Terri Shiavo

During this holy week for Christians, I am constantly reminded of the sanctity of life and the tremendous miracle of its creation. Let first say that I support the actions of Congress, the Republican Party, and the many Christians out there working to save Terri Shiavo's life.

I do not wish to conjecture on the subject of her former husband other than I believe his role of guardian is compromised by the conflict of living with another women with whom he has two children.

I have been stunned to watch the events unfold as they have. First, denials at the state level. Then pride watching a Congress act to protect life. Then disdain as judicial tyrants circumvent the intent of the law Congress had passed. My faith in the Supreme Court is already badly shaken, so I expected no relief from them today.

As dissented in the 11th Circuit appeals court, what harm comes from erring on the side of life and restoring food and water to Terri Shiavo as her case is tried? None that I can see. Her imminent death will indeed send chills through our government and this population - as it should. It does not escape my attention that Christ's death will be observed this Friday - a death he freely accepted - but was brought in part by the inaction of local politicians. Though the parallels are not exact, the similarities exist. This is an important week to take note of actions occurring around you.

Mexico accused of abusing its illegals / The Washington Times INSIDER

Mexico accused of abusing its illegals / The Washington Times INSIDER:

"'Since when are 'Neighborhood Watch' citizens 'vigilantes'?' Mr. Tancredo asked. 'President Fox thinks we should tear down the fence that keeps illegal aliens out? Then why doesn't he put up a welcome sign on his southern border with Guatemala instead of using his military to keep poor Guatemalans out? Such hypocrisy about borders defies historic parallel.' "

You've got to love Tom Tancredo.

I'm For An Open Boarder With Mexico - IF:

All this recent news about the meeting with Canada and Mexico in part to discuss boarder control is maddening to say the least. As I thought of any good to come of it, I started wondering if I could in fact support an open boarder policy. The answer, surprisingly, is yes. Here are the conditions:

1. Mexico agrees to US oversight of a strict documentation process to track immigrants. If it can be reasonably ensured that both governments will work hard to detain undocumented (terrorist or smuggling threats) persons, I think we could live with this. After all, with the boarder as porous as it is, this would be better than what we're doing now.

2. The US-Mexico-Canada agree that no foreign worker is entitled to benefits of the country they are working in. Specifically, healthcare and social security. Any services rendered would be charged to the country of origin (US workers included).

3. Free trade across all boarders is assured.

4. US ownership of Mexican land. This is the deal breaker. Mexico must allow US individuals or corporations to own (not lease) land in Mexico. Why? With investment dollars pouring in, Mexico's untapped natural resources could be harvested. With land prices low, corporations could move in, create jobs for local Mexican workers (alleviating the need for emigration), while sending profits back to the US (the reverse is true now of illegals). This should jumpstart a change from the socialism of the Fox regime to capitalism. Once that change is made, we would have about the same boarder relationship with Mexico as we do with Canada.

Once again, a free market could come to the rescue. Vicente Fox is just crazy enough to go for it.

Border Issues

Bush decries border project - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - March 24, 2005

President Bush: "I'm against vigilantes in the United States of America," Mr. Bush said at a joint press conference. "I'm for enforcing the law in a rational way."

How about enforcing the law at all?

The article also mentions:
"He (Bush) said he would pressure Congress to further loosen immigration law."

Bad news all around.

Back

I am back. Sorry for the long delay, but travels and other commitments have kept me away.

Bankruptcy Reform

Senate passes reform measure / The Washington Times INSIDER

I'll never understand why expecting people to repay their debts is considered a corporate hand out on the left. If I buy a sweater at the mall using a credit card, I should be expected to pay the credit card company that cost plus interest. The point of credit is to allow you to purchase something today and pay over time, thus allowing higher dollar items to be purchased earlier in life (most common example: your house).

Most creditors and independent companies offer insurance to repay credit debts in the event of death, illness, etc. Choosing to not carry such insurance is a risk that each individual must evaluate. Carrying a $50 balance probably doesn't warrant it. Carrying a $10,000 balance just might. In any case, why should the creditor be left holding the bag?

A point missed in the conversation is that this actually helps low-income families. Currently, credit (and the corresponding interest rate) is approved based on credit scores. The creditors looks at those scores and determines the risk they are assuming in issuing an individual credit. If you remove some of that risk in the form of bankruptcy, the creditor will be forced to compete with other creditors and lower the interest rates for traditionally higher credit risks.

Out

Sorry for the lack of commentary - I'll be out through the weekend and pick up where I've left off next week.

Italians Kept U.S. Forces In Dark

Italians kept U.S. forces in dark / The Washington Times INSIDER

On the one hand, you had this reporter recently freed from a hostage situation claiming that the US may have opened fire deliberately. And sure enough, news outposts everywhere picked up on it and reported on it. I don't believe I heard one broadcaster even express caution about the reports since the US had yet to comment.

And now come the details that the US Military (once again) was doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing. The US had no knowledge of this pay off by the Italians. What's more: reports I've read note that warning shots and hand signals were used before firing on the car to get it to slow down. I want to know when the US gets an apology from Italy.

Iraq Construction Outpacing Insurgents

Construction projects outpace rebels' attacks / The Washington Times INSIDER

What's this? Yet more good news out of Iraq? Not that the Wash Times is in the same category as the LA Times, but I can't help but think that there will be a lot of "on the record" comments made by the Left used against them in the 2006 elections. It will be real tough to argue that an emerging democratic Middle East is the foreign policy "quagmire" that the Left hoped it would be.

