Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 47

The Vampire Cops
The Houston DWI blog reports "that Harris County DWI "No Refusal" weekends are going to be every weekend for the next 3 years." (HT: blogHouston) Thanks to a federal grant, anyone suspected of DWI can have their blood forcibly removed from their body for testing.

I want to make it clear that I think driving while drunk is grossly irresponsible and an objective threat to others. However, I find the standard for DWI to be non-objective. Certainly, the level of alcohol in one's bloodstream can be measured, but that alone does not tell us whether an individual is impaired to the point that he should not be driving. Two individuals can have the exact same alcohol in their blood and exhibit vastly different levels of impairment.

The Devil Calling Satan Evil

On Friday the Texas Board of Education will consider a resolution "asserting the need to fend off a pro-Islamic, anti-Christian bias in textbooks." According to the Chronicle:

The resolution says pro-Islamic and anti-Christian bias has tainted past social studies textbooks, and problems "still roil" in some books nationwide. It asserts that "more such discriminatory treatment of religion may occur as Middle Easterners buy into the U.S. public school textbook oligopoly." It says past books devoted more text lines to Islamic than to Christian beliefs and asserted that there have been "politically correct white-washes" of Islamic culture and "stigmas on Christian civilization." 

The conservative Christians on the Board are concerned that their particular form of mysticism is not getting enough attention in the public schools. Instead of removing all religion from the educational system, they want to argue over which particular irrationality will be forced upon students.

More Economic Illiteracy

The Chronicle reports:

American taxpayers have thrown $4.6 billion into emergency projects across Texas over the past 19 months to salvage the Lone Star State economy — creating or saving 47,704 jobs as of July, a review of federal records shows.

First, American taxpayers didn't "throw" money into Texas. It was taken from them by force.

Second, the paper doesn't tell us how much money was taken from Texans to "save" jobs in other states.

Third, the paper doesn't tell us is how many jobs were destroyed when that $4.6 billion was seized from individuals and businesses who would have otherwise saved, invested, or spent that money.  Nor does it tell us how many jobs were destroyed by the taxes Texans have paid and will pay to allegedly benefit the residents of other states.

In short, while bragging about the "jobs" saved, the paper conveniently ignores the cost.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 46

Selling the Tetons

The State of Wyoming may be selling 1,366 acres in the Grand Teton National Park. The state, which has been getting $3,000 a year by leasing the land for grazing, is asking $125 million. Imagine what the federal government could raise if it sold off its land holdings. We could actually pay off a large part of the national debt. Unless of course, Congress decided to throw the money down some sewer like nationalized health care.

And They Get to Vote
A poll taken by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion found that 26 percent of those questioned did not know from which country the United States won its independence. Twenty percent didn't bother to even guess, while 6 percent named a country other than Great Britain, including China, Mexico, and Japan. Apparently all of that money that we've been throwing at public education is starting to pay off.

Perhaps worse than this ignorance of one of the most basic facts of American history is that these individuals get to vote. I think it is fairly safe to say that anyone who doesn't know about the Revolutionary War is certainly not going to understand the proper role of government, the principles on which this nation was founded, or the sanctity of individual rights. They will be easily influenced by any charlatan who panders to their whims.

Polls like this make we wonder if some kind of test should be required for voting.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 45

A Very Bad Lesson
Eleven Houston-area school districts are suing state Education Commissioner Robert Scott over his interpretation of a "truthful grading" law. Scott says that the law prohibits school districts from mandating minimal grades--typically a 50--while the districts say inflating grades is necessary or failing students “are very likely to become frustrated, give up, and quit school altogether.”

So what will these students do when they are confronted with failure in real life? Will they expect their boss to inflate their performance appraisal? Will they expect a romantic interest to inflate her feelings? Will they expect the stock market to perform as they desire?

Apparently these districts believe that misleading students will better prepare them for life. That's a very bad lesson to be teaching.

Turtle Huggers to the "Rescue"
A group of turtle huggers is seeking to halt shrimping on the upper Texas coast in order to save Kemp's ridley turtles. Alleging that the turtles get caught in shrimp nets and then drown, the Sea Turtle Restoration Project wants to deny human beings food in order to save the reptiles.

One shrimper--who owns 15 boats--says such a ban would put him out of business.  This of course, is of little concern to the turtle huggers. To them, the turtles have more value than human beings. To them, turtles must be protected, while humans are denied the right to take the actions required to sustain their lives.

Buy American may Foil Metro
Metro may be denied a $900 million federal grant for its light rail plans because it has failed to meet a "buy American" provision. Metro's rail car vendor is based in Spain, where two test cars are to be built. Federal rules require that all "rolling stock" be assembled in the United States.

Apparently the Federal Transit Administration doesn't think that it is proper to rob Americans for the benefit of Spaniards, but it is perfectly fine to do so if other Americans are the beneficiary. Here's an idea: Do away with both Metro and the FTA and return that money to the taxpayers who earned it.

500 Posts

Earlier this month I wrote my 500th post for this blog. I realize that many bloggers have posted far more than that, but 500 is a substantial number. So I'm going to pat myself on the back.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 44

When Reality doesn't "Cooperate"
"Quality of life" advocates repeatedly tell us that Houston must tear down its billboards, shut down sexually-oriented businesses, build light rail, promote "green" industries, and engage in various other interventions if the city is to continue to grow. But apparently folks in other parts of the country aren't listening. U-Haul reports (HT: Elaine Phillips) that Houston was the number one destination for its rental trucks. In other words, individuals exercising their own judgment are picking Houston over other American cities, despite what the interventionists have been claiming for decades.

While the interventionists keep making their dire predictions, reality keeps proving them wrong.


Kiss Our Ass
The city's latest experiment in forcing environmentalism down our throats got off to a contentious start this week. On Monday, the solid waste department stopped collecting petroleum based lawn bags, forcing citizens to use biodegradable bags approved by the city. The Chronicle reports numerous complaints from citizens that the bags are too small, too thin, and too hard to find. To which the city essentially responded, "Kiss our ass and do it anyway." Or else.

When I visited my local Lowes last week the shelves were full of lawn bags, except for those mandated by the city. The owner of the company that mows my yard told me he has been unable to locate the quantity that he needs. So what are we supposed to do? The city is forcing us to use something that we can't purchase.

Our choice is to break the law and face fines of $2,000 or build a compost pile the size of a small city. Despite my love of compost, these are not attractive alternatives. To which the city has essentially responded, "Kiss our ass."


Small Thinking, Small Solutions
As one step in reducing the city's budget deficit, the budget for public libraries has been cut by $2.2 million, forcing the system to cut its hours by 28 percent. Apparently, city officials think that a paltry $2.2 million is going to make a big difference in the $100 million deficit it is facing.

Here is a thought: Sell the entire system. The city could cut the $39.8 million budgeted for the libraries, as well as pocket the money raised from selling the libraries. Depending on what kind of deal city officials could negotiate, this one simple measure would almost cut the budget in half.

