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IRS Obama Simplified Flat Tax Form
IRS Obama Simplified Flat Tax Form
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Showing posts with label humor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humor. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Obama's New Jobs Program
So now we know what Mr. Obama's new jobs program is. Put guitar makers out of business. Specifically Gibson guitars, but if you make guitars, and didn't contribute to the Obama campaign, you may be next. In fact, if you run any business and did not contribute to Obama, you may be next.
According to the Department of Agriculture, food stamps are a jobs program. The Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, actually said the other day, as if he believed it, that every dollar spent in food stamps generates a dollar and eighty-four cents in economic activity. We should be ecstatic then, that the Department of Fish and Wildlife, under the direction of the Department of Justice, swooped in to Gibson Guitar's three plants yesterday, and confiscated all of their ebony and rosewood, idling 1,000 workers. Just think about all that economic activity that will be created when those 1,000 workers get on the food stamp program!
At issue, apparently is the Lacy Act. The Lacy Act says that certain imported items cannot be imported in violation of the exporting country's law. The ebony and rosewood in question are products of India, and even though Gibson has documentation from the Indian government stating the the wood was legally imported by Gibson, and its export from India does not violate Indian law, the Department of Justice apparently knows better than the Indian government what Indian law is, and Gibson is violating it. We should all be happy then, that we have 1,000 potential new food stamp recipients to generate $1.84 in economic activity for each $1.00 in food stamp money they spend.
Following this logic, it is clear that the Obama Administration's new jobs program is to create as many unemployed food stamp recipients as possible so as to create all that economic activity! That would explain the silence about GE sending thousands of high paying avionics jobs to China last week. Just think about all those people who will not be getting those jobs here, so they can continue to receive food stamps and create economic activity. Rejoice in the fact that the Department of Labor will not allow Boeing to expand its plant in South Carolina. That is many more people who are now creating economic activity by remaining on the food stamp program instead of having good, high paying jobs. How fortunate they are in South Carolina that we have such a forward thinking administration! Following this logic to its ultimate conclusion, it is obvious that we should, for the good of the country, all quit our jobs and go on food stamps! What economic activity we would create! Why there would be jobs for everyone. But wait, if there would be jobs for everyone if we were all on food stamps, who would take them? And wouldn't it be counter productive to go to work, when food stamps are what creates the economic activity? Oh never mind that, who cares where the money comes from to provide the food stamps. The government will just print it I guess. Free cheese for everyone!
But who would make the cheese? I guess the government would print that too. Well Mr. Obama said we don't need to worry about that, we are too busy and needn't try to understand such complicated problems. We should just concentrate on raising our families, and doing what we do every day, and let our benefactors in the government worry about such things. Whew, that's a load off my mind.
Of course what the Department of Agriculture is missing, is that in order to give the newly unemployed Guitar worker one dollar in food stamps, it must first be taken out of the hands of an employed taxpayer by the Government. That, of course, means the dollar and eighty four cents in economic activity created in the spending of a food stamp dollar is really only eighty-four cents. If one follows the math on this, one sees that the dollar in food stamps actually costs the economy sixteen cents in activity. To be fair, no one ever accused this administration of having a firm grasp on the principals of mathematics.
Monday, July 4, 2011
History Lesson on the Fourth of July - Or So There Joe Biden!
I was appalled last evening to discover the results of a Marist poll taken on July first that found that only 58% of those polled could correctly say that the year of our independence was 1776, and only 76% could say that we became independent from England. The results were far worse for those under 30 years old! This is the kind of edumacation that Joe Biden and the NEA want for our children!
So on this Independence day, I find myself thinking about how this country came to be. I offer a short history of the founding of our nation, which will apparently be better than the one offered by public education these days.
Once upon a time, the earth was flat. This made it extremely dangerous to sail out of sight of land, as one might drop over the edge at any moment, and that could ruin an entire day! A fellow named Columbus, conned the queen of Spain out of some ships and supplies and proved the flat earthers all wrong. In the process he bumped into a new continent that no one, especially the flat earth people, had any idea was out there. The Spaniards believed there was a lot of shinny yellow metal there, and so sent more folks to explore. Word got around, as it often does. In jolly old England, they had a King who didn't like to stay married very long, mostly because none of his wives seemed able to produce a son, so he kept disposing of one wife after another. The Catholic church took a dim view of that, so, not to be restrained, King Henry formed his own church and required all his subjects to belong to the Church of England.
Some miscreants didn't like that very much, and had a desire to worship in a manner that suited them better. The King took exception and sent them packing off to the new land to worship as they pleased, and to find goodies to ship back to England, for the further enrichment the King.
After 150 years or so, these new colonies were thriving, containing some two and a half million people. The King at the time, George his name was, had helped out with some trouble the colonies were having with the Indians and the French. With the war over, he turned his attention to collecting some additional revenue to balance his budget. A lot of revenue. He reasoned that as some in the colonies were getting rich, they ought to spread the wealth around a little, contribute their fair share as it was. He put a tax on tea, which many folks in the colonies didn't like so much. They decided to brew the tea in the Boston Harbor. Next he required the colonists to purchase paper for all legal documents from England. At the same time, he was sending soldiers to the colonies to keep the peace, and requiring citizens to keep the troops in their homes. When colony legislatures objected, he disbanded them, in violation of their founding documents. He bypassed the duly appointed lawmakers and issued edicts about how the colonists were to live (is any of this sounding familiar?)
In 1776, late in the evening of the third of July, following a little skirmish a year previously in Lexington and Concord, the colony legislature's representatives finally came to agreement on the wording of a document declaring their Independence from Great Brittan. This document precipitated a prolonged conflict called The Revolutionary War, the result of which was that the Colonies were free from the tyrannical edicts of the King of England, and were free to govern themselves.
After experimenting with various ways of governing themselves for twenty years or so, including a little disagreement about whiskey and another about water rights, the colonies decided they needed a founding document which would for forever limit their federal government and allow each state to govern itself, except in areas such as arguments between the states, the common defense of the New Nation, and in arranging for trade with other nations. They called this document the Constitution of the United States of America, and it is THE foundation for the federal government's existence. The federal government is supposed to be bound by and constrained by the words in that inspired work. It is what gives our government its right to exist. It laid out a system of checks and balances to ensure that power would never be concentrated in the hands of a few, and it provided for redress of grievances against the government through the judicial branch of that government. If that fails, and the federal government becomes tyrannical, it provides the means, through the second amendment, to dissolve that government.
As the federal government reaches further and further beyond the bounds of Constitution, it heads ever closer to its own Lexington and Concord!
I hope this missive has helped clear up the confusion a bit. In any event, please enjoy your celebration of the Founding of our Great Nation! Happy Fourth everyone.
So on this Independence day, I find myself thinking about how this country came to be. I offer a short history of the founding of our nation, which will apparently be better than the one offered by public education these days.
Once upon a time, the earth was flat. This made it extremely dangerous to sail out of sight of land, as one might drop over the edge at any moment, and that could ruin an entire day! A fellow named Columbus, conned the queen of Spain out of some ships and supplies and proved the flat earthers all wrong. In the process he bumped into a new continent that no one, especially the flat earth people, had any idea was out there. The Spaniards believed there was a lot of shinny yellow metal there, and so sent more folks to explore. Word got around, as it often does. In jolly old England, they had a King who didn't like to stay married very long, mostly because none of his wives seemed able to produce a son, so he kept disposing of one wife after another. The Catholic church took a dim view of that, so, not to be restrained, King Henry formed his own church and required all his subjects to belong to the Church of England.
