http://www.samadamsalliance.org/rss/podcast_commonsense.xml Paul Jacob is a Senior Advisor at the Sam Adams Alliance. An acclaimed multimedia commentator, Paul hosts an online, radio, and print opinion program, Common Sense, which reaches a growing list of over 15,000 e-mail subscribers and is aired daily by more than 150 stations in 48 states. en-us Copyright © 2007, The Sam Adams Alliance Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:29:58 EST http://feedvalidator.org/docs/rss2.html www.eResources.com (Generator) commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Common Sense) support@eresources.com (eResources) 60 http://www.samadamsalliance.org/imgLib/20070703_commonsense.jpg http://www.samadamsalliance.org/rss/podcast_commonsense.xml Paul Jacob Copyright © 2007, The Sam Adams Alliancepolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicsNews & Politicscommonsense@samadamsalliance.orgPaul Jacobnopolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicsDaily two minute commentaries to make you think.Paul Jacob is a Senior Advisor at the Sam Adams Alliance. An acclaimed multi-media commentator, Paul hosts an online, radio, and print opinion program, Common Sense, which reaches a growing list of over 15,000 e-mail subscribers and is aired daily by more than 150 stations in 48 states. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/344996427/domestic-terrorism-since-911 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/domestic-terrorism-since-911#7-24-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noTerrorism still vexes Europe, and seems unavoidable in Middle East hot spots. But since 9/11, thank goodness, there's been no domestic terrorism in the United States.But what do we say when we see a story about a terrorist attack on U.S. soil?Let's qualifpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/domestic-terrorism-since-911#7-24-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2119domesticterrorism.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/344996429/scare-tactic-in-oklahoma Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/scare-tactic-in-oklahoma#7-23-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noThe political establishment resists reform. Voters have had to take their favorite causes -- like term limits and tax limits -- over the heads of politicians, directly to fellow voters.And politicians don't much like us voters having all that say-so.That'politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/scare-tactic-in-oklahoma#7-23-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2118scaretactic.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/344996431/pick-your-battles Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/pick-your-battles#7-22-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noThe U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment means what it says: The right of the people to keep and bear arms -- that is, have guns -- must not be infringed. While more limited in scope than we might wish, District of Columbia v. Heller affpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/pick-your-battles#7-22-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2117pickyour.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/344996434/trichotillomania Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/trichotillomania#7-21-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noTrichotillomania is a mental disorder, the compulsion to pull one's hair out. I think I have it. At least, I find reasons to tear out my hair.Frayda Levin knows what I'm talking about. As chair of the New Jersey chapter of Americans for Prosperitypolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/trichotillomania#7-21-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2116trichotillomania.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/344996436/stay-awake-for-the-brownouts Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/stay-awake-for-the-brownouts#7-18-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noYears ago, I would actually listen to lectures by economists on how the electric grid might function better. Pretty much only one thing remains in my head, the conclusion: Regulatory agencies and government-run electrical companies tend to be very inefficpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/stay-awake-for-the-brownouts#7-18-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2115stayawake.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/344996440/starve-the-poor-feed-a-senator Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/starve-the-poor-feed-a-senator#7-17-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noSubsidies for ethanol are the biggest reason why food prices are rising faster than gas prices. This is leading to a worldwide humanitarian crisis, with the poor being hit hardest. Think of that when you next pump your ethanol.And the main reason to favorpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/starve-the-poor-feed-a-senator#7-17-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2114starvethe.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/344996444/the-muddle-men Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-muddle-men#7-16-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noThere are two competing visions of the social hierarchy: 1. The Elitist View: The people are fools needing to be led by experts.2. The Populist View: The people have common sense while their leaders are generally fools or knaves or both.You can guess whicpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-muddle-men#7-16-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2113themuddle.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/344996447/twelve-isnt-enough Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/twelve-isnt-enough#7-15-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noIf you know anything about term limits and political lifers, you know which one hates the other: Your typical politico disdains and reviles your typical term limit.But it's not just the typical term limit that politicians hate. It's ALL term limits. In stpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/twelve-isnt-enough#7-15-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2112twelveisnt.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/335384584/doing-the-right-thing-eventually Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/doing-the-right-thing-eventually#7-14-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noGive Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal credit for doing the right thing sooner rather than later.Jindal acted faster than, say, former Governor Gray Davis of California. In 2003, Davis tripled California's car tax, provoking widespread anger. Finally, Davispolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/doing-the-right-thing-eventually#7-14-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080711_CS2111doingthe.