Reaping the Benefits of Capitalism
One of my favorite fallacies about capitalism and prices is the idea that things were somehow cheaper in the past. People love to cite gasoline prices as an example. It may just be that because gas prices are posted on every corner for all to see that they suffer such scrutiny. However, I began driving in 1984, when gas was $1.20/gallon. Yesterday, I filled up for $1.38/gallon. That's a jump of 18 cents over 19 years, an annual jump I'll take for the rest of my life, if possible. But you know what? I'd probably be on the losing side of the proposition, because, if it were not for the rises in taxes applied to gasoline over the years, the price would actually be lower than it was in '84.
When I began driving, a set of tires was good for about 30-40,000 miles, depending on the kind of driving you did (highway or city), the kind of driver you were (good or bad), and the brand.
I bought a brand new Saturn SL2 in 1997, and got 52,000 miles on the factory Firestones. I was really pleased with the performance, but I chose to replace them with a set of Bridgestones. The total cost was $414, just over four years ago.
The Bridgestones met their death today. One blew out on the highway over the weekend. I was exceptionally pleased with the performance, however, as I got 77,000 miles out them!
Despite this, I replaced them with a set of Pirellis. They are said to be a better tire. They are warranted for 85,000 miles, with free replacement, plus free road hazard replacement! Total cost? $362.48!
The benefit of capitalism: The real price for a better product today costs less than it was for an inferior one four years before.
Monday, August 04, 2003
Sunday, August 03, 2003
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
More Adventures In Letters To The Editor
I post this comparison not as a matter of complaint, but as another 'isn't it interesting to see where the thing started, and where it ended up' kind of thing.
Here is my letter, as printed this morning in the Indy Star:
"Look to Libertarians to provide solution", July 30, 2003
A headline on the front page July 27 asked an important question: "Higher taxes: Who's to blame?" As Democrats and Republicans predictably blame each other, something should become clear: They are both correct. Both parties are the co-authors of this horror story.
The follow-up question should be, "Lowering taxes: Who will provide the solution?" The Libertarian Party has always been the advocate of the taxpayer. We believe the taxpayer's dollar belongs in the taxpayer's pocket, not to a government caught being greedy.
Voters who replace incumbents at the polls with other Democrats and Republicans can expect no changes, because they believe that tax dollars belong in government's coffers first and in taxpayer's pockets last.
Voters who want a change will vote Libertarian.
Michael R. Kole, Secretary, Libertarian Party of Indiana
Indianapolis
Below is the full letter. The things that were cut out are featured in italics. Substitutions are in parenthesis.
A headline found on the front page of Sunday's Star asked a very important question, "Higher taxes: Who's to blame?"
As Democrats and Republicans predictably blame each other, something should become clear: they are both correct. The Democrats and Republicans (both) together are the co-authors of this horror story.
The follow up-question should be, "Lowering taxes: Who will provide the solution?"
Naturally, Democrats and Republicans would claw each other in a race to declare themselves the advocate of the taxpayer. But don't lose sight of the cause of the problem: Democrats and Republicans. Can you trust them? It has taken nothing less than their own creation of a disaster to become the sudden defenders of property owners.
The Libertarian Party has always been the advocate of the taxpayer. We have always believed that the taxpayer's dollar belongs in the taxpayer's pocket, not merely as a remedy to a government caught being egregiously greedy(.), but as a constant matter of principle.
Voters who replace incumbents at the polls with other Democrats and Republicans can expect no changes, because they believe that, as a matter of principle, taxpayer dollars belong in government's coffers first, and in taxpayer pockets last.
Voters who want a change will vote Libertarian.
Michael R. Kole, Secretary, Libertarian Party of Indiana
In all, I'd say that the deletions aren't terribly egregious, although I wonder if the Star's Editorial Paged Editor believes her readers are unaware of the meaning of that word. I'm glad I made the point that the property tax issue is a self-inflicted wound three times. Although they printed my least pointed enunciation of the point, it did come across, and that's really all I can ask for.
My friend Kevin Fleming, also an LP member, and a candidate for Indy City-County Council, had his letter printed on Monday. We're getting the ink on the right issue. The next step is to be included in the stories themselves. We are the solution, after all.
I post this comparison not as a matter of complaint, but as another 'isn't it interesting to see where the thing started, and where it ended up' kind of thing.
Here is my letter, as printed this morning in the Indy Star:
"Look to Libertarians to provide solution", July 30, 2003
A headline on the front page July 27 asked an important question: "Higher taxes: Who's to blame?" As Democrats and Republicans predictably blame each other, something should become clear: They are both correct. Both parties are the co-authors of this horror story.
The follow-up question should be, "Lowering taxes: Who will provide the solution?" The Libertarian Party has always been the advocate of the taxpayer. We believe the taxpayer's dollar belongs in the taxpayer's pocket, not to a government caught being greedy.
Voters who replace incumbents at the polls with other Democrats and Republicans can expect no changes, because they believe that tax dollars belong in government's coffers first and in taxpayer's pockets last.
Voters who want a change will vote Libertarian.
Michael R. Kole, Secretary, Libertarian Party of Indiana
Indianapolis
Below is the full letter. The things that were cut out are featured in italics. Substitutions are in parenthesis.
A headline found on the front page of Sunday's Star asked a very important question, "Higher taxes: Who's to blame?"
As Democrats and Republicans predictably blame each other, something should become clear: they are both correct. The Democrats and Republicans (both) together are the co-authors of this horror story.
The follow up-question should be, "Lowering taxes: Who will provide the solution?"
Naturally, Democrats and Republicans would claw each other in a race to declare themselves the advocate of the taxpayer. But don't lose sight of the cause of the problem: Democrats and Republicans. Can you trust them? It has taken nothing less than their own creation of a disaster to become the sudden defenders of property owners.
The Libertarian Party has always been the advocate of the taxpayer. We have always believed that the taxpayer's dollar belongs in the taxpayer's pocket, not merely as a remedy to a government caught being egregiously greedy(.), but as a constant matter of principle.
Voters who replace incumbents at the polls with other Democrats and Republicans can expect no changes, because they believe that, as a matter of principle, taxpayer dollars belong in government's coffers first, and in taxpayer pockets last.
Voters who want a change will vote Libertarian.
Michael R. Kole, Secretary, Libertarian Party of Indiana
In all, I'd say that the deletions aren't terribly egregious, although I wonder if the Star's Editorial Paged Editor believes her readers are unaware of the meaning of that word. I'm glad I made the point that the property tax issue is a self-inflicted wound three times. Although they printed my least pointed enunciation of the point, it did come across, and that's really all I can ask for.
My friend Kevin Fleming, also an LP member, and a candidate for Indy City-County Council, had his letter printed on Monday. We're getting the ink on the right issue. The next step is to be included in the stories themselves. We are the solution, after all.
Sunday, July 27, 2003
Speaking of Body Counts
Where are greater losses suffered by the day, in Iraq or in Chinese coal mines?
