Category: Free Market

13-06 Killing Title IX Protections in the Name of Woke | Plus Part 4: Choosing New Schools

13-06 Killing Title IX Protections in the Name of Woke | Plus Part 4: Choosing New Schools

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Show 13-06 Summary: This week on I Spy we continue our mini-series on parents rights in education. We are looking at what the Biden administration’s abandonment of Title IX means (it used to mean protection and equal access for girls and women) and what real school choice looks like — when parents make the choice to find a better school. What are the options and how to decide? How to even know if it’s the school or the child? And what about funding — should taxpayer dollars really go to private schools? And is it protected from frivolous parents? Are schools accountable top meet competency and proficiency standards? Maybe if the public schools had such standards, parents wouldn’t be looking elsewhere…

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: February 11th & 12th, 2023 | Guests: Kimberly Hermann & Marc Thielman

This Week – So Much for Equality

If there’s one thing elected democrats say, it’s that they want equality. But if there’s one thing they do it’s remove equality. Which is why they are all for racial discrimination in the name of equality. Like affirmative action. Where, in their “logic” it makes sense to discriminate against Whites in favor of other races. Which is a bit like saying a little slavery is okay, as long as it’s done to the right kind of people.

Hint to democrats: discrimination is discrimination.

But maybe this mindset explains why the Biden administration thinks removing protections for girls and women in education is a good thing.

The Biden Administration: Killing Title IX

Title IX was intended to give girls and women an equal footing in education. Prior to Title IX, schools could discriminate against women and, perhaps most famously, not fund women’s sports. But now, the Biden administration’s new “guidance” would remove such protections. How? By doing away with the concept of women and girls. And making anyone who identifies as a woman a woman in their view.

Basically, if there are no women as a distinct entity, there are no women to protect.

To try to make sense of the nonsense, we welcome Kimberly Hermann. She is the chief legal counsel for Southeastern Legal Foundation and they have file da brief in support of states pushing back against the Biden administration’s guidance.

Visit SLFLiberty.org to find out more about the great work Southeastern Legal Foundation is doing to defend your constitutional rights. You can even submit a case they might be interested in.

Kimberly walks us through what Title IX is, what it was intended to do, and why Title IX is so important to defend. You’ll also hear how the courts, including appellate courts, are, in fact, defending the notion that there are two sexes. Which is extremely encouraging.

But can you believe this? Has society gone so far down the woke toilet that we will end up needing the Supreme Court to tell the rest of society what a woman is?

Yikes.

Parents’ Rights Part 4: Choosing a New School

This week, we also continue our mini-series on parents rights in education. Last week, we discussed the Real School Choice movement. So far, five states have already adopted real school choice. (This means parents can choose whichever school they want to send their kids and the education dollars attached to that child.) And there are nearly a dozen more close to adopting real school choice and over two dozen in total that have at least some form of legislation on the table.

This is not only a win for parents, it’s a win for education itself. And it’s thanks to exercising free market principles.

Think about it. Parents (consumers) can choose to spend the education dollars how they want and where they want. Funding students not systems, means that the school systems must become competitive to attract consumers (parents). Better up your game or you lose out.

That is what real school choice is all about. Give parents the power, not bureaucrats.

Find out more about Oregon’s real school choice battle. If parents can’t get it in the legislature, they are prepared to go with a ballot initiative

But if you’re a parent and  you exercise your school choice, how do you choose a school? How do you know it’s the school and not your child? What are the signs you should be looking for? And with the dozen-plus types of other schools out there, how do you find the right one for your child.

We talk with Marc Thielman, the former superintendent at the Alsea School district, to answer those questions and more.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

More Info on Title IX

  • Title IX: 50 years later (American Psychological Association, June 28, 2022)
    • “Changes to Title IX regulations dispensed by the U.S. Department of Education in 2020 removed the mandatory reporting requirement. These Trump-era changes also narrowed the definition of sexual harassment, excluded off-campus assaults from the law’s protections, and made a series of other changes that left some Title IX offices scrambling to update their institution’s procedures”
  • Title IX’s Positive Impact on Education Life BEFORE Title IX (Vector Solutions, No Date)
  • 10 Facts Everyone Should Know About Title IX (National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Aug 23, 2017)

More Info on Choosing a School

 

Real School Choice - the Way out for Parents
13-05 The Way Out: Real School Choice | Parents Rights Part 3

13-05 The Way Out: Real School Choice | Parents Rights Part 3

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Show 13-05 Summary: Part 3 of our mini-series on parental rights. Week 1 was a general overview or parental rights and a look at what parents and kids are facing. Last week was a look at the legal side of things, especially if push comes to lawsuit. This week, it’s a look at the way out: real school choice. Where the dollars pegged to a child, follows them and parents can use those public funds to spend on whichever school best suits their child. Competition. It’s a wonderful thing!

