[MD] Krimel's Manifesto - A first draft

[craigerb at comcast.net]

> 1.	Open government

Good idea; that's why we already have sunshine laws, Freedom of Information Act 
& discovery rules for trials.

> 2.	Public [ly financed] elections

It's bad enough to pay the salaries of the clowns we elect.  I don't want to pay 
for their job hunting expenses too. 

> 3.	Local media

If this is really a value for locals, let them pay the going rate themselves.

>4.	Income tax only on the top 20% of incomes.

A business that makes a product for $60 & sells it for $100, pays income tax on 
$40.  A worker that lives on $60 & earns $100, should pay income tax on $40.  Your suggestion is arbitrary.

>5.	Freedom of ideas
> Current copyright laws are obscene and should be repealed. 

This is ignorance of the value of copyright laws; they do not restrict freedom 
of ideas.  (When did you ever hear someone say:  "I wish I knew what Pirsig says, but damn 
those copyright laws.")  Copyright laws serve (1) the moral purpose of assuring an author receives deserved payment for his 
work & (2) the practical purpose of promoting the creation of ideas.  

> 6.	Informed Juries

In the marketplace of  ideas we can allow falsehoods, half-truths, dubious claims, crazy theories, along with good evidence
& well-supported theories.  In the long run, the latter two should win out.   A trial is different--it is one shot at determining the truth.
If an innocent person is convicted, we cannot make up for it by freeing a guilty one.  That is why hearsay & prejudicial statements,
even if true, are not allowed in trials.
Craig