Texas Governor and presidential hopeful, Rick Perry has announced part of his plan to fix the economy and create jobs. Gov. Perry wants to reduce regulations and open up protected federal lands for oil exploration. Really? If he was from Wisconsin, I'm guessing the solution would lie within the dairy industry. Let me translate for Gov. Perry: Let my rich friends and supporters rape the land and screw the people and we will all be better off ("we" includes those rich friends and supporters and excludes everyone else).
I'm not a raving environmentalist. I don't panic every time the weather is unseasonably, hot, cold, wet, dry or windy. Holes in the ozone layer worry me about as much as holes in my underwear. When things start falling out, it's time to do something. However, oil production is not a long-term solution. This is nothing more than the continuation of the mañana principle. Let me explain. Mañana is Spanish for tomorrow. Long ago, some friends used to take trips to Mexico twice a year. They always stayed at the same place, and next door was a hotel being built by two (and only two) men. After a few years of watching the extremely slow progress, they asked the men when the hotel would be finished. Their reply: "mañana".
Postponement is not a solution. The world's oil usage continues to grow. At some point the supply will be gone. Should we be trying to reach that point as quick as possible? The shift in recent years towards renewable energy seems a good move. Granted, eventually the sun will stop producing the light needed for solar energy. When that happens, everyone will be riding in a gas-powered nova (physics pun, ignore it). There will be failures in the efforts to better harness the sources of renewable energy, there will even be disasters. People will die, lives will be ruined and money will be lost. These are the building blocks of progress.
Time to suck it up, Gov. Perry. Hit a few boardrooms in Houston and let them good ol' boys know that you're no longer for sale. The President of the United States should have more important things to do than making sure the rich get richer while the rest of us get screwed.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Does anyone buy this crap?
Today, I inadvertently paid attention to a radio commercial I've been hearing for months. The relevant line stated that I could "Have my credit card debt eliminated indefinitely". Elimination seems to be something that is definite. Is the next step Agnostic Fanaticism, Aggressive Apathy or Focused Diffusion? Perhaps the advertising industry has reached the conclusion, Americans will accept anything as long as it is incomprehensible.
Every month the same car dealer is offering the same special, limited time deal, jewelry stores claim the best deals and insurance companies tell you how much the average person saves if they switch. Guess how many people switch when they find out they'll be spending $437 more. Banks, Credit Card Companies and Mortgage Brokers are all urging us to spend money we don't have in order to save and some guy in an Uncle Sam suit is frantically trying to get me to pull my 15 year old Volvo in so he can give me top dollar for my gold. Pardon me for a moment while I scream.
Every transaction is based on profit. If I hold a door open for someone it is because I value the feeling I get for being courteous. The guy on E-Bay selling his leather bound five year collection of Playboy magazine featuring the entire playboy philosophy by Hugh M. Hefner (extra-credit to anyone who gets that musical reference) will only sell when the price is acceptable. Advertising is an effort to short circuit your reasoning abilities. You have to dye your hair, buy a new car and refinance your home. Go out and pick up some beer, change banks and get an iPhone. While you're at it, stop by the feminine hygiene aisle, buy some dog food and paint your house. Spend, borrow, spend borrow and then get someone to eliminate your debt indefinitely. Is it any wonder our economy is in the toilet (kept spotless by Ty D Bowl)?
Every month the same car dealer is offering the same special, limited time deal, jewelry stores claim the best deals and insurance companies tell you how much the average person saves if they switch. Guess how many people switch when they find out they'll be spending $437 more. Banks, Credit Card Companies and Mortgage Brokers are all urging us to spend money we don't have in order to save and some guy in an Uncle Sam suit is frantically trying to get me to pull my 15 year old Volvo in so he can give me top dollar for my gold. Pardon me for a moment while I scream.
Every transaction is based on profit. If I hold a door open for someone it is because I value the feeling I get for being courteous. The guy on E-Bay selling his leather bound five year collection of Playboy magazine featuring the entire playboy philosophy by Hugh M. Hefner (extra-credit to anyone who gets that musical reference) will only sell when the price is acceptable. Advertising is an effort to short circuit your reasoning abilities. You have to dye your hair, buy a new car and refinance your home. Go out and pick up some beer, change banks and get an iPhone. While you're at it, stop by the feminine hygiene aisle, buy some dog food and paint your house. Spend, borrow, spend borrow and then get someone to eliminate your debt indefinitely. Is it any wonder our economy is in the toilet (kept spotless by Ty D Bowl)?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Is Obama "The Enemy"?
According to comments recently made by Hank Williams Jr., he not only feels justified in comparing President Barak Obama to Adolph Hitler, he also considers him "the enemy". Besides angering me (and apparently, some of the folks at ESPN), it brings some questions to mind. Foremost is: Why would any television network bring in Hank Williams Jr. for a political discussion? Ask him where the best groupies can be found. Question him on which drugs he normally abused before and after concerts. Seek the unbridled truth about his feelings on binge drinking. These are areas where he quite possibly has knowledge and even experience.
The comparison of Hitler and Obama is nothing new, I hear it often enough and am frankly sick of it. Have we invaded Canada or Mexico recently? Are we currently rounding up people of certain religions or ethnic backgrounds and exterminating them? Has President Obama declared himself part of some superior master race? If you answered "no" to these questions, then perhaps it's time you realized how ridiculous the comparison is. If you answered "yes", then you are so out of touch with reality that you are incompetent to even be involved in any political discussion. Tell the doctors to increase your dosage.
Most distressing is calling the duly elected President of the United States of America "the enemy". The fact that any sane American would make that statement is terrifying. Give it some thought. If (prior to May 2011) you considered Osama bin Laden as "the enemy" that is understandable. Considering the leader of your country as "the enemy" is treason. Dislike, disagree and distrust, all are reasonable responses. "The Enemy" is someone that is actively attempting to destroy you and must be stopped at all costs. If you still consider President Obama "the enemy" then you have but one option. Just as the American military (in which I proudly, and honorably served) did not stop until bin Laden was dead, you must do the same. Arm yourself, head to Washington and kill your enemy, or die trying. I'm reasonably certain of the outcome, but at least you will no longer have to worry about your enemy.
The comparison of Hitler and Obama is nothing new, I hear it often enough and am frankly sick of it. Have we invaded Canada or Mexico recently? Are we currently rounding up people of certain religions or ethnic backgrounds and exterminating them? Has President Obama declared himself part of some superior master race? If you answered "no" to these questions, then perhaps it's time you realized how ridiculous the comparison is. If you answered "yes", then you are so out of touch with reality that you are incompetent to even be involved in any political discussion. Tell the doctors to increase your dosage.
Most distressing is calling the duly elected President of the United States of America "the enemy". The fact that any sane American would make that statement is terrifying. Give it some thought. If (prior to May 2011) you considered Osama bin Laden as "the enemy" that is understandable. Considering the leader of your country as "the enemy" is treason. Dislike, disagree and distrust, all are reasonable responses. "The Enemy" is someone that is actively attempting to destroy you and must be stopped at all costs. If you still consider President Obama "the enemy" then you have but one option. Just as the American military (in which I proudly, and honorably served) did not stop until bin Laden was dead, you must do the same. Arm yourself, head to Washington and kill your enemy, or die trying. I'm reasonably certain of the outcome, but at least you will no longer have to worry about your enemy.
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