On April 28th, 1967, the Heavyweight Champion of the World, Muhammad Ali violated Federal law by refusing induction into the US Army. Ali cited his newly-converted-to religion of Islam's teaching of peace (which explains the 2000 years of peace in the Middle East) as grounds for his refusal. He was summarily charged with Draft Evasion and was convicted by a Federal Court--but was not jailed while awaiting his appeal. Ali was also stripped of his Heavyweight Title and was effectively banned from fighting in the United States.
Liberals--then calling themselves "The Counter Culture"--immediately embraced Ali and supported his effort to claim religious freedom in battling a Federal Law. Ali was invited to speak on college campuses and at political rallies. His fight was championed by Howard Cosell of ABC Sports--who used every opportunity to point out that Ali's religious beliefs superceded the powers of the US Government to make him serve in the military.
Eventually, the US Supreme Court would overturn Ali's conviction--ruling that he could claim being a conciencious objector to war. Ali was allowed to fight again, won the Heavyweight Title (twice). He then lit the Olympic Flame at the Atlanta games and is generally revered as an American Hero--all thanks to standing up to the Federal Government to practice his religious beliefs.
Tomorrow, January 1st, 2013, Hobby Lobby Founder and President David Green will violate the Federal Affordable Care Act by refusing to pay for medically-induced abortions as part of his company's health insurance plan. Green is citing his life-long Christian faith and it's teaching on the sanctity of life (which explains the 2000 years of peace in Northern Ireland, Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, South and Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Central America) as grounds for his refusal. The Federal Government will now fine Green and Hobby Lobby $100 per employee--or $1.4 MILLION A DAY for non-compliance. Such a fine will quickly put Hobby Lobby out of business--closing hundreds of retail stores throughout the country and costing 14-thousand people their jobs.
However, Liberals--now calling themselves "Progressives"--are not embracing Green and his effort to claim religious freedom in battling a Federal Law. There will be no invitations to speak at college campuses or political rallies. Rachel Maddow will not champion his fight on MSNBC--using every opportunity to point out that Green's religious rights supercede the powers of the US Government to tell him what health insurance benefits his company should provide.
One member of the Supreme Court (Justice Sonia Sotomayor--an appointee of President Obama) has already rejected Green's challenge to the law on the Appeals level--but it is still too early to tell if the entire Court will rule if there can be religious objectors to the abortion and birth control provisions of the ACA. Either way, I doubt the public school history books will include chapters dedicated to David Green's fight for his Constitutional Rights.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
2012 Winners Of The Year
Yesterday we gave you the Biggest Losers of 2012--now here are the Biggest Winners of 2012:
5--The UW Oshkosh Titans Football Team--An undefeated regular season, a WIAC Conference title, a trip to the Division III Final Four, All-American honors for quarterback Nate Wara and Coach of the Year consideration for Pat Ceroni were all big wins on the field. But the Titans also were big winners off the field as well. In my previous 11-years here at WOSH, I had received ZERO calls from listeners wondering if we were going to have the UWO Football game on the air on Saturday. After the win over Whitewater, such calls were a weekly occurrence. And when the Titans got to the playoffs, we got calls every day from listeners wondering if they could catch the game on WOSH. Our internet listenership also skyrocketed during the playoffs--as alumni across the country tuned in to follow the Titans. It will be interesting to see if those alums open up the wallet more to support the program and the University in the coming few months as well.
4--Governor Scott Walker--Not only did Walker survive a recall effort backed by every major labor union in the country, he got a bigger percentage of the vote than he did in the 2010 election. The victory instantly made him a rising star in the Republican Party--a status Democrats had guaranteed during the recall wouldn't happen. In addition, the Governor saw immediate budget benefits from Act Ten in all levels of government and property taxes went up less than one-percent across the state. Walker also got back a GOP majority in the State Senate--meaning relatively smooth sailing for legislation during the rest of his term.
3--New Guard Republicans--There's nothing like an embarrassing drubbing in the national elections to make a party reconsider it's direction and leadership. From the ashes of 2012 will rise the next generation of leaders: Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio and Bobby Jindal--who realize that the economy, the budget and the deficit are the real problems that need to be addressed in this country--and not who is marrying whom. This new generation will come out looking even better as John Boehner and Mitch McConnell continue to embarrass themselves in the Fiscal Cliff "negotiations".
