Libertarian Commentary on the News for 1-6 January 2006-- Page 2

Stupid Government and People Tricks
Some of these you will find as hard to believe as I do. "Defensive living" is the equivalent of "defensive driving" when it comes to dealing with stupid people and stupid government tricks and agencies. You have to be prepared for the other guy to do something stupid!

UK: Socialized health care "allows" new choices
Guardian [UK]
"Patients will from today have a choice of free treatment in up to four hospitals -- including one in the private sector -- in a change that the government hails as one of the most fundamental reforms since the NHS was created nearly 60 years ago. The move -- seen as meeting one of Tony Blair's key pledges for more consumer choice in the public services -- is controversial among some Labour backbenchers and was yesterday attacked by the Liberal Democrats and unions, who believe it could force unpopular hospitals to close." (01/02/06)

Oh, right - this is going bring the big toe of the NHS into the free market, and look how they are panicking - the issue isn't about making sure that people have good health care to these thugs, it is power and control over Her Majesty's subjects.

Mama's Note: I read in a different article that the politicians are worried that some "unpopular" hospitals would be forced to close unless ALL hospitals were forced to accept any and all patients. Real customer choice involves the closure of "unpopular" businesses. Of course, the only right thing here is for government to get out of the health care (and every other) business altogether. All of this is nonsense otherwise.

MA: Housing slowdown blamed on local rules
Boston Globe
"Boston-area cities and towns are driving up housing prices by forcing developers to conform to an array of land-use rules that make it difficult to build new homes, according to a report that will be released this week. The report, which is based on a two-year survey of land-use rules in the 187 cities and towns within 50 miles of Boston, points to locally mandated lot sizes as large as 2 acres and overly restrictive wetlands and septic rules as the most significant barriers to housing construction. It also cites local prohibitions on irregularly shaped lots and ''growth caps' limiting the number of units that can be built in a year. The survey did not include the city of Boston itself, where development is denser, or Cape Cod." (01/01/06)

Gee, no fooling? Of course, one might suspect this is purposeful, since (see story elsewhere) Boston is "filled" with millionaires who don't want the lower classes who would live in smaller houses and "irregular lots" (kind of like factory-seconds, you know).

MD: Ehrlich hopeful tax cut will pass
Washington Times
"Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is optimistic about his plan to cut the state property-tax rate, despite strong resistance from key Democrats, an administration official says. 'The governor has made clear that the time for property-tax reduction has arrived,' Ehrlich spokesman Henry P. Fawell said Friday. Ehrlich, a Republican, has said the projected $1.7 billion budget surplus and widespread outrage over increasing property-tax assessments will give the proposed tax cut momentum in the General Assembly, which convenes Jan. 11. However, the plan has already met opposition from leaders in the Democrat-controlled legislature." (01/01/06)

I will venture that they have a lot of support from GOP types sotto voce, as well - people to whom controlling a couple of billion dollars means more than mere principles.

Abramoff plea bargain to bring corruption probe to Congress
Houston Chronicle
"A plea agreement between prominent lobbyist Jack Abramoff and federal prosecutors is expected this week, bringing a wide-ranging corruption probe to the doors of Congress, according to sources close to the investigation. Abramoff, who collected millions of dollars in controversial fees from Indian tribes with interests in the gambling industry, reached a tentative deal with prosecutors in a Washington-based investigation late last week, according to one of the sources." (01/02/06)

Crooks investigating crooks. As usual.

FEMA extends Katrina hotel stays
Houston Chronicle
"Hurricane Katrina evacuees around the nation who faced a Jan. 7 deadline for checking out of their government-funded hotel rooms have received a reprieve: Federal officials will keep paying for the rooms beyond that date as they iron out issues arising from a class-action lawsuit. One issue: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which inherited the program from the American Red Cross, still does not have up-to-date records on the identities of evacuees in the hotel program or where they are staying, according to court papers filed last week by government lawyers." (01/02/06)

The pork just continues to be served.

Book: CIA ignored info Iraq had no WMD
Detroit Free Press
"A new book on the government's secret anti-terrorism operations describes how the CIA recruited an Iraqi-American anesthesiologist in 2002 to obtain information from her brother, who was a figure in Saddam Hussein's nuclear program. Dr. Sawsan Alhaddad of Cleveland made the dangerous trip to Iraq on the CIA's behalf. The book said her brother was stunned by her questions about the nuclear program because -- he said -- it had been dead for a decade. New York Times reporter James Risen uses the anecdote to illustrate how the CIA ignored information that Iraq no longer had weapons of mass destruction. His book, 'State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration' describes secret operations of the Bush administration's war on terrorism." (01/02/06)

More disinformation to put on top of the disinformation.

Abramoff pleads guilty, will cooperate
Detroit Free Press
"Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist who spawned a congressional corruption scandal, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three felonies and pledged to cooperate in a criminal probe edging closer to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. 'I plead guilty, your honor,' Abramoff said in flat, unemotional tones, accepting a plea bargain that said he had provided lavish trips, golf outings, meals and more to public officials 'in exchange for a series of official acts.'" (01/03/06)

It seems to me that BOTH Democrats and Republicans will be outed by this as the corrupt and venal politicians that they are. See the next story, as well.

