Monday, June 30, 2003

Fixing California. Huge budget problems -- ideological conservatives who refused to raise taxes vs. democrats scrambling to contain costs that they contributed to.  Big mess, all around.  If there's one thing I know about California, it's that real estate prices are simply out of control.  I think the state can fix its problems by upping the transfer stamp tax on property.  Just peel off about 10% of any gains, period.  I have no idea what the right number is, but that's a great place to start.  Most of this money is "found" money anyway -- people's properties just escalating in value like crazy.  Tap into it and try to solve a little bit of the budget crisis. 12:23:47 PM    comment []

Selective Enforcement. On the sodomy laws: One thing I haven’t seen debated is exactly how these laws would be enforced. About the only way that you can do it is to put cameras in bedrooms. Yes, that is pretty darn crazy, and you can rest assured that John Q public doesn’t want a camera in his bedroom, being monitored by government forces. Since we’re not going to have cameras under any circumstances, what does this really mean? It means that there will be selective enforcement of the law. And how selective is that enforcement going to be? Will there be political motives behind said selective enforcement? You can bet that there will be. It’s an effort to apply enhanced scrutiny to the private lives of some of our citizens. A law like this is designed to erect a barrier. It’s designed, in the long run, to become a litmus test; screening out certain segments of the population and punishing them. 11:13:28 AM    comment []

We have our own Mullahs. Dr. Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, referring to a constitutional amendment that would ban anything other than "traditional" marriages: "I very much feel that marriage is a sacrament, and that sacrament should extend and can extend to that legal entity of a union between - what is traditionally in our Western values has been defined - as between a man and a woman. So I would support the amendment." We rail on and on about how the religious nutcases in the Middle East are wrecking democracy, trying to institute somewhat crazy traditional beliefs.  And right here, right at home, we have the Senate majority leader demonstrating, casually, in public, that he cannot see any difference between a religious marriage and a civil one.  Once again, I say do what you want with your church.  Marry whomever you choose.  But the civil institution should be available to all, period, of any religion, race, or orientation.  The government, which is supposed to be separated from religion, should deal only with the civil institution.  As a matter of convenience, we may choose to recognize the religious marriage as a civil marriage as well.  There are quite a series of parallels between the religious political forefront in this country and the mullahs overseas.  The most fundamental, though, is their automatic and complete assumption of a monopoly on truth.  Second is their presumption that they have a duty and/or right to enforce their views upon the silent majority. Ultimately this is all about the tyranny of the majority.  If the powers that be can convince enough people to maintain them in power, they will begin to more aggressively enforce their religious beliefs on the population. A one-party political system is not the only thing we need to fear.  A one-party religious system is far more dangerous. 10:56:22 AM    comment []

Silence of the Lambs. "Quid Pro Quo, Mr. President.  Quid Pro Quo. Provide for me an enlarged tax cut, and you shall have your victory in the next election.  Provide me what I want, answer only these few questions, call forth these few favors, and you will be supplied with whatever means you require.  Spend my gifts wisely, Mr. President, for in the next cycle they may be accompanied by more stringent bindings. Together we will nurse intolerance, prey on fear, and misdirect the masses.  This grand illusion has only just begun.  Do not look too closely into the heart of this affair.  I reside there.  When you look into me, I also look into you." 10:22:07 AM    comment []