Free Markets vs the State

I believe that the free market should be in charge of setting the prices of goods because it’s much easier to control how much money goes into one business than another because one has better quality products than another.  On the other hand, the state tries to make every business the same with the pricing.  The problem is that the quality of workers goes down and less and less real jobs become available.  Not only that but there also become less businesses because the state sets up so many laws and expectations that each one has to achieve.  So, if the free market was in charge, then more and more businesses would appear, making more and more real jobs available.  Also, prices would be lower because each company competes with one another to have more consumers for the best price possible giving them more publicity and income.  In conclusion, I would rather the free market be in charge of pricing because the free market can be localized, the quality would go up while pricing goes down, resulting in more businesses becoming available.

Kourdakov's Use of Contrast

Kourdakov creates contrast in his story by unfolding emotions that the reader can truly understand and relate to.  This strengthens the story because readers love realistic contrast.  Not only does it make the story more interesting but the story also becomes more relatable and the quality rises.  For example, Kourdakov started out thinking that Natasha was stupid and hated her very much because she was a Believer because he had been convinced that Believers were enemies of the state who brainwashed people.  Within a short period of time, however, Kourdakov began to develop a deep respect for Natasha because no matter how many harsh beatings they gave her, she still would never miss out on one of her precious sermons.  Because of Natasha’s extreme and undying faith, Kourdakov began to wonder whether or not God was real.  Although he never read the Bible, Natasha, with her unconditional faith,  was able to light a small spark of wonder in his impervious, pitiful soul.  There are many more stories which demonstrate contrast, but I feel that this story is the best of them all.  Why?  Because it is jam-packed with emotional contrast; this story clearly shows a change of heart for Kourdakov, even if he’s doesn’t outwardly show it.  This complete mix of emotions makes the story more interesting because it shows the complexities of life and inner turmoil, something we can all relate to.

State Subsidies and Control

Is it possible to have state subsidies without state control?  No.  Whenever the state gives out money in the form of a subsidy, it expects something in return.  The funny thing about it all is that the government does not make money.  It steals from everyone through taxes and then tries to “be nice” and give some back but with a whole bunch of strings attached.  For instance, the state provides “free public education.”  What is annoying about this is that it is all paid for by taxes.  Some people pay a lot more to support it than others.  In return, the state promises to educate all children, leaving no one behind and unlearned.  The problem with it is that the state can then control all thought processes and teaching/indoctrination and parents no longer are the main providers of that information.  The state controls what is taught, how it is taught, which curriculum to use, etc. and all students are forced to learn in the same way.  This is not the most sufficient or efficient way to teach children.  Nor does it really teach every child because everyone learns differently.  This is pretty much the same formula for every subsidy.  You want government help?  Here, take it but only if you are willing to give up a lot of control over yourself and your family.  So the best way to stay free is to not take the “free” handouts.  There is no such thing as a “free lunch.”

Choices that Led Kourdakov to Failure

Kourdakov was given a special assignment while he was serving in the Russian Navy.  His orders were to bring in two men who were leaders of the Christian Believers (those who believed in God) during a religious meeting.  They were considered hostile to the government because they were “poisoning the minds of the children.’  When Kourdakov and his men arrived at the small cabin where the meeting was taking place, they were politely invited in.  Kourdakov announced that he had the names of two men who needed to go with him.  The pastor asked why and Kourdakov replied that they were breaking the law.  The pastor informed him that they were not breaking the law according to the Constitution.  He even quoted part of it.  Kourdakov felt completely confused because he knew what the pastor said was true, but orders were orders and he had to follow them.  On his way out, the pastor asked everyone to pray for him.  Kourdakov took them to jail without any brutality.  Nikiforov, was furious that Kourdakov didn’t use force or brutality on the men.  On future assignments, Kourdakov fulfilled all his orders but always felt guilty afterwards and drank away his feelings.  His feelings towards the Believers changed and he stopped seeing them as criminals, but his drinking increased his aggression towards them as he fulfilled his assignments.