Dozens send back lobbyist's donations
Boston Globe
"Members of Congress who once counted on super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff to help finance their campaigns have begun returning the cash they got from him and his clients, signaling a growing worry that ethics -- and the scandal surrounding Abramoff -- will become issues that could affect close House and Senate races in next year's midterm elections. Abramoff, a powerful Washington figure who owned a tony restaurant frequented by members of Congress, is under federal investigation for allegedly swindling American Indian tribes out of millions of dollars in lobbying fees and contributions to Abramoff's associates. With a court date looming Jan. 9 -- and the possibility that Abramoff will cut a deal with prosecutors before that date -- at least two dozen lawmakers have refunded money they fear could look tainted by Election Day in November." (01/02/06)

Like roaches scattering when you lift up the refrigerator! Already in South Dakota both the Democratic Senator (Johnson) and the GOP Senator (Thune) have publicly announced that they are donating THEIR donations from Abramoff to Indian charities. Big whoop. They still use the tribes as pawns in their political games, and continue to rip off both the tribes and every other person in South Dakota.

State by state, a raft of new laws in effect
Christian Science Monitor
"Effective immediately: * Residents of Nevada who are victims of identity theft can apply for a 'passport' to avoid mistaken arrest and to help creditors investigate fraudulent activity. * In Minnesota, day-care centers must keep a record of the make and model of every crib and inspect them once a month. * Connecticut, New York, and Vermont are among states raising their minimum wage. Every new year, just as revelers launch into 'Auld Lang Syne,' new state laws such as these take effect. State legislatures, in fact, are often ahead of Congress in spotting issues and drafting relevant bills. This year, one of the major themes in state capitols is protecting children."

Like I said, be prepared for stupid government tricks, like all these new laws. "Drafting relevant bills" often means "Panic more quickly that even Congress does." The next several articles look at several specific "New Laws."

MA: Device readied to halt drunk drivers
Boston Globe
"Starting today, the state has a new weapon to keep repeat drunk drivers from even starting their engines. Ignition interlock devices, which disable a vehicle's ignition if the operator has a minimal blood-alcohol reading, will now be used in the Commonwealth as part of Melanie's Law. That provision of the law went into effect Jan. 1 as part of a state effort to strengthen penalties for drunken driving. Massachusetts is the 23d state in the nation to approve the use of the devices." (01/03/06)

One of those new laws, and one of the few that has always made sense (within reason). Certainly more sense than feeding drunks more alcohol on the taxpayers' bar tab (see story below). Of course, it is NOT a panacea, as some would have it - it doesn't keep a drunk from taking someone else's car, for example.

Study: Free booze benefits homeless alcoholics
CNN
"Giving homeless alcoholics a regular supply of booze may improve their health and their behavior, the Canadian Medical Association Journal said in a study published on Tuesday. Seventeen homeless adults, all with long and chronic histories of alcohol abuse, were allowed up to 15 glasses of wine or sherry a day -- a glass an hour from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. -- in the Ottawa-based program, which started in 2002 and is continuing." (01/05/06)

I suppose if you are in a drunken stupor most of the time, you will behave better and are less likely to get in situations that will risk your health. Contrast this to the penalties in new laws for drunk drivers - of course, I am sure that they assume the "homeless" aren't driving around with 15 glasses of wine in their bodies. At the same time, talk about being a facilitator! And on the taxpayers' dime to pay for the booze! Of course, if someone suggested this for drug addicts, hoo boy!

Tennessee makes drunken drivers clean up
CNN
On Sunday, Tennessee began punishing drunken drivers by keeping them for at least one night in jail and then requiring them to complete three eight-hour shifts cleaning up roadsides while wearing orange vests that say, "I am a Drunk Driver." According to CNN, Gov. Phil Bredesen has stated opposition to the law, arguing that it could mean reduced jail time for offenders, while the Tennessee Sheriff's Association says it will increase counties' costs and make record-keeping more difficult.

Thanks to Local Government Update for this news item. Nobody seems to be addressing the primary question: will this keep drunk drivers from driving drunk and killing people again? Humiliation often would do more than other things. I'd suggest putting a special cell in some highly-visible place, like a mall, with picture windows to let people see who is locked up. (If no mall, how about a bench with chains in front of the courthouse, or post office?) And I'd suggest getting volunteers to supervise the street cleaning, and require not just a certain number of hours but a certain amount - say a ton of litter. And don't forget pictures of them in their orange vests in local newspapers, post-office bulletin boards, and high school cafeteria walls.

Arkansas: State kidnaps one baby per week
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
"An average of one newborn a week has been placed in state custody because of a new state law that requires medical staff members to report mothers suspected of using illegal drugs. Before the law's passage, the state's child-abuse hot line did not accept reports of newborns affected by illegal drugs as abuse or neglect, leaving physicians frustrated by the prospect of sending a newborn home with a drug-abusing mother, said Sen. Tim Wooldridge, DParagould, who sponsored the legislation, Act 1176 of 2005. " (01/01/06)

Only when citizens start taking responsibility for their actions will we be able to force government to stop doing this - and that is something which may take generations to do. At the same time, nanny government is NOT workable, and people who are supposedly responsible for their actions, like doctors and nurses, need to stop playing stool pigeon for government and find other ways to get their tiny patients assistance and protection.

UK: Brown aims for education for all
Independent [UK]
"Gordon Brown today urges the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations to join a $10bn (£6bn) drive to bring free education to every boy and girl on the planet. Writing in The Independent, the Chancellor says the move would help children to 'break free from the vicious cycle of illiteracy, unemployment and poverty.' The development of an educated and skilled population would also help poor countries to expand their economies. The UN has set a target of 2015 for providing universal free primary education." (01/04/06)

Like so many "missions" that government takes on, and then steals from taxpayers to fund, this is a pipe dream, especially if he thinks that GOVERNMENT could accomplish this. Not that "universal free primary education" is necessarily a desired goal: universal literacy would be, but this? Not hardly. Especially if "universal" means "mandatory," as it so often does.