But city officials won't consider such a step. They would rather whine about the need to made tough decisions rather than actually make them. They would rather argue over a million here and a million there, rather than do something that actually addresses the problem. They would rather continue to drain money from citizens (such as increasing water rates by 12%) than protect our rights. Neither libraries nor water service is a proper function of government, and the sooner city officials recognize this fact the sooner they can actually solve the budget deficit.

Small thinking leads to small solutions. Unprincipled thinking--which city officials are continually "perfecting"--only leads to more problems.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 43

Porno Nihilists
A group of atheist students at the University of Texas at San Antonio is offering to give pornography to anyone who turns in religious literature. According to the Chronicle:

The "Smut for Smut" campaign is an annual campaign of the group Atheist Agenda at the UTSA campus. Group members contend that religious texts are, themselves, pornographic because of the violence and torture they contain and the sectarian violence they spark.

This is the type of activity that gives atheism a bad name. Rather than promote their own ideas, these students simply seek to attack and destroy the values of others. There is certainly nothing wrong with attacking the irrational--I do my share of that here--but being against something is considerably different than being for something. If the punk students are typical of their ilk, they aren't for anything, except the destruction of values.


Incompetent Thieves
The Houston Housing Authority, which provides financial assistance to help low-income Houstonians purchase a home, is broke-- $9.2 million broke according to the Chronicle. The deficit it seems, has resulted because the city hasn't applied for reimbursement from the state. (HT: blogHouston)

I am not sure which is worse: The city robbing taxpayers to play Robin Hood, or its incompetence.


Postal Service is Broke
In an announcement that seemed to surprise nobody outside of the Postal Service, Postmaster General John Potter let the world know that the government-backed monopoly is broke. To address the situation, he wants to raise prices and reduce services. Rather than continuing to rape taxpayers and postal customers, the government should repeal the Private Express Statutes that prohibit private businesses from delivering the mail. UPS, FedEx and other private companies have clearly demonstrated that they can do a better job delivering packages and parcels. The statutes are nothing more than a tool for political patronage.


No Cuss Week
A California teenager is upset because the state legislature stalled a resolution promoting "No Cuss Week". "I think the politicians are just trying to get attention from the media and get themselves interviewed," the teenager told the media while being interviewed.

While many are applauding Hatch McKay's initiative in promoting "No Cuss Clubs", moving the issue to the political level is sending a very bad message. While the measure is only a resolution at this time, teenagers are learning that if you lobby long enough and loud enough, politicians will respond to your pleas. Frankly, McKay should mind his own #@&$ing business.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 42

Ashby Developers Seek Justice
Last week Buckhead Development (of Ashby High Rise fame) sued the city for $40 million. One of the principals, Kevin Kirton, was quoted in the Chronicle:

The city must learn that it cannot misapply the law to please a select few or to achieve de facto zoning regulations that our community has consistently rejected.

While I agree with his statement, I would have preferred him to say something like:

I have a moral right to use my property as I choose, so long as I respect the mutual rights of others. The purpose of city government is to protect that right, and the city has blatantly and egregiously done the opposite.

Regardless, I applaud Buckhead's lawsuit and efforts to gain justice, even if it will mean an increase in my taxes. The harm done to them was perpetrated in my name, and I want no part of it. And perhaps (though I doubt) the city will learn a lesson.


They're Not Nationwide, They're H-BAD*
The Houston Black American Democrats (H-BAD)--a local Democratic "club"--has apparently been trading endorsements for cash. Of course, such "you scratch my back" deals have been going on for a long time in politics, but the targets of these shake downs are judicial candidates. According to the Chronicle, some have wondered if such "donations" might violate ethics laws:

One candidate asked too many questions. Priscilla Walters, a candidate for Probate Court 3, said when an e-mail she wrote to a friend, asking if the amount was too pricey, got back to H-BAD members, they rescinded her endorsement in a name-calling missive broadcast over Carl Whitmarsh's extensive e-mail list.

While an H-BAD spokesman said that Walters was trying to "sabotage" the "club's" efforts to get out the vote, apparently H-BAD thought so little of her candidacy that they were willing to revoke their endorsement. It makes one wonder which is more important to H-BAD: qualified candidates or raising cash. I think that their actions tell us.

*Apologies to Houston's ZZ Top for paraphrasing the lyrics from their song "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide".


Humiliating Algore
I don't like the entire premise behind the Nobel Peace Prize. But an effort to strip Algore and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of their prize from 2007 is worth supporting. (HT: Barry Klein) I seriously doubt that this petition will have any impact, but the thought of humiliating Algore was too much to resist.

The petition includes a request that the prize be awarded to Irena Sendler, a woman who risked her life during WWII to ultimately rescue more than 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazis. Sendler was a candidate for the prize in 2007 that Gore and the IPCC won. Other nominations can be made in the comments section. I nominated the Ayn Rand Institute, which, in advocating reason, individual rights, and capitalism, has done more to promote peace in the past 2 decades than any other organization or living individual.


The Texas "Pole Tax"
The Texas Supreme Court will review the constitutionality of the state's "pole tax" which charges patrons of strip clubs $5 to fund a program for victims of sexual offenses. Interestingly, the strip clubs are claiming that their First Amendment rights are being violated by the tax. I am not an expert on the activities that occur in a strip club, but I doubt that a lot of speech is involved.

In an example of non-objectivity in both science and journalism, the Chronicle reports:

To defend the law, the government has been forced to argue that strip clubs lead to greater violence against women, a claim for which there is no evidence, Furlow said. Under such logic, he added, R-rated movies could be taxed because of the violence sometimes depicted in them.

Robert Jensen, a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin who teaches media law and ethics, acknowledged that it is difficult to prove a link between strip clubs and violence against women.

“But the fact that research doesn't allow for those causal links doesn't mean that the sexual exploitation industry is not part of an environment that supports and undergirds sexual violence,” he said. [emphasis added]

Even though research does not show a causal connection strip clubs and sexual violence, defenders of the law insist that one must exist. Why? Because "justice" demands it, because they want there to be such a connection. And when the facts do not support their desires, the facts are to be discarded.

This is not surprising, given the fact that Jensen has called for a new model for journalists--"journalism for justice":

Mass media have a moral responsibility to produce journalism for justice and storytelling for sustainability...

In a healthy educational institution with real academic freedom, we should encourage a diversity of approaches to complex questions.

According to Jensen, journalists should not simply report the facts. They should also promote a particular agenda, an agenda that Jensen declares should be animated by questioning and opposing the rich and powerful.

Certainly journalists must be selective--they cannot report every fact connected to a particular story. But that selectivity must be guided by reality and and reason--it must be objective--not one's whims or political agenda.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 41

The Brown Victory
Liberals seem to be in denial over the meaning of Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts. The Chronicle, for example, editorializes that Brown's upset win was not a referendum on ObamaCare:

Massachusetts residents already have their own version of a universal health care system. We know anecdotally that many Bay Staters voted for Scott Brown to send the specific message that they are happy with that plan and do not want it overridden by a “one-size-fits-all” national plan that many obviously believe would be a step down in quality.

