I have been working on the most boring job this week. We are in the process of getting a contract for computers and peripherals that all 27 colleges in the System can buy off of. I have been evaluating bid responses for 14 companies that want the contract. Man...do my eyes hurt. Nothing but miniscule reading...analyzing diverse responses...checking references...determining the impact of responses changing the language of the bid...I've lost more hair this week than the rest of my job combined.
Luckily, this will be over next week... If anyone ever asks you to do something like this...run...unless your an accountant. Accountants tend to like this kind of detail work...but they are strange anyway. Who would ever want to be an accountant...I don't know.
Anyway...I'm going to rest my eyes and take my beautiful bride out on a date...dinner (pizza from Mellow Mushroom) and a movie...
Friday, January 16, 2004
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Get Government out of my hair
The Alabama State Board of Cosmetology has begun a state-wide advertising campaign drawing attention to the fact that in Alabama only licensed (i.e., government approved) cosmetologist are allowed to cut hair. (I will not question the use of tax dollars for ad campaigns when our state is in financial trouble and the governor's request for a $1.2 billion dollar tax hike needed to ensure critical services failed right now - I'm sure the expense was justified.) Due to the relatively low cost of shears and the high cost of hair salons, many children are still given burr cuts from their parents. This is obviously in direct violation of the law. While no parent has been prosecuted yet...I think it is only a matter of time before someone is.
This raises to my mind the question of economic freedom. Does the government have the right to tell me with whom I can trade services? What gives some nameless, faceless bureaucrat the authority to tell me who I can pay to cut my hair? I don't understand it. Are unlicensed hair stylist a menace to the very fabric of Alabama society?
Governmental licensing is anti-competitive and, in my opinion, an unconstitutional infringement on the right to earn a living. These practices raise the prices of receiving services for consumers and inflate the value of the people giving the service. I want to be clear and explain that I am not against private associations and organizations certifying that a person is trained to be able to do a certain task to a certain level. I find such certifications useful and try to use privately-certified professionals whenever possible.
It just makes me wonder when will government get out of my hair....literally.
This raises to my mind the question of economic freedom. Does the government have the right to tell me with whom I can trade services? What gives some nameless, faceless bureaucrat the authority to tell me who I can pay to cut my hair? I don't understand it. Are unlicensed hair stylist a menace to the very fabric of Alabama society?
Governmental licensing is anti-competitive and, in my opinion, an unconstitutional infringement on the right to earn a living. These practices raise the prices of receiving services for consumers and inflate the value of the people giving the service. I want to be clear and explain that I am not against private associations and organizations certifying that a person is trained to be able to do a certain task to a certain level. I find such certifications useful and try to use privately-certified professionals whenever possible.
It just makes me wonder when will government get out of my hair....literally.
Monday, January 12, 2004
More Immigration Editorials
As I continue to follow the "Immigration Debate," I'm trying to create a compendium of articles and thoughts from experts. Like I've said before, this is a tough issue. Both sides can make great, intelligent points.
First, Bill O'Reilly says that the Bush plan is only good if we stingently enforce our policies from here on out.
We'll follow that up by article from Lou Dobbs investigates the potential impact of the Bush plan on the economy.
Jeff Jacoby remembers when immigrants tried to assimilate themselves into American culture.
Immigration policy is folly, according to John Leo
The Editor in Chief of The Washington Times, Wesley Pruden, thinks that the Bush plan is inviting contempt.
Here is what Diana West thinks.
Bernadette Malone retells here grandparents' legal story and says that Bush's plan mocks their legal immigration.
An expected response from Pat Buchannan is very anti-immigration. After all, he did write the book. "The Death of the West," with a byline reading "How Dying Populations and Immigrant Invasions Imperil Our Country and Civilization."
Mark Steyn of the Chicago Sun-Times blames the Illegal Immigrant problem on a bureaucracy that fails in the legal immigrant arena.
Of course, some people editorialize with pictures instead of words:
Assay
Jake Fuller
First, Bill O'Reilly says that the Bush plan is only good if we stingently enforce our policies from here on out.
We'll follow that up by article from Lou Dobbs investigates the potential impact of the Bush plan on the economy.
Jeff Jacoby remembers when immigrants tried to assimilate themselves into American culture.
Immigration policy is folly, according to John Leo
The Editor in Chief of The Washington Times, Wesley Pruden, thinks that the Bush plan is inviting contempt.
Here is what Diana West thinks.
Bernadette Malone retells here grandparents' legal story and says that Bush's plan mocks their legal immigration.
An expected response from Pat Buchannan is very anti-immigration. After all, he did write the book. "The Death of the West," with a byline reading "How Dying Populations and Immigrant Invasions Imperil Our Country and Civilization."
Mark Steyn of the Chicago Sun-Times blames the Illegal Immigrant problem on a bureaucracy that fails in the legal immigrant arena.
Of course, some people editorialize with pictures instead of words:
Assay
Jake Fuller
Not a lot of difference
There is not a lot of difference between the Democrats and Republicans when it comes to economic policy...see:
Saturday, January 10, 2004
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