Fighting for the People. . .of Afghanistan?

Fighting for the People . . . of Afghanistan?

WASHINGTON, September 23, 2009–In a recent statement by top U.S. commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal, he criticized the U.S. military for being “preoccupied with protection of our own forces” in Afghanistan. He wrote that American forces should “share risk, at least equally, with the people” of Afghanistan. What makes our leaders think that they can ever win a war with this sort of philosophy?

Health Care is Not a Right

Health Care Is Not a Right

Washington, D.C., July 27, 2009–President Obama’s push for universal health care rests on the premise that people have a right to medical care and medical insurance. “This is wrong,” said Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Center. “This notion of some sort of entitlement to health care is a distortion of the concept of a ‘right’ and is ultimately what’s behind all of the problems with today’s medical system.

“Philosopher Leonard Peikoff explained the basic point in a 1993 speech (view the video or PDF) given in the context of HillaryCare. It applies equally to Obama’s ‘reforms.’ Peikoff argued that ‘all legitimate rights have one thing in common: they are rights to action, not to rewards from other people. The American rights [to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness] impose no obligations on other people, merely the negative obligation to leave you alone. The system guarantees you the chance to work for what you want–not to be given it without effort by somebody else. . . . Under the American system you have a right to health care if you can pay for it, i.e., if you can earn it by your own action and effort. But nobody has the right to the services of any professional individual or group simply because he wants them and desperately needs them. The very fact that he needs these services so desperately is the proof that he had better respect the freedom, the integrity, and the rights of the people who provide them.”

For more information on the Ayn Rand Center’s position on health care, please visit our Web site.

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Palm Bay Road project on schedule

By George White
Florida Today

QUESTION: Is the project to widen Palm Bay Road on schedule, and when will it be completed?

ANSWER: The project widening Palm Bay Road from four to six lanes for 4.5 miles between Minton Road and Robert J. Conlan Boulevard is on schedule for a fall 2010 completion date, said Stephanie Evans, public involvement coordinator for the Florida Department of Transportation.
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Nelson fears for space program

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said he fears Russia’s aggressive action against Georgia may have some serious consequences on the American space program.

If Russia fails to hold back military action in the former Soviet republic, it could hurt U.S. chances of accessing the International Space Station once NASA retires the space shuttles in 2010, the Democrat from Orlando said Tuesday.
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Crist in Brevard in countdown to commercial launch capability

COCOA — The first commercial launch from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station could come as early as 2010 or 2011, said Space Florida President and CEO Steve Kohler.    “We have customers we are talking to,” said Kohler.    Gov. Charlie Crist and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp joined Kohler today to formally announce the lease of SLC 36 from the Air Force at a press conference in the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium at the Brevard Community College Cocoa campus.

Crist said the agreement would help Brevard County’s economy during the expected economic slump due to the end of the shuttle program in 2010.
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Democrats set new date to vote electors

The Florida Democratic Party has finally nailed down a time and place for its do-over meeting to select a slate of 27 members of the Electoral College.   

It’s set for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the IBEW union hall in Orlando.   

A problem arose over the weekend when the Democratic State Executive Committee met in Tampa to choose 27 electors, but couldn’t get a quorum. State law requires both parties to submit certified lists of electors to the governor’s office before Sept. 1.   

Party leaders initially called for an Aug. 18 meeting, time and place to be determined. But Democratic National Committeeman Jon Ausman of Tallahassee pointed out that the date didn’t allow 10 days notice, as required by party rules.   

Ausman said that if Sen. Barack Obama carries Florida but his electors are not chosen with strict compliance to every rule and law, the Republicans might go to court and challenge those 27 votes — maybe even affecting the national outcome in a close race. Remember 2000, Ausman said, recalling the 36 days of court fights and recounts over Florida’s then-25 electoral votes.   

So today, the party set the new date. Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff said lawyers have assured the leadership that notifying executive committee members by e-mail, fax and phone ought to be legally sufficient.   

“We expect a large turnout at the meeting because the members of the State Executive Committee are understand it is their duty to approve the slate of electors, so when Barack Obama wins Florida, there will be no question about our electors,” said Jotkoff.   

Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer marveled at the Democratic disarray. Last spring, the party fought for a couple of months over seating of Florida delegates to the national convention, which was resolved after a long and divisive fight between Obama supporters and backers of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.   

“The continued inability of the Florida Democrats to get their act together simply amazes me,” said Greer.
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Titusville may freeze employees’ salaries

TITUSVILLE — The city’s proposed $131 million budget eliminates many capital improvement projects, freezes salaries and includes no program enhancements — but doesn’t call for any layoffs.
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Brevard park projects may be finished by 2010

Before voters agreed in 2006 to borrow up to $85.7 million to finish more than 20 park referendum projects, Brevard County officials said they hoped to complete the parks within two years.
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Palm Bay proposal would give locals 1st shot at work bids

Palm Bay officials are looking to give a break to local businesses wanting to work with the city on everything from cutting grass to building new water systems.
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