2 West Virginia Congressman vote to keep fuel prices at record levels

While many across the country have canceled vacations due to high fuel cost, Congress decided to take a 5-week vacation of its own. The reason was to avoid solving the high fuel cost problem. The answer is simple; drill for more oil domestically. 71% of the nation now agrees that drilling for our own oil is a good idea.

Many in Congress claim that drilling will not lower the cost of oil. Consider that oil prices in countries that drill for their own oil are the lowest in the world and those that do not are the highest in the world. The laws of Economics are simple. If you increase supply and demand remains the same the price will drop.

Obama made the comment that we all need to inflate our tires to save more fuel. It is true that properly inflated tires will increase fuel mileage, but that is about the equivalent of trying to irrigate the desert with a garden hose. We are dealing with a Congress that doesn’t live like you and I. They do not understand that families are having to make choices on whether or not to go on vacation or buy back to school supplies.

House Vote #566; to leave Washington for a vacation without taking any action to lower fuel prices breaks down like this for the West Virginia delegation.

Aye WV-1 Mollohan, Alan [D]

Nay WV-2 Capito, Shelley [R]

Aye WV-3 Rahall, Nick [D]

Only Representative Capito wanted to stay to vote on a package to lower fuel cost to West Virginians and she had this to say, ““With high energy costs placing such a heavy burden on the lives of West Virginians, it is incredibly frustrating that this Congress has been unwilling to even have open debate on a comprehensive solution.” We must remember when we go to the polls who is with us and who is against us.

Completing Corridor H

According to West Virginia Metro News, the Appalachian Development Highway System (also known as the corridor system) will be completed in twelve years. This includes the completion of Corridor H which will eventually link Moorefield and Elkins.

The Appalachian highways have accomplished a great deal for certain areas of the state. According to Anne Pope, the nation gets back $3 for every $1 invested because of development. Corridor G linking Charleston to the coalfields has seen tremendous growth in the Charleston suburbs. Likely the finishing of Corridor H will have a similar effect in Moorefield and elsewhere since a lot of Washington DC bound traffic will find this route extremely convenient. The ease of travel on these roads should reduce fatalities while making the older two lane roads safer for scenic driving.

However this federal investment should be seen only as a foundation, not as the end. Reforms at the state level to lower taxes and reduce regulations will be needed if economic growth is to occur beyond the immediate vicinity of the highways. The region served by Corridor H at one time was very prosperous. When the railroads connected towns such as Davis to the national network, the region dveloped quickly because of a business friendly environment although some abuses did occur. Our state leaders need to drastically improve the business climate while keeping some protections in place. That will enable the people of West Virginia to get the maximum benefit from the new roads.

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In other local news, $93,000 in federal funds for the Hampshire County Sheriff's Department has just cleared its first hurdle. Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito helped the funding get past the House Appropriations Committee. If the Democratic Congress approves the funding, it will be used to update records management, facilitate communications between the sheriff's office and other jurisdictions, and fund other necessary items.

It Can Happen Here Too

Last year, Cape Hatteras National Seashore was the subject of a lawsuit launched by environmental extremists. They found a friendly judge who sided with them and issued an ultimatum to local residents, landowners, and tourists. Cape Hatteras National Seashore would be subject to complete closures to the public at any given time, or the seashore would be closed to humans entirely. Why? One species of piper on the seashore was placed on the threatened list. Not the endangered list, the threatened list.

The public was not consulted. Congress did not pass an act. The President did not sign an executive order. A liberal federal judge, without any scientific evidence, sided with environmentalist wackos and limited American citizens' rights to use public land. At one time, judges refrained from acting in such cases because the subject matter was considered more fit for the elected Congress to consider. Liberal federal judges see themselves as a legislature, unelected and serving for life. One of the areas closed was the popular "Point" region, the easternmost American territory on the Eastern Seaboard. Senator Elizabeth Dole and other GOP lawmakers from North Carolina last month launched the uphill battle to restore the rights of human beings to use taxpayer land.

Why does this matter to the Potomac Highlands and West Virginia? Think of all the federal land in the state currently used by West Virginians and those from outside the state. Also consider how much our state depends on tourist dollars. Any special interest group can file a lawsuit and potentially shut down access to parts of the national forest or the New River.

Theodore Roosevelt started the process of setting aside land for public use to preserve for future generations. Now environmentalists want to shut off large tracts of American land from any use whatsoever. We cannot allow the election of a president who will appoint judges who beleive that the law is their mouth.

Ruling Party versus Majority Party

No one has any illusions as to what constitutes the "Ruling Party" in West Virginia. For seventy-five years the Democratic Party has imposed Big Government solutions on the state, correlating with its drastic decline. We dropped from six congressional representatives to three, our economic position lies near the bottom, and studies show that by not keeping up with national population growth, we have lost many hundreds of thousands of productive and intelligent people. All that took place on the Ruling Party's watch.

However they seem scared in West Virginia. A current has formed that might just shift the tide of influence in the state. Six Democratic legislative incumbents lost their seats in the primary, an almost unheard of expression of malcontent within the Democrats' own rank and file. Add that to the fact that the GOP has carried West Virginia in the past two presidential elections handily.

As far as values and principles are concerned, the national Democratic Party has abandoned West Virginia style values. How long can state Democrats support gun rights, property rights, strong national security and oppose abortion at home while supporting people like Barack Obama nationally? When does inconsistency finally get exposed as hypocrisy?

The Democrats currently dominate in registrations and they rule the state. However, as far as values are concerned, the Republican Party is the majority in the state. Through careful and effective education, the West Virginia Republican Party could effect a major shift in the next decade if national Democrats continue to march left.

Hurrah For the Two Party System!

The two party system attracts a lot of criticism in America.

Some critics hate it because they say the parties are too alike in practice and even in ideology. Is this a bad thing? Our parties, for the most part, agree on quite a bit. They agree on the Constitution, democracy, and most Democrats even agree about capitalism. Would the critics rather have a party or two that was opposed to the entire American system?

The two party system moderates the extremes. Liberals have found that speaking and acting too extreme leads to not being elected to office. Most Americans are moderate and vote for moderate presidential candidates. The triumph of moderation means that change occurs with great deliberation. This too rankles some, but the Founding Fathers designed it this way. We debate and discuss changes sometimes too long, but this is better than fast paced change that comes from poor information or emotional appeals.

Our two party system creates real competition in most areas. Democrats and Republicans must remain true to the voters. The recent Republican Congress lost touch with the voters who rightfully kicked them out of office. Now the GOP has worked hard to return to the basic principles that got them elected in the first place. The Democratic Party has struggled with their extremist wing and will have to figure that issue out before Americans will trust them with foreign policy as they did for much of the twentieth century.

West Virginia desperately needs a two party system. Historically it has vacillated between eras dominated by Republicans or Democrats. Odds are that the passing of the New Deal generation and their children will lead to another swing back to Republican dominance. West Virginia's pattern reflects a tendency of the people to get so fed up with the ruling party that they reject it entirely for a generation or two until they get tired of that regime. State Democrats should be fearful that six of their legislative incumbents ended up tossed out by the voters.

However we do not need complete Republican rule in West Virginia for decades; that would lead to corruption and abuse as well. We need a healthy and vibrant two party system that responds to the voters' needs.

Sensible Leadership For Energy Solutions

In the past few weeks, the nation has seen evidence that our leadership has finally started acting on giving America sensible solutions to energy needs. And I don't mean Chicken Little Gore and his dire warnings about the death of human civilization, nor do I mean Ann Barth's interesting, yet not quite accurate statements about the continental shelf.

