A fee is just another tax

Politicians try to avoid the word tax when ever they can. They like to use words like user fee, impact fee, license fee, etc, but let's face it is just another tax.

There is a movement in Mineral County to impose new taxes in the form of "fees," but we are smart enough to know these are just more taxes on an already over taxed population. Mineral County is one the highest taxed counties in the state, and we have little or nothing to show for it.

The latest assault on the tax payer is being pushed by those trying to stop new economic development in the county. There are now rumblings of sub-division impact fees in the county. The fees would be paid by the developer, which in turn will tag the fees on the price of the land raising the cost to the end purchaser. That additional cost of the property will be recorded as part of the assessed value, and the new land owner will pay property tax on that piece of property forever. It is away for the county government in increase the taxes on everybody, and slide it in under the radar.

It is not just user fees that cause property assessed value to increase to benefit the coffers of the county. Additional unnecessary requirements put on the developers in the name of progress, do little more than increase the taxes on the end land user. The politician likes pretend that the develop pays these for these requirements and fees, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.

Let's look at what really happens; A developer purchases 10 acres of land, and wants to put in 10, one acre lots. He plans to sell each lot at $20,000 per lot. The county comes in an puts in a $10,000 impact fee, and requires the developer to put in an unnecessary storm water run off pond for an additional $10,000. The developer simply divides $20,000 by 10 = $2,000. He then adds the $1,000 to each $20,000 lot making them $22,000 lots.

The person that purchases the lot pays for the impact fees and the pond, not the developer as the county politician claims. Not only does the new land owner pay the impact fee, but he pays tax on the additional assessed value forever, and has to live with the mosquito's that breed in the unnecessary pond.

Addition fees and requirements are just another way for politicians to raise taxes on the taxpayer, and call it something else. Mineral County cannot afford any additional taxes, even if they call them fees.

The Death of Down Time

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work” Genesis 2:2

Even God rested after the work week. But in our current culture we never seem to let our minds rest. There is so much noise from work, writing blogs (thanks Gary), TV, radio, mp3 players, more TV, video games, social activities and so on that we never actually stop to just rest. It is no wonder that children are being diagnosed with ADHD and a host of acronym labeled problems. Might the challenge for kids be that they are so filled with noise and distractions from the day they are born that they don’t know what to do with themselves if they aren’t “plugged in” to something? Might some of the hyper active kids be better off if we can teach them how to let themselves rest?

When buying our mini-van, my wife and I made a point of not getting one with a built in entertainment center. We have a DVD player that works in the car on long trips of at least 2 hours or more. Anything less, no TV, no DVDs. My daughter loves the DVD player, but she is also very well behaved (for a 14 month old) on shorter trips. If need be, we give her a little childrens book that she flips through, or she watches traffic and the people around us.

I was recently in the high school here in Keyser around 1:30pm. There were kids hanging out in the lunch room, some football players watching game film, some wandering around the halls. All were either chatting with their peers, listening to music, or watching TV. I didn’t take a full tour but I wonder if the library was empty? What would be wrong with teaching the kids to sit and study quietly, or to read, or to simply sit and think in a quiet space? I used to love study halls because it meant I wouldn’t be bothered by anyone. Most of my peers seemed to hate it, almost as though they were afraid to be alone with their own thoughts. They wanted to be on the computer, listen to music, chat, etc. Too few people take time to adequately let their minds and bodies rest and recharge. Could it be that most of us don’t know how?

My wife and I joke that we just learned how to vacation, but it is true. On our honeymoon, we didn’t relax until the last day. We were simply trying to fill our days with activity. By the time we took a Baby moon to Hawaii, we knew how to relax, but it still took about 3 days for our minds to let go of everything else in our lives and let us relax. By that third day, we would wake up, feed the birds, snorkel a little, then hang out by the pool and read or do nothing. We had several days we didn’t even leave the hotel. When we came back, we were rested, relaxed, and more productive then ever. On a recent trip to OBX, we were in vacation mode the second we arrived.

By writing this I simply want to encourage everyone to take some down time. What is better, going through 7 days a week at 70-80% of your productive level, or taking one or two days to rest, gather yourself, and operating at 95-100% for the other 5-6 days? I will guarantee one thing, you will look forward to your days of rest, perhaps to the point that you no longer feel depressed about the other 5-6 days of work each week. God Bless

Eating Our Own

In addition to being a conservative, I'm a member of the West Virginia Republican Party. In fact, I currently serve as one of the party's Vice Chairmen, a regional political director for the upcoming State GOP Convention, and as Chair of the state party's Audit Committee. I've been actively involved with the state party since early 2001, and from that vantage point I have seen Republican party politics in West Virginia up close.

One of, if not the overriding, reason members of our party do not constitute a majority of elective officers in this state is that we eat our own. Republican primary elections are notorious for their divisiveness, and I always--always--go into a primary election cycle with the feeling of a pit in my stomach. This cycle is no different.

Why can't Republicans in West Virginia conduct a primary election campaign free of the kind of ugliness that divides the party for the general election? Why do some Republican campaigns seem intent on driving their party brethren onto the sidelines for the general election? The fact is, we are too small a group, in too small a state, to survive the kind of infighting that has marked us in the past.

Is there no such thing as good faith disagreement any longer? Are our intra-party opponents in a primary campaign to be dismissed simply as "drinking the kool-aid" if they support one candidate over another? Are we to trash another candidate based upon what church he attends? Or another based on whether he's divorced?

I'll be clear; this isn't just an internal Republican problem--there are too many instances of bad faith in politics; the current manufactured controversy over Rush Limbaugh is a prime example of bad faith opposition.

But keeping it in the Republican house, I think we've been so marginalized over the years--so politically abused and mistreated--that we've become conditioned to think that a victory in the primary is the best we can hope for. Like a line from the film "Braveheart" -- perhaps we are so used to eating the scraps from the table that we've forgotten we have a right to something better.

As the primary heats up, as we move toward the convention and the grassroots organizations begin to fill out and compete for delegate votes, I hope that every Republican involved with a campaign will think about the fact that the winner--whomever he is--will need every, single, last person affiliated with any of the Republican primary contenders if he expects to win in November, 2008. We're facing enough of an uphill climb as it is without driving away future supporters for after the primary.

I would hope that we would have learned better by now.

A President That Can Unify America

One president is capable of uniting America's diverse social and cultural groups. That president is Iranian strongman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Today he will stop at New York City's Columbia University to give a speech. If it is like most of his other ones it will say absolutely nothing of real substance. If he is smart, he will leave Holocaust denials and other known beliefs at home.

Many people are arriving to hear him speak, ask him questions, and protest and almost zero support him. Not only Jewish groups, but also conservatives, gays, Christians, and others have lined up to see and confront this individual. Can anything in the American body politic produce such a reaction? Absolutely not.

Most groups on the right and left in American politics are much closer to each other than to the brand of hatred practiced by this man. His loathing of Israel and denials of the Holocaust are as well-known as his nuclear ambitions. And now Ahmadinejad seeks to score points by showing up the United States by speaking on our soil. As of right now he plans to defy the New York City Police Department and go to Ground Zero. New York City's hostile reception will likely not make Iran's censored news, and probably not even Al Jazeera. However when he leaves, hopefully he knows full well where America stands when it comes to his hateful brand of diplomacy and politics.

As for unity, it is something often called for by our politicians, but rarely seen. This is not a negative. Iran's people must demonstrate unity or they receive punishment. In America we all have the right to speak freely on our political points of view without fear of reprisals. This diversity of opinion makes us stronger because those that can speak freely in a political system usually feel no need to act violently. Someday the mullahs of Iran will be overthrown and called to account for their crimes against those people.

The Holocaust, Slavery, and Coal Mining

The war over West Virginia's coal mining history remains alive and well, evidenced by some sharp reaction to Russ Sobell's book Unleashing Capitalism.

