"The value of liberty was thus enhanced in our estimation by the difficulty of its attainment, and the worth of characters appreciated by the trial of adversity."

Founders Quote: "If duties are too high, they lessen the consumption; the collection is eluded; and the product to the treasury is not so great as when they are confined within proper and moderate bounds. This forms a complete barrier against any material oppression of the citizens by taxes of this class, and is itself a natural limitation of the power of imposing them."

Founders Quote: "[T]he States can best govern our home concerns and the general government our foreign ones.  I wish, therefore...never to see all offices transferred to Washington, where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, they may more secretly be bought and sold at market."

Founders Quote: 'Tis done.  We have become a nation."

Should high school health clinics be privately funded?

Should the state’s new ethics law be changed to be less burdensome?

Founders Quote: "The Declaration of Independence...[is the] declaratory charter of our rights, and the rights of man."

Should the embezzling office manager have gotten more than 6 months in jail?

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/120733508213640.xml&coll=6

Is it right to sue a city police officer for a false DUI arrest?

"Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence."

Should Forest Grove and Cornelius leave Metro and go it alone? Absolutely yes!  http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1207074038224560.xml&coll=6  It is pure socialism at it’s worst and the idea of sharing taxes

Would you switch your party affiliation just to vote in the Democratic primary?

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VOTE_SWITCHING_OROL-?SITE=ORSAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Should Latino families be taught anti gang strategies in Spanish?  Are we only making it easier for them to not assimilate by teaching it in Spanish?

Should a law be passed to restrict state agencie’s ability to write administrative rules? http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/STATE/803280344

Should the Clark County father have been convicted of negligence in his daughters death?Only if he had been drinking in my view. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1206510917169210.xml&coll=7

"[T]here is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition of [slavery]."

 George Washington (letter to Robert Morris, 12 April 1786)

Should a school teacher convicted of cooking meth teach again? http://www.oregonlive.com/education/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1206329120310600.xml&coll=7

Is Oregon heading into recession? http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/120607172916560.xml&coll=7  The Gov thinks we are just fine. He is wrong!

Will the proposed LNG pipelines lower energy costs and create jobs? A new study says yes, and of course fear mongers say no. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/120586084492130.xml&coll=6

Should uniforms be worn at all public schools? http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/12057243009450.xml&coll=7  Will it help with discipline? Does it provide a better opportunity for unity? It certainly does for the military, all militaries all around the world.

Should the state be held accountable for the death of a 2 year old girl?

Are you willing to pay more in exchange for less smog? http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1205384103295380.xml&coll=7

Should the proposed natural gas pipelines on the Westside be rerouted around high value property or should they only be allowed along other existing utilities?

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1205257841137890.xml&coll=6

Should public indecency laws be enforced on politically protesting, naked bike riders or is it a form of free speech? http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OR_NAKED_RIDE_OROL-?SITE=ORSAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT  What real limits are there on free speech?

Why does the state have to tell schools how to teach English to non English speaking students? http://www.oregonlive.com/education/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/120477752137950.xml&coll=7  If the results are real, then why cant local districts figure this out themselves? Why shouldn’t we use immersion rather than ESL?

Live from New York! International Conference on Climate Change show.

Happy Leap Year Day!

Is MEChA a racist organization posing as a mainstream minority organization? http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/120399990755230.xml&coll=7 They have a history of advocating for the violent overthrow of the southwestern US and for inciting riots and the recent pro illegal alien amnesty rallies. You decide.

Was the “not so special session” as success? Not if you are Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley: His subprime bill fails to be voted on in the Oregon Senate.

Did the NY Times write the article to help McCain? http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/thin_story_looks_bad_for_the_t.html  Did they do it purposefully so they could cause conservatives to rally around him? Or, are they just being who they are?

Should Colleges and Universities arm their security personnel? http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/NATION/210707420/1001&template=nextpage

: Is health care a fundamental human right? http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1202961317128370.xml&coll=7  No it is not! It is not as important than food, air, shelter in reality, but it is more important for the liberal progressives.

Do you believe that the MAX has lessened the traffic around the Portland Metro area. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/news/1202844007290520.xml&coll=6   ODOT says it has, but do you see evidence of it as you drive around the area?

Should the Federal government bail out all home foreclosures?    No!!!! More cradle to grave socialism from an out of touch Congress and the Prez in an election year. Pathetic! Worse, another nail in the coffin of personal responsibility.

Is it better for conservatives to stand on principle regarding illegals even if it means losing elections? 

Should Tigard taxpayer money pay for new Neighborhood Networks program? Is that something that should be done on a volunteer basis?  http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/120124230745870.xml&coll=7

Was it right for a family to finish their RV trip with their dead grandmother’s request?  http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1200363912152110.xml&coll=7

Happy New Year’s Eve!!!  This History of New Years: