Governor Daniels's proposed increase of the cigarette tax by 25 cents a pack has been voted down in commitee.
The purpose of taxes should be to raise revenue for neccesary government functions. It should not be used to discourage lawful behavoir, no matter how much the governor or members of the state legislature might find that behavoir undesirable.
Taxes on cigarettes are regressive. The tax that a janitor pays for his Marlboros is the exact same that an accountant pays for her Benson and Hedges. A person with a nicotine addiction is not going to be deterred from smoking a pack a day, even if Daniels's increase would have caused him to pay an extra $91.25 annually for his habit. That money could have been used to pay for nicotine patches, gum, or other aids to break the addiction.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Challenger Anniversary
Today is the 20th anniversary of the first historical event that I have clear memories of. I'll put the question out now: If NASA were a private organization, would you choose to do business with them?
Friday, January 27, 2006
Now that it's over here is my take on it.
1. Fraser had a right to produce the material but he should not have distributed it on school grounds.
2. Carrol High School had the right and the responsibilty to disipline the boy. But by expelling him, they have made a bad situation worse for both the boy and the teachers and staff who were made fun of in the satire. When I was still in high school, I had become aware of multiple incidents similiar to this occuring at South Side High School. None of them made the news because South Side's administration handled the matter quietly and appropriatly. In each case the student learn their lesson (when you get down to it that is the whole point of school) and was allowed to continue to attend classes.
3. I'm sure that Mike Sylvester appreciates the free publicity, Marie. http://hoosierdemocrats.blogspot.com/
2. Carrol High School had the right and the responsibilty to disipline the boy. But by expelling him, they have made a bad situation worse for both the boy and the teachers and staff who were made fun of in the satire. When I was still in high school, I had become aware of multiple incidents similiar to this occuring at South Side High School. None of them made the news because South Side's administration handled the matter quietly and appropriatly. In each case the student learn their lesson (when you get down to it that is the whole point of school) and was allowed to continue to attend classes.
3. I'm sure that Mike Sylvester appreciates the free publicity, Marie. http://hoosierdemocrats.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Free cat to good home
I have been caretaking a domestic shorthair named Friskie. He has black and tan stripes. He is less than a year old, but he is already full grown while still retaining kitten playfulness. He'll get along with other cats after a brief introduction period. I've thought about keeping him, and I still might do so if no one else takes him. But I prefer to limit myself to the two cats that I had at the beginning of the year.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
I got my new trash can last week.
I got my trash can last week. It sports a stylish City of Fort Wayne logo and what looks a serial number. It has 2 big wheels and is way bigger than my old trash cans. The black color hides dirt very well. They were slow getting it to me because of the snow, but hey, these things happen. And that is all the good things that I have to say about it.
I remember when this idea was first put forward. The only vocal opposition at the time were elderly folks who were worried that the cans would be too heavy for them to push to the curb. Originally I didn't mind this idea so much because it was intended to save money. Because the new can is compatible with an automatic lifting arm, it was supposed to allowed trash to be picked up by a solo driver rather than requiring him to have an assistant to empty the cans into the garbage truck. I can usually support government measures to save money, so as long as the savings be passed onto me, the consumer, taxpayer, and voter.
So why do I have to pay a monthly rental fee for my goddamn trash can if this is supposed to save money? Over time, I am going to be forced to pay way more in rental fees for what I could have easily bought with a single payment. If the city wishes to retain ownership of the cans to prevent people from taking them when they flee the Summit City, they should simply impose a one-time refundable deposit. I realize that a deposit large enough to ensure that they aren't taken as souvenirs is far out of the range of what many lower income residents can afford. In their case, they can pay the deposit in installments.
In fact, I am convinced that if the city does not use the refundable deposit strategy that I have discribed above, then pretty soon they will be mailing angry letters to a former Fort Waynian who took his can with him when he moved to Durham.
I remember when this idea was first put forward. The only vocal opposition at the time were elderly folks who were worried that the cans would be too heavy for them to push to the curb. Originally I didn't mind this idea so much because it was intended to save money. Because the new can is compatible with an automatic lifting arm, it was supposed to allowed trash to be picked up by a solo driver rather than requiring him to have an assistant to empty the cans into the garbage truck. I can usually support government measures to save money, so as long as the savings be passed onto me, the consumer, taxpayer, and voter.