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: February 4th & 5th, 2023 | Guest: Robert Enlow

This Week – Real School Choice

The answer to most problems with Big Government is simple: take money away from big government and apply free-market principles.

Don’t miss the other two parts our series on parents’ rights: Part 1 (overview of parents rights) and Part 2 (legal aspects and, if necessary, lawsuits)

And when it comes to bad education systems, this means real school choice. Where bad schools in bad education systems either improve to good schools. Or they lose the money when they lose a child whose parents take their child elsewhere.

In the past, this option was only available to the rich. Who were still paying school taxes and paying to put their child in a better school.

But right now, thanks to parents staying home due to covid lockdowns—who got to see just how bad things really were thanks to virtual classrooms—there is a movement sweeping the nation. And it’s real school choice.

Real School Choice Defined

Real school choice. What is it? It’s when parents can decide how and where to spend the dollars “pegged” to their child on a school of their choice.

Real school choice happens like this: Education systems get a pot of money every year. Think of that as the “education bank.” These monies are drawn from different sources. Broadly speaking, federal, state, and local taxes all pay into the bank. States, the bank’s administrators, determine how many students there are and determine a per-student amount. A percentage of that per-student spending is pegged to the student as the parents decide where to spend it. Usually, this takes the form of an education savings account, commonly referred to as an”ESA.”

How much of that percentage, where, and how the funds can be spent vary from state to state.

And, unlike what this Kansas State Board of Education member thinks, parents can not use the funds to buy latte machines. (Although it makes one wonder how many schools have used their funds to put latte machines in teachers’ lounges…)

For more information on what school choice is, see this definition from one of the nation’s leading school choice organizations, EdChoice.

Our Guest: Robert Enlow of EdChoice

Speaking of which, this week we welcome Robert Enlow, the President and CEO of EdChoice, to talk to us about this nationwide movement. As of this writing, five states (with three in just the last two weeks) have adopted real school choice. And at least 28 more — including Oregon! — have introduced legislation for some form of school choice.

This didn’t happen over night.

Be sure to visit EdChoice.org. They have research, polls, tools, trainings and more to make universal school choice happen in your state!

No surprise, Milton Friedman, who advised President Reagan to get America’s economy back on track (which mainly boiled down to getting government out of the way), came up with the idea. Now, some 50 years after he came up with the idea of a school voucher system, we’re seeing it take hold.

Real School Choice in Oregon

Oregon has been at the bottom of education for decades. Oregon even removed competency requirements for graduation under former governor Kate Brown. So, not surprisingly, even here in Oregon, parents are fed up. We wanted to talk to experts who have actually made this happen in other states, who’ve been part of successful campaigns to get school choice. So we turned to EdChoice to talk about how these states made it happen. How did they win? And we talked about the arguments for and against school choice so you’ll know what to face.

As Robert Enlow said — echoing the mission of I Spy Radio — if want to be a successful advocate, you need to be an informed one.

If you want real school choice in Oregon, or in your state, don’t miss this show!

Want more information and insight on school choice here in Oregon? Check out these past I Spy Radio shows.

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Our guest’s organization is EdChoice. They are the nation’s leading organization for and advocate of school choice. They have research, tools, polls, even training if you want to help bring school choice to your state! Find them at EdChoice.org
  • Arizona leads on school choice. Should Utah follow suit? (Deseret News, Jan 16, 2023)
  • Achieving the potential of school choice (The Gazette, Colorado, Jan 17, 2023)
  • “Public education funding without boundaries: How to get K-12 dollars to follow open enrollment students” (Reason Foundation, Jan 24, 2023)
    • How to ensure state and local education funds flow seamlessly across district boundaries.
    • States are increasingly enacting open enrollment policies that give students options across school district boundaries. But this is only half the equation. Policymakers must also ensure that education dollars follow the child to the school of their choice, a concept referred to as funding portability.
    • Download the full policy brief: Public Education Funding Without Boundaries (PDF)
  • Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds signs historic school choice bill: ‘We will fund students not systems’ (Fox News, Jan 24, 2023)
  • ‘Fund Students, Not Systems’ with Universal School Choice” (Townhall.com, Jan 23, 2023).
  • Legislators in 28 states have introduced bills to fund students instead of systems this year. (Corey DeAngelis, Twitter, Feb 1, 2023)
  • 25 million eCommerce companies in the world – Myth or Fact? Dissecting the $4.9 Trillion industry with 2022 data. (Pipecandy.com, March 2022)