2--President Barack Obama--Despite a continued economic malaise, increased long-term unemployment, further weakening of US influence in the world and a total inability to get anything done in Washington for most of his first term, the President still easily won re-election. And by not offering any real solutions and just promising more of the same for another four years, he enjoys a very low bar for expected performance in the second term as well.
1--The Oaklawn Elementary School Community--Gone is the embarrassing dump that served as a learning institution for kids on the far north side of Oshkosh--as voters overwhelmingly approved construction of a modern facility on the existing location. The Oshkosh School Board finally learned from past mistakes by listening to the people that would actually be served by the new school and giving up on trying to locate it in an area where nobody actually lives. Then, lower-than-expected construction costs meant the kids get a CyberCafe as well--instead of taxpayer relief. Perhaps the lure of a new school will help a decidedly downtrodden area new life.
5--The UW Oshkosh Titans Football Team--An undefeated regular season, a WIAC Conference title, a trip to the Division III Final Four, All-American honors for quarterback Nate Wara and Coach of the Year consideration for Pat Ceroni were all big wins on the field. But the Titans also were big winners off the field as well. In my previous 11-years here at WOSH, I had received ZERO calls from listeners wondering if we were going to have the UWO Football game on the air on Saturday. After the win over Whitewater, such calls were a weekly occurrence. And when the Titans got to the playoffs, we got calls every day from listeners wondering if they could catch the game on WOSH. Our internet listenership also skyrocketed during the playoffs--as alumni across the country tuned in to follow the Titans. It will be interesting to see if those alums open up the wallet more to support the program and the University in the coming few months as well.
4--Governor Scott Walker--Not only did Walker survive a recall effort backed by every major labor union in the country, he got a bigger percentage of the vote than he did in the 2010 election. The victory instantly made him a rising star in the Republican Party--a status Democrats had guaranteed during the recall wouldn't happen. In addition, the Governor saw immediate budget benefits from Act Ten in all levels of government and property taxes went up less than one-percent across the state. Walker also got back a GOP majority in the State Senate--meaning relatively smooth sailing for legislation during the rest of his term.
3--New Guard Republicans--There's nothing like an embarrassing drubbing in the national elections to make a party reconsider it's direction and leadership. From the ashes of 2012 will rise the next generation of leaders: Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio and Bobby Jindal--who realize that the economy, the budget and the deficit are the real problems that need to be addressed in this country--and not who is marrying whom. This new generation will come out looking even better as John Boehner and Mitch McConnell continue to embarrass themselves in the Fiscal Cliff "negotiations".
2--President Barack Obama--Despite a continued economic malaise, increased long-term unemployment, further weakening of US influence in the world and a total inability to get anything done in Washington for most of his first term, the President still easily won re-election. And by not offering any real solutions and just promising more of the same for another four years, he enjoys a very low bar for expected performance in the second term as well.
1--The Oaklawn Elementary School Community--Gone is the embarrassing dump that served as a learning institution for kids on the far north side of Oshkosh--as voters overwhelmingly approved construction of a modern facility on the existing location. The Oshkosh School Board finally learned from past mistakes by listening to the people that would actually be served by the new school and giving up on trying to locate it in an area where nobody actually lives. Then, lower-than-expected construction costs meant the kids get a CyberCafe as well--instead of taxpayer relief. Perhaps the lure of a new school will help a decidedly downtrodden area new life.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
2012 Losers of the Year
It's time for all of those "end of the year lists" so why don't we start today with the Biggest Losers of 2012 today.
5--SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. This summer's Supreme Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act means many small businesses will now be required to pay for health insurance for their employees--or pay the fine (I mean tax) for non-compliance. Either way, that money will come out of the bottom line for what could have been the hiring engines for the economic recovery. And then to make matters worse, President Obama's "solution" to the fiscal cliff includes higher taxes for those making 250-thousand dollars or more a year--which would include a good majority of "S" class corporations who claim their small business revenues as personal income. The way things are going, Small Business Owners could be on this list for a very long time.
