Perhaps a couple weeks late, but too good not to mention:
Credited to the South Kitsap High School vocal group in Port Orchard, Washington.
Hat tip: Behind the Black.
(Cross-post from Nonprofit Update.)
“Silent Monks Sing the Hallelujah Chorus”
Posted by Jim Ulvog on January 15, 2020, 7:37 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2020/01/15/silent-monks-sing-the-hallelujah-chorus/
The 2010’s: best decade in history.
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
Matt Ridley explains the best improvement in living standards for us humans over a single decade is the decade that ends today, 12/31/19.
He explained his point from multiple directions on 12/21/19 in Spectator: We’ve just had the best decade in human history. Seriously.
A few of his points that caught my interest:
The rate of extreme poverty in the world has dropped from 60% when he was born to under 10% in this decade. If you ache to seek less people in dirt eating poverty that is a wonderful thing.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on December 31, 2019, 7:05 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2019/12/31/the-2010s-best-decade-in-history/
Yet another consequence of central planning: systemic sexism
Empty store shelves. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
Central planning is one of the major features of socialism. A major consequence of central planning is shortages. The widespread shortages are even more severe in the purest variation of central planning: communism.
Chelsea Follett points out The Shocking Sexism of Central Planning in Human Progress back on 12/6/17. She reports on a book How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed which explains that central planners in the Soviet Union placed low priority on many products that women needed.
Oh, Frederick Engels considered housework unmanly, so the burden of no washing machine, dryers, or other time saving devices fell on women. Severe shortages of makeup, hair dye, and even sanitary napkins (yes, you read that right, basic hygiene was not a production priority in the worker’s paradise) made for a harsh life for women.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on December 26, 2019, 9:32 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2019/12/26/yet-another-consequence-of-central-planning-systemic-sexism/
Life in Europe before the Industrial Revolution was dirty and disease-ridden.
Back in the 1820s, the upper class in San Diego had nice furniture but still used chamber pots which had to be dumped in the morning, Photo by James Ulvog.
There is a myth that rural life in the medieval ages before the industrial revolution was, if not good, then at least okay. In fact life then was a battle for survival.
The romantic idea of a plentiful past is pure fantasy – Marian Tupy at CapX – 2/13/19
This series of posts by Marian Tupy was kicked off as a response to one writer who disagreed with the assertion that the portion of people living in abject poverty has declined radically starting about 200 years ago. That particular author gives away his worldview by using Marxist terms. Thus we know why he refuses to acknowledge the existence and cause of rapid increases in wealth over the last 200 years. What, oh what, could have possibly caused that change?
I won’t dive in the to the responses. I will however provide a few tidbits from this article for insight of the severity of poverty in the past.
Prior to the 19th century, most people wore clothes made of wool, which not only itched but was also hard to clean, which increased disease transmission.
Keep in mind that concept of germs did not exist and most people lived under the same roof with their livestock, both to prevent theft and for mutual warmth. The animal droppings were used for fertilizer. All of that shot mortality rates skyhigh.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on August 5, 2019, 3:10 pm
https://freedomismoral.com/2019/08/05/life-in-europe-before-the-industrial-revolution-was-dirty-and-disease-riden/
Memorial Day: gratitude for those who did not return
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
To family and friends of those who did not return, I humbly say:
My deepest condolences on your loss.
From someone who appreciates the price paid for the freedom I cherish everyday, please accept my thank you on behalf of your loved one who paid the price that my family and I can live free.
“Thank you” is so little, but it is all I have to give you.
“Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God” Tomb of Unknown Soldier 002 – Arlington National Cemetery – 2012 by Tim Evanson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California. Photo by James Ulvog.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on May 27, 2019, 9:30 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2019/05/27/memorial-day-gratitude-for-those-who-did-not-return/
A moment to pause on birthday of Abraham Lincoln
A few minutes of pausing to ponder the strength, wisdom, and legacy of Abraham Lincoln on his birthday.
