Incomprehensible laws on when an incoming president’s national security adviser can talk to a Russian ambassador cost Mike Flynn his job.

I am actually for term limits, but I believe our national security adviser’s term should last longer than a gallon of milk.

President Obama signed an executive order in his final days saying all intelligence agencies can share information. He did it to trap Trump, knowing career Democrat bureaucrats would be able to leak something on Trump. About 90 percent of D.C. government employees are Democrats.

Clearly, Obama did not want this law in place when his was “the most transparent administration in history.” Obama signing that executive order, with just days to go in his administration, was as magnanimous as Thomas Jefferson freeing his slaves in his will.

Eric Garner, the guy in NYC, was killed for essentially selling untaxed cigarettes. Probably for a crime he didn’t understand.

The problem is that we are becoming a country of too many laws, lots and lots of laws, layered upon each other with perpetual ambiguity. And it seems we keep adding to the laws that we have, thus making the federal and local government larger and more unaccountably powerful with each and every passing bill the president signs.

Enacting more laws — laws that even lawyers cannot understand — makes Americans less free.

When a problem happens in this country, both parties run to the microphones, wag their fingers with amazement that it occurred, blame the other party, and announce another law that they are going to pass or an agency they will start.

Most of the time, it just makes the matter worse.

The Affordable Care Act was not affordable and the Patriot Act was not patriotic. So bad law is piled upon bad law, unevenly enforced. It has all become a joke.

I dream of a day when I can tape a baseball game "without the expressed written consent of Major League Baseball," but I know deep down that my desire will remain only that. I’m not even sure how my DVR gets away with recording TV.

There is not a person in this country who could not be harassed, indicted and probably convicted on some law by a zealous prosecutor. Just ask the Duke Lacrosse Team kids. Yes, they were eventually acquitted, but a politically ambitious prosecuting attorney who was up for re-election ruined some young men's lives.

I once saw a saying on a bathroom wall that said, "Give me ambiguity or give me something else." I have never hired a lawyer to look at some legal issue who came back quickly with a straight answer. Usually, he or she comes back with more questions than answers.  Since they are paid by the hour, they like it that way.

Trump needs to decide what is important in this country and almost start over with our laws and the tax code. We need to rebuild our laws, starting with the most important ones where there is a clear victim (such as rape, incest, murder and robbery). And we need to stop at some point when we realize a law is outdated, unclear, unenforceable or redundant. Laws need to be clear and evenly enforced. And citizens need to understand them.

A more evolved society needs fewer laws. The more totalitarian a country, the more laws and rules it has. We really need to take stock and realize that passing law upon confusing law is not the direction we need for our country.

I wrote this same column in 2006 when George W. Bush was in power. Sadly, the problem has gotten worse.

I hope that President Trump will look into the fatty folds of government and cut out many of these rules and regulations. When you have a hammer, you are always looking for a nail. So it is with growing government agencies, laws and regulators.

With each law or regulation, freedom is diminished.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Freedom diminishes with each new law

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do in Northwest Florida

CRESTVIEW — The Baker Lions Club Spring Fling Car Show is set 7:30 a.m. April 1 at the Baker Area Recreation Center, 5503 U.S. Highway 4, Baker.

A pancake breakfast will be available for purchase at 7:30 a.m.; registration for the car show is at 8 a.m. and costs $20. Antique vehicles will be on display.

The event — free to attend — includes booths with cakes, cookies and other canned goods, arts and crafts, and family-friendly activities. It also includes KidSight vision screenings for children.

The Lions Club has 10-feet-square booth spaces still available, some with electricity, for $20 to $25. Call 537-2491 for booth rental information.

Contact Mike Killam, 830-3994, or visit www.e-clubhouse.org for show details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Lions Club sets car show

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview library will celebrate fairy tales in several different forms this month.

Fairy Tale Night is 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. The Crestview Writers Group will collaborate on fairy tales with attendees. The event also includes crafts, a scavenger hunt, face painting and games.

It is free for all ages to attend, and attendees may dress as their favorite fairy tale character.

