I long to accomplish a great and noble task,
but it is my chief duty to accomplish
small tasks as if
they were great and noble.
Helen Keller
Political Potpourri
To faithful readers, although I've largely toned down my discussion of politics (in fact, until tonight I hadn't looked at RCP's synthesis of poll results in weeks), I have hinted (e.g., in FB posts) I have little patience with libertarians whom basically argue there's no difference between the parties. I've also hinted I am less strident, more pragmatic than the ideologues.
I do think former late Congressman Young (R-FL) staffer Jolly's victory over Sink, a former Democrat gubernatorial candidate whom barely lost to Scott in 2010, is significant, but one should not read too much into the results. Young was a more "bring the bacon home" pragmatic whom had won the purplish district handily, but in fact Obama had carried the district in his close 2012 reelection victory in Florida. Sink had name recognition and a lot of money behind her candidacy. The polls I've seen had Sink with a high single-digit lead with a libertarian candidate trying to exploit voter unrest over the largely negative campaign. It seems clear that Jolly's "repeal and replace ObamaCare" campaign proved to be the difference over Sink's "keep but tweak" message. If there ever was a seat the Dems were going to win if they had a chance to recapture this fall, it was this one. There could be a rematch this fall, but traditionally mid-terms go against incumbent Presidents, and the latest RCP average of Obama's approval is 43. I suspect it's more likely that things will worsen than improve for the Democrats as we head for the elections. I don't think it'll be a 2010-type purge election, but I do think the GOP has a very good chance to recapture the Senate. I think the GOP is very competitive now in North Carolina, Arkansas, South Dakota, Michigan, West Virginia, Louisiana, Colorado, and Alaska. I also think that Iowa, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Virginia are possibly in play.
What would I do in the GOP's place? I always think that it's always easier to run as a populist promising free benefits and to allege the opposition has been bought off by the crony moneyed interests. I also think that the GOP can't teach over 100 million people the merits of free market economics, the problems of unfunded liabilities, the difficulty of paying off a $17.5T debt when you've never collected $3T a year. I think it's difficult to win running negative-toned and/or predictable campaigns. So what would I do? Given my limited readership, and the fact I would never win anything (except maybe the most boring blog contest), I don't think the GOP really cares what I think. But I would use the nation-wide pension problems as a teaching moment, point out that there's no such thing as a free lunch, and argue it's unfair to leave our children and grandchildren with the bills of overpromised, underdelivered, failed "progressive" government. If we can buy our own homes and various other goods and services, we don't need government limiting our options in education, healthcare, retirement, etc. We need for politicians to put liberty for taxpayers above political ambition, government that knows its limitations and has more faith in adult consumers and the dynamic market to fulfill our needs. I think the first step to getting the budget under control is to cap and means-test individual benefits and entitlements. But it's time for us to start an adult conversation with voters and point out the Democrats are in a state of denial. And lay a hint that if and when the government bubble pops, it will make 2008 look tame by comparison.
Facebook Corner
(Independent Institute). "Taxpayers should recall that academically California is a bottom feeder, and about one-third of students entering the California State University system need remedial math and English. So all that spending has not translated to high achievement."
I call this bureaucratic capture--expecting the same parties responsible for the failing status quo to "solve" it is throwing good money after bad. For at least the last 4 decades they've been making the same old same old failed promises. One thing is certain--the crony education establishment will take out its "fair share" of new education funding. There is only one legitimate solution: to restore educational competition and choice. Megalomaniac central planning doesn't work any better in education than any other market.
Beyond basic math, math isn't needed by 95%+ of the population. The kid's who really love math, numbers, and those ideas should have a path to continue. The rest, should not. Math is pushed on kids now as a way to get them to be obedient to following complex directions and completing tasks given by authority figures that they do not like to do. Basically, get them ready to be a worker drone
Wrong answer (not just because I have 2 math degrees). Math skills also facilitate critical thinking processes--the exact opposite of a worker drone. Whether we're talking about coping with our convoluted tax system, home budgeting, analyzing the latest government statistics, never mind coping with more complex manufacturing or higher-paying technology positions,... Your criticism could also be made across the curriculum; it's not just narrowly defined facts and skills, but the process. The same skills that helped me prove mathematical theorems help me organize my own thinking and writing in other areas; business managers often complain about poor worker communication skills. The last thing we need is watered-down requirements and standards.
