|
Author
|
Topic: Be patient with this
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted December 29, 2012 10:09 AM
This article clearly illustrates what's wrong with the Obama Administration. They are Friggin' CONTROL FREAKS! If you are like me, you will shake your head in disgust that our government wastes time with such trivial issues. read on~
DECEMBER 28, 2012 12:00 P.M.
Don’t Tread on Six-toed Cats
The case for federalism in Key West, Fla.
By Jonah Goldberg
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to work harder to persuade ideological friends and foes alike that the way to reduce partisanship and maximize happiness in America is to embrace federalism — the view that we should push as many decisions as possible to the lowest local level feasible.
Federalism reduces partisanship by shrinking the importance of the federal government. It increases happiness by maximizing the number of people who get to live the way they want to live.
Unfortunately, proponents of federalism tend to start the conversation with the really big issues: gay marriage, drugs, guns, abortion, etc.
I’m for making all of those things local issues wherever possible, too. But, admittedly, those questions are complicated or emotionally freighted. Some questions do cut to the heart of what it means to be an American.
But many don’t. So let’s start there.
For instance, consider the case of Ernest Hemingway’s six-toed cats. According to legend, the writer was given a polydactyl (six-toed) feline named Snowball. Under a deadline, I could not determine whether Snowball was in fact male or female, but assuming he was a he, Snowball managed to overcome the limitations of his emasculating name to leave behind generations of progeny.
Snowball’s six-toed descendants live on at the Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Fla. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit every year to see where Hemingway lived when he wrote “To Have and Have Not” and to see 50 or so cats of Snowballian lineage lounge about the grounds of the Spanish colonial.
The cats get weekly veterinary visits and regular belly-scratchings from tourists. The Hemingway Home website says that the cats even have a corporate sponsor, Pfizer, which provides free medicine for them. Most are spayed or neutered to keep the number of Snowball’s descendants from snowballing.
The property has a high wall, but as cats are wont to do, they occasionally get out and wantonly rub up against the legs of passersby.
In short, the whole scene is one of sickening cuteness and laid-back charm, consecrated by time and local tradition.
And the federal government cannot abide that.
The Department of Agriculture insists that the cats, with their flagrant sidewalk-napping and unauthorized public self-grooming, must be regulated like lions or elephants or any other “animal exhibit.” As a result, the owners of the museum must:
*obtain an exhibitor’s license; contain and cage the cats in individual shelters at night, or alternatively, construct a higher fence or an electric wire atop the existing brick wall, or alternatively, hire a night watchman to monitor the cats; tag each cat for identification purposes; construct additional elevated resting surfaces for the cats within their existing enclosures; and pay fines for the museum’s non-compliance with the Animal Welfare Act.*
I don’t have the space here to get into all of the details of this ten-year-old legal dispute. But, in short, it’s all incredibly stupid.
The fracas began when a neighbor felt that one of the Hemingway cats — Ivan — was getting, in her words, too “macho” with the street cats she fed a couple doors down. So, obviously, she complained to the government in Washington about Ivan the Terrible, and Uncle Sam sprang into action.
After a decade of squabbling, a federal appeals court recently sided with the Obama administration, ruling that the museum must comply with the federal diktat or get rid of the cats.
To be fair, maybe the cats are a problem. But you know what? If they are, they’re not my problem. I don’t live in Key West.
In other words, what on earth is Washington doing setting cat policy — polydactyl or otherwise — for Key West, Fla.?
I’m always amazed by people who love visiting exotic locales abroad — and are often sanctimonious about keeping them exotic — but simultaneously support a government at war with exoticism here at home.
The federal government has plenty on its plate already. It should not be the cavalry of busybody neighbors or aggrieved cat ladies who can’t win an argument at the local level.
Key West is not Mogadishu. It has a functioning government, as does the state of Florida. Residents there — and across America — are capable of self-rule, which includes the right to live in ways other Americans might think is crazy or wrong. If the six-toed cats launch an insurrection, complete with an updated “Don’t tread on me” feline flag, by all means send in the feds.
Otherwise, the locals can work it out for themselves. They’ll be happier, and Key West will be a more interesting place to visit.
— Jonah Goldberg is editor-at-large of National Review Online
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Paul Melching
Radical Operator Forum "You won't get past the front gate"
Member # 885
|
posted December 30, 2012 08:12 AM
And here I thought the peanut farmer was king of the micro-managers,these people are a joke unfortunately they are in power and have the complicit media in their pocket.
[ December 30, 2012, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: Paul Melching ]
--------------------
Those who value security over liberty soon will have neither !
Posts: 4188 | From: The forest ! north of the dez. | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted December 30, 2012 09:44 AM
Normally, I wouldn't have any sympathy for 50 cats polydactyl or otherwise.
But, the Administration's response to the so called problem drives me insane.
There is a joke about this concept. About hiring a night watchman. Let me see if I can find it. LB
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted December 30, 2012 10:05 AM
Once upon a time the government had a vast scrap yard in the middle of a desert. Congress said someone may steal from it at night; so they created a night watchman, GS-4 position and hired a person for the job.
