So much to write about! So little space!

ITEM 1. Oil Prices and Currency: In case you didn’t notice, gasoline prices have been inching upward as oil prices approach $70.00/barrel. No, folks, it’s not the greedy speculators or the greedy oil companies, or even greedy OPEC. It is the hidden tax in Obama’s massive spending spree. Anyone who has studied Economics 101 knows that the amount of debt we are currently incurring is unsustainable. The result will be inflation and its companion, a devalued dollar. This is what the Chinese are worried about. As the dollar devalues, the price of imported goods goes up. Oil is an imported good. Back in the oil spike of last summer, it took $1.57 to buy 1 Euro. The price of oil skyrocketed. When the economy turned south last fall, the dollar strengthened as Europe’s economy was worse than ours. It took $1.27 to buy 1 Euro. Then Obama started borrowing money. Now the Euro didn’t look so bad to investors. As of yesterday, it took $1.38 to buy 1 Euro, and the price of oil is starting to go back up, economy be damned. THAT’S WHY THINGS ARE GOING TO GET EXPENSIVE.

ITEM 2. Empathy: Obama’s test for the Supreme Court is empathy. He wants the Justice to have empathy for those in front of the court. Who’s empathy? The empathy for one party over another in a court means injustice…one man’s empathy is another man’s pain. What Obama wants is bias for the his liberal causes. I can assure you, there will be no empathy for the small businessman who is attempting to generate jobs. There will be no empathy for Christians. There will be no empathy for white males. There will be no empathy for families. There will be empathy only for those who Obama deems worthy. Take my word for it, that won’t be middle aged white people.

ITEM 3. Arbitron: This is the rating service for radio stations, like the Neilson ratings is for television. It used to be done by people filling in a daily diary as to what they listened to. You would send it in at the end of the week and Arbitron would you send you $25.00, more if you were a minority. The problem was people got lazy. Rather than doing it as they listened to the radio, or at the end of the day, the attempted to fill in the diary from memory at the end of the week just before sending it in to the company. To get around that problem, Arbitron developed a new system involving wearing something akin to a cell phone on around your waist. It listens to what you listen to, and registers it automatically. At the end of the week, the device is sent to the company. To its surprise, Arbitron discovered that minority and urban radio stations were listened to much less than the written diaries indicated, and conservative talk radio was listened to much more. The result, several states and the Federal government are now investigating Arbitron for racial discrimination attempting to show the sample used by Arbitron was slanted against minorities. Hey, when these folks don't like the message, they try to kill the messenger.

Had enough for today? Me, too. Go and have a Martini!

For Barack Obama, A Crack in the Veneer

For Barack Obama, the rubber of reality may finally be hitting the road. While his popularity is still high, his policies are not. No matter how you slice it, America is a center right country, and Americans aren’t liking what they are seeing.

The clearest evidence is being seen in California. The eighth largest economy in the world is in trouble with people and businesses deserting the state daily. It is $23 Billion, with a “B”, in debt. The public employees unions are running the state, and are strangling it. Some municipal firefighters make a wage and benefit package of up to $175,000.00/year, with many being able to reach full salary retirement after 20 years. One municipality recently filed for bankruptcy. The mayor said they were paying for 2 full time fire departments at the same time…one working…one retired. This mentality permeates the entire state. When the governor and legislature recently tried to cut wages to state funded home health care workers, President Obama threatened to cut off federal funds to the state.

In a stunning defeat for tax and spend liberal politics, California defeated five of six state sponsored revenue propositions. The measures were defeated in every county, including San Francisco. The only measure to pass was the one stating the obvious: lawmakers are now forbidden to give themselves raises when the state is in deficit.

California has no choice now but to go hat in hand to the Federal government for bailout money. That is lose/lose for an Obama administration whose natural tendencies would be to go along with it. Do you want your tax money bailing out state paid for studies observing the mating life otters? Sooner or later, the gravy train runs out of gravy.

Obama’s promise to tax only the wealthy rings hollow when the burden is shifted to the states, and the states have to raise taxes on everything and everybody. There is no free lunch.

Obama is also being hit with his ideological position on Gitmo. WE DON’T WANT THE TERRORISTS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. Not even the Democratic legislators who whined and sobbed about Gitmo abuse want these dudes in their states. Start with the practical. Anyone at all familiar with the American prison system knows these guys are getting much better treatment where they are now than in any American prison within a state system. Would they get better treatment in Leavenworth of Sing-Sing?

