Thursday, October 31, 2013

Employment Nondiscrimination Act


The 55 members of the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate are united in their support of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would protect gay men, lesbians, and transgender people from being fired for their sexual orientation.  

In 29 states, including Pennsylvania, such dismissals are allowed.  

Here’s the problem.  The U.S. Senate does not operate under normal democratic (notice the small d) rules.  Sixty votes are needed to overcome the expected filibuster.  Five brave Republicans must step up.  Perhaps Sen. Toomey will show some courage on this.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

The Answer Man


Today I will answer questions readers have submitted.

Dear Sajeonogi,
     Which takes more energy--to maintain a constant temperature at home or to lower the heat at night and increase it in the morning?
    Thermostat Guy

Dear Thermostat Guy,
     According to the latest issue of Sierra magazine, it takes less energy to lower the heat at night and crank it up in the morning.  Heat is constantly lost through windows and doors.  By keeping the temperature warm inside, you are losing heat all night to the outside.  According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, you will get a two percent savings for each degree you lower the thermostat for eight hours at a time.


Dear Sajeonogi,
     I had a sign “Ron Paul For President” in my front yard, and my municipality said I had to take it down by thirty days after the election.  Can they do that?
     Libertarian Nut Job

Dear Libertarian Nut Job,
     No.  According to my latest issue of the Pennsylvania ACLU newsletter, your sign is protected under the 1st Amendment.  Recently the ACLU won a case against the Watsontown Borough in Northumberland County in which the borough tried to limit a homeowner’s right to put that very sign in his front yard.


Dear Sajeonogi,
     Is it true that Senator Ted Cruz was born in Kenya?
     Rick Perry.

     Yes.  I read it on the internet.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Tapping Merkel's phone


In 1960 Francis Gary Powers, piloting a U2 plane over the Soviet Union, was shot down by a Russian missile.  The initial U.S. story was that Powers was flying a weather-monitoring plane, although that story was obviously bogus, since the U.S.S.R. had in its possession the U2 plane with all its spy gear intact.

President Eisenhower, very honestly and very naively, admitted the plane was ours and admitted we were spying.  

Let’s suppose you are a Russian official, and the U.S. sticks to the weather plane story.  You say, “That is obviously a lie,” but you don’t have to go much beyond that, since the U.S. denies responsibility for the plane.  However, once the President states the plane is a spy plane, you are forced to react.  Eisenhower’s admission created a major setback U.S.-Soviet relations.

Now let’s look at the NSA phone taps on the French and German leaders, among our closest allies.  Evidently these taps started in 2002.

President Obama claims he didn’t know about the taps.  I have two reactions.  First, knowing what little I know of the NSA, but knowing a great deal of how governments operate, I think it is quite possible that neither George W. Bush nor President Obama did know.  The NSA strikes me as kind of a rogue agency that is out of control.

Second, even if Bush and Obama did know, it is important to deny they knew.  That gives the French and Germans a way out.  They can be angry (and should be), but they don’t need to create an official crisis.  And President Obama can say, “I didn’t know, but now that I do, it won’t happen again.”

Am I really advocating lying?  If it prevents a diplomatic crisis and permits all parties to avoid a nasty situation, of course I am.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Rich people suck


After my posting on the SNAP cuts two days ago, Jeremy commented on a You Tube video that discussed why we have poverty.  (I think Jeremy spends a lot of time on the Internet.)  Just in case you missed his comment, here is the link:< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6niWzomA_So>.  

I should warn you that it is an hour long.  I should also warn you that it will make you really angry.  One thing it does well is to explain how the Republicans have managed to direct middle class dissatisfaction with our economy downward toward the poor instead of upward where it belongs.  (Watch how clever Eric Cantor is on this.)  

The film also notes that Democrats are little better than Republicans at ending tax breaks for the rich.  But you knew that, didn’t you?

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Jim Thorpe Halloween parade


The Democrats had an entry in the Jim Thorpe Halloween parade today.  We decorated a pickup truck with a signs on each side that said. “If you like...thank a Democrat.”  With that we had small signs saying things like “Social Security,” “Medicare,” “G.I. Bill of Rights,” “Civil Rights,” Electricity for Farmers,” “Minimum wage,” and so on.

People walked along the truck passing out candy.  I sat in the cab with Billy O’Gurek, the driver (and Democratic County Chair.)  As in the Lehighton Parade, we received some cheers and thumbs up, but we also heard a number of very nasty comments and catcalls.

