RMA 2.0: Rocky Mtn Blogs Radio Show #20

by elpresidente | 8:00 pm, March 31, 2009

**Every Tuesday–next show March 31, 8:30 pm.

The Blog Talk Radio version of the Rocky Mountain Alliance. A weekly discussion about politics–national, state, and local–featuring RMA members bloggers led by featured host and producer Joshua Sharf, with rotating co-host duties from Ben DeGrow of Mount Virtus, Randy Ketner of Night Twister, and Michael Alcorn of Best Destiny.

March 31 lineup–Nancy Doty talks about a potential run for Secretary of State, and DU law professor Robert Hardaway on HB1299, the bill to replace the Electoral College with a National Popular Vote.

March 24 lineup–we review of the recent state GOP organizational meeting, where Dick Wadhams was reelected as state chair, and Leondray Gholston was elected vice chair after three rounds of voting with Boulder County GOP chair Scott Starin, and David K. Williams, co-founder of the Gadsden Society of Colorado.

Last week (all shows archived): March 17 lineup–State Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry was our first guest, followed by Nathan Chambers, candidate for Colorado Republican Party state vice chair.

Previous week: March 10 lineup–From 8:45 to 9:15, Colorado Republican Party Chair Dick Wadhams and at 9:30 Hassan Daioleslam.

March 3 lineup–two candidates for Fort Collins City Council, Aislinn Kottwitz (District 3) and Andrew Boucher (District 5), and Tom Stone, who is challenging Dick Wadhams for state party chairmanship.

Next week–TBD.

February 24 lineup–Evan Coyne Maloney of Indoctrinate U, whose film of the same name was shown at the inaugural Liberty on Film last Thursday, and Nadeem Esmail of the Fraser Institute, discussing the dangers of single-payer (socialized) medicine from first hand experience.

Indoctrinate U trailer:

Plus two special editions of RMA Radio–the Pork Roast/anti-stimulus rally edition from the steps of the state capitol, as well as extensive coverage of the Larimer County Lincoln Day dinner.

February 17 lineup–Denver-based political activist Chris Maj, also an affiliate of Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty, and a look back to today’s anti-stimulus/pig roast rally at the state capitol.

February 10 lineup–State Rep. Cory Gardner (R-63), probable candidate in the CD-4 GOP primary, and Leondray Gholston, Republican activist and candidate for state GOP vice-chair.

February 3 lineup–Daveed Gartenstein-Ross from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Mike Saccone of the Grand Junction Sentinel.

January 27–Guests included elections expert Jan Tyler and State Sen. Greg Brophy.

January 20–Guests included Todd Shepherd, Independence Institute, and Mark Hillman, Colorado Republican National Committeeman.

January 13–State Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango (HD 59) and State Senator Mike Kopp, SD 22, R-Littleton.

January 6–CU Regent Tom Lucero, chairman of the successful Amendment 54 campaign and a candidate for CD 4 in 2010.

December 30–RMA took a look back at a dismal year in their 2008 year-in-review.

December 23–Joshua and fellow commentators (including yours truly) hosted Jim Pfaff of Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Opinion Times. Pfaff discussed the AFP Colorado report “Keeping Colorado Competitive” and bridging the Christian/libertarian gap.

On December 16 we hosted State Rep. Kevin Lundberg (District 49), and discussed the Salazar appointment as the Secretary of the Interior in the Obama cabinet.

The December 12 edition featured Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier.

**Bookmark the new RMA Radio home page, with embedded player and calendar of upcoming shows and featured guests.

Stream the show live, or play/download the podcast at your convenience.

I’ll update co-host and guest info for each episode as it becomes available. Stay tuned . . .

RMA’s shows are archived–if you missed any of them, be sure to check out the archive page to stream or download, or scroll down this page a bit, for the embedded archive player.

Sign Up Today for the One-Night Version of Free People, Free Markets

by Ben | 3:43 pm, March 31, 2009

Have you been interested in taking the Free People, Free Markets course – the one I’ve told you about before – but decided it was too much of a time commitment?
Well, then, do I have the solution for you. You can sign up for a special, one-night only, three-hour crash course version of Free People, [...]

