April 10, 2006

Without Exception
By Lady Liberty

Last week, I was searching through news headlines when I found another story about another state working for passage of a "stand your ground" law (that's a law that says you aren't obligated to retreat before using deadly force if you believe that deadly force is warranted). While I thought the law was a good thing, when I passed along the news to others online I also pointed out (just a little tongue in cheek) that all of us already had one of those, no matter where we lived, and that it's called "The Second Amendment."

States have some good reasons to consider these "stand your ground" laws. Not least of them is the fact that would-be crime victims are all too often victimized again by both the government (when unwarranted assault or murder charges are filed but which are never-the-less mandated by one of thousands of anti-gun laws on the books) and the criminal or his family (who apparently believe it's entirely the fault of the victim that their loved one is hurt or dead). What probably pushed at least some legislators over the edge is the added factor of state's utter inability to protect those they've sworn to keep safe (just this month, an appalling story out of Tennessee showed that 911 operators weren't even answering some of the calls that were coming in). (Read the rest here)

Bush's Bogus Theory of Absolute Power
By James Bovard

The Bush administration has a theory to explain why the Founding Fathers secretly intended for the president to have boundless power. Even though the new "unitary executive theory" is nowhere in the Constitution, White House officials continually invoke it to justify scorning federal law. The fact that the administration is getting away with this charade symbolizes how docile much of the American media and political opposition have become.

Earlier this year, members of Congress anguished publicly over how many of the original USA PATRIOT Act surveillance powers should be renewed. A bipartisan agreement was finally reached, giving the White House almost everything it wanted. As part of the deal to renew the Patriot Act, Bush administration officials agreed to provide Congress more details on how the new powers were being used. (Read the rest here)

Wanted: A Freer Market in U.S. Politics
By Ivan Eland

The recent unveiling by the Democrats of an alternative national security program illustrates the limited choices Americans have in U.S. politics. The highlights of the Democrats’ plan are tired and worn: rebuilding the U.S. military, implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, increasing resources to catch the elusive Osama bin Laden, and the vague “responsible redeployment of U.S. forces” from Iraq, which does not set a deadline for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces. No one should be surprised that a party that essentially rolled over to the Bush administration’s transparently questionable Iraq adventure, and has been timid in its criticism of it ever since, wouldn’t come up with much of an alternative program.

Although globalization has opened markets around the world, the U.S. political system remains closed to true competition. Curiously, Americans are equally proud that they have one of the freest and most vibrant economies in the world and a two-party oligarchy that restricts competition among political parties. If greater competition is better in economics, why not in politics? (Read the rest here)

Iran: The Next Neocon Target
by Congressman Ron Paul - R - TX

It’s been three years since the U.S. launched its war against Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. Of course now almost everybody knows there were no WMDs, and Saddam Hussein posed no threat to the United States. Though some of our soldiers serving in Iraq still believe they are there because Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11, even the administration now acknowledges there was no connection. Indeed, no one can be absolutely certain why we invaded Iraq. The current excuse, also given for staying in Iraq, is to make it a democratic state, friendly to the United States. There are now fewer denials that securing oil supplies played a significant role in our decision to go into Iraq and stay there. That certainly would explain why U.S. taxpayers are paying such a price to build and maintain numerous huge, permanent military bases in Iraq. They’re also funding a new billion dollar embassy- the largest in the world. (Read the rest here)

NEW CONTRIBUTOR!
Mandatory Arrest and No-Drop Prosecution
By Richard L. Davis

In 1981 a group of citizens in Duluth, Minnesota became so frustrated with what they perceived was a lack of commitment by the criminal justice system concerning people who beat and battered their spouse that they founded the Duluth Abuse Intervention Project.

And most reasonable people agree that if someone beats or batterers their spouse that person should be arrested, sanctioned, and perhaps placed in an effective treatment/counseling program.

It is said that for every complex problem that we face our public policy makers come up with a simple and elegant response that is wrong. There is now ample evidence that documents that mandatory arrest and no-drop prosecution are two deeply flawed and harmful responses to the complex enigma that is domestic violence. (Read the rest here)

Child Support Gold-Diggers
By Carey Roberts

Laws that protect the fairer sex from rape, domestic violence, and sexual harassment all rest on a simple assumption: women who claim to be victims are almost always telling the truth. Maybe it's time to revisit that belief.

Three weeks ago the National Center for Men filed a lawsuit on behalf of Matt Dubay, 25, who claims his girlfriend repeatedly assured him that she was unable to get pregnant. When she later bore a child, the state of Michigan went after Mr. Dubay for child support.

That's what people used to call entrapment. (Read the rest here)

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The Mailbag for This Week April 10, 06
Dear Readers: I'm sorry I never got to do this last week. I didn't get back on-line until late Thursday and decided just to make a good Mailbag for this week instead. Not to mention a few hundred boxes that needed unpacking...

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