CommonThread

No litmus test for parents

2004-12-13T17:52:00.000-08:00

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

2004-12-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

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

2004-12-06T18:03:00.000-08:00

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

2004-12-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-30T17:31:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-26T17:23:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

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.

Gambling Hypocrisy

2004-11-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

So gambling is so bad for society that government must hold a monopoly as a gambling provider? I guess this is similar to some counties holding a monopoly on liquor sales. Or maybe government could choose to have a monopoly on marijuana sales. The gambling hypocrisy is one of the worst, since cities and states clearly make significant revenues from gambling, but prevent private companies from competing with slots or cards or even other lotteries. The hypocritical state houses should get out of the gambling business and let private companies establish commercial gambling enterprises in accordance with local laws - not state monopolies.

Sue Election Officials for Negligence

2004-11-15T17:34:00.000-08:00

Not that I am for frivolous lawsuits, but it seems that some citizens should start suing their Secretary's of State for negligence when voting machines have been allowed to operate without a paper trail. Paper trails are easy, tangible, and stand the test of scrutiny and verification. There have always been nonsense answers that paper trails are too costly and not necessary. Then states should not have adopted this new technology until they could afford to do it right. Electronic voting is great, but we must verify if we are to trust.

School Prayer is Free Speech

2004-11-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

The Democrats frequently take a good idea too far. Separation of Church and State is critical to a secular government the protects everyone's inalienable rights, and public schools should certainly not sanction any particular religion. But to the extent that school prayer is simply free speech, then let it go. I really don't care when or where people pray, as long as the school employees are not participating in their capacity as educators and administrators. And free speech should not granted to some and refused from others, so once you start down this path there must be opportunities for equal participation from all faiths and those who don't need faith. Otherwise, let the kids pray, sing, or dance with devil. It's their call.

Sex Education

2004-11-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

The Washington Post has a funny article about Texas schools buying textbooks for sex education that do not even mention contraceptives or condoms. Honestly, it is surprising if public schools ever get much of anything right, so this is just another example of failed institutions. But ignoring the topic of contraceptives because you want to stress abstinence is like ignoring the topic of war because you want to promote peace. The religious right continues their fascist march to silence any views that go against their scripture. And the government and public schools are playing along, at least in Texas.

Dollar Downer

2004-11-13T18:56:00.000-08:00

A few years ago there was regular reporting on the sorry state of the European economy and how you can tell things were bad because the Euro could only buy 85 or 80 U.S. cents. Those stories are hard to fine these days, but I don't think France and Germany are experiencing economic booms. Given our huge debt, stale job market, and obsession with spreading democracy to those who don't want it, no one really wants to own dollars right now. It now takes US$1.30 to buy one Euro. A growing U.S. economy and raising interest rates will help stem the tide, but these deficits could lead to a worldwide depression (U.S. dollar weak > stop buying foreign goods > U.S. price inflation > foreign economies weaken > stop buying U.S. goods). Bush better stop all of this reckless spending. Soon.

Gun Control Not Found in Constitution

2004-11-12T18:39:00.000-08:00

The 2nd amendment is cited as guaranteeing the right to bear arms. However, it seems more likely that the right to bear arms was not even an issue for discussion among the drafters of the Constitution. Self defense is an inalienable right that doesn't even have to be written. Once you say life, liberty, etc...self-defense is logical imperative. The 2nd amendment is more about citizens defending themselves from the government. Voters should stop politicians from continuing to take away the right to self defense.

Research vs. Burying Head in Sand

2004-11-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

Doesn't seem plausible that the board of the World Health Organization would make a sensible recommendation. Not that I am for the smallpox, but conducting research (hopefully in a private sector/university setting) seems like the only way to prepare defenses against a possible smallpox outbreak. CNN reports that many scientists fear that research could teach people how to do bad things with smallpox. Knowing that people will do bad things regardless of what scientist thinks, I think I put my bet on preparing for the bad things rather than burying our heads in the sand.

At least one thing right about Gonzales

2004-11-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

Alberto Gonzales seems to support torture and has little or no regard for the Geneva Conventions, but at least he has pissed off some people from the far right. CNN reports that his nomination "angers abortion foes". Perhaps there is some hope that, unlike Ashcroft, Gonzales may not impose his own moral views on the rest of the country. The Attorney General is not appointed to do God's work, but to uphold the law, and, most importantly, to uphold the Constitution. CNN quotes Gonzales as saying, "my own personal feelings about (abortion) don't matter. ... The question is, what is the law, what is the precedent, what is binding in rendering your decision. Sometimes, interpreting a statute, you may have to uphold a statute that you may find personally offensive. But as a judge, that's your job." We can only hope.

Right to Die

2004-11-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

Choosing to die seems like a moral issue. Some people would never make that choice. Some faiths would deny salvation from people who make that choice. But why would government prevent people from making that choice? The true sanctity of life is that I choose what to do with my life. This country was founded on the very idea that one religious view would not dominate over another. Once government is not involved in this dispute, then there is a legal issue creating a defensible contract that frees doctors or family members, if necessary, from legal liability and from charges of murder. I am not a lawyer, but as long as the politicians stay out of the way I imagine that such contracts can be arranged.