The Independence Institute to host an event discussing the Obama Administration’s “Green” policies

by AnCap | 1:20 pm, March 31, 2009

The Independence Institute, Colorado’s only free market think tank, will be hosting an event on Wednesday, April 8th from 5:30-7pm entitled “Cutting Through the Rhetoric of the Obama Administration’s “Green” Policies.” Their guest speaker will be Terry Anderson, Executive Director of the Property & Environment Research Center (PERC).
Mr. Anderson’s work has helped launch the idea [...]

What nerve.

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 11:54 am, March 31, 2009

This from the Denver Post’s coverage of Ward Churchill’s ongoing trial against the University of Colorado:

Churchill’s attorney, David Lane, asked why it was necessary for the regents to allow review of all Churchill’s writings.

“Where do you guys get off looking at every word he has ever written when the only thing he wrote that upset you was the 9/11 essay?” Lane asked.

Let’s see, the regents are Churchill’s boss. Part of Churchill’s job is to publish academic work. Why indeed would a boss want to see an employee’s work? Those regents have some nerve, I tell ya.

Cut out the middleman

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 11:36 am, March 31, 2009

The Denver Post has this story today:

Reforms may pay off for schools

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers unveiled a slate of dramatic education proposals Monday with the goal of bolstering Colorado’s school-reform credentials enough to win a $1 billion prize.

Only about 10 states will be selected to win what Sen. Chris Romer called “the golden ticket,” an approximately $500 million grant from the federal government’s new Race to the Top program that will go to the states making the biggest strides in education reform. Romer and other lawmakers said private foundations are expected to match the federal prize, leading to a one-time windfall that has the potential to remake the Colorado education landscape.

“There’s too much money at stake to stand still,” said Romer, D-Denver.

Yep, that’s a lot of money the feds are going to dish out.

Where did they get it? Oh yeah, from people that live in the states fighting for it.

So, the feds take money from people that live in the various states, then make those same people, via their state represenatives, do a song and dance in order to get their own money back. And, of couse, the feds take a cut for all their hard work.

To whom does this make sense?

The War on Drugs funds terrorism

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 11:03 am, March 31, 2009

The front page of today’s Denver Post includes this article from the Associated Press:

U.S. to strike at drug trade

WASHINGTON — American authorities are planning a broad new campaign to choke off the prime source of financing for terrorists in Afghanistan, sending in dozens of federal drug-enforcement agents to disrupt the country’s massive opium trade and the money that streams to the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

Neither police nor military force can overcome market force. The only way to take away drug profits from the terrorists is by competition. Take away the price premium created by the black market, and the illegal profits dry up. Legalize the drugs and allow legitimate markets.

Phillip Morris and Anhueser-Busch sell legal drugs, and the profit does not go to terrorists.

The only argument against legalizing other drugs is that drugs are bad and it is unpalatable to legalize them. Granted.

But how unpalatable is terrorism? Ignoring the cost/benefit analysis does not make the cost go away. The cost of the “War on Drugs” includes terrorist funding.

Obamites looking for the ignorant and the outright socialists for an ARMY

by Mr. Bob | 10:46 am, March 31, 2009

#tcot #gop #teaparty #hhrs – twitter tags

From the Birmingham News

Obama’s plan faces criticism from Republicans and others who say it’s too expensive. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report Friday saying Obama’s agenda would cause huge budget deficits, forcing the country to borrow $9.3 trillion in the next decade.

Those who gathered at Kelly Ingram Park in downtown Birmingham were urged to enlist others who share Obama’s vision and to stay away from trying to convert naysayers.

“We’re looking for supporters,” said DeHaven of Hoover, one of the event’s organizers. “We’re not looking for a fight. That will come later, when we have an army.” (Emphasis Mine)

The volunteers are part of Organizing for America, the same grassroots, national network credited in large part with Obama’s quick rise from obscurity to president. Birmingham and 11 other sites statewide were part of a national push this weekend by Organizing for America to trumpet Obama’s spending proposal. READ THE REST

Ramping up for the Tea Parties

by Mr. Bob | 8:21 am, March 31, 2009

Michelle Malkin has a great report this morning on the Tea Parties around the country. Lots of good links too.

Tea Party progress report

Just 15 days until the Tax Day Tea Party protest! 300 cities and counting.

Your places for all the latest planning developments, as always:

Check out the full list of TDTP sponsors and supporting organizations here.

Get some Tax Day Tea Party gear here. (Just ordered the iTeaParty t-shirt.)

