[Superman]

Oh, and by the way, here's something that would be comical if it weren't so disgusting. You'll see what I mean.

I went to a Senate hearing this morning and the Klingons voted consisten with all my expectations. And perhps some of you would be proud of them. You be the judge.

One example was a proposal to create a $10 annual fee for Minor Work Permits. Minor Work Permits are currently necessary to employe persons under the age of 18, and can be obtained ust by clicking a box when you get your Master Business License. No charge. Well, minors are not as smart as we are, and they think they are invincible. So, it's just not okay for them to operate certain kinds of equipment. Under state or even federal law. They just get hurt. Well, employers expose them to these dangers anyway. Go figure.

And they get hurt and killed. Hmmmmm.... Today we heard testimony from teens who have been paralyzed, lost limbs, etc. Some have died. Of course, we didn't hear from them directly today, but you know what I mean. So, our labor department wants a modest bit of funding to review and scruninize these permits. In order to assist in protecting businesses (and....oh yeah, teens) from these tragedies.

And then, some business representatives had the beans to sit at a testimony table and oppose this legislation. The charge would be $10 per year. Not per minor. Per business location, per year. Yes, we hears sob stories about how this fee would cause firms to go out of business. We heard how this would curtail important employment opportunities and the critical work ethic they instill in our young people. We heard businesses say, point blank, that this $10 fee would cause them to stop employing minors (who work cheap, by the way).

We heard pointed questions from ("R") senators who were apparently of the same ilk. (and from the same agriculture-based communities that employ thousands of brown-faced teens who should be in school, but don't speak english but they have small, dexterous hands).

Okay, I'm going to quit now....but howz taht for a rant?