Written by Matt Fay | 08 May 2008

What President Bush Can Learn From John Adams

The President should take a page out of John Adams playbook

By: Matt Fay

A few weeks ago, HBO wrapped up its 7-part miniseries John Adams. The adaptation of David McCullough’s book of the same name kept with a long list of HBO series, miniseries, and made-for-TV movies in its authenticity and the realism of its characters and plot. While the sets were superb – offering the viewer an opportunity to transport themselves to the 18^th century, the shear brilliance of it was its cast and, ultimately, the characters they portrayed. Whether it was Tom Wilkinson as old Ben Franklin, David Morse as a quiet yet forceful General George Washington, Stephen Dillane as Thomas Jefferson, Laura Linney’s Abigail Adams, or Paul Giamatti in the title role of John Adams, you could truly look past the actor and see the characters that gave birth to our nation.

What truly amazed me as I watched were how much the lessons our Founding Fathers learned, which they tried to teach to future generations, and the struggles they went through still resonate today. Being a Ron Paul supporter I have often heard the representative from Texas’ 14^th district invoke the “wisdom of the Founders.” And while I have always had the utmost respect for the men and women who risked their lives to bring about the United States, I would often wonder if their experiences and lessons would translate to the world we now live in. After watching John Adams I no longer have any doubt, and I am now a firm believer that the legacy they left for us, and the lessons they taught us, are more important now than ever before.

Written by Justin Hartfield | 05 May 2008

Is Bittorrent Good for Business?
How a capitalist can embrace piracy without embarrassment
By Justin Hartfield

In 1776, a group of wealthy scalawags created a pirate country called the United States of America. It was formed primarily to avoid paying taxes on liquor and stamps on pornography.

This was no surprise because at the time, there was high demand from scalawags to be free of British rule. Whenever there is a great demand and no supply, a potential revolution is created in the wings.

When a pirate as big as the United States arises, it's nearly always due to a large gap in the marketplace not being catered to by business (or government). In his book The Pirate's Dilemma: How Youth Culture is Reinventing Capitalism, Matt Mason chronicles the rise of pirate radio stations in the UK and their role in creating innovation.

Written by Eric Plourde | 02 May 2008

Dear Congressman

An Open-Letter From a Drug Dealer to His Representative

By Eric Plourde

Dear Congressman,

My name is Rick and I am a resident of your district and a voter. I wanted to write you to express my concern over your recent proposal that the United States end the War on Drugs. While I respect your opinions and intentions, I must voice my concern over such a proposal. You see, I am a local narcotics distributor (some might say a “drug dealer”, but I think this term disrespects the profession). I am the leader of a gang of over 75 members in the area that sells marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and occasionally LSD. I feel it is my duty as a narcotics distributor to express the opinion of those who do what I do. To put it bluntly, the War on Drugs is great for drug sellers, and I urge you to continue it.

Written by Troy Camplin, Ph.D. | 29 April 2008

The cornerstone of the free market is value. What I can make easily is of less value to me; what I can not make easily is of more value to me. The value I have then grows when I can trade what I make easily and value less for what I cannot make easily and value more, while the value you have grows when you can trade to me what you make easily and value less for what I make easily and value more. This is true of all products, including art.

Written by Matt Fay | 28 April 2008

Osama bin Laden: Wanted Alive!
Why the symbolic value of capturing Osama bin Laden alive could change the War on Terror
By: Matt Fay


The death of Osama bin Laden, by natural causes or otherwise, will, unfortunately at this point, accomplish much less than it would have previously, except to, perhaps, provide comfort to those who suffered the loss of loved ones on 9/11 and in other terrorist attacks. The new model for Islamic extremist groups cannot be compared to a group like the Italian Mafia and its top-down organizational structure. The “Red Mafiya,” Russian organized crime, with its decentralized hierarchy, and localized operations provides a much better idea of how a 21st century jihad operates.

The fact that the man responsible for those devastating and tragic attacks six-and-a-half years ago is still alive is abhorrent to many. There is no doubt that bin Laden and his chief lieutenants still plan attacks against Americans from their new sanctuary. But at this point Osama bin Laden’s leadership is of more symbolic value as the man who perpetrated the most spectacular crime ever committed against the seemingly invincible United States of America. While he can offer little in the form of structural or organizational leadership, his life now serves as a symbol of defiance against the army of “crusaders” he purports to be waging war against Islam. Transforming his symbolic life into a martyr’s death may only enhance the effectiveness of the symbol. Capturing bin Laden alive, on the other hand, will still have little effect on the organizational structure of Al Qaeda, but will take away from him the opportunity to become a martyr. Symbolism should never trump reality, but the value of symbolism should never be discounted.