My Vacation

Permit me to introduce a small portion of the Laramie Range, an area of the United States where calling 911 is not part of the cultural heritage.

Mrs. Nobel Obama

Exclusive. Michelle's immediate reaction:

"For the first time in my adult life I am proud of Norway."

The Nobel Barack Obama

Speechless. Stuttering, foaming, half-gargling, half-screaming speechless.

Not even the flash-frozen brains of a bunch of Norwegian academics and politically connected others should be capable of this.

Why couldn't Barry Goldwater have invented dynamite?

You Will Learn to Love Big Brother

"The 'heartbeat' of the city consists of elected and appointed officials...Collectively these officials come and offer time and talents for public service. Each and every one takes the opportunity to represent the City of (Smugleye-on-Lake) with integrity, professionalism and making all decisions based on what is best for out community."

So says the lead article in the quarterly newsletter I get from the Leaders of SoL, along with the water and garbage dun.

I take great comfort in knowing that the motives of the folks I pay to regulate me are as pure as those of any living human since c. 32 A.D. -- and that they are as omnicompetent as -- well, sheesh, I dunno. Maybe one of Plato's men of gold.

Yet it is disheartening to learn that my government is the heartbeat of my community life. I always thought my heart beat pretty happily in Smugleye because I spend about 100 per cent of my time dealing with folks whom I don't pay to regulate me. Together we create private and uncoerced arrangements, and we're just pretty damned disappointed to find out City Hall figures this is trivial compared to its over-riding role in heart beatery.

Oh well. I suppose I'll just let this statist bullshit ride,* but I shouldn't. The tyranny of the nanny state rests on countless repetitions of such pap so that it will, in accord with Goebbels dicta, in due course assume the status of settled truth.

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*Or maybe not. There are some highly rantable restrictions here. How about a zoning reg that requires a building permit to replace a window?