Experimental Medicine

Episode 66: Anyone But Santorum

2012-02-12T15:42:00.000-05:00

Wow, this episode is going up way later than I expected. I actually recorded and edited this last Thursday, but had to write a paper and work non-stop all weekend, so it's just now getting posted. Keep that in mind as you are listening. This was recorded before the Maine caucus and CPAC.

Episode 65: Florida Recap

2012-02-01T12:09:00.000-05:00

So I finally got a chance to do a little recording on the way home from school today. Talking about Mitt Romney's big win in FL and the future of the GOP race.

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Episode 64: Newt's Revenge

2012-01-20T22:57:00.002-05:00

Okay, so a little bit of a dramatic title, but most of this episode has to do with Newt and what seems to be a possible comeback. I also size up the remaining four GOP candidates.

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Episode 63: Thoughts on New Hampshire

2012-01-12T21:06:00.000-05:00

Ramble Alert! This episode is full of ramblings. I apologize for that, but I don't think it's too terrible. I continue to talk about Ron Paul and the momentum he seems to be building in the primaries, and the fact that his message just keeps getting stronger.
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Episode 62: Thoughts on the Iowa Results

2012-01-06T11:35:00.000-05:00

In this episode I give a recap of the Iowa caucus and talk about what I believe to be the 3 main factions among GOP voters.

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Was Barry Goldwater a Liberal?

2011-12-26T22:59:00.004-05:00

I think there are no two words in American politics more loaded than "Liberal" and "Conservative". When I was in high school I thought I was a "liberal" libertarian. In my first couple of years in college I thought I was a "conservative" libertarian. It's obvious to me now that there are no right or left libertarians, only libertarians. Libertarianism doesn't side with any one economic system or set of social beliefs, it simply affirms that whoever people choose to get along, the government's role in their interactions ought to be minimal.

Conservatives want big government just as much as liberals do, they just disagree on how big, and with what areas of society to control. Many self-identified conservatives may disagree with that statement, but the proof is in the current crop of GOP candidates this year and the pissing contest going on over who is more conservative.

Conservative writer, Dick Morris, recently wrote an article that perfectly illustrates my point. In the article he attacks Ron Paul for being a "liberal" because Paul supports ending the War on Drugs, repealing the PATRIOT Act, and wanting to bring our troops home (you know, to defend us from imminent threat, not policing the globe). If wanting to reduce the government's role in the lives of Americans make me a liberal, then sign me up.

But this isn't meant to be another piece about Ron Paul. This is about the great divide between so-called "small government" conservatives, and real small government libertarians. Too often the words conservative and libertarian are treated as synonyms, when the reality couldn't be further from the truth. Far too many conservatives echo words they don't understand. They talk of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, yet, they have no actual understanding of what it truly means to be a free society.

In 1964, Barry Goldwater's campaign slogan was "A choice, not an echo". Goldwater was anything but an echo. He spoke out against the Republican establishment and defended the constitution from it's enemies on both side of the aisle. It's interesting to note that not only did Goldwater author the book, The Conscience of a Conservative, but he was also given the nickname "Mr. Conservative".
It's a shame that the very same ideas that Barry Goldwater espoused in 1964 are being written off as liberal nonsense by today's crop of conservatives.

Did I Really Say I'd Support Newt

2011-12-02T19:18:00.001-05:00

Boy, was I naive or what? I remember posting a while back that Newt Gingrich had made some pretty smart comments that I agreed with, and that I'd likely support him if he ran for president in 2012. I think I may have already deleted that post, but if not, please just disregard it.

Obviously, I am in no position to be "endorsing" anyone, as I am just a measly little blogger on the internet. But, like many Americans, I can campaign for someone, and so I should make it clear that I would never actively campaign for someone like Newt. If I have to pinch my nose and ultimately vote for a "lesser of two evils", I suppose I will. But I'm really hoping true conservatives will see that Newt is anything but conservative, and not let him get the GOP nomination.

Call me optimistic, but I'm still campaigning hard for Ron Paul. When it comes to turning our country around, he's our only hope.

George Washington On Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T11:59:00.000-05:00

Most of the news today is flooded with turkey talk and black Friday news, so finding any relevant news is a little tough. Hopefully everyone is enjoying a great holiday, and giving thanks for all the good things that they have.

George Washington’s Thanksgiving address should be a reminder to us all what this holiday should be about:

"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be — That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks — for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation — for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed — for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted — for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us."

So mote it be.

Don't Bailout Student Loans

2011-11-23T21:38:00.001-05:00

This is a great video I came across over at Reason.tv. I'm fortunate enough to not have to worry about student loans, but I talk to people everyday who seem to have some "great" reason as to why their student loans should be "expunged" or "forgiven". I just think most of these people should have majored in something other than "Gender Studies" or "Fine Arts". Maybe something a little more useful to employers.

House Approves National CCW Reciprocity

2011-11-17T11:27:00.001-05:00

This was a wonderful breaking news alert to read last night among all the other OWS and Solyndra garbage. If you've been following my posts over at the Freedom Bunker you would see that I have been on the fence with H.R. 822, better known as the National Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity bill. Ultimately, I would like to see the Second Amendment be the only "gun law" in the country, but realistically I know this is not a possibility at the time.

So I'll celebrate today with the NRA, as we are one step closer to better CCW laws in this country. Next stop is the senate, and so far things look good there, too.

Here's a link to the Fox News article:

House Approves Concealed Firearm Permit Bill

Rudest Invention Ever?