And track #teaparty tweeters here. READ THE REST AT MALKIN

I am holding out hope that the Tea party movement will gain momentum and roll into Washington, but I have to admit, I am pretty disheartened that Washington is so deeply corrupt. without Term Limits, I can’t see this changing too quickly and then it might be too late for our country.

The Existential Impact of Government Motors on a Native Michigander

by Ben | 7:48 am, March 31, 2009

The whole sad affair with General Motors, the federal bailout and now the Presidentially-orchestrated dismissal of the company’s CEO, strikes a little bit closer to home with me. I grew up in southeast Michigan. My dad worked more than 30 years for the automaker. Many, many people I knew worked for GM or one of [...]

Americans vote with their feet on Obama’s view of guns

by Rossputin | 6:31 am, March 31, 2009

It’s quite amazing to see how busy gun stores are and how empty the ammunition shelves are these days.

Read more about what I think is a very interesting subject in my article at Human Events today:

“Are You Hoarding Ammo?”
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31268

Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

Mandated insurance…runaway costs…price controls, political rationing

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, March 31, 2009

The Wall Street Journal’s commentary on Massachusetts-style government-run medicine and how it’s a model for a national disaster. So snippets:
In Massachusetts’s latest crisis, Governor Deval Patrick and his Democratic colleagues are starting to move down the path that government health plans always follow when spending collides with reality — i.e., price controls. As costs continue [...]

South Park offers best illustration of Economy Crash yet

by Ikonoclast | 12:43 am, March 31, 2009

The most recent episode (original air date: 25 March 2009) of the iconic television comedy South Park brilliantly skewers the current financial crash and economic meltdown – and the absurd reactions of much of the public (and even more so the absurdity of the Obama government policy measures).
The episode brilliantly lampoons bank failures, individual spending [...]

Sen. Dodd’s Wife Was AIG Director

by Mr. Bob | 8:37 pm, March 30, 2009

#tcot #hhrs # gop # stimulus

Corruption, corruption, corruption, third world type corruption.

From Judicial Watch

The senator responsible for the legislative changes that allowed executives of a bailed-out company to get millions of dollars in bonuses has received lucrative donations from the firm and his wife has strong financial ties to it.

No wonder Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd created a loophole in last month’s $787 billion stimulus bill to allow insurance giant American International Group (AIG) to keep its controversial bonuses. Dodd, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, slipped a last-minute exemption that permitted the financially ruined AIG to issue $165 million in bonuses after the government rescued it with $170 billion in taxpayer assistance.

The veteran Democrat lawmaker initially lied about his role in the scandal, but subsequently admitted it because the loophole had his paw prints all over it. This week a political news publication is shedding more light on the matter by revealing Dodd’s deep financial ties to AIG.

READ THE REST

Saving the Electoral College and Federalism

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 12:50 pm, March 30, 2009

One can not help but notice the slightly less “progressive” stance the Denver Post editorial board has taken since the death of the Rocky Mountain News.

Vincent Carroll, the generally libertarian-minded former editorial page editor of the Rocky is now on the Post editorial board. Has he wielded such great influence? Perhaps.

The most recent example of the trend comes in today’s edition of the Post, where the editorial board comes out against HB-1299. HB-1299, when in effect, would give Colorado’s presidential electoral votes to which ever candidate won the national popular vote, regardless of whom the people of Colorado actually select.

Proponents of the bill say that only the national populat vote should matter in a presidential election and that the Electoral College is outdated and unnecessary.

The Post correctly points out that, “In a republic, such as ours, states matter. And small states, such as Colorado, now can have an influence in a presidential election.”

The Post also believes that

the Electoral College system gives more of the country a voice in selecting the president, even though its detractors say it gives small states a disproportionately large role. Even the smallest states get three electoral votes.

Heck yes, and it should stay that way. That is the entire point. The individual United States are sovereign. Abolishing the electoral college makes the individual states less important to the Union as a whole.

And if the argument of abolishing the electoral college succeeds, then it naturally follows that the small states should not have two senators. Why should Wyoming have just as much say in the Senate as California? That means an individual vote in Wyoming is worth more than an individual vote in California.

Absolutely right. The people of Wyoming – and Colorado – neither need nor want federal laws imposed on them by the people of California and New York.

Let freedom ring.