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/332901963/who-gets-to-get-guns Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/who-gets-to-get-guns#7-11-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noAre all consequences of unconstitutional gun control created equal?Suppose a town makes it tough or impossible for the average citizen to obtain firearms to protect himself. Does it follow that only the police there possess firearms?Of course not. We all politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/who-gets-to-get-guns#7-11-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080701_CS2110whogets.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/332901965/parental-authority-grounded Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/parental-authority-grounded#7-10-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noA daughter sues her father for grounding her. A court agrees that the punishment was too severe. The court overrules father, overturns punishment. What?This is happening in Canada. So it's not anything we in the States need worry about. Yet.I didn't quitepolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/parental-authority-grounded#7-10-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080701_CS2109parentalauthority.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/332901967/too-much-trouble-to-respect-rights Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/too-much-trouble-to-respect-rights#7-9-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noWe often lament the abuse of eminent domain power that occurs when the property of one private owner is forcibly transferred to another private owner.But this doesn't mean all grabbing of property for "public use" is honorable or sensible. Government offipolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/too-much-trouble-to-respect-rights#7-9-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080701_CS2108toomuch.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/332901969/petitioners-may-petition Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/petitioners-may-petition#7-8-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noA leading indicator of a free nation? The lack of political prisoners. We Americans are aghast when we learn of dissenters jailed in other countries.But, even in America, politicians in various states seek to put people in jail for engaging in legitimate politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/petitioners-may-petition#7-8-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080701_CS2107petitionersmay.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/332901971/a-wish-for-presidential-transparency Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/a-wish-for-presidential-transparency#7-7-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noThe blogger Alaskan Librarian has a list of things he'd like done by the next president. I share at least one of his wishes, "to see policy formulated in the open."Specifically, he wants candidates to sign the Reason Foundation's "Oath of Presidential Trapolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/a-wish-for-presidential-transparency#7-7-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080701_CS2106awish.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/326914996/the-little-boy-who-almost-could Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-little-boy-who-almost-could#7-4-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noOne thing about toddler Mikolaj Sobolewski: He sure shows initiative.The three-year-old Polish boy unlocked the front door to his home by himself, took the bus to the airport by himself, and apparently expected to board a plane.Police found him at the airpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-little-boy-who-almost-could#7-4-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080701_CS2105thelittle.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/326914998/a-real-reform-for-obama Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/a-real-reform-for-obama#7-3-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noBarack Obama's record as a maverick, either in the U.S. Senate or his years as an Illinois legislator, is slender at best. Behind the self-avowed reformer's rhetoric, his policies seem typical, demanding ever-bigger government, ever-more intrusive governmpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/a-real-reform-for-obama#7-3-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080701_CS2104areal.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/326915000/tim-russerts-different-angle Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/tim-russerts-different-angle#7-2-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noWhen Tim Russert died, many journalists had many good things to say about the Meet the Press host. Russert did his homework. He asked tough but fair questions. He was a decent man, a family man, who never lost sight of the important things. He had a zest politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/tim-russerts-different-angle#7-2-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080701_CS2103timrusserts.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/326915002/mistakes-were-made Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/mistakes-were-made#7-1-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noChoices. Gotta love 'em. But they can be a kick in the pants, too. A few weeks ago I chose to criticize Subway for a kids' essay contest that didn't allow homeschoolers to participate. And I pointed out two misspellings in its printed rules. Apolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/mistakes-were-made#7-1-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080630_CS2102mistakeswere.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/323703172/i-second-that-amendment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/i-second-that-amendment#6-30-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noThe First Amendment recognizes some very basic rights: to speak truth to power, personally and through the press; to practice our religion -- or not -- as we choose;to associate with others and peaceably assemble together;to petition our government for a politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/i-second-that-amendment#6-30-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080629_CS2101isecond.