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Show 4 THE MAGNA TIMES, WEST VALLEY NEWS & KEARNS POST August 19-2- 5, 2004 iuisiuo caitifiGigfl a ogSgofiig delegates were so eager to win that they accepted a nominee who voted to give a Republican president a blank check to make war on Iraq whenever he felt moved to do so. Kerry now says he had no idea President Bush would go to war before exhausting all diplomatic avenues. Wasn't he watching the administration? It was obvious that Bush wanted war and was only going through diplomatic motions to keep from alienating the entire w'orld. Kerry devoted part of his speech to denouncing divisive campaign tactics (while running mate John Edwards complained of "two Americas"). As Kerry put it, "This is our time to reject the kind of politics calculated to divide race from race, region from region, group from group." can agree, until he says "group from group." What American politics needs is a heightened division between two particular groups: those once called taxpayers and the tax eaters the people who produce wealth and the people who either take it or live off it. are not The mostly poor people. They are middle- - and upper class types who include bureaucrats, consultants, academics, farmers, corporate interests, and other affluent recipients of government largess. There is not nearly enough polarization of the taxpayer and classes. In his speech Kerry said, "I will roll back the tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals who make over $200,000 a year, so we can invest in health care, education, and job creation. by SHELDON RICHMAN That was cute when Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry started his acceptance speech by snapping a salute and saying he was "reporting for duty." Cute, but not quite truthful. If he becomes president, we will be expected to carry out his commands. lts only in democratic folklore that government is the servant and the people the master. In the real world, alas, it's the other way around. True, occasionally the Supreme Court tells a president he's gone too far. But that doesn't happen nearly enough. In postconstitutional America the president can pretty much do what he wants. Kerry knows that. He'd be much less interested in the presidency w'ere that not the case. The "reporting for duty" statement was supposed to remind us of his deadly "service in Vietnam. The convention scene was surreal. There was Kerry, a Vietnam war opponent before and after his short stint in it, getting a raucous ovation from the Democratic delegates, most of whom would say Vietnam as they are 1 -- -- tax-eate- anti-wa- r, well as Iraq. "come from a large family. tax-eati- My parents had tax-eat- er Sheldon Richman is senior fellow at The Future of Freedom Foundation ( www.fff.org ) in Fairfax, Va., Tethered Citizens: of Time to Repeal the Welfare State, and editor of The Freeman magazine. author hope that they don't rub a the Virginia wrong way," the Post claims. These guys just don't get it. The FBI crime reports show that Maryland's murder rate is nearly 100 percent higher than Virginia's, and D.C.'s rate is a whopping 772 percent higher! Have the Post editors ever considered that one of the reasons Maryland and D.C. is are more dangerous because authorities there make it more difficult for good people to defend themselves? Any sane person would rather travel in Virginia, even though guns are everyw here. Some might even say that the Old Dominion State is safer BECAUSE there are guns everywhere. So why is it that liberal gun grabbers just don't get it? It all comes down to their worldview, w'hich assumes that government works best when it takes Care of us from cradle to grave. A worldview that assumes an Nanny State should all of our needs, for provide including our need for protec- by ERICH PRATT gun-tot- As a spokesman for Gun Owners of America, I frequently hear the same questions over and over again. One of the more common queries is this: "Considering all the evidence that gun control has failed, why doesn't the Brady Bunch realize the error of their ways?" It's a good question. After all, the evidence that gun control laws have done nothing to curb crime is astounding. Cities like Washington, D.C., and Chicago duke it out every year for the dubious "honor" of being the nations Murder Capital. Both cities have draconian gun bans. Both cities have made it difficult to defend oneself with a firearm. And yet, both cities still find it impossible to keep bad guys from carrying firearms. Go figure. Gun rights supporters have long maintained that laws restricting access to firearms will never stop thugs and outlaws from getting guns. But gun banners still cling - with religious fervor - to their e U.S.A. belief that a will result in a utopia. n The editors at The Post Washington recently lampooned Virginia's "macho-fest- " with guns. law's are comVirginia's gun and because of paratively lax, a recent change in state law, many northern Virginia residents are now carrying guns er tion. They cling to this view' zealously, and when the evidence suggests it's not working, they insist more controls are needed. Former Pres. Bill Clinton is a case in point. In 2000, he need tougher argued that restrictions at the federal gun level because criminals go to states w'ith "weaker laws" (such as Virginia) to buy firearms and then return to states w'ith "tougher laws" (such as Maryland) to commit crimes. But that begs the question: why dont those criminals w'ant to commit their crimes Incredulously, the Post editors say that area residents should beware of traveling in and for Virginia opt or where D.C., Maryland they will supposedly be safer. "Residents just have to Ask