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Monday, June 4, 2007
JFK plot, Demo debate and cell phones
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thinking Right’s weekend free-for-all:
• Just back from a trip to Cuba, which will be the topic of columns to come, I once again thank God for the good fortune to have been born free and into a free-enterprise economic system. Nobody can predict Cuba’s future 10 years after Fidel Castro is gone, but capitalism would do wonders for the place.
• The most astounding story of the week was not Cuba, though. It was the TB patient who travelled the world after being diagnosed with a potentially deadly, drug-resistant disease. If, indeed, he was informed not to travel, his actions are abominable.
• After the terrorist plot to blow up aviation fuel tanks at John F. Kennedy Internaitonal Airport in New York was foiled, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) still refuses to even acknowledge that some credit is due the Bush Administration for keeping America safe. Hillary, to her credit, did in Sunday night’s debate. “I believe we are safer than we were,” she said. Both voted against funding the war, but Hillary has the savvy to be President. Obama doesn’t. Why not acknowledge what’s plain to every fair-minded American? Bush does deserve credit for preventing another terrorist attack here.
• What’s too much government? One that tells us that during a drought we can water food gardens, but new landscapes can be watered for a maximum of 30 days after planting, as garden guru Walter Reeves explains. What’s dumb government? One that uses the water on corn to make taxpayer-subsidized ethanol.
• Residents of Roswell and other locales are invited to rat out the neighbors if they see them watering plants at the wrong time. I hate what we become during shortages and drought. We won’t enforce immigration laws, but we’ll become vigilantes on something far less important. I rat out my neighbors for abusing children, dealing drugs and shooting people who don’t deserve to be shot.
• The charter school law just on the books is a major achievement for Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle — and for believers in school choice for parents. Gov. Sonny Perdue has hope that the charter districts allowed under the bill will become “laboratories for innovation in education.” Now what’s needed is approval of legislation proposed by state Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth), House Bill 469, that would allow universities and local governments to authorize public school charters.
• Some 220 prisoners trained as firefighters pulled extended shifts fighting fires near the Okefenokee swamp, which got a good dose of rain over the weekend. Why didn’t they run? Firefighter Jimmy D’Alvia’s response: “It ain’t worth it. You did something wrong. Do your time and go home.” D’Alvia’s serving 10 years at Hancock State Prison for trafficking in methamphetamine. My band of right-wingers will give those who work to better themselves (firefighters) and those with the right attitude, like D’Alvia, an early release — and pray that we’ve done right by him and the rest of us.
• Persistence pays. A voice on the line advises the wait will be “more than five minutes.” After holding for one hour and seven minutes, a state employee providing “taxpayer services” in the Department of Revenue, to whom I had been transferred, took the call. And then transferred me four minutes later.
• It’s a “hate crime,” according to the U.S. House, if the victim is gay or female — but not if it’s a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine.
The U.S. House is pure theater, a place where frivolous people play to the campaign cheap seats. If the Senate concurs with the House, this is another one the president should veto. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, in Sunday night’s debate, promised the hate crimes legislation, plus domestic partnerships, civil unions, and an end to the don’t ask-don’t tell policy. Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards supports ending the don’t ask-don’t tell policy, but had the good sense to say that “I don’t think the federal government has a role in telling states and churches what they should allow” with respect to marrige laws and ceremonies.
• When my band of right-wingers take over, we’re cracking down: No cellphone calls may be placed or received from a public restroom. Or from any restroom where accompanying noises identify location.
Technology changes, but rude remains.
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