The Hemmer-Beaumont Family Blog

"The Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill to impose strict blood alcohol limits on hunters, angering gun enthusiasts who say the legislation unjustly targets their right to bear arms." Uh, maybe it's just me here, but aren't they targeting those people who get liquored up and then bear arms? Well, whatever...this article still wins 'Best Headline of the Day'.

Va. Hunter Drinking Limits Eyed (washingtonpost.com)

In another surprise move, the United States continues to pour millions of dollars down the never-ending money hole that is missile defense. Every time I read one of these articles, I'm reminded of the old Bloom County strip that suggested that we weave a floating net of dollar bills that would then repel any missile attacks. This brings to mind two things:

1. This stupid idea has been around for 20 years & has produced no result.
2. The money net would have been cheaper and more effective.

CNN.com - Missile defense system flunks test - Feb 14, 2005

It's good to know that our legislature is tackling the hard issues. Actually, Gretchen and I agree that this isn't a terrible idea on the surface. It has a certain appeal to those of us who think that teens dress disrespectfully. The question is whether it is the legislature's place to determine a 'dress code' for Virginia's teens. For me, this is a parenting issue plain and simple. Should the government determine what we or our children can or can't wear? I would say that the answer is a resounding no. We as individuals should be allowed to make these types of decisions for ourselves. I have some lovely pictures of me in corduroy suits from when I was a kid & some really nice ones of me in an all white suit that I wore to a dance in the 6^th grade. Bad taste? Yes. Illegal? No. The government should stick to things like reducing traffic accidents by mandating the use of hands-free cell phone units (defeated in the legislature), increasing the use of red light cameras (defeated as an invasion of privacy), and other laws which would increase public safety without taking away individual freedoms.

Meanwhile, the legislature continues to make decisions that take away people's individual rights to marry whomever they wish, get medical procedures such as an abortion and determine what things are or aren't obscene. An now we have spent a bunch of time discussing whether underwear goes inside the pants. Hey, let me take a stab at this one - it DOES. However, there is no law against being an idiot...but just wait a bit and the Virginia Legislature will begin debating that issue too.

Droopy Drawers Drive Va. House To Distraction (washingtonpost.com)

For all his faith-based talk, President Bush is just another rich guy who wants to make more money on the backs of the poor. We are one of the most prosperous nations, yet we do next to nothing to address the issue of poverty in our own country. If George Bush were a true Christian, this budget would be chock full of initiatives to help the poor: job training, extending Medicare & medicade, mental health treatment, food stamps. Instead, he is planning on cutting most of these programs, citing the need for more discipline in spending. Discipline? More like keeping the money and power in the hands of those that already have it and away from those that do not.

Surprisingly, the military comes out fairly well in the new budget. Our President seems to think that it is his duty to spread his brand of Democracy to the rest of the world...whether they like it or not. Just another case of the President deciding that God is on his side and the side of anyone with enough money to impose their will on weaker and poorer people.

Remember the Poor (washingtonpost.com)