Born February 12, 1809.
Hat tip: Behind the Black: Abraham Lincoln: A Tribute on His Birthday.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on February 12, 2018, 8:20 pm
https://freedomismoral.com/2018/02/12/a-moment-to-pause-on-birthday-of-abraham-lincoln/
What could possibly have caused the increase of income per person over last 200 years?
(Article cross-posted from Outrun Change because a few of the factors necessary for these changes to happen are property rights, economic freedom, and political freedom. In addition, it is capitalism, not socialism or communism that made these changes happen.)
Here is an approximation of annual per capita GDP from 1 AD through 1913:
I’ve long been amazed at the radical growth in per capita wealth over the last 200 years. That means since the Industrial Revolution.
Living in dirt-eating poverty as the normal way of life for essentially every person on the planet changed about 200 years ago, give or take.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on December 8, 2017, 8:49 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/12/08/what-could-possibly-have-caused-the-increase-of-income-per-person-over-last-200-years/
Who picked up the bill for our freedom?
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
For our freedom, I offer up a humble thank you to all who have gone before standing endless watch, slogging through the jungle mud, freezing in a foxhole, shooting Nazis with a machine gun at 30,000 feet, doing yet another round of dreary maintenance, brought home a life-long injury, or paying the ultimate price fighting to defeat the Confederacy.
Because of millions who did what had to be done, I can say what I wish without fear of being thrown in jail.
It seems so insufficient, but I’ll say it anyway – – Thanks.
“It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.”
Posted by Jim Ulvog on November 11, 2017, 11:55 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/11/11/who-picked-up-the-bill-for-our-freedom/
The last pieces of democracy slip away in Venezuela
The Venezuelan government has made its choice. Will that choice stand? Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
The elections in Venezuela were stacked.
Oh, by the way, what economic system produced this human suffering? What political system produced this all-but-in-name dictatorship?
- Hints of the fraud before the election.
- In spite of polling and expectations, a mere 5 opposition candidates won a governorship.
- Oh, the few in the opposition who won are denied their position; initial reports said that government hacks were sworn into office instead.
- Four of the five opposition governors actually sworn in.
(Cross post from my other blog, Outrun Change.)
10/15/17 – Wall Street Journal – Venezuela’s Latest Election Fraud – More details on how the election results were cooked. Reporter describes more details on manipulation.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on October 27, 2017, 7:25 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/10/27/the-last-pieces-of-democracy-slip-away-in-venezuela/
Default watch on Venezuelan bonds
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
Venezuela is in danger of defaulting on bond payments in the next few weeks.
10/17/17 – Miami Herald – Maduro faces financial nightmare in Venezuela – just in time for Halloween – The government has bond payments of $1B due on 10/27 and $1.2B due on 11/2. Total due in next six weeks, which would be the end of November, is a total of $3.53B. Both S&P and Fitch are rating Venezuela as having a high probability to default within 6 months.
Here some more of the detailed numbers:
10/20/17 – CNBC – Venezuela is blowing debt payments ahead of a huge, make-or-break bill – Here is a schedule of upcoming required bond payments:
Posted by Jim Ulvog on October 23, 2017, 7:24 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/10/23/default-watch-on-venezuelan-bonds/
Why is it necessary to have a nuclear defense?
After reading my post on Nuclear launch protocol and timing, you may be wondering why the United States built these,
Minuteman II on static display at March Air Base Museum. Photo by James Ulvog.
and why we built 550, 450, and 50 of these,
Minuteman II, Minuteman III, Peacekeaper ICBMs on display at Warren AFB. “Ywwrn_1b” by gvgoebel is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
as well as why we had 1,000 of these spread across the country for several decades:
Posted by Jim Ulvog on October 20, 2017, 8:24 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/10/20/why-is-it-necessary-to-have-a-nuclear-defense/
Venezuela continues to collapse
Oil platform in Venezuela. A view of what used to be and could have been now. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
The bad news from Venezuela just doesn’t stop:
- Protests have stopped because of lost hope
- Professionals become prostitutes just to get enough food to keep the family life
- Elections for state governors finally to be held on Sunday
- Former executive of Brazilian construction company admits to paying $35 million to Venezuelan president’s election campaign
- Guess on inflation rate for 2018 is over 2,300%
(Cross post from Outrun Change.)