Delegate Bill Hamilton (R) Upshur, criticized a chapter in the book that argued for a revised look at the historical memory of coal miners' experience. The chapter contended that the fluidity of the labor market required most operators to treat their workers with decency and that company stores were not predatory operations. This conflicts with the memory of Hamilton's father, a coal miner, who related stories about bad treatment and corrupt practices to his children. Hamilton goes further to claim that Sobell's book is comparable to Holocaust denials and mitigating accounts of American slavery.

Hamilton is correct to raise questions about this chapter in Sobell's book. Social and other pressures placed upon these workers exceeded the economic. One can still see in at least one old coal town the Gatling gun mounts on the porch rail of the boss's house. The practices of the Baldwin and Felts Detective Agency are also well known and recorded. That being said, Sobell's numbers do raise questions and tend to enhance, not detract from, the overall historical debate. History ought never shy away from a serious attempt to examine the past even if it conflicts with accepted beliefs.

That being said, even mentioning these abuses in the same breath as slavery or the Holocaust diminishes the horror of these two events. Yes coal miners were exploited and abused in especially Southern West Virginia. However most "agitators" found themselves blacklisted or physically tossed out. Residents of coal towns were deprived of constitutional rights. That being said, system did not systematically deprive these people and their families of their liberty for the purpose of coercing labor or murdering them. Bringing it to the same level as slavery or the Holocaust is a rhetorical mistake.

Reagan-Eisenhower Dinner Scheduled for Novermber 3rd

Just a note to let everyone know that The Potomac Highlands Republican Club will be holding the second annual Reagan-Eisenhower dinner on Nov. 3rd at 6pm, in Romney at the Loy Foundation (former Coke Bottling Plant), 426 East Main St., Romney, WV 26757

Guest speakers are:

• Secretary of State Betty Ireland
• WV Director for Fred Thompson for President Gary Abernathy
• State Senator Clark Barnes
  
• State Senator Dave Sypolt.

Tickets are on sale now $25.00 per person.

Christy Barnett can be reached by email texanyankee1@yahoo.com or 304-790-0522
Steve Smoot at 304-788-1573 or smoot.stephen@gmail.com

Hope to see everyone there!

Christy Barnett

The American GI: Our secret weapon

I had the opportunity to speak with an Iraq/Afghanistan veteran. The young man stopped by my store to pick up some parts. He explained he had been a mail order customer of mine in Germany when he was stationed there.

I immediately thanked him for his service to his county. I think we all should thank any person who is serving or has served his country every time we meet one for it is they that give us our freedom.

He spoke about how his grandmother wished all our troops could leave now from Iraq. He told me he explained to her that if we did it would all fall apart, and all the sacrifice that had been made would have been for nothing. He also stated that he explained to his grandmother that we have been in Germany for 62 years since the war ended. This young man who had been on the front lines sees the big picture that the Harry Reids of the world can not see.

His thoughts turned to locals he has interacted with. He talked about children that had nothing hanging around outside the camps and fire bases of Iraq and Afghanistan. Many without shoes or proper clothes. The GI's would give them candy, food and discarded items.

It brought to my mind the GI's through history. Whether it be the GI's in the UK during World War II giving the kids candy, because they had none due to sugar rationing or the film of the young Japanese kid shivering with fear on Okinawa as a US Marine gave him his canteen to comfort him. The candy bombers of the Berlin Airlift. Through Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc. the American GI's just being themselves win the hearts and minds of the next generation.

America's true secret weapon is the GI. Not because they are the best fighting force in the world (and they are by far), but because they represent America. Whether from the city or the country they are fair minded and are willing to lend a hand to those in need. GI's have a big American heart. Many of those kids that were given candy will remember when they are older and somebody says America is bad that is not true, because they have met true American's.

Dignity

During George Washington's first term as president, his old friend Governor Morris of New York came to the capital city to visit. Washington's close adviser, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, met Morris on the street. Morris asked where he could find Washington, who happened to be strolling away from them down the street as they spoke. Hamilton told Morris that President Washington would like nothing better than for his old pal to come up behind him, slap him on the back and jovially greet him.

Morris did just that, earning a stare from Washington that must have frozen his very soul. Washington then walked on without a word. When he looked back at Hamilton, he saw his fellow New Yorker laughing uproariously at the practical joke he just pulled. George Washington understood that as president an individual must show not only ability, but also dignity.

Where has that dignity gone? The Democratic presidential candidates seem to have lost all pretense to it, subjecting themselves to online debacles. Questions are asked in ridiculous ways. Certainly the famous "boxers or briefs" question posed to Clinton was a milestone in the loss of respect for the presidential office, then again so was the scandal of Watergate.

That being said, dignified is as dignified does. Despite the avalanche of satire, most of it extremely trite and shallow, directed at the current president, few can argue that George W. Bush does not handle himself with dignity. He expects respect and gets it as well as any president in the past hundred years. The Republican frontrunner's Fred Thompson and Rudolph Giuliani have acted similarly, not exposing themselves to silly requests. Credit Hillary Clinton with at least looking uncomfortable in the situations in which the Democrats expect her to perform.

Certainly we must expect our presidents to conduct themselves with strength. We must also understand that a certain amount of personal dignity is necessary to maintain respect. These men and women are not here to sell used cars, but to lead the free world. Republicans understand this, Democrats at this point do not.

Cleaning Up

Last Thursday's meeting of the Mineral County Clean Up Committee showed major differences between the two sides over the proposed future ordinance.

The basic difference lies in the scope of the law to be written. Gary Howell and others have argued over a period of months for a tightly written and strictly defined law. The ideal law for the Howell side restricts the power of government. If a structure or the condition of a property affects the health and safety of neighbors then the county ought to have the authority to act. Just having a property that someone deems as "junky" should not be a basis for government action.

The law must respect the basic rights of property owners. It must not encourage using the government for the purposes of harassment. Substantial penalties for noncompliance, up to $100 per day, have been suggested. This penalty could violate the US Constitutional prohibition on excessive fines. It certainly would prevent most honest citizens from using a natural right of appeal when they might have a legitimate issue with enforcement. Any major fine ought not be assessed until the entire appeals process has been exhausted. Protections for the disabled, poor and elderly must be specifically included.

The opposing side calls for a broadly based law that assigns more power to the county government. Additional powers come from the construct of the law that leaves such terms as "overgrown vegetation" undefined. Without strict guidelines, such issues become very subjective depending upon the attitude of investigators and the Enforcement Board. Committee member Kolin Jan even suggested that when the appearance of a property offended a businessman from outside the region, that he ought to be able to file a complaint against the owner, citing an "adverse effect" on economic development. How many of us have properties that would meet the aesthetic standard of a big city businessman?

Another issue lies in the well-known fact that politicians do not always act in accordance with ethical standards or even the law itself. Members of the committee denied that reasonable and honest public officials would ever abuse this law. And they would not. Mineral County's current officials are honest and trustworthy people, but they will not always be in office. The history of West Virginia demonstrates that all too often, elected officials do not follow the law. West Virginia elected officials have been known to take bribes, misappropriate federal and state funds, commit voter fraud, intimidate witnesses, one even bit a citizen in the nose. With this record, citizens are wise to prevent much power from falling into government hands.

The cold fact is that those that want broad powers and sweeping language in this ordinance could win unless the public speaks. Citizens concerned about their rights need to inform committee members such as Gary Howell that they want their rights protected. Additionally, they need to let the county commission know how they feel. This government body will have final say over the creation of the law. I know a lot of folks are worried about this, they need to speak loudly and often between now and teh next meeting. Make your voice heard.

The Value of People Behind the Scenes

As we approach another important election cycle, we will hear more than we ever wanted to about the candidates. Their faces will dominate the news shows and their spin will consume endless advertising dollars. Candidates whether for president or county commission will travel all over, meeting people, discussing the issues. It's easy to forget that behind each candidate, organizing each campaign, are the men and women behind the scenes.

How does that candidate know the local history of some tiny little town? Why does it seem like another candidate has an amazing ability to discuss every conceivable issue? Of course the candidates themselves are usually pretty sharp. However even the best candidates need help.

