Reed on Rights

The Good News and the Bad News

Billy Reed — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:37:00 GMT

It appears that the congress and the administration have wasted a full year "fixing" health care. That's the good news. The bad news is that they are now gearing up to turn their attention to "fixing" the economy. This can't possibly end well.

I'd be in favor of doubling all of their salaries if they'd only go home and do nothing for the next 3 years. Unless of course, they focus all of their energies on un-doing all the "fixing" they've been doing for the last hundred years. But that's not even a remote possibility

And beware "bipartisanship". The Republicans are the party of stupid. The Democrats are the party of evil. Occasionally they get together to do something both evil and stupid. They call this bipartisanship.

Hold on to your wallets. This is going to get ugly.

Scott Brown and The "Big Tent" Myth

Billy Reed — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:05:00 GMT

We have heard from liberals and progressives in the ranks of the Republican party (Lindsay Graham comes to mind) that the party has to expand its ideology in order to make its message more palatable,essentially to liberals. He doesn't frame it that way, but that's the clear implication. The recent success of Scott Brown in MA ought to put that canard to rest for good. But will it?

As in the Reagan revolution, the election of Brown to the seat of its former anti-American occupant bespeaks a fundamental truth: You don't have to BE a Republican to vote for one! Why this comes as a revelation to folks like Graham is the great mystery.

Republicans make up only 12% of the electorate in MA, yet their candidate, with a clear conservative commitment and a modicum of charisma, has managed to negotiate a 180 degree turn in one of the most liberal states in the union.

A big tent is only necessary if, as in the recent past, you are running a 3-ring circus, with a distraction for everyone, as the Republican party has been doing since GWB's election in 2000.

If, on the other hand, you have a clear, concise, and powerful message, and a decent delivery of that message from an honest deliverer, you can move mountains.

Scott Brown inspired the people of MA to embrace the principles upon which this nation was founded. Heed well, Republicans!

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Billy Reed — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:59:00 GMT

Recorded at the same session as "A Change Is Gonna Come", posted earlier

A Change Is Gonna Come

Billy Reed — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:36:00 GMT

This is an abbreviated version of "A Change Is Gonna Come", which I recorded with my co-producer, Lincoln Schleifer, a year ago last September (or was it 2 yrs ago?).

I will also post an abbreviated version of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow", which was recorded at the same session with the same personnel.

We recorded it in Lincoln's basement studio in the Bronx. The personnel were:

Me: Drums and Lead Vocals
Lincoln: Bass
Tommy Cosgrove: Guitar
Butch Heyward: B3
Taryn Thomas: Piano
Bill Holloman: All Horns - Horn Arrangements - Tenor Sax Solo
J.D. Steele: All Background Vocals - Vocal Arrangements

Show #5 - Racism - Dr. Walter E. Williams - 10/23/2009

Billy Reed — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:52:00 GMT

I have the honor of welcoming to my show Dr. Walter E. Williams, the John M Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University, frequent guest host on the Rush Limbaugh Show, regular columnist on Townhall.com, author of several books, including his latest, "Liberty vs. the Tyranny of Socialism" - a collection of his essays, "The State Against Blacks", which was made into a PBS documentary entitled "Unintended Consequences", which may be found serialized on YouTube. He has also recently appeared several times on the Glenn Beck program.

We discussed race issues and some of the more popular misconceptions that misguide policy and misinform media pronouncements on the subject.

As a member of arguably the most relentlessly vilified minority in America, black conservatives, he is uniquely qualified to speak authoritatively on the subject. The depth of his scholarly support for his views does nothing to diminish his credibility on the subject.

Listen and learn! I did.

Show #4 - Humility, Spontaneous Order - 10/16/09

Billy Reed — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:24:00 GMT

Humility - How it determines political ideology. It's role in wisdom.
Health care
Nobel Prize in Economics - Elinor Ostrom - regulations vs. spontaneous order
Lingua Franca

Show #3 - Moral Collapse - Whose $ is it? - 10/09/09

Billy Reed — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:07:00 GMT

Rent Control, Medicare, Detroit Obama Bucks - examples of moral collapse.
Nobel Peace Prize goes to Pres. Obama.,
The true meaning of Robin Hood..

Show #1 - The Founders - 50 First Dates - Healthcare - 9/08/09

Billy Reed — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:14:00 GMT

The first show! I talk about the founders, emphasizing their sacrifice in founding this nation.
"50 First Dates" - the relationship of the MSM to Pres. Obama.
Health Savings Accounts and Catastrophic High Deductible Insurance.

Show #2 - The Nature of Money - Steve Horwitz - 10/02/09

Billy Reed — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:59:55 GMT

I began the show with an example of how market transactions would have to take place in the absence of money, using my own experience as a musician.My aim is to demonstrate how cumbersome and innefficient barter systems are, and how money "makes the world go 'round" and in the process creates the wealth and prosperity modern "moneyed" societies enjoy, as long as their economic systems are not burdened with excessive regulation and/or brutal oppression.