End of the world, comin' round the mountain...

Today we were at 341 meetings. For those that do know, 341 refers to the section of the bankruptcy code that gives creditors an opportunity to question debtors that have filed bankruptcy. Generally, no creditor bothers in Chapter 7. The hearings are administrative (generally) and a formality. The average hearing lasts less than 5 minutes including the swearing in part.

I listened to about a dozen. Only one or two did not own real estate, the rest were all way underwater on their homes. Only a couple were losing their homes, most were going to be able to keep them - but you have to wonder....

10 to 20% underwater appeared to be average. I would be willing to bet a bunch of them were in adjustable rate mortgages which have NOT been failing as much as predicted over the last several months BECAUSE interest rates have been so low. But rates are going to go up long before prices recover and all those people are going get squeezed big time. Filing bankruptcy now will probably keep some of them in their homes, others will be able to hang on longer, but the majority of them will still end up losing their home and largest investment before this is over.

The housing problem is not over. It is not even stabilizing. It is a pause, the eye of the hurricane. People buying homes right now in many places figure that at worse they might lose a couple of percentage points but "no one can pick the bottom right?" Right.

From one polluter to another....

Dear Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin:

Congratulations on your vote for the largest tax increase on the American Economy EVER! It will be great to see all the new jobs that Wisconsin will get building windmills and solar panels! I heard there is a big factory in Janesville available! And the BUREAUCRACY this bill will create should be good for at least 10,000 new jobs in Wisconsin to oversee the CO2 polluters adherence to government mandates - I did want to know if people that run will be taxed higher than people that walk...??

Oh, I just wanted to know your reading speed...1000 pages plus another 300 today...wow! Amazing.
Can you tell me what part you found most interesting? The hampering of economic growth or the part where this law will reduce the TEMPERATURE of the planet..you know, more than the SUN has done in the last 8-9 years?

I am sure many of my fellow Wisconsin 2nd district citizens are going to be amazed at your explanation for higher electric bills, higher taxes and higher costs in general! After all, if Washington can't fix the economy, well, IT CAN'T.

I am extremely disappointed in your vote today - it was ill-informed and NOT beneficial to your constituents. But you probably got a thank you from Speaker Pelosi...right? I mean, she at least NODDED in your direction.

I am off to lower my carbon footprint....for 30 seconds or so as I hold my breath to stop from screaming at this message.

Your fellow Wisconsin 2nd district resident (oopppss - yea, I LIVE here....)
Tracy Coyle

too much snark?

Comparative Culture Analysis

For many years we have been told that our culture is no better or worse than another country's culture - that all are equally valid. I have routinely said 'bullshit' to anyone stupid enough to offer that crap in my presence or earshot.

The culture of the United States, our society, stands heads and shoulders above virtually every other culture or society on the planet - I will concede that Australia, parts of Canada, England, and Israel and maybe a part of ...no, not them... have many of the same benefits, characteristics and values we share. Maybe France and Germany have a chance if their current leaders can effect permanent change...

Compare the United States to Iran and the differences are so apparent you'd need to have the IQ of a hot dog not to see them. It is pathetic to call a country sovereign and then ignore its brutality and EVIL system. Iran is an evil country - that there are non-evil citizens there doesn't change it. Lot and his family lived in Sodom.

Our Country IS BETTER than other countries. Our Culture IS BETTER than others. I am tired of people holding out a plate of shit and asking me to pretend it is pâté.

A comment on 'The Correct Response'

I attempted to answer wdporter's comment on the post and got stymied by the comment limit...so, here is my comment:

Eventually, I return.

Your First paragraph: I have the right to marry whomever I want - neither you, nor the government can stop me. However, the government bestows upon couples it recognizes as married certain benefits and how and when and why it bestows those benefits by it's recognition is the issue.

As you suggest, I can not demand recognition, however, I can and do demand that government treat married couples equally AND if it established criteria for that definition, I can and do demand it do so in a non-discriminatory way. Let me define 'non-discriminatory' so that we are clear: the state MAY discriminate among groups and classes when it has a compelling interest in doing so - such that it can establish age cohorts for legal contracts, government benefits and the exercising of certain rights and privileges. When it has no compelling interest, it can not discriminate.

In this case, the government must show a compelling interest to discriminate against gay couples that marry and seek those government benefits. As the Iowa Supreme Court found, there is no compelling interest found in such a discrimination in the area of gay vs straight marriage.

Your opening paragraph: if I am asking for recognition, but I don't have the right to ask for recognition, then when recognition is denied, I am not being discriminated is a nice piece of circular logic. If recognition is being denied, I ask what is the reason - your response is I don't have the right to ask for it. If I ask why I do not have the right to ask for recognition, you seem to suggest I that I am not being discriminated against.