4--THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. This was a late riser in the rankings (knocking out the National Hockey League and its death wish lockout). The Batman movie shooting, the Connecticut school shooting and the New York firefighter shooting have even the most ardent NRA supporters in Washington rethinking their positions. Add to that the ridiculous suggestion that every school in the country hire armed guards to hopefully ward off attacks did nothing to rebuild public perception. The group might be better off learning what battles to fight in order to win the overall war.
3--WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS. It looked like 2012 would be a huge year for Wisconsin Dems. They turned in more than a million signatures on their petitions to recall Governor Scott Walker (the Government Accountability Board would later certify about a quarter million less than that) and every major labor union got behind the recall effort with big bucks. But in June, it all went wrong--as not only did Walker win--but he got a larger majority than he had just a year before in the general election. Democrats did win a slim majority in the State Senate--but it was a pyrrhic victory, as the Legislature was already adjourned for the year--and the November elections gave solid majorities right back to Republicans. With redistricting consolidating their power to small pockets in urban areas Dems face an uphill climb to ever getting back to control in Madison in the next decade.
2--OLD GUARD REPUBLICANS. With the worst economy since Jimmy Carter was driving the country into the ground in 1980, President Barack Obama still won easy re-election last month--thanks in large part to the Far Right hijacking the national conversation. Do you remember much talk about the root of our economic problems in the final few weeks of the campaign? Instead, the conversation was all about rape, abortion and birth control thanks to undercard candidates taking the bait and running their mouths about stuff NOBODY cares about anymore. Add to that the Election Night meltdowns of Karl Rove and Dick Morris and it was like watching the death throes of the dinosaurs after the big asteroid strike.
1--THE FUTURE "47 PERCENT". You would think that Mitt Romney's so-called 47% were big winners in the 2012 election--they got their free health care, their extended unemployment benefits, their food stamps and they likely won't have to wait a couple of extra years to get their "retirement" benefits. But the gains will be very short term in nature. All of those programs remain on unsustainable expense paths--and despite what they were told this fall, the other 53% don't have the resources to pay for everything that has been promised--plus all of the other infrastructure and services required to keep our society working. This will necessitate even bigger reductions in spending farther down the road--and breaking of all the "promises" made over the last four years. Of course, what should we expect from a segment of the population that singlehandedly keeps Payday Lenders and Lotto outlets in business?
Tomorrow, the biggest winners of 2012.
5--SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. This summer's Supreme Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act means many small businesses will now be required to pay for health insurance for their employees--or pay the fine (I mean tax) for non-compliance. Either way, that money will come out of the bottom line for what could have been the hiring engines for the economic recovery. And then to make matters worse, President Obama's "solution" to the fiscal cliff includes higher taxes for those making 250-thousand dollars or more a year--which would include a good majority of "S" class corporations who claim their small business revenues as personal income. The way things are going, Small Business Owners could be on this list for a very long time.
4--THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. This was a late riser in the rankings (knocking out the National Hockey League and its death wish lockout). The Batman movie shooting, the Connecticut school shooting and the New York firefighter shooting have even the most ardent NRA supporters in Washington rethinking their positions. Add to that the ridiculous suggestion that every school in the country hire armed guards to hopefully ward off attacks did nothing to rebuild public perception. The group might be better off learning what battles to fight in order to win the overall war.
3--WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS. It looked like 2012 would be a huge year for Wisconsin Dems. They turned in more than a million signatures on their petitions to recall Governor Scott Walker (the Government Accountability Board would later certify about a quarter million less than that) and every major labor union got behind the recall effort with big bucks. But in June, it all went wrong--as not only did Walker win--but he got a larger majority than he had just a year before in the general election. Democrats did win a slim majority in the State Senate--but it was a pyrrhic victory, as the Legislature was already adjourned for the year--and the November elections gave solid majorities right back to Republicans. With redistricting consolidating their power to small pockets in urban areas Dems face an uphill climb to ever getting back to control in Madison in the next decade.
2--OLD GUARD REPUBLICANS. With the worst economy since Jimmy Carter was driving the country into the ground in 1980, President Barack Obama still won easy re-election last month--thanks in large part to the Far Right hijacking the national conversation. Do you remember much talk about the root of our economic problems in the final few weeks of the campaign? Instead, the conversation was all about rape, abortion and birth control thanks to undercard candidates taking the bait and running their mouths about stuff NOBODY cares about anymore. Add to that the Election Night meltdowns of Karl Rove and Dick Morris and it was like watching the death throes of the dinosaurs after the big asteroid strike.
