The Fuse is Lit
North Africa and The Middle East have long been reservoirs for governments headed by autocratic or dictatorial heads of state. The United States has maintained largely favorable relations with them as a hedge against Islamic extremism and to foster other American interests in that area. The recent uprising in Tunisia has spread to Algeria and Egypt. These remain somewhat different from the unrest in the Middle East in that the protests have not been religious in nature but, rather, political. They have been a result of poverty and want that is endemic in the general population. They have not, as yet, developed an identity or an overarching philosophy that will identify them. It bears mentioning, though, that the only kinds of institutions that are allowed to flourish outside of government sanctioned institutions are those affiliated with the Islamic faith. I think it is logical to assume that there is a high likelihood that Islamic forces will try to become the faces of the revolutions as was the result in Iran.
In Egypt, one of our most staunch allies, Mohamed El Baradei has returned to attempt to provide secular leadership to the uprising. It remains to be seen whether or not he has a following but, in the meantime, he has been placed under house arrest. The Muslim brotherhood is likely to gain a foothold in the rebellion without El Baradei to counter it and that will not be a good thing for the United States.
The revolts in Jordan and the fall of the government in Lebanon complete the encirclement of Israel by governments in turmoil and ripe for the plucking by the Islamic extremists. Of course, they are aided and abetted by the Iranians. The Iranian backed Hezbollah is likely to gain a majority and form a government in Lebanon, which will move in lockstep with the Syrians.
The Egyptians have the ability to put down the rebellion with force but that is not necessarily a desirable outcome for the United States. Television reports showed a reporter holding up a tear gas canister that was proudly stamped “Made in the USA”. It is not a great leap for the people in the street to make a connection from us to the regime that oppresses them.
The United States is walking a tightrope here and someone is at the ends shaking it. We don’t want to appear to be a part of the oppressors as we are in Iran after supporting the Shah but, at the same time, we want to maintain good relations with the present regimes if they should prevail. Egypt in particular is critical to our foreign policy regarding Israel since it secures the southern border with Gaza. The government that was favorable to us in Lebanon is out of power and that secured the northern border with Israel. Jordan secures the eastern border and King Abdullah and his family have long been friends of the United States. To his credit, King Abdullah and his father have been making gradual adjustments toward a more democratic state but that may not be enough.
On the Arabian peninsula Yemen continues to be a hotbed of radicalism and a haven for those who would do us harm. Saudi Arabia is just trying to stay out of the mess and they are probably our best friend in that area even though they provide most of the financial backing to Al Qaeda.
The conclusion cannot be escaped that our thirst for Middle Eastern oil and unwavering support for Israel is exacting a terrible price. Our support of regimes that routinely oppress their population with weapons we sell them and funding we send them gives the populations little reason to expect that we will support democracy wherever we find it. The prosecution of the war in Iraq and our current struggles in Afghanistan and Pakistan make it easy to depict the United States as an enemy of Islam to people whose only news of the outside world comes from a mosque, or at best, Al Jazeera.
We still have Saudi Arabia in our camp but that will not last forever. Sooner or later the rulers of that country will have to face their populations. When that happens our dependence on Middle Eastern oil will have a dramatic and deadly impact on our struggling economy that will make us look with envy at the oil shortages of the 1970s.
The question of where we go from here must be faced. Are we prepared to take our nation into war in the Middle East to protect the ability of the Israelis to deny the Palestinians a homeland? Are we prepared to use our military to occupy the Middle East to secure a lifeline to oil?
These two questions are at the crux of our foreign policy and every other question revolves around them. If we are fortunate enough to escape immediate disaster then we must begin to change our world view and its pitfalls.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Just Doesn't Measure Up
I am not quite as advanced in years or knowledge of the natural world as the esteemed Editor Emeritus of this newspaper, Bill Mardis, but I do recall a thing or two and perhaps some of you do also.
I have heard a lot of whining about this winter being so terrible that I just had to say a few things about some of the winters we have experienced in this area in times gone by. I recall one, I think early 1961, when the snow was at least three feet deep. Or so it seemed to a boy of 13. Dad had gone to Florida on a fishing trip with some friends and it snowed while he was gone. We lived at Estesburg and the only vehicle that came to see us was a tractor driven by a friend who had the unenviable duty of keeping an eye on our family. We knew when Dad was coming home and we all watched out the window all day until finally we saw a lone figure trudging through the snow. Dad had to walk from what was U.S. 27 in those days about a mile and a half carrying all his gear, a bag of oranges and a bag of grapefruit. No fish. I didn’t think we would ever get back to school that year.
The winters to top them all were the back to back winters of 1976-77 and 1977-78. We had fairly pleasant weather until just after Christmas each year and then it started. I can’t really differentiate between those years but I do recall lying face down in the snow repairing a water line two feet deep. The temperature was 10 degrees as I recall but it could have been 10 degrees below 0. Not sure.
The first of the winters was the worst according to my memory. (I am relying on that notoriously unreliable source for my information). But in either winter we did not see blacktop on U.S. 27 for what seemed to be weeks. Perhaps someone else remembers more clearly. Salting was useless since the temperature never got high enough to thaw and before traffic would beat tracks down to blacktop another snow would come. The temperature stayed below freezing for 45 days one time and below 0 for ten days. Excess snow was piled in the parking lot in front of Big K which is now Big Lots. It didn’t thaw until June. In New York they were trucking snow down to the harbor and dumping in it the river. I don’t know what those people would do it they had one like that now. If you recall it differently I would be interested in hearing of it as long as it doesn’t dispute what I have remembered.
As I said, those two winters are inseparable in my mind so any thing I say could have been one or the other. Or both but not none. Lake Cumberland froze over in many locations and I was told that the ice froze the boats in at Lee’s Ford Dock. The water then dropped about 10 to 15 feet before enough of a thaw came to plunge the boats back into the water. I would like to have seen that.
