Archive for the 'Government Power' Category

Ban Children From Cars

Monday, May 15th, 2006

The Nanny Government in California is proposing to limit children under 13 from riding in the front seat of a car, and requiring kids under 8 or 4 feet 9 inches from riding in a booster seat. Currently, kids under 6 and 60 pounds must ride in the car seat.

As any parent knows, it is difficult enough now to keep in a 6 year in a baby seat. Reported in various sources is the fact that hardly anyone now complies with the law for children who are not infants. Why? Because parents have the best judgment about the situation and know this law is not workable.

But there is another issue, as the legislature spends countless hours on this issue: more bureaucracy. Just check out the proposed law for the punishment and allocation of fines:

Section 27360.6 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
27360.6. (a) (1) For a conviction under Section 27360, 27360.1,
or 27360.5, a first offense is punishable by a fine of one hundred
dollars ($100), except that the court may reduce or waive the fine if
the defendant establishes to the satisfaction of the court that he
or she is economically disadvantaged, and the court, instead, refers
the defendant to a community education program that includes, but is
not limited to, education on the proper installation and use of a
child passenger restraint system for children of all ages, and
provides certification to the court of completion of that program.
Upon completion of the program, the defendant shall provide proof of
participation in the program. If an education program on the proper
installation and use of a child passenger restraint system is not
available within 50 miles of the residence of the defendant, the
requirement to participate in that program shall be waived. If the
fine is paid, waived, or reduced, the court shall report the
conviction to the department pursuant to Section 1803.
(2) The court may require a defendant described under paragraph
(1) to attend an education program that includes demonstration of
proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system and
provides certification to the court that the defendant has presented
for inspection a child passenger restraint system that meets
applicable federal safety standards.
(b) (1) A second or subsequent conviction of the same section is
punishable by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), no part of
which may be waived by the court, except that the court may reduce or
waive the fine if the defendant establishes to the satisfaction of
the court that he or she is economically disadvantaged, and the
court, instead refers the defendant to a community education program
that includes, but is not limited to, education on the proper
installation and use of child passenger restraint systems for
children of all ages, and provides certification to the court of
completion of that program. Upon completion of the program, the
defendant shall provide proof of participation in the program. If an
education program on the proper installation and use of a child
passenger restraint system is not available within 50 miles of the
residence of the defendant, the requirement to participate in that
program shall be waived. If the fine is paid, waived, or reduced, the
court shall report the conviction to the department pursuant to
Section 1803.
(2) The court may require a defendant described under paragraph
(1) to attend an education program that includes demonstration of
proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system and
provides certification to the court that the defendant has presented
for inspection a child passenger restraint system that meets
applicable federal safety standards.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the fines
collected under this section shall be allocated as follows:
(1) (A) Sixty percent to health departments of local jurisdictions
where the violation occurred, to be used for a community education
program that includes, but is not limited to, demonstration of the
installation of a child passenger restraint
system for children of all ages and also
assists an economically disadvantaged family in obtaining a restraint
system through a low-cost purchase or loan. The county or city
health department shall designate a coordinator to facilitate the
creation of a special account and to develop a relationship with the
court system to facilitate the transfer of funds to the program. The
county or city may contract for the implementation of the program.
Prior to obtaining possession of a child passenger restraint system
pursuant to this section, a person shall attend an education program
that includes demonstration of proper installation and use of a child
passenger restraint system.
(B) As the proceeds from fines become available, county or city
health departments shall prepare and maintain a listing of all child
passenger restraint low-cost purchase or loaner programs in their
counties, including a semiannual verification that all programs
listed are in existence. Each county or city shall forward the
listing to the Office of Traffic Safety in the Business,
Transportation and Housing Agency and the courts, birthing centers,
community child health and disability prevention programs, county
clinics, prenatal clinics, women, infants, and children programs, and
county hospitals in that county, who shall make the listing
available to the public. The Office of Traffic Safety shall maintain
a listing of all of the programs in the state.
(2) Twenty-five percent to the county or city for the
administration of the program.
(3) Fifteen percent to the city, to be deposited in its general
fund except that, if the violation occurred in an unincorporated
area, this amount shall be allocated to the county for purposes of
paragraph (1).