1--THE FUTURE "47 PERCENT". You would think that Mitt Romney's so-called 47% were big winners in the 2012 election--they got their free health care, their extended unemployment benefits, their food stamps and they likely won't have to wait a couple of extra years to get their "retirement" benefits. But the gains will be very short term in nature. All of those programs remain on unsustainable expense paths--and despite what they were told this fall, the other 53% don't have the resources to pay for everything that has been promised--plus all of the other infrastructure and services required to keep our society working. This will necessitate even bigger reductions in spending farther down the road--and breaking of all the "promises" made over the last four years. Of course, what should we expect from a segment of the population that singlehandedly keeps Payday Lenders and Lotto outlets in business?
Tomorrow, the biggest winners of 2012.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
You Cannot Be Serious
Was the call to place armed guards or police officers at all American schools really the best that the National Rifle Association could come up with in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting? Honestly, I just wanted Wayne LaPierre to just stop talking during his press conference last week--since the "solution" was becoming more and more embarrassing the longer he spoke.
To put this into local terms, the Oshkosh School District has 19 buildings housing children. Under the NRA plan, the district would have to hire at least 19 armed guards--with perhaps another three to four guards to fill in for vacations or sick days. But, then you have to remember that some of the buildings also double as elementary and middle schools with separate entrances for the younger and older kids--entrances that would also have to be staffed all the time--meaning another five guards.
And as any security expert would tell you, one security guard is not going to be able to monitor a building the size of an average school--with as many potential entrances (even though they are locked) by himself. so you would either have to hire multiple guards per school--or install very expensive camera monitoring systems in every building.
And what happens if the security guard is seriously injured or killed--but fails to stop the shooter? As I've pointed out in previous "My Two Cents", the assailants are showing up heavily armed and the idea of a guard or officer getting off one shot to put an end to an attack is a bit unreasonable. So do our school guards need to be outfitted like army patrol soldiers in Afghanistan with the automatic rifles, body armor and helmets? Not exactly the friendly image you want to project to those you are trying to protect.
And where is the money for this expenditure coming? I don't remember LaPierre telling school districts or police departments to send the NRA the bill. I'm sure than if you ask any principal, parent or even taxpayer where they would prefer to have the millions required to implement this "plan" they would all agree that the money would be much better spent on educational programs, general maintenance and technology--as opposed to measures you hope will prevent a once in a millenium event at one of your schools.
To put this into local terms, the Oshkosh School District has 19 buildings housing children. Under the NRA plan, the district would have to hire at least 19 armed guards--with perhaps another three to four guards to fill in for vacations or sick days. But, then you have to remember that some of the buildings also double as elementary and middle schools with separate entrances for the younger and older kids--entrances that would also have to be staffed all the time--meaning another five guards.
And as any security expert would tell you, one security guard is not going to be able to monitor a building the size of an average school--with as many potential entrances (even though they are locked) by himself. so you would either have to hire multiple guards per school--or install very expensive camera monitoring systems in every building.
And what happens if the security guard is seriously injured or killed--but fails to stop the shooter? As I've pointed out in previous "My Two Cents", the assailants are showing up heavily armed and the idea of a guard or officer getting off one shot to put an end to an attack is a bit unreasonable. So do our school guards need to be outfitted like army patrol soldiers in Afghanistan with the automatic rifles, body armor and helmets? Not exactly the friendly image you want to project to those you are trying to protect.
And where is the money for this expenditure coming? I don't remember LaPierre telling school districts or police departments to send the NRA the bill. I'm sure than if you ask any principal, parent or even taxpayer where they would prefer to have the millions required to implement this "plan" they would all agree that the money would be much better spent on educational programs, general maintenance and technology--as opposed to measures you hope will prevent a once in a millenium event at one of your schools.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Confessions of a Gift Guesser
My name is Jonathan Krause, and I am a Gift Guesser. A Gift Guesser is the annoying person who has the ability to guess correctly the contents of any and all wrapped gifts before opening them at the holidays--thus ruining any surprise the gift-giver hoped to achieve.
