Tonight’s Podcast: Political Activists Don’t Care About People

On this edition of the Adam Graham program, we take on uncaring political activists who don’t care about real people and just use them to advance the agenda: Included Homosexual activists and ex-gays, abortion activists and post-abortive women, Al Gore and his litanty of victims, as well as the Clinton women and the organizations that used them:

Part One
Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Graham v. Graham: The Great Library! Debate

I haved mixed feelings on the new proposed Boise branch libraries. I’m divided on the issue, so I’ve invited my opposing viewpoints to appear.

Tonight, we’ll moderate a debate like no other. Welcome to Graham v. Graham: a discussion on the Boise branch libraries.

For the library is Adam Graham. Against the library is Adam Graham. Gentleman, welcome.

For: Good to be here, Adam.

Against: A pleasure, Adam.

Moderator: So, lets begin with opening statements and then each one of you may ask two questions of the other. First, Adam Graham in the affirmative.

For: Thanks to the folks at Adam’s Web who make this possible. Like you, I believe in fiscal discipline and low taxes, but I’ve always had a soft place in my heart for libraries. They are cultural treasures which allow us to share freely in the written word and even find out of print books. They provide a great resource for all citizens of Boise.

That’s why I support the proposed expansion. The new Boise branch libraries would make the library more accessible. Going to the Boise Library! you find that parking is almost impossible. In addition, some citizens have to drive quite a ways to get to the Library! thus increasing the amount of gas people have to buy just to get their books. Branch libraries would make it easier for anyone to get to a Library! while alleviating the current parking mess at the current Library!

The Library! is one part of government that does its job well, serving the needs of all Boise Residents of every background. The Library! gets a lot of bang for its buck and I think this expansion is a worthwhile effort.

Moderator: Thank you, very much. In opposition, Adam Graham.

Against: Adam, you ignorant-

Moderator: This is a family blog!

Against: Sorry. Why not fund 3 new public libraries? Sure, Idaho taxpayers just have tons of money lying around to be spent so we can hire more librarians and get more Liberace tapes. Idahoans deal with a lot of taxation. But, you might say, its only $17 per $100,000 in hourse.

My friend, I know you’ve heard of slow boiling a frog and that’s what this plan is. Its about taking a little more of people’s hard earned money. I stood up against the 1% sales tax increase back in 2003. The net Economic loss to the people of Idaho will be great. Given that this is beginning in the Bieter Administration, its fair to expect cost overruns and problems everywhere you turn. This will end up being quite a bit more than its sponsors argue which is the case with any government program.

I like the Library! as much as anyone else, but until there are serious reductions in the tax burdens on every day Idahoans, I will oppose this. As an alternative, Mayor Bieter and the City could make some cuts in their budget rather than forcing Idaho families to do so. Thank you very much.

Moderator: Thank you. For Adam, two questions.

For Now, first of all you made a gross misrepresentation back there. This tax increase would not cost the average Idaho family nearly as much as the sales tax increase.

Against: No, sir, but unlike that increase, this one is permanent.

For: Point taken. However, the question is, don’t you think there’s some point at which a tax increase is justified?

Against: In this case, the answer’s no. Government is trying to get blood from stones. A tax increase would be justified when the overall burden is low. Idahoans deal with ridiculous income taxes and a 5% sales tax that even taxes the very food they eat. In the midst of this, Mayor Bieter proposes three new libraries!. Why won’t the gargantuan city budget throw the library a bone if this is so important. If its important than the city will drag the money out, build the libraries and fund them. What the Bieter Administration is trying to do is avoid fiscal discipline, like its avoided accountability to the public in the 10 commandments case.

For: The city of Boise is growing rapidly, do you really think we can avoid expanding the library forever? Within a decade, the population of the greater Boise area will probably increase a good 50-60%. As time goes on and Real Estate prices rise, it will only get more expensive to build a branch library. Isn’t the Fiscally Responsible thing to go ahead and pay now rather than paying a lot more later?

