Monday, August 31, 2009
Upcoming Senate Vote on Climate Change
Dear Senator Kerry,
I just read the article in today's Washington Post about the upcoming Senate vote on the climate change bill. Please, please, please vote no on this bill. Do not approve a cap and trade system. It is a bad idea, and bad for your constituents.
I admire the stand you took against the Vietnam war when it was not such a popular stand to take. I hope you'll show similar courage in the debate about the climate change bill.
Clean energy, such as wind power generated off the Cape, is a good idea. A cap and trade system is poor public policy from beginning to end. Please do whatever you can to prevent it.
Thank you,
Steven Greffenius
I just read the article in today's Washington Post about the upcoming Senate vote on the climate change bill. Please, please, please vote no on this bill. Do not approve a cap and trade system. It is a bad idea, and bad for your constituents.
I admire the stand you took against the Vietnam war when it was not such a popular stand to take. I hope you'll show similar courage in the debate about the climate change bill.
Clean energy, such as wind power generated off the Cape, is a good idea. A cap and trade system is poor public policy from beginning to end. Please do whatever you can to prevent it.
Thank you,
Steven Greffenius
Saturday, August 08, 2009
"Sam's "Politically Incorrect" Pages for the Laissez-Faire Republic and Against Coercive Left-wing Busybodyism"
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Some Thoughts on Your Next Book
The working title for your next essay is:
Why Global Warming is a Hoax
You want to do one book a year, so you have to work steadily!
John Rich Lyrics - Shuttin' Detroit Down
“I see all these big shots whining on my evening news,
About how they’re losing billions and it’s up to me and you
To come running to the rescue.”
Yes, but let’s not forget, the taxpayers offered big bailouts before any big shots requested them.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Limited Vision
That's enough for now, then,
Stop pushing your perennial pen.
Climb those blasted stairs, my friend,
Sleep’s the eternal cure for men.
Before you close your eyes for everlasting rest,
Ask your master for peace and freedom, lest
When he comes to take you home,
He finds you guilt-ridden, lying prone.
But what, I ask, what if I don’t finish
The work you want me to accomplish?
What’s the joy in that, to go up there
With so little to show, portfolio bare?
“Who are you to say, you haven’t done what I asked?
How can you know the full compass of your life’s meaning?
Do you insist that every accomplishment draw its own picture
In your mind? Do you discredit all the invisible deeds
That don’t feed your ego and lift your self-esteem?”
I won’t try to answer you, Mr. G.
Except to say that I agree.
Take me home, early or late.
By your grace, I’ll watch and wait.
Let me pray, though, one brief hope,
That you reveal, when you’re with me,
What my life meant, beyond its scope.
What did I accomplish, when I couldn’t see?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Why Rush is Wrong | David Frum
Why Rush is Wrong | Newsweek National News | Newsweek.com:
"In the days since I stumbled into this controversy, I've received a great deal of e-mail. (Most of it on days when Levin or Hannity or Hugh Hewitt or Limbaugh himself has had something especially disobliging to say about me.) Most of these e-mails say some version of the same thing: if you don't agree with Rush, quit calling yourself a conservative and get out of the Republican Party. There's the perfect culmination of the outlook Rush Limbaugh has taught his fans and followers: we want to transform the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower and Reagan into a party of unanimous dittoheads—and we don't care how much the party has to shrink to do it. That's not the language of politics. It's the language of a cult."
"In the days since I stumbled into this controversy, I've received a great deal of e-mail. (Most of it on days when Levin or Hannity or Hugh Hewitt or Limbaugh himself has had something especially disobliging to say about me.) Most of these e-mails say some version of the same thing: if you don't agree with Rush, quit calling yourself a conservative and get out of the Republican Party. There's the perfect culmination of the outlook Rush Limbaugh has taught his fans and followers: we want to transform the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower and Reagan into a party of unanimous dittoheads—and we don't care how much the party has to shrink to do it. That's not the language of politics. It's the language of a cult."
