A Stake Through the Heart of Immigration Reform

For the first time in my memory the nation raised its voice in anger and actually swayed the political system. Like a B rated Dracula flick this bill was ram roded through the process because its keepers knew it could not stand the light of day. On Monday the actors in this drama had the opportunity to plunge a stake through the heart of a sleeping immigration monster but like any good horror story keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats the intrepid hero's hesitated. A collective gasp could be heard as cloture was passed on Monday. By Thursday the cacophony of the audience yelling kill it, forced the actors to finally plunge the stake through the heart of the beast.

Random Thoughts

Two years ago I took immigration as a research topic in a writing class and had an ongoing battle with the professor that felt I was racist just because my thesis was stemming the flow of illegals. So I shouldn't be surprised by the arrogance of those senators that berated the public for the outrage this bill generated.


They just don't get it!
President Bush: When the final vote was over I had to rewind the presidents statement several times because I couldn't believe he was saying "legal immigration" at his dismay of defeat of the bill. It was not about legal immigrants it was all about border security and amnesty Mr. President

Sen.Chuck Grassley:
I was glad to see the the Senator remained consistent in his immigration stance. Voting nay on both cloture votes.


Who are you and why are you calling me?
Senator Tom Harkin, a rabidly staunch immigration supporter, after twice voting to proceed with the bill, stuck his finger in the air and in one of the biggest displays of spineless capitulation said ;

"Quite frankly, I'm hearing from a lot of Iowans," said Harkin. "They're calling, they're writing." It's the No. 1 issue for those contacting his mobile van traveling around the state". By Thursday Tom Harkin had developed reservations about the
bill.

"I've been willing

to let it go to see how we could work it out, to see if things could be handled and stuff," Harkin says, "Boy I tell ya, the more it has gone along, the worse it has gotten." Harkin had said the "status quo" couldn't continue when it comes to immigration. But, he says this bill is not the answer

"To see of we if things could be handled and stuff" That's brilliant, BRILLIANT!
The senator, that doesn't even list immigration as as an issue on his web site was upset with the bill, not that it stemmed the flow if illegals but because it worked to end chain migration;

"the more it's gone along, the worse it's gotten." He said that includes a "crazy" system for guest workers and an elimination of family preferences for visas. "Aren't we for family?" he asked.

All in all a victory for common sense and sovereignty. We now have the obligation to see that the current laws are enforced and past promises are kept.

Iowa Hawk Hoosegow Honey.

The Iowa Hawk is running the second annual Hawkeye Hoosegow Honey of the Year.
I was torn between April, who even in an orange jumpsuit looks like she could remove the chrome from your bumper hitch, and Heather who will shoot you those adorable little puppy dog eyes right before she sticks that paring knife between you ribs. Oh wait, that was one of my exes.
Stop by and cast your vote.

Sunday is New Law Day.

Its that time of year again my fellow Iowans. When the fruits of our legislators labors ripen into the laws that are the basis of our civil society. I really don't mean to trivialize the "accomplishments" of our hardworking Iowa legislators (OK I lied) but here is a rundown of the new laws that go into affect on Sunday. Pay attention here, ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

• Keg registration — Requires that each beer keg sold in Iowa be registered and have an identification sticker applied by the retailer.

Not since the passage of the Patriot Act has a legislative body so trampled on the rights of its citizenry. We have started down that slippery slope where, I firmly believe, the next step will be outright banning of kegs. As you well know, when kegs are outlawed only outlaws will have kegs.

• Border Control — Makes livestock owners whose animals frequently stray responsible for building a fence.

Senator Wally Horn has had this legislation held up in conference committee since about 1874. The year barbed wire was patented!

• Don't ask don't tell. — Makes it illegal to discriminate against a person because of sexual orientation.

Are there any other groups left that are not now covered by these ridiculous pandering declarations.

• How are they going to get all those kids in the back seat of a Chevy? — Requires public and accredited non-public schools to teach sex education that is research-based, medically accurate and age-appropriate.