It may be true that "many" voters are happy with Massachusetts' enslavement of doctors and prefer to keep the slave masters in their own state. But how many is "many"? Does this explain why a state that voted for Obama by a 26% margin in 2008 elected a Republican Senator for the first time in 38 years? And what of the polls that show Obama's approval rating falling faster than any American President?

Citing Tip O'Neil, the Chronicle argues that all politics is local, and it was local issues alone that led to Brown's victory. In a certain sense this is true. Individual voters cast ballots, and it doesn't get any more local than the individual. While I seriously doubt that voters were making a principled stand for individual rights--this is Massachusetts after all--they clearly rejected the candidate who would have sealed the deal for ObamaCare.

Not surprisingly, Nancy Pelosi hasn't pulled her head out of the sand either:

Massachusetts has health care and so the rest of the country would like to have that too. So we don't [think] a state that already has health care should determine whether the rest of the country should.

Apparently, the fact that citizens across the country have rejected ObamaCare doesn't count. The great unwashed masses don't know what is best for them, and we need the anointed to force health care "reform" down our throats, whether we want it or not.

While Brown's victory did send a message, I doubt that anyone is really hearing it. Despite their rhetoric, the Democrats could care less what the citizenry wants. And the Republicans will likely continue with their own assault on our rights.


Enlightening the Masses
Earlier this week I caught a portion of the Chris Baker show. While Baker can be entertaining at times, he is a typical conservative. However, on this particular day he did something that was quite good.

A caller was taking him to task (I didn't hear the beginning of the call, so I don't know the particular issue). Baker responded with a series of questions, each pertaining to a particular issue--such as taxes and education--and culminating with: Do you think that you should have that choice or have it forced upon you by government?

At first the caller agreed that he should have the choice to make decisions regarding his own life. However, at one point he began to backtrack and contradict himself. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too--he wanted the freedom to choose for himself, but when he realized that this meant extending that same right to others he was less certain.

While the caller's response was interesting, I found Baker's tactics more so. He concretized his position in a way that related to the caller. Rather than simply make statements, Baker's questions demonstrated how political policies actually effect the caller's life. He showed that ideas matter.


The Source and Nature of Rights
In October Craig Biddle delivered a series of talks at the Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala. Those talks are now available for free. I am only about half way through the 6 hours, but this is one of the best (if not the best) discussions of rights that I have heard.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 40

Mercy and Evasion
Recently, the Yates High School boys basketball team put a whooping on the Lee High School team by a score of 170 to 35. Since then, many have complained that the game should have been stopped at halftime to spare the Lee team additional humiliation. Indeed, last week a Chronicle editorial called for a "mercy rule":

Let's have a serious, inclusive discussion about instituting a mercy rule in high school basketball so that travesties such as this one can be stopped before they become outright embarrassments....

But, please, let's stop the totally unnecessary embarrassment that now rains down on the hapless losers. This was never what high school sports was supposed to be all about.

I have a lot of problems with this. An athletic contest is a competition in which each participant strives to perform his best under objective and uniform rules. If one team is vastly superior to another, then the outcome will and should reflect that fact. "Mercy rules", like all forms of mercy, are intended to evade the facts.

I feel for the Lee team. They obviously were no match for Yates. But why pretend otherwise? The fact is, some teams are better than others. Some individuals have more talent than others. Some work harder to develop their talent than others. And they should not have arbitrary restrictions placed on the exhibition of that talent.

Consider the lesson that "mercy rules" teach. If you are in a competition, we will make sure that you don't get beaten too badly, because that might hurt your feelings. That might not seem like a big deal in a basketball game. But apply the same principle to other realms of life, and the consequences are much more destructive.

For example, a "mercy rule" for grades would prevent the smarter, harder working student from getting test scores that might embarrass his classmates. A "mercy rule" for employees would prohibit one worker from getting a higher salary because that might make his colleagues feel bad. Such "mercy rules" would destroy ambition and punish the talented and successful.


The EPA's Moving Target
Last week the EPA announced tighter limits on ozone pollution that will impact 25 counties in Texas, including Houston. This announcement comes just as the city has met federal standards for the first time.

The EPA justifies its continually changing mandates as necessary as scientists learn more about the effects of pollution. According to the Chronicle:

Federal law prohibits the EPA from considering cost when setting air standards. It has estimated the price tag of the new program at $19 billion to $90 billion per year by 2020, depending on the standard it sets, but also said the expense could be offset by reduced health care costs.

In the midst of a recession, the federal government is going to impose more costs on individuals and businesses. Given that government officials seem to be genetically programmed to underestimate the cost and overestimate the benefits of any program, the actual costs will likely be much higher. Nor do they include the diminished quality of life that will result from more controls on producers.


The Benefits of Theft
There seems to be no shortage of people who think that they know how to spend my money better than I do. Take for instance, South Texas Chisme:

Dollars spent on infrastructure are leverage dollars. You get a benefit greater than the money spent.

Unless I am very much mistaken, Mr. Chisme does not know me, so he really has no clue as to what I spend on infrastructure, nor does he know what benefits I receive from that money. Yet, he believes that the government should take my money, because he believes that the benefits justify stealing from the citizenry. And if we really accept Mr. Chisme's premise, then government should take all of our money, so that we can have all kinds of spiffy infrastructure.

Virtually anything can, and has been, "justified" on these grounds. The wholesale slaughter of millions under communist dictators has been perpetrated on the premise that the alleged benefits make such actions necessary. Ditto for the Nazis and Islamic Fascists.

Mr. Chisme may object to be categorized with mass murderers. But the moment he claims that he has a right to use government coercion to impose his values on me, he has become their partner in crime.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 39

And Then There Were Two
Last Tuesday's mayoral election was like elimination night on Dancing with the Stars. We knew that somebody was going to get the boot, but we weren't sure who it would be. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised that it was Peter Brown who did not make the runoff, because now I won't have to put up with any more of his television commercials.

So now we are down to Annise Parker and Gene Locke, who will now meet in a runoff on December 13. Virtually indistinguishable in their positions, victory in the runoff will require that each seek new supporters among those who voted for Brown and Roy Morales. The conservative vote, which gave Morales his surprisingly strong showing, will likely be the primary target of the candidates. And how will they appeal to these voters? Locke provided an insightful answer during an interview with Matt Stiles:

You look to the candidates who did not make the runoff. You look at the base of their supporters, and you try to see what it is that you can say that is appealing to them...

For Locke, the runoff is about saying the "right" things. And what are the "right" things? Whatever will appeal to voters. Whether Locke actually believes those things or not seems to be entirely beside the point--his goal is to collect votes. If he needs to bend his position a little (or a lot), so be it.

In their zeal to collect votes both Locke and Parker will attempt to broaden their appeal, which ultimately means being all things to all people. They will tailor their message to whatever group they happen to be speaking to at the moment, and then deliver an often contradictory message to the next group. They will state vague generalities about making government more efficient and cutting waste, fighting crime, and making the skies bluer, but they will refuse to provide concrete details how they will accomplish these things. This has been their track record for the past ten months or so, and there is no reason to think that this will change during the runoff.

No matter who wins this runoff, the citizens of Houston will lose.

