The Country

Every time I hear someone say that Obama is going to turn this nation into a socialist country or that government interference is always bad, I get angry. Because the person who is saying it is usually someone who doesn't know what socialist means. Further, they usually only get involved with politics when they think something they have is being affected. A friend said that if it isn't going to save him any money, then he doesn't pay any attention.

This kind of individual selfishness is why our nation is in the mess it is in. We have lessened the government regulations over the past twenty-nine and look where we are right now. Our banks have grabbed all that they can until they are practically falling apart under bad debt and poor business decisions. 40 million plus Americans don't have healthcare. We're in a very deep Recession (I think we're in a depression). Companies pollute our air and water. Other companies are hemorrhaging employees, even though they might be turning a profit -- it isn't high enough to keep people working. But, let's all fear our government.

I suggest you read this article. It'll make you think.

http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/ayn-rand-lives/

God Bless

What the REPUBLICANS Want...

According to CNN, the GOP has decided they don't want the following provisions in the stimulus bill.  I've added my own remarks.

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

This one, I'll give them. I'm not convinced that "clean" coal is good for the environment. Now, I'd be willing to change my mind on this if two things: 1) This will create much needed jobs in Illinois and 2) Someone can prove to me that "clean" coal is good for the environment.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

Well, I'm not too concern with the Hollywood community going out of business when a great number of producers, actors and directors make more for one movie than I will ever see in a lifetime of work. However; movies are probably one of our greatest exports. A movie that bombs here in America is sure to make a fortune in China or Japan or any number of other countries. Keeping Hollywood making money should be something good for all. I would, also, think that since this is a tax cut and Republicans believe that tax cuts are good for the economy they should support this one.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

Why is this a bad idea? If everyone has access to free TV, would it mean we might start paying attention to what goes on in Washington? Seriously, we are 14 days away from the changeover and millions of Americans couldn't get the coupons because not enough money was put into the program at the start.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

New ships = people working.

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

Construction? Hmmm, my brother "works" in construction -- when he's not laid off because the economy is tanking. If this would put his fellow carpenters to work -- provided we only use union carpenters, I'm all for it.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

That doesn't seem excessive, but I think it deserves it's own bill. This won't really create jobs.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

So, the Republicans want to give the car companies billions in free money (free to them), but not encourage the development of hybrid vehicles by jump starting the car economy?

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

This ensures that the workers at these centers keep their jobs -- can't imagine why the Republicans don't like that. Oh, wait, they don't believe in the prevention of STD's by anything but abstinence. You know what you call a woman who teaches her daughter abstinence only? GRANDMA!

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

Doesn't somebody need to be hired to do this? Isn't this a change, fix to infastructure?

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

Ditto for this one.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

I'm all for supporting the Smithsonian, but not in the stimulus package.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

Now? Do we need to earmark the money now?

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

Not a stimulus project

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

While this won't create jobs outright, it will help community colleges deal with the new influx of students that need job training.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

Well, is this so they can have raises? I'd like more information, wouldn't you?

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

Sorry -- good plan, but shouldn't be part of the stimulus.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

This SHOULD create jobs and it should stay.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

Like I said above, doesn't somebody need to be hired to do this? Isn't this a change, fix to infastructure?

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

Ditto.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

This will free up a lot of money cities don't have right now to keep the fire stations manned.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

Considering the amount of money spent on putting out these fires, a little prevention could go a long way.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

Hello -- youths, jobs. What part of that don't the Repubs get? Some kids count on summer jobs to help save for college or don't Republican children need to save for college?

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

Could this wait? Will this create a job?

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

 To do what?

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

 Someone will need to be hired to do this.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

 We "pay" volunteers?

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

 And, this is bad for why?

• $850 million for Amtrak.

 We gave billions to the car companies and banks, why not give some to Amtrak?

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

 Depends on where.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

 Please this will create jobs and maybe the other facilities are too crowded.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

 Creating jobs. Spending money in the economy. Someone has to fix these computers and/or set up new ones.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

 And this is a bad thing because why?

Now, that I've added my two cents, let me say this, SHUT UP, REPUBLICANS, SHUT UP!!!!

For eight long years, the Republicans have been in charge.  They lowered taxes, raised the deficit and started not one but two wars.  And, now, they're not happy and they're whining about $19 Billion dollars in a $900 Billion package.  Granted, there are some points on which I agree with them.  This might not be the place for these programs.  However; since the last administration gave away $350 Billion dollars of my, my daughter's, my grandsons' and my grandson's grandsons' money and can't tell me where it went, I'm not going to quibble over 19 billion.

If this stimulus package works -- no one else will quibble either and the Republicans who voted against it will probably be out of a job -- like a great many of the rest of us.

