Author: Redactor

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Common Sense

Domestic Terrorism Since 9/​11

Terrorism still vexes Europe, and seems unavoidable in Middle East hot spots. But since 9/​11, thank goodness, there’s been no domestic terrorism in the United States.

But what do we say when we see a story about a terrorist attack on U.S. soil?

Let’s qualify the statement: There’s been no successful Al Qaeda-​masterminded terrorist attack in America since September 11, 2001. But we do have thugs here who try to achieve political ends through terror.

Consider animal rights activists who do much more than advocate being kind to kittens. That is, consider animal activists who blow things up. A group called the Animal Liberation Front, or ALF, just “claimed responsibility” & “accepted blame” for torching an empty van on the campus of UCLA.

The chancellor of UCLA, Gene Block, says that with this assault, directed at property and individuals “not associated with animal research,” the activists have crossed a line.

Block seems to assume that the animal rights terrorists have done something worse now than when they’re torching a lab where animal experiments are taking place. Or, for that matter, a McDonald’s where hamburger-​eating takes place. To me it all seems equally — seriously — criminal.

Oh, these cuddly activists don’t usually try to murder people. But if and when they do, they’ll have the same anti-​human excuses for it. Excuses that will make as little sense then as they do now.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

Scare Tactic in Oklahoma

The political establishment resists reform. Voters have had to take their favorite causes — like term limits and tax limits — over the heads of politicians, directly to fellow voters.

And politicians don’t much like us voters having all that say-so.

That’s why they’ve tried to legislate the initiative process out of existence.

And that’s why three of us — Rick Carpenter, Susan Johnson, and I — are facing what the Wall Street Journal has called a “bizarre” criminal prosecution by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson.

Edmondson is trying to lock us up for ten years for supposedly violating the state’s residency law, even though those working on the petition followed the rules as explained to them by state officials … and even though the constitutionality of the law is currently being challenged in federal court.

Why the strange prosecution? To frighten folks from doing initiatives. Recently the state’s largest paper, The Oklahoman, decried how difficult the process has become, with the people getting to vote on only two of the 23 initiatives filed this decade.

We, the Oklahoma Three, face a preliminary hearing — and the wrath of a rogue attorney general — July 23rd. Scary? Yes. But we’ll prevail. And perhaps inspire more people to defend the initiative against its most insatiable enemy, the politicians.

And hey: Already a new group, Oklahomans for Initiative Rights, has launched its own citizen task force to study reforming the state’s initiative process.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

Pick Your Battles

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment means what it says: The right of the people to keep and bear arms — that is, have guns — must not be infringed. While more limited in scope than we might wish, District of Columbia v. Heller affirms that the amendment specifies a right of individuals.

To some observers, the lawsuit yielding this ruling had seemed a bit like tilting at windmills. One skeptic was Glen Reynolds, publisher of the popular blog, InstaPundit. Reynolds, who also teaches law, doubted that a majority could be found on the high court to affirm an individual-​rights reading of the Second Amendment.

He now says, “I was wrong, and [Bob Levy] was right. And I’m glad!”

Levy is the Cato Institute scholar who, five years ago, organized and largely bankrolled the suit against the city of Washington, D.C. The city bans residents from owning handguns even to protect their own homes.

Levy notes that Heller is just the “opening salvo” in all the litigation needed to clarify our Second Amendment rights. But at least we now have a “blockbuster decision” that greatly improves the chances of reviving the amendment’s original meaning.

We advocates of liberty must pick our battles. But Heller reminds us that the political landscape and how the struggle itself will affect the prospects for success can’t always be predicted. Levy has certainly proved that this battle is winnable.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a mental disorder, the compulsion to pull one’s hair out. I think I have it. At least, I find reasons to tear out my hair.

Frayda Levin knows what I’m talking about. As chair of the New Jersey chapter of Americans for Prosperity, she’s been very passionate on a host of issues. I met her in the course of fighting against eminent domain abuse. We risked follicular damage after Kelo.

Like all sensible taxpayers, Frayda opposes Congress’s corrupt earmark culture, whereby congressmen use our tax dollars to fund their personal favor factories. Recently, she wrote to New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez asking him to support a legislative moratorium on earmarks.

Instead, Senator Menendez wrote back defending his support for earmarked pork. “While our federal agencies implement programs from Washington,” he countered, “they often do not understand the unique needs of the communities and the states.”

When Frayda responded to Senator Menendez, she pointed out how completely ludicrous it was to “send money to D.C.” and “then have to spend resources finding a sympathetic ear, who can, as you note, understand local needs.”

Frayda asked why the senator hadn’t initiated a shake-​up of the admittedly out-​of-​touch federal bureaucracy. She mentioned the 10th Amendment, the role of the states, and inquired why this money should be going to the federal government in the first place.

She got no response to that.

I’m sure Menendez saw danger to his own scalp.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

Stay Awake for the Brownouts

Years ago, I would actually listen to lectures by economists on how the electric grid might function better. Pretty much only one thing remains in my head, the conclusion: Regulatory agencies and government-​run electrical companies tend to be very inefficient when it comes to capitalizing their enterprises.

Have you nodded off, yet?

Sorry. There’s always been something a bit boring about these discussions. But the subject matter is really worth staying awake for.

Why?

Well, experts predict that in as soon as three years, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland — the area where I live — will be enduring rolling brownouts.

It’s not the fault of PJM, the already-​regulated electric transmission company servicing the area. It’s the fault of members of Virginia’s State Corporation Commission and Maryland’s Public Service Commission.

Yes, ever more people are moving into the area. But the officials in charge of allowing new electric infrastructure to be set in place are refusing to grant permission to lay down the miles of new high-​voltage electric lines the increasing demand requires.

What’s their rationale? Board members say they need more studies. Bureaucrats love studies. Could it be that friends and family and business partners of the board would be amongst those doing the studies?

I bet economists would have a less incendiary explanation. But the upshot is clear. Bureaucracies can be dangerously slow institutions to rest progress upon.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

Starve the Poor, Feed a Senator

Subsidies for ethanol are the biggest reason why food prices are rising faster than gas prices. This is leading to a worldwide humanitarian crisis, with the poor being hit hardest. Think of that when you next pump your ethanol.

And the main reason to favor ethanol over gasoline — to reduce carbon emissions so to help keep our planet cool — proves worse than empty. What’s required to grow and produce ethanol puts more carbon into the atmosphere than does producing and burning gasoline.

So why keep up the charade?

Well, ask Barack.

Senator Obama says he’s running to reduce the power of special interests. But, as the New York Times carefully parsed it, “like any other politician, he has powerful constituencies that help shape his views.” Tom Daschle, co-​chairman of Obama’s campaign, says Obama possesses “a terrific policy staff” … which seems united in advising him to push ethanol.

The fact that Obama represents a state filled with lots of people who directly benefit from pro-​ethanol subsidies may also have something to do with his enthusiastic support.

Obama has given the standard “national security” reason for the policy, too — energy independence — but I won’t repeat his arguments. They make no sense. If Americans don’t buy Arab oil, Europe, China, and India will. Big deal. Trillions will still go to some bad guys.

And, uh, billions will go to Obama’s friends.

Change? No, politics as usual.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.