• Cloning — Will allow University of Iowa and other medical researchers to engage in embryonic stem cell research to find cures for diseases like Parkinson’s, cancer and diabetes. Human cloning remains illegal.

This appears to be the only campaign promise of the new governor that made it through this session. Other that raising taxes on smokes.


• You cant legislate stupid. — Caps interest charges for car-title loans at 21 percent (down from around 264 percent).

If you are willing to pay 264% interest I'm not so sure you should be on the road in the first place.

• Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh my! — Makes it illegal to sell or own dangerous wild animals, like wolves, lions or bears (existing owners are grandfathered in but must register their animals).

• I'll get your little dog too... — Makes it illegal to kill a licensed dog just because it is bothering your pet.

"Excuse me, I believe you are bothering my shitszu Mr. Pitbull, may I see your licence and registration please..." Before I give you the lead treatment.

• Cyber hunting — Bans the remote hunting of animals via the Internet.

Hmm...is this really a problem in somebodies district?

• Corpse abuse— Makes it a criminal offense to abuse a human corpse, punishable by up to five years in prison. Abuse includes mutilation, disfigurement or dismembering with the intent to conceal a crime.

Hmm...is this really a problem in somebodies district? Part II

• Flag protection — Makes it once again illegal to deface, defile, mutilate or trample the American flag.

After corpse abuse, flag abuse was the next logical step.

• Cha-ching! — Allows Vietnam veterans who have not collected their service (and who served between July 1, 1973, and May 31, 1975) to collect up to $500.

Finally, after all these years there is a handout I'm eligible for.

All in all a pretty harmless bunch of legislation. There were a couple more feel good actions dealing with schools, like cost sharing and bully control, but who can say anything bad if its for the children. We were spared the return of the touch play (sorry Wally ) and the states Right to Work law survived an attack from the Democrats and their union cronies. Now lets all go register a keg and see what we can come up with for next year.

New laws compiled courtesy of , The Gazette

"Democracy in America"

I recently came across an abridged translation of Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" Although I am only part way through book one I have come away with a better understanding of how our system evolved and why, imperfect as it is, it has survived wars, corruption, and insurrection.
Published in 1835 by an aristocratic Frenchman, Tocqueville who was sent to America to study the prison system was intrigued by the workings of democracy and came to understand that the democratic political philosophy could be a savior not only his native France but all of mankind. He writes;

It may readily be understood with what intention I undertook the foregoing inquiries. The question here discussed is interesting not only to the United States but to the whole world; it concerns not a nation but all mankind.

On Mexico: The Constitution of the United States
resembles those fine creations of human industry which ensure wealth and renown to their inventors, but which are profitless in other hands. This truth is exemplified by the condition of Mexico at the present time. The Mexicans were desirous of establishing a federal system, and they took the Federal Constitution of their neighbors, the Anglo-Americans, as their model and copied it almost entirely. But although they had borrowed the letter of the law, they could not carry over the spirit that gives it life. They were involved in ceaseless embarrassments by the mechanism of their dual government; the sovereignty of the states and that of the Union perpetually exceeded their respective privileges and came into collision; and to the present day Mexico is alternately the victim of anarchy and the slave of military despotism. (Ch 7)

Not much has changed in Mexico since this piece was written and it also could be applied to the attempts to bring democracy to the middle east.

A Warning On Earmarks: The disastrous influence that popular authority may sometimes exercise upon the finances of a state was clearly seen in some of the democratic republics of antiquity, in which the public treasure was exhausted in order to relieve indigent citizens or to supply games and theatrical amusements for the populace. (Ch13)

On Politicians: On my arrival in the United States I was surprised to find so much distinguished talent among the citizens and so little among the heads of the government. It is a constant fact that at the present day the ablest men in the United States are rarely placed at the head of affairs; and it must be acknowledged that such has been the result in proportion as democracy has exceeded all its former limits. The race of American statesmen has evidently dwindled most remarkably in the course of the last fifty years. (Ch 13)

There was a retired politician whose car broke down on a remote back road of Iowa. It took him several hours to make it to the nearest farm house, he finally reached the front door and knocked on it. A grizzled old farmer answered and the politician pleaded for a place to spend the night. 'Why sure, young fella, I can give ya a place to bunk,' said the hospitable old man. 'But, I ain't got no daughter for ya to sleep with, like ya always hear about in them thar jokes.' 'Oh!' said the politician. Then thinking a moment or two said, 'Just how far is it to the next house?'

