The Obama Administration has sent mixed messages regarding illegal immigration. Truth be told, they are soft on it. This is clear when you note they are suing Arizona for basically trying to enforce Federal policy at the state level.
Recently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has upped their efforts to deport illegals with criminal (more than that pesky illegal entry crime) records. Task force teams have been increased from 104 to 129, and each team has a goal of arresting 50 suspects a month. Ths is GOOD!
The Administration is playing a game, but the results are in the favor of the American public. It's no secret they don't care about mostly law-abiding illegals being in the country. The perception, likely true, is that it helps them with the Hispanic vote. (Let's hope we are only talking legal Hispanic votes. I'd like to believe the illegals aren't voting... although I'm not so sure.) But from what I've read, deportations are up over the Bush Administration. And while I support deporting ALL illegals, who can really argue with a priority of deporting the worst criminals?
So, while I want to see all illegals acknowledged and dealt with appropriately, I will give props to the current administration for increasing deportations, regardless of the motivation.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Liquor Prices Up 35% with Privitization - Hmm...
This was basically the headline in Sunday's Yakima Herald-Republic.
I'm not sure what the real point of the article was. Was it really a news piece and is it true prices are going to skyrocket? Or is it a case of sour grapes by those that were against the initiative? Hmm, I sound a bit like a conspiracy theorist, don't I? It really doesn't matter; it's not the point of my post.
My point is if prices are up, so be it! The issue here is who should... or shouldn't be... selling liquor. It should never have been the state! Ever! The function of government is never to run a business. They don't do it well. Government employees don't have the same drive to succeed in a business. (Consequences aren't the same.) And then there is the issue of monopolies and how these types of things affect legitimate business owners. (Government shouldn't be standing in the way of the private sector.)
Government needs to know its place. We, the people of Washington State, have earned a great victory in turning liquor sales over to the local businesses. Now, what is the next area we need to tackle?!
P.S. While liquor prices might spike initially, I suspect they will drop. Competition is good and has a way of working these things out.
I'm not sure what the real point of the article was. Was it really a news piece and is it true prices are going to skyrocket? Or is it a case of sour grapes by those that were against the initiative? Hmm, I sound a bit like a conspiracy theorist, don't I? It really doesn't matter; it's not the point of my post.
My point is if prices are up, so be it! The issue here is who should... or shouldn't be... selling liquor. It should never have been the state! Ever! The function of government is never to run a business. They don't do it well. Government employees don't have the same drive to succeed in a business. (Consequences aren't the same.) And then there is the issue of monopolies and how these types of things affect legitimate business owners. (Government shouldn't be standing in the way of the private sector.)
Government needs to know its place. We, the people of Washington State, have earned a great victory in turning liquor sales over to the local businesses. Now, what is the next area we need to tackle?!
P.S. While liquor prices might spike initially, I suspect they will drop. Competition is good and has a way of working these things out.
Shane Backlund - Right Choice for Selah Schools
Wow, I've been a bit remiss! My plan was to post daily, or nearly so... Too many irons in the fire I guess...
I don't really know Shane Backlund. He was principle at John Campbell part of the time my daughter attended and we've exchanged greetings. Seems like a nice guy. But that is not why I support him as the new Superintendent.
Why do I support him? Mostly because he is 'home grown'. I'm a big fan of promoting from the inside whenever possible. I've never a been a fan of hiring outside people... you truly don't know them or the baggage they may be dragging along. Just look to the last Yakima Police Chief for an example of this... (although much of his baggage wasn't really a secret for those of us paying attention)...
Shane has been with he district for many years, and while we don't know for sure what direction he wants to take the District, we have a pretty good idea of who he is and what shortcomings he may have. (I don't mean to say he has shortcomings... I'm not close enough to him to know. I'm just saying those who have worked with him would know.)
The outgoing superintendent, Steve Chestnut, is an accomplished man. He has the awards to prove it. He was a fine choice as an interim superintendent, a position which he was initially hired to fill. But this man never had any intentions of staying, and has used his wife's health as his reason for seeking greener pastures. He should never have been offered the position for the long-haul... which he obviously wasn't committed to anyway. My daughter is in 5th grade and we're going on the 4th superintendent in her short time in school. This is too much turnover and not good for the District.
Shane probably isn't here long-term either. I'd guess he will be here longer than the past two, and I'd hope he is here at least five years for the District's stability. But I won't hold this against him as he is young and will be looking for greater challenges.
From my seat, it looks like the Selah School District is in good hands for the next several years. And I'm glad to see it.
I don't really know Shane Backlund. He was principle at John Campbell part of the time my daughter attended and we've exchanged greetings. Seems like a nice guy. But that is not why I support him as the new Superintendent.
Why do I support him? Mostly because he is 'home grown'. I'm a big fan of promoting from the inside whenever possible. I've never a been a fan of hiring outside people... you truly don't know them or the baggage they may be dragging along. Just look to the last Yakima Police Chief for an example of this... (although much of his baggage wasn't really a secret for those of us paying attention)...
Shane has been with he district for many years, and while we don't know for sure what direction he wants to take the District, we have a pretty good idea of who he is and what shortcomings he may have. (I don't mean to say he has shortcomings... I'm not close enough to him to know. I'm just saying those who have worked with him would know.)
The outgoing superintendent, Steve Chestnut, is an accomplished man. He has the awards to prove it. He was a fine choice as an interim superintendent, a position which he was initially hired to fill. But this man never had any intentions of staying, and has used his wife's health as his reason for seeking greener pastures. He should never have been offered the position for the long-haul... which he obviously wasn't committed to anyway. My daughter is in 5th grade and we're going on the 4th superintendent in her short time in school. This is too much turnover and not good for the District.
Shane probably isn't here long-term either. I'd guess he will be here longer than the past two, and I'd hope he is here at least five years for the District's stability. But I won't hold this against him as he is young and will be looking for greater challenges.
From my seat, it looks like the Selah School District is in good hands for the next several years. And I'm glad to see it.
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