Governments don't allow cockfighting

The stated reasoning is that it is cruel to the animals. Of course, when the birds are stolen from the owner by the government, what do they do with them? They kill them.

story here

I'm beginning to think that one reason that the state governments don't like cockfighting is the fact that since these dumb people gamble on the bird fights, they then don't have that money to gamble in the state sanctioned vice called the Lottery.

So, it's OK:

1. For the state to run a gambling racket, but not you.
2. For the state to kill your roosters, but you can't let them fight each other, because it might harm them.

I remember in Vinton County in May 1991 where 730 or so roosters were stolen (by the state) from their rightful owners for this same reason. Judge Brame, at first, rule that the roosters were to by "humanely euthanized", he rescinded that ruling before it could be carried out.

People take their cockfighting serious. It wasn't very long after this that someone left a lit candle in Brame's house and turned the gas to the cook stove on. The candle burned out before the gas could ignite. No one really knows if this had anything to do with the game bird case. I don't think any arrests were every made.

Ohio Chamber of Commerce advocates raising taxes

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has released a report on how Ohio can start digging it's way out of it's budget mess.

One item I disagree with is the suggestion of the elimination of the real estate rollback. This was implemented in the early 70's to help "sell" the income tax. (never trust your government).

(The Chamber is playing a Chameleon again. Depending on the subject............they either say we are massively overtaxed (which I agree with) or now, we are "giving money to taxpayers", propaganda Lenin would be proud of)

Now the Chamber thinks it's a costly entitlement given to tax payers! This sounds just like a press release from the obama administration.

They also float the idea of "means testing" the real estate rollback based on the value of the property. Again, never trust your government. They know that over time inflation will make whatever number they come up with meaningless.

Previous posts on not trusting what the government says when they try to sell a new tax: here and here

The part of the report I do agree with is consolidation of local governments. They talk all around the idea but they get there. I wish they'd be even more bold and suggest the elimination of Townships. It doesn't matter if the cost only equals whatever percentage of the upcoming shortfall. If Townships are wasteful and not needed, they need to go!

Previous posts on eliminating Townships here and here.