Some miscreants didn't like that very much, and had a desire to worship in a manner that suited them better. The King took exception and sent them packing off to the new land to worship as they pleased, and to find goodies to ship back to England, for the further enrichment the King.
After 150 years or so, these new colonies were thriving, containing some two and a half million people. The King at the time, George his name was, had helped out with some trouble the colonies were having with the Indians and the French. With the war over, he turned his attention to collecting some additional revenue to balance his budget. A lot of revenue. He reasoned that as some in the colonies were getting rich, they ought to spread the wealth around a little, contribute their fair share as it was. He put a tax on tea, which many folks in the colonies didn't like so much. They decided to brew the tea in the Boston Harbor. Next he required the colonists to purchase paper for all legal documents from England. At the same time, he was sending soldiers to the colonies to keep the peace, and requiring citizens to keep the troops in their homes. When colony legislatures objected, he disbanded them, in violation of their founding documents. He bypassed the duly appointed lawmakers and issued edicts about how the colonists were to live (is any of this sounding familiar?)
In 1776, late in the evening of the third of July, following a little skirmish a year previously in Lexington and Concord, the colony legislature's representatives finally came to agreement on the wording of a document declaring their Independence from Great Brittan. This document precipitated a prolonged conflict called The Revolutionary War, the result of which was that the Colonies were free from the tyrannical edicts of the King of England, and were free to govern themselves.
After experimenting with various ways of governing themselves for twenty years or so, including a little disagreement about whiskey and another about water rights, the colonies decided they needed a founding document which would for forever limit their federal government and allow each state to govern itself, except in areas such as arguments between the states, the common defense of the New Nation, and in arranging for trade with other nations. They called this document the Constitution of the United States of America, and it is THE foundation for the federal government's existence. The federal government is supposed to be bound by and constrained by the words in that inspired work. It is what gives our government its right to exist. It laid out a system of checks and balances to ensure that power would never be concentrated in the hands of a few, and it provided for redress of grievances against the government through the judicial branch of that government. If that fails, and the federal government becomes tyrannical, it provides the means, through the second amendment, to dissolve that government.
As the federal government reaches further and further beyond the bounds of Constitution, it heads ever closer to its own Lexington and Concord!
I hope this missive has helped clear up the confusion a bit. In any event, please enjoy your celebration of the Founding of our Great Nation! Happy Fourth everyone.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Obama Announces Big Changes to AMP up the Future
(MOJ) Pittsburgh PA, June 24th – During his visit to Carnegie Mellon University today, President Barak Obama announced a new Executive Order.* After calling for a "renaissance in American manufacturing that would replace shuttered steel mills with plants producing robotics, nanotechnology and other high-tech advances.” The President said "We have not run out of stuff to make, we've just got to reinvigorate our manufacturing sector so that it leads the world the way it always has, from paper and steel and cars to new products we haven't even dreamed up yet.”
He said, "That's how we're going to strengthen existing industries, that's how we're going spark new ones." Adding, "That's how we're going to create jobs, grow the middle class and secure our economic leadership."
In announcing his new order He noted “We have a congress that refuses to raise the debt limit. They believe that we must cut spending at a time when we have these initiatives that will give jobs to American workers. Congress is blocking our new initiatives and walking out of important meetings.'
“Therefore, I am issuing an executive order today which will extend my authority to be supreme, relegating Congress to an advisory position only. My new title will be Progress Czar. We face an emergency in this country, and we must put our people back to work in ways that support our environment, green energy and innovation. That is what the American people want, and that is what the American people need. The authority for this order comes from Commerce clause of the Constitution, in order to promote the general welfare, and because congress throws up roadblocks at every turn and on so many issues, all laws from now on will be issued by my office. There will be no need for a Presidential election in November 2012, because I know the American people want me to continue to lead them and the country forward.”
“John Bryson, as the new Commerce Czar, will be in charge of the overall jobs initiative for our nation. He will be working with businesses, suggesting how many jobs they will create, and what the wage scale will be. We realize some parts of the country are doing better than others. We have identified areas, shown on this map in blue, where jobs need to be created. The areas shown in red are doing fine, and will need to contribute their fair share to our economy.'
“Our Energy Czar, Seven Chu, working in conjunction with EPA Czar, Lisa Jackson, will be working with the polluters, oil companies, gas companies, coal producers and old technology power plants to bring them into the future. There will necessarily be some big changes in this area and my Czars will be working with the current managements of these companies to bring them in line with my vision for our future.'
“It is natural for me to be making this announcement at CMU. The folks here at CMU, working at the forefront of technology, have developed a new, high efficiency stationary energy-producing bicyclogen. With my wonderful wife Michelle I have initiated a program which will not only supply our nation with green energy, but tackle two other pressing issues at the same time. As you know, job growth has been slightly less than we expected, we have faced headwinds and bumps in the road. The recovery, while strong, hasn't produced the green energy jobs as quickly as we had hoped. This new initiative solves that problem. At the same time, and as you know, Michelle has been tirelessly working to make our population healthier. She has worked with Walmart, McDonalds, and many other companies to make better choices for the nation's nutrition. Now she will also be able to help folks tackle their obesity problems in another way, while reducing the number of unemployed and lowering health care costs. We will be creating thousands and thousands of high paying government jobs for 'green energy creators'. Michelle will be the new “healthy energy job Czar”. In that position she will be identifying many thousands of over weight, unemployed folks. We will be putting them to work, at high paying, energy producing jobs, riding thousands and thousands of these new bicyclogens, losing weight and generating energy at the same time!'
As I develop new initiatives to move our country forward and Win the Future, I will be assigning Czars to manage every aspect of everyday American life. It's what the American people want, it's what the American people need, it's what will keep our country moving forward down the path to a winning future. Thank You!'
*(Satire)
He said, "That's how we're going to strengthen existing industries, that's how we're going spark new ones." Adding, "That's how we're going to create jobs, grow the middle class and secure our economic leadership."
In announcing his new order He noted “We have a congress that refuses to raise the debt limit. They believe that we must cut spending at a time when we have these initiatives that will give jobs to American workers. Congress is blocking our new initiatives and walking out of important meetings.'
“Therefore, I am issuing an executive order today which will extend my authority to be supreme, relegating Congress to an advisory position only. My new title will be Progress Czar. We face an emergency in this country, and we must put our people back to work in ways that support our environment, green energy and innovation. That is what the American people want, and that is what the American people need. The authority for this order comes from Commerce clause of the Constitution, in order to promote the general welfare, and because congress throws up roadblocks at every turn and on so many issues, all laws from now on will be issued by my office. There will be no need for a Presidential election in November 2012, because I know the American people want me to continue to lead them and the country forward.”
“John Bryson, as the new Commerce Czar, will be in charge of the overall jobs initiative for our nation. He will be working with businesses, suggesting how many jobs they will create, and what the wage scale will be. We realize some parts of the country are doing better than others. We have identified areas, shown on this map in blue, where jobs need to be created. The areas shown in red are doing fine, and will need to contribute their fair share to our economy.'