Then Congress said, How does the watchman do his job without instruction?" So they created a planning position and hired two (2) people, one person to write the instructions, GS-12 and one person to do time studies, GS-11. Then Congress said, "How will we know the night watchman is doing the tasks correctly?"
So they created a Q. C. position and hired two (2) people, one GS-9 to do the studies and one GS-11 to write the reports. Then Congress said, "How are these people going to get paid?" so they created the following positions, a time keeper, GS-09, and a payroll officer, GS-11, and hired two (2) people.
Then Congress said, "Who will be accountable for all of these people?" So they created an administrative position and hired three (3) people, an Admin. Officer GM-13, Assistant Admin. Officer GS-12, and a Legal Secretary GS-08.
Then Congress said, "We have had this command in operation for one year and we are $18,000 over budget, we must cutback overall cost,"
So they laid off the night watchman.
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Prune Picker
AR Forum Assistant Moderator-handgun GURU and dispenser of sage advice
Member # 4107
|
posted December 30, 2012 02:24 PM
And they gave all of them a raise in pay and added another 600 billion to the deficit because the union needed to guarantee the retirement fund of the union reps.
--------------------
mike
Posts: 1265 | From: "Oklahomie" | Registered: Mar 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
bucknertid
PAKMAN
Member # 4301
|
posted January 18, 2013 10:32 AM
Obama administration performance is good in general but still they to take some major decisions about the economy of the country.
--------------------
australian investment visa
Posts: 6 | From: New York | Registered: Jan 2013
| IP: Logged
|
|
Aznative
FARTS ON CLUELESS LIBERALS
Member # 506
|
posted January 18, 2013 11:06 AM
bucktid: I would like to respond to your post but I'm limited to a laptop right now and would need a real keyboard to properly get into it with you.
So I will limit my statementto this: Obama sucks.
--------------------
Never thought the devil would need a teleprompter but I could be wrong.
United State of America: RIP
Born July 4th 1776 died November 6th 2012
Posts: 1937 | From: Phoenix Az | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted January 18, 2013 11:25 AM
AZ, I approved this guy last night. He answered all the questions satisfactorily, but I think we have a troll.
The problem is, I am leaving town and won't be back until probably Tuesday.
So, you are in charge. Monitor this dude if you will? I don't want to chop him without giving him a chance, but he looks like he's up to no good?
Good hunting. El Bee
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Aznative
FARTS ON CLUELESS LIBERALS
Member # 506
|
posted January 18, 2013 12:17 PM
OMG, I've been given the keys to the kingdom. Does that come with an official Huntmaster Membership ring?
Have a good trip leonard. I hope it is to kill coyotes.
--------------------
Never thought the devil would need a teleprompter but I could be wrong.
United State of America: RIP
Born July 4th 1776 died November 6th 2012
Posts: 1937 | From: Phoenix Az | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted January 18, 2013 12:57 PM
That's the plan, kill coyotes.
Yeah, you get the secret decoder ring, the camo propeller cap and a half a dozen old playing cards you can insert on the frame with the included clothes pin to make neat motor sounds when riding your Roadmaster. For a "special" guy.
Good hunting. El Bee
edit: don't tell koko, he will sulk. And, if you need any help, call Higgy, he has always been the chief enforcer while I'm gone.
[ January 18, 2013, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
|
posted January 18, 2013 01:35 PM
Nope...........No sulking here.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely and I want to remain pure.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
--------------------
And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8231 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
|
posted January 18, 2013 02:14 PM
edit: he will sulk, or become petulant. Is that the word?
Okay, Okay. Koko, you can be first assistant deputy enforcer with all the rights and privileges accorded such high office, including the pension program and the vacation hours based on time in grade. Raise your right hand. And say, I do.
Now, keep an eye on this guy. I have a feeling he is trouble. And, the syntax errors and misspelled words seem more like a red herring, if you ask me. He could be Clever Gary doing his best fake accent.
Good hunting. El Bee
--------------------
EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
Aznative
FARTS ON CLUELESS LIBERALS
Member # 506
|
posted January 18, 2013 04:02 PM
I did a google search about these cats and came up with this site:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/01/07/178918/commentary-us-tackles-the-ernest.html
Now if there ever was a liberal news org it would be McClatchy News. I know because I owned some of their stock many years ago.
What a waste of the federal government's time.
--------------------
Never thought the devil would need a teleprompter but I could be wrong.
United State of America: RIP
Born July 4th 1776 died November 6th 2012
Posts: 1937 | From: Phoenix Az | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
|
posted January 18, 2013 09:43 PM
Ok, now we're getting somewhere!!!!!
I've hired a couple of former porn actresses to be my secretary, personal assistant, and bodyguard. We're ready to leave on a `fact finding` tour as soon as El Bee increases my department's budget.
--------------------
And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 8231 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