Here's the latest update on a story I noticed and began tracking a couple weeks ago:
Where are greater losses suffered by the day, in Iraq or in Chinese coal mines?
Here's the latest update on a story I noticed and began tracking a couple weeks ago:
Yahweh, or Allah
Al Barger asked the very pertinent question for today's American foreign policy on his Culpepper Log:
What is the least amount of killing and destruction that will put the fear of Yahweh into our enemies? That's the $64,000 question.
The answer I have seen pop up over and over is the idea that burying a Muslim in pigs' blood, skin, entrails, etc., closes the gates of heaven, with the suggestion now resurfacing with the Hussein boys being buried this way as a sort of object lesson.
The urban legend website, snopes.com, debunks this one, too, as has Jonah Goldberg, among others.
It certainly would have been cost effective, in every way possible. It's a shame that a simple solution such as this appears not to be in the offing. The $64,000 question is needed, because the American public knows of no other way to deal with a problem but via the quick fix.
I think there is no doubt that the American public has little tolerance for sustaining casualties on a daily basis. More Americans died during a weekend at Gettysburg than in all of Viet Nam, but Americans had Cronkite giving the daily count, and it wore us out faster than the Union in wearing out the South. The daily count is reality here now, and the public will tire of this before 2004.
However, the quick fix suggests not a Dresden, but a Hiroshima, which is freakin' scary. Fortunately, I don't think Americans have any stomach for the job, and as Bush is a political animal, he would never jeopardize the most important objective of all: re-election.
So, to answer the question most accurately and concisely: I don't think the U.S. will be putting the fear of Allah into anybody any time soon. We've become the world's cop, and like most cops, we're feared mostly when in close range, but we're held more in contempt, and heaven help us if we turn our backs.
Al Barger asked the very pertinent question for today's American foreign policy on his Culpepper Log:
What is the least amount of killing and destruction that will put the fear of Yahweh into our enemies? That's the $64,000 question.
The answer I have seen pop up over and over is the idea that burying a Muslim in pigs' blood, skin, entrails, etc., closes the gates of heaven, with the suggestion now resurfacing with the Hussein boys being buried this way as a sort of object lesson.
The urban legend website, snopes.com, debunks this one, too, as has Jonah Goldberg, among others.
It certainly would have been cost effective, in every way possible. It's a shame that a simple solution such as this appears not to be in the offing. The $64,000 question is needed, because the American public knows of no other way to deal with a problem but via the quick fix.
I think there is no doubt that the American public has little tolerance for sustaining casualties on a daily basis. More Americans died during a weekend at Gettysburg than in all of Viet Nam, but Americans had Cronkite giving the daily count, and it wore us out faster than the Union in wearing out the South. The daily count is reality here now, and the public will tire of this before 2004.
However, the quick fix suggests not a Dresden, but a Hiroshima, which is freakin' scary. Fortunately, I don't think Americans have any stomach for the job, and as Bush is a political animal, he would never jeopardize the most important objective of all: re-election.
So, to answer the question most accurately and concisely: I don't think the U.S. will be putting the fear of Allah into anybody any time soon. We've become the world's cop, and like most cops, we're feared mostly when in close range, but we're held more in contempt, and heaven help us if we turn our backs.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Not the First Time Death Photos Displayed
I'm kind of surprised at the minor rumbling about the displaying of photos of Uday and Qusay Hussein. Sure, the photos are unpleasant. Who would expect otherwise?
If you follow the above link, you will see the purpose of releasing photos of dead dictators realized: the iraqi people have the proof. That's important since they probably don't believe much of what they hear right now. They've had Hussein's message force-fed on them for years, and as a result, probably view American information as propaganda. A picture is proof, in addition to being worth 1,000 words.
But this isn't the first time.
Recall 1989, and the execution of the Ceaucescus. The executioners did their work before the camera so that their countrymen would know positively that the Dictator of Rumania and his wife were indeed those being taken out back and shot.
Mussolini, the Fascist Dictator of Italy, similarly had his death displayed. He and his mistress were shot and then hung upside down in a marketplace, where the locals took pleasure in mutilating the corpses.
In all cases, the purpose was the same: to let the people see the truth, and to begin to fear reprisal a little less for the "crime" of speaking freely.
Interestingly enough, Saddam is reputed to have a copy of the Ceaucescu execution tape, and to watch it frequently as a sort of inspiration against suffering the same fate.
I'm kind of surprised at the minor rumbling about the displaying of photos of Uday and Qusay Hussein. Sure, the photos are unpleasant. Who would expect otherwise?
If you follow the above link, you will see the purpose of releasing photos of dead dictators realized: the iraqi people have the proof. That's important since they probably don't believe much of what they hear right now. They've had Hussein's message force-fed on them for years, and as a result, probably view American information as propaganda. A picture is proof, in addition to being worth 1,000 words.
But this isn't the first time.
Recall 1989, and the execution of the Ceaucescus. The executioners did their work before the camera so that their countrymen would know positively that the Dictator of Rumania and his wife were indeed those being taken out back and shot.
Mussolini, the Fascist Dictator of Italy, similarly had his death displayed. He and his mistress were shot and then hung upside down in a marketplace, where the locals took pleasure in mutilating the corpses.
In all cases, the purpose was the same: to let the people see the truth, and to begin to fear reprisal a little less for the "crime" of speaking freely.
Interestingly enough, Saddam is reputed to have a copy of the Ceaucescu execution tape, and to watch it frequently as a sort of inspiration against suffering the same fate.
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
A Staunch Supporter, Unless...
Today's lunch yielded another fun romp through the USA Today's states section.
I would have felt male sympathy for any man who suffered the indignity of a dog bite to the crotch, but since it was the source of his reversal, it rather seems like pre-emptive just desserts.
Today's lunch yielded another fun romp through the USA Today's states section.
I would have felt male sympathy for any man who suffered the indignity of a dog bite to the crotch, but since it was the source of his reversal, it rather seems like pre-emptive just desserts.
Thursday, July 17, 2003
First Bummer
Whether speaking politically or economically, in my 10 months in Indiana, I have found almost everything to be more positive here than in the state I left behind, Ohio.
I gave myself a decent raise just in terms of the income taxes. In Ohio, my income tax rate was a little above 7%. In Indiana, it is 3.13%. In Ohio, I was subjected to double municipal taxes. When I worked in Parma but lived in Cleveland, one charged me 2% and the other 1.5%. In Indiana, I am charged 0.25% by Marion County. That's better than a 7% raise... just for swapping states!
I gained the ability to vote for the party I am a member of, the Libertarian Party, when I moved to Indiana. I couldn't do that in Ohio. The Republicans- Secretary of State Ken Blackwell in particular- made sure of that. Indiana had 160 candidates in 2002. Ohio had zero.
As much as I like my new state, I had hoped to hang on to my Ohio driver's license until it would expire in 2005. My plan was that it would stay in my wallet, along with the money I save in not getting an Indiana licnese. But the BMV threw a wrench in that plan, since my Ohio plates expired in June of 2003. The clever Indiana BMV would not issue Indiana plates without an Indiana drivers license.
