Friday, March 25, 2005
Current Reading
I'm currently reading, A Great and Noble Scheme: The Tragic Story of the Expulsion of the French Acadians from Their American Homeland. It's a brand new book by Yale historian John Mack Faragher. The title is pretty self-explanatory. It begins with the sailing of the Jonas in 1606. This story is an intersection of two of my passions, my love for the Acadians of Louisiana, and my love of liberty. The Acadians pretty much governed themselves in L'Acadie (Canada) for over a century with little help and much hindrance from the civil governments of France and England. They were some of the earliest libertarians, certainly the first European libertarians in the New World. Due to over three centuries of significant cultural isolation, the Acadians in Louisiana retained many of the customs of 16th and 17th century rural France. Though for the most part the Acadians in Louisiana have now become "Americanized", even today many remain very medeival in many of their ways.
In Sunday School we're studying through My Life for Yours: A Walk through the Christian Home, by Douglas Wilson. It shows us how the Gospel should manifest itself, room-by-room, in our hearts, lives, and homes. It deals with hospitality, family life, holidays, celebrations, and temptations and sins. I recommend this book, along with all other titles by Douglas Wilson and Canon Press. www.canonpress.org
The other book I'm reading is, Economics in One Lesson, by Henry Hazlitt. From the Preface to the First Edition, "This book is an analysis of economic fallacies that are at last so prevalent that they have almost become a new orthodoxy." This is dated March 25, 1946, 59 years ago today, and in those 59 years the prevalent understanding of economics has only gotten worse, especially among mainstream economists and politicians. Among other things, this book deals with tax-funded "public works", taxes, credit, bureaucracies, employment, tariffs, exports, prices, rent control, minimum wage laws, unions, profits, inflation, and saving.
In Sunday School we're studying through My Life for Yours: A Walk through the Christian Home, by Douglas Wilson. It shows us how the Gospel should manifest itself, room-by-room, in our hearts, lives, and homes. It deals with hospitality, family life, holidays, celebrations, and temptations and sins. I recommend this book, along with all other titles by Douglas Wilson and Canon Press. www.canonpress.org
The other book I'm reading is, Economics in One Lesson, by Henry Hazlitt. From the Preface to the First Edition, "This book is an analysis of economic fallacies that are at last so prevalent that they have almost become a new orthodoxy." This is dated March 25, 1946, 59 years ago today, and in those 59 years the prevalent understanding of economics has only gotten worse, especially among mainstream economists and politicians. Among other things, this book deals with tax-funded "public works", taxes, credit, bureaucracies, employment, tariffs, exports, prices, rent control, minimum wage laws, unions, profits, inflation, and saving.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
An Unrighteous People
I was just watching the news and saw the latest on the crusade to murder Terri Schiavo. That coverage segued to coverage of an ambush in Iraq. Both of these stories displayed national sin.
Our civil government no longer protects the weakest among us, which is one of the few legitimate functions of a civil government. Most of us can protect ourselves. It's the weak that need the protection of the state.
In the story from Iraq, I saw more than one woman speaking of her experience in harm's way on behalf of the state. This is shameful. Only an unrighteous people would send its women to fight its wars. We are an unrighteous people committing aggression against a people who did not attack or threaten us.
My ultimate allegience is to Jesus Christ. Many of our political and military leaders and soldiers are not Christian. Many Iraqi are Christian.
I have decided that my pro-life protests must extend beyond unborn Americans to include all judicially innocent people, even if they are Iraqi, especially if they are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our civil government no longer protects the weakest among us, which is one of the few legitimate functions of a civil government. Most of us can protect ourselves. It's the weak that need the protection of the state.
In the story from Iraq, I saw more than one woman speaking of her experience in harm's way on behalf of the state. This is shameful. Only an unrighteous people would send its women to fight its wars. We are an unrighteous people committing aggression against a people who did not attack or threaten us.
My ultimate allegience is to Jesus Christ. Many of our political and military leaders and soldiers are not Christian. Many Iraqi are Christian.
I have decided that my pro-life protests must extend beyond unborn Americans to include all judicially innocent people, even if they are Iraqi, especially if they are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Ragin Cajun Basketball
Friday night the 13 seed Cajuns forced 4th ranked Louisville to play all 40 minutes before falling by a score of 68-62 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. It was disappointing to lose with the game in reach but it was a good showcase for the Cajun program. After losing several key players and TWO head coaches in the off-season, many had modest expectations for Rookie Head Coach Robert Lee's team. This season Coach Lee gave fans legitimate reason to raise future expectations. I look forward to seeing what next season brings.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Fiber for Lafayette?
Well it looks like there is gonna be a vote on taxpayer-guaranteed fiber to the home (and telephone, cable TV, and internet service) for Lafayette. In response I have moved the relevant links to the top of my list.
My fundamental objection to this is moral. It is not right for a tax-collecting agency to compete against existing tax-paying business. That forces the businesses to subsidize their competition. I also object to the taxpayers and utility customers being forced to assume the entire risk. We are the sole guarantors of all government liabilities. I even object to the idea that voter approval would make it ok to force the minority to participate in this risk. I contend that my position is Biblically-based and that the opposite position is collectivist and socialist.
