States Should Be Test Tubes

"If you hate this country so much, why don't you just move to Canada?!?!"
"Because I want to make this country better!!!"

Ever catch yourself saying one of these two lines? If so, you probably should have ended the conversation a few minutes ago. But this classic dead-end argument brings up one of the greatest benefits of state rights.

States should be test tubes. If some state has a terrible idea, they can try it and fail, without the rest of the Union having to suffer the consequences. If a state has a great idea, and it proves itself to be effective, the rest of us will willingly adopt it. We won't need a federal mandate. We'll want the benefits.

In the latest issue of Reason, Tim Cavanaugh references a post-census study by Americans for Tax Reform, and looks for correlations between states slated to gain seats in the next reapportionment. In short, what states are growing and attracting movers? "They have lower taxes, less government spending, and, in most cases, right-to-work laws that weaken unions."

States that make smart decisions reap the rewards. You don't have to leave the country to escape bad government. Sometimes, you just have to cross state lines.

Eric Olsen,
Regular Columnist, THL
Articles | Author's Page | Critical Thinking Blog

Barack Obama Tattoos

With Barack Obama's approval ratings still at a solid 62%, I became suddenly curious to know how popular the 44th U.S. President really is. Are people so enamoured with President Obama that I could do a quick Google search and turn up some photos of people with permanent tattoos of Obama inked into their very skin? Oh yeah. It's that bad. Below are ten examples of Barack Obama tattoos (some decent, some pretty awful). PS: As a control, I decided to Google "bush tattoos." I found only two examples in the first couple pages, and they were decidedly anti-Bush. I also learned to never, ever Google "bush tattoos" again. Seriously. Don't. There are some gross tattoos out there. In the interests of full disclosure, I must admit that I am not a fan of President Obama . But I've got to say that the tattoos above aren't nearly as bad as this: Editor's note: The pictures are linked to their respective sources. To view the source pages, simply click ...

Legal Marijuana On The Michigan Ballot for 2018

A Michigan ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana received enough valid signatures to qualify for a vote in November. When the required number of ballot signatures was certified by the State Board of Canvassers, the 4-0 decision of the board was met by cheers from supporters of the initiative who were present, the Detroit Free Press reports . Rick Thompson, a board member of the Michigan National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), put this ballot initiative in perspective as a matter of the State of Michigan safeguarding its own sovereignty and protecting its own citizens from an intrusive federal policy: "The people of Michigan deserve this. They earned it. We've faced many trials and tribulations. We've had so many stop and go signs from the federal government. That's why states have to take the reins on the issue and really be the crucibles of democracy that they've always been intended to be." Indeed the last time ...

What I did on the ten year anniversary of 9-11

During my brief trip to Korea, on the ten year anniversary of 9-11, I did exactly what the terrorists didn't want me to do: I lived without anxiety. I lived without regrets. I lived without fear. I let nothing intimidate me. I let my soul be still. I laughed with my friends. I tried something new. I marveled at nature. I sang at the top of my lungs... badly. My heart was at ease, because I spent all day knowing that for me, this day and every one that preceded it for the last decade was not about the terrorists, but about loving my life, the world I live it in, and the people with whom I am so lucky to share this world. The best memorial I could offer for so many thousands murdered ten years ago, was to ignore their murderers, live without terror in my heart, and in its place let blossom joy. This post is dedicated to you, chingu . Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Articles | Author's Page

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