Get Government Out of the Marriage Business

2004-11-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Government has absolutely no role in saying who can get married and who can't get married. Marriage is a choice for individuals according to their own religious or personal beliefs. No politician can tell me whether I am or am not married to my wife. And government should have no part in deciding what the word "marriage" means to different people. The issue of gay marriage is not for politicians to address. All your local courthouse wants to know is whether there is a contractual agreement for joint custody of property. Call them civil unions or whatever term bureaucrats prefer, but discrimination does not belong in the Constitution. If Congress in its shortsighted manner has granted certain rights and benefits to "married" couples, then those benefits should either be granted to everyone or taken away from everyone - no preferential treatment is desired or necessary. But the Constitution is only for securing rights, not for taken them away. No matter what your minister may say on Sunday, politicians have a job to protect the rights of everyone of every faith.

Accountability for Intelligence

2004-11-09T19:37:00.000-08:00

December's Atlantic Monthly provides an indictment against CIA leadership from a top counterterrorist officer. While improving the organization or processes or workforce of the intelligence community will certainly improve intelligence and, ultimately, our security, intelligence failures are fundamentally due to leadership's lack of courage to plan, prioritize, and manage the resources paid for by U.S. taxpayers. The CIA, more than any other Federal agency, must be accountable for its failures as well as its successes. A good start would be to privatize the non-essential functions which are not inherently government and then recruit top-notch executives who can manage for results. Of course, at the end of the day it is policymakers in the executive branch who are ultimately accountable for the actions they take, regardless of the intelligence that is or is not available.

Whither the Democrats

2004-11-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

The Republicans have left a huge, gaping hole in the middle of the political spectrum. If the Democrats are going to have any chance of countering the GOP they must come to terms with leaving behind their more socialist, left-wing members. Voters do not want huge spending deficits, they want politicians to demonstrate fiscal discipline. Democrats have an opportunity to combine a platform of civil rights for everyone with responsible government that limits spending and ends deficit spending. Democrats will have to stop the class warfare of taking from the rich to provide for the poor. They must move to fill voter demands for government restraint in spending, restraint in foreign wars, restraint in activist judges who give rights where there are none, and restraint in activist politicians who take away rights that are basic to all. To be clear, I have never voted for a Republican or Democrat presidential candidate. But a divided government is better than a government unified under a single ideology.

Whose values?

2004-11-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

Monday’s edition of The Washington Post covered the role evangelicals played in leading Bush to victory. Christians were extolled to “vote their values.” As many have noted in recent days, this approach to politics is putting the secular state at risk. Our nation was founded on the principle that all people have basic rights and those rights are protected by the Constitution. It is the role of government to protect rights, not take them away. Values are a part of each family and community across this country, but politicians must uphold the basic rights of all regardless of their own personal beliefs. The “values” crowd is working to take away rights from those who do not share their religion or their beliefs. Are Christians who did not vote for Bush any less Christian? That is the religous war that evangelicals are bringing to the homeland.

War on Drugs?

2004-11-07T14:34:00.000-08:00

Now that we are fighting a War on Terrorism it might useful to think about how well we fought that other war that can't be won, the War on Drugs. We have spent billions of dollars, infringed the rights of millions, put thousands behind bars, and fostered instability around the globe (e.g. Colombia, Afghanistan, etc..) and in our own neighborhoods. The best way to win the War on Drugs is to stop fighting. Crime should be punished when it occurs, but fighting crime before it occurs simply tramples on civil liberties and creates an underground of illicit activity. Punish the murderer, punish the thief, punish anyone who damages property or life, but end a war which punishes people for the choices they make with their own lives. I don't do drugs, but I feel better about a world that allows each individual to make that choice for themselves. Check out this book to discover a better way.

Beware of Fascism

2004-11-07T09:57:00.000-08:00

Fascism results when government becomes a civil religion. Nationalism is a common foundation, while God is evoked as the source of validation for policy. Ceremony and ritual creep into politics so that a sense of belonging to something comes from government rather than family and community. Racism is not a requirement for fascism, but it is often a by-product. Fascism does not tolerate diversity of thought - there is no reason to question government policy or ask if mistakes have been made.

Americans must wake up and stop government's ever expanding role in our lives. It may be an overstatement to say that Bush is a fascist, but the similarities are disconcerting.

God and Politics

2004-11-06T14:44:00.000-08:00

It is instructive to remember that many decades ago religon played a much larger role in everyday life than it does today. When the Founding Fathers established our government, the idea of separating God from anything was radical. But they new then that God did not have a role to play in a government of truly free people, in a country that believes all men are created equal. Our political leaders must not govern based on the Bible or Koran or any other religous doctrine. The Constitution is the only document that matters. Politicans who believe they are doing Gods work should not be politicians.