Washington Affairs

17 February 2003


Plastic Sheeting and Duct Tape: Civil Defense 2003
A government official, in other words someone who should know better, made a stupid announcement this week that stands out for foolishness. Americans were warned that terrorists could put poisons in light bulbs and aerosol cans, and that good ideas included having 3 days food on hand and covering windows with plastic sheeting and duct tape. Advise like this is counter-productive to the point of being treasonous. Click here to read more.

John Dean Wants Americans To Vote -- Or Else
John Wesley Dean III, of Watergate fame, surfaced on TV this week demanding that Americans vote. And if they don't, they should face some sort of penalty. Dean says that voting is a civic duty, that failure to do so undermines the Constitution. As a member of the Nixon administration, he may be something of an expert on the subversion of that old parchment. Click here for more.

Steve Bechler, Pitcher, Dead at 23; Congress to Blame?
Steve Bechler was a baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. He died from presumed heat stroke in Florida where the team has its spring training. Rumor has it he also was using a dietary supplement containing ephedra to help take some weight off. The team doctor is on record as saying ephedra is dangerous, so is the NFL and the US Olympic Committee, while Major League Baseball is silent on the issue. Yet Bechler's untimely death at 23 may be traceable to bad law and bad cultural fixations. Click here to read on.