I don't like drugs. I don't "do" drugs. I don't think anyone else should "do" drugs. However, I love freedom.

I don't like cigarettes. I don't smoke cigarettes. I don't think anyone else should smoke cigarettes. However, again, I love freedom.

I don't like government spending billions of dollars on a "war" that they simply cannot, and will not win. I don't like all the corruption that drugs create in the various government institutions that are tasked with enforcing the war on drugs.

I think drugs are wrong, but government has no place outlawing them. How is marijuana different from alcohol and tobacco? There's a few people who agree with me. You can read the latest and get more information and facts over at Stop the Drug War.org. Head on over and see what else they can tell you.

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A couple examples of how and why huge, bloated, Democrat/Socialist government is a bad, bad idea.

First, you may have heard that North Carolina built an oyster shell recycling center. Now, doesn't that sound nice? However, you might be wondering why the government might build such a place. No, it's not because oyster shell have suddenly become valuable, it's because North Carolina just passed a law that REQUIRES people to recycle oyster shells. And yes, that's a real law. So, the state passes a law that requires the citizen recycle, and then, since no one else will make any money at it, they get to build the recycling center.

The next one might even be worse. Currently North Carolina taxpayers pay for the various "health and safety" inspections (which seldom have anything to do with either health or safety). Various lobbying groups are working the legislature hard to make the businesses pay for the inspections. So the state will require a business be inspected by the state, and then require them to pay whatever fee the state decides they want to charge. Folks, that's a tax increase -- and a literally unlimited tax increase. What if the state wants to charge a business $50,000 for each inspection? The business will HAVE to pay for it, and they will pass the costs on to the consumers -- the taxpayers.

Government is way, way, way too big and way out of line. They're absolutely crushing freedom all over the place, but in North Carolina they're rather sneaky about it because they KNOW that people don't like higher taxes and socialism, so they have to hide what they're doing. If the current crop of elected Democrats were honest about what they were doing, they'd be voted out in a minute.

Oh, how I yearn for freedom.

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And this time, it's in America, not in England (where you get arrested for not understanding a foreign language). This time it was Steve Lyons, from Fox Sports, who was fired for saying,

I don't understand him, and I don't want to sit too close to him now.

Great job, morons. Is there a non-Mulsim country that speaks English still? I'd like to move there. And although it won't make any difference, you can be sure I'll not be watching any more coverage of Fox Sports of baseball -- and I really like baseball.

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Ah. The Carolina Renaissance Festival is here at last. And again this year, I broke down and bought the "season passes" because it's just so much fun. That's where I am today, and most weekend days from now until Nov 19th. And yes, I'll be at the Boo & Brew party, too!

Why? Because it's a lot of fun. There's almost no electricity there at all (just for coolers and credit-card machines) -- and everyone is there to enjoy themselves. The people who are working there honestly look like they WANT to be there. I think my favorite performer who I've seen year after year is Dextre Tripp.

It's a place to forget about the cares and worries of the world...at least for a little while. So come on out and enjoy some good, clean fun where no one judges you by your looks or your political views -- I'll be looking for you there.

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Rusty Sheridan, once candidate for Mayor of Charlotte before he was booted off the ticket by Those Who Don't Like Competition (Democrats), has weighed in on Senator Smith. If you've read Rusty before and know that he's a Libertarian, you might guess what his reaction is. I'd like to add a little myself.

First, in the interest of disclosure, I've got no real direct stake in the battle -- in other words, I can't legally vote for Senator Smith. Because of the horribly lax rules in North Carolina, I'm sure I COULD go cast a vote for him without any problems, but I don't live in his district.

However, I did get to listen to him in person at the Iredell County Men's Club meeting back a few months ago. For a full review, follow that link.

My general opinion of him is that he's got some good ideas and he's got some really bad ideas. So would I vote for him? Knowing he's a Republican, I'm betting that his opponent would have even WORSE ideas, and perhaps no good ideas. So where does that leave me?

It's the same problem that conservatives have had for years. We cannot vote for conservative candidates. Rusty suggested writing your own name in -- but that's not legal in North Carolina, sorry. So it's back to the old question, "Do I vote for the lesser of two evils?" The alternative is not to vote at all. It's a horrible situation, but one to which I see absolutely no solution. No one in government has ANY incentive to change any of the rules. So you will, at least for the foreseeable future, only get three choices: Evil, Really Evil, or refuse to participate and evil wins.

