Right Mind

Juliaetta Brush Fire at 120 Acres

From KREM News in Spokane:

Fire officials tell KREM 2 News the fire is now up to 120 acres and is 50% contained. At the height of the fire, seven structures were threatened. Crews are attacking the fire using five helicopters and three airtankers.

Happy Birthday, Milton Friedman

From the Alliance for the Separation of School and State:

Ninety-five years ago today, a very important man took his first breath of Earth's troubled air - a man who would shake up the world's ideas about prosperity and freedom and what they mean to one another.

That man, Milton Friedman, is no longer with us, but his ideas live on in our hearts and minds and in the lives of millions of people around the world who now breathe freer thanks to his efforts.

There was one odd little burp in Dr. Friedman's philosophy of freedom, though.

In today's Wall Street Journal, Thomas F. Siems writes of Friedman, "e saw education and the free exchange of ideas as prerequisites to advancing this freedom for the next generation."

Mr. Siems goes on to quote Milton Friedman,

Freedom is not a natural state of mankind. It is a rare and wonderful achievement. It will take an understanding of what freedom is, of where the dangers to freedom come from. it will take the courage to act on that understanding if we are not only to preserve the freedoms that we have, but to realize the full potential of a truly free society.¹

The burp? Friedman's vision wavered when it came to freedom in education. He supported state-funded school choice as if it could overcome the burden of state regulation.

We're learning the hard way that it cannot. The evidence is mounting. State money comes not with strings attached but with chains attached. I can't help but believe that Dr. Friedman would certainly have come to recognize this, even that he did realize it and was speaking from his desperation over the malignant state of American public schooling.

But he left us the seeds of a vision that can free American families from the stranglehold of the state over their children's minds and spirits. Listen to him again:

It will take an understanding... of where the dangers to freedom come from. It will take the courage to act on that understanding if we are not only to preserve the freedoms that we have, but to realize the full potential of a truly free society.

The Alliance is proud to carry on this vision of Milton Friedman - promoting an understanding of where the danger to freedom comes from and the courage to act on that understanding.

¹Friedman's Legacy by Thomas F. Siems, The Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2007.

Trade with China: No Protectionist Policies!

If Jack Wenders were still alive, his signature would have been on this petition.

There’s a “who’s who” of famous economists on this petition.

As it is, only three professors from UI have signed this, and only two from Boise State.

Hoover_WSJ.pdf (205 KB)

Click the image below to enlarge.

Fire near Juliaetta

From KREM News in Spokane:

KREM 2 news is headed to a brush fire 3 miles north of the town of Juliaetta, near highway 3 in Latah County. The fire has burned 15 acres. There are no evacuations at this time.

Will Bush cancel the 2008 election?

These guys are crazy. Moonbat crazy.

You just gotta love the Dem’s.

From 911Truth.com

It is time to think about the "unthinkable."

The Bush Administration has both the inclination and the power to cancel the 2008 election.

The GOP strategy for another electoral theft in 2008 has taken clear shape, though we must assume there is much more we don't know.

But we must also assume that if it appears to Team Bush/Cheney/Rove that the GOP will lose the 2008 election anyway (as it lost in Ohio 2006) we cannot ignore the possibility that they would simply cancel the election. Those who think this crew will quietly walk away from power are simply not paying attention.

The real question is not how or when they might do it. It's how, realistically, we can stop them.

Transgendered inmate wins hormone therapy suit: Idaho must pay for treatment

Your tax dollars at work.

From KTVB:

BOISE -- A federal judge has ruled a Boise transgender inmate will receive female hormone therapy, paid for by the state of Idaho.

Jenniffer Spencer, who changed her name from Randall Gammett, castrated herself with a disposable razor blade after she was refused female hormone therapy for her gender identity disorder during her time in prison.

The Idaho Department of Corrections, funded by the state and taxpayer dollars, must provide psychotherapy and estrogen to Spencer for the duration of her time in prison, which is two more years.

