Mount Virtus

The Joint Budget Committee of the Colorado General Assembly met this afternoon to discuss the merits of the report Priority Colorado, co-sponsored by the Independence Institute and the Reason Public Policy Institute, recommending efficiencies that could be achieved to save money spent by the Colorado state government. In the end, the committee largely dismissed its proposals.

The report burst onto the scene 10 days ago, throwing a wrench into the State Capitol’s prevailing paradigm that something either needed to be done to the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) or vital state programs would need to be cut in order to fix the state’s budget problems. Priority Colorado suggested a series of other possible reforms to balance the ledger.

This afternoon’s JBC meeting was guided by a representative of the budget committee staff, who published their own report in response to Priority Colorado. While the staff spokesperson asserted that the basic objectives embodied in the report were “desirable,” he said it fell short because of a series of misguided assumptions. Without an extensive knowledge of the ins-and-outs, my own opinion states that the staff “counter-report” and the committee’s acceptance of it was more exemplary of a “can’t-do” attitude. In other words, it’s easier for the legislative committee to avoid the suggested reforms because they require hard work and then come up with a few reasons to explain it away.

But ultimately, I lack the personal expertise to deconstruct the arguments presented. The best I can do is faithfully relay what I recorded to the best of my ability. And that’s what follows…

(more…)

Michael has begun to unwrap the Sunday Denver Post’s commentary section on the state of high school education in Colorado. Michael breaks down each of the three pieces and opens them up for analysis and criticism.

(more…)

How much do the so-called defenders of free speech truly practice what they preach? How far are they willing to go to protect the rights of those with whom they disagree? The University of Colorado’s record of campus free speech receives some needed close scrutiny from Jessica Corry in today’s Rocky Mountain News. Read it.

Boston Globe columnist Cathy Young tries to turn the tables on those attacking Ward Churchill by pouring some light on the scholarship of historian Thomas Woods, Jr., author of “The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History” and co-founder of the pro-secession League of the South. (Hat tip: Real Clear Politics)

UNC law professor Eric Muller has been on the case of Woods already at length. Both Muller and Young have raked Woods over the coals, as his controversial book climbs the bestseller charts.

It looks to me as if we may have a new punching bag for the Left. To what extent does the history professor deserve such excoriation? Muller and Young say Woods has received highly insufficient critique from the political and cultural right. I’m not sure about that, but it does not surprise me.

As someone with a graduate degree in American history and a perspective very different from both the liberal academic establishment and the neo-Confederate reactionaries, I plan to investigate the matter over the coming days and report back to my faithful blog readers. I wasn’t familiar at all with Woods until I saw a copy of his book advertised in a conservative book club mailer. I remember scoffing at the cover with healthy skepticism. Let’s see where that leads….

Update and Correction: Thanks to a tip from Joshua,, I can see I’m a bit behind the curve. Glenn Reynolds already debunked the book. And I should have checked out what the folks over at Claremont had to say first. Nevertheless, I plan to offer up some extended remarks this evening.

My prior statement that indicated they said conservatives had given the book unvarnished praise was an overstatement and has been modified. Ms. Young in her article did mention the critiques of Reynolds and Max Boot but made the larger point that the center-right had been mostly silent.

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

As promised, I wanted to share some of what I learned at the recent Biblical Counseling Conference. The truths we learned were first applicable to me as a growing Christian, though they are also things I am now more equipped to share with others.

Among the foundation stones are the four rules of communication, revealed in Ephesians 4:25-32. Just a little background first…

1. Believers can learn to solve problems biblically and build good relationships – especially for the husband-wife but in all aspects of life.
2. The Bible tells us some important facts about our communication. (James 3:2, Proverbs 18:21)
3. The book of Ephesians provides some tremendous help in communication.

So what are the four rules?
1. Be Honest, v25 – it sounds easier than it is in practice
a. Put off lying (includes outright deceit, embellishments of the truth and “backdoor messages” of innuendo, sarcasm)
b. Put on speaking the truth
-Continually, Comprehensively, Compassionately, to the appropriate person
-Not telling all my thoughts or “speaking my mind”
-Honesty about my problems, not just others’ problems
-Discussing for the purpose of finding a solution

2. Keep Current, v26, 27
a. Solve today’s problems today! “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger”
b. Six questions to ask yourself before bringing up a difficult problem
1) Do I have the facts right? Prov 18:13
2) Should love hide it? 1 Pet 4:8
3) Is my timing right? Prov 15:23b
4) Is my attitude right? Eph 4:15
5) Are my words loving? Eph 4:15
6) Have I prayed for God’s help? Eph 4:28