God Bless

Rush Makes A Fuss

I cannot stand Rush Limbaugh.  I have never been able to tolerate listening to his radio program and watching his I believe now cancelled television show.  I cannot believe that there are 20 million Americans who are so mis-guided and uninformed to listen to this man on a daily basis.  Buy a paper, look at the Internet!  Read a book, folks.  (I really hate it when he calls his listeners folks.)

I heard today that nothing would make Limbaugh happier than if President Obama fails.  He cites that Obama is "talking about the absorption of as much as the private sector by the U.S. government as possible."  Well, personally, I believe he's offbase.  These bailouts do not meant he government will be taking over these industries for the long term.  However; if you want government money to bailout your company, than the government has the right -- no, the duty -- to oversee your business.  My mama told me that he who pays the band, picks the music.  

He listed the banking industry and the car industry, but really what bothered me is that he said "I hope he fails."

See, I believe that you all of us have the right to say and believe what we want -- this is America afterall, but shut up, Rush.  You old windbag do not offer a better plan and right now, America needs action.  We need to step up to the plate and join together to set what is wrong right, to keep what is right and to move forward instep with each other.  People who can only critize without offering a better idea are just baffoons who should be ignored.

I happen to disagree with the bailout.  I have a better idea and if you come back tomorrow, I'll have it all laid out for you.

God Bless

Palin and the GOP

There's a lot of talk about Sarah Palin's role in the GOP.  Some people believe she was bad for John McCain's campaign and some people believe that she has tapped into the GOP's base -- anti-gay, pro-gun, right wing Christian believers.  I think Palin's days in the GOP are numbered.  When people aren't sure whether or not they can keep their homes, they suddenly don't give a rat's ass about gays getting married.  When people are worried about putting food on their tables, they don't much care about being able to buy Uzis at gun shows.

That's where the GOP is now.  If McCain loses this election, the GOP is going to need to do some heavy rebuilding.  This election is proving that the GOP can't count on the gun, anti-gay crowd to get them elected.  If the GOP not only loses the Presidential election, but loses the ability to fillibust in the Senate; they'll really have to go back to the drawing board.

In the last eight years -- and possibily even before -- the GOP's base didn't care what happened as long as the politician was pro-gun, anti-gay and right wing Christian.  Start a war in Iraq, fine by us -- just don't let those queers get married.  Give tax breaks to the rich, but keep spending like there's no tomorrow -- you got it, just let me buy my assault rifle.

I left the GOP behind a long time ago.  Had I been able to vote, I would've voted for Reagan -- both times.  I made Alex P. Keaton look like a liberal back in those days.  But, I've had to leave my beloved party behind because more and more they've lost sight of what makes a great Republican.  They've forgotten that it was Lincoln who freed the slaves.  Theodore Roosevelt was progressive. 

Maybe, if the GOP gets back to the idea of a better government -- one that supports rights for all Americans and doesn't believe in subsidies to large businesses, maybe the Republican party can survive.  When that day happens, the anti-Conservative Conservatives will have to fall by the wayside.  There won't be any room for Sarah Palin in the mix.

If they don't dump the far right ideas, the Republican Party won't survive.

And that would be a sad day indeed.

God Bless

Sarah's a bad pick...

If you can't see the video, here's Cafferty's blog location.

Sarah, don't lie to the American Public...

According to Sarah Palin, McCain will balance the budget by the end of his first term.  No, no he won't.  With Iraq costing us $10 billion per month, how is he going to do that?  When he claims he's going to give tax breaks?  With the interest on our loans costing $100 million a year?  When we still owe money from WWII, just how is he going to balance the budget? 

Is he going to cut payouts?  Is he going to hurt the American Public during hard economic times?

The truth is that if McCain becomes President, he won't balance the budget by the end of his first term.

God Bless

Buy American

I realize that not all of us can afford to buy American. The call to buy American products has long passed us by. I can remember commericials where Barbara Mandrell sang about buying American and look for the American label back Wal-Mart products actually were American. However; I drive a foreign car. Cheryl drives a foreign car. We went looking at American cars this year and we couldn't find one in our limited budget.

However; I was just reading somewhere that the flags flown over our federal buildings aren't made in America. They're made somewhere else. How can that be? Shouldn't our national symbol only be made here?!? Okay, for the average American, make them somewhere else, but the feds should NEVER buy a flag made in a different country.

Furthermore, nothing our federal government purchases should be made outside of this country -- NOTHING! If our own government doesn't support our economy, we have a serious, serious issue in this country. One reason for government purchases is to stimulate the economy, so nothing made for the feds or purchased by them should have foreign parts.

NOTHING! End of story.