Oregon Centric

  • Kotek proposes spending $765M (Register Guard, Feb 1, 2023) Increases school budget
  • Portland School District announces hiring freeze due to dwindling enrollment (Pamplin Media Feb 1, 2023)
    • Portland  lost 3,000 students from 2020 to 2022. The district said its “dramatic, unprecedented enrollment decline” isn’t over. It expects to lose about 500 more students next year. But despite fewer students, “Superintendent Guerrero, along with leaders from other Oregon districts, are calling on state leaders to pour more money into public school funding. ”
  • See our previous shows on this topic, including the referendum movement for 2024 if the legislature ignores Oregon parents. These show pages have additional links and info.
  • Parents Rights in Education (Oregon and other state chapters)
13-02 Freedom Warriors Want Answers

13-02 Freedom Warriors Want Answers

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Show 13-02 Summary: We often say that the fight for freedom is an everyday fight. Because it is. Especially so because those fighting against freedom are so well funded. By you, the taxpayer. We talk to two freedom warriors on the front lines. Kevin Jenkins is fighting for medical freedom, especially with so many young athletes who have “died suddenly.” And we talk with Donna Jackson about the fight against Biden’s war on affordable energy.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: January 14th & 15th, 2023 | Guest: Kevin Jenkins & Donna Jackson

This Week – Freedom Warriors Want Answers

This week, it’s all about the fight for freedom. We interview two diehard freedom warriors who are fighting to keep government off our shoulders. And out of our pocket books.

Kevin Jenkins shares his fight for our medical freedom. Including this epidemic of otherwise healthy people — especially young athletes — who have “died suddenly.” What is going on? And as they demand answers, what would accountability look like?

Then we interview Donna Jackson with Project 21 about her testimony to Congress this week. She spoke to the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee about the Biden administration’s war on affordable energy. And the harm the pursuit of “green” energy (it’s not) is doing to everyday people but especially low- and middle-income families.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Kevin Jenkins Segments

Donna Jackson Segments

Additional Research

 

 

 

The Biden Economy Rewarding America's Enemies
12-50 The Big Spend – Economics Don’t Matter in the Biden Economy

12-50 The Big Spend – Economics Don’t Matter in the Biden Economy

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Show Summary: This week, with Christmas and all the spending in the air, we thought we’d take one last look at the economy for the year. And the Biden economy looks like Christmas in another way: It’s the government playing Santa with your money. Or, as we like to call it, the Big Spend. We look at the Biden admin’s missteps on the economy. How bad are they? And will things get better before they get worse? And how soon is worse? Are there any positives out there and how much staying power do they have? Plus, a big focus on the massive debt, which is coming due for another massive expansion. But, it turns out, we’re in a lot more debt than advertised…

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: December 10th & 11th, 2022 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – The Biden Economy

We get criticized for being critical of the Biden administration’s economic policies. Well, we’re not the only ones. Major financial institutions are projecting a huge downturn next year. And not just here but all across the world—in part because things look so bad here.

This week, we welcome back Jonathan Williams to discuss the Biden economy. We review the missteps by the administration, which, unfortunately, started on day one. And haven’t been corrected yet. Like their attack on the energy industry and especially oil. In fact, they’ve done everything they can to try to avoid taking responsibility. How? By running to Saudi Arabia and even Venezuela. Anything to avoid re-opening and encouraging energy and oil production right here in America.

And why is it that in the Biden economy, we keep rewarding America’s enemies?

Check out Oregon’s Debt Clock (brought to you by the National Debt Clock). Did you know (as of this writing, Dec 10, 2022) that Oregon has $48.463 billion dollars of debt?

ALEC and ACCE

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, works with state legislators and policy makers in the 50 test tubes of democracy. ALEC focuses on sound fiscal and economic policies to improve state revenues and the states’ economic performance and outlook.

But there is also ALEC for the local level: the American City County Exchange or ACCE (pronounced “Ace”). It’s not just state legislators who deal with budgets and fiscal policies. Counties and cities do too. And county commissioners, mayors and city councilors are all pressured by left-leaning organizations (well-funded ones, we might add) to spend, spend, spend. Especially, as it happens, on far-left ideologies and allies. Help your local officials fight back. Encourage them to join ACCE to get access to policies and more to make the right decisions.

