July 1, 2008

Here we go again!

In an endless pursuit on money and tax revenue under the guise of "saving people from themselves" the state of Vermont will now make it illegal for Internet companies to sell tobacco products to any one in Vermont.

Under this new law the state will spy on out of state retailers who ply their trade via the Internet as a way to "protect our children" and oh yes get more tax money by forcing people to buy them in Vermont. There is no punishment for the person buying - just those selling.

Really?

And how exactly will they stop companies from doing that? Intercept their UPS shipment or confiscate their mail?

If US companies are not allowed to do business in Vermont how about consumers buying them from South America, Europe or even China? Talk about outsourcing!

Here's an even better idea - maybe people will grow their own. In either of these two cases the government will get 100% of nothing.

 

June 30, 2008

What next a surcharge for fat people?

With skyrocketing fuel prices airlines are trying to find ways to offset these increased costs of doing business. Sure there are the fuel surcharges, and increased ticket prices but hat still is not enough.

Now airlines are charging for carry on luggage and the extra weight it adds to the planes payload. Not being a pilot I assume there is a relationship to weight and fuel usage, the heavier to cargo the more jet fuel it takes to get off the ground and stay airborne.

Since weight has a bearing on fuel consumption is it possible that airlines will have a surcharge for "heavier" pasengers?

Don't be surprised if you are asked to stand on a scale and see if you (just like your luggage) does not exceed airline standards.

June 25, 2008

Say it ain't so!

We offer the uninsured a free/subsidized or discounted health care plan and they are still not buying into it?

That's the report from the state wide health care gurus that had pushed through a "new" plan for all those who didn't have health care coverage.

Even though they were $10,000,000.00 in the hole from the start they had argued earlier this year that they should expand the program. Unless I misunderstand the concept, don't you need everyone paying their "fair share" in order for this to work?

Guess their estimates of all those people clamoring to get on the program were just as misguided as their 10 Million dollar deficit. I assume that that number will be going up too.

But don't worry they have a way to fix the problem - a new mandate. People will be REQUIRED to have health insurance.

Oh yeah? Or What? You are going to punish them with fines?

And who will subsidize the fines they have to pay?

You gotta love these guys. Just last week they argued that if too many people got on the plan they couldn't afford to provide coverage. The only way to do it would be to control (cut) reimbursement costs to docs.

Really, doctors are saying that just like Medicare and Medicaid (two other government health care plans) they can't afford to service people with these plans because they are loosing money.

What a pretty picture - everyone will have mandated health care coverage there just won't be anyone to give them health care.

Keep up the good work guys.

June 24, 2008

Is now the time?

With the price of gas at $4 a gallon, home heating oil at $4.59 a gallon, food cost on the rise, businesses closing, jobs being lost and people frantically trying to sell their homes to get out from under when will politicians realize that THEY are the problem and government is not the solution.

Who set policies and wrote the laws to satisfy global warming and environmental interests? Who let the speculators drive up the cost of crude oil? Why can't we drill for new oil or refine it? How come there are no new nuclear power plants to provide cheap plentiful electricity?

And as far is Vermont is concerned:

Why are we seen (and it's not just perception either) as being unfriendly to business? Why do we spend more government resources to put up more road blocks to businesses then to attract new businesses? And if they do get up and running who places more taxes and regulations on them to the point of businesses wanting to leave the state?

Look no further then your own local, statewide or national political do-gooder who thinks that micromanaging every aspect of our lives is their job.

Well come next election maybe it is time to "throw the bums out"

June 23, 2008

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the reservation once they find out they're not tax free.

OK a poor play on some old lyrics but the thought is there.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that the cost of taxes on cigarettes has once again gone through the roof. That means that smokers may find a cheaper way to indulge their desire. (Too bad that citizens have to find a way around their government).

One way around the new taxes was to go to Indian reservations to buy cigarettes since they are exempt from charging state taxes.

