financial dissonance

See if these two stories make any sense to you:

Rate Fears Sink Stocks, 8/5/05
Stocks closed lower Friday and had a losing week overall as traders worried that a red-hot labor market will prompt the Federal Reserve to keep hiking interest rates.

Greenspan Pushes All the Right Buttons, 8/9/05
Tuesday morning, NASA executed a safe landing for Space Shuttle Discovery. Tuesday afternoon, the market seemed to believe that the Federal Reserve, which tapped on the monetary brakes for the 10th consecutive policy meeting, will be able to do the same for the U.S. economy.
Such faith in the Fed helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average gain 78.74 points, or 0.75%, to 10,615.67, and pushed the S&P 500 up 8.25 points, or 0.7%, to 1231.38. The Nasdaq Composite gained 9.8 points, or 0.5%, to 2174.19, continuing its recent trend of relative underperformance.

Yeah, me neither.
So in the span of 2 business days, we go from stocks plummeting due to fears of interest rate increases, to stocks rising after interest rate increases. Did I miss something, or do Wall Street analysts just make this shit up as they go along?

obscenity does not exist

Texas Woman Battling Arrest for Selling Porn
Lori Hemphill was simply working her shift at the Log Cabin under I-20 and I-820 in the Kennedale community of Fort Worth, Texas, when she was placed under arrest by the undercover cop to whom she’d just sold an adult video.
The charge? “Promoting obscenity.” The agenda? A campaign by Kennedale Mayor Jim Norwood — a pastor — to abolish adult stores in the area. This was on March 10, and since then, Hemphill has been placed on probation, denied any other sort of work, forced to put off her plans to attend nursing school, enrolled in state-supported psychiatric and financial assistance programs and even reduced to begging for food.
Meanwhile, the Log Cabin and the other adult stores in the area remain thriving.

Another episode in the Nanny State Police series. Private transactions between consenting adults within the borders of a single state are no business of that state or the federal government. Porn is legal. Selling it or buying it can therefore not be illegal. This mayor and any police involved should be immediately fired and barred from ever holding public office again. The Nanny State must be brought to its knees.

A-C-L-me?

NYCLU Sues City Over Subway Bag Search Policy
In response to the NYPD's unprecedented policy of subjecting millions of New Yorkers to suspicion-less searches, the New York Civil Liberties Union today filed suit in federal court seeking an injunction to halt the policy. ...
"This NYPD bag search policy is unprecedented, unlawful and ineffective, said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the NYCLU. "It is essential that police be aggressive in maintaining security in public transportation. But our very real concerns about terrorism do not justify the NYPD subjecting millions of innocent people to suspicion-less searches in a way that does not identify any person seeking to engage in terrorist activity and is unlikely to have any meaningful deterrent effect on terrorist activity."

Imagine that... I agree with the ACLU on something. Except they probably wouldn't be happy why we agree. Of course the NYPD random searches are ineffective and unconstitutional. OF COURSE. You know why? Specifically because they are RANDOM. The NYCLU argues that the searches are done without suspicion or due cause. Precisely! You know what the due cause should be: potential passenger between the ages of 18 and 30 of Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian origin with a heavy coat or bag. So no, NYCLU bag searches are not illegal, just random ones. As soon as we start profiling with due suspicion, they become legal.

unintelligent design

Bush: Intelligent Design Should Be Taught
President Bush said Monday he believes schools should discuss "intelligent design" alongside evolution when teaching students about the creation of life. During a round-table interview with reporters from five Texas newspapers, Bush declined to go into detail on his personal views of the origin of life. But he said students should learn about both theories, Knight Ridder Newspapers reported. "I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought," Bush said. "You're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, the answer is yes." The theory of intelligent design says life on earth is too complex to have developed through evolution, implying that a higher power must have had a hand in creation.

Yeah, except that "intelligent design" isn't a theory, it's an idea. Evolution is a theory based on evidence. Intelligent design is a shot in the dark based on religious convictions. It's not science and has no place in the classroom other than a religion class. Good job, Mr President.

compass, part 2

Our civil liberties are being excessively curbed in the name of counter-terrorism. Strongly disagree. Justifiably, yes. Excessively, no.

A significant advantage of a one-party state is that it avoids all the arguments that delay progress in a democratic political system. Strongly disagree. Sorry, but arguments in a democratic process are not a disadvantage, no matter how much they delay things.

Although the electronic age makes official surveillance easier, only wrongdoers need to be worried. Strongly disagree. Although I think everyone should be concerned, I have seen no abuses yet.

The death penalty should be an option for the most serious crimes. Strongly agree. In fact, I would remove the word "serious" from that statement with little reservation.

In a civilised society, one must always have people above to be obeyed and people below to be commanded. Strongly disagree. While it generally makes things easier, there is no requirement for such a heirarchy.

Abstract art that doesn't represent anything shouldn't be considered art at all. Strongly disagree. Art cannot be defined. It can be criticized, but it cannot be defined. And it sure as hell shouldn't be federally funded either.

In criminal justice, punishment should be more important than rehabilitation. Strongly agree. Though it depends on the crime. Murderers, rapists, molesters, terrorists should get no chance for rehabilitation.

It is a waste of time to try to rehabilitate some criminals. Strongly agree. Incinerators are rather effective for some classes of human refuse.

The businessperson and the manufacturer are more important than the writer and the artist. Strongly disagree. They all contribute to the system. Art can be purchased just as easily as a toothbrush.

Mothers may have careers, but their first duty is to be homemakers. Strongly agree. If a woman has children, her primary responsibility is those children.

Multinational companies are unethically exploiting the plant genetic resources of developing countries. Strongly disagree. If the developing countries don't like it, they don't have the sell multinational companies the land.

Making peace with the establishment is an important aspect of maturity. Strongly disagree. While the establishment is not by definition anathema, if it has problems, they should be confronted.

Astrology accurately explains many things. Strongly disagree. Astrology explains the superstitious, that is all.

You cannot be moral without being religious. Strongly disagree. Religion itself is an immoral suplication of humanity to vague mysticism at the expense of reason.

Charity is better than social security as a means of helping the genuinely disadvantaged. Strongly agree. Voluntary charity is the lifeblood of our nation that is being sucked dry by the government whore.

Some people are naturally unlucky. Strongly disagree. There is no such thing as luck. Only choice and reaction.

I would not wish to send my child to a school that did not instill religious values. Strongly disagree. I would never send my child to a school that instilled religious values. I would send them to a school that instilled moral or civic values.

Sex outside marriage is usually immoral. Strongly disagree. Sex is only immoral when it is undesired.

A same sex couple in a stable, loving relationship, should not be excluded from the possibility of child adoption. Strongly agree. Anyone stable and sane enough should be able to adopt.

Pornography, depicting consenting adults, should be legal for the adult population. Strongly agree. It is mana from heaven.

What goes on in a private bedroom between consenting adults is no business of the state. Strongly agree. What goes in in a private anything between consenting adults is no business of anyone else, much less the state.

No one can feel naturally homosexual. Strongly disagree. Go to next year's Pride parade, and tell me they're all faking it.

It's fine for society to be open about sex, but these days it's going too far. Strongly disagree. When there aren't even open showers in the US version of Big Brother, we haven't gone nearly far enough.

Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: 8.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.36

I'm actually almost exactly the same as Milton Friedman. Guess I should read some of his work.

Zeta Zeta Zeta

Mexican mercenaries expand base into U.S.
A renegade band of Mexican military deserters, offering $50,000 bounties for the assassination of U.S. law-enforcement officers, has expanded its base of operations into the United States to protect loads of cocaine and marijuana being brought into America by Mexican smugglers, authorities said.
The deserters, known as the "Zetas," trained in the United States as an elite force of anti-drug commandos, but have since signed on as mercenaries for Mexican narcotics traffickers and have recruited an army of followers, many of whom are believed to be operating in Texas, Arizona, California and Florida.
Working mainly for the Gulf Cartel, one of Mexico's most dangerous drug-trafficking organizations, as many as 200 Zeta members are thought to be involved, including former Mexican federal, state and local police. They are suspected in more than 90 deaths of rival gang members and others, including police officers, in the past two years in a violent drug war to control U.S. smuggling routes.

Fabulous. Another casualty of the real war without an exit strategy, the War on Drugs. We in Texas have been familiar with the Zetas for some time now, but this new bounty is just icing on the cake. Simple fact: If drugs were legal, they would eventually be sold by companies and not thugs. There would be no more drug gangs, drug runs, drug trafficking, drug smuggling, and drug violence. We could all get high in peace. Imagine...

compass, part 1

As an introduction to my philosophy, I will post my answers to the Political Compass. While discussion of the entire survey would be quite tedious, feel free to pick out a point or two that interest you and comment.

If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations. Disagree. It should serve the interest of whomever puts forth the effort to become part of the system.

I'd always support my country, whether it was right or wrong. Agree. While I would support my country, I may not support its leaders and the decisions they make.

No one chooses his or her country of birth, so it's foolish to be proud of it. Strongly disagree. Then all cultural, sexual, intellectual, and regional pride is irrelevant as well.

Our race has many superior qualities, compared with other races. Strongly disagree. Cultures foster "superior qualities," not races.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Strongly disagree. While it may be necessary in some geopolitical situations, it is almost never wise.

Military action that defies international law is sometimes justified. Strongly agree. As the quote says, "international law is what the United States and Great Britain say it is."

There is now a worrying fusion of information and entertainment. Strongly disagree. There is nothing wrong with entertaining information. Why does knowledge have to be boring? Now if that entertainment dumbs down the information, then we have a potential problem, but that wasn't the question.

