Wednesday, January 11, 2017
What is happening in this country!
In short order, this country will have a new president (not capitalized on purpose). This man can't complete a sentence and speaks on a 3rd grade level. That is probably why he connects with so much of the American population. 20 years ago, before social media took over the internet, people actually read the paper and books. Now, the attention span of the American public is about 30 seconds and they connect over their phones via instant message and tweets. Actually having a conversation or debate with a person is almost nonexistent. Because of this, people don't bother to get the facts or research a topic before jumping on social media and showing the rest of the world just how ignorant they really are. The president elect follows the same pattern. He couldn't even finish a two page addendum to an intelligence brief that he was the topic of. Instead, he let someone else explain it to him. REALLY? This person is about to step into one of the most powerful positions in the world and he can't read a 2 page dossier? It looks more and more like he will govern through Tweets (even as Twitter stumbles and my become non-existent). All the Fake News during the election now becomes credible and all the credible news now becomes fake. Did I just fall through the rabbit hole?
The poor and middle class that got him elected because they didn't trust the "elites" are now going to be governed by them since his entire cabinet is filled with Burch society billionaires. This is going to get real ugly. While I'm not a fan of the VP elect, at least he has some experience governing. The sooner the president elect gets impeached and thrown in jail, the sooner this country can move forward. Governing requires compromise or else its a dictatorship!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Here's what I need!
I got another mailer from my Congressman yesterday. He still wants a Balanced Budget Amendment. He's on the Judiciary Committee and says he'll use his position to fight for it. I'm not sure what the Judiciary Committee has to do with the budget but then they all have ways of linking things together (Six Degrees of Bacon). Anyway, here's what I need from my Congressman.
-I need for him to do his job. That includes balancing the budget. I shoudn't need an amendment to make him do what he's supposed to do anyway.
-I need him to stop taking money from special interest groups and lobbyists. He's supposed to be listening to his constituents and representing them. Along those lines, what is he doing signing a "pledge" from a lobbyist and non-constituent that limits his ability to compromise and bargain on positions thereby abdicating his power to the lobbyist?
-I need for him to stop putting earmarks into the budget (ref earlier remark).
-I need for him to follow the laws that we already have and stop making new ones to get his name in the books. He may also consider living under those same laws, not above them. One for instance would be stock market insider trading in Congress.
-I need for him to leave office and NOT be a career politician. Get back out in the real world and see how the other 99% live. You are not part of an aristocracy. He actually thinks that being a career politician is a positive on his resume. REALLY? Maybe he should get a real job and work for a living. Or, better yet, become an entrepreneur and help create those jobs he so desperately complains about.
I could go on but I'll save some for a later post.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
-I need for him to do his job. That includes balancing the budget. I shoudn't need an amendment to make him do what he's supposed to do anyway.
-I need him to stop taking money from special interest groups and lobbyists. He's supposed to be listening to his constituents and representing them. Along those lines, what is he doing signing a "pledge" from a lobbyist and non-constituent that limits his ability to compromise and bargain on positions thereby abdicating his power to the lobbyist?
-I need for him to stop putting earmarks into the budget (ref earlier remark).
-I need for him to follow the laws that we already have and stop making new ones to get his name in the books. He may also consider living under those same laws, not above them. One for instance would be stock market insider trading in Congress.
-I need for him to leave office and NOT be a career politician. Get back out in the real world and see how the other 99% live. You are not part of an aristocracy. He actually thinks that being a career politician is a positive on his resume. REALLY? Maybe he should get a real job and work for a living. Or, better yet, become an entrepreneur and help create those jobs he so desperately complains about.
I could go on but I'll save some for a later post.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Rarely does something get my ire up but, the front page article of the USA Today on 2 Feb had that affect. "65,000 US Flights with maintenance problems have taken off anyway". It is sensationalism for the sake of selling papers.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-02-02-1Aairmaintenance02_CV_N.htm
While the reporter may have his facts correct, he fails to analyze them properly. 65,000 flights over a six year period is less than one tenth of one percent of all the flights during that time period. Most statisticians would call that insignificant. I realize that if you happen to be a passenger on that flight, you're probably upset. However, what they don't say is that the professionals flying these airplanes would never knowingly depart with a known problem that would keep the airplane from flying safely. There are more cars on the road with failing brake systems. More people die everyday driving. The airline industry remains the safest form of travel to date.
