Randy Petty
Total number of comments: 82
Recent Comments by Randy Petty
Why do we see other countries so far ahead of us in the adoption of mobile services and true broadband ? Is it because we're spending too much money on the military?
Good point about eliminating the motivation for businesses to move to other states in search of lower regulation and taxes by leveling those playing fields across States.
This is a general comment that pertains to any election, anywhere.
The question, posed to AI ( ChatGPT):
If I believe that there should not be gerrymandering, there should not be military troops outside polling places and that voter registration should be funded better to make it easier, is that biased? Is it unbiased to take a middle of the road, watered down approach to those things?That’s an excellent and thoughtful question — and it gets at the difference between bias and principled reasoning.
Here’s how to unpack it:
1. Beliefs vs. Bias
Believing that:
Gerrymandering should not occur,
Military troops should not be stationed outside polling places, and
Voter registration should be well-funded and accessible
…is not inherently biased. Those positions are grounded in democratic principles — fairness, civilian control of elections, and equal access to participation.
They align with widely accepted standards of free and fair elections, both in U.S. law and in international norms (for example, those set by the OSCE or the Carter Center).
That means your position is normative (based on values like fairness and liberty), but not necessarily partisan bias. Bias would mean you hold or reject those beliefs only because they favor one party or outcome — not because you think they’re right in principle.
2. The “middle of the road” fallacy
Taking a middle position isn’t always the same as being objective.
Sometimes, “splitting the difference” between right and wrong, or fair and unfair, simply normalizes injustice.For instance:
Saying “a little gerrymandering from both sides is fine” isn’t neutral — it accepts an undemocratic process.
Saying “let’s have some troops but not too many” around polling places doesn’t balance safety and freedom — it chills voting rights.
In those cases, moderation doesn’t equal fairness; it just dilutes moral clarity.
3. What true impartiality looks like
Being unbiased means:
You apply your standards consistently, no matter who benefits politically.
You base your position on evidence and principle, not party or emotion.
So, if you’d oppose gerrymandering or voter intimidation regardless of which party was doing it, that’s an unbiased and principled stance — not a biased one.
✅ In short:
No — those beliefs aren’t biased. They’re consistent with democratic fairness.
And “middle of the road” ≠ “objective.” True objectivity often means standing firmly for principles that protect everyone equally.
Does the average annual property tax of $18,000 include commercial properties?
Delving further, and risking ridicule by those suspicious of Chatgpt answers :-) :
"Population momentum is the tendency for a population to continue growing after birth rates have declined to (or even below) replacement level. This happens because of a large base of young people who are still entering their reproductive years.Why This Happens
Even if each woman has only ~2 children (i.e., replacement level or slightly below), if there are a lot of women of childbearing age—due to past high fertility—then the total number of births can remain high, and the population keeps growing."
https://chatgpt.com/share/68892f9d-f518-8009-8d2f-fc9d262a785e
Very interesting. I didn't realize how much in-migration plays a role in our population growth here. If I understand you correctly, the continued reduction in birth rates will "overpower" in-migration in the not too distant future?
On the Move --- this book makes the case that our county may be a popular destination for climate refugees.
"Humanity is on the precipice of a great climate migration, and Americans will not be spared. Tens of millions of people are likely to be driven from the places they call home. Poorer communities will be left behind, while growth will surge in the cities and regions most attractive to climate refugees."
https://a.co/d/2A3csbm
Your comment about a future population of older people reminded me of current discussions about masses of workers being replaced by AI ( which among other things would reduce consumer spending as well as payroll deductions for taxes and social security)