POLITICS: The game is rigged!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9D72N2O0&show_article=1

Seating Mass. Senate winner could be delayed
Jan 13 03:22 PM US/Eastern
By GLEN JOHNSON AP Political Writer

*** begin quote ***

BOSTON (AP) – Massachusetts’s top election official says it could take weeks to certify the results of the upcoming U.S. Senate special election. That delay could let President Barack Obama preserve a key 60th vote for his health care overhaul even if the Republican who has vowed to kill it wins Democrat Edward M. Kennedy’s former seat.

Secretary of State William F. Galvin, citing state law, says city and town clerks must wait at least 10 days for absentee ballots to arrive before they certify the results of the Jan. 19 election. They then have five more days to file the returns with his office.

Galvin bypassed the provision in 2007 so his fellow Democrats could gain a House vote they needed to override a veto of then-Republican President George W. Bush, but the secretary says U.S. Senate rules would preclude a similar rush today.

*** end quote ***

What a bunch of “barbara streisand”!

Special place in hell for the bender of the laws?

It’s corrupt and beyond the pale. Guess there’s no “play fair” in Democratic politics.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: The first “Sertorius” for Cronkite?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=121035

Tavern on the Green and our delusional leaders
Posted: January 06, 2010
Barry Farber

*** begin quote ***

I propose the minting of a new award, like the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys and Golden Globes, for today’s cheerleading, sycophantic media. We’ll call it the “Ludwig,” named after Hitler’s favorite broadcaster during the war, Ludwig Sertorius. German newscasters began having a hard time toward the end of 1942 with sharp and fatal reverses in Russia and North Africa. None of them could spin as prize-winningly as Ludwig Sertorius.

When British Gen. Bernard Montgomery counter-attacked German Gen. Erwin Rommel’s advance at El Alamein in Egypt, sending his “Afrika Korps” into history’s longest and fastest retreat, old Ludwig faced the microphone and – with the Germans fleeing at top speed, mind you – told the German people, “All British attempts to interfere with our systematic advance to the rear have been successfully frustrated, defeated and smashed!”

*** end quote ***

I’d suggest Walter Cronkite for the first “Sertorius” award. (Reserving the “Ludwig” for Ludwig von Mises, who is far more deserving.) Cronkite mislead me about his being a liberal. I thought he was being an unbiased reporter. Seeing him sailing with the Hero of Chapaquidick and his statement after his retirement made me realize that all those years he had an agenda!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MONEY: Prep for the USA bankruptcy?

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8486284-fee9-11de-a677-00144feab49a.html

Bankruptcy could be good for America
By Gideon Rachman
Published: January 11 2010 19:47 | Last updated: January 11 2010 19:47

*** begin quote ***

The result is that the US is piling up debt. A budget deficit of about 12 per cent of gross domestic product is understandable as a short-term reaction to a huge financial crisis. What should worry Americans is that, with entitlement spending set to surge, there is no credible plan to bring the budget deficit under control over the medium term.

*** and ***

Perhaps the most memorable thing said so far by an official in Barack Obama’s administration was the remark by Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, that “you never want a serious crisis to go to waste”. Mr Emanuel was widely condemned for flippancy and cynicism. But an examination of world history over the last 30 years suggests he was definitely on to something. Those much discussed emerging powers, the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India and China) all needed a fiscal crisis to set them on the road to economic reform and national resurgence. America may one day be lucky enough to experience its very own national fiscal crisis. Let us hope it is not wasted.

*** end quote ***

While it might be “good”, it’s hard to imagine it would be good for the “little people”. The poor, the middle class, the elderly, the young, those on fixed incomes. They all lose in any kind of problem. The rich, the political class, the bureaucrats all seem to make out just fine regardless of the problem. Some like Wall Street actually prosper when they should be going broke!

So that’s the USA going broke, with no plan.

Argh!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Sarah Palin’s Bill O’Reilly debut

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/Sarah-Palin-shoots-straight-in-Bill-OReilly-debut-on-Fox-News-81309207.html

Sarah Palin shoots straight in Bill O’Reilly debut on Fox News
Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 4:00 AM

*** begin quote ***

Patrick Roberts: Sarah Palin came out swinging on Bill O’Reilly last night – and for the first time I could see what this woman has that voters find so attractive.She swore, she let loose , she nailed some enemies. She came across as a real person, not a polished politician, but a person who, until very recently, was skinning polar bears or whatever it is they do in the wilds of Alaska.

*** end quote ***

I saw the segment, but the follow up analysis was nuked by Haiti “coverage” (i.e., a talking female head repeating that they knew nothing, dermatologist describing how poor they were on her medical relief missions, and professional fundraiser asking for donations while patting themselves on the back for just delivering two containers of stuff that very day due to lucky timing; in other words, fluff!).

