Posts tagged liberty

It’s finally here! I’ve just completed my first full week of blog posts on my new blog, Liberty On Screen. It’s a place for me to combine three of my loves: writing, movies/TV, and libertarian thought into regularly updated blog where I discuss themes of liberty (or a lack thereof) in popular movies and TV shows. Topics this week include Transformers 3, and the Star Trek episode, A Taste of Armageddon. I’m particularly pleased with the latter. Check back frequently for regular updates, and feel free to leave me a comment with suggested topics! Also, be sure to “Like” my page on Facebook!

For a while now I’ve wanted to start a website where my film and TV interests and my libertarian interests can merge. In other words, a place where I can write about movies and TV shows and point out both the libertarian and distinctly un-libertarian ideas they convey. I think I’m finally close. I registered a domain name tonight that I think will be the one. In fact, I was shocked it wasn’t already taken. I hope to have more specific information for you soon. For now, stay tuned…

Don’t worry, we’re not talking about a dog here, but rather Murfreesboro’s public transportation system. A recent article on the WGNS website highlights the fact that due to potential cuts to the federal budget, there may not be enough money to keep the city buses rolling. In an audio clip Mayor Bragg essentially attributes this to the American people wanting more fiscal responsibility from Washington. If that’s true it’s a big win for individual financial liberty, and a big blow to the State.

In the comments section of the article, Phil Harper offers the following:

Interesting, isn’t it, that the Rover buses have darkened windows so that the public cannot observe the ridership (or lack thereof).

If the people of Murfreesboro have need of a system of busses, then the market will bare fare increases to make the program financially viable. If that kind of market support isn’t there, then there’s no financial incentive for even having a bus system, let alone the fact that governments shouldn’t be in the business of operating transportation businesses. After all, if there was a big enough market for transporting people by bus in Murfreesboro, private enterprises would sweep in to provide that service.

What say you, America? Do you appreciate picking up the tab for an unnecessary bus system in Murfreesboro, Tennessee?

Heard about the new “security” procedures the Transportation Security Administration has been rolling out recently? It basically goes something like this: Airports all around the country are seeing the installation of a new type of scanner that gives TSA screeners an x-ray-like look under your clothes, presumably to check to see if you’re carrying anything they disapprove of. In addition to revealing what’s in your pockets though, the machine also makes your private parts visible to the screener. These machines have been dubbed “porno scanners” by their critics, and for good reason.

Don’t want to subject yourself the scanner? Or your wife or teenage daughter? You and your family may then be subjected to a very personal feel-up by a TSA thug instead.

I think most people would be terribly offended to be subjected to either screening procedure, and people are starting to stand up and make their protests heard. It’s been very gratifying to see people of various political persuasions voice their outrage over these barbaric acts by the state.

Now, I’m not a big flyer. If you averaged out all of the travel I’ve ever done by plane across my entire life it would come out to once every other year or more (not counting flying lessons I took several years ago). Even so, I am absolutely not even considering taking an airline flight until this is resolved. A car trip may take longer, but it’s better than being ogled or felt-up by goons of the state.