I have never been one to allow snow to stop me when there is fun to be had and the first winter I drove a 1969 Chevy Caprice to get around. By the next winter I was unstoppable with a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. Traffic would be snarled for miles on I 75 and Jellico Mountain was littered with trucks in seemingly impossible contortions. Still, in the face of this a friend and I made a trip to Paintsville out the Mountain Parkway and back one day. Traffic was light, which was good since you couldn’t see the lane dividers.
A group of us would usually go hiking on Sundays somewhere in the National Forest. Yahoo Falls was a handy spot but the trail at Dog Slaughter Creek was a favorite. It would take all afternoon to walk to the Cumberland River and back which, as I recall, was a round trip of 6 miles. Many times the temperature would be in single digits and a lot of snow cover. Where the water falls over the rocks going down to the river was gorgeous. At Yahoo Falls the water had built a giant ice cone at least 30 feet tall with the water falling through the center which was hollowed out and coming out at the base. That was the year we all became acquainted with down filled parkas and Herman Survivor boots. This was the first we had ever heard of El Nino.
For a young man those were tremendous times. We were unstoppable and bulletproof. Since then we seem to have lost that quality. I am now twice that age and I can pretty much promise you that the only way I am going to do that again is as a matter of life or death. It is difficult to imagine that being fun again but who knows?
Those two winters are the yardstick I use when I measure winters. It’s too late for this one to measure up.
That’s my take on this winter. Bring it on.
I have heard a lot of whining about this winter being so terrible that I just had to say a few things about some of the winters we have experienced in this area in times gone by. I recall one, I think early 1961, when the snow was at least three feet deep. Or so it seemed to a boy of 13. Dad had gone to Florida on a fishing trip with some friends and it snowed while he was gone. We lived at Estesburg and the only vehicle that came to see us was a tractor driven by a friend who had the unenviable duty of keeping an eye on our family. We knew when Dad was coming home and we all watched out the window all day until finally we saw a lone figure trudging through the snow. Dad had to walk from what was U.S. 27 in those days about a mile and a half carrying all his gear, a bag of oranges and a bag of grapefruit. No fish. I didn’t think we would ever get back to school that year.
The winters to top them all were the back to back winters of 1976-77 and 1977-78. We had fairly pleasant weather until just after Christmas each year and then it started. I can’t really differentiate between those years but I do recall lying face down in the snow repairing a water line two feet deep. The temperature was 10 degrees as I recall but it could have been 10 degrees below 0. Not sure.
The first of the winters was the worst according to my memory. (I am relying on that notoriously unreliable source for my information). But in either winter we did not see blacktop on U.S. 27 for what seemed to be weeks. Perhaps someone else remembers more clearly. Salting was useless since the temperature never got high enough to thaw and before traffic would beat tracks down to blacktop another snow would come. The temperature stayed below freezing for 45 days one time and below 0 for ten days. Excess snow was piled in the parking lot in front of Big K which is now Big Lots. It didn’t thaw until June. In New York they were trucking snow down to the harbor and dumping in it the river. I don’t know what those people would do it they had one like that now. If you recall it differently I would be interested in hearing of it as long as it doesn’t dispute what I have remembered.
As I said, those two winters are inseparable in my mind so any thing I say could have been one or the other. Or both but not none. Lake Cumberland froze over in many locations and I was told that the ice froze the boats in at Lee’s Ford Dock. The water then dropped about 10 to 15 feet before enough of a thaw came to plunge the boats back into the water. I would like to have seen that.
I have never been one to allow snow to stop me when there is fun to be had and the first winter I drove a 1969 Chevy Caprice to get around. By the next winter I was unstoppable with a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. Traffic would be snarled for miles on I 75 and Jellico Mountain was littered with trucks in seemingly impossible contortions. Still, in the face of this a friend and I made a trip to Paintsville out the Mountain Parkway and back one day. Traffic was light, which was good since you couldn’t see the lane dividers.
A group of us would usually go hiking on Sundays somewhere in the National Forest. Yahoo Falls was a handy spot but the trail at Dog Slaughter Creek was a favorite. It would take all afternoon to walk to the Cumberland River and back which, as I recall, was a round trip of 6 miles. Many times the temperature would be in single digits and a lot of snow cover. Where the water falls over the rocks going down to the river was gorgeous. At Yahoo Falls the water had built a giant ice cone at least 30 feet tall with the water falling through the center which was hollowed out and coming out at the base. That was the year we all became acquainted with down filled parkas and Herman Survivor boots. This was the first we had ever heard of El Nino.
For a young man those were tremendous times. We were unstoppable and bulletproof. Since then we seem to have lost that quality. I am now twice that age and I can pretty much promise you that the only way I am going to do that again is as a matter of life or death. It is difficult to imagine that being fun again but who knows?
Those two winters are the yardstick I use when I measure winters. It’s too late for this one to measure up.
That’s my take on this winter. Bring it on.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Problem or Solution?
Problem or Solution?
It has the appearance of a denuded moonscape. There is no vegetation anywhere to be seen but there are clumps of quadrupeds scattered here and there. The thought slips through the mind, “I wonder what these creatures eat.” If one observes long enough he will see a lumbering vehicle creep across the barren land to deposit tons of a feed mixture into large troughs and the quadrupeds will rush to the troughs to gain a spot for the only natural activity of the day. Eating a mixture of food, antibiotics and hormones calculated to make them gain weight artificially fast in order to fulfill their destiny. Your dinner table.
There is a barn near the road that passes along the upper edge of this muddy, naked property. It only serves to handle the incoming and outgoing animals destined for another equally barren place. It is not large enough to provide any kind of shelter from the elements or a dry place in which to lie down. As you look over the land as it falls toward a small ravine you will notice a small flat spot that curiously seems out of place. As you follow the eye down into the ravine there is another similar spot but there is a bit of water standing in this one. It becomes apparent that the flat spots are the remnants of ponds that once held water for the animals but now are silted to the top with the soil that has washed from the rootless land carrying with it all of the various byproducts deposited there. This would be great soil for growing something edible wouldn’t it? Then the remembrance of the antibiotics and hormones that have been part of the animals’ diet denies the propriety of that thought. Just down from the last flat spot is the small stream that has carved the ravine. It travels perhaps half a mile until it joins Pitman Creek which, in turn, travels several miles and discharges into Lake Cumberland just above the intake for the plant that provides the drinking water for the entire surrounding multi-county area.
