I think we'd all feel better if we stopped fretting about things and realized that the world we live in is no more than a huge, slowly revolving madhouse with no walls. It's the notion that things and people ought to make sense that drives us crazy -- because they don't. You only have to tune in the news for all the evidence you might need. Take Fox, for instance: any one of those shows with giggling night of the living dead zombies batting fallacies, conjectures, hypertrophied hyperbole and lies back and forth like a game of three-way badminton.
CNN is a communist organization says Steve Doocy on Fox and friends. Like "Liberal" It's a term without fixed meaning, used often enough on Fox that it really means little else than that the victim doesn't have rabies and doesn't preach abject obedience to Fox approved authority and doesn't exhibit a Pavlovian rage response on cue. That certainly describes CNN, who sometimes actually does indulge in honest reportage rather than to derive stories from the Ouija board used by Fox and Friends. But anyway they are all Commies - perhaps some of the few left in the real world and they don't need to tell you why or how. All the proof you need is that a former CNN employee, Mauricio Funes, has been elected President of El Salvador. Elected, not installed by a military insurgency or people's revolution or quasi legal action by the courts. Elected by popular vote. Elected as in Democracy.
So anyway, by the law of sympathetic magic, or perhaps something even more arcane; because he isn't Augusto Pinochet or any of the other murderous, fascistic, peasant slaughtering, protester torturing, nun raping, drug money laundering anti-communist Generalissimos the US traditionally supports and supplies, he's a communist and CNN is the "Communist News Network." What's more, the liberal party he belongs to has, according to Mr. Doocy "allegedly ties to Caesar Chavez," a man that those without heads spinning from Fox Poisoning will remember is long dead. Of course Doocy's duezy was not only to confuse Hugo with Caesar, but to confuse a baseless, irresponsible, malicious and speculative accusation with fact. That's Fox. That's what Fox is about: the voices from Neptune for a mad, mad, mad world.
I happened to be perusing an auction catalog over coffee, early this afternoon; thinking about the things I might have been bidding on if George Bush's irregulars hadn't stolen everyone's money and there were a couple of lots of antique Chinese opium pipes and accessories. That's right, drug paraphernalia and legitimately so because you really can't smoke anything legal in an opium pipe.
Of course the water pipes Tommy Chong once manufactured worked quite well with tobacco, that highly addictive, highly toxic and legal drug, yet Tommy went to prison and lost nearly everything he had. What's the difference between selling legal drug paraphernalia and illegal drug paraphernalia? Nothing beyond the personality involved. We have all sorts of laws enforced only to advance the careers of law enforcement, because, just like the traditional, criminally repressive generalissimos we traditionally support in Latin America, our Justice Department Buccaneers can make an honest man into a criminal as easily as Fox News can make Thomas Jefferson into a Communist and Jesus into Attila the Hun.
If you care about this insanity, you can't expect to survive intact and so I try very hard not to. Sure, I lost almost 80% of my net worth and the people who made that possible are fighting against any attempt to restore order; screaming like demons about Commies and Liberals and Witches and welfare queens but although I can still pay my bills, I can't afford to care. I've still got my house and my boat and a big ocean to float it in and as of today, I can even blog while afloat, hiding in my escape capsule from the madness of the world.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
THE STIMULUS MANIFESTO
While commenters on the “Let’s Have A Revolution” series presented here at the Swash Zone and on parallel posts at Thinking Out Loud have had varying opinions, it is heartening to note we have found some common ground. I thought it would be helpful to summarize the series.
On The Economy:
Many of us agree a refund is a poor way to stimulate the economy and could be better spent creating jobs. Bringing back business and providing low cost loans for new business creation by those with a solid business plan.
Include investments in agriculture to produce cleaner, cheaper, better foods.
Fair trade agreements that are ACTUALLY FAIR to US businesses.
Improve the infrastructure and improve transportation methods, including developing new modes such as a high speed rail system. Include the improvement and development of greener, more abundant energy sources.
On Healthcare:
This topic proved to be more volatile with widely divergent ideas on how best to tackle healthcare reform.
While some would like to see some sort of personal health accounts, others lean more toward a national health insurance. TAO provided a good example of a compromise program used by Switzerland whereby every citizen is required to pay a mandatory deduction that provides a basic healthcare package. Citizens can then purchase more comprehensive supplemental policies if they so desire.
