Posted 8:04 AM by Gerald Klaas
As California democrats line-up behind Bustamante, some of us remember his racist stripes showing a couple of years ago. NewsMax.com did did a little investigative journalism, showing he was a member MEChA during the 70's.

Posted 8:24 AM by Gerald Klaas
If you ever had a doubt about the danger of government run education, take a look at California's proposed AB 907 (Pavley)

Would require the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to revise the academic content standards for history/social science and science to incorporate specific environmental education content. The bill would provide that the environmental education content is not required to be included within the assessments conducted pursuant to the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR) until the next revision of the assessment materials are required pursuant to other law.

My point is not that (our?) children shouldn't be educated about "specific environmental content". My point is that it should never, ever, not ever, not even once be the position of the State Legislature to direct the course content of primary education. This bill clearly shows the tendancy of government schools to become institutes of propoganda. If we accept that this is an acceptable way to direct the educational content in schools, then we accept that those special interests who regularly convince legislators to "carry" a bill will also be able to educate (propogandize) our children. (Note: I say "our children" with all of its collectivist, socialist, "children of the state" meaning here.) As we've seen the selling of our State to the highest bidder lately, I'm currently surprised that "our" 6th graders are not currently being indoctrinated to believe as true "social science" that Indian gaming (gambling) is a noble and moral activity as it benefits the downtrodden (extremely rich) tribes who happen to have been granted state compacts.

Posted 9:43 PM by Gerald Klaas
Doug finally went down and picked up the letters from the IRS that were waiting for him at the post office. All I can say, is that if it were me, I'd write a letter proclaiming that I didn't owe the tax, requesting the hearing they offer, and asking under whose authority this letter is generated as it is not signed by any employee. I would also send a copy to my congressman and senators with a very nice cover letter explaining how I believed I didn't owe the tax they are trying to collect and pointing out how abusive it is that they are granted "presumptive correctness".

Welcome Jim Paulson to our corner of the blogosphere. I've added you to my blogroll.

Toogood Reports on Judge Roy Moore

Posted 8:13 AM by Gerald Klaas
I believe that Bob Schulz is right about the 1st Amendment requiring the federal government to respond to petitions for redress of grievances. I believe the We the People Foundation (through individual citizens) is entitled to answers to the 537 questions. I believe that the 1st Continental Congress fully intended that citizens should withhold taxes in the event that government becomes oppressive and ignores "detested petitions". If I could get my employer to stop (illegally) acting as an agent of the federal government, and stop withholding from my paycheck, I would do that. Unfortunately, I'm sure that pushing the issue would get me "laid off" in a hurry. When the WTP Legal Defense Association comes online, I may feel more courageous. Until we are able to band together to fight today's battles in the courtroom, we won't be able to make the kind of strides we need.

Posted 8:31 AM by Gerald Klaas
Doug found my resume online and makes the following comment:

Gerald Klaas is a highly paid worker for a large government contractor. He signs the 1040 form and pays the income tax and leads the good life in California. Protesting on the side without any personal risk. Probably a lot smarter than me.

He's right. I sign the 1040. I pay the income tax. I have protested the income tax as a member of the Libertarian Party for at least the last 10 years. I wouldn't say this approach is without any personal risk, but it certainly is not as risky as Doug's approach. If I weren't the breadwinner for a household, I might stop paying altogether and wait for them to come and get me. But I'm not a bachelor trying to hold onto my car and apartment. I have a wife and college bound stepson who depend on me for their support. For the immediate future anyway, I see that as my more pressing priority, and I don't plan to put my employment at risk nor do I plan to get myself imprisoned. If that seems "risk-free" to Doug, that's OK. Doug doesn't walk in my shoes, and obviously has never been married with children. In the other hand, if I were in Doug's shoes (and in 1985 I was close to that), I would be sharing every communication with the IRS with my congressman, two senators and president, along with a rebuttal letter to any action the IRS tried to take. (It took nearly two years, but the IRS finally dropped my case.)

Posted 12:16 PM by Gerald Klaas
(Link to pictures this paragraph.) I enjoyed my weekend on the Oregon coast. I drove the minivan instead of the Beamer because I had my stepson's cat, Thomas, with me. Thomas seemed to enjoy joining me for whale-watching and some bird-watching. Very nice weekend.