Jennifer Spencer was biologically born a man. She sued the Idaho Department of Corrections, and the physicians there, for failing to diagnose Gender Identity Disorder and treating it using female hormones.

Instead, doctors diagnoseda non-specific gender disorder as well as bi-polar disorder and offered her the male hormone, testosterone, not estrogen which she says she needed.

In the suit, Spencer claims her constitutional rights were violated and that she was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment with the state's failed diagnosis.

"The hormone therapy that we're talking about would cost, it's estimated at a couple dollars a day, and we're spending much more than what my client has asked for her treatment," said Walter Sinclair, Jenniffer Spencer's lead attorney.

Attorneys for the state say their doctors did not find conclusive evidence that Spencer actually has gender identity disorder.

The department realeased a statement that said, "the litigation is on-going and we are evaluating the court's decision."

Spencer is in prison for grand theft by possession and escape.

Does killing the pre-born lead to killing the born?

Lynn Vincent over at WorldMagBlog writes:

Years ago, I wrote an article about an Oklahoma City abortionist suspected of murdering his wife. The story posed a question: Does killing the unborn numb a person's conscience, possibly leading that person to kill the born? In the case of the abortionist -- who murdered his wife, went back to the hospital to perform surgery, then returned to his ritzy home and claimed to find his wife in a bloody heap with her head bashed in -- it may have: A jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree.

Now comes this case, in which a formerly pregnant woman who had a dead, blanket-wrapped infant at her home also had secreted away the bodies of four pre-born babies. The question remains the same: Does killing the unborn lead to killing the born?

Of course. If you can rationalize abortion, you can easily rationalize infanticide. A seared conscience can take you just about anywhere.

Muslims protest over pet food factory that could ‘rain down’ pork

This gives a new meaning to “raining cats and dogs”…

See if you can follow the logic: the Koran forbids eating pork; I can smell pork; therefore I’m in violation of the Koran.

From the U.K. Daily Mail:

A group of Muslims have opposed plans for a pet food factory to be built as possible pork emissions will violate their religious rights.

Butchers Pet Care could shelve plans for a factory in Coton Park, near Rugby, because angry Asian families have complained to their residents’ association about pork smells drifting into their garden.

Muslim residents in the area also claim the pork will effectively “rain down” on their homes and gardens after the factory’s 100ft chimney has pumped the meat extracts into the atmosphere.

The Coton Park Residential Association said they have received complaints from Muslims - who are directed to not eat pork by the Qur’an - and are taking the matter very seriously.

Muslim families are worried that the pet food factory will infect the air with pork emissions and violate their religious beliefs.

One family who live less than 100 yards from the proposed factory, but who did not wish to be identified, said:

“A significant proportion of meats used in the pet foods processes are pig meat.

“Our religion expressly forbids us to consume pig meat in any form.

“Because of the way in which this meat material will leave the factory and give that the area can be ‘rained upon’ we will be consuming pork via inhalation of this ‘rain’.

“Not only that but our clothes will be contaminated by pork.”

Boost in property values met with mixed reactions

This applies to Latah County residents. As reported in today’s edition of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

Gary Potratz was not a happy man when he got a letter in his mail Friday notifying him of a 30-percent increase amounting to roughly $26,000 in the assessment of his property value.

His Troy household was one of 294 to receive a letter from Latah County Assessor Pat Vaughan, informing each owner that an assessment conducted earlier this year on their manufactured homes attached to rural land was being increased to meet the levels set by the Idaho Tax Commission.

"I am a little hot - it's baloney," Potratz said. "Some appointed state commission shouldn't have the right to tell the county and its assessor what they should and shouldn't do."

Potratz said he blames the state government for the increases, not Vaughan.

"He is just doing what he was forced to do by the tax commission - they should not have anything to do with what an individual tax assessor does," he said.

Potratz said the property-tax increase associated with the assessment might change his future retirement plans.

"I am two and a half years from retirement and it was my intention to live here," he said. "Every time there is an increase that is less likely. The assessed value was fine and now it is way over the value - that just isn't right."