your local paper how you can reach over 500,000 households in 50 Utah newspapers in one easy step 325-58- 0 Second class postage paid at Magna, Utah 84044 8980 West 2700 South Magna, Utah 84044 through Utah Press Association statewide classified advertising network. J. HOWARD STAHLE (National placement PublisherEditor le ANDREW WEEKS Assistant Editor DARCIE PACKARD Graphic Layout Designer DALE SIMONS Sports Columnist STEVEN ROSE Start Writer NAOMI LeQERE Stall Writer MARIE JESS Start Writer CARLOS ESTRADA STEPHEN BOYCE Pressman Pressman BEN JONES Staff Writer Copyright Magna TimeaWest Valley News . All nghts reserved. Reproduction, reuse, or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission by the publisher or editor. The Magna Times and West Valley News are published each Thuraday Subscription $25 per year $30 per year out of state Postmaster: Send change of address to: T Magna Times 8980 W. 2700 So. Magna, UT 84044 (601) 250-565- 6 or FAX (801) 250-568- magwestxmisslon The Magna Timaa is a bonifiad newspaper i com it is now' time to move on. When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your time has come to share, grow', or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real! But only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person'people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that Love is blind but Friendship is Clairvoyant. or outwardly to come have inwardly. They assist you through a difficulty. to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or expressed spiritually. They may seem like a godsend. and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, w itliout any vv rongdoing on y our part or at an inconvenient time, this person w ill say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. die. Sometimes they Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that your need has been met, your desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered tou9h in states like Virginia, if that's where they are getting their guns? Could it be that they like to commit their crimes where their victims shoot back at them? Utah Press ln ASSOCIATION can't Hey, they may be criminals, but they're not stupid! Speaking of stupidity, it seems the greatest idiocy is found in those who refuse to admit they are wrong, even when the ev idence runs contrary to their beliefs. But thankfully, there are a few honest gun banners w'ho have admitted the error of their ways. Consider state representative Ron Silver of Florida, who was the leading opponent against the passage of his state's concealed carry law' in 1987. He had bought the line, propagated by the' Brady Bunch, that the Sunshine State was going to become the "GUNshine State" if citizens started carrying guns. It was a cute jingle, but these fears never materialized. Now that more than 800,000 Florida residents have carried concealed firearms in the ensuing years, the FBI reports once again show- the reality: Florida residents are much safer today than they were before the law w as enacted. The state's murder rate has dropped 52 percent and residents actually have a greater chance of being attacked by an alligator, than they do by a concealed carry holder. To his credit. Rep. Silver admitted he w'as wrong about the law' and said he is "happy" to see the projected horror stories never materialized. An honest politician? Maybe there's hope after all. - THROUGH TIME... MS 1Mm ! FUNERAL HOMES Has Provided... w-- t BONNIE STAHLE Advertising Manager and life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have IM Site Br&m Mmii am sea tita UuM9 openly. USPS n; LIFETIME anti-gu- off the Grill. chil--dre- People come into our life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you ligure out which it is, you know eAactly what to do. When someone is in your gun-fre- "Yum, Y um...Hot 15 seven died as babies. Of the eight of us that lived, one sister died in her early 50s. The other three girls and my four brothers all lived into their 70s and 80s. They are all gone now with the death of my sister at the age of 93. I am the baby of the family, if you can call me that at 79 years of age. When I read the following piece all I could think about was my sister. She never had a family but she was like a mother to me and the best aunt to my children. REASON, SEASON OR rs grant-collecti- Why were they applauding a man who confessed to committing atrocities 30 years ago? I can think of only one answer. They hope Kerry's w ar record will blunt Republican criticism of perceived Democratic weakness on security issues and propel him into the White House. Now that's cynicism. Cynicism was on grand display throughout the convention week. "Anti-wa- r The line got wild applause because the Boston FleetCenter was filled to the gills with government-employe- e union members, the largest group. It is not shy about its designs on the property of others. When w'ill the productive people who are to be looted be equally vocal in defense of their rights? The Republicans are too busy trying to w in at any cost to realize that the campaign could use some real class conflict, one that pits those w'ho want to keep their property against those who want to seize it. That would be a campaign worth watching. u AFFORDABLE QUALITY This coupon will render the recipient a financial Savings Toward Call today Pre-Arrangeme- 968-380- 0 McDougal I'Whral Home J330 Son ih Retlw oott mint 255-727- 1 nts or II i 'si 255-727- 1 Jordan S tortuary IH6I west 7800 South 968-38- 00 For information on advertising in the Magna Times.West Valley News or Kearns Post, or to advertise in the Magna Phone Directory, or to become part of the Utah Press Display Ad Network, please call (801) 250-565- 6. |