“Our Energy Czar, Seven Chu, working in conjunction with EPA Czar, Lisa Jackson, will be working with the polluters, oil companies, gas companies, coal producers and old technology power plants to bring them into the future. There will necessarily be some big changes in this area and my Czars will be working with the current managements of these companies to bring them in line with my vision for our future.'
“It is natural for me to be making this announcement at CMU. The folks here at CMU, working at the forefront of technology, have developed a new, high efficiency stationary energy-producing bicyclogen. With my wonderful wife Michelle I have initiated a program which will not only supply our nation with green energy, but tackle two other pressing issues at the same time. As you know, job growth has been slightly less than we expected, we have faced headwinds and bumps in the road. The recovery, while strong, hasn't produced the green energy jobs as quickly as we had hoped. This new initiative solves that problem. At the same time, and as you know, Michelle has been tirelessly working to make our population healthier. She has worked with Walmart, McDonalds, and many other companies to make better choices for the nation's nutrition. Now she will also be able to help folks tackle their obesity problems in another way, while reducing the number of unemployed and lowering health care costs. We will be creating thousands and thousands of high paying government jobs for 'green energy creators'. Michelle will be the new “healthy energy job Czar”. In that position she will be identifying many thousands of over weight, unemployed folks. We will be putting them to work, at high paying, energy producing jobs, riding thousands and thousands of these new bicyclogens, losing weight and generating energy at the same time!'
As I develop new initiatives to move our country forward and Win the Future, I will be assigning Czars to manage every aspect of everyday American life. It's what the American people want, it's what the American people need, it's what will keep our country moving forward down the path to a winning future. Thank You!'
*(Satire)
Sunday, June 19, 2011
If Thomas Jefferson were alive today
An unnamed congressman is responding to questions by Thomas Jefferson, who miraculously has come back to life and is presiding over a committee hearing. We arrive as the hearing is in progress, and we read only the responses to his questions:
“What was that Senator Jefferson?”
“No, we have not declared war on anyone.”
“Oh, Libya, Afghanistan, and Iraq? Well, those aren't really wars, you see.”
“Well yes, Senator, people are being killed, unfortunately.”
“You see, in 1973, after Richard Nixon ran a secret war, we passed the War Powers Resolution Act. It gives the President the authority to respond to hostile situations with the use of force, provided he notifies congress. Then after 60 days he has to get permission from us to continue.”
“Yes, Senator, it has been almost ninety days in Libya”
“No, sir He has not asked us for permission.”
“No Senator, I don't believe that congress has abdicated its duty. You see it's a dangerous world today. Things happen quickly. The president has to be able to respond if we are attacked...excuse me Senator?”
“No Libya didn't attack us.”
“No Senator, they didn't attack any of our allies”.
“Well no sir, you see they are just killing each other, and we are helping the Libyan rebels try to overthrow their government, besides, we aren't really fighting. NATO is running the whole thing. Excuse me sir?”
“Oh sorry, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, it is a bunch of countries bound together to protect each other.”
“No sir, Libya didn't attack any other NATO country. As I said, their leader Muammar Qaddafi is a pretty mean dude. He is killing his people, and they asked for help. What's that Senator?”
“No the President didn't ask us sir, but he did get permission from the UN”
“The United Nations sir. It a body with representatives from all over the world who gather to make sure wars and things like that don't happen.”
“The Constitution sir?'
“Well, that's a really old document sir. It's like a hundred years old. We don't pay much attention to that anymore.”
“Yes Mr. Jefferson, this is the United States of America.”
“Checks and balances sir?”
“Branches of Government, why yes sir, we have the Congress, the Senate, and the Regulatory Agencies”
“Well, you see, we don't actually go in for rule making to much anymore. We authorize regulatory agencies, and they make the rules.”
“No, a lot of the rules are unpopular with the people Senator, that is why we have agencies make them. That way we aren't blamed for their unpopularity.”
“Citizen legislature? No, Senator, most of us are career politicians. We spend the bulk of our time trying to get re-elected.”
“Enumerated Powers? I'm not familiar with that term sir.”
“Oh, yes, the commerce clause, things like that, yes sir. We used that to require everyone to buy health insurance from a private insurer, or we will fine them.”
“Excuse me Senator?”
“Yes, you see, health care costs are high now, and some people aren't buying insurance, so we decided to force them to buy it. That way, the taxpayer doesn't have to foot the bill for those without insurance.”
“Well, the insurance companies seem to like it sir, they wrote it.”
“Well I'm not familiar with all the provisions of the bill Senator. It was rather lengthy you see, and we didn't really get a chance to review it before it came up for a vote.”
“What's that Senator?”
“Oh yes, of COURSE I voted for the bill. It is important legislation!”
“Well it must be a good bill, the leadership told us to vote for it.”
“No, not always sir, not if they don't NEED my vote to pass a bill. Then I can vote the way I want.”
“Effect on the budget Mr. Chairman?”
“Well, we don't really have a budget, haven't had one in years.”
“No, we just pass a continuing resolution every so often to keep the country running, and we borrow what we need from somewhere.”
“I'm not really sure sir, the treasury department takes care of that, I think.”
“Me, sir? Yes I was elected overwhelmingly by my district!”
“Education? We provide everyone with a good education. The teachers union says so. We pretty much give them everything they want, why do you ask, sir?”
At which point, Thomas Jefferson pulls out a revolver and shoots himself in the head!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Democrats - Read at Your Own Risk
I have developed a theory about the difference between Republicans and Democrats. I'm talking about the rank and file now, not necessarily the leadership, but what I have to say applies to them as well. Republicans think logically. Republicans try to use logic in their arguments. Ask a republican a question, and if they don't know the answer, they will go look it up, from more than one source. We rely on history. We generally have long memories. We are good with numbers and science, subjects that can be viewed objectively and quantitatively. In short, Republicans are left brain thinkers. Tell a Republican about a problem you have and he or she will generally try to find some solution to it. It may not be a solution you like, but it will generally be based on experience. Where Republicans often fall short is in our ability to express compassion. We have it, we often just don't express it well.
Democrats are more random and intuitive. They rely on their emotions for decisions and are more subjective. They cannot easily be swayed by rational thought, and are easy targets for emotional appeal and demagoguery. In short, they are right brain thinkers. This theory explains how democrats can believe their politicians when they say one thing this week, and four weeks from now say the exact opposite. The rank and file believe both contradictory statements, because the statements themselves appeal to the emotions rather than the intellect. Republicans miss the boat because we try to express ourselves logically and factually, appealing to the logical intellect, and we forget all about the emotional appeal. This works with the Republican base, but ignores the left completely, and to a lesser extent ignores the middle.
In 1993, in response to Hillary Clinton's health care reform bill, the Health Insurance Association of America released a series of ads featuring “Harry and Louise”. Harry and Louise were a couple who were worried about their health insurance, and what would happen to it under “Hillary Care”. The ads were highly effective and derailed the largest takeover of the US economy until Barrack Obama. Those ads were effective because they not only told the truth, but they did so in such a way as to appeal to the emotions as well as the intellect.
We got blindsided by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Act was passed through congress almost before it was printed. No one, not even the democrats themselves knew what it said. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi said, in front of the National Association of Counties “You have to pass the bill so we can find out what is in it”. Even she didn't know what it said. I understand, I've tried to read the thing myself, and found much of it unintelligible. The parts that are understandable, however do contain many alarming provisions. If you try to explain some of the scarier portions to a democrat, they won't believe you. Even if you show them the text, they won't believe you. If you prosiest, they will get frustrated and call you names and accuse you of wanting people to die from lack on medical attention. It is a little like trying to teach a pig to dance. It's frustrating for you and merely annoys the pig!
