How I'd respond to the petition for Texan secession

There is an online petition on the White House's website to allow the state of Texas to secede from the United States. If I were the President, I'd set three conditions that would have to be met in order for a state or territory's independence to be recognized. After all, if there is no right to secede, then Texas is still part of Spain and most of the East Coast still belongs to England.

 1. A referendum would be have to be held on the matter, and all adult residents of Texas would be allowed to vote on the matter. (Texas likely would have failed to meet this condition in 1861, since that state did not allow women and African Americans to vote at the time.)

 2. Anyone in Texas who wanted to return to the US would allowed to do so. (Again, another condition that 1861 Texas would have failed to meet, since certain individuals were not allowed to leave the plantations that they lived on.)

3. Texas would assume a share of the national debt that is proportionate to that state's representation in Congress. Since the Texas delegation makes up %6 of Congress, that would put them on the hook for about $976 billion. For Texas to leave now, it'd be like if 50 people went to a restaurant and agreed to split the check. And this guy in a Stetson hat keeps ordering steak, and now talks about leaving before the check arrives. (Insert tasteless joke about having to wash dishes in a Chinese restaurant here.)

MSNBCs Lawrence O'Donnell takes on the two party preference

NEXT BUSINESSS MEETING

NEXT BUSINESSS MEETING

17th of November, 2012 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
at Little Turtle Branch of the Allen County Public Library
off West State Blvd 1 block south on Sherman Blvd.
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/littleturtle/index.html

THERE WILL BE NO SCHEDULED MEETING IN DECEMBER!!

Veterans Day

Thank you for your continued support of our candidates!!

I would like to take a brief moment to thank everyone whom supported our candidates across the ballot.

The following is a quick run down with the State totals and percentage followed by the tally in Allen County with the final tally of 97.6% precients reporting. As time permits I will also attempt to come back and edit in the weblog post with the tally from surrounding Counties also.

Gary Johnson 49,359 1.9% 2,193 1.5% President

Andrew Horning for U.S. Senate 145,692 5.8% 6,924 4.8%
Rupert Boneham 100,762 4% 3,790 2.6% Governor
Alex Avery 932 St Rep 81 and James A Hanson 1,379 St Rep 84

Even though we did not poll as strong as we thought we were going to I appreciate everyone whom helped take a stand against politics as usual in the Hoosier State. We did change the conversation. We made the pundits squirm and the politicians fight like hell to keep up their appearance of service. We challenged our fellow Hoosiers to make a difference rather than just being indifferent about a bloated campaign process and sanctioned Pillary of the debates and commercials.

Next year there are no major elections in Indiana. LPAC will take this time to regroup and still continue to serve the citizens of Allen County by changing the way the business of government is allowed to slide pass along our beautiful three rivers without an advocate for the people. Thank you for your participation we also hope to have your help in the future.

Kenneth White, Jnr.
Vice Chair, LPAC

FROST ILLUSTRATED releases the Craken on Straight Party Voting.

Frost Illustrated has a breakdown of all candidates running for election in Allen County. They have always given our Libertarian and other 'third party' candidates a balanced and open approach including their latest front page story on the ills of straight ticket voting.

Have these Libertarians EARNED their Brownie Pointes in the Hoosier State?

Im reposting this from my personal facebook page with the caveat of another announcement and then more information at the end for those whom are still undecided or questioning the logic of the other two parties in Statewide races. Libertarians and friends will be getting together for a casual meetup at The ACME Bar on State Blvd near Crescent Ave around 7p to watch the poll results come in and jaber about politics and plans as we do so well.



If you hadnt heard by now CBS Survivor's Rupert Boneham is the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Indiana and he has released his closing arrangement as to why Hoosiers need to consider the only alternative to the same old pricey bickering and backstabbing of politics as usual as evidenced even during the three debates. Since the main stream press is trying to deny and bury his success in their daily reporting and the Republicans and Democrats are at each others throat on our airwaves please wont you take a moment and share a different message for our future with your family and friends?

Will you join me in voting for Rupert 

for Governor of Indiana this Tuesday?

Pardon me while I pound on the electronic pulpit for a moment.
It is our time to vote for the right man, not just the lesser of two political vagabonds!

Its our time to show the nation that Hoosiers dont just lay on our backs and let an election happen to us!

Its our time to change the conversation of politics as usual, and bring a new hope to the world!

Overall Libertarians have earned their Brownie Pointes this year and I will also ask you to consider our other candidates for Statewide office Alex Avery for State Representative in District 81 providing a decent challenge to Winn Moses and Attorney and father of five Jim Hanson for the same office in District 84 to overthrow Bob 'Thin Mints' Morris's incumbency. I would also ask you to consider Andrew Horning for US Senate against the constant bickering between Murdoch and Donnely on our airwaves. You can find out more about Alex here http://indiana.onpolitix.com/news/173982/meet-the-candidates-alex-avery and Jim here http://indiana.onpolitix.com/news/179549/meet-the-candidates-james-hanson#.UI7PE-D8KUM.facebook courtesy of WANE-TV Newschannel 15

May Your Blessings Of Liberty Be Secured!

Kenneth White, Jnr.

Vice Chair, LPAC

Gary Johnson on WOWO today!

Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Gary Johnson will be talking with WOWO's Casey Hendrickson at 3:05pm. Now, WOWO's broadcast area includes Ohio, a swing state that may very well decide the outcome. It could come down to a handful of votes, couldn't it? Wouldn't it be a shame if your party lost because a couple of people in Van Wert or Paulding changed their minds and voted Libertarian? Seriously though. Anyone who blames Gary Johnson for causing their side to lose needs to blame their own candidate instead. The only way a guy who supports bank bailouts and TSA pat downs can win an election is run against a guy who also supports them.

A Good and Timely Read

An article posted today on RealClearMarkets by Prof. Robert Epstein is well-worth the time to read.

Prof. Epstein helps expose the ugly truth that both parties have erased a very significant portion of our nation's history out of their memories with respect to the role of the Supreme Court in economic matters, as well as the proper functioning of our economy.

It's the Economy, Supreme Court! by Richard Epstein

Who is worse?

There was a very insightful post at Cafe Hayek today that is definitely worth reading.

Who is worse?

Isn't it time we had a good choice during an election? Don't we deserve candidates with real answers to real problems?

Read the article. It's worth the time.

 - Jim Hanson, candidate for State Representative, District 84

Meet the Candidates: Jim Hanson on WANE TV

The following link will take you to the video segment for Jim Hanson's interview on Channel 15 for the Meet the Candidates series.

Jim is running against incumbent Bob Morris for State Representative in House District 84.

http://indiana.onpolitix.com/news/179549/meet-the-candidates-james-hanson

WATCH THE DEBATE AND MEET RUPERT @ MARRIOTT ON COLDWATER ROAD

I apologize for the short notice everyone due to circumstances beyond my control Im just now able to promote this event on the blog.

