Defending Monks, Institute for Justice Goes Six Feet Under

Mark Meranta of the Institute for Justice (IJ) has forwarded the video below.  In Louisiana it is illegal to sell funeral merchandise, including caskets, without a license. Louisiana is one of the few states that is almost as corrupt and badly regulated as my own New York.  

According to Meranta and the IJ website, IJ has teamed up with the monks of Louisiana's Saint Joseph Abbey to get Louisiana’s casket licensing law overturned.  Meranta writes:

"To sell caskets legally, the monks would have to abandon their calling for one full year to apprentice at a licensed funeral home, learn unnecessary skills and take a funeral industry test.  They would also have to convert their monastery into a “funeral establishment” by, among other things, installing equipment for embalming human remains.

"The monks face crippling fines and up to 180 days in jail.  This is classic economic protectionism, and this case has a great chance of making it to the Supreme Court."

St. Joseph's is a Benedictine monastery.  St. Joseph is the patron saint of work as well as carpentry and real estate as he taught carpentry to Jesus.  Thus, the monks' production of wooden caskets fits the traditions of the monastery's namesake.  As well, they do right by St. Thomas, the most important church writer on natural law, indirectly the inspiration of John Locke and Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence.

Let us applaud the St. Joseph's monks in this courageous and worthwhile struggle. 

Carl Paladino Highlights Ulster County Candidates Dinner

Congressional candidate George Phillips (left) and his campaign manager discuss strategy with State Senator John J. Bonacic (right)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and Lincoln Eagle publisher Mike Marnell.  22nd district congressional candidate George Phillips(behind, upper left) speaks to Paladino campaign manager Mike Caputo.

101st Assembly District candidate Peter Rooney.

Ulster County Comptroller candidate Fawn Tantillo

New Supercar Lexus LFA

Lexus sent me this link to Jay Lenno's Garage.  The LFA sells for $375,000. But watch it go 156 mph around the track.  Maybe I can get Brooklyn College to give me a raise!

Gerald Celente Sees Major Crash Coming

Mike Marnell, publisher of the Lincoln Eagle in Kingston, NY, forwarded this  Alex Jones interview of Gerald Celente.  Gerald is Mike's friend and lives in Kingston, NY.  He references neighboring Rhinebeck during the talk. I don't agree with Celente on every point (I'm not a fan of Ralph Nader, for instance) but found this interview to be quite interesting.  Maybe Mike can take us out to Le Canard Enchaine.