Reiner's First 5 Funds San Francisco Yuppies

You may remember that Rob "Meathead" Reiner was the big proponent behind the "First 5" ballot measure which placed a big tax on tobacco in order to raise money for "early childhood education." Like most liberal plans gone wrong (aren't they all?) the First 5 program is turning out to be a big fraud.

I am sure most people who voted for the measure thought the money would go to low income children. But according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "Whether rich or poor, applicants can get up to $11,000 over three years for all kinds of activities from First 5 San Francisco, a local agency charged with distributing tobacco tax revenue to promote early childhood development."

The Chronicle reported a few of the items that were part of a $200,000 grant of the taxpayer money:

-- "Multi-Family First Time Camping Experience" included a camping lesson and overnight trip to Big Sur for six families.

-- "Couples Travel and Learn Together" included an overnight stay at the Four Points Sheraton in Pleasanton, where couples from Chinatown took marriage workshops. It also included $250 in Target gift cards.

-- "Families of La Piccola Scuola Italiana" included holiday party space rental and the purchase of a Babbo Natale (Italian version of Santa Claus) costume.

Even a liberal Berkley professor, Bruce Fuller finds issue with this, telling the paper that "Rob Reiner sold this as a way to help kids from low-income (families) - zero to 5 - have better futures," said Fuller.

Getting Screwed by the Courts

A friend who's a reputable, well respected business owner in my community tells the following story of how government inefficiency and incompetence makes good citizens' lives more difficult:

I went down to the Municipal Court today because I found out this week by the DMV that my driver's license has been expired since Sept '07 because of a correctable citation I got in April '07 for my car windows being too dark/tinted. That citation was taken care of and sent in on time. The court acknowledged that they recieved it in time, however two weeks after they recieved it, they sent me a letter saying I needed to pay a $10 dismissal fee. Hmmm, the citation didn't mention any type of dismissal fee, and I never received a letter in the mail.

In the meantime, the court has penalized me $706 and said I had to pay that to clear this case. It's also been turned over to a collection agency which is now ruining my perfect credit that I've worked so hard to build up. My only option is I had to set a court date in July to argue my case that I never received that letter asking for the $10. Meanwhile, my drivers license is being reinstated because I paid the $10 dismissal fee today; however, I am not sure what repercussion this suspension of my license will have on my automobile insurance rates.

It sounds like a scam to me, and when I asked the clerk if other people had complained that they never received this type of letter, she nodded a quick "affirmative" to me without risking actually saying anything to admit it.

Because I Could or The American Way

Despite the best efforts of Lloyd Levine, I will not submit to his nanny state tactics.

The other night I bought a box of GE Reveal 60 watt bulbs for one of the bathrooms in my place. I did take a look at those squiggly bulbs he's attempting to have the government force down our throat, but they just aren't right for this use.

If I really wanted to piss off some liberals I would have bought them at Wal-Mart. But Target was more convenient. By the way, is Target politically correct? Can't remember.

Lloyd continues to fight to make us do what he thinks he should do, this time with a tax break scheme for "fitness programs" offered by employers. Now while I realize that this is a tax break scheme and a rare voluntary compliance effort by The Bachelor, there is huge potential for waste, fraud and abuse with this measure.

In the meantime, while Lloyd was pursuing government solutions, Mayor Sam himself has brokered a deal with a local personal fitness trainer and the management company of his apartment community to make available fitness training to the several hundred residents of the community.

Of course this is completely voluntary and requires absolutely no government intervention.

Lloyd Wants to be your Mommy

Lloyd "The Bachelor" Levine is at it again. Must he be our mommy? Friday he will throw his weight behind legislation to give tax credits to employers who pay for fitness programs for their employees.

More after the jump

As someone who is dedicated to improving his own fitness, having lost 150 pounds since last summer, I am all for working out. As a senior manager who is looking for ways to develop and retain our company's staff, a wellness program is an excellent investment for a firm in it's number one asset - it's employees.

But we don't need Lloyd Levine to make it happen. This is nothing more than a gift to the fitness industry. Again, this is not a proper role of government.

Lloyd doesn't seem to get that. As the patron saint of the nanny state, the guy who dates TV reporters and tries to go on game shows wants to run your life. He's also running for State Senate in what will be a bruising primary battle. So he needs the jack and the juice to beat back a formidable opponent in the form of Fran Pavley.

An article in the Sacramento Bee demonstrates that this old, dead Republican mayor isn't the only one who is troubled by Levine's liberal do-gooding and government babysitting:

Critics brand the Los Angeles County lawmaker, son of a political consultant, as a flaming liberal and aggressive self-promoter whose legislation, such as the light bulb bill, tends to exacerbate "nanny government" by overregulating private matters.

Assemblyman John Benoit, R-Palm Desert, said he likes Levine but that some of his bills "definitely go over the line into managing people's lives beyond what I think is appropriate."

Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, said Levine is trustworthy and competent but that banning the common light bulb is silly, adding, "I don't mind telling him that.

Radio hosts John and Ken take "Colostomy Bag" Levine to task for another one of his nanny state projects, mandatory spaying and neutering of pets. Click here to listen.

The bottom line is if people want to work out great. If employers (and many do) want to provide fitness as a benefit even better.

We don't need Lloyd or any other politician to make that happen for us.