what if?

Bravo New York Times

It isn't often that I agree with New York Times editorials.  But check your moon; today the Times' is right on target!

Congress has approved a $307 billion farm bill that rewards rich farmers who do not need the help while doing virtually nothing to help the world’s hungry, who need all the help they can get.

President Bush should keep his promise to veto it and demand better legislation.

The bill is an inglorious piece of work tailored to the needs of big agriculture and championed by not only the usual bipartisan farm state legislators but also the Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Every five years we get a new farm bill, and each time we are reminded that even reformers like Ms. Pelosi cannot resist the blandishments and power of the farmers.

The bill includes the usual favors like the tax break for racehorse breeders pushed by Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate minority leader. But the greater and more embarrassing defect is that the bill perpetuates the old subsidies for agriculture at a time when the prices that farmers are getting for big row crops like corn, soybeans and wheat have never been better. Net farm income is up 50 percent.

The legislation preserves an indefensible program of direct payments amounting to about $5 billion a year that flow in good times and bad. It raises support levels for wheat and soybeans, while adding several new crops to the list in a way that will make it easier for farmers to raid the federal Treasury even when prices go up.

Bill's Comments

My friend Bill is one wise fellow.  Is he correct about the upcoming election and what it portends?

Currently we are justifiably angry with the Republicans. They have done far worse than Bush I and his "read my lips". They have completely betrayed all the principles the Republicans supposedly stand for. As a consequence we will throw out all the Republicans that we can. In fact, I will do so as well, voting against Senators DeWine and Voinivich at any opportunity.

The only downside is that they will be replaced by Democrats who are unabashedly tax and spend, government power types. However, when none of their policies correct what is wrong with the country and are perceived as making things worse, they in turn will be thrown out. That is the point at which things could become better. Just like a boil which has to come to head to be lanced and healed, so the festering of 60's activism must finally come to a head and be removed from the political stage.

The process of doing this will be very painful. We will see joblessness increase greatly, major gains by Jihad, erosion of savings' value, cost of living sky-rocket, mostly over fuel costs, and retirements being postponed for lack of means to support them. We will see morality and principle come under severe attack under the guise of political correctness. In the name of freedom from being offended, our freedom of speech will be curtailed. To see what is coming, simply look at Canada or Great Britain.

I hope Bill is wrong; I fear he is right.

Nevertheless, I agree with Bill that even if we have to suffer under this scenario, in the long run, we may right the course.  I only hope that the "long run" is not that terrifically long!  A lot of damage may be incurred along the way...

One

 Need but one reason to vote for John McCain in November?

This would be it.

Compassion and Complexity

If you read Megan McArdle's tales and perspective about poverty at The Atlantic, you may rail at at the disincentives, lack of rationality - and lack of compassion - in our nation's system of welfare assistance.

If you read the comments following this post, you may reconsider your original reaction - or be dismayed at the small mindedness of some.

Should you visit the Wall Street Journal's comments from readers, you could read this from Dave Bowers:

Why is it that many seem to believe that there must be economic equality among all Americans? This is the land of opportunity, not the land of entitlement nor guaranteed success.

I am a business owner. I started with nothing 20 years ago and now have a very successful business with over 40 well-paid employees. Yet the media and the politicians wish to demonize me, and others like me, for having played by the rules and achieved success.

I have worked many, many 100 hour weeks and taken great financial risks, endured stress and uncertainty, yet I am the "bad guy" because I am in the top 1% of income earners. Rather than support me and encourage me to build my business and employ additional people at good wages, the government wishes to tax me at a higher rate and provide NO incentives to continue.

I love my work and my employees, but frankly I can't wait to retire and be done with the talking-head politicians that wish to slam me, disrespect me and make a mockery of the diminishing group of hard work and risk taking entrepreneurs that drive the majority of job creation in this country.

The Robin Hood mentality of the politicians and Washington in general is what is driving job-creators away and driving companies overseas. After all, the general population wishes to have more income and a better life - this is why entrepreneurs take risks and work 100+ hour weeks. If that incentive is removed, why take the risk and work so hard - everyone will be financially equal when the government takes from people like me and redistributes my wealth to those that have made different choices in life.

Unfair and un-American. Washington WAKE UP to the people who are creating jobs - help us to employ more people and stop telling us we must accept and be happy about more taxes on our success. Fed up !!

The Healthy Lifestyle

  Scrambled eggs with tomato, mushrooms and a dash of Virginia ham plus whole wheat toast, artfully served on the senior housing advertising section of the Star Tribune.

It just doesn't get any better than this!

Red Roaver, Red Roaver

If you are a prehistoric dinosaur like myself, then the phrases "Red Roaver," "Mother May I," "Tag", "Hopscotch," "Jump Rope" and a host of others are meaningful.  If you are a child - you are probably wondering if I am speaking in tongues.

When I was a child, as this column aptly describes, we just walked outside and played.  In addition to all of the above games, we roller skated and biked throughout the neighborhood and arranged ball games.  During summer, we'd walk or bike over to the local pool or Lake Michigan.  In the winter, our moms would schedule sleepovers and parties in their rec rooms.  I remember taking the bus to the movies on weekends, and for real treats, jumping on the elevated to oogle all the downtown Chicago sites.  Adventuresome souls like my little sister tackled the backyard slide.