Unborn Deaths Cause Legal Complication

Unborn twins' death is legal complication / The Washington Times INSIDER:

"The case has attorneys on both sides questioning the fairness of a statute that considers one person's actions a crime and another person's a constitutional right."

I couldn't put it any better myself.

Bloggers V. McCain-Feingold

Michelle Malkin has a good piece on this as does Captains Quarters. In short, there will be significant pressure from the FEC on blogs to restrict their activities as it relates to support of particular campaigns. For example, supporting the Republican candidate in you precinct come 2006 could see you punished with fines as it is now considered a form of campaign contribution.

I suggest you, as I have done, write every elected official you can find. Start with your local Representatives and work your way through the Senate. Finding them is made easy by Townhall.

Utah Takes Step Forward On Illegal Immigration

Yahoo! News - Immigrant Activists Upset Over Utah Bill:

Utah has done the right thing and passed a bill that will revoke the drivers licenses of illegal immigrants. Don't be fooled by the soft language now in use: undocumented = illegal.

"Leo Bravo, of the Hispanic Center of Cache Valley in northern Utah, argues that the measure singles out undocumented workers because they are foreigners."

Wrong! No one is targeting foreigners. Utah is targeting criminals. People who come here illegally are criminals, no matter how the activists spin it - they are breaking the laws of this country.

Frist Pushes Social Security Action

Frist pushes Social Security action

Looks like President Bush got to Frist after Frist stated reform may have to wait until next year. Social Security reform does need to happen this year, but we need to get some legislation in first! For this to work, the bills need to be introduced in both houses ASAP and debate needs to get underway. A push to vote (assuming a filibuster) should occur no later than late summer. The final agreement (or none at all) needs to be in place by year's end to avoid, mitigate, capitalize, etc. on the outcome for the 2006 elections. The 2006 legislative session then needs to put a permanent reform on the tax code. I believe this could also happen in 2005, but with judges and Social Security, the odds would be against it.

Consumption Tax

FairTax FAQ 1

The folks at FairTax have the most comprehensive consumption tax policy to date. As I have said before, I would support such a plan. I just don't believe it is viable in this form. Be careful when sifting through info on this site, it is well rigged in their favor, as you would expect.

National Sales Tax

Emancipating America from the Income Tax: How a National Sales Tax Would Work

Here is the Cato Institute's policy analysis of a National Sales Tax. Note that this is from 1997. Today's proposed consumption tax is slightly different. I'll put that up shortly.

Greenspan Weak On Tax reform

Greenspan Testimony Transcript

I have linked to the testimony from Alan Greenspan, which most outlets are touting as a promotion of the consumption tax. Knowing that Greenspan veils his comments and resists too much enthusiasm for one method over another, I would suggest Alan Greenspan did more harm than good to the consumption tax.

"...one of the first decisions that you will confront is the choice of tax base; possibilities include a comprehensive income tax, a consumption tax, or some combination of the two, as is done in many other countries."

Though Greenspan makes the argument that a consumption tax is favored by economists as it promotes savings and capital formation, he throws a monkey wrench into the argument: his assertion that "many other countries" use a combination tax. That is true. It is also true that taxes as a percentage of GDP have remained steady in the US for some 40 years at around 27% while in Europe they have increased from 30% to 41% in the same time period (as reported by Daniel Mitchell).

The problem with allowing two forms of national taxation to exist in this context is that it adds to, not subtracts from (which Greenspan is arguing for), the inefficiency and makes it easier for the government to raise tax rates.

For reasons I will go into in a future post, I support a flat tax over a consumption tax. However, I will support either provided it replaces the current tax code in its entirety.

Judicial Activism Part 2

President Bush from his 2004 RNC Acceptance Speech:
"And I will continue to appoint federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law..."

Justice Kennedy's majority opinion references, among other things, the UN and the United Kingdom as providing direction and instruction for this decision (begin at page 28). While not the first to rely on foreign laws in the interpretation of the United States Constitution, the frequency of occurrence is disturbing.

Judicial Activism

I will have a whole lot more on this throughout the day and week.

Justice Kennedy rules the direct opposite of his vote in 1989. Once again, U.S. rights are trampled by "international consensus." The fury over this decision is almost indescribable. At what point are justices held accountable for overstepping their jurisdiction and interpreting everything but the law and the Constitution? Appalling.

2,000 Demonstrate Against Terror

AP - 2,000 Demonstrate at Iraqi Bombing Site

This is the most encouraging news out of Iraq since the election. The people of Iraq are sick and tired of terrorism and it is only by the shear will of the people that the insurgency will be thwarted. Don't get me wrong, our military is doing a great job. But the Iraqi people need to create a climate where these fundamentalists are stopped before they can start, a climate where the radicals see no reason to resort to violence in the first place.

Also note how the AP notes the story in the first paragraph, but then spends the next 16 paragraphs on the negative. Typical.

Iran Next?

Yahoo! News - New attitudes color Iranian society, culture

As I noted yesterday, Iran may well be the next domino to fall. Blogging is mentioned more than once in this article, a nod to what many of us already realize: blogging has ruined MSM control. That goes for the U.S. MSM as well as the governement controlled MSM in Iran. Hugh Hewitt was right after all.