Category Archives: big government

Abuse of Power, big government, Doing the Right Thing, elections

California Air Board – not science, politics

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* California grossly miscalculated pollution levels – by 340 percent, according to the California Air Resources Board

* Bad calculation by the air board estimated 18000 deaths per year from particulate matter, which now is estimated to by off by at least a factor of two.  (And probably thousands).

* The California Air Board estimate of a nitrous oxide source was off by at least a factor of two.

The board scientist – Hien Tran – who oversaw that study faked his scientific credentials.  Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, knew that the “scientist” had faked his degree and lied about his credentials and did not inform the rest of the board prior to a vote on his faked research.

Nichols should resign, and the board should be dissolved.  Politics and science don’t mix.
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Abuse of Power, big government, Constitution, First Amendment

Obama Admin Weighs Urging Ban on All Phone Use by Drivers

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he believes motorists are distracted by any use of mobile phones while driving, including hands-free calls, as his department begins research that may lead him to push for a ban.  Link

What is next?  Banning all conversations while driving?  Have a conversation with a hands-free device is no more distracting that having a conversation with passengers.  Talk about big government.

LaHood also made an outrageous statement in an intereview this week: “I don’t want people talking on phones, having them up to their ear or texting while they’re driving.”  Hey, Secretary LaHood, I hate to break this to you, but this is SUPPOSED TO BE A FREE COUNTRY.  If I can speak to a passenger or on my hands-free phone without being distracted, it is none of your business.

(And somehow I missed the part of the Constitution that authorizes this).

Abuse of Power, big government, Constitution, Doing the Right Thing, elections, First Amendment

Single Payer system, I go to the doc, I pay for the services I receive.

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On a single payer system:

You go, you pay for the services you receive. I go to the doc, I pay for the services I receive. Love [the single payer] plan, single payer all the way. If it’s successful there, we’ll move it to other segments of society. You go gas up your car, you pay, I go gas up my car, I pay. Single payer again! Fantastic idea! A multi-payer system would be, You go to the doc, you don’t pay, but me, my neighbor, my boss and my brother-in-law all chip-in for your treatment. Hmmm, maybe we have a problem here with definitions. – “From Where I Sit”

big government, Constitution, elections

Florida 2010 Amendment Voting Recommendations

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Florida 2010 Amendment Voting recommendations

  • 1. Yes – 2005 Legislature tripled spending limits for themselves to buy votes. End it.
  • 2. No – everyone pays the same, no favorites.
  • 4. No – Where this has been tried, it has been a complete mess.
  • 5-6: No – While the idea here is a good one, the problem is that there are no examples of districts and the groups supporting it are for anything but fair districts.
  • 7: Yes – Groups support this to protect their own group, instead of looking out for the children.

    • Amendment 1: Repeal of public campaign financing requirement.
    Sponsor: Legislature.
    Summary: Voters approved using public funds for campaigns in 1998, to hold down costs. In 2005, the Legislature more than tripled the spending limits. It turned out to be an incumbent protection measure.

    Amendment 2: Property tax credit for deployed military personnel.
    Sponsor: Legislature.
    Summary: Cost about $13 million in property taxes across the state for 2009.

    Amendment 4: Votes required for changes to land-use plans.
    Sponsor: Florida Hometown Democracy.
    Summary: Requires voter approval of development proposals that would change local growth plans.

    Amendment 5-6: New state and federal redistricting standards.
    Sponsor: Fair Districts Florida.
    Summary: Changes how legislative and congressional districts are drawn to make sure they are compact, contiguous, and don’t favor one political party.

    Amendment 8: Revising class-size limits.
    Sponsor: Legislature.
    Summary: The 2002 class-size amendment puts a limit on how many students can be in a class. The new amendment increases the cap and would base the limits on an average by grade.

    big government, Constitution, First Amendment

    They sought to protect Americans in their beliefs, their thoughts, their emotions and their sensations. They conferred, as against the government, the right to be let alone – the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by civilized men.

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    Olmstead vs. United States (1928):

    Discovery and invention have made it possible for the government, with means far more effective than stretching upon the rack, to obtain disclosure in court of what is whispered in the closet. … The progress of science Continue reading They sought to protect Americans in their beliefs, their thoughts, their emotions and their sensations. They conferred, as against the government, the right to be let alone – the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by civilized men. →

    Abuse of Power, big government, Constitution, Doing the Right Thing, elections, First Amendment

    Kerry, Obama, Biden attack electorate

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    “We have an electorate that doesn’t always pay that much attention to what’s going on so people are influenced by a simple slogan rather than the facts or the truth or what’s happening.” – John Kerry

    Vice President Joe Biden recently urged the party’s base to “stop whining” and “buck up.”  President Obama also urged the party to “buck up.”

    For more please see here.

    big government, Brutality by Police, Constitution, Doing the Right Thing, First Amendment

    Wiretap charges dismissed in videotaping of trooper

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    A judge threw out criminal charges Monday against a Maryland man who videotaped his traffic stop by a plainclothes state trooper and posted the video on YouTube.

    Harford County Circuit Judge Emory A Plitt Jr wrote in his ruling: “In this rapid information technology era in which we live, it is hard to imagine that either an offender or an officer would have any reasonable expectation of privacy with regard to what is said between them in a traffic stop on a public highway.”

    MyFoxDC has the details.

    Abuse of Power, big government, Constitution

    Obama argues Assassination of United States Citizens is state secret.

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    “The Obama administration urged a federal judge early Saturday to dismiss a lawsuit over its targeting of a U.S. citizen for killing overseas, saying that the case would reveal state secrets.” from Washington Post.  For more, “not only does the President have the right to sentence Americans to death with no due process or charges of any kind, but his decisions as to who will be killed and why he wants them dead are “state secrets,” and thus no court may adjudicate their legality.” see Salon.