Weblog for Steve Collett for Congress http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog Mon, 10 Dec 2012 01:00:27 +0100 Blue Utopia (info@blueutopia.com) http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=45 Steve Collett joins advocates across Southern California in supporting Mark Lenos SB 1506 which if enacted would significantly reduce prison and jail spending. nbspThe bill revises all personal-use drug possession crimes and recategorizes them as misdemeanors. nbspState and local governments would be able to dedicate precious resources to probation drug Mon, 21 May 2012 23:42:29 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=44 nbspOn Thursday May 17 2012 candidates for Congress in Californiarsquos 33rd Congressional District held their second debate. The debate was sponsored by thenbspSanta Monica College Law ClubnbspandAssociated Students of UCLAnbspand was held at UCLArsquos beautiful Moore Hall. The debate included DemocratsnbspTim PapenbspandnbspZein Obagi RepublicannbspChristopher David Green Party candidatenbspDavid Steinmannbspand Libertarian Mon, 21 May 2012 06:26:36 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=43 One of the basic tenets of libertarian thought is that individuals have the right to live in whatever manner they choose as long as the do not forcibly interfere with similar rights of others. Respect the rights of gays and lesbians people of all religions all ethnicities and all political Sat, 12 May 2012 13:15:45 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=42 I am a student of tax law and a Certified Public Accountant. I have a Masters degree in Business Taxation. I have spent a career helping people reduce their tax liabilities.Government is necessary to protect our rights our property and facilitate prosperity. That requires taxation. But the natural tendency of Sat, 12 May 2012 13:06:12 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=41 How could America the land of the free with our powerful economy enterprising people and 5 of the worlds population have 25 of the worlds prisoners incur nearly half of total world defense dollars and run up a 1.4 trillion dollar annual deficit Our annual deficit exceeds the gross national Sat, 12 May 2012 13:02:59 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=40 History teaches that there is no substitute for military strength in maintaining a strong defense. Our economic strength and way of life requires a military second to none.That being said America has 5 of the worldrsquos population but spends 43 of total world defense dollars. We have two oceans and Sat, 12 May 2012 13:00:30 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=39 Every time I read about government deficits overcrowded prisons the latest drug bust deaths in Afghanistan or murders in Mexico I cringe. How could our great and wealthy country be having such problems Why does the U.S. imprison 5 times more people per capita than most every other industrialized country Sat, 12 May 2012 12:49:44 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=38 An insightful series of articles by the Los Angeles Times recently reported on studies done to evaluate the effectiveness of education in schools. The articles tracked the progress of students on standardized tests over several years with different teachers at different schools. The discovery was dramatic but probably rings true Sat, 12 May 2012 12:47:47 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=37 05122012Legislators whether federal or state need to represent more than just the interests in power whether the power be big corporations unions the wealthy the poor Republicans or Democrats. nbspIn addition to listening to the their supporters the legislators should askHow much will this law cost to administer enforce prosecute Sat, 12 May 2012 12:45:48 +0100 http://electcollett.com/index.php?page=blog&full=36 I called my mom on the telephone to plan a visit. I said Mom I had a dream about dad last night. nbspIn the dream I was in this huge church speaking to the congregation when dad stood up in the back of the church and called out to me Sat, 12 May 2012 12:38:23 +0100