Republican Ideology: No Money

Rep. Ryan Unveils His Anti-Poverty Plan, A Rebuke To LBJ Programs : NPR





There are elements to this that make a bit of sense.  The one that strikes me is the tracking of social programs to judge their efficacy.  The problem with this is that this aspect of existing social programs has been hamstrung by budget cuts that result in the loss of jobs for social workers.  What kind of structure would accomplish this tracking.



The melding of specific programs into one larger program with options is just another way to allow special interest groups to influence legislation that would direct money to specific areas of business.



Finally, Ryan expects to do this without appropriating any more money.  His proposal follows Republican ideology by shifting responsibility for administration to the states away from the federal government making it more susceptible to special interests.

Somerset's Battle of the Pumps

Nation watching Somerset gas sales » Commonwealth Journal



the fuel center is selling gasoline today for $3.36 per gallon for regular.  Many of the local stations are selling at the same price.  Some stations farther out are at $3.39.



The other day at Kroger I used my fuel points and bought gasoline for $3.07.  My work truck has a 30 gallon tank so that 30 cent discount will amount to $9 per fillup if the tank is empty.  Most vehicles have a 15 or 18 gallon tank so that same discount would amount to about $4.50 per fillup.  That is a significant number but at, say, $3.41 that would only be about 75 cents for a fillup.  That is not enough to motivate me to make a trip to some inconvenient place to buy gasoline and I don't think that most folks would disagree with that.  Alternatively, you can see what it meant when the stations precipitously increased prices 20 cents or 30 cents at a whack.  For my work truck that meant an additional $9 per fillup and for most it would be an additional $4.50.  That is enough to motivate someone to seek a better deal.



My point being that stations in more convenient locations could easily get away with charging 5 cents or maybe even 10 cents more per gallon without any significant loss of business.  The Somerset Fuel Center is not a handy place to get to even if you know where it is.  The hue and cry over the city entering this market is all sour grapes and an ideology that does not favor the average person.  With any degree of luck this will keep the others a little closer to a reasonable price.

Where Are the Honeybees

The other day I was driving into town and darned near ran over the car in front of me. It had slowed precipitously due to a long line of cars being impeded by a highway department truck that was spraying the right of way. I have assumed that it was to kill the growth on the right-of-way so that mowing would not be needed. I have noted that the medians are getting mowed much less than used to be the case. Some would be bothered by that but I am not in that group. I'm OK with it as long as vision is not obstructed. But, back to the spraying. I don't know what kind of chemical was being used but the first thing that I thought of was that I wondered what effect it would have on our pollinators, the bees and butterflies among other necessary creatures.

Colony collapse syndrome has become a pressing concern for beekeepers and the farmers that rely on bees and other pollinators to pollinate their crops. Without them their crops would fail. In California and some other places farmers are having bees trucked in to pollinate their vast fields when they used to be pollinated naturally by local bee populations. This adds cost and uncertainty to their growing season and also allows diseases natural to bees to spread over greater distances There has been an intense search for the cause for the collapse of the bee population. There is a mite that can infect hives but it is beginning to become clear that it is something in the environment that is weakening the immune systems of the bees so that they succumb to stresses. While it is not yet proven a lot of attention is being given chemicals used in agriculture such as herbicides and those put on seed when it is planted. These seeds and chemicals have been developed by the giant agricultural corporations who do genetic modification of the seed to enable them to tolerate the destructive qualities of these additives. Also, the pesticides that many use on crops are deadly to bees as well as undesirable bugs. For some reason this crisis has not resonated with the American public but that is due to change very soon. Agriculture is already under pressure due to climate change. Lack of water is allowing the natural flora to reclaim those vast farms that make the United States a breadbasket for the world. As with all things, we are apparently going to wait until desperation smacks us in the face before we decide that the problem is that there are too many poor people who can't afford to pay for expensive food.

One time my wife and I were driving through Northern Florida in the panhandle and I noticed a floral scent on the air. Then I noticed that the medians were a bright pink for mile after mile. Curiosity got the better of me and I found that they medians had been sown with dianthus. I have never forgotten that sight. That leads me to imagine that our state could plant medians with native wildflowers that could be a haven for pollinators. I certainly would have no problem with not mowing if we could do that and it could save a bundle for the taxpayer.