Comparing gay to interracial marriage is less foolishness than you allow. I am sure you, from this safe distance in time, believe that 'of course' interracial marriage should be allowed on the basis of...what? Man and woman? Are you suggesting that for centuries here in the United States, the people of those days could not distinguish between men and women of different races? Of course not. Everyone knew a black man and a black woman were EXACTLY the same as a white man and a white woman...except, you know, their 'color' and their 'sensibilities' and their 'intelligence'...right? So it was not a man/woman issue, or even a shssshhh sexual issue, but rather...the children would be well, not white. It was absolutely a procreation issue, not that they couldn't, but that they COULD! And that couldn't be allowed. Until it was - by judicial activism. And for many years (in some places still) bi-racial couples were treated terribly by both races as race traitors. The issue was: can someone marry whom they choose or not and would the state recognize that marriage.

Our issue is much smaller than 'civil rights', it is government discrimination. Now, some people will either dismiss my claim of the right to marry whomever I want BECAUSE, to them, such a right without government recognition is meaningless. I want you to think about that for a moment - a right is meaningless unless and until government recognizes it. Is that what is meant by 'they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights'? No, not at all. It means before there is government recognition, before there is government, our rights exist.

Let me address the "has to do with evolution and the propagation of the damn species". One, gay marriage - hell, any marriage is not required to propagate the damn species: Palin/Johnson proves that, and so do the other 40% of births out of wedlock. Human beings create human beings, now, and for millions of years, without the benefit of a government recognized marriage. Whether gays marry or not will not change that. So, as Iowa Supreme Court found, straights will continue to get married, continue to have children, the species will continue to live and EVEN if that were absolutely false in the United States, there are WHOLE continents where marriages barely exist and species propagation is flourishing.

But, you seem hell bent on keeping the issue marriage and children, "disconnecting MARRIAGE and CHILDREN, in my opinion is not a good sign in a society" absolutely IGNORES the fact that gays are raising children and seek 'government recognition' in many cases FOR THE BENEFIT of those children!

But the children/marriage issue is really just another non-issue, otherwise, why allow seniors to get married? Or those not capable of having children? or WORSE, people that want to get married BUT DON'T WANT CHILDREN!

Not a single straight marriage is prevented by gay marriage. Not a single straight couple seeking to have children, will be prevented from having children by gay marriage. Not a single child, born of straight, married parents, will be left homeless and destitute because of gay marriage.

And because millions of straight couples will continue to marry, have children and gay couples will marry, and have children, the family unit will be strengthened. The alternative is a whole generation will grow up and say:
my parents got divorced and it was a mess - who wants that,
or
my parents never got married and I turned out ok, why bother...
Oh wait...we already HAVE that...long before gay marriage was on the radar. Marriage sucks, let's oppose more people WANTING it! Brilliant idea. How about letting MORE people that want marriage HAVE marriage - maybe we will have less people going it alone.... or without...

My rights are not being abridged, but I am being discriminated against. The government confers benefits to one couple and denies them to another couple on the basis of a biological characteristic. There is no compelling reason made why such discrimination is necessary.

As for the suggestion that I move to find more respect - why isn't that just peachy! If we could just put all 'those types' over there somewhere out of sight, out of mind and let us be....

How about just end the discrimination instead of pretending it doesn't exist by banishing those that seek to end it...

(Apparently, California believes that the popular will is more important than individual rights - but we knew that was a fundamental problem with mob...er, majority rule...didn't we...)

Iran, Democracy and Moslems

On the radio show on Tuesday I talked about my indifference to Iran as a blow up over the election between a really bad man and a really crazy man. It is clear that while that might have been day one or two, the IRANIANS realized that the fraud was the one the Mullahs perpetuated with the concept of free elections. The Iranian people have realized that 1) they WANT real democracy, not a false choice between two chosen candidates; 2) that their government ISN'T their government - it is a theocracy that imposes on the people what it will not abide upon itself, adherence to principles (not principles I would ever ascribe to, but the point of having principles is to live by them).

"Hey you cheated my candidate" has become "the whole thing is a farce - you have been cheating US."

I welcome such a change and with a nod to President Bush, acknowledge the principle that democracy is an inherent right and when people can see the benefits, they will want it. Establishing democracy in the heart of the Middle East is going to have positive results for a long time (before ANYONE suggests that democracy has been in the Middle East for a long time - namely Israel - Moslems don't recognize Jews as people and therefore would not want anything that Israel has except the land it sits on) But Moslems having democracy? Well, that is a different thing. Which brings me to my last point.

The most common thing Moslems - especially the fanatical types - do to other Moslems is kill them. Moslems kill and impoverish Moslems in much greater numbers than Jews or Christians do. At some point people, mostly Moslems, are going to realize that Jews and Christians have democracy and prosperity and if Islam is the right religion, something is very wrong.