Tonight you have the opportunity watch the last Gubernatorial debate and meet Survivor's Rupert Boneham [Web][FB] the Libertarian Candidate for Governor of Indiana afterwards at the Auburn Room of the Marriott Hotel on Washington Center Road at Coldwater Road (SR327) behind the Arbys south of the 112 interchange of I69 from 6p-10p. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Kenneth White, Jnr.
Vice Chair, LPAC

Also take a moment to LIKE the Libertarian Party of Allen County's new Facebook Page and please update any bookmarks and crosslinks, please and thank you.

Tax Debate Missing the Point

The fight over differing tax policies in last night's debate was predictable and less than interesting. No one seems too excited by either candidate's tax policy, and for good reason. Neither policy really does anything to solve the underlying and fundamental problems in our economy caused by government intrusion into the private sector.

This morning I posted a discussion of a more relevant tax issue on my campaign blog. You can check it out here.

 - Jim Hanson, candidate for State Representative in House District 84

Big Government Arguments Exposed

I read a great article today exposing the fallacies usually relied on by those who defend an ever growing government.

Check out my post on my campaign website.

 - Jim Hanson, District 84 State Rep Candidate

John Stossel on Why He's a Libertarian

See what he has to say!

Race in America

I just posted my reaction to a CNN online article I read today about why black voters are not supporting Mitt Romney. I'm not too worried about anyone supporting Mitt Romney, but I'm very concerned about what is passing as "racism" these days.

I hope that all Americans can loosen up a bit on what they call "racism" and "bigotry" and allow everyone the freedom of their opinion and perspective without needing to pass a law to surpress them.

On the other hand, I hope we continue to grow as a nation toward a society that measures its members by the contributions they make and the intrinsic value of human life without the various labels we tend to use to classify people artificially.

Of course, as Americans grow up politically and socially, I'm certain they'll begin to see why they should really be Libertarian!

The Cost of "Stimulus"

An article on the Fox News website, posted October 8, got my attention this morning. See Plant that got $150M in taxpayer dollars to make Volt batteries furloughs workers.

This article was a perfect illustration of why government "stimulus" will nearly always be a bad idea.

I commented on the economic issues involved in this story on my campaign blog. See Case in Point at may campain site.

The increasing polarization of America politically is dividing the nation into two categories containing two positions each. Under the "Economy" category, we are asked to choose between "nanny-state welfare" and "corporate welfare." Under the "Social Policy" category, we are asked to choose between heavy-handed "conservative" policies or ideological "progressive" policies.

This polarization is made possible by a common mindset among American voters. We tend to vote for the lesser of the devils because of "electibility" in hopes that we won't "throw away our vote" or inadvertantly cause the election of the worse devil by failing to support the lesser devil.

It's time for Americans to consider some entirely new options. In particular, it is time for Americans to discover the Libertarian Party that agrees on minimizing the role of government and allows its members to agree-to-disagree on social issues that are best debated and resolved in the private sector and the public square rather than in the halls of governmental power.

Jim Hanson
Libertarian candidate for State Representative, Indiana House District 84

My counter-argument to the statistical arguments against voting.

From time to time, someone who writes about politics for a living will publish an essay on the reasons that they themselves do not vote. Some cite that you are more likely to die on your way to the polling place than to cast a vote that decides the outcome of an election. I could say that many have undergone greater risks than a simple car ride to the polls and have made great sacrifices just so you could vote, but that does not seem to have an effect on certain people. If you don't vote, the First Amendment still protects your right to complain. However, whether or not elected officials will listen to your complaints or recognize your First Amendment right to complain is highly dependent on the outcome of elections. And you complaints simply do not carry as much weight among your fellow voters if you don't vote. The reason why anyone complains or complements at all is because we hope to influence the attitudes of others. And attitudes are contagious. If you don't vote, the people around you who share your beliefs and values are that much less likely to vote. And that attitude of apathy can spread. It is a fact that you by yourself will probably never decide the outcome of an election. But you and the people around you very well can. A local race can be decided by less than 20 votes. A national election can be decided by a few hundred votes. You, the people you know, and the people they know can shape the course of history by voting. And that starts with you voting.

NEXT BUSINESS MEETING

6th of October, 2012 12 noon - 3p.m.
at Pontiac Branch of the Allen County Public Library
on Hanna north of Creighton.
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/pontiac/index.html

Rupert in Fort Wayne

Gubernatorial Candidate Rupert Boneham visits Fort Wayne

Presidential Push Polling

A push poll is a poll taken so that it's results are intentionally distorted. Here is one way of doing it: What is your favorite AFC South team in the National Football League? A. Houston Texans B. Tennessee Titans C. Jacksonville Jaguars Let's say I conducted a survey of Allen County residents, and I used that question with those choices. Would I get an accurate picture of which football teams Allen County likes? Or would you say that I left out an option that a statistically significant number of people would have chosen if it was actually available? The same goes for poll questions that begins with "If the election were held today". Every now and then, I get phone calls from pollsters who ask me who I play on voting for. I know my options, and I tell them my preference. But when a pollster only presents "Mitt Romney" and "Barack Obama" as possible options, there is no way that its results will resemble the outcome of the election. An accurate poll must include "Gary Johnson" as an option.

Go Bowling With Rupert from "Survivor"!

Watch this video and look for a pattern

Notice something? These Democrats are pro-choice, as long as your choice results in a dead fetus. If it results in you getting fat or using the wrong light bulb, that's unacceptable.

Piling on Todd Akin

To be sure, he richly deserves to be piled on. Congressman Todd Akin (2nd MO-R) insists that women have a natural defense against conception during rape. This is something that would be impossible to test in a controlled laboratory study. Scientists cannot observe fertile women while they are being raped to confirm Akin's hypothesis.

An egg cell does not care about the circumstances behind  fertilization. It can be removed from a paid egg donor, introduced to sperm inside a test tube, then implanted into a mercenary surrogate. The people who intend to raise the child don't even need to be in the same building. Emotions like love and fear are not a factor here.

This type of thinking is what happens when one's ideology clouds one's beliefs about the real world. This is why some conservatives want intelligent design taught in biology class and progressives want it taught in economics class.

Paul Ryan open thread

I'm voting for Gary Johnson, no matter what Mitt Romney does in the next three months. Most people with a developed political philosophy already know who they are going to vote for by now. But I would like to hear from anyone who says that they are more or less likely to vote for Romney because of his VP choice. Leave a comment below if that's you.

I do remember in 2008 several friends of mine leaning towards McCain when he picked Palin. Then Palin opened her mouth and the rest is history.

Gary Johnson for POTUS ad

What makes America exceptional

Let's get one thing straight. The Founding Fathers were not saints or prophets, and I suspect that they would be the first to admit it. But they were smart enough to not trust each other with too much power, so they sent up a system of checks and balances.

SCOTUS ruling on Obamacare

The decision written by Chief Justice Roberts isn't surprising, it's baffling. He said that the Constitution allows the mandate to obtain insurance because it is a tax. Did he take legislative intent into account? Many of the Representatives and Senators who voted for the Affordable Care Act insisted that it was not a tax. If we take them at their word, either it was their intent that it was not a tax or they were misinformed about their own intent.