My fundamental objection to this is moral. It is not right for a tax-collecting agency to compete against existing tax-paying business. That forces the businesses to subsidize their competition. I also object to the taxpayers and utility customers being forced to assume the entire risk. We are the sole guarantors of all government liabilities. I even object to the idea that voter approval would make it ok to force the minority to participate in this risk. I contend that my position is Biblically-based and that the opposite position is collectivist and socialist.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
weekend update
I'm very tired but it's been too long since I've posted anything so here's an update.
The last couple of weeks have been busy with blogging at lafayetteprofiber.com and fiber411.com, as well as some letter writing to local papers.
The concert on the 25th was great. Before the concert my oldest brother and his wife showed up in the seat behind my wife and me. That was cool. The place was packed. The format of the concert was the four performers and their acoustic guitars performing one-at-a-time in alphabetical order. It was very intimate and authentic. Each performer had at least one song and one story that featured a reference to South Louisiana.
In sports, the Ragin Cajun men's basketball team lost the last two games of the regular season but then went on to win the conference tournament and the automatic NCAA tournament bid. They will face #6 Louisville in the first round. The women lost in the finals of their conference tournament.
The baseball team won their first 14 in a row in their best start ever. They then lost two in a row and then won the next three. They are now 17-2 and ranked19th in the country. The softball team is 21-2 and ranked 7th.
The Hoppe Victory Blog now has 1500 signatures.
Some of the other things that have been occupying my time the last couple of weeks:
Our homeless church has decided to buy a building and I was chosen as one of four trustees with instructions to determine how best to fund the purchase. I was then chosen to be chairman. We have met twice in the last two weeks.
Wednesday, the 2nd, I missed the monthly meeting of the Grand Coteau Volunteer Fire Department because I had a business function in Baton Rouge. Thursday, the 3rd, my Dad had vascular surgery. Friday, the 4th, we went to a track meet in Cecilia. Saturday, the 5th, we went to the teachers' appreciation banquet for the school where my wife teaches.
This last Tuesday I had a visit from two old friends from Lake Charles. Thursday I chaperoned a field trip with my wife. I also volunteer every Thursday afternoon to tutor at the Bridge ministry in the four corners area of Lafayette.
This last Friday my older daughter and I met the President in Shreveport. Yes, you read that right. My daughter had been chosen to participate in the President's presentation on Social Security reform. That was pretty cool. She was on national TV with the President. My wife and I just got back from Baton Rouge where we retreived my car from our daughter.
This is just what I can remember from the last two weeks. I'm sure there was more because I don't remember being home very much. At some point we went to the hardware store to get some final touches for the bathroom that we just have redone. At some point I installed same. Now, I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight.
The last couple of weeks have been busy with blogging at lafayetteprofiber.com and fiber411.com, as well as some letter writing to local papers.
The concert on the 25th was great. Before the concert my oldest brother and his wife showed up in the seat behind my wife and me. That was cool. The place was packed. The format of the concert was the four performers and their acoustic guitars performing one-at-a-time in alphabetical order. It was very intimate and authentic. Each performer had at least one song and one story that featured a reference to South Louisiana.
In sports, the Ragin Cajun men's basketball team lost the last two games of the regular season but then went on to win the conference tournament and the automatic NCAA tournament bid. They will face #6 Louisville in the first round. The women lost in the finals of their conference tournament.
The baseball team won their first 14 in a row in their best start ever. They then lost two in a row and then won the next three. They are now 17-2 and ranked19th in the country. The softball team is 21-2 and ranked 7th.
The Hoppe Victory Blog now has 1500 signatures.
Some of the other things that have been occupying my time the last couple of weeks:
Our homeless church has decided to buy a building and I was chosen as one of four trustees with instructions to determine how best to fund the purchase. I was then chosen to be chairman. We have met twice in the last two weeks.
Wednesday, the 2nd, I missed the monthly meeting of the Grand Coteau Volunteer Fire Department because I had a business function in Baton Rouge. Thursday, the 3rd, my Dad had vascular surgery. Friday, the 4th, we went to a track meet in Cecilia. Saturday, the 5th, we went to the teachers' appreciation banquet for the school where my wife teaches.
This last Tuesday I had a visit from two old friends from Lake Charles. Thursday I chaperoned a field trip with my wife. I also volunteer every Thursday afternoon to tutor at the Bridge ministry in the four corners area of Lafayette.
This last Friday my older daughter and I met the President in Shreveport. Yes, you read that right. My daughter had been chosen to participate in the President's presentation on Social Security reform. That was pretty cool. She was on national TV with the President. My wife and I just got back from Baton Rouge where we retreived my car from our daughter.
This is just what I can remember from the last two weeks. I'm sure there was more because I don't remember being home very much. At some point we went to the hardware store to get some final touches for the bathroom that we just have redone. At some point I installed same. Now, I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight.
