Annexation in LaPorte -- They Just Don't Get It

From the LaPorte, Indiana Herald Argus 8 May 2006 regarding the city annexing two proposed areas:

“The city obviously needs to grow. That’s the American way,” said committee member Russ Klosinski, vice president of LaPorte Savings Bank. “It brings more jobs, revenue and houses. The city hasn’t grown. This is why the city has been in a financial crunch.”

The American way is government forcing itself on county residents that would rather the city stay where it is? The American way is government encroaching on your land and subjecting you to an additional set of codes and ordinances? The American way is government trying to increase the tax base to kickstart the economy, repeating past failures, and ignoring the near-unbearable tax burdens it has already placed on the city's residents and small businesses? No. That's not the American way, and Mr. Klosinski should know better than that. How about getting government out of the way so the city's populace can fix the problems the government has created?

A Political Party with American Values? No way!

Great commentary from a third-party candidate in Wayne County, Indiana. A snippet:

From Laporte County, to Hamilton County, to Floyd County, people can depend on the Libertarians to be the only party that will consistently oppose forced annexations and smoking bans on private property. The Libertarians are the only party that consistently and honestly call for an end to property taxes, and they are the only party that consistently calls for reducing the size, scope and cost of government.

Is there a place in our political system for a party that is uncompromising in its quest for limited government and individual freedom? Is there a place in that system for a party that is unapologetic in its support for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? I think there is. I think there has to be. I also think it will be a sad day in our history when there isn’t.

Well done, Mr. Bell.

HBO's Big Love

Is anyone else getting into HBO's Big Love? What a perfect role for Harry Dean Stanton. Watching him as Roman Grant gives me chills. In fact, his entire family is creepy. The whole idea of living on a compound, unless you're a Kennedy, is strange. I haven't figured out if it's a commune, or how it's run. Does anyone have an idea?

Republicans and Democrats. Is There a Difference?

I read today this well-thought out post by a guy with whom I disagree a lot of the time, but he takes the time to think about the issues: Left In Aboite: Ford takes on Big Oil. The post has to do with Rep. Harold Ford airing television commercials about high gas prices. The first comment to the post really bugged me:

"I would love to see video of that ad when it airs. Democrats NEED to hit this angle:

Republicans = big oil, big business, party of privilege, party of raping the middle class, etc etc."

Isn't that what both major parties have been doing for years? Other than big oil, every other thing he lists can be attributed to both Republicans and Democrats. We have to get this notion out of our heads that political parties exist to solve problems. Political parties exist to get people elected. That's when our blind loyalty to our party should end. After we win, or lose, we should work together to address how best we can get government out of the way so the private sector can fix our wagon.

It's really a shame that we can't get together and solve problems rather than deride those with whom we disagree.