But more importantly, it will give these guys more legitimate access to our court system, with the nation running the risk of the courts actually releasing these bad people onto our streets while costing the country millions upon millions of dollars in legal fees. That doesn’t even begin to the address the issue of whose minds these nut cases would affect within the prison population. Do you want an American prisoner released into our cities with criminal tendencies juiced up by these Muslim whackos? Not me!!

Finally, Americans will soon tire of government run anything. The specter of Washington deciding everything from what kind of car we should drive, to the temperature we keep our thermostats, to what we eat, to the type of house we should live in, to whether or not we should be entitled to an MRI, will grow old, and is growing old, real fast. Americans don’t like paying more for less, and that is true across every socio-economic class. And when the government gets involved, that is the usual result. Government only knows how to take.

So President Obama, go ahead and bail out California, take over General Motors and Chrysler; try telling a mourning family they can’t get certain medical procedures for mom or dad or grandma and grandpa or a child; increase the rate of late term abortions; force minority families out of private schools that your own children attend in the District by cutting vouchers; and let some terrorists out onto the streets of our great country…and let me know how that works out for you!

HEALTH CARE REFORM: A WORKABLE SOLUTION

So what we have to do is figure out a way to maintain the integrity and quality of our health care system while making sure affordable insurance is available to everyone. Since what I am going to propose is based partially on private insurance, insurance providers must base rates on a national pool rather than state pools, and the rates offered must be standard to all persons regardless of age or pre-existing condition. In addition, rates paid by companies who offer health care benefits cannot be less than those rates paid by individuals purchasing health care in the open market. This will eventually move insurance coverage costs from companies to individuals.

1) Everyone is responsible for the first $5,000.00 of medical expenses each year. This can be funded several ways: a) Insurance companies can offer policies to individuals to cover portions of the first $5,000.00 with premiums being tax deductible; b) People can take advantage of Health Savings Accounts contributions which are tax deductible; c) or folks can just wing it, and be subject to regular collections procedures for nonpayment.

2) Private insurance companies will then offer policies to all US citizens, and all US citizens over the age of 18 will be required to purchase health insurance. No health insurance, no driver’s license or income tax refund. These policies will be designed to cover health care costs between $5,000.00 and $500,000.00. Deductibles may vary, and citizens can use unused portion of the Health Savings Accounts to pay for the deductibles. Insurance companies must sell to all takers with only some variation in rates. Item 3 will relieve them of unlimited costs for those with pre-existing, serious conditions.

3) The Federal Government will offer a Medicare type program for all health care costs over the $500,000.00 with premiums paid as Medicare premiums are currently being paid. Deductibles should be imposed, and private insurance companies may offer supplemental policies just as they do in Medicare now for seniors. In addition, the government can incentivize private re-insurance companies from whom the government can buy re-insurance to spread the risk and get the liability off of the government balance sheet.

4) For the working poor and welfare classes, the government can expand its Medicaid programs to benefit these folks.

5) The Federal Government could work with private companies such as Walmart, Walgreens, and other such national entities for the establishment of clinics to handle routine type matters such as colds, flu, flu shots, and other routine wellness matters. Walmart is already doing this.

The above does a number of things. It makes individuals aware of the cost of health care which will help to drive the cost down for most services as people shop for the best deals. It gets the burden off corporations to supply health care benefits. It allows the professionals to handle the bulk of medical insurance in care as it currently does. It relieves the insurance companies of extraordinary medical expenses making it easier to insure everyone who needs the insurance. It spreads the risk among the entire population. And finally, it allows the government to provide a mechanism for catastrophic care with companies who specialize in re-insurance issues while getting the obligation off of the government books.

Think it will work? I do. If only I could get this to the people who make the decisions.

Demographic Woes and the Symphony

This week’s rant isn’t so much a rant as much as expression of concern. Last Saturday night, my wife and I attended the Symphony Ball, one of the lead benefit events for the Youngstown Symphony Society. Over the years, it has been one of the must-do charitable events in Mahoning County. Others on the list were the Charity Ball, for the benefit of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and the Angels for Easter Seals Christmas event involving the auctioning off of fully decorated Christmas trees. These were the “see and be seen” events of the year, with guys in tuxedos and women in full regalia.

Unfortunately, the attendance at the Symphony Ball this year was light, not that it wasn’t a great event with an exquisite dinner and great music. It looked like there were about a 100 in attendance this year. Over the years, I have seen the event attended by 350 if not more. Perhaps the Roaring Twenties theme seemed out of place in this wretched economy in which we found ourselves. I heard a few complaints that the tab was a tad pricey this year compared to other years. But I suspect something more.

