Licensed... to be killed?

Have you ever wondered why you need to get a license or a permit to do something, or to own something? Why do you need a license to get married? To fish? To carry a concealed weapon? I've always felt that it was just another way for the state to generate revenue from the gullible. I may have been wrong in my assessment.

 

I was sitting down to eat my lunch and read that day's newspaper, when I ran across a story about pit bulls, the city of Denver, and the reason you should never license your dog(s). The headline of the article read, Denver Pit Bull Owners in a Panic Over Ban. The article explains how the city decided that it had enough with pit bulls hurting people, so it banned all pit bull type dogs. The city then proceeded to collect the dogs from their owners. The dogs were taken to be destroyed.

 

I pose this question to you, dear reader: How did the city know where to go looking for these dogs? Do you suppose the animal control officers had some fancy pit bull tracking device? Or, do you think the officers queried their "Licensed Dogs" database for all the owners of pit bulls? All they would have to do is hit "Print" to start collecting the dogs.

 

Here's proof. From another article put out by the Associated Press titled Denver to re-examine dangerous dog ordinance:

Since May 9, animal control officers have confiscated about two dozen pit bulls from Denver homes. Earlier this month, the city sent more than 250 letters warning owners to get their pit bulls out of the city.

How did the city (a) know where to look for the pit bulls to confiscate and (b) know who and where to send the 250 plus letters informing the pit bull owners of the newly reenacted ban?

 

There is a bright-side to this story, though. The above article explains that the director of animal control is looking for an alternative to the outright ban on the pit bulls.

"We will certainly keep enforcing the law, but as time goes on we will be looking at alternatives to improve our dangerous and vicious dog ordinance and come up with a model we can recommend," said Doug Kelley, Denver director of animal control.

Options include requiring a license or permit with strict stipulations for owners on how a pit bull is to be kept; requiring owners to carry liability insurance; and stiff fines for owners whose dogs are caught roaming freely.

I ask you again: Why do you need licenses? They're just an instrument used by the state to track your property and/or activities. The state requires them to make their job of confiscation easier in the future. Don't believe me? Ask any ex-Pit Bull owner in Denver. They'll tell you!

The Emergency Clause

The Everett Herald had an article on page B4 titled 'Supreme Court rejects bid for tax referendum' that I think will be pivotal in the upcoming election cycle. Their is a push to revoke (by Referendum) the new gas tax passed by our State's Legislature (6103-S-PL) that states:

Sec. 101   RCW 82.36.025 and 2003 c 361 s 401 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A motor vehicle fuel tax rate of twenty-three cents per gallon applies to the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel.
     (2) Beginning July 1, 2003, an additional and cumulative motor vehicle fuel tax rate of five cents per gallon applies to the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel. This subsection (2) expires when the bonds issued for transportation 2003 projects are retired.
     (3) Beginning July 1, 2005, an additional and cumulative motor vehicle fuel tax rate of three cents per gallon applies to the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel.
     (4) Beginning July 1, 2006, an additional and cumulative motor vehicle fuel tax rate of three cents per gallon applies to the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel.
     (5) Beginning July 1, 2007, an additional and cumulative motor vehicle fuel tax rate of two cents per gallon applies to the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel.
     (6) Beginning July 1, 2008, an additional and cumulative motor vehicle fuel tax rate of one and one-half cents per gallon applies to the sale, distribution, or use of motor vehicle fuel.

Understandably, citizens are upset that at a time when most people are struggling to get by, the last thing they need is another burden on their paychecks.

 

And now... the bad news. From the article I mentioned above:

The state Supreme Court on Thursday struck down an attempt to force a voter referendum on the Legislature's overhaul of voter-approved tax-and-spending limits, with one justice writing in dissent that the majority betrayed "the sacred trust" of the people.

In a 6-3 decision, the high court ruled that an emergency clause slapped on the move by lawmakers was valid. Opponents have argued lawmakers were purposely trying to evade a public vote.

Way down at the bottom of 6103-S.PL is this:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 405   Sections 101 through 107, 109, 303 through 310, and 401 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect July 1, 2005.

I'm sorry to report, but we're stuck with the new gas tax. There's just no way the Supreme Court is going to overturn this. Isn't it nice to know that an 'Emergency Clause' is all it takes for you to be robbed of your property? What with Kelo and this, we don't own squat!

 

So, this is what life was like before the 4th of July, 1776!

Your Liberty for Temporary Security?

Even after destroying two nations (Afghanistan and Iraq), even after having our liberties ripped from us by the US PATRIOT Act amongst other acts and laws, even after the formation of Homeland Security and the War on Terrorism, we're still not safe from terrorist acts. Reminds me of a quote: 

They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.
~Benjamin Franklin

All the money and all the lives spent in a vain attempt to buy a little security will only bankrupt our country.

 

P.S. Fox News just said the parties to the G8 summit should "steel their resolve" to deal with Iran as the new fosterer of terrorism. First Afghanistan, then Iraq, now Iran. It should be no problem getting the UK behind a war in Iran. It's coming...