Here is a run down of the week:
8/13/07: Letter: Rep. Bachmann nowhere to be found in 6th district
8/14/07: Letter: Don't be so swift with criticism of politicians
8/15/07: Letter: Bachmann sided with polluters on key issue
8/16/07: Times Writers Group: Lean times call for a watchful eye
8/17/07: Letter: Bachmann did not make right choice on energy
8/18/07: Letter: Bachmann's votes don't represent area interests
8/19/07: Letter: Columnist leaned on politics, not religion
Today was no different as the streak stays alive with a Letter from Leo Pusateri:
Letter: Bachmann got it right when opposing energy bill
By Leo Pusateri St. Cloud
Published: August 20. 2007 12:30AMMarcus Aurelius once wisely stated, "The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
Interestingly, an honest interpretation of this quote would lead one to believe that Leo is telling people not to follow the crowd and to make decisions as an individual or you will find yourself amongst an insane group of mindless majority. However, it appears at second glance that really the majority Leo wants to avoid is a Liberal or Democratic one but would be more than happy with a Conservative or Republican one. Take one glance at the Blog Mr. Pusateri operates and you will find him to be a rabid Conservative partisan. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against being partisan but I certainly wouldn't go around touting a quote demanding we think for ourselves when Leo does nothing more than shill for his Conservative ideolog
This statement is more than appropriate to those who would oppose the calling of a special session and knee-jerk gas tax hike in response to the admittedly tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge — especially given that the cause of the collapse will not be known until at least August 2008.
Leo, would that be the same bridge that Michele voted to delay funding to by trying to adjourn the House of Representatives EARLY?
Another Marcus Aurelius award can be given to our 6th District congressional representative, Michele Bachmann, who wisely voted against the recently passed bill in the U.S. House that imposes a standard of 15 percent renewable electric energy by 2020.
The author of an Aug. 17 letter in the Times stated "In the future I hope Bachmann, can stand up to big business and represent her constituents in a manner that shows the character of St. Cloud and the greater 6th District with a more forward-looking and practical vote."
The irony of that statement is that with regard to this measure, Bachmann did indeed place "a forward-looking and practical vote." Rather than imposing an arbitrary standard, the cost of which the market (and ultimately, Minnesota consumers) would find difficult, if not impossible to bear, Bachmann wisely thought it better to allow the market, in its own time, to produce viable solutions.
Oh those wonderful markets! So trustworthy, so benevolent, so ready to consider alternative forms of energy! They never have people corrupting them (Ken Lay) or over inflating them (Sub Prime Mortgage) in an effort to simply make profit! No, those markets are almost God like (perhaps that is why our "Fool for Christ" loves them so very much).
The saying, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" has been proven to be embodied in arbitrarily imposed government restrictions and standards that have no relationship to market forces. Often, these restrictions have resulted in inflated consumer prices, and have presented themselves as more problematic than the problems they were supposed to address. It bodes well that we in the 6th have a legislator who recognizes this. Thank you, Michele Bachmann!
You are so right, I mean in the early 20th Century the markets didn't need any cajoling to clean up their abysmal health and safety standards!