Iranians have reached a point in their nation's life where they want what others have. Freedom and democracy and IF the President of the United States can't, or will not stand up for them, then something is very wrong here.

Apologies

Obama has spent the last 100 days apologizing for the United States behavior towards other countries (while ignoring what we have done for them) but based on HIS actions, we as a nation are going to spend the next decade apologizing for OBAMA.

The Correct Response

On Tuesday (May 26), the California Supreme Court will issue it's opinion on the legality of Prop 8, an amendment to eliminate 'gay marriage' as allowed by the same California Supreme Court just last summer. Let's look at the possibilities:

If the Court rejects the amendment as inconsistent with the California Constitution, the Right will argue that it was judicial activism overturning popular will.

If the Court upholds the amendment, the Left will argue the Court succumbed to pressure and did not uphold it's mandate.

Both will be wrong.

First, the Court reads the law and applies it. I read the Supreme Court's decision last summer and it rested almost entirely on the fact, FACT, that the California Constitution does NOT allow separate but equal institutions and when the California Legislature created exactly equal systems for gays and straights to get married, but called one Civil Unions and the other Marriage, it created a separate but equal institution. The Court rightly called them on it.

The Right howled and put an amendment on the ballot that asked for people to, by popular vote, re institute a separate but equal system. The people of California did just that. And understand, it is clear that the California Constitution and the United States Constitution clearly allow popular will to create laws that are on their face discriminatory AND allow for the creation of laws that specifically deny fundamental rights.

I expect the Court to uphold Prop 8. Californians can, and have said that certain people can not be allowed to get married based solely on the sex of their partner of choice.

The biggest mistake the Left can make on Tuesday and the days that follow is to give the Right ammunition for the argument that Gays can not be trusted to be full partners in society. And virtually ANY acts of anger will do so.

Too many people, especially on the Left think that judicial outcomes should be determined on the basis of what the outcome should be. The law is the law and judges, generally, adhere to it. There is as much judicial activism on the Right as there is on the Left.

However, too many people on the Right think that because a majority wills it, it is right. It is possible for the majority to be anti-minority and our Constitutions (state and federal) demand equality under the law for all.

Today, in every place in the United States I have the right to marry a member of the same sex. No one can stop us. However, I have no right to demand recognition of that marriage. If the State chooses to become involved in the process of recognizing that personal choice, it must do so for all couples without discrimination. The popular will of California is discrimination.

Throughout human history, slavery was practiced (it still is in a few places); just 150 years ago, our Country stopped the practice. Women did not have the right to vote until just about 100 years ago. 60 years ago, blacks and whites could not marry each other as if race had some meaningful distinction between humans. Human history is full of examples where basic rights were denied until upheaval in society forced change.

"After careful consideration" is the phrase used by 'conservatives' to demand change be withheld. Here is my final question: how long does careful consideration take? Just so I know whether I will benefit from the result, or if my grandchildren will.

The right to bear arms

Given the choice, I'm likin' Sarahs better. Just sayin...

Activist judges

It is clear that there are judges that just ignore the law and rule according to their proclivities. We need not a one of them actually sitting on the bench, anywhere.

However, every time a ruling goes against your position on issues is not evidence that a judge, or judges are being activist.

I have read both the California Supreme Court decision overturning the ban on gay marriage and I have read the Iowa Supreme Court decision. The rulings are significantly different.

The California case: was it constitutional have a a civil union system for same-sex couples and a marriage system for opposite sex couples if they were fundamentally the same system, just called something different. This is the 'separate but equal' issue that is well established to be unconstitutional at the federal level, and the California court found it was also unconstitutional at the state level. There is no activism necessary to find that position. It is clear cut. The California Court did address other items that makes it an important part of the Iowa decision which went right to the issue of denying gays the right to marry because their choice of partner was same sex.

The County seeks to undercut the plaintiffs’ equal protection claim by asserting the plaintiffs are not similarly situated to heterosexuals. The County references this threshold test in this case and asserts the
plaintiffs are not similarly situated to opposite-sex couples so as to
necessitate further equal protection analysis because the plaintiffs cannot
“procreate naturally.”

