“After years of historic deficits, this 110th Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: Pay as you go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt.” Pelosi said in her inaugural address as speaker of the House in 2007
Since that day, the national debt has increased by $5 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. For the full story, see this article.
* 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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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).
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”
Pandering to the racists and sexists, CNN is reporting that an Obama-Clinton ticket is on the table for 2012 as the “Dream Ticket”. Voting for or against someone based on their skin color is racist. Voting for or against someone based on their gender is sexist, but the party is considering that it can get a fair number of both.
Arrogant Lisa Murkowski – You Lost! television ad for Alaska. Spot on:
Florida 2010 Amendment Voting recommendations
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.
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.
“Affirmative action as we know it and as it is applied
is actually nothing more than American apartheid.”
~ Richard B. Boddie
“acceleration of the agrarian revolution.” – Hugo Chavez. (see this)
When the socialist dictator Hugo Chavez is finished, “agrarian” peasants will be all that is left. His revolution is an anti-industrial revolution.