The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/238379
The Press-Dispatch H Hit piece journalism Continued from page 2 ests of these agencies? Back when I was an economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, many years ago, officials there spoke in reverential tones about Professor Richard A. Lester, an economist at Princeton University who sometimes came down to Washington to advise the Department. Although many other economists argued that minimum wage laws increased unemployment, especially among young unskilled workers, Professor Lester had questioned whether minimum wages had the bad effects that other economists said they had. His view was very congenial to the institutional interests of the Department of Labor, a substantial part of whose appropriations and employment was based on its administration of the minimum wage law. In fairness to Professor Lester, there is no reason whatever to think that his views were based on the money he got from the government. His views were undoubtedly what they were, well before they came to the attention of the Labor Department, which then decided that he was someone whose services they wanted. The real corruption comes from arming government agencies with the taxpayers' money to hire consultants and give research grants to academics and others whose views serve the interests of those particular government agencies, as distinguished from serving the interests of the public from whom these taxes are extracted. Does anyone seriously believe that those government agencies that stand to see their powers and money increased if the "glob- al warming" agenda prevails will be handing out research grants impartially to both those climate scientists who agree with that agenda and those who disagree? As someone who used to do some consulting, I once encountered the attitude exhibited in the New York Times "news" story. In a case in which I was testifying against a government policy, the opposing attorney demanded to know how much I was being paid. When I told her, her immediate and sarcastic response was: "Is that what the traffic will bear?" "I certainly hope not," I said. "The whole point of charging what I do is to ration my time." I had undoubtedly been selected as a consultant because my previous writings showed which side of the issue I was on already. The central target of the New York Times hit piece was Professor Craig Pirrong, whom it says "had financial ties to both sides" of a dispute over financial speculation. Despite this, the repeated insinuation was that he has a conflict of interest. If both sides are willing to pay him for consulting, where is the conflict? No matter what side he takes on a particular issue, somebody is going to pay him — as people who work in any capacity usually expect to get paid, even people who write hit pieces for the New York Times. What is really corrupting is camouflaging an editorial as a "news" story — and acting as if people who represent one side of a controversial issue are somehow less worthy than people who represent the opposite side that happens to be favored by the New York Times. H New Sleep Eve Continued from page 2 tion to contend with when my toddler woke me up at 5 a.m. Did you know that you can actually get things done on New Year's Day? No, seriously! It's true. I had half of my to-do list crossed off by 9 a.m. It turns out that when you don't party until sunrise and thus sleep until dinner, New Year's Day actually feels like a bit of a vacation. As if it's a national hol- iday or something. If everyone had gone to bed at a reasonable hour, I bet we could have created world peace by lunch. Or at least toasted to the idea of it. That's it; I'm embracing my inner J.D. Salinger. Every Dec. 31, lock me away in a cave with Snuggies and chocolate pie. Who needs a ball drop when you can drop your head on a pillow? H Cultural terrorist Continued from page 2 sion? He attacked and defamed all aspects of culture including femininity, marriage, and religion. The old proverb says, "Thou shalt not speak ill of the dead," but his legacy lives as a mythical zombie, except the results are evident all around us. Pornography is a symptom and feeds off unquenchable lust. While others were building great bridges, canals, spaceships, or writing novels, Al was a purveyor of the seedier side of the pornographic industry. The side with no air-brushing, retakes, or mystique. Just hardcore and in-your-face. The Church taught for centuries that sexuality was to be confined to marriage. A person does not have to be spiritual to realize unbridled cravings have serious consequences, such as "unwanted" pregnancies, sexual diseases, teenager/preadolescent transsexuals, and arrested adult development. As the recent flap over comments made by Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty attest, anyone who holds to tenants of the historical church are homophobic and out of step with the mainstream church. However, what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians remains as written: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." The test of what is wholesome is time. Who will be remembered in a thousand years: will it be a lustful idolater or a regenerated Christian? Think about it! H Growth of government Continued from page 2 ty and saps the independent spirit of the people. The Founders understood this. That's why they avoided creating a government that could be dominated by a single faction. Whether that faction was a minority or a majority, it would seek to promote its own narrow interests at the expense of the