Oh, how I yearn for freedom.

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A guest editorial by Mark A. Palmer

What has happened to no taxation without representation? It was the essential basis of our government at one time. These words once stood for people being represented by their elected officials but not so much anymore. Too many officials have their own agendas these days. We see this by our state leaders compromising our state laws, so they do not have deal with over crowing of jails, etc.

Voices have cried out asking our elected officials; where is Democracy, Liberty and Freedoms to our City, County and State Leadership?

In Charlotte, city council members are arguing that Mayor Pat McCrory's role on the Metropolitan Transit Commission does not represent city council.

Interesting, Mayor Pat McCrory is employed by Duke Power Company and light rail runs off electricity. Sure, that would not influence Mayor Pat McCrory. With the cost of light rail, climbing constantly and public outcry ignored. Charlotte citizens wanted to honor Mayor McCrory for his leadership with light rail. It has become known as the “McCrory Line.”

Council members Anthony Foxx, Michael Barnes, Susan Burgess, and Nancy Carter have been questioning role of Mayor Pat McCrory. This should have been a question from the beginning -- and why now. Could it have to do that council members are looking for somebody blame for recent light rail mess and overruns? They should be looking at themselves as well.

Present city council members and past city council members have passed everything for light rail, and have never questioned anything until now!

The John Locke Foundation did a Town Meeting about the dangers of light rail, which a couple of city council members listened to; as two of the top knowledgeable transit people spoke about light rail. They shared in detail problems of cost, budget overruns, flaws, etc.

Council members Susan Burgess and Nancy Carter attended the John Locke Town Meeting. Interestingly, they did not question Mayor Pat McCrory then. If they represented the people instead of personal agendas, things would be different.

We hear about other issues that representatives consider more important than the needs of those that voted them into office. Our representatives disburse thousand of dollars for meetings, delegations, and development. Our representatives are allowing the rape of our heritage. It is time to count-- our voices need be heard continually to our state, town, county, and school leadership. Our elected officials need to comprehend that term "Political Correctness" which means "Poor Choice.”

City Council, County Commissioners, School Board, State Officials do not get it! They do not provide what Charlotte really needs. The State, City, County, and School officials keep citizens in this mess with their lack of leadership. They give the illusion that issues and problems are resolved but they are not.

This brings us to the million dollar question -- where is representation in taxation and what can we do? People of Charlotte can hold our elected officials responsible for their actions and votes. We can use our voices always enforce positive change and question our elected officials.

Prompt our government reagrding true democracy and freedom. One way to accomplish this goal, is to ban together and make our representatives focus on getting our City, Neighborhoods, and Municipal needs met. Our "Fore Fathers of Charlotte,” accomplished their goals by putting their lives on the line for,” The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.” How many of today's leaders in Charlotte would even imagine doing so?

Charlotte leaders are at their crossroads; please remind them about Democracy, Liberty, and Freedom to our City, County, and State that there should be no taxation without representation!

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A llama:

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Another lesson on some of your basic animals groups. This is NOT a llama.

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And for all you folks suffering through global warming in upstate and western New York, here's the snow miser:

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I've been saying for quite some time that the force of evil are absolutely winning in this world. How about going to jail for not knowing a FOREIGN language? Welcome to public schools in England (coming soon to the U.S.)

In this case, a girl was asked to work with some others in her class. The others did not speak English. She went and asked the teacher if she could join another group because SHE COULD NOT COMMUNICATE with the group. The teacher went over the edge -- and had the girl arrested. Worse yet, the police actually DID arrest her! She went to jail for 3-1/2 hours because she didn't speak a different language!

How right Orwell was. This 14-year old was arrested for violating a "racial public order offence." I give up. Someone start a country based on individual rights and freedom and invite me. I want to live there.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:02 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Contestant, please step up and grab your lottery ticket. We'll have the drawing in a few days to see if you've won billions. No, no, the lottery ticket is completely free -- the taxpayers will pay all the costs associated with the lottery itself.

Yes, we have another contestant in the lawsuit lottery. This time the scum of the earth is suing Wal-Mart because Wal-Mart has money and they don't. Of course, that's not what the lawsuit actually SAYS, but that is the real reason for the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that the plaintiff are stupid idiot morons ... oh wait, it doesn't say that. It says that the product they used was defective because they shoved it up their ______. Well, it almost says that.

