Taste-Tipping Fruit

interesting phenomenon.

More Newton North High School Follies - What's Up with Newton Board of Alderman?

With the notable exception of members Greer Tan Swiston, Bill Brandel, Marcia Johnson, Ken Parker, and George Mansfield, the Newton Board of Alderman leaves a lot to be desired with respect to its oversight of the Newton North High School "project". If voters approve an override of Proposition 2 1/2 on May 20th, then they get what they deserve. The rest of us however, don't deserve this. Tune in on May 8th for an upclose and personal view of what's what with Jeff Seideman, president of the Newton Taxpayer's Association.Shame on Mayor Cohen and his accomplices; this is a gross and grotesque example of fiscal mismanagement. No wonder the public is cynical and distrustful of politicians.

The BottomLineRadio Manifesto

The State is the Most Destructive Institution Human Beings Have Ever Devised - Robert Higgs

"The State" in this case refers to the universe of bureaucrats,politicians, regulators, and their posse of supplicants
"The State" especially includes the class of bureaucrats known as the political elite(s)

The State exists in large part in a vain attempt to justify its very existence, its laws,rules,regulations,costs. The State exists as a means to gain dominance and to exert control over other people's lives. The State endeavors to attain a "Utopian" ideal as to how society ought to be as seen from the standpoint of the elites. The State exists to obtain, retain, and consolidate political power and prestige. Once instituted, this bureaucratic "tar-baby" lays waste to much of what it touches. It becomes a living, breathing example of the law of unintended consequences.

But why, you ask, is the State destructive?
Because it creates perverse incentives
It induces decisions and acts that otherwise sound individuals would not make or perform
It distorts the laws of supply and demand which are the foundation of human activity and endeavor
It allows bureaucrats to trade favors and/or dispense punishment at will
It leads to the creation of an anti-bureaucrat class of elites, known as lobbyists


When perverse legislative incentives and distorted supply/demand laws combine, societies experience shortages and surpluses both of which are symptoms as opposed to root causes. Shortages and surpluses can in turn, lead to dangerous social turmoil and strife. In non-democratic countries or countries with a less than firm grasp on freedom of expression and social order, the results often include riots, crime and in extreme cases government overthrow. In democratic countries, such as America, supply demand distortions often lead the public to demand "relief" from their elected official(s). It is at such moments that the problems tend to be exacerbated, for elected officials are in the primary business of - winning elections, which has very little to do with solving problems. In fact, a "charismatic" public official is not infrequently a self-interested demagogue masquerading as a concerned public servant who promises to "fix" the problem if only he/she is elected. If elected, he/she promptly begins the work of securing re-election and currying favor with the established political/social order of the moment. And, more ominously, if time allows, a set of rules,laws, and regulations are issued that will lead to more of the very bureaucracy that has given rise to the initial problem. In short, it's like throwing gasoline on a raging fire and then complaining that the flames are too hot. The great Einstein once observed that "Significant problems cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them."

So, you ask, what are we to do, we who live in "free societies"? The following are a few thoughts:

Realize that politicians don't exist to help you. They exist primarily to win elections, consolidate power, and help themselves. If the public receives some help along the way, so be it.
Stop looking at politicians as panaceas. The primary responsibility for making our lives better falls to the individual. Strong individuals make for strong families and societies. Without the exercise of individual responsibility, the Founder's ideal of constitutional self-government will fail, and with it the United States Republic.
Respect Adam Smith's "the Invisible Hand". We ignore the laws of supply and demand at our peril, they are operative REGARDLESS of who "holds power" and occupies office. The more meddling, the worse things get, and they can get real bad.
Never forget the laws of unintended consequences expressed alternately as: "THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS"
Beware the unholy alliance of "Big business, big government, and big labor". This confluence of "bigs" bodes ill for society at large while individually rewarding "the bigs".
Read and observe, read and observe: The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution are essential starting points. Henry Hazlitt's Economics-in-One-Lesson and Thomas Sowell's Economic Facts and Fallacies are easy to understand economics primers.
Demand that politicians at all levels observe the above lessons and then vote for them. If they forget these lessons, VOTE THEM OUT!!!

In the Dead of Night - Massachusetts Politics in Secret

Yet another example of legistlative arrogance and indifference to a true democratic process. There are legitimate reasons for public officials to meet in secret, typically they impinge on matters of security and public order. Don't think either of those elements are at work here. It's simply a matter of convenience: less public scrutiny means less accountability.

"Cannonball" Bill Jackman - Pitcher & New England/Negro Baseball Pioneer

No matter how much you think you know, you never know it all. This interesting piece of New England/Negro baseball history is proof: Cannonball Bill Jackman. My dad remembers this gentleman, I, his daughter had never heard of him before. Undoubtedly, there are more stories like this. Please drop a line if you know of them. And, if you're interest in baseball history extends to Negro League history, please treat yourself to the works of Kadir Nelson and his glorious book We Are the Ship - The Story of Negro League Baseball.