Right in Alabama - The Conservative Mindset

It is a widely conceived myth that Republicans are for all forms of deregulation. As I’ve pointed out before, government should only do a handful of things. Keep me safe, and maintain infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc). Many things fall under the “Keep me safe” portion with the big one being national defense. But the major premise is to protect me against things I have no control over. For example, regulation of foods and drugs through the FDA is absolutely necessary.

We as consumers have the greatest gift in the world and that is free choice. We are able to pick and choose where we spend our money. If we get burned by a company by bad service, bad products or overall bad experiences then we will not shop there and most likely tell all of our friends who will most likely heed our advice and shop elsewhere as well. Over time the company realizes the profits aren’t as high and will work diligently to figure out why and either correct the problem… or go out of business. Competition promotes survival of the best businesses. You either keep your customers happy through great service etc. or you sink because they will go elsewhere.

With that being said, we as consumers don’t have that luxury when it comes to certain things. We can’t buy a package of meat that could be contaminated, eat it, be “dissatisfied” because we had to go to the hospital with a life threatening illness, and hopefully live to tell our friends about our “bad” experience. Same goes for the drug companies. This is simply not an area where competition will keep everyone in check.

As far as the medical field goes and even the school system, regulation is absolutely not the best answer. A lack of competition promotes reckless and irresponsible business practices. What do I mean? For example, whats the first medical insurance company that comes to your mind in Alabama? Easy, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Now… name me 4 more companies that offer the same services. For me, its hard to do. Since BC&BSA is one of the only major providers, they can run their business however they want as most consumers don’t have an alternative.

Now name me some car insurance places… Geico, StateFarm, Farm Bureau, Nationwide, Allstate, … I’m sure there are more. If I get wind from a friend that they had bad service from a certain company then I will choose someone else.

The premise of my argument is that bad decisions lead to consequences for the business. However if the government is going to bail them out and no consequences happen… then that simply promotes reckless habits that left to its on devices the market would iron out due to that business would go under. In a way, the government is rewarding those businesses for their poor choices and we as consumers can’t do anything about it. However, action is needed to stop a economic meltdown, its just sad that it has come to this point.

It makes me happy to find out that illegal immigrants will no longer be able to go to state community colleges starting next year. Finally the ones in office are starting to realize that something needs to be done locally about illegal immigration in the state of Alabama. It’s not a huge step or a huge win by any means, but it is a start. The reason I say it is not a huge victory is because like Chancellor Bradley Byrne said, not many would-be students are going to be affected. Still, I’m hoping that this policy will inspire our elected officials to think more on the subject to combat illegal immigration. Of course, that may be just wishful thinking on my part as that chance has already come and gone with Alabama legislation and Scott Beason’s bill; and on an even more local level with the results of a lawsuit between the Madison County Commission and Wiregrass Construction.

Wishful thinking indeed…

As I was scanning my RSS reader over my morning coffee, this article from Fox News caught my eye. I realize it doesn’t directly have an effect on me or where “my” tax dollars are being spent, but I still found it interesting. I can’t believe that the Washington school district is starting a program that will pay their middle school students $100 per month for simply going to school and getting good grades. Yes, you heard me right. $100 in cold, hard cash. This is just another prime example of liberals in Washington excessively spending money.

Seriously? $100 per month? Back when I was in middle school, I don’t recall my parents giving me any money for going to school and getting good grades, much less the school system. Attending school and studying to get good grades was expected of me! If I was caught skipping school, or if I brought home a bad report card, I got grounded! That’s right, I was disciplined. Disciplined by my parents none-the-less; something that our liberal society has seemed to have forgotten how to do over the past fifteen years.

Oh yea, and the right wing nut job in me says that instead of paying students for getting good grades and going to school, we should fine them for getting bad grades and playing hooky. Don’t take that comment seriously, as I was being sarcastic, but I bet we would see similar results either way.

Regardless, this just gives me another reason to keep my daughter out of the public school system.

Poor Don Imus. This guy has said some things that he probably wishes he hadn’t. From a derogatory comment regarding the Rutgers Basketball team, all the way down to a seemingly racial profiling comment made about African-American males (links in order of comments), Imus just can’t get a break.

Now enter in washed up comedian Sandra Bernhard. She makes the comment that if Sarah Palin were to come to Manhattan, then she would be “gang raped by her big black brothers.” What? You haven’t heard of this? Quite amazing. Unlike Imus who didn’t think before he spoke, Bernhard’s comments flat out threaten extreme violence against Sarah Palin if she “enters her turf.” What’s even worse? The left LOVED the show and thought it brought optimism.

The funny thing to mention is that before Imus was even off the air, we knew what he said. And in the days to follow he was dropped like a bad habit. Not to mention the public backlash against him and mind you I’m not defending Imus. But here we have a case in which one person is scorned while another is ignored. Why? Because Bernhard is one of their own. A liberal.

Now just picture this hypothetical situation. Take some southern-redneck comedian like the “get ‘er done” guy and put a mic in front of him and he makes a comment that they would go all Dick Cheney on Obama or Biden if they ever set foot in their town. WHOOAA! That’s it. Game over. He’s painted as a racist, bigot, gun-toting, terrorist and will likely not make it back to any stage. We’d know about it immediately and the media outcry would be deafening. It doesn’t matter even if the comment was made as a joke.

However, a liberal threatening gang rape… the only deafening noise we hear is silence. Apparently that’s no where near as bad.

Double standard? You decide.