Therefore, with respect to the subject and purposes of Iowa’s marriage
laws, we find that the plaintiffs are similarly situated compared to
heterosexual persons. Plaintiffs are in committed and loving relationships,
many raising families, just like heterosexual couples. Moreover, official
recognition of their status provides an institutional basis for defining their
fundamental relational rights and responsibilities, just as it does for
heterosexual couples. Society benefits, for example, from providing samesex
couples a stable framework within which to raise their children and the
power to make health care and end-of-life decisions for loved ones, just as it
does when that framework is provided for opposite-sex couples.
In short, for purposes of Iowa’s marriage laws, which are designed to
bring a sense of order to the legal relationships of committed couples and
their families in myriad ways, plaintiffs are similarly situated in every
important respect, but for their sexual orientation. As indicated above, this
distinction cannot defeat the application of equal protection analysis

But both Courts make an assumption that those opposed to gay marriage seemingly refuse to consider:

The County initially points out that section 595.2 does not explicitly
refer to “sexual orientation” and does not inquire into whether either
member of a proposed civil marriage is sexually attracted to the other.
Consequently, it seizes on these observations to support its claim that the
statute does not establish a classification on the basis of sexual orientation
because the same-sex civil marriage ban does not grant or withhold the
benefits flowing from the statute based on sexual preference. Instead, the
County argues, section 595.2 only incidentally impacts disparately upon gay
and lesbian people.
The County’s position reveals the importance of accurately and
precisely defining the classification in analyzing all equal protection
challenges. The manner in which a classification is defined impacts the
utility of an equal protection analysis as a means of revealing discrimination.
Therefore, it is critical that a court reviewing the statute identify the true
nature of the classification.
It is true the marriage statute does not expressly prohibit gay and
lesbian persons from marrying; it does, however, require that if they marry,
it must be to someone of the opposite sex. Viewed in the complete context of
marriage, including intimacy, civil marriage with a person of the opposite sex
is as unappealing to a gay or lesbian person as civil marriage with a person
of the same sex is to a heterosexual. Thus, the right of a gay or lesbian
person under the marriage statute to enter into a civil marriage only with a
person of the opposite sex is no right at all. Under such a law, gay or
lesbian individuals cannot simultaneously fulfill their deeply felt need for a
committed personal relationship, as influenced by their sexual orientation,
and gain the civil status and attendant benefits granted by the statute.

The Court recognizes that at the core, sexual orientation is a fundamental characteristic of people and creating laws based on the characteristic is constitutionally flawed.

Instead, a gay or lesbian person can only gain the same rights under the
statute as a heterosexual person by negating the very trait that defines gay and lesbian people as a class—their sexual orientation. In re Marriage Cases, 183 P.3d at 441. The benefit denied by the marriage statute—the status of civil marriage for same-sex couples—is so “closely correlated with being homosexual” as to make it apparent the law is targeted at gay and lesbian people as a class. See Lawrence, 539 U.S. at 583, 123 S. Ct. at 2486, 156 L. Ed. 2d at 529 (O’Connor, J., concurring) (reviewing criminalization of homosexual sodomy and concluding that “[w]hile it is true that the law applies only to conduct, the conduct targeted by this law is conduct that is closely correlated with being homosexual. Under such
circumstances, [the] sodomy law is targeted at more than conduct. It is instead directed toward gay persons as a class.”). The Court’s decision in Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620, 116 S. Ct. 1620, 134 L. Ed. 2d 855 (1996), supports this conclusion. Romer can be read to imply that sexual orientation is a trait that defines an individual and is not merely a means to associate a group with a type of behavior. See Romer, 517 U.S. at 632, 116 S. Ct. at 1627, 134 L. Ed. 2d at 865–66 (holding an amendment to a state constitution pertaining to “homosexual . . . orientation” expresses “animus toward the class that it affects”).

By purposefully placing civil marriage outside the realistic reach of gay and lesbian individuals, the ban on same-sex civil marriages differentiates implicitly on the basis of sexual orientation. See Kerrigan, 957 A.2d at 431 n.24; Conaway v. Deane, 932 A.2d 571, 605 (Md. 2007). Thus, we proceed to analyze the constitutionality of the statute based on sexual orientation discrimination.

Recognizing the situation as presented is not activism, it goes to the heart of the issues. Finally, the reasons WHY there is an anti-gay marriage ban were addressed. I hear these reasons all the time and the court addresses them well.

The County has proffered a number of objectives supporting the marriage statute. These objectives include support for the “traditional” institution of marriage, the optimal procreation and rearing of children, and financial considerations.
The first step in scrutinizing a statutory classification can be to determine whether the objectives purportedly advanced by the classification are important. “The burden of justification is demanding and it rests entirely on the State.”

I am not going into the Court's reasoning, in every case it is straight forward and clearly points out that the objectives are not met in any way by the law as written. In the most fundamental way, the Court asks the question: does the gay marriage ban protect or promote traditional marriage. The answer is clearly no to anyone that is willing evaluate consequences. Does the gay marriage ban encourage more people to marry? No. Does the gay marriage ban encourage more people to have children? No. Will gay marriage cause straight couples to avoid marriage? No. Will gay marriage cause straight couples to have less children? No. These are obvious to anyone willing to consider them.

