So let’s start by learning from the far left teacher’s associations and run with the "zero tolerance" play for a while. The teachers now have zero tolerance for guns in schools. That’s fine. Guns do not necessarily belong in school unless shooting is being taught.

But, they carried that zero tolerance thing so far it is now little more then a sick joke. A child can be suspended for just drawing a picture of a gun. Boys have been suspended for pointing a potato chip, and even a finger, at another student and acting like they were guns. So, today, if a kid even says the old familiar "bang, bang, your dead" while playing with another student, that is almost a universally suspendable offence.

So, how about we have zero tolerance for government officials? That is, any government official even hinting at a proposal that violates the Constitution should be deluged with cards, letters and telephone calls from voters calling for his or her immediate suspension.

For instance, John Magaw, the transportation security czar, recently called for "passenger screening in all modes" of transportation. When asked to explain, Magaw said that the details of how and when that will be done -- and who will pay for it -- have not yet been decided. Here’s a great application for zero tolerance. Apparently Magaw is unfamiliar with the Bill of Rights and needs to be suspended until he is schooled in the concept of liberty and our search laws.

Another problem is those public servants who outwardly violate our law. Laws apply to everyone equally. No one should get a free pass just because they draw a government paycheck. Lying to the American people, defrauding the American people, and even stealing the taxpayer’s money, are not at all uncommon events with government workers. We should have zero tolerance in these matters.

Remember those government workers who lied about things like the number of spotted owls, wolves, bears, and lynx so as to be able to put large tracts of land off limits to farming, mining, logging and even fishing and hunting? We need zero tolerance in these matters. Those government workers are still drawing a government paycheck when they should be convicted of fraud instead.

As reported by the Washington Times last week, in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti,, Senator Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, "asked for an update on certain employees whom his committee staff identified as having had more than 30 consecutive days of administrative leave for disciplinary reasons, including an employee who was on paid leave for 425 workdays from 1998 to 2000 for fighting and assault, and a manager who was on leave for all of 2000 -- 240 days -- for unprofessional conduct."

According to the article, from 1998 through April 2001, 22 employees were paid for more than six months after being indicted or convicted of felonies. Another 19 employees received payment for up to a month after indictment or conviction, and 12 employees received paychecks for between one month and six months. The figures were compiled by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

A few years back there was a major scandal in the FBI. The FBI crime lab was caught falsifying data for use in court. FBI agents regularly "testilied" in criminal cases. That "problem" quietly went away, we are led to believe. Except, those convicted on false evidence are still in prison and many of the FBI agents who knowingly committed perjury in court are still drawing government paychecks. Definitely, zero tolerance is required in this matter. They corrupted our justice system.

From the highest elected officials to the lowest government clerk, all government officials and public employees must be required to do two things accurately: First, they must obey our Constitution perfectly, as was intended by the Founding Fathers. A good outline of the Original Intent of the authors of our Constitution is available in The Federalist Papers for anyone interested. Second, all public officials must be required to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in all dealings with the American people.

Anything else creates a two tiered system of citizenship with the public officials above the law. Which, incidentally, is what is happening.