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Treasury's Efforts to Deal with the Financial Crisis
Treasury Begins to Release Details of Loan Plan
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/business/economy/05loan.html
Note the second word of the headline, begins.
Here’s the difficulty. For months, Treasury has made plans secretly, without public debate. The reason: if we let details out in advance, it could roil the panicked markets even more than they already are. How do the markets, as they’re called, react? They say, we don’t trust what you’re doing back there, because you did it in secret. Moreover, we’re skeptical about supporting it, because we had no input.
If you don’t trust your would be rescuer, you’re not going to have much cooperation between the government and the banking system. What is the result? Treasury pumps hundreds of billions of dollars into the banking system to get loans flowing again, but the financial system remains shut down. Trust has disappeared, and Treasury is not setting a good example by making plans in secret. If the main problem in the financial system is lack of confidence or trust among its parts, you need an open rescue process to make it work again.
No one makes a loan without knowing the net worth of the borrower. Banks won’t lend each other money because they don’t know the value of each other’s assets. They do not trust that borrowers can pay back loans. That’s why the financial system shut down. Forcing banks to accept bailout money doesn’t solve the problem of valuing assets. Banks won’t loan money again until doubts about solvency are resolved. No one has yet figured out a way to value banks’ assets accurately, fairly, and in a way that won’t cause political trouble in the short term.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/business/economy/05loan.html
Note the second word of the headline, begins.
Here’s the difficulty. For months, Treasury has made plans secretly, without public debate. The reason: if we let details out in advance, it could roil the panicked markets even more than they already are. How do the markets, as they’re called, react? They say, we don’t trust what you’re doing back there, because you did it in secret. Moreover, we’re skeptical about supporting it, because we had no input.
If you don’t trust your would be rescuer, you’re not going to have much cooperation between the government and the banking system. What is the result? Treasury pumps hundreds of billions of dollars into the banking system to get loans flowing again, but the financial system remains shut down. Trust has disappeared, and Treasury is not setting a good example by making plans in secret. If the main problem in the financial system is lack of confidence or trust among its parts, you need an open rescue process to make it work again.
No one makes a loan without knowing the net worth of the borrower. Banks won’t lend each other money because they don’t know the value of each other’s assets. They do not trust that borrowers can pay back loans. That’s why the financial system shut down. Forcing banks to accept bailout money doesn’t solve the problem of valuing assets. Banks won’t loan money again until doubts about solvency are resolved. No one has yet figured out a way to value banks’ assets accurately, fairly, and in a way that won’t cause political trouble in the short term.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Monday, March 02, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Bumper Sticker on the New Administration
I'll keep my guns, freedom and money... You can keep the 'change.'
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Massachusetts Liberty - January 2009
Click Massachusetts Liberty to open the January issue of LPMA's January newsletter.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Post-Election Humor
We have to count our blessings...
One sunny day in February, 2009. an old man approached the White House from Across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer President, and no longer resides here."
The old man said, "Okay", and walked away.
The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer President, and no longer resides here."
The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.
The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U.S. Marine yet again, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine, understandably curious at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush. I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the President and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"
The old man looked at the Marine and said, "Oh, I understand just fine. I just love hearing it!"
The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow, Sir."
One sunny day in February, 2009. an old man approached the White House from Across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer President, and no longer resides here."
The old man said, "Okay", and walked away.
The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer President, and no longer resides here."
The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.
The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U.S. Marine yet again, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush."
The Marine, understandably curious at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush. I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the President and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"
The old man looked at the Marine and said, "Oh, I understand just fine. I just love hearing it!"
The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow, Sir."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Obama's War - Fearing Another Quagmire in Afghanistan - NYTimes.com
Obama's War - Fearing Another Quagmire in Afghanistan - NYTimes.com:
'...during her confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Afghanistan a “narco-state” with a government “plagued by limited capacity and widespread corruption.”'
Well we can't say that the IRS is skimming profits from drug smuggling, but the rest of Clinton's description sounds pretty accurate. The government in DC doesn't know what it's doing, and one reason it's so incompetent is that it's so corrupt. That was an accurate description until January 21, anyway. Let' hope and hope some more that corruption and incompetence ended that day.