People are ultimately divided more by class than by nationality. Agree. Because of the actions of some in our political arena, class is an impediment to success.

Controlling inflation is more important than controlling unemployment. Agree. Though I don't care much for "controlling" anything, inflation causes unemployment not the other way around.

Because corporations cannot be trusted to voluntarily protect the environment, they require regulation. Strongly disagree. Corporations should be punished by consumers through the market, not by the nanny state.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" is a fundamentally good idea. Strongly disagree. It is a fundamentally flawed idea. It assumes the emotional maturity of mankind has reached the level that no longer includes greed. Whereas greed is inherently part of the capitalist system, the socialist system is impossible if it exists.

It's a sad reflection on our society that something as basic as drinking water is now a bottled, branded consumer product. Strongly disagree. If someone can get people to buy it, then it deserves to be bought.

Land shouldn't be a commodity to be bought and sold. Strongly disagree. The right to private property is one of the most fundamental of a free market system.

It is regrettable that many personal fortunes are made by people who simply manipulate money and contribute nothing to their society. Strongly disagree. Personal fortunes by their very nature are a contribution to society. They don't just sit in a hole in someone's backyard. They employ people, they build things, they buy things, and they produce things.

Protectionism is sometimes necessary in trade. Strongly disagree. If it can be made cheaper elsewhere, it should be. Artificially inflated prices are the bane of the free market system, whether by tarriff, subsidy, or welfare.

The only social responsibility of a company should be to deliver a profit to its shareholders. Strongly agree. Everything else comes along naturally. Companies are designed to make money. What they do to make it is not their responsibility, only the creation of wealth.

The rich are too highly taxed. Strongly agree. Everyone is too highly taxed.

Those with the ability to pay should have the right to higher standards of medical care. Agree. While basic emergency services are not and should not be denied to anyone, premium services are premium for a reason.

Governments should penalise businesses that mislead the public. Strongly disagree. Lying is only a crime in court. Consumers will penalise businesses that mislead them.

A genuine free market requires restrictions on the ability of predator multinationals to create monopolies. Disagree. If the market is truly free and not overregulated, monopolies are nearly impossible to create. Even when they exist, they usually exist because their product or service is superior. They are always succeptible to quality alternatives, regardless of size.

The freer the market, the freer the people. Strongly agree. Socialism and communism do not a democracy make. Regulations on companies are by definition limitations on people.

Abortion, when the woman's life is not threatened, should always be illegal. Disagree.

All authority should be questioned. Strongly agree. But with actual questions, as opposed to most of what passes for "dissent" these days (see: "Halliburton!! Oil! Dick Cheney!! Halliburton!!!").

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Agree. Depends on the situation, but in general a good idea. Even better: two eyes for an eye, and four teeth for a tooth.

Taxpayers should not be expected to prop up any theatres or museums that cannot survive on a commercial basis. Strongly agree. State subsidized entertainment has no right to exist, especially if I'm living in the state that's subsidizing it.

Schools should not make classroom attendance compulsory. Strongly agree. Children do not have the right to make such a decision, and a parent who thinks that anything is more important than their child's education should not have that right either.

All people have their rights, but it is better for all of us that different sorts of people should keep to their own kind. Strongly disagree. Who's asking these questions, David Duke?

Good parents sometimes have to spank their children. Strongly agree. Sometimes, sure. As the only means of punishment, of course not.

It's natural for children to keep some secrets from their parents. Strongly agree. Who hasn't? But they shouldn't be encouraged to do so, of course.

Marijuana should be legalised. Strongly agree. As should everything else.

The prime function of schooling should be to equip the future generation to find jobs. Strongly agree. While this shouldn't have to mean career counseling and direction, education by its very nature prepares one for work.

People with serious inheritable disabilities should not be allowed to reproduce. Strongly disagree. While I'm generally in favor of natural selection in any area, this type of selection is not natural. If such a disability is genetic, it will eventually be weeded out of the gene pool. We shouldn't have to sterilize anyone to speed along the process.

The most important thing for children to learn is to accept discipline. Disagree. Important, but not the most.

There are no savage and civilised peoples; there are only different cultures. Strongly disagree. Tell that to the two men who were hanged last week in Iran for being gay.

Those who are able to work, and refuse the opportunity, should not expect society's support. Strongly agree. Does that even need defending?

When you are troubled, it's better not to think about it, but to keep busy with more cheerful things. Agree. Depending on how productive or creative the cheerful thing is, it can sometimes help the troubled feeling.

First-generation immigrants can never be fully integrated within their new country. Strongly disagree. Can never, absolutely not. Can not very likely, probably.

What's good for the most successful corporations is always, ultimately, good for all of us. Strongly agree. Prosperity, wealth, production? Absolutely.

No broadcasting institution, however independent its content, should receive public funding. Strongly agree. Its content can't be "independent" if it's being paid for by the government.

Ok, I think that's enough for now. That was only 3 of the 6 pages of the survey. You'll get the rest later.