“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea”
Alain
In an attempt to resolve a festering difficulty which won’t go away, the Concord School Board has embraced the bureaucrat’s favorite ploy and sent the uncomfortable issue off to a committee for “further study”.
Their nightmare began when educators at the Rundlett Junior High School …

“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.”
John Marshall
It has become axiomatic for politicians seeking votes from lower and middle class constituencies to preach  a “tax the rich” message.  It plays on the frustrations and jealousies of individuals who have seen their incomes stagnate and taxes balloon during the …

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I …”
Robert Frost
 
While President Clinton continues to learn the difference between running for the presidency and governing once in office, it appears he has reached a crossroads.  His course will shape our future.
As a candidate, he had the liberty and luxury to make …

“I would make them all learn English”
Winston Churchill
 
Last week, the County Commissioners in largely Hispanic Dade County, voted to override a previously enacted regulation making English the official language of the county.  This latest vote now permits the county to conduct its business in a language other than English when …

“Science may have found a cure for most evils, but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all …
 the apathy of human beings” 
Helen Keller

                                                               
It’s often been said, for every complex problem there’s a simple answer … and it’s wrong!  The so-called “motor-voter” bill which sailed …

“Liberty has never come from the Government”
Woodrow Wilson
The Video Gambling showdown being held at New Hampshire’s legislative corral is yet another example of unnecessary governmental intrusion into decisions which should be left in the unfettered domain of individual citizens.
Drawing its line in the sands of this emotional issue are those …

“I have a dream …”
Martin Luther King
Thirty-nine years ago this month, the Supreme Court unanimously overturned its 1896 doctrine by declaring, “separate but equal institutions for whites and blacks, had no place in education and were inherently unequal.”  The intervening decades witnessed remarkable progress toward the enfranchisement of America’s minorities, …

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
George Santayana
Tragically, during a week when survivors of an earlier period of “ethnic cleansing” traveled to Warsaw to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their armed rebellion against a madman bent on the racial and ethnic purification of Germany and its …

“The greatest weakness of pragmatism is that it ends up by being no use to anybody”
T.S. Eliot
President Clinton’s current dilemma over whether to extend “most favored nation” (MFN) trading privileges to China underscores a dichotomy in American foreign policy. 
What balance should exist between the moral values a nation professes …

“Freedom is a system based on courage.”
Charles Peguy
Throughout last year’s presidential campaign, candidates reviled one another for their opponent’s failure to propose viable programs to address the nation’s economic malaise and staggering federal deficit.  Promises to eliminate the waste and commit the federal government to an era of fiscal responsibility …

“Where law ends tyranny begins.”
John Locke
Most Americans understand the power of our government emanates solely from the “consent of the governed“.  The concept of a separation of powers is also fundamentally ingrained in our national psyche.
Yet, in New Hampshire, with its public aversion to intrusive government, the judiciary has subtly …

This year’s State Legislature is on the verge of passing several seemingly benign laws which, if enacted, will impose another set of, albeit well-meaning, regulations on the citizens of, and visitors to New Hampshire.  Three of the most hotly debated of these proposals are bills to mandate (1) the use …

“It is an experiment, as all life is an experiment.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Most of last Monday’s Souhegan School District meeting followed a predictable and uneventful script.  However, once the $6.32 million budget was overwhelmingly approved, the meeting turned its attention to a sober philosophical debate over the wisdom of having …

Abraham Lincoln
Bowing to pressures of partisan politics, New Hampshire House’s recently voted to remand a bill eliminating straight-ticket voting to a committee for “further study”.  The suggestion that since the bill changes the status quo, it needed further consideration borders on the ludicrous!
Rather than denying any person the right to …

On my way down the driveway to retrieve last Sunday’s newspaper, I happened to glance at the half-dozen or so houses in my immediate neighborhood.  Most are owned by honest, hard-working middle class families who put untold hours into the upkeep of their properties. 
Then, it struck me … most …

No sooner had President Clinton announced his intention to fulfill a campaign promise and eliminate discrimination against gays and lesbians in the armed forces than legions of politicians began parading before the ever-available nation’s media.  While a few praised the President’s actions, the majority came armed with an almost predictable …

“Obviously, a man’s judgement cannot be better than the  information on which he based it.”
Arthur Sulzberger
Eleven days ago President Clinton delivered a masterfully crafted speech outlining his economic plan to revitalize America and reduce the staggering budget deficit.  Then, to fend off the predictable offensive by his critics, the Administration …

Mark Twain once characterized Congress as the only “distinctly native American criminal class“.  While an exercise in hyperbole, it’s undeniable Congress has repeatedly displayed incredible arrogance for those people it purports to represent; quietly bestowing exorbitant perks and other benefits on its members and conscientiously exempting itself and its members …

“Those who give a little liberty to gain a little freedom, deserve neither!”
George Santayana
 
In an effort to protect the public from itself and frustrated by an inability to eradicate the world’s oldest profession, Manchester’s police, its mayor and aldermen and two state reps have turned to state government to …