Across the road from this desolate place are several nice houses, some with children that would like to play in the yard but it is rarely that you see people outside these houses enjoying the rural nature of their homes. Why? Is it because of the stench that arises like a cloud from the place across the road anytime the temperature is above freezing? Is it because of the pestilence of flies doing what flies do in temperature weather? Either of these answers will suffice.
Please excuse my attempt at a literary description of what this place is. It is something that a lot of people will recognize but to which they will give little thought. It is a feedlot and it is nearly the beginning of the piece of meat that graces your dinner table. But the quality of and threats to the eaters of that meat are not what I want to speak of right now although we should be very concerned about that.
The houses across the road were there before this former farm was converted into the waste dump that it is. Cattle were raised there in a more natural setting and it never crossed the minds of those who built those houses that such a drastic change would occur. Those homes are now practically unsellable and their value has taken a big hit. The home is usually the biggest investment most people make and the value of these people’s investments has been stricken. Without taking a hit on their investment these people are stuck here and may not have the financial ability to just pack up and leave.
This is what planning and zoning is designed to prevent. Planning and zoning is designed to give some assurance to investors in the American Dream that their investment and their families will not be subjected to conditions that they had no way of foreseeing. It does not have to be a feedlot that threatens your investment. It could be anything that will negatively affect the value of your property. Whatever you can imagine is possible without these regulations.
We used to have the room to allow people to do whatever they wished with their properties regardless of the effect on the neighbors. Some practices now have become so intensive that those types of regulations are just not adequate. The public safety and welfare is at risk. Our current county administration has gone on record as being opposed to planning and zoning. That is a position that, in my opinion, is shortsighted and misguided. However, I have hope that it is a position that can be changed if it is the will of the people of the county.
This is an issue for which citizens should be concerned about the general welfare rather than personal interest. The reasons I have enumerated are not the only reasons for planning and zoning but they point out some ways we can begin to address the problem.
Just one of my takes on planning and zoning.
It has the appearance of a denuded moonscape. There is no vegetation anywhere to be seen but there are clumps of quadrupeds scattered here and there. The thought slips through the mind, “I wonder what these creatures eat.” If one observes long enough he will see a lumbering vehicle creep across the barren land to deposit tons of a feed mixture into large troughs and the quadrupeds will rush to the troughs to gain a spot for the only natural activity of the day. Eating a mixture of food, antibiotics and hormones calculated to make them gain weight artificially fast in order to fulfill their destiny. Your dinner table.
There is a barn near the road that passes along the upper edge of this muddy, naked property. It only serves to handle the incoming and outgoing animals destined for another equally barren place. It is not large enough to provide any kind of shelter from the elements or a dry place in which to lie down. As you look over the land as it falls toward a small ravine you will notice a small flat spot that curiously seems out of place. As you follow the eye down into the ravine there is another similar spot but there is a bit of water standing in this one. It becomes apparent that the flat spots are the remnants of ponds that once held water for the animals but now are silted to the top with the soil that has washed from the rootless land carrying with it all of the various byproducts deposited there. This would be great soil for growing something edible wouldn’t it? Then the remembrance of the antibiotics and hormones that have been part of the animals’ diet denies the propriety of that thought. Just down from the last flat spot is the small stream that has carved the ravine. It travels perhaps half a mile until it joins Pitman Creek which, in turn, travels several miles and discharges into Lake Cumberland just above the intake for the plant that provides the drinking water for the entire surrounding multi-county area.
Across the road from this desolate place are several nice houses, some with children that would like to play in the yard but it is rarely that you see people outside these houses enjoying the rural nature of their homes. Why? Is it because of the stench that arises like a cloud from the place across the road anytime the temperature is above freezing? Is it because of the pestilence of flies doing what flies do in temperature weather? Either of these answers will suffice.
Please excuse my attempt at a literary description of what this place is. It is something that a lot of people will recognize but to which they will give little thought. It is a feedlot and it is nearly the beginning of the piece of meat that graces your dinner table. But the quality of and threats to the eaters of that meat are not what I want to speak of right now although we should be very concerned about that.
The houses across the road were there before this former farm was converted into the waste dump that it is. Cattle were raised there in a more natural setting and it never crossed the minds of those who built those houses that such a drastic change would occur. Those homes are now practically unsellable and their value has taken a big hit. The home is usually the biggest investment most people make and the value of these people’s investments has been stricken. Without taking a hit on their investment these people are stuck here and may not have the financial ability to just pack up and leave.
This is what planning and zoning is designed to prevent. Planning and zoning is designed to give some assurance to investors in the American Dream that their investment and their families will not be subjected to conditions that they had no way of foreseeing. It does not have to be a feedlot that threatens your investment. It could be anything that will negatively affect the value of your property. Whatever you can imagine is possible without these regulations.
We used to have the room to allow people to do whatever they wished with their properties regardless of the effect on the neighbors. Some practices now have become so intensive that those types of regulations are just not adequate. The public safety and welfare is at risk. Our current county administration has gone on record as being opposed to planning and zoning. That is a position that, in my opinion, is shortsighted and misguided. However, I have hope that it is a position that can be changed if it is the will of the people of the county.
This is an issue for which citizens should be concerned about the general welfare rather than personal interest. The reasons I have enumerated are not the only reasons for planning and zoning but they point out some ways we can begin to address the problem.
Just one of my takes on planning and zoning.
Monday, January 24, 2011
What Didn't He Say?
What Did He Not Say?
Often one can discern a great deal about an issue from what is NOT being said.
It seems that President Obama has bought into the idea of growing the economy out of the doldrums. It may be a good decision, indeed it may be the only workable decision that will bring the budget deficit under control and eventually tame the national debt. It is a message that has been part of every President’s program for as long as I can remember and that is pretty far.