Call Holly Jacobs, 682-4432 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Library sets Fairy Tale Night

Join us 10 a.m. every second Saturday of each month for a hands-on, creative learning experience.

Our next craft session is 10 a.m. March 11 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

Each session will feature a creative, artistic, useful craft that you will make with the help of your fellow crafters and crafting enthusiast Jean McCarthy.

Advance sign-up is encouraged, as we have a set amount of supplies available, depending on the type of craft.

Although the event is geared toward adults, people of all ages are welcome.

Call Jean at 682-4432 for more information.

Marie Heath is the Crestview Public Library's director.

UPCOMING

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Enjoy coffee, crafts at your library

As we get older, the end of another year takes on greater meaning, in many ways, than it did when we were young.

And if you're a certain age, Dec. 31 has a very specific meaning in terms of your finances, because it's the deadline for withdrawing money from some of your retirement plans. What should you know about these withdrawals? And how much control over them do you have?

Here's the picture, in a nutshell: Once you turn 70½, you generally need to start taking withdrawals — the technical term is "required minimum distributions," or RMDs — from your traditional IRA and your 401(k) or similar plan, such as a 403(b) plan (for employees of public schools, religious institutions and other tax-exempt organizations) or 457(b) plan (for employees of state and local governments and governmental agencies).

After the first year in which you take these RMDs, you must take them by the end of each year thereafter. If you don't withdraw at least the minimum amount (calculated based on your age, account balance and other factors) you face a penalty of 50 percent of what you should have taken out — a potential loss of thousands of dollars.

So, here's priority No. 1: Take your RMDs before the end of the year. The financial services provider who administers your IRA or 401(k) can help you determine the amount you must withdraw.

However, after that point, it's your decision as to whether you want to exceed the minimum. Of course, you may need to take more out to meet your living expenses. But if you have enough additional income from other sources — such as Social Security and interest and dividend payments from investments held outside your retirement accounts — you may be able to stick with the minimum withdrawals. This could prove to be beneficial, because you obviously want your retirement accounts to last as long as possible, considering you might spend two or even three decades as a retiree.

Another reason not to take more than you need from your retirement accounts is that these withdrawals are typically taxable — so the less you take out, the lower your tax bill.

You can also potentially lower your tax burden arising from RMDs by being generous. If you take money from your IRA and donate it to a qualified charity (one that has received tax-exempt status from the IRS), you can exclude the withdrawal from your adjusted gross income and count the donation against your taxable RMDs.

Suppose, for example, your RMD for 2016 is $5,500. If you take $5,000 from your IRA and donate it to a qualified charity, your taxable RMD obligation will be reduced to just $500. If you were to take another $500 from your IRA, you would satisfy your entire RMD for the year. (Consult with your tax advisor to make sure you're following the rules governing these charitable donations from your IRA.)

You worked many years to build your retirement accounts. So when it's time to tap into them, make the right moves — and do whatever it takes to maximize the benefits you get from your required minimum distributions.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What you should know about taking retirement withdrawals

Turkey Creek is a 20-acre conservation area in Niceville with a boardwalk, pavilion, and numerous swimming platforms.

The creek drains 65 square miles of predominately longleaf forest, reaching north to Duke Field. Water from the creek and surrounding wetlands then flows into Boggy Bayou to Choctawhatchee Bay and, ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico.

The park is open daily and is free to visit. It boasts a 1-mile, one-way raised wooden boardwalk that cuts through a floodplain forest of four types of trees: Atlantic white cedar, cypress, red bay and sweetgum.

The boardwalk features several areas to enjoy views of the creek and wildlife such as turtles, ducks and a number of different birds, among other critters.

True to the creek's name, wild turkey live along the banks, as well as deer, wild boar, squirrel, raccoon, fox, osprey, bald eagle, several species of turtles, and the occasional snake. A small alligator was seen frequently in 2016.

Fish include not only the endangered Okaloosa Darter, but also bass and bluegill. Birdwatchers, in particular, will be delighted by the dozen or more prothonotary warblers, bright yellow-orange birds that spend their spring, summer and fall in the forest, as well as the swallow-tailed kites, northern cardinals, herons and woodpeckers. (Eglin Air Force Base has the fourth largest red-cockaded woodpecker population in the world).