Today, I'm not sure if any "responsible" parent would allow their child to walk three blocks to a friend's home.

For most middle-class American children, "going out to play" has gone the way of the dodo, the typewriter and the eight-track tape. From 1981 to 1997, for instance, University of Michigan time-use studies show that 3- to 5-year-olds lost an average of 501 minutes of unstructured playtime each week; 6- to 8-year-olds lost an average of 228 minutes. (On the other hand, kids now do more organized activities and have more homework, the lucky devils!) And forget about walking to school alone. Today's kids don't walk much at all (adding to the childhood obesity problem).

Increasingly, American children are in a lose-lose situation. They're forced, prematurely, to do all the un-fun kinds of things adults do (Be over-scheduled! Have no downtime! Study! Work!). But they don't get any of the privileges of adult life: autonomy, the ability to make their own choices, use their own judgment, maybe even get interestingly lost now and then.

America's Dodo Bird?

You do not need to be a birdie Einstein to know that the Republican Party has been having its troubles.  At times, these difficulties loom so large, one wonders if even survival is in jeopardy.

Some good advice for those who aren't quite ready to succumb to the national health-care, MM global-warming, multi-culturalist crowd.....

Republicans desperately need to cook up some new ideas and craft an attractive agenda to have any chance of success. Former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney says it should be a modern edition of Newt Gingrich’s “Contract With America.”

“It’s critical that our candidates have a very clear set of principles,” Romney says. “If we are ill-defined or, worse, if we’re defined by the failures of the administration or the failure of Congress in the last eight to 10 years, then we’re going to lose.”

The name of the agenda doesn’t matter, but the substance does. Voters no longer think lean government, smart and strong defense, and good old-fashioned family values when they think Republican. They think reckless spenders, misguided war and hypocrisy. Republicans “don’t have a vision,” says former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas). “Their behavior is being governed by a bad political model, and we’re losing races.”

Republicans need to focus on cutting taxes, slashing spending and rediscovering their edge on national security matters. More important, they need to jump ahead of Democrats in thinking anew about entitlement programs, health care, technological innovation, global trade and new energy plans.

Bill Frist, the former Senate majority leader and now a visiting professor at Princeton University, also recommends the “big idea” approach. His prescription: “Take on health care in a way that focuses on consumer-driven health,” providing “a contrast to the big government of Democrats.”

Bird Einsteins

Marv should appreciate this.

And While I am Ranting....

Try to imagine a more wrong-headed and immoral bill than this one.

If you refuse to accept the challenge, you have all my understanding and sympathy.

Dispirited

My blogging has been sparse lately. Other than a post or two about mommies, or my own baby, the occasionally vicious Mr. Mollo, I haven't quite felt up to tackling issues of political and philosophical substance.  Part of it is simply too much on my plate.  Part of it is the current state of political affairs.

This evening, I read this, and I wonder, "How can people treat a true hero like John McCain like this?"

Now we have unnamed fellow veterans claiming that McCain doesn’t understand war enough because of his captivity for the last five years of the Vietnam War. That is simply absurd. Cleland says that he didn’t know which heart and mind would blow him up, but McCain didn’t have to wonder at all which would torture him. He got a good, close look at the evil that totalitarians produce for over five years “on the ground”. How exactly does being forced into the captivity of the enemy “seal” one away from their tactics and their motivations?

Do not think I am a McCain apologist; I am not.  I remain horrified that McCain-Feingold is the law of the land, I do not share some of McCain's social beliefs, I believe that dropping gasoline taxes for the summer is one of the latest idiocies in "buying the public's vote" - and McCain's most recent pronouncements on global warming?  Oy; please - don't get me started!

One can surely argue that McCain is wrong about Iraq policy, or that his philosophy about defense and war is flawed.  But not familiar or aware of these issues because he was "sealed away?"  Please.

Marv Speaks

Marv the Answer Bird expounds on an issue quite near and dear to my heart.

A little testy, Marv is.  Guess that such an attitude is the fruit of parrot celebrity.

A few shots of the can culprit can be viewed below.

Happy Birthday!

 One of my favorite blogs celebrated its 4th birthday Sunday.

If you aren't familiar with Booker Rising, then correct this dire situation immediately!  No matter who you are, this is one blog you do not want to miss.

Tom's Mom

Only one lady in the Minnesota bridge world was tiner than I:  Tom Friedman's mom.

In that teensy package, however, lived a friendly, vivacious and bright woman. 

I and the rest of our bridge world will miss Margaret.

Tom gives good advice; if you can call your mom, do so now!

Happy Mother's Day!

Many celebrate Mother's Day over a buffet brunch laden with fresh fruit, French toast and Egg's Benedict.

Not I.