It is strange how state government can have departments and promotions that contradict one another. Kentucky has a state apiarist (beekeeper) who does all sorts of things to promote beekeeping and bee health. It is recognized that pollinators play a critical role in agriculture but then the state has trucks that roll about spraying herbicides into the air which harms the bees and other pollinators. Why can't we develop a consistent policy and not shoot ourselves in the foot? Of course, this is only one example of many but we won't go there.

In 1962 Rachel Carson published her seminal work “Silent Spring” in which she drew a direct line from the use of pesticides to the decimation of non-targeted species. Her work inspired a generation of environmentalists and tree huggers. It also led to the banning of DDT which had practically made extinct the bald eagle. The California Condor is still pretty iffy. The intervening years have led to forgetfulness among the people and the subsequent castigation of environmentalists as being inimical to the economy and jobs. There was a great hue and cry about banning DDT but the bald eagle has made a comeback as have other species which proves the efficacy of that ruling.

Many don't get the reason there is an effort to save the duskytail darter or a frog or bat somewhere but once those species are gone they are gone forever and that part of the genetic pool is lost. If you can't see the problem with that then please just get out of the way and let those that will do something about it. But the pollinators play a crucial role in the foods that we eat, the energy sources our bodies use to maintain life. If the natural pollinators are gone then we must pollinate everything by hand or develop self pollinating crops. When we do that then we will be at the mercy of the agri-giants and will be forced to pay whatever is demanded.

Around here agriculture is in our blood, our heritage. Almost all of us have had or currently have a farmer in the family. We are familiar with the planting and harvesting cycle even if we don't grow food any more ourselves. Perhaps that familiarity makes us insensitive to the larger picture, perhaps we just can't get our minds around not being able to do that. But, think for a moment about feeding millions and billions of people. Think about going to the market and not being able to afford what is on the shelf. You all are aware of how grocery prices are going up and it is going to get worse.

There are people who are trying to do something about this. You will find them at the farmer's markets and some roadside stands. Not all have taken on the burden of a sustainable agricultural model but many have. You may find them in a protest line at Monsanto protesting genetically engineered crops and patented genes. They are trying to preserve the ability of the individual to grow and harvest food. It does not get more basic than that.

My Take is this. If you know how to grow a garden, large or small, do it. If you don't, then learn. Form cooperatives with others to share resources. Otherwise you are at the mercy of what others can do to you. And demand consistent governmental policy in matters that affect us all.

Kentucky Newsmaker

Kentucky Senator on Global Warming: 'There Are No Coal Mines on Mars' - NationalJournal.com





Doesn't it just make you proud to be a Kentuckian?  What can pass for unassailable logic by an elected Senator.  I'm looking to make the 6:30 news on this one.  It's just too ignorant to pass up.  Do these people not go to school?

MMF 2014

I have struggled to find a way to write about one of my favorite things this year. The Master Musician's Festival will kick off this Friday evening with a local talent that I am familiar with. Kelly Rae Burton has grown up before my eyes and, with the help from her husband, Eric, has shown some tenacity in the pursuit of her dream. I like that. Dreams matter.

But, to return to my point. The Somerset Commonwealth-Journal has done much better than in previous years in reporting on this independently, home-grown festival that is now turning into an event. I have also noticed that the Lexington Herald-Leader has taken notice and has begun some coverage of the event. I am going to be looking to see if Walter Tunis will attend. I admire his writing and acumen in his coverage of musical talent. In the past it has been enough to just comment on the acts and toss a few personal observations into the mix but this year that will be redundant. Instead I will try to comment on what this festival means to me and to the Somerset-Pulaski County area inclusively.

There have been several events locally promoting the festival and, in addition, there have been some at certain venues in Lexington. To me that shows some promise and awareness of what it takes, in addition to great talent, to make a local event known outside its locality. The festival has become known to enthusiasts for its use of native talent and use of both traditional and progressive music that may drift a bit from conventional radio music. The use of those assets gives listeners a chance to hear music that is extremely original either before it becomes popular or on it's way up.

