Rights and Requirements

A question struck me as I heard a radio advertisement earlier today. The ad was for the taxpayer funded give away, which started in August 2008, of the SafeLink cell phones to qualifying citizens residents.

The question that came to mind was - has the government now decided that owning a cell phone is a right and that buying health insurance is a requirement?

Maybe because the reality is that one is about vote buying and the other is about expanding the role of government in daily life. Then again, in different ways, maybe they're really the same thing.

Dodging A Bullet...Or Two Trains

Regardless of what The Matrix would have us believe, people cannot dodge bullets. However, I have been personally told by combat veterans that some soldiers come to believe they can dodge bullets because they hear them go by, after the bullet has already passed.

Maybe the rail inspector in the video has really good hearing, because thankfully he hears the trains and dodges them before they pass!

A BBQ Tradition

A sense of tradition connects people and generations. Good food always brings people together. Combine the two and it makes for a good time.

Unionville elementary school held its 60th annual BBQ yesterday. They've been running this BBQ annually since 1949. The BBQ was good and the proceeds went to benefit the children.

It was a beautiful day for a noon drive into the country. Working farms, livestock, country ponds - it all couldn't have been more scenic. A reminder of many of the things that make America great, including hard work and a sense of community.

Its great living in a small town, and even better to get out into the real country every now and then. This event is over, but keep looking - its BBQ season - there'll be more!

Higher Taxes Mean More Savings?

The title of this post reflects the thought I had when reading the Charlotte Observer's article in today's paper, entitled: Higher NC sales tax means larger break for holiday as shown below:



So does this imply that we should somehow be thankful that we're being allowed to keep more of our own money, rather than paying it in tribute to Rome? Only if we buy what the government wants us to, when they want us to of course.

On a completely different level, it is always interesting that politicians realize real stimulus involves cutting taxes, rather than giving money (obtained through taxes) away. They ought to try it for longer than just one weekend.