In the Biden economy? They’re going to need all the help they can get.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Jonathan Williams is the Chief Economist and Executive Vice President of Policy at the American Legislative Exchange Council. Find out more by heading to ALEC.org.
    • Be sure to check out some of Jonathan’s articles, below
    • On Twitter? You can follow Jonathan @TaxEconomist
  • Check out ALEC’s Model Policies. These policies are designed to push back against woke Leftism, which are more about politics than economics. Two we especially like:
  • Encourage your local officials to join the American City County Exchange — ALEC for the local level!
  • “Colorado Offers Gold Standard for Fiscal Restraint: ALEC in National Review” (National Review, Nov 3, 2022)
    • TABOR [Taxpayer Bill of Rights] represents a fiscal-policy achievement Coloradans should be proud of and defend.
  • Jonathan Article #2 – The States Move Forward with the Flat Tax (National Review, July 22, 2022)
    • The flat-tax revolution will continue to gather speed as more states begin to realize the competitive benefits earned by a simpler and fairer tax code.
    • The prudent policy choice for states is to enhance competitiveness, then examine spending priorities and create policies to prepare for the proverbial rainy days, rather than relying on the federal government to save the day during revenue shortfalls.
  • Jonathan on American Radio Journal (Dec 3, 2022)
    • Congress is looking at another debt-ceiling bailout; this after a 2.5 trillion increase just a year ago
  • Oregon’s Debt Clock – $48.5 billion ($11K per person; Debt to GDP ratio is 17.6%

Mentioned During the Show

Additional Research & Related to the Biden Economy

 

12-43 Those “Down Ballot Races” Made Easy — With Superior Candidates

12-43 Those “Down Ballot Races” Made Easy — With Superior Candidates

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Show Summary: ALL races matter. No, not those races. All political races matter. This week we talk about two of the “down ballot” races: the commissioner for BOLI (I know—what the heck is that, right?) and Oregon’s new 6th congressional district. The Bureau of Labor and Industries (that’s what BOLI is), oversees Oregon’s trade school, civil rights issues, and housing. Find out why both of these races have superior candidates. Hint: They’re not the democrats.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: October 22nd & 23rd, 2022 | Guests: Cheri Helt & Mike Erickson

This Week – Those Down Ballot Races

This year, you cannot vote just the top of the ticket — governor — and ignore all those down ballot races. They are every bit as important as the governor’s race. In part, because the Republican governor will need all the republicans she can get. 

But it’s more than just house and senate races. There are other “down ballot races” you need to pay attention to. And one of them is the BOLI commissioner. A little-known race that helps set the tone for the rest of the state’s business environment.

Sometimes, these races are hard to figure out. But this year, it’s especially easy: vote Republican. In every race. Down ballot or otherwise. And it’s made even more easy with clearly superior candidates in the two down-ballot races we’re talking about on this week’s show.

Cheri Helt for BOLI Commissioner

The Bureau of Labor and Industries has had a democrat stranglehold on it for decades. Perhaps that’s why we’re short tens of thousands of trade jobs in this state as Kitzhaber and Brown wanted to shove everyone into university and practically shamed kids if the even thought of a job in the skilled trades. 

You can find Cheri’s campaign website at www.CheriHelt.com

The Bureau of Labor and Industries (that’s what BOLI is), oversees Oregon’s trade schools (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc.), civil rights issues, fair housing practices and more. Oregon has a huge housing shortage and a shortage of workers Democrats have been in charge of BOLI for decades. And with their college-first, trades-bad mindset, it’s no surprise.

Cheri’s opponent, Christina Stephenson, is a lawyer who wants yet more authority for BOLI. Hmm. Oregon’s BOLI famously sued Melissa’s Sweet Cakes because Melissa didn’t want to bake a cake for a gay couple. Is that what Christina has in mind for more authority? We just went through Covid with no end of “more authority.” Do we really want a progressive lawyer in there who’d love nothing more than to sue even more businesses out of business because they don’t fit her politics?

That’s not what Oregon needs. More politics pushed on businesses. Oh. And Christina wants more funding for BOLI. Probably because hiring more attorneys gets expensive.

No thanks. We’ll take Cheri.

Mike Erickson for Oregon’s CD6

This week we welcome back actual businessman, Mike Erickson. Who, unlike his opponent, knows what supply chains are and how disrupting them can and does impact the economy. Which is more than we can say for Biden or anyone in his administration. Which seems to only want to blame oil companies.

Learn more about Mike Erickson by visiting his campaign website, www.MikeEricksonforCongress.org

The latest? Blaming Biden’s exploding gas prices on oil companies’ profits. What? Do they not know what profits are? Or how not spending on oil exploration or purchasing federal oil leases (which they wouldn’t be allowed to use under Biden) or any the other normal business expenses will make profits go up?

It’s embarrassing to think, but third-graders running a lemonade stand have more practical knowledge of basic economics principles and more hands-on understanding of supply and demand than Joe Biden. Or anyone in his administration, apparently.

And did the democrats’ gerrymandering catch up with them as they spread Portland’s potential influence too thin into four congressional districts, not just the two Portland actually deserved? Now, with so much of Portland angry at democrat Ted Wheeler and an astounding 82% (82!!) wanting MORE police, not less, democrats may have spread Portland’s influence all right.

Just not in the direction they intended. 

