Bloomberg, Babies, Taxes and Ted Cruz

There are a handful of items that need addressing, but do not warrant an entire column.  So, today is a series of Butler Bits.  Topping this list is New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s current effort to promote breast feeding by making formula difficult to get, and laced with paperwork.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I nursed both my girls and encourage every new mother to do the same.  It is the best route for baby, mother, and society.  But it amazes me that the same people who are all for, “choice” when it comes to aborting a baby are the same people who want to put hurdles in the way of mothers who choose formula over nursing.  What is more, the hospitals are not to dispense formula without giving the mother a lesson on what is wrong with formula and what is right with breast feeding.  Isn’t this the same kind of intelligence requested by opponents of abortion (counseling, sonograms, etc.) but loudly denounced by those who are pro abortion?  Why is information necessary for liberal leaning ideas but anathema to conservative positions?  While supporting 100% the concept of breast feeding, I can not help but shake my head at the hypocrisy of people who only believe in choice and informed consent when their cause is being promoted. 

            The second item was prompted by an interview with the Canadian head of the Chamber of Commerce, in this country for a meeting with his U.S. counterpart.  The topic was corporate taxation in Canada as opposed to the United States.  While we tax our corporations (our first and best employers) at a rate of 35%, Canada taxes their companies at 15%.  According to an article in the Economist, other countries have been lowering their corporate rates since the 80’s while the US has, by default, become the leader in business taxes.  Both Obama and Republicans have called for reducing the corporate tax rate (to 28% and 25% respectively) but then comes the argument about what to do to make up the $700 billion shortfall that would be created by instituting the tax.   But, who says we have to replace revenue lost by tax cuts?  Why not just spend less. 

            And that, leads me to my final comment.  There is a man running for the United States senate in Texas who could be the answer to a lot of problems.  As a moderate Republican, I tend to be a little leery of Tea Party endorsements.   So, as a responsible voter, I started reading what I could about this man.  The more I learned, the more I liked.  First, there is his personal story.  Cruz is the son of a Cuban immigrant.  Both of his parents worked their way through school and succeeded despite poverty, minority status and language barriers.  You can’t do that without understanding the promise and strength of America.  Then there is Cruz’s personal success.  Here is a man with a resume.  He graduated from Princeton and Harvard.  He was editor of the Harvard Law Review and founder of the Harvard Latino Law Review.  [Just imagine a conservative with a Harvard law degree!]   He was then the first Hispanic law clerk for a Chief Justice of the United States, Chief Justice William Rehnquist.  He has been cited as an outstanding lawyer by the National Law Journal, American Lawyer, National Law Journal, and Texas Lawyer.   Ted Cruz has represented Texas and argued successfully before the Supreme Court nine times.  I will put brains at the top of my list any day, and this man has my vote and whole-hearted support.

            Examine everything, and keep the faith.