family values and strip searches

June 25, 2009

This week has been another interesting one for the "family values" crowd, in the Republican Party. Another of their leaders has fallen, a victim of his lack of such values. This time it is the Governor of South Carolina, who some had hoped might run for President, after he refused to accept Federal "bailout" money for his State. He was, after a tough legislative session and fight over the bailouts, taking a few days to wander off and just "hike", away from society. Instead, he was in South America visiting his mistress.

Last month it was Senator Ensign of Nevada, another great champion of "Family Values". What is it with these guys? They want the world to know that they are more virtuous than the rest of us; and yet they think nobody will find out that they are living a lie. I feel bad for wives who are shocked by the news of the infidelity; but I also feel bad for the voters who actually believed this baloney, and elected them to carry the banner of virtue into the "culture wars". Once again I note that Libertarians do not necessarily expect our leaders to be more virtuous than anyone else. Perhaps if everyone was a little more honest about who and what they are, there would more of us and fewer of them.

And, on another note, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that a school may not strip search a student in an attempt to find pills that she is claimed (by another student) to be carrying (in this case it was ibuprofen). A blow for freedom and a little less intrusion into a person's privacy. Justice Thomas, the lone dissenter, suggested that this will just result in those who carry illegal substances hiding them in their underwear to avoid detection. Yes, Justice Thomas, it just might mean that a few students who carry headache tablets to school will not be found out; and that just doesn't bother me much. The government just does not get to know everything we are doing; and that is alright with me. Even most of the conservatives on the Court got the idea that the right to check inside underwear for suspected medications is beyond the power we have given our government.

The day was also marked by the deaths of Farrah Faucett and Michael Jackson, two people who will be missed for the good they have done (even if at least Michael may have had his dark side). Farrah was one of my generation's great heartthrobs; and check out "USA for Africa" to be reminded of the good that Michael did to help the less fortunate. May they both rest in peace.

Some thoughts

June 11, 2009

Much has happened since I last wrote anything here. Life, as always, is hectic. My good old friend, Mark Shurtleff is running for Senate, and is grandstanding as usual to get attention. This week he created a "task force" to investigate crimes by and among immigrants. In Utah, that will give him good press, while adding nothing to law enforcement. All crimes should be investigated, depending on their seriousness, not the skin color of the alleged perpetrator. But those who hid behind fear, and try to whip it up in others, will be pleased; and more money will come into his campaign war chest.

There are now at least 4 candidates for the Senate race next year. So far, nobody is running for governor, but there is much talk about who might, including the Salt Lake County Mayor, Peter Corroon. Look for Libertarian candidates for major offices soon -- not including, I hope, "Super Dell"

On another front, "Miss California" in the Miss Universe Pageant, who has been controversial for some time, was fired this week. She was famously asked a question about gay marriage, which I thought was a very unfair question to be asked in such a contest. She and I do NOT agree on the subject, but she did not come across as a bigot, just someone who disagrees with me. And then, she was in trouble again over "semi-nude" photographs on the internet. Now they say the firing was because of breach of contract, as she did not make appearances, etc. I can't help think it was because she engaged in unpopular speech. As somnone who defends free speech for a living, I am bothered that a young girl is hounded by those who do not think she is "correct" in either her political or sexual expression. Requiring someone to be politically correct in a beauty contest is not appropriate; and if this is all an outgrowth of that, shame on those who have done this.

Last weekend the Libertarians had a booth at Salt Lake Pride, and we signed up many potential new members. We are working hard to give Utah a real alternative -- a chance to say "No" to censorship, the war on drugs, and government interference in our lives. Help us spread the word, and stay tuned here for more news of freedom.