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Our guests’ websites are www.CheriHelt.com and www.MikeEricksonforCongress.org

Cheri Helt Segments (1–3)

Mike Erickson Segments (4–6)

socialism - how it's marketed, how it is
12-42 Teeing up the Election: That Tick on America’s Back

12-42 Teeing up the Election: That Tick on America’s Back

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Show Summary: Socialism is a parasite that only survives because it lives off the blood of capitalism. It does not create wealth, it creates ruin. It has tried and failed. Oregon has been seeing its effects for decades. But this election, it could all change.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of June 2021
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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: October 15th & 16th, 2022 | Guest: Sen. Dennis Linthicum

This Week – Socialism: The Prosperity Parasite 

When you think about it, socialism is a parasite that only survives because it lives off the blood of capitalism. Socialism does not create wealth, it creates ruin. It has tried and failed in many countries, leaving destruction in its wake. But those pushing it here in America and especially in Oregon, are only able to promote it because those pushing it are funded by the profits (and taxes) generated from capitalism.

Oregon has been seeing socialism’s effects for decades. But this election, it could all change.

By the way. We used to call Oregon the Petri Dish of Leftist politics. Now it’s the Wuhan Lab of Leftist politics.

Senator Dennis Linthicum on Socialism in Oregon

We welcome back Senator, Dennis Linthicum (SD-28, Klamath Falls) to talk about socialism and its effects in Oregon. As a state senator in Oregon, he sees the policies pushed by the democrats, many of whom are socialists or wannabes. They just haven’t come out of the closet yet. But once Oregon is full socialist, they’ll drop the mask.

Be sure to get Dennis’s newsletter. It’s easy! Just send an email to dennis@electdennis.com to sign up

During the interview, we focus on four broad policy issues: society (education, crime, attacks on the family, etc.); economics (we’re living it under Biden); environment (spotted owl, the Klamath area has been under assault for decades, timber); and healthcare. On health care, Oregon just got a billion dollars to experiment with Medicaid, expanding it to virtually everything because, you guessed it, global warming.

And, Measure 111, is on the ballot this year. It would make universal health care permanent in Oregon by making it a constitutional right.

Remember. Environmental laws are how they control businesses. Healthcare is how they control people.

That’s how they seized such broad control during covid.

Don’t miss this in-depth examination of socialism and it’s impact on Oregon. We have this year to stop it. And, for once, things are looking good.

Be sure to check out the Featured Reading section in the links section for five great articles describing socialism.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Featured Reading: Socialism
History Lesson For Millennials: Here’s Why Socialism NEVER Works (The Federalist Papers, Feb 22, 2016)
Socialism Destroys Lives and Would Destroy America – It’s That Simple (The Western Journal, October 26, 2018)
Socialism’s Historical Destruction of the Environment (Case for Conservatism, October 10, 2022)
5 Ways Socialism Destroys Societies (Townhall, Feb 25, 2014)
Socialism: Destruction, starvation, tyranny, and death are cool again (Babalú Blog, September 19, 2018)
Socialism Will Always Destroy Democracy (The American Conservative, June 7, 2019)
Or watch: Klavan Explains Why Socialism Kills Countries (Daily Wire, July 24, 2018)

  • See the Cato Institute’s Report Card on America’s governors. Notice how the entire Left Coast gets an “F”: “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2022” (Cato Institute, Oct 12, 2022)
  • [Canada’s healthcare hellscape is now offering assisted suicide to wounded veterans] Veterans Affairs says worker ‘inappropriately’ discussed medically assisted death with veteran (Global News Canada, August 17, 2022)
  • ‘Abandoning People’: Canada’s Broadening Assisted Suicide Law Dangerous for the Vulnerable, Critics Say (The Epoch Times, August 24, 2022)
  • NHS Waiting List Tops 7 Million for First Time Leaving 1 in 8 People in England Waiting for NHS Treatment (The Daily Skeptic, Oct 13, 2022)*Wait up to 8 hours for an ambulance
  • Canada is Euthanizing the Poor (via VK.com, Aug 16, 2022)
  • Euthanasia is Now a Leading Cause of Death in Canada, And Ethicists Are Freaking Out (Daily Caller, Aug 12, 2022)
    • “[Canada’s] broad eligibility has led to more than 10,000 Canadians being euthanized in the most recent year for which data is available, making it the sixth leading cause of death in the country, the AP reported.*Matthew Yglesias: “Canadian institutions seem to be using euthanasia legalization to avoid the expense of caring for the disabled.”
  • Disturbing: Experts troubled by Canada’ euthanasia laws (AP News, Aug 11, 2022)
  • Euthanasia in Belgium and the Netherlands: On a Slippery Slope? (Research Gate, JAMA Internal Medicine, Aug 2015)
  • Dr Pierre Kory on Disillusionment (drtrozzi.org, Oct 12, 2022)
    • “I did not understand we were striking at the very heart of the pharmaceutical industry”
  • How surrogacy is transforming medicine (UnHerd, Oct 6, 2022)
It's not just politicians. It's the issues on the ballot. Make the right choice.
12-41 It’s Not Just Politicians. It’s the Real Issues on the Ballot

