36 Years Later, I Have More In Common With McGovern Than I Thought

George McGovern agreeing with me.

Now, this is what I'm talking about.

From the Wall Street Journal:

"Why do we think we are helping adult consumers by taking away their options? We don't take away cars because we don't like some people speeding. We allow state lotteries despite knowing some people are betting their grocery money. Everyone is exposed to economic risks of some kind. But we don't operate mindlessly in trying to smooth out every theoretical wrinkle in life."

Who knew George McGovern would speak for me?

Your First Amendment Rights Are Being Threatened

Because panhandling is a protected activity.

The Free Speech Advocates who stand in the way of re-authorizing FISA--in the face of evidence of increased terror communications between those living outside the US with some living inside the US--are truly deserving of derision.

If you oppose the re-authorizing FISA because you don't want the federal government monitoring your phone calls, you need to seek help. You are not that important. You might wonder whether or not your phone is being tapped if you're involved in importing or manufacture of illegal drugs. But chances are, if that's your gig, you're not reading anything on the 'net, unless it's somthing other than political opinion.

I've friends and family across the world. And I communicate with them. Even if the US government was monitoring these communications, I don't have any doubt that monitors in the countries of destination aren't occasionally taking a peak at what I have to say or write. Friends and family in China? I don't think they look at my e-mails. There a billions of e-mails going on a daily basis in China. Is it possible? Sure. Would I want to provide those monitoring authorities any cause to increase their observation of Americans I know as a result of intemperate remarks I may make? No. They are guests in those countries. And I am even more careful when writing to friends in the Middle East. You have not only cultural differences, but how the heck would ESL monitors understand most of the vernacular that gets written into most short messages? When your neck is literally on the line, safe is better. Increased monitoring is safer. And no-knock entry is a lot more common.

So, I look at the ACLU and this suit against the City of Medford with some jaundice. Free speech?

Nope. I don't know when you were last in downtown Portland. But the next time you are, remember, it's not just panhandling. It's very likely some herion addict attempting to finance his or her next purchase.

I'm proud of the ACLU. 'Cause really, aren't they just looking out for the kids? And isn't it better to lose a few, than compromise over a few First Amendment Freedoms? Seriously, in all the books I've read about the Constitution, the Right to Panhandle and the Right to Plot Against America were never outlined. This must be what is meant when the Constitution is referred to as a "living document". There's stuff in there never imagined before.

Common Sense You Won't Read About

We need to reduce man's carbon footprint.

If you are reliant upon newspapers published in the state of Oregon, chances are you won't get information that is relevant to the rest of the world.

You've probably never heard of the Heartland Institute. And if you have, it has been denigrated somehow. Because the scientists and mathematicians who met there are more concerned with intellectual integrity than being popular with Leftist writers.

"Manhattan Declaration on Climate Change 'Global warming' is not a global crisis

"We, the scientists and researchers in climate and related fields, economists, policymakers, and business leaders, assembled at Times Square, New York City, participating in the 2008 International Conference on Climate Change,

"Resolving that scientific questions should be evaluated solely by the scientific method;

"Affirming that global climate has always changed and always will, independent of the actions of humans, and that carbon dioxide (CO2) is not a pollutant but rather a necessity for all life;

"Recognising that the causes and extent of recently observed climatic change are the subject of intense debates in the climate science community and that oft-repeated assertions of a supposed 'consensus' among climate experts are false;

"Affirming that attempts by governments to legislate costly regulations on industry and individual citizens to encourage CO2 emission reduction will slow development while having no appreciable impact on the future trajectory of global climate change. Such policies will markedly diminish future prosperity and so reduce the ability of societies to adapt to inevitable climate change, thereby increasing, not decreasing, human suffering;

"Noting that warmer weather is generally less harmful to life on Earth than colder:

"Hereby declare:

"That current plans to restrict anthropogenic CO2 emissions are a dangerous misallocation of intellectual capital and resources that should be dedicated to solving humanity's real and serious problems.

"That there is no convincing evidence that CO2 emissions from modern industrial activity has in the past, is now, or will in the future cause catastrophic climate change.

