFmV2KLc

Does the U.S. Constitution allow for secession? No, argues Natelson:

https://youtu.be/MPZvc1v6F9c

Natelson argues the Supreme court of the late 1930s and 1940s largely failed to uphold the U.S. Constitution:

https://youtu.be/c_nalyq4F3k

Would an Article V convention "run away" into an unrestrained effort to rewrite the Constitution? Did the participants in the Constitutional Convention act within their established authority? Natelson addresses both questions:

https://youtu.be/1cNw1T7KLiE

Natelson addressed one final question. What were the reasons for the adoption of the Seventeenth Amendment, which allowed for the direct election of U.S. Senators? There were real problems with the old system, Natelson argues.

https://youtu.be/_4H7DcGF5Ik

Legislature Should Not Meddle with Liability for "Fake Gun Free Zones"

January 18, 2013

Aurora theater with police tape in front.

I think it was a moral crime for Cinemark to create a "fake gun free zone" at its Aurora theater, prohibiting law-abiding patrons from carrying defensive guns while doing nothing to stop armed aggressors. But not everything that is morally wrong should be legally prohibited or even legally disfavored.

Still, a Colorado bill sponsored by Kent Lambert—(http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2013a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/F1B84FA04583BC4187257AEE0057BD45?open&file=062_01.pdf) S. B. 13-062—is not nearly as bad as the Denver Post led me to believe. The Post (http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22380814/colorado-gop-gun-bill-puts-onus-businesses-that) wrongly claims the bill "would require business owners to allow concealed-carry permit holders to pack heat or else provide one security officer for every 50 customers and face increased liability."

That newspaper description is not quite right (or at least it's ambiguous). The bill would render a private business "liable for damages in any civil action" if the business forbids lawful concealed carry while failing to provide at least one armed security officer per 50 people present.

Still, the bill is pretty bad, and its effect would be to strong-arm businesses into allowing concealed carry.

Colorado is a "shall issue" concealed-carry state, meaning that any non-probited person can apply for a permit and be assured of receiving one. However, Colorado law has always recognized the right of business owners to set their own policy.

The legal rules of liability have long been established, and the Colorado legislature has no legitimate business expanding liability in this case.

In the Aurora case, the business clearly posted that it prohibited the lawful carry of firearms. Any patron could plainly see that the theater offered no security and thereby created a "fake gun free zone." But they chose to go there anyway. This was a matter of free and voluntary association.

If Republicans start the game of expanding liability for its pet causes, the Democrats will no doubt follow suit. Remember, the Democrats have the trial lawyers on their team (for the most part). I'm sure they could think up reams of statutes expanding liability for law-abiding gun owners, gun stores, tobacco stores, liquor stores, and so on. The list is potentially endless.

Vincent Carroll (http://www.denverpost.com/carroll/ci_22380504/carroll-search-scapegoat-aurora-shootings) offers some good reasons why Cinemark should not be held liable for its failure to provide security. To me the most compelling reason is that the risk of an event like that is extraordinarily low. We cannot justly hold someone liable for an event that they could not reasonably have predicted.

That said, I think Cinemark richly deserves public condemnation for creating a "fake gun free zone," thereby helping to provide crowds of defenseless victims for a mass murderer.

Westminster Should Consider Approval Voting

January 26, 2013

I read in the January 25 Westsider that the (http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/CityGovernment/CityCouncil.aspx) Westminster City Council is considering eliminating run-off elections for mayor:

If the top candidate does not receive 40 percent [under the current system], the top two candidates face off against each other during a run-off election. This process requires a second election, costing about $100,000. . . . Resident Tim Kauffman told council [at a January 14 meeting] the run-off election is important because the mayor position needs widespread community support.

The council will decide the measure to eliminate the run-off election on January 28, the paper reports.

But the city could avoid both problems—a costly run-off and a low-popularity mayor—simply by instituting (http://blog.ariarmstrong.com/2011/01/atwood-pitches-approval-voting.html) approval voting, a process I (http://blog.ariarmstrong.com/2011/01/atwood-pitches-approval-voting.html) wrote about a couple years ago.

Here's how it would work. For the mayor's election, voters would see all the candidates' names on the ballot. Voters could vote for one or more of these candidates—as many as they "approved" of. Then the candidate with the highest vote total wins.

This guarantees that the winner has broad support, yet it saves the cost and hassle of a run-off election. What's not to like?

TOS Blog Update: Guns, Abortion, Taxes, Rights

February 1, 2013

January 22, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/obamas-second-inaugural-address-vs-what-made-america-great/) Obama's Second Inaugural Address vs. What Made America Great

January 25, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/americas-suicidal-foreign-policy/) America's Suicidal Foreign Policy

January 25, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/anti-abortion-crusade-is-anti-life-anti-rights-anti-reason/) Anti-Abortion Crusade is Anti-Life, Anti-Rights, Anti-Reason

January 28, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/gun-restrictions-punish-the-rational-and-responsible-for-acts-of-the-irrational-and-irresponsible/) Gun Restrictions Punish the Rational and Responsible for Acts of the Irrational and Irresponsible

January 29, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/condemn-rights-violating-policies-not-garlic-smugglers/) Condemn Rights-Violating Policies, Not Garlic Smugglers

January 30, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/cass-sunstein-and-the-second-bill-of-rights-seek-to-obliterate-rights/) Cass Sunstein and the "Second Bill of Rights" Seek to Obliterate Rights

TOS Blog Update: Obama, Art, Machines

February 14, 2013

February 4, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/to-curse-machines-is-to-curse-the-mind/) To Curse Machines is to Curse the Mind

February 5, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/the-burgeoning-micro-production-revolution/) The Burgeoning Micro-Production Revolution

February 8, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/pj-medias-walter-hudson-previews-bernstein-dsouza-debate-on-christianity/) PJ Media's Walter Hudson Previews Bernstein-D'Souza Debate on Christianity

February 10, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/interview-linda-cordair-on-the-importance-of-art-in-the-workplace/) Interview: Linda Cordair on the Importance of Art in the Workplace

February 12, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/the-state-of-obama/) The State of Obama

How to Have Gun Background Checks Without Registration

February 21, 2013

Even if every legal gun sale could be approved and tracked by the federal government, that would have practically no impact on crime. What it would do is redirect limited police resources away from tracking and catching criminals, toward tracking peaceable citizens and harassing them over paperwork errors and violations.

People who commit crimes with guns usually fall into two categories. Either they are one-time killers, in which case a background check will not stop them from legally buying a gun first, or they are career criminals, in which case they are experts at acquiring black market items. In either case, a background check does no good.

That said, in a tiny fraction of cases, a background check might delay a criminal's plans by pushing him into the black market. In any case, no self-respecting gun owner wants to sell a gun to someone who, due to past criminal violence, cannot legally possess one. So is there a way to set up background checks that do not violate the rights of gun owners or misdirect police resources? I think there might be.

Notice than any possible background check system must employ a "no buy" list, a list of people who may not legally buy a gun. The problem with the existing background check system (and proposed extensions of it) is that it also creates a "buy" list, a list of noncriminals who purchase a gun.

Today's background check system is a system of gun-owner registration. No, these records are not kept in a central database; instead, they are kept by gun sellers, and they are open to inspection by federal agents at the discretion of those federal agents. Those records could become part of a central database by political fiat. The problem with the federal government registering gun owners (beyond the fact that it's properly none of the damn business of federal bureaucrats) is that registration can lead to gun confiscation and has already done so in various regions of Europe and the United States.

My modest proposal, then, is to replace the current background check system with one that uses only a "no buy" list. By saying a person with a criminal record cannot legally buy a gun, we are in effect giving that person a sort of extended probation. (The method by which that should be declared is beyond the scope of this article.) Rather than keep its list of criminals to itself, the government could simply publish that list on the internet, along with the photographs of the criminals. Then, if a gun owner wanted to sell a gun to someone, he could check the I.D. and likeness of the buyer against the alphabetized list of criminals. At no point would the gun owner even need to type in the name of the buyer.

Incidentally, employers, dating services, and so on could use the same list for their own purposes.

How would this be enforced? Selling a gun to a known criminal without bothering to check the database would become a tort. If necessary, lawmakers could remove any limitations of liability for those who fail to check the database when selling a gun. Or lawmakers could impose a criminal penalty for selling a gun without checking the database, although this could open the door to abusive enforcement. (It's already a crime to knowingly sell a gun to someone legally barred from buying one.)

Such a system would have its limitations (as does the current system). Someone with criminal intent but without a criminal record would show up clean. And someone could fake an I.D. But if a criminal has the time and resources to fake an I.D., he's already able to buy a gun illegally, anyway.

The larger problem with the list is the loss of privacy of those on it. However, if someone goes to the effort of imposing criminal harm on others, I don't see that loss of privacy as a big deal legally or morally. Moreover, people on the "no buy" list would properly have expedited legal recourse for getting their names removed if appropriate.

Such a list would have a hard time accommodating those declared mentally incompetent to buy a gun. However, I don't regard that as an overwhelming objection. If someone is so obviously mentally ill that he's a threat to himself or others, he needs a lot closer attention than simply to be placed on a list. The way to handle such problems is to address them directly, not harass and intimidate millions of American gun owners for the sake of a tiny population of those with severe mental illness.

