©2003 Copley News Service, 9/3/2003 It's September and that means not just the start of school but the football season. When I started writing this syndicated column, the one subject I vowed I would never write about was football. I'm going to break that vow and write about my favorite sport not just because I am excited about watching both amateur and professional football, but because I am excited for the thousands and thousands of kids and their families (including mine) who are getting ready for their football seasons.

This week AmeriCorps supporters are rallying in Washington to get taxpayer’s money for the Clinton-created “volunteer” program that pays college students for community service. They are planning 100 hours of non-stop testimony detailing how AmeriCorps “volunteers” are rebuilding communities, assisting the elderly, mentoring children, and rekindling a sense of patriotism—and how none of this good work will happen if they don’t get $100 million more from Congress.

In the latest cheerleader lawsuit, a senior in Pennsylvania, is suing her high school because she was dropped from the squad. Last year, after being caught with alcohol and tobacco, a cheerleader sued a Minnesota high school that demoted her from captain for her actions. She did not dispute the charges, she simply felt the school dealt with her too harshly. These lawsuits, like thousands of others that needlessly clog the courtrooms of America, demonstrate the extent to which the legal system has lost its mooring.

“Ambulance-chasing personal injury trial lawyers must be stopped,” said Peggy Venable, director of the 25,000-member Texas Citizens for a Sound Economy, in response to stunning announcement of a medical record theft ringleader’s arrest in Houston on Thursday. “The public has no confidence in trial lawyers and now the worst of their tactics have been exposed,” stated Venable. “They have robbed decent, honest Texas citizens of their trust, their money, and their peace of mind.”

Eco-terrorism is becoming commonplace. They are attacking our liberties and the American economy. For Texas CSE members and friends who participated in the counter rally at the ExxonMobil shareholder meetings, we well recall the radical enviro terrorists being picked up in SUV’s last year. These are anti-American, anti-capitalism radicals who sabotage business and industry and demonize the American way of life.

Over 80 political and civic leaders gathered at the home of Ambassador Joseph & Augusta Petrone on Tuesday evening to discuss the future of Social Security with special guest Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute. NH CSE and For Our Grandchildren have partner in New Hampshire to inject the issue of Social Security Reform into the Presidential Primary. Michael Tanner serves as Director of Health and Welfare Studies at the Cato Institute and is recognized nationwide as an expert on Social Security.