Canada: Severance payments
Guardian [UK]
"They were plucked from their families as young children and sent to live in church-run schools where they were forbidden to speak their own languages. The idea was to prepare indigenous [American Indian] children for life in white society. Many were beaten, sexually abused and subjected to daily cruelties throughout their traumatic childhoods. It was, in the words of Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, 'the single most disgraceful, harmful and racist act' in Canada's history. Now Mr. Fontaine has grounds for optimism. Late last year, on the eve of a federal election, Ottawa announced a $2bn (£1bn) legal settlement for the estimated 80,000 indigenous people who were forced to attend residential schools. The proposed settlement would offer students $10,000 each, plus $3,000 for each year they spent at one of the 130 schools. In exchange, they would have to agree not to sue the federal government or the churches for damages." (01/04/06)

Of course, the complete ban of firearms for personal defense might soon overtake this as the "single most disgraceful and harmful act" in Canadian history. This seems to be a rather stupid act in itself, since everyone gets it whether they were harmed or not. It will also increase demands for reparations in the US, I imagine.

Arizona: Record pay raise for state workers pledged
Arizona Republic
"The Legislature's two top leaders pledged Wednesday to pass the biggest pay raise in Arizona history for state employees, who are coping with low pay, low morale and high turnover. In what could be the opening salvo in an election year featuring an $850 million state budget surplus, House Speaker Jim Weiers and Senate President Ken Bennett also proposed $250 million in tax cuts and $100 million in additional border security measures. The two Republicans did not provide details of those proposals, but the cuts are expected to affect Arizonans' corporate and income taxes. The pay plan would increase state employees' salaries by at least 5 percent for the coming year and would cost the state at least $100 million annually." (01/05/06)

Funny - I never saw an Arizona state employee having to depend on donations or food stamps. But I do know a lot of retired people on fixed incomes in AZ, and a lot of Navajo and Hopi who are having a hard time making ends meet, that won't be getting a 5% pay raise now, or ever.

WV: Mine blast kills 12; one survives
Bloomberg
"Twelve miners died following an explosion at a West Virginia mine, with only one man surviving, the mine owner said today. Confirmation of the deaths came about three hours after families were told 12 of the men were alive. 'What happened was a miscommunication from the rescue team, a miscommunication between that point and the command center,' International Coal Group Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Ben Hatfield said at a news conference televised live by broadcasters. 'The information spread like wildfire, because it had come from the command center. It quickly got out of control.' The explosion was the state's most lethal mining accident since November 1968, when 78 miners died at Consol's No. 9 mine at Farmington, in Marion County." (01/04/06)

This dominated the news on Wednesday, of course, with people seeing all kinds of plots and evil corporate minions hiding in every West Virginia town. The men who died were alive for some time before the toxic gases got them. But the response was not as fast as it needed to be - even though that might not be possible. Sad as it is, the low death toll is still a good indication that things have gotten better in the coal fields - but reminds us that coal mining, especially underground, is very VERY dangerous. But the accident itself is a warning that the combination of unions, government agencies, and company safety can not prevent ALL accidents - and communities need to be better prepared.

CA: Teens sue school over expulsion
Arizona Republic
"Two 16-year-olds who were expelled from a Lutheran high school because they were suspected of being lesbians have sued the school for invasion of privacy and discrimination. The lawsuit, filed last week in Riverside County Superior Court, seeks the girls' re-enrollment at the small California Lutheran High School, unspecified damages and an injunction barring the school from excluding gays and lesbians. Kirk D. Hanson, an attorney for the girls, said the expulsion traumatized and humiliated them. 'Their entire support network was pulled out from under them because of suspicions about their sexual orientation,' said Hanson, who declined to say whether his clients are lesbians. The school is on Christmas break until next week, and messages left for school officials Thursday were not immediately returned. The lawsuit alleges that the school's principal, Gregory Bork, called the girls into his office, grilled them on their sexual orientation and 'coerced' one girl into saying she loved the other." (12/30/05)

It is a private school, and as such, a private school IS allowed to set standards of behavior, both on and off campus (actually, so are government-run, taxpayer-funded schools - try to enroll some kid that has been tagged as a sex offender or has been arrested (not convicted, even) on weapons charges in a public school and see. This appears to be based on behavior, and not on "orientation" and I would expect this Lutheran school to also expel a heterosexual couple who engaged in any sort of sexual behavior - and if the principal has blown it, then it is an issue for parents and the school board and supporters NOT the courts to resolve.

MA: In Boston, nearly 1 in 20 households are millionaires
Boston Globe
"The number of millionaires living in the Boston area, already one of the wealthiest regions in the United States, will surge 50 percent over the next five years, according to data from two wealth management companies that have studied the issue. For a city that as recently as 30 years ago struggled with a decaying urban core, the expected influx is one more sign of its dramatic turnaround. By 2009, the number of millionaire households in the region is expected to increase to 88,000, up from 58,000 in 2004. The projected growth rate parallels the national average. But because Boston starts out with a higher percentage of millionaires in its population -- nearly one in 20 households, more than New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles -- and because the overall population is barely growing, demographic specialists expect more impact here." (01/01/06)

How much of this "wealth" is bogus, and created by real estate values which have exploded over the past few decades? A house that might have cost $10,000 in 1950 (only 55 years ago) is often, in these urban areas, appraised at $1 million or more, while the people who own the house, who may have earned $5,000 a year in 1950, today are retired and have a social security and retirement income of maybe $10,000 or $12,000 - hardly millionaires in the "normal" sense of the word. Why? Government holds much of the blame, after decades of inflation in everything. Remember that vending machine Cokes (admittedly, 6-ounce ones) cost 5c then, and today a 12-ounce can costs $1.00 in many of those vending machines; while gasoline has gone from 15c a gallon to (after the recent spike) $2.00 a gallon, and a McD-equal hamburger from 10c to $2.50 or more.