3. Attack the Problem, Not the Person, v29, 30
a. Put off words that tear down and attack the person (unwholesome, designed to hurt)
b. Put on words that build up and attack problems
*Phil 2:3-4: consider the other person’s interests & problems & perspectives as more important than mine
*Matt 7:2-5: words that focus on my personal responsibility and deal with my own sin, providing specific steps for change

4. Act, Don’t React v31, 32
a. Put off communication that is a reaction (the “natural tendency”)
1) Bitterness: smoldering resentment
2) Wrath: flaring outbursts of rage
3) Anger: internal smoldering, indignation or hostility
4) Clamor: harsh contention and strife
5) Slander: ongoing defamation
6) Malice: the desire to harm others
b. Put on communication that acts correctly
1) Kind: benevolent, helpful
2) Tenderhearted: compassionate, sympathetic
3) Forgiving: giving up your right to revenge or hold a grudge
c. Conflicts occur only when each person reacts

That’s it! There’s a lot to chew on there, and admittedly it’s only a sketch outline. But since having heard this presented, I’ve returned to my notes and some of the Scripture passages several times. Why? Because my communication isn’t where it needs to be all the time yet. But by God’s grace, I’m growing. And hopefully these truths will be a help to you, too, as you study them out.

Tired of the bickering at the State Capitol about how to solve Colorado’s budget problems? Have you tuned out already? Have you heard…? If you heard that the budget so-called “crisis” can be solved without tampering with TABOR, raising taxes, or cutting effective state services, what would you say?

I know what I said when I heard: “What are they arguing about?” Because it’s true. Experts from the free-market think tank Reason Foundation, Geoff Segal and George Passantino, teamed up with the Independence Institute to take a close look at the Colorado state budget. These guys have advised Gov. Schwarzenegger how California can emerge from its multi-billion dollar deficit. By comparison, Segal and Passantino say that Colorado faces a “minor crunch.”

The result? A new study titled Priority Colorado that shows how the state government can save between $347 and $615 million just by running things more efficiently. The state of South Carolina followed a similar program and shaved 1 percent off its annual budget.

Some of their ideas?

Is your legislator willing to do the serious hard work of making government function more efficiently? It’s a lot easier to pit the taxpayers and the recipients of government services against each other, saying there’s no choice but the former has to cough up more money or the latter is going to lose some kind of benefit.

The problem is the way state government wastes money. Well, let’s do it right. Who are we paying our legislators to work for anyway? Priority Colorado is at least worth close review, serious consideration, and public debate.

Forget the groundhog. News like this stirs the baseball lover’s heart that spring is coming very soon: the Detroit Tigers‘ pitchers & catchers report to training camp in Lakeland, Fla, today. The boys of summer are emerging from hibernation. Another season of America’s game looms over the horizon.

For the first time in a dozen years, this Tigers team has a serious chance at a winning record and playoff contention – enough to bring a big smile to this longsuffering fan’s careworn face.

While we’re on the subject of sports, I think somebody ought to point out to Hugh that ESPN has released its annual ranking of major professional sports franchises, based on extensive surveys and statistically rigorous criteria.

Who’s sitting in the absolute basement of the 92 franchises (NHL excluded for obvious reasons) for 2005?

Answer: Cleveland Browns.

Ouch! Let’s just say the Broncos fared quite a bit better.

So… pro hockey fans, anyone out there shocked to learn that the National Hockey League has pulled the plug on the entire season?

Yes, it’s a first for any major North American professional sports league, to cancel an entire season. MLB, the NBA, the NFL, they’ve all lost parts of seasons to labor disputes, but nothing this radical. Anyone taking bets on the future status of the NHL?

Now, admittedly, I write as one who has scarcely noticed that the NHL season was “on ice” (or “off ice,” depending on your fondness for metaphors). I usually tune in around the time of the playoffs. The whole quest for the Stanley Cup can be interesting, and I would watch several playoff games a year. But not much of a time or interest investment. For me, therefore, not much has been lost. March Madness and baseball season will carry my sports interest through the springtime.