Free People, Free Markets: The One Night Stand

by jccaldara | 12:23 pm, March 30, 2009

The Independence Institute is excited to bring you a summarized version of our successful Free People, Free Markets: The Foundations of Liberty class, that normally runs for 3 hours a day, for 5 consecutive Saturdays. This summarized version, taught by Dr. Paul Prentice, is just one night for 3 hours, but it will be [...]

Suzanna Gratia Hupp explains the meaning of the 2nd Amendment.

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 11:58 am, March 30, 2009

Now they realize the Big Three aren’t viable?

by Rossputin | 8:11 am, March 30, 2009

I’m somewhat pleased to say that the Obama Administration is rejecting the restructuring plans of GM and Chrysler.

The bad news is that the Administration has already given them billions of our (taxpayer) dollars and will continue to fund them (Chrysler for 30 days and GM for 60 days) with taxpayer money, at the end of which the companies will likely (in my opinion) have to file for bankruptcy.

I just hope the government is getting to the “front of the line” as far as debtor priority goes so that taxpayers are reimbursed when the companies’ assets are sold off.

The stock market is collapsing today (Monday) on the news, not just because GM and Ford stocks are going down (Chrysler is privately-held) but also because financial stocks are weak on worries about the ripple effects if the Big Three default on their billions of dollars of debt. The market is right to be worried.

The real problem here is government involvement and the confusion it causes. The government saved Bear, Stearns and then let Lehman fail. They give the automakers billions of dollars and then say the companies aren’t viable. The government is apparently making decisions based on worst possible combination of incompetence and politics. It’s no wonder Tim Geithner said on “Meet the Press” that he knows he has to get people to work with him at Treasury who actually have real-world experience rather than just being “policy” people. Because government is not making decisions based on real-world experience or any principle greater than helping their political donors, markets and entrepreneurs have no idea what to expect next. And that’s at least as dangerous as knowing to expect a particular bad decision. Maybe today’s announcement regarding the Big Three is the first step in the right direction: It shows that Obama may be willing to make decisions which dramatically weaken unions, and it shows businesses yet again that they want government as their partner in the same way that an honest businessman wants the mafia as a “partner”.

We are living “Atlas Shrugged” right now. It’s going to be painful for some time, but it’s the only way out of the country’s current infatuation with a slick, pretty-boy econo-moron named Barack Obama and his siren song of socialism/fascism with which he is luring the country into financial destruction.

Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

What a Weekend: Human Achievement Hour, “Green” Energy Taxes, & You

by Ben | 7:54 am, March 30, 2009

My big regret from a low-key weekend? That I somehow forgot to celebrate Human Achievement Hour. Kudos to all those who did, and made a statement for liberty.
It’s most interesting to me that this weekend’s events closely follow the discovery that the infamous solar panels on the Denver Museum of Nature and Science likely won’t [...]

A remarkably good defense of free markets from Britain

by Rossputin | 7:24 am, March 30, 2009

It’s so rare to see a passionate defense of free markets from Europe that I feel compelled to share this with you…and it’s good enough to deserve sharing in its own right:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/janetdaley/5071721/G20-If-capitalism-is-overthrown-well-lose-our-political-freedom.html

Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

Colorado 2010 US Senate Race Update: Ryan Frazier’s Ascent Part II

by elpresidente | 6:19 am, March 30, 2009

A new direction for the GOP?–Ryan Frazier speaks at the March 1 Gadsden Society “Rally for Freedom”

Yesterday, SP noted that Ryan Frazier had won the straw poll at the Douglas County Lincoln Day dinner.

What we didn’t know was how big.

Then we received the numbers–this was more than a plurality–it was a clear majority of attendees:

171 votes cast in straw poll….

Frazier 102 = 59.6%
Caplis 34 = 19.9%
Beauprez 22 = 12.9%
Tidwell 4 = 2.3%
Buck 9 = 5.3%

Given that the average Lincoln Day dinner is populated by GOP faithful, including operatives and activists, and not fly-by-night grassroots supporters organized by the candidate him/herself**, and also given that Douglas County isn’t exactly RINO territory, this informal poll says quite a bit. Frazier has the clear ability to draw broad-based support in a fairly conservative county that will be one of the keys to any GOP victories in the state. There are many counties that will play a part in the five state wide elections in 2010 (US Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer), but how Douglas County goes, so goes . . .

Initial impressions for this race have yet to be firmly cemented, but GOP voters like what they see in Frazier–one among the next generation of GOP leadership. As mentioned yesterday the hard part will come in spreading that visibility and familiarity state wide, establishing solid policy chops, and raising the campaign dollars necessary to win.

