Friday, 29 May 2009
You CAN Lie To Computers.
Speaking in passing today with a friend who has been following my Posts, I told him that I would welcome comments.
He then mentioned the registration form in the comments window.
So THAT must be the bottleneck on comments here?
I can understand why some may not wish to fill in their Name, Homepage or Email Address.
Well I have some GOOD News for those who are bothered by that requirement.
You don't have to.
You CAN lie to the Computer and the Blog Software here.
It won't KNOW it.
You can fill anything you want to on those lines.
You can even leave them BLANK
and your comment will show up as from "anonymous"
At the risk of being thought as having a Multiple Personality Disorder
I will create a demonstration,
I will coment under the pseudonyms
Demon-in-Darkness
Kumbaiyah-Bambi
Wannabe-Che
and
McLenin
and will leave the fields blank in one comment so you can see what happens with the comment software
Warning the above personas may not agree and you might be intering a Flame War Zone.
So Beware. ;-)
Fiscal Newspeak
Topic: Out of Flyover Land
Newspeak a creation in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. it's characteristics are
The purpose of Newspeak was not only to provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of IngSoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible.
It was intended that when Newspeak had been adopted once and for all and Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought
-- that is, a thought diverging from the principles of IngSoc -- should be literally unthinkable,
at least so far as thought is dependent on words.
Its vocabulary was so constructed as to give exact and often very subtle expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express,
while excluding all other meaning and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods.
I encountered what might be an example of this during an online debate with one of our local elected officials recently concerning the LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) Ballot initiative.
The Gentleman was delighted and celebrating the Victory of a Tax Increase.
To which I took exception, an occurrence that should come as no surprise to anyone who has been reading the posts on this website.
Now I am sanguine about Tax increases, their major premise seems to have been that it would not have been Fiscally Responsible to NOT support the New Tax since for an estimated $13 Million in Tax Revenue raised the State would remit to the Municipality $20 Million.
Say that again? Spending 54% more than Tax Revenue is Fiscal Responsibility,
In WHAT Universe?
Oh I see, it's fiscally responsible since the extra $7 Million will come from Taxes on citizens who do not live in your Municipality?
Like ME for instance?
My thoughts on these subjects run on the order of
Americans don't save money, as a rule we spend it.
When you spend money, that increases the demand for goods and services.
An increase in demand for goods and services, helps create jobs.
I consider the above on the order of
Run Spot, Run
When you Tax money, the public does not spend it, does not increase the demand for goods and services and does not help create jobs.
But Dan you might say, the STATE and the Municipalities will spend that money and help create jobs.
True, but a portion of it will be absorbed in the Cost of Government.
That will also create jobs, jobs, for Government Employees.
So you can leave the money in the General Economy and create jobs there, or Tax it and create jobs in Government. The size of Government increases in Direct Proportion to an increase in Revenue and Budget,
I know what my choice is..
So to sum up the situation.
This Elected Official believes in
Increased Taxation
Increased Government Spending
Deficit Spending
Spreading the Wealth
An increase in the Size of Government.
For 10 Extra Credit Points, the Conservative Principles enshrined in the above ARE??
Did I mention the person is a REPUBLICAN?
Sigh, maybe it's not their fault. Maybe they just don't know any better.
We must EDUCATE them!
As a start in a Remedial Course in Political Philosophy, I think I will recommend.
The Enemies List
Dealergate Update: What we have so far On the House side, at least one U.S. congressman is also asking questions, and with good reason. Even before receiving his notice from Chrysler, Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan was told by a House colleague that his own Florida dealership is on the chopping block:
"It's an outrage. It's not about me. I'm going to be fine," said Buchanan, the dealership's majority owner. "You're talking over 100,000 jobs. We're supposed to be in the business of creating jobs, not killing jobs," Buchanan told News 10, a local Florida television station.
Where does it all go from here? The tedious and time-consuming work of slamming the safe dealer list -- the complete list, not just a random sample -- has to be completed. Then, and only then, will we have statistically significant answers to the many questions that have been raised by the footloose and fancy free manner in which the Obama administration and MOPAR management appear to have handled the task of pruning down the Chrysler dealership network.
We would suggest that if the auto task force and Chrysler want their criteria and methodology to be believed, both should immediately release transcripts -- or at least the meeting minutes -- of their deliberations on the matter of the dealer closings. But don't hold your breath...
Addendum: We almost overlooked one of the most incredible chapters in the story so far. Almost a month ago, even before the closing Chrysler dealers got their notices, the company said that it was looking for new dealers to replace its "underperforming" dealers in small markets. Underperforming, like the many Five Star dealers (previously touted by Chrysler as its very best agencies) that are being closed. Before the pinks slips were even printed. You can'tmake this stuff up.
