How Is Government Bad?

Timothy McVeigh’s conviction has been hailed as evidence that the American justice system works after all.

Translation: Despite acquittals in some recent high-profile cases involving anti-government zealots, a domestic terrorist can’t always thumb his nose at the law and society.

Still, even as McVeigh awaits the jury’s decision about his punishment and even as the inevitable appeals unwind, the country is full of angry citizens who share McVeigh’s philosophy if not his methods.

What is it that has some folks so angry about the government? What will it take to calm them? And what is it that government does well - really well?

Too much bench strength

The unfathomable salaries hauled down by professional athletes aren’t all that has gone crazy in the sports world.

There was, of course, the female catcher who plays for a youth baseball team in Florida and got in trouble for not wearing a protective cup. Now there are the young judo competitors whose religious freedom, a judge in Seattle has ruled, would be violated if they were required to make the ritual bows that are part of the sport.

Only the athletes can say whether the bows, a show of respect, truly infringe on their personal religious views. But assuming they do, should the sport be required to relax its rules (as U.S. District Judge Carolyn R. Dimmick seems to believe) or should athletes refrain from participating in sports that violate their religious beliefs?

What’s next, pro-lifers challenging the suicide squeeze?

Kicking the habit

It appears Washington state taxpayers will not profit from tobacco company success much longer. The state Investment Board is expected to divest itself of $250 million in tobacco company stocks next month.

Although everyone involved in the decision insists it was based on economic reasons, Gov. Gary Locke, among others, acknowledged the obvious philosophical-political consideration: Washington state is suing the tobacco industry and it just looks a little funny to be both investor and plaintiff.

Astrid Berg, executive director of the American Lung Association of Washington, said the state shouldn’t be profiting at the expense of public health.

Would Berg, or others of like mind, feel as strongly about stocks of companies that traffic in, say, red meat, dairy products, high-performance automobiles …?

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