Lesson 25- If the State is Strong Enough to do Something Good for You, It Can Also Do Something Bad to You3

The State controls its people through providing good sanctions and bad sanctions.  Unfortunately though, many "good sanctions" such as Civil Rights, public education and gun control can eventually take away people’s rights or money.  For instance, Civil Rights are a great idea.  I believe that everyone should be treated equally.  However, the “good sanctions” the government has imposed actually take away our freedom of speech.  One could get into big trouble by making a simple, careless comment or joke, not intending to make it offensive.  Public education is not a great sanction because it forces everyone to pay for schools whether they are a part of the system or not.  Elderly people are taxed to pay for public schools.  Parents who don’t send their kids to public school still have to pay into the system.  In addition, people who own a second home have to pay taxes on all properties they own, even though their children will never go to those schools.  It is not fair to force people to pay for something they will never benefit from.  Also, public schools are basically a one-size-fits-all program.  It is geared to be pretty much the same everywhere you go.  If a child does not learn the way the schools teach, that child is bound to not succeed and may be labeled an idiot even though he or she may be a genius and simply learns differently.  Finally, there comes the fun, interesting topic of gun laws.  These are set up as bad sanctions.  But why?  Just because someone owns a gun does not mean they are going to kill every person on site.  Think about it, if everyone owned a gun, there would probably be tremendously less shootings than we see today.  In fact, the states with the most crime problems are the states with the strictest gun laws, while the states with the least amount of gun laws tend to have a much lower crime rate.  If you were a robber, would you target someone with a gun or go for the helpless person without one?  This is a complete violation of the Second Amendment and our right to bear arms!  In conclusion, it can become extremely frightening once the state has enough power to do "good" things for you because they always have unintended consequences or  require plundering one group to benefit another.

Major Turning Point In My Life

Ok so here's my essay for Lesson 25 in English, hope y'all like it...

ALLONS-Y!

There have already been quite a few turning points but, one of the most prominent ones that sticks out in my mind is when my childhood best friend (let’s say her name is Em) left.  Now my best friend and I knew each other all our lives.  Now when I say we’ve knew each other all our lives I mean that literally!  Our dad’s were best buds since high school and once we were born our parents would always set us up on play dates.  We were inseparable.  Everyday after school, Em and I would play and do homework together.  As for summer vacation, if one of us left, we’d talk on the phone to one another for hours at a time.  We were sisters born of different mothers.  We had each other’s backs and if someone hurt one of us, that person was asking for an early death.  I distinctly remember that cursed day, the day when we got the news; we were around nine years old.  Em and I had just finished our homework and had decided to make us an “un-birthday” cake, We had just pulled the scrumptious cake out of the oven and were waiting for it to cool when Em’s mom walked in looking really solemn.  She sat us down on and explained that Em and her family were going to move soon to a house far away from where I lived because their dad thought it’d be best.  I was heart broken, that night I cried myself to sleep and actually wrote in my journal complaining about how life was so unfair and that Em and I didn’t deserve this.  Two moths passed and I barely got to see Em except for at school because she was helping her family pack.  On the third moth, school ended and Em and I were in tears as we said our goodbyes to one another, I cried myself to sleep that whole, lonely, summer.  I haven’t seen Em since.

Bastiat’s Concepts on the Politics of Plunder

Bastiat’s Concepts on the Politics of Plunder

            The government is supposed to repress private assaults on personal liberty and property, only imposing certain negative sanctions to ensure safety and peace.  However, the government often takes the role of a “beneficent, inexhaustible being” that believes in equality for everyone.  This sounds great in theory: bread for all mouths, work for all hands, giving capital for all enterprises, and salve for all wounds.  However, this means they also take credit for all projects.  To accomplish this “equality,” the law is used to plunder the masses and take control of everyone.  Politicians, whether elected or self-appointed, often think they are of greater importance than everyone else.  We human beings like to plunder because we get to enjoy the labor of others.  We like people working for us!  We like to throw trouble on other people and enjoy keeping the satisfaction for ourselves.   Politicians are no different.  They just have more highly regarded views than everyone else.  Or they use their power to force their will on others.  They plunder the people by taxing every little thing.  Then they take the role of the “beneficent, inexhaustible being” by giving the people work, food, and whatever they need to live so that they are all “equal.”  Unfortunately, because of this, the people who don’t work hard will receive a lot for their little effort, while the hard workers receive little for their great sacrifice.  Meanwhile, those at the top who are plundering the people glut themselves on everyone else’s labors.

My Favorite Jim Lehrer Story

My Favorite Jim Lehrer Story

My favorite story that Lehrer told in I Bought a Bus is his pinball story at the beginning of the book.  When he was twelve years old, his dad gave him a nickel to play the pinball machine at the arcade while his dad got a coffee.  Lehrer was playing really well and kept getting new balls.  Eventually, he heard “Mother Nature’s call” and had to go to the bathroom.  However, he really didn’t want to stop and go to the bathroom because if he left, he would lose the game.  Soon he had to go so badly that he decided to relieve himself just a little bit.  Unfortunately, what was meant to be just a little trickle became Niagara Falls.  His dad got mad at him and told him to go clean himself up.  Lehrer felt really embarrassed.  I found this story so interesting because you wouldn’t think a famous reporter would actually do that as a child, so it is really funny to hear about such an embarrassing moment about him.