Realizing the potential for lost revenue one state has decided that they would make it illegal for cigarette manufacturers to sell to distributors that do business with the Indians.

Talk about a gotcha.

The next step might be for smokers to grow their own.

June 12, 2008

Great!

I feel so much more secure knowing that the terrorists who have vowed to kill us are protected under the Constitution.

That's the ruling from the Supreme Court over the legal status of the prisoners of war being held by the United States military.

Guess we'll have to read them their rights, get them public defenders, and have extensive court proceedings all paid for by the very people who live in a system they hate and want to destroy.

Wonder if they can sue the military for violating their rights, get some money from us and then use it to buy more bullets to kill us with?

Maybe next time we should have a new directive for our military "take no prisoners"

June 11, 2008

Another (and politically correct) holiday to celebrate.

I'm sure you're ready to get together with family and friends, to gather around the whatever is appropriate thing and sing a song of praise for Juneteenth.

Yes, you read it right - Juneteenth.

It's a new holiday to celebrate emancipation. It actually was a date when a union General marched into Texas took control of the government and freed the slaves.

According to supporters of this new holiday which just became law it's an important holiday "because Vermont is increasingly attracting more African Americans" and as such "it's quite fitting that we have our own holiday".

Now various groups can lobby the state to have a holiday just because they need one I guess.

So if you are descendants of say "one eyed, pegged legged Lithuanian sailors" and have a NEED for a holiday just contact your local politician and they would be happy to introduce a law to make your life complete.

June 10, 2008

He's a "new" type of candidate. That is the impression that Senator Obama wants everyone to believe. His vision of change will somehow transform the nation out of it's doldrums and restore it to a new place of respect and prosperity around the world.

Phooey!

He's just like all the rest. His "vision" to change America is more of the same old tried and failed policies of the past. He wants to raise income taxes, Social Security taxes, capital gains taxes, dividend taxes and other taxes so he will have more of our money to spend on us.

I think the "change" he is talking about is the sound of what's going to be left in our pockets when he gets done taking everything else.

June 5, 2008

Even the best laid plans of men (and certain women)
often go ... well you know the rest.

Such is the case with Hillary Clinton's "coronation"
to represent her party in the general election.

Now it's up to Barrack Obama to try and unify his
party to boost him into the White House. But he has a
huge obstacle to overcome. I don't know if you noticed
but he's not white.

How racist you say. Don't chastise me. His fellow
democrats have noticed and some of them are planning
to vote for the GOP candidate for that very reason. At
least that's the indication from exit polling.

John McCain also has his own problems including the
fact that many republicans would rather have some one
else... anyone. He has yet to solidify his base.

In short, this is going to be an interesting campaign.

June 3, 2008

Wonder why crime seems to be out of control? Look no
further then the punishment handed out for law
breakers.

A group of revelers decided to break into the home
formerly occupied by famed poet Robert Frost.

The beer and drug fest led to vandalism of the
property.

Their punishment - time in a class room listening to
Robert Frost's poetry. That will teach 'em.

June 2, 2008

It's nice to be back after a few days off.

What I find so interesting is that no matter how long
or far I travel craziness is not just the purview of
the good old United States.

A new idea being floated by the British is to remove
all insignia, labels or logos from cigarette packaging
as well as the cigarette itself.

The purpose is to keep kids from buying cigs. I guess
the little tiny logos on the cigarette papers is the
reason for their wanting to smoke.

I thought kids were not allowed to buy these things in
the first place. Since they can't buy them how could
they possibly read what is printed on the box or the
paper.

If you can figure it out let me know how this works.

May 23, 2008

It's not just a holiday for shopping, barbecues and
family gatherings. It is about remembering those who
gave their last full measure of devotion.

Memorial Day should hold a special place of reverence
for each one of us as well as our nation as a whole.

I understand the importance the remembering the past
but let me offer an additional aspect to your holiday.
If you see a Vet - thank them for their service as
well.

