Morgan Liddick:
"This about regulation, the good and the bad. We'll leave the ugly for November.
Recently, a small outbreak of common sense descended on Washington, D.C., a town that seems to partake more of Wonderland than wisdom.
A popular outburst among farm folk and those who represent them has apparently derailed — for the moment, at least — a really bone-headed rule from the Labor Department concerning child farm labor.
While the term “child labor” invokes images of toddlers tending power looms, that's not what's involved here. The proposed restrictions would have prevented children from doing almost any farm work, save on “family farms,” defined as a farm owned by mom or dad, or both. As an aside, this is a little confusing: A group that has no problem with Heather having two mommies doesn't think Uncle Bob should be considered family. In farm country, that's a real problem.
I grew up on a family farm. We raised hay, grapes, horses and cattle. My grandparents had a vegetable garden that, to an 8-year-old charged with weeding, seemed to stretch from the banks of the Columbia River to Cleveland, Ohio. Or at least, Boise.
When I was 12, I took command of a 1958-vintage two-cylinder John Deere tractor. I towed rotary discs, ditchers, harrows, an antique hay-baler and when the time came, a trailer for baled hay or 40-pound boxes of grapes. Friends helped; sometimes, we spelled each other driving and hoisting. Was it potentially dangerous? Yes. But we respected the equipment, understood the downside, and came away unscathed, as the vast majority of farm kids did, and do.
None of this would have been possible under the proposed regulations. Instead, we would have had to hire help; the extra cost would have forced us out of the farming business in short order. Perhaps that's what the Department of Labor had in mind, small businesses being so pesky to regulate and all....."
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"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label Morgan Liddick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morgan Liddick. Show all posts
April 3, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Liddick: The shaky moral ground of drone use"
Morgan Liddick:
"The MQ-9 “Reaper” Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicle she uses as a murder weapon is, on the other hand, all too real. With it, its cousin the “Predator,” and the rapidly-proliferating family of unmanned surveillance aircraft, grim fact has caught up with fiction. So this might be a good time to sit down and think things through.
These machines range in size from the Reaper, which can carry over 3,000 pounds of weapons and fly for 36 hours, to battery-powered surveillance drones about the size of a shoebox. They can go into very high-risk environments — think clouds of toxic chemicals or remote forest fires. They don't get bored. With the right set of sensors, they can see better than a human pilot. And properly equipped, they can — and do — kill.
Internationally, this use of the Predator and Reaper shouldn't surprise. Even when nominal US citizens like Anwar al-Awlaki end up on the business end of a Hellfire missile, we should remember that taking up arms for a foreign entity engaged in hostilities against the United States is an expatriating act — particularly when coupled with other actions indicating the unlikelihood of returning to US jurisdiction...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"The MQ-9 “Reaper” Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicle she uses as a murder weapon is, on the other hand, all too real. With it, its cousin the “Predator,” and the rapidly-proliferating family of unmanned surveillance aircraft, grim fact has caught up with fiction. So this might be a good time to sit down and think things through.
These machines range in size from the Reaper, which can carry over 3,000 pounds of weapons and fly for 36 hours, to battery-powered surveillance drones about the size of a shoebox. They can go into very high-risk environments — think clouds of toxic chemicals or remote forest fires. They don't get bored. With the right set of sensors, they can see better than a human pilot. And properly equipped, they can — and do — kill.
Internationally, this use of the Predator and Reaper shouldn't surprise. Even when nominal US citizens like Anwar al-Awlaki end up on the business end of a Hellfire missile, we should remember that taking up arms for a foreign entity engaged in hostilities against the United States is an expatriating act — particularly when coupled with other actions indicating the unlikelihood of returning to US jurisdiction...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
March 27, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Liddick: Obamacare case: An ominous shift"
Morgan Liddick:
"If these arguments prevail, the nature of our government will be altered out of all recognition. The federal government, envisioned by those who created it as a single element in a network of governments; as limited to a few specific activities and constrained by Constitutional limits, will become what the anti-Federalists predicted and feared: a consolidated, national government, without restraint or counter, able to reach into the minutest part of individual citizens' lives to regulate; to demand; to control. State laws on marijuana use? How droll …
Yes, you will have buy a Chevy Volt. The economy and the environment demand it. Yes, you will have to eat broccoli. You have to be healthy, because that effects the economy. No, you can't have heart surgery. You're too old and it's too expensive. Take two aspirin and call us if you live.
Cross your fingers. After 224 years of success, we're about to learn if we're going to throw it all away..."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"If these arguments prevail, the nature of our government will be altered out of all recognition. The federal government, envisioned by those who created it as a single element in a network of governments; as limited to a few specific activities and constrained by Constitutional limits, will become what the anti-Federalists predicted and feared: a consolidated, national government, without restraint or counter, able to reach into the minutest part of individual citizens' lives to regulate; to demand; to control. State laws on marijuana use? How droll …
Yes, you will have buy a Chevy Volt. The economy and the environment demand it. Yes, you will have to eat broccoli. You have to be healthy, because that effects the economy. No, you can't have heart surgery. You're too old and it's too expensive. Take two aspirin and call us if you live.
Cross your fingers. After 224 years of success, we're about to learn if we're going to throw it all away..."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
March 6, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Liddick: Learning is hard work"
Morgan Liddick:
"...The world is a competitive place, in which the well-prepared and vigorous flourish. Others, not so much. Our nation embraced this reality once, and it led us to preeminence and prosperity. Now, we seek to shield young people from this truth, in favor of nourishing their egos. Everyone gets a medal simply for showing up, and if one wishes to ride instead of drudging out a job, there are unemployment benefits as far as the eye can see, paid for by taxes on those who produce a profit. This must stop. What is subsidized, grows; what is taxed, shrinks.
