Articles tagged as

Nanny State and Busybodies

Notable Quote – C.S.Lewis

by Steve MacDonald

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good … Read more

Comment Doodlings: What does “Why to you Need that?” have to do with Freedom?

by Skip

Over at Bloomberg, Ramesh Pnnuru has piece on “Sensible Gun Legislation”.  A ‘fair enough” piece that brings up some items that an uncle of one of the slain kids at Sandy Hook Elementary that included a legal requirement to report a imminent threat (or suffer jail time for remaining silent), a standard for how guns are secured in the home (disregarding it could result in a felony conviction / large fine), Federally paid for security reviews and upgrades and a national team of grief counselors.

This post is not about the above (other than to point out “why the heck is it the duty of the Federal Government to pay for a local school – especially the grief counselors”? If it is THAT important, why isn’t the more local level of government doing these things?  But there was one comment that I did respond to:

Asked by “Leo”:

I just have one question for Matt A: Why?

Why do you own an AR-15 and 30-round magazines?

This is a 100% serious question. I’d appreciate a frank and full response. In legal terms, “the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

Since “Matt A” had not left a reply, I left one:

Your “worthiness” evaluation of my Need is irrelevant in a Free Society.

If we truly live in the “Land of the Free”, then the phrases “why do you need that?” or “I have no idea why anyone needs <insert whatever here>  are based on an irrelevant premise.  In a Free Society, perceived “need” is only based on the what the acquirer believes to be a need – or even a want.  Not anyone else’s perception of such.

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Notable Quote: Their Faith is in The Legislator, Ours is in Mankind

by Steve MacDonald

Bastiat, Frederic BastiatI am, I confess, one of those who think that choice and impulse ought to come from below and not from above, from the citizen and not from the legislator; and the opposite doctrine appears to me to tend to the destruction of liberty and of human dignity.

But by a deduction as false as it is unjust, do you know what economists* are accused of?  It is, that when we disapprove of government support, we are supposed to disapprove of the thing itself whose support is discussed;

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Is Juan Valdez The Anti Christ?

by Steve MacDonald

Is Juan Valdez The Evil One?

(Repost: Originally posted Aug 17th, 2010 – What can I say, I like this one.)

I started drinking coffee at the age of six, not because my parents were irresponsible—they were in fact better people than I can ever hope to become—but because I spent an unusual amount of time in the company of coffee drinkers.  Both of my parents were recovering Alcoholics, (You are always recovering by the way) and both committed large portions of their lives to helping others cope with their disease.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s AA meetings had two very distinctive elements: cigarette smoke as thick as a London fog and coffee brewed endlessly in the largest attainable brewing device within driving distance.  While I am sure that the pall of smoke has today been relegated to a nearby alcove or outdoor “designated” smoking area, I suspect the coffee still runs like the bulls at Pamplona—every day of the year.  And apparently, the best way to fend off the contact buzz from the Stygian gloom of a nicotine cloud is to drink coffee in tiny foam cups with red plastic stirs that poke your fore-head as you try to slurp up the coffee flavored sugar ooze in the bottom.

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For the accident by a few, there will be those that will seek to punish us all

by Skip

OK, Steve beat me to it here, but I had my own thoughts of the accident in Pelham that I started on last night but as you will read, similar.

There will be those out there that will react in horror to what I am about to write ( “BUT CHILDREN GOT HURT – BADLY!”).  The news is coming out from Pelham that 11 people were hurt when a years long homeowner’s fireworks tradition went awry.  The latest from both NECN (New Englan Cable News) and WMUR says that two children were severely burnt and medflighted to Boston.  Of COURSE this is a tragedy, but I grimaced when I heard the Fire Chief’s pronouncement:

I’m not a fan of fireworks.  This is a perfect example [of] what can go wrong.  Well meaning people trying to have fun and an accident happened and caused a great deal of injuries to children and adults.”

The NECN newscaster said what I expected about Chief Midgley of the Pelham Fire Department:

He wants to work with lawmakers to make sure this never happens again.

Of course he does.  Again, this has been a long standing tradition of this homeowner, and thus far, no news accounts have brought up any earlier accidents.  No one else in Pelham had any reported serious injuries anywhere else in town (not that I’ve looked, but on the idea of “IF 1, then the news will report it as “AND! over here”).  But here it seems, the Chief has decided that it is his business to force all others to comply with his viewpoint and morality, and no longer let people decide for themselves.  Is that the role of an Government employee (no matter how good he is in performing that role)?  Is the purpose of an appointed employee to lobby the Legislature against what many voters want to be able to do?  And do it on TAXPAYER funding (isn’t there a law against that)?