First we see President George W. Bush lifting the executive order banning continental shelf drilling. Now Congress needs to act to not only save their political skins, but to increase supply as quickly as possible. Critics claim that we may not see the benefit for five years, but won't we still need energy at that point even if they were correct? Wow, what if we had done this five years ago!

T. Boone Pickens, a Texan who made his money in oil, has launched a national campaign to create a more diversified energy base for America. It relies not only on domestically produced oil, but also clean coal technology, more extraction of natural gas, and also wind and solar power. This makes tremendous sense if leaders have the willingness to listen.

This brings us to our own congressional delegation. Alan Mollohan and Nick Joe Rahall continue to strenuously oppose drilling in a few thousand of the million plus acres of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge while continuing to back mountaintop removal coal mining. Do they still get a gold star from the Sierra Club? Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito joined a bipartisan group of twenty members of Congress from across the political spectrum as well as the nation. This group has made progress towards a compromise energy policy. Certainly we must encourage clean power sources such as wind, water, and solar sources, but the nation must understand that fossil fuel use will continue to be the backbone of our supply for a long time.

Americans historically react slowly to problems, but once engaged find solutions quickly. Congresswoman Capito's work on the energy study group not only will benefit her district and state, but also the nation and the world. When it comes to prosperity and security, as goes America, so goes the world. Thankfully we have a member of Congress willing to step up, disregard petty politics, and help lead the way.

The Unrelenting and Mindless Power of Government

One man's weed is another man's salad.

A Keyser pastor, I won't mention his name, intentionally allowed high stands of chicory to grow at the edge of his yard along the sidewalk. Chicory is considered by many to be a weed, but the pastor explained how the roots could be ground into a decent coffee and the shoots used for salad greens. Over and above that, he simply appreciated the beauty of these plants with almost silver stalks and lovely small flowers. Did it look different than other yards? Certainly, but who cares. It is his yard.

Apparently the city cares. Cars speed up Main Street and drug use is rampant. Therefore the city has to go on weed patrol and threaten to cite individuals who choose to allow a few to grow in their yard. He complied and cut the flowers down, but the situation is absolutely ridiculous.

First of all, it is a waste of taxpayer money to even use up the time to cite an otherwise well maintained yard. How can the city complain about shrinking budgets and even think about raising taxes when it uses its resources on this kind of garbage? Real criminals are out there, but we have to pay the city to harass preachers for what they choose to grow in their yard. The bigger issue is the loss of freedom. You don't lose freedom all at once, but in little slivers here and there. They count on the idea that it is more inconvenient to fight city hall than to assert one's right to grow a few harmless plants.

It all lies in the interpretation. What is a weed and what is useful? When did we grant the city the right to decide for us what is useful and what is ugly? The same danger lies in the enforcement of litter and cleanup ordinances. Government should never pass judgment on aesthetics. Most people may not like the commode used as a planter, but it is that person's right to use it as such. Not to mention the possibility that they could claim that it is art and get it protected by the First Amendment.

In cases where the public health is not directly threatened, no government should judge for the public what an individual decides to put in their yard or what they allow to grow in their yard. Government is the same in all times and places in that it is always mindless and relentless. Only a government properly restrained by the law can be trusted. Give government the power and they will use it badly in almost any situation.

Sheep and Wolves

One of Blackstone's most memorable legal maxims is that the sheep ought not be left in the care of the wolves. This idea drives much of our legal thought and policy because it represents common sense. You cannot leave the vulnerable to the whims of the predator.

Which brings us to Charles Minimah. The Republican Party selected Charles Minimah as its nominee to ensure that West Virginia elections remain as fair and free of corruption as possible. Minimah has a strong track record as an effective businessman and community leader. State GOP laders know that he will continue Betty Ireland's zealous commitment to fair state elections. Minimah also wants to make voting as accessible as possible to the handicapped, elderly, and others.

If Charles Minimah is the shepherd to our more corruption free election process, the Democratic Party represents the wolf. They selected a young anchorwoman with an attractive face, name recognition, and a commitment to the Democratic Party as their nominee. Certainly some of them long for the bad old days before Secretary of State Ireland took office and elections were easier to manipulate. She has in four years erased almost all of the cometary vote and Minimah will continue to prevent West Virginia's deceased from playing a role in the political process. Put the inexperienced candidate with close ties to the Democratic machine into office and our clean elections will be placed in jeopardy.

Elect Charles Minimah because we must not allow our elections to be in the hands of predators that want to manipulate them.

Vacationers and the $4 gallon of gas

I had heard the stories of how people are skipping vacations because of the high price of gas, even talked to people who were not vacationing because they tallied up the price of gas and it would cost too much. I expected less traffic this weekend when I drove to Va. Beach area, but that wasn't the case. Since I have family living in Richmond, Va and Newport News, Va, my wife and I have been regular travelers of that route for the last two years. Traffic was at least as bad if not worse for our trip than in prior years. I don't know the statistics of visitors to the beaches this year, but if my extra 2 hours of traffic delays yesterday are any indication, beach vacations are as popular as ever. My hotel had not reduced it's cost to attract customers in a dwindling vacation market, on the contrary, they were booked to capacity as were all the other hotels in the area. When I thought about this long and hard I realized that even though gas prices doubled in the last year or so, compared to the cost of the trip, it wasn't a big increase. Not big enough to cancel plans or to skip driving to Newport News for a family members wedding. My minivan holds about 20 gallons of gas. So a complete fill-up adds about $40 compared to $2 per gallon gas prices. That tank of gas could get me there and almost back home. So my gas price may be $40-$50 higher than in previous years. My hotel was $250 for two nights, and I spent over $150 on meals and the customary round of pre-wedding golf. That was a 48 hour trip. Had we gone for an entire week, our budget would have been around $2500 and the extra $50 in gas wouldn't even be noticed.

We rarely think of it in total cost terms. My wife shops for the lowest price on gas. But even a 10 cent savings per gallon only saves us about $2 or the cost of my cup of coffee on a fill up.

Guess what the most popular vehicle on the road was...not just an SUV, but Chevy Suburban and Ford Expedition sized SUVs. The super-SUVs. And reasonably so, the space makes your drive more comfortable, and the extra large gas tanks makes it so you don't have to stop to fill up en route. My sister-in-law drives a Hyundai Tiburon and had to stop 2x in her trip from Western PA to Va Beach to fill up. When you have kids in the car, stopping is a 20-30 minute ordeal, not to mention the possibility of sturring up a fight or interrupting a movie. So the large SUV may add $100+ to your gas bill, but having space (with kids that translates into peace and quiet) and saving 4-5 stops and 2 hours of travel time is worth a 4% increase to the vacation budget. With the extra space, one can bring your own beach equipment, bikes, etc. which will save money and time over renting this equipment upon arrival. The benefits seem to outweigh the extra cost of gas and neither the low gas mileage nor the $4/gallon price tag seem to have slowed down vacationer traffic.

Gary Howell's remarks at fundraising event

Gary Howell, candidate for the State Senate from the 14th District, addressed both Democrat and Republican attendees at a fundraiser held in Tucker County last week at the home of former Delegate Debbie Stevens. You can watch and listen to his remarks here.

Obama's Campaign Called Arrogant By Democrats

Apparently Democrats on Capitol Hill and in their party's organization have already had their fill of the presumptive nominee Barack Obama.

This comes as the latest in a series of Obama related problems that have plagued the campaign. The New Yorker magazine, an extremely liberal publication, produced a cover with Obama wearing a turban, his wife sporting militant black attire, an American flag burning in the fireplace under a portrait of Osama Bin Laden. Prior to this, Jesse Jackson threatened to relieve Obama of a sensitive part of his anatomy. CNN recently called joint appearances with Hillary Clinton the "Disunity Tour." The proposed "dream ticket" could prove a nightmare now. Select Hillary and risk more personality conflicts while alienating more moderate Democrats. Fail to select Hillary and they have her outside the tipi causing trouble inside instead of inside the tipi aiming outwards. Now congressional Democrats blast the campaign for not helping with fundraising or even communicating with them. Some have voiced complaints about Obama using a new venue for his acceptance speech.