2011-11-05T14:37:00.000-04:00

I remember when I was growing up, hearing my dad talk about how he would never get call waiting. The way he saw it, telling someone to hold while you answer another call was basically saying, "Sorry, but someone more important is calling me". To him, call waiting was the rudest invention ever. If only he had known then what the future held.

And now we have the bluetooth ear piece. Something that I thought for sure, no decent person would wear and use in public, has become the norm for so many. It's as if these people are sending a message to the world that says, "Don't even try to talk to me".

It doesn't stop at the bluetooth headsets however, it's everything from cell phones to facebook. Products and services that are supposed to make like better, are being abused, and inadvertently make life dull.

There is a time and place for your bluetooth headset, but when you go in to places where people are paid to greet and help you, why not trying to be a little more civilized?

My Everyday Carry

2011-11-04T11:22:00.000-04:00

Well I said a while back that I would make a video on YouTube showing off my EDC, but I just haven't gotten around to it. However, I did take a picture to post over at the Art of Manliness message boards, so here's what it's been lately:

The watch, wallet and flashlight have changed, but that's a good view of what I usually have on me at any given time.

That's all I got for today, be sure to check out my posts at the Freedom Bunker here.

A Slight Change

2011-09-17T19:09:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I started a second blog that I intended to use as a more "personal" blog. On that blog I hinted at the possibility of doing some regular work as a writer somewhere. I'm happy to finally say that I will now be a regular writer over at the Freedom Bunker. I will be blogging there on a daily basis, however, those posts will be much shorter than what I usually write here. They will also be all 100% politics. So look for two main changes here: 1. Less politics, and more focus on everything else, and 2. Longer posts, as I plan to reserve this page for (mostly) well thought out pieces.

I start posting at the Freedom Bunker on Monday, so be on the lookout for that over at www.freedombunker.com.

Cop Killers

2011-08-13T11:01:00.002-04:00

No, not people killing cops, but cops that are murderers. If you want to constantly be sick to your stomach, I would suggest checking out Radley Balko's blog over at the Huffington Post. He does an amazing job at keeping tabs on crooked cops and our country's whacked out court system. Balko used to write for Reason Magazine, and that is where I found the following video. What does this video have to do with libertarianism (besides the obvious)? The victim in this video was in prison due to ridiculous "open container" laws. Nanny state politics, plus aggressive law enforcement, equals unnecessary death.

Still Breathing

2011-08-13T00:08:00.003-04:00

I know that I tend to apologize too much for not posting enough, and for that, I apologize...

But seriously, I've been trying to stay active on the political front. I'm constantly checking my Google reader for the latest on the GOP debates and all that fun stuff but I rarely have time to comment any anything before it's old news. And quite frankly the GOP Presidential hopefuls are just damn depressing. Hearing them all talk about their half-assed ideas to "fix" America just reminds me as to why I am not affiliated with any political party (not even the Libertarian Party).

However, I do have a good feeling about some things, but I'm going to make sure things are set in stone before I get too excited. As this blog begins to shift to a more personal angle feel free to check out The Freedom Bunker for more of my political ramblings.

Stay tuned...

Who Needs Legislation?

2011-07-18T12:36:00.000-04:00

What's a president to do when he wants to make up his own laws but congress won't help him? Make an executive order! And that's exactly what Obama did. Trampling personal privacy and treating law abiding citizens like criminals, Obama signed an executive order requiring firearms dealers to report anyone buying more than one semi-automatic rifle a week in border states. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but it sure is convenient how that whole "Fast and Furious" debacle worked out for the president. I guess he knew he had to keep his promises to the Brady Campaign. Excuse me while I go renew my NRA membership.

Don't Blame The Jury

2011-07-07T10:00:00.002-04:00

As I listened to Fox News this morning on my way to work, one thing was very apparent: Casey Anthony was guilty. We all know she wasn't convicted of murder, but she is guilty in the minds of most every talking head in the media. Luckily for Americans legal matters aren't handled like an American Idol vote, and so popular opinion doesn't really matter. However, if you happen to be one of the many who were appalled by the verdict and are now calling for the jurors' heads, remind yourself who is really at fault here: the prosecution. The prosecutor's job is to convince the jury, beyond a reasonable doubt that Casey Anthony murdered her child. He didn't. You may have been convinced, but chances are you were already convinced from the start. Popular opinion and emotions should have no say in a courtroom, only facts, and the prosecution failed to deliver more than speculation. I could go on but I think this article sums it up nicely:

http://lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson319.html

Remember, I'm not defending Casey Anthony. I'm defending the jury that made the right call on faulty prosecution.

Libertarian Blow Back

2011-07-02T16:12:00.003-04:00

If you have read Ron Paul's book then you may be familiar with his chapter on how years of intervening American foreign policy in the middle east lead to a political blow back that influenced the 9/11 attacks. Basically, the idea is that when you push some people for too long, you should only expect to see some sort of hard line, opposite reaction. I think America is starting to see a similar phenomenon resulting from the overt statism we've been seeing in the last decade of so. Everything from the PATRIOT Act to Obamacare, much of the country is simply sick and tired of being treated like children and being told how to live, how to eat, and how to spend their money. And so we are slowly seeing an emerging libertarian blow back. People who have never even heard the term "Libertarian" are stepping up and fighting for freedom, whether it be at the voting booth or at a protest. If you need any evidence just look at the polls, or better yet look at the number of overreaching nanny-state laws that have been deemed unconstitutional by states recently. I hate to sound like a naive optimist, but things finally seem to be heading in a somewhat positive direction, we can't let up now.