"That attempts by governments to inflict taxes and costly regulations on industry and individual citizens with the aim of reducing emissions of CO2 will pointlessly curtail the prosperity of the West and progress of developing nations without affecting climate.

"That adaptation as needed is massively more cost-effective than any attempted mitigation and that a focus on such mitigation will divert the attention and resources of governments away from addressing the real problems of their peoples.

"That human-caused climate change is not a global crisis.

"Now, therefore, we recommend --

"That world leaders reject the views expressed by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as well as popular, but misguided works such as "An Inconvenient Truth."

"That all taxes, regulations, and other interventions intended to reduce emissions of CO2 be abandoned forthwith.

"Agreed at New York, 4 March 2008"

See, it isn't so much that man has "no" impact on the world's climate. It's that that impact is trivial. Interesting article, from William Briggs here.

Wentworth Chevrolet Supports Day Labor Hire Site for Illegal Aliens

Thinking about spending some dough on a car or truck, and want to see illegal aliens get work here in Oregon?

In a bold marketing move, Robert Wentworth, President of Wentworth Chevrolet, writes to support Day Laborer Center for illegal aliens. (.pdf, page down three letters.)

It's gotta be tough to own and operate a business in Portland. Especially tough when you have to put your name, your family's name out in support of such a mis-directed program like this. The fact that the City of Portland is spending at least $200-thousand on this is eye-opening.

But as the Capital City of Ectopia, the agenda for Portland is different. It would be difficult to ask the city to end its support of illegals. Easy to get money to move them somewhere else.

Sometimes the right thing is hard. So...it isn't done. Dis-regard the illegality of hiring illegal aliens. Instead, provide money to help them find employment. If I did this as a private individual, I'm pretty sure it would be illegal. Wouldn't it? Yeah. It would be.

The Cost of Dumb

I know there are a lot of eco-freeks out there who view anything normal as bad. Or worse. The fact that most of Oregon is a vast, unpopulated space seems to skip right past them.

The imagined damage to Ectopia of reasonably priced gasoline is a case in point.

Times were that adults made the decisions. Now our legislature and local governments are populated by panderers. Somehow, cheap gas is a social wrong. Rather than working for a vital economy, either on the state or local level, planners and politicians are making sure that vital choices are taken out of our hands. Something as simple as what type of gasoline we'd like to buy has been criminalized.

So, let's review.

Three weeks ago, Oregon had the 24th highest gas price in the nation. Out of 50 states, we were 24.

Two weeks ago, Oregon had the 12th highest gas price in the nation.

One week ago, Oregon was at number 6.

Today? Today Oregon moved to Number 4.

"Hawaii continues to have the most expensive gas in the country at $3.54 per gallon, followed by California at $3.50, Washington at $3.44, Oregon, and New York at $3.33." (AAA, March 4 Press Release.)

We're just at the begining of legislative stupidity. You do remember, don't you, that Congress has outlawed the incandescent lamp? Forget all the sconces, architectural lighting and heirloom lamps that are out there. The folks you have elected to office have found that there's a trail leading to a cliff, and are following the environmental lemmings with lemming levels of dedication.

Granted, that if you're a socialist you don't know what the value of a dollar is. Or, how it's defined. To me, a dollar is a store of value, what I get for working. And I resent having to spend more of my money trying to live the life of Ecotopic Bliss at the whim of the unthinking, the untrained and political adolescents.

Do yourself a favour. Grab a horse and ride to Portland. If you make it, when you come back your fantasies about the horror of cheap gas and radial tires may have been dealt with. Until then, I'm afraid your reality-avoidence, Mother Gaia, Save the Salmon, Ecofantasy will continue unimpeded.

Unemployment in Oregon goes up. Business investment declines. Prices rise faster than other states. Dollars are poured into technology that no one wants or is willing to pay for. Mandates will increase. Greater economic controls will be needed. Forests and oceans will be closed. Fishermen and loggers will be put out of work. Farms will fail for lack of water. Businesses seeking competitive advantages will find lower tax rates and better highway systems elsewhere.

This vast, undeveloped state will become what the Ectopians hope for. A vast memorial to Mother Gaia. Because it's wrong to want to work, develop, mine, log, fish. In fact, it may be wrong to live.

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