Regarding those who have some other (http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#possession-restrictions) flag in the background check system but no criminal record, I uphold the view—apparently out of fashion with today's Democrats—that an individual should be presumed innocent until found guilty by a jury of his peers. If someone poses an objective threat to others, police may detain or observe him. Nevertheless, I'd rather see an openly published list of those with flags, than a system of gun-owner registration.

Obviously, the long-term goal of those who created the existing background check system is to open the door to a system of universal gun-owner registration. If such is ever achieved, the gun banners will fight relentlessly for the universal confiscation of guns, starting with the ones most useful for self-defense.

A possible alternative is for the government to publish and maintain the "no buy" list of convicted criminals (and possibly others) who may not legally buy a gun. If the goal were really to reduce crime, rather than to register peaceable gun owners, that is the plan that politicians would consider.

TOS Blog Update: Taxes, Hathaway, Abortion, Obama

March 1, 2013

February 17, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/fetuses-dont-have-rights-pregnant-women-do-this-distinction-is-crucial/) Fetuses Don't Have Rights; Pregnant Women Do; This Distinction is Crucial

February 20, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/the-importance-of-protocols-for-living-well-and-avoiding-problems/) The Importance of Protocols for Living Well and Avoiding Problems

February 22, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/is-africa-the-next-beneficiary-of-the-industrial-revolution/) Is Africa the Next Beneficiary of the Industrial Revolution?

February 25, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/anne-hathaways-hard-work-is-no-sacrifice/) Anne Hathaway's Hard Work is No Sacrifice

February 26, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/02/zero-dark-thirty-actors-bring-attention-to-doctor-imprisoned-for-helping-kill-bin-laden/) Zero Dark Thirty Actors Bring Attention to Doctor Imprisoned for Helping Kill Bin Laden

March 1, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/dont-expand-sales-taxes-abolish-them/) Don't Expand Sales Taxes, Abolish Them

Why Republicans Bear Responsibility for Colorado's Anti-Gun Laws

March 20, 2013

Colorado's Republican leaders fought valiantly against the anti-gun bills promoted by the Democrats. And yet, as angry as I am with the Democrats—including Governor Hickenlooper, who just this morning (http://www.9news.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=325096) signed into law the ambiguously drafted, rights-violating gun magazine restrictions and the registration requirement for all gun purchases—the simple fact is that Republicans bear much of the responsibility for the passage of these bills.

By promoting rights-violating policies of their own, Republicans did two things that brought about passage of the anti-gun laws. First, they handed Democrats all the arguments used to restrict gun sales and use. Second, they handed Democrats control over every branch of Colorado government by alienating most Interior West voters.

When Democrats pass anti-gun bills, that's just Democrats being Democrats. As State Senator Evie Hudak (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/legislation-should-be-based-on-individual-rights-not-group-averages/) made clear, Democrats think that individuals are too stupid and irresponsible to make their own decisions and lead their own lives, so therefore Democrats must step in and control people's lives for them. No surprise there. So it is the Republicans, who very often pretend to champion individual liberty and free markets, who are the real disappointment. Consider some examples.

The Drug War

We know that Democrats want to outlaw so-called "high-capacity gun magazines," however defined. But Republicans hardly put themselves in a position to complain.

Last fall, Colorado voters approved Amendment 64, allowing possession of low-capicity bags of marijuana. Many Republicans fought against not only high-capacity bags of marijuana, but low-capacity bags as well. Why? Like their ideological brothers in the Democratic Party, these Republicans think that individuals are just too stupid and irresponsible to make their own decisions and lead their own lives, so therefore politicians and bureaucrats must tell people what to do—and throw them in jail if they stray from that path.

And yet let's compare the two items. If someone consumes marijuana, about the worst thing he's likely to do is sit on the couch and munch Doritos. Sure, he'd endanger others by driving or operating other heavy machinery, but the same goes for alcohol. On the other hand, a criminal who obtains a gun magazine actually can kill a lot of people with it. So when Republicans advocate the prohibition of high-capacity and low-capacity bags of marijuana, but say they're all for "high-capicity" gun magazines, their arguments ring hollow with hypocrisy.

Amendment 64 also legalized hemp under Colorado law. Why have Republicans opposed the legalization of hemp? Quite simply because the hemp plant looks like the type of marijuana plant that contains the drug TCH. The party that wants to ban the sale and possession of plants based on what they look like, is hardly in a position to offer any serious protest when Democrats want to ban so-called "assault weapons" based on what they look like.

Abortion

Likewise, the party that wants to throw my wife in prison for seeking an abortion—even in cases of rape and risks to her health—for buying the "wrong" sorts of birth control, and for seeking the "wrong" sorts of fertility treatments, is hardly in a position to complain when the Democrats want to throw my wife (and me) in jail for trading the "wrong" gun magazines.

The Democrats honed their strategy of attacking Republicans as waging a "war on women" right here in Colorado, starting with Ken Buck, the U.S. Senate candidate who endorsed the anti-abortion "personhood" measure before backing away from it. Colorado now has three sitting members of Congress who have supported the same nonsense. And even now Rand Paul is (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/20/rand-paul-aborts-his-own-pro-life-views-live-on-cnn/) floating a nationwide "personhood" measure (although not consistently).

Not only are anti-abortion Republicans (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2011-winter/abortion-rights.asp) wrong in the issue, they have destroyed the dominance once held by Republicans in this state.

Gay Rights

Republicans who oppose equal protection under the law for gay couples, hardly can seriously complain when Democrats deny gun owners equal protection under the law.

As a political strategy, nothing could have been stupider than for the GOP to agitate wealthy, technologically savvy gay men—Jared Polis is worth $160 million, while Tim Gill is worth $400 million. And these men have helped bankroll the Democratic takeover of Colorado.

And look how Republicans handle arguments about things like gay marriage and civil unions. Colorado's gay speaker of the house, Mark Ferrandino, (http://www.denverpost.com/ci_22764239/historic-day-at-colorado-legislature-house-pass-civil) said the civil unions bill is "about love, it's about family, and it's about equality under the law." What did the Republicans argue? Rep. Lori Saine, R-Dacono said, "What this bill is about, really, is the Bible. Is it right or wrong?"

In other words, one side makes plausible moral arguments and argues equality under the law; the other side invoked ancient mythology and ghost stories. (Some Republicans did support the bill; they're excluded from the criticisms of this section. Please note that I don't support every aspect of the bill, although I do support gay marriage.)

The Democrats have proudly assumed the mantle of the party of reason, while the Republicans have proudly surrendered that mantle. So, when the Democrats pretend that all they want are "reasonable, common-sense gun restrictions," their claims have a superficial plausibility, thanks to the faith-based claims typical of Republicans.

Immigration

Many Republicans support federal background checks for employment. Can they seriously oppose federal background checks for gun sales? Such Republicans are ridiculous.

Many Republicans openly and loudly endorse government action to blatantly violate the rights of business owners to freely negotiate labor contracts. The injustices of such Republican policies dwarf the rights violations of the Democrats with respect to gun sales.

The Republicans tell business owners, "You may not hire undocumented Mexicans to manufacture large gun magazines." The Democrats merely add, "You may not hire Americans, either."

* * *

As I tell my friends, Democrats have not won a single important election in Colorado in many years. The trouble is that Republicans find a way to lose every important election (a few safe seats aside). How do Republicans manage this?

To a large degree, the Colorado GOP has been the party that wants to throw women in prison for controlling their own bodies, the party that's hostile to homosexuals, and party that's hostile to immigrants.

Colorado Republicans have developed a reputation—largely earned—for being the anti-gay, anti-immigration, anti-women party, and then Republicans stand around after getting their asses kicked, election after election, scratching their heads and wondering what happened.

So, yes, the Democrats deserve blame and condemnation for ramming through the anti-gun laws. But, really, they're just following in Republican footsteps. Perhaps this loss will serve as a wake-up call for Republicans to change their path.

What if Colorado's Democrats Infringed the Right to Have Sex the Same Way They've Infringed the Right to Bear Arms?

March 26, 2013

Rob Natelson speaking.

Constitutional scholar (http://www.i2i.org/robnatelson.php) Robert Natelson spoke at a Pro Second Amendment Committee banquet in Grand Junction March 23. I'll release his entire speech soon. In this segment, Natelson compares the right to have sex with the right to keep and bear arms—and he points out that the majority of Colorado's Democrats hypocritically protect the former while infringing the latter.

Natelson said:

Ask yourself, what would be the reaction of the Colorado legislature's majority to a proposal requiring a background check before anyone could exercise the Constitutional right of nonmarital sex?

What would be the reaction to a bill saying that the eager couple even had to pay the fee for the background check?

What would be the reaction of Speaker Ferrandino or Senate President Morse to a bill stating that the eager couple was limited to "fifteen rounds," so to speak?

Absurd, our legislative leaders might say? Indeed not. Natelson points out that the annual number of (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#ddaids) deaths due to sexually transmitted diseases is comparable to the number of violent deaths involving firearms.

https://youtu.be/EEWktpVzvdM

Surviving Attacks at School and the Workplace: Alon Stivi's Attack Countermeasures Training

March 26, 2013

Alon Stivi, CEO of (http://www.directmeasures.com) Direct Measures International, recently attended an event in Grand Junction, where he agreed to a short interview. Stivi developed a certification program in (https://www.actcert.com/) Attack Countermeasures Training to help school administrators, teachers, and office personnel effectively respond to active shooters and terrorist attacks.