Scotland: Give it up
The Scotsman
Expat Scot historian attacks Scotland's misplaced "superiority complex"; Brands Parliament "county council" rather than sign of independence; and Calls for Old Firm to move to the English Premiership "where they belong" The idea that Scotland might one day 'be a nation again' should simply be dropped. We had our chance, when everyone else in Europe had it, in the 19th and 20th centuries. But we calculated that the Union and the Empire were a better bet than independence. Well, live with it." - PROF NIALL FERGUSON AN EXPATRIATE Scottish historian provoked fury yesterday by calling for the land of his birth to be put into "liquidation" because it had become "the Belarus of the West".

This man rather sounds like a Scots equivalent of Prof. Ward Churchill, doesn't he? And as it turns out, he is a prof at Harvard, that bastion of statism and anti-liberty. (His comment about "Premiership" is a reference to football (soccer) and not politics, by the way.)

FL: Teen vows to share Iraq trip details
Indianapolis Star
"Faced with his first school day since his solo trip to Iraq, American teen Farris Hassan kept a low profile Monday but promised to share more details about his odyssey after getting some rest. 'I'm really tired,' the 16-year-old told reporters outside his father's condominium building. 'I'm glad to be back.' Farris, who was inspired by a high school journalism class to see Iraq up close, said he would hold a news conference sometime Tuesday. He was scheduled to return to classes at Pine Crest School on Tuesday, after he and his parents meet with officials there to discuss his absences." (01/02/06)

Whew. I think this was one lucky kid.

File-sharing barons face day of reckoning
Cincinnati Enquirer
"Weeks before the original Napster shut down for good in 2001, Internet users were flocking to alternative song-swapping programs. Nearly 20 million people used Morpheus in its first four months, for example, to trade music and other files for free online. But the man behind Morpheus was worried. Michael Weiss figured popularity could bring its own perils. As he feared, the notoriety led Hollywood studios and recording companies to sue Weiss' StreamCast Inc. for copyright infringement. It was part of the entertainment industry's wider effort to contain Morpheus and other Napster left off." (01/02/06)

This has taken on the tactics and longevity of an old-time feud, with the collateral damage spreading as the various opponents gun each other down.

PA: Sony draws flak for graffiti-style ads
Los Angeles Times
"[Philadelphia] prides itself on the hundreds of murals that decorate walls and buildings once smeared with graffiti. In addition, Mayor John Street has waged a campaign to clean up the city, mounting programs to erase graffiti, clean up vacant lots and tow abandoned cars. So, many in the city took offense when what appeared to be graffiti on building walls in inner-city North Philadelphia in recent weeks turned out to be what many consider even more annoying -- stealth advertising. The caricatures depicted wide-eyed children playing with video toys. They were part of an advertising campaign by Sony Corp. for its PlayStation Portables, disguised as graffiti to appeal to the urban hip-hop generation. Anti-graffiti activists were incensed. Graffiti aficionados were appalled. One of the three downtown ads was painted over, apparently by an anti-graffiti watchdog group that may or may not have realized it was an ad." (01/02/06)

This is too funny for words - and the epitome of stupid business tactics.

Arizona Poll: Most in state back all-day kindergarten
Arizona Republic
"Mesa parent Scott Van Hoogstraat wanted to give his children every extra opportunity he could. That's why all four of his kids, ages 8 to 18, have attended some form of all-day kindergarten. 'I am a big advocate of it,' said Van Hoogstraat, a minister. 'The value of all-day kindergarten is that you get a jump start.' But he added that 'the curriculum has to be decent' for all-day kindergarten to work. If it's a 'glorified baby-sitting program, that won't do any good.' Most Arizona voters seem to agree with Van Hoogstraat about the importance of all-day kindergarten. A poll conducted by The Arizona Republic in December indicates that 64 percent of registered voters would support increased funding for all-day kindergarten, compared with only 32 percent who would oppose it." [FND editor's note: And if you think those poll results reflect anything BUT a desire for "glorified babysitting" to keep the tykes amused, and out of sight ... I have a bridge for sale! - SAT] [FND additional editor's note: How much is that bridge? Look at the demographics -- Arizona is a "young" state, but there's no way 64% of its electorate consists of parents with kindergarten-aged children - TLK] (01/03/06)

If people WANT their children to go to all-day kindergarten, by all means, let them send them. And let them pay for it, and let them keep from forcing ME and my family to send my children to school - especially their messed-up institutions.

Microsoft kowtows to Chinese censors
Vnu.net
"Microsoft has joined Yahoo in the dubious club of companies willing to stifle free speech when the Chinese government tells them to. The company has taken down a blog written by journalist Zhao Jing, also known as Michael Anti, from its MSN Spaces portal. Zhoa Jing, a Beijing-based researcher for the New York Times, was critical of a recent management change in China and the government asked Microsoft to remove the blog."Most countries have laws and practices that require companies providing online services to make the internet safe for local users," said a Microsoft spokesperson. "Occasionally, as in China, local laws and practices require consideration of unique elements. This MSN Space has been blocked to help ensure that the service complies with local laws in China.'" (01/05/06)

I suppose that Microsucks is technically has the right to do this, since they own the MSN Spaces portal. But their clearly-bogus excuse for doing so is sickening. As is their attitude towards China's dictatorship.