Frazier’s speech from Saturday’s Lincoln Day dinner:

Previous Frazier-blogging.

**an earlier version alluded to Ron Paul’s supporters, not to reflect on RP himself or his message, just the tactics of some supporters who occasionally “gamed” online or straw polls

State Representative Levy responds to electoral college issue

by Rossputin | 12:50 am, March 30, 2009

I’m pleased to say that my Representative in Colorado’s General Assembly, Claire Levy, has responded to my note asking her to oppose HB1299, the move to give Colorado’s electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. Following is that response, as well as my take on why she’s incorrect. The Representatives official e-mail address is at the end of her note, if you feel like sending your thoughts on the issue.

Dear Ross,

It has taken me awhile to write down the arguments I made on the House floor and in committee. If it isn’t stale, I would appreciate you posting the following response from me on your blog.

Much opposition to the National Popular Vote movement seems to assume that an interstate compact to award Electoral College votes to the winner of the popular vote somehow abrogates the original intent of the framers of the constitution. In fact, that is not the case.

The winner-take-all method of awarding Electoral College votes is neither required by the U.S. Constitution, nor was it the assumed method of allocating votes by the delegates to the constitutional convention.

Remember that when the constitution was ratified, there was no right to vote for senators or the president. (There is still no constitutional right to cast a presidential vote.) Only male, white, landowners were allowed to vote in any election. The framers of the constitution generally anticipated that the members of the Electoral College would convene and actually deliberate over the selection of the president.

The overwhelming argument in favor of the National Popular Vote in my mind stems from the fact that people now do have the right to direct election of their senator and they do vote for President of the United States.

Along with that vote is the expectation that the person who receives the most votes will become the president. Yet, by adhering to the winner-take-all method of allocating Electoral College votes, the will of the majority could be thwarted simply by the math of the Electoral College system.

Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

Al Gore Celebrates ‘Earth Hour’…With Floodlit Trees

by T.L. James | 10:13 pm, March 29, 2009

You can’t make this stuff up:
As most of you know, just over two years ago, my organization, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, found that the knuckleheaded leader of the global warming alarmism movement, Al Gore, consumes 20 times more electricity in his home than the average American household.
Since Earth Hour was recognized today, Saturday, [...]

Al Gore Celebrates ‘Earth Hour’…With Floodlights

by T.L. James | 10:02 pm, March 29, 2009

Obama forces out CEO of GM

by Rossputin | 4:13 pm, March 29, 2009

Politico is reporting that GM CEO Rick Wagoner is resigning, effective immediately, “at the government’s behest.”

While my gut reaction was anger at Obama, after a few minutes I’m less angry.

After all, it’s just the next obvious step in our march toward economic fascism and it’s what companies should expect when they become “partners” with the government. Just as Congressman Jared Polis warned “Businesses beware: You do not want the federal government or the American people owning your business”, this move is a great message to CEOs that being bailed out is likely to be extremely bad for their careers.

Of course, that’s how it should be. Anyone who gets bailed out has presumably failed to such a degree that he should have lost his job long ago. And as long as GM is getting my tax money, I do want to make sure it has the best possible chance of recovering and paying that money back.

I am extremely skeptical, regardless of who becomes CEO, that we’re not pouring our money down a rat hole. The only chance the Big Three have of becoming competitive is to be let out of union contracts, but since this administration wants to force union wages on anyone who receives “stimulus” money and wants to eliminate the requirement of a secret ballot to unionize a company (through “card check” legislation), it is exceptionally unlikely that they’ll be nearly as aggressive cutting down union power as they should be. Sure, they’ll make a show of it for public consumption, but at the end of the day, we know who the bosses are, and their names are not Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel and Tim Geithner but instead are Ron Gettelfinger (president of the UAW), James Hoffa (president of the Teamsters), and Andy Stern (president of the SEIU).

So, I’ll not shed a tear for Rick Wagoner, though I remain deeply saddened that America has elected as president a man who almost certainly doesn’t know the difference between fascism and socialism, and who is leading us toward both.

Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

Colorado 2010 US Senate Race Update: Ryan Frazier’s Ascent

by elpresidente | 2:33 pm, March 29, 2009

**Update–Buzz from Douglas County Lincoln Day dinner indicates that Frazier won the night’s straw poll–exact numbers to follow this evening.