Farmers beware.
Bill announces that he will be touring the state campaigning with the Hillary.

Grassley Watch

Senators Baucus (D) and Grassley (R)

From the The American Conservative Union:

It never fails, whenever the free market is poised to succeed and innovate further, there is always an effort to tax or regulate it from reaching its true potential. The most recent example: efforts to impose new punitive taxes on
publicly traded partnerships.
In view of several pending and potential Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) by private equity firms seeking to join the public markets, U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-MT)and Charles Grassley (R-IA) unveiled punitive legislation in S.1624 late last week to actually RAISE taxes on ALL existing and new publicly traded partnerships.
Like bad tax policy before it, this legislation was offered without the benefit of normal Congressional or Joint Tax Committee hearings or any analysis from the U.S.
Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service. The free market community is united against any new tax increases and will oppose this bill vigorously. Not only is this legislation a major tax increase, it will actually depress tax revenues as other partnerships will choose to stay private or reincorporate abroad – neither of which is good for the economy, the government or investors. This legislation will more than double the tax-rate for ALL current publicly traded partnerships – the vast majority of which are not even private equity-based partnerships.

Swimming in the Shallows

The best of Hillary courtesy of Fark.com .

Grassley Watch

Senators Baucus (D) and Grassley (R)


When I recently discussed Senator Grassley’ calling the tax credits to the oil companies a “pig in a poke” as reported on the CBS website the quote was not quite what it seemed. The AP reported:

The bill's prospects are uncertain in the Senate, where Democrats hold a narrow majority. The top Republican on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, said the bill was "another pig in the poke" that targets incentives necessary to promote domestic drilling.[1]

If we go to the transcript of the senator’s statement on the senate floor, it would seem that he is against the rollback of oil company incentives. Or is he? From the Floor Statement of Senator Grassley:

Thursday, January 18, 2007
I rise to address an issue that has received much scrutiny during the past few months, and is currently being debated in the House of Representatives. The other body is debating a bill that will repeal the so-called sweet-heart tax deals for Big Oil that were included the Energy Policy Act of 2005….
During the campaign cycle, members on the other side sold the taxpayer a bill of goods. They committed to repealing all the “tax giveaways” to Big Oil that the Republican Congress included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005…. How much money are they going to take back from Big Oil to alleviate consumers’ pain at the pump?One provision. That’s right, Mr. President. After all the demagoguery against our party and ties to big oil, they’re going to repeal one single tax provision enacted in the Energy Policy Act. And that’s only half of the story. It turns out that this outrageous “tax giveaway” to Big Oil is scored by the Congressional Budget Office to save the U.S. treasury $104 million over ten years. Not $14 billion. Not $1.4 billion. A mere $104 million….
A word of caution to the voters across America – beware of the goods you were sold
by this new Democrat Majority. In the case of repealing the big oil “tax giveaways” from Energy Policy Act, it’s turned out to be another “pig in the poke.”[2]

It wasn’t that the majority planned to roll back $104 million in tax incentives but instead it seems that that sum was not enough for the good senator.
Fast forward to June 19 and it is reported that the bill would reduce incentives by $6 billion and raise a total of $15 billion through new taxes; it is here that the media portrays Grassley as being against the bill, the whole this being “a pig in a poke.”
Later that same day it was reported that the bill would raise $29 billion. But this time the AP reported:

Senators acknowledged that oil companies would howl over the new taxes. But Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the Finance Committee's top Republican, said, "We have entered a new era in energy markets ... (that) requires a dramatic shift away from tax incentives for oil and gas production" and toward support for other energy sources and efficiency. (3)

