More on Conservative Snowflakes

I wrote previously about how so-called conservatives seemingly can't get enough of the preferential treatment from the government that they routinely decry. For example, if you are a conservative who does not agree with abortion, apparently you can go get a job at an abortion clinic and not have to work . . . moral conscience you see. If you're a county clerk, it's OK if you refuse to do your job and issue marriage licenses yet continue to collect your paycheck . . . moral conscience you see. If you're a corporation (say, Hobby Lobby) that wants to take advantage of a generous tax break for providing your employees health insurance, you can still get the tax break even if you don't offer insurance that actually, you know, insures your health in the event you want to do some family planning. If you're a manufacturer of a death-dealing device, you get special laws immunizing you from the entirely foreseeable consequences of your product . . . maximal interpretation of the 2nd Amendment, you see.

Now, we get this story about a guy who left a loaded handgun in plain sight in an unlocked vehicle yet is immune from civil liability for this clearly negligent act. Of course, this is not due to a judicial determination but rather due to the Indiana General Assembly (where bad ideas go to thrive).

I hear about "responsible gun owners" having their 2nd Amendment rights protected all the time. Well, gun owners, what about the guy in this story? Is this the person you intend to protect? Are the dead kids just "the price of freedom" to you?

As the NRA types like to ape this photo, I can't help but ask them: "What are you willing to do about those who don't control their own guns?"

Sheila Kennedy, per usual, says it best:

If you have a tree with a loose limb in your yard, you need to take care that it doesn’t fall and hurt someone who might sue you. But if you have a loaded gun available to whoever walks by, no worries.

The Indiana General Assembly has protected you. 

Sometimes, you just tip your cap.

Indiana - Where Bad Ideas Never Die

So, the nation's worst legislature is at it again. Just today, the Indiana Lawyer (as well as NPR, which I listened to this morning on my way to work) discussed a new bill put forth by Indiana lawmakers:

Senate Bill 201, authored by Republican Sens. Liz Brown of Fort Wayne, Linda Rogers of Granger and Travis Holdman of Markle exempts nurses, physician assistants and pharmacists from being required to perform an abortion or assist in such a procedure. The legislation was approved by the upper chamber on a 39-to-1 vote and is moving to the House floor after being approved by the House Committee on Public Health along a party-line 9-to-4 vote.

So, let me get this straight . . . if nurses, PAs, or pharmacists have religious objections to participating in abortion (however they want to define it, which increasingly includes issuance of birth control), they get to keep their jobs and not do the work?

Am I the only one who notices how our "small government conservative" legislature keeps passing out "government goodies" to its favored constituents? Where is the bill that provides a police officer or a prosecutor exemption from being required to arrest or prosecute small-time drug offenders because they believe the War on Drugs is counterproductive and racist?

Oh, I hear the crickets. Those bills are only for gun makers who don't want to be held civilly liable for the utterly predictable consequences of their products; for gunowners who don't want to be held civilly liable for their trigger happiness; for so-called Christians who can't abide sending their children to public school but don't want to actually, you know, pay for their children's Christian education and upbringing (instead, they want the government to pay for it).

Note, I have merely ranted about the actual bill, not whether it passes constitutional muster, be that at the state or federal level. Something tells me that an employer has a pretty good takings argument, i.e. the government is taking the abortion provider's money by forcing it to employ someone in a ghost position who won't do the work of the business. (Interesting side note: How does this fit in with the arguments about Right to Work? How does this fit in with Indiana's "at-will employment" status?)

For those who can't tell, I've about had it with this sanctimonious group of ass bags calling themselves "public servants," to and including Senator Mike Young (who, of course, voted for this monstrosity).

Mike Young for State Senate 2020: Government Goodies for Favored Interest Groups

Today's Sign of the Apocalypse

While the salary information for teachers is publicly posted, generally, salary information for private sector workers is not.

Nonetheless, sometimes you can figure things out. For example:

• A "front desk manager" at MHS, also known as the Centene Corporation, which is a HIP health insurer, makes $34,000 - $37,000/year.
• An "elementary school teacher" in IPS starts off making $34,890/year.

So, to be clear, our society values sitting behind a front desk more or less the same as it values an elementary school teacher. Revealed preferences sure are a bitch, aren't they? I, for one, would gladly join any teacher's picket line in full solidarity.