My issue is always individual rights. Infringe on my rights to protect others. The gay marriage ban does not do that. The ban does not protect the rights of others. Gay marriage does not stop straight couples from marrying; gay marriage does not prevent straight couples from raising children. And arguments that gay marriage does not support the growth of healthy children ignores that many marriages - gay and straight, do not have children as a goal.

If you support bans on gay marriage, show me where the infringement of my rights is necessary to protect someone elses rights. Please, do not start with the argument that there is no Constitutional right to marriage. Your ignorance would be clear.

Leading Role

Our current President, 'in a leading role of a lifetime' continues to act poorly without the script right in front of him. To wit:

In America, there is a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world.

I must ask the question...actually, the statement BEGS the question: What leading role is Europe playing?

Economics? Nope.
Military? Nope.
Security and defense? Not even for itself.
Relief? Nope.

Well, maybe as a garden for cowards and ass-kissing girlie-men.

Neither in innovation, nor exploration.

Obama thinks Europe, I guess, is a unified nation, acting as one big offset to American hegemony. Put Germany, France and Great Britain in the same room and see what kind of...oh yea, we kinda did that this week and we saw outstanding leadership from...no one.

I can't think of a single thing that makes me think, "Europe does that so well, we should be doing that too!". Nothing. Obama of course thinks Europe does lots of things well - I guess. Ask him to name something Europe leads in and I can guarantee that a super-majority of Americans will say "and more power to them...no thanks!".

You know, come to think of it, if we HAD to have an 'actor' playing the leading role of President of the United States, we could pick from just about anyone that has played that part in the last 10 years and get lines delivered better and with more authority than the current understudy...

I have often been told this position is wrong, but experience says different. Leadership is an inherent quality - it can be nurtured, trained and directed, but it can not be taught or learned. Apparently, it can't be scripted on a teleprompter either.

Tea Party Focus

There is much discussion going on all over the place concerning the focus of Tea Parties - I brought up the issue in last night's radio show.

1. Tea Parties got their start on the anger over the Stimulus Package size and the amount of pork AND the absolute uselessness of it to actually address the issues facing the economy. Therefore, government spending in general, and pork/stimulus spending in particular need to be a primary focus. But Congress can either tax or demand printing for any amount of spending they want to do so just focusing on the spending is not enough.

2. Three things:
a. Freeze government spending at 2008 levels. Any extra spending necessary comes out of next years budget
b. Taxes: A one year moratorium of Federal taxes. Then, a flat tax (I don't have a problem with the just announced GOP plan of two versions)
c. A movement to replace every Congressperson that voted for the bailouts (2008 and after) and/or the Stimulus bill regardless of party.

3. The above addresses spending, income and the judgment displayed (or failed to be displayed) in matching the two.

4. Two of the items have immediate actions (Freeze and moratorium) and long term planning actions: tax code change and elections.

Let's go.

Pragmatism or Populism

I am sick and tired of one or both of the above coming from Conservatives - WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER.

Let me backtrack and lead you by the chin to the basis of my current disgust....

Last year, the financial markets began to crumble. The process was foreseen by those willing to look and ignore the anti-deniers ("You are just trying to talk down the economy. Look at the numbers, across the board the economy is strong and getting stronger.") No matter how much the voices in the wilderness suggested the foundation was rotten, cracked and sinking, the anti-denier argued the doom and gloom was unwarranted.

"The Washington Post had even run a column the day before Lehman's collapse ridiculing those who were making negative comments about the state of the economy."

Bear Stearns should have been allowed to fail. The die was cast and the 'moral hazard' argument won, too late though for the lesson to be correctly applied. Lehman Brothers was let fail and the repercussions scared the Politicians (probably the Fed too) into worrying that systemic failure would cause financial and structural collapse of the world economies. That belief is short-sighted and naive. Coming from the Fed and the Treasury, it can not be reassuring - and it is not.

With the failure of Lehman, no further failures would be allowed. Moral hazard was something that was 'academic', the Powers were dealing with real financial systems and real economies. Moral hazard lost it's ability to impose a check on improper behavior.

AIG. There are enough lessons for 20 or 30 books but the most important ones - from my perspective - are being ignored by many. I have said that freedom is messy. Bankers don't like messy. Especially when it comes to risk and any 'respectable' entity that tells them they can make risk less messy, more controllable is going to get a long look. AIG was offering financial managers a way to 'diversify and distribute' risk and this was paired with products that gave the illusion of AAA, almost Treasury safe, leveragable returns. How much AIG was involved with we will learn some time into the future, but my guess is somewhere around 45 TRILLION dollars of products/derivatives. With an exposure of .1 to 10% depending on the product, AIG had the potential to lose $450billion to $4.5 TRILLION. Obviously it did not have the ability to cover those losses and so their counter parties and clients would except....except. The Clients were people that were not free participants of capitalism. Most bankers are not and the financial markets have learned that they too dislike capitalism. See, capitalism can have winners AND losers. Win/win is not the normal of capitalist events. Risk means that there is a chance that investments fail. And despite AIG, failure was not only an option, but coming like an avalanche.