Suddenly the Senator from Iowa was firmly on board and joined at the hip with Senator Baucus chairman of the Finance Committee. In senate debates broadcast on CSPAN June 20th Grassley speaking from the majority side of the aisle, and arguing against an amendment by fellow republican Senator Kyl, Grassley stated that we now have sufficient offsets, ie. taxes, to make a serious contribution to developing alternative energy resources. Offsets, which by now had climbed to $31 million from the oil industry to pay for this new energy package.
To think that by supporting the socialist agenda of the democrats that he is doing the right thing for the people of Iowa is ludicrous. Surely the oil companies will do more than howl as Mr. Grassley stated. These actions will have an adverse affect on domestic oil drilling and refining and with the exception of Iowa farmers and the ethanol industry the rest of us will be paying for this fiasco every time we pull up to the pump.

[1] http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/WireStory?id=2805859&page=
[2] http://www.senate.gov/~finance/press/Gpress/2007/prg011807.pdf
[3] http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3294641

Salmon Riots

Just when I think that all that sensitivity training is starting to pay off some yahoo goes and gets the Muslim brothers all in a lather. After all there hasn't been a good flagellating, effigy burning
hoo ha since the worldwide cartoon imbroglio over a year ago. This time the Queen of England of all people set off another episode of derangement by knighting writer and blasphemer Salmon (love that name) Rushdie. Which begs the question, if the Iranians are such bad asses why is this guy still alive?...

Nussle Returns to Capital

Former Congressman Jim Nussle has been selected by President Bush to fill the position of Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Nussle is the first Iowan since Henry A. Wallace served as Vice President in the Roosevelt administration to fill a White House position.

In a bit of spit in your eye journalism the local paper pointed out that this position will pay considerably more than the governor makes.

After losing the gubernatorial election, Nussle opened a consulting business in Cedar Rapids and then became state political director for Rudy Giuliani, a leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

Culver's spokesman Brad Anderson said on Tuesday that Culver "wishes Congressman Nussle all the best and good luck with his new position."

Nussle's annual salary in his new job will be $180,100. The Iowa governor's job pays $130,000.

Senator Grassley Doublespeak.

From this mornings issue of The Cedar Rapids Gazette " Grassley Backs Democrat's (energy) Bill". The package plans to distribute $14 billion to various renewable energy sources. Senator Grassley states;

"This bill reflects energy needs in the 21st Century. Americans need clean, green, domestic energy for their homes and cars. I’m glad to see the extension of key renewable energy provisions for ethanol, wind, and bio-diesel. People need tax certainty to invest in infrastructure and keep production moving. Production has to meet demand, and alternative energy has never been in such demand.

This newest handout comes on the heels of a recent report that the phony panacea of the ethanol industry is reaching saturation and is in for tighter times ahead.

But wait. Didn't Chuckles lambaste the the democrats for rolling back oil company incentives for domestic production? Something he called a "pig in a poke". A bill that coincidentally would raise somewhere in the neighborhood of $14 billion.
Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens who had on a bright red shirt and made reference to it when he said this of the redistribution plan;

"It's the color of this bill we're debating, Communist red." The legislation amounts to a taking of private property" by forcing oil companies to renegotiate leases they view as valid contracts, he said.

Talking out of both sides of your mouth can be so confusing. Perhaps it's suppose to be when you are robbing Petrol to pay Ethanol.

Omnipotence.

A week into the Afghanistan campaign it was reported that we were bogged down and would suffer the same fate as the Soviets. Two weeks into the Iraq campaign supply lines were streched to the limit and we were in the midst of a quagmire. The day after hurricane Katrina blew through Louisiana reporters were standing on a freeway overpass screaming for the government to help. Dafydd at Big Lizards has identified this affliction as "Omnipotence Illusion" although delusion may me more accurate. He describes "OI" as;

The delusional idea that America is so powerful that we are literally omnipotent... thus, any result less than perfection, over a time frame longer than the length of a typical plot arc on CSI or the Sopranos, is rejected as lame and unworthy... and we must find who is to blame for America failing to be as effective as God.