It is a different focus than what he had upon entering office but the wipeout on Wall Street demands that money come from somewhere and the largest portion of our income is generated by businesses that have a lot of money.
This from the New York Times
Corporate Profits Were the Highest on Record Last Quarter
By CATHERINE RAMPELL
Published: November 23, 2010
Many of the leading financial indicators show that the economy is in recovery. Last year was a very profitable one for the major corporations and it is estimated that they are sitting on roughly two trillion dollars of excess cash. It seems they are waiting for a more favorable political climate to arise before they spend it. They are still unsure of how the health care legislation will shake out and many of the new regulations for Wall Street still have not been written. Those businesses deserve to know how to allocate their money and our Congress and regulators should let them know with all alacrity. My personal opinion is that the health care legislation has been passed and Congress should get on with implementing it. Wall Street regulations only need to be written since the legislation has already been passed. It appears that this is the direction that the administration is going to take judging from the President’s recent appointments. A business friendly Chief of Staff with ties to Wall Street and appointment of Jeffery Immelt, the CEO of General Electric, to head up a commission on growing business indicates a new approach to the business community.
This is all well and good but what is the question NOT being addressed? That question is what impact does this have on our middle class and how does it allow that middle class to share in the new wealth created from their labors? How does this translate into jobs that will allow the middle class to pursue the American Dream?
General Electric derives some 60% of its income from overseas operations and closed nineteen plants in Ohio alone in the past ten years. That has been great for General Electric but terrible for the middle class of Ohio. The President has stated a goal of doubling American exports by 2015. That indicates an awareness that the American consumer is tapped out and really can’t contribute much more to the financial recovery. Of the financial indicators used to judge the health of the economy only the ones that are based on domestic consumption are down and that tells the tale.
The assertion is that if we export more then we will create jobs domestically. That is certainly true but what is NOT being said is what those jobs will be like and whether or not they will pay a wage that will allow the middle class to participate in the increased wealth and buy products that will demand domestic production. It cannot be denied that production of many domestically used products has moved overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor. Labor that does not bear the burden of the expectations of the American Dream so the question remains, how will the American worker benefit from increased exports. What WILL increase is the size of revenues to the federal treasury and that has to happen but it will have the effect of further emphasizing big money’s contributions and decrease the ability of the middle class to participate in contributions to the federal budget. It can’t be good that a large portion of the populace is excluded from taxation because that creates a disconnect between taxation and expenditures. It also increases the power of big business to influence legislation. The middle class has to receive a wage that will be enough to require a contribution. The burden has to be as broad based as is possible to preserve the sense of participation in the affairs of the Republic.
So, what is the answer? The inescapable conclusion is that Corporate America needs to allow the worker to share more of the profits. If Corporate America is enjoying the best of times then the American Worker should be doing the same. If that can’t be accomplished by a sense of corporate decency then the job must be done through a system of progressive taxation. I would prefer the private route but it has to be recognized that the role of business is to make as much money as is possible even if that means not sharing it with the workers.
My take is that Corporate America needs to buy into the American Dream.
Often one can discern a great deal about an issue from what is NOT being said.
It seems that President Obama has bought into the idea of growing the economy out of the doldrums. It may be a good decision, indeed it may be the only workable decision that will bring the budget deficit under control and eventually tame the national debt. It is a message that has been part of every President’s program for as long as I can remember and that is pretty far.
It is a different focus than what he had upon entering office but the wipeout on Wall Street demands that money come from somewhere and the largest portion of our income is generated by businesses that have a lot of money.
This from the New York Times
Corporate Profits Were the Highest on Record Last Quarter
By CATHERINE RAMPELL
Published: November 23, 2010
Many of the leading financial indicators show that the economy is in recovery. Last year was a very profitable one for the major corporations and it is estimated that they are sitting on roughly two trillion dollars of excess cash. It seems they are waiting for a more favorable political climate to arise before they spend it. They are still unsure of how the health care legislation will shake out and many of the new regulations for Wall Street still have not been written. Those businesses deserve to know how to allocate their money and our Congress and regulators should let them know with all alacrity. My personal opinion is that the health care legislation has been passed and Congress should get on with implementing it. Wall Street regulations only need to be written since the legislation has already been passed. It appears that this is the direction that the administration is going to take judging from the President’s recent appointments. A business friendly Chief of Staff with ties to Wall Street and appointment of Jeffery Immelt, the CEO of General Electric, to head up a commission on growing business indicates a new approach to the business community.
This is all well and good but what is the question NOT being addressed? That question is what impact does this have on our middle class and how does it allow that middle class to share in the new wealth created from their labors? How does this translate into jobs that will allow the middle class to pursue the American Dream?
General Electric derives some 60% of its income from overseas operations and closed nineteen plants in Ohio alone in the past ten years. That has been great for General Electric but terrible for the middle class of Ohio. The President has stated a goal of doubling American exports by 2015. That indicates an awareness that the American consumer is tapped out and really can’t contribute much more to the financial recovery. Of the financial indicators used to judge the health of the economy only the ones that are based on domestic consumption are down and that tells the tale.
The assertion is that if we export more then we will create jobs domestically. That is certainly true but what is NOT being said is what those jobs will be like and whether or not they will pay a wage that will allow the middle class to participate in the increased wealth and buy products that will demand domestic production. It cannot be denied that production of many domestically used products has moved overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor. Labor that does not bear the burden of the expectations of the American Dream so the question remains, how will the American worker benefit from increased exports. What WILL increase is the size of revenues to the federal treasury and that has to happen but it will have the effect of further emphasizing big money’s contributions and decrease the ability of the middle class to participate in contributions to the federal budget. It can’t be good that a large portion of the populace is excluded from taxation because that creates a disconnect between taxation and expenditures. It also increases the power of big business to influence legislation. The middle class has to receive a wage that will be enough to require a contribution. The burden has to be as broad based as is possible to preserve the sense of participation in the affairs of the Republic.