Blog Admin Note: Were doing a mid Summer's night Sweep of the LPAC blog

Since its been two years since I last tinkered with the blog it is taking a bit to get it back up to par; however I am trying to do it thouroughly all in one weekend, below is the list of local blogs that we still have that had provided still working links prior. If you know of any other blogs or newsfeeds or social networking feeds we should link to regarding the political and social life line of Allen County, Indiana and for that matter North East Indiana. Please leave the information in the comments section below.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter regarding our service to the Community.

Blessings Along The Journey,
MRev. Kenneth White, Jnr.
Vice Chair, LPAC
(fmr Secretary 2008-2010)

Local Blogs

• A Citizen's Guide To Indiana
• Advance Indiana
• Berry Street Beacon
• Democratic Party of Allen County
• Fort Wayne News
• Fort Wayne Observed
• Fort Wayne Politics
• Indiana Barrister
• Indy Tax Dollars
• Left in Aboite
• Opening Arguements

Apparently today we wont be doomed to repeat our future as fellow Hoosier, Chief Justice Roberts, brings a moderate twist to the federal Affordable Care Act's teats!! Is it time for We The People to suckle up?

Finally the Court shows some maturity and finesse, passes "ObamaCare" but with a few twist and turns, that everyone will be bitching over til the sun comes up next week. If you notice Republicans and Democrats stopped calling it ObamaCare just to try to not give the President credit through the up coming election cycle if it passed the Courts scrutiny and review, which is priceless politicking at its best. We as Libertarians, the principled party and educated minority, shouldnt switch to calling it ObamaCare - as a pointe of contention or disdain, because then we are just pandering to the lowest common denominator, rather than elevating the entire populous to a legitimate conversation and debate. Even as a Libertarian I am glad the Affordable Care Act passed the Supreme Court scrutiny the way it did.

From Chief Justice John Roberts:"The individual mandate cannot be upheld as an exercise of Congress's power under the Commerce Clause,..... That Clause authorizes Congress to regulate interstate commerce, not to order individuals to engage in it. In this case, however, it is reasonable to construe what Congress has done as increasing taxes on those who have a certain amount of income, but choose to go without health insurance. Such legislation is within Congress's power to tax."

Its been three long years .... and I was reminded as I write this of that first blog post I wrote in 2009 supporting Universal Health Care, boy did that piss off everyone. Why dont you take a gander back with me (all though I must caution my personal blog is NSFW) or at least watch this clip from Star Trek Deep Space 9's episodes "Past Tense part 1 and 2" above to get the basic jist.

Apparently today we wont be doomed to repeat our future. I posted this in one of my comments on my facebook page regarding the passage of the Affordable Care Act but I just had to share (*the same way tween gyrls or bois gush over Bieber, etc.*) this quote by Patrick Cervantez with someone and you were the closest fair minded Libertarian, Democrat, Republican, Green, or Independent I could jump up and down with and squeak by:

"The funny thing is that The Supreme Court redefined the mandate as a tax. So the Republicans let a tax pass in the Age of Norquist. I really didn't care fort the mandate, the fact that people don't have to worry about getting dropped due to preexisting conditions, keeping companies from raising premiums for no reason, and being the fact I'm twenty and can stay on my mom's insurance for another six years is a godsend seeing as the job market isn't being all that kind to my demographic."

..... ?Do you realize that based on the way the SCOTUS ruled? .....
!!REPUBLICANS AUTHORIZED A TAX INCREASE!!
by proxy that includes Mitt Romney too as it was his State model that they used.

*gives a lookout for Grover Norquist running for the nearest ledge*

That means that their NO NEW TAXES pledge to Norquist is null and void (as it should have been in the first place, as such things are Constitutionally questionable) or now the Tea Party has to vote all of them all out, otherwise they are hypocrites to their own standards and practices. *nener nener nener*.... Let us see how fast the excuses pile drive this election cycle forward and who stays and whom goes bye bye.

Does this ruling leave you misty eyed or angry? Its time to try the Libertarian guy! Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is our candidate for President of the United States of America ..... We may not agree on everything especially the Affordable Care Act but you will know where we stand!! And boy do we Libertarians know how to stand and deliver!! Also check out our many other candidates for you to consider this election cycle Rupert Boneham for Governor , and Andrew Horning for U.S. Senate....among many other local and State General Assembly positions.

Today is the 200^th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812. This was the first time that Congress had ever declared war. The reason for the war was American sailors were being kidnapped by the British Navy. Somehow the war effort came down with a case of mission creep and the American people were told that Canadians would greet us as liberators.

Fun facts about the war:

The garrison at Fort Wayne was attacked by Indians allied to the British.

Allen County is named after Colonel John Allen, a member of the Kentucky state legislature and state militia who was killed in the Battle of Frenchtown in what would become Michigan.

Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics for a piece he called “The Defence(sic) of Ft McHenry”. This would later become “The Star Spangled Banner”.

The War of 1812 was the last war in which the US endured a ground invasion by a foreign army.

Thanks Again Democrats For Such A Wonderful Evening With Zach Wahls! Oh and BTW Welcome To Fort Wayne

 So after the Zach Wahls Live event at the Embassy Theatre, which was totally phenomenal and beyond any expectations - even though only about 250 people showed up, I decided to follow such a profound experience with this extraordinarily humble young man, with a treat that I hadnt had since I last went on an a cross country rescue mission four years ago....A Wendy's BIGGIE Frosty.

Yes you heard me correctly all 44 ounces of creamy like fake chocolate drink mix that is slightly frozen and made to look like a milkshake. For those whom dont remember, BIGGIE Drinks they were the first 44 ouncers way back in the day, they cost the same as two medium FROSTYS put together in one hugnormous cullinary fiscal coupe. It was like having your cake eating it and then taking the rest home to munch on ..... They didnt have it.

What do you mean they dont have BIGGIE Frosty's anymore?

Not only do they not have BIGGIE Frosty's They dont have BIGGIE ANYTHING anymore. Mayor Bloomberg already got his wish but it wasnt for health reasons it was common market forces dictating profits/losses and capital cost as well as supposedly a consumer base not partaking of said larger portion sizes. The recession and self preservation probably has something to do with it too.

One of the first known steps for market preservation is for companies to reduce quantity rather than raise prices they will always default to one before the other. You can see it in small ways especially if you are as tight with a buck as this ghetto redneck queen can be. Gravy Train used to be 18 pound bags for $7.50 now it just went down from 17.6# for $8 to 16. Diaper Wipes used to be in containers of 250-300 for $4 now you are lucky to get 216 diaper wipes for $4.50 (Dollar General). You see it in Ice Cream all the time, its gone from a gallon to a half a gallon to a quart and a half all in three years time. ....I am to the pointe that Im just going to spend my money on an Crofton 1.6 quart Ice Cream Maker from Aldi and tell the rest of the world to milk my goat if they want some.... Even now Aldis has increased their cow juice prices from 1.79 to 2.29 a gallon. Market preservation works but there comes a time when consumers need to see the price increase to understand the true value of the food they are consuming and/or wasting rather than the convenience of the same size container at the same price even if there is less in there to begin with. Ignorance is not always blissful.