Against: Hey, Garden City is building a great library and your Boise card will work just fine there. You don’t want to walk across from Julia Davis then there are arrangements including going to the library in Garden City or the one inside Boise Towne Square Mall.

For: Of course, there’s always PLENTY of Parking at the mall.

Against: Stop interrupting me! The point is that this isn’t really government’s problem to solve and there are alternate solutions.

Moderator: Now Against Adam, two questions.

Against: In the last unlamented campaign for the legislature, you signed a pledge against supporting tax increases, how can you be for limited government and support the expansion of the library?

For: First of all, the Americans for Tax Reform pledge was only binding on me as a member of the Idaho legislature, which I’m obviously not and even if I was, this wouldn’t affect my stance on this issue as a private citizens.

As to limited government, let me remind you that Ben Franklin established the first public library or are you going to question his limited government credentials? I support the expansion because the Boise library has actually done well at its job, unlike say the school system. If government does well, perform its function successfully and serves the needs of citizens, I have no problem expanding it, if its necessary.

Against: In principle doesn’t this represent the public voting themselves largesse out of the treasury?

For: You can look at it that way. I don’t. Its something needed. The library’s almost always crowded and there’s not enough parking space. Its not like this is just frivolous.

Against: But there’s recreational space included in all three proposed branch libraries. Not really the government’s job, is it?

For: Because all citizens will bare the cost of building the new Library! its meant to provide more than just a traditional library, which makes things more equitable. Second, city parks are also a pretty good idea. They help give people in the midst of a big city a place to go that’s not so urban.

Against: Socialist!

For: Them’s fighting words.

Moderator: Gentlemen, don’t make me separate you! Closing statements.

Against: There’s a lot of things I like, libraries among them. I also like luxury cruise ships, submarines, and 30 foot stretch limos. There’s a reason I don’t buy these things. I can’t afford them, just like the City of Boise can’t afford yet another big project meant to establish government bureaucrats and keep them in work. All across Idaho families are struggling. Should our response be yet another increase in government? I say no. Oppose the expansion of the Library!

For: First of all, I agree we need lower taxes. However, its not a matter of if, but when we’ll build the new libraries. The question is whether they’ll be more or less expensive. My opponent has talked about the cost of this new Library! but what about its value? Building strong neighborhoods, having a good outlet for growth, and a safe place for kids and people in the community to go and learn. The Boise Public Library! has done our community proud and so will these new branches. I urge you to support the branch libraries!

Moderator; That concludes, tonight’s debate. Thank you, gentlemen for your participation and thanks to our audience for following this work of insanity.

Good People At the Airport Post Office

A lot of time is spent in the blogosphere being critical, but let me say something nice. Off of Airport Way and Apollo, they’ve got the nicest people working at the Post Office. Everyone there is unfailingly polite and helpful. Whenever, I go there, I’m treated with respect, courtesy, and friendliness. Of course, the nice thing is that logically they don’t have to be nice. They’ve got no competition. They’re just really good folks.

Now, I know few people pick their post office, but if you have a choice of a Post Office to mail something from in Boise, Idaho, use the one near the airport, you’ll be glad you did.

An Editting Project

Editting film is hard work. I just back from Treasure Valley’s Public Access Station. I’m practicing my editting by redoing some home movies better. I brought 3 movies, but only got one loaded and then realized, I’d better start splitting up the scenes.

The first movie I’m working on is one I sent my wife we she was living in Ohio in an attempt to prove my existence and that I wasn’t some sicko.

So far, the entire scene where I pumped gas (riveting stuff) is on the editting room floor, along with several scenes of the back of my head, as well as my brother and I sitting in an Arby’s doing nothing interesting whatsoever.

Still, this one video is probably going to take 2 weeks to edit down.I’ll keep you posted.

A Message to Cindy Sheehan (Concluded)

A Message to Cindy Sheehan I read A Message to…

A Message to Cindy Sheehan

I read A Message to Cindy Sheehan by an Iraqi blogger.