Freedom.    Versus the Safety & Security (the first Commandment of the Nanny-Progressive State)

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ConservationNH And Their “Tree-huggin” Hippy Crap

by Rick Olson

“The college idealists who fill the ranks of the environmental movement seem willing to do absolutely anything to save the biosphere, except take science courses and learn something about it.” — P.J. O’Rourke

The NH Union Leader’s Ted Seifert featured a story about ConservationNH.org and their inaugural release of the, “Dirty Dozen” list of bills currently before the legislature.  According to filings with the Secretary of State, this group began in 2009 and its board is comprised of individuals listing affiliations and accomplishments more warmly welcoming in the left-wing political arena. That is an important distinction to make because they have RINO’s Rick Russman and Liz Hager on their team.

When readers go to the website, ConservationNH.org, the information is incomplete. There are no links to actual bills, titles or analysis other than what ConservationNH.org has to say about it. Lets look at their list:

HB 1512 – To Abolish Municipally Supported Land Conservation

 

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The Shrill Kathy On Religion, Fatties, Food Stamps, And Republicans

by Rick Olson

“I have a great diet. You’re allowed to eat anything you want, but you must eat it with naked fat people.” —Ed Bluestone

Kathy SullivanIt’s a different kind of day when the Shrill Kathy graces the pages of the Union Leader with feigned pity for Republican candidates. And what can be said of the Shrill Kathy where she takes the opportunity to grossly mischaracterized an ad put out by the Perry Campaign. She states, “Rick Perry Complains…” But does he really? Or are the assertions in the spot a pointed statement about the current and existing situation. Having served in the United States Marine Corps, I can tell you there were individuals present and serving who were gay. And they continued to serve.

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Town of Durham Seeks to Inspect Rentals

by Rick Olson

“College is a refuge from hasty judgment.” —Robert Frost

Owning rental property is a daunting endeavor. With ownership comes financial challenges, legal exposure, and responsibilities not traditionally endured with single family home ownership. Add to that facet renting to college students and the task becomes a head-snapping endeavor.

Years ago, I found myself dealing with twelve units of off-campus student housing in Durham New Hampshire. In my experience, I found the cards were stacked against me. The town of Durham has never taken the steps necessary to effectively deal with their rental housing market specifically how it interfaces between the college and the town. Much of what is in place is the knee-jerk reaction of the vocal few.

College students going off to college means this is their first time away from home. They are on their own and not under the wing or the rules of Mommy and Daddy. Living off campus means having, “ones’ own place” and celebrating that first breath of new-found independence. The problem is that independence can manifest it in ways that are not positive.

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Romney Disagrees With Gingrich on Child Labor…Surprised?

by Rick Olson

“A charlatan makes obscure what is clear; a thinker makes clear what is obscure.” — Hugh Kingsmill

Willard "Mitt" Romney: The Matthew Lesko of American Politics

Last month, while speaking at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, presidential candidate New Gingrich drew the hue and cry of liberals everywhere when he suggested that children can learn the value of a paycheck by maintaining their own buildings.

 On the face of it, I was perplexed why people were so up-in-arms about Gingrich’s suggestion. But then as I read on, I understood what the real issue was. Newt also said,

“Most of these schools ought to get rid of the unionized janitors, have one master janitor, and pay local students to take care of the school,”

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Professional Licensure: To Eliminate Or Expand?

by Rick Olson

“None can love freedom but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license, which never hath more scope than under tyrants.” —John Milton

The Union Leaders‘ opposite editorial page give Erica Bickford, a licensed massage therapist from Wolfeboro, ink today not only arguing against House Bill 446, but actually advocating for its’ defeat.

To advocate for licensure on the basis of public health interest is a separate matter from seeking governmental force in protecting an exclusive business interest. Bickford queries, “Would you allow your children to cut your hair?” Actually, there are many people out there cutting hair in kitchens with scissors and clippers purchased at Walmart or Target none of whom have ever enrolled in a 1,500-hour cosmetology or barbering program.  And that has always been the case. Erica then asks, Would you allow an untrained person help you recover from an athletic injury? There are people out there telling others to rest, apply ice, compression and elevation who have never taken a sports medicine class or sat for a licensing exam. Unlicensed mediators currently exist largely as clergy and lay ministers who rarely extract a fee to counsel their parishioners.

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Prepare For The Barakaclypse

by Steve MacDonald

Every one of these was or is a left wing campaign to make leftist dogma look like centrist mantra. They exist to streamline progressive/socialsit thought into mainstream thinking. But they failed and so the latter iterations have become more destructive. Each “movement” has gotten progressively more unruly, progressively more violent.