Reforming the nation’s health care system is neither the Clintons’ brainchild nor an idea of recent vintage.  During his ill-fated 1912 run for the White House, Teddy Roosevelt first surfaced such a notion.  During the ensuing eighty-one years, no fewer than four of Bill Clinton’s predecessors made an effort to …

“The right to judge both the facts and the law”
Without fanfare, perhaps the most far-reaching bill the Legislature will address this year has been making its way through the hearing process.
Known as the “Fully Informed Jury Amendment”, this bill would require judges to instruct juries in criminal cases that, in …

In a year when a great many Americans are unhappy with either of the two major party candidates for president, George Bush and Bill Clinton have recently added a new plea to their campaign rhetoric.  Each implores audiences not to vote for a third-party candidate … specifically Ross Perot … …

The steady breeze blowing across the summit of Mt. Hale was unusually chilly for late July … even at 8:12AM.  Less than one hundred feet above the cloud bases hung unevenly, obscuring many of the surrounding peaks.  No matter, I anticipated a feeling of elation upon cresting the last of …

“… there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual assent and silent encroachment of those in  power than by violent and sudden usurpations.“
James Madison (1788)
The Supreme Court, long the last bastion in defense of the most fundamental rights of American citizens, really blew …

“A conservative government is an organized hypocrisy”
Disraeli
 
Two headlines in this morning’s [New Hampshire] Union Leader bring into clear focus both the boldfaced hypocrisy as well as a lack of priorities of set by our governmental institutions.
In the first instance, we were fed yet another episode in the continuing saga of …

One good reason to scrap the Electoral College!
The arrogance and incompetence of the elitist gang running our Congress has finally brought the American public to the verge of a mild revolution.  With luck, we’ll wake up next November 4th to discover not a single incumbent has been returned to office!
However, …

“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.”
John Marshall
It has become almost axiomatic for politicians harvesting votes from lower and middle class constituencies to preach  a “tax the rich” message.  It plays on the frustrations of individuals who have seen their tax rates balloon during the past decade …

In the wake of Cleveland-based TRW’s recent admissions that it has had numerous and significant “problems”, actually major screw-ups … reporting erroneous and personally harmful financial data on as many as 1,500 Vermont and New Hampshire citizens, Congress finally decided to act.  In typical fashion, these actions will take the …

Public education has quietly become the nation’s largest business, consuming some $413.8 billion each year, nearly 1½ times our expenditures on national defense.  Yet, the “product” being delivered by the 2,500,000 public school teachers employed by this politically powerful industry continues flounder.
National studies have consistently demonstrated the appalling lack of …

After a sometimes acrimonious battle between the Souhegan High School Board and a group of local residents (CAUSE), it looks like we can chalk one up for the “people”.  It appears that, despite continuing ascertains to the contrary, electromagnetic fields from high-power transmission lines between the Middle School and the …

“Today, the eyes of all people are truly upon us  and our government, in every branch, at every level, national, state, and local, must be as a city upon a hill, constructed and inhabited by men aware of their grave trust and their great responsibilities.”
John Fitzgerald Kennedy – 1961

To listen …

 ​“Today, the eyes of all people are truly upon us  and our government, in every branch, at every level, national, state, and local, must be as a city upon a hill, constructed and inhabited by men aware of their grave trust and their great responsibilities.”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy – 1961

To listen …

One marvels at the predicable actions of our business, labor and political leaders who find it so easy to proselytize their counterparts  around the globe on the values of a free market system, one not encumbered by undue governmental interference or bureaucratic stagnation and incompetence.  In their infinite wisdom, they …

Even as another 100,000 troops head for Saudi Arabia, the euphoria over Operation Desert Shield, the American effort to hold Saddam Hussein in check, has justifiably begun to crumble. 
Iraq’s unprovoked invasion of Kuwait recalled memories of Germany’s unopposed annexation of Czechoslovakia.  History has suggested that had the nations of …

In their rush to "resolve" the burgeoning federal deficit crisis,members of COngress have been quick to suggest all American will have to live with "necessary" cuts and increased taxes.

Yet these same individuals who hv ebeen directly responsible for crating the budget mess have again failed to demonstrate real political courage …

 (NPR WEVO FM-89 On-Air Editorial)
 

It is historically noteworthy that many fundamental principals ingrained in our Constitution, as well as the most of today’s mainstream social and economic programs were hatched by citizens working for political parties other than the Republicans or Democrats.  Yet, despite these recognized “third-party” contributions, the Republican …

During a recent WEVO on-air debate, State Representative Wayne King correctly observed there was “something seriously wrong with a system which serves to consolidate the power of political parties at the expense of its citizens”; and then went on to add that there is “nothing in either the United States …

The continuing frustration over dramatic, annual increases in local property taxes has not only divided many communities . . . but, according to some recent polls, it has finally convinced a majority of New Hampshire residents that a broad-based sales or income tax is essential.
This significant shift in public opinion …