Minnesota: GOP blogger served with libel lawsuit
Pioneer Press
"A dispute between a self-described "Republican operative" and a former Democratic campaign organizer widely quoted in Minnesota media has turned into a libel lawsuit that could help set legal standards for Internet blogs. The suit pits Blois Olson, a Democratic public relations executive who is a frequent guest on Twin Cities Public Television's "Almanac" show, against Michael Brodkorb, a former Minnesota Republican Party employee who operates a political blog - or Web journal - called minnesotademocratsexposed.com. Olson's lawsuit, which was served to Brodkorb on Tuesday but has not yet been filed in court, seeks damages of more than $50,000 and a court order forcing Brodkorb to remove from the blog a Dec. 28 posting about Olson and his St. Paul-based public relations company. In the Dec. 28 item, Brodkorb suggested that Olson had publicly criticized former FBI agent Coleen Rowley's campaign for Congress because Rowley's campaign staff last summer refused to hire Olson's firm, New School Communications. Olson insists the item was a fabrication; Brodkorb says he's confident it was true." (01/05/06)

Of all the places for this to happen and "set precedent," Minnesota would be well down on my list. But hopefully, as in all libel suits, all that is needed is the truth.

Indiana: State sues 5 Florida companies over calls
Indianapolis Star
"Claire Dixon doesn't like getting unsolicited telephone pitches, so she signed up for the state's do-not-call list as soon as the anti-telemarketer law went into effect in 2002. The sales calls dropped off dramatically, but she still was bothered occasionally with calls from companies pitching Florida vacations. She complained to the Indiana attorney general's office. So Dixon, who lives in Greenwood, laughed when told that the state filed suit Wednesday to force five Florida companies and three individuals to stop making unsolicited recorded telephone calls in Indiana. 'Oooh, gosh," Dixon said. "I feel good. . . . Maybe something will happen.'" (01/05/06)

Lots of stupid people here - the telemarketers for not doing the right thing in the first place, this woman for her frivolous attitude about the entire thing, and the Indiana Attorney General for not taking any action other than just filing suit in another state.

Report: Wal-Mart stores pulled $20.3 billion from local communities
The Raw Story
"According to a report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, $100 spent in locally owned businesses provides the town and surrounding area $44.60, while large retail chains only give back $14.10 to local communities, mainly in the form of wages and service. Therefore, local communities lose at least $30.50 for every $100 spent at Wal-Mart. For this holiday season, Wal-Mart's record-breaking sales mean staggering losses for Main Street, U.S.A.: $20.3 billion. Had that $66 billion been spent at locally owned businesses, it would have generated some $29.7 billion for local communities. However, thanks to Wal-Mart, that $66 billion translates to only $9.4 billion going into local economies." (01/05/06)

More Wal-Mart bashing, as once more we are reminded that statistics don't lie, but statisticians do - these numbers are about as meaningless as similar numbers served up by Congrus-critturs to prove how valuable a beloved pork-barrel project will be. It doesn't take much math to prove that this "report" (read - propaganda) is invalid: for starters, it assumes that the only choice is between Wal-Mart and "locally owned business" - but in reality, even smaller communities these days are saturated with a combination of "big-box" retailers ranging from Pamida (like the old Gibson's of yore) to Target, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart itself. And even smaller stores are often NOT locally owned - for example, the most common convenience stores in the West are usually adjuncts of large grocery chains (for example, "Mini-Marts" and "Loaf-n-Jug" stores are part of the large Krogers supermarket chain) or are themselves chains often headquartered hundreds of miles away: familiar names like Common Sense (headquartered in SD but common in CO and elsewhere), Maverick (UT headquarters), and others. The same thing applies to rental companies, furniture sellers, pharmacies, and many other competitors of Wal-Mart: there is often not a locally-owned store in the town. Bad science, bad mental attitude.

California: Surprising opinions on sex education
San Francisco Chronicle
"As Californians proliferate with rabbit-like efficiency, the state's residents are surprisingly of one mind about how to deal with overpopulation. Whether they're liberal Democrats or evangelical Christians, they favor sex education and access by the young to birth control. This is one of the startling discoveries in a wide-ranging survey released today by the Public Policy Institute of California, a nonpartisan San Francisco think tank. In an endeavor that gives new meaning to the term phone sex, researchers spent two weeks last month calling about 2,500 people around California, asking them about things such as contraceptives, abortion, teen pregnancy, morning-after pills -- and even politics." (01/05/06)

Which does explain a lot about California, doesn't it? Get out, lovers of liberty, get out before the whole charade implodes.

Drivers atone for exhaust with carbon offsets
Christian Science Monitor
"As a business and fundraising consultant, Pat Castleman drives about 1,000 miles a month. So when the Mill Valley, Calif., resident heard that she could 'neutralize' the greenhouse gas pollutants emitted by her new Infiniti sedan, she jumped at the opportunity. By signing up with DriveNeutral, a nonprofit launched in October by students at the Presidio School of Management in San Francisco, Ms. Castleman was able to calculate her "climate change footprint," using simple online calculators. To neutralize that footprint, she bought greenhouse-gas emissions reductions, also known as 'carbon offsets.' Castleman paid $25 to compensate for about five tons of carbon emissions a year - plus a DriveNeutral decal proclaiming her vehicle's carbon-free status." (01/05/06)

This strikes me as the environmental equivalent of buying indulgences - and about as morally reprehensible.

Spying on the Home Front
A special section again this week, as we see more feuding and rhetoric over the illegal spying. This issue continues to build, and the fussing back and forth on the airwaves was tremendous this week.