MAGGIE “THE MARXIST” HASSAN IS RUNNING

by Rick Olson

“Ask anyone committed to Marxist analysis how many angels on the head of a pin, and you will be asked in return to never mind the angels, tell me who controls the production of pins.” ­—Joan Didion

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 Defeated Democratic state Senator Maggie Hassan made it official today that she will be running for governor in 2012. In her usual hokum, Hassan touted the typical big government solution to prop up the economy. As reported in the Union Leader, Maggie the Marxist, “stressed the need to create jobs by “investing” in education and job training programs and by fostering a business climate that attracts innovative small businesses and new technologies.” Translation: “investing” equals big-government spending and solutions…equals heavy taxation to raise such revenues. Such notions were brought with her as a carpet-bagging “massplant” to the Granite State. 

The Union Leader reported that “Maggie the Marxist” pledged to be a fiscally responsible governor who would veto any sales or income tax and commit herself to a balanced state budget.“  This is laughable given her extensive record as a State Senator.  My fellow Blogger Steve MacDonald absolutely nailed it on back October 5th when he wrote:

  Hassan is a left wing, government first, spend then tax Democrat who wants socialized medicine, supports abortion from conception to birth (also here), and was more than willing to trample on opponents with the “Sullivan/Hassan Hates Speech (the left can’t control) amendment.” (also here, and here, …)  She is also willing to lie about her opponents to get re-elected.

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The Shrill Kathy Spins the Early Primary Notion

by Rick Olson

“I think it’s your own choice if you turn from an angry young man to a bitter, old bastard.” —Billie Joe Armstrong

Shrill_Kathy_Chronicals_Grok.jpg

In yet another Cacophonous rant from the “Shrill Kathy” The Union Leader gave her space and ink yesterday to tell readers “why” a December primary will benefit Democrats and hurt Republicans. But, the title is about the only thing she got right and the remaining 782-word pablum was her usual diatribe against the opposition: Those with an “R” next to their names.

The “Shrill Kathy” suggests that “mere insistence” by Florida and Nevada are the mechanisms driving a December primary and makes no mention of the New Hampshire statute (N.H. RSA 659:3) which states in part, “The presidential primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in March or on a date selected by the secretary of state which is seven days or more immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election, whichever is earlier … ” So Kathy…it is not “more likely” as you put it, but mandated by statute that the Granite State goes first.

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OCCUPY WALL STREET FOR DUMMIES

by Rick Olson

“In hindsight it may even seem inevitable that a socialist society will starve when it runs out of capitalists.”  —Larry Niven

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How does one become an Occupy Wall Street Protestor? A quest for understanding in a somewhat complicated topic. Why? Because there are some who seem to demonstrate a modicum of intelligence and articulate usage of the language when the camera is rolling. And, there are some who dress reasonably normal (normal meaning, no obvious hygiene challenges, maintaining a groomed appearance). Those folks are in the vast minority. And certainly it would not be an accurate statement to say these slackers are all “youth generational.” The camera has caught some old enough to be peers of my parents.

But the task at hand is an immediate one. How do I blend in? How do I become an OWS protestor. I suppose I should start with something superficial. Ah yes! you say, “Things aren’t always as they appear.” and how right one might be to make such a characterization. But any good leftist will tell you, honesty is a relative term. “Your views are your views.”  Kind of akin to calling people racists because they don’t like Obama… Yet, when it is pointed out that these same “racists” like Herman Cain, the argument shifts to, “you only like him because he gives your racism cover.” Rank dishonesty is the domain of the left. And outward appearance is what we first see from our friends in the lame stream media.

As a segue into my OWS protestor journey, I neither shave nor shower for an extended period of time. (if I wish to wholly embrace this slacker look, I don’t brush my teeth, either..If a casual observer spies a chive stuck in my teeth when I smile, I have arrived) It is important to engender that, “rail against the establishment” appearance. Smelling ones’ own smell, is sufficient validation one has achieved parity with the OWS appearance.

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SHORT BUS ECONOMICS

by Rick Olson

“Imagine a political system so radical as to promise to move more of the poorest 20% of the population into the richest 20% than remain in the poorest bracket within the decade? You don’t need to imagine it. It’s called the United States of America.”  —Thomas Sowell The collective voice of “Occupy Wall Street” has … Read more

RHINO’S VERSUS “RINO’S”

by Rick Olson

                        &nbsp  &nbspRINO_vs_Rhino_GROK.jpg

“A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation.” —Adlai E. Stevenson

Following my recent RINO OF THE WEEK report, an amused reader and friend inquired, “Isn’t the RINO one of the world’s deadliest animals? Or is that the hippo…”

 Pondering this for a minute, I juxtaposed the question concerning the herbivorious, odd-toed ungulate native to Africa and parts of Asia: The “Rhinoceros”.  versus Political RINO’s….an acronym for, “Republican In Name Only,”.  