One of the points Stivi makes is that renewed military action in the Middle East (which seems very likely to me within the next few months) could spur terrorist organizations to step up their attacks on American and other western targets. And "we need to be prepared," he points out.

https://youtu.be/B2sgZjbai1I

Robert Natelson on the Second Amendment and Colorado's Legislature

March 28, 2013

Constitutional scholar Robert Natelson recently spoke in Grand Junction on the Second Amendment. He explained the historical roots of the amendment and its meaning in the modern world. He also harshly criticized anti-gun legislation of Colorado's majority of Democrats.

https://youtu.be/VeTEMsSKAV4

TOS Blog Update: Jesus, Capitalism, Political Controls

March 30, 2013

March 3, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/the-fruits-of-capitalism-are-all-around-us/) The Fruits of Capitalism Are All Around Us

March 7, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/minimum-wage-laws-economically-harmful-because-immoral/) Minimum Wage Laws: Economically Harmful Because Immoral

March 8, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/more-evidence-of-the-failure-of-government-schools-and-the-solution/) More Evidence of the Failure of Government Schools (and the Solution)

March 11, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/judge-properly-tosses-new-york-city-soda-ban/) Judge Properly Tosses New York City Soda Ban

March 12, 2013

Guns: (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/legislation-should-be-based-on-individual-rights-not-group-averages/) Legislation Should be Based on Individual Rights, not Group Averages

March 16, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/thomas-friedman-embraces-keystone-extortion/) Thomas Friedman Embraces Keystone Extortion

March 20, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/cyprus-rejects-one-form-of-theft-leaves-others-intact/) Cyprus Rejects One Form of Theft, Leaves Others Intact

March 22, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/the-real-purpose-of-central-banks/) The Real Purpose of Central Banks

March 22, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/with-abortion-ban-proposal-rand-paul-assaults-rights-and-aids-democrats/) With Abortion Ban Proposal, Rand Paul Assaults Rights and Aids Democrats

March 23, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/with-budget-plan-senate-would-increase-rights-violations-economic-destruction/) With Budget Plan, Senate Would Increase Rights Violations, Economic Destruction

March 25, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/contra-michael-tanner-governments-size-is-not-the-proper-focus-for-advocates-of-liberty/) Contra Michael Tanner, Government's Size is Not the Proper Focus for Advocates of Liberty

March 28, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/whats-wrong-with-stomping-on-jesus/) What's Wrong with Stomping on "Jesus"?

March 30, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/as-some-filipinos-try-to-die-one-tries-to-live/) As Some Filipinos Try to Die, One Tries to Live

Run, Hide, Fight: Even the New York Times Gets It

April 10, 2013

The gun laws recently proposed (or passed) in Colorado and at the national level will not reduce violent crime. Something that will reduce the number and destructiveness of mass murders is citizens preparing for such attacks and responding appropriately.

Of course, your chances of ever finding yourself in the middle of a situation like that at the Aurora theater or the school in Newtown are extremely low. A tiny fraction of homicides are mass murders, and a tiny fraction of mass murders are the random and large-scale events that generate international headlines for months on end. You're far more likely to die in a car crash than to die at the hands of a mass murderer.

Still, there is some chance, however slight, that you will find yourself confronted by a mass murderer, so it is worth some time thinking and planning how to respond. Perhaps surprisingly, even the New York Times picked up on this theme in an (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/us/in-a-shift-police-advise-taking-an-active-role-to-counter-mass-attacks.html) April 6 story written by Erica Goode. Following are some of the highlights from that article:

The speed and deadliness of recent high-profile shootings have prompted police departments to recommend fleeing, hiding or fighting in the event of a mass attack, instead of remaining passive and waiting for help. . . .

Research on mass shootings over the last decade has bolstered the idea that people at the scene of an attack have a better chance of survival if they take an active stance rather than waiting to be rescued by the police, who in many cases cannot get there fast enough to prevent the loss of life. . . .

In the absence of a police presence, how victims responded often made the difference between life and death, Dr. Blair said.

In 16 of the attacks studied by the researchers [at Texas State University], civilians were able to stop the perpetrator, subduing him in 13 cases and shooting him in 3 cases. In other attacks, civilians have obstructed or delayed the gunman until the police arrived. . . .

"The take-home message is that you're not helpless and the actions you take matter," Dr. [J. Pete] Blair [of the university] said. "You can help yourself and certainly buy time for the police to get there."

Here is the video from the Houston's Office of Public Safety mentioned in the article:

https://youtu.be/5VcSwejU2D0

I've produced two videos and an interview on the matter.

The interview (with my father), available at TOS Blog, is "(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/01/interview-linn-armstrong-on-self-defense-and-guns/) Linn Armstrong on Self-Defense and Guns."

I also conducted another interview on video with my dad:

https://youtu.be/i0CI1W4jHTs

And I conducted an interview with Alon Stivi (with whom my father has worked), who developed a program for (https://www.actcert.com/) Attack Countermeasures Training.

https://youtu.be/B2sgZjbai1I

So don't be paranoid, but do be prepared.

TOS Blog Update: Thatcher, Immigration, Melissa Harris-Perry, and More

April 11, 2013

March 31, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/03/rand-paul-inches-toward-a-rights-respecting-immigration-policy-but-lacks-the-means-to-get-there/) Rand Paul Inches Toward a Rights-Respecting Immigration Policy but Lacks the Means to Get There

April 1, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/bionic-eye-not-a-miracle/) Bionic Eye—Not a Miracle

April 4, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/stockton-aint-all-thats-bankrupt/) Stockton Ain't All that's Bankrupt

April 7, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/melissa-harris-perry-says-your-kids-belong-to-whole-communities/) Melissa Harris-Perry Says Your Kids "Belong to Whole Communities"

April 9, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/margaret-thatcher-warrior-for-liberty/) Margaret Thatcher: Warrior for Liberty

April 11, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/states-pass-rights-violating-abortion-restrictions/) States Pass Rights-Violating Abortion Restrictions

My Spring TOS Contributions: Natelson Interview, Beyond Politics Review

April 11, 2013

The Objective Standard published two of my pieces in the Spring 2013 issue (not counting my blog posts).

The first in an interview: "(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-spring/natelson-amendments-to-restrain-federal-spending.asp) Robert G. Natelson on State-Driven Amendments to Restrain Federal Spending." (Elsewhere I published a (http://ariarmstrong.com/2013/01/how-state-legislatures-can-initiate-a-balanced-budget-amendment/) series of videos of Natelson speaking on the same subject.)

Natelson summarizes the issue at hand:

Essentially, though, there are two ways to propose amendments for ratification or rejection by the states. One is for Congress to propose; the other is for two-thirds of the state legislatures to require Congress, through resolutions called "applications," to call a "convention for proposing amendments." A convention for proposing amendments is essentially a meeting of delegations sent by the state legislatures themselves, organized on a one-state, one-vote basis. In lieu of Congress, the convention decides whether to propose one or more amendments for ratification or rejection.

My second piece is a (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-spring/beyond-politics.asp) book review of Beyond Politics. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good book about "public choice" economics, but it has some serious problems. I conclude:

Despite its serious theoretical problems—problems shared by most economic texts today—Beyond Politics offers a powerful critique of many types of government economic controls. Those who read it carefully will better understand the common rationale for government intervention in the economy—and the "public choice" criticisms of such intervention. Although Simmons does not offer anything like a complete case for capitalism that integrates morality and economics, he offers some important economic tools useful in building or fortifying such a case.

You can read the complete articles—and all the other great content in the Spring issue—(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-spring/) over at The Objective Standard.

Roerig Explains Hydraulic Fracturing

April 11, 2013

Speaking at last month's (http://www.philosophyinaction.com/events/snowcon2013.html) Snowcon, Howard Roerig explained the process of hydraulic fracturing. The point I found most interesting was how drillers found a way to drill horizontally, slowly bending away from a vertical hole.

https://youtu.be/57JLvk3iMjE

TOS Blog Update: 3D Printing, Harris-Perry, Boston

April 25, 2013

April 14, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/3d-metal-printing-revolution-makes-possible-the-impossible/) 3D Metal Printing Revolution Makes Possible the "Impossible"

April 21, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/harris-perry-doubles-down-promoting-collective-responsibility/) Harris-Perry Doubles Down, Promoting "Collective Responsibility"

April 24, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/there-are-no-values-through-islam/) "There Are no Values" through Islam

Colorado School Arms Administrators

May 6, 2013

The school board of Dove Creek, Colorado, has taken the safety of its students seriously by allowing school administrators to carry defensive guns.

Nancy Lofholm (http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_23178824/tiny-dove-creek-becomes-model-guns-schools) reports for today's Denver Post:

In a first-of-its-kind move in Colorado, a rural school board has given two of its top administrators new job titles—security officer. The new titles make it possible to bypass state gun laws and carry guns in schools. . . . Their security officer contracts were approved by the board at a February meeting. Each will be paid $1 a year for their officer duties to make the deal legitimate.

