Applied Indifference

The busybodies in Hartford are at it again. Not satisfied with recent attempts to ban ownership of ATVs, the Transportation Committee has raised a new Helmet Law. What business is it of the government if I do not want to wear a helmet on my motorcycle? Why should they care?

I’ll tell you why. Politicians don’t get into the job because they want to keep the government in check. The go into it for the power. The ability to control other people’s lives at the point of a gun. By being in the legislature, they don’t have to get their hands dirty by touching an actual gun, though. They can make cops do that part for them. And I am more than certain that the police would not appreciate having one more stupid law that the need to enforce when they have real police work that they would much rather be clearing.

Tags: Politics by Brian Corbino
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The United States House of Representatives today passed H.R. 418: REAL ID Act of 2005.

Stipulating that a Driver’s license should be issued only to a U.S. Citizen and that it be authentic is all well and good. Does anyone expect that they will be followed? In California, the CHP and the various municipal police departments are instructed explicitly NOT to report illegals to INS, even though federal law requires them to report such. Tying it to federal highway funds might get a few more states off the government dole, but that’s about it.

This is nothing but a bad thing. It will create a de-facto (if not de-jure) National ID card. Once the Federal Government requires a specific format for the ID number, and keeps the database themselves (instead of requiring states to simply “share” their databases like NCIC — which is much the same thing) it WILL be a national ID in the way that the Social Security Number isn’t.

Central Databases are a Bad Thing for privacy and security. All it will take is one database administrator on the take, and all that information will be accessible to someone that shouldn’t be able to see it. How convenient for the would-be identity thief! Everything you need to know about someone, all in one query.

By definition, the more government knows about you, the less free you are. In addition, it is generally assumed that government is incompetent. How long is it going to be before they start crossing up names, or transposing digits in ID numbers and screwing up innocent people’s lives? It already happens in criminal warrant situations. Why should this be any different?

No sir, I don’t like it.

Tags: Politics by Brian Corbino
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Moonbattus Americanus migrates North.

I find it amusing that these leftists moonbats are moving to Canada because they think that the US is the source of all evil in the world. Typical quote: “I just don’t recognize my country any more”. They are of a single mind: the United States has been overrun by right-wing zealots who want to force them to go to church on Sunday, take away all their freedoms, and want to kill everyone on the planet at the same time.

But Canada? Why move to a country where it is against the law to receive television programming from the US? To a country with an even more regressive tax structure? To a country that allows entry to known terrorists, and harbors same?

Oh, yeah. I forgot, they aren’t terrorists. They’re Freedom Fighters. Well, when you leave, could you pack Michael Moore and Ward Churchill? I’m sure they’d be much happier up north too.

One more favor: if or when a Democrat ends up in the White House again, don’t bother coming back. If you aren’t willing to work within the system to change it, and instead want to run away when you don’t like the results, then stay out.

Tags: Politics by Brian Corbino
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A college in Minneapolis is hosting a “Nobel Peace Prize Forum”, and on the program is the following tidbit: (hat tip: BOTW)

Fighting Terrorism with Empathy: a Model for Peace
Amy Nell Concordia College
The word terrorism strikes a deep nerve among Americans today–having sparked an entire nation to the defense of its country and the subjugation of those who stand in opposition. One of these men who stand in opposition is the man who planned the September 11 attacks. In November 2004, Osama Bin Laden released a tape giving his recipe for a healthy nation. This seminar would dissect his message and use audience participation in doing so. Discussion points would include counterterrorism methods, the possibility of peace, empathy etc. The aim of this seminar would be to help understand the position of Osama Bin Laden as presented in the video and explore in what ways the origins of terrorism are to be found, not in some foreign citizen, but in the actions we take out of fear, hate and retribution

Let’s do that, then. Shall we begin?
[Read more →]

Tags: Politics by Brian Corbino
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