The Pot Calling the Kettle . . .
A few weeks ago the Chronicle reported that Kay Staley, a Houston real estate agent and lawyer, is suing the city for prayers before council meetings that allegedly promote Christianity. While such prayers are inappropriate, this probably wouldn't make my Top 100 list of important issues that should be addressed. In fact, I wouldn't have even brought this up except for Staley's argument:

She said she's offended because the praying goes against the teaching of Jesus. Heavily quoting the Bible, the lawsuit argues Jesus taught praying was not to be flaunted in public but to be done in private.

Does it strike you as more than a little odd hypocritical that Staley is protesting the promotion of Christianity by referring to a Christian document? Staley--who calls herself a "freethinker"--apparentlly didn't think this one through very well. It's people like her who give atheists a bad name.

The Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment
Chronicle columnist Rick Casey reports on a study that shows capital punishment has a small, but meaningful deterrent effect. Whether executions deter future crimes is not--or at least, should not be--the purpose of capital punishment. Punishment is just that--punishment. Any deterrent effect is an added bonus.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 38

Mother May I?

Not surprisingly, a Chronicle editorial endorses the city's threats to veterinarians who refuse to report pet vaccinations to the city:

You'd think dedicated veterinarians would be the first to call for and contribute to an effective licensing system for pets. Not only would it provide valuable data on the extent of animal vaccinations, but it would also yield added revenue to improve animal control and care.

Nowhere in the editorial is it explained why should pets be licensed, other than the fact that it will provide "valuable data". And what will be done with this data? No answer is given. The city has enough trouble keeping track of its water, and now it wants more information to confuse the minds of its employees.

But the real issue is that the city is requiring that we seek permission to own a pet. Consider this definition of license

a formal permission from the proper authorities to perform certain acts

If we don't secure the permission of the "proper authorities" then we will be subject to fines and other penalties. Owning a pet does not violate anyone's rights, and yet the city would make us criminals if we do not seek its permission to own Fluffy or Fido. If the city (and the Chronicle) is so enamored with controlling such a mundane part of our lives, what else is next?

High Speed Rail to Pearland

At a time when seemingly everyone in the nation is clamoring over ways to spend federal government stimulus money, Andrew at neoHouston puts forth a refreshingly good proposal. He suggests building a high speed rail line between downtown Houston and Pearland with private capital.

I am not an expert on trains or other transportation issues, so I cannot comment on the details he presents. He projects that the trip from Pearland to downtown would take less than 17 minutes, compared to 30 to 40 minutes by car. And the cost would range from $3.00 to $5.50 for a round trip. These numbers would be very appealing to a commuter.

Admittedly, the $260 million price tag is hefty. But the capital could be raised if the plan were sound and investors thought that they would make a good return on their investment.

The one issue that Andrew does not address is land acquisition. Purchasing land south of the 610 Loop may not be so difficult, as development is sparse between there and Pearland. But what of inside the Loop, particularly in the Medical Center and downtown, where development is dense? This is one of those details that could turn a good idea into a nightmare.

Shark Tank
Last week I caught a part of Shark Tank, a show on ABC. This week I watched the entire episode, and I recommend it without reservation (based on what I have seen). Wikipedia describes the show:

The series stars five "Sharks" — multi-millionaire business tycoons — who hear investment proposals from entrepreneurs and consider whether to invest in the businesses.

That description alone makes the show potentially interesting. Anything that celebrates business has the potential to be enjoyable, but this show does more than just glorify productivity. It implicitly embraces rational egoism.

In this week's show, one "shark" told an entrepreneur that he was being greedy. My heart momentarily sunk, until he said, "Greed is good. We just need to be greedy together." In other words: It is fine to want to make a lot of money. But offer value for value to the mutual benefit of all involved.

This type of thinking permeated the show. The "sharks" and entrepreneurs negotiated deals, trying to reach an agreement that was beneficial to both. Some entrepreneurs primarily wanted to raise capital for their business. At least one was primarily interested in obtaining business expertise to market his product. Each had different needs and desires, and all of the participants pursued his own self-interest. It was thoroughly enjoyable to witness.

Unfortunately, this week's show was the last of the season. I sincerely hope that it will be renewed for another season. In the meantime, numerous episodes are available on the ABC web site. Enjoy!

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 36

Bending the truth...somewhat
blogHouston, which I thoroughly enjoy, posted an interview with Andrew Prieditis, a prolific writer of letters to the editor who has been published in more than 70 papers around the world. In the interview, Prieditis addresses the fact that he always claims to live in the city in which the paper is published:

BH: What would you tell people who criticize your claiming to be from the town of the newspaper on ethical grounds?

AP: I would probably acknowledge that I'm bending the truth somewhat, but I would ask them to judge the quality of a letter based on the ideas that it propagates rather than the location of the writer.

He lives in New Zealand, so how is it "bending the truth somewhat" to claim that he lives in New York, or Houston, or anywhere besides New Zealand? It is outright dishonesty. And why does he write so many letters?

I am motivated primarily by the desire to get published. I enjoy being published in newspapers world wide as it validates my writing abilities and I also enjoy influencing what others read.

He believes that the ends--getting published--justify the means--lying. This second-handedness is not limited to dishonesty. He needs to get published to "validate" his writing abilities. In other words, he needs the approval of others regarding his writing. Apparently, he cannot objectively evaluate his own work. Of course, given his proclivity to "bending the truth" this isn't surprising.

We are all minorities
Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg recently proclaimed that "We're all minorities now." Falkenberg is correct, but for the wrong reason. She points to census data that shows that neither Houston nor Harris county is predominantly white. To Falkenberg, minority status is a function of race. But as Ayn Rand pointed out:

The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights, cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.

The fact is, each of us has always been a minority, regardless of the racial or ethnic composition of the city. Falkenberg's collectivism shows itself in other ways:

The reality, though, is that a well-proportioned population doesn't translate into automatic equality.

Hispanics' population gains haven't translated yet into political gains, said Marc Campos, longtime Houston political consultant and Baytown native. And Houston's power structure, both political and corporate, is still dominated by whites.

In other words, equality is a matter of political power and economic success for the group. In truth, equality is a legal issue--equality before the law. Equality means individual freedom--the right of each individual to act according to his own judgments without interference from others, so long as one respects the mutual rights of others. Equality does not pertain to results, but the freedom to pursue one's desired results. Ignoring her own claim a few paragraphs earlier, Falkenberg writes:

Still, the daunting social problems Houston faces, such as poverty, high dropout
rates, unemployment, largely affect minority communities. The divides remain.

If we are all minorities, as Falkenberg correctly claims, then what is the meaning of "minority communities"? She is speaking of course, of certain racial and ethnic groups, not individuals. She--like all collectivists--is unconcerned with individuals; the individual exists only as a member of some group.

As if to further demonstrate her superficiality, Falkenberg cites attendance at Astro's games as another indication of inequality:

“You look at who sits in the lower deck of the Astros game and it's still mostly white,” Campos [political consultant Marc Campos] said. “We've still got a long way to go.”