The creek is characterized by dark, tea-colored water that drains the sandhill forests surrounding Eglin. The color comes from tannins and dissolved organic matter from adjacent swamps and marshes.

Turkey Creek — a shallow, sand-bottom creek that twists and winds past several tributaries — is arguably the most popular paddle trail on Eglin.

Turkey Creek rises in the heart of Eglin and descends through picturesque gorges known as steepheads as it makes its way to Boggy Bayou in Niceville.

The average speed of the current along the creek is about 2 miles per hour. The only paddling required will be when negotiating sometimes-tight turns to avoid being pushed into overhanging branches.

The pristine waters well up from the Okaloosa Aquifer and maintain a 73-degree temperature year-round. During hot summer months, the creek can sometimes become so shallow that portaging may be necessary.

Spending more time in nature has been reported to lead to better overall self-reported health, increased longevity, and lowered incidences of chronic disease stemming from inactivity. Even if you don't consider yourself to be an outdoorsy person, taking a quick, fun trip to Turkey Creek Nature Trail will delight you.

Take some time to explore the amazing natural resources of Okaloosa County.

Laura Tiu is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Explore Turkey Creek Nature Trail Park

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Winter vibes during warm temps

CRESTVIEW — Financial research company ValuePenguin’s Best Cities for Small Business listing ranks the Crestview, Destin and Fort Walton Beach area 28th out of 200 cities.

The report contained 11 data points, including tax rates and indexes to employment, along with access to loan brokers and offices, to highlight the country's best cities for small business owners and workers.

Here's how the Crestview metro ranked:

•Overall — 28th

•Taxes — 75th

•Economy — 53rd

•Business Community — 38th

Additionally, the organization provided the following data pertaining to Crestview, Fort Walton Beach and Destin:

• Average state plus local tax rate: 6.7 percent
• Small business tax index: 22.195
• 2017 state business tax climate index: 6.86
• Unemployment rate: 4.3 percent
• Median household income: $53,488
• Forbes' Best States for Business: 12th
• Cost of living index: 100
• Population 25 and older with at least a bachelor's degree: 17.8 percent
• Number of small business association offices and resources: 71
• Number of mortgage and non-mortgage loan brokers: 3
• Number of corporate subsidiary and regional managing offices: 20

ValuePenguin focused on areas of data that would help a small business be sustainable, but also flourish based on the economic traits of the city.

See https://www.valuepenguin.com/best-cities-small-business for the full report.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview metro among 'Best Cities for Small Business'

CRESTVIEW— Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Okaloosa County

•U.S. Highway 98 maintenance and repair of underground stormwater drainage from Gulf Shore Drive to Airport Road in Destin: Intermittent westbound lane restrictions as crews clean and seal pipe joints along the trunk line, adjacent manhole and curb inlet structures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Feb. 19-23. They anticipate completing the project by this summer.

•U.S. 98 turn lane construction n>at Pryor Drive, Palmetto Drive and St. Mary Avenue SW, Mary Esther: Construction activities are underway.  Drivers can expect lane closures between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. daily.

•State Road 85 resurfacing from Brandt Pond Road to State Road 123: South and northbound lane closures will be in effect as crews perform paving operations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through February.

Walton County

•U.S. 98 widening from Emerald Bay Drive to Tan-O-Mar Drive: Intermittent and alternating lane closures between Holiday Road and the Okaloosa/Walton County line from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Feb. 19 through Feb. 23.  The closures will allow crews to begin roadway widening and drainage work.

•U.S. Highway 331 Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge Project: North and southbound lane closures as crews pave, construct a sidewalk and install signage from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20 through Friday, Feb. 24 between Chat Holly Road and the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge. One lane in each direction will remain open at all times.

•State Road 81 pavement testing from State Road 20 to the Holmes County Line: Intermittent and alternating lane restrictions as crews take samples of the roadway for testing from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23 between Chat Holly Road and the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge.

All activities are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Traffic alerts set for Okaloosa and Walton counties