“In a free society we’re supposed to know the truth. In a society where truth becomes treason, then we’re in big trouble. And now, people who are revealing the truth are getting into trouble for it.”

Ron Paul

In the words of Dave Barry, “I am not making this up.”

I was just reading an article on why Julian Assange should be the 2010 Person of the Year. A controversial topic, to be sure. He has much of the Federal Government shaking in their boots from a combination rage, embarrassment and anxiety. They’re warning anyone who has any interest of ever working for the government to not read anything from Wikileaks which is a bit “book burning-ish”, don’t you think? People are calling for the man to be hunted down like Bin Laden and assassinated – by our own government.

As I’m reading the article, my cell phone rings. It was a number I wasn’t familiar with which had a 202 area code. Curious, I picked it up.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

I waited a few seconds longer and didn’t hear anything so I hung up. Curious, I Googled “202 area code”.

Washington DC.

Stay tuned for the dramatic conclusion. Same bat time! Same bat place!

Image courtesy of racheocity.

A whole bunch of craziness is brewing with Wikileaks even to the point of people calling for the assassination of Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder.

I’m the last person you’d want to talk to about how to handle international affairs (does the Golden Rule apply here?) but I’m certainly favor of government fearing the people instead of people fearing the government. Of course, there is definitely a time and place for secrecy. However, I think it’s being abused.

I could ramble on, but I think I’ll let Jeff Jarvis to the talking for me. I generally agree with his points in this CNN interview, in particular these three:

1. It’s a shame Obama is clamping down on secrecy in response to Wikileaks instead of doing what he pledged he would do – create a transparent government. One that, presumably, is accountable to its people. It’s hard to be accountable when you don’t tell the public what you’re doing. Then again, that’s kind of the point from their perspective, isn’t it?
2. With all the press in an uproar about Wikileaks they’d do well to remember that Wikileaks is a publication just as they are, complete with First Amendment rights. Instead of persecuting them, the press should be rallying around Wikileaks to protect them from unjust government persecution. It’s the whole, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I’ll fight for your right to say it” mantra.
3. The only way to control leaks is to be transparent.

Check out the interview below – well worth the time to hear the different perspectives.

The Fourth Amendment printed in metalic ink on a t-shirt so it shows up on an x-ray? Brilliant.

Of course, most people have a bigger problem with the junk-grabbing than the highly invasive body scans but this is still a great way to get your point across.

You can check out the boxer, bra/panty, sock and and kiddie “Read the 4th Amendment Pervert” t-shirts here.

Courtesy of @schatz.

The AP (via KSL.com) ran an article saying that while the public in general isn’t so hot on the stimulus plan, but Obama still thinks it’s a good idea and wants to go for Round 2. (Aside: Mr. President, if your constituents think it’s a bad idea, shouldn’t you also think it’s a bad idea? Something to consider.)

According to the article, more than $800 billion is being spent in an effort to create (or save) 3.5 million jobs.

If I did my math right, the feds are spending $228,571 per job created (or saved).

The median household income in America in 2007 was $50, 233.

Based on these numbers, there are two ways we could look at this:

1. There should really be closer to 16 million jobs being created (or saved).
2. They should have been able to do it for $175 billion instead of $800 billion.

But, hey, what’s a trillion dollars here or there when you control how much money gets printed? Of course, there’s that “inflation thing” but I’m pretty sure it’s only theoretical.

It does make you wonder how, if we’re so print-happy with our currency, we got into debt to China for, according to the Washington Times, $1.7 trillion (over half our foreign debt). Which is worse? Being in severe debt to a communist dictatorship or running the value of the dollar into the ground?

The Federally-correct answer is, “Why only choose the lesser of two evils when you can have them both?”