Our measure as a culture is not to be determined by the level of individual freedom present, but by where we sit at a baseball game. I am hard pressed to imagine a more meaningless standard. But one possibility might be the makeup of the Chronicle's blog list--it certainly doesn't reflect the ethnic and racial composition of the city.

Just what we need...not
Peter Brown now wants the city to get into the electricity business (HT: Bay Area Houston). From Brown's web site:

The City should use its leverage and drive a harder bargain, protecting Houston consumers and getting them a better deal. And we should explore creative ways to lower monthly electric bills, like an opt-in program that would allow residents – especially seniors and those on low or fixed incomes – to buy their electricity from the City and enjoy the discounted bulk rates the City already receives.

I must admit that Brown surprised me on this one. He has come up with a number of inane proposals, but this one tops them all. At a time when the city is struggling with a budget deficit, he wants it to take on another burden.

With Brown apparently falling behind Annise Parker and Gene Locke in the campaign for mayor, Brown is now resorting to blatant pandering for votes. It's not enough that he wants to tighten development regulations, provide job training to gangsters, and generally meddle in our lives. Now he wants the city to be intimidating electric companies to "protect" consumers. Here is a suggestion Mr. Brown: protect my rights and let me worry about my electric rates.

Use as intended
When Ronald Beaver began feeling weak, he attributed his condition to his age. His doctor discovered that he had a copper deficiency, but the cause wasn't immediately clear. As the AP reports:

It wasn't until several weeks later — after the moving company employee from Tamarac, Fla., started getting daily doses of copper — that Beaver's doctor mentioned that getting too much zinc can trigger loss of copper. The only source of that much zinc they surmised was the tubes of PoliGrip denture cream he had been grossly overusing for a decade.

Beaver is now suing GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of PoliGrip. The lawsuit claims that the product is defective and consumers were not adequately warned about the dangers of misusing the product.

As the story states, Beaver did not use the product as intended. In fact, he "grossly overused" it, and because of that, he holds someone else responsible for his misfortune. Apparently, Poligrip isn't the only thing Beaver failed to use as intended. He also failed to use his mind, and now wants to blame others.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 34

A Hiatus
This will likely be my last Saturday post for a while. I need a bit of a break from posting six days a week.

I'm Gonna Be Rich
I recently received the following business proposal, which is very similar to other proposals I have received through the years. Since many of my readers may be interested in this proposal, as a public service I am posting it, along with my response.

HELLO It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because you do not know me, Please forgive this unusual manner to contact you, but this particular letter/email is of exceptional and very private nature, as by virtue of my vantage position in Bank of China Hong Kong i have a lucrative business proposal of mutual interest to share with you. There is no way for me to know whether I will be properly understood, but it is my duty to write and reach out to you, TRUSTING that you will give this proposal a positive consideration.

Why would I let the fact that I don't know you make me apprehensive? You seem like a nice man, and given the miracle of the Internet (thank you Al Gore), you can randomly reach out across the globe and spread your generosity. Let me assure you, I understand you very well.

I am Mr. LEE Raymond Wing Hung I am 58 years old and happily married with grown-up children, and i am a Director of Bank of China Hong Kong in charge of the International Remittance department.

It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Mr. Hung. Since we will be entering into a business agreement, I think I should share some information about myself. I too am 58 years old and happily married, though sadly I do not have children. A farm accident in my youth resulted in the loss of my testicles. (I should add that a very creative doctor was able to use a donation from a pig to replace my missing parts. However, I feared what the fruit of my loin might produce, and thus refrained from having children.) But I digress. I spend most of my time collecting aluminum cans and reading Sartre. Have you read Sartre? He is almost incomprehensible, but it makes me feel sophisticated when I get on the bus with a bag of aluminum cans and a copy of Being and Nothingness.

I will need you to assist me in executing a business project from our bank worth US$30.5 Million. These funds were deposited with our bank by a customer of our bank who is a national {citizen} of your country, who unfortunately died in the December2004 Asia Tsunami disaster.

You must be a very important and honorable man for your bank to trust you with so much money. I feel extremely fortunate that, of the billions of people in the world, you chose me to help you in your scheme. I am saddened to hear of the death of your customer. What was his name? Rumor has it that my cousin Jim was killed in the tsunami, though nobody knows for sure. He had spent most of the past decade hitchhiking across Asia and seldom even sent a postcard.

My aunt has been devastated not knowing his demise, and even went so far as to erect a small replica of an Asian village out of toothpicks in Jim's old bedroom. Every year on the anniversary of the tsunami she takes a large bucket of water and throws it on the village. She then collapses on the sofa and sobs until she passes out. It is really a pathetic sight, and any relief you could bring to her would make my uncle most grateful. Just so you know, their names are Olga and Fred.

The deceased account has been declared dormant since 2006 and these funds will be confiscated/declared unserviceable and turned over to the Hong Kong government if the deceased business associates or next-of-kin did not claim this money; since all efforts to trace any living relative of the deceased proved abortive, i have decided that i will have you claim this money as the deceased business associate/or next-of-kin, since you are from the same country and perhaps have some similarities in certain areas. Everything concerning this transaction shall be LEGALLY done without hitch, as i was the deceased account Officer and all the relevant documents of this deposit were kept under my care.

I was beginning to think that maybe you were proposing something a little shady, but now that you confirm that this will be done legally, I am relieved. Since the deceased is from my country, that practically makes us brothers, so I don't see any problem pretending that we are. Actually, the more I think about, the more upset I get. I never really got a chance to know my brother and share all those things that brothers share, like sneaking booze from our parent's liquor cabinet.

Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue, as i hope that you are a sincere, honest and matured person and above all TRUSTWORTHY. Once the funds have been successfully transferred into your account, we shall share it in a ratio of 30% for you, 65% for me and my associates in the bank and the reminder 5% to take care of contingencies.

I assume that posting this on the Internet will meet your criteria for sincerity, honesty, and discretion. But I really must question the veracity of your proposed split. It seems rather heartless of you to offer me only 30%--it was my brother after all. Since you seem like such a nice man, I am willing to split the proceeds with you. But anything more just seems like pure greed to me. Are you a greedy person? Are you trying to take advantage of me while I am grieving the death of my brother?

Please if you are not interested delete this email and do not hurt me because I am putting my career and the life of my family at stake with this venture. Although nothing ventured is nothing gained, as it is said, the taste of the pudding is in the eating, do give this proposal SERIOUS AND POSITIVE CONSIDERATION.

I did delete the email, so unfortunately I lost your email address. Therefore, I am posting this on the Internet in the hope that you will find it and contact me again, because as we say in Texas, there is a bee in her bonnet.

The above is of course, a Nigerian 419 scam. I first received one of these scam letters via FAX in the 1980s, and continue to receive them by email with some regularity. What is perhaps more amazing to me is that people actually fall for this scam. I suppose that there will always be individuals who want something for nothing, and are willing to risk their life's savings to get it.

If I had unlimited time, I might engage one of these scammers just for grins. This post, and this site, will have to suffice.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 33

None of the Above

City Controller and mayoral candidate Annise Parker recently unveiled a survey to determine Houstonians' satisfaction with city services. As is typical of such things, both the questions and the multiple choice answers provided are rigged in an apparent attempt to validate the city's agenda.

