FREE TRADE & IMMIGRATION

I have been on both sides of the paleoconservative vs. libertarian debate. On economics, I've been both a Russell Kirk style paleoconservative and a Ron Paul paleolibertarian. On immigration, I've been both a Pat Buchanan restrictionist and a Gary North libertarian. On war, I have been both a Rush Limbaugh imperialist and a George Washington non-interventionist. All of this to say that in the almost 12 years since I began my journey into the realm of politics and economics, I have been all over the ideological map.

Some say that I have been fickle. I would prefer to see it as an evolution of sorts. I've investigated into various schools of economic and political thought, embraced what I thought was good while tossing to the side what I thought wasn't so good, and tried to apply my views as consistently as humanly possible. While I don't blame onlookers for seeing me as one who is tossed to and fro, I think that it is foolish to demand that one never allow him or herself the possibility for change.

Back to the present. While I have maintained what could be generally referred to as paleolibertarianism, I fear that my beliefs are based more upon a Utopian belief in man and ideas than a realistic understanding of the way things are.

Case in point: free trade. While I claim that unfettered free trade will better America, I've watched the gradual (and predictable) decay of our economy. Worse yet, I live in a city (Battle Creek) and a state (Michigan) that has been hit particularly hard by free trade policies. While I am aware of the other factors involved in our demise -high taxes, regulation, greedy unions, mandatory wage laws- I can no longer look at myself in the mirror and deny that free trade is more of a religious faith than a safe economic policy. Whether it is outsourcing or off-shoring, free trade seems to be killing us.

Then there is immigration. I have advocated freedom of travel and hire (i.e., open borders and employment) for years. While we supposedly have neither, the impact illegal immigration and the illegal employment of undocumented workers has had on our market gives us a sneak peek into what such a policy would do. Truth is, it doesn't look good. Low paying jobs are no longer available, in many regions, to those without degrees. We are having a populace that is being forced into furthering their education in hope of keeping up with the Gonzalezes and the Changs. But when all is said and done, we still haven't done enough. All the degrees in the world won't help in "free trade" America, just ask those with Ph.D's.

These are just a few of the possible complaints one could have against libertarian free trade and immigration. We could include the perils of being a consumer society, the dangers of trade deficits, and the radical change of cultural and political power through mass immigration, but why belabor the point? Bottom line, many of the ideals I have held for years simply aren't passing muster. Not only are they not passing, they are failing miserably.

Thank God I'm not too proud to admit when I may have been wrong... too bad our politicians and economic "gurus" can't do the same. As of right now, I fear that they are shining brass on the sinking ship of a once great nation known as America.

Olivet YAF in Washington D.C.

Got a phone call from the Leadership Institute a few days ago. Turns out that they host an annual conference comprised of those students they believe to be the most active in fighting liberalism on campuses around America. Somehow I found my way on their list of "elite" conservative student activists.

They will fly me to Washington D.C. on January 5th. Over the next 5 days I will network with various lobby agencies and advocacy groups. Those attending will also attend workshops that are aimed at equipping student organizations with the skills to better organize, fund, and push their agendas on campuses. I will also get to tour the city and all the major buildings and monuments.

Did I mention that the entire tab is picked up by LI?

FRONTPAGEMAG FEATURES VIDEO

David Horowitz recently contacted Olivet YAF via email. He told us that he enjoyed one of Paleo Radio's recent videos and wished to post it on his site, Frontpagemag.com. The video was featured on his site for over a week. It had over 6,400 views since he linked it on his site.

I'M A LIMBAUGH MINI-ME?

Well, a certain Genia over at Sisters Talk thinks so. See for yourself.

Here is the comment I left under that post:

A little Rush Limbaugh in the making. Flattering, but Rush Limbaugh would hate my guts. I didn't vote for Bush in 04; I don't like NAFTA or any of the other major "free trade" agreements; I support a very libertarian view of immigration; and I have been an outspoken opponent of the Iraq invasion and occupation. Needless to say, he doesn't care much for fusionists like me.

I would be interested to know what comments I made that were so disturbing. The two videos you posted are relatively tame.

btw- I'd love it if you actually called my program. I promise I'd treat you with honor and respect, regardless of any disagreements we may (and obviously) have.

DEAR CRITICS OF PALEO RADIO:

THE OLIVET CHALLENGE

Taken from Monday evening's program.

MSU SHOULD BE ASHAMED

1. The MSU President needs to apologize for allowing students to supress free speech and freedom of assembly at a publicly funded university.

2. The liberals need to apologize for making a mockery of a state funded university.

3. The teachers who attended the event need to apologize for allowing the students to get out of control and for failing to set a good example of civil discourse.

4. The police need to apologize for not securing the stituation or escorting those disrupting the event outside.

5. The Vice President for University Relations, Terry Denbow, needs to apologize for lying through his teeth when being interviewed by Philip Rodney Moon concerning the Griffin event.

And to imagine that our tax dollars help fund this nonsense! Shame on MSU!

YAF! BNP! ADL! OH, MY!!!

This comment is in response to a blog post over at YAF-Watch. The post informed readers of the Anti-Defamation League's recent decision to include last week's speech by British Nationalist Nick Griffin as an "Extremist Event."

-The ADL (Anti-Defamation League) is an admittedly leftist organization promoting the values of secular pluralism. Is it really any surprise that they tagged the Nick Griffin speech as an "Extremist Event"?

Still, their declaring it so is not without warrant! It was most certainly an extremist event. The videos tell it all. They way those in the audience conducted themselves was beyond extreme. In fact, it bordered obscene.

The left at MSU ought to be ashamed of themselves. These extremists are fowl, angry, intolerant, and violent. The true markings of those who are both intellectually and morally bankrupt. -

ON RACE & CRIME

This is in response to something Professor Austin Jackson brought up during the recent Nick Griffin Speech at MSU.

Nick Griffin is part of the British National Party. The event was hosted by MSU-YAF.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Bill of Rights: First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

How was this to be understood? How did our founders understand this amendment? We must look no further than Justice Joseph Story's Commentary on the Constitution of the United States for the answer. Justice Story was the founder of Harvard Law School and was nominated to the Supreme Court by none other than the secularist darling, President James Madison. Here is what he Justice Story said in his Commentary:

"We are not to attribute this [First Amendment] prohibition of a national religious establishment to an indifference to religion in general, and especially to the Christianity... An attempt to level all religions and to make it a matter of state policy to holy all in utter indifference would have created universal disapprobation if not universal indignation."

Justice Story goes on to say:

"The real object of the [First] Amendment was not to countenance, much less to advance, Mahometanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects."

So why all the confusion? Simple: The secular pluralists got their constitutions mixed up:

U.S.S.R. Constitution: Article 124:

In order to ensure citizens freedom of conscience, the church in the U.S.S.R. is separate from the State, and the school from the church.

CLASSIC AUSTIN JACKSON

Austin Jackson, the professor formerly employed at Olivet College, is the aggressive black man yelling and cursing at a young white man during a recent event at Michigan State University.

He appears about half way through the video (-4:56 approximately).

We will be discussing the questions raised by Austin Jackson on Paleo Radio. Tune in to WORC, 89.7 from 7-10pm.

WHITE HERITAGE MONTH

FEMINISTS, HEAR ME ROAR!!

OLIVET'S FEULING RACISM SEMINAR