Anyway back to my depressing news about this now large 20 oz. FROSTY for $2.36: Do you realize that our economy has changed so much without us realizing it that this large Frosty is technically 2-4 oz. smaller than what used to be a medium for almost the same cost as a previous medium. So not only am I getting ripped out of 4 ounces of fake milk ice product and Im now prohibited from enjoying a larger size or BIGGIE size if my heart so desires to do so.

And that is the difference between the other two parties Republicans want the same or less product for less money while Democrats want you to have the same amount that your father had but still pay the same amount or slightly more and neither one want you to know let alone listen to you complain about getting screwed sideways. Libertarians want you to know that your getting screwed either way and they know how not to screw you or anyone else over or under.

So are we better off now than we were four years ago or 8 or ten or 12 or twenty? Yes we are but we still havent learned the lesson to pay attention to not just what we consume but how we consume it or that occasionally it will try to consume us. Remember that please when you take a look at whom is right not just for the next four years of our Country's future but whom will best position us to succeed to the pointe where we can fully restore the value and accessibility of the BIGGIE Frosty to the marketplace of ideas.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The previous was an excerpt from a personal post on my facebook page and has been edited for space personal content and a concise communication of ideas. If you wish to review the original entire commentary please click the link directly above and be aware that it may not be suitable for all readers.

Memorial Day

On this day we acknowledge the least desirable byproduct of poor international relations. There isn't a single, sane soldier, sailor, or airman who wants to be honored on this holiday when his service ends instead of in November. The best way to honor our war dead is by keeping their sacred status as exclusive as possible, and by preserving at home what they fought for abroad. By the way, don't the recruiting ads mention something about freedom?

Gary Johnson ad

Who cares about Secret Service and hookers?

Prostitution is a crime in 49 states. It would be perfectly reasonable for a government employees to be disciplined or terminated if they did commit such a crime. However, the agents involved in the recent so-called scandal were NOT in any of those states when this incident occurred. Prostitution is not illegal under federal law, nor is it illegal under Colombian law.

The only argument that I have heard so far for firing these agents is they could be subject to blackmail. But that same argument was used to discriminate against gay men in law enforcement and the military. When a unmarried federal employee visits a prostitute in a place where it is legal, it would be my guess that he's more worried about losing his job than social ostracism. The fact that he could face termination is the one thing that makes him vulnerable to blackmail.

It should be noted that married men routinely lose their security clearances when they have an affair. Secret Service agents do have a tremendous responsibility and must be held to a higher standard of behavior than everyone else, and so do the men that they protect. I propose that Secret Service agents be held to the same standard as the President when it comes to morals, and vice-versa.

Before Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Parties...

The Libertarian Party of Allen County's annual tax protest has been held every year since 2005. We protested Bush's overspending, we protested Obama's overspending, and I expect that we'll be protesting the next president's overspending. This year, it will take place on Tuesday, April 17th from 5pm until we get tired and leave around 8 or 9pm. It will be at the usual spot just north of the Clinton Street Post Office.

How to reduce unemployment

As of January, the US unemployment rate is 8.3%. Our economy is recovering slowly but surely. But that figured can be improved greatly at the stroke of a pen. By giving France a portion of territory that they lost in the French Indian War, namely the state of Michigan, America can rid itself of a place with an unemployment rate above the national average. Michigan's unemployment rate is at 9.1%, which is still lower than France's unemployment rate of 9.7%. The transfer of the upper and lower peninsulas will serve to lower the unemployment rate of both countries. France has been a valued ally of the US for many years. During World War II, they generously provided their country as a place for Americans to fight Nazis. Hopefully, they'll help us out by taking the Wolverine State off our hands.

A couple modest questions

1. If employers should be required to pay for insurance that provides contraception to women, should they also pay for dental insurance that provides free toothpaste? After all, your employer shouldn't tell you that you can't have birth control. Therefore, my employer should not tell me I cannot brush my teeth.
2. This November, Democratic voters must ask themselves this: How many Iranian civilians am I prepared to sacrifice for free healthcare?
3. Should auto insurance be required to pay for new tires and brake pads? Whenever a car with bald tires causes an accident, we shouldn't blame the driver for not maintaining his car. We should blame Congress for not passing the appropriate legislation.

The latest proposal to screw up downtown Fort Wayne

There is a proposal to slow down traffic in downtown Fort Wayne. Here is the primary reason cited by the mayor:

....will improve visibility and access to businesses, provide traffic calming and encourage economic development

Downtown is already a safer place to walk than other commercial areas, such as Coliseum Boulevard, West Jefferson and Illinois Road, and DuPont. And Fort Wayne as a whole typical has less than 5 pedestrian fatalities per year. It always has been and likely always will be safer to walk than to drive in any city. I like being able to park my car, get what I need from one place, get what I want from another place, and get something to eat from a third place without having to move my car three times.
But when I am in my car, my goal is to safely minimize my travel time. Sometimes I adjust my route when there is construction, and I avoid traveling during rush hour when I can help it. So if the city intentionally slows down traffic downtown, that will only serve to discourage motorists from visiting that area.

Why the economy is improving

1. Here's a new concept for you all: regression towards the norm. It's something that can observed in almost anything that involves statistics. Unusually low numbers can be expected to go up, unusually high numbers can be expected to go down. You can expect that the 2-14 Indianapolis Colts will have a better season this fall even without Peyton Manning, and the Superbowl champion New York Giants might not do as hot. Everything goes through peaks and valleys, the economy is no different.

2. From time to time, a "new normal" arises and it takes time for businesses and individuals alike to adjust to the new normal. The economy can show growth under any POTUS.

Economics is nothing more than applied psychology. It's billions of human decisions on what to buy and sell. If these decisions were always made on a rational basis, forming economic models would be easy. So before you ask Congress or the President to fix the economy, remember that they're human too. Democracy works better than monarchy for the same reason capitalism works better than socialism: more people are involved in the decision making process.

Want to run for office?

The Libertarian Party is looking for people who share our ideals who want to run for elected office. If you can serve on a jury, you can serve in the legislature. Email me at enders.robert@gmail.com if you live in northeast Indiana and you think you can do a better job than the guys that you've been critical of up to this point.

SOPA

SOPA is nothing more than feel good legislation. Only US websites can be impacted by US laws. Digital pirates will continue to go to foreign websites like they already do. While it would be nice if other governments took responsibility in protecting American intellectual property, it's hardly our top foreign policy concern.

MLK Day

On this day, we honor not just the man, but the movement. Our nation was founded on an ideal, and with the help of men like him, the country has come closer to making that ideal a reality.

Foreign Aid

People who are not subject to a government's jurisdiction are not entitled to aid from that government. If I were President, and a foreign government asked me for money, I'd tell them to petition Congress for admission to the Union. Barring unforeseen circumstances, I doubt that government or Congress would move forward on such a thing.

If you feel that a government needs money, write them a check yourself. You probably already are providing money to third world countries every time you buy gas.