Who were the clients? Sovereign funds, hedge funds with 'serious' clients like Princes and National Banks. They couldn't lose...that was unheard of, and I think the Fed and the Treasury got a long lecture after Lehman about the viability of the American way of life if large holders of American Capital products in Europe, the Middle East and Asia were going to take big losses.

So, AIG would be unwound. It had to be done slowly, and the money would have to be given to make sure that AIG counter parties didn't get burned. The problem was, how much money? I am sure that AIG and others said that the markets were just disrupted and pricing products too harshly. If the markets could be calmed, the unwind could be done slowly with minimal losses...maybe less than a $100 billion. And if the economy had held on, that might have happened. But moral hazard has a dark side. It is bad enough to be caught violating it, it is much worse to be caught hiding that you might have violated it (regardless of the truth). The politicians and the Fed and the Treasury oversold the issue: imminent collapse, financial Armageddon. People shut down. The financial markets were houses of cards, one bankruptcy (AIG) away from disaster. People know people one paycheck away from disaster, they don't like to think of their national ECONOMY in the same position.

Like a tornado warning well heeded, people shuttered the windows, bolted the doors and headed for the cellar. Big ticket items died first as small stuff was stocked up on. What the financial markets feared was losses, what they got was rug pulled out of the economy.

How much of AIG is left is irrelevant. The multiple dips into the public trough put lie to all the claims that the situation was contained.

Now this is where I got pissed.

The Fed and the Treasury should never have bailed out AIG. Yes, I DO understand what the potential was, IS. YOU probably DON'T. 600 TRILLION in derivatives. The systemic failure of every major bank, most small COUNTRIES and a financial system a smoking ruin. Instead, we are going to burden the American People with bailing out anti-capitalists that believed they had a right to a free lunch - no risk.

And most conservatives are letting them get away with it.

AIG.

Should never have been bailed out. But was. And that did NOT give us the right to interfere private enterprise. If I borrow $20 from you, you do not get the right to check my pantry for expensive soup, or publicly call me out for my spending choices. Our agreement for the $20 is the extent of your involvement.

I don't care about AIG bonuses AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU. It is NONE of your business and take that 'but it is our money' crap and stick it. Shareholders do not get a say in the day to day running of a business and the capitalistic system is either an all in, or get out choice. Since the 1930s, we have been trying to have it both ways and the more it is tried, the worse the situation is getting.

Capitalism, like freedom is messy. Too many conservatives have forgotten and have looked at their 401ks and home values and quietly, hopefully, they have encouraged the Obamas and Geitners and Bernakes to succeed so that they will not have to suffer from the risk THEY wanted to benefit from, but also be protected against.

Choice has consequences. Demand to be protected from those consequences and you lose the freedom of choice.

Too many are seeking protection and I am damn tired of it.

Step One

Suspend all federal tax collections. No income tax, no business tax, no social security/medicare tax.

For one year.

At the end of the year, the Federal Government assesses each state the following:

$1.74 per acre
+ .35 per acre for debt reduction (not interest, principle)
-----
$2.09 per acre

Credit to be given for all federally owned lands in each state.

No new taxes, no new income rates. $2.09 per acre. That's all.

Punch Drunk or....

I watched part of the interview of Barak Obama from 60 minutes and it almost seemed as if there was a smile ready to break out at every serious moment. Steve Kroft began to wonder about the state of mind of Obama, I am only wondering at what he was/is taking to 'take the edge off'. We know he smokes, the question I have is, what?

After the latest foreign affairs gaff, there is ONLY on question left concerning Obama's Administration and our President himself: Dumb, or Dumber?

Yea, what he said

Ok, regular readers (yea, right) know that I don't link too often. First off, I am too small a site to make any noticeable dent in someone's visits, but the primary reason is that I write here, for me. If people find it interesting, great.

Well, I have been saying for a long time that the gay community is it's own worst enemy and the Prop 8 issue in California is showing that in spades. In comments all around the blogosphere, you will hear gay people lamenting the activist gays apparent attempts at self destruction (self loathing?).

The idea that gay activists could stand up for Palestinians in the form of Hamas is so stunningly stupid that you have to wonder if it is actually alien provocateurs leading the community! No really. How could a gay activist support a group that would KILL THEM the second it got it's hands on them???

So, that said, I read a 'mainstream' blog today with a post that has said all that I have said, said it well, and gave it a big audience. So, you two over there, go read this.