Meanwhile John McCain continues to push forward as a calm and reasonable voice. He has deftly created a policy identity independent of President Bush while supporting the general ideas behind current policy. Obama's backwards pronouncements on foreign policy have caught up with him as McCain trotted out again his opponent's bizarre desire to invade our Pakistani ally. Obama also continued the tired mantra about the United States losing the war in Iraq in a time in which even moderate anti-war protesters realize that we have almost achieved our objectives.

The polls show that Obamamania has drastically cooled. McCain, according to Newsweek, had fallen fifteen points behind as little as two weeks ago. Now they are in a statistical dead heat. This resembles the election of 1984 when Walter Mondale held a tremendous lead over incumbent Ronald Reagan until the summer. Liberals tend to fare worse as elections draw closer and voters start to consider real world issues instead of dreams.

As long as John McCain stays on issue and keeps to the high road while aggressively pushing his ideas, he should win easily in November.

The US Senate Almost Unanimously Agrees: Bush Strategy in Iraq Is Working

Maybe the media was the last to get the memorandum on this.

MoveOn.Org infamously called him "General Betrayus" in a massive New York Times advertisement. This sparked discussion and outrage because General David Petraeus had not even gotten his feet wet in Iraq. It will likely inspire scores of GOP commercials directed against any candidate unfortunate enough to have taken this anti-American organization's donations.

The United States Senate, in a sense, almost unanimously endorsed the current direction in Iraq last week with their confirmation of this general as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Many applauded his ability to de-escalate the violence and bring political stability. Deaths among American servicemen and Iraqis have fallen as a result. Iraq now feels confident enough to ask the United States for some indication about when US servicemen will start to be pulled out. If anyone needs any indication that Iraq is not Vietnam, the host country requesting a timetable for pullout represents a strong example of this truth.

Senator Robert Byrd voted against this confirmation, but not for reasons you might anticipate. He argued that a successful commander ought to be left where he is. Continuity in command makes more sense than promotion at this point, according to the Senator. We did not promote Dwight D. Eisenhower out of his active role after D-Day. President Lincoln did not desire to remove Ulysses S. Grant from the battlefield because he found success where other Union generals had not. Senator Byrd does have a valid point.

However, let us not lose sight of the meaning of this vote. Senate Democrats demonstrated confidence in the Bush Administration and his commanders whether they wanted to reward success with a promotion, or keep a good general where he enjoyed success. We have come a long way in a short time in this war. We must thank first and foremost the servicemen who have sacrificed to do the job right, next their commanders for working to fashion a plan for victory, and finally President Bush whose political courage helped better the lives of millions of Iraqis who were initially freed from tyranny and will now face more freedom from terror.

CNBC Rates West Virginia Three Spots Lower in 2008

Open for business? Not according to CNBC.

In the past year, West Virginia has dropped from 44th to 47th in the nation in terms of having a business friendly environment. While we rate very well in the cost of doing business, we rank 49th in technology and innovation and 50th in terms of business friendliness.

Surely that is part and parcel of being in a traditionally neglected Appalachia, right? Not necessarily. Our neighboring states rate far better than we do. Virginia ranks 2nd, falling from number one last year. Ohio, usually cited as an underachieving state, rates 30th. Pennsylvania has a rating of 23rd and Maryland 36th. Even Kentucky earned a rating of 35th. Kentucky pulling ahead of Maryland is a surprise on the surface, but the left-liberal stranglehold on our northern neighbor cannot be helping it much.

These numbers desperately scream for a change. In this situation, change is not a platitude. Republican nominee for governor Russ Weeks and most GOP candidates for the legislature agree that West Virginia requires structural changes in the way it approaches the business sector. It is not just the law. We need to help transform people's basic attitudes about business. There is a mistrust there that goes back generations and this must be addressed. We also have people who prefer to keep West Virginia as it is because they see no need for economic development. They have their fortunes made and do not worry too much about the rest of us.

We must address this issue or continue to fall farther behind. Here is a link to the article from CNBC.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/25447869

Coming Soon to a Stadium in Colorado....Obamanation

Conventions in recent years have transformed into attention getting parties for candidates but nothing in the past will top the "look at me"fest that Barack Obama has planned for his party. Instead of holding the climactic day in the convention hall, Obama wants to issue free tickets to try and fill a 75,000 seat stadium. He plans to show the country, the world, and most importantly the Democratic Party how much the people love him.

Obama hopes to garner the same kinds of press accolades that he got when he spoke after a massive rock festival. The press gave him the credit for attracting tens of thousands of attendees who had really come to see free music. How will this play with the Democratic Party, though? Party conventions serve another purpose other than anointing the next nominee for the presidency. They also function as rewards for hard working, cash donating, or long time faithful party members. All of a sudden the restricted club will be completely open to the public on the most important day. How will the old Democratic machine politicians react to this?

Obama also faces a serious problem. Certainly the backbone of his support thus far has lain with the antiwar crazies to whom he promised a definite end date on Iraq. He also slammed Bush's refusal to agree to a timetable that might encourage terrorists to lay low until the danger is gone. Now gas prices have taken center stage as an issue and the Democrats do not fare well here due to their refusal to allow expanded drilling. Iraq has stabilized; its government and military gain more confidence monthly while the violence plummets.

As a result Obama recently announced that as president he will not stick to a set timetable, but evaluate the situation as it develops. Smart thing to say, but his statement almost precisely mimics the stance of President George W. Bush. Iraq itself may make this a moot point because they themselves want to set a plan for US troop withdrawal. If President Bush comes to an agreement with Iraq on this issue and the country remains stable, the war cannot be defined as anything but a success. The extreme anti-American anti-war crowd will not stand by a candidate that admits in the least that President Bush's policies actually succeeded. On the other hand, mainstream America knows success when they see it.


Meanwhile John McCain has started campaigning aggressively. His style differs strongly from President Bush's campaign in 2004. Senator McCain gives a speech, then walks into the crowd to engage the people one on one. His campaign runs opposite to that of Obama. McCain sees the opinion and perspective of each individual as important, something that reflects America's belief in individualism. Obama emphasizes the collective experience, making the individual feel part of something larger, but small himself. His Colorado extravaganza reflects a Benito Mussolini style that works well for sports fans and rock concert attendees, but is not conducive to stating a rational message.

The obstacles continue to pile up for Obama. Perhaps that is why he now calls himself the underdog in the race.

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Let's give credit to President George W. Bush for making a courageous decision this week, overturning the executive ban that his father placed on offshore drilling and exploration. Anyone who knows anything about the current President Bush understands that this had to be a personally difficult decision. George W. Bush has always demonstrated a sincere and powerful loyalty to his father and the legacy of that presidency. To personally repeal a measure his father imposed must have been gut wrenching.

However President Bush understands that times have certainly changed. In the first Bush's presidency, gasoline prices hovered around a dollar a gallon on average, lagging far behind inflation. Now they drive inflation and threaten to undo twenty-five years of prosperity. It is not to go back to relying solely on cheap oil that we must do this. The US should continue expanding its use of native natural gas and oil as well as coal while also generating more power from wind and solar sources. Diversification brings stability.

The Brilliance of President George W. Bush

It's not fashionable to say it, even amongst the conservatives who voted for him. The truth is inescapable, though. When it comes to foreign policy and bolstering American credibility in the world, President Bush and his administration have performed brilliantly.