For example, the law has a provision which allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up prevention services organizations to tell you how to live you life, what to eat, how much sleep to get, with whom you can sleep, etc.. I know, you don't believe me. Well here is the text:
‘‘(D) implement wellness and health promotion activities.
‘‘(b) WELLNESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS.—For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(D), wellness and health promotion activities may include personalized wellness and prevention services, which are
coordinated, maintained or delivered by a health care provider, a wellness and prevention plan manager, or a health, wellness or prevention services organization that conducts health risk assessments or offers ongoing face-to-face, telephonic or web-based intervention efforts for each of the program’s participants, and which may include the following wellness and prevention efforts:
‘‘(1) Smoking cessation.
‘‘(2) Weight management.
‘‘(3) Stress management.
‘‘(4) Physical fitness.
‘‘(5) Nutrition.
‘‘(6) Heart disease prevention.
‘‘(7) Healthy lifestyle support.
‘‘(8) Diabetes prevention.
I know, you still don't believe me. Well depending on the interpretation of the word intervention, that is EXACTLY what it means. I know, you still don't believe me. Suppose, though, you saw an ad on television.
(opening scene, outside of a house. We see the back of a strong man and a woman with shoulder length hair. Both are wearing blue jackets, like FBI jackets, but with HHS lettering. They ring the doorbell. After a few seconds, a slightly overweight man answers, smoking a cigarette.)
Man: Can I help you?
HHS Woman: “Mr. Johnson, we are here to conduct a healthy lifestyle assessment”.
Man: “A what?”
HHS Woman: “We are going to evaluate your health and tell you what you need to change to keep your health insurance and avoid paying a fine.”
Man: “What?”
HHS Woman; “Yes Mr. Johnson. As part of your health insurance program, you must allow us to asses your habits, and see where they are unhealthy. We will help you to change them to meet the healthy lifestyle requirements laid out by the government. May we come in?”
Man: “What?”
HHS Woman: “Oh, yes Mr. Johnson, it's all part of making America healthy. I see you smoke. That will have to stop, and you are at least fifty pounds overweight. You will need to start exercising right away, and we will tell you what you can eat from now on.”
(fade to black)
(White letters on black background – The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)
Voice Over: “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Is this REALLY what you want from your health insurance provider, or your government?
Call your congressman today, tell them you will make you own choices about how to live.
(Fade to black)
I know, you STILL don't believe me... but you are thinking about it, aren't you?
Democrats are more random and intuitive. They rely on their emotions for decisions and are more subjective. They cannot easily be swayed by rational thought, and are easy targets for emotional appeal and demagoguery. In short, they are right brain thinkers. This theory explains how democrats can believe their politicians when they say one thing this week, and four weeks from now say the exact opposite. The rank and file believe both contradictory statements, because the statements themselves appeal to the emotions rather than the intellect. Republicans miss the boat because we try to express ourselves logically and factually, appealing to the logical intellect, and we forget all about the emotional appeal. This works with the Republican base, but ignores the left completely, and to a lesser extent ignores the middle.
In 1993, in response to Hillary Clinton's health care reform bill, the Health Insurance Association of America released a series of ads featuring “Harry and Louise”. Harry and Louise were a couple who were worried about their health insurance, and what would happen to it under “Hillary Care”. The ads were highly effective and derailed the largest takeover of the US economy until Barrack Obama. Those ads were effective because they not only told the truth, but they did so in such a way as to appeal to the emotions as well as the intellect.
We got blindsided by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Act was passed through congress almost before it was printed. No one, not even the democrats themselves knew what it said. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi said, in front of the National Association of Counties “You have to pass the bill so we can find out what is in it”. Even she didn't know what it said. I understand, I've tried to read the thing myself, and found much of it unintelligible. The parts that are understandable, however do contain many alarming provisions. If you try to explain some of the scarier portions to a democrat, they won't believe you. Even if you show them the text, they won't believe you. If you prosiest, they will get frustrated and call you names and accuse you of wanting people to die from lack on medical attention. It is a little like trying to teach a pig to dance. It's frustrating for you and merely annoys the pig!
For example, the law has a provision which allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up prevention services organizations to tell you how to live you life, what to eat, how much sleep to get, with whom you can sleep, etc.. I know, you don't believe me. Well here is the text:
‘‘(D) implement wellness and health promotion activities.
‘‘(b) WELLNESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS.—For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(D), wellness and health promotion activities may include personalized wellness and prevention services, which are
coordinated, maintained or delivered by a health care provider, a wellness and prevention plan manager, or a health, wellness or prevention services organization that conducts health risk assessments or offers ongoing face-to-face, telephonic or web-based intervention efforts for each of the program’s participants, and which may include the following wellness and prevention efforts:
‘‘(1) Smoking cessation.
‘‘(2) Weight management.
‘‘(3) Stress management.
‘‘(4) Physical fitness.
‘‘(5) Nutrition.
‘‘(6) Heart disease prevention.
‘‘(7) Healthy lifestyle support.
‘‘(8) Diabetes prevention.
I know, you still don't believe me. Well depending on the interpretation of the word intervention, that is EXACTLY what it means. I know, you still don't believe me. Suppose, though, you saw an ad on television.
(opening scene, outside of a house. We see the back of a strong man and a woman with shoulder length hair. Both are wearing blue jackets, like FBI jackets, but with HHS lettering. They ring the doorbell. After a few seconds, a slightly overweight man answers, smoking a cigarette.)
Man: Can I help you?
HHS Woman: “Mr. Johnson, we are here to conduct a healthy lifestyle assessment”.
Man: “A what?”
HHS Woman: “We are going to evaluate your health and tell you what you need to change to keep your health insurance and avoid paying a fine.”
Man: “What?”
HHS Woman; “Yes Mr. Johnson. As part of your health insurance program, you must allow us to asses your habits, and see where they are unhealthy. We will help you to change them to meet the healthy lifestyle requirements laid out by the government. May we come in?”
Man: “What?”
HHS Woman: “Oh, yes Mr. Johnson, it's all part of making America healthy. I see you smoke. That will have to stop, and you are at least fifty pounds overweight. You will need to start exercising right away, and we will tell you what you can eat from now on.”
(fade to black)
(White letters on black background – The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)
Voice Over: “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Is this REALLY what you want from your health insurance provider, or your government?
Call your congressman today, tell them you will make you own choices about how to live.
(Fade to black)
I know, you STILL don't believe me... but you are thinking about it, aren't you?
Monday, June 6, 2011
Missing the Boat.....Again
The New York 26 District congressional seat was lost by a lack of vision on the part of the Republican Party. Why we continue to let the Democrats eat our lunch with demagoguery full of lies is beyond me. Surely I'm not the smartest guy in the room, but even an Ordinary Joe like me can figure this one out.