The complaint is that a three-year old jumped in a pool and landed on a "dive stick." These are sticks that sink to the bottom of a pool so kids can dive in and get them. They were recalled a year before this kid jumped on one and came with a warning "not to be used in shallow water."

If there were justice left in this country, the lawyer that filed this suit would be heavily fined and the woman who filed the suit would be fined and forced to pay all court costs, plus an additional fine to deter others from wasting MY money on the court system so they can attempt to get a few easy million from a company because they don't want to work. I won't hold my breath.

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We must understand that you can't kick 12 million people out of your country; that we must figure out a way to say to those that if you're lawful...there is a way for you to eventually earn citizenship.

--U.S. President George Bush

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- how do you throw out 12 million illegals? The same damn way they came in -- one at a time.

I'm sure you've also heard by now that illegal criminal invaders are now suing Wendy's, too. It's just another entry into the lawsuit lottery, so maybe they are assimilating! The illegal alien criminal invader non-citizens are using the court system *I* am paying for to sue a company so they can get cash for not working.

There's 40 illegal alien invader criminal non-citizens who have filed this lawsuit. If there were ANY semblance of justice left in this country, the judge who heard this case would demand that all 40 "plaintiffs" show up in his court, in person. Then, when they showed up, he'd have immigration arrest them immediately and deport them -- they're admitting their own guilt. Then, with no plaintiffs, the lawsuit would be dismissed. THAT would be justice.

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The North Carolina lottery, the state-run monopoly on gambling, the only gambling permitted in the state, is apparently running about $50 million short. It was supposed to "raise" $400 million "for schools," but they're about $50 or $60 million short. But that's okay, because all the lottery officials are "not disappointed in anything." They're all happy. I think they're mostly happy because they haven't been charged with federal crimes, like the first lottery commissioner.

The story also highlights a few people who spend between $15 and $25 each week on the lottery -- all of them dreaming of winning the jackpot -- and all of them working in unskilled, low-pay jobs. So the lottery is a success, according to government: it takes money from the poor and gives it to schools. It hasn't generated as much money as it was supposed to. And people actually believe the money is going to the schools, even when it's not. A complete and total government success story.

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After a quick jury time-out, the jury found former NC Lottery Commissioner Kevin Geddings, who was appointed by Speaker of the House Jim Black, GUILTY on five counts of mail fraud. He faces "up to 100 years." I predict a $10 fine and probation.

More interesting, however, is that Geddings is guilty. If he's guilty, I think Jim Black is going to get off scott-free. After all, Black claimed Geddings didn't tell him that Geddings was an employee of the lottery company -- that's what the guilty verdict means. And Black has been claiming all along that he didn't know Geddings was an employee -- so if Geddings is guilty, does that mean Jim Black is innocent (in this case, anyway)?

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A couple advertisers to point out, in case you missed them on the top of the left sidebar over there.

First up, The Grocery List from Hell. This is, well, an interesting site.

The Grocery List From Hell is is a mix of rant and eBay auctions, including info on at least one featured auction per day.

Next up is 123Beta. This is a blog that is

Fighting Liberalism One Post At A Time... The Politcal Rants of Butch Morgan

Finally, there's I Love Mountains.org. Do you love mountains? And not in a long, warm shower way, but in a more manly way. The site is focused on some weird sort of strip mining, primarily in the east (VW, TN). Well, if you like the outdoors, do go take a peek, would you?

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It's time once again! Yes, it's time to prepare yourselves for NaNoWriMo, 2006. If you've been reading here a long time, you know that the Ogre always joins in this effort. Way down the left sidebar, you can see my previous awards. In 2004, I won (with this), but in 2005, I didn't finish and only got the participant badge.

Well, I plan on giving it a shot again this year. It's fun. Oh, what is NaNoWriMo, you ask? It's National Novel Writing Month (and unlike most of the US government and schools, it does not discriminate based on skin color or sexual preference). It's a month that people who write attempt to write a 50,000-word novel...completely during the month of November.

Sure, it's hard, but it's loads of fun. There's no worrying about grammar or spelling, you're just trying to get the words on the paper. And yes, it's also for a good cause, as the organizers raise money each year for libraries. So head on over and read all about it.

Oh, and one last thing -- I KNOW you don't have time to write a novel. But that's half the fun of trying to write 50,000 words in one month!