After eight years of mollycoddling by Bill Clinton, President Bush's unabashedly aggressive policies worked like a bucket of ice water on a soundly sleeping child. Europe especially had to wake up and recognize the new sheriff in town. President Bush after 9/11 then named the three most wanted malefactors against world peace. His "Axis of Evil" address offended the sensibilities of liberals and professional diplomats in the same manner as President Reagan's "Evil Empire" analogy. In the long run, this kind of labeling when applied to rogue regimes is difficult to shake.

President Bush in Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrated American resolve. Bill Clinton issued threats just as when the National Weather Service issues a thunderstorm threat. It may or may not come. President Bush along the same line issued warnings; in other words the storm is coming.

The world got used to an America ready to defend the interests of real peace and it responded. Anti-American governments fell in nations such as Germany and France despite the fact that the world press labeled the people as literally hating the United States. Perhaps they understand better than academics and the press who the real threat is. Meanwhile some states such as Libya abandoned their previous policies of seeking WMDs and supporting terror. Palestinian terror has dropped significantly since its major benefactor Saddam Hussein was expelled from power. Vietnam sought a partnership with the US against Islamic terror.

Dominoes continue to fall. Europe backed out of any support of Iran as its frightened president turned up the rhetorical heat. North Korea negotiated its way out of the Axis of Evil by succumbing to regional pressure led by the US. Now Iran stands virtually alone, even Chavez has not been his usual boisterous self lately. All this has happened quietly without a lot of saber rattling by the US. Once we proved that we would act, the rest of the world friend or foe knows they can count on American resolve.

Had Congress listened to the president's wishes domestically, our position would be even stronger. Imagine if we had followed President Bush's wishes from his first months in office when he warned us about upcoming energy shortages. We could be almost self-sufficient if we would only tap our own sources. His only flaw has been his inability to sell his policies in the same manner as Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, or Ronald Reagan. This reflects a businesslike mentality in the White House, but the result has been an electorate easily convinced by emotional appeals from his opponents.

At the end of the day, the Bush foreign policy has worked miraculous change. Europe stands with an aggressive United States. Even moderate anti-war activists have to accept the fact that the United States has almost succeeded in Iraq. Iran stands alone without support from any of its previous benefactors. Japan, Britain, and Australia stand with us as firmly as ever.

Hats off to President George W. Bush, a president who was not afraid to act and who has given the world real solutions rather than band aids.

RCBI Demonstrates Some Inconsistencies

Imagine that you are back in school and your teacher assigns a paper. Which tool would you prefer to use to write it, a typewriter or a word processor? Sure you could use a typewriter, but it is much more difficult and time consuming and you have a higher chance of making time consuming errors. This is the analogy used by some local businessmen to explain the changes taking place at RCBI.

In a recent letter to the editor, the CEO of RCBI explained that the changes were not substantial and should not cause access problems. However in a letter addressed to local businesses, they apologize for the inconvenience caused by removing the machines to Bridgeport. This is a standard courtesy. However they go on to offer a reduced rate for the next twelve months as compensation. This reflects an acknowledgment that removal of the machines will cause problems for the businesses that need them.

In some cases the new machines have reduced size capacity. In others, the difference lies in ease of use. The machines being removed are computerized. This means that different components can change very easily and that it is capable of much more complicated work. What they will now use does not have nearly the same capabilities or ease of use for the small and moderate sized business market.

It is entirely likely that removing these machines from Rocket Center represents a business type decision. Officials have to come periodically from Marshall University to oversee the operation. Gas prices have forced cutbacks to alot of people and organizations. If this, or something like it is the case, RCBI should just state those facts. However they should not privately apologize to local businessmen for imposing a severe inconvenience, but tell the public that all is well.

Will this affect the daily lives of most people in the region? Probably not. However in the long term, access to these kinds of facilities represented a marketing asset for attracting business to the Potomac Highlands. One answer could be to try and interest West Virginia University in taking over the operation of these machines in its own facilities in Keyser. With an emphasis on marketing the services, Potomac State (a branch campus of WVU) might be able to make them profitable where Marshall University's RCBI could not.

Tony Snow passes away at age 53

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Snow family.

Snow was an anchor for Fox News Channel. He replaced Scott McClellan in May 2006 as President Bush's press secretary.

Snow served 17 months as press secretary, when his second bout with cancer occurred. He resigned as Bush's chief spokesman six months later. He joined CNN as a commentator after leaving the Whitehouse.

Snow's fairness and presence will be missed.

Honoring those currently protecting freedom

This past weekend we celebrated the birth of our nation and most of did it with family and friends at picnics and festivals, then ended the day with fireworks. The start of the greatest nation on the face of the earth is definitely a day worth celebrating, but we should never forget those that maintain it and the freedoms it affords us.

While we rightfully have great ceremonies that honor those who have served in the past, the town of Valley Point, WV has found a way to honor those currently defending freedom. The 3^rd of every month people from around Preston County gather around an old Oak tree in Valley Point decorated with yellow ribbons. The yellow ribbons are labeled with names of each Preston County solider currently deployed defending freedom.

The ceremony opens with a prayer, moves on to those in attendance singing the national anthem and reciting the pledge of allegiance. Those returning home from overseas are given a certificate of appreciation for their service to the nation, their name is removed from the oak tree and they are welcomed home. The names of those newly deployed have their yellow ribbons added to the tree and prayer said for their safe return.

The honoring is held the 3^rd of every month at 5 in afternoon. Just as our troops stand guard in rain, snow, and blazing heat without fail, the ceremony is never canceled due to weather without fail. If our troops can do it, then those honoring them can as well. On a rainy muddy July 3^rd between 100 and 200 people stood praying for the safe return of those that keep us safe.

This is a great way to honor those currently defending freedom. I think it would be nice if we could find an Old Oak tree in Mineral County where would could do that same.

Where Have You Gone Henry Gassaway Davis?

Our state needs help. About four years ago someone promised us that it was on the way, but we did not get as much as we expected. Despite the competitive advantages West Virginia enjoys in terms of location, natural beauty, and relatively low costs, our state squanders it away with a burdensome tax system and a lawsuit lottery mentality egged on by ridiculous judges.

Certainly some Democrats in the state understand what Republicans have known for years. Get rid of the corruption, fix the tax system, reform the judiciary and give business a reason to locate here. However none of them have truly stepped forward and demanded the changes that will give the people what they want, opportunities.

It takes courage to buck the party and support what is right. After the Civil War, a Union supporting Democrat named Henry Gassaway Davis gained influence. He successfully built up his business in Piedmont, then expanded his operations into mining and railroads. With his son-in-law Stephen Elkins, Davis helped to construct north central West Virginia into an industrial power.

Davis also exercised political power, serving in the West Virginia State Legislature and the United States Senate. For much of his life he remained a loyal Democrat. However he did not fear supporting Republicans when he saw their platform benefiting his state. One such issue was when the nation almost tore itself apart over the issue of whether or not to have sound or inflated currency. Davis supported the stable economy that sound currency would establish, giving Republicans assistance and support because he saw their stand as being better for the state. When his party returned to his values, Davis once again supported them and was the Democratic vice presidential candidate when he was in his 80s.

In our time, some Republicans think Joe Manchin is one of them. Sure he has advanced a few reforms here and there, but they often stop short of the decisive measures necessary to really bring change to this state. That being said, he supports the guru of nebulous change promises, Barack Obama. Some say that Manchin is a possibility for vice president. Because of this, the governor must associate himself with a pro-abortion candidate whose regulatory plans will severely damage the coal industry, and who has acted in the past against a person's right to defend their own home and family with a firearm. Murdering babies, killing the coal jobs vital to so many families, but wanting homicidal criminals to get the upper hand against law abiding homeowners. Those are definitely not West Virginia values.