May 22, 2008

It was just a matter of time before voters would be ac
used of "racism" for NOT wanting to vote for a certain presidential candidate.

The idea of people voting for or against someone for
whatever reason they chose is not new. As a matter of
fact it is part of the American process.

That is why those that openly say that they are voting
for or against a candidate because of the color of
their skin should not be alarming to anyone.

People bring with them a lifetime of experience, both
good and bad and it colors their view of the world and
people in it.

Racial preference based on that view is OK. Yes, I
said it's alright.

No one should deny an individual their right to their
views.

With that said if 90% of the black community wants to
support Mr. Obama's candidacy because of the color of
his skin no one should think less of them.

May 21, 2008

The state of Vermont will require insurance companies
to charge women no more then $25 for a mammogram.

The logic is that more women will now be willing to
have a mammogram since their out of pocket costs have
been reduced.

The normal cost is about $140 for the potential life
saving exam.

So for about $100 more women will now be willing to
save their lives. That makes sense.

In case your wondering - more men die from prostate
cancer then women from breast cancer. When will the
governor be signing legislation to reduce the cost for
men's prostate exams?

May 20, 2008

Where is the line between parental accountability and
personal responsibility on the part on children?

A number of parents have been dragged into court
because their children have decided NOT to attend
school.

Truancy officers want to hold mom and dad accountable
for kids skipping school. Kids may get detention (if
they bother to go) but they do not face the wrath of
the legal system for failing to hold up their end of
the bargain by going to school.

At what point are the people who perform (or in this
case fail to perform) held accountable for their
actions?

Once again the victimization of America continues. The
kids who skip school are victims of a failure of
parental oversight.

Maybe a swift kick in the backside would do more to
resolve the problem then counseling, court proceedings
or intervention.

May 19, 2008

First government officials put a push on to get more
people to sign up for food stamps. Then they give out
awards and money for governmental agencies reaching
certain participation levels. Then when all this is accomplished the media and politicians bemoan the fact that the American economy is in the toilet as is evident by so many getting "free food".

What's up with that?

The days of self reliance have been replaced with
"where's mine" mentality. We expect the government to
give us all sorts of free things.

Health care, retirement income, bail outs (if we take
out a mortgage we should not have had in the first
place) are examples of the kinds of things politicians
promise and we come to expect.

May 9, 2008

Talk about dumb!

The politicians in New Hampshire are joining with a
bunch of other like minded feel-gooders to save the
planet.

Well not the whole planet just their little piece of
it. They have decided to cut greenhouse gas emissions
to "preserve the state's climate".

What??

How do you do that without putting a bubble over the
entire state? Last time I checked "climate" was not
static it changed, came from over there and ended up
somewhere else.

Wasn't it just a few years ago everyone was
complaining about acid rain coming from the Midwest.
So has something changed. Does Hew Hampshire or any
other place on the planet have their own climate?

If you read the rest of the news report you will see
this is nothing more then an attempt on the part of
government to generate more revenue under the guise of
saving the planet.

The only climate they will be preserving is the
climate of tax and spend, but don't call it a tax.

May 8, 2008

Please, please buy health insurance.

That is the plea from government bureaucrats to
graduating seniors. They need them (their money in the
form of premiums) to pay the skyrocketing costs of
health care.

Most young Americans between the ages of 18 and 30
don't buy health insurance. unless they have a reason
such as a family history of illness or a dependent.
Most don't believe they need it, can afford it or can
benefit from it.

Their participation is vital to the success of
maintain a system that will be stressed to the
breaking point as Baby-Boomers begin to utilize health
care services.

The only way that will ever happen is if the
politicians (that court young voters) band together
and DEMAND (by force of law) they pay into the system.


The end result is a alienation of young buyer from
their money and young voter from the politician. The
first the politicos don't care about, the second they
fear.

May 7, 2008

There is a reason they are called the greatest
generation and it's not just because they freed the
world from tyranny.