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931199/experience-in-tyranny Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:13:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/experience-in-tyranny#6-27-2008_3:13:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noExperience counts.For years I've been saying that a person can bring applicable experience to a new job, including a legislative job, and be effective right away. An accountant might get elected and still, as a freshman legislator, look at a state budpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/experience-in-tyranny#6-27-2008_3:13:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2100experiencein.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931203/still-cage-rattling Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/still-cage-rattling#6-26-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noEven in his second term as South Carolina's governor, Mark Sanford continues to flout the political establishment's typical way of doing things. A former congressmen who pledged to limit his tenure to three terms max, Sanford was one of a number of self-lpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/still-cage-rattling#6-26-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2099stillcage.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931206/waterboarding-term-limits Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/waterboarding-term-limits#6-25-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noHere's a story about a government board whose members endlessly dish out taxpayer money. And want endless years in power to keep doing so.Recently, members of the Santa Clara water board approved steep salary hikes for two of their staffers, making them tpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/waterboarding-term-limits#6-25-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2098waterboardingterm.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931209/foul-play Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/foul-play#6-24-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noMillionaire entrepreneur Norman Braman, an auto dealer, may not be going as far as I'd like in his campaign against a proposed Miami baseball stadium. But so far as he goes, I'm with him all the way.My question is -- Why should any government entity ever politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/foul-play#6-24-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2097foulplay.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931214/decrease-your-vocabulary Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/decrease-your-vocabulary#6-23-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noDo you ever get tired of hearing certain words?This election, I'm already sick of "change." And hey: I WANT change; demand it. But the only change I can believe in is change with some specifics attached.Put "Change" on hold, politicians, go to a thesauruspolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/decrease-your-vocabulary#6-23-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2096decreaseyour.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931217/fore-the-children-of-course Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/fore-the-children-of-course#6-20-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noWe could use a few million-dollar ideas to help fight juvenile crime.How about a half-million-dollar idea?The Justice Department gave $500,000 to the World Golf Foundation. The foundation's beneficiary program is called "First Tee." It's designed to get ypolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/fore-the-children-of-course#6-20-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2095forethe.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931221/petty-police-state Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/petty-police-state#6-19-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noCould the most important thing one does for one's community be to send a pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution to local politicians and police?Some officers in the Dallas Police Department are doing things against the letter and the spirit of our laws. Aftpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/petty-police-state#6-19-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2094pettypolice.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931223/a-senator-chokes-on-privatization Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/a-senator-chokes-on-privatization#6-18-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noIt takes a network of restaurants to feed the Senate, badly.In 44 years, the dining hall and mini-chain of cafeterias and coffee shops have been profitable only seven. This year the operation will run in the red to the tune of $2 million.And come lunchtimpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/a-senator-chokes-on-privatization#6-18-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2093asenator.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/322931225/may-unemployment Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/may-unemployment#6-17-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noUnemployment went up in May. Why?Well, note the two sectors where unemployment went up the most: teens and African-Americans.Teenagers, as schools let out for summer, tend to change jobs and seek new ones, en masse. But that's seasonal, and the figurepolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/may-unemployment#6-17-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2092mayunemployment.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/313211776/balancing-three-trillion-slices-of-baloney Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/balancing-three-trillion-slices-of-baloney#6-16-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noDemocrats thump their chests. Congress just passed a budget . . . in an election year. For the previous four election cycles, that hasn't happened.But, since the budget crossed the $3 trillion mark for the first time ever, let's choke our huzzahs. The fedpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/balancing-three-trillion-slices-of-baloney#6-16-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080616_CS2091balancingthree.