So, what is the answer? The inescapable conclusion is that Corporate America needs to allow the worker to share more of the profits. If Corporate America is enjoying the best of times then the American Worker should be doing the same. If that can’t be accomplished by a sense of corporate decency then the job must be done through a system of progressive taxation. I would prefer the private route but it has to be recognized that the role of business is to make as much money as is possible even if that means not sharing it with the workers.
My take is that Corporate America needs to buy into the American Dream.
Scalia set to speak to Tea Party Caucus on Capitol Hill - CNN.com
Scalia set to speak to Tea Party Caucus on Capitol Hill - CNN.com
Should Justices of the high court be perceived as favoring a political view? Does this call into question a justice's impartiality?
Should Justices of the high court be perceived as favoring a political view? Does this call into question a justice's impartiality?
Palestine papers are distortion of truth, say Palestinian officials | World news | guardian.co.uk
Palestine papers are distortion of truth, say Palestinian officials | World news | guardian.co.uk
These revelations show the attempts at concession made by the Palestinians to achieve peace in the Middle East and establish borders. Too bad they can't take credit for it due to fear of a backlash from their own people.
These revelations show the attempts at concession made by the Palestinians to achieve peace in the Middle East and establish borders. Too bad they can't take credit for it due to fear of a backlash from their own people.
Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Is Rarity - SBNation.com
Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Is Rarity - SBNation.com
Wow!!! This should be quite a matchup. Don't know which way to fall but the Pack is a my sentimental favorite.
Wow!!! This should be quite a matchup. Don't know which way to fall but the Pack is a my sentimental favorite.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Verizon Challenges FCC's Net Neutrality Rules : NPR
Verizon Challenges FCC's Net Neutrality Rules : NPR
Why shouldn't internet service providers be able to market their services in order to maximize profits? For one, the airwaves belong to the people of the United States and are licensed to providers. They are to be used for the maximum benefit to the people in general. If we allow ISPs to grant faster access to those who pay more we only allow the playing field to become more uneven and make it more difficult for the less affluent to climb the economic ladder. At the same time, we don't want to restrict the ISPs so much that it hinders development. The answer lies in the example of the other utility providers that are granted certain benefits in return for being available to a wide range of people.
Why shouldn't internet service providers be able to market their services in order to maximize profits? For one, the airwaves belong to the people of the United States and are licensed to providers. They are to be used for the maximum benefit to the people in general. If we allow ISPs to grant faster access to those who pay more we only allow the playing field to become more uneven and make it more difficult for the less affluent to climb the economic ladder. At the same time, we don't want to restrict the ISPs so much that it hinders development. The answer lies in the example of the other utility providers that are granted certain benefits in return for being available to a wide range of people.
The Symbolism of Snow
Our new snow lies like a spread sheet across the fields. It is unsullied and untrammeled waiting for the insults to come.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Ezra Klein - Remember the uninsured?
Ezra Klein - Remember the uninsured?
This is the part that is being left out of the health care debate. No one can answer this question satisfactorily.
This is the part that is being left out of the health care debate. No one can answer this question satisfactorily.
A Ripple of Hope
I just watched a PBS program about Bobby Kennedy. Its focus was on the Indianapolis speech immediately following the MLK assassination and the effect he had on the crowd. No one knew that in only a few months he would also die at the hands of an assassins bullet.
This is especially poignant in the aftermath of the shootings in Tuscon and the American fascination with violence as a tool.
As a young man the killing of JFK in 1963, MLK and finally RFK in 1968 was just too much to bear and I disengaged from the public sphere for twenty years. As long as it took hope and promise to return.
Now, as an older man forty two years later I understand that we cannot afford to disengage and must press on for the forces against the community of mankind are unrelenting for we war with our own natures.
This is especially poignant in the aftermath of the shootings in Tuscon and the American fascination with violence as a tool.
As a young man the killing of JFK in 1963, MLK and finally RFK in 1968 was just too much to bear and I disengaged from the public sphere for twenty years. As long as it took hope and promise to return.
Now, as an older man forty two years later I understand that we cannot afford to disengage and must press on for the forces against the community of mankind are unrelenting for we war with our own natures.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A Hope For 2011
In these, the waning days of 2010, there are all kinds of things going on to occupy the minds of people. Nuclear armaments, is the economy going to rebound, health care and the myriad of worries that accompany the uncertainty we find ourselves in. How are we going to deal with the upcoming year? Will it be better than this one? How are we going to pay for Steve’s college tuition, much less housing? The entire year has been a very stressful one for many of us. It has been a dreadful lesson in just how little we can control the circumstances of our lives. We thought we had it covered but we just didn’t see it coming. Or we saw it coming and couldn’t get out of the way.
The news tells us that consumer spending is up a few percentage points. The retailers are glad but I am not so sure that is good news. We got here by spending too much of our future and I hope we have learned a lesson about that as a nation. I wouldn’t depend on it. When I heard the news of the uptick in spending I immediately thought of the millions of people for whom Christmas has not be a credit driven orgiastic tribute to the marketing of Jolly Saint Nick. Some of us have not been hurt too badly by the economic downturn but that is probably due to not having too much to start with. The change was not that severe. If you don’t have a $250,000 mortgage you probably won’t miss not having the money for that payment. If you are not paying for a gigantic SUV or a BMW it matters little that you cannot afford that payment. In addition, those of us of small debts (and revenues) probably will not fear opening the mailbox next week..
The fact of the matter is that there are hordes of people who didn’t even have a Christmas tree or any gifts whatsoever. How many parents felt guilty because their children did not participate in this traditional homage to consumerism? Just to put it in perspective, my Mother recounts of the Christmas when she and her siblings got an orange for Christmas and it was a big deal.
Many of us are one generation removed from parents who did not even have the dream of the things that we now call essential. Our parents grew up during 25% unemployment and World War. When they went to finally build that dream house it only had one bathroom but it was inside. However it was a spacious 1200 square feet and the children had their own bedroom. Times were good. Many of them ended up with some money in the bank and a small retirement, enough for their needs, which were meager. That dream, however conservative it may seem now, may be out of the reach of many of our fellow citizens and not through any fault of their own. That worry free, if small, dream is increasingly distant for a lot of people who will have to start over with poor credit and a job that pays less, assuming they can find a job. Being over the age of 50 and jobless may now make one unemployable.