You’ve heard me say many times — and it bears repeating — that property taxes are the most regressive form of taxes we have to pay. Those taxes have nothing to do with income or wealth and everything to do with appraised value. Often, the only thing a retiree can do is sell the property and leave town for somewhere cheaper.

In Moscow, that hurts the poor, the elderly, etc. Property taxes are the most evil form of taxation.

Lessons from the right

I’ve heard this echoed many times elsewhere as well. It seems that the “constituency of the tolerant” are the most intolerant to ideas they disagree with. Paradoxical, I know.

The following letter to the editor appeared in today’s Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

I normally, but not always, concur with the interesting and refreshing perspectives of Ed Iverson and Michael J. O'Neal in their columns on your editorial page. On the Tuesdays and Saturdays on which their columns are scheduled to appear, I head straight to the editorial page for a shot of encouragement. But I am also greatly amused by the venom so predictably spewed by those "tolerant, everybody's opinion, culture, religion and political positions are equally valid and welcome" writers of the left in the days following Iverson and O'Neal columns.

Keep up the good work guys. You help us all learn where the hate and intolerance so righteously decried by those of a particular political persuasion really lies.

Bill Tozer, Moscow

Ah, the intolerance of the Tolerant…

Lawmakers look to revolutionize primary plan: Primaries Divided into Four Regions

From The Hill:

Three senators — one Republican, one Democrat and one Independent — are proposing a plan that would revolutionize the nation’s presidential primary system.

Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) announced Tuesday they are proposing legislation that would institute a new primary structure that divides the country into four regions, with each region’s states voting in a different month.

The Regional Presidential Primary and Caucus Act, which would take effect in the 2012 elections, is a result of this year’s rush by states to the front of the line, with big states like California, New York and New Jersey moving to Feb. 5 and Florida jumping to Jan. 29.

A document outlining the plan that was obtained by The Hill said it would “encourage the greatest number of good candidates to enter the race, allow voters an opportunity to hear all candidates’ ideas [and] ensure more Americans a chance to cast a meaningful vote.”

The proposal calls for a rotating schedule of the four regions, while still protecting the “traditional” first states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

The states would be divided into the East (Region I), South (II), Midwest (III) and West (IV) regions.

A lottery would be held to determine which region votes first on the first Tuesday or within six days of the first Tuesday in March. The other regions would follow in numerical order in April, May and June. Whichever region goes first in 2012 would go to the back of the line in 2016.

One office said the plan is based on the Rotating Regional Presidential Primaries Plan first adopted by the National Association of Secretaries of State in 2000.

The senators pushing for the new plan said it was developed in response to the crowded front end of the 2008 primary season. According to them, next year, 33 states have scheduled their primaries or caucuses before March 1. In 2004, there were only 19, and in 2000, there were 11.

Congressional trip to Greenland marked by heated global warming debates

According to ABC News,  “Melting Ice Sheets Seen as Ecological Threat but Senators Disagree on Severity”. 

Did anyone bother to ask the Senators why Greenland is called by that name? Maybe because it was lush and warm there prior to the mini-ice age?

It cracks me up: going to Greenland and complaining because its turning green again.

Suicide Bomb Box

I really cannot believe that people are selling these.

First, who would buy it?

Second, can you imagine getting caught having it shipped to you?

Third, what are you going to do with it?

Finally, don’t get it confused with your other airline carry-ons…

Hundreds of DUI cases, including Fred Russell's, at risk due to WA Toxicology Lab accusations

Russell is not the only one who may get off the hook for the Washington Toxicology Lab screwups.

From KREM News in Spokane:

Accusations against the manager of the state toxicology laboratory in Seattle could leave hundreds of drunken driving cases in question.

Ann Marie Gordon resigned on July 20th after the State Patrol began investigating an anonymous tip about work done in the lab. She is accused of signing sworn statements that she tested ethanol-water solutions to make sure breath-test machines were working properly without making the tests.

Defense lawyers say that if such a high-ranking official was lying, questions may be raised about criminal cases in which she's testified -- as well as affect whether breath-test readings can be used against drunken driving suspects in court.

Bureau directors also say former lab manager Gordon threw away 2 blood samples that belonged to Fred Russell.

As of Monday, though, state toxicologist Barry Logan said there had been no evidence that any of lab results were compromised."

Officials explain that other analysts did test the solution, so the results are still valid. Meanwhile, the State Patrol investigation is continuing.

Gangs Spreading In The U.S. Military

Gangs in the military is nothing new.

When I first joined the navy (over 26 years ago), I was told that navy carriers had gangs onboard. I couldn’t figure out how that could happen in the US military. And a friend explained it to me: the military is just a microcosm and cross-section of American society. Whatever you find in America, you’ll find in the military. A carrier with 5,000 people onboard was bound to have gangs.

If DoD wants to get serious on gang issues, it needs to make participation in gangs as a disqualifying factor in enlistment.

So this article from CBS News comes as no surprise to me. 26 years later, gang activity was bound to spread throughout the military.

Evidence of gang culture and gang activity in the military is increasing so much an FBI report calls it “a threat to law enforcement and national security.” The signs are chilling: Marines in gang attire on Parris Island; paratroopers flashing gang hand signs at a nightclub near Ft. Bragg; infantrymen showing-off gang tattoos at Ft. Hood.

“It’s obvious that many of these people do not give up their gang affiliations,” said Hunter Glass, a retired police detective in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the home of Ft. Bragg and the 82nd Airborne. He monitors gang activity at the base and across the military.

“If we weren’t in the middle of fighting a war, yes, I think the military would have a lot more control over this issue,” Glass said. “But with a war going on, I think it’s very difficult to do.”

Gang activity clues are appearing in Iraq and Afghanistan, too. Gang graffiti is sprayed on blast walls – even on Humvees. Kilroy – the doodle made famous by U.S. soldiers in World War II – is here, but so is the star emblem of the Gangster Disciples.

The soldier who took photos of the graffiti told CBS News that he’s been warned he’s as good as dead if he ever returns to Iraq.

“We represent America – our demographics are the same – so the same problems that America contends with we often times contend with,” said Colonel Gene Smith of the Army’s Office of the Provost Marshal.

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command reported 61 gang investigations and incidents last year, compared to just 9 in 2004. But army officials point out less than 1 percent of all its criminal investigations are gang related.

“We must remember that there are a million people in the army community,” Smith said, “And these small numbers are not reflective of a tremendous, pervasive, rampant problem.”

The rise in gang activity coincides with the increase in recruits with records. Since 2003, 125,000 recruits with criminal histories have been granted what are known as “moral waivers” for felonies including robbery and assault.

A hidden-camera investigation by CBS Denver station KCNC found one military recruiter was quick to offer the waiver option even when asked, “Does it matter that i was in a gang or anything?” That is well within military regulations.

“You may have had some gang activity in your past and everything … OK … but that in itself does not disqualify…,” the recruiter said.

Military regulations disqualify members of hate groups from enlisting, but there is no specific ban on members of street gangs.

The Flat Tax Movement is Spreading

Quote of the Day: Milton Friedman

"The true test of any scholar's work is not what his contemporaries say, but what happens to his work in the next 25 or 50 years. And the thing that I will really be proud of is if some of the work I have done is still cited in the text books long after I am gone."

—Milton Friedman

Aljazeera Inside Story: Muslim Brotherhood

If you’re interested in getting an inside look at the Muslim Brotherhood and what is going on inside Egypt, check out this video.

Micron to layoff 130 more workers by month's end

More bad news for Micron workers and the Idaho tech economy.

From today's Idaho Statesman:

Micron told state officials Monday that it expects to lay off an additional 130 employees at its main campus in Boise on or about Aug. 30.

The company also updated its total count of employees laid off to 982. The company had told the state earlier this month that it had laid off 875 people.