So many of the Depression era generation that went on
to fight in World War II already had a life time of
hardship and experience, lessons that will pass with
then into eternity.

Before they go I wish our namby pamby generation of
"where's mine" would sit and talk with them so we too
can benefit from their wisdom.

A story about "free breakfast" in an out of town
newspaper just frosted my cake when I read that mom's
and dad's couldn't afford the 30 cents a day to feed
their children breakfast. Now the taxpayers will have
to pick up the slack.

This in a country where obesity is rampant especially
amongst to poor (the people that can't afford to feed
their kids).

Forget about asking politicians, social workers,
psychologists or bureaucrats how to make it in America
or how to feed your kids.

Find a member of the Greatest Generation and ask them,
how did you do it?

You might not like the answer - but you know it will
be the right one. After all they are proof of the
success of their efforts.

May 6, 2008

They have got to be kidding.

A recent out o town newspaper editorial bemoaned the
fact that politicians keep making promises that they
should not.

In this case politicos keep telling voters that they
plan to cut property taxes when they get to
Montpelier. So a vote for them is a vote for a tax
break.

When they fail to deliver they hang their heads
ashamed they could not get the job done while blaming
to "other side".

The excuse makers in the newspaper have gone so far as
to inform voters, "there is little the Legislature can
do to restrain property taxes because property taxes
are mainly a local tax used for local purposes".

This coming from a group of editorial writers that
recently took a position that local citizens should
not be allowed to vote on school budgets.

Besides if the legislators can't this property tax
problem which they helped to create then whose job is
it.

Maybe if they spent less time on global warming,
foreign policy, impeaching the president or launching investigations on "big oil" they would have both the time and will to lower the education portion of our property tax.

May 5, 2008

Here we go again another attempt to re-write history
and diminish the achievements of the warriors from
"the greatest generation".

A local art gallery will be showing off pictures and
other items from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
in Japan.

It is being sponsored by a who's who of left leaning
apologists for America's World War II victory.
According to one news account, "pictures portray dead
bodies clustered around a water cistern or jumping
into a river in attempts to escape the fire".

Someone should remind them that the reason they are
able to have these exhibits (yes even tho ones that
try to make us feel guilty) are allowed to take place
because so many men died to give them the freedom.

Will they be showing pictures of the Batan Death
March, the men used for human experimentation, the
inhumane Japanese POW camps?

I think NOT.

Once again it's all about how bad we are.

Sorry but members of the Greatest Generation need
never to feel guilty, apologize or their victory to
free the WORLD be seen as anything less than honorable.

May 1, 2008

What is fast food and why is it a sin to eat it?

We need those answers if we are to understand the
latest "tax craze" working it's way across the
country.

Seems like a few do-gooders would like to place a "sin
tax" on fast foods as a way to help pay for health
care.

One supporter has gone so far as to say that the
purpose is to turn peoples attention away from fast
food to what they describe as "more healthy foods".

What are they talking about? And why is it any of
their business what I eat any way.

Sounds like more of the "I know what's best for you"
elitism that dominates today's politically correct
thinking.

April 30, 2008

It's about time someone said it but don't expect any
quick fixes, not so long as politicians have anything
to do with it.

Yesterday the President spoke about America's energy
(gas) problem. He said we need to drill more, build
new refineries, add more nuclear power plants amongst
other things.

Good for him... and it's about time.

Conserving, reducing, cutting back won't do it we need
more not less oil, nuclear and refining capacity.

Wake up America the future is here now.

April 29. 2008

What would you do if you kept paying for a service or
product and it kept failing to perform? Add to that
the fact that the cost for that same service or item
increased each year.

I assume you would want something done about the
problem or change who you did business with. Right?

Wrong!

We are constantly being told that the problem is not a
problem - that it's all in our minds, someone else is
the cause or if we just spent a little more everything
would be fixed.

Eventually you would grow tired of the excuses. Not if
it's our educational system. It seems that 38% of our
schools in Vermont are failing to meet minimun levels
of achievement.