Another idea presented was establishing state review boards to separate frivolous lawsuits from those with merit, much like a Grand Jury. This could help keep down malpractice insurance costs while not penalizing a truly injured party.
And we mostly agree that we think Americans must be more involved in directing their care and keeping costs down by using the system appropriately.
On Education:
We seem to all agree education is an important aspect of continued economic growth.
Basic skills seem to be lacking among students such as simple math, history, English grammar and spelling and geography.
We would also like to see a curriculum includes courses in goal orientation and achievement and finances, including balancing a checkbook, creating a budget and understanding how credit works and what it costs.
Students and their parents need to be more responsible and teachers need to be supported.
And many support providing scholarships to anyone with the grades and desire for higher education who can’t afford to go otherwise. And why not require some community service in return so they actually earn their education.
We are facing many challenges, both individually and as a nation, but I hope that most of us “every day people” will overcome the obstacles and flourish.
On The Economy:
Many of us agree a refund is a poor way to stimulate the economy and could be better spent creating jobs. Bringing back business and providing low cost loans for new business creation by those with a solid business plan.
Include investments in agriculture to produce cleaner, cheaper, better foods.
Fair trade agreements that are ACTUALLY FAIR to US businesses.
Improve the infrastructure and improve transportation methods, including developing new modes such as a high speed rail system. Include the improvement and development of greener, more abundant energy sources.
On Healthcare:
This topic proved to be more volatile with widely divergent ideas on how best to tackle healthcare reform.
While some would like to see some sort of personal health accounts, others lean more toward a national health insurance. TAO provided a good example of a compromise program used by Switzerland whereby every citizen is required to pay a mandatory deduction that provides a basic healthcare package. Citizens can then purchase more comprehensive supplemental policies if they so desire.
Another idea presented was establishing state review boards to separate frivolous lawsuits from those with merit, much like a Grand Jury. This could help keep down malpractice insurance costs while not penalizing a truly injured party.
And we mostly agree that we think Americans must be more involved in directing their care and keeping costs down by using the system appropriately.
On Education:
We seem to all agree education is an important aspect of continued economic growth.
Basic skills seem to be lacking among students such as simple math, history, English grammar and spelling and geography.
We would also like to see a curriculum includes courses in goal orientation and achievement and finances, including balancing a checkbook, creating a budget and understanding how credit works and what it costs.
Students and their parents need to be more responsible and teachers need to be supported.
And many support providing scholarships to anyone with the grades and desire for higher education who can’t afford to go otherwise. And why not require some community service in return so they actually earn their education.
We are facing many challenges, both individually and as a nation, but I hope that most of us “every day people” will overcome the obstacles and flourish.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The dissection of Jim Cramer
When there shall be no more lies and all the words of falsehood put to shame
-Scroll of community rules-
-Scroll of community rules-
What do Tomas de Torquemada, Judge Judy and King Solomon have in common with Jon Stewart? Not a lot. As judges, inquisitors and arbitrators of justice, they are clumsy louts. Forensic surgeon Stewart can have your bowels in a bucket before you can ask for a second opinion and you'll probably grin and shake his hand for it. Not only can Stewart stop a flotilla of excuses and denials, he does it with a smile and so skilfully that the newly disemboweled has to smile at the abject humiliation along with him.
Perhaps, like me, you've been following the feud between the Daily Show host and CNBC's Jim Cramer. Stewart has been serving up the sins and failures, misstatements and disastrous recommendations of Cramer all week like a roast pheasant on a silver platter, prompting Cramer to dissemble, dissimulate, deny and attack like a politician. Last night however was the end of it.
For those who haven't seen it, here it is from Raw Story It's long, too long to post here, but worth your time and we may never see such skill in action again.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
LET'S HAVE A REVOLUTION! (Part 3)
EDUCATION
I have arrived at the third and final post of how I’d like to see the stimulus money used to stimulate the economy. Why education? Because in an ever changing, increasing complex technological environment we need to be sure we can provide a competent workforce to retain and expand business.
So, how best to accomplish this? How about first, we abandon “No Child Left Behind?” Our students would be better served by finding ways to attract intelligent, effective, enthusiastic people to teaching. Also, ensuring they all have had breakfast and that each school has adequate supplies of paper, pens, computers, etc.
