Wednesday digest

- While it's undoubtedly true that democracy requires patience, the statistics from Iraq are encouraging. Consider the following:

- unemployment down to 25-40% from 50-60% three years ago;
- per capita GDP up from $802 US dollars in 2002 to $1,051 now (an increase of over 25%);
- almost 100% of homes have access to the electricity grid;
- almost 4 in 5 homes have access to piped water;
- over 3.1 million registered vehicles, up from 1.5 million pre-war;
- almost 7 million telephone subscribers, up from just under 1 million pre-war;
- an operational court system with 351 trained judges, up from 0 in May 2003; and
- a total of 44 commercial TV stations, 72 commercial radio stations and over 100 independent magazines and newpapers, up from 0 in all three categories pre-war.

There is still a long way to go but it cannot be denied that things are progressing on several key measures.

- A harrowing look at the workers' paradise of North Korea, here.

- How many taxes did you pay today?

- Ottawa's gay pride parade committee is claiming poverty. The municipal government should tell them flat out to not bother coming knocking on the taxpayers' door for a bailout. There is certainly enough private money in this city that can be raised to keep the parade afloat without property owners having to pay the bill. However, I'm not hopeful, especially with Alex Munter threatening to defeat Bob Chiarelli this fall.

- From the Western Standard blog, a satirical letter supposedly sent to the White House on the illegal immigration issue recently. Gold, baby.
Dear President Bush:

I'm about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and I would like to ask you to assist me. I'm going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this.

I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here.

So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I'm on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.

2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

3. All government forms need to be printed in English.

4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.

5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.

6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.

7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.

9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won't make any effort to learn local traffic laws.

10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.

11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don't enforce any labor laws or tax laws.

13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.

14. Eventually I want to be able to vote and have all election materials and notices sent to me in English with Spanish as a second language..

I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico.

I am sure that Pres. Fox won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely. However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go quail hunting with your V.P.