These guys are not principled conservatives. When-convenient conservatives, perhaps. Progressive Republicans, yes. Principled conservatives they are not. See who voted with the way Cruz and Lee did?
Trump slaps first tariffs on Canadian lumber
We can argue about the relative benefit/harms of specific tariffs (taxes on American consumers for foreign goods), but we know from the Laws of Economics—repeatedly proven by history—that tariffs are generally bad for the consumer and bad for the county. Canada is now retaliating against our tariff on soft woods. CANADA! The more control one seizes, the more dictates one must issue. We see this in government all the time. In this case, the state (theoretically) pays the' salaries of teachers in the government schools. How do the Masterminds in Raleigh ensure that money isn't being "misused"? By dictating class size. However, this compounds the problem because it still funds based on the number of students in the county, not on the number of required teachers. For example, if the limit is 20 students per class but a school has 21, the state funds the county for one teacher but it must employ two. It must also find room for another classroom and that is not funded by the state.
We propose the state get out of the dictates business and leave such problems to county government to solve. Local control and local accountability. Story: Senator Pledges More Funding For Class-Size Reductions Chicago's Pandering, Leftist Mayor Lobbying To Continue Chicago's Ban On Official Travel To NC4/17/2017
The most logical response to this asinine, pandering policy is in the comments section of the story: Question for Mayor Emmanuel - should a local government be allowed to pass additional protections for conservatives, hetero individuals or Christians? (Think Portland bakers...). If not, why not? Shouldn't we all have the same rights? If not, why not? If school boards all got their money from their counties, this wouldn't be a problem, would it?
Read the story: Lawmakers to consider taking away school boards' power to sue for more funding Regardless of one's opinion about same-sex marriage, it is a matter for state legislatures to decide, not a court. States where same-sex marriage was made legal by the legislatures (ex. Vermont) or via democratic vote of the people (ex., Washington), did so lawfully. However, so did states such as North Carolina that banned it. The "Equal Protections Clause" in the 14th Amendment was written and passed to protect newly-freed slaves after the Civil War. It was never intended to apply to anything else.
Read the ARTICLE The merits of Trump’s Syria strike aside, we need to bring back Congress’ power over declaring war4/9/2017
After reading Daniel Horowitz's piece The merits of Trump’s Syria strike aside, we need to bring back Congress’ power over declaring war, do you have thoughts on the idea?
(Submitted by Rational Thinker) On Friday, I looked at HB 141 from the standpoint of individual liberty (Is the HB2 "Repeal" Bad Legislation?). Today, we're assessing Mark Creech's article What’s Been Lost in the Repeal of HB 2, As I See It. Dr. Creech's points and my comments on them:
Weak — The idea that transsexuals are not allowed in the other sex's facilities was precisely the claimed reason for Charlotte's ordinance. Not allowed by what? Laws. Local government is the best, most responsive and representative government. The NCGA should not attempt to legislate every conceivable, potential, perceived wrong. 2. HB 2 blocked local governments from requiring “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” (SOGI) policies for those who wanted to contract business with them. Roy Cooper contends cities and county governments are now free to apply such requirements. HB 2 had removed all doubt that these laws were invalidated. This is no longer the case. Reasonable — I'm not aware of such policies heretofore, but they are undoubtedly one of the arrows in the "social justice warriors'" quiver. 3. HB 2 blocked “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” (SOGI) provisions from being added to local nondiscrimination laws relating to private employment practices and regulation of public accommodations. The new law, HB 142 – Reset of SL 2017-4, prohibits any such ordinances from being passed until December of 2020; but after that date, any local governments would be free to enact provisions like those passed in Charlotte in February of 2016. Reasonable — You know this coming. North Carolina is "purple" state, meaning it's not solidly Republican and can potentially be swung to the left. These assaults are coming. 4. Because of their opposition to HB 2, the NCAA, business interests, and other groups have held our state’s economy hostage to its demands. Repealing HB 2 likely emboldens them, as well as possibly others, for additional acts of extortion, which may or may not be related to HB 2. No and Yes — NC's economy has been growing, not hostage, despite a few boycotts. However, Dr. Creech point is clearly true: The NCGA's move is a Chamberlain-like capitulation to the (truly) radical Left. The NCAA may shut up and hold games in NC, but "peace in our time" didn't materialize and the fascist conquering machine is gearing up. 5. By repealing HB 2, the state loses the moral high ground it established. Repeal introduces doubt as to HB 2’s intent and rightness from the beginning. As N.C. Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest has said, “Such ambiguity undercuts the legitimacy of the law.” HB 2 was reasonable and common sense legislation. Absolutely! — Clear definitions are critical rule of law. "I'm a woman because I say I am on the inside" is asinine. 6. In repealing HB 2, North Carolina has forfeited its leadership in its stand against the redefinition of sex and gender. HB 2 has always been about much more than bathrooms. Its core issue is the way our culture will ultimately define sex and gender. Reasonable — It's unclear how critical this is, but other states DID begin to rally behind NC's lead.
(Submitted by Rational Thinker)
Liberty. The practical meaning of the word is that you don't have to like me or what I choose to do with my property (which includes my body, thoughts, money, business, etc.), you just may not infringe on my rights; you may not dictate to me what I shall and shall not do with my property.* You may not dictate what I eat, what sex I think I am, my religious beliefs, and an almost endless list of other personal, adult decisions I make for and about myself. By extension, neither does the government that represents you. This newest iteration of the "Bathroom Bill" still protects private citizens from the dictates of local governments as to whom may use their restrooms, changing rooms and showers. This was always the fly in the soup. Charlotte's ordinance dictated to private citizens that they must open their facilities to anyone "identifying" as a particular "gender," regardless of the sex organs they actually have. Some believe the General Assembly should have left the matter to the courts, but as this was a clear, unmitigated violation of private property rights, I don't believe the citizens of Charlotte should be forced to "fight city hall" and incur the huge legal bills that would necessarily generate. Sparring citizens from that was an appropriate and good use of state legislative power. After all, the primary responsibility of elected officials is protect the rights of citizens. That is the standard, not whether you can afford to go to and win in court. This seems clear but if you disagree I urge you to explain your thinking in the "Comments" section. What are others saying on this issue?
*of course we're talking about competent, adult citizens and decisions that don't infringe the rights of others |
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