Government's proper role is protecting liberty, imposing neither artificial equality nor collective morality.

The study (Calif EPA) shows that one must be exposed to second-hand smoke for more than 39 years to reach a level of statiscally significant risk from second-hand smoke. A non-smoker living with a smoker has a smaller chance of lung cancer than one of the general population.

The Calif EPA data does not support elevating second-hand smoke in bars and resturants to a public health issue that requires government intervention.

The "No Child Left Behind" approach to education implies and actuates a "No Child Gets Ahead" system.

School choice tends to enhance family values.

Our schools have been one giant social experiment gone tragically wrong.

Government can redistribute no wealth until someone else creats it.

Liberal economics ignores the most fundamental of observations--government produces no wealth.

Dry up private, market-driven investment, and indeed the economic "pie" becomes finite and quickly consumed

Encourage private investment (minimize taxation) and the pie grows.

Warning: this program may contain debate not suitable for small children or Bob Moffit.

Typically, the liberal way is to attack personalities rather than issues. This is typefied by three op-ed columns in the Pioneer Press this week. First was Tuesday with Mark Yost column titled A Proper Welcome Home For Iraq Vets, relating to the return of American troops from battle. He did mention several personalities but all in a positive way.

To follow, on Wednesday was Craig Westover column titled Curbing Abuse of Legitimate Authority talking about "limiting government intervention" as in eminent domain and the smoking ban "under the guise of promoting public health". Again no personal attacks.

And finally and typically was Deborah Locke titled Should We Color Tim Pawlenty Green? (that's cute). Last week the Gov talked about environmental issues such as dedicate part of the sales tax money to conservation projects and to resurect the Clean Water Legacy bill. To quote Locke "You can bet that starting next fall, we'll see a flood of television advertisments touting the record of this enivoronment-friendly governor." Call that personal attack?

President Roosevelt took office on March 4, 1933 and the CCC bill was enacted by congress on March 31 same year. As I see it the bill was considered sometime during the administration of Herbert Hoover as it takes more than 27 days to consider, draft, debate and pass any bill through both houses of congress. Does one or the other deserve credit? If so, who.

Shame on Mark Yost, editor in charge of something. Cartoon by Gary Markstein is seriously flawed in that he puts the cart before the horse. True and accurate figures from the St. Louis Feds will show you that the average wage index from 2000 to 2005 has grown 10.9% while consumer pric index has grown by 10.0% during the same time. Mark, check this.