Michelle Bachman Fail

2011-06-26T10:57:00.006-04:00

So there I am, sitting in my office reading about the GOP primary and hoping that Ron Paul is getting more coverage in the news. Unfortunately, Mitt Romney and Michelle Bachman are both sitting near the top of the polls. Now, Romney I know that I can't support. The man has proven himself an unworthy opponent of Obama with his own healthcare disaster in Mass. And so I decided to do a little reading on Michelle Bachman.

When I first looked her up I had pretty good feelings. I had heard that she was all for small government and some sort of bigwig in the Tea Party movement. Boy did all that change in just a few paragraphs. For Intelligent design being taught in science classes, against marriage equality, and for big spending on foreign wars?! What they hell do any of those positions have to do with small government? And no, I'm not going down that road of attacking her social views, I just don't see how anyone can protest government expansion, and support it at the same time.

And thus, I was reminded of what I have always known: The GOP has little concern with downsizing government. I should have never been so naive as to believe that anyone with a chance of being a frontrunner for the GOP would actually support more freedom and less government. My only hope is that the media is starting their coverage way too early, and by the time the voting actually matters someone else (Ron Paul or Gary Johnson) will have taken a surprising lead.

What 2012 Should Really Be About

2011-06-25T11:55:00.001-04:00

New York has become the Sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage and with that comes mixed feelings for me. On one hand, if the government is going to offer some sort of benefits or services (like marriage), they should be available to everyone. So if New York is going to recognize one marriage, then it should recognize all state-wide marriages. But that's just the problem: Why is any state in the business of marriage? I've always believed that the easiest way to solve all these "moral dilemmas" is to get the government out of them. Want to marry someone of the same sex? None of my business. Want to go home and get high? None of my business. And so on, and so on.

In other news, Ron Paul and Barney Frank recently made an attempt to remove marijuana from federal control. I think we all knew this was doomed from the start. It seems that it would be easier to take all these awful laws to the court rather than try to pass measures to change them.

And both of these bits of news help to illustrate what the most important issue of any candidate's 2012 campaign should be: Restoring constitutional government, starting with a true understanding of the 10th amendment. All of our country's problems stem from ignoring the basic tenets of the constitution and the ideals of small government. Give the power back to the individual states and civil rights and economic freedoms will flourish.

Be A Man

2011-06-17T09:34:00.003-04:00

I wanted to share this video I came across over at the Freemasons for Dummies blog. Modern day "feminism" mixed with our politically correct pop-culture have been doing everything they can to downplay anything having to do with gender roles, especially when it comes to masculinity. What I like so much about this video (and everything about Brett McKay's website) is that manliness does not equal misogynist. For some reason, many of the PC sensitive types are offended by masculinity. Brett McKay makes a very good point on the importance of maintaining masculinity in our ever-changing culture. Brett's website is at www.artofmanliness.com.

Is CNN Serious?

2011-06-15T20:57:00.002-04:00

Does CNN really expect anyone to take them seriously as a news organization? Obviously not. If you happened to miss Monday night's GOP debate, here's some highlights of what you missed: Michelle Bachman can't choose between Johnny Cash or Elvis Presley and Tim Pawlenty likes his wings hot. No joke. These are the kinds of questions that CNN comes up with for a presidential primary debate. Sure they asked a few "real" questions too, but it was clear to anyone watching that the whole debate was nothing more than a joke to CNN. And why wouldn't it be? They're just waiting until the nominee is selected, and the real campaign begins, so they can get back on the Obama train and work on a second term.

Still Waiting For Common Sense Gun Laws In Ohio

2011-06-10T14:38:00.002-04:00

The typical anti-gun politician's rhetoric when it comes to the second amendment is to talk about their support for "common sense" gun laws. Last year Ohio lawmakers had the opportunity to come together and pass a very basic, "common sense" law reforming Ohio's not so common sense concealed carry law. Even with support from the very liberal former Governor Strickland, the House Speaker let the bill die. Now, half a year later, law abiding armed Ohioans are once again just a vote and a signature away from a law we've been waiting for for quite some time. So what law could possibly be so controversial, so obscure, that it would take so long to get legislatures to pass? The answer: A law that would allow citizens, who have passed a rigorous background check, sat through hours of training, and who carry a gun everywhere else in their daily lives, to carry that firearm in to a place of business that serves alcohol, as long as they refrain from consuming said alcohol. In other words, a law to allow people like me to be able to protect ourselves when we have to park 3 blocks from a restaurant and walk through unfamiliar territory to eat, without having to check my firearm at the door. It's been a long time coming, and everything looks to be going well for this bill, but I've been following this long enough to know that the battle still isn't even near over.

Guest Blogging

2011-06-03T13:14:00.002-04:00

As if I'm not busy enough, I have taken on another little project for myself. As of yesterday afternoon I am officially guest blogging at the Freedom Bunker (www.freedombunker.com). If you don't know anything about that site I'll just say that it is run by the guy who originally got me interested in podcasting. I am going to try to get in at least a post a week, separate from this blog, so watch out over there as well. With all that said, here's my first post:

http://freedombunker.com/index.php/2011/06/02/hollywoods-liberal-agenda/

This Is What The Anti-Gunner's Want

2011-05-23T12:08:00.001-04:00

Every time I read about the violent crime in the UK it saddens me. As much as the anti-gun lobby and Michael Moore want you to believe that gun laws make citizens safer, the truth should be obvious to any logical human being that making guns illegal does not have a negative correlation with violent crime. This article just reiterates the point that if you outlaw guns, like in the UK, only outlaws will have guns.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BuckeyeFirearmsAssociation/~3/vTkq_KB5a6E/7788