So, about 50 bucks and a written test later, I got my Indiana license. It was pretty much in line with the cost of one in Ohio. Then I got my new title and Indiana plate.
$100!
I asked why the heck it cost so much. I was told that there was an excise tax collected by the BMV, the amount of which depended upon my vehicle.
I have a 1997 Saturn SL2. It's a simple A-to-B car. No frills. 130,000 miles. I asked how much the tax would be on an average new car. I was told that it would be anywhere from $800 to $1,000!
Back home, I told Ame about this. Ame has a 1996 Chevy Cadaver, er, Cavalier, with about 125,000 miles. It isn't surviving nearly as well as the Saturn, and she talks frequently about buying a new car. Her response? A definite, "I won't be buying a new car any time soon."
Isn't this a great policy? The people of Indiana are discouraged from buying new cars by an agregious tax. Think about the ramifications of that. Hoosiers are encouraged to drive cars that are falling apart, posing safety risks to the driver inside and everyone else on the roadway. The state that relies more on manufacturing for employment than any other state in the Union, and is especially reliant on the auto industry, proactively shies its own people away from purchasing the products they help make.
The tax is part of an economic shell game. Where Indiana doesn't take through the income tax, it takes through the BMV. It even brags about how the Hoosier Lottery- the greatest tax on ignorance ever invented- helps lessen the excise taxes. You mean if people were smarter and didn't play the Lottery, the excise tax would be higher? Is intelligence ever rewarded instead of punished?
Indiana may be better than Ohio, but it isn't any kind of utopia.
Whether speaking politically or economically, in my 10 months in Indiana, I have found almost everything to be more positive here than in the state I left behind, Ohio.
I gave myself a decent raise just in terms of the income taxes. In Ohio, my income tax rate was a little above 7%. In Indiana, it is 3.13%. In Ohio, I was subjected to double municipal taxes. When I worked in Parma but lived in Cleveland, one charged me 2% and the other 1.5%. In Indiana, I am charged 0.25% by Marion County. That's better than a 7% raise... just for swapping states!
I gained the ability to vote for the party I am a member of, the Libertarian Party, when I moved to Indiana. I couldn't do that in Ohio. The Republicans- Secretary of State Ken Blackwell in particular- made sure of that. Indiana had 160 candidates in 2002. Ohio had zero.
As much as I like my new state, I had hoped to hang on to my Ohio driver's license until it would expire in 2005. My plan was that it would stay in my wallet, along with the money I save in not getting an Indiana licnese. But the BMV threw a wrench in that plan, since my Ohio plates expired in June of 2003. The clever Indiana BMV would not issue Indiana plates without an Indiana drivers license.
So, about 50 bucks and a written test later, I got my Indiana license. It was pretty much in line with the cost of one in Ohio. Then I got my new title and Indiana plate.
$100!
I asked why the heck it cost so much. I was told that there was an excise tax collected by the BMV, the amount of which depended upon my vehicle.
I have a 1997 Saturn SL2. It's a simple A-to-B car. No frills. 130,000 miles. I asked how much the tax would be on an average new car. I was told that it would be anywhere from $800 to $1,000!
Back home, I told Ame about this. Ame has a 1996 Chevy Cadaver, er, Cavalier, with about 125,000 miles. It isn't surviving nearly as well as the Saturn, and she talks frequently about buying a new car. Her response? A definite, "I won't be buying a new car any time soon."
Isn't this a great policy? The people of Indiana are discouraged from buying new cars by an agregious tax. Think about the ramifications of that. Hoosiers are encouraged to drive cars that are falling apart, posing safety risks to the driver inside and everyone else on the roadway. The state that relies more on manufacturing for employment than any other state in the Union, and is especially reliant on the auto industry, proactively shies its own people away from purchasing the products they help make.
The tax is part of an economic shell game. Where Indiana doesn't take through the income tax, it takes through the BMV. It even brags about how the Hoosier Lottery- the greatest tax on ignorance ever invented- helps lessen the excise taxes. You mean if people were smarter and didn't play the Lottery, the excise tax would be higher? Is intelligence ever rewarded instead of punished?
Indiana may be better than Ohio, but it isn't any kind of utopia.
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Suits Me
Remember when that zealot, Stephen Joseph, tried to get Oreo Cookies banned in the People's Republic of California?
I was shopping at Wild Oats- one of those hoity-toity grocers where everything seems to be priced 200% higher than at the usual chain grocers, with a heavy emphasis on organic products.
I always get a chuckle out of packaged organic foods. There may not have been any pesticide used, but there is often no shortage of sodium or fat in these packaged goodies.
I got the biggest guffaw out of Paul Newman's line of snacks. The Newmans make a big deal on their packaging about being organic and giving the profits to their favorite 'progressive' causes.
That wasn't the gag. The gag was seeing the Newman Oreo equivalent on the shelf. Newman-O's have that naughty saturated fat, but no word on that bad, evil, trans-fat.
Will the zealot be pursuing Newman-O's with the same rigor? I doubt it.
Don't get me wrong. I actually like seeing Newman's products on the shelf. The difference between a capitalist and an authoritarian such as Stephen Joseph is this: A capitalist enjoys seeing more choices in the marketplace, not less, and even enjoys seeing products such as Newman's, that have it built in to support causes I do not necessarily support. The authoritarian will actively seek to eliminate marketplace choices, preventing the capitalist from enjoying the freedom the capitalist will grant the authoritarian.
Remember when that zealot, Stephen Joseph, tried to get Oreo Cookies banned in the People's Republic of California?
I was shopping at Wild Oats- one of those hoity-toity grocers where everything seems to be priced 200% higher than at the usual chain grocers, with a heavy emphasis on organic products.
I always get a chuckle out of packaged organic foods. There may not have been any pesticide used, but there is often no shortage of sodium or fat in these packaged goodies.
I got the biggest guffaw out of Paul Newman's line of snacks. The Newmans make a big deal on their packaging about being organic and giving the profits to their favorite 'progressive' causes.
That wasn't the gag. The gag was seeing the Newman Oreo equivalent on the shelf. Newman-O's have that naughty saturated fat, but no word on that bad, evil, trans-fat.
Will the zealot be pursuing Newman-O's with the same rigor? I doubt it.
Don't get me wrong. I actually like seeing Newman's products on the shelf. The difference between a capitalist and an authoritarian such as Stephen Joseph is this: A capitalist enjoys seeing more choices in the marketplace, not less, and even enjoys seeing products such as Newman's, that have it built in to support causes I do not necessarily support. The authoritarian will actively seek to eliminate marketplace choices, preventing the capitalist from enjoying the freedom the capitalist will grant the authoritarian.
Sunday, July 13, 2003
More From a Most Favored Source
If 6,995 American workers lost their lives on the job in one year, how would most critics react?
If these lives were lost in just one industry, how much howling would be heard about the need to get the government involved?
