Brian Gongol
![Socialism Doesn't Work](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
North Korean Food Emergency
Socialism still doesn't work, and people die as a result
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Secular Conservatives
An interesting take on how Goldwater Republicans feel ideologically homeless right now
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Free Trade Helps the Poor
Direct assistance, like what's proposed by the One Campaign, which though well-intentioned, tends to distract people from the real need for economic growth in poor countries. Ireland didn't move from poverty to prosperity because of direct aid; it happened because they changed the environment for economic growth. It won't happen overnight in many places, but we have to start somewhere. In the long run, it's a matter of teaching the proverbial man to fish -- unless we engage poor nations in trade, they'll forever be held captive to poverty.
![Socialism Doesn't Work](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
Very Bad Idea: Supporting a Marxist Dictator
"Progressive" group asks supporters to buy from Citgo, which is owned by the Venezuelan government. That's a problem since the president there has an autocratic streak and a really bad attitude about the US. It's not just that he was behind a failed 1992 coup attempt or that he's enacting laws restricting freedom of the press...he's also close personal friends with Fidel Castro.
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
May 15, 2005 Carnival of the Capitalists
Some personal favorites: Outsourcing and national security, how changes to charitable tax treatment could send humans back to the moon, and musings on who's really in charge.
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/pics/biz.gif)
No More Pay Phones in Finland
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
US Military Spending as a Percentage of GDP
A friendly reminder during the BRAC process: Military spending has remained under 10% of GDP since 1960