Blogger Down, Ron Paul Makes It Official, New CPI Numbers, and Noam Chomsky on Democracy in the Middle East

Okay, well Blogger basically crapped out for the past 12 or so hours, so I couldn't post yesterday and lost my post from Wednesday.  Hopefully it will return.  Anyway, let's get on with the news.  First is Ron Paul making the official announcement that he is running for President on Good Morning America this morning:

Kudos to Dr. Paul for handling the catastrophe insurance question, I couldn't have said it better myself.  Since blogger was down, I wasted some time arguing with people on the HuffingtonPost about how they should support Ron, but it was to no avail in the end.  I got a few good responses, but trying to have an intellectual debate there is nearly impossible.  A bunch of people became "fans" of me though, which I guess is good.

Next up are the official Consumer Price Index numbers via EPJ:

The Consumer Price Index increased 0.4 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.2 percent.

For an independent source on inflation see Zerohedge:

You can make up whatever excuse you want for rising prices, but the fact is that many people are bracing for it, including Central Banks:

Eric Sprott of Sprott Asset Management has joined the party:

• SPROTT SAYS GOLD IS NOW THE WORLD'S RESERVE CURRENCY
• SPROTT SAYS SILVER WAS `MANIPULATED' DOWN IN PRICE
• SPROTT SAYS PEOPLE IN IRELAND, GREECE ALREADY FLEEING BANKS
• SPROTT SAYS SAVERS WILL FLEE BANKS TO PUT MONEY INTO GOLD

And yet we have General Motors still trucking along with taxpayer dollars:

General Motors will invest $109 million in its operations in Flint and Bay City, Mich., to support engine production for current and future fuel-efficient small cars produced for the U.S. market. The investment will protect or add 96 jobs at the two sites.

That's $1.135 million per employee.  Guess who is gonna get the UAW vote next November!  Speaking of being overpaid, check out lifeguards in Newport Beach:

NEWPORT BEACH (KTLA) -- If you want to make some big bucks, lifeguarding might be the profession for you.
In Newport Beach, more than half of the city's 14 full-time lifeguards make over $100,000 a year, the Orange County Register reports, citing a city report on lifeguard pay for 2010.
Add on benefits, the Register says, and their total compensation is over $150,000.

The city's budget report shows that the highest-paid lifeguard battalion chief earned an annual salary of $119,000, and total compensation of $187,782.With the addition of overtime and "night-time standby pay," the chief took home about $211,000.Newport Beach's second highest-paid lifeguard collected over $203,000, the budget shows.

I will end by posting two great videos, an interview, and commenting on an article.  First is this great speech from Sen. Rand Paul:

That will sure piss of some on the left!  Next is an even more offensive, but more important video, of Noam Chomsky giving a speech about our Middle East foreign policy.  His conclusion: The U.S. and its Allies will do everything to prevent Democracy in the Middle East:

Fantastic video and sure to upset the Neo-Cons.  A lot of what Chomsky says is echoed in this interview of Lew Rockwell by Peter Schiff on his radio show.  Schiff even makes the prediction that price controls are coming due to increasing gas prices.  Not a far-fetched idea considering it happened in the 70's.  If it does come to fruition, look for the inevitable long lines at the gas station.

I have to commend Mr. Kel Kelly on his fantastic Mises Daily yesterday.  Not only does Kelly dismantle many of the myths on inflation, he utilizes Misean praxeology to do so.  The results are fantastic and the article is highly recommended.

Update- Great report from Reuters:

(Reuters) - At least 219 former officials at the Securities and Exchange Commission have left since 2006 to help clients with business before the agency, bringing fresh allegations of a "revolving door" that leaves the commission too cozy with the Wall Street firms it regulates.
According to a report to be released on Friday, between 2006 and 2010 there were 219 former SEC employees who filed letters with the agency indicating their intent to represent a client with business before the commission.

And the door keeps spinning.  Hopefully Blogger will update with my post from Wednesday soon.  It was rather good.