From Chris Cillizza’s “The Fix” at the Washington Post:

9. Colorado (D): Appointed Sen. Michael Bennet has made a solid debut so far although his wishy-washiness on the Employee Free Choice Act has turned him into something of public punching bag on the right and the left. Bennet, a virtual unknown before he was named to replace Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, is clearly vulnerable in 2010. But, there doesn’t appear to be a serious primary challenge in the offing (does former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff really want to risk his “rising star” status on a race against a sitting senator?) and the Republican field has been slow to take shape. The most likely GOP candidate seems to be former Rep. Bob Beauprez but his disastrous 2006 run for governor raises questions about his political strength. Some within the GOP are excited about the possible candidacy of Ryan Frazier, a 31-year old African American member of the Aurora City Council. (Previous ranking: 10)

The seat could quickly become a real toss-up as Frazier’s visibility within the party increases. GOP grassroots activists, many of whom supported Leondray Gholston’s successful vice chair candidacy at the state level (Gholston served as Frazier’s reelection campaign manager), have identified Frazier as a strong contender for the GOP’s 2010 U.S. Senate nomination. They believe that Frazier carries none of the negatives of the other potential candidates whose names have been bandied about for the seat, and argue that he has a greater potential for reestablishing and mobilizing a “big tent” for conservatives/GOP/libertarians in the state. His main task will be in establishing brand awareness across Colorado in the coming months, along with building a sufficient campaign war chest to tackle a contested primary and Sen. Bennet in 2010.

SP has been tracking Frazier’s potential candidacy for months.

Earth Hour vs. Human Achievement Hour

by elpresidente | 1:17 pm, March 29, 2009

**Update–apparently even moonbats concerned enviros aren’t convinced of the efficacy of “Earth Hour,” seeing as consumption in strongly left-leaning states like New York and California showed no discernable drop in energy consumption during the touted 8:30-9:30pm slot.
Michelle Malkin has the background–which side are you on?

From Ari at FreeColorado.com–”Remember to turn on all of your lights [...]

Obama’s Muslim Affirmative Action Program

by Mr. Bob | 9:14 am, March 29, 2009

– Barack Obama is conducting his own affirmative action program to get more Muslims in the White House.
The move began with Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn, who took his oath of office with a hand on the Quran, to solicit the resume of what he considered to be the nation’s most qualified adherents of Islam.
So far, 45 Ivy League grads, Fortune 500 executives and government officials have been submitted for consideration.
It was mostly under the radar,” Williams said. “We thought it would put (the president) in a precarious position. We didn’t know how closely he wanted to appear to be working with the Muslim American community

READ THE REST

Now I don’t really care what religion someone is who works in Obama’s cabinet but to seek out certain religions to fill spots…WHAT THE HECK HAVE WE COME TO? this is descrimination, illegal and immoral.

Cut out the middleman

by David K. Williams, Jr. | 7:45 am, March 28, 2009

On the front page of today’s online vesion of the Denver Post, there is a link to a story concerning the 7.2% unemployment rate in Colorado.

The front page description of the longer article says

Colo. jobless stunner03/28/2009 12:23 AM MDTThe rate jumps to 7.2%, the steepest in decades. But the mark triggers more federal benefits. New state unemployment figures, the highest in more than 20 years, triggered a 13-week extension in federal unemployment benefits.

(Emphasis added).

The writer, like many others, seems to think it is good that additional federal benefits are now available to address the unemployment situation in Colorado.

It is not. The feds got that money from the people that are now unemployed. They took it via federal income tax and, payroll deductions and other taxes.

If the feds had not taken all of that money from the then productive but now unemployed, the unemployed would not need their own money given back to them.

And, of course, the feds take a cut for their effort. The feds have to get paid for their valuable help, ya know.

Smoking is healthier than fascism

by Rossputin | 12:32 am, March 28, 2009

Thanks to BureauCrash for this important public safety message:

Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

Senate Bill 57 School Transparency Defeated But Not Forgotten

by Ben | 1:38 pm, March 27, 2009

It’s been a full week since the establishment education lobby and Democrats on the House Education Committee teamed up to kill the spending transparency in Colorado’s Senate Bill 57.
Amazingly, this little bill that (almost) could in our Colorado state legislature is still making national waves. From an essay written by Paul Miller and published today [...]

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