12-41 It’s Not Just Politicians. It’s the Real Issues on the Ballot

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Show Summary: Elections. Although politicians might get all the attention, it’s never just politicians on the ballot. It’s the issues on the ballot. Sometimes, like Oregon, there are direct ballot initiatives (like Measure 114, what the NRA calls the most dangerous gun law in America). But it’s the issues beyond just that politician that are up for vote. The economy. Crime. Education. Our rights. It’s the direction those politicians want to take us.  That’s what you have to focus on. We’ve seen where Democrats want to go. This week’s show looks at what’s at stake.

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The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: October 8th & 9th, 2022 | Guests: Marc Thielman & Alek Skarlatos

This Week – Issues on the Ballot

We welcome back Marc Thielman, former candidate for governor, who is doing it right. Too many politicians disappear when they don’t win. Instead, Marc has stepped up his game, focusing on the real issues on the ballot.

Because its the issues that matter. Not just the politicians. It’s what they will fight for. And what they will ignore.

We’ve seen the direction the democrats running for office want to take us. More taxes. More spending. More crime. Lower standards for education.

Join us as we talk about two key issues Marc is focused on. One is the real school choice initiative, an issue that will directly be on the 2024 ballot. This will give all parents a real choice in their child’s education. It won’t just be the rich that have a choice where to send their kids to get a good education. And Oregon’s public schools will either have to improve, or lose out.

Not surprising, democrats are not happy with the prospect your kids will get a quality education.

Marc is also focused on election integrity, restoring trust in our elections. His group is Battleground Oregon. Tune in to hear what they are finding and doing.

Other issues on the ballot, directly on the ballot in this case, is gun control. The NRA calls Ballot Initiative 114 “the most dangerous gun control bill in the nation.” Visit Stop114.com to find out more.

Alek Skarlartos – The Real Issues on the Ballot

We welcome back Alek Skarlatos who is running for CD4 in Oregon. If he wins, it will flip that seat from a Far Left democrat. His opponent is an even further Far Left democrat who hopes to take the seat even farther to the left.

Is that really what the voters of Oregon’s 4th Congressional District want? More taxes? More economic misery? We’ve seen where the democrats and Joe Biden want to take us. Off the rails. Don’t go with them.

Alek joins us to talk about what he’s hearing from his constituents around CD4. They’re concerned about the economy, first and foremost. And he talks about his opponent’s record. Which includes voting for tax increases on families making just $31,000 per year.

Note to Oregonians in the 4th: If you’re worried about the economy. Val Hoyle’s voting record should scare you to death.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

  • Visit Battleground Oregon for information on election integrity efforts around Oregon and how you can be involved
  • Be sure to visit Stop 114 to help stop the Left’s latest effort to disarm the innocent. Remember. Criminals don’t obey gun laws. This will do nothing to prevent harm. Only innocent, law-abiding citizens will be harmed. Head to stop114.com to see how you can help defeat this horrible bill.
  • You can visit Alek’s campaign site at AlekforOregon.com
  • Good news for Oregon’s Real School Choice ballot initiative! “West Virginia Supreme Court strikes big win for school choice” (Washington Examiner, Oct 5th, 2022)
  • Education Secretary Miguel Cardona: Students Need Access to Abortion to Thrive in School and in Life (Gateway Pundit, Oct 4, 2022)
  • That NEA article: Teachers Leave National Education Association, Say Union Pushes Politics With Member Dues (Epoch Times, Oct 4, 2022)
  • School board members reported mom to employer, DOJ for criticizing COVID school closures (Just the News, Oct 4, 2022)
  • CEO arrested for storing data on servers in China (Post Millennial, Oct 4, 2022)
  • Election Software CEO Arrested Over Data Theft (Epoch Times, Oct 5, 2022)
  • FBI Conceals Chinese Infiltration of U.S. Election Software (Kanekoa, Sept 8, 2022)
  • Hysterical: Now that the CEO of Konnech was arrested (by California, no less) for exactly what True the Vote accused him of, read this gushing write up about Konnech’s lawsuit against True the Vote that was written before the arrest. You’ll LOL. “Lawsuit alleges True the Vote hacked data” (Texas Votebeat, Sept 14, 2022)
12-40 It’s Stupid Politicians | When Economics Meets Politics

12-40 It’s Stupid Politicians | When Economics Meets Politics

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Show Summary: It’s the intersection of economics and politics this week. And what happens when economics meets politics…? Pretty much the same thing when you give a loaded gun to a toddle and tie yourself to a chair. Jonathan Williams from the American Legislative Exchange Council discusses what is so wrong with this economy. (It’s the politicians.) And don’t miss Joe Rae Perkins who is trying to get one of those stupid politicians out.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of June 2021
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: October 1st & 2nd, 2022 | Guests: Jonathan Williams & Jo Rae Perkins 

This Week – When Economics meets Politics

Imagine people who have no understanding of economics (stupid politicians) making decisions about the economy based on the advice of their donors, bureaucrats with agendas, and paid lobbyists.