(Reason Magazine). Oregon cops illegally park unmarked cars on private lot, act like jerks, arrest tow truck employees, get sued.
It's part of the State's "Occupy Main Street" movement...
(Drudge Report). Obama: 'I Don't Have Time to Waste. Clock Is Ticking'... Threatens to veto bill requiring him to follow law...
Why do we need a new law requiring him to follow the law? If he violates his oath of office, impeach his ass.
The republicans wont impeach. They could easily defund obamacare from the house. So why not? They seek more power......let obamacare hurt people and we will elect more republicans. What we should do is elect all new people who will stand up to leadership and tell us the truth.
How many times has the House voted to repeal all or part of the Unaffordable Care Act? As long as the Parasites control the Senate or White House, it won't go anywhere. Even after this fall's election, The (Spendthrift) One will have enough votes in either chamber to sustain a promised veto. No need for a conspiracy; the GOP blew 2 huge chances to recapture the Senate and one to retake the White House despite a miserable economy and unpopular healthcare law. Do you think these clowns can pull off a devious plot?
This is laughable . . . he has time to be on Funny or Die and shop at the Gap. And hang out with all his celebrity "Suck Up" friends until he is out of office and take so many vacation on our dime and let me not forget all his golfing lessons that we all pay for too. Almost forgot, he is busy helping everyone & every other country ~ but NOT the US CITIZENS of this country. Has to add . . when he tweeted he was binge watching "House of Cards ~ Really. How about doing your job in the best interest of the American People ~ FIRST & FOREMOST!
What's the "House of Cards"? Obviously not our Ponzi scheme entitlement programs... Instead of wasting his time on the boob tube, he needs to stroll over to the nonfiction aisle--where what the government actuaries are saying is a lot scarier than any King novel.
(Illinois Policy Institute). 95% of Springfield's property tax levy goes to #pensions.
That is because they have not raised the property tax assessment in over 30 years. It is still $1.00 per $100.00 assessed valuation.
Are you saying valuations have not gone up in over 30 years? Here's a clue--the Baby Boomers have just started to retire. Guess where Springfield is headed if they've been been underfunding for decades? Where's the money for essential city services going to come from in a sluggish economy?
(Illinois Policy Institute). Small businesses represent 98% of all employers in Illinois and employ 48% of the private-sector labor force. The progressive income tax would affect many Illinois small businesses that pay taxes through the individual income tax code. This leads to shorter hours and fewer jobs, as well as fewer investments in technology and equipment. Some businesses leave. Some don’t expand as much as they might have. Some never get started.
Where are the most bankruptcy filings in the US? Some very conservatives states. Illinois OTH is a petty good state to do business in. "Tennessee had the highest per capita bankruptcy filing rate of any state, at 6.59 filings per 1,000 people. That's nearly double the national average of 3.33. Georgia, Alabama, Utah and Indiana rounded out the top five." http://www.bizjournals.com/.../bankruptcy-filings-lowest...
You just don't get it, do you? When 7 of every 10 businesses fail in the early stages, the reported number of bankruptcies can be indicative that people are trying to take a risk, a supporting environment for business formation. It's when people stop trying that you have to worry.
"Progressive" trolls want to have it both ways; they like to gripe over industry consolidation, WalMart "killing" the competition, etc. When risk-taking slows, they see the glass as half-full. What business wouldn't want to move to a state with huge, unsustainable unfunded liabilities, failed one-party government rule, abysmal public education, and a trend of higher taxes? I had to look for computer consulting work out of state, and one of my last gigs in Illinois was working for a consulting company, which, unknown to me, was in the early stages of filing for bankruptcy. I no longer take calls from Chicago-based recruiters. I won't consider returning to Illinois until Illinois taxpayers throw the parasites out of office.
Just wait until the Treasury Dept. and Fed Chair Yellen announce the commemorative Obama Platinum Trillion Dollar coin collection.
Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Glenn McCoy and Townhall |
Jim Brickman featuring Michael W. Smith, "You Are the Love of My Life". Probably my favorite love song over the past 16 years: beautiful bridge, every glorious note, "lost inside your kiss", nice use of the violin: if I ever got married, this would be one of my picks to sing or play at the reception.
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