Let's be careful about what we say on the Internet

If you have new information about an ongoing criminal matter, it's usually best to share that information with law enforcement. Be advised that if this is something that you heard from someone else, without any independent verification, then it may not be something that you want to share on the Internet. Some lies can feel like facts when information is scarce. Remember when Richard Jewell was falsely accused of planting the bomb that he found at the Olympics? Before you write your next blog post or say something on Facebook, you should read what John Scalzi wrote about libel.

Some good news

For those of you who are in need of some good news.

This date in history

Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as Soviet president on this day 20 years ago. Russia had declared its independence the day before.

There are now adults attending college and serving in the military who do not remember this. We will be vulnerable to the same fate if we are arrogant enough to think that we are immune from it. Occupying Afghanistan and economic mismanagement tends to take a heavy toll on superpowers.

Why you should be worried about indefinite detention

There are religious terrorists out there. There are also secular terrorists out there. For that matter, I suspect some terrorists are as sincere about their religious beliefs as politicians are about their campaign promises.
There are also right wing terrorists, left wing terrorists, anarchist terrorists, and people with no coherent ideology who just want to blow up things and hurt people. Terrorists can be of any race or ethnicity.
Terrorists can look like anybody. Even elderly and disabled people have joined these movements. So anybody can be mistaken for a terrorist. Maybe a disgruntled neighbor might leave an anonymous type about you taking flight lessons or a chemistry class.

There are a couple of reasons why this will make us less safe:
1. When a suspect is captured, our justice system takes further steps to ensure that the right guy is in custody and the actual perpetrator is still at large. One of these steps is called a trial. Some people might insist that it is better to punish the innocent than let the guilty go free, but allowing people to establish their innocence helps ensure that guilty people do not go free.
2. Here's a hypothetical scenario. Let's say a bomb goes off in Chicago, and some group calling itself the Detroit Lions Liberation Army claims responsibility. The government arrests 10 Lions fans and doesn't give them a trial. Would this make Lions fans more or less loyal to America? Now replace "Lions fans" with "Southerners", "abolitionists", "African-Americans", "Mormons", "Japanese-Americans", "German immigrants" or any other group that has ever been placed under suspicion.

Brief update

We'll be having a meeting later this month. Since it's at a private residence, I'm not going to announce somebody's address to a bunch of trolls. But the odds are that we have a few lapsed members who haven't been getting our emails. Maybe you have a new email address or an over zealous spam filter. Anyway, contact me and I'll you where and when the meeting is.

Also, I saw this video, and I hope it drives a nail into Rally for Rail's coffin.

Regarding illegal activity at protests

Some people are upset that protesters are being allowed to camp in Freimann Square in violation of the law. But the most important job of the police is to promote public safety, so discretion must be used in situations where normal police actions could provoke violence. This isn't to say that illegal activity should get a pass just because it's nonviolent. Police simply have to do their jobs in a way that minimizes risk to themselves and others.

One way to handle the matter is to issue citations that require the violator to appear in court. Maybe he'll show up and pay the fine, or maybe a bench warrant will have to be issued. Getting arrested after a traffic stop three months after the protest is over is somewhat less glamorous as getting arrested while your friends film it.

Veterans Day

The best way to honor Veterans Day is preserve what they protected. We must not discard at home what they fought for abroad.

It should also be noted that November 11, 1918 was known as Armistice Day. It was a celebration of what was hoped to be a long and lasting peace. I suspect that among every generation in every nation there is an impulse to honor the heroes of the past by replicating their feats, by proving we are as brave now as they were then. There may very well be a time when there is no longer a need for heroes, but that is a problem we can only look forward to for now.

The Thin End of the Wedge

The Occupy protests

The Occupy movement has no consistent message, aside from the fact that they are upset with corporations, just as the Tea Party movement has no consistent message aside from the fact that they are upset with the federal government. Large organizations are like parents: necessary, but nobody is going to be happy with everything they do.

I do find some of the symbolism baffling. You would think that these people wearing Guy Fawkes masks would realize what Guy Fawkes actually stood for.

Here is something written by an Occupier that all other Occupiers should read.

Ken Burns' documentary on Prohibition.

I heartily recommend this miniseries. Prohibition was a case of good intentions gone awry. When FDR signed the Cullen–Harrison Act, which legalized 3.2% beer, it was perhaps the single best thing that any US president did for the American economy.

Instead of raising taxes, or addition to raising taxes....

Ayn Rand said people should be willing to pay 90% in taxes if it were necessary for national defense. It was hyperbole, but the point is that if the revenue is needed, then the taxes must be paid. Even Ayn Rand thought so.
If the government is in a situation in which taxes must be raised on the rich and corporations, then I propose that the following steps be taken as well.
1. End all subsidies to corporations. Corporations are supposed to raise their own capital and generate their own revenue. If a company can't do either, we shouldn't concern ourselves with it. A company that can no longer make money is like a lawnmower that can no longer cut grass. It has completely failed at its purpose. It should be scrapped.
2. End all entitlements to the wealthy. If taxes are charged based on the ability to pay, entitlements should be paid out based on need. If the country is such dire financial straits, if certain people are demanding that their own taxes be raised, why isn't this one of the first things to be cut?

Positive signs in negative ads.

Recently I've been getting mailers from the Indiana Democratic Party. They want to point out all the times that Paula Hughes has voted to raise taxes. Listed without any apparent irony was the time that Hughes voted for a downtown arena in 2000.
I want to think of this as a positive sign. To me, it's a sign that prior support of subsidies of the entertainment industry is now a political liability.

The Debt Ceiling

We all understand, or should understand, that politics is fueled by drama. It's hard to make people care about some policy issue unless you can show how if you don't get your way, it'll cost someone their life or job.

I suspect that both sides will reach a deal at the last minute. Give in anytime before then, and the side that gave concessions will look weak in front of their base. But aren't we all tired of having this debate every couple of years? Aren't we worried that there will come a time when both sides dig in their heels and goes into default? Is default inevitable in the long run? I don't have an answer for that. If it happens, it'll be one of those events that looks inevitable in hindsight.

The best way to prepare for and possibly prevent a default is to reduce the amount of power and responsibility that we assign to the federal government. If it's worth doing, and doesn't involve national defense or tangible goods crossing state lines, then it shouldn't be done by the federal government. Our healthcare and your children's education should not be subject to the whims of 536 people who cannot reach a consensus when it matters most.

Tragedy in Norway

Things I wish I could have said to the perpetrator before it happened:
1. You might think that you are waking people up to the threat of Islam. But it's far more likely that they'll wake up to the threat of you and whatever movements you claim to support.
2. Islamic terrorists have planned attacks against Norway. They've planned attacks in a lot of places. I plan to pay off my house and lose 25 pounds within five years, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen. Why not take a wait and see approach? If foreign terrorists do attack, you can say that you were right and more people will listen to you. If they don't, you can rejoice in the fact that your country has been unharmed by the current crisis.
3. Are you really doing this for the reasons that you claim? Do you really want Norway to become a police state? Or are you doing this for the notoriety and the attention? Do you think that 100 years from now, historians will say "Boy, it's a good thing that this guy killed all those people"?
4. Lie face down on the ground, and put your hands behind your head.