For example, the first question asks respondents to rate the "Overall quality of services provided by the City". Possible answers range from "very satisfied" to "don't know". If one is opposed to the city providing services such as trash collection, libraries, parks, etc. there is no proper answer. If one responds "very satisfied" then one implies an endorsement of the city providing such services. If one responds "very dissatisfied" one implies that he wants the city to do more.

A survey that sought to truly understand what the citizens think would have provided an opportunity to voice one's opinions, not limit the choices to those that will provide justification for expanding government.

Cap and Trade to Regulate Breathing
Over the weekend it came out that the Cap and Trade bill passed by Congress includes regulations on breathing. Congressmen who had voted for the bill were quick to defend their vote, pointing out that the bill had not actually been completed at the time of their vote. "We had no way of knowing what was in that bill," said Rep. Al Green (D-TX). "I mean, it was really long already, and they just kept adding things to it."

The Obama administration, which has been pushing for this legislation, feigned surprise that Congress went so far as to regulate the breathing of citizens. "Now that we have had time to think about it, this makes perfect sense," said Press Secretary Robert Gibbs (who, incidentally, was not one of the Bee Gees). "Human breathing is a significant source of carbon dioxide."

The bill calls for a reduction in breathing to 1990 levels over the next 5 years. Given the increase in population, it is estimated that each individual will be required to take 40% fewer breaths each day. Critics argue that this will virtually eliminate such activities as exercise and hard manual labor. Gibbs dismissed such claims as reactionary, saying, “Americans are resilient people. Every time Congress has passed some outrageous bill that greatly reduces their freedom, Americans have learned to adjust.”

When it was noted that most Americans depend upon breathing to stay alive, Gibbs was circumspect. “While there is some validity in this claim, we must remember that we all must do our part. If some wind up perishing, it will be unfortunate, but this measure is intended to promote the public interest. Our projections are that this will reduce the population, I mean pollution, by 35%.” Gibbs added that there would be other benefits to the bill, such as reduced health care costs due to the rapid decline in the population, more jobs available for those who survived, and better parking places at the mall.

It is unclear how the new regulations would be enforced. Henry Waxman, the bill's sponsor, has suggested that each citizen will be required to wear a device that will automatically apply pressure to the windpipe and specific intervals, but he isn’t certain that Harry Reid's business partners will be able to meet the demand. An alternative plan proposed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would involve “lots of people running around with some kind of gadget”. Congressmen from the Midwest suggested using corn cobs as an environmentally friendly solution.

Environmental groups, who have been pushing for such legislation for years, said that the bill did not go far enough. “We wanted a reduction to the levels of 150 B.C.,” said a spokesman for Earth First!. “But this is a step in the right direction.”

Rep. Waxman was asked what other provisions were in the bill. "That's for me to know and you to find out," he said. "But seriously, we aren't sure yet. Since Congress has already passed it, we are just going to keep tinkering with it until we get tired."

While the above is satirical, it isn't far from what the various players would say if they were honest. Of course, if they were honest, they wouldn't be engaging in such dishonest shenanigans.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 32 (July 4th Edition)

A Tribute to Mattress Mac
If you have spent more than 5 minutes in Houston, chances are very good that you have been exposed to an advertisement for Gallery Furniture. Whether it is print media, radio, television, or billboards, Gallery Furniture seems to be everywhere.

Jim McIngvale--Gallery's owner--is a Houston icon. In the early days of his store he was a constant fixture on television, often dressed in a mattress (which earned him the nickname "Mattress Mac". He crammed 60 seconds of dialogue into a 30 second commercial, ending each segment buy jumping in the air, waving dollar bills, and shouting "Gallery Furniture saves you money." While these ads were cheesy, they were effective. Gallery Furniture has grown to be one of the nation's largest independent furniture stores and one of Houston's most respected businesses.

On May 21 tragedy struck Mac and Gallery Furniture when a fire raced through his warehouse. The fire has been ruled an arson. Millions of dollars of inventory were destroyed, and Mac was forced to close his main showroom. His business facing possible ruin, Mac responded by vowing to rebuild. And like most things he sets his mind to, he has been successful. Today, on July 4th, his store will reopen. I wish him well--he deserves it.


An Interesting Story
The Wall Steet Journal has an interesting story about Thomas Jefferson and his interest in coded messages. (HT: Elaine Phillips) Apparently, Jefferson had received a coded message from his friend and frequent correspondent, Robert Patterson that had remained unbroken for more than two hundred years.


The New Sons of Liberty
Edward Cline has an inspiring piece on Rule of Reason. Here is an excerpt:

A good friend wrote me about the speed with which the government is erasing freedom and establishing a fascist regime, and the despair this phenomenon can cause: “If presented with an existential crisis, I don‘t see a modern day Sons of Liberty around to fight for liberty.”

I will reply that we are the new Sons of Liberty. We’re all over the place.

Read the whole thing. Print it out, and when the latest shenanigans in Washington get you down, read it again.


Celebrating the Fourth of July
Unlike the Iranians, we can still voice displeasure with our government without having our heads bashed in (at least for now). I made use of this freedom yesterday. At the Houston Tea Party, I and several friends distributed copies of "Health Care is Not a Right", "Why Atlas Shrugged is Relevant Today", The Ayn Rand Sampler, "The Meaning of Money", Atlas Shrugged, and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.

My favorite July 4th was the one I spent in Philadelphia touring the historic sites. Ten years ago today I stood in a sweltering Independence Hall, in silent reverence of the greatness of what our Founders had accomplished in that room. I recall thinking that the room seemed too small for the giants it once housed.

On this day, the words of many Founders come to mind and seem relevant. Perhaps none are more fitting than those of Thomas Paine. During the darkest days of the Revolution, when freedom seemed lost, he demonstrated that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword when he rallied Washington's troops prior to crossing the Delaware:

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.

Indeed, tyranny is not easily conquered. But those of us who value our freedom will not shrink in the service of our lives. We are, as Edward Cline said, the New Sons of Liberty.

Happy Independence Day.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 31

A Pointless Statistic
neoHouston presents a long argument showing that Houstonians pay much higher property tax bills than other major cities. This, he claims, makes housing less affordable. While there is truth in this, he fails to address one significant difference between Houston and other cities.

He uses a $100,000 home to compare tax rates between Houston, LA, New York City, and Chicago. While this is perhaps useful for his purposes, it is pointless. I seriously doubt that anyone can find a home in New York City for $100,000, unless you consider a cardboard box in some alley a home.

While our property taxes may be higher, we get a lot more house for our money. As I wrote in The Objective Standard:

In Houston, a house of two thousand square feet costs about $120,000. In New York City, the average apartment of fifteen hundred square feet costs more than $1.7 million.

As I demonstrated in that article, the primary cause of this difference is government intervention in land-use. So, while property taxes may increase the cost of home ownership in Houston, home ownership is still affordable to the middle class. Statistics are only useful when used in context--the full context.



