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Terry’s Tidbits

Terry Gray

Derby Cruising

          “It is a venue for illegal drugs…and profanity.”  That is what Mayor Jerry called the West end Derby festivity.  Venue for Profanity?  “Come on everybody, let’s go cruising and cussing.” 

          How can our “leaders” such as this snot-nosed mayor tell citizens that they can’t drive on public streets?  How can they tell them that they can’t assemble?  The first amendment guarantees our right to assemble and we paid for the streets.  We also have a 1^st amendment – for now.

          There very well may be a few bad apples in the crowd during cruising weekend, but there are also a few bad apples at Churchill Downs.  Let’s close it down, too.  In fact, go to Frankfort during legislative sessions and I’m sure you’ll agree that this is one get-together that should be stopped right now!

          Any time people get together there is the potential for trouble.  The event doesn’t have to be celebratory; it can even happen at funerals.

          I can tell you that there is going to be trouble over this.  Cruising weekend is not over.  We should also see a rise in murders in Louisville - like we need an incentive.

          This “Mayor for Life” has to go.  It appears that he is more the “Mayor for Death.”

Eminent Domain

          Farm Bureau released a study that said that most Americans are against eminent domain.  I can’t help but wonder how hard it was for them to gather information that proved that Americans don’t like their property taken from them. 

          Farm Bureau doesn’t list the questions that it asked in this survey, but I can’t understand how there was anyone who thought eminent domain was a good thing.  I guess a few developers found their way into the survey.

          When does the fervor of elected officials against eminent domain reflect the same fervor as the American people?  They do represent us – I think.  Are they listening at all?  There should be no debate about what to do with eminent domain in this free nation.  Our founders meant freedom, and eminent domain as it is used today is not in the freedom cards.  It is something that we would expect of restrictive, oppressive, and repressive governments.

          As our soldiers fight for the freedom of Iraqis, we should take note – our freedoms at home are up for grabs to the highest bidders.  Let’s close the auction.

          All of that said, I approve of Farm Bureau’s concern.  BB$T Bank made a huge statement against eminent domain a few weeks ago when they instituted a policy not to finance projects that seized private property using eminent domain.  The fervor grows, and still our government drags its feet.

          Lucus Maddy, writing for the Kansas State Collegian, makes a very good analogy for eminent domain.  His sister hijacked his car radio converter which allowed him to play CD’s through his speakers.  He appealed to Judge Mamma and lost.  Here is the analogy:

“My case, had it been argued before the Supreme Court with the same basic defense, the ruling would have favored Kara (his sister) based on the following manure.

“Although the transfer of private property occurred between two private parties and will remain private property, we argue in Kara’s defense as per the ‘public use’ phrase in the Constitution, interpreting aforesaid phrase to also defend ‘increased public benefit.’ Music played in both vehicles can be reasonably defined as a ‘public use’ because nearly anyone, a.k.a. ‘the public,’ can ride in and thereby listen to either stereo.

“Our argument finds grounds in the following: Lucas’ pickup sports one blown speaker and his CD collection is miniscule, while the Brougham boasts an AC Delco system with five medium-grade speakers and CDs ranging from Aerosmith to Toby Keith. Based on public benefit from such a monumental increase in both volume and selection, we implore the court find in favor of Kara.”

          And there it is, simply said and put in the context that any socialist would understand and love and any free person would find alien and despise.

 

J.D Byrider

          Ripoff or free enterprise?

          When does the government have a duty to protect consumers from sharks in the retail world?  When are products for sale subject to price control by government?  Is selling a product at three times its value theft or the practice of free enterprise?

          J.D. Byrider recently lost a $7.1 million lawsuit in which the state’s attorney’s office claimed that the dealership sold shoddy cars and charged too much.  That may be true, but where does consumer responsibility end as it applies to free enterprise?  Shouldn’t I be able to sell what I own at whatever price I wish to charge and leave it to the purchaser to decide if he wants the product?  Shouldn’t the same apply to the product’s quality?

          It was also determined that J.D. Byrider’s employees were rude.  In this country and probably in most countries around the world, rude behavior toward customers is a precursor to bankruptcy.  Customers make the decision not to patronize a rude business.  We don’t make laws and award millions in lawsuits based on manners.

