Déjà vu - Negotium - Grinch that stole Christmas

The usual holiday cheer that underpins the throngs of shoppers may be missing this season. Political pundits are eager to blame potential terrorist risks as a compelling reason to avoid the crowds at malls, but knowing the sentiments of the consumer culture, it is difficult to accept that retail businesses will be empty. Nevertheless, will the economy incentivize the bargain hunters to brave the added security obstacles to storm the doors for the reward of super discount pricing?

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Déjà vu - Inherent Autonomy - A Christmas Wish List for Obama

Which is it? Ho Ho Ho or Bah! Humbug!

When it comes to the Barack Obama presents you received during his administration, what you got is a visit from a Christmas basher without the redeeming value of a Grinch or Scrooge. Examine the generous gifts this "Bad Santa" doled out during his holiday season. Postponing another indulgent vacation is a small price to pay for the enjoyment of keeping the cheer and folly celebration going. Be damn the cost, it is just too much fun to stop this excitement of stuffing coal in your stocking, once again.

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Déjà vu - Strappado Wrack - Special Privileges For Feds

If you believe that Martha Stewart is an enemy of the state, you are right. However, is she a desperado that deserves the fate of corporate plungers? Well, the art of stealing from public companies is often rewarded for the skilled crook; but if you are caught in a lie, you are the worst of the worse. The focal point in this soap opera is missed by the media. Back in June of 2002, in Steward of the Public Trust, we asked: "Should Ms. Stewart be tarred and feathered for using etiquette banned by the SEC? Or are we supposed to swing Martha's stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, from the highest tree for getting her out of a down market?"

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Déjà vu - View from the Mount - Political Dissent in the Land of the Sheeple

The long and sometime turbulent drama of political dissent in America is a continued theme in history of the country. Born out of a revolution and based on social principles of self-determination, the nation rustles with the internal conflict between individual liberty and the power of tyrannical elites. This struggle is the natural condition in any nation. How a society treats dissenters is a primary test for any government. Most states fail this assessment miserably. America's tolerance for peaceful dissent is in jeopardy, not solely from the current despotic regime in power, but from the flock of hungry government parasites that graze upon the public benefit programs that herd citizens into a crowd controlled environment.

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