The imbalance between schools in wealthier areas as opposed to poorer areas needs to be corrected. The federal government needs to establish a minimum standard for every school in the country that must be met by states that want federal funding. Too often, wealthier districts receive a share of the money that they don’t really need thereby reducing what is available to poorer districts.
I’m going to invent a new word here; no, I am not a socialist, I am a societalist. I want to see ALL Americans living their dreams and I don’t want a single child to have to continue living in a nightmare.
Safety in schools has become a real issue and we need to talk to those on the ground to find out what THEY think would be most effective. The answers might surprise us all.
Scholarships for those who cannot afford to go to college without it. Too often it is NOT our best and brightest continuing their education but simply those whose family can afford to send them. Current programs don’t go far enough. We need to be able to walk into the poorest school in the most dismal area of any city and tell a child even if you graduate high school with one pair of pants and no shoes, if you have the grades and the desire, you will go to college. Because the most important thing we can do for the future of our country is to ensure that the best minds are at work on all the challenges our country may face.
And to those who will now argue about the cost, I give you these thoughts. We have the stimulus so we use that to get started. Certain federal tax monies goes back to the states annually even now. Many states have an education lottery so there is that money. And, if we have a healthy economy and educated people getting good jobs, we can have an annual scholarship fund drive. Attach it to the IRS form where the political donation block is already. I’m betting with the right kind of campaign explaining the scholarship program, many Americans will gladly contribute.
Let’s ask for something in return; pay for a doctor’s education and then have him/her work in one of the critical areas of the country for four years. Kind of a domestic Peace Corp. I’m sure we could find other areas in need for graduates in other fields to serve.
I know we have some educators who contribute/visit here at the Swash Zone and I’d be very interested to hear their ideas.
So, what do YOU think about education and the stimulus package? 
I have arrived at the third and final post of how I’d like to see the stimulus money used to stimulate the economy. Why education? Because in an ever changing, increasing complex technological environment we need to be sure we can provide a competent workforce to retain and expand business.
So, how best to accomplish this? How about first, we abandon “No Child Left Behind?” Our students would be better served by finding ways to attract intelligent, effective, enthusiastic people to teaching. Also, ensuring they all have had breakfast and that each school has adequate supplies of paper, pens, computers, etc.
The imbalance between schools in wealthier areas as opposed to poorer areas needs to be corrected. The federal government needs to establish a minimum standard for every school in the country that must be met by states that want federal funding. Too often, wealthier districts receive a share of the money that they don’t really need thereby reducing what is available to poorer districts.
I’m going to invent a new word here; no, I am not a socialist, I am a societalist. I want to see ALL Americans living their dreams and I don’t want a single child to have to continue living in a nightmare.
Safety in schools has become a real issue and we need to talk to those on the ground to find out what THEY think would be most effective. The answers might surprise us all.
Scholarships for those who cannot afford to go to college without it. Too often it is NOT our best and brightest continuing their education but simply those whose family can afford to send them. Current programs don’t go far enough. We need to be able to walk into the poorest school in the most dismal area of any city and tell a child even if you graduate high school with one pair of pants and no shoes, if you have the grades and the desire, you will go to college. Because the most important thing we can do for the future of our country is to ensure that the best minds are at work on all the challenges our country may face.
And to those who will now argue about the cost, I give you these thoughts. We have the stimulus so we use that to get started. Certain federal tax monies goes back to the states annually even now. Many states have an education lottery so there is that money. And, if we have a healthy economy and educated people getting good jobs, we can have an annual scholarship fund drive. Attach it to the IRS form where the political donation block is already. I’m betting with the right kind of campaign explaining the scholarship program, many Americans will gladly contribute.
Let’s ask for something in return; pay for a doctor’s education and then have him/her work in one of the critical areas of the country for four years. Kind of a domestic Peace Corp. I’m sure we could find other areas in need for graduates in other fields to serve.
I know we have some educators who contribute/visit here at the Swash Zone and I’d be very interested to hear their ideas.
So, what do YOU think about education and the stimulus package?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
LET'S HAVE A REVOLUTION! (Part 2)
HEALTHCARE
So, how will healthcare impact the economy and why should it be included in the stimulus package? If we are going to attract and retain businesses, we need to have a healthy workforce and access to health insurance that doesn’t break the bank, either for the individual or the employer.
The problem with throwing out some ideas and solutions is that this one issue is probably the most complex and intertwined with other aspects of the economy.