So why do I have to pay a monthly rental fee for my goddamn trash can if this is supposed to save money? Over time, I am going to be forced to pay way more in rental fees for what I could have easily bought with a single payment. If the city wishes to retain ownership of the cans to prevent people from taking them when they flee the Summit City, they should simply impose a one-time refundable deposit. I realize that a deposit large enough to ensure that they aren't taken as souvenirs is far out of the range of what many lower income residents can afford. In their case, they can pay the deposit in installments.
In fact, I am convinced that if the city does not use the refundable deposit strategy that I have discribed above, then pretty soon they will be mailing angry letters to a former Fort Waynian who took his can with him when he moved to Durham.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Chile's President-Elect Michelle Bachelet
Michelle Bachelet is a socialist. Yet she claims to understand the importance of a "market friendly" economy. Her actions over the course of her term will establish what she means by this.
The best thing that she can do for social and economic progress in Chile is to promote a free market economy, not a market friendly economy. The difference is subsidies. You don't need to be friends with an industry, just leave it alone. The problem with "friends" is that you give them "gifts". Any "gift" given to a business is something that has to be taken away from someone else.
Many of what leftists find wrong with capitalism is in fact the result of government meddling. Big business is far better able to lobby politicians and solicit favors than are individuals and small business.
On an unrelated note, the woman bears a striking physical resemblance to Hillary Clinton. I wouldn't read too much into that, however. Doug Horner looks like Judge Lance Ito.
The best thing that she can do for social and economic progress in Chile is to promote a free market economy, not a market friendly economy. The difference is subsidies. You don't need to be friends with an industry, just leave it alone. The problem with "friends" is that you give them "gifts". Any "gift" given to a business is something that has to be taken away from someone else.
Many of what leftists find wrong with capitalism is in fact the result of government meddling. Big business is far better able to lobby politicians and solicit favors than are individuals and small business.
On an unrelated note, the woman bears a striking physical resemblance to Hillary Clinton. I wouldn't read too much into that, however. Doug Horner looks like Judge Lance Ito.
Chile's President-Elect Michelle Bachelet
Michelle Bachelet is a socialist. Yet she claims to understand the importance of a "market friendly" economy. Her actions over the course of her term will establish what she means by this.
The best thing that she can do for social and economic progress in Chile is to promote a free market economy, not a market friendly economy. The difference is subsidies. You don't need to be friends with an industry, just leave it alone. The problem with "friends" is that you give them "gifts". Any "gift" given to a business is something that has to be taken away from someone else.
Many of what leftists find wrong with capitalism is in fact the result of government meddling. Big business is far better able to lobby politicians and solicit favors than are individuals and small business.
On an unrelated note, the woman bears a striking physical resemblance to Hillary Clinton. I wouldn't read too much into that, however. Doug Horner looks like Judge Lance Ito.
The best thing that she can do for social and economic progress in Chile is to promote a free market economy, not a market friendly economy. The difference is subsidies. You don't need to be friends with an industry, just leave it alone. The problem with "friends" is that you give them "gifts". Any "gift" given to a business is something that has to be taken away from someone else.
Many of what leftists find wrong with capitalism is in fact the result of government meddling. Big business is far better able to lobby politicians and solicit favors than are individuals and small business.
On an unrelated note, the woman bears a striking physical resemblance to Hillary Clinton. I wouldn't read too much into that, however. Doug Horner looks like Judge Lance Ito.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
A proposal that should increase seat belt usage
The free flow of information will do more to promote public safety and social progress than any law ever will.
Example: We don't need seat belt laws. In the end they don't work because some people only learn things the hard way. What we need is for news outlets to display full color images of people thrown from their car after an accident. Nobody gives a shit when you say "leading cause of death for people under age 35". There is no drama in that statistic, it has no emotional appeal.
"Can they do that?" Sure they can. For a time, they could show all sorts of carnage and profanity related to 9/11. Last year they showed "Saving Private Ryan" with all the f-bombs and real bombs left intact. Car wrecks kill more people than Osama could ever dream of killing. Its sort of strange that some fear flying on an airplane because of something that happened 4 years ago, but they aren't afraid of flying through a windshield even though someone just did 4 minutes ago.