          I haven’t and wouldn’t do business with J.D. Byrider.  I was there once doing some contracting work and they were rude to me.  I think they were just rude people.  I can only imagine how they treated their customers.  But haven’t we, as a public that cries out for government protection, placed ourselves in the position of being victims?  Our guard as consumers is down because we expect legislation to make everything right.  What happened to “buyer beware”?  I can see the art of being an informed consumer becoming yet another lost craft in this country.   

          The State’s Attorney’s office is getting $300,000 from the lawsuit.  That isn’t a lot of money considering the settlement amount.  However, don’t we pay taxes to support this office?  Isn’t it the job of the office to ensure justice?  What else do we pay them for?  Who decided how much the State’s Attorney’s Office should charge to pursue this case?  Will someone look into whether or not the $300,000 is more than the office deserves given that they are already paid?  Ripoff or free enterprise?

Bush, Yawn

          George, spying on your own citizens is wrong – for whatever reasons.  It is a fundamental principle of Nazism and holds no place in America.  Further, if it is so right, why do you feel the need to try to sell domestic spying so intensely?  Your campaign reminds me of a telemarketer who can’t take no for an answer.  Let’s put George on the no call list.  We understand what spying is about, and some Americans actually agree with you.  However, no matter how many people hold your coattails, it is still wrong.

          If you really want to provide Americans with protection, issue each of us over the age of 15 a weapon, provide weapons training for those who want it, and encourage our militias to be vigilant.  Then require that the Bill of Rights be taught in all schools, from the 1^st grade forward.  Mandate that a working knowledge of our Constitution be a requirement for graduating high school, along with basic marksmanship.  We can defend ourselves, and you, if need be. And guess what George, there is very little you can do to stop terrorism in this country.  In your quest to end foreign terrorism, you are backing the citizens of this country into a corner, and eventually terrorism will not be limited to foreign “enemies of democracy”.  It will include patriots in this country who view the government as domestic “enemies of freedom.”

Bad Cops

          Many of us have seen the recent videos of cops beating up and shooting citizens.  The problem:  the law is on the side of the cops – whether it is or not.

          Jorge Roberts was beaten a year ago by Louisville Metro Gestapo.  It was caught on tape. 

          Here is how the Gestapo administration explains the actions of the cop, Don Hargadon:

(Former Jefferson Country Police Chief) Carcara: "The police officer doesn't know if he's sleepy because he's been working all night, or he doesn't know if he robbed a local convenience store."

(Interviewer) Jackey: "In a police interview, Hargadon echoed the same concerns, wondering if Roberts could have been involved in a string of area apartment robberies. Hargadon says he used the amount of force he did because of the way Roberts was looking at him, and because he said Roberts had fists clenched and wasn't responding to commands."

          I think the operative phrase here is “the officer doesn’t know”.  How can this be justification for anything?  This is much the same argument used by George Bush to push Homeland Security when he insists that it is okay to spy on U.S. citizens because we don’t know.  What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

          Those arguing for the officer say that the cop didn’t know if the suspect had robbed a convenience store or been involved in a string of robberies, yet he had no indication that this was the case.  The man could have been Jesus.  The suspect was “looking at” the cop the wrong way and wasn’t “responding to commands.”

          From the beginning of this tape, the cop was an ass.  The suspect did “follow commands” until the cop started man-handling him.  As for looking at the cop in any particular way, it was dark, and since when did looking at someone the wrong way justify being man-handled?

          I’ve never been fond of authority; most times I don’t recognize it.  Being born on this world doesn’t place me in a position of servitude.  Taking commands from an armed, mad, uninformed, and uniformed public servant is not my idea of life in America as a free man.

          As Homeland Security and our war on terror continue to grow in scope, our terror will equally grow.  Our police are becoming more and more empowered to use force against us and most times are justified in doing so in the eyes of their superiors.  Our government works diligently to strengthen our police forces while removing our freedoms.  Add it all up, and tyranny is just around the corner.  Consider that the top public officials in this country are more power hungry and aggressive than I can remember them being, and this is a recipe for oppression.

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