Some operate firms that help advise candidates and organize their approach. They specialize in efficiency, publicity, and actually saving campaigns money. One such firm is Abernathy Strategies run by Gary Abernathy. Others volunteer to work for the party itself. Perhaps a lot of voters have not yet heard of New Creek resident Christy Barnett, but the West Virginia State Republican Party valued her tireless energy and organizational skill enough to name her to its State Executive Committee in the past year. Barnett has shown a strong ability to get politicians on the west side of the mountains (especially in Charleston) interested in this region. Without the unpaid labor of people such as Barnett, candidates will not enjoy success.

Just as important are the thousands of conservatives that care enough to play whatever part they can. Some trudge valiantly into areas such as the notoriously left wing Morgantown neighborhood of South Park to get belittled for hours. Others drive out country roads to pass out literature, spending a lot of dollars and hours because they care about their community, state, and country. This is why some get extremely disappointed when elected officials do not measure up; they didn't just get a vote, they got a huge measure of a person's time for a few months.

West Virginia's Republican Party is gearing up yet again for an exciting political season. This will be a tremendous year in terms of candidates for office at all levels. Mineral County, for example, is very lucky to have extremely experienced men and women running for Delegate and State Senate. Even as we give these hard working candidates their just due, we must also remember the people that work behind the scenes that make victory possible.

"Commedians" and Jesus

I had no idea who Kathy Griffin was until this week. Nor did I care. I still don't really care, but now I know who she is and maybe that is the whole point.

At an awards show recently, alleged commedienne Kathy Griffin went on a rant attacking of all people Jesus Christ. Predictably it made national news. Mission accomplished for Kathy Griffin, we all know who she is. Unfortunately the majority of Americans likely dislike her and will avoid whatever she does at all costs.

Every time a famous individual attacks Jesus Christ, they always come away looking silly. The fact that fools such as Griffin see Christ as a figure worthy of attack demonstrates the power He has. People such as this sad woman understand on some level the power of His influence, so they realize that attacking Christ buys them cheap attention.

As to the power of commedians, it is rare that anyone takes them seriously. It is rare enough anymore that modern comics get real laughs from real jokes. Instead they resort to statements that rely on shock value rather than genuine humor. The best commedians, such as Bill Cosby of an earlier time and "Larry he Cable Guy" today relate stories based on shared experiences. We understand Cosby's old (respectful) religious humor and stories of his family. Larry the Cable Guy taps into the shared experiences of rural life in America. CBS' 60 Minutes recently profiled him. They did a good job of showing just how confused the entertainment industry was about his success(of course his producer comes from West Virginia.)

Both of these comic figures share a definite confidence in their lives and performances. They are strong and (at least until Cosby's son died) fairly happy looking people. It also is not shocking that both tend to support more traditional American values. Other commedians, such as Griffin, share neurotic and depressed outlooks on life that may have something to do with their reliance on negativity and shock value.

When comedy is at its best, we are all in on the joke and we laugh. Shocking statements masquerading as comedy with no other discernable purpose reveal a shallow mind and a hollow spirit.

A National Energy Policy

Since the first oil crisis of the 1970 we have known that our Achilles Heal is energy. In the 30 plus years since the first crisis, the power has shifted back and forth between both parties. During that time neither party has come up with a viable solution. Recent statements from the governor show that has not changed. "I've spoken to most of the presidential candidates on both the Republican and Democratic sides," Governor Joe Manchin stated at the Bluefield Coal Show. "They know what I'm saying. But none come out with a true energy policy."

West Virginia has coal, gas, wind, and water to generate energy for the nation. If a lead is not going to be taken anytime soon on a national level, then the state must step forward and take the lead. We should be reforming our laws to allow easier construction of modern power plants that will use West Virginia coal to produce power in the state and provide much needed jobs in the state.

The political landscape of West Virginia hurts the very industries that we need to grow. The current system put in place by the Democratic controlled WV Legislature holds back our economic growth. We must reform the legal and tax structure to encourage growth in the energy producing industries. In its current form, the WV legislature will not make the necessary changes to bring economic growth to this sector. We need to make some serious changes in West Virginia and take advantage of our strong points, or we will continue to fall behind the other states.

New York City's Ninja Bandit Would Have a Short Career in West Virginia

Fox News reported September 25th on a crime wave striking fear into the lives of residents of Staten Island. Apparently a man enters homes dressed as a ninja, assaults residents with numchuks, and steals their property. Some have been slightly injured, but it is unknown whether the level of violence will escalate. The "Ninja Bandit" has struck seventeen separate homes.

Does anyone think that this man would strike seventeen different homes in West Virginia? Probably not. Bringing numchuks to a gunfight is not a prudent measure. As a matter of fact the ninja bandit would probably find some better way of spending his energy.

New York City for many years now, whether it be during Democratic or Republican administrations, has consistently discouraged law abiding citizens from owning firearms. The city government aggressively pushed for the legal right to sue gun manufacturers for the misuse of their product.

Has anyone ever suggested that automobile manufacturers be similarly treated if a driver is drunk, or uses the car for some illegal purpose? Absolutely not because it sounds ludicrous. However driving an automobile is considered a legal privilege, not a constitutional right. Despite the arguments of extremists, the Second Amendment exists so that armed citizens can protect themselves from dictatorial tyranny, their country from invasion, and their property from intruders. These rights extend back centuries in British and American law.

Gun rights' opponents have adopted what Stalin called "salami tactics," that is slicing away a little bit at a time. Gun rights groups such as the National Rifle Association are well aware of this and fight strongly any attempt to restrict our constitutional rights here. If we believe in freedom, we must all take a stand and support everyone's right to defend themselves with a handgun, if necessary.

After all, next time the ninja bandit strikes, it could be a vulnerable senior citizen. Without a handgun for protection, such a person would stand no chance against an intruder. If that happens, the victim's family can thank New York City leadership over the past few decades for aggressively tearing down their right to defend themselves

West Virginia GOP Convention Details

On what is being termed "Tsunami Tuesday", February 5, 2008, West Virginia Republicans will open a new chapter in the state's political life with the state's first-ever Presidential Nominating Convention. At the Charleston Civic Center, over 1400 delegates from across the state will gather to award a presidential candidate West Virginia's at-large delegates to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

One significant milestone in the convention calendar was reached on September 1; ten candidates, including all four "first tier" candidates, registered with the West Virginia Republican Party to participate in the convention. Now, the process turns to delegate selection.

Delegates to the state convention are selected in three ways; first, all voting members of the State Executive Committee, including county chairmen, are delegates. Second, each county executive committee names 12 delegates from among their number to serve as delegates. If a county committee has less than 12 members, that committee may name others to fill those slots. Finally, each county is awarded additional delegates based upon the number of registered Republicans in the county, with a further bonus for counties where President Bush won a majority of the vote in 2004.

The delegates based upon Republican registration, and those based upon voting for Bush in '04, are elected by the public. The election of delegates by the public has two components; first, an on-line vote. If someone wishes to vote for their county's delegates on-line, they must contact state party headquarters in Charleston between October 1, 2007 and November 30, 2007 to register. They will receive a secure username and password to use when they cast their vote between January 1 and January 14, 2008. The second component to the vote is the optional "county caucus". The county chair in each county decides whether to have a caucus, at which Republicans can vote for the delegates from their county. The caucuses must be held between January 1 and January 15, 2008, and anyone who has registered to vote online is ineligible to vote at the county caucus.

If someone is interested in running for delegate to Charleston, they have to file a certificate of candidacy with the state party between November 1 and November 30, 2008 and pay a $25 registration fee. Those fees will in large measure cover the expenses of the convention. Candidates for delegate can declare a presidential candidate preference, in which case the preference will appear beside that candidate's name on the county ballot.

In all, the state convention format represents a dramatic departure from past methods of selecting delegates to the national convention. Gone are the days of endless primary ballots with the names of dozens--or more--who want to go to the national convention. This new method promises to be simpler, more interactive, and more rewarding to those campaigns who have the best organizational skills--not necessarily the most money.

Bring Back Insane Assylums As Soon As Possible

There are a lot of sick people out there. A lot. Just today the following headlines have appeared on the Fox News website.

Details Emerge in WVa Torture Case

Girl, 6, Hanged to Death Was Sexually Assaulted

Woman Attacked With Sword in Argument Over Puppy

That is just the tip of the iceberg. Sick and brutal crimes happen every day with increasing frequency. Our problem as a nation is that the criminal justice system can only punish these people after they commit crimes. Some crimes reflect a condition of addiction, others represent a cry for help. Many times, even the most brutal acts occur after the offender has repeatedly told people that they were sick and needed help.

Thirty years ago mental health advocates succeeded in transforming America's mental care system. Decades ago the mentally ill were sent to long term care hospitals such as those in Weston and Spencer. Often times care was below standards and treatment was spotty. On the other hand a large number of people received some kind of medical attention and were off the streets.

Advocates opened up the hospitals on the assumption that better medication and part time facilities could treat the mentally ill better. States more than willingly unloaded themselves of the burden of maintaining hospitals. Instead of leading to a better life for the mentally ill, these changes made their lives more hellish.

Sure states no longer maintain as many costly hospitals, but too many of the mentally ill wind up in jail. They know what they did was wrong so they do not qualify as criminally insane. Yet they are mentally ill according to the definitions of psychologists. We have seen an explosion of jail construction to house these people.

Not only do we incarcerate more mentally ill, we also see more of them simply wandering the streets. They lack a firm grasp on how to live a normal life, so their only option lies in wandering from shelter to shelter or living in a box. All too often many turn to lives of drug addiction and/or violence.

The mental health experiment has failed miserably. We must work to rebuild state hospitals so that we can get addicts, psychopaths, pedophiles, and other people dangerous to themselves or others off the streets and into facilities where they at least have a chance to change. This is not a foot in the door to socialized medicine, it only returns to an earlier mode of dealing with a major problem in society. Enough is enough. Get mentally ill people off the streets before they can rape children or murder for drug money.

But How Do You Replace Them?

That's the big question when it comes to the issue of ridding the United States of illegal labor. Businesses and activists both contend that illegal aliens' work in such industries as agriculture and meat packing are essential. Without the labor that works at such low incomes, America's food supply could be at risk.

Actually the presence of a group of workers laboring for such low wages undercuts the natural economic process. Let's take lettuce harvesting, for instance. Lettuce costs $1 per head, every single one picked by hand. Lately we have seen that laborers will occasionally contaminate lettuce by doing business better conducted elsewhere right there in the field. It is argued that this labor is absolutely necessary to get lettuce harvested and sent to market.

Reliance on cheap labor that works not only below prevailing, but also legal wages has retarded economic development. Now I am not equating illegal alien labor to slavery, that would insult the memory of those that had to live under that curse of stolen liberty. However in the case of the South, the entire region's industrial development stalled in part because it was cheaper to rely on slave labor than to try and develop efficient industrial solutions.

Many in agribusiness will try to maintain that the labor is essential. However, the cheapness of the labor has prevented the industry from mechanizing. You cannot tell me that two hundred years ago we could invent a machine to pick seeds from cotton balls, but we cannot invent today one that harvests lettuce. Research, development, and production of such machines would put American technicians, managers, salespeople, and many others to work while simultaneously reducing the overall cost of harvesting lettuce.

USA Today proclaimed on its front page today that immigrant groups are trying to put more intense pressure on lawmakers and business to legalize more aliens and to not cut off benefits. They are mobilizing for strikes and boycotts. So be it. Americans, most of whom have family ties to people that came here legally, are fed up with this issue. It is time to solve the problem. Cut off social benefits, and most importantly, jobs to those that are not here legally.

Romney Wins Michigan Republican Straw Poll

Mitt Romney, Republican candidate for President and former Governor of Massachusetts, won Sunday's straw poll of attendees at the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference at Mackinac Island. Governor Romney polled decisively ahead of other candidates for president, carrying nearly 40% of the vote.

The Results are:

Romney — 39.12%
McCain — 26.56%
Paul — 10.83%
Giuliani — 10.62%
F. Thompson — 7.15%
Huckabee — 2.55%
Hunter — 1.23%
Tancredo — 0%
Brownback — 0.31%

Give Washington, DC back to Maryland?

A recent article in the Baltimore Sun says that Washington, DC should be given representation in Congress. I disagree it should be given independent representation.

The District of Columbia is the nations capital and in 1791 when its location was decided it was also decided it would be independent of the states. Originally the District of Columbia was set up at a 10 mile by 10 mile section of land along the Potomac carved out of both Virginia and Maryland. Washington County, DC was located on the Maryland portion, and Arlington County, DC was located on the Virginia portion.

The people that choose to live in the District of Columbia know they give up certain rights by choosing to live in a Federal District instead of a state. Everybody currently living in the District live there by choice, so they are willing giving up those rights.

The founding fathers did not want any state to hold the capital of the nation. I still believe that is a good idea. If the citizens of the District of Columbia want representation in Congress, then I believe the choice is simple. On July 9, 1846 Arlington County, DC was returned to the state of Virginia from which is was carved. The people in Arlington were then represented in Congress as part of the state of Virginia.

The same could be done now to give the people of Washington, DC representation in Congress. Simply return the Washington County portion of the District back to Maryland. They would then have representation in Congress without creating new Senate and House seats.

But....Why???

Article Beyond Delay, The 22 most corupt members of Congress

Why are we continuing to elect such a man? Do we want this state to continue to be a state of dependency? Waiting for the next politician to dump a few dollars in the trough? What happens when the endless stream of cash runs out with the next election?

Why are conservatives still holding to their registration as Democracts? Does voting in the Democrat primary still outweigh the desire to make known that this state is a Conservative, family values upholding state?

How long will the great benefactor KKKeep funneling money in and right back out of our state?

Is it fair for an active politician to name any and every public structure after himself? Do I want to run against Robert C. Byrd when most of my constituents have to go into *** Byrd high scholl to cast a vote? Confused as to which Namesake High School I am referring to? Just take the Robert C. Byrd Highway system, exit at the Robert C. Byrd interchange, ask the kid on a field trip, in the RCB t-shirt standing at the statue of the Honorable Robert C. Byrd in the state house where to go. Am I the only person to wonder about the future of our state in the post-RCB era? And why is everything named after a politician who is still in office running campaigns every six years? How is that fair?

Serious questions awaiting some serious answers.

I was an auditor for ISR (Institute for Scientifc Research) as a Toothman Rice, PLLC staff member. Of course that was before the architectural marval they built next to the NASA facility in Fairmont, WV. By the way I was able to tour NASA's over-planned facility (I say that because a huge floor area was planned for super computers that were quickly reduced to 1/20th of the size alloted for the servers which equals empty, wasted floor space...thanks Mr and Mrs Tax Payer) that, according to my high level escort, was built, sold to WVU for $1 then leased back to NASA for annual rent (again, thank you Mr and Mrs Taxpayer, I hope you have budgeted for this and other projects like Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s "future" airport.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Airport Earmark , afterall, we are going to need those work-projects down the road to keep this economy rolling!). Feel free to re-read that last one to make sure you got it...I wrote it and had to re-read it several times.

What struck me most is that the charges cited in this article are likely considered IMMATERIAL. That means that the budget for said NON-profit is TOO BIG to worry about 10K here or 10K there. Under a pre-specified threshold, it didn' t warrant investigation. So, of course, twin 60 inch plasma TVs in the conference room were necessary for ISR, as were the EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE curtains in the CEO's office (of course they may have been twin 50 inch plasmas, not 60 inch as my memory seems to recall). Upon questioning, I was commended for being so thorough as to discover 3 plasma TV charges, but only 2 registered TVs, then the whole thing was ignored because one was "faulty" and, afterall, the price tag was not a material amount to be considered., even though it was probably half that of the average persons annual income for the are...per TV!!! Without any further evidence it was swept aside because, after all, it was immaterial.

