POLITICAL: “No room at the inn”

Thursday, December 25, 2014

http://techcrunch.com/2014/12/18/ending-the-invisibility-of-homelessness/

Ending The Invisibility Of Homelessness
by Kevin F. Adler

*** begin quote ***

Last night in San Francisco, 6436 of our neighbors slept on the streets or in shelters.

The lack of affordable, safe, and supportive housing is a scourge on society. It costs $90K to maintain a human being on the streets for a year, compared to $18K to provide supportive housing to a previously homeless person. Over the last 10 years, an influx of 75,000 people have moved to San Francisco, while only 17,000 new housing units have been built.

We can end chronic homelessness by 2020 by providing affordable, safe, and supportive housing options to the homeless and by electing representatives who will fight for housing as a basic human need.

But providing support means understanding that the needs of the homeless extend beyond housing.

*** end quote ***

I empathize with the plight, and I blame the Gooferment for it.

Between “rent control”, zoning, and welfare, the Gooferment has created the problem.

Add to that the deinstitutionalizing of vast numbers of the mentally ill and breaking the promise to provide “community support”, Gooferment made the problem worse.

Throw in the “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs” and the mess is complete.

Gooferment drove out the “charity” in our hearts by taking over and providing the “safety net”, which is more like a trap.

Argh!

Separation of Charity and State is the answer. That and rolling back the diktats of the State that make house unaffordable. 

In word, the Gooferment isn’t helping.

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POLITICAL: We’re the bad guys

Monday, December 22, 2014

http://ncc-1776.org/tle2014/tle801-20141214-02.html

A is A: A Thing is Itself 
by L. Neil Smith

*** begin quote ***

“Americans don’t torture people,” My uncle and grandmother explained, something that, sadly, couldn’t truthfully be said of us today.

*** and ***

The third excuse is pure, epistemological silliness: that you can obtain useful information by systematically mistreating people. They may hold out for a while, but eventually they’ll break down and tell you exactly what they think you want to hear. I know that I certainly would. And our many “successes” in Aghanistan illustrate that pretty well. The government, to my knowledge, has never offered an example of torture saving the day—and there are so many unanswered questions about the killing of Osama bin Laden, it is too contaminated for such use.

I was brought up by my mother and father believing that only the bad guys torture people. The Spanish Inquisition, Italian fascisti, the Nazi German Gestapo, Darth Vader threatening Princess Leia with a floating torture machine. And guess what, Rush. My mom and dad were right.

We’re the bad guys.

*** end quote ***

Sadly, there’s no excuse for this.

Time to roll back the warfare / welfare state.

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POLITICAL: Gooferment grants monopolies

Saturday, December 20, 2014

http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/cash-on-arrival-new-game-plan-for-airport-atms.html

Beware the New Airport ATM Scam
December 9, 2014 12:26 pm by Ed Perkins

*** begin quote ***

A representative of the Civil Aviation Authority, the agency that monitors consumer issues in air travel in Britain, told me that the retail foreign exchange folks have cut deals with airport management to oust the real banks and give retail foreign exchange outfits a monopoly, for which privilege they pay fat fees to the airports. A representative of ABTA, the association of travel agents and tour operators and U.K. equivalent of ASTA, summed it up by saying, “The worst place to exchange currency is at an airport.” This consumer issue hasn’t loomed large on the British scene because locals can, in fact, withdraw pounds with no fees; the practice hits only visitors.

*** end quote ***

Anything it can get away with!

Argh!

I’m sure it in EVERYTHING that Gooferment does!

Screw the little guy.

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POLITICAL: Can we afford NASA?

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

NASA’s $349 million monument to its drift
Construction of a test tower in Miss. continued long after the rocket project was scrubbed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2014/12/15/nasas-349-million-monument-to-its-drift/?wpmm=AG0003409

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You have to read this one!

Another example of the Gooferment being immoral, ineffective, and inefficient!

So here we have a multi-decade multi-billion boondoggle.

Argh!

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POLITICAL: Read the Bills update

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Letterhead
December 16, 2014
Mr. Ferdinand Reinke
1641 International Dr Unit 414
McLean, VA 22102-4831

Dear Mr. Reinke:

Thank you for contacting me about H.R. 1831, the Read the Bills Act. I appreciate hearing from you.