Will Social Security checks arrive on time next month?

I think that they probably will. But the President says he cannot guarantee that they will. So let's talk about this. Would you buy a product from a company that could not guarantee that they would deliver that product? Maybe you could get your money back, but in the case of Social Security, your money is the product in question. Whether you blame the President or the GOP for the current fiasco, this is simply one more reason why the federal government should not control your retirement.

I think everyone reading this will agree with the following: "I take the time to weigh each candidate's qualifications and stances on the issues. But sometimes they break their promises once elected. And sometimes some douchebag from a different party cons a bunch of morons into voting for him." The fact is that the wrong people have a way of gaining power. People might disagree about who the wrong people are. But if you put your healthcare and your retirement in the hands of the government, you are putting it in the hands of those wrong people.

City tries its hand at real estate speculation

The first paragraph in this article says it all:

Fort Wayne wants control over how the land near Parkview Field is used, despite having no specific plan for development.

One would think that officials would welcome almost any private investment downtown. Instead, the city has bought this land so that it can cherry-pick potential buyers. If the redevelopment commission tries to micromanage downtown land usage, fewer businesses will be interested in locating there. It seems like many businesses "support" downtown but refuse to move there.

Do we really need the Harrison?

Barry Real Estate still cannot get the financing to build the Harrison building, which is part of the Harrison Square project that is named after Harrison Street. (This city has a habit of shunning creative names, but that's another post.) Barry Real Estate insists that the recession could not have been anticipated.

It's hard to argue with that. Even economists have difficulty predicting what the economy is going to do. But the recession has taken a heavy toll on the real estate market. The City Council did not know that this would happen when Harrison Square was approved in 2007. Now that the real estate market has changed, perhaps it is time to reconsider what should be in the empty space next to the ballpark. If the goal is still to generate property tax revenue to put in the TIF fund and help pay off the bonds that were sold to pay for the ballpark, then a new developer should be found.

Of course, many important and influential people are going to have conflicting ideas about what should be in that spot. But they should resist the urge to declare "My way or the highway". The city should let a developer willing to invest his own money decide what should be built there, as well as guarantee that his business will be allowed to remain as long as he pays his bills and complies with local ordinances.

Whatever your opinion of the Harrison Square project is, you still need to understand that companies have a love/hate relationship with eminent domain. They hate it when a high-value location is taken away from them, but occasionally they like having the city take an albatross (remember Southtown?)off their hands. If companies have to worry about their buildings being bulldozed to make way for the next mayor's grand vision, downtown could stagnate even if the economy takes off. Whatever happens with the condos, and whatever you think about the project as a whole, let's agree to quit using downtown as a political sandbox.

Dead Kids Make Bad Laws

Here's an interesting article about a New Jersey law that requires teen drivers to have a special decal on their car. It's not exactly the worst law ever passed, but this is an interesting case where both supporters and opponents of this law cite children's safety as the reason for their opinion. This shows how emotions can cloud the judgement of legislators.

Another video

You're too lazy to read and I'm too lazy to write. Enjoy a video!

How you can be sure that OBL is dead.

Some people think that Bin Laden is still alive. While the US government has certain credibility issues, a little common sense would go a long way into understanding why they wouldn't lie about this.

If Bin Laden is alive, I would think that he would be motivated to put out another video in order to embarrass his foes. For him to stay silent and "play dead", you would have to think that it is in both Bin Laden's interests and the US government's interests to mislead everyone else into thinking that he is dead.

Truth may be the first casualty of war, and it can be argued that some lying is needed when the enemy has access to the same Internet as everyone else. But a skilled liar has to tell the truth occasionally in order to keep his lies believable. Whatever you think of this war or the current president, there is no doubt that Bin Laden is dead.

Bin Laden is dead.

A century before the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, President Theodore Roosevelt said "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." He claimed that this proverb originated in Africa. Insert your own joke about American Presidents and alleged African origins here.

It should be apparent to people of all nations, no matter their station in life or whatever god they believe in, that America carries many sticks of all shapes and sizes. Let's hope that this still-new millennium gives us the chance to speak softly to the world once again.

Planned Parenthood funding

Cutting funding for Planned Parenthood was the right thing to do. While it is my opinion that an organism needs a functional nervous system before it has any rights, I still think it is wrong for the state or the federal government to force people to pay for activities that they find morally abhorrent.
I enjoy violent video games, but I don't think Jack Thompson should pay for my fun. I enjoy hamburgers, but I don't think vegans should have to subsidize the beef industry. And I certainly don't think that environmentalists should have to pay to bailout a company that makes SUV's.

Attention birthers

Pick one and go with it.
1. Obama has cleared up a huge misunderstanding by doing more to establish he was born in the US than any previous president. It's time to focus on other issues.
2. There is a vast leftist conspiracy to make the president's critics believe in conspiracies. This conspiracy is intended to make Obama's critics look like whackjobs. Until this conspiracy is finally uncovered, the best way to counter it is to: (A)disregard any information you read about the president in a chain email (B) avoid relaying any information about "something that you heard happened to a friend of a friend who was a Marine or a cop or something" (C) remember that if the President attends church and says he is a Christian, that is an indicator that he isn't Muslim.

Why bother raising the debt ceiling?

It strikes me as absurd that Congress and the President even bother to go through with the formality of raising the debt limit. Why have a limit at all when it can be raised at will?

The real debt limit is how much foreigners are willing to lend us before they decide Treasury bonds aren't a good investment anymore. Nobody knows what that limit is, and I just assume that we never find out.

Thoughts on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War

1. Whenever the anniversary of a war rolls around, I wonder if there is a subconscious urge among our leaders to make themselves remembered, to make become "great" men as opposed to merely good men. I would like to hear a presidential candidate promise that his term in office will be prosperous and uneventful, and that school children a century from now will have trouble remembering his name. Learn from history, draw inspiration from it, but never, ever attempt to imitate it.
2. From time to time, we'll hear someone speak fondly of states' rights. But in my view, the right of individuals trump the rights of both state and federal governments. My right to leave your plantation is more important than your right to leave the Union.

Government Shutdown

The federal government might shut down all non-essential functions tonight. Some folks see this as a good thing. But it is my understanding that a shutdown will end up costing us more money in the long run, since furloughed government employees will get back pay for the time that they weren't allowed to work.

The possibility of a government shutdown brings up a good question: If it isn't essential, why should we be paying for it at a time when financial resources are scarce? Of course, we can all argue over what is and isn't essential all day long. But if a "non-essential" program is really essential to you, the possibility of a government shutdown is all the more reason that you shouldn't trust the government to provide it for you.

Is Mitch Daniels a Time Traveler?

When I first heard of Barack Obama, I thought that he was too smart to be a real American. But when he claimed that his uncle liberated Auschwitz, that was all the proof I needed that he was educated in the United States.

