Property Rights, Libraries and Safe Spaces, State Contracts, and Hate Speech in Idaho (especially Coeur D’Alene and Donnelly).

Several articles appeared in this week’s headlines about some concerning trends in Idaho. Our red state is turning purple. We must turn back the tide…

Nowhere To Hyde – Idaho's Safe Spaces (07/10/24, video 14 min): “Should elected officials deny private property rights to protect the feelings of a few? Also, why did one Idaho library choose adult material over remaining open to children?” youtube.com/live/ep1wSyPdC-g. This video is a good summary of the library and property issues mentioned next. It also briefly discusses Coeur D’Alene’s new “hate speech ordinance” – more details about this ordinance here youtube.com/live/ep1wSyPdC-g.

— When Libraries Choose Smut Instead Of Child Literacy. By Ronald M. Nate, Ph.D (07/03/24): Donnelly Public Library reacted to Idaho’s House Bill 710 (youtube.com/live/ep1wSyPdC-g) by announcing it would go “adults-only” on July 1. Their statement to the press explained: “Our size prohibits us from separating our ‘grown up’ books to be out of the accessible range of children.” youtube.com/live/ep1wSyPdC-g

Of course, the real question is “If the library cannot find space for a special adults-only section, why are its taxpayer funded employees choosing smut over child literacy?”

— CDA Council Chases Away Sadness With A Prohibition On Private Property. By Idaho Freedom Foundation Staff (07/08/24). The Coeur d’Alene City Council has voted to take property rights away from some of its home and business owners because tearing down old buildings might make some people sad: youtube.com/live/ep1wSyPdC-g

Government should exist to protect people’s rights, including the right to own property and do with it as you will. But in Coeur D’Alene, the government now exists to keep people safe from sadness.

— Making Government Smaller, Not Banning Employment, is the Right Answer in State Contract Case. By Idaho Freedom Foundation Staff (07/08/24): youtube.com/live/ep1wSyPdC-g

This article specifically addresses Magellan of Idaho, a company awarded a $1.2 billion mental health contract, but it is about much more.

Magellan hired three former Department of Health and Welfare employees to oversee the project, including one employee who evaluated Magellan’s bid and was tapped as the company’s Idaho CEO.

In essence, IDHW served as a revolving door from government to “private” industry, much as the FDA serves as a revolving door from government to Big Pharma boards or other cushy jobs.

While some in the press addressed this practice as “perfectly normal,” others called for a ban on government employees and former legislators going to work in the private sector.

The real question is “why does the state have a $1.2 billion contract to handle mental health?” This is not the proper role of government; if the government weren’t in this field, the revolving door would be completely unnecessary.