Tinkering with Details

Earlier this month mayoral candidate Peter Brown held a press conference, during which he called for city council to cut its budget by 2%. He said:

[W]e need to use our resources smarter and more efficiently, but we’ve got to uphold our commitments to the citizens of the City of Houston. It would be completely irresponsible to cut off vitally needed resources for essential services such as police, fire and infrastructure.

I seldom agree with Mr. Brown, and this isn't any different. The city should get out of the infrastructure business. While using its resources more efficiently is always a good idea, the city should be reducing its intervention in the economy and our lives. Doing do would require fewer resources, and allow Houstonians to keep more of their money.

Brown is just tinkering with details, rather than addressing the real issue--the city government has expanded far beyond its proper functions.



Texas Secession

Calls for Texas secession have been going on for a long time. They probably started shortly after Texas joined the Union. While I harbor a teensy-weensy bit of empathy for those who would like to establish an independent republic, secession is not the answer. While Texans might free themselves from the dictates of Washington, the dictates from Austin can be just as destructive.

One secession group, the Texas Nationalist Movement, illustrates the inanity of the secession movement. Their web site states their goals, which include:

• Preserving Texas history and culture


• Educating Texans and the world about Texas history and culture


• Celebrating Texas history and culture


• Defending Texas history and culture


• Improving and supporting the way of life of Texas communities

Texas was a slave state. I don't regard that part of our history to be worth celebrating or preserving. More importantly, this fascination with all things Texas is a crude form of collectivism.

Texas is certainly more pro-business than other states. But Austin is increasingly interfering with businesses, property rights, and the lives of the citizenry. Simply divorcing ourselves from Washington will not change much if current trends continue.

If the secession movement advocated laissez-faire capitalism and individual rights, it might be worthy of consideration. But it doesn't and it isn't. Ideas matter, and the secession movement embraces the same altruist/ collectivist ideas that dominate our culture. The results of those ideas will be the same, whether our masters reside in Austin or Washington.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 30

Parker on Infrastructure

Mayoral candidate Annise Parker recently released a white paper on the city's infrastructure. Claiming that she will reform how the city provides roads, sanitation facilities, and bridges, she writes:

Infrastructure funding decisions are made in a yearly budget process that, even when it works well, can be intensely political. The short-term interests of politicians who can serve only six years may not coincide with the long-term planning necessary to maintain and upgrade our infrastructure.

So what is her proposal for reform? She wants to create a dedicated fund for infrastructure that will remove politics from the process.

Those who are unable to think in principles may find this plausible and consider it an effort at reform. But tinkering with details is not reform--it is tinkering with details. True reform means to change the essential character of the item or issue in question.

Parker believes that a dedicated fund will remove politics from infrastructure decisions. But politicians will remain in control of the process, which means, politics will invariably be involved in one form or another. If she truly wishes to get politics out of the process, then she should advocate getting politicians out of the process. In other words, she should advocate privatizing the city's infrastructure.

Parker concludes her paper:

Houston is the best place in America to live and raise a family. To keep it that way, we need a government that takes care of the basics – and makes sure that all voices are heard as these important decisions are made. That’s my job as your next mayor.

This is a large part of why Parker's alleged reform won't amount to anything. If "all voices are heard" on these important issues, how will she reconcile the competing and contradictory ideas she hears? The answer is quite simple: Those with the most political influence will get their way, which means, nothing will change.



Brown on Crime

Mayoral candidate Peter Brown also recently released a white paper. His addressed crime in Houston, and like Parker, he thinks that tinkering with details amounts to reform. He too is wrong.


Apparently, the way to address crime is through better relationships:

Almost half of Houston's police force is behind a desk instead of out on patrol, keeping us safe. Peter’s plan would get police officers out of downtown and into the community. Police officers will get to know our neighborhoods, and the neighborhoods will get to know their local officers, fostering relationships of trust and accountability, whether you live in Kingwood or the Third Ward.

In other words, if the citizens get to know police officers, criminals will lay down their guns, quit breaking into homes, and change their ways. If we all just sit in our front yards singing Kumbaya crime will plummet.


As sweet as this may sound, it isn't the way to combat crime. The most effective method for reducing crime is to punish criminals--those who violate the rights of other individuals. And the best way to accomplish this is quit wasting time on policing strip clubs, running prostitution stings, and otherwise interfering with the voluntary, consensual activities of adults.



The Cult of Compromise
Both Parker and Brown have called for greater citizen input into the decisions made by government officials. This is a common theme among politicians, who like to posture themselves as "servants of the people". What the politicians don't tell us is--the process of greater citizen input demands that all parties compromise.

For example, if some citizens demand that billboards be outlawed, while the billboard companies want to retain their moral right to use their property, how can politicians reconcile these diametrically opposite demands? We can find the answer by looking at history--the billboard companies will accept some controls and regulations and the anti-billboard crowd will accept a reduced presence of billboards. In short, both sides compromise.

But the result is actually a complete victory for those who oppose billboards, for the billboard companies have conceded that their business, their property, their lives can be disposed of by others. The billboard companies have conceded that their rights are subject to the approval of others, and the only issue to be decided is which rights will be violated and to what extent. As we have seen, once this principle is conceded, it is only a matter of time before the statists are knocking on the door demanding more blood.

Underlying this process is the belief that developing a consensus will lead us to the truth. If enough citizens express their views, the truth will emerge out of the mish-mash of conflicting ideas. In short, while one Houstonian is probably wrong, a million Houstonians can create the truth.

Truth is not determined by a vote. Reality is not malleable to the demands of the majority. And these facts will not change, no matter how many people believe otherwise.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 29

Bar Boom on Washington Ave.
KHOU reports on the growing number of bars along Washington Avenue and the concerns being raised by residents of the area (HT: blogHouston). One resident is quoted:

We do want development. We want to see businesses come, but the right kind of businesses.

It’s too close to our houses. It’s too close to residential.

Residents have taken their complaints to the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, which licenses bars. As we all know, if we don't like something we should to run to government and demand that they shut down the offending activity.

There is a valid remedy disputes of this nature--nuisance laws. While the bars have a right to operate, they do not have a right to interfere with the rights of their neighbors. If they are creating loud noises late into the night or attracting excessive traffic, nuisance laws can be used to address these issues. Residents do not need to be running to the state to solve their problems.


A New York State of Mind
The New York state Senate turned into a circus this week when Republicans seized control with the help of two Democrats. The Chronicle offers details of this fiasco in an editorial:

The Democrats came unhinged. Smith [majority leader Malcolm Smith] stopped twiddling with his Blackberry but refused to recognize that he’d been ousted as majority leader. He and his secretary of the Senate locked the doors to the Capitol — literally — and refused to hand over the keys to the Senate.

New Yorkers must be proud. After Eliot Spitzer turned the state into a laughingstock, the Senate seems to be trying to do him one better.



Sign Enforcement is Arbitrary
Jim Purtee, owner of Houston Balloons & Promotions, is suing the city over its enforcement of a 1993 ordinance. The ordinance limited the number of days "attention-getting devices" could be displayed. Purtee filed a lawsuit in 2006 when his customers began getting ticketed for violating the ordinance.