At a time when the industry is struggling, this type of reporting is irresponsible. Not the facts but, the presentation. Personally, I think the editor should be fired for this but I suppose he got a raise because it sells papers. Just like all the other media, facts aren't presented without spin. The lazy public just takes it all in without actually using their brain to understand what they're reading. But, then again, they don't read so most people didn't see the article. Just a thought.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-02-02-1Aairmaintenance02_CV_N.htm
While the reporter may have his facts correct, he fails to analyze them properly. 65,000 flights over a six year period is less than one tenth of one percent of all the flights during that time period. Most statisticians would call that insignificant. I realize that if you happen to be a passenger on that flight, you're probably upset. However, what they don't say is that the professionals flying these airplanes would never knowingly depart with a known problem that would keep the airplane from flying safely. There are more cars on the road with failing brake systems. More people die everyday driving. The airline industry remains the safest form of travel to date.
At a time when the industry is struggling, this type of reporting is irresponsible. Not the facts but, the presentation. Personally, I think the editor should be fired for this but I suppose he got a raise because it sells papers. Just like all the other media, facts aren't presented without spin. The lazy public just takes it all in without actually using their brain to understand what they're reading. But, then again, they don't read so most people didn't see the article. Just a thought.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time for real change!
I’m sick of Congressional hearings where nothing is accomplished except free airtime for our Representatives. While listening to these hearings, one has to wonder where they get their information. FOX News? Rush Limbaugh? Sarah Palin? I’m not sure what drugs they’re on but, I suggest they up the dosage. They can’t though because it’s not covered under their healthcare plan.
It’s one thing to offer constructive criticism; it’s another to sit there and try to blame an administration that has been in office less than a year and inherited an economy that was in the biggest nose dive since the depression. Had our Representatives done their job during the last eight years, maybe the economy wouldn’t be where it is today. If you’re not going to help, then get out of the way. At least the current administration is doing something. While you may not agree with everything they’ve done, it’s better than doing nothing. Time will tell. All I’ve heard is complaining and partisan politics from both sides. There’s enough blame to go around but pointing the finger isn’t fixing anything. Stop wasting our time and do the job that we, as tax payers, are paying for. I agree with the Representatives that are calling for a new direction and a personnel change. They should resign as our Representatives, step down, get out of the way. Get new blood in those positions and new ideas flowing again.
It’s one thing to offer constructive criticism; it’s another to sit there and try to blame an administration that has been in office less than a year and inherited an economy that was in the biggest nose dive since the depression. Had our Representatives done their job during the last eight years, maybe the economy wouldn’t be where it is today. If you’re not going to help, then get out of the way. At least the current administration is doing something. While you may not agree with everything they’ve done, it’s better than doing nothing. Time will tell. All I’ve heard is complaining and partisan politics from both sides. There’s enough blame to go around but pointing the finger isn’t fixing anything. Stop wasting our time and do the job that we, as tax payers, are paying for. I agree with the Representatives that are calling for a new direction and a personnel change. They should resign as our Representatives, step down, get out of the way. Get new blood in those positions and new ideas flowing again.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
OMG!
Last week I received a brochure from my Representative. What a joke! He talks about investigating ACORN, how he is defending the Constitution, opposes the President’s budget, opposes health care reform, and how Congress does not receive pay raises. OMG! It’s hard to believe anyone would buy into anything he says.
To start with, I don’t have a problem with investigating ACORN. In fact, I would support investigating all the organizations involved in lobbying congress and spending tax dollars. I know that won’t float because then he’d probably find that most of those organizations are corrupt and he’d lose money going into his political pocket. More oversight into those organizations is needed, both liberal and conservative.