Santa Claus, Old Saint Nick, the Jolly Old Elf and all of the other names we given to the fictitious bringer of gifts belie the significant nature of the holiday. There are a lot of us who will claim the banner of Christianity but who will worship those imaginary creations designed to cause us to minimize the reason for the season. Of course, this season is little different from others on that account.
As most of us know, the holiday was created to observe the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth even though we don’t know the exact day or even the exact year with any degree of certainty. The date we use was almost certainly stolen from the Roman feast day of Saturnalia because people were already used to it but that is not so important.
For Christians it is significant because we believe that it was Jesus who was sent from God to redeem the human race from a fallen state and offer us a chance to attain paradise. I wonder sometimes how we allowed this promise to become less important to us than a diamond ring or a car with a bow around it. Furthermore, what does that say about our faith? Also, what does that say about our willingness to reach out to help our fellow traveler? After all, we are told that this world is not our home, that our kingdom does not exist here. If we believe that then why are we so preoccupied with trying to accumulate all that stuff that is going to stay here? It seems to be a contradiction.
As a fellow traveler, and one that succumbs to the same things you do, I commiserate with you in our folly and join you in taking the time to acknowledge One who is greater than a new PS3 and who will not be obsolete next Christmas.
It is phrase that many think of as being trite but my wish for the New Year is for the dismantling of the war machine and for Peace On Earth. Share with me the wonder of the miracle we acknowledge and consider how we may truly deserve the honor of His name in this coming year.
My take on the holiday and on the coming new year.
In these, the waning days of 2010, there are all kinds of things going on to occupy the minds of people. Nuclear armaments, is the economy going to rebound, health care and the myriad of worries that accompany the uncertainty we find ourselves in. How are we going to deal with the upcoming year? Will it be better than this one? How are we going to pay for Steve’s college tuition, much less housing? The entire year has been a very stressful one for many of us. It has been a dreadful lesson in just how little we can control the circumstances of our lives. We thought we had it covered but we just didn’t see it coming. Or we saw it coming and couldn’t get out of the way.
The news tells us that consumer spending is up a few percentage points. The retailers are glad but I am not so sure that is good news. We got here by spending too much of our future and I hope we have learned a lesson about that as a nation. I wouldn’t depend on it. When I heard the news of the uptick in spending I immediately thought of the millions of people for whom Christmas has not be a credit driven orgiastic tribute to the marketing of Jolly Saint Nick. Some of us have not been hurt too badly by the economic downturn but that is probably due to not having too much to start with. The change was not that severe. If you don’t have a $250,000 mortgage you probably won’t miss not having the money for that payment. If you are not paying for a gigantic SUV or a BMW it matters little that you cannot afford that payment. In addition, those of us of small debts (and revenues) probably will not fear opening the mailbox next week..
The fact of the matter is that there are hordes of people who didn’t even have a Christmas tree or any gifts whatsoever. How many parents felt guilty because their children did not participate in this traditional homage to consumerism? Just to put it in perspective, my Mother recounts of the Christmas when she and her siblings got an orange for Christmas and it was a big deal.
Many of us are one generation removed from parents who did not even have the dream of the things that we now call essential. Our parents grew up during 25% unemployment and World War. When they went to finally build that dream house it only had one bathroom but it was inside. However it was a spacious 1200 square feet and the children had their own bedroom. Times were good. Many of them ended up with some money in the bank and a small retirement, enough for their needs, which were meager. That dream, however conservative it may seem now, may be out of the reach of many of our fellow citizens and not through any fault of their own. That worry free, if small, dream is increasingly distant for a lot of people who will have to start over with poor credit and a job that pays less, assuming they can find a job. Being over the age of 50 and jobless may now make one unemployable.
Santa Claus, Old Saint Nick, the Jolly Old Elf and all of the other names we given to the fictitious bringer of gifts belie the significant nature of the holiday. There are a lot of us who will claim the banner of Christianity but who will worship those imaginary creations designed to cause us to minimize the reason for the season. Of course, this season is little different from others on that account.
As most of us know, the holiday was created to observe the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth even though we don’t know the exact day or even the exact year with any degree of certainty. The date we use was almost certainly stolen from the Roman feast day of Saturnalia because people were already used to it but that is not so important.
For Christians it is significant because we believe that it was Jesus who was sent from God to redeem the human race from a fallen state and offer us a chance to attain paradise. I wonder sometimes how we allowed this promise to become less important to us than a diamond ring or a car with a bow around it. Furthermore, what does that say about our faith? Also, what does that say about our willingness to reach out to help our fellow traveler? After all, we are told that this world is not our home, that our kingdom does not exist here. If we believe that then why are we so preoccupied with trying to accumulate all that stuff that is going to stay here? It seems to be a contradiction.
As a fellow traveler, and one that succumbs to the same things you do, I commiserate with you in our folly and join you in taking the time to acknowledge One who is greater than a new PS3 and who will not be obsolete next Christmas.
It is phrase that many think of as being trite but my wish for the New Year is for the dismantling of the war machine and for Peace On Earth. Share with me the wonder of the miracle we acknowledge and consider how we may truly deserve the honor of His name in this coming year.
My take on the holiday and on the coming new year.
Compromise and Resolution
The Impossible Dream?
Our educational system is broken and cannot be fixed and I am tired of government taking my money and using it to support people who do not make something of themselves after benefiting from this broken system. We just can’t afford it any more.
This was a point from a conversation that I had with a friend concerning our educational system and social economic support. It illuminates some of the difficulties of dealing with issues on a rational basis and without invective. There are at least three or four issues in that statement. In many people’s minds they are inseparable and cannot be discussed without keeping them connected. If we do that then we are dooming ourselves to intractable problems. The problems are NOT intractable but the issues must be separated in order to logically deal with them. I have to say that my friend and I found several things on which we could agree and others can too.