Also, if you're so inclined to not base your gun politics on one sad story (as you should be) I would encourage you to check out http://gunfacts.info for plenty of statistics and myth busting related to firearms and gun control.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Libertarians on the Rise

2011-05-06T11:51:00.001-04:00

Last night was the first official GOP debate for the 2012 primary. Although I didn't get a chance to sit down and watch it, I have read some pretty good things regarding Ron Paul's and Gary Johnson's responses. Personally, I think (right now) I'd vote for Paul based on everything I've read from/about him. He understands what liberty really means, and he's got a great track record from a voting stand point. But I'm not counting Gary Johnson out. He's more outspoken than Paul about his views on social issues, and I think that would resonate more with young voters (possibly those suffering from "voter's remorse" with Mr. Obama). Perhaps the most telling sign was the audience reaction, with Ron Paul receiving waves of applause for his responses. It's still too early to tell anything, but it's good to see that support for the two most libertarian candidates (so far) is alive and well.

http://reason.com/blog/2011/05/05/the-gop-debate-not-quite-live

Podcast Update

2011-05-05T10:28:00.002-04:00

For those of you who listen to the podcast regularly, I'm sorry but I think it's time to bring it to a close. I have been doing the show for a couple years now, and I may pick it up again later, but I think for now I'm going to focus on the blog. I'm also hoping to be doing a guest blogger spot on another site, so keep checking back for more updates on that. Thanks to everyone who listened to the show and sent feedback and all that good stuff.

I'm Still Here

2011-05-03T13:20:00.002-04:00

Time has really gotten away from me lately. I've been busy with school, work, and all that jazz, and I keep telling myself I'll do a show soon, but it just doesn't seem to happen. In any case, I'm still alive and well, just trying to get my life in order as I finish my Associate's Degree and get ready to start at The Ohio State University this fall. Recording episodes hasn't been a problem, its finding time to edit, upload, and post them that's the problem. But I will be back with more episodes soon enough, until then, stay tuned!

Episode 61: Cut The Arts

2011-03-20T14:53:00.003-04:00

I read a very short article about Sarah Palin calling for the defunding of the National Endowment for the Arts. The comments were loaded with left-wing hate and vitriol from the anti-Palins, as well as some terrible arguments for the importance of (government funded) art. Palin's got a long way to go before I'd ever take her seriously, but this is a start...I guess.

The War On (Non) Drugs

2011-03-17T22:32:00.006-04:00

I once had to write a paper giving 3 examples of how to fix the education system in America. Obviously, the Libertarian answer is to privatize all education, but since I knew that particular answer wouldn't fly too well with my peers, I offered up a couple of very simple ways to help make the government-run education experience a little better for students.

The first thing I brought up was to end mandatory enrollment. I went over this topic very broadly, throwing out basic ideas of school choice, private alternatives, tax breaks, etc. The second issue I brought up was ending "Zero Tolerance" policies. I figured, if your not going to agree with privatizing - or even meet me half way with school choice - let's at least make the government-run school system feel less like a prison.

Of course in prison, oregano doesn't get you in trouble.

Middle-Schoolers Suspended for Oregano Possession

Episode 60: I'm With Iago

2011-03-17T11:15:00.004-04:00

Technical difficulties screwed up my chances of doing 5 shows this week, but that wont stop me from trying to do at least a couple in one week. In this episode I stand behind Gilbert Gottfried. Is it because I hate Japan? Absolutely not! It's because I hate whiny P.C. morons who don't understand comedy.

Episode 59: Social Media And Work

2011-03-14T21:03:00.002-04:00

Got myself a new toy that really makes me contemplate doing YouTube videos, but I have even more reason not to now.

Five New Episodes

2011-03-12T16:40:00.002-05:00

Next week I will be taking a vacation from work and I've given myself a little challenge my time off. My plan is to put out five short podcast episodes through the week (mon-fri). I've already got episode 59 ready to post, so look forward to some new libertarian noise coming from me soon.

Podcast Feed

2011-03-11T09:50:00.003-05:00

Just a little update here. As I've mentioned on the show, I am putting more of my focus on posting the show here and keeping the blog up to date. The most recent episode is NOT updated yet on the feed, but is here. So if you like to stay as up to date as possible, either subscribe to this page (or follow if you're on blogger) or follow me on twitter @expmed.

Episode 58: Capitalism And A Love Story

2011-03-10T11:25:00.002-05:00

Feeling good to be back at the show, but the file hosting is starting to suck more and more. If anyone knows of any good, cheap (or even free) file hosting with a LOT of disk space available, please let me know. In this episode:

Have fun with your money
Try the Neal Boortz tax awareness trick on your friends
Why is Sarah Palin still even relevant
100% behind Ron Paul
Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston demonstrate capitalism in it's most primitive form

Solving The Gay Marriage Dilemma

2011-03-10T09:02:00.003-05:00

I don't read the American Thinker too often, as it tends to be a little overly neo-con. However, when I saw this article I was a little speechless for two reasons. First of all, I was pretty shocked to see that the neo-con way of ending the gay marriage debate did not involve an outright ban of homosexuality. Secondly, I would like to note that I have been saying this for over a year now, as demonstrated in the second link.

American Thinker: Solving the Gay Marriage Dilemma (3/13/2011)

ExpMed.Net: Episode 16: Talkin' 'Bout Gays (10/17/2009)

Glad to see these "Small Government" types finally realize that the state has no business in marriage.

Episode 57: Back To Basics

2011-03-03T15:51:00.002-05:00

In this episode I talk about getting back to basics with the podcast, and focusing on news, politics, and pop-culture as 3 separate categories in each show - then I get to it. News focuses on my busy life, politics focuses on keeping the Libertarian movement out of step with the Republican party, and for pop-culture...I've got nothing. So I talk a little about cell phones and driving and call it a day.