I (http://ariarmstrong.com/2012/12/the-40-security-solution-for-colorado-schools-that-would-actually-work/) wrote about this possibility late last year:

Colorado law already allows schools to invite those with lawfully permitted concealed handguns into their halls—if schools do it the right way. . . .

Colorado law allows "public" schools to bring in "security officers" "retained by contract" by the district. The law is non-specific as to how much a security officer must be paid. So my plan is simply for a school to hire 40 (or so) concealed-carry permit holders—parents, retired police officers, military veterans, etc.—at a dollar each per year, to take shifts patrolling the school. . . .

[O]bviously willing and trained teachers and administrators could be declared "security officers" as well.

Hopefully other school districts will follow the same sensible policy—and hopefully those officials carrying guns will get top-notch training in using a firearm in emergency situations.

TOS Blog Update: Self-Defense, Health Insurance, Profits, Enlightenment, Space

May 11, 2013

April 28, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/04/attack-countermeasures-video-shows-how-not-to-be-a-victim/) "Attack Countermeasures" Video Shows How Not to Be a Victim

May 1, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/think-you-have-health-insurance-think-again-explains-beth-haynes/) Think You Have Health Insurance? Think Again, Explains Beth Haynes

May 2, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/pope-absurdly-blames-unemployment-on-profit/) Pope Absurdly Blames Unemployment on Profit

May 5, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/penny-nances-strange-bedfellows/) Penny Nance's Strange Bedfellows

(No, the Enlightenment did not cause the Holocaust.)

May 6, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/good-news-abounds-space-tourism-medical-marvels-and-more/) Good News Abounds: Space Tourism, Medical Marvels, and More

Complete Colorado Posts: Ignorance among Anti-Gun Legislators, Tax Discrimination

May 31, 2013

Complete Colorado's Page Two recently published two of my articles.

(http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/05/14/gun-restriction-legislators-displayed-profound-ignorance-on-subject/) Gun-restriction legislators displayed profound ignorance on subject

"Many of the Democrats supporting gun restrictions displayed profound ignorance about firearms, self-defense, and even their own bills."

(http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/05/22/bipartisan-support-for-tax-discrimination-in-colorado-legislature/) Bipartisan support for tax discrimination in Colorado legislature

"If the legislature wishes to create a business-friendly tax environment, it should establish lower taxes for every business, and make the effective tax rate the same for everyone."

TOS Blog Update: Gosnell, IRS, Property Rights, Apple, 3D Printing, Sobiech

May 31, 2013

May 14, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/gosnell-justly-convicted-for-grisly-murders/) Gosnell Justly Convicted for Grisly Murders

May 15, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/irs-violates-americans-rights-every-day/) IRS Violates Americans' Rights Every Day

May 20, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/committee-for-justice-fights-for-free-speech-via-property-rights/) Committee for Justice Fights for Free Speech via Property Rights

May 21, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/apples-tax-avoidance-justifies-moral-outrage-toward-those-harassing-and-smearing-apple/) Apple's Tax Avoidance Justifies Moral Outrage—Toward those Harassing and Smearing Apple

May 26, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/innovative-doctors-save-infants-life-with-3d-printing/) Innovative Doctors Save Infant's Life with 3D Printing

May 28, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/zach-sobiech-victim-of-cancer-lover-of-life/) Zach Sobiech, Victim of Cancer, Lover of Life

May 29, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/05/designers-use-3d-printing-for-beautiful-prosthetics-and-space-food/) Designers Use 3D Printing for Beautiful Prosthetics and Space Food

My Summer TOS Contributions: DIM, Guns, Welfare, Lincoln, Django Unchained

June 21, 2013

The Objective Standard published several of my book and film reviews in the Summer 2013 issue:

Books

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-summer/dim-hypothesis.asp) The DIM Hypothesis: Why the Lights of the West Are Going Out, by Leonard Peikoff

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-summer/truth-about-gun-control.asp) The Truth about Gun Control, by David B. Kopel

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-summer/after-the-welfare-state.asp) After the Welfare State, edited by Tom G. Palmer

Films

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-summer/lincoln.asp) Lincoln

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-summer/django-unchained.asp) Django Unchained (free)

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-summer/intouchables.asp) The Intouchables (free)

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-summer/sessions.asp) The Sessions (free)

TOS Blog Update: Free Speech, Organ Transplants, Google, Superman, SNAP

June 21, 2013

June 3, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/will-tn-u-s-attorney-william-killian-clarify-that-individuals-have-a-right-to-criticize-islam/) Will TN U.S. Attorney William Killian Clarify that Individuals Have a Right to Criticize Islam?

June 5, 2012

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/government-involvement-in-organ-donation-constitutes-death-panels/) Government Involvement in Organ Donation Constitutes Death Panels

June 6, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/a-born-free-american-woman-tells-government-youve-forgotten-your-place/) "A Born Free American Woman" Tells Government "You've Forgotten Your Place"

June 7, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/greedy-googles-blimps-to-bring-wireless-internet-to-a-billion-africans-and-asians/) Greedy Google's Blimps to Bring Wireless Internet to a Billion Africans and Asians

June 8, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/our-spectacularly-improving-world/) Our Spectacularly Improving World

June 9, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/quent-cordair-offers-a-philosophical-detection-story-in-the-match/) Quent Cordair Offers a Philosophical Detection Story in "The Match"

June 11, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/cambridge-scientists-dramatically-advance-battle-against-infectious-disease/) Cambridge Scientists Dramatically Advance Battle Against Infectious Disease

June 13, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/celebrate-sarah-murnaghans-life-demand-an-end-to-government-death-panels/) Celebrate Sarah Murnaghan's Life; Demand an End to Government Death Panels

June 16, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/supermans-moral-ambitiousness/ http://bit.ly/14EfbRY) Superman's Moral Ambitiousness

June 21, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/members-of-congress-misrepresent-food-stamp-program-and-ignore-its-injustice/) Members of Congress Misrepresent Food Stamp Program and Ignore Its Injustice

In Which I Defend My Right to Use "Free Colorado"

June 27, 2013

I have been using the trademark "Free Colorado" for many years, and I here assert my right to keep on using it.

Unfortunately, another group has called itself "Free Colorado," and that group (http://freecolorado.net) claims to be "a non-profit organization registered in the State of Colorado." (I was not able to find a record of the group on the Secretary of State's (http://www.sos.state.co.us/ccsa/CcsaInquiryMain.do) web page.)

This group could not possibly have failed to notice that I have registered "FreeColorado.com" or that I call my site "Free Colorado."

Unfortunately, this other group lists no contact information on its web page, FreeColorado.net. And a "whois" search of that domain lists only Proxy, LLC of Arizona as the contact information.

I have nothing against this other group (other than it using my name), but I wish it had picked some other name, or at least asked me first if I'd sell them or give them the rights to call their group "Free Colorado." At this point, I request that the group select some other name.

At this point, I want to clarify that I have nothing to do with this organization, and it has nothing to do with me (besides using my name without my permission).

History of Colorado's Gun Magazine Ban

July 16, 2013

Today Complete Colorado published my article reviewing the history of Colorado's gun magazine ban, "(http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/07/16/dems-leave-making-sense-of-gun-magazine-ban-to-attorney-general/) Dems Leave Making Sense of Gun Magazine Ban to Attorney General."

See also the web page of John Suthers (Colorado's AG) for his (http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/press/news/2013/07/10/colorado_attorney_general_statement_withdrawal_motion_preliminary_injunction_g) media release and related documentation regarding his "technical guidance" for enforcing the legislation.

The points I make in the article include the following:

Suthers offered the narrowest possible interpretation of the ambiguous phrases "continuous possession" and "readily convertible." This means that gun owners can temporarily lend their 16-plus round magazines to others, and they can possess and transfer 15-minus round magazines that have removable baseplates.
The fact that the legislation was poorly written comes as no surprise given its intent: to "spearhead a national gun control campaign orchestrated by the Obama administration and by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg."
Suthers's reading of the legislation runs contrary to the interpretation of the measure by its own sponsor, State Representative Rhonda Fields.
The magazine legislation is still bad, in that it "violates the rights of peaceable gun owners to self-defense, to peaceable trade, and to private property."

(http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/07/16/dems-leave-making-sense-of-gun-magazine-ban-to-attorney-general/) Read the whole article.

TOS Blog Update: Antitrust, Miracles, Energy, ObamaCare, Beer

July 16, 2013

June 22, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/we-already-have-a-media-shield-the-first-amendment/) We Already Have a "Media Shield": The First Amendment

June 23, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/a-miraculous-pope/) A Miraculous Pope?

June 26, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/obamas-war-on-energy-producers-and-consumers/) Obama's War on Energy Producers and Consumers

June 26, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/with-doma-decision-supreme-court-correctly-recognizes-legal-equality-of-gay-couples/) With DOMA Decision, Supreme Court Correctly Recognizes Legal Equality of Gay Couples

July 3, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/07/dont-delay-obamacare-end-it/) Don't Delay ObamaCare—End It

July 6, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/07/toast-the-re-legalization-of-homebrewing/) Toast the Re-Legalization of Homebrewing

July 10, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/07/justice-department-and-congress-commit-massive-act-of-injustice-against-apple-et-al/) Justice Department and Congress Commit Massive Act of Injustice against Apple, Et Al.