Why W’s Approval Ratings are Pathetic

Thursday, May 11th, 2006

It is not the economy, it is stewardship. What is it that people want in a leader.

Too many lies to the American people. Too many stories of corruption. Too many reports of anyone disagreeing being fired or professionally ruined. No clear plan in Iraq, and no explanation about what has been accomplished oversees with $300 BILLION and no end in sight. No real efforts to wean the country and world from foreign oil, meaning that we are effectively paying corrupt leaders in other countries to abuse their people and to threaten our way of life. Too much paternalism and claims that the war on terror is a blank check to do whatever:

“The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY. The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans - most of whom aren’t suspected of any crime.”

My guess is the government will (1) claim this is justified in the name of the war on terror, and (2) will investigate who leaked this to the press.

The government is supposed to be working for us. It should not be a secret institute who imprisons anyone who discloses to the public owners what it is the government is actually up to.

Illegal Immigrants Demanding Rights is Absurd

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006

“Observing the pro-immigration demonstrations in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Atlanta and elsewhere in recent days, I wondered: whose country is this? Why are many illegal aliens who broke our laws to get here and who continue to break our laws to stay here, demanding that the United States not only allow them to remain, but support them with the taxes of law-abiding citizens? Have we gone mad?”Thousands Rally For Immigrants’ Rights” read a headline about the Phoenix march. What rights? If they are here illegally, they have the right to leave. They have no rights under our Constitution, anymore than I might expect the rights of a Mexican citizen should I choose to live illegally in Mexico. Marchers in Los Angeles carried Mexican flags, which should tell us about their primary allegiance.”

- Cal Thomas.

Why weren’t the police arresting anyone admitting to be here illegally?

Do you realize that 1 out of every 25 people in this country is here illegally?  This is an invasion.  Our inept political leaders, Republican and Democrat, have allowed so many illegals into this county that they literally are this country in some places.

Do you remember the last amnesty program a few years ago, after which this problem was supposed to have been solved and the US would not offer amesty privileges to illegals in the future?

All we are doing is increasing the incentives to come here illegally and disrespecting legal immigrants.  If we need more workers increase the number of legal immigrants allowed in.  But don’t reward those crossing illegally.  Where is the punishment of companies employing illegal workers?  Why does everyone have to waste their time with I-9 forms proving who they are when they apply for a job if nothing is actually done to prevent the employment of illegals?
If you think the situation is bad now, just wait another 10 years.  We could have 20 million more illegal residents.

Border Insecurity

Thursday, February 23rd, 2006

Bush has not been concerned about the invasion of people across our Southern land border, so why would anyone expect him to be concerned with security through the ports and access by water.

Allowing the UAE to manage our ports? You have got to be kidding. I’m not sure why any foreign company or government should be given that task, whether the UK, UAE, or anyone else.

Bush might have a different opinion about security if he let the UAE manage, hire, and control the secret service and access to the White House.

Feel the Pain

Monday, February 13th, 2006

Attorneys for murderer Michael Morales are trying to get a San Jose federal judge to agree that it is cruel and unusual punishment to impose the death penalty by lethal injection. They are concerned that the chemicals may not act fast enough, letting someone breath for up to a minute in pain.

A whole 60 seconds of pain !

Michael Morales was found guilty of knocking a young girl unconscious. Then dragging her away, raping her, and then stabbing her to death.

For that California taxpayers get to spend tens of thousands of dollars in legal appeals - not deciding whether this guy should die - but whether in some instances the injection method does not act fast enough.

Frankly, 60 seconds of pain is not nearly long enough for this guy.

The death sentence is obviously cruel and unusual punishment for petty theft. Is there anything that could be considered cruel and unusual for Morales?

Whatever happened to a rope and a tree?

If speed is what his attorneys want, does France have any leftover guillotines?