I’m now back in town. I haven’t been on top of the news as much as I should be, so blogging has been pretty light lately. I can inform my legions of fans that my columns will run on Tuesdays this summer, so enjoy!
Yesterday, I attended the grand opening of Jamie Hagood’s campaign headquarters. I’ve gotten to know Jamie fairly well, and am totally impressed. I look forward to her becoming state senator.
I promise for more updates soon….
I’m now in Sioux Falls, SD.. Here are some more photos..
Jackson Hole, WY
Yellowstone Natl Park, WY
Frozen Pond, Yellowstone, WY
Old Faithful, Yellowstone, WY
Site of Custer’s Last Stand, Little Bighorn, MT
Mount Rushmore, SD
So I’m spending the night in Idaho, which is an amazingly lovely state. Along the way, I took these photos..
Silverton, CO
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
Four Corners
Hoover Dam
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
Donner Pass, NV
Shoshone Falls, ID
We arrived in Montrose, CO today. Not as far as we had intended, but a bit of car trouble slowed us down in Colorado Springs. This is the second time I’ve been to this state, and it’s every bit as great as I remember..
Here’s some photos..
Day two of the trip finds us making it to Topeka, Kansas for the night. Made two major stops today, one at the Winston Churchill Memorial in Fulton, Missouri (where he first coined the phrase “iron curtain”) and in Independence. Here are a couple of photos…
I’m now staying in a dump of a motel just outside Saint Louis, MO. Blogging may be light for the next week or so as I head towards San Fran. Fun times!
When I first moved my blog to blogspot, I lamented that visitors could not post responses on here. Now you can, so start posting (Just click on the “#” icon at the bottom of postings)!
Tom Humphrey’s column in this week’s Sentinel explains how the line between party affiliation is blurred in Nashville. He’s got a point, though occasionally partisan politics do rear their ugly heads. Looks like Nashville is quiet and peaceful for the time being, though….
Roane County has made the news, this time in the form of a chemical fire at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge. The situation appeared serious at first, but has since dissipated. The first responders and personnel, as well as County Mayor Ken Yager, have handled the situation well.
The Tennessee State Legislature is considering a tougher seatbelt law that would give police officers the right to pull over motorists for not being buckled up (currently, police cannot pull you over solely for not being buckled up, but can ticket you for it). Such a law is well meaning; but is clearly an intrusion on freedom.
I always wear a seatbelt, so I doubt the law will effect me. Having said that, why should I be forced to? After all, I am harming no one else if I chose not to wear one. Why should the government force me to take this precaution? Shouldn’t I have the right to chose for myself?
Knoxville City Police Chief Phil Keith raises an interesting point, “Seat belt use would also help in reducing the number of injuries associated with car crashes, along with reducing the economic costs associated with crashes.” No doubt he’s right, but, again, the economic costs are not a problem of liberty. They are a problem of socialism, as Walter E. Williams has pointed out. It should not be the responsibility of society to pick up the tab because an individual behaved irresponsibly.
This law, as stated, is well intentioned, but unnecessary. If someone choses not to wear a seatbelt, it should be their right. Likewise, if they are injured for their bad choices, it should be their own responsibility to take care of.