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/313211778/free-the-shampooers Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/free-the-shampooers#6-13-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noI received an announcement from Governor Sanford of South Carolina. The odd thing is that I could read the whole document verbatim and you couldn't tell the governor's thoughts from mine. I'm in complete agreement.With what?Well, the new bill he signed, Hpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/free-the-shampooers#6-13-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2090freethe.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/313211780/clubbing-conservationists Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/clubbing-conservationists#6-12-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noAs fuel prices rise, a few things become obvious: We begin to conserve more;Many industrious folks look for energy alternatives;And many politically-minded folk hector us about using less of some type of fuels, more of another.How useful is this third catpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/clubbing-conservationists#6-12-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2089clubbingconservationists.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/313211782/the-mole Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-mole#6-11-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noWe've got a mole in the U.S. Congress.Not a foreign agent trying to undermine the American way of life. We've got plenty of homegrown politicians doing that already.No, it's a congressman who actually opposes porkbarrel spending.politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-mole#6-11-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2088themole.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/313211784/getting-rid-of-the-fat Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/getting-rid-of-the-fat#6-10-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noObesity is a problem. Doctors warn about the ill effects of carrying too much flab. The Washington Post is running a front-page series about overweight children.Good. Knowledge is power, even when it comes to diet and exercise. But by the second paragraphpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/getting-rid-of-the-fat#6-10-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2087gettingrid.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547834/the-kings-eviction-notice Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-kings-eviction-notice#6-9-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noGyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev no longer reigns as king of Nepal. On May 28, the Nepalese Constituent Assembly abolished the monarchy. The members of the assembly told Gyanendra to clear out of his Katmandu palace before mid-June.Consider it the world's mopolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-kings-eviction-notice#6-9-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2086thekings.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547836/every-contest-tells-a-story Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/every-contest-tells-a-story#6-6-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noSubway, America's leading fast-food sandwich franchise, is sponsoring a contest for kids. It's an essay contest entitled "Every Sandwich Tells a Story."This contest itself is something of a story.First, the contest explanation and rules contain multiple tpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/every-contest-tells-a-story#6-6-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2085everycontest.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547838/the-icy-arctic Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-icy-arctic#6-5-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noLast summer, ice in the Arctic reached new levels of . . . non-existence. That is, the extent of polar ice receded.And some of you got alarmed.But some other folks got excited by a new Northwest Passage.politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-icy-arctic#6-5-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2084theicy.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547841/another-ok-court-decision Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/another-ok-court-decision#6-4-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noHere's another interesting court decision in Oklahoma. Oh, this time it's not a petition with hundreds of thousands of voter signatures being tossed out. And no, it's not quite as crazy as that ruling allowing a man to photograph up the skirts of girls atpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/another-ok-court-decision#6-4-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2083anotherok.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547843/charity-begins-in-china Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/charity-begins-in-china#6-3-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noThe very ground beneath our feet can betray us. When that happens, good people rally together. This happened recently in China.Amidst the wreckage, death, and misery resulting from the recent earthquake, we now witness astonishing outpourings of aid.I do politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/charity-begins-in-china#6-3-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080602_CS2082charitybegins.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547845/why-subsidize Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/why-subsidize#6-2-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noWhen politicians push hard for something, ramp up your skepticism level. Democrat? Republican? Doesn't matter much.The recent farm bill passed and went to the president, who vetoed it. So it went back to Congress, which over-rode the veto of this $300 bilpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/why-subsidize#6-2-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080601_CS2081whysubsidize.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547847/good-to-the-bone Fri, 30 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/good-to-the-bone#5-30-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noJared Gray is an 18-year-old high school student who works as a janitor for Southern Utah University. One day he found a bag of cash lying in the parking lot, obviously one of the school's deposit bags.The bag was labeled with the amount: $108,000.Jared dpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/good-to-the-bone#5-30-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080520_CS2080goodto.