Billy said, “I hope our side isn’t that rude.”  I told him I was pretty sure we weren’t.  It has been my experience canvassing that many Republicans do not have good manners toward people with whom they disagree.

I think this is because Republicans are fearful.  They are worried about crime, about immigrants, about life in general.  People who are threatened lash out.  Perhaps they need a hug.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Cutting food stamps: Let them eat cake


I have never felt sorry for Marie Antoinette.  Her attitude toward the starving Parisians was despicable.  Off with her head!

But wait.  I think she is alive and well in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Today Charles M. Blow had a table of “States of Child Poverty” in the Times.  Mississippi, of course, led the pack; 34.69% of its children live in poverty.  All states but one (North Dakota) had more kids living in poverty today than in 2007 before the recession started.  

The response of the U.S. Congress?  The Senate proposes to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or as most people know it, the food stamp program) by $4 billion.  

The House proposal would cut SNAP by over $30 billion.  As for the children in poverty, let them eat cake.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Cuomo and Corbett


Eight states have announced a joint effort to promote electric cars.  They are taking various steps such as providing more charging stations to encourage people to buy electric cars.  Six of those states are in the Northeast--New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont.  (The other two are California and Oregon.)

Note that Pennsylvania is not on that list.  We always seem to be in the shadow of our northern neighbor.

New York permits gay marriage; Pennsylvania does not.

New York has a moratorium on fracking until environmental safeguards are in place; Pennsylvania does not.

New York has a state exchange for the Affordable Care Act; Pennsylvania does not.

New York has expanded Medicaid; Pennsylvania has not.

New York makes it easy to vote; Pennsylvania does not.

New York has an intelligent governor; etc.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Frost advisory


When I was a kid on the farm, the day before the night of the first predicted frost was an exciting time. We filled a trailer with baskets and crates, and the whole family turned out to pick every tomato and squash and pumpkin we could find.  Cabbage was no problem--frost didn’t hurt heads of cabbage.  We did our best to bring in every other vegetable before the frost.  That exciting day usually occurred in early to mid September.

Two days ago I did the same thing.  I picked all the okra, tomatoes, squash, gourds, and  watermelons I could find.  A frost was predicted for that night, and the prediction was accurate.  I awoke on the morning of the 23rd to find the ground covered in white.  

That was about one month later than when I was a teenager in the 1950s.  Climate deniers are not farmers.  They are not only denying climate change, they are denying reality.  

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Kids in trouble


Did you notice how the shooting of the math teacher and the students and the suicide by the shooter in Nevada were not major news?  It’s almost routine now.  The fatalities weren’t all that high.  We’re used to this.  And remember, the only thing that can stop a bad 8th grader with a gun is a good 8th grader with a gun.  At least I think that’s the N.R.A. slogan.

On another matter, yesterday’s Times News had a small article on page two about a 10-year-old girl in Tamaqua who supposedly choked another student and pulled her hair.  The ten-year-old was arrested for harassment.  Surely there is a better way to deal with such a situation.  Do the police really need to be involved with that?

I’m not even commenting on the parents who have brought suit against the winning team in the lop-sided football game, accusing the winning team of bullying.  

Common sense has left the building.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Ray Dalio's video


A few days ago my friend Jeremy sent me a link to a video by Ray Dalio, the 64-year-old founder of Bridgwater Associates, the larges hedge fund in the world.  The video explains how the economy works in a half-hour lecture illustrated with cartoons.  Today’s New York Times Business section had an article about the video, noting that 300,000 people (one of them me) had watched it.

The video explains economic cycles.  It has been endorsed by former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Jr. and former Fed chair Paul Volcker.  It lasts about a half hour, but is well worth the time.   While I certainly don’t know enough about economics to critique it, I thought it made a great deal of sense.  

Monday, October 21, 2013

Richard Nixon, environmentalist


In the Palmerton library today, I happened to stumble across the October-November issue of National Wildlife, a magazine published by the National Wildlife Federation.  The issue featured a Q&A with George McGovern and Richard Nixon, candidates for the presidency.

Both men were asked about a “no growth” concept as a way to protect the quality of life.  Nixon, in his answer, quoted his 1970 State of the Union speech.  Here’s what he said:

We no longer can afford to consider air and water common property, free to be abused by anyone without regard to the consequences.  Instead, we should begin now to treat them as scarce resources, which we are no more free to contaminate than we are free to throw garbage in our neighbor’s yard.  This requires comprehensive new regulations.  It also requires that, to the extent possible, the price of goods should be made to include the costs of producing and disposing of them without damage to the environment.