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Mohammed, That One Muslim, the only Muslim in the world who uses his religion to commit violent acts, has been spotted again! Earlier this week he was in France, stoning school girls. Apparently his fetish for young girls hasn't changed, as he's now in Egypt, kidnapping young girls. But hey, since Islam is a religion of peace, I'm sure all the other participants in the religion will quickly apprehend him and jail him for his crimes.

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Communist North Korea has threatened to fire a nuclear-tipped missile unless the U.S. takes action to resolve its standoff with Pyongyang, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap. source

If this were America of the first half of this century, no country would have the guts to make such a threat. But if they did, America's response would be, "Whenever you feel froggy, you just go ahead and jump."

But alas, this is not longer the home of the brave. Instead, our response, from Secretary of State Rice, is, "there is no intention to invade or attack them. So they have that guarantee." In other words, we won't hurt them, no matter what they do.

So, what have we taught the world about the United States today? If you can get your hands on a nuclear weapon (are you listening Iran, Tunisia, Lybia?), you can do anything you want because we won't hurt you. In other words, we are giving North Korea EXACTLY what they claimed! They claimed they needed to develop the nuke to defend themselves against the US. Now that they have one (or at least claim to have one), the US has assured them that they're safe.

But it's okay, because the Useless Nations (UN) is demanding that the US give them even MORE! The UN says that the US should go "talk" to them because they want to talk to us. Bush is saying right now that he won't meet with them because they're pathological liars (and they are). But I bet we send someone over there within a week, securing complete and total victory for North Korea.

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To those of you who might still be reading the Charlotte Observer, I just want to take this short space to remind you that the Observer honestly hates freedom, Democracy, and a Representative Republic. They believe that people are stupid and should not be allowed to make decisions for themselves, because those people might make the "wrong" decision. They feel that only the "anointed" should be able to make decisions about everything.

This time, the Observer says

This state should continue to support college as a public good, not allow it to become a private benefit.

The Observer is complaining about the recently-suggested tuition cap of 6.5% on college tuition. Now instead of complaining that the cap is too low because schools need more money, they complain that the cap is too HIGH -- not because the government shouldn't spend hundreds of billions more on free higher education, but because they don't want the student to pay for it.

They want a college education in North Carolina to be free to those who will benefit. Instead, those people who work WITHOUT a college degree -- garbage men, government workers, "the poor," minimum-wage workers, car salesmen, and anyone else who doesn't have a college degree -- should pay for everyone ELSE to get a college degree for free at the state schools.

Folks, that's open socialism. They openly complain that "The state is shifting costs for public universities from the taxpayers to students and their families." In other words, those who benefit from the education SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

Just a reminder to understand the point of view of the Charlotte Observer when you read it: they hate you and think you're an idiot if you like freedom.

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Peter Gorman, head of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), with near a $500,000.00-a-year taxpayer salary has weighed in on the recent upsurge in school violence: He will absolutely NOT let anyone protect themselves, nor will he make any effort to protect any students (unless he gets more money).

Mr. Gorman says that he will continue to allow and encourage 16-18 year olds convicted of felonies to attend his schools. Oh, and those who bring guns? Gorman doesn't "know what to do with them." Here's a hint, Mr. Gorman:

As required by law, a student who brings or possesses a firearm or powerful explosive on school property or at a school-sponsored curricular or extracurricular activity must be suspended for 365 days, unless the superintendent recommends and the board approves a modification.

He also stated that he would absolutely not consider allowing anyone to defend themselves. When asked about allowing teachers to be armed, he said, "absolutely not." Apparently he believes that if they just talk nice to the evil criminals, they won't bring guns to schools where they (the criminals) know EVERYONE is unarmed.

Oh, but don't worry -- Mr. Gorman is ever the loyal bureaucrat. Subjects Peons Citizens of Mecklenburg, hold onto your wallet! Mr. Gorman implied that he would instead support more ARMED guards and policemen in the schools -- so get ready for the next tax increase "for the children's safety."

The government education system has completely and utterly failed. It is beyond hope of reform. Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools should be completely dissolved. It cannot, and even does not desire to, educate children. It is simply a bottomless pit of money that has no end in sight, ever. Just close it down. Sell off the schools -- they'd sell in a New York minute. Let people find ways to educate their children -- without a government monopoly, the opportunities would be endless.

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