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547850/truly-modern-wastewater-treatment Thu, 29 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/truly-modern-wastewater-treatment#5-29-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noWhen I was a lad, most people insisted that government was the only institution that could provide a whole, vast array of services, including water and sewage.Times have changed. Governments all over the world are loosening up their allegedly "natural" mopolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/truly-modern-wastewater-treatment#5-29-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080520_CS2079trulymodern.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547852/knox-blocks-term-limits-no-more Wed, 28 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/knox-blocks-term-limits-no-more#5-28-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noPoliticians often do everything they can to get out from under term limits -- in Knox County, Tennessee, to the extreme. The politicians there simply ignored the limits, and went on with business as usual.Then came a lawsuit. It went to the State Supreme politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/knox-blocks-term-limits-no-more#5-28-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080520_CS2078knoxblocks.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/308547855/bang-case-dismissed Tue, 27 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/bang-case-dismissed#5-27-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noAn appeals court has shot down a lawsuit against gun makers filed by New York City.New York is one of many cities that has sued gun manufacturers on the grounds that the gun makers knew their guns would be used in crimes and sold them anyway. Supposedly tpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/bang-case-dismissed#5-27-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080520_CS2077bangcase.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/298754815/an-f-for-academic-freedom Mon, 26 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/an-f-for-academic-freedom#5-26-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noJust "being a professor" doesn't make you smarter than your students. Or more grounded in reality. Or common sense.Take Priya Venkatesan, a Dartmouth academic who teaches a class in something-or-other to do with science, postmodernism and higher or lopolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/an-f-for-academic-freedom#5-26-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080520_CS2076anf.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/298754817/the-wrong-book Fri, 23 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-wrong-book#5-23-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noLast November, Keith Sampson, a college student, was found guilty of "racial harassment." He'd been caught reading a book while on break from a part-time job with the school. Uh-oh.The book is titled Notre Dame vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeatepolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/the-wrong-book#5-23-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080520_CS2075thewrong.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/298754819/no-more-dance-police Thu, 22 May 2008 02:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/no-more-dance-police#5-22-2008_2:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noThe sign said "Beware of the Dance Police."It graced a wooden post at San Tan Flat, a restaurant in Pinal County, Arizona. It was part of the restaurant's protest against the county's busy-bodyish no-dancing rule. Owners Dale Bell and son Spencer appealedpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/no-more-dance-police#5-22-2008_2:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080520_CS2074nomore.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/298754821/condign-punishment Wed, 21 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/condign-punishment#5-21-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)no"Condign." I'd read the word before, and still had to look it up. I looked it up again a little while ago. I think I'll remember it now.Some think of having to look up uncommon words as a special kind of punishment. Condign is for them, then: It has been politics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/condign-punishment#5-21-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080520_CS2073condignpunishment.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/294394458/edmondson-v-term-limits Tue, 20 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/edmondson-v-term-limits#5-20-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noOklahoma State Senator Randy Brogdon is disappointed by the most recent objectionable conduct of his state's attorney general.The AG, Drew Edmondson, publicly opposes a bill to term-limit the offices of state officials, including his. The proposal would ipolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/edmondson-v-term-limits#5-20-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080519_CS2072edmondsonv.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/294394462/a-plan-for-republicans Mon, 19 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/a-plan-for-republicans#5-19-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noThree. Count 'em. Three special elections where congressional Democrats have defeated Republicans in seats previously held by Republicans, the latest in Mississippi.GOP Minority Leader John Boehner offered reporters, "[T]his is a change election, and if wpolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/a-plan-for-republicans#5-19-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080518_CS2071aplan.mp3 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thisiscommonsense/~3/294394466/behind-open-doors Fri, 16 May 2008 03:00:00 EST Common Sensehttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/behind-open-doors#5-16-2008_3:00:00_AM commonsense@samadamsalliance.org (Paul Jacob)noWe want to know what our government is up to.If officials do bad things or just extremely clumsy money-wasting things, we need to know. Then we can try to do something about it. It's called oversight.Oversight requires transparency. If officials hide theipolitics,paul,jacob,sam,adams,alliance,government,common,sense,radio,internet,commentary,libertarian,term,limits,economicshttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/common_sense/behind-open-doors#5-16-2008_3:00:00_AMhttp://www.samadamsalliance.org/audioLib/20080504_CS2070behindopen.mp3 Paul JacobnonadultDaily two minute commentaries to make you think.