Death by Political Correctness

Whenever they can, the Political Correctness Police take on issues in the name of protecting "victims". Fine. It's not nice to call someone fat, just because they weigh 400 pounds. Fine. It's not nice to call a woman a babe, even if she's the most beautiful creature on earth. Fine. It's not nice to call an African American black, even if that is their skin color.

But to say it's not nice to call a person a Southerner, even though they're from the South, is killing a section of our population and heritage. It's suggested here that Confederate images, the honoring of members of the Confederacy, and favorable represenations and reflections about "all things Southern" should stop, and this is based on the premise that the only thing you can say about that portion of our history and heritage is that they engaged in slavery.

The Southern heritage needs to stop being defined only through slavery. There is much to celebrate about being Southern, and much to be proud of from our history. And much to be learned by them Damn Yankees about how to live, how to treat each other, and what loyalty and respect of their families, and communities, and fellow Damn Yankees means.

And them Damn Yankees could use a little God Fearin' in their Godless, uppity lives, too!

Insane Propensity for Taxation of "Sin"

I know this is just my local Texas complaint, but I thought it worth putting here. The discrimination against smokers aside, does anyone out there share my disgust with our political heroes taxing sin because they know there will be "holier than thou" support from the majority of people?

I submitted a "Letter to the Editor" that I'll paste here for context, but I am getting tired of the logic that says we'll increase revenue by adding new tax burdens on people, yet the tax burden is inherently designed to reduce the bad behavior that would purportedly generate the revenue in the first place.

"On the cigarette tax increase:

When our political heroes discuss increasing the cigarette tax, they tell THEMSELVES they will help reduce smoking related illness and curb the smoking desires of our innocent children. They tell US they will generate badly needed revenue. Which is it? If smoking goes down, the revenue increase they promise us will fall short of target.

I have an idea they'll never implement. Add an equivalent tax for any non-smoker that uses a non-smoking bar, restaurant, or public establishment subject to taxation. Levy a surcharge for every drink, or meal, or purchase payable to the State. There's one that will guarantee the target revenue numbers. In fact, the revenue will actually increase over time as the number of places in Austin and across Texas prohibiting smoking increases."