No litmus test for parents

The San Jose Mercury reports that a California couple risked losing their newborn to some government bureaucrat who thought the child might be better off without his parents. It is not government's role to apply some litmus to determine which parents are fit and which are not. The parents did not commit a crime, but some government agency believed that these parents should be punished with the loss of their child. Child protection services across the country are overextending their reach trying to apply some social suitability test. Child protection should have a role when parents are unable to raise their child due to incarceration, otherwise parents raise children, albeit some will do a better job than others.

Governments playing tax games

If taxes are levied, they should be collected in a transparant and equitable manner. Taxes are not a tool for social activists, but city, state and federal tax collections follow byzantine rules that hand out tax preferences like candy. The worst behavior is seen when cities try to lure new businesses to their regions by offering huge tax breaks, thereby shifting the tax burden to current residents and business owners. Good government maintains the same low tax levels for all constituents in a transparant manner rather than placing uneven burdens according to the whims of bureaucrats.

Let private sector conduct stem cell research

President Bush long ago limited the use of Federal funds for stem cell research. Now California is creating a tax-payer funded agency for stem cell research. The right answer is to let the private sector and academia fill the demand for scientific research, including stem cell research. But if governments decide to fund science, then science must be the guide and not religious leaders. When government starts to bend science to support religion, this is a sure sign of government over reaching.

Legal prostitution better protects prostitutes

What is the crime of prostitution? People have the right what to chose how to use their body, whether for fun or for riches. Criminalizing prostitution expose prostitutes to an unsafe work environment where they are exploited by their "protectors". Regulating prostitution like any other sexually explicit business would better protect those who chose to use their body for income - just like runway models, many Hollywood actresses, and many pop stars on MTV.

Parents needed, not Government

The medical marijuana case at the Supreme Court is clearly a stepping stone towards drug legalization. It is frustrating that people have to take the government to court in order to get politicians to stop interfering in our lives. Drug Free America Foundation claims "children are most at risk from legalization and the accompanying availability of recreational drugs." The world is full of risk and its the job of parents to guide their children away from the many dangers of life - don't run with scissors, don't eat glue, don't jump off of a tall building. Protecting children is the job of parents and the community - government should worry about securing the country and stop interfering in the activities of peaceful adults.

Censorship: Just turn it off

The FCC is perhaps one of the best examples of unnecessary government intervention. Every citizen has the power of censorship and there is no need for bureaucrats to be determining what we can or can't watch. If you don't like something, change the station, or just turn off the TV or radio. The power of the consumer will determine what is appropriate content for the airwaves, and without the FCC there would be true diversity in the programming choices. There are plenty of morning radio shows that I find offensive, but they are some of the most popular broadcasts. People will be their own censors - no government employee should be wasting taxpayer money trying to determine what we can or cannot watch or listen to.

Jobs are key to higher wages

The best path to higher wages is by demonstrating successful employment at lower levels. Jobs at very low wages might not be enough to raise a family, but they are the stepping stone for hard-working individuals. Even working six months on a job, with a good attitude, hard work, showing up on time, and giving the extra effort is enough to win a recommendation from an employer in order to gain higher wage employment. And this must be repeated over and over to earn even higher wages. The minimum wage is a trap and it keeps many people with less marketable skills from even getting started on the road to financial independence. Raising the minimum wage just raises the barrier for youth, immigrants, and low-skilled workers.

Self-Determination for Muslims

The War on Terror and the War in Iraq have mainly to do with Middle East stability. But Mideast stability for decades has been the product of dictatorships, monarchies, and military rule. This is not democracy and democracy is not the true aim of U.S. policy. Stability in that region is about stable oil prices and keeping the Muslim masses poor, ignorant, and powerless. The U.S. should stop the hypocrisy of preaching democracy and then preventing self-determination in the Arab world. Live and let live also means leave alone and stop interfering. Go get bin Laden and bring our troops home.