Al Melvin: Convicts in the schools

by David Safier In an article in today's Explorer, Al Melvin says one way to deal with school budget problems is to bring convicts into the schools to do maintenance work. [Melvin would] like to see school districts and other local governments use inmate labor to maintain school buildings, bus fleets and grounds. This week, … Read more

G.I. Guarantee Watch: Please, Mr. Postman, part 4

by David Safier Still nothing in the mail from Starlee Rhoades at the Goldwater Institute answering my simple question: What does "many" mean in her sentence: "We believe the term bureaucrat accurately describes many of the employees in question and is a fair use of the term." J.D. and G.I. share a trait with others … Read more

G.I. Guarantee Watch: Please, Mr. Postman, part 3

by David Safier Still nothing in the mail from Starlee Rhoades at the Goldwater Institute answering my simple question: What does "many" mean in her sentence: "We believe the term bureaucrat accurately describes many of the employees in question and is a fair use of the term." This is in reference to Matthew Ladner's statement … Read more

Fool’s Gold: G.I.’s 1-to-1 teacher to [whoever] ratio

by David Safier It's not a lie to leave out relevant information. It's just a distortion of the truth. Or, to put it another way, it's all in a day's work for Matthew Ladner, Vice President of Research for the Goldwater Institute. For the moment, let's put aside the question of whether bus drivers are … Read more

Tax loopholes

by David Safier It's time to get specific about what isn't being taxed in Arizona. Country club membership (because country clubs are a necessity for the rich like food is for everyone else?) Salon and spa services — massages, facials, haircuts, and so on 4-inch pipes (4-inch pipes?) Machinery bought for mining (because mining is … Read more