On May 6, 2013 Representative Kerry Bentivolio introduced H.R. 1831, legislation to require Congress to post potential bills online for a minimum of seven days before voting for passage of them. In addition, all legislation would have to be voted on by a roll call vote.

H.R. 1831 has been referred to the House Judiciary and Rules Committees. Please be assured that my staff and I closely review legislation that comes before the Senate. I will be sure to keep your views on this important issue in mind.

Again, thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely,

Signature

Tim Kaine

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Notice that he doesn’t say hell support it!

Argh!

If anything, it seems like he’ll oppose it.

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POLITICAL: Andrew P. Napolitano “don’t hold your breath”

Thursday, December 11, 2014

2014-Dec-11

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/12/andrew-p-napolitano/arrest-the-cia/

The CIA and Its Torturers
By Andrew P. Napolitano
December 11, 2014

*** begin quote ***

When the head of the CIA’s torture unit decided to destroy videotapes of his team’s horrific work, he unwittingly set in motion a series of events that led to the release this week of the most massive, detailed documentation of unlawful behavior by high-ranking government officials and intentional infliction of pain on noncombatants by the United States government since the Civil War era. Here is the backstory.

*** and ***

What should we make of this report on government torture? In a free society in which the government works for us, we have a right to know what it is doing in our names, and we have a reasonable expectation that the laws the government enforces against us it will enforce against itself. But don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

*** end quote ***

I like the Judge.

And, I respect his opinion.

I’d need more on the alleged “plots stopped” to make a value judgment.

On the face of it, and knowing the Gooferment’s willingness to create “false flags”, as well as lie, cheat, and steal.

I’m more to the Judge’s side of the argument than those who post 9/11 pictures on Facebook.

Not sure that this prevented anything.

If it did, I’d be more “understanding”. Slaps on the wrist rather than condemnation.

But, the USA is in everyone’s business and needs to pull back.

Argh!

Not that anyone listens to one fat old white guy injineer blogger!

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POLITICAL: Amnesty Costs Exposed

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-documents-reveal-obama-hhs-paid-baptist-children-family-services-182129786-four-months-housing-illegal-alien-children/

Obama Lawless Amnesty Costs Exposed – Congress AWOL?

*** begin quote ***

Despite all the budgetary pressure impacting vital programs of importance to the American people, the Obama administration apparently feels there’s still plenty of money to go around for illegal aliens. That’s what we learned back on September 9, 2014 when we obtained documents from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that showed the Obama Administration paid Baptist Children and Family Services (BCFS) $182,129,786 to provide “basic shelter care” to 2,400 “unaccompanied alien children” (UAC) for four months in 2014. The BCFS budget included charges for $104,215,608 for UACs at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and an additional $77,914,178 for UACs at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  

These documents were obtained in response to an August 1, 2014, Freedom of Information Act request seeking BCFS applications for funding, correspondence between the HHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and BCFS, and correspondence within ACF relating to BCFS. The records we received include the “Budget Information and Project Narrative portions of the BCFS applications funded in calendar 2014” for both the Ft. Sill and the Lackland AFB facilities. 

*** end quote ***

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to pay for any of this!

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POLITICAL: Gooferment pensions are a future disaster

Friday, December 5, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/articles/andrew-g-biggs-public-pensions-need-gamblers-anonymous-1417563447

OPINION
Public Pensions Need Gamblers Anonymous
Retirement funds for Illinois and California hold 75% risky investments. The Texas teachers’ plan: 81%.

*** begin quote ***

Managers of government pension plans counter that they have longer investment horizons and can take greater risks. But most financial economists believe that the risks of stock investments grow, not shrink, with time. Moreover, while governments may exist forever, pensions cannot take forever to pay off their losses: New accounting rules promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and taking effect this year will push plans to amortize unfunded liabilities over roughly 15 years. Even without these rules, volatile pension investments translate into volatile contribution requirements that can and have destabilized government budgets.

*** end quote ***

FROM FACEBOOK by O’Connell, Bill (MC1976)

*** begin quote ***

The real solution is to do away with defined benefit pension plans and replace them with defined contribution plans. That way when the individual leaves an organization, he takes with him all that has been contributed on his behalf and the relationship with the organization ends. No more actuarial headaches calculating how long someone will live, how to invest pension contributions to match that, no more shorting the contributions this year with the intent of making it up in the future. Every year should stand on its own. You work, you get a contribution to your retirement; done.