If these lives- just shy of seven thousand- were lost in just one segment of one industry in one year, wouldn't there be almost universal outcry?
Of course. One could expect the usual accusations to fly from the usual critics: lousy, indifferent management; exploitation of the workers; the greed of ownership; etc.
In this case, the usual critics would be correct. Unfortunately, I have not heard the accusations from the usual critics. Why? The operation in question is China's state owned coal mining industry.
My latest Most Favored Source ran an expose` on this Most Favored Nation's latest human rights outrage in their Tuesday, July 8 edition. There is a dismaying photograph of mine workers pushing three loaded coal hopper cars on a railroad track, up grade.
Mining is filthy business, but at least in the United States, where the greedy capitalist owners are said to run amok, locomotives do this work, and have done so since roughly the time of the Civil War.
If anyone needs to see the difference between capitalism and socialism, this should serve nicely.
If 6,995 American workers lost their lives on the job in one year, how would most critics react?
If these lives were lost in just one industry, how much howling would be heard about the need to get the government involved?
If these lives- just shy of seven thousand- were lost in just one segment of one industry in one year, wouldn't there be almost universal outcry?
Of course. One could expect the usual accusations to fly from the usual critics: lousy, indifferent management; exploitation of the workers; the greed of ownership; etc.
In this case, the usual critics would be correct. Unfortunately, I have not heard the accusations from the usual critics. Why? The operation in question is China's state owned coal mining industry.
My latest Most Favored Source ran an expose` on this Most Favored Nation's latest human rights outrage in their Tuesday, July 8 edition. There is a dismaying photograph of mine workers pushing three loaded coal hopper cars on a railroad track, up grade.
Mining is filthy business, but at least in the United States, where the greedy capitalist owners are said to run amok, locomotives do this work, and have done so since roughly the time of the Civil War.
If anyone needs to see the difference between capitalism and socialism, this should serve nicely.
Favored Source
I tend to pick up a newspaper every day when at work, usually the Indianapolis Star, but sometimes I get the Noblesville papers. When nothing else is available, I get the USA Today.
That's not a slam on the USA Today, although if I have my first choice for a national paper, I get the Investors Business Daily. That's an excellent newspaper. I just prefer to read the local papers.
I ended up picking up USA Today three times this past week. It was just as well, since the local papers were loaded with little but flood coverage. Since I work for the County Surveyor, I get my fillover flood coverage first hand.
One thing had me riveted through three lunches: the States section. It lists one item from each of the 50 states every day. Here are some that caught my eye:
Tuesday, July 8
Columbus - Ohio State University lost a $540,000 state grant for reducing tobacco use among adults in two rural counties after accepting a grant from Philip Morris. The medical school's neuroscience department is using $590,000 from the tobacco company to study how nicotine affects nerve cells. The state grant prohibited recipients from taking money from a tobacco company.
Sounds like OSU is still money ahead, no matter what politically correct edit is issued.
Tuesday, July 8
Portola - Six years after the state poisoned a Sierra lake to rid it of voracious northern pike, the population of the non-native fish is growing fast. A recent effort using explosives to destroy spawning pike in Lake Davis also failed. The pike threaten native fish, and officials fear they will escape from the lake.
If California poisons a lake, it's considered environmental action. If anyone else does it? I've love to see what would happen if a group of sportsmen took to the lake with explosives.
Friday, July 11
Los Angeles - The city will pay nearly $170,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by dozens of homeless people arrested during police sweeps of Skid Row. About $75,000 will go to about 58 people. A class-action lawsuit claimed that the two-day probation and parole sweep resulted in the arrests of many without a violation being properly documented.
How many forties of St. Ides will that buy?
Monday, July 7
Nampa - A former Mexican police officer was among those arrested in a drug bust that netted 100 pounds of marijuana. Adan Diaz, 28, of Stockton, Calif., and two others were arrested on an anonymous tip.
And the Free State Project is seriously looking at Idaho... I guess there will be some changes to be made right away!
Bloggers take note. These are rarely the big stories, but often, they should be. The bonus of the online edition: a full week for each state, per page!
I tend to pick up a newspaper every day when at work, usually the Indianapolis Star, but sometimes I get the Noblesville papers. When nothing else is available, I get the USA Today.
That's not a slam on the USA Today, although if I have my first choice for a national paper, I get the Investors Business Daily. That's an excellent newspaper. I just prefer to read the local papers.
I ended up picking up USA Today three times this past week. It was just as well, since the local papers were loaded with little but flood coverage. Since I work for the County Surveyor, I get my fillover flood coverage first hand.
One thing had me riveted through three lunches: the States section. It lists one item from each of the 50 states every day. Here are some that caught my eye:
Tuesday, July 8
Columbus - Ohio State University lost a $540,000 state grant for reducing tobacco use among adults in two rural counties after accepting a grant from Philip Morris. The medical school's neuroscience department is using $590,000 from the tobacco company to study how nicotine affects nerve cells. The state grant prohibited recipients from taking money from a tobacco company.
Sounds like OSU is still money ahead, no matter what politically correct edit is issued.
Tuesday, July 8
Portola - Six years after the state poisoned a Sierra lake to rid it of voracious northern pike, the population of the non-native fish is growing fast. A recent effort using explosives to destroy spawning pike in Lake Davis also failed. The pike threaten native fish, and officials fear they will escape from the lake.
If California poisons a lake, it's considered environmental action. If anyone else does it? I've love to see what would happen if a group of sportsmen took to the lake with explosives.
Friday, July 11
Los Angeles - The city will pay nearly $170,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by dozens of homeless people arrested during police sweeps of Skid Row. About $75,000 will go to about 58 people. A class-action lawsuit claimed that the two-day probation and parole sweep resulted in the arrests of many without a violation being properly documented.
How many forties of St. Ides will that buy?
Monday, July 7
Nampa - A former Mexican police officer was among those arrested in a drug bust that netted 100 pounds of marijuana. Adan Diaz, 28, of Stockton, Calif., and two others were arrested on an anonymous tip.
And the Free State Project is seriously looking at Idaho... I guess there will be some changes to be made right away!
Bloggers take note. These are rarely the big stories, but often, they should be. The bonus of the online edition: a full week for each state, per page!
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
The Mystery of the Media Mind
I fired off a copy of my entry on the Ellen Goodman / Maine-Health-Care-Is-Good column to my local paper, the Indy Star, and they ran it as a Letter to the Editor.
It is interesting to see what gets cut out. I'll reprint the original below, and highlight in bold the things that were cut, and put in italics the things that were changed or added.
This responds to Ellen Goodman's July 8 column, "What he's done for the people."
If ice cream cones are offered to the public free of charge, you can expect that there will be a run on ice cream cones. The line will be long, and even people who don't particulalry want or need an ice cream cone will queue up to get one. After all- they're free!
If luxury automobiles are similarly given away, the line will be longer, since the unearned value to be obtained is greater.
In the usual analysis of health care, the cost is derided as a great negative. The cost is seen as high, and as preventing some from access to the care. But high cost does have a function. It ensures that need really is the driving force behind acquisition of care. Cost makes all interested parties choose carefully before committing to spending.