'...during her confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Afghanistan a “narco-state” with a government “plagued by limited capacity and widespread corruption.”'
Well we can't say that the IRS is skimming profits from drug smuggling, but the rest of Clinton's description sounds pretty accurate. The government in DC doesn't know what it's doing, and one reason it's so incompetent is that it's so corrupt. That was an accurate description until January 21, anyway. Let' hope and hope some more that corruption and incompetence ended that day.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Reagan wouldn't recognize this GOP - Los Angeles Times
Reagan wouldn't recognize this GOP - Mickey Edwards - Los Angeles Times
"In the present crisis," referring specifically to the high taxes and high levels of federal spending that had marked the Carter administration, "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." He then went on to say: "Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it's not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work." Government, he said, "must provide opportunity." He was not rejecting government, he was calling -- as Barack Obama did Tuesday -- for better management of government, for wiser decisions.
"In the present crisis," referring specifically to the high taxes and high levels of federal spending that had marked the Carter administration, "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." He then went on to say: "Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it's not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work." Government, he said, "must provide opportunity." He was not rejecting government, he was calling -- as Barack Obama did Tuesday -- for better management of government, for wiser decisions.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Peggy Eaton
Peggy Eaton
The women who ostracized Margaret Eaton did not act out of mere snobbish rejection of a tavern-keeper's daughter; social mobility was not despised in the Jackson administration. The women saw themselves defending the interests and honor of the female half of humanity. They believed that no responsible woman should accord a man sexual favors without the assurance of support that went with marriage. A woman who broke ranks on this issue they considered a threat to all women. She encouraged men to make unwelcome advances. Therefore she must be condemned severely even if it meant applying a double standard of morality, stricter for women than for men. This conviction was widespread among women, not only in the middle class and regardless of political party. The women who had the courage to act upon it, standing up to Andrew Jackson and risking their husbands' careers, insisted that expedient politics must not control moral principle. They believed that women acting collectively could advance the moral state of society. Theirs was the attitude that justified women's role in contemporary moral reform causes like temperance and antislavery. And although most or all of them would have been shocked if it had been pointed out, theirs was the attitude that would lead in a few more years to an organized movement on behalf of women's rights. [Daniel Walker Howe, "What Hath God Wrought," 2007, p.338]
The women who ostracized Margaret Eaton did not act out of mere snobbish rejection of a tavern-keeper's daughter; social mobility was not despised in the Jackson administration. The women saw themselves defending the interests and honor of the female half of humanity. They believed that no responsible woman should accord a man sexual favors without the assurance of support that went with marriage. A woman who broke ranks on this issue they considered a threat to all women. She encouraged men to make unwelcome advances. Therefore she must be condemned severely even if it meant applying a double standard of morality, stricter for women than for men. This conviction was widespread among women, not only in the middle class and regardless of political party. The women who had the courage to act upon it, standing up to Andrew Jackson and risking their husbands' careers, insisted that expedient politics must not control moral principle. They believed that women acting collectively could advance the moral state of society. Theirs was the attitude that justified women's role in contemporary moral reform causes like temperance and antislavery. And although most or all of them would have been shocked if it had been pointed out, theirs was the attitude that would lead in a few more years to an organized movement on behalf of women's rights. [Daniel Walker Howe, "What Hath God Wrought," 2007, p.338]
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
NY Civil War Draft Riots
NY Civil War Draft Riots Were Racist Attacks on Black People « COMMUNISM NOW!:
Here is a piece of clear thinking from American Communists:
"We must never forget the severity of U.S. racism, both historically and today. It’s central to every aspect of U.S. capitalist history, and remains today the most significant tool that helps the capitalists stay in power."
Here is a piece of clear thinking from American Communists:
"We must never forget the severity of U.S. racism, both historically and today. It’s central to every aspect of U.S. capitalist history, and remains today the most significant tool that helps the capitalists stay in power."
