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Opinari - Latin term for Opinion. Opinari.net is just what it seems: a cornucopia of rants, raves and poignant soliloquy.


Thursday, June 06, 2002

Atencion! Atencion!


You may notice the influx of postings today. Well, friends, yours truly will be on "assignment" in the coming days. My assignment: to witness the hedonism and wantonness that is the society of the Western Caribbean. I take this responsibility in stride. As your loyal author of opinions and factoids, I will bring to you documentation, writings, and assorted verbage regarding this interesting nook of the western world. In the interim, I leave behind my legacy of the past month. until the 17th of June, Irie!

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.: posted by Dave 1:35 PM


Kyoto Revisited


With President Bush's visit recently to the European Union, we have seen the renewed vigor of the environmentalist uprising known as the Kyoto Treaty. Protests abound in the Eastern Hemisphere because of Bush's reticence towards Kyoto. Many have complained that American society has devolved from one of altruistic communalism (the 60's) to one of self-motivated consumption (the 00's). For one, I take issue with the elitist depiction of such policies as taxation and Kyoto as "forward" thought. To do so is to imply that tax cuts and responsible environmental policies are "backward" and "uninspired". That position is insulting to me and many others like me.

Kyoto is nothing more than a socialist extension of government bureaucracy, and, even more so, an attempt to level the playing field for other nations, while crippling the US economy. American political ideals are still not well understood throughout the world. Our founding fathers, and most who call themselves Americans, believe that we can function better as a whole if we rely on ourselves for sustenance, while relying on each other for charitable endeavors. In other words (and I realize this concept is lost on the socialist agenda-mongers of the EU power elite), we don't need the government to confiscate our money and redistribute it as they see fit. The burdensome taxation policies on corporate society is exactly what Kyoto aims to achieve. Confiscation, and policy dictation at the expense of the most successful industrial society on the globe (America). Social engineering and wealth redistribution were never the intentions of the founders of our governmental system.

As far as the Kyoto Treaty, how can anyone characterize a treaty that penalizes Western countries for carbon emissions while placing NO restrictions on such prototypical polluters as China and India as "forward"? Only ONE European nation has even adopted this protocol. In summary, if the idea of society as guardian, mentor, and provider for all at the expense of those that function responsibly is what one would deem "magical, inspired, and forward", I'll pass. Long live the 00's!

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.: posted by Dave 1:24 PM


REPRINT: Taxation Equals Disincentive


The state of Tennessee, from which I am originally, faces a budgetary crisis. Political groupspeak maintains that we need more "revenues" (READ: taxes) to sustain our "livelihood" (READ: unwieldy budget). The flip side of the coin prefers a laissez-faire approach on taxation. Indeed, it seems to me there are too many stakeholders, with too many viewpoints. Such a dilution of proposals has led to the oncoming maelstrom we see today.

It would benefit us all to look not to other states' tax models, but simple supply-side economics to understand the benefits and detriments of these taxation proposals. I have read the maze of graphics in the Sentinel, and they seem to misrepresent the situation.

To wit, let's assume that the state enacts an increase in the franchise tax. This is reported to yield $88.4 million in additional revenue. A sales tax increase? Sure, that supposedly raises another $175 million with a mere quarter percent increase. There are myriad examples of tax increases that SHOULD pay big dividends to the state finances. Right? Wrong.

The pertinent factor that is not being considered is simple: taxation is a "disincentive" for economic growth and consumption. This is fundamental, indisputable theory from Economics 101. Simply put, if you raise your sales tax, people will buy less in their local stores, and more from Georgia, Kentucky, et.al., or the Internet vis a vis e-portals and web warehouses. If we burden the businesses of the state, mark my words: they will exit stage right, leaving many Tennesseeans unemployed. Unemployment leads to financial indigence, and removes a taxpayer from the state coffers.

Tax policy is not an exact science, because such factors are too often ignored. However, the basic tenet remains intact. Raise a tax, decrease the taxed activity.

Consider the analogy: if my checking account only contains $2000, and I cannot finance the debt, I cannot pay $20,000 for a new car. It's not a mathematical feasibility. The only amenable solution to Tennessee's taxation dilemma is to trim government services, seek privatization for all services that can be sustained, and stop promising spending increases to lobby groups, and voter blocs as a "purchase" of a vote. The founders of our nation never intended for legislators to have carte blanche for seeking revenue. Legislators: act now. Cut the spending. Live within your means. Deal with the political flack, and more importantly, do what is not only right, but economically fundamental.

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.: posted by Dave 1:00 PM


REPRINT: On Palestine


I have followed at great length the happenings overseas with the Israeli-Palestinian dispute over the lands of their ancient brethren, doing so because this issue is of vital interest to me as an American. As of yet, our leadership has yet to properly gauge this situation and assess it honestly. On the one hand, American economic interests (a.k.a., oil) are threatened. On the other, we have debate over moral obligations to restore peace, and effectively choose sides. However, the average person is left asking, "Who's right, and who's wrong?" and consequently, "What should America do?"