Now, I don't mean to insult anyone here, but the country as a whole, has the attention span of a gnat. Everyone knows this. I myself, will flip channels the instant a commercial comes on. I just don't have the patience. So when we see an image of granny being pushed off a cliff in her wheel chair by a Paul Ryan look-alike, of course it is going to sway voters. What do we do? We talk and talk and talk. We say “It's not true”. We say “The Ryan plan does nothing to change Medicare for those 55 and over, and it mumble mumble mumble.......or in Charlie Brownese “hanwha whawawnhanahn wah wan”.
How about this instead. Put your imagination caps on here:
Television Commercial
Opening Scene:
(It is a beautiful spring day, we hear soft upbeat spring-like music in the background. Look-a-likes of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid, all wearing coke bottle thick glasses are pushing a wagon with Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, and two children through a meadow. Blindly pushing the wagon forward, it comes to the edge of a cliff and tumbles over. Barack, Nancy and Harry throw their hands up and mouths open in surprise)
Voice over: With no plan to repair Medicare, the Administration and the Democrats in Congress are blindly pushing us all off a cliff.
Background noise: Family screaming as they fall!
Cut to: (We see Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Michele Bachmann, and several other prominent Republicans holding a large blanket emblazoned with the words Ryan Plan. One by one they catch the falling family members and safely place them all on the ground)
Voice over: Paul Ryan and the Republicans have shown real leadership with a budget proposal that saves Medicare for all of our seniors, and insures health insurance will be there for everyone when we reach our golden years. Don't let those who have no ideas of their own use lies and distortions to scare you. We have an answer that will preserve what was promised, and protect all of us in the future.
Fade to black
“Elect Jane Corwin and preserve our future.” appears on the black background.
Instead Ms. Corwin tried to run from the Ryan plan and it cost her the election.
Unfortunately the demagoguery from the left side of the aisle works. I would not be so offended if it was at least based loosely on the truth. What is missing on the right side of the aisle is not an understanding of what is needed or what works in terms of policy, but an understanding of how to get the message out. We really do need more catchy phrases, and more ways to boil the message down to a thirty second television commercial.
If you folks need ideas, just ask me, I've got a million of them.
Now, I don't mean to insult anyone here, but the country as a whole, has the attention span of a gnat. Everyone knows this. I myself, will flip channels the instant a commercial comes on. I just don't have the patience. So when we see an image of granny being pushed off a cliff in her wheel chair by a Paul Ryan look-alike, of course it is going to sway voters. What do we do? We talk and talk and talk. We say “It's not true”. We say “The Ryan plan does nothing to change Medicare for those 55 and over, and it mumble mumble mumble.......or in Charlie Brownese “hanwha whawawnhanahn wah wan”.
How about this instead. Put your imagination caps on here:
Television Commercial
Opening Scene:
(It is a beautiful spring day, we hear soft upbeat spring-like music in the background. Look-a-likes of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid, all wearing coke bottle thick glasses are pushing a wagon with Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, and two children through a meadow. Blindly pushing the wagon forward, it comes to the edge of a cliff and tumbles over. Barack, Nancy and Harry throw their hands up and mouths open in surprise)
Voice over: With no plan to repair Medicare, the Administration and the Democrats in Congress are blindly pushing us all off a cliff.
Background noise: Family screaming as they fall!
Cut to: (We see Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Michele Bachmann, and several other prominent Republicans holding a large blanket emblazoned with the words Ryan Plan. One by one they catch the falling family members and safely place them all on the ground)
Voice over: Paul Ryan and the Republicans have shown real leadership with a budget proposal that saves Medicare for all of our seniors, and insures health insurance will be there for everyone when we reach our golden years. Don't let those who have no ideas of their own use lies and distortions to scare you. We have an answer that will preserve what was promised, and protect all of us in the future.
Fade to black
“Elect Jane Corwin and preserve our future.” appears on the black background.
Instead Ms. Corwin tried to run from the Ryan plan and it cost her the election.
Unfortunately the demagoguery from the left side of the aisle works. I would not be so offended if it was at least based loosely on the truth. What is missing on the right side of the aisle is not an understanding of what is needed or what works in terms of policy, but an understanding of how to get the message out. We really do need more catchy phrases, and more ways to boil the message down to a thirty second television commercial.
If you folks need ideas, just ask me, I've got a million of them.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Missed Opportunities
I can't help but think, with all the Tiger Woods hype, that a golden opportunity is being missed here. Picture this television commercial:
(tight close up on Tiger's face, his Titleist cap visable on his head)
Tiger: You know, when I'm playing on the PGA tour, I count on my equipment. I rely on my irons on the fairway and my woods off the tee. My gear has to be the best.
(camera pulls back to reveal Tiger surrounded by 5 scantally clad buxom blonde women)
Tiger: It's no different when I'm off the course.
(Tiger holds up a box of Trojan Condoms - camera zooms in on the box)
(Camera pulls back as Tiger tosses the box - Camera pans with box)
Tiger: Hey Levi, try these
(Camera follows box into Levi Johnston's hands)
(Fade to black)
(Title overlay - Trojan - When your equipment HAS to be the best)
Well that's what I think
(tight close up on Tiger's face, his Titleist cap visable on his head)
Tiger: You know, when I'm playing on the PGA tour, I count on my equipment. I rely on my irons on the fairway and my woods off the tee. My gear has to be the best.
(camera pulls back to reveal Tiger surrounded by 5 scantally clad buxom blonde women)
Tiger: It's no different when I'm off the course.
(Tiger holds up a box of Trojan Condoms - camera zooms in on the box)
(Camera pulls back as Tiger tosses the box - Camera pans with box)
Tiger: Hey Levi, try these
(Camera follows box into Levi Johnston's hands)
(Fade to black)
(Title overlay - Trojan - When your equipment HAS to be the best)
Well that's what I think
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Soft Opening
Well, the store is open now. Again my excuse for sloppy blogging, but I don't think anyone reads this thing anyway. I'm sure it is not quite dance-able yet, after all there are no music or vegetables. But it's mine, well ours really. If there are items you would like to see in the store, but do not yet, please let me know and I will try to provide them. Big Thanksgiving sale going on now. Most of the stuff in there are things I think are cool, but it is quite time consuming tracking down suppliers for particular things, so the store is not nearly complete. Check back often for new green gadgets and gizmos.
I used to do the computer weenie thing for a living, but that was nine years ago now, and it is amazing how much I have forgotten, and even more amazing how things have changed. What used to be simple html commands, now require a degree in quantum physics and a scripting language to accomplish, but so it goes. The web looks pretty these days.
I still remember the days of the command line interface, when e-mail was sent via BITNET and Gopher was all the rage. (Unless you are an academician, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but it's like the difference between paper and a pencil, and Microsoft Word). I was going to say a slide rule and a calculator, but I didn't think anyone would get that one either.
Anyway, if you want to poke around, my store is called B & B Stuff and can be found at www.bandbgoodstuff.com just in case you are interested.
Technology marches on, and here I go along with it.....again. I'm really psyched about alternative energy options, which is what the whole dance-able store thingy is all about. I want people to feel good about their choices. I like to see people smile, and it is hard not to smile when you are dancing among the vegetables. Next time you are in the grocery store, give it a whirl, or give yourself a whirl, see if it doesn't make you smile.
I used to do the computer weenie thing for a living, but that was nine years ago now, and it is amazing how much I have forgotten, and even more amazing how things have changed. What used to be simple html commands, now require a degree in quantum physics and a scripting language to accomplish, but so it goes. The web looks pretty these days.