people's liberties. The Constitution's checks and balances are intended to restrain the ambition of the powerful — to ensure that government genuinely promotes "the general Welfare." As the federal government has grown over the past century, the business of government has increasingly become taking from Paul to benefit Peter, and then borrowing from Peter to pay off Paul. What the supporters of big government call the general welfare is merely the artful distribution of favors to particular factions. The federal government is not supposed to be the most important institution in America. In securing the general welfare, it is supposed to do only those things that are provided for in the Constitution. It must, for example, provide for the common defense and regulate our relations with foreign nations. It must respect our right to enjoy the fruits of our labor by taxing lightly, and defend the freedom of the marketplace by ensuring the rule of law. And it must remember that the family and religion are where we learn virtue — and that without virtue, government cannot be both limited and free. Let's see if we can move America back in the right direction together during 2014. Ed Feulner is founder of the Heritage Foundation. Wednesday, January 8, 2014 Court report Criminal Docket Pike Circuit Court Aaron M. Close charged with failure to register as a sex or violent offender. Richard A. Wilcher charged with possession of methamphetamine, a class D felony; possession of paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana, a class A misdemeanor. Linden S. Reed charged with battery resulting in bodily injury, a class D felony; battery, resisting law enforcement, and disorderly conduct. Tousha R. Long charged with battery resulting in bodily injury, a class D felony; resisting law enforcement, disorderly conduct and negelect of a dependent. Traffic and misdemeanor Pike Circuit Court James N. Pullen charged with processing deer before checking, a class C misdemeanor. Doug H. Stitcher charged with processing deer before checking, a class C misdemeanor; count II hunting without valid license, a class C misdemeanor. Mary Hubbell charged with resisting law enforcement, battery and disorderly conduct. Deborah Tucker charged with disorderly conduct. Civil Docket Pike Circuit Court JP. Morgan Chase Bank sues Travis Atkins aka Steward Travis Atkins, Ashley Atkins and the unknown tenant for complaint on note and foreclosure Infractions Pike Circuit Court James Alsman charged with speeding. Andrew Adams charged with speeding. Curtis Bennett charged with driving left of center, speeding too fast for conditions and too fast to avoid collision. Jason Graber charged with speeding. Jessica Grumieaux charged with speeding. William Lillard charged with expired plates. Rebecca Lee charged with speeding. Jacqueline Mattingly charged with C-3 speeding. Anthony McAtee charged with driving while suspended. Jennifer Pasko charged with speeding. Joshau Padgett charged with driving while suspended. Forrest Plumlee charged with speeding. Tiffany Radcliffe charged with speeding. Rachel Roettger charged with speeding. David Sandoval charged with speeding. Hattie Small charged with speeding. Jennifer Smoot charged with speeding. Kimberly Soorell charged with speeding. Jessica Tamulonis charged with speeding. Angela West charged with speeding. Kelsey Williams charged with speeding. Rachel Zimmermann charged with speeding. Letter to the Editor A solution to a dangerous road To the Editor: In reference to the article on the front page of your January 1, 2014, paper. "Woman missing after car swept off SR 257." Are you kidding me…we let this happen AGAIN? The commissioners and county counsel members of both Pike and Daviess counties should be ashamed for allowing this to happen yet again! As most long-time residents know, whenever heavy rains fall in our area, State Road 257 floods in the White River bottoms, and both counties will place the same old "High Water" and "Road Closed Ahead" signs as a slight warning of the danger ahead. Regardless, some will ignore those road closed ahead and high-water signs. Such was the case on December 29, when a young, married couple from Virginia tried to drive thru the flooded road…but didn't make it. Thankfully, some area duck hunters pulled the young soldier to safety. But unfortunately, as of today, they still haven't found his wife's body! Years ago, it was suggested that old school buses should be parked on both sides of the river to block traffic, but local officials stated that you can't idiotproof this area! Really? Tell that to the citizens of Vanderburgh County who drive Water Works Road! They had the same situation on that road years ago, and they idiot-proofed that road with about $2,000 of lockable steel pipe on both ends of the road. We have great local businesses like Onyett/Sterling Fabricators Inc. that are very capable of making the lockable steel gates. It's time to act like the pol- iticians you said you'd be. Please don't bore us with another feasibility study. Let's fix this thing together! I've had enough…How about you? Rest in peace, Mrs. Kathryn McGill. Tom Hensler, Sr. M Z netedition IN PAJAMAS. yeah, it' that fast! s The Press-Dispatch. No matter where you live. Out of the waiting room... www.PressDispatch.net/Subscribe For a more comfortable emergency room experience. Out of the waiting room... Log on, select a projected treatment IN PAJAMAS. time, and wait at home until your time to be seen.* For a more comfortable emergency room experience. 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