It should be understood that the Palestinians have a valid quarrel over the treatment of refugees in the area, as well as the intrusion into their daily lives by a sometimes authoritarian Israeli regime. Arabs all over the world are affected by this, and where there is an Israeli association, there is often an American one. Does this mean the US should establish a homeland for Palestine to the chagrin of its Israeli ally? Not necessarily.


First of all, there has never been a literal "Palestine". Not even the Bible mentions such a nation. Palestine has technically been a part of ancient, and modern Syria. Even their representatives to the UN have said so. Palestinian statehood has become a rallying cry for one reason: to galvanize the Arab constituency.


Secondly, Israel heeded the public outcry by its Middle Eastern neighbors almost two years ago. They offered Arafat and his legion the vast majority of the West Bank and Gaza, offered diplomatic recognition, and even offered to negotiate a division of Jerusalem. This, however, would not accommodate the Palestinian leaders, nor many of their subordinates. Arafat has shown that even a return to the pre-1967 borders is not satisfactory.


Should Israel even be required to relinquish this land at all? Consider that the lands in question were obtained through a defensive war in 1967, and later in 1973. The United Nations Partitioning resolution from 1947 essentially left Israel with indefensible borders. This has proven to be the case as they have constantly been harassed and harangued by militants from all sides. The acquisition of territories in question has been paramount in the Israeli ability to keep itself free from occupation, and further hostility. Each time a withdrawal has been negotiated, anger and strife has reappeared, and Israel has returned to its warlike posture. For those of us in America, we must realize the goal of these theocratic states is one-dimensional: eradication of the Jewish state. It has proven itself throughout history, and continues to do so today.


So, how does the US mediate this quarrel? We must find an amicable solution without seizing Israel's ability to defend itself. We must encourage Arafat to condemn all terrorist violence, and to do to directly, in Arabic (a condemnation carries little weight unless delivered in the native tongue). We must also cut off the hand that feeds the "intifada": Saddam Hussein. His funding of suicide bombings must come to an end. The Bush doctrine as spelled out after September 11 was "you are for us in this war on terrorism, or you are against us." The current situation is testing that premise, as well as our credibility, and our resolve. We cannot give in to terrorism, nor should we force other nations to cease retaliation for terrorist acts. If we are to eliminate the evil purveyance of terrorism from our society, we must act together now to facilitate its demise.

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.: posted by Dave 12:51 PM


Doping Our Youth

A hyperactive, energetic, and incorrigible child runs amock. Insisting on his way of entertainment, he implements a prepubescent "scorched-earth" policy, laying waste to his classmates, their possessions, and the egos of his teachers. Control? Discipline? These are concepts of the past, his parents are told. The educational party line: "What this child needs is a dose of Ritalin."

Does the above scenario describe your child? If it does, perhaps you should know more about the product your school counselors are imploring you to introduce to your son or daughter. Perhaps you should gain more information regarding the agenda of such recommendations.

First, let me dig into the mythology that is Ritalin doping. Ritalin is a stimulant intended to help ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) afflicted kids to concentrate better, and to act less impulsively. It is estimated that 5% of all schoolchildren are, or would be, given the opportunity, diagnosed as having ADHD. I find this remarkable, knowing that this "disorder" did not even exist until 15 years ago. Clinical trials of Ritalin are often skewed, and rarely last for longer than a period of weeks. Even the clinical trials statistics purport that placebos had nearly the same effect as the actual pharmaceutical (and without the frightening secondary effects, I might add).

To what side effects do I refer? Death. That's right. The popular press doesn't trumpet the drawbacks of this pill du jour. This schedule 2 drug (similar drugs: cocaine and meth) has time and time again shown up in coroner's reports as the sole contributing factor in causing small vessel damage, and enlarging the heart. Ask any cardiologist if he/she would prescribe Ritalin under any
circumstances. I already know the response.

So, why are we being led to believe these kids need to be doped? First of all, there is an entire pharmaceutical industry that needs an influx of profit. Extolling the virtues of such a wonder-drug helps them meet that goal. At a minimum, we cannot expect any discouragement when such a drug is desired to help calm our "fledgling" youth. Secondly, we have a modicum of irresponsible, and incapable teachers. Unruly child, you say? Pshaw. Give him something to ease the pain. Not his pain, mind you. The teacher's pain. I speak tongue-in-cheek, of course. That being said, our teachers need to realize a semblance of responsibility for their pupils. Accordingly, we also need to remove the shackles that dissuade school personnel from administering punishment to kids. Such methods are paramount to ensuring cooperation, not reasoning, and doping. Thirdly, and most notoriously, schools are actually encouraged to medicate these kids because of economic incentive. In fact, schools receive additional funding per child if that child is ADHD diagnosed.

A little parental involvement and insistance, tempered by understanding of the facts will ensure us that we will not cultivate a generation of doped, dispassionate children. Also, we need to encourage our teachers to be more responsible, and give them the means to be. The child described in the opening of this article? That was me, in a nutshell. I shudder to think how I would have turned out in today's pharmaceutically dependent climate.

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.: posted by Dave 10:30 AM





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