The twentieth anniversary of Earth Day is now history. 
For some, it was a reaffirmation of changes they’ve made in individual life-styles to help protect the earth’s fragile environment.  For many others it was an awakening, opening their eyes to the damage which has been done to the earth’s ecosystems …

Our high visibility war on drugs threatens to leave an indelible scar on the nation’s social fabric, one infinitely more ominous than that left by the drugs its generals and supporters so piously seek to eliminate.  The near hysteria over the nation’s “drug crisis” has created an atmosphere in which …

In their enthusiasm to once again demonstrate the charitable nature of  their social souls, our selectmen have obviously lost sight of one of the most fundamental principals on which our federal, state and local governments was founded.
The premises of “majority rule” in our democratic society has always been tempered with …

Last month, a petition was circulated to change the zoning along a short section of land abutting Route 13 just north of the historic district to “limited commercial”.  This petition was signed by one hundred fifteen residents, with only two of those people approached declining to sign. . . a …

The framers of our Constitution envisioned the American Congress being comprised of a cadre of citizen legislators, men (and later women) who would temporarily interrupt their business and personal careers for a few years to contribute to and participate in the governing of their nation, subsequently returning to their communities …

Once again proposals have surfaced in Concord to “overhaul” the State’s liquor laws.  Unfortunately, the headlines which seduce us into believing real change is afoot turn out to be little more than overblown rhetoric.  Both legislators and lobbyists, alike, are quick to point out that the proposed changes are primarily …

If, as some experts assert, an educated populace is the backbone of a free and productive society, then American’s future may be in jeopardy!  Despite endless studies by self-professed experts, soaring increases in per pupil expenditures and a continued growth in the percentage of students completing high school, there is …

“It is harder to preserve than obtain liberty.”
Voltaire
The past decade has witnessed an alarming trend emerging on the American political landscape.  Activist forces on both the left and the right have become increasingly outspoken in their efforts to justify the limitation or surrender of fundamental rights in the name of …

The Town of Amherst missed a unique opportunity to take a positive step in the area of providing affordable housing when the ZBA ejected the petition of Cambridge Associates for a variance from the “over 55” age requirements for an apartment complex on land it owns between Juniper Drive and …

I’ve been awaiting since that bitterly cold night the previous fall when I escorted my youngest around the neighborhood trick-or-treating arrives.

Normally, it will be preceded by several overcast, possibly rainy days with the temperature rising ever-so-slightly during each twenty-four-hour period. Then, I'll wake up one morning . . . there'll …

As the first warm breezes of March make their long awaited appearance, my psyche begins to undergo a predictable metamorphosis.  I can’t really explain the cause for this somewhat illogical reordering of priorities, although it inevitably repeats the same familiar pattern year after year. 
I have often wondered if this …

In reading the Cabinet’s front-page article on our recent meeting we were extremely disappointed that one very key aspect of our presentation was lost in the sensationalism of the copy.
Specifically, although there has been alcohol abuse by some number of football players during this and past seasons, it is not …

Winston Churchill once remarked that the United States democracy was, “the worst form of government ever devised by man ,,,  except for all the rest!“  Prompting the eloquent tribute was his undying admiration of, and profound respect for the United States and its Constitution.  I am proud to share his …

Winston Churchill once expressed his belief that, "The United States form of government is the worst ever devised by man … except for all the rest!"

While Churchill's eloquence acknowledges our system has its flaws, he also pays tribute to it as a shining beacon in the foggy, and all too …

The final chapter of Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” articulates the underlying question some fifty-odd New Hampshire communities addressed in debates calling for a nuclear weapons freeze during their recent town meetings.
Proponents contend that if enough public pressure is exerted, our government, and perhaps that of the Soviet Union, will halt their …

Once again the Federal Government has vented its wrath on the private sector, this time with possibly devastating consequences.
In the last few days, the Department of Labor, with the blessing of the Justice Department, has levied huge tax sanctions on businesses in the State of New Hampshire, perhaps in the …

It is with increasing concern that I continue to read about the movement to convene a constitutional convention for the avowed purpose of drafting and passing an amendment to the Constitution which would require the federal government to balance it budget each year.
It sound nice, but such an amendment would …

Recently, there’s been a heated debate from various segments of public opinion regarding the goals and directions of the programs run under the auspices of the Amherst [NH] Recreation Commission (ARC).  I thought, therefore, I’d try to state the basic philosophy of the commission as I see it as its …

Congress, in its infinite wisdom, has come up with yet another costly scheme to insulate us from unpleasantness as part of its ongoing program of building a “no-risk” society.  This latest effort cones to us in the form of a massive bailout for Chrysler Corporation.
With the precedent in hand, American …

I note, with some amusement, two different “squibs” on page 56 of last Wednesday’s Nashua Telegraph, evening edition.
The first article relates to our beloved governor’s campaign to “Keep the Christ In Christmas Day”.  In his infinite wisdom, somehow the term “Xmas” to him detracts from the true meaning of the …