Birth of A Police State Nation
Happy Friday, everyone! Things have been a little crazy, but I'm sailing my way into the July 4th weekend with as carefree attitude as I can muster.
First, let's get the silly pedestrian "here are some news stories and what Sam thinks about them" part over with:
- The U.S. House of Representatives isn't happy about the Supreme Court's ruling on eminent domain...
And I can't say that I blame them. While I doubt our representatives' good intentions, I do think the legislated restriction of the unprecedented power provided to local governments by the SCOTUS last week is a Good Thing™. Then again, I'm a crazy libertarian who finds the very concept of eminent domain, even in its most benign interpretation, an abomination and violation of our civil liberties. So maybe you shouldn't listen to me.
- Now we get to hear about judicial nominations on television for the next one hojillion years.
Sandra Day O'Connor, one of the more rational members of the U.S. Supreme Court (that's not really saying much, though) has submitted her resignation to President Bush. Honestly, everyone's concerned about what kind of person Bush will nominate to the highest court in the land, but I honestly can't imagine it being someone who will help stem the tide of erosion against our personal freedoms, so I don't give a rat's patoot. He could nominate anyone from Ronald McDonald to Rudolph Hess and I'm still going to have to carry an ID card next year. So in the meantime, I'd rather our congresspeople didn't tear each other apart over it. I don't want to have to avoid the television for the next six months.
- Discovery is on schedule for a July 13th launch.
That's a good thing, but I still think Congress should flog themselves for cancelling funding for a shuttle replacement. Twenty-five years, you jacktards! Twenty-five years!
Um, I guess that's it. Not to much for me to be upset about today, at least not in the news.
Jessi and I are doing well. She's still a bit under the weather and her doctor has continued to frustrate us by providing what I would deem as sub-par service. She's due to visit a couple of specialists in the near future, so hopefully we can find out what the problem is and get it corrected. Unhappy Jessi makes me a sad panda.
Two upcoming events have me in high spirits, one in the extremely near future and one a couple of months away. The first is the annual July 4th Ars meet. We'll be meeting up for grilling and beer and good company tomorrow evening. I'm really looking forward to it!
The other is a LAN party that Jess and I have decided to host later this summer. The website can be found here. It's not really open to the public, but we've got a few extra seats so if you want to join us, sign up and we'll talk :)
So yeah, what else is going on...
Work continues to vary between "extra moronic" and "hypermoronic." Therefore I have decided that I will run for governor of Indiana in 2008 as a write-in candidate. My platform is as follows:
- Repeal all Indiana blue laws.
- Eliminate all curfews.
- Engage in state-wide campaign to lower property taxes.
- Legalize all forms of gambling in Indiana with regulation similar to that found in Nevada.
- Use revenue from gambling to lower tobacco, alcohol and gas taxes. Lower vehicle registration and licensing fees.
- Begin incentive program to encourage illegal immigrants living in Indiana to become U.S. citizens.
- Pass a law in Indiana eliminating the legal definition of the word "marriage." Instead, only civil unions will exist. Any two consenting adults may enter into a civil union, under which they are provided protections similar to those that existed for "married" couples under previous laws.
- Begin state-wide campaign to reduce classroom sizes, increase teacher compensation and accountability and increase parental involvement.
- Begin the work of reducing Indiana's welfare rolls. Start by giving those on welfare the flexibility to work what jobs they can find without fear of losing their assistance from the state.
- Propose a referendum on medical marijuana.
- Provide real encouragement for the development of Indiana's technology sector.
- Restoring state government to a functional state and undoing the damage done by the Daniels administration:
- Recognize that the state government is not homogenous and treat each agency in a way that best helps it meet the needs of the citizens it serves.
- Reinstate technology departments in each of the Indiana state government's major agencies.
- Repeal all unnecessary restrictions on state employees.
- Bring all state employees to salary levels that correspond with their private-sector equivalents.
- Allow state employees to retain at least basic medical coverage after retirement.
- Reduce size and cost of government by eliminating unnecessary layers of management, weeding out employees who are underskilled/overpaid and offering early retirement packages that have been popular in the past.
The list goes on and on. And no, I'm not kidding.
Let's see what you think about that, Mitch.
Look for my name on the ballot on November 4, 2008. Seriously.
Edited 07.05.05 - Yes, I realize that if I'm a write-in candidate you won't see my name "on the ballot." It's a figure of speech :P
-Sam
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