I never thought I would say this, but I kind of miss Nixon.  I also want to thank him for signing the bill to create the E.P.A.  What ever happened to the Republican Party?

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Democratic fundraiser in Tresckow


Tresckow is a small community about three miles west of Beaver Meadows, which is a small community adjoining Luzerne County.  The kids from Tresckow and Beaver Meadows are actually in the Hazleton School District.  Many Democrats in the lower part of Carbon County can’t find their way to Tresckow without a map. 

Nonetheless, Tresckow (and Banks Township in which it is located) are heavily and loyally Democratic.  In recognition of that fact, the Democratic Executive Board decided to hold its annual fall fundraiser at the Tresckow Fire Company.

Linda and I just got back.  Two Democratic candidates for governor, Jo Ellen Litz and Max Myers, were there, along with two candidates for Lt. Governor, Brad Koplinski and Brenda Alton.  Gubernatorial candidate (and my personal favorite) Katie McGinty sent two representatives as well.

The candidates were impressive, the speeches were relatively short, the food was excellent (except for the ziti), and the Tresckow people were gracious hosts.  Now that I know where it is, I’ll be happy to go back there any time.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Twenty-five years of farmland preservation


Since the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation program started 25 years ago, 480,146 acres and 4,492 farms have been permanently preserved. [Lancaster Farming, Oct. 19, 2013].  It isn’t nearly enough, and farmland in this state is still being developed at an alarming rate (One of the farms less than a half mile east of our farm has been subdivided into 36 lots).  Nonetheless, almost half a million acres is nothing to sneeze at.

Twenty-three of those 480,146 acres are owned by Linda and me.  I am so pleased to be a part of the program.  Houses will never be built on that land, even after we are both no longer here.  That is a good legacy. 

Friday, October 18, 2013

Federal judge underestimates evil GOP


Very seldom do federal judges admit they messed up on a previous case.  They just don’t do that.  An exception is Judge Richard A. Posner of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.  In 2007 Posner wrote the majority opinion upholding an Indiana voter ID requirement.

In a new book entitled Reflections on Judging,” Judge Posner wrote, “We weren’t really given strong indications that requiring additional voter identification would actually disenfranchise people entitled to vote.”  He was asked if the court had gotten it wrong, and he replied, “Yes.  Absolutely.”

In the interview he noted that much had changed since 2007.  “There’s always been strong competition between the parties, but it hadn’t reached the peak of ferocity that it’s since achieved.  One wasn’t alert to this kind of trickery.... “

Information for this post came from an article in the NYT by John Schwartz, 16 Oct. 2013, p. A16.  I certainly hope the judge who will be deciding the Pennsylvania Voter ID law reads the New York Times.  (Or this post.)

Thursday, October 17, 2013

"We Fought the Good Fight"


The Pocono Record quoted House Speaker John Boehner saying, “We fought the good fight.  We just didn’t win.” 

The “good fight” involved hungry Indian kids, closed national parks, hundreds of thousands of laid-off workers, medical research suspended, international ridicule, and a flirtation with economic disaster.  The “good fight” cost this country at least $12 billion, and perhaps up to $20 billion.  

In January, unfortunately, we might go through the whole “good fight” again.  

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Financial advice


You know how the U.S. is always chastising other countries for financial imprudence, explaining how they should run their economic affairs, giving them lectures on their inadequate banking systems and their fiscal irresponsibility?

We really ought to quit doing that.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Girls go crazy for a sharp-dressed man


We had a rally today demanding that Congressman Barletta vote to end the shutdown.  Barletta actually said he would vote for a clean resolution free of Affordable Care provisions, then flip-flopped and said he wouldn’t.  We had 35 people in front of the Jim Thorpe Courthouse Annex picketing and chanting.  From there we moved to Hazleton to demonstrate in front of Barletta’s district office.

I wore a coat and tie.  Some of my friends expressed amazement at this, having never seen me in such a costume.  Here is some free advice.  Television and print media tend to interview male demonstrators who are wearing coats and ties.  They assume such people must be important.  (And I was interviewed by Channel 13.)

Perhaps more importantly, if for some reason the cops arrive and start beating people over the head, they are much more likely to beat on guys who look like hippies than on guys in coats and ties.  I’m not kidding.