Health care, like any other human product or service, is still subject to the laws of supply and demand. Maine Gov. John Baldacci's plan ignores this reality.
What has Baldacci done for the people? He has done something for all of the people, wittingly or not.
I was hoping that Oregon would have passed statewide universal healthcare when the voters had the chance to adapt it. Alas, the voters shot it down 80-20. Maybe the people there know something.
What Baldacci has done in not letting the voters decide is to give the other 49 states a classroom experience. We will all get to see if this thing works or if it fails. Expect it to be a disaster.
Mark Maine's current population statistics. That will be a telling figure. The other telling figure will be the poverty statistics. Expect both to increase. Sure, the people paying the tax bill will have a good reason to exodus, but they will have trouble getting to the turnstyle as those looking for health care that is provided by someone other than themselves clog the entrance.
Maine may not be the last state to enact this hideous policy. If my home state of Indiana follows suit Maine's example, I will make good on the kind of threat George Clooney reneged on: I'll leave it for a more liberty-loving, hospitable state.
That's no idle threat. I gave myself a 7% raise when I left Ohio last August, just on the tax savings. Think I wouldn't do it again?
The edit that strikes me as most curious is the one that begins, 'Mark Maine's current population statistics..." What the edit has done is to leave my assertion hanging out there with no support.
Not surprisingly, both references to unearned benefits were chopped. Also not so surprising was the chopping of my reminder that Oregon voters opposed universal health care in their state in a landslide.
Lastly, I was not surprised to see my description of Maine's policy as 'hideous' removed.
I was glad that what was left of the letter was printed, and that the main case could still be gleaned from it. I find it a fascinating before-and-after comparison, to be sure.
I fired off a copy of my entry on the Ellen Goodman / Maine-Health-Care-Is-Good column to my local paper, the Indy Star, and they ran it as a Letter to the Editor.
It is interesting to see what gets cut out. I'll reprint the original below, and highlight in bold the things that were cut, and put in italics the things that were changed or added.
This responds to Ellen Goodman's July 8 column, "What he's done for the people."
If ice cream cones are offered to the public free of charge, you can expect that there will be a run on ice cream cones. The line will be long, and even people who don't particulalry want or need an ice cream cone will queue up to get one. After all- they're free!
If luxury automobiles are similarly given away, the line will be longer, since the unearned value to be obtained is greater.
In the usual analysis of health care, the cost is derided as a great negative. The cost is seen as high, and as preventing some from access to the care. But high cost does have a function. It ensures that need really is the driving force behind acquisition of care. Cost makes all interested parties choose carefully before committing to spending.
Health care, like any other human product or service, is still subject to the laws of supply and demand. Maine Gov. John Baldacci's plan ignores this reality.
What has Baldacci done for the people? He has done something for all of the people, wittingly or not.
I was hoping that Oregon would have passed statewide universal healthcare when the voters had the chance to adapt it. Alas, the voters shot it down 80-20. Maybe the people there know something.
What Baldacci has done in not letting the voters decide is to give the other 49 states a classroom experience. We will all get to see if this thing works or if it fails. Expect it to be a disaster.
Mark Maine's current population statistics. That will be a telling figure. The other telling figure will be the poverty statistics. Expect both to increase. Sure, the people paying the tax bill will have a good reason to exodus, but they will have trouble getting to the turnstyle as those looking for health care that is provided by someone other than themselves clog the entrance.
Maine may not be the last state to enact this hideous policy. If my home state of Indiana follows suit Maine's example, I will make good on the kind of threat George Clooney reneged on: I'll leave it for a more liberty-loving, hospitable state.
That's no idle threat. I gave myself a 7% raise when I left Ohio last August, just on the tax savings. Think I wouldn't do it again?
The edit that strikes me as most curious is the one that begins, 'Mark Maine's current population statistics..." What the edit has done is to leave my assertion hanging out there with no support.
Not surprisingly, both references to unearned benefits were chopped. Also not so surprising was the chopping of my reminder that Oregon voters opposed universal health care in their state in a landslide.
Lastly, I was not surprised to see my description of Maine's policy as 'hideous' removed.
I was glad that what was left of the letter was printed, and that the main case could still be gleaned from it. I find it a fascinating before-and-after comparison, to be sure.
Tuesday, July 08, 2003
Great Boost!
It was a real thrill for me to get the news that my pal Brad Klopfenstein, a Libertarian candidate for City-County Council here in Indy, earned the endorsement of the F.O.P. The Indy Star has already published a story on the web, which should appear in tomorrow's print edition.
Who knew that the F.O.P. would even consider endorsing a Libertarian?
I ran what I thought of as very good news past a local LP member, and he told me that he was not impressed. He expressed concern that the endorsement of the F.O.P. could send the signal to local party members a shift away from principle.
I think it's terrific to receive the F.O.P.'s nod. It may as easily signal that they are coming around to our principles, that we have made our case convincingly, and that we Libertarians are credible and worthy of support.
I'm not sure which principle he meant. Consistently losing races, perhaps?
See, I'm very interested in conveying credibility to those who haven't voted LP in the past. An endorsement like this can only help convey credibility across party lines in a way few other tools can. It can prompt the timid voter to finally pull that LP lever. After all, we belong to a political party- and not a debate society- for the purpose of electing candidates. What sense is there in scorning an endorsement? What sense is there in preaching only to the choir? Bollocks!
So, rah-rah Brad. I hope you win a seat on the Council because I know that you are the kind of prinicpled man that should be on the Council.
It was a real thrill for me to get the news that my pal Brad Klopfenstein, a Libertarian candidate for City-County Council here in Indy, earned the endorsement of the F.O.P. The Indy Star has already published a story on the web, which should appear in tomorrow's print edition.
Who knew that the F.O.P. would even consider endorsing a Libertarian?
I ran what I thought of as very good news past a local LP member, and he told me that he was not impressed. He expressed concern that the endorsement of the F.O.P. could send the signal to local party members a shift away from principle.
I think it's terrific to receive the F.O.P.'s nod. It may as easily signal that they are coming around to our principles, that we have made our case convincingly, and that we Libertarians are credible and worthy of support.
I'm not sure which principle he meant. Consistently losing races, perhaps?
See, I'm very interested in conveying credibility to those who haven't voted LP in the past. An endorsement like this can only help convey credibility across party lines in a way few other tools can. It can prompt the timid voter to finally pull that LP lever. After all, we belong to a political party- and not a debate society- for the purpose of electing candidates. What sense is there in scorning an endorsement? What sense is there in preaching only to the choir? Bollocks!
So, rah-rah Brad. I hope you win a seat on the Council because I know that you are the kind of prinicpled man that should be on the Council.
No Myopic Stalinist Dwarf is Going to Make a George Clooney out of Me!
Let's nip this thing in the bud before it spreads like a cancer. I felt the tiniest twinge of fear when I read Ellen Goodman's column this morning. Maine passed statewide universal health care, and she thinks it's grand.
