From the News

369 – Monopoly Money

When I turned 16, I wanted a car, just like pretty much every other American teenage boy. When I asked my father for financial help getting my first car, he told me that if I didn’t get the money myself, I would value the car. I didn’t like that answer, but as Thomas Paine said in The American Crisis, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly”. it turns out my father was wise to make me work for my first car.

We are not here today to talk about teenagers and their cars, but of the trillions of dollars the United States spends each and every year. First, we should ask if our employees in Washington, D.C. are spending our money wisely, or like some spoiled rich brat, are they treating our hard earned cash like Monopoly money? Once we answer that, the next obvious question is, do we cut up Uncle Sam’s credit cards before all 330 million of us are bankrupt?

368 – Are Geofence Warrants Constitutional

Most of us are aware that generally law enforcement to get a warrant before searching our property. Recent advances in technology however have made the distinctions for the necessity of a warrant more and more difficult. For example, can law enforcement search for cellphone data within an area for their criminal investigations? Are these geofence warrants a violation of the Fourth Amendment’s requirement that warrants be issued only when there is probable cause and specifically stating the places to be searched and the things to be ceased? A recent case heard in the California Court of Appeals looks to answer that very question.

367 – Legislative Proxy Voting

During the COVID-19 scamdemic, Nancy Pelosi once again ignored the Constitution and implemented by rule something called “proxy voting”. Now, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging a bill because the final version passed in the House of Representatives by proxy vote. Does Mr. Paxton’s suit have a constitutional leg to stand on? If a court finds for Texas, what does that mean for other legislation passed on a proxy vote?

366 – An Example of Why the United States is Not a Democracy

After the mass murder in Nashville, I was not surprised by the politicians and advocates rushing to microphones, many before the bodies were even removed. I wasn’t surprised by the demonstrations, especially after it was announced that the murder identified as “transgender”. While what happened in the Tennessee legislature was shocking, the aftermath is an excellent example of why the United States is a republic, not a democracy.

365 – The RESTRICTing Liberty Act

There has been plenty of talk lately about TikTok, its connection to the Chinese Communist Party, and what American politicians should do about it. Several states, and I believe federal agencies, have banned it from government owned devices, but is that enough? There are those who are calling for drastic actions to protect the American people from this software. However, just like after 9/11, it appears those in government are ready to use a howitzer to take care of a flea.

Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, along with a dozen others, hav proposed the “Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act”, also known as the RESTRICT Act. It appears the American people have not learned from our rush to protect ourselves in 2001. Then the PATRIOT Act infringed on the rights of millions of patriotic Americans. Similarly, it appears that the RESTRICT Act is setting us up to further restrict our rights and liberties.

364 – Parental Notification and a Single Dissent

When should a parent be denied the right to know about the medical procedures performed on their children? Most of us have been rebellious teenagers, sure that our parents are out to get us, only to grow up and realize they were right. When does a teenagers right to liberty supersede the parent’s right to oversee their minor child’s upbringing? These are all questions in the case Doe v. Chapman which was decided in the Eighth Circuit in April, 2022. This decision was appealed to the Supreme Court, which decided the case in March of 2023 with a single justice dissenting. This case turns not only on the questions I’ve already posed, but the procedures of the court.

360 – One State Makes a Plan for Nullification

I talk quite a bit about the limitations of the federal government and the need for the states to reassert their power to control their creation. The number of federal agencies that do not legally exist, the fact the the supreme court does not issue rulings but offers opinions, and we can’t forget about the fact that the states created the federal government, not the other way around, all point to a dangerous and illegal centralization of power in the federal government. So you can probably imagine my elation to find legislation proposed in my adopted home state that codifies the state doing exactly what I said all of the states need to do, regain control of their creation in Washington, D.C. So let’s take a look at this legislation, see what lessons we can learn from it, and maybe push our representatives in other states to join in this march toward liberty.

359 – Parents’ Bill of Rights

I am loath to use the term “Bill of Rights” lightly, for two very good reasons. First, the over use of any term tends to diminish it’s value. Second, just because something claims to be a “Bill of Rights” doesn’t mean it actually is one. The bill may be very good, but that doesn’t mean it truly is a Bill of Rights.

I believe a recent bill filled in the North Carolina legislature gives up an excellent opportunity to test this hypothesis. Would Senate Bill 49 actually create a Parent’s Bill of Rights, or is this just another example of over promising and under delivering?