In a letter dated July 30 to the Idaho Department of Labor, Pat Otte, Micron’s vice president of human resources, said the higher number reflects not just employees laid off at the main Boise site, but at multiple sites located in the Treasure Valley.

Micron has operations in both Meridian and Nampa.

Otte again said that Micron expects the layoffs to be permanent.

A washing machine that needs no detergent?

It's advertised as the first detergent-free washer, needing no soap at all to get your clothes clean.

OK, so how does it work?

It breaks H₂O molecules into OH^- and H⁺ ions.

OH^- acts as the cleaning and stain removing agent. The H⁺ ions sterilize the clothes.

Still a bit pricey (nearly $1,000), but this could be a breakthrough in washing technology.

Check out the website Wash2O — if you can read French 

Defamation of Dr. Gerald Weitz

A letter to the editor from Don Harter, Stephainie Bettger, and Isabel Bond.

While attending the July 24 meeting of the MSD Board of Trustees we witnessed continued public defamation of Dr. Gerald Weitz, a whistle blower, for exercising his civil right via his lawsuit to question the legality of an indefinite levy run by MSD.  With the goal of discrediting Weitz, a whistle blower, his critics have retaliated with mud-slinging, personal attacks, and a boycott of his business.

Public defamation is to make false statements which lower a person’s reputation as evaluated by decent citizens and makes them want to avoid that person.  During the July 24 meeting several patrons made outrageous comments and thereby engaged in full-blown character assassination of Dr. Weitz.  In particular, one patron made several comments claiming that Dr. Weitz is “mentally ill.”

Public discourse at MSD Board meetings has become an uncivil, full-contact game of defamation, retribution, and spin control.  We recommend the following way of restoring civility to future Board meetings.  They should be subjected to the white light of public exposure by broadcasting them on local cable television similar to the meetings of Moscow City Council.

Sincerely,

Don Harter                                 Stephainie Bettger         Isabel Bond

Oregon police identify body found in Columbia as missing Moscow councilman

As reported in today’s edition of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

Oregon State Police officials have positively identified a body recovered Thursday in the Columbia River as missing Moscow City Councilman John Dickinson.

Lt. Gregg Hastings, spokesman for the Oregon State Police, said today that the family has been notified.

The 62-year-old Dickinson had been missing since Jan. 8. He had stopped to help a motorist following an accident on an Interstate 84 bridge that spans the John Day River, 28 miles east of The Dalles, Ore. He had exited his vehicle when a third car struck it from behind, and police believe he either fell off the bridge or jumped the 3 1/2-foot concrete railing to avoid the accident.

His body was discovered Thursday evening after a fisherman reported it near the shore on the mainstream of the Columbia River near the mouth of the John Day River. Oregon State Police worked with the Gilliam County medical examiner to identity of the body.

Gilliam County Medical Examiner Dr. Bruce Carlson reported the cause of death was from "traumatic injuries and drowning," according to a news release from the Oregon State Police.

 

 

Gingrich calls Detroit a disaster

Are they upset because he used Detroit as a poster-child for disaster? Or because that happens to be their city?

And will they be able to dispute the facts? Or just say that pointing out that the emperor has no clothes demonstrates that Gingrich needs diversity training?

From the Detroit News:

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich drew strong criticism from Detroit city leaders and school officials Monday after calling the city a "disaster" in a national network TV interview on Sunday.

Gingrich blasted the city of Detroit, Detroit Public Schools, the United Auto Workers and Michigan's unemployment rate during an interview on Fox News Sunday in which he talked about how he would transform Washington.

A spokesman for Gingrich, an undeclared Republican presidential candidate who has been ramping up his public appearances, singled out Detroit and its schools because they're the "best worst-case example" of bureaucracy and "a union structure that doesn't work."

"We should basically, fundamentally replace the Detroit school system with a series of experiments to see if they'll work," Gingrich said in the interview.