My presentation is allegorical. You'll get it as an economic issue this way. Besides, I get to make a reference to luxury automobiles!
If ice cream cones are offered to the public free of charge, you can expect that there will be a run on ice cream cones. The line will be long, and even people who don't particulalry want or need an ice cream cone will queue up to get one. After all- they're free!
If luxury automobiles are similarly given away, the line will be longer, since the unearned value to be obtained is greater.
In the usual analysis of health care, the cost is derided as a great negative. The cost is seen as high, and as preventing some from access to the care. But high cost does have a function. It ensures that need really is the driving force behind acquisition of care. Cost makes all interested parties choose carefully before committing to spending.
Health care, like any other human product or service, is still subject to the laws of supply and demand. Maine Gov. Baldacci's plan ignores this reality.
What has Baldacci done for the people? He has done something for all of the people, wittingly or not.
I was hoping that Oregon would have passed statewide universal healthcare when the voters had the chance to adapt it. Alas, the voters shot it down 80-20. Maybe the people there know something.
What Baldacci has done in not letting the voters decide is to give the other 49 states a classroom experience. We will all get to see if this thing works or if it fails. Expect it to be a disaster.
Mark Maine's current population statistics. That will be a telling figure. The other telling figure will be the poverty statistics. Expect both to increase. Sure, the people paying the tax bill will have a good reason to exodus, but they will have trouble getting to the turnstyle as those looking for health care that is provided by someone other than themselves clog the entrance.
Maine may not be the last state to enact this hideous policy. If my home state of Indiana follows suit, I will make good on the kind of threat George Clooney reneged on: I'll leave it for a more liberty-loving, hospitable state.
That's no idle threat. I gave myself a 7% raise when I left Ohio last August, just on the tax savings. Think I wouldn't do it again?
Let's nip this thing in the bud before it spreads like a cancer. I felt the tiniest twinge of fear when I read Ellen Goodman's column this morning. Maine passed statewide universal health care, and she thinks it's grand.
My presentation is allegorical. You'll get it as an economic issue this way. Besides, I get to make a reference to luxury automobiles!
If ice cream cones are offered to the public free of charge, you can expect that there will be a run on ice cream cones. The line will be long, and even people who don't particulalry want or need an ice cream cone will queue up to get one. After all- they're free!
If luxury automobiles are similarly given away, the line will be longer, since the unearned value to be obtained is greater.
In the usual analysis of health care, the cost is derided as a great negative. The cost is seen as high, and as preventing some from access to the care. But high cost does have a function. It ensures that need really is the driving force behind acquisition of care. Cost makes all interested parties choose carefully before committing to spending.
Health care, like any other human product or service, is still subject to the laws of supply and demand. Maine Gov. Baldacci's plan ignores this reality.
What has Baldacci done for the people? He has done something for all of the people, wittingly or not.
I was hoping that Oregon would have passed statewide universal healthcare when the voters had the chance to adapt it. Alas, the voters shot it down 80-20. Maybe the people there know something.
What Baldacci has done in not letting the voters decide is to give the other 49 states a classroom experience. We will all get to see if this thing works or if it fails. Expect it to be a disaster.
Mark Maine's current population statistics. That will be a telling figure. The other telling figure will be the poverty statistics. Expect both to increase. Sure, the people paying the tax bill will have a good reason to exodus, but they will have trouble getting to the turnstyle as those looking for health care that is provided by someone other than themselves clog the entrance.
Maine may not be the last state to enact this hideous policy. If my home state of Indiana follows suit, I will make good on the kind of threat George Clooney reneged on: I'll leave it for a more liberty-loving, hospitable state.
That's no idle threat. I gave myself a 7% raise when I left Ohio last August, just on the tax savings. Think I wouldn't do it again?
Thursday, July 03, 2003
Some Actually Apologize
I spent the last two weeks in the company of my wife, Ame. It delights me to say that, 'my wife'! We were in our own little world, especially while honeymooning in Banff, Alberta.
It's all too precious to share with those I hope read here. Too impersonal. I love showing the pictures and sharing choice little moments with friends and associates. I won't do it here.
Returning to work was fairly jarring in the break from our private bubble. It wasn't unwelcome. I'm too much a part of the world to stay isolated for long, even though deeply in love. I was unwittingly granted a fine acknowledgement over the phone. The other party noticed that I did not apologize for my absense. I asked if, given the circumstances, they expected that I should. I was told, 'no! of course not!'. Understanding me is the best gift I can receive.
I spent the last two weeks in the company of my wife, Ame. It delights me to say that, 'my wife'! We were in our own little world, especially while honeymooning in Banff, Alberta.
It's all too precious to share with those I hope read here. Too impersonal. I love showing the pictures and sharing choice little moments with friends and associates. I won't do it here.
Returning to work was fairly jarring in the break from our private bubble. It wasn't unwelcome. I'm too much a part of the world to stay isolated for long, even though deeply in love. I was unwittingly granted a fine acknowledgement over the phone. The other party noticed that I did not apologize for my absense. I asked if, given the circumstances, they expected that I should. I was told, 'no! of course not!'. Understanding me is the best gift I can receive.
Saturday, June 14, 2003
The Colts
So, Mr. Irsay wants the City of Indianapolis to shell out some money to improve the RCA Dome, so that he makes more money. Either that, or the Indianapolis Colts will take a drive down the interstate, just as the Baltimore Colts did back in the early 80s.
I can't say I blame him for asking. So many cities give the moon. City officials always cite jobs, but are also always certain to insist that the prestige of the city would dive if a major sports team left.
I'm a big sports fan, but I'm also a big fan of classic and exotic automobiles. I drive a 1997 Saturn, which is neither of these things, but it sure gets me from-A-to-B. It's a reliable car, and gets very good fuel economy.
Just the same, I'm thinking that I'd like to have a Rolls-Royce... and a Ferrari... and a Maserati. These would look really good in my driveway, and I would look and feel good driving them.
I'm thinking that I'd like everyone on my block to pay for these luxury automobiles. Heck- it will improve the prestige of my neighborhood if out-of-towners were to drive down my street and see the Rolls. My neighbors will enjoy the benefit of this enhanced pretige, and it will only cost them each a little bit. They'll hardly notice how much it is.
I'm even thinking that about 10 to 12 times a year, I will allow my neighbors to take a spin with me in the Rolls or the Maserati. They can pay me admission to ride in my car, getting the direct benefit of having purchased the cars for me. Sometimes they can even ride shotgun. Of course, you don't always get to sit on the 50-yard line, so sometimes, my neighbors will have to ride in the trunk. Heck, though- the ticket are almost half as expensive!
Maybe they can't afford the price of tickets for the whole family to ride. Well, they can stand on the sidewalk and watch as I drive by with those who can afford the price of admission. Still- they're getting the enormous benefit of having created a sense of civic pride and pretige for our neighborhood, thanks to my cars. Of course, I'll only let them stand on the sidewalk if I've sold out the admissions to all of the seats, including the trunk. I'm not kind of idiot who is going to let people watch for free from the sidewalk when I have empty seats.