Did Colorado Senator John Morse Claim that Gun Owners Have a "Sickness" In Their "Souls" that Needs to Be "Cleansed"?

July 28, 2013

In context, [State Senator John] Morse does seem to imply that gun owners—at least those who robustly campaign for gun rights—have sick souls. If he meant something different from that—if he is prepared to say that rights-respecting people who own their guns of choice and who campaign for gun rights are perfectly moral to do so—now would be a great time for Morse to clarify his remarks.

I quote extensively from his March 8 comments in that article. If you still wonder about the complete context or the tone of his remarks, I have now put his entire speech on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/ZVo10z-pwZs

August 1 Update: Complete Colorado has published my (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/08/01/senator-morse-declines-to-retract-insinuation-that-many-gun-owners-have-sickness-in-their-souls/) follow-up article about Morse's remarks. Morse did offer additional comments about his March 8 "sickness" speech with a March 13 release of the video of that speech. I summarize: "Although these additional remarks clarify that Morse was not claiming that all gun owners have a sickness in their souls, they do not retract Morse's insinuation that many gun owners—namely, those who own the types of guns and gun magazines of which Morse disapproves and who campaigned against the Democrats' anti-gun legislation—do have a sickness in their souls, in Morse's view." Read the (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/08/01/senator-morse-declines-to-retract-insinuation-that-many-gun-owners-have-sickness-in-their-souls/) complete follow-up for details.

TOS Blog Update: Zimmerman, Texas Abortion Law, Capitalist Pig Ads

July 28, 2013

July 17, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/07/jonathan-hoenig-and-the-objective-standard-lawbreakers-no-more/) Jonathan Hoenig and The Objective Standard—Lawbreakers No More

July 18, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/07/texas-anti-abortion-bill-abnegates-rights/) Texas Anti-Abortion Bill Abnegates Rights

July 24, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/07/why-the-obama-administration-is-persecuting-george-zimmerman/) Why the Obama Administration is Persecuting George Zimmerman

Leftist Media Critic Jason Salzman Declines My Offer to Pay for His Gun Safety Class

July 30, 2013

Leftist media critic Jason Salzman is "(http://bigmedia.org/2013/07/25/radio-host-should-invite-brophy-back-on-the-show-to-explain-how-his-family-photo-squares-with-proper-gun-handling-techniques/) scared of guns" and ignorant about them. Given he has taken to writing about gun safety—and given he routinely writes about gun policy—I offered him an opportunity to learn what he's talking about by attending a gun-safety class at my expense. Unfortunately, he has declined.

Yesterday I (https://twitter.com/ariarmstrong/status/361864065213153280) Tweeted to Salzman, "I offer to pay for your gun safety class we both agree to." He (https://twitter.com/BigMediaBlog/status/362054821446029314) replied, "You're very kind, but I don't own a gun and I dont want to spend the time on a class right now. Already too busy" (capitalization corrected).

I reiterated my offer to Salzman by telephone and mentioned that his lack of a gun wouldn't be a problem, as he can use a loaner.

In short, although Salzman has the time to work toward the violation of the rights of gun owners, he does not have the time to learn about how guns operate or about gun safety.

My offer remains open, and Salzman knows how to reach me should he change his mind and accept it.

* * *

This morning I appeared on Peter Boyles's radio program to discuss my Complete Colorado article, "(http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/07/28/will-senator-morse-clarify-his-remarks-on-gun-owners-having-sickness-in-their-souls/) Will Senator Morse Clarify His Remarks on Gun Owners Having 'Sickness' in Their 'Souls'?" (You can find the audio file on the (http://www.710knus.com/podcastlineup.aspx) KNUS web page or on (http://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail?pid=164630) Podbean, July 30, third hour.) I discuss Salzman in that article, and Boyles discussed him extensively on his show; thus, I wanted to add a few additional notes about Salzman here.

Boyles spend much of the hour discussing a "fraudulent" contest in which Salzman played a role. I didn't know anything about this (or I had forgotten whatever I'd heard about it), so I was not prepared to discuss the topic. After the show I did a bit of digging.

Westword's Michael Roberts (http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/01/michael_huttner_progressnow_hawaii_trip.php) confirms that Michael Huttner and ProgressNow "promised to give away a trip to Hawaii to the person with the best idea to improve America," and Salzman was involved with this project. That prize was never awarded. Roberts writes that Salzman "was a contractor to ProgressNow's national organization and had no role in the Hawaii contest beyond helping to publicize it."

I asked Salzman if he wished to comment about the Hawaii prize or about his work now. He replied:

On the record, the Westword article is accurate about my role. Mike Huttner was my client, and I'm not authorized to talk about the project beyond what I've said.

I regularly post my work on ColoradoPols and (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-salzman/) Huffington Post. I used to post on Squarestate.net, which seems to have folded. Sometimes I post on other progressive outlets, and I try to get op-eds published in real-life newspapers.

As for the debate about Morse's comments, I'll have more to say about that at a later time.

My Fall TOS Contributions: Umbehr on Concierge Medicine; Reviews of Star Trek, Oz, and Killing Floor

August 20, 2013

The Objective Standard published an interview I conducted along with several of my book and film reviews in the (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-fall/) Fall 2013 issue:

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-fall/dr-josh-umbehr-on-concierge-medicine-revolution.asp) Dr. Josh Umbehr on the Concierge Medicine Revolution

Umbehr says of his type of medical practice:

Patients want this. They want better care for less money. They want better value. They want more time with their doctors. They want quality and convenience and accessibility and all the things that we're not offering to them right now. They want their doctors to answer the phone. They want their doctors to supply their medicine. They want their doctors to sit down and spend half an hour or an hour with them and not worry about what insurance is going to pay for or not pay for.

And here are my reviews (all largely behind paywalls):

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-fall/star-trek-original-films.asp) Star Trek: The Original Films

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-fall/oz-great-and-powerful.asp) Oz the Great and Powerful

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2013-fall/killing-floor.asp) Killing Floor, by Lee Child

TOS Blog Update: Assault on Apple, NSA, Nudge Squad, and More

August 20, 2013

July 31, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/07/america-doesnt-need-a-nudge-squad-it-needs-a-rights-squad/) America Doesn't Need a "Nudge Squad"; it Needs a Rights Squad

August 2, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/alex-epstein-exposes-josh-foxs-gasland-ii-as-anti-all-technology/) Alex Epstein Exposes Josh Fox's Gasland II as Anti-All Technology

August 4, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/the-governments-obscene-assault-on-apple/) The Government's Obscene Assault on Apple

August 7, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/judge-preposterously-seeks-to-forbid-uber-car-service-from-using-iphones/) Judge Preposterously Seeks to Forbid Uber Car Service from Using iPhones

August 9, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/europa-report-offers-fine-cinematic-sci-fi-but-vile-moral-premises/) Europa Report Offers Fine Cinematic Sci-Fi but Vile Moral Premises

August 15, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/harry-reid-confesses-truth-about-obamacare/) Harry Reid Confesses Truth About ObamaCare

August 16, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/nsa-domestic-spy-program-clearly-violates-citizens-rights/) NSA Domestic Spy Program Clearly Violates Citizens' Rights

The Clements Murder and Colorado Gun Laws: My Complete Colorado Article

September 6, 2013

Complete Colorado has published my (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/09/06/what-the-murder-of-tom-clements-says-about-colorados-new-gun-laws/) latest column about the murder of Tom Clements, former head of the Colorado Department of Corrections.

The details of the case are very disturbing; here are my concluding remarks:

Colorado's prisons contain thousands of "active" gangsters who violently "target" each other while in prison. One of these gangs is the 211 Crew, a group of violent white supremacists that included [Evan] Ebel, that sent a Colorado judge into hiding, and that likely ordered the murder of Clements. . . . Even though Ebel violently assaulted a prison guard—a crime for which he was supposed to serve an additional four years—the government's "clerical error" released him from prison early. After Ebel broke his ankle bracelet and went on the run, the government did nothing about it. Two days later, Ebel murdered a pizza delivery man for his uniform. Two days after that, Ebel murdered Clements at his home. Two days after that, Ebel nearly murdered a Texas law enforcement officer and attempted to murder many more.

In the midst of this chaos—of this fundamental incapacity of Colorado government to perform its central role of protecting the public from violent criminals—Colorado's Democratic legislators and Colorado's governor are largely concerned, not about cleaning up those obvious problems, but with redirecting government resources toward the tracking and monitoring of peaceable gun owners.

(http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/09/06/what-the-murder-of-tom-clements-says-about-colorados-new-gun-laws/) Read the entire article.