Rick Tyler, Gingrich's spokesman, said Monday that unions are to blame for many of the city's and state's woes, including the inability of the Big Three automakers to be competitive and the school system's struggle to reform itself. Gingrich also cited Detroit's massive population losses.

"Detroit is routinely pointed out as one of the worst public school systems in the entire country," Tyler said. "It provides the best example of why we need transformational change in bureaucratic systems that don't work."

 

 

 

Looking out a Rearview Mirror

Day By Day© by Chris Muir.

'We are Christian,' boys tell Muslims -- Told to take conversion test for Islam or lose education

Dedicated to Nick Gier, who still cannot tell the difference.

Chris W. writes:

Islamic law requiring the children to become Muslim if either parent converts to Islam is why Muslim invaders have traditionally systematically raped women in any territory they invade. They regard the progeny of a Muslim rape as a Muslim who is subject to the death penalty if he should ever "abandon" the religion with which he was inseminated by his rapist father.

This is confirmed by WSU researcher Diane E. King. See her article Using Rape As a Weapon.

From WND:

Two young boys ordered to take a school test that would result in their conversion to Islam wrote, "I am Christian," on the exam papers, knowing in advance that could very well spell the end of their educations. Now a U.S.-based organization is lobbying for international pressure on Egypt to quit forcing Christians into such no-win situations.

"What brought the case to the public attention is the categorical refusal of the two kids to pass the Islamic exams and convert to Islam, stating, 'they will not deny their Christianity and convert to Islam no matter what it would cost them,'" Sam Grace, a spokesman for Coptic News said.

The organization aims to "reveal the untold stories … which are not told by the conventional Arabic press."

He told WND the boys, Mario Medhat Ramses, 11, and Andrew Medhat Ramses, 13, now are facing a future without educational opportunities even though they had been classified as "brilliant" students at the French Lycee school of Alexandria.  

Washington city fights gangs with symphonies

Ft Worth is suing gangs in an attempt curb street violence.

Über-liberal San Francisco is also taking the same hard stand.

Compare this to Seattle’s nutty symphony approach. The Westside has clearly demonstrated just how moonbat crazy the People’s Republic of Washington has become.

From The Conservative Voice:

City authorities, fed up with gang activity in public places, are taking Bach their bus stop.

Transit workers are installing speakers this week to pump classical music from Seattle's KING-FM into the Tacoma Mall Transit Center. The tactic is designed to disperse young criminals who make drug deals at the bus stop or use public transportation to circulate between the mall and other trouble-prone places.

The attack by Bach, Brahms and Beethoven follows the theory that prompted the city to stage pinochle games on dangerous street corners: Jolting the routine in such spots throws criminals off balance.

"It's based on routine activity theory and situational crime prevention. You mix different types of activities in locations that are crime-ridden to change the composition of the environment," said psychologist Jacqueline Helfgott, who chairs the Criminal Justice Department at Seattle University.

HT: David D.

On the Anniversary of Milton Friedman’s Birthday

Today would have been Milton Friedman’s 95^th birthday. Various organizations and individuals across Idaho are planning to celebrate in different ways.

The following is from R. Ashley Lyman, Professor of Economics at the University of Idaho’s College of Business & Economics.

On this anniversary, it is appropriate to share some of Milton's writings. (See attached)  It is also appropriate to recognize some Idahonians for their efforts in supporting Milton's ideas.

For the last quarter of a century, one of Milton Friedman's strongest advocates in Idaho has been Jack Wenders.  Jack came to Idaho from the University of Arizona in 1981, retired from the University of Idaho in 1998 and passed away in November of 2006.

Over this period and in support of education and other reforms, Jack wrote extensively about the importance of individual freedoms.  He was concerned with: [1] the importance of these freedoms for human prosperity, [2] the conflicts between individual freedoms and collectivist behavior, and [3] the threats of collectivist behavior to prosperity.

For example, while it is un-ethical and illegal to, individually, steal from others, Jack pointed out that, paradoxically, many feel that it is perfectly ethical to collectively take or appropriate just about anything thru public voting.  A simple majority in a 50% voter turnout is just over 25% of all voters.  Since, in general, fewer than 50% of all voters vote, small minorities can steal from everyone.