At Least Someone Gets It!

2011-01-14T11:14:00.006-05:00

Funny how every time we see a shooting, the knee-jerk reaction is to pass laws to make it harder for innocent people to obtain and carry a firearm for personal protection. Usually some illogical politician talks about creating more criminal protection zones (they call them gun free zones, but the only guns they keep out are the ones that could stop a violent attack). Well at least I can say that here in Ohio, some politicians are actually taking the logical approach and talking about getting rid of some criminal protection zones. Good for you, Andrew Brush.

Delaware city councilman calls for lift of state's ban on concealed carry in public buildings

Episode 56: Buy A Gun...Now!

2011-01-14T11:01:00.002-05:00

This episode should have been posted on the 12th...but oh well. More reasons to buy a firearm ASAP.

Arizona Shooting Triggers Surge In Glock Sales...

'New Era of Civility'...Why?

2011-01-13T07:23:00.004-05:00

The headline says: Obama Calls for a New Era of Civility in U.S. Politics

I say: Why?

The most aggravating part of this whole Tucson ordeal is the constant talk about politics when there hasn't been a SINGLE bit of evidence even slightly suggesting that Jerrod Laughner's actions were politically charged. In fact, much of the evidence thus far has painted a picture of an out of touch individual, who has very little understanding of any U.S. politics at all.

The fact that Obama feels it necessary to get on his soapbox and continue to further politicize the event, makes him no better than the rest of the talking heads looking to capitalize on a tragedy and silence dissent.

There is no need for a "New Era of Civility". To quote Penn Jillette:

"Fuck Civility. Hyperbole, passion, and metaphor are beautiful parts of rhetoric. Marketplace of ideas can not be toned down for the insane."

Episode 55: The Blame Game

2011-01-10T18:39:00.003-05:00

This episode is a very unorganized bundle of thoughts and opinions on the mainstream reaction to the Tucson, AZ shooting. There are still a lot of facts to sort out with this whole tragedy, and my main concern is that politicians and pundits will take advantage of an emotional culture and use it place blame on anyone other than the shooter himself. My other issue of concern is possible legislation that may be enacted to limit the freedom of expression in our country.

Episode 54: Congressional Symbolism

2011-01-06T10:12:00.002-05:00

Recorded on Tuesday, January 4th after hearing that the House of Representatives planned to open their session with a reading of the Constitution of the United States.

Episode 53: Anti-Gun Violence

2011-01-01T10:34:00.003-05:00

As two important pro-gun bills moved through the Ohio General Assembly, Anti-Gunners were making their emotions quite clear with death threats and nonsense arguments.

More info...

Episode 52: Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T23:40:00.002-05:00

This episode is a hodgepodge of recordings I have done over the past couple of weeks. Just thought I'd piece it all together to finish off the year. Enjoy, and come back next year for more new episodes!

Episode 51: Wiki-thoughts

2010-12-12T17:47:00.001-05:00

Took a break to focus on school for a couple of weeks. In this episode I'm back at it, talking about the first and second amendment.

Episode 50: Repealing Bullies

2010-11-21T14:28:00.003-05:00

Put this all together pretty quick. Got some new music, but same old content.

Episode 49: Part of the Problem?

2010-11-18T08:59:00.001-05:00

Here it is, number 49, finally. Talking about body scanners and freedom.

Episode 48: Fighting Obamacare

2010-11-11T16:10:00.002-05:00

A little late, but here I am talking about how the new House Republicans should handle Obamacare.

Episode 47: Lobbying for Paul

2010-11-06T23:33:00.003-04:00

Another episode from my "mobile studio", this time talking a little more about the election results, and also some thoughts on lobbyists.

Episode 46: Keep The Promise

2010-11-03T21:53:00.000-04:00

This episode is more or less a stream of consciousness, as I talk about the election results.

Political Groundhog's Day

2010-11-02T10:51:00.000-04:00

It's election day 2010 and it's time for the Tea Parties all over the states to put their money where their mouth is. Unfortunately, that means probably electing a bunch of Republicans, who have done little campaigning other than saying, "I'm not the other guy" (remind you of anyone?). Regardless of who wins, 2 years from now liberty will still be on the decline and the following will still be true:

- Unemployment will still be high

- Eminent domain abuse will still be rampant

- Taxes will still go up

- A majority of states AND the federal government will still refuse to treat gays as equals

- A majority of states AND the federal government will still refuse to let individuals decide what they can and can't do with their own bodies

- "Free markets" will still be demonized by pointing to failures in government regulation

- Public education will continue to fail

- Smoking bans will still undermine private property

- Firearm regulations will still undermine the Constitution

- The U.S. will still be involved in unnecessary foreign affairs and the UN

- The 10th Amendment will still be ignored by the federal government

...Should I go on?

Episode 45: Don't Waste Your Vote

2010-10-31T16:31:00.000-04:00

The most common argument I hear against 3rd parties is that voting for one is a waste vote. In this episode I try to shoot that thought process down, as well as I talk about what it means to be qualified for office.

Episode 44: NPR And More On Prop 19

2010-10-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

Not much to say about this one, just have a listen, and here's the links:

Conservatives For Prop 19

What Won't Get You Fired From NPR

The Rant That Never Was

2010-10-15T13:20:00.003-04:00

Wednesday I recorded, what would have been, episode number 44 of the podcast on my way to school. I had just had an encounter with a poor person who had been duped by the anti-corn syrup fanatics. What got me so upset that I felt the need to rant like a maniac for 10 minutes, wasn't this one particular encounter, but the fact that I run in to this kind of illogical, chemophobic, fear-mongering on a daily basis. My rant, however, was just not what I believe to be podcast quality, so I deleted it and skipped another show. On the other hand, I found a wonderful blog entry that I'd like to share with you all now. I'll get working on episode 44 shortly.