There are those who believe that illegals, medicaide and frivolous lawsuits are placing such a burden on the system that it is driving up costs for all of us. And they have a point but when dealing with these issues we must also consider the illegal immigration problem in general, welfare and entitlements and legal reforms.
Finding ways to encourage illegals to stay home, work for welfare programs and some sort of tort reform may go a long way to easing these burdens. So, what else could we do?
Of course we have people who don’t want more government involvement and given the federal government’s dismal track record, I can understand their reluctance. But, in being realistic, I do not see how we can bring about any meaningful changes without SOME government oversight and intervention.
There are people who really understand the working of healthcare and advocate some sort of personal account system which, on the surface, sounds like it could be a workable plan in that is promotes consumer responsibility by rewarding them for saving money.
Another interesting plan was commented on by TAO at another blog which is the Swiss model. All Swiss citizens must purchase a government sponsored minimum health insurance plan. It can be deducted from your paycheck like any other deduction. If you want more coverage and can afford it, you are free to purchase it. The one thing this system allows for is the right of a medical facility to refuse treatment to anyone without insurance. While this does relieve the burden currently borne by facilities compelled to treat the noninsured, it also means we would be at greater risk of illegals in this country developing and spreading communicable diseases so how to solve the burgeoning population can’t be ignored.
The cost of medications is another thorny issue that must be addressed as more of the poor and elderly have to decide between the electric bill and their pills. Why do we pay so much more for medications than even our closest neighbors in Canada? I’ve heard many explanations but the one that seems most plausible is this; while drug company medications enjoy a protected patent period in the US, no such agreements exist in other countries. If they want to sell their wares abroad, they must negotiate the pricing or the other countries simply threaten to produce a generic. The drug companies claim that the higher prices they can get here and not in other countries go toward funding research. Seems like we can find a way to help fund some research, let the drug companies pony up a little and stop this protection racket that has broken our backs. I don’t mind paying for medication and even a little more to go toward research but we have carried the whole load for far too long.
So, what would YOU like to see happen in healthcare reform? 
So, how will healthcare impact the economy and why should it be included in the stimulus package? If we are going to attract and retain businesses, we need to have a healthy workforce and access to health insurance that doesn’t break the bank, either for the individual or the employer.
The problem with throwing out some ideas and solutions is that this one issue is probably the most complex and intertwined with other aspects of the economy.
There are those who believe that illegals, medicaide and frivolous lawsuits are placing such a burden on the system that it is driving up costs for all of us. And they have a point but when dealing with these issues we must also consider the illegal immigration problem in general, welfare and entitlements and legal reforms.
Finding ways to encourage illegals to stay home, work for welfare programs and some sort of tort reform may go a long way to easing these burdens. So, what else could we do?
Of course we have people who don’t want more government involvement and given the federal government’s dismal track record, I can understand their reluctance. But, in being realistic, I do not see how we can bring about any meaningful changes without SOME government oversight and intervention.
There are people who really understand the working of healthcare and advocate some sort of personal account system which, on the surface, sounds like it could be a workable plan in that is promotes consumer responsibility by rewarding them for saving money.
Another interesting plan was commented on by TAO at another blog which is the Swiss model. All Swiss citizens must purchase a government sponsored minimum health insurance plan. It can be deducted from your paycheck like any other deduction. If you want more coverage and can afford it, you are free to purchase it. The one thing this system allows for is the right of a medical facility to refuse treatment to anyone without insurance. While this does relieve the burden currently borne by facilities compelled to treat the noninsured, it also means we would be at greater risk of illegals in this country developing and spreading communicable diseases so how to solve the burgeoning population can’t be ignored.
The cost of medications is another thorny issue that must be addressed as more of the poor and elderly have to decide between the electric bill and their pills. Why do we pay so much more for medications than even our closest neighbors in Canada? I’ve heard many explanations but the one that seems most plausible is this; while drug company medications enjoy a protected patent period in the US, no such agreements exist in other countries. If they want to sell their wares abroad, they must negotiate the pricing or the other countries simply threaten to produce a generic. The drug companies claim that the higher prices they can get here and not in other countries go toward funding research. Seems like we can find a way to help fund some research, let the drug companies pony up a little and stop this protection racket that has broken our backs. I don’t mind paying for medication and even a little more to go toward research but we have carried the whole load for far too long.
So, what would YOU like to see happen in healthcare reform?