I think almost everyone will acknowledge that our educational system is dysfunctional and inadequate overall. We should acknowledge though that it works pretty well for some. What we need to do to fix it is to determine how we can make the system work for the preponderance of the students and for the country. No system can be designed that will work for everyone so the solutions must be multiple but, overall, it can be fixed. The solutions are sometimes hard to accept but if it were easy we would have already done it. The world has changed and to unleash the innovative spirit that is our hallmark we must define different tracks for different students. With different tracks one loses the economy of scale so we have to have a funding plan. To those who would eliminate the Department of Education I say this: only government is big enough to do the job, at least initially. Perhaps we can move some of the vocational and technical training to the private sector later but for now it will take government to do it.
As for funding. Some people just don’t like the idea of government, or anyone, taking their money. To them I say, get over it. To have a society that provides services requires money. If you don’t think you need those services then try to imagine your most desperate circumstance and then ask yourself who can help.
Our Protestant ethic just rebels at the thought of people getting something for nothing. The problem is that some people just need it and we owe it to them to help our fellow traveler. What throws a wrench in the spokes is how people game the system. So, fix the system but it will require people to keep an eye on things and to see that those who are able are employed. It will also require something to be employed at. Those things require funding or a willingness to just let some people die. And if the system is broken how can we expect people to meet expenses with inadequate training and no jobs? But it can be fixed.
There is a clamor that we are broke and can’t do those things any more. Not true. We are a rich country and can afford to do anything we choose to do. It will require people to try to reach rational compromises and solutions and that deals with human frailty. Now that it hard but we can do it if we rid ourselves of selfishness and look to the welfare and future of our country.
Another friend of mine told me that he paid more taxes when he started his business some thirty or forty years ago (when he made less money) than he does now. He has not done too badly and he seemed to make the connection between taxes and the good of the country. I think the problem is that people don’t like the way the taxes are spent but I would urge people to take a close look at where the money goes. It becomes pretty clear that we are not throwing most of it away.
Regardless of what you may think of this President he has been enthusiastic in his efforts to reform the educational system. He does not have the answers but his administration is actively seeking solutions that will ensure the competitiveness of our country in the world markets. The answer does not lie in the old ways. They are not adequate for the demands of this multi-faceted world. No longer is the will to work enough to ensure success. It will require some level of advanced education whether in the trades or in the professional areas.
The good news is that we can do it if we will focus on the achievable and set differences aside. Or is that heresy?
The Impossible Dream?
Our educational system is broken and cannot be fixed and I am tired of government taking my money and using it to support people who do not make something of themselves after benefiting from this broken system. We just can’t afford it any more.
This was a point from a conversation that I had with a friend concerning our educational system and social economic support. It illuminates some of the difficulties of dealing with issues on a rational basis and without invective. There are at least three or four issues in that statement. In many people’s minds they are inseparable and cannot be discussed without keeping them connected. If we do that then we are dooming ourselves to intractable problems. The problems are NOT intractable but the issues must be separated in order to logically deal with them. I have to say that my friend and I found several things on which we could agree and others can too.
I think almost everyone will acknowledge that our educational system is dysfunctional and inadequate overall. We should acknowledge though that it works pretty well for some. What we need to do to fix it is to determine how we can make the system work for the preponderance of the students and for the country. No system can be designed that will work for everyone so the solutions must be multiple but, overall, it can be fixed. The solutions are sometimes hard to accept but if it were easy we would have already done it. The world has changed and to unleash the innovative spirit that is our hallmark we must define different tracks for different students. With different tracks one loses the economy of scale so we have to have a funding plan. To those who would eliminate the Department of Education I say this: only government is big enough to do the job, at least initially. Perhaps we can move some of the vocational and technical training to the private sector later but for now it will take government to do it.
As for funding. Some people just don’t like the idea of government, or anyone, taking their money. To them I say, get over it. To have a society that provides services requires money. If you don’t think you need those services then try to imagine your most desperate circumstance and then ask yourself who can help.
Our Protestant ethic just rebels at the thought of people getting something for nothing. The problem is that some people just need it and we owe it to them to help our fellow traveler. What throws a wrench in the spokes is how people game the system. So, fix the system but it will require people to keep an eye on things and to see that those who are able are employed. It will also require something to be employed at. Those things require funding or a willingness to just let some people die. And if the system is broken how can we expect people to meet expenses with inadequate training and no jobs? But it can be fixed.
There is a clamor that we are broke and can’t do those things any more. Not true. We are a rich country and can afford to do anything we choose to do. It will require people to try to reach rational compromises and solutions and that deals with human frailty. Now that it hard but we can do it if we rid ourselves of selfishness and look to the welfare and future of our country.
Another friend of mine told me that he paid more taxes when he started his business some thirty or forty years ago (when he made less money) than he does now. He has not done too badly and he seemed to make the connection between taxes and the good of the country. I think the problem is that people don’t like the way the taxes are spent but I would urge people to take a close look at where the money goes. It becomes pretty clear that we are not throwing most of it away.
Regardless of what you may think of this President he has been enthusiastic in his efforts to reform the educational system. He does not have the answers but his administration is actively seeking solutions that will ensure the competitiveness of our country in the world markets. The answer does not lie in the old ways. They are not adequate for the demands of this multi-faceted world. No longer is the will to work enough to ensure success. It will require some level of advanced education whether in the trades or in the professional areas.
The good news is that we can do it if we will focus on the achievable and set differences aside. Or is that heresy?
Intemperate Speech
In the moments following a heinous or tragic event hyperbole seems to reign. I suppose it is a natural thing to try to find some words to describe one's horror or to find someone or something on which to place the onus for the act. This is why I have held my opinion on the senseless shooting in Arizona this long because I too was tempted to trumpet my initial feelings. A column at that time would have been written far differently than this one.
You have often read in this column of my distaste for uncivil and hateful speech and this is no different. I have heard the shouters on talk radio trying to deny any responsibility for the culture of disrespect and the lack of civility but, to paraphrase The Bard, methinks they doth protesteth too much. I think they realize that without their intemperate speech their ratings would plummet and they would be reduced to actually having to have something to talk about. On the other hand they may actually believe they are contributing something positive to the democratic discourse in which case they are sadly deluded.