Repose

My youngest brother died yesterday. Eddie just turned 45 in January. It'll be a couple of days or so before we know why - but I had expected that when my Mother called, it would be to tell me he took his own life. It doesn't appear to have been that.

Eddie got a raw deal early and it haunted him. When he was 12 or so, he was taken to the doctor because he complained his legs hurt all the time (he was in Little League). Our family has a history of Muscular Dystrophy and doctor jumped to conclusions - it would be 2 years before things were straightened out but by that time the damage was done. Knowing what my parents did about MD, the later it hits, the more destructive it is - this was a death sentence for Eddie. For the next two years, he was given leeway to be/do almost anything - and he took advantage of it - as teenagers are prone to do. At 17 Eddie checked himself into rehab. More or less, things never really improved much from that point on. Shortly after that, his girlfriend got pregnant and both families tried to talk them both out of marriage. They got married and within a year moved to Austin where Eddie got a job from Diana's father. When his second son was born, there were complications and Eddie's response was to attempt suicide. His son was ok, Eddie survived a lame attempt.

A year or so later, they moved back to Chicago and Eddie got a good job and was very good at what he did (electrical construction). But it was rocky and Diana and he eventually divorced. As is normal for my family, Diana remained an important part of our family gatherings and the boys were regulars at my parents. Eddie struggled with addictions of one form or another and despite that, his employer stuck with him - he was just that good - when he was there, which was most, but not all the time.

Eddie met and eventually moved in with Cyndi. In many regards she was good for him, others, not so. Eddie abused the relationship and Cyndi hung on. Eddie would go to sleep and with minor bathroom breaks, sleep for days on end. He was delusional, psychotic at times. He got treatment, but didn't like taking the meds. When he went off them, it would 8 days of sleep out of 10, 2 days of delusional rantings. Through it all, Cyndi stayed with him. The boys got out of school - they are doing great.

Over the last year or two, things had improved, some. But it was always a fragile thing. I would hear that he was coming over to help my parents, but later learned he 'was down' and never made it. HE DID help Mom and Dad, a lot. He tried and when he was ok, we could enjoy a repartee that I had with no one else. He helped me when I built out the lower level - driving all the way here, worked for hours, and drove home again. Cyndi joined him and it was good.

So, it was a matter of when with Eddie, not if. He walked an edge with one foot almost always over it. Dad called him one of the finest electricians he ever worked with. He was outgoing, friendly, always willing to help. But his demons always seemed to lurk just below the surface.

Two days ago, he fell off a ladder. It didn't seem a big thing. Cyndi went out yesterday, Shawn noticed he was not very attentive. It looked like Eddie was 'going to be down' for a day or two. Shawn went out and Cyndi came back in the early evening to find him sprawled on the bed.

The demons probably didn't do it. Accidents happen. Eddie burned the candle at both ends for many years and he was physically much older than his years. Unlike the raw emotions I had with Billy, Eddie's death is a little like relief - certainly not for us, for Diana, or Cyndi, Shawn or Matt, or my parents. For Eddie. I am very glad it did not appear to be at his own hand. That will not give much comfort but it does mean that Eddie persevered. He didn't give up. No matter the demons, no matter the trials, he faced them.

Eddie got a raw deal and it finally caught up with him. I take no comfort in his death - I will miss him. But, he and Billy can get along and keep each other company. They both died way too early, but long after they were expected to.

Rest my brother. This time, it will be a good sleep.

Speed of Change

For many years I have held the notion that change is a good thing - that without change, life stagnates, that life fails. Obama's mantra of change obviously would resonate with that notion - if I thought for a second he actually meant change in the same way that life changes - grows, matures, evolves. He doesn't. He means that he is going to change what works into something that is more defensible to the elites of Europe. That is not a throw-away snark. Many in Europe - and here in our academic circles believe that 'socialism' style economic and political policies can work provided three things: everyone buys into the change - even if that means forcing those that disagree to adhere; smart enough people are in charge - the right kind of smart; and there is a willingness to spend any amount necessary, from anyone and everyone necessary, to provide the means to establish the necessary changes.

They are wrong. But evidence and facts are insufficient to prove they are wrong. Argue that every attempt at socialism has failed and one of the above 3 items will be used to explain why it failed - but never, at any time, will proponents admit the fundamental flaw with socialism - the need will always exceed the ability.

It would be easy to say that uneducated people will buy into the socialism concept because they are the ones most likely to benefit (they are not), but it more commonly appears among the educated - those that should know better. Maybe they do, maybe they think that the first step, getting everyone to buy into the concept is the most important step. To succeed, they need a majority of voters to give them the chance - Obama asked for that chance, and a majority have said ok.