We are the world's healthiest chemophobes.
Blake A. Oates

Fall's Here

2010-10-10T13:48:00.002-04:00

I'm sitting here at Red Robin (great burgers) waiting for my food and reading some friends blogs. I haven't posted anything in a while, and I feel like I may not get a podcast episode up this weekend, so I figured this is a great time to get back to posting.

I have a tendency to focus too much on making a blog entry a long, thought-out, almost-essay, rather than just making a quick blurb about something. So I'm going to make this short and sweet.

Fall's here and I'm back on the blog.

Enjoy.

Blake A. Oates

Episode 43: Local Stuff

2010-10-07T09:54:00.000-04:00

Just happen to get this posted a little later than I anticipated. This is 10/06/10's episode. Remember to email blake@expmed.net.

Episode 42: More Than You Can Chew

2010-09-30T10:21:00.000-04:00

Just saw Super Size Me for the first time earlier this week. Got me thinking about how over the top the whole thing was.

Episode 41: Pledge To Legalize

2010-09-25T10:36:00.000-04:00

Talking about the GOP's pledge to America, and California's pretty cool idea.

Links:

The Regan Libertarian Contract With America

Libertarians say Republicans owe apology, not pledge, to America

Will California Legalize Marijuana?

Three Reasons To Legalize Pot Now!

Episode 40: Staying Away From YouTube

2010-09-22T22:45:00.000-04:00

Trying to get back to the routine of weekend shows, and mid-week shows. Here are the links I mentioned:

Jon Stewart has the right idea

Yarbrough For Ohio

Episode 39: Why 200 Teachers Fired Is A Good Thing

2010-09-11T10:59:00.000-04:00

A short show about this article.

Episode 38: Facebook Whiners and Losers

2010-08-29T20:16:00.000-04:00

A quick rant about how crazy some people get over Facebook.

Episode 37: Late To The Party

2010-08-23T08:56:00.000-04:00

I'm a little late to comment on the religious building being built in NY, and I try to explain why that is.

Episode 36: Prop 8 Goes Down

2010-08-14T23:15:00.000-04:00

Proposition 8 got overturned by a district court, and some conservatives are happy about that.

Episode 35: Free Speech For The Dumb

2010-08-03T18:18:00.000-04:00

Fred Phelps feels the wrath of nerds.

Episode 34: 20 Years And Counting

2010-07-29T22:56:00.000-04:00

It's been 20 years since George Bush signed the ADA, and it still sucks.

ADA and the 'Chipotle Experience'

Episode 33: More On Immigration

2010-07-27T23:11:00.000-04:00

Trying a new format with shorter (and hopefully, more frequent) shows. In this episode I reiterate some points on AZ SB 1070.

Episode 32: Be Color Blind

2010-07-24T13:24:00.000-04:00

South Park tells it like it is - 10 years too early. How a 10 year-old episode of South Park is still very relevant today. And some thoughts on Arizona and immigration. Feel free to email me at blake@expmed.net!

Episode 31: Buy A Gun

2010-07-18T00:25:00.000-04:00

In this episode I lecture on the importance of gun ownership in America, and the crime deterring effect of concealed carry.

Episode 30: Learning From Mistakes

2010-07-10T21:28:00.000-04:00

Talking about some things I learned from my short-lived State Representative run.

Also, here's the link I mentioned in the show: John Stossel on LeBron James

Episode 29: Politics As Usual

2010-07-03T22:34:00.000-04:00

A short episode to give some of my thoughts on Rand Paul and his broken promises.

Episode 28: Defending My Libertarianism

2010-06-26T22:04:00.000-04:00

You can call me what you want, but when it all boils down, I'm 100%, LIBERTARIAN.

Episode 27: Slanted News

2010-06-24T13:21:00.000-04:00

Better quality, but still recording mobile. Talking about sticking up for what you don't believe in, and slanted news.

Episode 26: It's BP's Fault

2010-06-18T09:16:00.000-04:00

Flying solo in this episode. I talk about Sarah Palin's half-truths, free speech, and possibly a youtube channel.

Episode 25: Koldtbord, Pt. 2

2010-05-29T17:51:00.000-04:00

So long we had to make it a two parter!

Episode 25: Koldtbord, Pt. 1

2010-05-17T12:53:00.000-04:00

I really have nothing to say about this. We talk about Mensa, welfare, breasts, and explosions. Enjoy kiddies!

Episode 24: Welcome Back!

2010-05-08T21:25:00.000-04:00

The show is back, but with a few changes. In this episode Fahad and I talk about my campaign for State Representative, and his comics.

Episode 23: D is for Distraction

2010-05-01T22:03:00.000-04:00

Not much to say about this one, I'm actually just posting it so that there are no gaps, or missing episode. It's the last "solo" episode before adding Fahad in to the mix.

The Real Problem With Teen Pregnancy

2010-04-09T11:15:00.002-04:00

Facebook is known for having many bazaar groups and fan pages. "I'll stop being a smart-ass, when you stop being a dumb-ass", and "I bet this pickle can get more fans than Nickelback" are a couple of my favorites. But one I found quite amusing was titled, "When I was your age I was taking care of a Tamagotchi, not a baby!".