8/31/17 – Wall Street Journal – “Hope Is Gone” as Venezuelan Protesters Vanish From Streets – The protests have faded away. The ongoing massive arrests, torture of detainees, widespread human-rights abuses, and frequent shootings seem to have broken the protest movement. A number of senior leaders of the opposition have fled the country in fear for their life. Reports indicate 125 people have been killed and somewhere around 2000 have been wounded, with many of those people with permanent injuries.
One outside observer, who is safe because he is an American living in the United States, observers the president has gained effective control of the entire government. I think if we look at the typical definitions that makes him a dictator.
In the meantime the oppressed people of the country continue to scramble for food, trying to find enough so they don’t starve to death.
9/22/17 – Miami Herald – In Venezuela, they were teachers and doctors. To buy food, they became prostitutes. – A large portion of the prostitutes in Columbia are women who escaped Venezuela. Before transitioning to the world’s oldest profession, many of them were teachers, doctors, professional women. One brothel even has a petroleum engineer.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on October 14, 2017, 7:25 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/10/14/venezuela-continues-to-collapse/
Venezuela continues to spiral downward
Venezuelan flag. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
News out of Venezuela keeps getting worse.
8/18/17 – Wall Street Journal – Venezuela’s Former Attorney General Flees to Columbia – The constituent assembly removed the Attorney General earlier in the month and last week took over all legislative powers from the Congress. When the government leveled corruption accusations against the now-deposed Attorney General, she and her husband fled for their lives to Columbia.
As an indicator of why she had to get-outta’-Dodge is that the secret police raided her home last week and the government has now banned 60 other prosecutors from leaving the country.
8/26/17 – Hot air – Girls As Young As 12 Turned To Prostitution To Survive Venezuela’s Socialist Nightmare – Read the full post »
Posted by Jim Ulvog on September 21, 2017, 8:53 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/09/21/venezuela-continues-to-spiral-downward/
Venezuela continues moving toward dictatorship
Shipwreck standing on the beach with the sea in the background. Margarita Island. Venezuela. Photo courtesy of DollarPhotoClub.com
What little that remained of democracy in Venezuela continues to crumble.
8/4/17 –France 24 – Venezuela’s currency crumbles at dizzying speed – The value of the bolivar is shrinking fast.
On Thursday the bolivar dropped to 17,000 to 1 U.S. dollar.
The official exchange rate is 2,870:1.
The reporter interviewed an executive in a reinsurance business. That would be a professional level position. His salary is 800,000 bolivars a month. A year ago that was worth $200 and now it is worth $47.
Two pounds of rice costs 17,000 bolivars.
8/5/17 – Wall Street Journal – Venezuela’s New Assembly Fires Attorney General – Well, the slow-motion coup continues to roll forward.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on August 17, 2017, 7:00 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/08/17/venezuela-continues-moving-toward-dictatorship/
Elections in Venezuela
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
An unofficial plebiscite was held to oppose the end of democracy. The vote for a constitutional convention to re-write overthrow the current constitution has been held, with uncertainty as to the actual turnout.
7/15/17 – Reuters – Venezuela opposition hold unofficial plebiscite to defy Maduro – The opposition holds an unofficial vote on 7/16 as a protest against the upcoming official vote which many consider to be the last votes ever in Venezuela as a new constitution will essentially put the legislature under the thumb of the president.
Posted by Jim Ulvog on August 4, 2017, 7:38 am
https://freedomismoral.com/2017/08/04/elections-in-venezuela/