Monday, March 9, 2009
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2009
Yesterday (March 8, 2009) was International Women's Day. In the spirit of starting a new tradition, let us honor the women of the Swash Zone, including our contributors Maleeper, Rockync, and Squid; our daughters, mothers, sisters, and wives; and our friends across the blogosphere, Cara, Interrobang, Jennifer, Libby, and Lindsay, and others too numerous to mention.
In 1975, International Women’s Day won official recognition by the United Nations and is now a national holiday in 16 countries including Canada, China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam … but sadly not the United States.
Below are some of the global United Nation themes used in past International Women's Day commemerations:
- 2008: Investing in Women and GirlsThe question for today: What would be an appropriate theme for International Women's Day 2009?
- 2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls
- 2006: Women in decision-making
- 2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future
- 2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
- 2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
- 2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
- 2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
- 2000: Women Uniting for Peace
- 1999: World Free of Violence against Women
- 1998: Women and Human Rights
- 1997: Women at the Peace Table
- 1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Questioning Profanity
This is a post about the word F*** & the increasing inability of our world to imaginatively & sensitively communicate. So those of you with sensitive eyes might want to stop reading.
I’m old enough to remember a time when to say the word “F***” was considered oh so crude & boorish. Down right offensive even. And for those of us of the female persuasion – tantamount to creating a small scandal.
But no more. The word “F***” is now freely & boldly used by both genders & by people of all classes, creeds, religions, etc, etc, etc. For we on the western side of the
(Lord only knows what F*** sounds like in other languages.)
Now – speaking HONESTLY for myself – if anyone were to hear what I say under my breath, muttering to myself throughout the day, one would hear the word “F***” uttered freely, with great frequency & often with gusto. Somehow it just seems to fit so many different moods & situations. However – I try to limit my use of the word “in public” or out loud for all to hear. When I do so slip it sends a message to the hearer – "gee . . . Squid is really worked up about such & so or Squid is passionate about such & so . . . . . . or . . . . . don’t mess with Squid ‘cause she’s having a moment."
Now I try not to ever cause offense & genuinely am extremely careful about whom I allow to hear me say THE word. My parents would keel over whilst swooning if ever they heard “F***” escape their daughter’s lips. My poor mother cringes whenever she hears me use the word “sucks” – an absolutely favorite word of mine. Suits more situations even than "F***." It would never occur to me to use the “F-word” in a professional context. I would also never aim the word at anyone in the manner of “F*** you!” – nope – that’s too offensive for me to say to anyone no matter how angry I may be.
OK – so now that I have confessed to my own rhetorical transgressions . . . there are times when I am acutely aware of the over use of this word – increasingly so – in my world – and I am not just referring to the sound of “bleeping” on TV reality shows . Is the tossing off of this word becoming so acceptable that it is beginning to lose its bite, its radical-ness, its bluntness – or whatever mystique it has ever laid claim to? And if so, what does this mean? Are we becoming such a boorish culture that we have lost the ability to express ourselves in any more creative of a fashion? Are we now so devoid of sensitivity that we do not care who we offend? And – if we keep using the word so much that we completely desensitize ourselves to its actual meaning (which in truth, is quite offensive depending on how the word is used – Mother-f***** is extremely offensive I think) then what will we do next? What word in our language can top "F***?" Is there such a word? The “C-word” is also rising in popularity (much to my utter dismay) though its gendered specificity makes it even more offensive – another discussion for another day perhaps. “F***" is a much more egalitarian word – I’ll give it that much!
Any my final ULTIMATE question – to what extent does our use of language define us as individuals? And as a culture? As a society? Honestly holding myself up to scrutiny - What does it say about Squid that she frequently declares that things "suck" & curses "F***" under her breath?
So those are my rhetorical thoughts for the day. Even we on-line folk, it occurs to me, have an abbreviation for it – do we not? “WTF?” Comments are welcome, but please tread carefully – let’s not cause offense to anyone. OK?
Saturday, March 7, 2009
LET'S HAVE A REVOLUTION! (Part One)
I made a comment about having a new revolution, somewhat tongue in cheek, in the comment section of Shaw’s blog, Progressive Eruptions. I’ve also been engaged in dialog over at Jenn’s Thinking Out Loud about how would WE want to see our tax dollars spent and the seed of an idea was formed…
We are not so unlike those radical rascals back in 1776 who became increasing dissatisfied with an unresponsive government and finally decided to take matters into their own hands, which started a grassroots movement, which started a revolution, which formed a country.