Somewhere, somehow, Henry Gassaway Davis must be changing his registration.

Whitewater Rafting Industry May Be Killed Soon

Now we shall see in a major way if West Virginia's lawsuit friendly legal system will devastate West Virginia tourism.

A rafting outfit based in Harpers Ferry recently saw a rash of injuries related to its operation. Amazingly, when people get on rafts that ride rough water at fairly high speeds sometimes they do get hurt. Sometimes people even die. Under West Virginia state law (at least for now) those who pay to raft assume the risk of participating. If you get hurt, tough luck. It's dangerous and you knew that when you started. Assumption of risk protects many industries in the United States. One cannot sue a baseball team if one gets conked in the head by a foul ball, for example.

The protection for rafting companies may not be as ironclad as it appears. Our creative trial lawyers have come up with a novel argument. Activities on rivers come under maritime law, a set of laws that apply most often to ships on the high seas. A cruise liner is responsible for the safety of those aboard to a certain extent, much more so than a rafting company. Maritime law does not absolve the private sector nearly as much.

Will the State Supreme Court buy these arguments? On the surface, it certainly should not. The rivers and streams of the state are controlled by the state. State law should certainly govern these activities. However, with our trial lawyer friendly Supreme Court, one never knows what decisions could emerge from the chief court in a state often called a "judicial hellhole."

If maritime law governance of state rivers is permitted, that means the end of the rafting industry in West Virginia. Insurance carriers will lift premiums considerably or drop companies in the state altogether. This concept forces the asking of wider questions. What about boating in general on the lakes and streams of the state?

The main problem here is greed. Too many people apply the word greed to corporations seeking to make a legitimate profit for their investment and work. Making profits that are earned is not greed. Greed is seeking money that one is not entitled to. In this country far too often we see tragedy as a lottery ticket. Someone gets injured or killed these days, you can bet there will be a lawsuit for an outrageous amount of money. Legal systems everywhere, not just in West Virginia, need to tighten up to protect legitimate business from foolish lawsuits.

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It, Especially For Old Fashioned Political Reasons

If only most marriages ran as smoothly as that between the Mountaineer Sports Network and West Virginia Radio Corporation.

For over sixty years West Virginia University sports have been broadcast over the network affiliates of WVRC. This arrangement has given WVU total control over its marketing and promotions while giving WVRC and Metro News high visibility and decent profits. Now outgoing president Mike Garrison wants to add disrupting this arrangement to the Magical Misery Tour of his presidency.

Garrison and others argue that bidding out the rights to broadcasts represents the wave of the future. Syracuse, Connecticut, and others do this currently. Others argue that WVU's arrangement reflects the much more profitable broadcast model that professional sports franchises utilize. One could certainly argue that this model works better for WVU, since its sports have been described as the state's "professional" teams (meaning that the audience responds to the teams in the manner that big city residents treat their professional franchises.)

What few people have said outright is that this may be nothing but hardball politics. West Virginia Radio Corporation is run by former GOP US Senate candidate John Raese. Metro News' most visible personailty besides play by play man Tony Caridi is political commentator Hoppy Kercheval. Kercheval has a daily radio program and online commentary. He grew into an outspoken critic of Garrison over the past several months.

Could this be an old fashioned Bogg Hogg type political revenge ploy? Hopefully Garrison will not be permitted to do the university any more damage before his fall departure.

*******************************************************************

This is Bob Hertzel's column that discusses the issue. Although discussions have been in the works for some time, it is interesting that the issue has just recently come to a head.

http://www.timeswv.com/wvu_sports/local_story_188230156.html

Howell pledges to fight in Senate against losses like the CNC Center

Press Release

Howell pledges to fight in Senate against losses like the CNC Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gary Howell

Monday, July 07, 2008 304-790-9292

KEYSER — Gary Howell, candidate for the State Senate from the 14^th District, was the focus of a story last week about the announced move of the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining center and the CNC Turning Center from the Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) in Mineral County to the RCBI location in Bridgeport. Today, Howell said he will fight in the State Senate to prevent actions like this from occurring in the future.

CNC machines are sophisticated milling machines for low-volume production, giving businesses the ability to make small, precise parts. The move was announced last week by RCBI CEO and Director Charlotte Weber.

But Howell, owner and operator of Howell Automotive in Keyser, told the Mineral Daily News Tribune, “The ability to make small parts has given us a competitive edge in our businesses — otherwise we wouldn’t be able to make these parts.”

Howell added, “A CNC Machine can do a part in half-hour whereas the same part will take the manual machine three days to make — it’s basically useless. The difference between using a CNC Machine and Manual Machine is like the difference between sending a package to California through Fed Ex next day air and sending the package on foot.”

In a follow-up editorial, the News Tribune said, “It's difficult to view this week's news from Rocket Center as anything other than a setback for economic development in Mineral County.” The editorial added, “Gary Howell, a local businessman who has used the milling machines … said the relocation is a setback not only for local businesses, but for the larger economic development effort in the county.”

The newspaper added that the decision reinforces the impression that the region is “something less than a top priority for state and regional economic development.”

Howell said today that one of the main reasons he wants to serve in the State Senate is to make sure the 14^th District is not taken for granted.

“The jobs and working families of the 14^th District deserve more attention and respect from the rest of the state,” said Howell. “Serving in the Senate, I’ll make sure jobs, businesses and services are not stolen away from the people of Barbour, Grant, Mineral, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor and Tucker counties and moved to parts of the state that currently seem to have more clout.”

Who's Next On Their Hit List, Sergeant York?

Much to Barrack Obama's chagrin, the looney left wingers that he has depended upon for support just cannot keep quiet. With friends like these, he needs no enemies.

An avalanche of criticism from the anti-American extreme Left has been launched against the war record of John McCain. Yes, John McCain. A former prisoner of war, tortured until he was permanently injured, a man that elected to stay in captivity so as not to embarass his country, his service, and his family. Yes, that John McCain.

It started not long ago. Our very own US Senator Jay Rockefeller questioned the morality of John McCain launching munitions that might have killed civilians. Of course the US did not use the types of weapons he described at the time. Additionally American forces were much more selective about their targets in Vietnam than the Allies in World War II. Not to mention the fact that airmen drop bombs where they are told.

Since then lefties have criticized McCain for making a video in captivity that included statements supporting North Vietnam. One accused McCain of disloyalty. Outrageous! How can anyone criticize the actions of John McCain while in captivity unless they walked a mile in those shoes? The North Vietnamese relentlessly beat this man physically and mentally. He had no idea whether or not he would survive. Most of the extreme Left consider ten minutes in Wal Mart as excruciating torture. God forbid they walk into a place where people watch Fox News. Oh the humanity! Sure, sit there on your easy chair banging out a blog on your computer in your comfortable house, passing judgment on a righteous man living in hell.

The most sinister criticisms thinly veil a condemnation of any US involvement in war. McCain gets accused by these crazies of being a "war criminal." Their explanations reveal that they see any US war as being criminal because they use the term so broadly. It galls them that a man who endured so much torment during the war could possibly support President Bush in our current situation.

I suppose the US ought to simply allow the Hitlers and Husseins of the world to continue pushing their horror onto the people who find themselves in terror's hands. Maybe the US should turn its back on its friends, like so many Monday morning quarterbacks advocated during and after the Vietnam War. They forget that the US had an ironclad guarantee of support for South Vietnam. We had as much treaty commitment to them as to Britain or any other NATO nation at the time.

Many of those that oppose the war do so out of a difference of opinion, but retain their respect for the military and the government. America is all about expressing differences, but at the end of the day good citizens must all support the men and women that sacrifice to defend us. However, others are much more malevolent. So many of them hate America and have contempt for Americans. The excrement they spew befouls a body politic generally unaccustomed to hearing from those that hate our entire system and society.