But after seeing this:

and this:

I am starting to have my doubts about where and when our governor is from. This raises several questions.
1. Are "Crewman Daniels" and Governor Daniels the same person?
2. If Governor Daniels intends to run for president, can he show proof that he is at least 35, both biologically and chronologically? For all we know, he could have skipped over several years of his own lifespan.
3. Was he born in a timeline in which the United States existed?
4. Couldn't he have prevented certain catastrophes with his knowledge of the future? Couldn't he have warned the Colts that the Saints were going to attempt an onside kick after halftime in last year's Superbowl?

Why They Fight

Libya

Some thoughts:
1. Gadaffi deserves to be overthrown. But whoever kills him or otherwise ousts him will bear the responsibility of running Libya. America does not need that responsibility right now.
2. I really hope that we do not get in the habit of intervening in Middle Eastern civil wars. If the objective is to protect civilians, why not do the same for Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria?
3. Obama has promised not to send ground troops. Does he intend to keep that promise if Gadaffi defeats the rebels on the ground? This is yet another conflict fought with use of half-measures.

Fort Wayne's drug house law

Here's a pop quiz for Fort Wayne landlords: Which of the following are you not allowed to lease a house or apartment to?
A. A convicted murderer.
B. A convicted child molester.
C. A suspected drug user who has not even been arrested or charged with a crime yet.

To be clear, Section 130.06 of City Code prohibits property owners from knowingly allowing gambling, prostitution, or illegal drug crimes to take place on their property. I would think that if a landlord knew that a tenant was selling drugs, he would notify the police and file for eviction, or he would insist on a share of the profits. People who run criminal enterprises go to great lengths to conceal their operations from law-abiding citizens.

So how exactly is a landlord supposed to know if a tenant is a drug dealer? Here's what the law says:

Upon completion of investigation by the Police Department revealing that such suspected illegal activity is taking place at a particular premises, the Police Department may send a Notice of Investigation to the owner of the real estate and a copy to the tenant/occupant whose premise is the subject of the investigation, by certified mail, return receipt requested, informing the owner that the investigation revealed suspected illegal activity and the fact that there is an on-going investigation. The Notice of Investigation shall inform the owner that it is a violation of the Fort Wayne Code for the owner of real estate to knowingly permit its real estate to be used as a site for any use or sale of illicit narcotics or controlled dangerous substances, gambling or prostitution. The Notice of Investigation shall also state that the city may initiate enforcement proceedings against the owner of the real estate if the suspected illegal activity does not cease. Finally, the Notice of Investigation shall advise that it is a defense to a proceeding to enforce this section if the owner of real estate institutes and completes eviction proceedings in compliance with division (F) of this section against the person suspected of engaging in the criminal conduct giving rise to the Notice of Investigation.

Got all that? What it means is that if the police thinks that a tenant is a drug dealer, they can pretty much require his landlord to evict him.

This law hasn't been enforced recently, but the city plans to change that. First, let me stress that my opinion of police officers is much higher than that of drug dealers. But I have three questions.
1. If the police think that a guy is selling drugs, why not simply arrest him instead of sending a certified letter to his landlord?
2. If a landlord did know all along that drugs were being sold at his house, why not simply charge him as an accessory and seize the house?
3. Mistakes do happen. If a man is found innocent, shouldn't he be allowed to go back to the home he had when he was arrested?

There are many anti-drug laws on the books, most of them harsher than Section 130.06. The reason why I am bringing this one up is because I think this law has the highest immediate potential for causing innocent people who pay their bills on time to be thrown in the street.

What to do with the $75 million

Some of it, if not all of it, should be set aside for a rainy day fund. Remember last year when we were warned that property tax caps would cause revenue shortfalls? If that is the case, then the city doesn't need to find a new project to blow its wad on.

I've also been hearing for the past two years that the recession is either ending or is over. Property values and tax revenues may go back up, and they may go down. The mayor might hope for the former, but he would be wise to prepare for the later.

"Right to Work"

"Right to work" laws have a misleading name. It's a given that everyone has a legal right to work in this state. Everyone has a legal right to get married too, but the reality is that not everyone who wants a spouse or a job will actually find one. You can't just hire or marry anybody who answers your classified ad. People have to meet certain requirements that vary greatly between potential employers and mates.

Employers have a right to require an employee to join a union, just as they have a right to insist that a worker receive training or attend certain classes. Admittedly, many now wish to give up this right and have lobbied the state legislature to that end. This is obviously intended to weaken unions.

The government has been used as a weapon by both labor and management against each other in disputes. It's wrong when either side does it.

It's my opinion that government should not interfere with either companies or unions. Our current economic state is the result of government interference. Asking for more interference is the wrong way to correct it.

Mideast protests and uprisings

If it were not obvious before, perhaps it is now: Not even the most powerful nation can ever force people to be free. It's a decision that they have to make for themselves.

The case against the internet kill switch

Egypt has activated its own internet kill switch. This was a desperate act, but the consequences of using such a contingency plan would be even more dire. I don't have to tell anyone reading this that much of the US economy depends on the Internet. If the Internet went offline tommorrow, many Americans would be unable to make phone calls, and thus would not have access to emergency services such as police, ambulances, and firefighters. Whatever the reasons for activating the kill switch, there will be panic and conspiracy theories galore. It could very well cause more civil unrest than it prevents.

Proponents of a US kill switch claim that it could be to prevent a cyberattack. Talk about destroying the village in order to save it. Thousands of IT departments ewploying various security measures can do a better job of protecting themselves than a single giant bureaucracy.

Bombing at a Moscow airport

My immediate thought about this is the federal government can spend billions of dollar turning every domestic flight into a flying Alcatraz, and terrorists will decide that they don't even need to board a plane to cause mayhem. If your highest priority is to avoid being killed by a terrorist, then perhaps you should stay home, hide in the cellar, and avoid saying anything inflammatory. But please let everyone else live their lives. The world cannot be as safe as we would like it to be. We should not let maniacs dictate national policy. Nail clippers don't hijack planes, people do.

This is what irony is.

I just saw this commercial yesterday. I find it ironic that my tax dollars bailed out the company that made the product in this commercial. Here's hoping Americans in Detroit start getting cars right, and Americans in Washington DC start getting freedom right.

Just a reminder...

If Maniac A advocates Idea B, that should never be taken as refutation of Idea B. Bad people can still have good ideas (example: the Volkswagen Beetle). Crazy people will attempt to imitate other people in order to appear sane, and therefore will espouse some of the same ideas. And some maniacs might attempt to apply reverse psychology by outwardly advocating for a cause that they secretly want to discredit.

Congresswoman shot, others killed

The first reports that I heard was that Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D, AZ 8th) was killed, but as of this writing she was merely wounded and was even responsive. I hope that she recovers enough to serve out the rest of her term.

After visiting the suspected shooter's Youtube page, (hat tip to DailyKos) I think that he was either mentally ill or trying to convince everyone else that he was mentally ill. Whatever the case, I hope he stays locked up for a long time.

Lastly, I hope that this does not have any undue impact on public policy. I hope that this does not affect any upcoming votes in Congress. I don't want any controversial bill to lose by a margin of one and have people say that it would have passed if Mrs. Giffords had not been shot. Finally, I hope that this is not used to rationalize more infringement on our civil liberties. The world can never be as safe as we would like it to be, but we can still live our lives as we choose.

