By Matthew Hayward In a free society, there is no need for "distracted driving" laws. No law should exist that attempts to socially engineer society; we do not need laws that attempt to prevent crimes from happening, and we do not need pre-crime laws. We need to enforce rational laws and punish real crimes. In today's Tri-City Herald article  Put the phone down and pay attention, or get a ticket , we learn that the Washington State Legislature has again passed another emotionally driven bill that violates our basic human rights. First, they tell us we are not allowed to make phone calls while holding the phone to our ear, and then they tell us we cannot text; now, this most recent "distracted driving bill,"  Senate Bill 5289 , prohibits us from holding various electronic devices.  We don't need more complex laws; common-sense laws should suffice. We don't need a law that addresses playing musical instruments while driving or reading a ...

By Matthew Hayward In WA. State legislators are seriously considering rasing the minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21 years old. The bill in question just passed, "The House Health Care & Wellness Committee," if you ask, that sounds like a committee that should not exist. ( Link )  " A poll found that 65 percent of voters are for of raising the smoking and vaping age from 18 to 21." Do any of these people polled think kids wait until they are 18 to start smoking? This poll proves two things; People are stupid. Society believes responsibility is not a personal matter but a public one.  This kind of protectionism is the opposite of a free society. I have a better solution. End age limits and regulation of controlled substances and let people be free to make bad decisions, and when they do, let's let them suffer the consequences of those decisions. It's time to depend on parenting and common sense. And not to worry, if a child doesn'...

By Matthew Hayward Happy Bill of Rights Day! Opening the paper this morning to read retiring liquor control board chair Sharon Foster's passionate comments against the free market was wonderful. While the privatization of liquor sales was voter-approved, Sharon says it was "the dumbest thing we ever did in our state." She then went on to point out that privatization has "led to higher prices and increased shoplifting of alcohol, especially by minors. We've heard stories there may be alcohol brokers in every high school,”  Let’s start with higher prices; the State is punishing the people with sin taxes and making more money than ever. Next shoplifting; yes, there will be an increase in shoplifting of a product when you now have the product. Sharon fails to mention adjustments made in security measures without State regulations. When liquor was first opened up for sale in the general marketplace, many store owners foolishly placed their products insecurely in open...