If he really supports the checks and balances in our Constitution then he should support a line item veto for the executive branch. If the President vetoes the pork added to a bill, all he needs is a 60% vote to pass them anyway. Why don’t they support this? Because it would highlight, to the American public, the amount of waste being spent by our Congress. While we’re at it, lets add term limits to the mix. Our founders never meant for Representatives and Senators to be permanent fixtures on Capitol Hill. They were all businessmen and farmers in their own right. This man has never held a real job his entire adult life yet he legislates ours. There is something fundamentally wrong with that. VOTE THEM ALL OUT!
He opposes the President’s budget because it would raise taxes and double the national debt. He didn’t have a problem overspending my tax dollars during the last 8 years, supporting wars that have done more harm than good, putting the economy in turmoil and dumping that debt on our children. During that time he helped grow government. Congress and the executive branch were out of control with little or no checks and balances and yet he states that he supports the Constitution. I think he speaks with forked tongue.
He opposes health care reform because he receives lobby money from insurance and drug companies. Yet he claims to be working for our best interest. While he’s growing his bottom line, we are left to fend for ourselves. That’s fine, I’ll fend for myself but, don’t get in my way and be part of the problem.
Finally, he states that Congress doesn’t receive pay raises. THAT’S A FLAT OUT LIE! Congress passed legislation that provides COLA (Cost Of Living Allowance) increases every year unless Congress votes NO. By not voting, they automatically get a pay raise. So while the rest of us have seen our purchasing power shrink, his has gone up or stayed the same. It’s a matter of semantics. Sorry Representative, you can’t pull the wool over my eyes that easily.
The last thing that raised my ire last week was Sarah Palin. This woman is a megalomaniac. Can she embarrass herself anymore? She doesn’t have an original thought in her head. During interviews she talks just like a politician though; she can’t answer a single question with a straightforward answer. She grades the President a 4 out of 10 because of his handling of the economy and foreign policy? She has no concept of what is going on in our economy and can see Russia from the shores of Alaska (her foreign policy experience). Most of the Mayors in our cities have more experience in these areas than she can imagine. She was too stressed out with her Governor’s job so she quit. I guess she would have done better in the Vice President’s seat. I’m not sure she even knows how our system of government works. As for her comments about the President “dithering” on foreign policy, can she come up with something more original than using the same words that Mr Cheney used during his speech? I'm glad to see some deliberation and analysis before sending more of our fine young men and women into harms way. Ms Palin is on the book tour scene and avoiding major metropolitan markets. Why? Even though she needs to sell books, she can’t perform under the pressure of the spotlight without embarrassing herself. If you want to read a trashy fiction novel, then buy her book. If you want the facts, you will have to go elsewhere.
To start with, I don’t have a problem with investigating ACORN. In fact, I would support investigating all the organizations involved in lobbying congress and spending tax dollars. I know that won’t float because then he’d probably find that most of those organizations are corrupt and he’d lose money going into his political pocket. More oversight into those organizations is needed, both liberal and conservative.
If he really supports the checks and balances in our Constitution then he should support a line item veto for the executive branch. If the President vetoes the pork added to a bill, all he needs is a 60% vote to pass them anyway. Why don’t they support this? Because it would highlight, to the American public, the amount of waste being spent by our Congress. While we’re at it, lets add term limits to the mix. Our founders never meant for Representatives and Senators to be permanent fixtures on Capitol Hill. They were all businessmen and farmers in their own right. This man has never held a real job his entire adult life yet he legislates ours. There is something fundamentally wrong with that. VOTE THEM ALL OUT!
He opposes the President’s budget because it would raise taxes and double the national debt. He didn’t have a problem overspending my tax dollars during the last 8 years, supporting wars that have done more harm than good, putting the economy in turmoil and dumping that debt on our children. During that time he helped grow government. Congress and the executive branch were out of control with little or no checks and balances and yet he states that he supports the Constitution. I think he speaks with forked tongue.