Think about it.  Is this ethical?  Will such a system lead to prosperity or simply larger government, more waste and unethical legislators? Are our children, in government run schools, better educated today than their parents?  Why is the approval rating for congress lower than for the president? Are we better off? 

Below are some quotes from Jack Wenders on Freedom, Democracy and Collectivism (excerpts from his writings-words in italics are mine).

Ashley Lyman

Quotes from Jack Wenders:

1. Democracy means you have a right to vote in the public sector, freedom means you, alone, have the right to determine the terms of your interactions with others (through voluntary and non- coercive interaction)
2. The role of the Constitution is to protect (individual) freedom from democracy and the individual from the majority.
3. Some freedoms are civil, like free speech, religion, and association.  The Constitution protects free speech from democracy.
4. In the economic sphere, freedom means that individuals have a right to own, buy, and sell property on their own terms in free markets. The Constitutional bases for a market economy are very simple:
• property rights must be vested in individuals--or voluntary associations of individuals.
• These rights, like our freedoms of speech and religion, must be well-defined and tenaciously defended, like free speech, against encroachment from the public sector.
• Titles to property and services must be freely transferable.
5. In the past century, there has been everywhere a steady invasion of market activity by the political process. Even in capitalist countries, such as the US, the public sector has continually expanded. Once economic activity becomes part of the public sector and is addressed by the political process, it immediately becomes subject to capture by those--often a tiny minority--who can effectively manipulate it to their own ends.
6. There is a difference between democracy and (individual) freedom. Freedom must be protected from democracy. A good Constitution will do that.
7. In our own economy the dangers of public encroachments on the private sector are usually encountered…. Here, we have produced a massive public sector by tolerating encroachment in the small without addressing the larger issue. If nothing else, the recent events in Eastern Europe (fall of the iron curtain and movement away from socialist states) should stimulate us to re-think the drift of piecemeal democratic encroachments on our own freedoms.
8. Freedom is not measured by the ability to vote. It is measured by the (quantity and importance) of those things on which we do not vote.
9. The Problem Created by Democracy:  The problem is not the candidates but the system. H. L. Mencken expressed it well:

"The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government, they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can't get and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time it is made good by looting A to satisfy B. In other words government is a broker in pillage and every election is sort of an advance sale of stolen goods."

More recently, George Will said the same thing: "Being elected to Congress is regarded as being sent on a looting raid for one's friends."

Politicians are people who have what it takes to take what you have.  Politics may not be the world's oldest profession, but the results are the same.

Jet-Man

I posted some pictures previously of “Personal Jet”.

Austin asked for some more info.

Check out the website: http://www.jet-man.com/prod/index.html

It’s all in French. We could ask Daniel and David F. to translate…

Here’s a video.

And there are more videos and images.

http://www.jet-man.com/prod/index.html

Enjoy!

Pullman-Moscow Highway closed through Tuesday

As reported in today’s edition of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

The Pullman-Moscow highway will be closed through Tuesday as construction crews begin preliminary paving projects.

Al Gilson, a spokesman for the Washington State Department of Transportation, said the highway is closed to through traffic so crews can do some paving and grinding.

Traffic is being diverted to Airport Road, although access to businesses along the highway is available.

The highway will be open to through traffic on Wednesday.

“They’re just getting things going,” said Gilson, who doesn’t expect the highway to be closed during the full paving process.

“I can't see them closing the road for 60 days,” he said.

Gilson said he soon will sit down with construction crew leaders to get a better idea of the project timeline.

One Year Ago Today

And where do we stand on the Naylor Farms lawsuit today?

As reported in today's edition of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

 Naylor Farms has filed a lawsuit against the Latah Soil and Water Conservation district, alleging it violated its own process when it offered advice to the Latah County Zoning Commission. Naylor believes the district stepped beyond its authority.