I still remember the days of the command line interface, when e-mail was sent via BITNET and Gopher was all the rage. (Unless you are an academician, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but it's like the difference between paper and a pencil, and Microsoft Word). I was going to say a slide rule and a calculator, but I didn't think anyone would get that one either.
Anyway, if you want to poke around, my store is called B & B Stuff and can be found at www.bandbgoodstuff.com just in case you are interested.
Technology marches on, and here I go along with it.....again. I'm really psyched about alternative energy options, which is what the whole dance-able store thingy is all about. I want people to feel good about their choices. I like to see people smile, and it is hard not to smile when you are dancing among the vegetables. Next time you are in the grocery store, give it a whirl, or give yourself a whirl, see if it doesn't make you smile.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
G-20 Summit or WHAT was THAT?
OK, I can see that if I'm going to get serious about this whole blogging thing, I am going to have to set aside some time every day for the effort. I have been distracted the last several days by a minor medical problem and all the G-20 hubbub. I was riveted to the TV. I watched the news every time it was on, and do you know what? I still don't know anything. I know they had a meeting. I know they shook their collective fist at Iran, and I know there are now twenty of them. Beyond that I know little of the meetings themselves. Maybe that it what they intended, I just don't know.
It was very informative on other matters however. Lots of people protested. What they were protesting, even they don't know, but they were there in droves. OK free Tibet, I can wrap my brain around that one, it's not too ambiguous, Consider however this report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Groggy but not subdued, anarchists hail protest success with little damage
Saturday, September 26, 2009
By Sadie Gurman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
They weren't stockpiling human waste to throw at police.
They didn't set cars ablaze or chain themselves together in "sleeping dragons" with PVC pipe.
The anarchists who police and media had warned for months could wreak havoc on the city during the G-20 summit didn't exactly fulfill that expectation. Instead, they smashed some windows and turned over a few Dumpsters, flooded the streets of Lawrenceville and staged sporadic uprisings for hours elsewhere, met by a large contingent of riot police at almost every turn.
Some were sprayed with OC gas, others pelted with rubber bullets. Still others were arrested in the demonstrations, which they had spent their summers planning.
Then yesterday, groggy but not subdued, the contingent joined thousands of other protesters in a city-sanctioned march that was largely uneventful, beyond some chanting laced with swear words and a little taunting of police. Some had shed their all-black attire for shorts and T-shirts.
So, were the protests everything the anarchists had envisioned during meetings and trainings?
"We tried to do what we wanted to do, and we wanted to take to the streets in a show of resistance against the G-20," one member, Alex Bradley, said. "In that respect, I think it was a success."
As the summit and the protests it spawned wound to a close yesterday, members of one of the more visible -- and vilified -- anarchist groups, the Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project, reflected on their experiences.
"Even though people had to fight to save themselves from the riot police, people continued to re mobilize so many times, we didn't let the police keep us down," said Amanda Zeiders, who tried to snap as many photos as she could during Thursday's actions. "It was great for the movement."
There were scary moments, she said, when she was separated from friends, and painful moments of dehydration. "It was intense," she said. "It was surely a great day."
The group issued a statement during Thursday's unrest declaring the "people's uprising" a success and proof of "people's willingness to resist global capitalism despite the combined forces of state repression."
Mr. Bradley described Thursday's march out of Arsenal Park in Lawrenceville as "people power," whereas yesterday's permitted event was "an appeal to people in power," each with its own merit.
The group said its arrest count -- 17 in four hours, by members' estimates -- was relatively low, and no one was badly hurt.
Mr. Bradley said the downing of Dumpsters might have been protesters' attempts to shield themselves from police, who threw tear gas and blared what he called "a sonic weapon," the long-range acoustic device.
"The Dumpsters people pushed down the road ran into an armored personnel carrier," he said. "I really hope the armored personnel carrier was all right."
The group blamed the mayhem, which left windows broken, on police "overreaction."
The Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project had been holding public meetings since early June, when it launched a Web site and issued a call to action.
"We are asking you to come to Pittsburgh with every ounce of anger and rage that you feel when your local projects refuse to manifest into something larger, fiercer, or broader, or when that anger itself forces you into isolation or alienation," the Web site said.
The anarchists quickly captured the attention of reporters and police, who, group members believe, were always keeping an eye on them.
As the summit approached, the group turned a Greenfield storefront into a "convergence space" for gatherings. Dozens of police officers in vans and a hazardous materials truck watched the headquarters from a nearby parking lot on Wednesday night, during a meeting to coordinate the next day's events. They left -- and returned again -- without incident.
"It's a psychological attack," the group's spokesman Noah Williams said at the time. "They want people to feel threatened constantly."
The anarchists also fought against what they consider media "scare stories" that claimed anarchists were squatting in vacant buildings, collecting human waste to throw during protests.
Fear later brewed over a list, posted to the Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project's Web site, of locations, including Starbucks coffee shops, police stations and banks, and other places with "links to globalism" where possible protests could take place.
Some stores boarded their windows, but there were few, if any, reports of trouble at sites on the list.
Throughout it all, anarchists tried to explain their views as simply as they could to skeptical inquirers. They left fliers at 4,500 homes and went on radio talk shows.
Patrick Young, of the anarchist Pittsburgh Organizing Group, led theoretical and tactical training workshops for demonstrators, including one on "lockboxing" with PVC pipe and chains.
He said the summit protests were an extension of the work anarchists try to do daily.
But now, he said, a break is in store.
"As soon as everyone gets out of jail, I am going to take a long, long, long nap," he said. "And probably have a couple beers."
Sadie Gurman can be reached at sgurman@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1878.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09269/1000990-482.stm#ixzz0SKfhSqQt
HUH? I re-produced the whole story here so you can see I didn't edit it, but I still don't know what the Anarchist's point is. If they were not threatening violence, the massive police presence wouldn't be necessary. Most of the banners shown on TV were about how bad Capitalism is. Now I'm by no means saying we don't have problems with the way we practice capitalism in this country, but what are the alternatives to it. I did a little snooping into anarchist theory (there is very little that I could find quickly) and it seems they offer no alternative. The orderly exchange of goods and services has to be accomplished somehow. Anytime there are more than three people clumped together, we have to figure out some way to provide for each other's needs. So unless we are all going to be camped out in the woods with no hot water or cable TV, eating nuts and berries and whatever tasty animals we can catch, we have to have some form of exchange. We can do that by a Nanny State, which forces everyone to do stuff and make stuff, and give it to the State to re-distribute, or we can have some profit or altruistic motivation. The Nanny State has been tried several times now, and the level of oppression is far worse in those cases than it is here in the good old US of A. If you really want Anarchy, have a look at Somalia, it's the best example I can think of. That is not really an ideal lifestyle if you ask me. I take a more Libertarian view myself, though like Tucker and his Machine, I don't think profit at any cost is good for us. It tends to deny opportunity to some for the benefit of others. Equal OPPORTUNITY for all is what I say, the results are up to you.
The problem is that we don't think anymore. We are not really taught HOW to think either. Our educational system is abysmal in that regard. We are taught to regurgitate information and to conform, but beyond that, original thought and expression are discouraged. We aren't even doing a good job of teaching regurgitation anymore. Just a thought (and not my own I must admit) how about complete and open disclosure of ALL financial transactions. Yes, that's what I said. Everyone could look-up on-line what everyone else spends and for what, and how much they have in the bank. The country as a whole wouldn't really stand for multi-million dollar bonuses for wall street raiders, if they really knew who, where, when and how much. Yes, your expenditure for odor-eaters would also be revealed. Sorry about that, but openness and honesty is really the best policy, if you ask me, I know you didn't, but there you have it anyway. Your contributions to my campaign for congress would also be available to anyone, so think carefully before you write that check!