TOS Blog Update: Syria, Buckyballs, Government Schools, ObamaCare, Luck, and "Buy American" Nonsense

September 6, 2013

August 20, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/dr-josh-umbehr-explains-how-to-get-quality-economical-health-care-and-undermine-obamacare/) Dr. Josh Umbehr Explains How to Get Quality, Economical Health Care and Undermine ObamaCare

August 24, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/peter-dinklage-i-hate-that-word-lucky/) Peter Dinklage: "I Hate that Word, 'Lucky'"

August 26, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/alex-boguskys-self-sacrificial-buy-american-nonsense/) Alex Bogusky's Self-Sacrificial "Buy American" Nonsense

August 27, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/assads-moral-obscenity-does-not-justify-obscenity-of-sacrificial-military-intervention/) Assad's "Moral Obscenity" Does Not Justify Obscenity of Sacrificial Military Intervention

August 29, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/if-you-berate-parents-for-sending-their-kids-to-private-school-you-are-a-bad-person/) If You Berate Parents for Sending Their Kids to Private School, You Are a Bad Person

September 1, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/government-killed-buckyballs-now-seeks-to-destroy-ceo-too/) Government Killed Buckyballs, Now Seeks to Destroy CEO, Too

TOS Blog Update: Navy Yard Massacre, Living Wage, Spock's Ethics, and More

September 19, 2013

Here I link to my blog entries for (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/) The Objective Standard for September 8 to 19 (in reverse order). See my (http://ariarmstrong.com/category/tos/) TOS category for a complete listing of my work for TOS.

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/in-response-to-navy-yard-massacre-government-should-focus-exclusively-on-protecting-rights/) In Response to Navy Yard Massacre, Government Should Focus Exclusively on Protecting Rights

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/minimum-wage-laws-immoral-crippling-and-nevertheless-supported-by-many/) Minimum Wage Laws: Immoral, Crippling, and Nevertheless Supported by Many

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/new-yorkers-deemed-criminals-for-gasp-serving-dinner-for-a-fee/) New Yorkers Deemed Criminals for (Gasp!) Serving Dinner for a Fee

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/rolling-stone-smears-defenders-of-fossil-fuels/) Rolling Stone Smears Defenders of Fossil Fuels

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/helium-lifted-craft-and-other-advances-promise-better-living-and-spiritual-fuel/) Helium-Lifted Craft and Other Advances Promise Better Living and Spiritual Fuel

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/jonathan-hoenig-and-wayne-rogers-regarding-syria-americans-should-be-selfish/) Jonathan Hoenig and Wayne Rogers: Regarding Syria, Americans Should Be Selfish

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/spocks-illogic-the-needs-of-the-many-outweigh-the-needs-of-the-few/) Spock's Illogic: "The Needs of the Many Outweigh the Needs of the Few"

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/war-on-syria-is-not-the-means-to-credibility-and-security-war-on-iran-is/) War on Syria is Not the Means to Credibility and Security; War on Iran Is

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/obama-administrations-foreign-policy-intentionally-ineffective/) Obama Administration's Foreign Policy: Intentionally Ineffective

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/government-extorts-money-from-ebook-publishers-you-can-refuse-to-participate/) Government Extorts Money from Ebook Publishers; You Can Refuse to Participate

Democrats Versus Democratic Recalls: My Complete Colorado Article

September 19, 2013

On September 10, voters in Colorado recalled two state senators, John Morse and Angela Giron. The next day, I (https://twitter.com/speakercarroll/status/377683378591780864) Tweeted, "The reason Dems hate Constitutional recalls in CO: Recalls favor those with deep convictions over those with shallow, transitory opinions." My suggestion was met a quick rebuke from someone I know and respect, who called my claim "intellectually dishonest" and "vapid." But, as I replied at the time, "Clearly recalls favor the most committed voters." And even various Democrats admit as much.

I wrote up a much longer version of my argument, and Complete Colorado published the resulting (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/09/18/why-do-colorado-democrats-oppose-democratic-recalls/) article on September 18. I argue that Democrats didn't criticize the recalls merely as a matter of partisan cheerleading or because recalls are somehow an "abuse of the political process." Instead, I argue,

The reason Democrats dislike recall elections—particularly when they involve a clash over guns—is that fewer people tend to vote in them. Thus, recall elections tend to favor voters with deeply held beliefs and strong political commitments—the type of voters who will go out of their way to participate in an election on an unusual day involving a single race.

Along the way, I show that the recalls involved no "voter suppression." (I had also (https://twitter.com/ariarmstrong/status/377869826846236672) Tweeted that, to today's Democrats, "voter suppression" seems to mean "That nefarious force always and everywhere at work whenever Democrats lose.")

(http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/09/18/why-do-colorado-democrats-oppose-democratic-recalls/) Read the entire article.

TOS Blog Update: Shutdown, ObamaCare, State Technology, the Devil, and More

October 3, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/toward-a-shutdown-to-celebrate/) Toward a Shutdown to Celebrate

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/under-obamacare-the-doctor-cant-see-you-now/) Under ObamaCare, "The Doctor Can't See You Now"

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/to-find-false-religion-e-w-jackson-should-look-in-the-mirror/) To Find "False Religion," E. W. Jackson Should Look in the Mirror

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/tiny-tile-promises-to-find-your-lost-keys-or-lost-child-for-you/) Tiny Tile Promises to Find Your Lost Keys or Lost Child for You

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/the-devil-is-in-the-mysticism/) The Devil Is in the Mysticism

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/ted-cruz-and-atlas-shrugged-against-obamacare/) Ted Cruz and Atlas Shrugged Against ObamaCare

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/no-mariana-there-is-no-state-santa-claus-driving-technology/) No, Mariana, There Is No (State) Santa Claus Driving Technology

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/irs-targeted-groups-over-anti-obama-rhetoric-as-enabled-by-bad-laws/) IRS Targeted Groups over "Anti-Obama Rhetoric"—As Enabled by Bad Laws

TOS Blog Update: ObamaCare, Shutdown, Food Stamps, Buckyballs, and More

October 22, 2013

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/surprise-construction-slows-as-government-violates-rights/) Surprise! Construction Slows as Government Violates Rights

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/can-you-tell-the-difference-between-modern-art-and-toddler-art/) Can You Tell the Difference Between Modern "Art" and Toddler Art?

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/obamacare-what-the-hell-kind-of-reform-is-this/) ObamaCare: "What the Hell Kind of Reform Is This?"

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/government-shut-down-and-all-i-got-was-this-blog-post/) Government Shut Down and All I Got Was this Blog Post

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/british-scientists-achieve-breakthrough-in-alzheimers-research/) British Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in Alzheimer's Research

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/food-stampede-illustrates-depravity-of-welfare/) Food Stampede Illustrates Depravity of "Welfare"

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/you-can-become-whomever-you-want-to-be/) "You Can Become Whomever You Want to Be"

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/craig-zucker-has-the-balls-to-fight-government-abuse/) Craig Zucker Has the Balls to Fight Government Abuse

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/get-government-out-of-beer/) Get Government Out of Beer

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/in-attacking-malala-yousafzai-taliban-assault-the-mind/) In Attacking Malala Yousafzai, Taliban Assault the Mind

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/obamacare-supporter-i-didnt-realize-i-would-pay-for-it-personally/) ObamaCare Supporter: "I Didn't Realize I Would Pay for It Personally"

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/feds-intentionally-inflict-pain-in-park-shutdowns-solution-is-to-privatize-parks/) Feds Intentionally Inflict Pain in Park Shutdowns; Solution is to Privatize Parks

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/kenneth-buck-admirably-protects-rights-despite-colorado-law/) Kenneth Buck Admirably Protects Rights Despite Colorado Law

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/colorado-personhood-measure-would-outlaw-all-abortions-and-more/) Colorado "Personhood" Measure Would Outlaw All Abortions and More

(http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/10/institute-for-justice-wins-battles-for-free-speech/) Institute for Justice Wins Battles for Free Speech

Contra Amendment 66 Supporters, CO Doesn't Lag in Education Spending

October 22, 2013

According to supporters of Amendment 66, Colorado "isn't keeping up" with education spending relative to "nearby states." But these supporters have a funny idea of which states are "nearby" and which are not. They also use a dubious "adjustment" for "regional cost differences."

When you look at actual per-pupil spending, Colorado spends more than do most other "nearby" states. Read my (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/10/14/amendment-66-supporters-lesson-for-children-how-to-mislead-with-statistics/) entire article over at Complete Colorado.

Of course, in this article I address only one tiny sliver of the debate over Amendment 66. Even if Colorado spent radically less per pupil on government-run schools, that would hardly count as a reason to spend more money on them. That's a discussion for another day. But, at a minimum, I figured, those advocating higher taxes for government-run schools ought not use misleading statistics to make their case.

Is Five-Year Sentence for Abusive Deputy Excessive?

October 23, 2013

I was surprised to read in the October 18 North Jeffco Westsider that an abusive sheriff's deputy from Adams County—David Morrow—was convicted of assaulting a restrained teen and sentenced to five years in prison.

First I was surprised that any abusive police officer, anywhere, had actually been charged with any crime by any district attorney. Kudos to Dave Young—the district attorney for Colorado's 17th judicial district (which covers Adams and Broomfield counties)—and to his team for prosecuting the deputy for a crime he obviously committed. I hope the prosecution inspires DAs everywhere to charge police officers within their jurisdictions whenever those officers commit violent crimes. I am damned sick of reading stories about cops who needlessly beat the crap out of people, then not only avoid criminal prosecution but often keep their jobs.

But then I was surprised by the length of the sentence. Five years strikes me as excessive for punching a drunk, belligerent teen in the face. Offhand, I would consider a reasonable sentence to consist of a few months in the county jail followed by a few year's probation in association with intensive anger-management classes and community service. The courts should have also required Morrow to personally pay for the teen's medical bills and related expenses.

Let's look at some of the facts of the case. A good place to start is with a (http://adamsbroomfieldda.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/David-Morrow-convicted.pdf) media release from Young's office:

Morrow . . . was convicted of second-degree assault . . . , third-degree assault . . . and child abuse. . . .

On June 12, 2011 at about 1:10 a.m. Morrow responded to a call about a disturbance at 8790 Welby Road in Adams County. According to court records and evidence presented during the trial, the 15-year-old boy, who appeared highly intoxicated, was taken into custody and transported by ambulance to the hospital because parent contact information could not be obtained from him. The ambulance attendant had restrained the juvenile's hands and feet because of his verbally combative behavior. Morrow struck the juvenile on the face with a closed fist as he passed by the teen who was restrained on the ambulance gurney.

A Westword (http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2013/10/david_morrow_deputy_breaking_jaw_sentenced.php) story and a 9News video embedded by Westword add a few relevant details. The teen in question was so drunk he couldn't even identify his parents. Obviously the party to which Morrow was sent was totally out of control and totally deserving of a police response. The teen "mouthed off" and, prior to being restrained, refused to obey lawful police orders (if we interpret the remarks of one of the party's organizers who was interviewed by 9News). I understand why Morrow was frustrated with this drunk, belligerent, mouthy, law-breaking teen. Obviously that did not give Morrow any justification to punch the teen and break his jaw. Officers of the law have to be better than the lowlifes with whom they come into contact on a daily basis.

Obviously Morrow committed a crime and was justly prosecuted and convicted. I hope DAs go after every city cop and sheriff's deputy who violates the rights of others.

But what about that five-year sentence? According to the Westsider story, Morrow was convicted "after a six-day jury trial in August." He faced a maximum of sixteen years in prison.

These facts leave me with a number of questions. What sort of deal did the DA offer to Morrow, and why did he not take the deal? (Westsider reports that Morrow's attorney claimed his client acted in self-defense, which seems ridiculous.) Who is this attorney who let his client go to prison for five years for punching a belligerent, drunk teen? Why did the judge impose such a harsh sentence?

Another important question: What's going to happen to Morrow in prison? If I were a sheriff's deputy, about the last place on earth I'd want to be is in prison. In what prison will Morrow spend time? Is it more of a "country club" sort of prison or more of a "don't drop the soap" sort of prison? Will Morrow be assaulted, raped, or murdered in prison? Assuming his prison is as bad as I think most prisons are, it seems horribly unjust to sentence a guy guilty of a relatively minor-level assault to the very real risk of getting violently assaulted or worse. Will Morrow be protected from other criminals in prison who I suspect would be more than happy to bust up a cop?

To sum up: I'm glad Morrow was prosecuted and convicted for committing a crime. I'm not at all sure that the resulting prison sentence is just or that Morrow will be adequately protected from other criminals while in prison. I think the surrounding questions deserve deeper consideration.

Top Six Reasons I'm Glad the Recall Pushed Evie Hudak to Resign

December 9, 2013

The three successful recall efforts in Colorado politics this year are unprecedented. On September 10, voters (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/09/11/colorado-recalls-about-more-than-just-guns/) recalled Democratic state senators John Morse and Angela Giron and replaced them with Republicans. On November 27, the third target of a recall election—my state senator Evie Hudak—resigned rather than face the voters and risk the Democrats' advantage in the state senate. (With Hudak's resignation, a vacancy committee will replace Hudak with another Democrat, maintaining the party's 18-17 member advantage.)

In an (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/11/29/hudak-denies-voters-choice-after-supporters-suppressed-democratic-action/) article for Complete Colorado, I point out the absurdity of Hudak's supporters claiming that the recallers—the very people engaged in democratic action to gather signatures and seek a recall vote—are somehow undemocratic. I note, "Although lawful, Hudak's decision to resign replaces a democratic recall election with a profoundly anti-democratic decision by party elite." (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/11/29/hudak-denies-voters-choice-after-supporters-suppressed-democratic-action/) Read the entire article.

There is more to say, however, about why it's a wonderful thing that Hudak is no longer my state senator—even though she has denied me a voice in choosing her replacement. Here are my top six reasons.

1. Hudak supported the (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/09/11/colorado-recalls-about-more-than-just-guns/) rights-violating, badly drafted anti-gun legislation heavily promoted in the state by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Obama administration.

2. Hudak (http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/05/14/gun-restriction-legislators-displayed-profound-ignorance-on-subject/) heartlessly insulted a rape victim on the floor of the state senate—while invoking bogus statistics to browbeat the poor lady.

3. Hudak suggested that another legislator should "(http://www.redstate.com/2013/03/22/audio-whats-1-billion-worth-a-coin-flip-according-to-colorados-evie-hudak/) flip a coin" to decide a vote. State Senator Owen Hill asked Hudak, "How can I vote on it if we can't have a little bit more discussion?" She replied, "Take your best shot... Here's a coin you can flip." Hill sensibly responded, "I didn't knock on 20,000 doors so I could flip a coin."

4. Hudak (http://thecoloradoobserver.com/2013/11/analysis-dems-feared-collateral-damage-from-hudak-recall/) supported the Amendment 66 tax-hike proposal, a measure that voters thankfully rejected by wide margins.

5. During important legislative hearings, Hudak (http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/10/02/state-senator-admits-extraneous-activities-during-hearings/) spent her time on social media.

6. Hudak's supporters distributed a (http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/10/31/political-flyers-make-inflammatory-claims-about-recall-attempt/) nasty, misleading flyer in an attempt to suppress the democratic recall effort, and, to my knowledge, Hudak did not condemn the flyer or those responsible for it.

Hudak was arguably the least competent legislator in Colorado. I for one rejoice that she's out of office.

Note on Objective Standard Posting

December 9, 2013

In the past, I've linked to all of my blog posts published by The Objective Standard from my personal web page. But these days TOS is publishing most of my writing, so it seems pointless use my personal page to link to everything over there. Readers are welcome to check out (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/author/aarmstrong/) my catalog of posts at TOS.

I'll still link to my print articles and possibly to some of my more notable blog posts as well.

Along these lines, recently I wrote a (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/12/court-violates-cake-bakers-right-not-to-serve-gay-weddings/) post about a Colorado case in which the government is seeking to force a businessman to bake a cake for a gay wedding. That article has received a fair amount of play; (http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/blog/index.php/2013/12/court-violates-cake-bakers-right-not-to-serve-gay-weddings/) check it out if you haven't already done so.

My Creative Commons Images

December 10, 2013

I have used (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) Wikimedia Commons many, many times to find free-use imagery. It's amazing what you can find there. Now it contains some of my photos as well. I didn't realize how easy it was to upload images to this source until a friend pointed that out.

So far I've uploaded several photos taken recently in New York: the (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornelius_Vanderbilt_Statute_at_Grand_Central_Terminal.jpg) Vanderbilt statue, the (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Freedom_Tower_World_Trade_Center_NYC.jpg) Freedom Tower, and the skyline by night from atop the Empire State Building (featuring the (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manhattan_Skyline_at_Night,_Including_Bank_of_America_Tower.JPG) Bank of America Tower and the (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manhattan_Skyline_at_Night,_Including_the_Chrysler_Building.JPG) Chrysler Building).

Previously I've used Google's Picasa to share Creative Commons photos. In my (https://plus.google.com/photos/107156101927327309509/albums/5701637883694250865) photo stream there, you can find images of Tea Party events, several Colorado politicians and activists, and more. Check it out!

Time to Restore Jury Trials as Judicial Standard

December 11, 2013

Certainly the (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html) Bill of Rights envisioned a criminal justice system in which jury trials were the norm:

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed . . . ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Now hardly any defendant faces a jury. "In fiscal year 2012, 97 percent of all federal drug convictions were secured by guilty pleas," notes Human Rights Watch in its new study, "(http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/us1213_ForUpload_0.pdf) An Offer You Can't Refuse: How US Federal Prosecutors Force Drug Defendants to Plead Guilty." (The Atlantic published an (http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/12/harsh-sentences-are-killing-the-jury-trial/282121/) article based on the report.) An article for the American Bar Association (http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publishing/litigation_journal/04winter_openingstatement.authcheckdam.pdf) reports, "[O]ur federal courts actually tried fewer cases in 2002 than they did in 1962, despite . . . more than a doubling of the criminal filings over the same time frame."

At the state level, "97.6 percent of all Colorado felony convictions result from plea bargains, not jury trials," I (http://ariarmstrong.com/2012/06/inviolate-right-to-jury-trials-undermined-by-high-plea-rate/) reported last year. (See also my (http://gazette.com/article/140734) op-ed on the subject for the Gazette.)

What's responsible for the withering away of the Fifth Amendment? In short, legislators have empowered prosecutors to threaten criminal defendants with insanely long prison sentences in order to coerce them into accepting plea deals. When defendants can plead guilty and sit in prison for a few years or go to trial and risk sitting in prison for a few decades, it's no surprise that many plead guilty—whether or not they are guilty.