My wife and I have belonged to numerous organizations over the years, including service organizations, quilt clubs, and music organizations. There is one theme that is consistent in all of these types of activities…the membership is demographically getting older with scant “new blood” coming in to replace those who are leaving by choice or by more “mortal” reasons. Maybe it’s because young folks today, defined by me as people under the age of 35, have different interests. In a digital world, the get-gussied up affairs just don’t cut it anymore. And who wants to sing moldy oldie songs in choral societies? Or just maybe, and I think this is the case, this area is in demographic trouble.

One thing my son noticed living in Columbus this past year is just how young Franklin County is, and how old we look up here. I look around in my various organizations, and the gap seems to start at those under the age of 50. This has always been a trend in any organization's life. Folks are busy raising their families and putting their kids through school. But there have always been those who work for themselves, looking to drum up business, who find their way into various community groups…and I am not seeing it as much anymore.

This demographic trend is reaching down into the school systems. I remember when I graduated from high school in 1968, my class had about 400 graduates, and Cardinal Mooney High School was graduating over 500 with Ursuline High School not far behind. Not anymore. Graduation rates and school enrollments are way down across the board except in very specific areas, forcing consolidation much to the dismay of the alumni groups. Youngstown State University has actually increased its enrollment to about where it was when I went there from 1968-70, but it has taken a lot of effort on the part of the powers that be. Unfortunately, they leave when they graduate.

The Mahoning Valley is a great place to live or I wouldn’t be here. It offers many big city amenities without population overload. But it offers very little incentive to our young people to stay. The area leaders, to their credit, continually make note of the problem, but I have seen very little concrete activity to address the problem. Given the general economic climate of the country, the best bet for the area would be to encourage and assist in entrepreneurship type activities. The Youngstown Business Incubator is an example. That is the type of activity that needs a shot of steroids to give it a major boost.

Our population is aging and dying. Until this area takes demographic Armageddon seriously, I fear that attendance at the Symphony Ball in the year 2020 will be down to…well…20. And that will be a sad day. Let’s quit hoping for the best and get to work.

How They Think

I always thought it was interesting that left wingers, who supposedly are the guardian of free speech and the exchange of ideas, are the most intolerant group of people around. Here is a sample of some of the comments made from those tolerant folks who only tolerate those who agree with them. Don't forget that "teabagging" is urban slang for oral sex. Note the vulgarity. Nice touch.

"I think any time you have severe economic conditions there is always an element of disaffection that can mutate into something that's unhealthy…" David Axelrod, Sr. Obama Advisor on Tea Parties.

“She lost not because she doesn’t believe in gay marriage. Miss California lost because she is a dumb bitch.” Perez Hilton, judge for the Miss USA pageant, after asking Miss California if she supports gay marriage in a politically charged, possibly set up question, in the pageant finals.

“…they don't know their history at all. This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of teabagging rednecks. And there is no way around that. And you know, you can tell these type of right wingers anything and they'll believe it, except the truth. You tell them the truth and they become -- it's like showing Frankenstein's monster fire.” Janeane Garofalo commenting about the Tea Party protests on Keith Olbermann’s MSNBC Countdown.

“It’s hard to talk when you’re tea-bagging…they’ve got teabagging.” Anderson Cooper responding to CNN’s senior political analyst David Gergen’s comment about Republicans trying to find their voice.

“Forget about bringing the troops home from Iraq. We need to get the troops home from World War II. Can anybody tell me why, in 2009, we still have more than 50,000 troops in Germany and 30,000 in Japan? At some point, these people are going to have to learn to rape themselves.” Bill Maher commenting on troops coming home from Iraq on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher”.

"Who wouldn't want to tea bag John McCain?" Air America’s Ana Marie Cox on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show.

THE DREADED, RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS

I came to the conclusion when I was in high school that the threat to our freedom would come from the intolerant left rather than the right. Left wingers believe that they have a moral superiority to the rest of us, who are incapable of thinking for ourselves. My fears have been reinforced this week with the issuance of a Homeland Security Advisory warning about the radicalization of the political right…translate: me.

The scariest thing I read was reported in the Washington Times: “A footnote attached to the report by the Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines ‘rightwing extremism in the United States’ as including not just racist or hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority.” It goes on to say that military personnel returning from the mid-east are prone to “recruitment” and “radicalization.”

While I am sure there is some concern about white supremacist groups ala Timothy McVeigh who blew up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City year sago, I don’t think that this is what this edict is. In my opinion, this is a blatant effort to marginalize and stifle any dissent to the current administration’s domestic and economic policies.