Bush: Outing my spying causes "great harm"
MSNBC
"President Bush strongly defended his domestic spying program on Sunday, calling it legal as well as vital to thwarting terrorist attacks, and contended the leak making it public had caused 'great harm to the nation.' ... The New York Times reported last month that the National Security Agency had been conducting warrantless surveillance since 2002. Bush then acknowledged that he had authorized the NSA program and pointed to informing congressional leaders and regular reviews by administration officials as evidence of oversight for the program. The Justice Department on Friday opened an investigation into the leak that resulted in news stories about the secret order to eavesdrop on Americans with suspected ties to terrorists." (01/02/06)

After several weeks of holidays, the domestic spying program is again moving to the front page, and Bush is trying to answer what is often unanswerable. The constitutional checks and balances are about much MORE than "oversight" - King George's thugs, too, had oversight by Parliamentary committees and King's officers. This is a good place to quote Ron Paul, one of the few congrus-kritturs I can have ANY respect for: "We're told that September 11th changed everything, that new government powers like the Patriot Act are necessary to thwart terrorism. But these are not the most dangerous times in American history, despite the self-flattery of our politicians and media. This is a nation that expelled the British, saw the White House burned to the ground in 1814, fought two world wars, and faced down the Soviet Union. September 11th does not justify ignoring the Constitution by creating broad new federal police powers. The rule of law is worthless if we ignore it whenever crises occur." Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Straight Talk, 12/26/05

Schumer wants to know motivation behind NSA leak
Fox News
"The investigation into who leaked information about a National Security Agency secret wiretapping program on potential terror suspects needs to focus on the motivation behind the leak, a Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said Sunday. 'There are differences between felons and whistleblowers, and we ought to wait 'til the investigation occurs to decide what happened,' Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told FOX News' Sunday. The Justice Department on Friday opened an investigation into who leaked the information about the program, sparking debate over its threat to national security and presidential powers versus civil liberties. The program, first revealed Dec. 16 by The New York Times, has used surveillance to review phone conversations and e-mails inside the United States without court warrants since after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks." [FND editor's note: HUH? Who cares WHY the info was leaked? The REAL investigation should be into the unconstitutional felonies the leak disclosed, and whoever did that should get a medal! Once again, the "progressive" DemEAUcrats are part of the problem? - SAT] (01/01/06)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - to Loyalists, Benedict Arnold was a patriot, loyal to the King and Parliament after first betraying them and changing his mind. Nathan Hale, on the other hand, was a base traitor and spy. Steve's point is well-taken: regardless of how the information got out, the question is whether we will allow this to go unchallenged and whether it will continue. But it is very much further dividing the powers-that-be.

Intelligence panel had clue about spying
Indianapolis Star
"Congressional intelligence committees had at least a hint in October 2001 that the National Security Agency was expanding its surveillance activities after the 9/11 attacks, according to a letter released Tuesday by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The California Democrat had raised questions to Gen. Michael Hayden, then the NSA director, about the legal authority to conduct the eavesdropping work." (01/03/06)

In other words, Congress is lying. Not saying the president ISN'T lying (to say nothing of the rest of his administration) but so is Congress. BIG surprise, eh?

Reporter defends release of NSA spy program
MSNBC
"New York Times reporter James Risen first broke the story two weeks ago that the National Security Agency began spying on domestic communications soon after 9/11. In a new book out Tuesday, 'State of War,' he says it was a lot bigger than that. Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell sat down with Risen to talk about the NSA, and the run-up to the war in Iraq. Following is a complete transcript of the interview." (01/03/06)

As expected, a reporter would see no problem with this, but suggest that a good defense against terrorists that would NOT require spying will be to arm every citizen who wished to be armed, and watch them spin!

New documents may influence Patriot Act debate
GovExec.Com
"When Congress reconvenes this month, one of the first chores facing lawmakers will be reauthorizing the expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act, and newly disclosed documents could become a factor in the debate. ... President Bush signed the short-term extension into law Friday, so lawmakers now have about a month to negotiate their differences over the civil-liberties protections in the Patriot Act. Those opposing the current long-term reauthorization bill could have more rhetorical ammunition by the end of the month, as documents from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit trickle out of FBI offices. The Electronic Privacy Information Center early last year filed a FOIA request but received few documents until a federal district judge in November ordered the FBI to produce 1,500 pages of documents every 15 days until the requests are fulfilled. EPIC is scheduled to receive the latest batch of documents Wednesday." (01/03/06)

I hope so - but I don't think it will make much difference.

Government Web sites are keeping an eye on you
CNet
" Dozens of federal agencies are tracking visits to U.S. government Web sites in violation of long-standing rules designed to protect online privacy, a CNET News.com investigation shows. From the Air Force to the Treasury Department, government agencies are using either "Web bugs" or permanent cookies to monitor their visitors' behavior, even though federal law restricts the practice. " (01/05/06)

Hope that you are prepared for this - as if this were suddenly revealed and unexpected news. Even county courthouses use this kind of method, either on-line or in meat-space, to track visitors.

FISA court seeks answers on Bush spy plot
Washington Post
"The members of a secret federal court that oversees government surveillance in espionage and terrorism cases are scheduled to receive a classified briefing Monday from top Justice Department and intelligence officials about a controversial warrantless-eavesdropping program, according to sources familiar with the arrangements. Several judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court said they want to hear directly from administration officials why President Bush believed he had the authority to order, without the court's permission, wiretapping of some phone calls and e-mails after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. ... The court is made up of 11 judges who, on a rotating basis, hear government applications for surveillance warrants. But only the presiding judge, currently Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, was notified of the government eavesdropping program. One judge, James Robertson, who also serves on the federal bench in Washington, resigned his seat on the surveillance court in protest shortly after the wiretapping was revealed by the New York Times in mid-December." (01/05/

This court is itself an insult to the rights of the descendants of free Englishmen (spiritual descendant if nothing else) - a return of the Star Chamber. To think that they will do anything about the administration's actions, though, is to be incredibly naïve.

