Fixing the Economy
I have long believed that the economic policies of conservatives which have been supported by way too many Democrats would destroy America. Democracy only works when people have not only political freedom but economic freedom. However, the policies of the past 30 years have created a haves and have-nots society.
By dramatically lowering the tax rate on the highest earners, two things happened. One is that enormous amounts of wealth went up to the top one percent of earners. Who paid the price for this? The middle class, which has not seen real wages increase in those 30 years. We essentially have a flat tax now, instead of a progressive one.
A second consequence of lowering the tax rate on the highest earners, I believe, is the huge fluctuations that our economy has gone through -- the repeated booms and busts. When top earners have so much money, they can afford to lose a lot in market booms and busts. We in the middle class can't.
Other factors have also played into this. Globalization meant cheap products from emerging markets and cheap credit kept middle class buying power up which allowed the middle class to think they were doing OK when they were actually losing ground. Anti-union movements had huge negative impacts on the middle class. Empowering Wall Street way beyond their due and -- and this is huge -- deregulation of the financial industry really screwed things up.
Without the wealthy paying their fair share, without the middle class seeing its income and savings ability growing, we are doomed. We will not be able to support our aging population, repair infrastructure, expand education and compete on a global scale.
This is not the America I expected to live in as I grew old. I call again for revolution -- we need major changes in how we think about taxes, government benefits (health care, Social Security, aid to cities/towns, infrastructure, education, etc); unions; and corporate regulation. That is the change we can believe in.
Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize
I am so thrilled with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama!
But for all the critics...
First, remember that the Nobel Peace Prize is NOT awarded for accomplishment (really, read the definition). It is awarded to encourage actions that work toward peace.
Obama has demonstrated this with his change in America's approach to the rest of the world (diplomat, instead of bully). He has also spoken often and throughout the world of bringing people together of all races, religions, creeds, etc. to work for common goals. And he has not only spoken about but acted to reduce nuclear proliferation. These are all things the Nobel committee wanted to encourage him to continue and encourage Americans and the world to support him in continuing.
Finally, all Americans who voted for Obama should accept this award because it shows we had enough sense to get us off the destructive path of the last 8 years.
Failure to Immunize is Child Abuse
Here's why:
The most important aspect of immunity is avoiding disease. When your body encounters a virus or a vaccine, it creates antibodies that help fight the disease, and the ability to call on those antibodies provides protection after the disease is gone. Vaccines result in the production of the same antibodies that an infection does without the substantial risks that come with disease.
"I can't imagine anything more tragic than a parent exposing their child to a disease and to subsequently have their child develop a life-threatening infection," says William Schaffner, M.D., chairman of preventative medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn., and president-elect of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. "Exposing oneself to a 'wild' infectious agent exposes you to a risk of potentially serious consequences. It may be a small chance but believe me, it's real. You don't know that your child, or you, won't be one of the people to develop a grave infection."
Nothing irks me more than unscientific BS about immunizations.
Also, I think many of these people have not thought through the impact not immunizing has. Kids without immunization cannot attend public school (and most private schools) or go to public colleges (and most private colleges). And, no, I don't think home schooling is a viable option (don't even get me started on the negative aspects of home schooling).
Bad decision all around.
Great Idea
Not mine, but
Tristero's -- Obama should tell Rush instead of debating him (pointless anyway), he would be glad to challenge him to a game of hoops! Now that would be hilarious!
Just Kind of Interesting
The Oscar winning best picture "Slumdog Millionaire" (which I saw and found kinda "eh" -- well-crafted but very formulaic) has taken in about $117 million since its U.S. release in November 2008.
"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" has taken in $129 million since its release in January 2009.
If you ever wonder why so much crap gets produced in Hollywood, there's part of your answer.
Loony Republicans
The Republicans always whine about government being the problem. But they happily used the government to transfer obscene amounts of public wealth to a small sliver of the population and completely trash our economy.
The Republicans have controlled our government for a long, long time. The problem isn't government, it's Republican government - and everyone knows it.
Atheist? Can't Hold Public Office in NC
I had no idea, but apparently in North Carolina, you cannot hold public office if you are an atheist:
North Carolina State Constitution, Article VI, Section 8:
Sec. 8. Disqualifications for office. The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God
This is also true in Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Wow.
Yeah, Its Just What You Thought
How about just a minute or two of perspective?
Amount to bailout AIG - at least $85 billion
Amount to bailout Citibank - at least $45 billion
Amount to bailout Bank of America - at least $45 billion, with guarantees on $118 billion in loans
Amount the Bush administration overpaid for bailed-out bank assets - $78 billion
Proposed cuts to President Obama's economic stimulus bill by 20 "centrist" senators:
$1.1 billion to Head Start
$24.8 billion to states for budget shortfalls in education programs
$15 billion to states for additional education funding
$2 billion to Child Care Development Block Grants
$150 million to funding for programs in the Violence Against Women Act
Oh, and, hell, let's just throw this in:
Amount of just two years of George W. Bush's tax cuts: roughly $500 billion (adjusting for interest). Two-thirds of that came from tax cuts on the top 20% of wage earners.
(Note: this leaves out the cost of operations in Iraq because, well, does it need to be said?)