Who should you take seriously in 2011?

If the Republicans in Congress vote to raise the debt ceiling, it's time to stop taking them seriously as fiscal conservatives.

If Democrats continue to push for more government spending as a cure for economic woes, it's time to stop taking them seriously on economic matters. If the recession isn't over by now, it's time for a different strategy. On the other hand, if you want to think that the recession is over, then there is no need for further stimulus.

Net neutrality

Does anyone reading this blog really think that all data traveling over the internet should be treated equally? Is this video as important as an online course or a doctor communicating with a patient via web cam?


I use the Internet to write on this blog and to play Call of Duty online. There are corporations and universities that have way better things to do with their bandwidth than I do. If they want to reach an arrangement with their ISPs to get the better access that they need, they should be allowed to do so.

Do we really want the FCC regulating the Internet? Ever notice that networks will still air "Pearl Harbor" but won't show "Saving Private Ryan"? You can thank the FCC for that.

Wikileaks and Hacktivists

I work as a private security officer, so I understand the importance of secrecy. I have signed a confidentiality agreement, and I will not breach that agreement on this blog or any other website. Military personnel and civilians who hold security clearances have an obligation to protect secrets as well.

If a soldier releases a classified secret to a journalist, then that soldier should be disciplined. But secrets are like intestinal gas: once passed along, everyone knows about it and it cannot be taken back. Sometimes you don't even know who spilled the beans or cut the cheese. Once it's out, everyone is free to talk about it.

Journalists should be allowed to publish these former secrets because the damage is either already done or is inevitable. If Julian Assange knows something, Osama bin Laden probably knows it too. What I find bizarre is all this emphasis on one website. Aren't there plenty of other conspiracy theory websites? Why is Wikileaks taken anymore seriously than any other forum filled with anonymous trolls?

What is really making me mad are the "hacktivists". These politically motivated hackers are no better and no worse than common vandals. They should be denounced for their methods rather than be admired for their cause. In my opinion, those people are the ones who really do belong in prison.

Should poor people pay taxes at all?

Since poor people are more likely to spend additional income, liberals tend to advocate policies that steer money towards the poor. Since taxes are a net drain on the economy, conservatives tend to support cutting taxes.

So here's my idea that I think everyone can get behind: make all income up to the federal poverty level tax exempt. For an Alaskan (the federal poverty level is the highest in that state.) living by himself, that would be $13,530.

People can argue all day long about what the poverty level should be later. But can't we all agree that a government that has enough money to give to multi-billion corporations should not be taking money from people who can barely make ends meet?

This would be a tax break that can pay for itself in the long run: poor people who can take care of themselves would be less dependent on social services.

Close Guantanamo for Christmas

This time of year, we are all reminded that most Americans worship a shaggy haired Middle-Easterner who was brutally tortured and killed by a superpower.

While I recognize that sometimes not even Middle-Easterners can avoid killing other Middle-Easterners, we probably should leave out that whole torture thing. I don't want us to be the antagonists in somebody else's New and Improved Testament centuries from now.

Civil Forfeiture in Indiana

Here is a good article about civil forfeiture in Indiana.

How does this issue affect you and your kids?

It could affect you if you are ever accused of a crime. To put you in prison, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty. But to take your house, the prosecutor only needs to establish that you probably committed an offence.

It is affecting your kids because seized funds are supposed to be turned over to public schools, but instead the money has been going to private attorneys and the police departments who pursued the cases.

Another Modern Modest Proposal: Convert to Islam to Make Yourself Safer!

(Before sending me any hate mail or posting flame comments, kindly read about the original Modest Proposal.)

It seems that there are many people who are willing to sacrifice their own liberty to make themselves safer from terrorists. I'm not here to judge people for having values that are different from mine, but I did have an idea. Why not go all the way and convert to Islam so that terrorists won't want to blow you up?

Let's face it, the TSA simply will not do what it takes to make you completely safe on an airplane. I don't doubt the sincerity of the intent of these civil servants, but how do they expect to keep bombs off the plane if they aren't checking body cavities? But assuming that Al Qaeda is sincere in its intentions, a plane full of innocent Muslims will do more to deter a suicide bomber than any federal official.

Islam will make you safer on the ground as well. Any state that adopts sharia law can dramatically reduce drunk driving overnight. You don't hear about drunks running over little kids in the streets of Saudi Arabia. Why do some people put the First Amendment over the safety of our children?

Ban on perfume at Northrup?

A mother wants Northrup High School to ban perfume. She insists that her son is allergic to freshly sprayed perfume. Some allergists say that this isn't possible, but it still could be an asthmatic reaction. Whatever it is, let's assume for the sake of argument that there is a causal relationship between high concentrations of perfume and respiratory distress in this particular boy. Students could still be allowed to wear modest amounts of perfume, as long as they didn't spray it in the same room as the boy. However, it should be explained to the students that deliberately trying to cause breathing problems by spraying perfume could be construed as battery or even attempted murder, depending on the mood of the county prosecutor.

I wonder if Dr Crawford is going to push for a ban on perfume in private clubs.

What does TSA stand for?

TSA=Touch Some Ass?

The TSA has started making airline passengers go through body scanners that see through clothing. Even if you are willing to go through this in order to feel safer, you should still understand that this will cause the airline industry to lose a lot of business. Body scanners and enhanced pat downs are not going to be tolerated by non-exhibitionists. People are going on trips by car that they would have previously taken by plane.

You are all adult enough to know that it is more dangerous to drive than to fly, so we can expect a rise in highway deaths as a result of these new humiliating procedures. Wasn't the whole point to save lives?

Veterans Day

Go hug a veteran today, if he's into that sort of thing.

Another dumb idea for a law

The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers is seeking a statewide ban on alcoholic energy drinks. The reason they cite is that caffeine masks some of the effects of alcohol, and young people are over-consuming as a result.

This particular effort to protect idiots from their own stupidity is a exercise in futility. Anyone with ID can still buy a case of beer, and anyone at all can still buy caffeinated products. You can take them home and mix them into a glass. If you don't have any clean glasses, you can drink one after the other and have both chemicals in your bloodstream at the same time.

Vote!

Be sure to vote on Tuesday. On Wednesday, be sure to get screened for colon cancer. Having smoke blown up your ass all year can't be very healthy.

Did he really just say that?

Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller cited East Germany as a place that was able to effectively control their border.
First of all, I'll concede two points:
1. East Germany did control their border effectively.
2. Just because they were socialists doesn't mean we can't learn anything from them.

But I think that there are certain differences between East Germany back then and the US today. Namely, East German border guards were ordered to shoot anyone trying to cross on site. On the other hand, the United States is not going to use lethal force against unarmed civilians on our own soil. (At least I hope not.) So unless you're willing to adopt similar policies and tactics, East Germany doesn't really serve as a useful model.

Watch the 3rd district debate here.

Why vote for this guy?

Charles White has committed voter fraud, yet is still leading in the polls for the Indiana Secretary of State race. If you're planning on voting for Charles White, then I invite you to explain your decision by leaving a comment below.

Take Washington to school