*** end quote ***

Agree.

And, at least in New Jersey, there are many added political scams.

Like part-time jobs that get pension credit. Rightly or wrongly.

Like politicians who get pensions for their “public service”.

Like politicians and bureaucrats who “retire” and go back to work to earn more “pension credits”.

Like politicians and bureaucrats who double dip.

Time to end Gooferment pensions, period.

Try finding a non-Gooferment job with a defined benefit pension plan today.

Argh!

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he real solution is to do away with defined benefit pension plans and replace them with defined contribution plans. That way when the individual leaves an organization, he takes with him all that has been contributed on his behalf and the relationship with the organization ends. No more actuarial headaches calculating how long someone will live, how to invest pension contributions to match that, no more shorting the contributions this year with the intent of making it up in the future. Every year should stand on it’s own. You work, you get a contribution to your retirement; done.

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POLITICAL: “An armed society is a Riotless Society”

Monday, December 1, 2014

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/11/jack-perry/an-armed-society/

An Armed Society is a Riotless Society
By Jack Perry
November 28, 2014

*** begin quote ***

So, when Ferguson got the grand jury ruling they didn’t like, they showed how interested they were in justice by burning down the businesses of people that had nothing at all to do with it. Meanwhile, in the State of Arizona, people showed their solidarity with Ferguson by going to bed. While other major cities held protests, some of which ended up with minor looting, Arizona just did what Arizona does: Conducted business as usual. There was one small protest of about 60 people down in Tempe, close to Phoenix. They argued among themselves, broke into two groups, but then gave up and went home. The next day, businesses were fearlessly open as usual, people were buying early Christmas presents, people were getting ready for Thanksgiving and getting their turkeys. Hmmm…weren’t Phoenix and Tucson two of the major cities that all the Ferguson “direct action” groups listed as scenes of protest? Yet, both these cities pretty much ignored the call to action, as did the entire state. What happened?

*** and ***

It’s the individual armed citizen. People here work hard to build businesses. They put their lives into them and they’re not going to step aside and let someone torch their dreams in an agitator-sponsored temper tantrum and looting-fest masquerading as “outrage”. People here defend themselves, have the weapons to do so, and laws that make it possible. Rioters might make it past the Warlord of Phoenix, if they’re lucky. They might defy the Shogun of Arizona. But they will not make it past the armed citizens defending their homes and businesses. Everyone here knows this. They know a huge riot would become a mass suicide mission for the rioters. Protests happen and everyone is fine with that. But everyone knows there is a line that cannot be crossed—or else. Because it will not be tolerated and people won’t cower and wait for the government to save them. They will save themselves.

*** end quote ***

Question asked and answered.

“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” — Robert A. Heinlein

Now I’ll add:

“An armed society is a Riotless Society” — Jack Perry 

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POLITICAL: Amnesty = higher black unemployment

Sunday, November 30, 2014

http://www.conservativeblog.org/amyridenour/2014/11/21/black-activists-speak-out-against-obama-amnesty-agenda.html

Amy Ridenour’s National Center Blog
a conservative blog

Main | Obama’s Amnesty Plan Incremental, True to Leftist Strategy »
Black Activists Speak Out against Obama Amnesty Agenda
by AuthorDavid W. Almasi | DateNov 21, 2014 at 1:16 PM

*** begin quote ***

Stacy Washington, talk radio host:

Well, black liberals, sorry — but I have to put you on blast.

Every time this country has pardoned illegal immigrants, crime and black unemployment have gone through the roof.  Don’t believe me?  Check the statistics from Reagan’s congressionally-approved amnesty package.  Not only did three times as many illegal immigrants as were promised become legal through the undiscovered intricacies of chain immigration, but the crime rate soared and black unemployment went through the roof.

Sorry again, black liberals.  You just got dumped!

*** end quote ***

I am shocked — in the sense of “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!” Captain Renault in Casablanca — that there hasn’t been more outrage from Black Americans.

Never mind Ferguson — which is a national disaster — the minimum wage laws and encouraging illegal immigration are what should put protestors in the streets.

It’s another national disgrace.

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