Father’s Day isn’t quite the same as mother’s day. Every year statistics, well-worn but still true, are cited to prove it. There are more collect calls on Father’s Day than any other day of the year. About 140 million moms receive cards for Mother’s Day, compared to just 90 million dads getting Father’s Day cards.…
Sixteen North Dakota House Members Had Perfect Attendance
Following up on yesterday’s post about attendance in the state legislature, we saw that Republicans were a bit better at showing up to work than Democrats. Now let’s take a closer look at the House of Representatives (Senate tomorrow). The full ranking is below. First, let’s give some credit to the sixteen legislators from both…
The Grand Forks Parks District Wants To Stop You From Being Unhealthy In Public
When the nanny statists behind the anti-smoking crusade were making their arguments, “second hand smoke” was the crux of their argument. Because smoking could potentially impact the health around you, it is ok to ban it in public spaces and even private property open to the public. And they’ve largely won that argument, both nationally…
There's No Such Thing As A Starving Dictator
Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez has passed away after a long struggle with cancer. His rule was based on violent suppression of the opposition, and was grotesquely lamented by some American Democrats enamored with the socialist ideology he embraced. And, despite governing in a country so stricken by poverty that a toilet seat is something that…
Nanny Statism Versus Artistic Freedom
In Minnesota there is a statewide smoking ban, but that ban contains an exemption for theatrical productions. If you’re in a play or some other sort of performance you’re allowed to smoke on stage. But now the nanny statists, whose appetite for the eradication of habits they dislike seems unquenchable, want to close that loophole…
A Tobacco Tax Hike More Likely To Inspire Smuggling Than Quitting
Grand Forks Rep. Eliot Glassheim has introduced a bill, HB1387, which would represent a massive 127% tax hike on cigarette sales. The excise tax would go from $0.44/pack to $1.00/pack. Glassheim says that he expects the tax hike to raise $59 million in new revenue for the state, but that his goal isn’t so much…
ND House Votes To Keep In Place Unenforceable Law
Perhaps the most interesting debate in the legislature today was over a bill that would have repealed the state’s regulation of tanning. The bill was HB1188 introduced by Rep. Dan Ruby, who argued that current laws regulating the amount of tanning a North Dakotan can do are unenforceable. Rep. Ruby believes, rightly, that whatever your…
40 Years After Roe Vs. Wade, 28% Of Pregnancies End In Abortion
Today is the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court making abortion a “right,” and since that day there have been some 55 million abortions in America. The United States marks 40 years of legalized abortion in all fifty states at any time for any reason throughout pregnancy on January 22nd, the anniversary of the Roe…