Let me close with this question, how many immaterial charges does it take to make one material charge? (remember not to add them together because each incident is a unique occurence...!) Said another way, who is going to guarantee that the "State of Dependency" created by Senator Byrd and his fellow Democrats will continue when Mr Byrd decides to no longer serve as the Senator for our great state? Can a well-respected...er...uh...honest...er...uh...incorru...er uh...current member of Congress keep the dollars flowing? Let's start planning for the future of this state or we may no longer be "OPEN".

Taylor County Commission fighting TrAIL 500 kV line

In a meeting last Tuesday, the Taylor County Commission voted 3-0 to oppose the "Grafton Area Route", a proposed alternative route for the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line project -- a 500kV electric transmission line which will run from southwestern Pennsylvania to northern Virginia.

The "Grafton Area Route" proposal came about after local residents in Monongalia and Preston counties strenuously opposed the original proposed route of the line, which would cut through the Halleck and Gladesville areas of Mon and Preston County, respectively. The WV Public Service Commission's Consumer Advocate Division ordered an alternative route study, and the Grafton Area Route is the result of that study.

The Grafton Area Route would, generally, follow the route of the existing Ft. Martin-Pruntytown line. It would then cut through the Wickwire area of Taylor County, before meeting up with the Pruntytown-Mt. Storm line; the right of way for the Grafton Area Route would more or less parallel the existing line.

The Grafton Area Route, in every measurable way according to the study, will have a greater negative impact upon people and the environment than the original proposed route. For example, the Grafton Area Route may require the removal of at least one residence, while the original route does not threaten any structures. In addition, the Grafton Area Route will place the lines within 250 feet of nearly 100 residences, while the original route will similarly affect less than 50. Add to that the additional economic and environmental costs, and the Grafton Area Route appears to be an inferior choice to the original proposed route.

American Troops Continue Their Hard Work Worldwide (no thanks to the liberal media)

This week, Congress has grilled General David Petraeus, as well as other high level officials. Republicans have generally sought reassurance, as one put it, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The expected announcement of troop cutbacks comes as welcome news, but war supporters increasingly call for some idea of when Iraq will be ready for us to leave.

Democrats of course came out with their knives sharpened. Many of them almost gleefully (including some of their presidential candidates) too the opportunity to criticize without offering their own ideas. This is all too familiar territory for liberals. They attack without offering solutions of substance. They know that running away won't deter America's enemies, but it's much more important to try and win the next election.

It is interesting that the liberal media hangs on the words of a few retired generals that have not set foot in Iraq if they are critical, but ignore the facts given by the guy that has been there doing the job.

Moving Iraq into the next phase will require a massive investment in intelligence capabilities. When President Jimmy Carter pulled many of our human resources off the ground in the Middle East, he destroyed decades of work. We still have not restored our former capabilities there and reap the consequences of that president's poor decision-making. America must invest the resources, but also demonstrate the willingness to allow the CIA enough latitude to do its job. We must be willing to let them do in real life what we expect them to do in the movies. Sometimes that requires harsh measures. That, however, is how we move Iraq forward towards a successful conclusion and remove most of our ground forces.

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You will never hear about these guys on the news either, but their hard work deserves a salute.

The USNS Comfort just concluded a week long deployment in Haiti. The medical relief ship has been deployed by the Navy on a tour of the Caribbean and some Latin American nations. In Haiti the ship's staff treated over 11,000 Haitian patients in one week. Throughout the tour thus far they have seen well over 70,000. A Naval Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit went ashore to repair water facilities and work on other community projects.

Not just in Iraq and Afghanistan, but in so many places around the world our men and women in uniform work, struggle, and sometimes sacrifice to improve people's lives.

Conservatives Need to Get Out in Front on Marriage

This week an Iowa judge struck down the state's ten year ban on homosexual marriage, creating the latest in a series of signals that gay marriage bans will soon be a thing of the past. The United States Supreme Court will likely rule these bans as unconstitutional as soon as it gets the next opportunity.

Gay marriage tends to split the conservative community. Social conservatives will support bans upon it whole heartedly while economic conservatives feel less comfortable in doing so. Democrats enjoy exploiting the fact that the party that wants government off the back of the people also seems to want to keep illegal a very personal issue.

Gay couples do need some sort of legal protection. They experience many of the same problems as heterosexual couples. Those enduring abuse or theft have a more difficult time finding legal remedies for their problems. However some object to the name marriage being applied to non traditional relationships

The problem can be solved with conservative philosophy. Conservatives want the government out of our lives as much as possible. The solution is to get government out of marriage entirely. The legal contract can be a civil union done before a magistrate or some other official. It applies to either form of coupling. Marriage would be the social and cultural event. This would mean that people could call their relationships marriages and not have to worry about government interference. Gays do not want the government legally saying they are not really married, others object to the government imposing a different interpretation upon them. Getting government out of marriage makes sense. It will also get one more time consuming issue off of the plates of state legislatures and courts.

Potomac Highland Conservative Candidates at a Glance

The following Conservative Candidates have Pre-filed to run for office in 2008

• 14th Senatorial District
  
• Republican
  
• Gary G. Howell
• Hometown: Keyser, WV
  
• Filed 4/26/2007
  
• Home County: Mineral
• District: Barbour, Grant (part), Mineral, Monongalia (part), Preston, Taylor, Tucker
  

• 15th Senatorial District
• Republican
• Clark S. Barnes
  
• Hometown: Elkins, WV
  
• Filed 12/11/2006
• Home County: Randolph
• District: Berkley (part), Grant (part), Hampshire, Hardy, Morgan, Pendelton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur (part)
  

• 50th Delegate District
• Republican
• Ruth Rowan
  
• Hometown: Points, WV
  
• Filed 12/11/2006
  
• Home County: Hampshire
• District: Hampshire (part) and Mineral (part) Counties

• 51st Delegate District
• Republican
• Daryl E. Cowles
  
• Hometown: Berkeley Springs, WV
• Filed 2/9/2007
• Home County: Morgan
• District: Hampshire (part) and Morgan (part) Counties.
  

The Too Busy Generation

I had originally written this article specific to my fellow Gen-Xers, but an interesting thought occured to me this Sunday at church. For the first time in a long time, I turned away from the sermon, and away from my daughter to look at the other people in the congregation. Whammo! I was struck to see the same stare at the pulpit that I have seen a million times when I looked at people watching TV. I had written the article based on a generation that was too busy being distracted to be productive. Now, I am revising that to include...well...everyone. And, I pose the question, what is TV doing to our natural ability to think and reason for ourselves?

It is a common thought that ...

So, I am now calling this group of people the "Too Busy Generation". And the range of people that are affected is spreading. Actually, it is probably better labeled the Too Busy Dilemma. It is spreading to those older than Gen-X and it is probably appropriate for the younger ones as well, I just don't know them. There are so many distractions in life that we feel compelled to address this very second that we have to prioritize. A sad fact is that most people start their priority list with the activity that requires the most distraction with the least amount of personal interaction. Let's just look at a couple of activities that we do by ourselves, such As

1) TV shows- No longer is their one favorite, but there is a favorite for each night, plus re-runs of old favorites. There are favorites that can take you from the end of business day all the way to bed time. You could spend 8 hours at the office then "unwind" in front of the TV for 5-6 hours. Where does the day go?

2) Video games - I got an Xbox 360 for Christmas, I love it, but I rarely let myself turn it on. Why? Because there were several times that I played for 6-8 hours without realizing more than an hour had passed. I told some fellow gamers and they responded that they had spent 125-150 HOURS playing the same game. THAT IS A FULL MONTH OF WORK!!

3) The internet - Between email, blogging, chatting, surfing and working, it is amazing our computers have not become permanently attached to our bodies. Of course, for some, their cell phones are doubling as mini-computers so that they are always in touch with EVERYONE.