Whether or not you agree with him or vote for him, it cannot be denied that the man sacrificed for his nation and deserves the highest respect for it. John McCain is a hero. Period.

Happy Birthday America!

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Julia Ward Howe February 1862

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on."
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Chorus
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

This song appeared during one of the darkest years of American history. After the publication of this tune in Atlantic magazine, Union forces pushed to the gates of the Confederate capital of Richmond only to be turned back. Many thousands of men perished from Virginia to Texas. It looked like the United States and its great constitutional experiment would collapse to the glee of old Europe.

Union soldiers made this song popular because it appealed to the sense of mission that many of them carried with them. It compares their sacrifice for freedom with Christ's sacrifice for humanity's salvation. This hymn expresses an America triumphant because it is one of the only in history where people "die to make men free."

Reflect upon that for a second. Our national mission is not to own or dominate others, but to serve as the scourge of tyranny and the protector of freedom. In Ronald Reagan's words to the Normandy veterans in 1984, "These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war."

America often seems a contradiction. We truly hate war, but when engaged we fight it vigorously. Some in other countries and even a few in our own see that as hypocrisy. They could not be more wrong. America historically loves freedom more than it hates war. We will not dip our flag to tyrants to preserve a false peace. We could have continued bearing the burden of taxes while not enjoying representation in Parliament. We could have cut off trade with Britain in 1917. Hitler was desperate to accomodate himself to America until late 1941. America could have avoided most of its wars, but the country and the people love freedom and hate tyranny.

It is right to wish the United States of America a happy birthday today. We live in one of the only nations in history that has from the beginning "fought to make men free." We have not always lived up to our standards, but overall the world and its people enjoy more freedom and prosperity than if there had been no United States. It is because of our values, our actions, and our sacrifices that this is so. Human civilization never advanced so far in any other 230 year span as it has since the United States of America came into existence.

Happy birthday! So long as you remain free, may there be many more.

Representative Shelley Moore Capito Starts Energy Action Website

On June 27th, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito launched a new energy action website to address West Virginians' rising concerns about fuel costs.

http://capito.house.gov/Energy.shtml

This site provides information that most West Virginians can use in efforts to conserve energy and save themselves money. Constituents that suspect price gouging have an easy means to report problems as well. Finally the site gives up to date information on Congresswoman Capito's efforts to help West Virginia, America, and the world secure long term energy solutions.

From this site, a reader can learn of the efforts made by Congresswoman Capito to move America towards liquefication of coal. Why not embrace this easy to access resource that puts money into American pockets and employs Americans right here at home. Natural gas production puts money into the pockets of West Virginia landowners when they do not get fooled by unscrupulous agents who convince individuals, companies, even governments to sell rights for a fraction of what they are worth.

Obviously West Virginia should play a strong role in America's energy transition. We sit upon large supplies of natural gas and coal and have grown into a national leader in terms of expanding our wind harvesting capabilities. Liberals would rather see the average American sacrifice economic prosperity or their standard of living to fall more in line with other countries that do not live so well. Congresswoman Capito knows that with the right ideas America can move forward, restore the dominance we once knew in energy production, and maintain our standard of living that remains the envy of the world.

*********************************************************************

The Board of Governors recently announced the selection of two new members. Dr. Charles M. Vest, President Emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will give a tremendous boost to the shaken credibility of that body. Also appointed was former West Virginia University quarterback Oliver Luck. Luck since his graduation and short stint with the Houston Oilers obtained a law degree and worked as an executive with multiple sports franchises. Metro News's Hoppy Kercheval wrote last week that Luck ought to be considered because of his experience, ties to the university, and lack of political connections.

Potomac Highlands to Lose Key Facility

The Robert C. Byrd Center in Mineral County has announced that it will expand its Machinist Technology Program to include a larger number of students. In one way, this is a positive move because it offers more opportunities for locals to gain valuable skills. The problem lies with what has to go to make room. The CNC Machining Center and the CNC Turning Center must move to Bridgeport so that the MTP can expand.

This does not seem to affect the region on the surface. One program expands, another contracts. However, this represents yet another loss to those trying to recruit companies to the region that provide good paying industrial jobs. No company, especially in these times, wants to deal with any longer distances than are absolutely necessary. The Potomac Highlands loses an asset when it loses these facilities.

So what is the answer? The various legislators and county commissioners of the region should work together and fight to keep this facility local. We have industrial parks with plenty of room to accomodate a variety of operations. Decentralization in this time of restricted energry supplies and high costs is crucial.

Where Have the Heroes Gone?

Real heroes are important. They give us models on how to get to where we want to go, on how to conduct ourselves, on what is important versus what is trivial.

It used to be easy to find heroes. Schools used to place them on the walls of each and every classroom. Framed prints of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln beside the large United States flag once dominated each room. These men defined courage, strength, and fighting against fearful odds for the cause of right. We learned about other heroes as we made our way through history. We got to know Thomas Jefferson, both Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, Martin Luther King Jr. and so many others. Great men and women who made a strong impact upon history deserve attention. Students deserve to learn about people such as Jesus Christ, Moses, Queen Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, Martin Luther and a long list of mentionables.

Open a textbook used in public schools these days. Where can one find a hero? Today the books and many of the new teachers represent the new style of teaching history. Let me be correct, social studies. The word history evokes the powerful narrative of human development from tyranny to the freedom we enjoy today. Social studies does not have quite the same power. It's not meant to. Nowadays you read more about how America has oppressed this group or that group at any given time much more so than you learn about an America that learns from its mistakes and strives to meet its own standards.

The textbooks and many of the teachers create a massive drumbeat of a message. They developed during a time when the academic world rejected the idea that individuals could make a difference. Rightly they sought to study and emphasize peoples heretofore ignored by history. Wrongly they destroyed the idea of "hero." George Washington's status as a slaveowner makes him a villain rather than a hero that stood for the kind of principles that would later insist upon emancipation.

To the new social studies experts, all capitalist and democratic forms of authority differ very little from dictatorships. President Thomas Jefferson does not differ much from Idi Amin. To the new way of thinking, authority exploits unless it is grounded in some "progressive" (read Marxist) line of thinking. Heroes don't exist because the new social studies shows that social movements matter, not individuals. If you did not have a George Washington to lead the Revolution, some other exploitative authority figure would have.

It's not American and it's blatantly wrong. Individuals can make a difference. They do matter. We need heroes now more than ever, men and women that stand larger than life and represent something real. The good side of this is that the heroes are still with us. We've been taught for so long to ignore or dilute heroism and not think of great individuals. The challenge to those that still believe in a heroic America is to find these men and women, lift them up, and give them the attention they deserve. Not for the sake of the heroes themselves. Real heroes usually do not like recognition. Do it for the sake of those looking for inspiration, who still believe an individual can make a difference doing the right thing instead of the wrong thing.

The taxman cometh, The people goeth

The facts are all around us if you choose to look at them. John Adams said it best,”Facts are stubborn things and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” Of the Potomac Highland Counties, Mineral has the highest tax levy rate and lost 0.2% in population in the 2005 census estimate, Hampshire County which has the lowest levy rate gained 9.0%. If not for Mineral County’s proximity to Allegany County, MD it would have been worse. Mineral is the lesser of those two evils.

Migration reflects the dissatisfaction of the populous with the policies of the local government. Those that don’t like the current policies with the means leave, those that like them arrive. With that migration comes a change in influence. As Hampshire County grows in population it will pull in more voters in its senate and house districts. This obviously will increase Hampshire County’s influence in Charleston, and Mineral County’s will wane.

