Justin Katz

Lament of a Newly Engaged Citizen

By Justin Katz | August 27, 2007 |

I feel as if I should be speaking up about the town fees that are rapidly increasing before my eyes, but I really haven’t done my homework on them. I present as an extenuating circumstance the vast learning curve: Tiverton has a lengthy planning document. There’s a massive spreadsheet for the budget. There are countless…

Motivation for Infiltration

By Justin Katz | August 27, 2007 |

My decision to attend this week’s town council meeting was not a reaction to Ed Achorn’s latest Projo column, but it could have been: LOCAL OFFICIALS in Rhode Island talk a good game about financial woes, but they act as if they have money to burn. And they will keep on doing it — as…

Behind Government Lines

By Justin Katz | August 27, 2007 |

[Whispering.] I’ve infiltrated a Tiverton Town Council meeting. They attempted to delay me by placing a slow-driving woman in my path, but I persevered. I expected an attempt to drive me away with boredom, but they inadvisably postponed the actual meeting to make way for professional interviews for labor counsel. No doubt, however, they’ll follow…

Pull String for Talking Points

By Justin Katz | August 27, 2007 |

A short while ago, Congressman Langevin, speaking to Dan Yorke, did me the favor of reminding me why I’ve ceased to listen to politicians’ public performances. I think I could just about hear the sound a ballpoint pen makes against yellow legal-pad paper as he checked off each item on his talking-points list (multiple times).…

England Continues to Ask for Calamity

By Justin Katz | August 27, 2007 |

Hot on the heels of news that gun crimes are up since Britain banned guns comes this controversy: The database, which goes live next year, is to contain details of every one of the 11 million children in the country, listing their name, address and gender, as well as contact details for their GP, school…

Go West, Young Welfare Recipient

By Justin Katz | August 26, 2007 |

I thought this sentence was a parody — or at least a cynical paraphrase — when I first saw it on Instapundit, but it’s an actual quote from a news story: Record low unemployment across parts of the West has created tough working conditions for business owners, who in places are being forced to boost…

Rerere: Confessions

By Justin Katz | August 26, 2007 |

Marc — Of course your children don’t see you as untrustworthy, and of course, you haven’t taught them to. But about whom are we speaking? I referred to “cultural truisms.” Although I do so very hesitantly, let’s put aside the possibility that the do-gooders would treat you no differently, with respect to your own children,…

Of Free Market Slaves and the Doomed Capitalist

By Justin Katz | August 25, 2007 |

Some comments from Michael, of Rescuing Providence, touch on basic differences of assumptions and perspectives. The first was to my “Proud to Be Non-Union” post: I never expected the folks here at Anchor Rising to be pro-union, but the depth of misunderstanding concerning organized labor and the willingness to serve as lackeys to powerful corporate…

Re: Confessions

By Justin Katz | August 25, 2007 |

There is reason for concern, Marc, that in your statement of the trade-off as between your “peace of mind” and “the safety of [your] kids” on one side and “being presumed a predator” on the other, you are missing negatives to the former and exaggerating the benefits of the latter. Arguably, the price of your…

A Vocabulary Lesson for Lima

By Justin Katz | August 24, 2007 |

Here’s a lesson in the proper application of the word “unscrupulous” for Charlene Lima: Unscrupulous vendors in Thailand have been selling meat of the deadly puffer fish disguised as salmon, causing the deaths of more than 15 people over the past three years, a doctor said Thursday. Clearly those vendors need increased fines and a…