That is really the point. If everyone could know what everyone was up to financially, we might all think a little more before we did something we might be ashamed of. Public conscience, what a concept!
It was very informative on other matters however. Lots of people protested. What they were protesting, even they don't know, but they were there in droves. OK free Tibet, I can wrap my brain around that one, it's not too ambiguous, Consider however this report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Groggy but not subdued, anarchists hail protest success with little damage
Saturday, September 26, 2009
By Sadie Gurman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
They weren't stockpiling human waste to throw at police.
They didn't set cars ablaze or chain themselves together in "sleeping dragons" with PVC pipe.
The anarchists who police and media had warned for months could wreak havoc on the city during the G-20 summit didn't exactly fulfill that expectation. Instead, they smashed some windows and turned over a few Dumpsters, flooded the streets of Lawrenceville and staged sporadic uprisings for hours elsewhere, met by a large contingent of riot police at almost every turn.
Some were sprayed with OC gas, others pelted with rubber bullets. Still others were arrested in the demonstrations, which they had spent their summers planning.
Then yesterday, groggy but not subdued, the contingent joined thousands of other protesters in a city-sanctioned march that was largely uneventful, beyond some chanting laced with swear words and a little taunting of police. Some had shed their all-black attire for shorts and T-shirts.
So, were the protests everything the anarchists had envisioned during meetings and trainings?
"We tried to do what we wanted to do, and we wanted to take to the streets in a show of resistance against the G-20," one member, Alex Bradley, said. "In that respect, I think it was a success."
As the summit and the protests it spawned wound to a close yesterday, members of one of the more visible -- and vilified -- anarchist groups, the Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project, reflected on their experiences.
"Even though people had to fight to save themselves from the riot police, people continued to re mobilize so many times, we didn't let the police keep us down," said Amanda Zeiders, who tried to snap as many photos as she could during Thursday's actions. "It was great for the movement."
There were scary moments, she said, when she was separated from friends, and painful moments of dehydration. "It was intense," she said. "It was surely a great day."
The group issued a statement during Thursday's unrest declaring the "people's uprising" a success and proof of "people's willingness to resist global capitalism despite the combined forces of state repression."
Mr. Bradley described Thursday's march out of Arsenal Park in Lawrenceville as "people power," whereas yesterday's permitted event was "an appeal to people in power," each with its own merit.
The group said its arrest count -- 17 in four hours, by members' estimates -- was relatively low, and no one was badly hurt.
Mr. Bradley said the downing of Dumpsters might have been protesters' attempts to shield themselves from police, who threw tear gas and blared what he called "a sonic weapon," the long-range acoustic device.
"The Dumpsters people pushed down the road ran into an armored personnel carrier," he said. "I really hope the armored personnel carrier was all right."
The group blamed the mayhem, which left windows broken, on police "overreaction."
The Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project had been holding public meetings since early June, when it launched a Web site and issued a call to action.
"We are asking you to come to Pittsburgh with every ounce of anger and rage that you feel when your local projects refuse to manifest into something larger, fiercer, or broader, or when that anger itself forces you into isolation or alienation," the Web site said.
The anarchists quickly captured the attention of reporters and police, who, group members believe, were always keeping an eye on them.
As the summit approached, the group turned a Greenfield storefront into a "convergence space" for gatherings. Dozens of police officers in vans and a hazardous materials truck watched the headquarters from a nearby parking lot on Wednesday night, during a meeting to coordinate the next day's events. They left -- and returned again -- without incident.
"It's a psychological attack," the group's spokesman Noah Williams said at the time. "They want people to feel threatened constantly."
The anarchists also fought against what they consider media "scare stories" that claimed anarchists were squatting in vacant buildings, collecting human waste to throw during protests.
Fear later brewed over a list, posted to the Pittsburgh G-20 Resistance Project's Web site, of locations, including Starbucks coffee shops, police stations and banks, and other places with "links to globalism" where possible protests could take place.
Some stores boarded their windows, but there were few, if any, reports of trouble at sites on the list.
Throughout it all, anarchists tried to explain their views as simply as they could to skeptical inquirers. They left fliers at 4,500 homes and went on radio talk shows.
Patrick Young, of the anarchist Pittsburgh Organizing Group, led theoretical and tactical training workshops for demonstrators, including one on "lockboxing" with PVC pipe and chains.
He said the summit protests were an extension of the work anarchists try to do daily.
But now, he said, a break is in store.
"As soon as everyone gets out of jail, I am going to take a long, long, long nap," he said. "And probably have a couple beers."
Sadie Gurman can be reached at sgurman@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1878.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09269/1000990-482.stm#ixzz0SKfhSqQt
HUH? I re-produced the whole story here so you can see I didn't edit it, but I still don't know what the Anarchist's point is. If they were not threatening violence, the massive police presence wouldn't be necessary. Most of the banners shown on TV were about how bad Capitalism is. Now I'm by no means saying we don't have problems with the way we practice capitalism in this country, but what are the alternatives to it. I did a little snooping into anarchist theory (there is very little that I could find quickly) and it seems they offer no alternative. The orderly exchange of goods and services has to be accomplished somehow. Anytime there are more than three people clumped together, we have to figure out some way to provide for each other's needs. So unless we are all going to be camped out in the woods with no hot water or cable TV, eating nuts and berries and whatever tasty animals we can catch, we have to have some form of exchange. We can do that by a Nanny State, which forces everyone to do stuff and make stuff, and give it to the State to re-distribute, or we can have some profit or altruistic motivation. The Nanny State has been tried several times now, and the level of oppression is far worse in those cases than it is here in the good old US of A. If you really want Anarchy, have a look at Somalia, it's the best example I can think of. That is not really an ideal lifestyle if you ask me. I take a more Libertarian view myself, though like Tucker and his Machine, I don't think profit at any cost is good for us. It tends to deny opportunity to some for the benefit of others. Equal OPPORTUNITY for all is what I say, the results are up to you.
The problem is that we don't think anymore. We are not really taught HOW to think either. Our educational system is abysmal in that regard. We are taught to regurgitate information and to conform, but beyond that, original thought and expression are discouraged. We aren't even doing a good job of teaching regurgitation anymore. Just a thought (and not my own I must admit) how about complete and open disclosure of ALL financial transactions. Yes, that's what I said. Everyone could look-up on-line what everyone else spends and for what, and how much they have in the bank. The country as a whole wouldn't really stand for multi-million dollar bonuses for wall street raiders, if they really knew who, where, when and how much. Yes, your expenditure for odor-eaters would also be revealed. Sorry about that, but openness and honesty is really the best policy, if you ask me, I know you didn't, but there you have it anyway. Your contributions to my campaign for congress would also be available to anyone, so think carefully before you write that check!
That is really the point. If everyone could know what everyone was up to financially, we might all think a little more before we did something we might be ashamed of. Public conscience, what a concept!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thoughts from the weekend
You just know it's going to be a good day when you drop your toast on the floor first thing and it lands jelly side up. Good for me!