(Just in case you are clueless, the title of this posting is from a ZZ Top song.)

Monday, October 14, 2013

Government shutdown on the Rez


While the Republicans are trying to make hay about the closure of the WWII memorial--which, by the way, they caused--there are more serious matters on Indian Reservations.  
The government closure has cut off food aid.  This is not some photo op for some Republican House members, this is food for hungry children.

Go to <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/us/pulling-aid-away-shutdown-deepens-indians-distress.html?_r=0> to read about this travesty.  Not that the House Tea Party Caucus cares--their members don’t represent Indians.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Art Vandalism


The Tate Museum in London currently has a show on vandalized art. People have been vandalizing art works for thousands of years, long before the Taliban blew up the huge statues of Buddha in Afghanistan.  

You may remember the woodcuts of George Washington’s troops pulling down the statue of George III in New York.  Actually, that may have been a good idea, since the lead in the statue was made into thousands of bullets for use by American revolutionaries.

The exhibit notes that most art vandalism results from one of three motives:  religion, politics, or aesthetics.  Religion is a common motive.  Only about 1/10 of medieval British art remains, the rest destroyed by Protestant fanatics.  The Taliban destruction of art works in Mali is only the latest example.  

Politics as a reason is also common.  Look at the destruction of Soviet-era art.  A painting of Henry James by John Singer Sargent was hacked by a suffragette with a meat cleaver.

The third main reason, according to the show, is aesthetics.  Some people simply can’t stand modern art, and they take what they think is appropriate action to preserve their aesthetic ideals.

My take on this is that if you don’t like an artwork, don’t buy it, don’t look at it, make fun of it, or picket it.  What I don’t think you should do is wreck it.  

Artworks belong to all of us.  The man who took a baseball bat to the Pieta was trying to destroy our common heritage and our common humanity.  To wreck an artwork of that importance is, to me, far worse than murder.  There are seven billion humans, but only one Michelangelo statue of David, or one Mona Lisa, or one Frank Lloyd’ Wright’s “Falling Waters.”  I have no sympathy whatsoever for anyone who would destroy a work of art, no matter what the reason. 

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Lead shot shot down


When people find out I’ve moved to Carbon County, Pennsylvania, from Marin County, California, the usual response is “Why?”

After all, Marin County has Sausalito, Muir Woods, Point Reyes National Seashore, the Marin Headlands, Mill Valley, Bolinas, and Mt. Tamalpais.  Carbon County has Jim Thorpe’s Tomb, Lansford, the Weissport Redneck Festival,  Lehigh Gorge State Park, and Weatherly.

Marin County is in a state governed by Jerry Brown; Carbon County is in a state governed by Tom Corbett.

Here is one more reason to ask “Why?”  Gov. Brown recently signed a bill banning the use of lead shot and lead bullets.  The N.R.A. opposed the bill, saying it would be the end of hunting.  My reply to that is: “bullshit “ This is an environmental issue, not a gun control issue.

Lead shot or lead bullets consumed by animals or birds leads to birth defects or death.  Lead can be replaced by copper or steel.  Lead is not necessary to hunt.  

It is refreshing to see a governor willing to buck the N.R.A.  I now live in a state where that won’t happen.

Do I miss California?  What do you think?

Friday, October 11, 2013

American Work Force


The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently did a study of about 160,000 people ages 16-65 in 22 nations of the O.C.E.D., plus Russia and Cyprus.  5000 Americans were included in the study.  

Americans did not do well.  According to an an article in the  Oct. 9 Times entitled “Stubborn Skills Gap In America;’s Work Force” by Eduardo Porter, younger cohorts in most O.E.C.D. countries are much better educated than their older cohorts  That was not the case in the U.S.

Here’s a quote from the article about the results in the U.S.:  “Socioeconomic status is a barrier.  Not only is inequality particularly steep, little is done to redress the opportunity deficit of poorer students.  Public investment in early education of disadvantaged children is meager.  Teachers are not paid very well compared with other countries.  And the best teachers tend to end up teaching in affluent schools.”

Here’s what we can dof.  Let’s ignore the data and talk about how exceptional we are.  Then let’s all chant, “We’re # 1, We’re # 1.”  Maybe that will help.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Global Warming, redux


My Nov.-Dec. issue of Sierra arrived today.  It contains a chart of Congressional climate change deniers.  The House has 200 Democrats, none of whom are “climate deniers.”  The House has 233 Republicans, of whom 128 are climate deniers.  That’s 55%.