This morning I heard Mike Huckabee, otherwise a fairly temperate person, go off about the "left" using the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords and the others for political fodder. I can’t deny that someone may have done that but the people to whom I have listened have not gone that far. What I have heard is that there can be no direct connection made between anyone’s speech and the shooting and it is irresponsible to try to do so. However, the uncivil and intemperate speech by people to whom people listen feeds the fires of our own worst instincts and makes fertile the ground in which action that mirrors that speech can take root. In the minds of many it will create a perception that if one seeks to delegitimize the positions of another then it becomes acceptable to take action against the person who lacks legitimacy. The craziest people will take the craziest actions. No, it cannot be directly linked to hateful speech but the results of that speech are evident in our newspapers and on the television news.
It takes no great leap of the imagination to know that the rancor over the health care bill or the assertion that the President is not a citizen contributes to the delegitimization of his office and his policies. It is only a short step from there to the idea that it would be OK to remove him. An action that would be anathema to most of us but may be acceptable to someone. As an example I bring to mind those who murdered doctors who performed abortions even though those procedures are legal. Regardless of how you feel on that issue taking the law into your own hands is not acceptable.
The vitriol directed at Congresswoman Giffords during her campaign and the attacks on her positions has the effect of painting her as something less than a true American rather than one who just has a different view of how things should be. Arizona has been a hotbed of such speech and we only have to witness the radicalization of Senator John McCain in his effort to play to the right of his challenger. Once a moderate who could work across the aisle he now is frequently seen participating in the same kind of speech he opposed just a short while ago.
While this speech is more prevalent on the right it exists also on the left. It seems that our political speech more and more seeks to radicalize the electorate rather than appeal to reason and logic. The reason for that is that it works. The recent Senate campaign in our own state certainly illustrates that. I don’t recall seeing a single positive message on either side with both parties seeking to paint the other as un-American and out of sync with the people.
It is understandable to most that we all have base emotions but it should also be understandable that we need to resist those undesirable inclinations and aspire to be something a bit better. Those of us who are Christians or those who belong to almost any other faith should recognize this principle in the teachings of our faiths. It applies not only to the ecumenical but also to the secular. I was brought up to aspire to be a better person, a more polite person and to be gentlemanly and it seems to me that crudity has overwhelmed this ambition and become much too acceptable in our society.
At the very least, those who speak from an elevated position in society should present an example that the people can wish to emulate rather than appealing to their base emotions. I think it would go a long way toward preserving the tenor of debate and the safety of the Republic.
That's my take on despicable speech and its results.
rmoore@somerset-kentucky.com
In the moments following a heinous or tragic event hyperbole seems to reign. I suppose it is a natural thing to try to find some words to describe one's horror or to find someone or something on which to place the onus for the act. This is why I have held my opinion on the senseless shooting in Arizona this long because I too was tempted to trumpet my initial feelings. A column at that time would have been written far differently than this one.
You have often read in this column of my distaste for uncivil and hateful speech and this is no different. I have heard the shouters on talk radio trying to deny any responsibility for the culture of disrespect and the lack of civility but, to paraphrase The Bard, methinks they doth protesteth too much. I think they realize that without their intemperate speech their ratings would plummet and they would be reduced to actually having to have something to talk about. On the other hand they may actually believe they are contributing something positive to the democratic discourse in which case they are sadly deluded.
This morning I heard Mike Huckabee, otherwise a fairly temperate person, go off about the "left" using the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords and the others for political fodder. I can’t deny that someone may have done that but the people to whom I have listened have not gone that far. What I have heard is that there can be no direct connection made between anyone’s speech and the shooting and it is irresponsible to try to do so. However, the uncivil and intemperate speech by people to whom people listen feeds the fires of our own worst instincts and makes fertile the ground in which action that mirrors that speech can take root. In the minds of many it will create a perception that if one seeks to delegitimize the positions of another then it becomes acceptable to take action against the person who lacks legitimacy. The craziest people will take the craziest actions. No, it cannot be directly linked to hateful speech but the results of that speech are evident in our newspapers and on the television news.
It takes no great leap of the imagination to know that the rancor over the health care bill or the assertion that the President is not a citizen contributes to the delegitimization of his office and his policies. It is only a short step from there to the idea that it would be OK to remove him. An action that would be anathema to most of us but may be acceptable to someone. As an example I bring to mind those who murdered doctors who performed abortions even though those procedures are legal. Regardless of how you feel on that issue taking the law into your own hands is not acceptable.
The vitriol directed at Congresswoman Giffords during her campaign and the attacks on her positions has the effect of painting her as something less than a true American rather than one who just has a different view of how things should be. Arizona has been a hotbed of such speech and we only have to witness the radicalization of Senator John McCain in his effort to play to the right of his challenger. Once a moderate who could work across the aisle he now is frequently seen participating in the same kind of speech he opposed just a short while ago.
While this speech is more prevalent on the right it exists also on the left. It seems that our political speech more and more seeks to radicalize the electorate rather than appeal to reason and logic. The reason for that is that it works. The recent Senate campaign in our own state certainly illustrates that. I don’t recall seeing a single positive message on either side with both parties seeking to paint the other as un-American and out of sync with the people.
It is understandable to most that we all have base emotions but it should also be understandable that we need to resist those undesirable inclinations and aspire to be something a bit better. Those of us who are Christians or those who belong to almost any other faith should recognize this principle in the teachings of our faiths. It applies not only to the ecumenical but also to the secular. I was brought up to aspire to be a better person, a more polite person and to be gentlemanly and it seems to me that crudity has overwhelmed this ambition and become much too acceptable in our society.
At the very least, those who speak from an elevated position in society should present an example that the people can wish to emulate rather than appealing to their base emotions. I think it would go a long way toward preserving the tenor of debate and the safety of the Republic.
That's my take on despicable speech and its results.
rmoore@somerset-kentucky.com
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