Remember this poor beleaguered (robbed) businessman robbed of his business by the Obama criminal gang?
A tipster over at Director Blues made a startling assertion. A cursory review by that person showed that many of the Chrysler dealers on the closing list were heavy Republican donors.
To quickly review the situation, I took all dealer owners whose names appeared more than once in the list. And, of those who contributed to political campaigns,
every single one had donated almost exclusively to GOP candidates. While this isn't an exhaustive review, it does have some ominous implications if it can be verified.
However, I also found
additional research online at Scribd (author unknown), which also appears to point to
a highly partisan decision-making process.
Go Read the whole Story
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Memorial Day
A Moment of Silence and Peace for the Next Few Days in Respect for the Fallen
Arlington (Trace Adkins)
SOME GAVE ALL
Fallen
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants
Operation USO Care Package
PO BOX 8069
Topeka, Kansas 66608
1-877-USO-GIVE
|
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Airflight To Nowhere
Just our Stimulus dollars and work and more of the same to come.
Friday, 8 May 2009
The Worm Ouroboros
The Worm Ouroboros (1922) is a heroic high fantasy novel by Eric Rücker Eddison. The book describes the protracted war between the domineering King Gorice of Witchland and the Lords of Demonland in an imaginary world that appears mainly medieval and partly reminiscent of Norse sagas.
Though triumphant, the Demon lords find that victory is bitter because there are no more enemies worthy of their heroism, no more great deeds to perform. The Lord Juss says to Queen Sophonisba:
| “ | Thou O Queen canst scarcely know our grief: for to thee the blessed Gods gave thy heart's desire: youth forever, and peace. Would that they but give us our good gift, that should be youth for ever, and war; and unwaning strength and skill in arms. Would that they might but give us our great enemies alive and whole again. For better it were we should run hazard again of utter destruction, than thus live out our lives like cattle fattening for the slaughter, or like silly garden plants. (page 392) | ” |
Sophonisba, gifted by the gods with the power to grant wishes, returns the world to how it was four years ago; and so, with a blare of trumpets, an ambassador from Witchland arrives, "craving present audience," and
the story starts over again.
Now, I am of course not saying that the Republican Party WANTED things to go back to the way they were, but that does seem to be the Human condition, after Great Trials, Adventures and Adversity, the Ultimate Evil is Vanguished and then
Everything returns to the way it was before and the process starts all over again.
If we look at the ebb and flow of power between the Democratic and Republican Parties over the years we see this repetitive pattern over and over again,.
Indeed the most extreme reverses seem to follow the Greatest Victories.
Let's take a look at a graph of Republican Seats in the Senate over the past 50 years I have two lines for 40 and 60 seats with over 60 you can end a Filibuster, less than 40 you cannot maintain one,.
Now does the balance of power in the Senate look, THAT much worse now than in the past?
What about the House? I placed a line at 218, the House has 435 members if you have 218 Seats, you have a majority.
Ok you can see the whole pictue and to tell the truth I would prefer it be a different one, but I don't see it as that much worse than what has gone before.
Do you?
One thing history has taught us about Politics, whatever the situation whether in our favour or against it, we can be certain of only one thing
This too shall Pass.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
The Rumors Of Our Death
Upon being informed that a newspaper had printed his obituary, Mark Twain is reported to have said
The rumors of my Death have been greatly exaggerated.
I am beginning to feel that way about the GOP.
We are continuously hearing about the demise of the Republican Party.
GOP - DOA ?
Are the reports of the death of the GOP, to paraphrase Mark Twain, "Greatly exaggerated?" Or are we seeing the inexorable demise of a doomed beast -- like seeing the last wooly mammoth go down in tar pits of La Brea?
The defeats suffered in the 2006 mid-term and 2008 Presidential elections, combined with the recent defection of Senator Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party, certainly left a whiff of lingering death in the air. Was Specter's decision a mandatory 10-count that will allow the Republicans to get off the mat and fight on? Or was it the final knockout roundhouse?
I am sorry but there is quite a bit of exageration here. The 2006 Election was the average outcome of a second term bielection. It is true that the Democrtic Party did much better than the Republican Party in that election, but there was nothing out side of the normal range.
House of Representatives
Senate
All of the above looks daunting, I will be the first to admit that, but if this portends the demise of the Republican Party shouldn't it be as bad or worse than what has gone before???
Let's just take a look and see how the present state compares with say the 1976 Election?