It's obvious this group was just trying to take a crack at the recent explosion of teen-pregnancy glorification in the media. In particular, it was an attack on MTV's '16 And Pregnant', and, like everything on the internet, it drew some harsh criticisms and started quite a few facebook "comment wars".

One side of the argument claims that all teenage mothers are "whores" or "sluts", and that MTV is simply encouraging their behavior. This is an easy argument to take down, considering the ones usually making it,probably had sex when they were a teenager as well. And as far as MTV encouraging it, just watch one episode. The show does more to educate about the difficulties of raising a child than our public school system ever could.

But the other side of the argument is also far from convincing. It's an overly emotional stand that, "I am NOT a 'whore'! I am a strong, and independent young woman!". Please. Ever hear the saying, "Those who claim they're not insane, usually are insane"? Same goes for maturity.

The whole idea that there is some inherent "problem" with teenage pregnancy is pure ageism. The real problem with pregnancy at a young age has nothing to do with age, but with the inability of most young adults to take on the responsibilities of raising a child.

Turn the clocks back a few hundred years and things would be very different. Not too long ago, children and teens were taught about respect and responsibility at a very early age. Having a child at 16 wasn't such an unbearable thought, it just meant hard work, and good priorities. But now, people tend to do anything in their power to prolong adolescence, and delay responsibility. You can't work for a wage until you're 14 years old, government-run schools keep individuals "locked-up" until they're 18, and after high school, nearly every graduate is expected to attend college - another 4 years of little responsibility. At that rate, the average person doesn't assume full responsibility for their self until they're in their early 20s. It's no wonder why we look at young adults as mere children these days.

With all that stated, there are always exceptions. There will always be a social stigma tied with early pregnancy, but the emphasis shouldn't be on age, it should be on the parent's capability to take care of the child. Personally, I would rather see a 16 year-old who has a good job and sound priorities raising a child, than another John and Kate, or worse-yet, another "Octo-mom".

Blake A. Oates

www.ExpMed.net

What's New?

2010-03-17T22:28:00.005-04:00

Well, it took me long enough, but I feel that I've finally shaken off that rut-like feeling that I've been in lately.

So, what's new? A lot, apparently.

"Ultraconservatives" are trying to rewrite history, Congress is trying to take over the entire supplement industry, and the President is trying to rush a constantly changing, 2000+ page bill in to law.

With all this going on, I felt it was the appropriate time to try to actually do something about all this. In late November, I started the process of petitioning to run for office. 4 months - and about 20 petitions - later, I filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate for the Libertarian Party primary election to be held on May 4th, 2010. While I plan to keep this blog separate from my campaign, I figured it would at least make sense to explain what I've been doing in my absence.

If you are at all interested in my campaign, please feel free to join my Facebook fan-page.

With that all said and done, make sure to check back often for new, Uber-Libertarian posts on news, politics, and pop-culture.

Episode 22: Reason and Change

2009-11-29T01:36:00.000-05:00

Short episode this weekend. Just talking about my recent subscription to Reason Magazine, and some changes coming to the podcast.

Episode 21: A Conservative Commentary?

2009-11-24T14:05:00.000-05:00

Is there a difference between conservative and libertarian political philosophies? Does opposing a bill that would drastically limit freedom make you un-American? And do you really own anything in America?

Episode 20: Elections and Veterans

2009-11-11T22:18:00.000-05:00

First solo episode in a while! Taking a few minutes to talk about the recent election, the health care bill, and Veteran's Day.

Episode 19: Political Apathy

2009-11-08T12:08:00.000-05:00

With how fast the people's rights in America are being tossed out the window in the name of "safety" and "the common good", it's important for people to start paying attention, and stop ignoring what our government is doing.

Arguing With Idiots

2009-11-08T11:17:00.008-05:00

Yeah, yeah - I stole Glenn Beck's book title. But I could not think of a more perfect title for this entry, as it involves the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. What's even better is I don't really have to argue. They've set it all up for me, I just have to put the nails in the coffin.

Fox News ran a story about how the Brady Campaign is exploiting the recent Ft. Hood shooting. Within the story I found this little gem:

"America has seen an epidemic of horrific gun violence at churches and synagogues, workplaces, health clubs, high schools, universities, police stations and now Army bases. This latest tragedy, at a heavily fortified army base, ought to convince more Americans to reject the argument that the solution to gun violence is to arm more people with more guns in more places." ~Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

I was speechless when I first read this, but seeing as how I don't expect everyone who reads this to be especially gun-law savvy, I'll try to explain the idiocy here.

You see, in almost every state that allows concealed carry, places of worship (churches and synagogues), high schools, universities, and public owned buildings (such as police stations) are prohibited - "Gun-Free" - zones. Few companies allow employees to carry weapons of any kind, and every health club/gym I've ever been to also ban guns on their property. All that said, Helmke's point - that we should have more gun-free zones - is contradicted by his own statement that gun-free zones don't work. In fact, one could argue that making a place a gun-free zone actually makes it even more susceptible to gun violence, as it becomes an easy target (unless you live in DC or Illinois, then EVERYWHERE you go you're an easy target).

I have to wonder, when was the last time we heard about a massacre at a gun store?

Episode 18: Penn and Teller: B.S.

2009-11-01T13:56:00.000-05:00

Fahad sat down with me to watch a couple episodes of Penn and Teller's: Bullshit!, and here we talk about the format of the show and how much he enjoyed it.

Episode 17: Land Of Competition

2009-10-24T20:56:00.000-04:00

We tried to stay away from politics for an episode, but even though we're mainly talking about sports here, we still somehow get in the the realm of politics...a little.