It is doomed to failure. I know it. Most of the people (all three of us) that read this know it. Most conservatives know it. Not in a general, belief way of knowledge - but in the cold, hard knowledge that comes with viewing the killing fields, the mass graves or the daily news from Venezuela.

Which brings me to today. 45 days after his inauguration, the number of areas where the failures of this President are becoming obvious to even the deaf and blind has reached the point that I have to ask - how much longer can this go on?

Obama and his Secretary of State are proving to the world that the United States will not longer be a superpower. We are going to unilaterally show to friend and foe alike that change has come and a kinder, gentler, pussy whipped, emasculated foreign policy will be laid at the world's feet on bended knee. Someone is going to, in Joe Biden's words "test Obama". The response - clearly from the last 45 days - is going to be painfully obvious to everyone, wrong.

Obama and his Treasury Secretary are acting as if the economy were an economic lesson. Most of you will not understand, so let me explain. When academic economists talk about policy changes and macro-economic behavior, they will begin their discussion such: "If you enact this change, and all other factors remain the same, THIS happens." As an intellectual, academic exercise, it is interesting to note how changes introduced to a system can effect results. You can take a model of our economy and introduce change to one variable at a time and see and tweak the results til you get the situation you are seeking. Unfortunately the real, messy, shifting world does not work like an economic model. Every policy proclamation is reviewed, analyzed and acted upon by millions of economic actors. All the other variables DO CHANGE. Often quickly, sometimes, instantly. So we have a President and a Treasury Secretary promoting economic changes in isolation. This policy will have this result; that policy will have that result. And neither has an impact on 'unrelated' matters. This is why 'the market's up and down gyrations' are not of concern - they are unrelated to the policy pronouncements. It is an academic blindness and it is destroying wealth daily.

To those of us grounded in the real world, we look upon the actions of this Administration and wonder - can they be this stupid? They can't, can they? They don't REALLY want to destroy the country, they can't REALLY think that their plans will work. Obama really, truly believes that his policies will work. I believe that. I believe that he has surrounded himself - loosely and inefficiently - with people that believe his plans and policies are GOOD for the country AND the planet.

They are wrong. Freedom is messy and economic choices and behaviors do not stand idly by as 'variables' are tweaked. But here is where I am starting to get worried. 45 days. In 45 days Obama has done more damage than just about anyone could imagine (I figured he could and would do it, just that it would take most of this year to do so - wrong).

Virtually every action Obama has taken, directly with his words and policies, and indirectly by his Cabinet members actions in their arenas, has made everything worse that it should have been.

I know this - I lived this one afternoon at the radar scope of an Air Force GCA when I screwed up with 6 flights - every action, taken by itself, was correct, legal and responsible. Taken as a whole, I put 14 crews in deadly danger. It was my last day as an Air Traffic Controller.

In 45 days, Obama has set a course of events into motion that is dangerous beyond his, or his advisors, understanding. 45 days. He has over 1400 days still to go. 1400 days. Can ANYONE imagine 1400 more days like the 45 we just had? Can anyone imagine where we will be in 100 days? This is the question that plagued me today - how much longer can we continue AND what happens when what is painfully obvious to many of happens - a crisis where the President, and ONLY the President, can and must act.

President Obama campaigned on a promise of change. The speed at which he is trying to implement his change is dangerously out of control, and he doesn't, or can't, see it. Where we go, and how long it is going to take us to get there, is happening faster than most of us could imagine. Speed kills, and our Country is in danger.

I want Obama to fail

Sent to my Congressional delegation (Sen Kohl, Sen Feingold, Rep Baldwin)this morning:

With all the bruhaha going on about Rush Limbaugh's statement hoping for the failure of President Obama's policy I wanted to make a comment to my Congressional delegation:

Given the policies and plans proposed and supported by President Obama, I hope they fail as they will neither help our Country's current economic situation, nor benefit our Country in the long term. If you support his policies, then I hope you fail also.

Just to be clear. We have heard this before. Remember?

Support the troops, not the mission.

I support my President, not his policies or plans for this country.

40 Days

1. States are threatening tax refund checks - THAT IS OUR MONEY.
2. We are being forced - yes, forced - to pay for a stimulus that takes from private citizens and gives to government entities
3. What happened to tax cuts for US!?

So, here is the plan - IF you normally receive a refund at the end of the year - go to your employer and have them STOP withholding federal taxes from your paycheck for the next 40 days. Three paychecks. It will reduce the refund you get next year - but YOU get a 'stimulus' right now!

The extra money you get is YOURS. Spend it wisely.

And, after Lent, just put your withholding back to where it was. We get a stimulus and the Federal Government learns what happens when American's keep their money for themselves.

Let's give up letting the Federal Government use our money for free for Lent. How about you?

Focus

Obama may

be President,

but he is

still my servant