Having been opening gifts for almost 40-years now, most of the gift-guessing is relatively simple. I know the weight of socks, golf shirts, dress pants, Rose Bowl t-shirts, golf balls, cd's, blu-rays, wallets, belts, power tools, cookware and underwear. Add to that, the limited number of gift ideas that exist for middle-aged men--and the game really isn't that hard. But nonetheless, it seems a lot of people don't really enjoy it when I do it.
One of those was my late mother-in-law--for whom Christmas was a gift giving extravaganza that was the highlight of the entire year. She believed that my guessing all the gifts before opening them took away all of the fun--so one year she thought she would try and cross me up.
Many of you know that I collect Leinenkugel's barware and accessories. Pint glasses, signs, liquor store display cases, coasters autographed canoe paddles, glasses and t-shirts from the Leinenkugel brothers themselves and more golf shirts, sweatshirts and bowling shirts than you can believes. Well one year, my mother-in-law got me a set of display canoes featuring the Leinies brands to hang from one of my paddles. It was one of the few pieces I did not have in the collection.
To make sure that I didn't guess what they were before unwrapping, she put the box in which the canoes came into another bigger box and then into a still bigger box--a common trick to try and throw off a good gift guesser. So Christmas Eve came and we were at her apartment and I was told to open the "canoe box" last--as tradition held that the "most special" gift for each person was to wait until the very end. As I lifted the box to my lap, my mother-in-law made the fatal mistake of saying "you're never going to guess what that one is"--a challenge that any good Gift Guesser is going to accept.
I've never claimed to have premonitions or ESP, but at that moment the only idea that came to my mind was "Leinenkugel display canoes". As soon as the words left my mouth, the look on my mother-in-law's face would have led you to believe that I had just told her that I had lost all of her retirement savings by betting on a three legged horse at the Kentucky Derby. The shock and downright anger that I had--yet again--foiled her best efforts to surprise me with a gift was classic. "HOW DID YOU GUESS THAT?!?!? HOW COULD YOU HAVE GUESSED THAT?!?!" She kept asking over and over again--as I just laughed the laugh of the victor. "Did you tell him?" she asked my wife--and she honestly denied it. It was a Christmas moment that lived on for years (sort of like the Leg Lamp in "A Christmas Story")
It's also a moment I will cherish even more--now that my mother-in-law is no longer with us to enjoy retelling the tale.
Having been opening gifts for almost 40-years now, most of the gift-guessing is relatively simple. I know the weight of socks, golf shirts, dress pants, Rose Bowl t-shirts, golf balls, cd's, blu-rays, wallets, belts, power tools, cookware and underwear. Add to that, the limited number of gift ideas that exist for middle-aged men--and the game really isn't that hard. But nonetheless, it seems a lot of people don't really enjoy it when I do it.
One of those was my late mother-in-law--for whom Christmas was a gift giving extravaganza that was the highlight of the entire year. She believed that my guessing all the gifts before opening them took away all of the fun--so one year she thought she would try and cross me up.
Many of you know that I collect Leinenkugel's barware and accessories. Pint glasses, signs, liquor store display cases, coasters autographed canoe paddles, glasses and t-shirts from the Leinenkugel brothers themselves and more golf shirts, sweatshirts and bowling shirts than you can believes. Well one year, my mother-in-law got me a set of display canoes featuring the Leinies brands to hang from one of my paddles. It was one of the few pieces I did not have in the collection.
To make sure that I didn't guess what they were before unwrapping, she put the box in which the canoes came into another bigger box and then into a still bigger box--a common trick to try and throw off a good gift guesser. So Christmas Eve came and we were at her apartment and I was told to open the "canoe box" last--as tradition held that the "most special" gift for each person was to wait until the very end. As I lifted the box to my lap, my mother-in-law made the fatal mistake of saying "you're never going to guess what that one is"--a challenge that any good Gift Guesser is going to accept.