He opposes health care reform because he receives lobby money from insurance and drug companies. Yet he claims to be working for our best interest. While he’s growing his bottom line, we are left to fend for ourselves. That’s fine, I’ll fend for myself but, don’t get in my way and be part of the problem.
Finally, he states that Congress doesn’t receive pay raises. THAT’S A FLAT OUT LIE! Congress passed legislation that provides COLA (Cost Of Living Allowance) increases every year unless Congress votes NO. By not voting, they automatically get a pay raise. So while the rest of us have seen our purchasing power shrink, his has gone up or stayed the same. It’s a matter of semantics. Sorry Representative, you can’t pull the wool over my eyes that easily.
The last thing that raised my ire last week was Sarah Palin. This woman is a megalomaniac. Can she embarrass herself anymore? She doesn’t have an original thought in her head. During interviews she talks just like a politician though; she can’t answer a single question with a straightforward answer. She grades the President a 4 out of 10 because of his handling of the economy and foreign policy? She has no concept of what is going on in our economy and can see Russia from the shores of Alaska (her foreign policy experience). Most of the Mayors in our cities have more experience in these areas than she can imagine. She was too stressed out with her Governor’s job so she quit. I guess she would have done better in the Vice President’s seat. I’m not sure she even knows how our system of government works. As for her comments about the President “dithering” on foreign policy, can she come up with something more original than using the same words that Mr Cheney used during his speech? I'm glad to see some deliberation and analysis before sending more of our fine young men and women into harms way. Ms Palin is on the book tour scene and avoiding major metropolitan markets. Why? Even though she needs to sell books, she can’t perform under the pressure of the spotlight without embarrassing herself. If you want to read a trashy fiction novel, then buy her book. If you want the facts, you will have to go elsewhere.
Monday, October 26, 2009
You've Gotta Be Kidding Me
This morning, the news channels were covering two stories that border on the ridiculous. The first being that The President doesn’t have any women players when he plays basketball. Come on America. Is this really an important issue? We’re at war on two fronts (three if you count the drug war to the south). The economy is struggling to keep it’s head above water. And, numerous other issues that are considerably more important. But hey! There’s a special interest group that’s concerned there are no women playing basketball in the afternoon with the guys. It must be a slow news day.
The second topic that borders on comical, if it weren’t for the fact that someone is spending considerable coin on development, was airbags in airline seats. When a car hits something at 55 mph, that’s one thing. When an airplane hits something at 300 mph, that’s another. The cost to the airlines would be huge. It wouldn’t prevent any deaths in a crash and would actually make it harder to evacuate an aircraft with all those airbags inflated. The really “large customers” wouldn’t be able to buckle them properly anyway and someone would sue the world if one went off and broke their glasses. Here’s an idea. Why not put four point harnesses in each seat (just like the pilots and race car drivers wear). How many people would want to be strapped in for four hours like the pilots? At least you won’t slump forward when you fall asleep . . .
The second topic that borders on comical, if it weren’t for the fact that someone is spending considerable coin on development, was airbags in airline seats. When a car hits something at 55 mph, that’s one thing. When an airplane hits something at 300 mph, that’s another. The cost to the airlines would be huge. It wouldn’t prevent any deaths in a crash and would actually make it harder to evacuate an aircraft with all those airbags inflated. The really “large customers” wouldn’t be able to buckle them properly anyway and someone would sue the world if one went off and broke their glasses. Here’s an idea. Why not put four point harnesses in each seat (just like the pilots and race car drivers wear). How many people would want to be strapped in for four hours like the pilots? At least you won’t slump forward when you fall asleep . . .
Sunday, October 25, 2009
In the Begginning
Many of the thoughts and views here are gleamed from discussions with friends and colleagues, while enjoying a Scotch and cigar. However, they are just as the Blog suggests, ramblings from the mind of a "Common Man". The topics will vary. I am neither conservative or liberal. Some views will seem conservative while others will seem liberal. However, if they get you thinking and involved, great. That's all for today. Have a good one!
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