The trial started on Wednesday, and the Chronicle reports:

When questioned Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, the city’s sign administrator agreed that the enforcement of standards for balloons and other attention getters has been “arbitrary.”

This means that city officials are enforcing an arbitrary law arbitrarily. As Ayn Rand wrote:

That which cannot be formulated into an objective law, cannot be made the subject of legislation-not in a free country, not if we are to have “a government of laws and not of men.” An undefineable law is not a law, but merely a license for some men to rule others.

It is bad enough that city officials are enforcing the law at their whim. But city council now wants to expand this tyranny and strengthen the sign ordinance. KHOU reports that council is preparing changes to impose more restrictions on signs:

Under the changes, no new “electronic message boards” would be allowed within 150 feet of a residence. Most HISD schools would fall under this umbrella.

Broadly speaking, the new sign ordinance rules would limit the size and number of so-called on premise signs, which a business puts up on its property to advertise itself.

Council member Sue Lovell, who heads the "quality of life" commission, said:

We want people to be safe, we don’t want people to be distracted.

Ms. Lovell seems to think that if her motive is safety, then she can walk all over property rights. I want people to be safe too, but without freedom, safety is a non-issue. Besides, we really aren't very safe when government officials can arbitrarily seize our property or restrict our actions.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 28

Visions and Tequila
A Galveston woman has reported seeing the image of Jesus on her bathroom tile (HT: Houston Press). She told the Galveston County Daily:

I really didn’t want to see it. I focused on a few things on the tile, and then there it was.

I will admit to once seeing something strange on my bathroom tile. But tequila was involved, so I am not certain that it truly was a vision. And I certainly didn't call the newspaper. The Galveston woman thinks some kind of deep message is hidden in her vision:

Maybe we are being told something, and maybe we aren’t listening to it.

I'm going to step out on a limb and suggest what that "something" may be: Put down the tequila and quit staring at the bathroom tiles. Perhaps trying reading something educational, like the National Enquirer.

Death After Death
In the good old days, newspaper writers were grizzled, cigarette smoking, lushes who kept a flask in their drawer (at least that's the way it appears in old movies). Apparently, someone at the Chronicle has kept that tradition alive. blogHouston points out that a recent obituary, while quite nice, is a little redundant. It seems that the Chronicle ran the same obituary a year ago--when the dearly departed actually died. It must have been a slow news day for the paper to print old obituaries.

What Lessons Will He Teach?
Councilmember and mayor wanna-be Peter Brown has come out in favor of limited mayoral control over the city's schools. The Chronicle reports:

In Houston, City Councilman Brown is pitching the formation of a new "urban school district," perhaps spanning from downtown past the 610 Loop, that would fall under the mayor's power.

"I would favor the creation of this urban school district that is controlled by the mayor, that has a board that is largely appointed by the mayor, so there's accountability," he said.

Brown, who wants to subject all Houstonians to his grand vision of the city, as well as provide counseling and job training for gang members, now wants to inject more politics into the school system. If he wants to see more accountability in the school system, how about privatizing it and allowing parents to hold educators accountable?

Outgoing HISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra said:

It's common sense that it would be easier for two people to reach a level of consensus than it would be for 10 people.

I agree, and those two people should be the parents of the student, not educational bureaucrats or power lusting politicians.

It's a Matter of Opinion
It seems that city "leaders" can't agree whether the city's budget is balanced. The Chronicle reports:

Does the city of Houston have a balanced budget?

Like so many things in politics, it depends on whom you ask.

For wealthy businessman Bill King or City Councilwoman Pam Holm, the answer is no, since Mayor Bill White’s administration is planning to spend about $50 million more from its general fund in fiscal 2010 than it will take in from taxes and other revenue streams.

To Bob Lemer, conservative tax accountant and longtime critic of City Hall, the answer is an emphatic no. Lemer said a 2008 audit of Houston’s finances over the past five years shows the city in the red to the tune of $1.5 billion if it were to do its books like a private company.

And if you see things like the mayor, Finance Director Michelle Mitchell and most City Council members do, the answer is a strong yes in the sense that the city is not spending money it does not have.

Who is right? All of them, each in their own particular way, said City Controller Annise Parker.

So you see, it is all a matter of opinion. "Balanced budget" means different things to different people, and each opinion is "equally valid".

This site defines a balanced budget as:

A budget for which expenditures are equal to income.

I believe that this is what most people have in mind when they think of a balanced budget--income and expenses are in balance. But apparently our city "leaders" don't think like most people.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff 27

"The Donald" has "Feelings"
I have never been a big fan of Donald Trump. I did enjoy the first few seasons of The Apprentice, and he gained a little respect for his decisiveness. But the show, and apparently "The Donald", have turned into a worse joke than I previously thought he was. Loren Steffy provides this little tidbit from testimony offered by Trump when he sued a writer for understating Trump's wealth:

"My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feeling," he told lawyers in the December 2007 deposition.

That Trump would even sue someone over such a trivial matter speaks volumes about his character. That he uses his feelings to determine his net worth must have government agents giddy with delight. If Trumps uses his feelings to assess complex financial issues, I am certain that someone at the IRS will be more than happy to use his feelings to determine that Trump has underpaid his taxes.

A Score for O-Bloggers
This week the Chronicle's editorial page linked to a post on this blog (twice), as well as Gus Van Horn. This was a first for both blogs, and each is now listed in the permanent link menu. Yay for me, and congratulations to Gus.

Pitching for Peter Brown
Peter Brown's web site offers us further evidence of his credentials to run the nation's fourth largest city:

On Saturday morning over 30 supporters and volunteers gathered at the campaign headquarters to walk in the Cinco de Mayo parade with Peter Brown. After a quick breakfast and tips on parade walking (throw candy underhand, not overhand) the group carpooled to the parade start. There they met the 20 other supporters who were already there.

I am not an expert on candy throwing, but I do know fast-pitch softball involves an underhand delivery. So, throwing the candy underhand will not necessarily reduce the velocity of the flying sweets. But what I really want to know is whether the supporters were taught to throw curve balls and change-ups. After all, politicians are very good at those pitches.

This is a Dangerous Idea
The Attorney General for South Carolina has threatened to sue Craigslist executives for aiding and abetting prostitution. According to the blog of Craiglist CEO Jim Buckmaster, South Carolina AG Henry McMaster ordered the company

to remove the portions of the Internet site dedicated to South Carolina and its municipal regions which contain categories for and functions allowing for the solicitation of prostitution and the dissemination and posting of graphic pornographic material within ten (10) days.

Buckmaster responded with a lawsuit of his own, seeking a restraining order to prevent prosecution.

First, prostitution should be legal. If someone wishes to offer sex for money, they should be free to do so. And if someone wishes to pay for sex, they should also be free to do so. So long as all parties are participating voluntarily, it is nobody's business but those involved.

Second, if Craigslist will be held accountable for what others post on its site, a very dangerous precedent is set. For example, Google could be held liable for the contents of this blog. The result will be the suppression of anything potentially controversial.

Third, nobody is forced to go to Craigslist, respond to any ad, or anything of the sort. Individuals who don't like porn can simply avoid sites that have it. It really is that easy.