Freedom

Moderation in the protection of liberty is no virtue; extremism in the defense of freedom is no vice. - Barry Goldwater

Guantánamo Prisoners Try To Cut Corners in American Judicial System

Its in the news that two Chinese are being held at Guantanamo Bay even though they have been declared to be neither terrorists or enemy combatants. They have tried to take a shortcut in the judicial system and were told to take the normal steps of appeal. They were not denied their day in court, they were denied a shortcut. Lets get it right.

California: Eminent Domain

There is an initiative out collecting signatures on eminent domain in California. This measure is a Constitutional Amendment that will require a "resolution of necessity" for eminent domain action; forbids the taking of private property for private use; and defines "Taken", "Damaged", "Public use", "Private use", "Public agency", "Just compensation", and "Prompt release".


Proponents of the initiative include:

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Senator Tom McClintock
Chris Norby - Orange County Board of Supervisors

To read the text of the initiative and letter of submission go here .



Article by Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

This could set up a standard that the rest of the nation could follow, protecting private property rights for everyone in the US.

Taxed in our Meat and Drink

If we run into such debts as that we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our callings and our creeds, as the people of England are, our people, like them, must come to labor 16 hours in the 24, give their earnings of 15 of these to the government for their debts and expenses; and have no time to think, no time to call our mismanagers to account.

-Thomas Jefferson

Frederic Bastiat

We hold from God the gift which includes all others. This gift is life-physical, intellectual, and moral life.

But life cannot maintain itself alone. The Creator of life has entrusted us with the responsibility of preserving, developing and perfecting it. In order that we may accomplish this, He has provided us with a collection of marvelous faculties. And He has put us in the midst of a variety of natural resources we convert them into products, and use them. This process is necessary in order that life may run its appointed course.

Life, faculties, production-in other words, individuality, liberty, property-this is man. And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it.

- Frederic Bastiat
In His Book "The Law"

Eminent Domain: Local Control Proving Itself Just As Threatening To Freedom As Federal

Just to tag something further on to the issue of local control, I have this other thought. Most of the recent battles on the issue of Eminent Domain have been on the local level. Cities taking churches and giving the property to more tax producing business ventures. Cities taking property from small businesses, homeowners, apartment complexes, you-name-it, and giving the property to someone who promises the city more money in tax dollars. This redistribution of wealth is not to the public good. We are taking from the less well-to-do and giving to the more well-to-do. This doesn't make sense. Now, I'm not saying I am in favor of any redistribution of wealth. I'm only saying that this doesn't even fit the normal arguments in favor of it.

It brings to mind the word of Thommas Jefferson, as inscribed in the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?
Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever."

Eminent Domain Related Links:

Milwaukee Federalists: Supreme Court accepts six new cases

Many States Making Progress in Protecting Private Property

New Jersey Eminent Domain Think Tank

Eminent Domain Institute

Local Control Isn’t The Whole Answer

While I don’t argue that having local control is generally more efficient and effective than national control, I am finding that it may not be the answer to as many problems as I once thought. Several years ago I would have said that local control would solve the problem of antagonistic statist, government control.

There are small towns that have just as antagonistic micromanaging and controlling attitudes as you might see at the state or federal level. For example, in some places cities use zoning laws to forbid Christian Churches and other groups from meeting Link. In other places private Christian schools must fight battles in court about whether they may be allowed by the school district or the school board (local government) to teach the Christian principles of Creation.

I grew up in the country where my father had a business at home. He was an architect. He had jobs all over the county. One job he had was to design a barn for a couple living in the outskirts of a small town (population less than 2000). Because my dad’s name was on the drawings when the went through the permit process, the mayor of this small town sent a letter to my dad telling him that he didn’t have a business license to operate in his town and so he was not authorized to conduct business there. The mayor demanded the business license fee. Since neither his residence, nor his business was located in the town the demand didn’t make much sense, but my dad, not wanting to cause any further strife paid the fee, but not without sending along a letter explaining why he didn’t think he should have to pay it or be licensed in every town he had a client.

I can’t blame my dad for wanting to be a friendly person, but it seems that when we just keep letting the government get away with abusing their power, we give up some of our liberties.

Correction to post on California Marriage Amendment

I realize that I may have given a different idea here than I intended when I posted this:

Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Attempted Marriage Amendment Fails For Lack of Signatures

Prior to WWII polling was done to see if the American people were ready to become involved in the war. Some time after the First World War it was too early to take action according to these polls. The people weren't upset enough. In fact, most were not ready until after Pearl Harbor was attacked.

So too, the people are not up in arms enough to take a step like passing a constitutional amendment to protect marriage. A clear and present danger has not been evident enough to the people of California for them to be pressured enough to take action. There is one group trying to push on getting signatures for a marriage amendment but their wording isn't the best out there. There is another group (voteyesmarriage.com) who has stood firm in their wording even though others say it is to bold. This wording is the best and has been worked through with many of the top constitutional lawyers in the country.

While all this is true, I must also mention that there are people still working on this and there is still hope. Keep updated on this through the VoteYesMarriage.com website.

Rob Reiner Preschool Scandal

Rob Reiner, actor turned movie producer turned "preschool advocate" has placed himself in a rather shady position in regards to the law and politicsLink . So much so that an audit of his First 5 has been called for. Will this scandal be shushed quietly or rise up to become one of the great political scandals of history? Reiner recently stepped down from the lead position of the First 5 Comission while under intense political pressure Link.

Reiner was born in The Bronx, NY in 1947. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1964. He is the son of actor/producer Carl Reiner.

He has children and enjoys seeing them watch the movies he has made including "The Princess Bride".