4) Music - I recently saw a fast food employee here in Keyser with headphones on. Not the ones that help him communicate with the rest of the staff, music headphones. When did our world become so full of noise? When did peace and quiet become obsolete? I guess that the prospect of being left alone with their thoughts could seem quite lonely to some.

I am going to stop listing things there. I have known all this for a while, but it has really begun wearing on me lately because I run a fairly hectic schedule, but I am not too busy to attend church, or to be a member of community groups, or to attend volunteer events, or to attend a political event. Actually, I have a lot of fun with many of these activities. But my biggest reason for championing these causes is that I want more of my fellow Americans to get involved. Liberals aren't the only ones that want to see the poor get helped, our young get educated, or our domestic lives improved. I agree 100% with many of the good intentions that liberals advocate, but I differ on one point, the government should NOT be the group in charge. Besides it's complete lack of accountability, there is no requirement for the recipient to reciprocate what they receive. That is the opposite of the economic belief system that we conservatives pro port...Capitalism. If I want a paycheck, I perform a job. If I want a loaf of bread, I pay someone who has bread. If I need my house painted, I contract someone to paint it (I am not a big fan of painting anymore).

If someone can get a government check, they don't need to find a job. Why would they. Once the checks start, they just pick them up at the post office each month. There's no boss to report to, no action necessary on their part. If the government will educate and distract their kids from 8-3 each day, why should they be bothered with teaching their kids anything or helping with homework. If the government will build parks, why would a civic group take on the challenge? If the government will pay my health bills, why wouldn't I go to the hospital every month (I know about this from growing up near a hospital, ambulances only run people to the hospital not back home. Instead of walking back, it was logical to many that the people living near the hospital should drive them home, so they knocked on our door)

Now we are entitled to have big brother take care of the trivial civic issues so that we can get to work on managing the noise in our lives.

I feel that it is an encumbrance upon myself and all conservatives to step up. We say we want smaller government, great...the poor still need support, kids still need educated, and what's the point of waking up each day if you don't do something to make your life a little better? Turn off the TV and go join a civic group, volunteer with a church, or the United Way, run for an office. And most importantly, give 110% in your volunteer work. If you believe in what you are doing, you will want to be active. If you don't believe in it, go find something you do believe in and do that. Can't find anything, start your own group. Good luck, and God Bless.

Capitalism Creating Environmental Solutions

A Toronto firm is working hard to try and make the internal combustion engine obsolete. Two years ago it purchased the rights to a new form of battery that could be plugged into an outlet for five minutes and efficiently power a car for 500 miles. EEStor of Austin, Texas previously held the rights to the promising technology.

Critics call it the modern version of alchemy, but this once again demonstrates how market needs combined with vision can lead to potential breakthroughs. People believe enough to invest time and/or effort into creations that could revolutionize the world. That is certainly noble.

However these revolutions would take place less often without the profit motive. People need to see the possibility of reward for the risks they take in money, time, and effort. Then they will invest the endless hours, sleepless nights, and life savings to make the dream real.

One can predict what will happen when the technology is finally created. Some academic will demand that rights to the invention be released and shared for the general good of the human race. It almost sounds like a joke, but you can bet it will happen. Or perhaps some environmental group will oppose it because the creating of some component threatens some obscure species,just like with the wind farms.

Regardless of these obstacles, it should be much better publicized that capitalists work the hardest to create practical solutions to environmental issues.

Want to See the Wealthiest State in the US?

Do you want to see the wealthiest state in the entire nation? All many of us have to do is to look out our front doors across the Potomac River. Yup, it's Maryland. Looking for the second poorest state will not be too hard. Just look at the ground under your feet.

Now these statistics are skewed somewhat. The $35,000 median income of West Virginia in most counties has drastically more purchasing power than in many parts of Maryland. Their median income of around $66,000 does not look nearly as good in areas where the cost of real estate is frighteningly high.

All that admitted, West Virginia should perform much better. Sure we can pat ourselves on the back for being better off than Arkansas. We can also remember when times were much worse. However these new income numbers reflect what three fourths of a century of Democratic Party leadership has done for our state. Certainly some individuals such as Senator Robert C. Byrd have worked hard and gotten some federal money sent our way. However sound conditions for economic growth would have rendered federal investment less necessary. It also would have meant West Virginia would have capitalized more on the ripple effects from the influx of public money.

The time is 2008. Vote Republican. 76 years of Democratic dominance have made 50th in too many catagories. It's time to end the slide. We would have fired a football coach for putting us consistently in last place for only a couple of years. Yet we put up with the same Ruling Party decade after decade.

The Friends of Joe Bowl

By the time this is posted, the West Virginia game with Marshall will be in the books. Likely it will be one more huge victory for the Mountaineers as they prepare for the challenging portion of their schedule beginning with Maryland.

A lot of WVU fans have formed very negative opinions of the governor as a result of this series between West Virginia University and Marshall. Basically the governor interfered in a process when he did not have to in order to score political touchdowns. What does Joe Manchin get from this game, you may ask?

Every year this game appears on television you can be sure that Joe Manchin's mug will be all over it. This year he will do almost everything except sing the national anthem, including read the starting lineups for ESPN. It's not often that a politician with national aspirations can gain free and positive national air time.

What does West Virginia University get from this game? Nothing. Absolutely nothing except a win over a rather bad college team. Due to the language of the Big East conference deal with ESPN, WVU gets no television money because it is an away game against a non-BCS school. Unlike Marshall and almost every big time college athletic program, WVU uses no money from the state or college to support its athletic program. It relies on revenues from football and men's basketball to support all of its teams, most of whom have enjoyed tremendous success over the past few years. They even pay for the athletic scholarships. You might say that WVU is one of the few capitalist college athletic programs, competing well in a world of state subsidized athletics.

Some argue that it is good for the state that the two teams play each other. They say that it keeps money in West Virginia. Certainly it does mean that money circulates from one part of the state to another. Would it not be better for the state if both teams hosted games that weekend and brought in dollars from outside the state?

As governor Joe Manchin has done some good in terms of inching the state closer towards having a better business climate. However it is stunts such as "Open for Business" and what WVU fans call "The Friends of Joe" Bowl that do tend to irritate people. Those that may be favorable to or at least neutral towards the governor have a reason to vote against him.

The Great Bailout and Taxes

The Great Bailout and Taxes

In a recent conversation with my dad he said that he never thought that tax revolts would occur in his lifetime, but for the first time, he is beginning to anticipate that a tax revolt is not too far away. I was a bit taken aback, but then began thinking about the possibility, and he may have a valid point. Consider two extremes – 0% taxation is total freedom, 100% taxation is essentially slavery. At what point are we all simply indentured servants to Uncle Sam? Right now, if you are actively working for a paycheck, it is likely that about half of the money that is paid by your employer to you is going to Uncle Sam. For some it is a little less, for some it is a little more.

Don’t believe it…? Are you taking into account your employers 7% of matching taxes that are paid and not even shown on your pay stub? How about gasoline tax? Who nets more money from your gallon of gas, the oil company or the government? Did you think about normal sales taxes? How about the approximately 22% of business taxes that has been found to be passed to consumers in the ordinary cost of goods?

This leads to a big question, are we all really working until lunch everyday just to raise enough money to pay taxes for the privilege of…working?

How is this possible? It's easy, no one knows what he or she pays in taxes. So, at what point does that amount become so exorbitant that people start to seek the information that is out there and figure out what they are paying? Can we always blame businesses for gouging consumers without looking at what the government is taking in? Thus far most Americans seem OK with taxes and small tax increases because the government is supporting our troops, building roads, funding schools, and helping less fortunate people. So we do our duty, complain a little, but cough up because at the end of the day it isn’t worth going to jail over taxes (which is what happens if you don’t pay, is it not?)