Of course, the broader problem is that legislators have empowered prosecutors to send people to prison for years or decades on end for activities that violate no one's rights, such as selling drugs (to consenting adults). For obvious reasons, prosecutors have a harder time getting jury convictions for such "crimes" even when the defendants are guilty.

Regardless, we have moved from a criminal justice system fundamentally controlled by the citizenry to a criminal justice system fundamentally controlled by prosecutors.

What to do about it? One obvious step is to repeal mandatory sentences for non-rights-violating "crimes." Then judges could better dampen prosecutorial zeal. I think we should consider other reforms as well, such as the idea of limiting the "trial penalty." If prosecutors could threaten people with sentences no longer than, say, half again as long as that of their plea offers, that would dramatically increase the percentage of criminal trials going to jury.

Statists, of course, dislike giving hoi polloi a voice in criminal proceedings. They think that government agents know best and that citizens should basically stay out of the way. They also claim that trials cost more—ignoring the obvious fact that unjust prison terms cost the taxpayers insane amounts of money.

If we respect the spirit of the Fifth Amendment and want a criminal justice system tied closely to the citizenry, then we the people must demand the restoration jury trials as the standard practice rather than the rare exception in the criminal justice system.

A Final Conversation with Ken Gordon

December 23, 2013

Ken Gordon was always baffling to me—how could such an intelligent man be wrong about practically everything? Gordon was one of my favorite Democrats despite our frequent disagreements, and I was saddened to learn that he (http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24778756/former-state-senate-majority-leader-ken-gordon-dies) passed away suddenly Sunday.

If memory serves, I first met Gordon in the political aftermath of the horrific Columbine High School murders, when he wanted more restrictive gun laws and I defended people's right to keep and bear arms. Among other things, Gordon wanted additional liability for gun owners; I (http://www.freecolorado.com/2001/01/lockupsafety.html) argued the laws he proposed would be used to persecute gun owners and that existing laws adequately addressed such matters as child endangerment.

More recently, Gordon and I tangled over the campaign finance laws; you can view a (http://youtu.be/PQrM6eA5tew) first and (http://youtu.be/oh4PkI_9jVg) second debate between us.

Just a couple weeks ago Gordon and I exchanged emails on the subject. Sadly, that is the final conversation we will share. I thought I'd reproduce it here in his honor.

On December 10, Gordon sent out an email to a list to the effect that people don't like big money in politics. I thought I'd get in a quick dig by pointing out that, in the recent recall elections in which two Colorado Democrats lost their seats in the state senate, the politicians lost despite huge spending advantages. I wrote, "Yes, isn't it just wonderful that Morse, Giron, and Am. 66 lost despite radical spending advantages?"

He responded:

You are cherry picking examples to suit your position. In the vast majority of cases the most well funded candidate wins, and you know this. Are you in favor of unlimited contributions and expenditures in campaigns? If so you are in favor of a Congress similar to the current one which cares more about the capital gains rate than it does about hunger, because that is what the funders care about.

A libertarian philosophy leads to vast concentrations of wealth and political power in the hands of the few and the destruction of the concept of political equality.

Ken

I wrote back:

"You are cherry picking examples to suit your position."

I wasn't making an argument here; I was merely responding positively to your point that many people do not respond to high-dollar campaigns.

"In the vast majority of cases the most well funded candidate wins, and you know this."

In most cases, a candidate is well funded because the candidate has a lot of popular support. To a substantial degree you're reversing cause and effect.

"Are you in favor of unlimited contributions and expenditures in campaigns?"

Yes. If contributions are limited, then who is doing the limiting? The answer is government. When government forcibly prevents people from spending their own resources on speech, then that's censorship, and I oppose censorship.

"If so you are in favor of a Congress similar to the current one which cares more about the capital gains rate than it does about hunger, because that is what the funders care about."

That's a non-sequitur. (As a matter of fact, I think Congress should be involved with capital gains at the same level that it is involved with hunger, which is to say not involved at all.)

"A libertarian philosophy leads to vast concentrations of wealth and political power in the hands of the few and the destruction of the concept of political equality."

a) I'm not a libertarian. b) My political philosophy calls for minimal political power, such that it can be concentrated neither in the hands "of the few" nor in the hands "of the many." c) I advocate equal legal protection of individual rights, not coercively achieved "equality" of outcomes.

Thanks, -Ari

He replied:

Well I think we agree on some of this. I don't want coercively achieved equality of outcomes. I want equal opportunity, including the opportunity to fail. To me this seems to be an argument for a good public education system. How do you feel about this?

Ken

I thought we'd already had a pretty ambitious email exchange for one day, and I didn't want to get into a deeper discussion about "public" education, so I let the matter go.

I was always pleased when I helped beat Ken in his political battles and always sorry when he beat me. But I was honored to trade barbs with him, and I'll miss the opportunity to do so again.

My Smart TV Odyssey

December 31, 2013

After not owning a television for nearly a decade and a half, my wife and I recently purchased one. My conclusion is that the "smart" technology in so-called smart TVs is totally worthless, although modern TVs are otherwise amazing machines. Perhaps my notes will help other consumers pick out a television system that works for them.

My New TV

I first bought a Vizio 40-inch "smart" TV at Costco. But where was the web browser? The whole point of having a "smart" TV is to access the internet, right? Apparently not. Apparently the purpose of a "smart" TV is to screw its owner with special rip-off "deals." Not only did the Vizio not offer a web browser, it did not offer the ability to download one (at least so far as I could figure out).

So I returned the Vizio and got a Samsung, because it specifically said it offered a web browser. The problem is, its web browser sucks. The first thing I looked up is Hulu, as my wife and I watch Hulu shows, and of course that web page was blocked. Apparently I was supposed to pay an extra fee every month to watch "Hulu Plus," which I had no intention of doing.

Moreover, the web browser was almost impossible to use, even for those pages that weren't blocked. I bought an HP keyboard with a Bluetooth plug that worked great—except the web browser is so clunky that using it with a keyboard was still a major hassle.

Despite my dissatisfaction with Samsung's idiotic "smart" technology, we decided to keep the TV, because we doubted we could do better with a replacement. At least it works great as a TV—its picture is amazing (as was the picture of the Vizio).

So now we have a "smart" TV that I'm using as a dumb TV, because the "smart" technology is too stupidly designed to function well.

Rather than use the TV's "smart" technology, I just hooked my laptop up to it. Through the laptop, I can play DVDs, watch Hulu and Netflix, and watch personal videos.

I thought the TV would readily feed the laptop's sound through to our soundbar, but I couldn't figure out how to make that happen. So I just plugged the laptop's audio directly into the soundbar, and that works great.

The Amazing Flatwave Antenna

One of the reasons I wanted a TV was to watch locally broadcast sports games. You don't need cable for that. Instead, I bought a Flatwave antenna from Costco for around forty bucks, and it works spectacularly well. It easily hooked up to the Samsung (through the cable jack), and the Samsung readily searched for available channels—of which we have over fifty.

I remember my step-dad trying to adjust our "rabbit ears" to bring in a show, and that rarely worked well. But this new little antenna is amazing (at least in my metro area). I highly recommend it.

The Awesome Vizio Soundbar

I also bought a lower-end Vizio soundbar (with a woofer), and it works great. Not only does it pick up fantastic audio from the Samsung via the Flatwave antenna, it offers additional in-jacks for the laptop, and it also has Bluetooth connectivity. (So I'm actually using a mobile device for music.)

This is another great product. It took me a while to figure out how to change the input source, but once I did that I loved the product.

The upshot is that, for a few hundred dollars, we got a TV, a soundbar, and an antenna that works well (with the addition of our laptop) as a television and music system.

A Note about Comcast

Comcast offers cable in my area. I love Comcast's mostly-reliable and fast internet service. I hate Comcast's absurd pricing policies and lousy customer service.

For the last year or so, I've purchased a cable-internet package from Comcast—not because I wanted cable, but because the price for both was cheaper than the price for just internet.

But then, despite my explicit directions to the contrary, Comcast sent me two different shipments of gear to work with a television set—even though I didn't even own an television set at the time—to run cable service that I didn't want. I refused the packages and wasted additional time on the phone trying to set Comcast straight. Finally somebody at Comcast decided to give me an internet-only deal for the same price as the package deal—which is what the company should have done in the first place—because otherwise Comcast couldn't figure out how not to send me television equipment I don't want. Ridiculous.

Incidentally, also within the last few weeks, Comcast tried charging me for a modem rental, even though I don't rent a modem from Comcast.

In general, I am continually amazed that Comcast offers such horrible customer service. It can do so only because its service does work well, and its competitors aren't fantastic by comparison.

Some people I know do watch television shows that are only available through cable (or on disk long after the original release date), but I have little or no interest in such shows, and for me broadcast offers more than enough channels.

A Final Note

Yes, I'm a demanding customer; I like to get value for my dollar. But I should end by noting how amazing it is that Vizio, Samsung, Comcast, and others offer me such great products and services that tremendously improve my life.

For a small fraction of my income, I can watch exciting sporting events, films that cost tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to produce, and well-made television shows; and I can listen to a practically endless catalog of music.

We've come a long way since the days of telling tales around a fire or even sitting around the family radio. Intelligent consumers of technology can get some great deals on amazing high-tech machines and services.

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