The ex-Guv dodged Bo’R’s attempts to get her to say something bad about the various folks attacking her. She deflected by reporting that the attackers weren’t there and were just passing along third had gossip.

The ex-Guv also dodged the “bomb Iran” question. She called for sanctions. (How does starving little kids bring about peace?) So, she needs to be carefully examined to see if she’s a Libertarian or a neo-Conservative?

This observer is still on the fence. Leaning her way, but on the fence.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Tax code is too complex

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126262857185115221.html  

*** begin quote ***

The Internal Revenue Service said it will begin requiring paid tax-return preparers to register with the agency, take competency exams and meet continuing-education requirements. Attorneys, certified public accountants and enrolled agents won’t be subject to the new testing and education plans. The changes will take years to implement and won’t be in effect for the 2010 filing season, the IRS said.

*** end quote ***

Doesn’t anyone see this as a problem?

(1) The tax code is way too complex.

(2) Experts don’t need education or continuing education. (Guess experts are just better than actual people.)

(3) The IRS can’t get their orders out in a timely fashion.

The DOWGs (Dead Old White Guys) funded gooferment on tariffs. Should have been good enough for the limited functions that were allowed.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | GOVEROTRAGEOUS | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Time compression causes heartaches

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

http://www.jibberjobber.com/blog/2009/12/31/its-over/

It’s Over
December 31st, 2009

*** begin quote ***

2009 is over. The entire decade is over.

*** end quote ***

OK, you fell for the anti-mathematical propaganda. (I had teacher in high school geometry that ranted until we understood cardinality and ordinality. Year 1 ends 12/31/0001. By extrapolation, the “first decade” runs from 1/1/1 until 12/31/0010. Run it forward to today; this is the last year of the decade. Redefining decade? Maybe a new word.

On a more serious note, the urge to a decade review before the decade ends is indicative of time compression and language corruption. It’s indicative of our short term thinking and that’s one thing that is killing us as a civilization and a society. Corporations and their investors focus on the quarter’s results. Executives are compensated (excessively) on short term results that themselves create a contrary incentive.

GM is a classic example. Well compensated execs signed labor contracts that ENSURED the demise of the company. That string of executives are long gone, like the train robbers of old, and the people are reaping the negative rewards. We didn’t even have the common sense to INSIST that the corpse be buried in bankruptcy. Instead we now have another gooferment department that will be a drain on the Public’s purse for decades to come.

We need to change our focus. And, the tax code policy.

The model of the “family farm” is a better one. Sustainable over eons. An inter-generational asset. Instead, the estate taxes ensure that it has to be sold to pay the death taxes. Crazy. Family farms, family businesses, and such are all at risk. SO the thinking becomes short term.

The Dead Old White Guys had the gooferment running on import duties. That would have ensured that industries couldn’t be moved overseas. Now we have to look for wealth building activities that we can do that are NOT off-shorable. Farming, and food production, seems to be a great idea. We can feed the world.

So here we are at the end of my rant. The decade “mistake” points out our short term focus. The short term focus has led us to make some very bad mistakes. (Age discrimination being one of them. That calendar thing again!) Those mistakes when recognized can lead us to a long term solution.

Yeah, I know get a job.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Beck on a roll about rights

Monday, January 11, 2010

In today’s TV show, Glenn Beck is on a roll. Senator Harkin attempts to define Health Care as a right. Rights come from the Creator; not from Congress. Because if rights did come from Congress, then they could take them away.

Time for pitchforks and torches, Sheeple!

Argh!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: BHO44 put us here; dumb

Monday, January 11, 2010

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6957485/Detroit-bomber-singing-like-a-canary-before-arrest.html

Detroit bomber ‘singing like a canary’ before arrest
By Philip Sherwell in New York
Published: 6:27PM GMT 09 Jan 2010

*** begin quote ***

President Barack Obama is under fire over claims that the Christmas Day underwear bomber was “singing like a canary” until he was treated as an ordinary criminal and advised of his right to silence.

*** end quote ***

Elections have consequences and this is one of them.

BHO44 didn’t lie (I don’t think; not like the Obamacare dealings will be on CSpan!) and conceal that this would be his position. But, respectfully, he’s DUMB. Maybe a Harvard lawyer, but this self-inflicted inability to get military intelligence — about this self-evidenced terrorists, his compadres, the higher up, future plans, and collateral information — is dangerous.

A wise man understands the logical extension of his proposals. In this case, we have two choices: (1) he didn’t anticipate where his policies would place us; OR (2) he did and didn’t realize the dangers. Either way, it’s dumb.

We have to quickly convince people to reverse course — before we get hit again with something bigger and badder.