Interestingly, those that are most afflicted with this condition such as Senator Reed seem to be displaying an impotence that is not reflective of this countries history or our current capabilities. At the same time they have no problem suggesting that they are omniscient and beneficent. The question then is two out of three close enough to be a God-like being.

Wham!

Flag Day.

"I am the Flag" by Ruth Apperson Rous

I am the flag of the United States of America.
I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.
There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.
My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.
Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.
My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.
My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.
My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.
My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.
I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.
I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.
I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.
I am as old as my nation.
I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."
I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.
I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.
Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.
I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.
I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.
Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.
I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.
If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.
Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.
As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.
Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.
Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.
God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.

History of the Flag.

Chainsaw Art

Inside every tree there is a piece of art just waiting to come out.
The 2007 Seldovia Chainsaw Carving Competition.

Reagans War

It seems a coincidence that at the anniversary of Ronald Reagan's "Tear down this wall" speech I have recently completed the book "Reagan's War" by Peter Schweizer.

Schweizer documents the formation of Reagan's anti communist convictions beginning with his stance against the communist backed Hollywood unions in the 1940's, through the formulation of his plan to defeat Soviet expansion. Culminating of course, in the break up of the Soviet Union, the reunification of Germany, the freeing of eastern Europe, and a pullback of Soviet influence.

Besides tracing Reagan's journey from actor to president, Schweizer also recounts the US dealings with the Soviets from Truman to Carter and shows how the containment doctrine along with detente, SALT treaties, grain deals and the emphasis on human rights only worked to emboldened the Soviets in thier plan to spread communism throughout the world during the 1970's.

But it was Reagan's bold, single minded, some thought reckless, "peace though strength" doctrine and his multi-pronged attack on the Soviets and their system that eventually brought an end to the cold war.

Iowa Destinations.

Last week we hooked up the camper and spent 4 beautiful days at a little out of the way Iowa campground. Central Park is located about 10 miles off of Hwy 151 near Anamosa and is one of the nicest well maintained campgrounds we have visited in this state. It has a 25 acre lake with a beach, several playgrounds for the little ones, a nature center and several types of camping areas. From full hook ups for the motorhome set to primitive sites for the tenters. There is a "nature trail" but I found the walk around the lake much more enjoyable.

Located within the park is a preserved Bow style bridge dating from the late 1800's that was once part of the Military Road, now Highway 151, that ran from Debuque westward.

The park is also a short drive to picturesque Stone City, the area made famous in the artwork of Grant Wood.

Free Speech TV

I awoke the other night to a show that was promoting the impeachment of the president for war crimes and crimes against humanity. "I must be dreaming" I said, but then realized that I had rolled over onto the remote and accidentally ventured into the upper reaches of the satellite spectrum where we never venture. Channel 4915 on the Dish Network is home to FSTV. As I watched dumbfounded I could only wonder what FS stood for. Frigging Socialist perhaps? I find it curious that the FCC would grant them licence under the regulations set aside for non-commercial educational programming. This is definitely not your PBS/CSpan programing
FSTV tauts itself as the channel that is:

Seizing the power of television to expand social consciousness, FSTV fuels
the movement for progressive social, economic, and political transformation. By exposing the public to perspectives excluded from the corporate-owned media, FSTV empowers citizens to fight injustices, to revitalize democracy, and to build a more compassionate world.

They pride themselves as having the guts to air things that you wont find on the MSM. Besides the Impeach Bush symposium the daily schedule is rife with Bush Hating Propaganda which includes a segment that connects Guantanamo Bay with the Texas prison system where Bush " took his first life" when as governor a prisoner was executed. Another where the president is criminally responsible for the New Orleans debacle and also a documentary narrated by Sean "Do as I say not as I do" Penn. For lighter fare there is "Toilet Training"that surveys the policing of gender in restrooms and a regular feature titled "The Connection" that asks;"How can we build a fairer and more compassionate world?"

I have ventured back several times out of curiosity and by the fact that I really enjoy that cold chill running up my spine.

Swimming in the shallows

A day in the life of a LA County jailer'

6 AM Hilton, wake up time for your strip search.

7AM Hilton time for breakfast.