I don't think that our community understands what a tremendous effort it takes to make this popular event possible. While Tiffany Finley Bourne is the public face of the festival there are dozens in the background who are working diligently. I won't say tirelessly because it wears one out implementing the festival and then cleaning the location up afterward. This would be a good time to give a shout-out to Somerset Community College for providing the location, which is beautiful, for the festival to use. What a great gift to our community!

And it takes a lot of money. I am not privy to the inner workings of the festival board but I can infer that the use of advertising and the willingness of local businesses to support this festival is critical to it's success. The proceeds from the gate are always just a part of the revenue necessary for events such as this. If the festival depended on the gate revenue for funding the tickets would be much higher. Our community owes a debt of gratitude to those civic minded individuals and music lovers who give their time, a precious commodity, to this effort that is generating favorable reviews for our community.

What is really important is that people will give of their personal time to support an event that brings such rewards to their community. I have bemoaned previously the lack of civic engagement in the affairs of our community. Apathy among the citizenry is a burden to a community and very difficult to overcome. The costs of such apathy extend far beyond appreciation of such local events and it permeates the local governments making them less responsive and more secretive. This festival is not the only event that is breaking that cycle but it is the longest lived. Those who began and sustained this festival deserve the sincere appreciation of every person in the Lake Cumberland Area. It is important to note that almost all of the events that accomplish this purpose have been driven by private individuals or organizations who have taken responsibility for administration and for seeing that the work is continued. To their credit, the local governments have recognized the benefits and have been supportive financially and in other ways.

But of the festival itself. This years lineup is one that I am not particularly familiar with but I have tried to pay some attention to some of the acts that will be here in order to get an idea of what they bring to our area. Our area is rich in musical talent itself so an average or mundane performance will not go unrecognized. Counting Crows has seen the top of the charts but also brings a rollicking performance to close out the festival. St. Paul and the Broken Bones has played locally and will bring a soul flavor that should get the crowd on their feet. Sunday Best and Apache Relay are regional talents that are now beginning to be noticed out of their own stomping grounds. On a personal note, I had never heard of the Avett Brothers before they graced our stage but when they began I noticed that people of a younger generation were apparently much more familiar with their music. It was only then that I payed attention and found that they were rising stars. Now they command the main stage and, I presume, would never return for what they were paid before. So, I am keeping an open mind and will attend with the likely probability of hearing music that lights my fire. Music is like that, it is universal in it's language and appeal.

I have only one cause for trepidation. One of my favorite parts of our festival has always been the use of musicians that bring our unique culture to the forefront. I love hearing traditional mountain and bluegrass music along with Celtic and other early forebears of our heritage. Hearing how the tradition has persevered over the hundreds of years to influence current music and yet, in it's own way, managed to retain the music of ages past. I long for that.

But, I have always been surprised by something at the Master Musician's Festival and I anticipate that this year also. In our advancing years we tend to become locked to the past and what we are familiar with . I am trying to not allow that to take hold of me and to keep an open mind.

As usual, My Take is that this year's festival will be one of pure enjoyment and surprises. Be there or be square.

rmoore@somerset-kentucky.com

The Times They Are a-Changing (except in Hazard and on Mars).

Word From the Dark Side

Come senators, congressmen Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Bob Dylan

The news of the week for those who may be weary of the rumors of war flying about DC so carelessly is of recent talk of consequences of climate change by people who one would not normally think would be speaking up. However, their concern is well placed even if lacking in empathy for the billions of people who will face extreme hardship as a result.

The CEO of Cargill, the largest privately held company in the US and an agri-giant, is speaking out on what can be expected based on projections of decreasing crop yields due to loss of arable farmland. He ought to know since Cargill products reach globally into almost everything that people consume. Cargill grows crops around the world and is looking to use some of the techniques it uses in hotter countries to apply here. It bears mentioning that hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland in the Central Valley of California have been taken out of production due to lack of water. In Texas the drought has forced the sale of cattle herds which in turn has driven up the cost of beef. If you have tried to buy a roast lately you know about this.