Excellence and diligence need recognition and reward; not the empty praise that levels in the name of “fairness,” but acknowledgement of real accomplishment. This will require a sea change in our society: the acceptance of challenges as a part of life, the discipline to surmount them and the will to hard work must become expectations again. Everyone must demand it — parents, teachers, friends, everyone. Lady Gaga got this one right: We all have to put our shoulder to the wheel, persist, and understand that change of this size and importance takes time. And that making it is absolutely critical to this nation's continued success.
Or, we can just throw more money at the problem. That's worked so well in the past...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"...The world is a competitive place, in which the well-prepared and vigorous flourish. Others, not so much. Our nation embraced this reality once, and it led us to preeminence and prosperity. Now, we seek to shield young people from this truth, in favor of nourishing their egos. Everyone gets a medal simply for showing up, and if one wishes to ride instead of drudging out a job, there are unemployment benefits as far as the eye can see, paid for by taxes on those who produce a profit. This must stop. What is subsidized, grows; what is taxed, shrinks.
Excellence and diligence need recognition and reward; not the empty praise that levels in the name of “fairness,” but acknowledgement of real accomplishment. This will require a sea change in our society: the acceptance of challenges as a part of life, the discipline to surmount them and the will to hard work must become expectations again. Everyone must demand it — parents, teachers, friends, everyone. Lady Gaga got this one right: We all have to put our shoulder to the wheel, persist, and understand that change of this size and importance takes time. And that making it is absolutely critical to this nation's continued success.
Or, we can just throw more money at the problem. That's worked so well in the past...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
January 24, 2012
SandBox Comments: Summit Daily News/Morgan Liddick "Our sad education stats"
Morgan Liddick:
“No longer is it acceptable to hide poor performance. No longer is it acceptable to keep results from parents …” Unless you are Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who seems to have no problem with either.
Some might recognize the quote as part of President George W. Bush's statement on signing the “No Child Left Behind” act, in effect for 10 years. A revamped version of the act should have been approved by Congress last year, but partisan bickering held it up. Now that an election looms, there are two chances for meaningful action to monitor and improve our educational systems: slim and none...."
One of the plus side traits of Newt Gingrich is that he's a masterful strategist. Give Newt a bargaining chip and fodder for the stump that will shine on his personal cause and you just might get what you want out of that chip.
In the cause for education reform, Colorado conservatives lean pretty strongly to eliminating any federal involvement and returning all things public education back to Colorado.
They're all waiting around to see if Newt gets enough traction to win the nomination. If he does, count on it that at least conservative Coloradans are going to be looking for ways to fire up Newt on the education front.
Great column from one of the most respected opinion columnists in Colorado. Morgan Liddick. Over and up on the Summit Daily News.
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“No longer is it acceptable to hide poor performance. No longer is it acceptable to keep results from parents …” Unless you are Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who seems to have no problem with either.
Some might recognize the quote as part of President George W. Bush's statement on signing the “No Child Left Behind” act, in effect for 10 years. A revamped version of the act should have been approved by Congress last year, but partisan bickering held it up. Now that an election looms, there are two chances for meaningful action to monitor and improve our educational systems: slim and none...."
One of the plus side traits of Newt Gingrich is that he's a masterful strategist. Give Newt a bargaining chip and fodder for the stump that will shine on his personal cause and you just might get what you want out of that chip.
In the cause for education reform, Colorado conservatives lean pretty strongly to eliminating any federal involvement and returning all things public education back to Colorado.
They're all waiting around to see if Newt gets enough traction to win the nomination. If he does, count on it that at least conservative Coloradans are going to be looking for ways to fire up Newt on the education front.
Great column from one of the most respected opinion columnists in Colorado. Morgan Liddick. Over and up on the Summit Daily News.
(Read more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
December 13, 2011
SandBox Comments: Summit Daily News "Liddick: Education funding ruling a boondoggle"
"Hold on to your wallets, everyone, this is going to hurt. District Judge Sheila Rappaport has single-handedly decided your taxes should go up by 50 percent, minimum. And no whining, because “It's for the children...”
(Morgan Liddick)
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(Morgan Liddick)
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December 6, 2011
SandBox Comments Summit Daily News/Morgan Liddick "Gerrymandering alive and well in Colo."
Another straight-talking, highly respected conservative opinion columnist. Morgan Liddick. Up and over on the Summit Daily News.
SandBox couldn't agree more with Liddick.
Lib's have created a major ruckus only to earn anticipated spoils they are very likely going to strongly regret.
Colorado is not a Purple State. Colorado is a Red State.
"Somewhere, Elbridge Gerry is having a laugh. The famous 18th-century American politician, representative of Massachusetts, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, vice-president and inventor of the “Gerrymander” has to be more than mildly amused by the antics of the Democrat members of Colorado's Reapportionment Commission, tasked with redrawing the state's map of electoral districts..."
(Morgan Liddick)
(Learn more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
SandBox couldn't agree more with Liddick.
Lib's have created a major ruckus only to earn anticipated spoils they are very likely going to strongly regret.
Colorado is not a Purple State. Colorado is a Red State.
"Somewhere, Elbridge Gerry is having a laugh. The famous 18th-century American politician, representative of Massachusetts, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, vice-president and inventor of the “Gerrymander” has to be more than mildly amused by the antics of the Democrat members of Colorado's Reapportionment Commission, tasked with redrawing the state's map of electoral districts..."
(Morgan Liddick)
(Learn more? Click title. Comment to discuss)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
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