7:25 Hilton time for your strip search.

8AM Hilton, time for your shower.

9:25 Cavity check.

11:00 Hilton, here is your lunch

11:30 Hilton step out, time for your strip search.

12:00 Hilton...

And then from the Cedar Rapids Gazette,

Report of nude woman walking around C.R. unfounded
Cedar Rapids police were unable to find a nude woman who was reported by a caller in the 800 block of Third Avenue SW just after noon today. A person called police and said a nude woman was walking in the area and appeared to be under the influence of some drug.Police units responded but found nothing.

Trouble In Iowa City.

Iowa City has a drinking problem. It seems that the cities drinking establishments have a large potential customer base that can't drink because they are below the legal age. Iowa City is of course a college town, the home of the University of Iowa. (GO Hawks!) With a student population of 29,000 there lies a largely untapped market for the local bar trade. Iowa City is now playing fast and loose with the state drinking age of 21 by allowing the underaged to hang out in the bars but they can't drink. And of course pigs can fly.
I came across this issue at Iowa blogger State 29 and I was immediately thrown into one of those deja-vu moments;

On the other hand, and this blog has stated this many times before, if legal adults at 18, 19, and 20 years of age can get married, divorced, have babies, enter into contracts, join our country's military, drive a car, fly a plane, start a business, declare bankruptcy, and go $100,000 debt on a college education, they should be able to walk into a bar and have a drink. Why are we treating them like children?

It was about 1970 at the height of a very unpopular war. Not only couldn't you drink at 18 but you could be drafted into the military and you didn't even have the power to vote the establishment bastards out of office. (Hell no we won't go). Sure you could do all those other things that State 29 mentioned but the government has a hard time regulating stupid, so in the interest of fairness the country said "We are going to eliminate these double standards."
In 1971 the 26th Amendment to the Constitution granting the right to vote at 18 was passed. By 1973 the draft was ended and states around the country began to lower the drinking age. It was time to party like it's 1969! In Iowa it was done incrementally, first lowered to 19 then the following year to 18. Although at 16 I didn't know anyone 21 that would buy us alcohol it wasn't hard to find a willing accomplice that was 19. By 17 me and most of my high school class were getting into several local bars no questions asked.
By the late seventies a trend was apparent that caused the states to rethink their decision. Teens in disproportionate numbers were killing themselves and others which resulted in the formation of groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and Drunks Against Mad Mothers. It was found that drunk driving is a skill that most people two years out of drivers ed are just not prepared for. Sure, most teens are reasonably able to keep it between the ditch's, that's the easy part, but there are certain skills that can only come with maturity. Such as being able to drive with one eye closed to counter that pesky double vision thing, or maintaining control as you hurl down Highway 30 with your head hanging out of the window. But it takes years of practice before you can jump a curb and have a trooper follow you for five miles without getting arrested. All these things are best left to the professionals.
So to answer State 29's question it's because in many ways they still are children. The time between 18 and 21 should be a time of learning, an apprenticeship so to speak. A time to sneak out, tie one on occasionally, and by the time your 21 you will have at least mastered that god awful bed spinning problem and perhaps know the best way to get your dates dinner, along with several bottles of Boone's Farm, out of the cars upholstery.

Why 21?

Where have all the war songs gone. Long time coming...

It struck me that for all the angst emanating from the left over the war in Iraq the anti war machine really hasn't fired up the rebellious young that during the Vietnam war turned out some of the most memorable antiwar classic hits of all time. Who can forget that master of anti war lyricism Bob Dylan with "Masters of War" and many more. Barry McQuire's " Eve of Destruction."or even Ozzy's "War Dogs".

Personal favorite "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag," by Country Joe McDonald.

Yeah, come on all of you big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.
And it's one, two, three, What are we fighting for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn, Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven, Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

"Anti-war tunes are getting a hearing" USA Today

"Four Charged In Plot To Blow Up Jet Fuel At JFK" From MSNBC

This is only a test. Flight 327 was a dry run. Courtesty of Partterico