I've never claimed to have premonitions or ESP, but at that moment the only idea that came to my mind was "Leinenkugel display canoes". As soon as the words left my mouth, the look on my mother-in-law's face would have led you to believe that I had just told her that I had lost all of her retirement savings by betting on a three legged horse at the Kentucky Derby. The shock and downright anger that I had--yet again--foiled her best efforts to surprise me with a gift was classic. "HOW DID YOU GUESS THAT?!?!? HOW COULD YOU HAVE GUESSED THAT?!?!" She kept asking over and over again--as I just laughed the laugh of the victor. "Did you tell him?" she asked my wife--and she honestly denied it. It was a Christmas moment that lived on for years (sort of like the Leg Lamp in "A Christmas Story")
It's also a moment I will cherish even more--now that my mother-in-law is no longer with us to enjoy retelling the tale.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Hurtling Toward Reality
Now that it appears more likely than ever to happen, can we please stop calling Sequestration the "Fiscal Cliff"--and give a more accurate moniker--like the "Great Reality Check"? I ask this because on January 1st (barring a Hail Mary play by the President and Congress) Americans--for the first time in decades--will actually have to pay the true cost of their Government.
Washington DC has existed in a fantasy world for years--where spending increases did not have to offset by equal revenue increases--or at least guaranteed revenue increases. There is a cable program called "Til Debt Do Us Part" where this Canadian woman comes in to help couples who have buried themselves in mountains of credit card debt, mortgages and extravagant spending habits. Her first step is to always show the couple what they actually make and how much they spend--and how unsustainable it is. Call it a "Reality Check". She then whips them into shape by ditching the credit cards, cutting back on their spending and encouraging ways to increase income. Well today, we Americans are the "Couple In Debt" and Sequestration is the "Canadian Woman".
For those that get paid on a weekly basis, your slap in the face will come with your January 4th paycheck--as the Bush Era Tax Cuts your have enjoyed for the last ten years or so are gone--along with the Obama Era Payroll Tax Cut which will boost your Social Security and Medicare withholdings. The rest of us will get our reality check on January 15th. But as your anger builds, please keep in mind that we are only being asked to pay our REAL "fair share"--because Sequestration does not add anymore to the federal deficit. In fact, it will reduce the deficit by a TRILLION DOLLARS over the next two years!
Which brings me to another point. Failure to avoid Sequestration is being seen as failure of bi-partisanship and compromise. But when you really look at what is going to happen, it appears both sides accomplish something that they wanted. President Obama and Democrats get the tax increases they wanted (granted, they are on all workers--and not just the small minority of people they really want to punish) and Republicans get spending cuts and deficit reduction (however, the cuts also include military spending and corporate subsidy programs).
Theoretical Economists (aka Keynsians) tell us there is absolutely no reason for the US to face reality. They are the ones calling for continued business as usual in Washington: Spend whatever you want, borrow whatever you have to and keep pushing the repayment as far into the future as possible. Unfortunately for them, that little fantasy world is going to collide with reality on January 1--unless of course, those who need to continue the fantasy to keep their jobs on Capitol Hill panic--and sell us all out again.
Washington DC has existed in a fantasy world for years--where spending increases did not have to offset by equal revenue increases--or at least guaranteed revenue increases. There is a cable program called "Til Debt Do Us Part" where this Canadian woman comes in to help couples who have buried themselves in mountains of credit card debt, mortgages and extravagant spending habits. Her first step is to always show the couple what they actually make and how much they spend--and how unsustainable it is. Call it a "Reality Check". She then whips them into shape by ditching the credit cards, cutting back on their spending and encouraging ways to increase income. Well today, we Americans are the "Couple In Debt" and Sequestration is the "Canadian Woman".
For those that get paid on a weekly basis, your slap in the face will come with your January 4th paycheck--as the Bush Era Tax Cuts your have enjoyed for the last ten years or so are gone--along with the Obama Era Payroll Tax Cut which will boost your Social Security and Medicare withholdings. The rest of us will get our reality check on January 15th. But as your anger builds, please keep in mind that we are only being asked to pay our REAL "fair share"--because Sequestration does not add anymore to the federal deficit. In fact, it will reduce the deficit by a TRILLION DOLLARS over the next two years!
Which brings me to another point. Failure to avoid Sequestration is being seen as failure of bi-partisanship and compromise. But when you really look at what is going to happen, it appears both sides accomplish something that they wanted. President Obama and Democrats get the tax increases they wanted (granted, they are on all workers--and not just the small minority of people they really want to punish) and Republicans get spending cuts and deficit reduction (however, the cuts also include military spending and corporate subsidy programs).