The Senate has 52 Democrats and 2 independents.  None are climate deniers.  The Senate’s 46 Republicans include 30 climate deniers.

In the face of these depressing numbers, I’ll give you a link to a film that was sent along to me by faithful reader Richard.  It is professionally-produced, it lasts only 10 minutes, and it is scarier than any Hollywood zombie movie.  Here’s the link: 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

16-year-olds voting


Takoma Park, a Maryland city of 17,000 near Washington, D.C., has lowered the voting age for municipal elections to 16.  Local elections in Takoma Park now have between a 20-40% turnout, which is better than local elections in Carbon County.

Here’s what else Takoma Park does to involve citizens.  Early voting will be available in every election.  Same-day registration will be available in every election.  Apartment buildings must give access to candidates who want to campaign door-to-door within the building.  

Isn’t it nice that there are still portions of America that believe in democratic government?

The information for this posting was obtained from an article entitled “Old Enough to Drive--and Vote”  in the October 2013 issue of Governing Magazine, p. 9.  The editorial opinion in the last paragraph is mine alone.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Severance tax


Last night at Rep. Heffley’s Town Meeting, a member of the audience asked Mr. Heffley why Pennsylvania didn’t impose a severance tax on the energy companies that were drilling for natural gas.

Rep. Heffley replied that those companies were paying “impact fees,” and that while we were constantly told that Texas imposed a severance tax, Texas had no corporate income tax, while Pennsylvania did.

Sen. Yudichak was the guest speaker at the Palmerton Area Democratic Club tonight, and I asked him about this.  The senator noted that North Dakota, with 700,000 people, received about two billion in severance fees from fracking companies, while Pennsylvania, with 12 million people, received about two hundred million in “impact fees,” and those impact fees varied from county to county.

Sen. Yudichak also pointed out that many of the drilling companies were chartered in Delaware, which allowed them to escape the corporate tax, and, in any case, the corporate tax was the same rate as that for individuals.  

Campaign contributions should be considered investments.  The drilling companies sure got their money’s worth in their investment in Gov. Corbett.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Town meeting with Rep. Heffley


I’ve been in politics business since I was a teenager, and I’m still making rookie mistakes.  Before the meeting with Rep. Doyle Heffley at the Lehigh Township municipal building, I took my memo on absentee voting and HB 1576 (on PA endangered species) to Heffley’s two staff members sitting at the front of the room.  They showed the memo to Rep. Heffley, who told me this was an official meeting, and asked me not distribute my memo to the audience until the end of the meeting.  And I agreed.  I should have distributed my memo without asking.  

I knew that, but I wimped out.  I’m of German heritage.  I don’t cross the street until the sign says “walk.”

During the question period, I brought up the onerous requirements to get an absentee ballot in PA, and Heffley seemed sympathetic to my concerns.  

Later he said he supported HB 1576.   The PA House intends to limit the term of the members of the Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission to four years instead of eight.  Right now the members of the two commissions are somewhat isolated from political pressures.  By making the terms four years, the appointments would be politicized, and the Commissioners would be under the legislators’ thumbs.

After the meeting I told Rep. Heffley that I was very concerned about the  elimination of the category “species of special concern” in HB 1576, and I noted how tracking such species could prevent them from becoming endangered.  He told me the bill was still being amended, and that might be changed.

I’ll keep you posted.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Endangered species in PA


Tomorrow night Rep. Doyle Heffley is holding a “Town Hall” at the Lehigh Township municipal building.  I plan on being there.  I plan on being polite, but I have a handout with the following message:

HB 1576, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Pyle (R-Indiana County) applies to the Game Commission, the Fish and Boat Commission, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which now have the statutory authority to list threatened or endangered species in our state.  

The bill would immediately eliminate hundreds of species of special concern from environmental permit review.  Those species have been found to be rare in Pennsylvania and are tracked to prevent them from becoming endangered.

The bill threatens to cost Pennsylvania millions of dollars in grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Secondly, the bill says agencies must look at the entire range of a species, not just in Pennsylvania.  If a species has 100 individuals in Ohio and only 20 in Pennsylvania, the bill would not protect the species in Pennsylvania.  In addition, the bill would require a new database of species, even though we already have one.  The bill would also provide public information as to where endangered species are located, allowing bad-intentioned people to bring them harm.