God Bless

A Little Economic Sense

According to an article in US News & World Report, we're heading back into an era of Big Government. Our economic woes are such that the government will have to get more involved. If done right, it isn't necessarily a bad thing. But, we all know that it won't be done right.

Here's a few of my off the top of my head ideas.

1. The government needs to be proactively involved in producing a complete electric car. Tax breaks should be given to the car companies to offset some of their research costs. We know this car has existed -- one that can drive highway speeds and travel up to 300 miles on a single charge -- it just hasn't been cost effective. The second part of this is the government needs to give tax breaks to anyone who purchases said car. I can't afford a $30,000 car -- even if it will drop my gas to nearly nothing, but if the government subsidizes the manufacturing and the purchasing, I'm sure I could swing $20,000 for the car.

2. All this talk about Social Security being overdrawn in 2017 is beginning to piss me off. First, Social Security used to have a surplus until the government started borrowing against it. The time for that to completely stop is now. Also, let's put some of that borrowed money back and then let's see if we're still behind. Finally, we need a national retirement plan. The truth is that we need older workers to get out of the way for younger workers. If everyone works until they drop dead, what are young people going to do for jobs? That being said to keep this funded let's eliminate the cap on the tax. No matter how much you earn, pay both Social Security and Medicare taxes on it. So, no more cut off at $92,000.

3. We need to take a good long look at what the government subsidizes. (Yeah, I know I said electric cars, but hear me out.) Nearly everybody gets something from the government. For example, farm subsidies. Huge company farms are subsidized and that's not what the plan was for. This should be changed to only help the little farmer compete. There are other things we subsidize and we need to take a good long look at them to see if they're really needed.

God Bless

Another column of some random thoughts -- including gas prices...

As the gas prices continue to rise, I heard a rumor that the federal government was considering a $1.00 per gallon tax. Now, the other thing I know about this is that I overheard someone saying it. Whether it is true or not, that I can't say. But, it got me to thinking about stuff...

#1. I don't think using corn as an additive to gasoline is such a grand idea. All it is going to do is drive up the price of corn. Which will drive up the price of pork and beef because a lot of farmers feed their livestock corn.

#2. Has any of our government officials thought that if we are having difficulties coming up with the money to pay for the gas to get to work that this will slow the tourist trade? Every single year for as long as I can remember, Cheryl and I take a vacation to Door County. We buy some wine, some cheese and other trinkets. We always shop for a Sarah's Angel and I try to find a new dragon for my collection. We stay in a hotel and we spend quite a lot of money. No one in Door County is going to be out of business because we can't make the trip this year -- we who live fairly simply can't find extra money in the budget to put aside for vacation. But, the good folks in Door County will certainly be in trouble if even 10% of their regular tourists can't make the trip.

#3. We keep hearing about how illegal immigration is bringing this country to its knees, but since I work with a lot of contractors -- 90% of whom are legal immigrants, I can't help but wonder if the Visas that bring the high tech foreigners to this country is helping us. While I don't believe that the illegal immigrant who works as a bus boy is taking a job an American wants, I'm pretty sure the high tech legal immigrant is. Maybe, he or she isn't taking a job right now, but as long as a company can higher an immigrant for less than an American, it will. Also, if we don't invest in the education of our young people, we're going to suffer on the global market. Now, I happen to prefer 95% of the foreign staff with whom I work over my American counterparts. Also, I want people who want to be here to come here -- I'm the descendant of immigrants, but I think it's time to reconsider just how many HB-1 (I think that's the correct number) Visas we give out every year. We need to ensure that Americans are being trained for the jobs that the foreigners are doing.

#4. Now, having said my piece with #3, here's my next thought... When someone comes into this country on a work Visa, they are pretty much stuck at that company until they get a Visa/green card on their own. If they switch companies, they have to start the whole process over, which I think pretty much stinks. What if you accept a job, get here and discover that the company isn't doing what it promised to do? We're basically trapping these people in positions and I think we should work on this to make sure they aren't trapped in bad jobs or with bad companies.

#5. Now, having said #4, my other thought is we really do need to secure our borders to make America a safer place, but I don't think a fence across the border in Mexico is the place to start.

#6. Healthcare -- totally different track -- I think we need to hold companies responsible for the healthcare they provide (sell) to their employees. We need to require companies to report how many of their employees have health insurance through them, how many have health insurance via their spouse and how many are covered by the state. Companies who have employees covered by state plans or no insurance at all, should be taxed an amount equal to the cost the state spends on that specific employee -- the more employees covered, the lower the costs. Also, let's not let them get away with that crappy catastophe insurance. These people might as well not have any insurance at all.

Those are just some thoughts off the Top of My Head. I might expand on them some other time or I might not. We'll see.

God Bless