"Independence" Day

California’s legislature just passed and the governor signed into law even stricter people control laws (otherwise known as “gun” control laws) than they already had. This is what I see happening...and it occurred to me that this might be even more coincidental than at first it seems.

Let me explain: Since moving here to Idaho, I have realized just how many Californians are here. They have been trickling here from their home state for many years. With more and more laws being enacted, California citizens (and other similar no-freedom states) will make their way to more Liberty-minded states seeking their ideal of freedom. Problem is, their ideal of freedom is not the same as my ideal of freedom. They mean well and they would say that they are freedom-loving. Unfortunately, this is a sample of what you will hear:

*Permitless carry? “Oh, that seems a little extreme. I don’t mind SOME restrictions and background checks, classes, etc. Because…safety.”

*Homeschooling? “No reporting here in Idaho? No work samples? No required number of days? It seems like there should be at least SOME oversight. Think about the CHILDREN!”

*Cell phone usage? “You mean I can speak while on my cell phone here in Idaho? Seems like there should be a better distracted driving law.”

Instead of always looking at each individual freedom and dissecting it all to pieces and debating it over and over let’s start with the basics: What would the Founders do? If John Adams showed up TODAY – what would he have to say about this Independence Day and our so-called freedom? If Benjamin Franklin walked in the room RIGHT NOW – would he say we’ve kept our Republic? If Thomas Jefferson landed in the middle of Seattle TOMORROW – would he say they’ve kept their Liberty or have ‘too small a degree of it’? Would Samuel Adams say that Chicago’s peaceful citizens are able to properly protect their life, liberty, and property?

I foresee a great exodus out of states that would control their people, but not their borders. I see them moving to Liberty-minded states with the greatest intentions of assimilating. But, see, they will not -- for they have not ever tasted true freedom. Furthermore, they are a younger generation who is unaware of the people-control mindset and indoctrination happening now in government schools. They will fill our school boards, city councils, legislatures and congress. They will influence our laws and our way of life. The time has come for everyday, regular citizens to step up and run for elected seats. Flood the system with passionate Constitutionalists. Get radio air time, TV coverage, post on social media, write letters to the editor, engage your neighbors and family and friends, don’t back down. Be vigilant…because our Founders never stopped in their pursuit. We shouldn’t either. Do not let their efforts be in vain.

Alaskans: Hold on to Your State...of Freedom! (Part 2)

In a couple of weeks my 15-year-old son, Robert, will begin a mandatory driver's education course - required by the State of Idaho in order for him to obtain a driver's license. Apparently, the government has decided that we, as parents, are not capable of teaching our children how to drive...FOR FREE!

The law here in Idaho for children under the age of 17 states that they must complete an approved driver's training program and then a six-month "supervised instruction period (SIP)" consisting of 50 hours of supervised driving time, ten hours of which must be at night and it must be violation-free or you have to begin the SIP again.

When I first arrived in Idaho I wanted to get Robert's Alaska driver's permit transferred over to Idaho. He had already experienced much driver training with me in the passenger seat since he turned 14. I naively assumed that it would be easy to just call and explain to the nice people at the Idaho Department of Transportation that he was a great driver already and he just needs a little more experience before obtaining his driver's license. WRONG!! I had a very tense exchange with the lady in charge of driver's education for the State of Idaho and, in the end, she decided that she would "allow" his driving time in Alaska to count for his supervised driving time here in Idaho. Oh! Thank you SO much Madame Government for "giving" my child the RIGHT to drive. Yes, I said it! RIGHT to drive NOT privilege. We have a right to travel freely within our country without licensing. We actually give up that right when we knowingly enter into an agreement via licensing/registration with our states - that's when it becomes a privilege. Disagree? Well, here's some interesting information with case law for your reading pleasure (http://www.apfn.org/apfn/travel.htm). So why are we even going through with a license (you may ask)? Well, until I win the lottery and have the money to fight a government with a seemingly bottomless bank account, I will have to continue to be a slave to the system...and so will my children.

The most frustrating part of this whole process is the enormous cost of the driver's education course. Typically, a private company will charge $350-$375 for the seven-week course. The Department of Transportation assured me that the local public school offers discounted classes for around $200 but they give priority to older students and, upon further investigation, the classes weren't offered anywhere within driving distance for us. I've also been told there are online classes (for a fee) but have not looked into that route.

My question is this: if a state is going to make driver's education courses mandatory in order to obtain a license, why aren't they offered for free or, at the very least, a very minimal rate? It is not easy for anyone, let alone the poor, to come up with almost $400 per child for driver's ed. Across the nation there are only 11 states that do not require some type of driver's training before obtaining a driver's license.

I was contemplating how unfair this rule is so I decided to call my local State Farm agent to ask them if they have statistics to prove that driver's ed improves teen driving performance and decreases risk of accident. The lady I spoke with was unaware of any statistics but said it definitely does help. She was very young and disclosed that a few years ago (when she was 18) she had finally gotten her driver's license because they didn't have the money to pay for the driver's ed school. This made me realize that any statistics they have would be skewed. Do you know why? Kids around here just don't drive! I see older children still being driven by their parents!! It's weird for me to see this - having been driving since I was 14 years old. My parents spent A LOT of time teaching me to drive on icy, dark Alaskan roads.

Naturally, since there are fewer teen drivers the statistics for teen accidents are lower in areas that require an expensive driver's ed course. The following blog post has very interesting and valid points about driver's training: (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/14/teen-driving-schools-safety/)
I found this part especially poignant: "Parents need to [learn] (sic) how to find a good school, know what skills their child will and won't learn in driver's ed, and make up the difference on their own." It states that, depending on the school you choose, parents will have to make up for a large portion of their child's driving education. Basically you pay a huge sum of money and then STILL have to do most of the hands-on teaching. After all, immersion-style is usually the most effective way of learning in the long run.

Alaskans, I tell you all this because I have no doubt that, fearing for your security over your freedom, some well-meaning legislator will introduce a bill that will make teen driver's education training a mandatory step prior to obtaining their driver's license. I know there are some of my friends who will think it's a great idea. I stand firm in my conviction that driver's training should be left as an optional course that anyone can take. Most Alaskan insurance companies will give you a nice little discount for having had the training and good for you! But there are still some parents who take the time to teach and train their children about the responsibility of driving a vehicle. Those parents should not be monetarily punished by having to abide by a law that sounds good on the surface, but is yet another example of government overreach.