Free Speech and Your Bottom Dollar

Most people know me as conservative with an independent streak. The only time it really shows that I'm conservative politically is when I don't know that much about a local political race, or the candidates, mainly because the local papers do such a horrible job reporting on local politics, I'll vote for the guy that belongs to my party. But when it comes to initiatives and bond measures, I vote no. I don't care who sponsors the measures, if you weren't smart enough, or political enough to get your congressman to introduce the bill, then paying signature collection companies to put measures on the ballot shows a distrust in our representational form of a republic. If you don't trust democracy, then I don't trust you.

Which leads me to the actions of the U.S. Senate yesterday. The flag burning amendment to the constitution was defeated by one vote. For anyone that understands the First Amendment, we should be shocked that this amendment was not defeated 100 to 0. "Congress shall make no law abridging..." This is why the conservatives had to make it an amendment. Again, if you don't trust democracy, then I don't trust you. I really am not concerned with any arguments about patriotism or respect for our country. Just because we have freedom of expression, does not mean we have freedom from expression. If you express your views, you should be prepared for the consequences when other people express their views in response. For those who are offended by people or groups who burn the flag, don't force an amendment. Instead, learn who those people are. Learn who supports those people, or who those people support. Then let everyone know who endorses whom, and then we'll see who gets voted in, who gets those favorable appropriation riders, who gets hurt economically because of boycotts or cancelled subscriptions.

But at least there was some traction yesterday for increasing the minimum wage and tying it to the pay raise the congress voted for themselves. The minimum wage, the national standard is currently at $5.15, has not been increased for nine years. Now, I know that interest rates have been kept pretty low during this time, but inflation stops for no man. Of course, there are other conservatives that want to tie this debate to the preposterous idea of a living wage, and many liberals too. I expect there to be a lively (read hysterical and full of lies) debate on both sides of the issue, but economic common sense says that the minimum wage should rise with the cost of living. If you don't want Walmart in your town, let your congressman know that you want the minimum wage increased.