For the first few days of 2013 we'll still be hanging over the edge of
the cliff, but the sturm und drang should be over by January
7th.
All I wanted for Christmas was a trip away from the fiscal cliff--
and the train is now leaving the station.
--Yahoo! Things are far from perfect, but this is a start.
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
New Year, New Fear Coming Up
Howdy, fellow earthlings! Two days 'til the next year, which I
fear may not be so different from 2012. I wish all and sundry
the best life can offer, but I worry:
(1) That the fiscal cliff may harm an already far-too tenuous
recovery;
(2) That the Green Revolution is stalling, when we need it
to build up steam;
(3) That the hope of meaningful gun control action is nothing
more than wishful whistling in the wind;
(4) That Congress thinks the average Jo and Joanna are too
stupid to throw malfeasors out of office as they so richly
deserve.
There are too many worries and too little time to set things
right.
fear may not be so different from 2012. I wish all and sundry
the best life can offer, but I worry:
(1) That the fiscal cliff may harm an already far-too tenuous
recovery;
(2) That the Green Revolution is stalling, when we need it
to build up steam;
(3) That the hope of meaningful gun control action is nothing
more than wishful whistling in the wind;
(4) That Congress thinks the average Jo and Joanna are too
stupid to throw malfeasors out of office as they so richly
deserve.
There are too many worries and too little time to set things
right.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Wild West Horrors Redux, Guns Galore
I was shocked a few months back to learn 49 of 50 U.S.
states allow conceal and carry. My state, Illinois, may fall
under the avalanche of pro-gun hysteria very soon. I've
tackled this controversy in previous posts, but it's time to
attack our violence-prone problems once again, in light
of 20 young Connecticut children murdered by gun only
a few days ago:
(1) Many people are simply not sound enough mentally to
be toting around deadly weapons; medical associations
over the years have said some 25% or more of us have
serious emotional problems. Shouldn't some sort of
caution bell start clanging every time the pro conceal
and carry folks lobby? More to the point, many so-called
"adults" are not what I'd deem responsible. We also
shouldn't overlook the klutz factor--people have already
been shot because of it.
(2) The Second Amendment has long needed a sensible
clarification. Few should have guns, but then arms
manufacturers would realize less profit. (We can't let
THAT happen, now can we??)
***************************************
A safer America would also see a rise in the number of
mental health facilities as gun possession declines. The
mother of the nutcase in Connecticut, various school
authorities and others knew he was troubled, had
"episodes". In a caring, qualified institution, he could
not have perpetrated this cruel horror. His mother
owned three guns, one of which he used to kill 26
innocent human beings. Why was she so heavily
armed? "A rise in unemployment" triggered her
paranoid fantasies, she'd claimed earlier.
Yes, more mental health hospitals WILL cost
more money. Aren't innocent lives worth it?
Without these two profound changes in our
society, look out for guns galore in the Wild West.
states allow conceal and carry. My state, Illinois, may fall
under the avalanche of pro-gun hysteria very soon. I've
tackled this controversy in previous posts, but it's time to
attack our violence-prone problems once again, in light
of 20 young Connecticut children murdered by gun only
a few days ago:
(1) Many people are simply not sound enough mentally to
be toting around deadly weapons; medical associations
over the years have said some 25% or more of us have
serious emotional problems. Shouldn't some sort of
caution bell start clanging every time the pro conceal
and carry folks lobby? More to the point, many so-called
"adults" are not what I'd deem responsible. We also
shouldn't overlook the klutz factor--people have already
been shot because of it.
(2) The Second Amendment has long needed a sensible
clarification. Few should have guns, but then arms
manufacturers would realize less profit. (We can't let
THAT happen, now can we??)
***************************************
A safer America would also see a rise in the number of
mental health facilities as gun possession declines. The
mother of the nutcase in Connecticut, various school
authorities and others knew he was troubled, had
"episodes". In a caring, qualified institution, he could
not have perpetrated this cruel horror. His mother
owned three guns, one of which he used to kill 26
innocent human beings. Why was she so heavily
armed? "A rise in unemployment" triggered her
paranoid fantasies, she'd claimed earlier.
Yes, more mental health hospitals WILL cost
more money. Aren't innocent lives worth it?
Without these two profound changes in our
society, look out for guns galore in the Wild West.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Dear Santa: We're the 98% and It's Our Turn
The tax cuts for the upper 2% must expire. It's time our interests
are protected; the rich have enjoyed TWELVE years of low or
no taxes, thanks to Bush II and President Obama. The middle class
was included in this munificence, an afterthought to sop
objections. Now we of the afterthought should see center stage
--there are more of us than there is of them.
Here are suggestions that just might work: raise the tax increase
ceiling from $250K to $500K, tax annual incomes over $500K
at a 20% rate. All income levels below $500K should continue
to be taxed at current amounts. Eliminate all the loopholes, find
whatever fraud, waste and abuse exists in the spending sector,
especially military armaments and pork barrel projects. Freeze
congressional salary increases, as well as for some other high
level government employees. Deal reasonably, responsibly with
the deficit. All these steps, taken together, go a long way to
resolving many of our financial issues.