Groups go to court over wiretap rule for Internet calls
Foster's Online
"A new federal regulation making it easier for law enforcement to tap Internet phone calls is being challenged in court. Privacy and technology groups asked the federal appeals court in Washington on Tuesday to overturn a Federal Communications Commission rule that expands wiretapping laws to cover Internet calls -- or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Law enforcement agencies already can obtain a subpoena for the contents of VoIP calls from Internet access providers. But the FBI and others want the ability to capture the technology live and they want systems designed so it would be easy to do that. 'The whole process of innovation on the Internet would be seriously damaged,' said John Morris, staff counsel at the Center for Democracy and Technology." (01/04/

Good luck to these people.

Theft By Government
Just a few items on government theft by eminent domain or other means today. The situation has actually gotten worse since the Supremes decided Kelo. We all need to be prepared for attempts in our own neighborhood and community to have land and other things stolen by government either for itself or on behalf of a third party.

CT: Kelo battle goes on, despite ruling
Christian Science Monitor
"The moment of truth is yet to arrive in the now-famous Fort Trumbull neighborhood in New London, Conn. Six months after the US Supreme Court ruled that the city could seize and demolish private homes to make way for a commercial development project, determined residents are still living in their homes in the targeted neighborhood. There have been no bulldozers. No wrecking balls. No police officers dragging homeowners away. At least, not yet. Instead, the state of Connecticut has hired a mediator to try to find a more peaceful solution to the seven-year battle that has touched off a heated debate over the government's use of eminent domain to foster economic development." (01/04/

This could be overturned by the Conn. Legislature in a matter of days with a prohibition on such thefts. But I don't expect them to do that - they are "honest" politicians and apparently stay bought.

MA: Lawmakers seek to end limits on church liability
Boston Globe
"Support is growing on Beacon Hill for legislation to lift charitable immunity protections for the Catholic Church and other nonprofit organizations in sexual abuse cases involving minors. More than 60 lawmakers have signed onto a bill that, in civil cases involving such abuse, would eliminate the current $20,000 limit on liability for churches and other nonprofit organizations. That charitable immunity limit, supporters say, has discouraged sexual abuse victims from coming forward and has sharply limited payments in other cases. Two other bills would restructure the complicated laws governing the statute of limitations in criminal and civil cases involving sex crimes against juveniles. Current laws lay out various limitations based on the number of years that elapse after a sexual crime is allegedly committed." (01/04/

This is part of a worldwide drive to "crack down" on churches and charitable organizations in general, supposedly to "protect the children" but more about gaining more power and control.

Tech and Medical News
Some good news this week! While we certainly need to be prepared to take advantage of new inventions and findings, we need to be cautious and understand all the possible impacts. I'm sure people in RI are doing that right now.

Rhode Island legalizes medical marijuana
CNN
"Rhode Island on Tuesday became the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana and the first since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that patients who use the drug can still be prosecuted under federal law. The House overrode a veto by Gov. Don Carcieri, 59-13, allowing people with illnesses such as cancer and AIDS to grow up to 12 marijuana plants or buy 2.5 ounces of marijuana to relieve their symptoms. Those who do are required to register with the state and get an identification card." (01/03/06)

So now we are over 20% of the nation in direct confrontation of the Fedgov ironclad policy of no tolerance.

Mama's Note: While it is good that a few more people can gain some access to vital medication, this "medical marijuana" thing is still, in the long run, a major sellout of liberty. Those who settle for this are, in effect, saying that the state does have absolute authority to regulate their lives and they must beg for permission to get the medicine they need.

Gates aims barbs at dueling formats
Seattle Times
"Bill Gates' annual speech Wednesday to open the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas had the usual funny bits and views on future technology. But the Microsoft chairman also used the podium to fire a volley in a war over digital media formats that's erupting at the massive trade show and threatening to replay the VHS-Betamax fiasco of the early 1980s. At issue are two competing formats for super high-capacity discs coming onto the market to record and play high-definition video content. Within a few years, one of the formats is likely to eclipse DVD discs as the standard way consumers buy or rent movies. But movie studios, electronics companies, Microsoft and personal computer makers are still fighting over which format should become the standard." (01/05/06)

As I said, we have to try looking ahead - anyone you know still have a BetaMax around? Or an 8-track? Wonder why television prices are so low right now? Be prepared.

Nigeria: The curse of the miracle healers
Guardian [UK]
"Some HIV-positive churchgoers are suffering at the hands of their pastors who, in order to attract more worshippers - and consequently make more money at the offertory - claim they can cure their congregations of HIV. These church leaders instruct worshippers to pray to receive their blessing. Believers are told they will be exhibiting a lack of faith if they continue with their antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) or if they take a HIV test to confirm the healing. This leads to disaster for many." (01/04/

Clarke's Law: "Sufficiently advanced technology cannot be distinguished from magic by the uninformed observer." These guys are also paying attention to Barnum's law: "Never give a sucker an even break."

Stoli'n'Tang, neat
Ananova [UK]
"The ban on astronauts drinking alcohol aboard the International Space Station could be about to be lifted. It follows pressure from Russian authorities to allow 'overworked cosmonauts a chance to restore their strength.' A source from the Russian medical team for manned space programmes told the Russian Interfax agency: 'They spend over half a year in the orbit with a heavy workload, especially during exhausting space walks when they can loose several kilos in weight over a few hours. Many people think a small ration of alcohol would help restore their strength.' Moderate alcohol consumption was tolerated on Russia's former orbital station MIR until it was taken out of service, but a strict ban has been in force on the ISS ever since Russia and the US sent the first joint crew." (01/04/

I suppose this means that we can now train homeless alcoholics (at least those from Toronto) to man the ISS?

