Christmas Greetings!

Friends, your favorite Peasant has been pushed to the brink 

of exhaustion this month with a bunch of commitments,

projects, increased hours at my job (making some Christmas

cash!), and a few other activities too, so the upshot of it all 

is: I won't be posting anything until after Christmas Day

unless something monumentally huge happens. Right now

I just need to take things down a notch or two, but I'll be back

to be with you to welcome the new year and tackle the news 

of the day with you as always. And there will be lots to talk 

about, to be sure!

So everyone have a very Merry Christmas; get together with

family and friends, exchange presents, pleasantries, and love;

yes, this will fly in the face of some mayors and governors 

who suggest (and in some cases order) that we all stay home 

for the Holidays and limit the number of guests at our homes,

because these elected "leaders" know what's best for us stupid

peasants --- they say they want to save our lives. Gee, they didn't 

seem too concerned with our lives and keeping us safe when they let

radical left-wingers tear up their cities in their states; they claimed 

that these riots weren't riots but "peaceful protests" and so what 

if some people lost their homes or their businesses, or were 

assaulted during these celebrations of peace and love. So all gather

with those whom you love, and those who love you, sing some carols,

share stories of Christmastimes past, and enjoy a Christmas feast 

to beat the band! We'll gather here afterward and take care of business.

God rest ye merry gentlemen, ladies, and children! Love and Christmas

joy from the Peasant!

MEM

California Exercising Common Sense? What a Notion!

Long considered the nation's lunatic asylum, run by the inmates

to boot, Californians actually practiced a little common sense in

the recent election. True, they once again supported the Democrat

candidate for the presidency, but at the state level they did some-

thing astonishing which no one thought they would do: they said 

"no" --- in a loud and unmistakable voice --- to some of their 

political masters. They rejected a referendum which would have

allowed racial preferences in state hiring and college admissions,

eschewed a huge business property tax hike, and rescued tens of 

thousands of "gig economy" jobs, i.e. drivers for Uber and Lyft.

Robert Ripley, call your office.

California's 42-year-old Proposition 13 caps taxes on commercial

and residential property at 1% of their assessed value, and limits 

annual increases to 2%. Left-wingers, especially the public unions,

have wanted all these years to do away with it; looks like they will

have to wait for some more years to fulfill their cherished dream.

The unions claimed that the tax increase was necessary to support

education and public safety, even though progressives promoted 

deep cuts to law enforcement, and to make big corporations pay 

--- here comes that old familiar song! --- their "fair share".  Well,

the lefties put up Proposition 15, which would have required that

commercial property be reassessed at market value every three

years at the very least. The initiative was to jack up property taxes

by $8 billion to 12.5 billion annually by 2025. Notice that they 

didn't go after residential property taxes, as they thought that they

would bypass angering homeowners and instead go after the 

big businesses, always a popular political idea with those who

don't realize that all taxes and tax increases on businesses are 

always passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for

their goods and services. Well, enough Californians apparently

do realize this economic fact because they defeated the measure 

by 3.6%. Most non-coastal counties refused Prop. 15 by 20 or

more points.

Californians weren't through yet though, approving by a margin of 

58.5% to 41.5% Proposition 22, which will exempt gig workers

such as Uber drivers, GrubHub takeout delivery people, and 

Instacart shoppers from California's union-backed AB5 law,

which reclassified thousands of independent contractors, 

gig workers and all, as employees. The referendum also 

required that companies provide health insurance subsidies 

as well as occupational accident coverage, taking away a union

argument that Prop. 22 would enable firms like Uber to skirt

workplace protections (i.e. not provide the aforementioned 

occupational accident coverage)

California, in summation, may now be willing to rethink living

with an all-pervasive state government which, among other 

things, stifles business initiative and innovation and economic

growth as well as a broad and open playing field for job seekers 

and college student hopefuls. They still don't seem ready for 

giving up one-party rule in their state but give them time.

Once people get a taste of the less regulated, less mandated 

life they'll find it so sweet that they'll want more, to the 

consternation of the grandees in Sacramento.

MEM

 

Walter E. Williams, R.I.P.

Yesterday morning we lost a great champion for limited 

and affordable government, equality in the eyes of the law,

and our way of life as Americans; he was a fantastic econ-

omist, a fine wit, and was a happy warrior for all he held 

dear. Walter E. Williams, aged 84, passed away peacefully

after battling emphysema for some time.

A black conservatarian (a conservative with an even bigger 

bent for a lesser government presence in our lives), Dr.  

Williams set many white liberals' teeth on edge with his 

straight-to-the-heart-of-the-matter criticisms of liberal

ideas and policies concerning topics from taxes to 

affirmative action to identity politics to... so many topics 

I haven't the time nor the space to list them here. Your 

favorite Peasant enjoyed his appearances on many 

political talk shows over the years, as well as his articles

which were published in many political periodicals.

He often worked with and appeared with close friend,

ally, and fellow black conservatarian Dr. Thomas Sowell

on many of these shows. Both of these gentlemen make 

your grateful Peasant proud to be a conservatarian myself!

Thank you, Dr. Williams, for your books and articles, your 

lectures, your debates, your warmth and your wonderful wit. 

Rest well. R.I.P.

MEM