This all the while knowing that there are about 10%
fewer students in the system, 25% MORE employees and a
doubling of the cost per student.

When will the public DEMAND an overhaul??

Your guess is as good as mine.

April 28, 2008

You may not know Patrick Moore but members of the
environmental community do.

The former head and founder of Greenpeace has had a
change of heart. He now says that our future energy
needs will not be met with wind, solar, hydroelectric
or even geo-thermal power. Rather an older, cleaner
and more efficient source is our only hope.

He is even calling for hundreds of these power plants
to be build over the next one hundred years.

Coal fired - I don't think so. Cow power, which is all
the rage in Vermont. (sounds like a lot of BS)

No he is hanging his hat on NUCLEAR.

He is just the latest in the environmental movement to
realize the benefits of nuclear power. Many others are
saying he has sold out their cause.

Wait till they hear he has said that there is "no
proof global warming is caused by humans".

April 24, 2008

I must have received about two dozen e mails about the
behavior of state senator Peter Shumlin towards a
respected member of the business community.

The environ-mental wackos and their fellow travelers
in the state house want to shut down Vermont Yankee
sooner rather then later. The effects would be
devastating to the people and industries that depend
on electricity. ALL OF US !

When business leaders show up to give their opinions
on the subject and offer views different then ones
expressed by the wide eyed liberals they are mocked,
ridiculed and even called liars.

So why are so many people shocked by this behavior.

When they were elected we told them to fix the
economy, cut costs and lower taxes. They responded by
having three weeks worth of hearings on global
warming, impeaching George Bush and wondering how to
expand a state wide health plan that is a financial
disaster.

So for them to denigrate members of the business
community is part of the overall philosophy so
prominent in our political leaders.

Why is it every one outside of the state knows Vermont
is not business friendly? When will the people of the
state finally realize it and throw the bums out?

April 22, 2008

You can get away with murder. At least that is the
message being sent by this community.

A drug related murder a few months ago has resulted in
a plea deal that allowed one of the accused murderers
to walk away free as a bird.

When it happened people were concerned that the
community was going to hell in a hand basket. Hearings
were held, photo ops by local politicos took place and
everyone wanted something done.

Well done is exactly what has happened. The prosecutor
is done with the case, the polince are done with their investigation and the the bad guys have done their best to beat the system.

What is most appalling is the lack of outrage by
anyone (other then me) that NOTHING was done.

April 21, 2008

Since when are new taxes a stimulus package designed
to boost the economy?

That's what Gubernatorial Candidate Anthony Pollina
want to do. "From each according to their means to
each according to their needs" seems to be his motto.

He will take money from more affluent Vermonters and
spend it on "affordable housing", the green sector
(whatever that is) and transportation.

There's just one little problem. The very people he
wants to tax are the people he is hoping will vote him
into office.

In a state that lends decidedly to the left, more of
it's well off citizens are on that same side of the
political fence.

Sure it sounds nice but does he really think rich
democrats will put up with it? Other liberal leaders
floated that idea earlier in the legislative session
only to run for cover when word reached their constituency.

April 18th, 2008

Now they have gone too far.

There is a reason they call them environmental wackos.
Never mind that they worship at the alter of mother
earth. They try their darnedest to manage every aspect
of our daily lives to satisfy a political view that
places the environment before people.

So committed to their cause of global warming they
will stop at nothing to get their point across.

The latest attempt to win the war on this bogus pseudo scientific scam is on the cover of TIME magazine

The shameless editors have used the famous picture of
the planting of the American Flag after the battle of
Iwo Jima as their backdrop.

Instead of placing the flag as a sign of sacrifice,
commitment and victory the soldiers are seen planting
a pine tree.

I think it's important for all REAL Americans to wake
up the the insidious nature of these environmentalists
and their partners on the far left as well as their
accomplices in the media that they will stop at
nothing to achieve their ends.

