Our Greatest Gift

Recently, I discussed politics at a friend's house over dinner. While, he's not so far off that he says US knew about/planned 9-11, he seems to think that there will be martial law imposed, that sort of thing if another terrorist attack occurs. America is less free than it used to be. However, this loss of freedom is part of larger trend. Reagan talked about it in 1964 while campaiging for Goldwater.

"Meanwhile, back in the city, under urban renewal the assault on freedom carries on. Private property rights are so diluted that public interest is almost anything that a few government planners decide it should be."

- Ronald Reagan - A Time for Chossing

A little regulation here and there for the supposed common good has been shown to eat away at the unique freedoms in America and other civilized nations. Most people in this country say they support 1st Amendment rights. However, many of these people support a large government and a welfare state. I would like to call attention to a case several years ago in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In Berkeley, CA, three individual protested "the Berkeley Three", printed newsletters, and talked to the press concerning a housing project for substance abusers, and the like. They didn't want this housing project built. It sounds like a textbook case of free speech, but this dare I say it --common sense did not prevail in the minds of some HUD officials. Under the Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to "coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with" any person exercising his housing rights. The creation of these new rights, interferes with real and explicit constitutional rights. While, the so-called Berkeley Three won there case in the 9th Circuit Court, it is alarming that the welfare state and regulatory agencies are attempting to destroy freedom.

Know your rights

Ask a Democrat about your rights, and you'll find rights to housing, healthcare, prescriptions, childcare for working mothers, family and medical leave, and who knows what else. These rights come at the expense of one's natural rights. While some Republicans do support the status quo of the welfare state, and other Republicans want to restrict freedom in other ways, I believe there is a place in the Republican party for someone who wants to roll-back government. I have been disappointed by Republicans for not having the conviction to push for full privitization of social security.

Eminent Domain
I suppose I should add something about recent news today. Today, the supreme court ruled that a city can use eminent domain to take property for private use.
Basically, if there is a plan, the city can pay "fair-market" value for the property and take your house. If the city believes it can have more tax revenue, they can take your house and put a retailer, hotel, or a factory on the land. Justices O'Connor, Thomas, Scalia, and Rehnquist sided for individual rights and freedom. Unfortunately, five justices decided that property rights were no longer relevant as long as somebody had a plan.

In the car I was listening to WLS, and there was a host from the far left filling in. I heard complaints about not enough money going to minority districts. They talked about money for education and for "economic development." More money always seems to be the answer. However, spending at all levels of government on education, economic development, and whatever other programs that are supposed to save the world has risen over the decades only to be followed by no improvement in the situation. Decades of failure have not convinced everyone that government spending is not the answer. (Unless you still believe the New Deal got us out of the Great Depression) Many still believe if they give the government some more money and power, it will be better. They will protect us and solve all our problems, but of course they never do. As Milton Friedman said, "Nobody spends other people's money as carefully as he spends his own." When the government takes money from those who earn, the money is not carefully spent in most cases. Welfare, social security, and education run by the government have produced costs that are out of control and dismal results. While the US military is the best in the world, there is a huge amount of waste in Pentagon as well. We would be better off having those that earn the money, keep their money.

Perhaps, I'll form this into a more a coherent rant...