Myself, I have been increasing dissatisfied and frustrated by progressive administrations and congresses since 1970. Somewhere along the way, there was a total disconnect from the actual PEOPLE who, in fact, ARE America.
While I still believe President Obama sincerely has this country’s best interests at heart, I’m disappointed with the stimulus package. It seems to me a lot of money is being strewn all over the ground with no real strategy as to how it will all come together to stop the bleeding and reverse the depression. While I think programs like tattoo removal for gang members wishing to improve their lot in life is admirable and that STD treatment and education is a big plus, do they belong in the stimulus package?
Here’s another example: My own state of North Carolina plans on using part of the money to rehab a low income housing project that has fallen into shameful disrepair from years of neglect by the state. Yes, short term, it will provide some jobs and after viewing the pictures, the place seriously needs attention, but is that the best use of the stimulus money? Should the state be able to use stimulus money to make up for their irresponsibility? Don’t get me wrong, I want them to improve that housing complex because no child should have to come home to that, but it should be state funds paying for the work.
OK, Rocky, so how do YOU think we should be using the stimulus? Let me first acknowledge that I have no special experience or education in economics, a little in finance and none whatsoever in politics, but it seems to me first you need a list of priorities:
Create jobs, bring in businesses – why can’t the money be used to bring back manufacturers with low interest loans and other incentives, but only those willing to commit contractually to staying in the US. And there are a lot of bright, young minds with great ideas and no cash. Why not pair them with experienced business owners to develop their ideas, create a business plan and a financial strategy and, if their plans look viable and profitable, give them loans with a grace period so they can build their business. More business, more workers, more consumers. Put money into R&D and into market development. And let’s make sure agriculture is included under “industry.” We need cleaner, cheaper, better food production and we need to support research into alternative growing methods, etc.
Forget wasting money on border walls, etc. Want to solve the illegal immigration problem? Make it more economically feasible for them to stay home! Once we build a solid industry, why not work with Mexico on agreements to allow certain manufacturing processes to go south of the border. Cooperative agreements that are a two way street and benefit everyone. Mexico will have to clean up its act and its streets and improve their infrastructure. We need to start looking at a cooperative union of the Americas much like the EU because that is the future in this globalized society. (I’m sure that’s going to raise some blood pressures!) But I think we can form a mutually beneficial consortium without sacrificing our respective national identities and it may just help to stem the burgeoning illegal immigration problem.
Don’t think my ideas will work? Good, go to the comments and tell me so, but include in your comments why not and what YOU think would work! I want this one post to be constructive and interactive, so please, try to keep the snark to a minimum. But, if you had control over the stimulus money, what would you do with it?
We are not so unlike those radical rascals back in 1776 who became increasing dissatisfied with an unresponsive government and finally decided to take matters into their own hands, which started a grassroots movement, which started a revolution, which formed a country.
Myself, I have been increasing dissatisfied and frustrated by progressive administrations and congresses since 1970. Somewhere along the way, there was a total disconnect from the actual PEOPLE who, in fact, ARE America.
While I still believe President Obama sincerely has this country’s best interests at heart, I’m disappointed with the stimulus package. It seems to me a lot of money is being strewn all over the ground with no real strategy as to how it will all come together to stop the bleeding and reverse the depression. While I think programs like tattoo removal for gang members wishing to improve their lot in life is admirable and that STD treatment and education is a big plus, do they belong in the stimulus package?
Here’s another example: My own state of North Carolina plans on using part of the money to rehab a low income housing project that has fallen into shameful disrepair from years of neglect by the state. Yes, short term, it will provide some jobs and after viewing the pictures, the place seriously needs attention, but is that the best use of the stimulus money? Should the state be able to use stimulus money to make up for their irresponsibility? Don’t get me wrong, I want them to improve that housing complex because no child should have to come home to that, but it should be state funds paying for the work.
OK, Rocky, so how do YOU think we should be using the stimulus? Let me first acknowledge that I have no special experience or education in economics, a little in finance and none whatsoever in politics, but it seems to me first you need a list of priorities:
Create jobs, bring in businesses – why can’t the money be used to bring back manufacturers with low interest loans and other incentives, but only those willing to commit contractually to staying in the US. And there are a lot of bright, young minds with great ideas and no cash. Why not pair them with experienced business owners to develop their ideas, create a business plan and a financial strategy and, if their plans look viable and profitable, give them loans with a grace period so they can build their business. More business, more workers, more consumers. Put money into R&D and into market development. And let’s make sure agriculture is included under “industry.” We need cleaner, cheaper, better food production and we need to support research into alternative growing methods, etc.