The counties seeing a reduction in population are saddled with an increasing burden of providing services with a reduction of tax base. The tendency is for political pressure to increase taxes, as is the case in Mineral County. This increase tax will increase the rate of migration out of the county. This migration is higher with the better educated residents as their skill set is more easily transferred draining the local economy of its highest income earners.

With the facts in evidence a clear course of action emerges for sound growth, cut the taxes. A counties budget increases should be limited to a combination of inflation and population growth. This will keep tax rates low and encourage economic growth for the benefit of all residents.

Howell praises Supreme Court decision upholding Second Amendment rights

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gary Howell

Friday, June 27, 2008 304-790-9292

Howell praises Supreme Court decision upholding Second Amendment rights

KEYSER, WV — Gary Howell, candidate for the State Senate from the 14^th District, today praised the United States Supreme Court for overturning the Washington D.C. ban on handgun ownership and reaffirming the protections afforded by the Second Amendment.

“The decision by the Court is good news for all of us who care about the right to keep and bear arms,” said Howell. “In West Virginia, we especially value the protections of the Second Amendment, so this ruling is particularly good news in the Mountain State.”

Howell warned, though, that the narrow 5-4 decision signals that those who value the rights guaranteed by the Constitution must remain vigilant.

“It is obviously imperative that citizens continue to elect candidates to office who will protect all of our rights, from the president to the local level,” said Howell.

Howell is a longtime member of the NRA who owns and operates Howell Automotive in Keyser.

-30-

Where Homeschooled Children Can Go From Here

The Mineral County Board of Education passed into legitimate law the action taken last school year to remove from the rolls of homeschoolers those that spend more than 50% of their time in traditional school classes. This action provoked a hostile reaction at the time because it had no basis in the law. Now some homeschooling parents will have to make the adjustment.

Increasing numbers of parents every year opt to remove their children from the traditional school environment. At one time schools reflected the values and standards of each individual community. Now they mirror the goals and dreams of far away bureaucrats and academics. Under their leadership, public schools veer crazily from social experiment to social engineering.

Consolidation has damaged the schools severely. In the past the schools were based in the community and so were the teachers. Teachers were neighbors to the students they taught and had stronger connections to the community. Now the ties that once bound teachers to students and parents have frayed considerably. No one knows each other. This makes it easier for teachers to not hold themselves to high standards. It also makes it easier for parents to mistrust and dislike the school system.

These and other factors drive students out of the traditional school environment. So where can their parents go to get them the best education possible? The answer lies in the free market. Homeschooling parents can band together, pool money, and pay a retiree or a graduate student to teach a subject (such as math) that parents might find difficult to explain. They can establish their own mini schools that reflect the values they want to teach.

The freedom to choose should always remain the basis of a democratic society. When parents create more options for their children, this invigorates their own children's education. Hopefully it will force the public system to respond more effectively to community concerns.

An Idea For Our Schools

Last weekend, the West Virginia Republican Party's convention heard a tremendous speech from the former Minister of Labour for New Zealand. He explained how aggressive reforms geared towards expanding the free market helped to galvanize almost every sector of a formerly depressed economy.

He explained that his office tried common sense solutions. They had twenty-four programs addressing skills and employment. Only four of them actually produced results. To the minister, the solution was clear, eliminate the twenty that did not work and use some of the savings to help the productive ones. The Anglican Church leadership levied intense criticism until it found that many thousands more people gained employment after the reforms.

Common sense also found its way into education. Reforms swept away various bureaucratic boards that governed the school system. Were they replaced by gubernatorial appointees? No. Instead parents of children actually in the school campaigned to serve on a Board of Trustees that had real power to use funds available. Of course teacher unions feared tremendously the idea that parents might actually run the school. However more money made it into the classroom to benefit the children and performance indicators skyrocketed.

Perhaps the best advice this gentleman gave was to take chances, even if one risked losing the next election. A political party must make a difference while in power, or what good does it do to hold power. The next time Republicans gain ascendency nationally, on the state, or the local level, we must remember our values and put them into place. In New Zealand the liberal party eventually regained power, but found that the free market ideas worked too well to remove.

The Governor Needs an Economics Class

Recently when pressed by a reporter on whether or not to put off an increase in the state gas tax until next year, Governor Manchin stated that state Republican leaders should ask their oil company "buddies" to hold off on their collection of profits.

This demonstrates a typical lack of understanding of the economic system. In times of shortage, prices must go up or we run out of a resource. Since the Democrats will not allow us to drill our own oil, we must rely upon uncertain supplies. Recently terrorists attacked oil facilities in Nigeria, causing a temporary drop in world supplies. This will not help prices at all. Since the Democrats will not ease regulatory burdens on refinery construction and will not help with the burden of fighting myriad frivolous lawsuits, we have not constructed a new refinery in thirty years. We must rely on refineries elsewhere built with inefficient (and more pollution producing) technology. We could be the largest producer of oil on the planet and control our own destiny. Liberals fear our nation enjoying such self-sufficiency and power.

Perhaps the governor does understand this, but wants to make nice with his new buddy Barrack Obama. He can't be seen showing up his new friend who has also shown blatant ignorance on this issue. If we had only listened to George W. Bush four years ago, we would not be in this mess now.

*******************************************************

Michael Steele's message to the state GOP convention, much like Shelley Moore Capito's in recent months, was refreshing. How often does one hear a politician saying that their party made mistakes? Steele, current chairman of GOPAC, talked at length about accountability and teh need to get back to basics. The ideals of the Contract With America, according to Steele, were forgotten by too many in Congress. That was why we lost. Certainly you cannot say that about every Republican congressman. Capito and many others never forgot the people.

Did we ever hear the Democrats saying such things while they were "out?" No, they simply assumed that the voters had been craftily tricked or that they lacked intelligence. The difference is that conservatives have more faith in the voters. If we lost their trust, we did something wrong and we need to earn it back. That is statesmanship fit for the greatest democratic republic in history, as opposed to the occasional arrogance demonstrated by the other side.

Right to Work Added to State GOP Platform

After many failed attempts over the years, the West Virginia Republican Party chose to add a Right to Work plank to its platform during last weekend's convention.

It did not pass without debate and it certainly will not have universal support from Republican candidates this fall. Political realities dictate that candidates in certain districts cannot support it without figuratively slitting their throat. Unions still hold tremendous influence in some areas. This usually hurts, but sometimes helps Republicans. How many union voters will support a pro-Kyoto candidate in this state?

Unions in the past provided a vital role when the decks of government and business were stacked against workers. We have come a long way from those bad old days. Government regulations provide many of the protections unions once demanded. Also the new highly skilled workers in many cases have skills that companies need.

Right to work will help union members because it creates competition. Right now workers can be coerced into joining the organization and paying dues. Under such a system, what incentive does a union have to respond effectively to its members? Right to work ensures that union members get the full benefit of membership because each worker can simply walk away or not join in the first place.

States that embraced right to work tend to have economies that have exploded past West Virginia in the past few decades. It is time that our state joined the ranks of the prosperous.

There Must Be Someone to Blame, Right?

For almost a week now many news watchers around the country have been riveted to the story from Gloucester, Massachusetts about seventeen teenage girls executing a pregnancy pact. They range in ages from fourteen to sixteen and all promised that they would have children at the same time and raise them together. One so desperately wanted to conceive that she utilized the services of a twenty-four year old homeless man.

You can predict the response. Some blame the difficult economic times, others blame the school system. On Fox News last night an analyst actually suggested that the sex education they received was not sufficient enough (seems to me that they figured it out just fine.) Of course the parents will all face the righteous indignation of society. The Roman Catholic Church and its stance against contraception has received blame as well. Catholic parents opposed the dispensation of contraception at school without parental consent (horror of horrors!)