The others ringing the bell are Michael Bloomberg (independent), Hank Paulson (Republican) and Thomas Steyer (Democrat) who is a hedge fund manager. These men who are not just leaders but giants in their fields are releasing the results of a study to determine the impact of climate change on investments and financial transactions. These guys don't deal in chump change, theirs is the high stakes world of international finance. They don't pretend to have solutions although each one of them is smart enough to have some far reaching ideas. They purport to present this study to assist investors in managing risk. Managing risk is the key ingredient in financial investment transactions since it is what determines interest rates and profitability. Among these titans there is no ideological debate over whether or not climate change is happening or not or whether it is due to human influence. That debate is both moot and settled.

This report says that up to $100 Billion of property will be under water by 2050. Temperatures will become so extreme that worker productivity will decline by as much as 35% and what is now cropland will become arid. These are risks that are foreseen by these men whose very lives have been spent on managing risk. They manage money and that is not an ideological practice. Hank Paulson said that if you invest in municipal bonds, Treasury notes or long range stocks these risks will be of prime importance to you. The ramifications of failure to mitigate these risks will make life miserable for those who do not have the resources to deal with it and will lead to widespread deprivation and death.

The point being made here is that these guys are not given to irrational thought or action. If they are considering these things then they have a reasonable suspicion that the risk is great enough to influence their behavior and investing. Compare the rationale of these level heads to the Luddites who are still denying that climate change is occurring and even if they will admit it is occurring do not admit that there is anything we can or should do about it. The callousness of those people is stunning because, make no mistake, it will be the least of us who will bear the brunt of the sacrifice. But that is nothing new. That happened during the Great Recession and every other economic meltdown that the wealthy elite have foisted on the the common people.

Then we must consider the people that we have chosen to represent our interests. Are we getting our money's worth or are they really representing those who drop the mega-bucks into their campaign war chests and favorite charities? I have always heard that money talks and that seems to be the case. What we hear from them is that we can't undertake these things right now because it will kill jobs. Personally I think that is a truckload of hooey meant to quieten the people whose heads are on the chopping block. Consider what is going to happen to jobs when the chickens come home to roost. Will your Senator or Congressman be there to suffer with you or will he or she be living in Alexandria, Virginia and have a job on K Street?

I am going to go out on a limb here and predict that this winter will see a significant increase in prices for fresh produce. My Take is that if the big money makers are starting to consider the risks inherent in climate change then maybe we should get on board.

Enshrined Ignorance

There are a lot of my friends who will disagree with me on this but the Supreme Court ruling in the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga cases is not about forcing a company to accept values that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the owners.  It is about whether or not such companies will have to comply with regulations that assure non-discriminatory actions toward its employees.  Can such a corporation deny employment to African-Americans because their religious beliefs consider them inferior?  Can such a corporation refuse to employ women because of a sincerly held belief that the correct place for women is at home?  Can such a corporation deny coverage for blood transfusions since it is contrary to the religious beliefs of that denomination.

This court has shown an alarming propensity for making rulings on what it claims are narrow grounds but, in practice, have far reaching implications.  For instance, in the Citizens United case (a misnomer if ever there were one) it was held that corporations possess the same free speech rights as individuals regardless of the imbalance of resources.  Justice Kennedy (who is the vote swinging the court these days) said that he did not believe that the ruling would tilt the scales.  Well, the past couple of years have proven him wrong which is obvious from the huge amounts of money being directed into PACs which have no reporting requirements that would allow citizens to see who is funding the messages.

In the same way Justice Kennedy allowed the originalists on the Court to achieve a majority with a ruling they say is on narrow grounds but will follow the same path as the Citizens United case.

Our inability as voters to see beneath the surface and reason toward the substance of a matter is allowing the screaming reactionaries to make enough noise to sway the choice of Justices.  It is in the Supreme Court that the longest acting results of governance take place.  The swing of the pendulum of justice can be up to fifty years before it arcs back in a corrective balance.

In the same way, the decisions reached by a 5-4 ruling do nothing to establish a firm precedent for Congressional and Executive action.  It simply presents a target to be aimed at in order to overturn.  The narrow view of the originalists is a danger to our republic and only gives those who yearn for the life of the century before last a false hope that they can prevail.  Fortunately, the tide always turns toward progression.  Unfortunately, I may not be alive to see it.