It’s like being tied to a chair, watching a toddler play with a loaded pistol.

This week, we welcome back Jonathan Williams, who is the Executive Vice President of Policy and Chief Economist at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Jonathan has a terrific article on the Daily Caller (), in which he neatly walks through what’s wrong with the economy right now and then provides some easy solutions. If only the current White House resident would listen. To someone other than his donors, bureaucrats with agendas, and paid lobbyists.

Go read Jonathan’s terrific article on The Daily Caller

Special bonus. Long-time I Spy Radio listeners may remember our previous shows about “market transformation.” In essence, “market transformation is a shortcut around a market. “Market transformation” allows favored, politically aligned companies to receive grants and other funding to bypass normal market barriers to entry, such as start-up costs and marketing. This is what we are seeing right now with our economy. You can see it especially with green energy. It’s not green and it’s barely energy. But it does make democrats and their political allies and ideology a lot of money.

Vote Out the Stupid

When economics meets politics, there’s just one solution. Vote the stupid out.

Because the problem with the intersection of economics and politics is that it puts the stupid people in charge. Stupid people, like Ron Wyden. Who has been in Washington DC since the 1990s. Ron is so stupid, he has an ad running right now that says no government should have control over a woman’s body. Really Ron? What about the vaccine mandates you were pushing  just months ago.

He also has an ad complaining about forest fires. Thanks for noticing, Ron, now that it’s election time. But it’s been your policies that causes them to burn. Do nothing. Blame Global Warming when all that dry kindling catches fire. Demand taxpayer dollars for Global Warming and green energy. (There’s that market transformation.) Still to nothing. Rinse and repeat.

Send some money Jo Rae’s way at perkins.vote. She needs help getting her ads on radio and TV. $50 would buy an ad play on many radio stations; in some markets as many as five airings

Jo Rae is up against the money that pours into democrat politicians who promise to do those market transformations. And those donors are terrified they will lose their golden goose if Ron goes the way of the dodo.

Let’s make stupid extinct.

Bonus: if elected, Jo Rae promises not to vote for Mitch McConnell.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

 

12-39 It’s the Elections, Stupid | The Front Lines of Freedom are in Oregon

12-39 It’s the Elections, Stupid | The Front Lines of Freedom are in Oregon

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Show Summary: This week, we’re focusing on the front lines of freedom. And right now, our freedoms come down to the elections. We speak with a businessman running for Congress to get government out of the way, and a scientist who attended the Washington County trial in which the State and county are attempting to hide public records from the public. And you won’t believe what the judge did to the expert witness.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of June 2021
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: September 24th & 25th, 2022 | Guest: Mike Erickson & Chuck Wiese 

This Week – It’s the Elections, Stupid

Bill Clinton famously had a sign on the Oval office wall, “It’s the economy, stupid.” It served as a daily reminder that the economy is what matters most to most people. Well, who is in charge of that economy comes down to elections.

In Oregon, the far-left policies keep us entrenched in high taxes, rising housing costs, and dubious curricula in public schools to cripple the next generation, and elections that don’t bring answers to the problems. It all feels hopeless. and many have left the state going to redder pastures to find the answers in states that make sense. Lower taxes, less big government, lower public debt, or maybe none at all if you’re in South Dakota. Meanwhile, Oregon’s lawmakers look to ruin our electric grid by pulling out dams, then force electric cars on its citizens whether we like it or not. Thus dies the free market.

Mike Erickson, Candidate for Oregon’s New CD 6

Speaking of that sign in the Oval office, we’ve gone from “It’s the economy, stupid,” to “It’s a stupid economy.” Here’s a hint to voters in Oregon’s new CD 6. If you want to fix the economy, don’t elect someone who has no business experience. Oregon, and the nation, needs elected officials who have practical business experience — not someone who has spent their entire life in government. (Hint number two: Biden has no practical business experience and look how that’s worked out.)

If you want to support Mike Erickson, find out what you can do at MikeEricksonforCongress.org. (Start by sharing that with your family and friends!)

Remember the strategy we mentioned months ago: If you live in a safe district (in Oregon, that’s CD 2) or in a hopeless district (CDs 1 and 3), put your time and money and energy to promote and support candidates in districts where they have a chance to flip a seat. That’s CDs 4 (Alek Skarlatos), 5 (Lorie DeRemer), and 6 — Mike Erickson.

