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Rocket Hobbyists Get Blown Away by Regulations
dogfart writes "Amateur rocket hobbyists are bearing the brunt of Federal anti-terror efforts. Cumbersome regulations (which include extensive background checks) are pushing many to abandon the hobby. Even clubs associated with colleges (such as Kettering) have ended up folding under the pressure. Quoting the article: '"If we're in an environment where the government says you've got to get fingerprinted and background checked, and spend three to four months to do it, (adults are) not going to participate in my hobby," said Mark Bundick, president of the National Association of Rocketry. "We need more kids. It helps them learn technology. It's the technological base here in the country that we need to protect, and this hobby is a good introduction for kids that are interested in technology. If I lose those adults, then I will not be able to train those kids."'" We wrote about these regulations before, and followed it up with a Slashback.
This is an interesting point, especially since the Republicans in particular seem to think that anyone Bush appoints has a right to the office, and if Democrats question the nominee and exert their constitutional duty to approve or deny, they are being "political", which some how became a bad word.
That's gotta fit into your schema somewhere
let's all keep in mind that it was politicians enamored with redistribution and central planning who paved the way for the Federal government to become the leviathan that it is today.
No, it wasn't. The US federal government is a leviathan because of one thing: the US military. That takes up 50% of discretionary spending.
Yes, the US federal government also happens to run a bunch of huge social insurance businesses (social security, medicare, etc.), but they seem to be doing that quite well, actually.