But then a program is proposed that just doesn't make sense and people like me get extremely irritated, such as, the mortgage bailout. In case you are not aware? Some people, mostly in Southern Florida similar areas bought property they couldn’t afford in fast appreciating markets, sat on it too long, and now they can’t unload it for the windfall profits that they were hoping to obtain. They now face foreclosure because they simply cannot afford the payments. President Bush announced an effort to allow the government to guarantee the loans of these people while they ride out this dip in the market, or continue to sell their property for a smaller amount of profit. Make no mistake, this isn’t mom and pop at the end of a thirty-year mortgage getting ready to be thrown out, these are people that bought way too much home thinking they would get to re-fi before the bigger payments hit, or re-financed at the appreciated value of their home, i.e. took out a bunch of cash and bought other stuff without understanding what they were getting into. After all, there was no end to how high their home values would go, right? Wrong, now their investment (a home is usually referred to as a person’s largest investment) is crashing and they can’t get away from it.

Real Estate is not a liquid asset, never has been, never will be. It's one of the reasons for the buyer beware motto when one is purchasing property. Now after subsidizing the cost rebuilding Southern Florida and coastal areas in post-hurricane season every year (if you don't think we are doing this just look at the price of lumber and construction materials in your area), we are going to bail the homeowners out of their bad investments? Or at least hold the fort down long enough to let them ride out the downturn.

Are we going to bail out business owners whose business fail in low-income parts of the country? Or investors who buy hot stocks and lose their shirts? Nope, just the people who guessed wrong on the housing market in over-valued areas. It is easy to get caught up in thinking that we are "helping" people, and as I have said most Americans believe in helping their fellow man or woman. We seem OK with taxes going to help people, so why is this any different? The difference here…these people are living BETTER than we are!!! That’s right, they are living in nicer houses, with fancier cars, toys, furnishings, etc in parts of the country that most of us only get to visit for a week on an overpriced vacation. Will the average American be OK with losing half of their income each day only to subsidize a person in a million dollar home in Southern Florida, driving a Hummer and/or Mercedes while he/she is driving two used cars and living in a modest home in this area because the cost of living was more manageable? Should those of us who didn’t over-buy, didn’t make a mistake, and didn’t wait too long to get out be footing the bill for those that did? Should those of us who moved to more rural, more consistent areas continue to subsidize big city and coastal living? I hope not.

Disgraced Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu has WV Connection

From the Official Federal Election Commission Filings.

HSU, NORMAN
NEW YORK, NY 10012
NEXT COMPONENTS, LTD./PARTNER

ROCKEFELLER, JOHN DAVISON IV VIA FRIENDS OF JAY ROCKEFELLER
	02/22/2007	2000.00
	06/08/2007	300.00
	06/08/2007	1700.00

News Article about Norman Hsu; Democratic Donor a No Show at Hearing

Pick the Welcome to WV sign

After 6 months of programming to create a poll (Government efficiency at its finest, takes about 30 seconds to create a poll on most websites) the Governor's office has put up a poll to find a new slogan for the Welcome signs.

Click here for the website

I find it odd that this site says the signs were made to be temporary. They are bolted on just like every other sign along the states roads. Also when I was in Charleston during the state of the state address where the governor unveiled the "Open for Business" signs, he never said it was temporary. In fact why would you even mention a temporary sign in a state of the state address. Kind of like the governor saying in the state of the state, "By the way the DOH wanted me to let you know there is going to be a flagman on US 50 in Preston County tomorrow. They will put up a temporary sign to that effect."

Let's face it. The governor tired to come up with something clever, but failed. We all make mistakes, but don't cover them up. Just admit you tried and it didn't work. I have more respect for someone that tries and fails, than one that fails and says, "I meant to do that."

Here is your chance to vote on what you would like to see on the welcome signs.

Recommendations

• Wild Wonderful, West Virginia
• The Mountain State
• 50th Place, but better than Guam*
  

WV Republican Presidental Convention Participants

The following candidates have signed on to participate in West Virginia's Presidential Convention on February 5th, 2008.

• Sam Brownback
• Rudy Giuliani
• Mike Huckabee
• Duncan Hunter
  
• Alan Keyes
  
• John McCain
  
• Ron Paul
  
• Mitt Romney
  
• Fred Thompson
• Gene Zarwell

Gere Calls For Boycott

Recently actor Richard Gere called for a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China. Long an advocate for freedom in places like China and Africa, Gere holds special concern for the people of Tibet. It is one of the few worthwhile causes that you see among the Hollywood crowd.

Would this work? Few will actually abide by this call, although not many sympathize with China maintaining their government of repression. Catholics who acknowledge the Pope as their spiritual leader must hold Mass in caves or face arrest. China claims it alone has the right to name the Dalai Llama.

However it is changing slowly. As a middle class gradually emerges, it will demand more rights and a larger voice in the government. China fears exposure to outside ideas enough to censor internet traffic. The Olympics will bring a flood of Westerners and an avalanche of scrutiny that could help stimulate greater change.

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China also has a problem with the English translations of some of their food. For the duration of the Olympics, government restaraunts will not serve "steamed crap." Coca Cola had similar problems once. A worldwide ad campaign from many years ago that read "Coke adds life" in English translated into Chinese as "Coke brings your ancestors back from the dead."

Senator Larry Craig

For anyone, anywhere, regardless of orientation, trying to have sex in a public bathroom is a bonehead move. For Senator Larry Craig (R) Idaho it could be a career killer. Nevada Republican Senator John Ensign has publicly called on Craig to quit. Democrats once again have ammunition to attack the party of family values, accusing Republicans of hypocrisy.

Republicans cannot duck the morals issue. If a party uses the issue of family values, it will be pilloried when one of its members acts in a way that is less than consistent with those values. Beyond that, homosexual, or any kind of sex in a bathroom is illegal. Maybe the crime ends up being about as legally ominous as a speeding ticket, but Republicans have asked their constituents to expect better of their representatives. Unfortunately too many lately have not lived up to those standards.

Is Larry Craig's career over? One of the most socially conservative delegate districts in West Virginia returned by a rather large margin a Democratic incumbent caught on tape at a homosexual sex party. Most voters knew of this tape, but voted based upon his record instead of his private life. However this is West Virginia, a different political bird than Idaho.

Republicans certainly fear that this will undermine them in 2008 just as teh Mark Foley incident did in the fall of 2006. It is more likely that people will completely forget about Craig if the GOP lets them. Either Craig himself or the voters of Idaho should decide it is time for him to leave. The rest of the party needs to let the process happen. That being said, acting in that manner in public definitely deserves condemnation. Some child could have walked in and seen that. However the party needs to issue its disapproval, then let the democratic process take over.

Party School

The state media has debated a lot in the past week over West Virginia's resumption of the top spot in a national poll. It isn't the AP football poll (although we are close.) The Princeton Review ranked West Virginia University the top party school in the United States.

West Virginia University president David Hardesty battled this image for a number of years. He was concerned that a party reputation might harm the academic mission of the school. Dan Page's recent op-ed in the State Journal asserts that the label adds no value to the reputation of WVU, stating "How sad."

West Virginia University does not necessarily sit in poor company here. Ohio University, Penn State, and the University of Wisconsin also receive regular mention on this poll None of these schools' academic reputations suffer as a result of their recognition there.

The problem lies in the criteria used to rank the schools academically. US News and World Report, among others, looks more closely at whether or not a college or university screens out low achievers in high school. Some schools do, West Virginia University does not. It should not.

WVU exists to serve the people of West Virginia, not the judgment of people that may have never set foot on campus. Our state university provides an outstanding education. They can and often do lift students up who have not done well in the public schools and turn them into scholars. Some kids just do not fit the mold of the classic public school student. They cannot pay attention for six or seven straight hours. College gives these students more flexibility and support. They get a chance to succeed if only they can get in.

The university is one of the few government run organizations in the state that consistently gives the taxpayers their money's worth. One could always get a great education there, now it has turned into an economic engine. The future of the institution looks bright in many different ways despite what the ivory tower says. If you ask me, that is reason for anyone associated with WVU to party.