Man, that Irsay guy is a genius! After all, you won't be subsidizing my desire to have exotic cars. But you will seriously consider subsidizing the Colts. Is it for the enormous benefits you will derive?
As for the prestige- does anyone think badly of Los Angeles because the Rams left? Does anybody look down their nose at Houston because the Oilers left? Cleveland and the Browns? No. People have plenty of other good reason for looking down on these cities, the departure of an NFL franchise is the least of the reasons.
I look down my nose on cities that have socialized football. There is no prestige or honor in creating as vapid an elite as that.
So, Mr. Irsay wants the City of Indianapolis to shell out some money to improve the RCA Dome, so that he makes more money. Either that, or the Indianapolis Colts will take a drive down the interstate, just as the Baltimore Colts did back in the early 80s.
I can't say I blame him for asking. So many cities give the moon. City officials always cite jobs, but are also always certain to insist that the prestige of the city would dive if a major sports team left.
I'm a big sports fan, but I'm also a big fan of classic and exotic automobiles. I drive a 1997 Saturn, which is neither of these things, but it sure gets me from-A-to-B. It's a reliable car, and gets very good fuel economy.
Just the same, I'm thinking that I'd like to have a Rolls-Royce... and a Ferrari... and a Maserati. These would look really good in my driveway, and I would look and feel good driving them.
I'm thinking that I'd like everyone on my block to pay for these luxury automobiles. Heck- it will improve the prestige of my neighborhood if out-of-towners were to drive down my street and see the Rolls. My neighbors will enjoy the benefit of this enhanced pretige, and it will only cost them each a little bit. They'll hardly notice how much it is.
I'm even thinking that about 10 to 12 times a year, I will allow my neighbors to take a spin with me in the Rolls or the Maserati. They can pay me admission to ride in my car, getting the direct benefit of having purchased the cars for me. Sometimes they can even ride shotgun. Of course, you don't always get to sit on the 50-yard line, so sometimes, my neighbors will have to ride in the trunk. Heck, though- the ticket are almost half as expensive!
Maybe they can't afford the price of tickets for the whole family to ride. Well, they can stand on the sidewalk and watch as I drive by with those who can afford the price of admission. Still- they're getting the enormous benefit of having created a sense of civic pride and pretige for our neighborhood, thanks to my cars. Of course, I'll only let them stand on the sidewalk if I've sold out the admissions to all of the seats, including the trunk. I'm not kind of idiot who is going to let people watch for free from the sidewalk when I have empty seats.
Man, that Irsay guy is a genius! After all, you won't be subsidizing my desire to have exotic cars. But you will seriously consider subsidizing the Colts. Is it for the enormous benefits you will derive?
As for the prestige- does anyone think badly of Los Angeles because the Rams left? Does anybody look down their nose at Houston because the Oilers left? Cleveland and the Browns? No. People have plenty of other good reason for looking down on these cities, the departure of an NFL franchise is the least of the reasons.
I look down my nose on cities that have socialized football. There is no prestige or honor in creating as vapid an elite as that.
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Grandpa
Ame's grandfather, Sven Langmack, passed away last Wednesday, after a battle with cancer. We were in Cleveland as her extended family mourned his passing and celebrated his life. Ame held him as the dearest, sweetest man, and although I did not know him long, I came to share the sentiment.
I only knew him as 'Grandpa', the guy Ame loved to cuddle up to during our frequent visits. I had a vague idea that he was a fairly involved and successful businessman. I had the realization just a few days before he died that he is the only man I've ever known whom I'd never heard a negative word about. I had no idea the scope of his impact.
My favorite anecdote: Sven was in D.C. participating in a conference on world trade. During a break, he went to the men's room, and found himself next to Henry Kissinger at a urinal. He glanced over at Kissinger and said, 'You know, I think that at the moment, we're the only ones who know what we're doing'. Kissinger glanced over and said, 'You know, Sven, I tink you are correct'.
I was struck by the burial at Lakeview Cemetary. I know- it isn't immediately the most uplifting imagery, but you had to be there and to know where I sitting to fully appreciate it.
As I sat, I looked past the casket and the minister and saw an obelisk rising through the trees and towering above. I used to sit at the foot of the obelisk on occasional lunch breaks, when I happened to be in the neighborhood. I would eat my sandwich and daydream of a Cleveland of yore, when smokestacks and trains dominated the landscape. When I rose to leave my lunchbreak, I would place a dime on the stone marking the grave of John D. Rockefeller.
Right of the towering monument watching over the great industrialist's family is a stone building. Sometimes after lunch, I would enter the building and hike the narrow, winding stairs to get to the balcony, which offers one of the finest views of the city. In the lower floor, visitors pay tribute to slain President James A. Garfield, whose body rests under an American flag.
To look about the area of Sven's grave was to realize that he had been placed among the greats. Other family names are familiar to you for the products you still use. Glidden (paint) and Otis (elevators), for instance, were right behind me.
The thing I liked most about Sven was that he was still terribly in love with Ame's grandmother, Virgie. After 62 years, and at his age, he still had a twinkle in his eye for his girl. When I stood in their living room this past Christmas to announce that I had proposed to Ame, and that she had accepted, Sven followed with an announcement of his own. With some difficulty, he rose and announced that 61 years before, he had done just I had done, proposing marriage right around Christmas. Given the chance, he'd do it again. We moved the date up, hoping Grandpa would make it to our wedding. Although he missed by just over two weeks, there will be a continuity. Ame and I want to have the kind of love that Sven and Virgie had, ever romantic, even if the aid of a walker is necessary. We're going for at least 70 years together. I figure that medical science being continuously improving, I should make it to 105 easily enough.
As for the other stuff... I figure it will be sufficient tribute if I have a girl cuddling up to me on the couch, calling me Grandpa.
Ame's grandfather, Sven Langmack, passed away last Wednesday, after a battle with cancer. We were in Cleveland as her extended family mourned his passing and celebrated his life. Ame held him as the dearest, sweetest man, and although I did not know him long, I came to share the sentiment.
I only knew him as 'Grandpa', the guy Ame loved to cuddle up to during our frequent visits. I had a vague idea that he was a fairly involved and successful businessman. I had the realization just a few days before he died that he is the only man I've ever known whom I'd never heard a negative word about. I had no idea the scope of his impact.
My favorite anecdote: Sven was in D.C. participating in a conference on world trade. During a break, he went to the men's room, and found himself next to Henry Kissinger at a urinal. He glanced over at Kissinger and said, 'You know, I think that at the moment, we're the only ones who know what we're doing'. Kissinger glanced over and said, 'You know, Sven, I tink you are correct'.
I was struck by the burial at Lakeview Cemetary. I know- it isn't immediately the most uplifting imagery, but you had to be there and to know where I sitting to fully appreciate it.
