By Walter Williams
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The Mississippi Legislature's House Bill 282 would have imposed fines or revoked licenses of food establishments that served obese people. Fortunately, the measure died in committee. State Rep. Ted Mayhall, one of the bill's sponsors, justified it by saying that he wanted to bring attention to the fact that "obesity makes people more susceptible to diabetes, which puts a further strain on the state's financially challenged Medicaid program."
His sentiments were expressed by quite a few who didn't necessarily support such a measure but opined that if a particular behavior or lifestyle imposed costs on others through tax-supported health care, the government had a right to intercede.
Similar justification was used for laws requiring helmets for motorcyclists and bicyclists. After all, if one exercises his liberty to ride without a helmet, has an accident and becomes a vegetable, society has to bear the expense of taking care of him.
The fact that an obese person becomes ill, or a cyclist has an accident, and becomes a burden on taxpayers who must bear the expense of taking care of him, is not a problem of liberty. It's a problem of socialism where one person is forced to take care of another.
There is no moral argument that justifies using the coercive powers of government to force one person to bear the expense of taking care of another.
Say a person tells the agents of Congress that he'll pay his share of the constitutionally mandated functions of government but refuse to pay the health costs of a sick obese person or a cyclist who becomes a vegetable. What do you think the likely course of events will be?
He'd be threatened with fines, imprisonment or property confiscation.
Forcing one person to bear the burden of health care costs for another is not only a moral question but a threat to personal liberty. Think about all the behaviors and lifestyles that can lead to illness and increase the burden on taxpayers. How much control over your life you are willing to give government in the name of reducing these costs?
You might argue that it's none of government's business how much fat, salt or alcohol a person consumes, even if it has adverse health care cost implications. I'd ask: Wouldn't the same reasoning apply to helmet laws and proposed obesity laws?
Last year, The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act was introduced in Congress. It's a measure to prevent schools from serving "junk foods" such as pizza, burgers and french fries. If the government protects children from "unhealthy" meals at school, would you want government to also protect them from unhealthy meals at home?
When I was 14 or 15, I thought I could take over the house. My mother told me that as long as she was paying the bills, I was going to do what she said. That's great for a parent-child relationship. But do we want the same relationship between government and its citizens?
Walter Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/guests/s_555514.html
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Activist charged in flap over currency
Former Constitution Party candidate is charged with theft by deception for use of privately made “Liberty Dollar.” Lancaster New Era
Published: Mar 03, 2008
11:25 EST
By TOM MURSE, Staff
Fritz Schrom figures he's shelled out about $80,000 worth of gold, silver and copper as payment for goods and services in the last year — for gas, groceries and even to pay a utility bill at the local supermarket.
Fritz Schrom 1 of 1
"I say, 'Would you like real money or government money?' The clerk says, 'Real money,' I plunk it down, and most of them say, 'Cool,' and put it in the cash drawer. I've got a couple envelopes full of receipts," says the Clay Township resident.
But Schrom's preferred method of payment has now gotten him into a bit of trouble. The 47-year-old Constitution Party activist who ran unsuccessfully for countywide office in November is facing a charge of theft by deception.
Penn Township police say Schrom broke the law when he used $111 worth of silver and copper to pay an electric bill at a Weis Markets near Manheim on Oct. 20.
"It's nice stuff, good stuff. It's just not legal tender," says Sgt. Matt Weidman, who filed the charge against Schrom.
Related Stories
Power(ball) to the people Scammer used Manheim T... Why is the lottery in ... Tiny church, huge betr... Unclaimed property in ...
The dispute centers on whether a so-called gold, silver or copper "Liberty Dollar" — private currency made with precious metals — is, in fact, legal tender. An estimated 100,000 people are using them, its maker contends.
Schrom acknowledges that banks do not recognize the metal dollars as legal tender, but says they are designed to be a private currency for people to use as a form of barter, and that some $20 million is in circulation nationwide.
Schrom argues they are certainly legal to use, citing Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution as proof. It reads, in part, "no state shall ... make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts."
"That's the bottom line. Nobody wants to read the Constitution. They just shoot from the hip," says Schrom. "The Federal Reserve is printing this Monopoly money backed up by nothing. There's a concerned group of people in America who are trying to do something about this because our dollar is sliding further and further, being devalued."
Related Topics
activist (55) money (20) Weis Markets (18) Constitution Party (12) crime (2)
Randall Wenger, the chief counsel for the Harrisburg-based Independence Law Center, says Schrom appears to have a case.
"I don't think this is theft by deception. I think that's a long shot," Wenger says. "Our money is basically fake at this point. I can sympathize with what he's saying. We value it only because we value it. We don't value it because it's tied to anything of value."
Liberty Dollar's Web site lists dozens of Pennsylvania companies that accept its metal as currency. It also offers tips for getting merchants to accept it.
Schrom, who ran for register of wills but lost in November, is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in Manheim later this month. He faces a $5,000 fine and the potential of jail time if found guilty.
Schrom handed the Weis clerk five 1-ounce pieces of silver and a 1-ounce piece of copper made by Illinois-based Liberty Dollar, which has been minting the stuff since 1998. It makes the pieces in denominations of $1, $5, $10 and $20, and prints paper notes its says are backed by gold and silver at Sunshine Minting in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.
The clerk accepted them, and gave Schrom a receipt for paying the $110 PPL bill and a $1 fee. "She thought it was the coolest thing since sliced cheese, and showed them to co-workers of hers," Schrom said.
The problem came when Weis took the metal to the bank. It wouldn't accept the Liberty Dollars. And that's when the police got involved.