Episode 16: Talkin' 'Bout Gays

2009-10-17T22:28:00.000-04:00

Fahad and I chat about the gay-marriage "debate", and come to a simple, common-sense solution, that no one on either side of the argument will probably ever figure out.

Episode 15: Way Off Topic

2009-10-11T02:13:00.000-04:00

Fahad joins me this weekend to attempt to continue our discussion on the FairTax Plan. It doesn't take long though for us to get completely off track, and what you end up with is a very honest and interesting dialogue amongst the two of us. I originally considered scrapping this whole episode, but after listening to a little I thought, what the hell, and decided to publish it. Enjoy.

Forget The Facts

2009-10-09T17:27:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I feel like we live in a society obsessed with "facts". Political commentators rely so heavily on statistics and figures, that their arguments become lost in the numbers. Whether you're citing polls, or quoting certain people, there's always room for bias and distortions, which makes me wonder: Why waste time with facts?

This must sound counter-intuitive coming from a self-proclaimed skeptic, but I promise it's not. Obviously, every argument should have point to back it up, but those points don't always have to be based on data collected by some nerd at a university.

Let's take gun rights for example (my favorite!). There's an abundance of very usefull information out there about how ineffective gun control is, and plenty of stories of lives saved thanks to someone with a gun. But when talking strictly about rights, why not just argue the point that every person has a right to defend their life to the fullest extent. For anyone who disagrees with that statement, no amount of facts or numbers will change their mind.

Every now and then I'll throw out some numbers, or quotes, just to add to the point being made, but I don't need them...nobody needs them. Take away and supporting "facts" I've used, and the argument will still stand strong. Good arguments don't need tedious numbers to help make their case.

Conversly, discrediting someone's source wont always destroy their argument.

So please stop getting so hung up on "fact checking", and just listen to the point people are trying to make. You might actually hear what they're trying to say.

Episode 14: Technical Difficulties

2009-10-04T18:55:00.000-04:00

Missed last weeks Wednesday show, but I'm sitting at the bookstore right now, with just enough battery left on my computer to get this episode up. Enjoy!

Episode 13: Voting Republican

2009-09-27T12:03:00.000-04:00

This episode I sit down with my father and discuss conservative philosophy, libertarianism, and voting for Republicans.

Episode 12: Michael Moron

2009-09-23T21:49:00.000-04:00

10 minutes was definitely not enough time to even begin discussing Michael Moore and his illogical arguments. This is more of a rant than anything else, but feel free to email me what you think. blake@expmed.net

Episode 11: Tax Talk Pt. 1

2009-09-19T23:35:00.000-04:00

Fahad joins me again as we talk about the current state of the tax system.

Episode 10: Girl Interrupted

2009-09-16T10:37:00.000-04:00

A halfway-there half-show talking about Kanye West and Joe Wilson with their not-so-welcome opinions.

Episode 9: Obama In The Classroom

2009-09-13T20:04:00.000-04:00

People are up in arms about "indoctrination", no one believe you unless you've got a title, and some books you should check out.

Episode 8: Baucus' Health Care Ultimatum

2009-09-09T23:14:00.000-04:00

This was a very rushed episode, with a lot of little errors, but I think I got my point across. I'm really looking forward to some responses on this one, since health care seems to be causing some very heated debate right now.

This episode will make more since if you read this little article first:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9AJ8OBO0&show_article=1

Episode 7: Sports, Death, and Lies

2009-09-06T01:13:00.000-04:00

In this episode I talk about the worst part of fall/winter, the death penalty, and lying bodybuilders.

School Sports Vs. Community Sports

2009-09-06T00:26:00.003-04:00

The more I think about the recent special election we had here in central Ohio, the more I'm glad that South Western City Schools did NOT get their levy they had once again attempted to push on home-owners in their area. They constantly use sob stories and misdirection in attempt to pry a little more money out of taxpayers' pockets. So what was at stake this time? School sports.

The night the levy was voted down, the local news played all sorts of footage of high-school students and their parents, screaming and crying about the outcome. The whole scene would make even the most compassionate soul have to say, "Give me a break!"

Supporters of tax-increases like this, love to make the "NO" voters feel like scum. They use misinformation to try to pump more money in to their school system for programs that have nothing to do with basic education, when they should just stop, take a look at their budget, and try to cut out wasteful spending (turning the school's lights out at night would be a start). The school board wants to blame you for their inability to work on a budget.

Students don't need school sports. In fact, I would argue that school sports are detrimental to the true education experience. Coaches push students as if they were NFL superstars, sometimes to the point of death, as in the case of Max Gilpin. Some might point out that in order to stay on a sports team, students usually have to maintain a 3.0 GPA, but I remember seeing coaches in my high school pulling strings for their star players all the time.

Sports can be a great way to build character, and good teamwork skills, but the first priority of public education should be to educate. The proposed levy would have raised property taxes by up to $300 for some, which has me wondering, why don't the poor parents who have been let down by the voters, just donate that $300 dollars themselves? Or better yet, use about a third of that, and join a community team. Community teams still play to win, but put more emphasis on having fun, and enjoying the game. There are no school vs. school rivalries, and most importantly, you're not wasting anyone else's hard-earned money to fulfil you or your child's own petty dreams.

Episode 6: Disney Kills Comics

2009-09-02T21:30:00.000-04:00

My first "halfway there, half-show", this episode I talk to my good friend and cartoonist Fahad Arman about Disney's recent purchase of Marvel comics.

Episode 5: Late Night Edition

2009-08-30T01:09:00.000-04:00

Another episode a little late. This episode I talk about carcinogen alarmists, flip-flopping conservatives, and other podcasts and blogs.