Theoretical Economists (aka Keynsians) tell us there is absolutely no reason for the US to face reality. They are the ones calling for continued business as usual in Washington: Spend whatever you want, borrow whatever you have to and keep pushing the repayment as far into the future as possible. Unfortunately for them, that little fantasy world is going to collide with reality on January 1--unless of course, those who need to continue the fantasy to keep their jobs on Capitol Hill panic--and sell us all out again.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Snow Day
Today's "My Two Cents" is brought to you by the Jeep Wrangler--The World's Most Capable Four-Wheel Drive. This is one of those days when I chuckle at Prius and Smart car owners--thinking about how they are effectively trapped within their houses--unable to go anywhere today and possibly tomorrow as well. (Actually I laugh at Prius and Smart car owners every day.) You know those commercials were they show the Wrangler or the Grand Cherokee blasting its way through the wall of snow? That will be me getting back into the driveway after work today (if they bother to plow our street today)--and I'll be doing it with a big smile on my face. As the stickers say "It's a Jeep thing...You wouldn't understand".
I've owned Jeeps for about half the time since I got my driver's license. I've gone to Camp Jeep and learned the operating limits of my vehicle and how to handle it in just about every situation that could arise on and off the road. I wonder what our vehicle crash numbers would be if all of the other manufacturers put their owners through their paces after buying a car or a truck?
Today is also a very frustrating day to be at work. Those of us who work on the air made it in--where is everybody else? How do those people feel when they get the email that all "non-essential" staff do not have to report to the office? This will also be a crazy busy day on the phones in the newsroom--as those calling in cancellations for events affecting four people mix with those calling to see if something has been canceled. When people call in to ask "Is such-and-such closed today?" I always like to ask them "Did you call them?" That is usually met with a moment of silence followed by "Oh, I guess I could do that."
Days like today also make me think about how much I am looking forward to early retirement. I have NEVER enjoyed winter (save for the fact that it does bring us basketball and hockey seasons). And since I've become obsessed with golf, the five months that we cant' play around here becomes even more frustrating. So every time I consider busting the budget and not putting as much as I should into savings for the month, I picture playing myself playing a round under bright sunshine with shirt-sleeves and shorts on--while everyone back here is digging out from 15-inches of snow. You'd be surprised how powerful an incentive that can be.
Finally, I would like to thank the people who still have to go out in this mess to keep us safe. There will still be emergencies requiring police, fire and ambulances to respond. And plow drivers will be putting in LONG hours the next two days in incredibly dangerous conditions--made even more unsafe by people blowing by them because they just can't wait the extra ten minutes to get where they needed to go safely.
So unless you are driving a Jeep, enjoy your day stuck in the house with the kids.
I've owned Jeeps for about half the time since I got my driver's license. I've gone to Camp Jeep and learned the operating limits of my vehicle and how to handle it in just about every situation that could arise on and off the road. I wonder what our vehicle crash numbers would be if all of the other manufacturers put their owners through their paces after buying a car or a truck?
Today is also a very frustrating day to be at work. Those of us who work on the air made it in--where is everybody else? How do those people feel when they get the email that all "non-essential" staff do not have to report to the office? This will also be a crazy busy day on the phones in the newsroom--as those calling in cancellations for events affecting four people mix with those calling to see if something has been canceled. When people call in to ask "Is such-and-such closed today?" I always like to ask them "Did you call them?" That is usually met with a moment of silence followed by "Oh, I guess I could do that."
Days like today also make me think about how much I am looking forward to early retirement. I have NEVER enjoyed winter (save for the fact that it does bring us basketball and hockey seasons). And since I've become obsessed with golf, the five months that we cant' play around here becomes even more frustrating. So every time I consider busting the budget and not putting as much as I should into savings for the month, I picture playing myself playing a round under bright sunshine with shirt-sleeves and shorts on--while everyone back here is digging out from 15-inches of snow. You'd be surprised how powerful an incentive that can be.
Finally, I would like to thank the people who still have to go out in this mess to keep us safe. There will still be emergencies requiring police, fire and ambulances to respond. And plow drivers will be putting in LONG hours the next two days in incredibly dangerous conditions--made even more unsafe by people blowing by them because they just can't wait the extra ten minutes to get where they needed to go safely.
So unless you are driving a Jeep, enjoy your day stuck in the house with the kids.
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