The Fish and Boat Commission and the Game Commission are among the best agencies in the state, and they are doing an excellent job.  The system is not broken.  It doesn’t need to be “fixed.”

I’ll let you know how things go.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Corbett's "apology"


People don’t even know how to apologize any more.  

When asked on a television show about his reaction to an aide’s comparing gay marriage to marriage between 12-year-old, Corbett said it was an inappropriate analogy.  “I think a much better analogy would have been brother and sister.  Don’t you?”

According to Steve Esack’s article in the Morning Call, the interviewer was left speechless.  Some hours after the show was aired, Corbett’s office released a written “apology.”  I’m using quotations marks because here is what he said:  “My words were not intended to offend anyone.  If they did, I apologize.”

That puts the burden on you, the viewer.  If you were offended, the governor apologizes.  It’s your fault that you were offended, and I apologize for your being that way.

Here’s how to do an apology:  “What I said was appallingly ignorant, stupid, and hurtful.  I am really sorry.  To show how sorry I am, I will be resigning from my office as Governor, effective now.”

Friday, October 4, 2013

Giant hornets


You’re tired of the Tea Party and Ted Cruz.  You wish the whole idiotic shutdown of the government would end.  Right?

OK, I’ll give you something totally different to worry about.  Here’s a headline in today’s New York Times:  “Giant Hornets Kill Dozens in China.”  This is the “Vespa mandarinia.” the world’s largest hornet species, up to two inches long with a stinger that can extend a quarter inch.  

Swarms of these hornets have so far killed 42 people in Shaanxi Province.  If you see one, run.  (Or catch it and send it to Ted Cruz.)

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Obstructing the Affordable Care Act


In the latest New Yorker (the one with the cover of a dog with blue booties),  “The Talk of the Town” lead article discusses the Affordable Care Act.  It notes that obstructionism takes a number of forms:

1.  states are refusing to accept federal funds to expand their Medicaid programs.  Under the law the funds cover 100% of state costs for three years and 90% of the costs after three years.  Twenty-five states are turning down this assistance, depriving poor people of health care.

2.  states are refusing to operate a state health exchange that would give individuals insurance options.  They are forcing consumers to use the national exchange (one reason for the computer overload), and then they complain about a Washington takeover of health care.

3.  outright sabotage.  Conservative groups are sponsoring ads urging young people to go without insurance and violate the law.

4.  passing laws against “navigators.”  Here’s one example.  Tennessee adopted an emergency rule that people trying to help consumers navigate the law must undergo a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and twelve hours of course work.

5.  and, of course, there are the House Republicans.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Lincoln's advice to Obama


An alert reader (Linda) sent me a copy of a portion of a letter President Lincoln wrote to James T.  Hale on Jan. 11, 1861, after the 1860 election, but before he was sworn in as President.  

What is our present condition? We have just carried an election on principles fairly stated to the people. Now we are told in advance, the government shall be broken up, unless we surrender to those we have beaten,
before we take the offices.

In this they are either attempting to play upon us, or they are in dead earnest. Either way, if we surrender, it is the end of us, and of the government. They will repeat the experiment upon us ad libitum… They now
have the Constitution, under which we have lived over seventy years, and acts of Congress of their own framing, with no prospect of their being changed; and they can never have a more shallow pretext for breaking up the government, or extorting a compromise, than now.

Hang tough, President Obama.  Do not surrender.  It would be the end of us and of the government.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Bad Behavior


Last week our friend Rene, who made the video “Tea Party Chickens,” stopped by on his way to Virginia.  He opened another Youtube video he filmed entitled “ Have you been to Hazelton lately?”  That one was a critique of right-wing congressman Lou Barletta.

He then scrolled down to the comments section, and I was amazed.  Vile and disgusting comments were made on what was a light and rather funny video.  All were anonymous, of course, and that seems to remove both good sense and polite behavior.

Recently Popular Science decided to shut off on-line comments.  The editor wrote that “Comments can be bad for science.”  (You can read the article on this in the Times at <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/science/comment-ban-sets-off-debate.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0>).  The comments on articles did not advance science, and were not civil.  Some were obscene.

When Rene set up Sajeonogi, he told me that I’d get all kinds of comments and create all kinds of controversy if I allowed any reader to comment.  He also said that if comments were restricted to “followers,” I would get reasonable and thoughtful comments, and I could monitor any comments made.  I went for the second option.  I’m glad I did.