The picture is insulting to the memory of all those
who served and died and should be roundly condemned by
all.

April 15, 2008

John McCain has a great idea to deal with the rising
cost of gasoline. I wonder if the rest of the guys and
gals in Washington will jump on this idea as well.

Last month Congress called members of the oil industry
on the carpet for their "undue" profiteering. They
blamed the business leaders for the high cost of
gasoline.

It's so bad according to one politico that they need
to drop prices immediately for the good of the nation
and our economic stability.

Senator and presidential candidate John McCain has
come up with a way to lower the cost of gas and
stimulate the economy. He wants congress do do away
with the federal tax on gas and diesel fuel.

Lets see if the members of congress are willing to do
what they have been complaining about. Give up some of
their "undue" profits on gas.

April 14, 2008

It's a joke, a prank a bit of innocent fun. Not if you
are a Yankees fan it's not.

Seems that an avid Red Sox fan decided to bury a T
shirt from his favorite Boston based baseball team at
the construction site of the new Yankee stadium.

Word leaked out that the jinxing jersey had to be
found less the team be hexed for all time sake.

$50,000 dollars later (that was the cost for unionized
workers to dig up the bad luck charm ... union help in
New York is not cheap)the garment was unearthed
someplace behind home plate.

Criminal charges might be pending against the
prankster. That's right they may prosecute. Guess it's
against the law to put the evil eye on baseball teams
in New York.

Fans of the Bronx Bombers are feeling a lot more
secure now that the item has been exorcised from the
dirt and concrete. Victory is assured.

Hey guys... it's just a shirt. Not some sword of
Damocles hanging over your head.

If you want a real honest to goodness curse try
trading away one of your best players to the Red Sox.

Oh sorry - someone did that a long time ago. How did
that one go? See there's nothing to all this.

April 10, 2008

They feel our pain ... but not enough.

I was chuckling when I read that the governor has said
"no pay raises" for any one that works for him. Well ,
at least if your not a union member and earn under
$60,000 a year. After all these are tough economic
times.

He would like the legislature and the judicial
branches follow his lead and hold off on paying any
more to their top non union earners.

The state is in the hole for tens of millions of
dollars and the place is falling apart (roads and
bridges that is).

But the very people who put us in this mess continue
to get their money (our money) and are looking for new
ways to take in more money so they can spend it.

I'm speaking of the politicians in Montpelier. The
elected, out of touch, can't feel your pain or hear
you complaint members of the legislature.

Why not tie their pay to our economic success. In
other words, if we do better (our economy our
pocketbooks) they get a raise. If we do worse they get
a pay cut, not the poor schlep who works for a living.

Maybe then we would make some real progress towards
growing the economy and creating real wealth in this
state.

April 8, 2008

Thanks for the information ... I think.

Did you see the report that the IRS computer were
vulnerable to hackers?

So what, you might be saying to yourself. Well just
think about the identity theft horror stories about
innocent individuals that have had to spend countless
hours, and many dollars to restore their good names.

All it take is one jerk to get a credit card number,
access to you computer and you have a whole lifetime
of carefully balancing your check book, paying your
bills on time and saving up for that rainy day ruined.

Lot's of those credit reporting companies think that
you really were responsible for all those "things"
bought in your name unless you can convince them
otherwise. Basically guilty till proved innocent.

Fast forward to the IRS nightmare and hackers getting
into their system. Now you get the picture. Not only
do you have the problem of convincing them you filed,
did so on time, or paid all your taxes you could end
up in jail if thy don't believe you.

I don't know how many of you knew of the potential
vulnerability with the IRS computers. Now we all do
and so do the hackers of the world

April 7, 2008

Ever held your baby in your arms as they cry out with
pain from a "normal" childhood illness? What if it's
more a life threatening disease?

There is nothing more heart breaking, more gut
wrenching then a sick or injured child. I know, for I
had traveled that road in my life time.