Party summary
Senate
TOTAL members: 100
House of Representatives
TOTAL members: 435
Now I might be biased but I don't see much difference in the balance of power in the Senate and the distribution of House seats looks better today than after the 1976 Election.
But what about one might ask the overwhelming victory of the Democratic Presidential Candidate?
Was it really that overwhelming??
1976 Jimmy Carter against Gerold Ford
Carter won with 50.1% of the vote to Ford's 48%
2008 Barack Obama against John McCain
Obama won with 52.9% of the vote to McCain's 45.7%
2008 was better than 1976 but neither compare with 1964
Johnson had 61.1% of the vote to Goldwater's 38.5%
No any prediction of the demise of the Republican Party
needs to explain why it did not curl up in die during the last
40 some years when things looked as bad as they do now or even'
worse.
Whatever became of that Carter fellow anyway?
Oh I remember now
..
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
The LOST Free Lunch Isn't
Concerning an addition of 1% to the sales tax in my local community
Well the dust has settled in Linn County Iowa and the forces of Let's Raise Taxes, someone else will pay for it, have won,
Here is an exchange I had on facebook, The names are absent, because at the present time I prefer to speak about Principles rather than Personalities.
It all started when I read the following
"congratulations Marionites. We passed the LOST penny and will receive $20 million over next 5 years for sewer, streets & parks. Also our sewer bills will remain static rather than double as projected. Good for Marion!!"
My immediate reaction was, "this person sounds like they really think someone just GAVE them -$20 Million. Don't they realise that $20 Million just left the wallets of taxpayers and went into the hot little hands of politicians???
I responded with
I see if they don't get the vote they want just keep doing it over and over until they get the vote they want?
sounds like some recent Congressional Races to me.
and
"Also our sewer bills will remain static rather than double as projected. "
But your TAXES are going up $20 Million dollars or do you really think folks are going to drive to Marion to give them that money?
Guess who gets to pay for the bulk of your $20 million dollar windfall, guess who gets hurt worst by a tax lke this?
Now I WAS mistaken about the $20 Million cost to Marion Taxpayers for which I was promptly corrected.
the bottom 60% of income earners pay less than 1% of federal income taxes on net.
When "tax credits" primarily go to this group in the form of checks from the government (rather than a reduction in their tax burden) it is simply an abuse of the language to call the spending a tax cut.
What it really should be called is "Redistribution of Wealth" and isn't that what this article started with someone crowing about?
They are happy they will be getting back more than they pay in.
Of course Obama's plan will end up with folks who did not PAY income tax at all getting checks cut from money taken out of the pockets of those who DO pay taxes.
In the words of our good friend they would be monumentally STUPID not to vote for someone who would do that for them
As for the rest of us, we would be equally STUPID not to resist it,
But if we have those among us that don't mind this process as long as THEY are on the receiving end of the handouts we have a problem, particularly if the person is someone we voted for and helped elect,
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Obama Said The Same Thing Prejean Did
There has been a lot of controversy about Miss California's answer to Perez Hilton, I want you to watch these two video clips and then answer a few questions.
If Miss Prejean's answer makes her an outright Bigot,
Doesn't that implication hold true therefore for President Obama?
Also how can it be claimed her opinion is extreme or fringe
If that is the same opinion as the majority vote of the State of California,
The majority of the country and the President?
Unless there is a NewSpeak definition of extreme or frnge?
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Cleared
While Harry Truman did say, "The Buck Stops Here" in some cases the Buch never makes it to the Oval Office.
There has been a lot of excitement over the buzzing of high rise buildings in New York City recently by one of the Air Force 1 aircraft for a "photo-op"??
This might have been in mere bad taste were it not for the decision NOT to disclose this event to the Public.
What in the World could they have been thinking?
Video of Air Force Airplane "Photo-Op" That Caused Panic in New York City and Jersey City
NEW YORK (WABC) -- A photo shoot involving an Air Force aircraft and two fighter jets led to hundreds of frightened calls from residents and workers in Lower Manhattan Monday
To paraphrase Rudyard Kipling's CLEARED
Help for an Office sullied, a Spotless Spirit hurt,
Help for an Honourable Clan sore trampled in the dirt!
From Washington to Frisco Bay, O listen to my song,
The honourable gentlemen have suffered grievous wrong
Their noble names were mentioned O the burning black disgrace!
By brutal Right Wing Punidits; in a Faux Air Safety Case
If black is black or white is white, in black and white it's down,
You did not pay attention when appointments went around
If print is print or words are words, the Media perpends: --
We are not ruled by Fools, but only -- by their friends.
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