While “Rhinos” are related to the horse, zebra, and tapir; are known for their bad eyesight, good hearing, and mud-rolling. RINO’s, on the other hand are ambiguous about who they are related to…some show a Republican-leaning while others a full out leftist Democrat leaning. RINO-eyesight is through rose-colored glasses and instead of rolling in the mud, they sling mud. That sums it up for me, Nevertheless my response was as follows:

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You know, I expect this kind of thing from Michele “LetsMove.gov” Obama, Dietician-In-Chief

by Skip

We all know that Michele has taken it upon herself to save the US from epidemic of childhood obesity (as if it were really communicative in the traditional epidemic sense of the word).  Setting up new dietary standards for us all, "suggesting" that the entire food industry should follow her "guidelines" (restaurants, food manufacturers).  I dunno who deserves my despise more, her or NYC Mayor Bloomberg, for determining how the rest of us should eat just because they know better what is best for us than we do ourselves.

Well, there’s a new recruit to the hectoring industry!  Who would have believed that TEA Party (you know, the folks that believe in self-responsibility) supported him as he agreed with that seemingly quaint notion?

I "discovered" this PSA after this past Saturday’s Granite Oath PAC event with Governor Rick Perry – decided to see if I could get another "tall" tripod and not having had breakfast or lunch, I spied a Taco Bell and pulled in.  Just as I was ready to get out, I heard a familiar voice…

Narration after the jump (if you didn’t recognize the voice).   I know that I didn’t use my vote to get lectured…

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Jeanne Shaheen: “Porking” Those Tax Increases Down Our Throats

by Rick Olson

  “If Thomas Jefferson thought taxation without representation was bad, he should see how it is with representation …” —Rush Limbaugh

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Today’s Union Leader Editorial, entitled, “Free Cops!” points once again to the ills of  having a big-government Democrat like Jeanne Shaheen serving the Granite State in the U.S. Senate. Like her liberal counterpart, former Congressperson Carol Shea-Porter,  Shaheen brings home the bacon … To wit: a $1.4 million federal grant to pay for six new police officers;  Providing four for Manchester and one each for Pelham and Claremont.

Not a new scheme at all. During the Clinton years we see how well it worked here in the Queen city the last time the Federal Nanny doled out money for cops. And as always, there is an end on the horizon for that funding which only segues the bitter fiscal fight also on the horizon.  Police administrators, Union hacks and those in city government with a shameless fealty for tax and spend policies to keep those positions, will seek to have them funded on the backs of local taxpayers. Epic Fail. This latest grant is a mere redux of the same scheme.

Senator Shaheen is the epitome a big-government liberal. She does not respect local government, nor the people who elected her. This is a clear second example of such in just a few short months where Shaheen advocated for the Feds to contract locally with Planned Parenthood in the wake of the Executive Council’s vote not to fund Planned Parenthood services in the Granite State. Now she gives Manchester government a back-handed slap.  

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“REPUBLICANS” WHO OPPOSE RIGHT TO WORK THINK ONLY OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR PALS

by Rick Olson

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes”—Mark Twain

UnionLabelClosed.jpg

Reading Steve MacDonald’s entry, “You Can’t Be A Republican And Vote Against Right To Work“…caused me to once again step back and reevaluate the public debate about Right-to-Work. I opened House Bill 474 and carefully read it again…and again…I could find no provision within the Legislation that abolished Unions. I read it yet again…. I could find no provision within the Bill that restricted, outlawed or otherwise “busted” Unions. Not one.

Several reasons brought me to revisit this. First, there seem to be many Republicans who fancy themselves “liberty-minded conservatives yet they support statutory Union oppression; Second, The strident opposition, bad behavior, swearing and threatening by Police and Fire over this bill has created a loss of confidence and apprehension within the communities they serve. Finally, What Unions say about this bill is absolute nonsense and nothing more than bold-faced lies.

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RINO OF THE WEEK REPORT

by Rick Olson

“Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.” ~Barry Goldwater No RINO Report will be featured this week in observance and honor of the Sixth Annual Live Free Or Die Rally in Jaffrey, NH, beginning Friday August 26 and ending Sunday, … Read more

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