Opinion

 Our high school sports run in parallel universes.

And, by definition, items that run in parallel neither cross nor touch.

On Thursday, Arizona’s new illegal immigration law is set to take effect. The United States Justice Department, however, and the Obama Administration continue to challenge the law while the federal judge who heard the case has yet to decide if she’ll put the statute on hold until her ruling is made.

If you were to take a drive along Interstate 8 in Arizona, many miles north of the border, you would very likely come upon signs, placed by the U.S. government, warning travelers of possible danger including drug and human smuggling, armed criminals, and other suspicious activities.  The signs, which have been placed by the Federal Bureau of Land Management throughout parts of Arizona, are evidence of the very serious and growing problem of illegal immigration. Unfortunately, the federal government has done little more to combat this problem than place these warning signs.

    Recent newspaper stories have highlighted the fact that military spending and the costs of the national security state can no longer go unchecked in light of the continuing economic troubles of our country.

Congress was expected to pass a bill this week extending unemployment benefits to more than 2.5 million workers who had those benefits lapse in June.

    Extending those benefits — at a cost of about $34 billion — needed to be done, but there was a better way to pay for it.

For eighteen months, I have been fighting for Congress to pass simple legislation to support American manufacturing and construction. Washington seems to lack the urgency that I sense back home on Main Street.

    In this year’s Fifth District Congressional race, we get a rare opportunity to watch a national political drama play out in our own backyards.

    Democrat Tom Perriello is defending his seat after a highly unlikely 727-vote defeat of Virgil Goode two years ago. But he’s running in a dramatic atmosphere tied up with a mid-term fate that hangs in the balance for another unlikely election victor: Barack Obama.

Amazing

program

    On Monday, July 5, my daughter began a two week drama camp run by Mickey Vanderwerker and Margie Skalka at the Little Town Players Theater (in Bedford). I just want to give a shout out to this amazing program.

    In only three days, my daughter has learned so very much. It is all done in a fun and loving atmosphere and I have to tell you at $60 for two weeks of 2 1/2 hours each day, it is quite a deal!  I want to thank them for their hard work with our children.

The free flow of money is fundamental to our capitalist system and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines America.  Investors vote with their wallets and the best ideas prevail.  However, this only works when the government does not inject itself into otherwise private matters.