How a Bill Really Becomes a Law

The old Schoolhouse Rock video "How a Bill Becomes a Law" is educational and totally appropriate for elementary school age children. However, cynical middle schoolers are ready for the ugly truth of politics.

and the original -

Essay Contest on Ayn Rand's Anthem

The Ayn Rand Institute has an annual essay contest for 8th, 9th and 10th graders on Rand's novel Anthem. The winner gets $2,000 but 235 runner ups will receive some level of cash award.

Select ONE of the following three topics:

1. Why do you think the Council of Vocations assigns Equality the job of Street Sweeper? Is it due to error, incompetence or a more sinister motivation? Explain.

2. The old locks and lack of guards in the Palace of Corrective Detention indicate that prisoners never try to escape. Why do you think they do not? Explain.

3. In a single, unified essay, explain the meaning and wider significance of EACH of the following quotes in the story:

   1. “To be free, a man must be free of his brothers.” (Ch. 12)
   2. “It is the mind which thinks, and the judgment of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth.” (Ch. 11)
   3. “And we thought that we could trust this being who looked upon us from the stream, and that we had nothing to fear with this being.” (Ch. 8)

The Great Lie of the Nanny State

Visualize Fake Budget Cuts

Making fun of Obama's fake budget cuts is apparently like shooting fish in a barrel. Everyone is getting in on the act. See more here.

Cutting Government Spending Cartoon

Copyright © 2010 Creators Syndicate

Music Video: Liberty

"They keep telling me it is a sin to be free

and that is more than I am willing to stand."

Jordan Page

How many songs do you know that rhyme hyper inflation with bad legislation?

Video: The Importance of Profit

Is profit necessary or is it the reason products are so expensive? In this video on The Importance of Profit from the "purveyor and causer of awesome" Sean Malone, a proper understanding of profit is explained. So next time someone says the word "profit" with contempt in their voice, maybe you can enlighten them as to the role profits play in seeing that the products they like get produced.