Category: Common Sense

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Common Sense general freedom national politics & policies too much government

Santa Speaks Out

Oh, sure, he’s a jolly old elf most of the time. But just ask Mrs. Claus: He’s got a temper.

Not long ago, I compared Congress to Santa Claus, because both hand out lots of goodies. Well, Santa was not amused.

“How in the name of the North Pole can you compare me with the politicians in Congress?” he wanted to know. “My elves and I produce our presents ourselves and we make a list so they go to the nice people. The Congress takes from others and often gives the loot to folks who are naughty.”

He’s got a point. And who wants to argue with Santa this time of year? Then there was the flap in Kensington, Maryland, where the long tradition of Santa lighting the town tree was ended after complaints from families who don’t celebrate Christmas.

Santa called and I was ready for an earful. But Santa wasn’t mad at the families who complained or the town officials. “Christmas is my holiday,” Santa said calmly, “and I’ll not let anyone turn it into something that’s forced on people. That’s not my style. I don’t want anyone forced to pay taxes against their will to celebrate Christmas. And that’s what’s been going on in this little town.

“I don’t need any government mandates; after all, hundreds of people in Santa suits brought their own holiday cheer to the Kensington tree lighting. The spirit of Christmas is something you give, not something you take. Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!”

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense free trade & free markets

Why Plant Crops?

With the financial crisis and bailout bill, our energy problems have been pushed off the front page. But they’re not gone. We still need energy to run our cars, homes, businesses, you name it.

So, I wanted to address a goofy argument that has been made a lot about drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, way up north in Alaska. Some say that we shouldn’t drill because it won’t do anything at all to help lower the price of gas now.

We’re continually told that it will take seven to ten years for the oil found there to be pumped out, processed and pumped into our cars as gasoline.

Not shocking. It’s true. Most things do take some length of time to fully accomplish.

Say you order an appliance. It’s days before delivery. Have an idea for a book? It takes time to write, edit, and publish it. You’ll have to wait to get your first copy.

You know, the price of food is up, too, in part because of America’s stupid ethanol policy, which we’ve talked about before. Apply the logic of anti-​drilling advocates and we won’t plant crops anymore because, after all, no food pops into existence ex nihilo, instantaneously. It takes months before harvest. Even longer for the food to trundle off to market.

So, why plant? Why drill? Why buy that book, knowing that you can’t read it until you get home?

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

Big Brother vs. Burger and Fries

Restaurants in some towns are now being forced to stop using trans fats. According to the latest biochemistry, trans fats are bad for you.

No doubt. Many foodstuffs are bad for you, can even kill you, at least in the long run. Maybe — if you eat too much of them, exercise too little, and don’t get flattened by a Mack truck before your vessels clog.

But what business is it of anyone in government what risks I take to enjoy my candy bar? And if it’s kosher to ban restaurants from using trans fats, what’s next, outlawing sugar, grease, and fast food?

Outlawing fast food? McDonald’s will always be with us.

Except in South Los Angeles, where a town council has just passed a year-​long moratorium on new fast-​food restaurants.

And so yesterday’s argument from absurdity becomes today’s compromise and tomorrow’s legislation. South LA is not facing an outright ban on fast food. But what the  nutritional tyrants are doing there comes close. And nudges us closer to the outright prohibition they would prefer. They just don’t want individuals to make their own choices about what food to eat or restaurants to patronize.

What’s next, a moratorium on … well, let’s not give these guys any more ideas, even absurd ones. What we can conceive as idiotic they can spiff up as policy. And somehow not laugh.

But then, I’m not laughing now, either.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

Shut Up Or Else

Political bullies often try to disguise or play down their intimidation. They’re not as blunt as playground bullies.

One exception is Tom Matzzie, a left-​wing political activist heading up a new group called Accountable America.

The group’s goal is to bully major contributors to conservative campaigns. It’s been sending “warning” letters to such donors, threatening them with smears and legal harassment. Matzzie brags that he’s “going for the jugular.”

Example: On the Accountable America website, a donor is attacked for contributing to Tom Delay’s PACs in 2001 and 2002, noting that Delay was indicted in 2005. Guilt by association, you see — except there isn’t even any guilt. Delay hasn’t been convicted. Moreover, no legal or ethical questions have even been raised about this donor’s gifts.

Mattzie’s activities remind us of the value of anonymity, which can protect contributors to political groups from being subjected to such vindictive harassment.

I read that Accountable America doesn’t have to reveal its donors. And doesn’t. Gee whiz, whatever could they be afraid of?

Mattzie’s group is not alone in its attempt to muzzle political opponents and squelch political discourse. Groups like By Any Means Necessary and the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center invite supporters to harass people circulating petitions they don’t like.

I feel their pain. Two citizen activists and I are being threatened with prison time for having the gall to support an Oklahoma ballot initiative. Visit the Free Paul Jacob website for details.

Yep, lot of bullies out there.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

Pennsylvania Ballot Non-Access

Which major party works behind the scenes, illegally, to scuttle democratic processes? Well, consider Pennsylvania.

Ralph Nader has an $81,000 judgment against him, to pay off the legal costs of those who challenged his campaign in 2004. In early August, Nader petitioned the state Commonwealth Court to overturn that judgment, saying the whole thing was orchestrated — illegally — by Democratic legislators and aides in the State House. Conspiracy, he says.

He may have a case. In July, the state attorney general’s office filed criminal charges against a dozen people connected with the House Democratic caucus. Soon we’ll see how good the evidence for conspiracy is.

But don’t think it’s just Democrats who’d do nearly anything to keep a competitor off the ballot. This year, the chair of the Cumberland County Republican Party, an attorney, is suing the Libertarian Party for putting up former congressman Bob Barr as its presidential nominee. You see, when Pennsylvanians signed the petition, another name was on it. A paper candidate.

The plaintiff calls this fraud. Of all things.

Of course, since this minor party hadn’t held its national convention yet, the placeholder candidate was just a pro forma thing, to comply with an idiotic ballot access law that should be ruled unconstitutional anyway.

Yes, folks, the people who run both major parties look at election laws pretty much like the Borgias looked at pharmacology: Something to use to bump off the opposition.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

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Common Sense

House Envy

How many homes do I own? Just one. That’s all I can afford.

But what if I had more money and bought a vacation home or two? Would that somehow make me a bad guy?

Not in my book. I don’t hold wealth as a strike against someone. Rather, it’s a likely sign of hard work, dedication and smarts. Some of my favorite people are wealthy. In fact, I’d like to be wealthy myself someday. My wife is all for that.

That’s why I find it repulsive that Barack Obama and some in the media are pouncing on Senator John McCain for the terrible offense of owning a number of homes. Seven, apparently. He’s been successful and his wife has been even more so. Good for them.

Funny, I don’t recall Obama attacking the prominent congressmen who received sweetheart home loan deals from lenders, with obvious reason to be currying congressional favor. And while McCain is slapped for owning several homes, at least he makes the payments. Haven’t heard a peep from Obama about Congresswoman Laura Richardson of California. She defaulted on one of her homes and the lender foreclosed. But then, mysteriously, the lender rescinded the foreclosure and returned the home to the congresswoman.

Hmmm. Silence when politicians use their positions for material gain? Attacks when McCain pays his own way!

Regular readers know that I’ve been very critical of McCain. But for his actual political positions with which I strongly disagree. Not because he has more money than I have.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.