# # # # #

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICS: Name a gooferment program that works

Monday, January 11, 2010

http://libertyunbound.com/article.php?id=449

Bridging the Two Libertarianisms
Carl S. Milsted, Jr.
What does the nonaggression principle really mean for libertarianism?

*** begin quote ***

People routinely send mail by government post, drive on government roads, rely on government food inspections, walk on government sidewalks, and enforce contracts in government courts.

*** end quote ***

I once heard on Free Talk Live http://freetalklive.com/ one of the host expressed the paradigm: “Name one program that works? And, if we can agree it does work, how much does it cost? How much should it cost?”.

So let’s look at your examples:

  1. Mail: Even with funny accounting — they don’t count the cost of capital assets like real estate and equipment depreciation — the cost is absurd. And, they have to enforce the first class mail franchise with a law enforcing their monopoly. (The famous one dollar minimum for express delivery services.) It’s laughable when the USPS compares themselves to FedEx for package delivery since in some areas they subcontract to FedEx. And, let’s talk about lost mail. We have very little statistical information but that doesn’t mean they are flawless.
      
  2. Roads: In New Jersey, the roads are a disgrace. And, we had a gas tax trust fund that was raided by the goofenors of both parties to fund their pet projects. We have no way to know if there is a better way since no one is allowed to try a different way. We can look at the road in Disney World and other amusement parks that are in relatively perfect condition. Hard to imagine that a consortium of WalMart, UPS, and others couldn’t do as well. As a proxy, look at the Air Traffic Control System, that is run totally be the Federal Gooferment. Vintage 1950 computing causes massive delays. The roads are comperable. Where’s the innovation like in computers that makes roads better.
  3. Food Inspections: We can point to the fact that most “inspections” are either not done or don’t protect the people. A recent press story said that the gooferment accepts 10 or 20 times the level of filth in meat than McD’s does. We have no idea how much this “gooferment inspection” costs, but are people relying on that or the fact that they trust WalMart to sell them good stuff.
  4. Sidewalks: Sorry, but those are foisted on the property owner. Even when the gooferment destroys them, the land owner gets stuck fixing them. (I know personal experience.)
  5. Courts: That’s why we have Judge Judy on TV. The gooferment’s courts are backed up and capricious. And, heaven help you, if the gooferment has an interest in the suit. Sue the gooferment in it’s own court and be surprised at the result.

And on, and on, and on.

I have yet to see a gooferment program that works. Or even not working, do it at a reasonable cost.

I notice that the author didn’t cite: schools, dmv, health insurance, health care, foreign policy, DoD, and on, and on, and on.

My solution is to be pragmatic.

Let’s have an exit plan. It may take decades to “unwind” these programs, but let’s start.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY, Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Say what you mean

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Argh!

Just got back from Walgreens, and I am annoyed (again).

Walgreens and I have a lot of history.

We’ve had two serious medication errors, many broken promises, and wasted a lot of time with them.

Today, I had a watershed moment. They have a leadership problem!

In a continuing saga, I’ve been trying to get the Old Lady’s insulin rx straight. For months. Originally, I brought the DIABETICDOC’s rxes in. Knowing the system, I had the doc write them for 90 days with three refills. (I promised that the patient would be back.)

The rxes were never recorded. They used the rxes from the old doc. Argh! The result was we’re always running out of insulin.

So I called in and talked through the problem with A pharmacist. She had to call the doc and get replacement rxes. Argh! Then the insurance would pay for it until January 5th. So no problem, we’ll wait until the Fifth. In the meantime, I order other rxes and find another quantity problem. That problem distracted me from the fact that I didn’t get the long awaited insuling rxes.

Argh!

I call. And, talk to some one who doesn’t know anything about it.

Argh!

Go thru it ALL again. He puts the rxes in again. (How did he get rxes if they were “missing”?) Their computer system gets it in and communicates with the insurance company’s computer. My 90 day rx magically becomes a 30 day rx. (Huh?)

At this point, I give up and say fine. (This TRIPLES my copay since I SHOULD get the 90 day supply for one copay of 25$!)

I picked it up.

Get home and find that the dosage instructions are “wrong”. (They were superseded twice already.) And, they charged my a double co-pay.

Argh!

Imagine if we weren’t seriously on top of the rxes in terms of taking the right meds and stuff? If I get frustrated with the insurance, imagine how older folks cope?

And, Obama-care is going to make this all better? Please don’t make me laugh!

Argh!

Back to what set me off.

I pull up to the drive up for a quick pick up. The pharmacist, who voice I recognize because I’ve talked to her so much, say: “Be with you in one minute.” I happened to look at the clock on the dash. It was 8:59. She came to the window at 9:03. That’s not ONE minute. Lest you think that’s no big deal, I disagree. It’s a leadership issue. It’s setting an expectation carelessly that can’t be met.

It’s a “systemic failure”!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »