Pulling your own snaggletooth because you can’t take the pain anymore. Waiting weeks to see a doctor. Then waiting weeks, months, or years to actually get a procedure. Eating portion-controlled meals at your favorite restaurant. Having a heart attack due to stress from not being able to see a heart doctor. Not receiving certain treatments or procedures because you’re “too old.” This is the norm for many living under “universal health care.” But as Brian Schwartz points out, having the coverage does not equate to actually receiving the care. Possibly my favorite health care one-liner goes, “do you really want the people delivering your mail to deliver your babies?” Good point.

I have a confession to make. I drove to work today. Alone. Last night I threw my beer can in the trash. I still receive a newspaper every morning. I sometimes take long showers… on the very same day my wife waters the garden. I kept my house warm the whole winter – at a comfortable temperature. Worst of all, I read at night using incandescent light. Lately I’ve been avoiding Mother Earth. My ecological sins require my knuckles to be rapped by a tree branch of Mother Earth’s choosing. This is one of the reasons she’s been known to incite fear and “soil” underwear. I plan on hiding out where I know she won’t ever find me: at Fred Smith’s eco-theology presentation on Thursday, April 10. If you’ve sinned like I have, you should come along. Avoiding Mother Earth’s wrath is only one RSVP away!

I’d also like to use this forum to issue a dire warning to Paul Chesser and James Taylor. You guys are in BIG trouble! If you see her coming, really stick it to her by driving away as fast as you can, in separate cars, while throwing gum wrappers out your window.

Becoming a “man is at fault for climate change” skeptic like myself isn’t very difficult. First watch a little Paul Chesser and some James Taylor. Then read what James Taylor presented to the Professional Engineers of Colorado. Finally, keep up to date with what Climate Strategies Watch is doing…. and viola! You’re a bonified skeptic. Welcome to the club.

An organization that boasts an illustrious 60+ year history, outstanding publications, and lectures from distinguished thinkers like Ludwig von Mises, F.A. Hayek, Henry Hazlitt, Milton Friedman, James Buchanan, Vernon Smith, Israel Kirzner, Walter Williams, George Stigler, Frank Chodorov, John Chamberlain, F.A. “Baldy” Harper, and William F. Buckley Jr. is one that clearly takes its role in promoting liberty and freedom very seriously. Luckily for us, the Foundation for Economic Education is that organization. They have been on the front lines in the fight for liberty and free markets for many years and continue to touch hearts and minds today. Sheldon Richman of FEE recently sat down with Penn Pfiffner to discuss what the Foundation is all about. Check it out over at ivoices.org.

For even more Sheldon, check out this video.

Cato’s Michael Tanner, of Massa-choice-less fame, just released an analysis of health care systems across the globe. Turns out, America’s troubles with health care is not an anomaly. He dissects the major European command and control style health care systems from around the world and concludes, “The Grass is Not Always Greener…” Hat tip to Ari Armstrong over at Free Colorado who highlights some of Tanner’s more interesting points.

© 2008, Benjamin Hummel. To see more cartoons like this go to www.politixcartoons.com.

Scrap ‘em and make new ones! Governor Ritter is looking to do away with our current content standards and the CSAP, and to implement a new program called the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids, also known as CAP4K. How much you want to bet this new plan will need more money and more bureaucrats running it? The story was covered yesterday by Channel 7, and our Education Policy Center Director Pam Benigno was interviewed as one of the skeptics of the plan. One proponent said she was supportive because the plan is good in theory…. Didn’t Lenin and Stalin use that same excuse? Interesting.

Here’s Pam in all her TV glory!


Did you notice what the reporter said at the end? “Right now, Colorado is 49th in the nation in education funding compared to state wealth, a sad statistic according to state educators.” Too bad that statement is both misleading (Colorado ranks lower because we’re a wealthier state) AND outdated (statistics from 2004). When you measure real dollars spent per pupil, Colorado ranks a lot closer to the middle.

After thoroughly debunking Governor Ritter’s destructive Climate Action Plan, James Taylor of the Heartland Institute made some time for me on my show Independent Thinking. Tonight at 8:30 on KBDI channel 12, you can see Mr. Taylor discuss his take almost completely unadulterated. Why? Because Heidi VanGenderen, the Governor’s climate change advisor, declined an invitation to appear on the show. I, however, did my best in representing the other side. Although I’m sure Ms. VanGenderen would have done a much better job. The invitation still stands Heidi, just let me know.

An inquiry into the nature of property rights and its relationship to liberty. Commentary by Paul Prentice.

For all things property rights. The Property Rights Project, one of our policy centers headed by Jessica Corry, has its very own blog. Go check it out for all the latest RTD scandals, eminent domain abuses, and silly zoning regulations.