How about getting a fair trade agreement on the table that’s actually fair to US businesses so they can compete. Bring Canada to the table because they are our closest neighbor and we would progress much further with them as our ally. Once the economy is on an upsweep, we can work on other problems.
Forget wasting money on border walls, etc. Want to solve the illegal immigration problem? Make it more economically feasible for them to stay home! Once we build a solid industry, why not work with Mexico on agreements to allow certain manufacturing processes to go south of the border. Cooperative agreements that are a two way street and benefit everyone. Mexico will have to clean up its act and its streets and improve their infrastructure. We need to start looking at a cooperative union of the Americas much like the EU because that is the future in this globalized society. (I’m sure that’s going to raise some blood pressures!) But I think we can form a mutually beneficial consortium without sacrificing our respective national identities and it may just help to stem the burgeoning illegal immigration problem.
Don’t think my ideas will work? Good, go to the comments and tell me so, but include in your comments why not and what YOU think would work! I want this one post to be constructive and interactive, so please, try to keep the snark to a minimum. But, if you had control over the stimulus money, what would you do with it?
Friday, March 6, 2009
Twinkle, twinkle, evil Starr,
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Ken Starr, the man who thought you should go to jail for using the word "breast" on the internet even in conjunction with words like cancer and mammography, yet led the taxpayer funded multi-million dollar investigation into the President's sex life and published it on the internet in lurid and pornographic detail, is still alive. Yes, it's amazing, but some reptiles do live a long time.
Starr, the sex-obsessed fighter against dirty pictures and swear words, hasn't changed much, he's just picking on another obsession of his - homosexuals. Ken somehow obtained a law degree and was admitted into the bar somewhere, but really he's a preacher of a puritanical bent and of the sort our founding fathers loathed so much that they eloquently and passionately expresse
d that loathing in word and deed. One of those deeds and words was the the declaration of independence; that manifesto of the natural and inalienable nature of human rights.Ken Starr will have none of it. We have no rights but what the government allows and what the government allows, the government can disallow. That may have been a bit much even for George III, but in any event it's at odds with the entire philosophy from which the United States grew and a worldwide quest for freedom from religious and secular tyranny emerged.
Kenn Starr will have none of it. Ken, whose resemblance to a circumcised penis is striking, has the ill nature to go along with his appearance and so is arguing to uphold California's outrageous proposition 8. A majority he says, can simply remove the rights of a minority and so there's no real reason we couldn't restore slavery, expulsion of Chinese citizens and remove the voting rights of women and non white males.
Did I mention that Ken is a Republican? When we put the puzzle piece that is Ken Starr together with other pieces from the Bush Justice Department, we start to see a picture of America that resembles the great tyrannies of the past and present; and America that has been tricked into going not only back to the nations under God we broke from, where the ruler's right came from God and yours, if you had any, were at the grace and whim of that ruler.
How close we are to the precipice -- it's no wonder that we hear such bellowing and howling from the greedy devils. We have come so close, they have made a tower of slime almost tall enough to reach our liberty. They can almost taste our soul.
Obama's bear market
"No thanks, that lifeboat has more equipment than I think it needs, Who could have expected the Liberals to put that iceberg there ( doesn't iceberg sound Jewish?) and besides there's no first class section where my Gucci shoes won't get wet . I think we should all go down with the ship."Back When George W. Bush set in motion the auto-destruct cycle for our economy, it was customary for the professional blowhards to explain that he had inherited a recession and so it wasn't really fair or proper to call it Bush's recession and since the bubble began to inflate, perhaps we shouldn't call it a recession at all. ( Dow's up, don't bitch that your income isn't.)
Now of course Bush's Debacle is Obama's Bear according to Bloomberg and we can be sure the Republicans at Fox News will explain to us just how he caused it all with his socialist machinations. The recent losses are, says Fox, the market voting against Obama. Let's not dwell on the election they lost when the people voted against Bush.
Unfortunately the Republicans won't go down with this ship. They'll be trying to climb on our shoulders. screaming about "principles" while we drown.
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