The Glorious Acts of Our Legislature

Written by By Mike Kole


By Mike Kole Libertarian Writers’ Bureau http://www.writersbureau.org

I always have to remember to take a deep breath when examiningrepparttar laws being proposed by our grand Legislature. I detest most ofrepparttar 125888 new legislation onrepparttar 125889 table, but have to forgive our representatives inrepparttar 125890 House and Senate for it. After all, writing laws is what a Legislature does, and if they don’t write enough laws, it can begin to look like they’ve been loafing.

Call me strange, but I rather prefer a Legislature that goofs off and under produces new laws. I’m convinced we have enough of them already, and agree with Mark Twain, who famously said that no man’s life, liberty, or property is safe whilerepparttar 125891 Legislature is in session.

Mainly, that is because no lawmaker wants to look like a slacker, especially so soon after an election. It’s bad form. As a result, we get some hideous proposals that I would chalk up as an effort to hide behind some broad good intention while looking meaningful, or at least busy.

House Bill 1508 is a textbook case as one such proposal.

Representative Vanessa Summers, an Indianapolis Democrat, has introduced legislation that would prohibitrepparttar 125892 use of cell phones, making exceptions for hands-free devices and for emergency use. The proposed fine for violations ofrepparttar 125893 law would be up to $25.

The intent is to make our streets a little less hazardous. We have all groused atrepparttar 125894 idiot guilty of driving while in conversation that cut us off or made us miss a light, and we have cursedrepparttar 125895 driver and his cell phone. Summers’ proposal takes its cue from similar laws passed in New York andrepparttar 125896 District of Columbia. As everyone knows, these cities now haverepparttar 125897 safest streets inrepparttar 125898 world.

This law is rife with problems, from practical application torepparttar 125899 higher concerns of individual liberty.

I know four friends, right offrepparttar 125900 top of my head, who would gladly pay up to $25, as a cost of doing business. They think this highly of each and every one of their calls. $25 is no kind of deterrent for these people.

What is emergency use? I define emergency use of a cell phone as a frantic call to a friend because I suddenly had two tickets offered to me for a Colts’ playoff game, and I have to accept within five minutes, orrepparttar 125901 tickets will be passed on to a co-worker. My wife defines it as having found a deal on furniture, and she’s on her way home so I can look at fabric swatches. I’m betting that this is not whatrepparttar 125902 Representative has in mind. Some revisions will be in order.

Why do the Republicans keep bringing up seatbelt laws?

Written by Mike Sylvester


We have a new Republican Governor; we now have a Republican majority in bothrepparttar Indiana House and Senate. The Republicans keep talking about a “mandate.” There are many very important issues that need to be addressed in Indiana: Property taxes are out of control (Mine have increased over 60% inrepparttar 125887 last year here in Allen County), we spend OVER $11,000 per student per year on a public school system that produces students who on average score 24 points BELOWrepparttar 125888 national average onrepparttar 125889 SAT test, Indiana has a structural deficit of over 800 million dollars, and Indiana has lost countless high paying manufacturing jobs inrepparttar 125890 last few years. There are too many other looming issues that Indiana must deal with to list here!

Why dorepparttar 125891 Republicans keep bringing up seat belt laws? It just shows how out of touch our politicians are withrepparttar 125892 people who live in Indiana. I know very few people who think forcing competent adults to wear a seat belt is a legislative priority; but, our politicians are at it again!

I wear a seat belt when I drive. To me, it is common sense. Why does our government think they need to force adults to wear seatbelts? I do not needrepparttar 125893 government telling me what to do! I have served my country in time of war, I am a law abiding citizen, treat me like one!

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