That is why when I hear requests for help or promotion
of medical facilities geared to assist children and
their families I understand the hope they offer.

No parent I know of wants their child to suffer even
the slightest health challenge. So if called upon to
assist, even in the smallest way each of us can help
lift a weight that at times seems more then a person
can bare.

Think of that this week as my friends and colleagues
ask for your help with the St. Jude's Children's
Research Hospital radiothon.

April 3, 2008

You must have been as shocked as I was to read that
the "world is running out of water". That's according
to what a "gloom and doom" author told lawmakers.

Gee whiz I thought the world was covered mostly by
water. Furthermore, (and according to Nobel Prize
winner Al Gore) if we didn't stop destroying the
planet with global warming the oceans would rise as
the polar ice caps melted.

I guess that's all over with now because of the "water
mining industry". (That's the people who for the most
part bottle water and sell it.)

Silly me I thought that water was a renewable
resource. Oceans and other large bodies of water
evaporate creating clouds that eventually rain down on
the planet. This water, one way or the other seeps
into the ground creating more drinking water.

I guess these anything for profit water bottlers have
stopped the natural process and now we are running out
of water.

Maybe the only thing we are running out of is common
sense on the part of our legislators.

Well... that is to be expected.

April 2, 2008

Who put the lights out?

You gotta love the logic of the environ - mental
wackos.

Their latest idea is to shut down Vermont Yankee , the
only nuclear power plant in this part of the world.

Why?

Simply put, it's nuclear and therefore it's bad. Never
mind it produces a great deal of our power that if
lost our already high electric rates will go up by as
much as 25%.

Yankee is clean, safe and reliable. But that's not
enough. The wackos will tell you that "green energy"
from windmills, solar panels or burning wood is the
way to go.

Guess if we cut down all the trees on top of the
mountains to put up windmills we could get "some"
juice. We might do OK with solar panels so long as the
snow was brushed off during the winter. The last -
burn wood, I thought we needed to worry about global
warming.

They all know that nuclear is the way to go. So this
is not about where the electricity comes from. It is
about changing our life styles so we need less.

It is about a return to an agrarian society
(socialist) where the communal good supersedes the
need of the individual to prosper and flourish.

Why else would they want to put out the lights and
march us back to the dark ages?

Consume less and you need less energy.

April 1, 2008

Free food for all!

Who wouldn't want to have their groceries paid for?
Heck if you could have someone else pay for your food
each week or at least part of it would you think it
was a good idea.

Everyone loves something for nothing. American come to
expect it. Heck we don't call our government assistant
programs "handouts" we say we are "entitled" to them.

That goes for free food too.

Americans have been besieged with advertisements from government agencies asking people to see if they "qualify" for food stamps. In some cases requirements have been changed so that even more people can take advantage of the program.

Bureaucrats have done such a good job that more people
then ever are getting free food.

Now British news papers are saying that the United
States is in such dire straits that we are in the
midst of a new "Depression". After all so many
Americans need free food.

Seems to me that if we can afford to give 27 million
people free food (not that all need it) we must be
doing OK

March 31, 2008

Build it and they will come!

That's the logic one community is following when it
comes to - sewage.

In this area if ya want to get rid of a bunch of ...
well... "stuff" you need hook up to the nearest sewer
line.

If that sewer line is owned by someone else then you
have to follow their rules. No matter how difficult
that may be. If they don't like the idea of one
business or another tapping into the line they can
stop that from happening. Even in another town.

The only solution is to build your own.

That's the choice one small community is making as
they battle to determine their own future and cut
their ties with a much larger community.

The cost of this Independence may be high at first but
the potential revenue from business development is
even higher.

They may not have their own sewer system (yet) but
what they lack in one area is made up for in the
amount of open land ready for development.

Last time I checked you could build another sewer
system but they ain't making any more land.

So now the little town is thinking of telling the big
city to take a hike as they look to a future of new
jobs, more housing and business development.

Like I said - build it and they will come.