With Mom in southern Florida and me in Minnetonka, MN, our Mother's Day consists of phone calls, e-mail cards and a food basket that unfortunately arrived DOA in Palm Beach.  (Apparently no one appreciated that chocolate and cheese simply won't last forever in eighty degree weather without refrigeration....)  Mom will use her credit for a Day of Beauty instead!  My day will be busy with real estate, laundry, watching the exciting finale of The Cavendish Invitational Bridge Tournament on-line and some bridge play later this evening.  My dad will squire Mom around in sunny Florida.

Yet, despite being almost 2,000 miles apart, I'll be thinking about my mom a lot today. 

Life together did not run smoothly for the two of us - to say the least.  My mom and I battled about the cleanliness of my room (or lack thereof!), what I wore, what I ate, where I went . . . yada yada yada.  If you were looking for a candidate worthy of a black belt in nagging, my mom would be your woman.  If you were searching for a child who could try the sanity of saints - I would be your kid.

Today, however, I realize more and more the wisdom of what my mom has tried to impart to me - and how fortunate I have been to have her. 

Too many of my close friends won't be celebrating the day with their moms, not because of physical distance but because of the ultimate separation; their moms are no longer with us.

So - if you are among the fortunate ones, as I am, to still be able to enjoy your mom (and listen to one more withering nag), celebrate the day!  And - if you are not - happiness to you as you reflect on all the joys of the days you spent together. 

Happy Mom's Day, Mom!

 


Of course, Happy Mom's Day to all my Mom friends, too!

The MSM and the Scales of Justice

This is how the mainstream media treats Republicans on social and personal matters.

Like so much about the Bush presidency, the wedding of daughter Jenna brings out a strange strain of media bias and bitterness. Take as an example this Associated Press report, which recounts the history of First Family weddings over the course of the last 200+ years, from John Adams’ adninistration to present day. According to Leanne Italie, George Bush would have had a hard time explaining a White House wedding:

Bush’s wedding in tiny Crawford, Texas, on the other hand, is expected to be low-key — out of the view of prying media eyes.

“This is going to be such a different kind of situation,” said Katherine Jellison, an associate professor of history at Ohio University who chronicles the American obsession with marital pomp in her recent book, It’s Our Day.

“Jenna’s father is not running for re-election,” she said. “The frivolity of a big White House wedding in the middle of an unpopular war would have used up what little political capital he has.”

Gee, did it do that for Lyndon Johnson? In 1966, the Vietnam War hadn’t hit the peak of its unpopularity, but political pressure in opposition had certainly hit the mainstream. That didn’t stop Luci Baines Johnson from having her wedding at the White House in an elaborate ceremony, complete with television coverage.

The idea that it takes “political capital” to stage a wedding for a child of the President is patently absurd. Who besides the most extreme lunatics would demand an end to someone’s wedding because their parent didn’t have political capital? Better yet, what credibility would Bush lose on policy after hosting a wedding reception for his daughter at the White House?

With this sort of reporting about a wedding - does anyone for a moment think that a Republican administration has a whisker of a chance to get a fair hearing on issues of policy?

Yeah; right.

Long Time, No See?

If you wonder where I have been - then wonder no more.

I Shall Return!

Twenty four hours of typepad difficulties; 2 days in Las Vegas to shoot photography for one of the world's most famous bridge tournaments.  (Yes, I know I should be playing - but - that's another story!)

When I get an opportunity, I definitely will be posting.  Until then....

Baa Baa Green Bird

You gotta watch to get it.  So; go watch.

Fear of Flying

Once upon a time, I, like virtually anyone else who read a newspaper, thought that the New York Times was the finest daily in the United States - and, perhaps, in the world.  Splurging, I subscribed to the Times and relished its handsome Sunday Magazine, its lengthy, in depth reporting, its thoughtful editorials.  But, that was then.  This is now.

Like so many daily newspapers, the Times is beset with a model that appears to be dying.  Once upon a time, what you received on the doorstep in early morning hours really was "news."  Most of what you read was fresh and informative.  Today, however, the hunk of newsprint I open to peruse with my morning coffee has little that I haven't read at least eight to ten hours ago on the Internet.  The newspaper tells me someone was injured in a horrific automobile accident - but at 10:48PM the night prior, my computer told me that 2 passengers died and a third is in critical condition.  I mostly skim the paper for local tales of "human interest" - and to find out what's on sale at Macy's and Target.

A few years ago, I predicted the death of delivered papers.  It seems that this prediction may well come true.  Nevertheless, I have never anticipated that news delivery and the news organizations themselves would die.  And - although I still do not expect this at all, I am saddened at how quality has dropped significantly, both for my local paper, the Star Tribune, and for that gleaming icon, the New York Times.

Was It Good For You?

I think I dated a guy like this when I was freshman at college.

Dr De Bruyn and a colleague were on Trypot beach at Marion Island to study elephant seals when they noticed a young, adult male Antarctic fur seal, in good condition, attempting to copulate with an adult king penguin of unknown sex.

The 16 stone seal first subdued the two-and-a-half stone penguin by lying on it. The penguin flapped its flippers and attempted to stand and escape - but to no avail.

The seal then alternated between resting on the penguin, and thrusting its pelvis, trying to insert itself, unsuccessfully.

After 45 minutes the seal gave up, swam into the water and then completely ignored the bird it had just assaulted, the scientists reported.