Think about the long and difficult reluctance of baseball fans to come back to the ballpark in comparable numbers after the 1994 strike. That’s America’s game, with a rich and deep history. Now think about American sports consumers in places like Charlotte, NC; Nashville, TN; Phoenix, AZ… what’s it going to take to get them (or even the diehards in markets like Detroit, Boston, or Denver) back to the rink in the 2005-2006 season (that is, if the owners and players come back together in time for that to happen)?

But look on the bright side. Possibly, some of the easiest (yet trickiest) sports trivia questions have just been birthed, such as:

1. Who was the leading NHL scorer in the 2004-2005 season?
2. Which NHL team had the best regular-season record in the 2004-2005 season?
3. Which NHL goalie had the best goals against average in the 2004-2005 season?

Don’t strain your brain cells too hard…

Ever get nostalgic for the 2004 Colorado US Senate race? It played a big part in putting the Rocky Mountain Alliance on the map. Time marches on in the political world, and those who were the fodder for such discussion less than a year ago have moved on in their endeavors. It’s kind of like skimming through your high school yearbook and wondering, “Where are they now?”

While the new Senator Ken Salazar has been hard at “bipartisan” work on Capitol Hill pulling weight for new Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and urging a block to funding of Army chemical transportation studies, some of the other political actors from the recent campaign season have popped into the news today.

(more…)

In case you hadn’t noticed, I’d taken a prolonged hiatus from posting. While I was gone, Mount Virtus passed the one-year anniversary mark. A lot has changed since the first post last February, but I hope the commitment to quality remains the same.

So why has the site been so quiet of late? I very recently spent a week at the Biblical Counseling Training Conference in Lafayette, Indiana, a positive and intense experience that has already brought me greater attention to two things:

1. The need for personal spiritual discipline and focused spiritual growth in my life;
AND
2. The need for more serious spiritual interaction in the lives of those God has placed in my path.

The conference was a tremendous experience and one I recommend to my evangelical Christian friends. It’s not just for pastors or other full-time ministry people: I can testify to that! We are equipped by God’s all-sufficient Scriptures (II Peter 1:3) to humbly minister loving truth into the lives of others on a one-on-one basis, remembering always that our first and highest goal is to please God with our thoughts and actions (II Corinthians 5:9). Facing the sin in my own life and actively seeking God’s grace to make me more like Christ has been a tremendous challenge and blessing thus far.

As a result, a major highlight of my blog in upcoming days will be summary reviews of the lessons and seminars at the conference, enough to give a taste of what was taught.

Other topics will still be discussed, especially as I get back up to speed, but I thank you now in advance for your understanding and kind attention.

For what it’s worth, taking my pro-Tom Brady bias into account, here’s my prediction for Super Bowl XXXIX:

NEW ENGLAND 27
PHILADELPHIA 13

Or, as you can envision the headline on Monday’s sports pages…

“PATS BEAT PATSIES”
New England claims dynasty mantle with 27-13 Super Bowl win

Gazing ever so briefly in the mirror, Churchill and his sycophants see no evil. Meanwhile, his critics want to ensure that he speaks no more evil. Both sides have become amazingly irrational and spectacularly wrong.

It seems like nearly everyone has chimed in on the hottest issue of the day… except the acerbic wits at the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network. With frequent biting commentary on most any news tidbit of political or cultural significance in Colorado, the Democrat Party-affiliated RMPN has approached the Churchill controversy with startling silence. While most of their Democrat friends in the Capitol were at least willing to condemn the substance of Churchill’s rancorous essay, RMPN has skirted the issue altogether.

Perhaps they would condemn the professor’s statements but defend his right to continuing employment. Perhaps they would hold him up as an imagined First Amendment martyr. Perhaps they secretly cherish his America-hating views. Perhaps they might agree with Governor Owens but are afraid to admit it. Until the RMPN speaks, we are left to speculate.

Kudos to the University of Colorado Board of Regents for their handling of the Ward Churchill matter, for:

1. Their public apology on behalf of the university.
2. Opening up a 30-day public investigation into the matter of Churchill’s future employment status.

I hope that the investigation report will be made fully public in detail, so the people can judge fairly as well.

Much ore pathetic are those who were arrested for disturbing a public meeting and those who came to show support for Churchill’s views. At least those who defend his employment status on the basis of the First Amendment are just ignorant.

Jim has posted up some commentary on last night’s SOTU address. It looks like the President made the case for Social Security reform to Jim, anyway. Of the five SOTU addresses he has given so far, I think last night’s ranks second only to the 2002 masterpiece. Just my two cents worth.