The IRS has begun an investigation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as a first step in revoking the organization's tax exemption. And a good thing too. They caught Julian Bond, the NAACP's president, making an anti Bush speech at the civil rights group's annual convention. Tax exempt organizations are not allowed to engage in political activities unless they are churches in which case it is OK. Bond has been accused of being a non-believer and there are no crosses or symbols of faith-based activities at NAACP meetings. No acts of sexual child abuse have been reported at the organizations' functions which is further proof that it is not a religious organization. The sooner the IRS deprives this organization of its special status the better, we say.

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A study by a medical team from The Johns Hopkins University, published in the authoritative British journal, The Lancet, estimates that not less than 100,000 Iraqis have been killed during and since the war. Half of these are women and children."This comes as a great disappointment," says an administration spokesman."We had expected a much higher number. Even though a large percentage of those killed are breeders, it is apparent that at this rate the Iraqis will not be bowing out of history any time soon. More is the pity." While conceding the numbers are" a disappointment," another member of the administration added that,"It is a start. You have to begin somewhere and America is a young country with limited experience in population expurgation technology. The fact that there are still about 15 million Iraqis left alive should not be held against the Bush administration which is doing its best -- with no help from the Democrats."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Scholars at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will soon publish a report outlining a new way of dealing with the financial crisis facing the Social Security system when the baby boomers start retiring. Up till now, the AEI scholars write, the problem has always been framed as one of having to cut benefits, raise the payroll tax or take people out of the system by privatizing their Social Security accounts. This last is a way of lowering the number of beneficiaries and, the scholars argue, it is a good one in so far as it conforms to free market principles. The objection to privatization is that Americans will not put money into their retirement accounts. AEI argues that if we followed free market rules, we would allow people who failed to save during their working years to molder away from lack of food, medical care, etc., but that collectivist inspired ideas of entitlement have put pressure on politicians. They cave in and reward thriftless behavior because they're afraid that the liberal media might display pictures of freezing emaciated senior citizens spending their sunset years in cardboard boxes. Further difficulties arise because younger people put their emotions ahead of free market logic and become irritated and upset at the sight of sick, impecunious relatives, particularly if they are close relatives such as those who fall into the mother or father category. However, AEI researchers believe they've found a way out, one suggested by the current flu vaccine shortage. Let the free market deal with flu vaccine without unnatural government interference. Since vaccine manufacturers say that they cannot make money with this product, it is safe to assume it will become both scarce and expensive. Thus it will be beyond the reach of millions of people over the age of 65. Rich senior citizens will be able to obtain the vaccine, which is all right from the public finance point of view because, even if the flu vaccine helps them to live longer, they can pay their own way. Moderate income geezers, codgers and crones will not be able to afford vaccines and will therefore die off at a much more rapid rate, particularly in epidemic years. This will lighten the Social Security and Medicare burden. The glory of this plan is that the politicians need do nothing to execute it and doing nothing is what they like best. For more details click on scholars, if you can find them, at the AEI website.