Similiar shock tactics have worked in the past. Pet adoption rates in a North Carolina town increase after a dog was euthanized on public access television. I don't recommend that Doug Horner try this because the library where we film his show does not allow pets.
If the goal is to promote safety, then this tactic should work. If the goal is to raise funds, then have the coroner sell the photos to Fox News. Either way, its win-win.
Example: We don't need seat belt laws. In the end they don't work because some people only learn things the hard way. What we need is for news outlets to display full color images of people thrown from their car after an accident. Nobody gives a shit when you say "leading cause of death for people under age 35". There is no drama in that statistic, it has no emotional appeal.
"Can they do that?" Sure they can. For a time, they could show all sorts of carnage and profanity related to 9/11. Last year they showed "Saving Private Ryan" with all the f-bombs and real bombs left intact. Car wrecks kill more people than Osama could ever dream of killing. Its sort of strange that some fear flying on an airplane because of something that happened 4 years ago, but they aren't afraid of flying through a windshield even though someone just did 4 minutes ago.
Similiar shock tactics have worked in the past. Pet adoption rates in a North Carolina town increase after a dog was euthanized on public access television. I don't recommend that Doug Horner try this because the library where we film his show does not allow pets.
If the goal is to promote safety, then this tactic should work. If the goal is to raise funds, then have the coroner sell the photos to Fox News. Either way, its win-win.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Cheney's health problems
Ok. It hard for me make jokes about heart problems when I am taking a course to become a CPR instructer. The following is the best that I could come up with.
A White House spokesman says that Cheney is as healthy as Leonid Brezhnev was when the Soviets reported him to be in perfect health.
Cheney credits his surviving four heart attacks to his embracing the Dark Side of the Force. Now that Bush's poll numbers are at record lows, he is looking for a new apprentice.
A White House spokesman says that Cheney is as healthy as Leonid Brezhnev was when the Soviets reported him to be in perfect health.
Cheney credits his surviving four heart attacks to his embracing the Dark Side of the Force. Now that Bush's poll numbers are at record lows, he is looking for a new apprentice.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Axis and Allies Night
We are going to play "Axis and Allies" the famous WWII board game at Mike Sylvester's house on Febuary 1st. Let Mike know that you are coming and he'll let you know where he lives. We will definitly play the revised version, and older versions may be played if enough people express interest. The game will start at 6pm and will last until the English Channel runs red with the blood of the vanquished.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
New Year's Eve Party at Jack's House
Jack and Hillary Evan threw a New Year's Eve party last night. I did drop in, but just as Cinderella had to be home by midnight, I had to be at work by 12am or I would have turned into an unemployed person. (Just kidding! I love my job, my company, and my boss in a platonic and professional way. But my shift started the same time the new year did.)
The highlight of the evening was watching Mike Sylvester debate with some guy named Shawn who works at the library. Shawn insisted that if Mike wanted to stay true to his libertarian beliefs, then he should have sent his kids to a private school. Shawn seemed to be fairly left-wing. This was like watching a gentile lecture a rabbi on how to keep kosher. (I wish I thought of that retort when I was still at the party.)
Jack and Hill, I don't think you read this blog. I could say all sorts of thing about you in this space, but I'm going to say that you both threw a great party. Happy New Year to all.
On a totally unrelated note, "I Like Mike Sly" campaign buttons are on sale at the LPAC store www.cafepress.com/lpallencounty The famous "Bring Mark Souder Home" button are now available here http://www.cafepress.com/classical_lib
The highlight of the evening was watching Mike Sylvester debate with some guy named Shawn who works at the library. Shawn insisted that if Mike wanted to stay true to his libertarian beliefs, then he should have sent his kids to a private school. Shawn seemed to be fairly left-wing. This was like watching a gentile lecture a rabbi on how to keep kosher. (I wish I thought of that retort when I was still at the party.)
Jack and Hill, I don't think you read this blog. I could say all sorts of thing about you in this space, but I'm going to say that you both threw a great party. Happy New Year to all.
On a totally unrelated note, "I Like Mike Sly" campaign buttons are on sale at the LPAC store www.cafepress.com/lpallencounty The famous "Bring Mark Souder Home" button are now available here http://www.cafepress.com/classical_lib
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