All I want for Christmas is a trip away from the fiscal cliff.
are protected; the rich have enjoyed TWELVE years of low or
no taxes, thanks to Bush II and President Obama. The middle class
was included in this munificence, an afterthought to sop
objections. Now we of the afterthought should see center stage
--there are more of us than there is of them.
Here are suggestions that just might work: raise the tax increase
ceiling from $250K to $500K, tax annual incomes over $500K
at a 20% rate. All income levels below $500K should continue
to be taxed at current amounts. Eliminate all the loopholes, find
whatever fraud, waste and abuse exists in the spending sector,
especially military armaments and pork barrel projects. Freeze
congressional salary increases, as well as for some other high
level government employees. Deal reasonably, responsibly with
the deficit. All these steps, taken together, go a long way to
resolving many of our financial issues.
All I want for Christmas is a trip away from the fiscal cliff.
Friday, November 30, 2012
What is Behind Republican Intransigence on Taxes?
It's hard to understand exactly WHY the right-wing is
diametrically opposed to raising taxes, any and all taxes.
Don't they want police, firemen, and libraries? I have
several notions about their stiff upper lips on this issue:
(1) Perhaps it has a good deal to do with campaign contributions;
the super rich have a long memory, would donate LESS to those
who voted for tax increases from the wealthiest. Think the Koch
Brothers, for example.
(2) Maybe the modestly wealthy see themselves as aspirants
to the super rich level, therefore identify (--wrongly!) with them.
(3) Could it be a historical holdover from 1700's America?
A grudging dislike, distrust of all things governmental?
(Where's a Stamp Act when you need one? Just kidding.)
The successful never succeed on their own, many help
them up the ladder here in the U.S. It's time they remember
that and do their part.
diametrically opposed to raising taxes, any and all taxes.
Don't they want police, firemen, and libraries? I have
several notions about their stiff upper lips on this issue:
(1) Perhaps it has a good deal to do with campaign contributions;
the super rich have a long memory, would donate LESS to those
who voted for tax increases from the wealthiest. Think the Koch
Brothers, for example.
(2) Maybe the modestly wealthy see themselves as aspirants
to the super rich level, therefore identify (--wrongly!) with them.
(3) Could it be a historical holdover from 1700's America?
A grudging dislike, distrust of all things governmental?
(Where's a Stamp Act when you need one? Just kidding.)
The successful never succeed on their own, many help
them up the ladder here in the U.S. It's time they remember
that and do their part.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Grover Is Almost Over-(!)
This past Sunday two prominent Republicans, Sen. Graham and
Rep. King, stated in televised remarks they no longer felt bound by
the infamous "Pledge". In light of the upcoming Fiscal Cliff,
more will surely follow such illustrious examples. The reality of
imminent disaster has a way of making the scales fall away from
heretofore vacant eyes.
A slightly new Congressional complexion adds to the hopeful
mix, along with bipartisan mumbles from some in the House.
Grover is almost over, just in time for a brand new year!
Rep. King, stated in televised remarks they no longer felt bound by
the infamous "Pledge". In light of the upcoming Fiscal Cliff,
more will surely follow such illustrious examples. The reality of
imminent disaster has a way of making the scales fall away from
heretofore vacant eyes.
A slightly new Congressional complexion adds to the hopeful
mix, along with bipartisan mumbles from some in the House.
Grover is almost over, just in time for a brand new year!
Egypt's Morsi: He Wanted More, See?
I'm experiencing Middle East Fatigue. After 3,000+ years, cannot
these people figure things out? Do they just like the drama and
bloodshed? I think so. I grieve for the children, but all the rest
surely should shoulder some of the blame, just as our people
should when they vote in or hire an incompetent or worse over
here.
What's in a name? A Morsi by any other name might not
be so greedy for more--but he didn't attain power all alone.
Oops, Egypt aflame again.
Regarding the Palestinians and the Israelis, the supreme irony is
that, when all is said and done, it is a fight amongst one people,
Semites. The Arabs and Israelis are both Semitic peoples; this is
NOT a race war. It IS pride, turf rights, ancestral revenge. But
how can relations improve with all this unthinking violence and
destruction? The march toward civilization is retarded by all the
gore and rubble....to say nothing of all the wasted resources,
time and money.
The day that the unity of peace is widely regarded as more
interesting and satisfying than conflict and violence is when
we achieve civilization, not before.
these people figure things out? Do they just like the drama and
bloodshed? I think so. I grieve for the children, but all the rest
surely should shoulder some of the blame, just as our people
should when they vote in or hire an incompetent or worse over
here.
What's in a name? A Morsi by any other name might not
be so greedy for more--but he didn't attain power all alone.
Oops, Egypt aflame again.
Regarding the Palestinians and the Israelis, the supreme irony is
that, when all is said and done, it is a fight amongst one people,
Semites. The Arabs and Israelis are both Semitic peoples; this is
NOT a race war. It IS pride, turf rights, ancestral revenge. But
how can relations improve with all this unthinking violence and
destruction? The march toward civilization is retarded by all the
gore and rubble....to say nothing of all the wasted resources,
time and money.
The day that the unity of peace is widely regarded as more
interesting and satisfying than conflict and violence is when
we achieve civilization, not before.
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