Just as this issue went to press, we
learned that a Wake County Superior Court Judge upheld a State Board of
Elections ruling that former state Rep. Frank Mitchell was not eligible to
run against Julia Howard. The state board ruling was a 3/2 party-line
vote. The Iredell Board of Elections had ruled in Mitchell’s favor.
Most can’t find Iraq on map
The evidence continues to mount that
the public schools are doing a poor job of teaching geography.
Six in 10 Americans between the ages
of 18 and 24 were unable to locate Iraq on a map of the Middle East,
according to a recent poll conducted for National Geographic. Three in
four could not find Israel on the same map.
Despite the extensive coverage of
Hurricane Katrina, one-third could not locate Louisiana on a map of the
U.S., and 48 percent could not find Mississippi.
Should government agents have guns?
Gun control supporters claim that
only trained professionals, such as the police and military, should be
allowed to have firearms. They say the rest of us cannot be trusted to use
a gun safely.
Federal DEA agent Lee Paige was
giving a lecture on gun safety to a fourth-grade class. He was caught on
videotape saying, “I’m the only one in this room who is professional
enough to carry this Glock .40...BANG.” The video shows Paige shooting
himself in the leg.
The video eventually leaked out and
has been widely broadcast on the internet. Paige is suing the DEA for
invasion of his privacy. He complains that he has been the butt of jokes
wherever he goes.
We’re just glad that the “professional”
Paige had the Glock aimed at his leg instead of at the children in the
classroom.
Soft Drink tax?
Supporters of raising tobacco taxes
argue that smoking is unhealthy and that a higher tax will lead to
decreased tobacco use, thus contributing to the overall health of the
population.
(We believe politicians who favor
higher taxes and bigger government use this argument as a “smokescreen.”
They don’t really want people to smoke less, because that would result
in less revenue for the government.)
Many have observed that the same
argument could be used to tax unhealthy foods. This idea now has support
from an influential, mainstream group.
The American Medical Association is
considering recommending a special federal tax on sugar-sweetened soft
drinks, with the aim of reducing obesity. Diet drinks would be exempt.
Can a tax on Big Macs and Twinkies
be far behind?
