Also, is it just me, or does Michael Moore increasingly look like a middle-aged lesbian? IJS.
Good for the Goose
December 3, 2009 6 Comments
Every once in a while, a glimmer of sunlight peeks out and someone notices the “civil servants” are acting a little too much like civil masters.
Congressmen John Carter (R-TX) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) yesterday introduced the Geithner Penalty Waiver Act, requiring that the IRS assess the same penalty against U.S. taxpayers that came forward in the UBS tax fraud investigation as paid by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for failing to pay taxes on his IMF income — zero. From Congressman Carter’s press release:
Carter says the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution mandates equal penalties for similar offenses, and that the failure of the IRS to assess any penalties against Geithner demands similar penalties for all taxpayers with substantially equivalent cases. “This bill seeks to codify what is now established by the law of precedent,” says Carter. “The Geithner case has established a legal precedent for the determination of penalties by the IRS, and that precedent can be cited in all federal tax courts. The penalty is now set at zero.” “Taxpayers who willfully attempt to evade paying their fair taxes should pay a penalty, or our tax code becomes unenforceable,” says Carter. “This bill is not to reward tax evaders, but to defend the Rule of Law itself. If we as a nation choose not to enforce the law against the politically privileged, then we cannot enforce the law against others without undermining respect for the law itself.”
Lawyers, Guns & Money: Challenge to Chicago Law Could Restore Economic Liberty
October 7, 2009 4 Comments
Still on deadline, so not much from me this week. But here’s fellow Dallasite and Reasonoid Jacob Sullum on how the challenge to Chicago’s oppressive anti-gun laws could be a boon for economic liberty.
The right to weapons was one of the liberties frequently cited by the 14th Amendment’s backers, since disarmed blacks were defenseless against attacks by Klansmen and local officials. As reflected in post–Civil War legislation that the amendment was intended to reinforce, its supporters also were concerned about economic liberty: the right to own and exchange property, make and enforce contracts, and work in the occupation of one’s choice—all freedoms the Southern states tried to deny former slaves.
Sept. 11 — Try Not to Touch Yourself
September 11, 2009 25 Comments
Orwell’s name is more worn out than airline jokes, but there’s a reason.
Today’s Moment of Clarity
Today is the anniversary of the day used to justify warrantless searches, citizen scrutiny, expanded wiretaps, and legalized torture.
We call it Freedom Day.
Pain Heals, and Chicks Dig Scars
August 9, 2009 15 Comments
I don’t want to get too hopeful about the angry talk and anti-government rhetoric out there. I don’t want to believe that maybe, just maybe, there’s some honest outrage against the overlords from both parties, and that it’s not just about a single issue here or single personality there. I don’t want to get too excited when I hear about politicians fearstricken when they’re reminded by respectable people who do productive things with their lives –”Hey assface, that’s not your job, and come to think of it, neither is a lot of this other stuff you people have been doing for five, 10, hell, 50 years.”
I don’t want to get all hopeful when I hear people talk about big ideas like liberty and republicanism instead of policy minutia, election pragmatism, and party affiliations.
I don’t want to get too hopeful because I don’t want to be disappointed again.
You get older, you take your lumps, and you get wiser. You settle in and settle down. Trade pollyanna optimism and idealism for knee-jerk cynicism. Surrender to…well, surrender.
Because look, I know what I believe and what I’d like to see is outside the acceptable for civilized and polite folks. Stuff like how I believe that freedom means freedom to, not freedom from. That government should fear the people. That you can’t govern an honest man.
So I know it’s not like things are swinging directly over to my lonely 18th Century corner of the map, to create a bad time-space metaphor.
And age, experience and a pretty thorough study of history tell me all this rowdiness lately probably isn’t even going to be a solid, lasting lean in my direction. Not even a bit.
But you know what? I can’t help it. I am a little hopeful. Why not?
How else do you live? All dead inside like an old Vegas hooker or third-term senator? No. Just…No.
A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head on, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.
Heard that as a kid and believed it growing up. And knowing the alternative — yeah, I’ll choose to stick with it.
This latest spark? Maybe it will fizzle out, sell out, or burn out. And maybe I’ll get burned again.
So what? I think I’m going to be a little hopeful. I’m not near as cynical as I was back when I was old.
On My Reading List: Why ‘Income Inequality’ Is No Big Deal
July 15, 2009 Leave a Comment
With a big hat tip to Reason, because I’m too busy these days to do any reading, I’m adding this to my reading list — which I’ll get to by year’s end.
Recent discussions of economic inequality, marked by a lack of clarity and care, have confused the public about the meaning and moral significance of rising income inequality. Income statistics paint a misleading picture of real standards of living and real economic inequality. Several strands of evidence about real standards of living suggest a very different picture of the trends in economic inequality. In any case, the dispersion of incomes at any given time has, at best, a tenuous connection to human welfare or social justice. The pattern of incomes is affected by both morally desirable and undesirable mechanisms. When injustice or wrongdoing increases income inequality, the problem is the original malign cause, not the resulting inequality. Many thinkers mistake national populations for “society” and thereby obscure the real story about the effects of trade and immigration on welfare, equality, and justice. There is little evidence that high levels of income inequality lead down a slippery slope to the destruction of democracy and rule by the rich. The unequal political voice of the poor can be addressed only through policies that actually work to fight poverty and improve education. Income inequality is a dangerous distraction from the real problems: poverty, lack of economic opportunity, and systemic injustice.
Print the PDF and read the whole thing.