Prescriptions of mind-altering drugs for teens rise
Washington Times
"Teenagers are taking more mind-altering drugs -- but under doctor's orders. Drug prescriptions meant to counter depression, anxiety and mood or attention disorders in teens increased by 250 percent between 1994 and 2001, according to a Brandeis University study released yesterday. 'There is an alarming increase in prescribing these drugs to teens,' said lead author Cindy Parks Thomas, who tracks prescription drug trends for the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at the university. Teenage boys are particularly targeted: one out of every 10 who visits the doctor leaves with a prescription to treat a mental condition." (01/04/

What was recognized as a normal part of growing up ("Teen angst") is now viewed as a serious aberration for which medical intervention is necessary - and that is horrible. Of course, the pressures are greater today, but THAT is the fault of their parents, all too often. And the parents aren't getting the meds.

Mama's Note: Not to mention the problem of the mixed message. Children are bombarded with the message that "drugs" are bad, yet they are forced to take them.

MO: Largest prime number found
Fox News
"Researchers at a Missouri university have identified the largest known prime number, officials said Tuesday. The team at Central Missouri State University, led by associate dean Steven Boone and mathematics professor Curtis Cooper, found it in mid-December after programming 700 computers years ago. A prime number is a positive number divisible by only itself and 1 -- for example, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc. The number that the team found is 9.1 million digits long. It is a Mersenne prime known as M30402457 -- that's 2 to the 30,402,457th power minus 1. Mersenne primes are a special category expressed as 2 to the "p" power minus 1, in which 'p' also is a prime number." (01/04/

Don't know if this will result in any great advances in science, but it is interesting, isn't it?

Mama's Note: Maybe, if I had any idea what this kind of thing might be used for. Without that, it seems like the search for the little man on the stair that wasn't there. The research is a waste of time and money if there isn't any use for it.

World Wars
This week's world wars are almost a collection of things that could fit in several places.

RFID passport tests to begin
Information Week
"The Department of Homeland Security will begin testing passports embedded with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology at the San Francisco International Airport mid-January, a spokesperson for the agency said Friday. Australia, New Zealand and Singapore have begun to issue passports to travelers with RFID chips. Many pass through the San Francisco, making it a likely location to test the technology, according to Anna Hinken, a US-Visit spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security. 'We're bringing technology to the borders and chose RFID as one to help reach the goals of expediting safe entrance into the United States,' she said. In October, the U.S. State Department issued final regulations on passports issued after October 2006, stating all would have embedded RFID chips that carry the holder's personal data and digital photo." (12/30/05)

This is also a privacy issue and a tech issue. Now, San Fran is a perfect place to test these things in more ways than one. Let us test and see just how easy it is for anyone else to read these things, and to see how easy it is to spoof the machines doing the reading for the TSA types. Hopefully, a lot of people will be doing testing of their own while this goes on.

Growing Islamic Anger Over Mohammed Cartoons
CNSNews
For the government of one small European nation, the new year begins with a deepening crisis: growing anger in the Islamic world over a newspaper's decision to publish cartoon depictions of the prophet Mohammed. The Danish daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten last fall published 12 caricatures of Mohammed, causing an uproar that continues to build more than three months later. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), representing 57 Muslim states and territories, issued a memorandum on January 1 accusing the Danish government of "indifference" after Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen declined to intervene in the dispute [on freedom of speech grounds]. The OIC dismissed the free speech argument, saying in its statement this week that the publication of the cartoons "was meant to disturb and infuriate Muslims, and could not be considered as an innocent behavior falling within the scope of freedom of expression in which everyone believes." As far away as Pakistan, local media carried reports saying Islamists were offering rewards to anyone who killed the cartoonists. Franco Frattini, the vice president of the European Union's executive Commission, [said] that while he "fully" respected freedom of speech, the cartoons were adding to "growing Islamophobia" in Europe.

I hope that Denmark's people, news media, and government will continue to deny the Islamists a veto power over free speech. Clearly neither the OIC, the Arab League, the UN, the EU, or the thousands of so-called peaceful Muslims who have condemned this care one bit about freedom. And if the cartoons are adding to a growing fear of Islam in Europe, it is because of the response to the cartoons, not the drawings themselves.

North Korea: No talks with sanctions in place
Las Vegas Review-Journal
"North Korea said Tuesday it cannot return to international nuclear disarmament talks unless the United States lifts sanctions imposed for its alleged currency counterfeiting and other illegal activities. 'While under U.S. sanctions, it's impossible to sit face-to-face and discuss abandoning our nuclear deterrent,' said the Rodong Sinmun, the North's ruling Workers Party newspaper, in a Korean-language commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency." (01/02/06)

They just keep pounding the same drum, both because it is the only one that they have, and because it has worked so well in the past.

UK: Asylum seekers face tough controls under new system
Guardian [UK]
"A large-scale overhaul of the asylum system has begun which will lead to at least a third of all asylum seekers being placed in detention centres for the 'fast-track' processing of their claims for refugee status. The 'new asylum model,' which ministers hope will be implemented by September, also envisages far greater controls over failed asylum seekers facing removal, including the use of electronic tagging, reporting requirements and detention." (01/03/06)

Don't know what to say about this - in many ways it makes sense. You as a homeowner might be willing to let a stranger take refuge in your house from a vague and undefined threat, but until you learn more about the threat and the person seeking refuge, you are NOT going to give them the free run of the house, and you may not even let them go anywhere but the entry.

Officials: Error tipped Iran to CIA agents
CNN
"Several U.S. agents in Iran were rounded up after the CIA mistakenly revealed clues to their identities to a covert source who turned out to be a double agent, according to a book that hit shelves Tuesday. In 'State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration,' author James Risen of The New York Times called the mistake an 'espionage disaster.' But while confirming the mistake, knowledgeable current and former officials told CNN that the allegations that agents were lost as a result are not true." (01/03/06)

One of the risks that these people take.