Romney first to file for West Va. GOP Convention

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY TO PARTICIPATE IN WEST VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN CONVENTION



ROMNEY FIRST IN WEST VIRGINIA

Governor Mitt Romney came to West Virginia to officially enter the WV GOP Presidential Convention being held February 5, 2008. Governor Romney was joined by Republican Party officials as he signed the certificate of candidacy and paid the $5,000 filing fee. Shown (left to right) is Jim Reed, Republican National Committeeman; Donna Gosney, Republican National Committeewoman; Bob Ashley, Chairman of Governor Romney’s WV Committee; Bob Fish, CEO of WV GOP Presidential Convention, Inc.; and Douglas McKinney, Chairman WV Republican State Party.

If I'm not mistaken, Governor Romney is also the only candidate to commit to attend the conference as well (as opposed to just competing). Speaking personally, I think this demonstrates a commitment to West Virginia that we haven't seen since a certain governor from Texas was running for president, oh, about 8 years ago.

West Virginia Ranks Second in Obesity. So What?

State media and hand wringers have jumped all over the numbers that say West Virginians are the second most obese people in the country by state. Around the nation no state reduced its obesity rate. One group called for "systemic change" in how we approach the subject.

I doubt I am overwhelmingly old just because I remember that in the not too distant past that our main problem in Appalachia was people not having enough to eat. Lyndon B. Johnson based a lot of mistaken, but well-intentioned ideas on eradicating hunger. Welfare did not eradicate hunger. America's productive economy has made food cheaper and more accessible than ever before. Advances in technology mean that fewer people have to perform as much manual labor. More people have a college education, meaning that they have less physically strenuous jobs.

Many studies link poverty to obesity. This should not be a surprise. Many healthy foods benefit from agricultural price supports. When a poor single mother has to choose between paying about a quarter for a gallon of Kool Aid versus three dollars for a gallon of juice, who can blame her for her choices. Hamburger Helper costs about five dollars with the meat included and it feeds an entire family. How much does fish and chicken breast cost? Many act as if the poor are ignorant, but in reality they make rational choices about scarce resources. Potatoes and bread are very inexpensive and most importantly very filling, yet they do tend to make people gain weight.

Outside of the poor, everyone else has choices. Many simply choose to not restrain themselves and frankly it is their God-given right. It always worries me when people start saying something ought to be done about the free choices people make. Obesity is a life choice. So is avoiding it. We need no laws, nor do we need any government programs outside of education. We certainly do not need lawsuit legislation. America needs to remember what freedom of choice means. It is a right, and also a responsibility.

So many countries in the world would love to have a dire social problem like having too much to eat and no reason to perform daily back breaking exercise.

The Tangible Benefits of Tort Reform and a Republican Victory in 2008

Everyone by now has probably heard of (and hopefully been outraged by) the multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by a West Virginian against McDonalds. Apparently they failed to hold the cheese on his burger.

West Virginia has a sad reputation in the business world as a "judicial hell-hole." The State Legislature has repeatedly failed to tighten up West Virginia's legal system. This results in a condition where corporations have to spend millions to fight frivolous lawsuits. Some simply decide to bypass the state altogether.

One almost did so. Oklahoma City based Chesapeake Energy planned to build its Eastern Division headquarters in Charleston. This would spearhead its efforts to develop West Virginia's natural gas resources. However a Roane County court awarded $404 million in damages to a group of people who claimed Columbia Gas shortchanged them in royalties. $134 million was for actual damages while $270 million was assessed to punish the company.

This verdict nearly convinced Chesapeake to bypass West Virginia. Governor Joe Manchin promised to convince the legislature to pass laws addressing royalty payments. The governor's entreaties seemed to work and Chesapeake plans to move into its new headquarters in 2009. It is obvious that businesses want to invest here and will come even if the governor only promises to try to help. Imagine what real tort and tax reform would do for the State of West Virginia.

Chesapeake Energy's move into Charleston does have benefits for all West Virginians. They will employ a substantial number of people in high paying jobs. Corporate headquarters will bring in white collar employment while developing the gas fields will increase opportunities for blue collar workers. The increased tax receipts and market ripple effects will strengthen the state as a whole. If Chesapeake has a positive experience in Charleston, that could convicne other corporations to locate major operations in West Virginia. The state has to approach this opportunity intelligently and use increased tax revenues due to Chesapeake Energy to benefit home grown business owners. Only with native capital and industry can West Virginia truly build a sound economy.

And only with a business friendly tort and tax system can we have a prosperous future. A Republican State Legislature is necessary for West Virginia to even start to pursue real reforms that will give us a strong and diverse economy. In a recent special session, Democrats in the State Legislature blocked the Manchin backed billto correct the royalty issue. Democrat Carrie Webster of Kanawha County among others expressed pride in their non-passage of this bill that will mean many new jobs in the state. No one should be surprised because Democrats have blocked development and investment in West Virginia for almost three generations now, even when urged to by more moderate members of their own party!

Without a Republican Legislature, West Virginia will continue to struggle. Period.

Peace

Every sane human being in the world seeks peace. Do all understand what real peace is? The answer is a resounding no.

Peace is not simply the absence of war. One of America's greatest generals, William Tecumseh Sherman, despised war and the horror it created. He understood that achieving peace in his time did not simply mean halting the use of arms. Sherman endeavored to make war more horrible in the short term to ensure that people would shrink from it in the future. He also believed that real peace only came at the real settlement of an issue.

Vladimir Lenin in 1917 promised a crowd in Petrograd, Russia peace if he came to rule. Many people supported his rebellion against the emerging democracy because it continued to help Britain, France, and the United States fight the German Empire in World War I. Lenin delivered his land from that conflict, but Russia knew not peace. The cost of Lenin's "peace" lay in the complete abandonment of political rights and the people's ability to defend them. The way was cleared for Lenin to start a new war against the Russian people. His war, carried on more terrifyingly by Stalin, successfully stole from the Russians their religion, land, firearms, and personal security against a despotic system. The Soviet Union from the 1920s until 1939 very rarely sent its soldiers to war, but its people did not know peace.

Peace is also unknown when threats hang like a Sword of Damocles over the world. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain infamously tried to purchase peace from Adolf Hitler by giving away parts of another country. Shortly thereafter Britain fought a war that, even though it technically won, ended with the destruction of its own empire and economic power. Again, lack of conflict did not mean peace.

We did not know peace with Iraq from 1991 to 2003. Hussein worked hard to skirt United Nations edicts, shoot down US and British planes, and make war on the Iraqi people. His sons, raised to be psychopaths, would have completely destabilized the region when they took over. We did not know peace with Iraq as it was. We will not know peace if we pull out too soon.

Trying to buy a lack of war or ignoring problems and hoping they go away is not peace. It is only war deferred. Better to address issues while they are still manageable than wait until they become dire. In the 1930s we waited too long and gave evil a chance to triumph. We are lucky that George W. Bush makes decisions for the good of the country as opposed to the good of the party or himself. Our sacrifice for peace over the past few years has been high, but not nearly as high as it would have been had we simply ignored the problem.

Peace is not war deferred. Peace only comes with a real and lasting commitment between all parties concerned.

Keyser's Continuing Council Conundrum

The Keyser City Council now is officially short one member. It may have been short one member since August 13th, or maybe even back to the last election.

On August 13th, Mayor Glen "Bunk" Shoemaker announced that council member George Chidester had submitted a written letter of resignation. This would be effective September 24th. One of the issues was the re-appointment of Jim Hannas as Supervisor of Streets and Sewers. Council member Sally Burnside has staunchly defended Hannas while Chidester has been critical. Burnside made a motion to accept the resignation of Chidester. However Marques Rice refused to second it.

One of the problems is that Chidester never took the oath of office, making him legally ineligible to have ever held a council seat. This could potentially call into question actions taken by the city while Chidester acted as a council member. This includes the designation of times for street parking around Potomac State College.

Keyser has over 5,000 residents, many of whom pay taxes. Hopefully whomever fills the vacancy left by Chidester can help strengthen the city government and its ability to meet the needs of the people. In many areas the city government provides outstanding service. However, the city council must quickly move past its own problems and get its house in order. The appearance of disorder in government will create an image detrimental to development.