Thursday Roundup: See how I’m not punching him?
June 4, 2009 9 Comments
- What’s that word? Oh yeah, irony. The first school named in this story of how high school seniors are so indoctrinated to fear the humorless Powers That Be that they don’t play senior pranks anymore is Liberty High School in Frisco. Sorta surprised they didn’t quote the principal at Oceania High School.
- And speaking of Oceania schools — DISD is ensuring equality in education by bringing every school down to the lowest common denominator. Viva égalité!
- Something smells seriously fishy here. Who needs seven night vision scopes for hunting? Who needs one night vision scope for hunting anything but the most dangerous game? And who spends an average of $7,000 on a night vision scope in the first place? Even the most advanced ones don’t run that much.
- I’m confused. The last paragraph in a story about someone filing an abuse allegation against two DPD officers — the police department can file “retaliation charges” against you for complaining about allegedly being abused while in custody? (Here’s a better version of the story from CBS 11.)
- You know, it’s stupid enough that anyone would deny that the email has a racist tinge – referring to the White House as the black house. But I’m even more offended at the stupidity of thinking a proposed state bill in Austin originated with Mr. Obama, and with the idea of a $50 tax on gun purchases.
- And speaking of…Cracked.com’s “7 Ridiculously Over-The-Top Modifications to Deadly Weapons.” No. 7 is the Chainsaw Bayonet.
Monday Roundup: Can I Borrow Your Towel? Just Hit a Water Buffalo
June 1, 2009 3 Comments
- When most Democrats, Republicans, the media, and right-thinking people are behind something big, expensive and grand — like they are the commuter rail scheme (or the hotel, or the Trinity Parkway) — you just know it’s probably a bad idea. I’m just going to sit here maturely and sup upon the bitter disappointment from everyone who wants to tax drivers for the benefit of a single digit percentage who feel good about themselves for taking public transportation. Muhahaha.
- You know those ridiculous new passport rules that take effect today? Yeah, turns out Dubya didn’t know a thing about them. (h/t Hit ‘n Run)
- “The suspects seemed to know exactly what they wanted and where it was located” at the police and fire equipment supply store that was burglarized. Uh-huh.
- The favorite store of white-breads like me who love khakis and colored t-shirts has its own blog?
Daytime Curfew: Just Say No
May 13, 2009 11 Comments
Love the Kunkle. So what I’m about to say is with all due respect to the points he articulated for Unfair Park.
Dallas doesn’t need a daytime curfew for juveniles. And there are five reasons.
1) It. Is. Not. Necessary. Police already have the power to stop, detain, and deliver truants back to schools. We don’t need to criminalize truancy, and we don’t need to stack $500 fines that will fall disproportionately on the people who can’t afford them, just adding to their cycle of poverty and being in dutch with the law. (Yeah, I know, I’m not supposed to care much about the poor — smell like old milk and they don’t buy ads — but I certainly do care when it’s government piling on them.)
2) We are given a list of “defenses” to the fine — With permission of the student’s school subject to confirmation, medical excuse subject to confirmation, etc. Key words there are “subject to confirmation.” Meaning the police will be able to detain the kid (or an adult who looks young), issue the citation, and put people through the headache of the legal process even when they shouldn’t be. As a negative bonus, this sends a great message to kids — you are not a citizen, but a subject. Which brings me to…
3) Children are not the property of the city of Dallas, the school district, Texas, or the United States. The first two full sentences I taught my daughter were “I am not the property of the state. My life is my own.” (Ask my wife; I ain’t kidding you.) Kids are wards of their parents, in whose trust their rights are placed until they are of legal age.
4) This is a feel-good, do-nothing-but-harass-people initiative backed by clueless elected officials who want to look like they’re doing something.
5) Show of hands — who thinks this $500 fine part has nothing to do with the city’s $100 million budget deficit? Anyone? Anyone?
Wednesday Roundup: It’s Worse Than You Think
May 13, 2009 3 Comments
- I’ve been warning you people, and you keep saying I’m crazy. I’m talking the coming zombie holocaust. And this is how it begins. Do they really think it won’t spread? Haven’t they studied the Romero documentaries? (Oh, and thank you, Mr. Obama, for sending bailout money to the zombie hordes.)
- When asked if (NTTA) sees a conflict of interest with the judge (for NTTA toll fines) being an employee of the NTTA and hearing cases related to tollway violations, Davis stated “no not at all.” And they want to keep public records from the public. And they spend tollway money on first class sight-seeing junkets to Europe. Yeah, no problem at all.
- For some reason, Tom McGregor still has a mad on for Dallas DA Craig Watkins.
- Define “bad ass” — a soldier from Fort Worth in Afghanistan in boxers and flip-flops, and he’s all out of bubblegum.
- So now a three-judge panel has ruled that open meetings laws go too far in a case coming out of Alpine, Texas, and that elected officials should be free to discuss public matters privately. Basically, those pesky open meetings laws violate the First Amendment rights of our civil masters servants. This is a road we want to go down. If we’re tired of this whole “constitutional republic” thing. Thankfully, several state AG’s, including the Texas AG, are seeking to get this really bad ruling reviewed. (h/t Grits for Breakfast.) As if it’s not hard enough getting public records and information in Dallas County.
- Via Big Bob: In trying to slap a tax on gentlemen’s clubs — despite there being no correlation between strip clubs and sexual assaults — the Lege has just given every strip club a good reason to drop their cover charge. Unintended consequences, sometimes I love you.