This had nothing to do with the Catholic Church and their anti-birth control beliefs. These girls were TRYING to get pregnant. All the contraception in the world could not save them from themselves. Certainly the school sends a certain message when it has nurseries in it to help school age mothers, then again it is important that they do receive an education to have a chance of escaping a life on the welfare rolls.

This had everything to do with bad judgment and immaturity. Like it or not, the human body achieves physical maturity before mental maturity. Did these girls know what they were getting into? Probably not. That being said, they made the choice and now they must do the best they can to raise their children properly. It is not the fault of the school, the community, or the Roman Catholic Church. Their parents may bear some responsibility, but the fact is that they made the choice.

Life is about making choices and facing responsibilities. How can schools be blamed for what students elect to do on their spare time. Those that blame schools must have expectations that the schools should be empowered to know and direct a child's entire existence. That is a road no one wants to tread.

There's no one to blame. And it is not a tragedy unless one of these girls gets convinced to murder the life growing inside of them for the sake of convenience. They have a hard row to hoe, but that is the life they chose. Making them live up to their responsibilities is a better object lesson for other kids than assigning blame or giving the girls an easy way out.

************************************************************************

Congratulations to the West Virginia State Republican Party and its chair Dr. Doug McKinney for a fine convention last Saturday. We also thank those in the West Virginia State Republican Executive Committee and other valuable state party members who worked so hard to make it work so well. The speakers were outstanding and gave our candidates practical intellectual ammunition to use against the Ruling Party and their anti-business ideology.

Is a Hybrid Car really the best choice to save fuel?

The Toyota Prius gets about 45 mpg a Volkswagen Golf Diesel gets about 52 mpg. The Golf will run circles around the Prius while saving fuel. Just watch the video.

Mineral County Planning Commission hears requirements for Zoning

Wednesday night the Mineral County Planning Commission was visited by Michael Dougherty of the WVU Extension Office. Mike spoke for 21 minutes to the commission on what was required for implementing zoning in Mineral County.

His speech is complete with all the parts below.

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3

Hillary Clinton Supporters Call Fox News Fair and Balanced, Indirectly

Democrats, especially those of the pantsuit persuasion, have many times over the years chided Fox News as being a bastion of conservative bias. They love bashing the network's "Fair and Balanced" slogan.

Certainly over the years Fox News has gotten its shots in at both Clintons while other networks cast a glow upon them. This primary season saw the Clinton backlash candidate within Democratic circles result in the nomination of not a formidable Clinton Part II, but of Jimmy Carter and George McGovern rolled into one vague and incomprehensible package.

Hillary Clinton thought she had this one in the bag. Based upon the media love affair with her over the years, why should she have felt any differently. Negative media coverage, not just in stories, but also photo selection, point of view, even jokes, assailed her as it normally does the GOP nominee. She found out suddenly what it was like to be a Republican.

Last week her supporters called out MSNBC and CNN for their presumed bias against her nomination. Of course they hauled out the sexist card against those two organizations. Interestingly by default she acknowledges Fox's claim of fair and balanced coverage. Stories also surfaced last week describing the possibility of retribution against those who turned on the Clintons. In our state, Governor Manchin only announced his support of Obama after receiving the blessing of the Clintons. Not that it matters since Joe Manchin would rather be seen with Mao Tse Dong at this point than Barrack Hussein Obama (of course there's not much difference between those two.)

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Speaking of disciples of Mao Tse Dong, Delegate Carrie Webster (D-Kanawha) spent over $73,000 in the primary! The party of the common man has 80% of the $1.28 million that all legislative candidates have at this point, according to Lincoln Walks at Midnight.

Voters must look past the flash and dash that the Democrats can afford and pay attention to their pro-abortion platform that also endorses the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol was voted down by the US Senate in 2000 99-0. It would have been 100-0, but Strom Thurmond was too ill to vote. It would effectively destroy much of the coal market. Additionally it would place restrictions on the US economy that competing third world nations would not be burdened with. Senators Byrd and Rockefeller as well as all our representatives voted against it.

Illegal to be Overweight Part Two

If you saw the previous article about Japan passing laws to outlaw obesity, you know what I am talking about. That country established national waistline standards that will cause towns and cities to be punished if their citizens are too overweight.

The big question here is, how would the state find out if people in a given city are too fat or not? My guess is that the government has too much access to health care numbers on individuals. They can leverage that information against towns and cities who will then bring compulsive power down upon individuals. All this effort for a problem that is none of the state's business.

It can't happen here, right? Too late! Governor Joe Manchin expends state resources to gather information about what kind of exercise each child in school does every day. That's right. Children must report their physical activities on a calendar every day or they receive a D in their physical education class. Are you an aspiring valedictorian that believes in freedom and keeping government out of your life? Too bad. Uncle Joe says you have to tell.

Expect more of this kind of interference if the government ever gains control of health care. That will give them access to all your information. Governments cannot be trusted with the economy because they make economic decisions for political reasons. That is why the Soviet Union fell apart and why China has abandoned real Communism (although they maintain their dictatorship.) It is why Britain has almost no dentists and why people there have taken to extracting their own teeth.

Socialized health care will not only result in poor decisions by politicians, it will also allow the government to craft policies to encourage you to be healthier whether you like it or not. Someday compare pictures of those who led our Revolution and crafted our Constitution with those who founded fascist and communist states. The American founders are certainly a mixed bag. For every trim George Washington you have two or three pear shaped Franklins or John Adamses. You also have a few morbidly obese men such as General Henry Knox. Look at the Nazis. Outside of morphine addict Hermann Goering, you have a group that was obsessed with physical fitness. Look at Stalin's inner circle. Krushchev was a little pudgy, but most of those men stayed pretty fit as well.

The difference is the freedom to choose. Our society is based upon that ideal but it is difficult to maintain it. The enemy is the nanny state and they don't take all our freedoms at once. They use what Stalin called "salami tactics." If you slice away a bit at a time, no one notices. Uncle Joe Manchin takes a little freedom by forcing kids to give up their privacy "because it is for their own good." Socialized health care by comparison is giving away the farm. We put this crucial part of our system into government hands and we have told the world that we are no longer free.

Illegal to be Overweight?

If we need any more indications that what we used to call liberal democracy is on the decline, we just need to look at Japan.

When someone uses the term "liberal democracy" or "classical liberalism" they do not mean the left wing socialist style liberalism that has gained ascendancy in the current Democratic party. Liberalism at one time referred to those who advocated breaking through the restrictive regulations of 18th century mercantilism to create freedom and opportunity for individuals and business. It meant that people needed freedom from government so they could thrive. Individuals and businesses had the freedom to make choices and the responsibility to live with them. There was no contradiction between the fact that these people called themselves "liberal" and that the word derived from the same Latin root that gives us "liberty."

After World War II, societies began exercising their democratic rights to trade away their liberties. In America those advocating more restrictions and less freedoms called themselves "liberals." Europeans traded their economic freedoms for what they felt would be a more orderly economy. The socialist regulatory state resembled Mussolini's Italy more than a classically liberal state. On the Continent this was understandable since real democracy had only existed there a short time. The virus has recently infected Britain, however. Their so-called liberals forced the population to give up their guns. And this country was the origin of the idea of natural rights!

That brings us to Japan. They recently passed legislation that established a national standard for waistlines. Towns and cities that do not meet national standards will face sanctions. Of course this means the people will suffer eventually. This kind of legislation probably appeals to some American nanny staters who would use the power of the state to force people into certain lifestyles. However it reeks more of the physical obsession of states designed by Stalin, Hitler, and Mussolini.

The anti freedom virus has infected too many states. We must work to turn back the tide.