Thursday, July 31, 2008

No fast food for you!

LA is banning fast food resturants in poor neighborhoods.

If you have very limited skills, and no experience, one place that is always, always hiring is McDonalds. But I guess that's not an option now if you live in a poor neighborhood in LA. Better that people be out of work than make their own food choices, I guess.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

the liberatarian's dilemma

I have problems with this:
After her oncologist prescribed a cancer drug that would cost $4,000 a
month, the newspaper reported, "Wagner was notified that the Oregon Health
Plan
wouldn't cover the treatment, but that it would cover palliative,
or
comfort,
care, including, if she chose, doctor-assisted suicide."

Now, in theory, I support Oregon's assisted suicide law, like to good little liberatarian I am. "What right does the government have to decide whether a rational adult wants to take his or her life?" I ask.

But here's the thing- there is always someone who has an interest in gradma kicking the bucket- whether it's the beneficiaries of her estate, or the government who's footing the medical bills, or the family who just doesn't want to be bothered with it all.

I usually try to solve these problems by trying to weigh the negative impact on freedom against the negative impact to society by allowing the activity. I'm coming up with a blank here- I just don't know. Any thoughts?

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Ted Stevens Indicted

Ted Stevens, of bridge to nowhere fame, was indicted today on 7 counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms.

See my tears. . .

Ted Stevens, and some of the long serving congress members like him, represent what is really wrong with the republican party and govenment in general. Lifetime pass to the senate, too stubborn to consider anyone but himself. Hopefully, this will be the end of his power.

Apologies

House of representatives to apologize for slavery

Ok, I guess it’s over now and we can just move on, right? . . . Right?

Monday, July 28, 2008

A Note from the President: 7-28-08

It looks like Melissa has things off to a great start. I thought I would go ahead and throw my two cents in.
First, I think this is an exciting and promising time for the Tennessee Federalist Society. Even though we are in "rebuilding mode," we have a committed group of people who are willing to get the group back off the ground. Also, we have a great network of support in a strong national office and friendly surrounding chapters.
And in other good news, we already have a speaker lined up! UNLV law professor Tuan Samahon will be at UT Law on September 2 to discuss the many nuances of the judicial selection process. More details to come.
And we're always looking for more ideas, issues, and speakers. Feel free to join in our own small debate and let us know your thoughts on how we can make the biggest possible footprint. It's time to re-kindle the flame at UT Law!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

McCain family

I think that it’s interesting (and admirable, but quizzical) that John McCain almost never talks about his family- Some people know that his son is a solider who was in Iraq, but I’ve never heard him bring it up. Likewise, people don’t know this story (courtesy of gatwaypundit ):

(I)n 1991 Cindy McCain was visiting Mother Teresa's orphanage in Bangladesh when
a dying infant was thrust into her hands. The orphanage could not provide the
medical care needed to save her life, so Mrs. McCain brought the child home to
America with her. She was met at the airport by her husband, who asked what all
this was about.Mrs. McCain replied that the child desperately needed surgery and
years of rehabilitation. "I hope she can stay with us," she told her husband.
Mr. McCain agreed. Today that child is their teenage daughter Bridget....(T)here
was a second infant Mrs. McCain brought back. She ended up being adopted by a
young McCain aide and his wife."We were called at midnight by Cindy," Wes
Gullett remembers, and "five days later we met our new daughter Nicki at the
L.A. airport wearing the only clothing Cindy could find on the trip back, a 7-Up
T-shirt she bought in the Bangkok airport." Today, Nicki is a high school
sophomore. Mr. Gullett told me, "I never saw a hospital bill" for her care.

I wonder what it would change if he brought this sort of thing up.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

What are you doing here?

So, I’m going to kick things off with a question that has always bugged me about those with whom I disagree, politically speaking. Why are you here? Geographically speaking, that is. I don’t ask that to be sarcastic, or snippy, or anything like that, I honestly want to know.

Here’s the thing, this country is the closest, probably ever, match to my political ideals, to the way that I want to live my life. It’s far from perfect, sure, and I am certainly a fan of working to improve it wherever we can, but on the whole, I think that its pretty darn great. On top of that, I think that Tennessee is certainly one of the best places within the country, as far as matching my political ideals and lifestyle. I ended up here by accident (well, family circumstances), but for the last 10 years of my life I could have been anywhere that I wanted, and I’m still here.

So here’s the thing, if you want socialized healthcare, if you really think that’s a good way for your world to be, why don’t you go somewhere that has it? If you want a more progressive tax system, well, heck, they’ve got that out there, too. More environmental regulation? Yep, it’s there. More people riding their bikes and mass transit? You can find it if you try. A country more well liked by the rest of the world? Hey, if that’s what you care about, it’s available to you. Yet, a great many people choose to stay here. Why? Why not just live in France, or Canada, or at least a more liberal part of the country like San Francisco or New Jersey?

Welcome!

Alright, before I start this thing, I want to go ahead and let everyone know that, while this is likely to be a political blog, it’s here to discuss whatever we want to discuss; not to be one political leaning or another. The Federalist Society is a “big-tent” organization- you don’t have to be conservative, or liberal, or libertarian, or a UT Vols fan, or whatever to join and debate (the organization itself take no public policy positions). I’ve always heard that if everyone’s thinking alike, somebody isn’t thinking. I want my ideas to be challenged and debated, lest I get bored. That said, specific writers on this blog will not necessarily be fair and balanced- we’re going to say our thoughts. Please, join the discussion, just be nice and have fun!