As I sat, I looked past the casket and the minister and saw an obelisk rising through the trees and towering above. I used to sit at the foot of the obelisk on occasional lunch breaks, when I happened to be in the neighborhood. I would eat my sandwich and daydream of a Cleveland of yore, when smokestacks and trains dominated the landscape. When I rose to leave my lunchbreak, I would place a dime on the stone marking the grave of John D. Rockefeller.
Right of the towering monument watching over the great industrialist's family is a stone building. Sometimes after lunch, I would enter the building and hike the narrow, winding stairs to get to the balcony, which offers one of the finest views of the city. In the lower floor, visitors pay tribute to slain President James A. Garfield, whose body rests under an American flag.
To look about the area of Sven's grave was to realize that he had been placed among the greats. Other family names are familiar to you for the products you still use. Glidden (paint) and Otis (elevators), for instance, were right behind me.
The thing I liked most about Sven was that he was still terribly in love with Ame's grandmother, Virgie. After 62 years, and at his age, he still had a twinkle in his eye for his girl. When I stood in their living room this past Christmas to announce that I had proposed to Ame, and that she had accepted, Sven followed with an announcement of his own. With some difficulty, he rose and announced that 61 years before, he had done just I had done, proposing marriage right around Christmas. Given the chance, he'd do it again. We moved the date up, hoping Grandpa would make it to our wedding. Although he missed by just over two weeks, there will be a continuity. Ame and I want to have the kind of love that Sven and Virgie had, ever romantic, even if the aid of a walker is necessary. We're going for at least 70 years together. I figure that medical science being continuously improving, I should make it to 105 easily enough.
As for the other stuff... I figure it will be sufficient tribute if I have a girl cuddling up to me on the couch, calling me Grandpa.
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Remembrance and Inspiration
Thanks to Al Barger for recalling the upcoming anniversary of the events at Tiananmen Square, in June 1989. Images
"...the Chinese military opened fire on a crowd of peaceful protesters in Tiananmen Square. They directly slaughtered hundreds of non-violent young people on live television just to make the point that they were in charge."
For years, I have drawn inspiration from the unfathomable courage of a few individuals in the face of one of human history's greatest oppression machines, the People's Republic of China.
I decorate my work space with very little. I have one picture of Ame, and one picture of Alex. That's it. In my old home in Cleveland, I hung in my office an enormous print of Stuart Franklin's breathtaking image of raw courage and integrity. Whenever I thought I had it rough, I forced myself to look at that image. It never failed to get me off it, and back into action. Unfortunately, the print is larger than any wall of my cube at work.
Goethe said, "To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking."
I bought the poster because, at the time, I was struggling with my implementation if my thinking. It had previously been enough to merely be a young capitalist. The time had come to become a public advocate for freedom in all areas of life, and I was terrified. I was certain I would end up gunned down. Patrick Henry nailed me to a post by my shorts.
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me; give me liberty or give me death!"
Fact is, it will probably never come to that. However, should it, I'll think of the man with the briefcase.
Everyone should get to see the full video of the man with the briefcase and a bag, because despite the power inherent in such an image, Stuart's photograph still suffers the constraints of the medium. The column of tanks rolled, and he, armed only with his integrity, blocked the column's advance. The tank driver attempted to move around the man. The man moved to block the tanks.
HE MOVED TO BLOCK THE TANKS.
What a worthy project it would be to find the name of this man. Patrick Henry is a giant, and Goethe ranks, but this man showed the world how it is done, and should be recognized as a giant in our times. Future generations need to be able to know that giants lived in all eras of human history, who they were, and that they need not be philosophers.
Thanks to Al Barger for recalling the upcoming anniversary of the events at Tiananmen Square, in June 1989. Images
"...the Chinese military opened fire on a crowd of peaceful protesters in Tiananmen Square. They directly slaughtered hundreds of non-violent young people on live television just to make the point that they were in charge."
For years, I have drawn inspiration from the unfathomable courage of a few individuals in the face of one of human history's greatest oppression machines, the People's Republic of China.
I decorate my work space with very little. I have one picture of Ame, and one picture of Alex. That's it. In my old home in Cleveland, I hung in my office an enormous print of Stuart Franklin's breathtaking image of raw courage and integrity. Whenever I thought I had it rough, I forced myself to look at that image. It never failed to get me off it, and back into action. Unfortunately, the print is larger than any wall of my cube at work.
Goethe said, "To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking."
I bought the poster because, at the time, I was struggling with my implementation if my thinking. It had previously been enough to merely be a young capitalist. The time had come to become a public advocate for freedom in all areas of life, and I was terrified. I was certain I would end up gunned down. Patrick Henry nailed me to a post by my shorts.
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me; give me liberty or give me death!"
Fact is, it will probably never come to that. However, should it, I'll think of the man with the briefcase.
Everyone should get to see the full video of the man with the briefcase and a bag, because despite the power inherent in such an image, Stuart's photograph still suffers the constraints of the medium. The column of tanks rolled, and he, armed only with his integrity, blocked the column's advance. The tank driver attempted to move around the man. The man moved to block the tanks.
HE MOVED TO BLOCK THE TANKS.
What a worthy project it would be to find the name of this man. Patrick Henry is a giant, and Goethe ranks, but this man showed the world how it is done, and should be recognized as a giant in our times. Future generations need to be able to know that giants lived in all eras of human history, who they were, and that they need not be philosophers.
Sunday, June 01, 2003
A Just and Noble Cause
Edward Bowers, a California libertarian, is promoting the week of June 8-15 as the week to buy a particular book so as to try to pump the best-seller statistics, at least for a week. The book is called, "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do" by Peter McWilliams.
Medical marijuana isn't any kind of passion of mine, probably because I don't use the stuff. But Mr. McWilliams died because his government banned a product that, had he been taking it, he probably would have been alive today. If you puke every time you take food or swallow a pill you need to fight cancer, you will die quickly. Marijuana helps people keep food- and pills- down.
Most people who promote the War On Drugs tend to cite their belief in the morality of keeping harmful substances away from people.
In this case, clearly, marijuana was anything but a harmful substance. Was morality promoted by the death of Peter McWilliams? Maybe it's time, at long last, for a new policy. Maybe it's time for the drug warriors to consider weather or not Americans own themselves.
Edward Bowers, a California libertarian, is promoting the week of June 8-15 as the week to buy a particular book so as to try to pump the best-seller statistics, at least for a week. The book is called, "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do" by Peter McWilliams.
Medical marijuana isn't any kind of passion of mine, probably because I don't use the stuff. But Mr. McWilliams died because his government banned a product that, had he been taking it, he probably would have been alive today. If you puke every time you take food or swallow a pill you need to fight cancer, you will die quickly. Marijuana helps people keep food- and pills- down.
Most people who promote the War On Drugs tend to cite their belief in the morality of keeping harmful substances away from people.
In this case, clearly, marijuana was anything but a harmful substance. Was morality promoted by the death of Peter McWilliams? Maybe it's time, at long last, for a new policy. Maybe it's time for the drug warriors to consider weather or not Americans own themselves.
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