Mike is running against Andrea Salinas, a far-left democrat who spent her entire adult life in and around government. On her website, she says she grew up in a hard-working family where nothing was handed to them but they made it through hard work. And, like Mike, she also had a cop for a father. So why is Mike fighting for police and she’s voting to defund the police? And how did she go from “working hard” and pulling oneself up through hard work to a career fighting for government handouts paid for by other people?

So Much for Open and Honest Elections

Here’s a funny thing.

In Oregon, the Secretary of State’s job is to audit other state agencies. But for some reason, she has declared that the elections division is off limits. Why is that? Instead, she has joined a lawsuit against a voter to declare a Washington County database should be shielded from public view and scrutiny.

Imagine trying that if the IRS wanted to audit your business. No, you can’t see the numbers. Trust us. Everything’s fine. You’d be saying that from jail. But the State is refusing to hand over a database, calling it proprietary information of a private company handling Washington County’s elections.

And why is a private company handling our elections to begin with?

We talk with Chuck Wiese — a scientist, analyst, and meteorologist, who has stepped up and joined the front lines of freedom — who was there at both days of the Sippel case trial. You won’t believe what the judge did to an actual, world renowned data scientist. Well, it’s Oregon. Maybe you will.

If the judge decides against the Sippel case, it will only continue to fuel the fire and doubts about the 2020 election. The only way to put out that fire is to open up the data to prove there wasn’t any manipulation. But hiding it and then expecting people to trust the government…?

Regardless of whether or not you think the 2020 election, when it comes to elections, any election, the Golden Rule should be “Open the books.” Hiding the results behind a wall of secrecy is, well, just stupid.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Mike Erickson Segments 1–3

Chuck Wiese Segments 4–6

 

What to do about our many healthcare crises. It is just one healthcare crisis after another.
Our Many Healthcare Crises, Part 2 | The Root Cause of Many of Them

Our Many Healthcare Crises, Part 2 | The Root Cause of Many of Them

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Show Summary: When Obamacare was passed (rammed through without a single Republican vote), it was supposed to fix health care and lower costs. All those savings, remember? What happened? But there are more problems and more spending than ever. This week, we continue our talk with healthcare-system expert, Lisa Lettenmaier, but zero in on the two root causes of many of, if not all of, our many healthcare crises.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of June 2021
Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

The I Spy Radio Show airs weekends, six different times, on seven different stations. Listen anywhere through the stations’ live streams! Check out when, where, and how to listen to the I Spy Radio Show. Podcast available Mondays after the show airs on out network of stations.

Original Air Dates: August 6th & 7th, 2022 | Guest: Lisa Lettenmaier

This Week – Our Many Healthcare Crises

We continue our deep dive into the problems plaguing our health care system—the many healthcare crises and the ever-growing expense. How is it that we are spending more than ever — by far! — on healthcare and yet it’s just one crisis after another? 

But this week, we zero in on the two main problems. And they should be no surprise, really, for anyone who has followed I Spy Radio’s many shows on healthcare or for anyone who has a lick of common sense. The two root causes are money and government. Particularly, government interference.

Healthcare crises in the UK: "My cousin had to deliver his child because the ambulance said they’d take 4 and a half hours to come for his wife. What is the UK coming to? He had to watch a YouTube tutorial on how to deliver a baby."
Healthcare crises in the UK. THIS is what they want to emulate?

We bring back our healthcare system expert, Lisa Lettenmaier. Lisa is currently an insurance agent and owns Health Source NW. But her background is in accounting, overseeing budgets and forecasting for major companies. So when she looks at the healthcare crises, she is viewing it not just from an insurance standpoint but from a systemic-analyst’s viewpoint.

Need healthcare and not sure where to turn? Give Lisa a call. Her website is www.HealthSourceNW.com.  She helps individuals and businesses throughout Oregon and SW Washington make sure they have the right coverage for when, God forbid, they really need it. Will your policy cover what you think it does? 

The Root Cause of So Many Healthcare Crises

This week, you’ll also hear an extended opener from I Spy Radio host, Mark Anderson, on the government’s interference — sabotage, really — of the normal free-market forces that would normally lower cost and improve care. Mark walks you through what a free market system would look like. Hint: we don’t have one now (remember Obama et al. when they were pushing Obamacare:  “the free market failed”?), not in health care. And he walks you through the government interfering with the free market, much of which can be traced back to a 1943 IRS ruling.

If you didn’t already think “they” are destroying things on purpose, you’ll believe it after this show. No one, no government, makes this many “mistakes” on purpose.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Trapped under a heavy object? Missed the show? Don’t worry—catch the podcast version. I Spy Radio is now available on your favorite platform, or you can grab it right here. See the full list of podcast options.

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info