CONTACT US: tmurse@LNPnews.com or 481-6021
www.lancasteronline.com
Published: Mar 03, 2008
11:25 EST
By TOM MURSE, Staff
Fritz Schrom figures he's shelled out about $80,000 worth of gold, silver and copper as payment for goods and services in the last year — for gas, groceries and even to pay a utility bill at the local supermarket.
Fritz Schrom 1 of 1
"I say, 'Would you like real money or government money?' The clerk says, 'Real money,' I plunk it down, and most of them say, 'Cool,' and put it in the cash drawer. I've got a couple envelopes full of receipts," says the Clay Township resident.
But Schrom's preferred method of payment has now gotten him into a bit of trouble. The 47-year-old Constitution Party activist who ran unsuccessfully for countywide office in November is facing a charge of theft by deception.
Penn Township police say Schrom broke the law when he used $111 worth of silver and copper to pay an electric bill at a Weis Markets near Manheim on Oct. 20.
"It's nice stuff, good stuff. It's just not legal tender," says Sgt. Matt Weidman, who filed the charge against Schrom.
Related Stories
Power(ball) to the people Scammer used Manheim T... Why is the lottery in ... Tiny church, huge betr... Unclaimed property in ...
The dispute centers on whether a so-called gold, silver or copper "Liberty Dollar" — private currency made with precious metals — is, in fact, legal tender. An estimated 100,000 people are using them, its maker contends.
Schrom acknowledges that banks do not recognize the metal dollars as legal tender, but says they are designed to be a private currency for people to use as a form of barter, and that some $20 million is in circulation nationwide.
Schrom argues they are certainly legal to use, citing Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution as proof. It reads, in part, "no state shall ... make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts."
"That's the bottom line. Nobody wants to read the Constitution. They just shoot from the hip," says Schrom. "The Federal Reserve is printing this Monopoly money backed up by nothing. There's a concerned group of people in America who are trying to do something about this because our dollar is sliding further and further, being devalued."
Related Topics
activist (55) money (20) Weis Markets (18) Constitution Party (12) crime (2)
Randall Wenger, the chief counsel for the Harrisburg-based Independence Law Center, says Schrom appears to have a case.
"I don't think this is theft by deception. I think that's a long shot," Wenger says. "Our money is basically fake at this point. I can sympathize with what he's saying. We value it only because we value it. We don't value it because it's tied to anything of value."
Liberty Dollar's Web site lists dozens of Pennsylvania companies that accept its metal as currency. It also offers tips for getting merchants to accept it.
Schrom, who ran for register of wills but lost in November, is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing in Manheim later this month. He faces a $5,000 fine and the potential of jail time if found guilty.
Schrom handed the Weis clerk five 1-ounce pieces of silver and a 1-ounce piece of copper made by Illinois-based Liberty Dollar, which has been minting the stuff since 1998. It makes the pieces in denominations of $1, $5, $10 and $20, and prints paper notes its says are backed by gold and silver at Sunshine Minting in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.
The clerk accepted them, and gave Schrom a receipt for paying the $110 PPL bill and a $1 fee. "She thought it was the coolest thing since sliced cheese, and showed them to co-workers of hers," Schrom said.
The problem came when Weis took the metal to the bank. It wouldn't accept the Liberty Dollars. And that's when the police got involved.
CONTACT US: tmurse@LNPnews.com or 481-6021
www.lancasteronline.com
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Pa State Convention/ New officers
The Pa Constitution party had a spirited meeting/convention this saturday in Carlisle. There were about 40 people in attendance and several more who called saying they couldn't make it because a some bad weather in the northern part of the state.
New state officers were elected for the state party. The results were as follows:
Chairman - Wes Thompson , Vice Chairman - Jim Panyard , Secretary - Sarah Brown , Treasure - Jim Clymer. Also several people put their name in to run in statewide elections. Those people are Hagan Smith for Attorney General, Jay Russell for Auditor General and Danelle Warren for Treasure.
There were several candidates on hand who announced their candidacy for public office this election, they were:
Jim Barr-state house -20th dist.
Ed Roberson-state house -7th dist.
Jesse Storm -state house -41st. dist.
Dan Frank - U.S. House - 16th dist.
There will be more candidates, some were unable to come and others were approved in their county and did not make the trip. I will try to get a full count as the year goes on.
In the state convention national delegates were selected as well as those serving on a committee for the national convention. National delegates are as follows:
Jim Clymer, Dan Frank, Joe Murphy, Gary Odom, Jim Barr, Danelle Warren, Max Lampenfield, Dan Kocher, Ron Smith, and alternates named were: Ed Roberson, Hagan Smith and Keith Patterson.
It was a very productive meeting with new officers being named and many people excited about going to the national convention in Kansas City Missouri from April 23-26.
New state officers were elected for the state party. The results were as follows:
Chairman - Wes Thompson , Vice Chairman - Jim Panyard , Secretary - Sarah Brown , Treasure - Jim Clymer. Also several people put their name in to run in statewide elections. Those people are Hagan Smith for Attorney General, Jay Russell for Auditor General and Danelle Warren for Treasure.
There were several candidates on hand who announced their candidacy for public office this election, they were:
Jim Barr-state house -20th dist.
Ed Roberson-state house -7th dist.
Jesse Storm -state house -41st. dist.
Dan Frank - U.S. House - 16th dist.
There will be more candidates, some were unable to come and others were approved in their county and did not make the trip. I will try to get a full count as the year goes on.
In the state convention national delegates were selected as well as those serving on a committee for the national convention. National delegates are as follows:
Jim Clymer, Dan Frank, Joe Murphy, Gary Odom, Jim Barr, Danelle Warren, Max Lampenfield, Dan Kocher, Ron Smith, and alternates named were: Ed Roberson, Hagan Smith and Keith Patterson.
It was a very productive meeting with new officers being named and many people excited about going to the national convention in Kansas City Missouri from April 23-26.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)