Sorry I missed the last two days, not off to a good start am I. Oh well, better now than later when someone might actually be reading this. It was a very busy weekend. My lovely bride Beth and I were off to the 14th Annual New Bethlehem Peanut Butter Festival for fun and adventure. If one has never been to a Peanut Butter Festival, and we had not, one is not quite sure what to expect. Fun for sure, and adventure, and the unknown. Venturing out into the far reaches of New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is not that easy a task, though it is easier to find than Timblin.
Pennsylvania has some truly beautiful countryside, and we drove through a portion. We arrived in time for the Peanut Butter Parade. Quite a sight. It lasted a half hour, and was not so well appointed as other parades I have attended in the past, but for all that the citizens seemed to have a good time, and it was a good excuse for the locals to shine up the old tractor. The winner was something like a 1936 Olive, sorry I don't remember the owners name, and a quick Google search reveled no published results.
I can say with assurance, however, that rubber ducks number 48 and 95 did NOT win the duck race, though we went with high hopes for them. To be fair, given the slow current in the Red Bank creek, and the wind blowing the wrong way, it was quite a feat for our little ducks to cross the finish line at all. Oh well the Purina Duck Chow sponsorship wasn't looking good anyway.
On to more poignant things. I am still unemployed. Not much happens on the weekend, so the search continues today. Beth and I have been discussing the merits of Hot Dog Vending and so far the possibilities are promising. We decided that if I am elected to congress, we could move the hot dog cart to DC and sell tasty snacks in between votes on the House Floor. Running a country is a hungry business.
It was actually my political musings that lead us to the Peanut Butter Festival in the first place. The republicans were having an “event” there. Turns out that in Clarion County anyway, an “Event” amounts to a booth with a very friendly fellow pushing the importance of electing the right judges in this fall's election. I agree. Judges are important. They do a lot of judging. I guess Paula Abdul is done with all that now. I think Ellen will be funnier, but that was not the kind of Judge he was talking about. I haven't had time to read the literature yet, but I plan to. I'll let you know.
Of the stuff I've gleaned from my current Representative's web site, he is pretty much against everything the democrats say, and is pretty much for being against everything the democrats say. Hard to get anything done that way, though often not doing something is a good thing. Ah for the days of Newt and the contract for America. What happened to the party of Lincoln actually having an agenda and trying to do something, even if it's wrong.
My father wonders where he went wrong, I'm sure. I grew up in a Kennedy, Humphrey, McGovern household, and didn't actually become a Republican until Regan's second term. In fact I broke up with a girl because she voted for him the first time. Well that and she lived seven hours away and there were cute girls close by. What can I say, I was young.
Anyway, back to my ranting. If my party is ever going to be anything again, we need to stop simply being against everything and start coming up with some “outside the box” ideas of our own. As for the Jobs program, here is an idea, Legalize and tax marijuana. I don't smoke it anymore, haven't for a very long time, way past the statute of limitations, not for twenty-five years. But as hard as they are making it for me to smoke tobacco, I figure people ought to be able to smoke SOMETHING! If we were to be at all honest with ourselves, something sorely lacking in government, we would realize that Alcohol is far more damaging to our citizens and our society, and you can buy it anywhere. Hemp is easy to grow, grows in almost any climate and is one of the strongest fibers going. It can be used to make paper, clothing, rope almost anything that uses pulp or fiber. It also has medicinal as well as recreational uses, and though drivers often forget where they are going, and drive too slowly, it doesn't pose nearly the hazard texting and driving does. Put the farmers back to work and you boost the farm machinery manufacturing business, boosting the steel business, boosting the economy as a whole. Marijuana for jobs, that's what I say, but then I'm just an Ordinary Joe.
Sorry I missed the last two days, not off to a good start am I. Oh well, better now than later when someone might actually be reading this. It was a very busy weekend. My lovely bride Beth and I were off to the 14th Annual New Bethlehem Peanut Butter Festival for fun and adventure. If one has never been to a Peanut Butter Festival, and we had not, one is not quite sure what to expect. Fun for sure, and adventure, and the unknown. Venturing out into the far reaches of New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is not that easy a task, though it is easier to find than Timblin.
Pennsylvania has some truly beautiful countryside, and we drove through a portion. We arrived in time for the Peanut Butter Parade. Quite a sight. It lasted a half hour, and was not so well appointed as other parades I have attended in the past, but for all that the citizens seemed to have a good time, and it was a good excuse for the locals to shine up the old tractor. The winner was something like a 1936 Olive, sorry I don't remember the owners name, and a quick Google search reveled no published results.
I can say with assurance, however, that rubber ducks number 48 and 95 did NOT win the duck race, though we went with high hopes for them. To be fair, given the slow current in the Red Bank creek, and the wind blowing the wrong way, it was quite a feat for our little ducks to cross the finish line at all. Oh well the Purina Duck Chow sponsorship wasn't looking good anyway.
On to more poignant things. I am still unemployed. Not much happens on the weekend, so the search continues today. Beth and I have been discussing the merits of Hot Dog Vending and so far the possibilities are promising. We decided that if I am elected to congress, we could move the hot dog cart to DC and sell tasty snacks in between votes on the House Floor. Running a country is a hungry business.
It was actually my political musings that lead us to the Peanut Butter Festival in the first place. The republicans were having an “event” there. Turns out that in Clarion County anyway, an “Event” amounts to a booth with a very friendly fellow pushing the importance of electing the right judges in this fall's election. I agree. Judges are important. They do a lot of judging. I guess Paula Abdul is done with all that now. I think Ellen will be funnier, but that was not the kind of Judge he was talking about. I haven't had time to read the literature yet, but I plan to. I'll let you know.
Of the stuff I've gleaned from my current Representative's web site, he is pretty much against everything the democrats say, and is pretty much for being against everything the democrats say. Hard to get anything done that way, though often not doing something is a good thing. Ah for the days of Newt and the contract for America. What happened to the party of Lincoln actually having an agenda and trying to do something, even if it's wrong.
My father wonders where he went wrong, I'm sure. I grew up in a Kennedy, Humphrey, McGovern household, and didn't actually become a Republican until Regan's second term. In fact I broke up with a girl because she voted for him the first time. Well that and she lived seven hours away and there were cute girls close by. What can I say, I was young.
Anyway, back to my ranting. If my party is ever going to be anything again, we need to stop simply being against everything and start coming up with some “outside the box” ideas of our own. As for the Jobs program, here is an idea, Legalize and tax marijuana. I don't smoke it anymore, haven't for a very long time, way past the statute of limitations, not for twenty-five years. But as hard as they are making it for me to smoke tobacco, I figure people ought to be able to smoke SOMETHING! If we were to be at all honest with ourselves, something sorely lacking in government, we would realize that Alcohol is far more damaging to our citizens and our society, and you can buy it anywhere. Hemp is easy to grow, grows in almost any climate and is one of the strongest fibers going. It can be used to make paper, clothing, rope almost anything that uses pulp or fiber. It also has medicinal as well as recreational uses, and though drivers often forget where they are going, and drive too slowly, it doesn't pose nearly the hazard texting and driving does. Put the farmers back to work and you boost the farm machinery manufacturing business, boosting the steel business, boosting the economy as a whole. Marijuana for jobs, that's what I say, but then I'm just an Ordinary Joe.
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