I don’t know about you, but I have seen very little violent, right wing radical political activity. In fact, most of the violence over the past few years has been generated by the radical left. Code Pink comes to mind. The resurgence of the Black Panthers is another. How about gays attacking Catholic churches in San Francisco? And look at what happens at any economic summit meeting no matter where in the world. There is bloodshed in the streets.

What is the government afraid of? This is Richard Nixon on steroids. Even this past week, the thugery of left wing whackos manifested itself at the University of North Carolina. Former Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Or) was invited to speak about his strong stance against illegal immigrants coming into the United States. ABC News reported what happened:

“Protesters who weren't allowed into the room where the speech was being given gathered outside the door and chanted, "There's no debate, no space for hate. In video from Tuesday night's incident, things clearly grow more tense with campus police. There is pushing and shoving on both sides... Other video shows what was happening inside the classroom with Tancredo. The former congressman once ran for president on a platform firmly against illegal immigration. He was invited to UNC to deliver a speech opposing in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants. Protesters interrupted his speech, stretching out a banner in front of him that read, "No one is illegal." Tancredo grabbed the banner and confronted one of the people holding it.Then there was the sound of glass shattering. A window was broken by more opponents outside. As the situation escalated, Tancredo left.”

Once again, violence from the left usurped the principle of free speech. Once again, the radical left showed its complete willingness to use violence to silence those it opposes. Secretary Napolitano reiterated her pronouncement on right wing violence again today, after protests from Veteran Groups about the reports comments on returning war heroes. (She issued a semi-apology on Fox News Thursday morning).

If Homeland Security wants to be concerned about violence, why doesn’t it investigate radical Muslim recruiting in America’s prisons? Why doesn’t it investigate the drug lords and terrorists that may be entering our country across the Mexican border? Why doesn’t it investigate the left wing organizations which defile churches or storm our international financial meetings? Why doesn’t it investigate Muslim madrassas teaching jihad here in the United States?

This is political intimidation at its worse, issued on the eve of the Tea Parties protesting current government financial policies. But what else would one expect from Janet Napolitano? So at least I am not disappointed.

Picture Courtesty Flickr Creative Commons:Dom Dada; Some Rights Reserved

California Wants to Ban Big Screen Televisions

In the category of I told you so, intrusive government is making its move to control the type of television set you watch. California, that wonderful state that spews out its spawn such as Nancy Pelosi on the rest of us, is considering banning energy hogging big screens televisions. They are concerned that your 60” flat screen puts too much of a strain on the electric grid. If it weren’t so sad and scary, it would be funny.

The California Energy Commission is in the process of setting energy use standards for flat screen televisions by summer of 2011. If the TV uses too much energy, retailers will be prohibited from selling them. Of course, a short drive to Nevada would take care of that. But nevertheless, it is a harbinger of very bad things to come by a government hell bent on controlling you life: from the time you get up in the morning until the time you go to bed; from the time you are born, until the time you die.

The ban will affect mostly plasma televisions, and televisions with screens larger than 40 inches. Estimates range between 20% - 40%, depending on the article one reads, as to how many flat screens would fall within the state mandated danger zone. LCD’s will have some problems, but not near as much. Regulators claim that it will help the consumer by saving him/her a whopping $18.00 - $30.00 per year on energy costs. Whoopee!!!!

Folks, this is just a sample of what is coming down the pike with these control freak energy environmental whackos. They are already telling you the kind of toilet you have to use. I have an illegal one that my plumber purchased in Canada. It’s a flusher gusher. I will promise you that they will be hooking monitors onto your home thermostats regulating how much energy you use to heat or cool your house. They will be installing monitors in your cars to check how many miles you drive. They will be monitoring what you eat, and deny you medical attention if you are overweight. And forget about the summer barbeque. That is next on the list, seriously. The desire of all bureaucrats is to tell you what you can do, and when you can do it, in every facet of your life.

Big government is insidious. It creeps into your life slowly. What sounds perfectly sane and plausible when Big Brother explains those wonderful plans for you will gradually, and inevitably, turn into a nightmare. It happens every time. And once implemented, it is difficult to reverse. Big government consumes everything around it, growing geometrically as its various components try to justify their existence.

The answer to California’s problem is to provide more energy and build out the electric grid, perhaps using some of that stimulus money the Feds are bandying about. Of course, that makes too much sense. People of that ilk never think of expanding the pie, only cutting smaller and smaller pieces.

They are comin’ for you, folks.