Is It Still Theft If It's Legal?

This week, the Supreme Court handed down their decision in the case of Kelo v. New London. A majority consisting of all 5 if the "left-ish" justices agreed that local governments are not prohibited by The Constitution or other federal law from using eminent domain for the purpose of economic development. In other words, if a local government feels that a piece of property could generate better jobs, tax revenue, or other civic value by being seized from it's current owners and deployed in some other manner, they are within their rights to do.

What's Right, and What's a Legal Parliamentary Tactic

I've been thinking a lot about the recent passage of legislation that requires a standardization and centralization of state diver's licenses. Apart from the matter of whether or not I think that's a good idea, I've actually been rather transfixed by the process by which it happened. It was buried as a rider in a monolithic, must-pass, defense spending bill. I'm a little concerned about that.

Strange Love

Let me first establish my impartial bonafides: I'm not gay. I know this because, when I think of the physical manifestation of homosexual love, it makes me squeamish. Conversely, when I consider the physical manifestation of heterosexual love, it makes me want to seek a little alone-time. I'm not gay. But if I were, I wouldn't be particularly ashamed of it.

We're Smarter Now

Today is the 44th anniversary of the Failed “Bay of Pigs” invasion of Cuba. In the embarrassing aftermath of what would come to be one of the most studied cases of “Group Think” in American history, just about every senior officer attached to the planned invasion was sacked (including Allen Dulles, who at least got an airport in consolation). The CIA did the WTF write-up and concluded that it failed because they blew it.

Other People Are Evil

Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, has announced that he will be on stage at a event planned by a Kentucky mega-church called “
n=2b2f26ea6027fec4&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY" target="_new">Justice Sunday” (NY Times, Free Registration). This gist of the gathering will be to highlight their perception that Democratic filibusters of some Republican judicial candidates was part of their war "against people of faith". I quote, because I can't make up stuff this good, “For years activist courts, aided by liberal interest groups like the A.C.L.U., have been quietly working under the veil of the judiciary, like thieves in the night, to rob us of our Christian heritage and our religious freedoms.”

God and Caesar

Jesus of Nazareth is quoted to have said, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's." It was a nice bit of word play that neatly removed him from immediate danger while still staying true to his faith. Of course, it is presumed that he meant that all things, ultimately, belong to God. Undoubtedly, Caesar would have a different interpretation.

I know I do.

Elephants, Donkeys, and Penguins, Oh My!

On those oh-so-rare occasions when I can be coerced into joined a discussion centering upon political topics, I tend to take libertarian positions. When I do so, someone inevitably figures out which hole to plug me into and declares that I'm “fiscally conservative but socially liberal.” That's a very traditional way of describing libertarians and it is extremely wrong.