Brian Gongol

By proposing a ban on talking on a cell phone while crossing the street, they have assumed that the nanny state's role must be to intervene in case of any perceived danger (its reality notwithstanding), making ordinary behavior a criminal offense because it might -- might! -- lead to danger. Life is so much less dangerous now than when we lived in small tribes, fearing death at the jaws of wild animals. Maybe we should keep that in perspective. Technology is making life better all the time. Perhaps we can swallow an inconvenience or two along the road without making a legal situation out of it.



That's all we're doing with the "economic stimulus" package that was rushed through Washington earlier this year. At some point, all the bills we as a nation have been ignoring are going to come due...with interest.

It'll still be a larger number of acres than in 2006, but new ethanol plants are coming on-line at a slower pace, so farmers are cutting back on new production
