It befuddles my mind that the right-thinking people want to silence those like Pamela Geller. I don't know anything about Geller--she might be a nice lady or a rotten person; I don't know. But to characterize her as being the cause of the deaths of the Islamo-terrorists at the Muhammad Cartoon Festival in Texas is revealing and ignorant.
I turn to Abraham Lincoln's Cooper Union Address. I think this is a propos. "A highwayman holds a pistol to my ear, and mutters through his teeth, 'Stand and deliver, or I shall kill you, and then you will be a murderer!'" Yep......
And, locally, there was some opposition to a military memorial that depicted, of all things, a rifle! Yes a soldier and a rifle! It was the the rifle, a gun, that upset some folks. Fortunately, the local council didn't cave and the memorial goes ahead as planned. To quote another famous American, Dirty Harry Callahan, in another, but similar context, [Of the bad guys, like the Germans and Japanese in WW2, "What did you want me to do, yell 'trick or treat' at 'em?"
Friday, May 8, 2015
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Hate Speech
The recent shootings of Islamist terrorists (OK, call them something else if you wish.) in Texas has sparked a discussion of "hate speech." Many folks seem to be blaming the woman who organized the Muhammad cartoon event for the shootings. Hogwash!
If anything should be protected under the First Amendment it's "hate speech." What kind of freedom of speech is it if only expression we like is protected? That's the real test of "freedom," how far we go to protect speech we (or at least some of us) hate.
BTW, I'm waiting for the play, "The Book of Islam." It's probably being screen written right now. And it will probably get all the awards and accolades as "The Book of Mormon."
And when will some guy win art prizes for putting, say, a Quran in a beaker of urine? Where's Mapplethorpe when we need him?
Both tax measures here went down by sizable margins the other day. Locally, the school millage was defeated by 10%. Statewide, the so-called (and misnamed) road repair proposal was lambasted by more than 3 to 1. Of course people voted against higher taxes. It probably wasn't such a hot idea to have a tax-increase election so soon after April 15. But I wonder if many people voted no as a protest against those who spend our money. We just don't trust our elected and appointed officials to spend money wisely. Their track records are pitiful, aren't they? That was a good part of my opposition to both proposals, a lack of trust that the money would be spent intelligently.
It was great, though, hearing proponents, of both proposals, tell us that the increase in taxes we'd see would be "just a drop in the bucket." Apparently none of them ever thought of the cumulative increase(s). Let's just put it this way, if they had passed and we toss in the extra money ObamaCare has cost me over the past year and a half, that "drop in the bucket" has cost me about $3000. That's some "drop." In fact, I taught a whole semester of college history last winter to pay for that "drop," just the "drop," not all of our taxes.
Ah, but remember that sage of DC, Joe Biden, reminding us that "paying taxes is patriotic." If that is so, I would certainly invite all those who think I'm being unreasonable in opposing so much taxation to voluntarily pay more on their own. I guess until I see that, we'll have no real discussion.
If anything should be protected under the First Amendment it's "hate speech." What kind of freedom of speech is it if only expression we like is protected? That's the real test of "freedom," how far we go to protect speech we (or at least some of us) hate.
BTW, I'm waiting for the play, "The Book of Islam." It's probably being screen written right now. And it will probably get all the awards and accolades as "The Book of Mormon."
And when will some guy win art prizes for putting, say, a Quran in a beaker of urine? Where's Mapplethorpe when we need him?
Both tax measures here went down by sizable margins the other day. Locally, the school millage was defeated by 10%. Statewide, the so-called (and misnamed) road repair proposal was lambasted by more than 3 to 1. Of course people voted against higher taxes. It probably wasn't such a hot idea to have a tax-increase election so soon after April 15. But I wonder if many people voted no as a protest against those who spend our money. We just don't trust our elected and appointed officials to spend money wisely. Their track records are pitiful, aren't they? That was a good part of my opposition to both proposals, a lack of trust that the money would be spent intelligently.
It was great, though, hearing proponents, of both proposals, tell us that the increase in taxes we'd see would be "just a drop in the bucket." Apparently none of them ever thought of the cumulative increase(s). Let's just put it this way, if they had passed and we toss in the extra money ObamaCare has cost me over the past year and a half, that "drop in the bucket" has cost me about $3000. That's some "drop." In fact, I taught a whole semester of college history last winter to pay for that "drop," just the "drop," not all of our taxes.
Ah, but remember that sage of DC, Joe Biden, reminding us that "paying taxes is patriotic." If that is so, I would certainly invite all those who think I'm being unreasonable in opposing so much taxation to voluntarily pay more on their own. I guess until I see that, we'll have no real discussion.
Friday, May 1, 2015
The Who......
What was it The Who sang? "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss."
That appears to be the case with Proposal 1 coming here in Michigan; the election is Tue. Proponents claim passage will "fix the roads." Nobody argues that Michigan's roads aren't in need of massive "fixing." But despite all the propaganda, and that's what it is, propaganda, I can't see voting for the proposal.
Let's start with this proposal would amend the state constitution, always a chancy move. It would increase the sales tax and gasoline taxes. Far less than half of the money raised (I guess I've heard $1.7 billion??????) would actually go to repairing the roads. Further claims say the average tax increase for Michigan residents would be about $200 a year. I think that's quite disingenuous; one must also consider residuals. My guess the increased burden would be twice or three times that, at least.
But The Who bring me back to what's most unappealing with all of this. These folks in Lansing want us to trust them with more of our money. But they've never come clean on a number of questions. For instance, the governor claims Ohio, right next door, spends more than $1.3 billion more on its roads than we do here in Michigan. How can that be so when Michigan taxes are higher than those in Ohio? Also, if the tax increase would raise about half a billion dollars for the roads, why can't a state budget of almost $60 billion find the money for fixes? Also, since the governor took office, state spending has increased, what?, almost $5 billion. Why didn't that money go for the roads? And, if, as proponents claim, the roads are so vital to Michigan, why weren't they a priority in the budget? Why were they allowed to deteriorate so much?
"Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss." No thanks, I won't vote to trust more of my money to those who have shown an inability to spend it wisely. Finish the song, "We won't get fooled again!"
The same goes for a local school election, a millage of sorts. This is a second go-around of sorts for this money grab. Last August it was soundly defeated. This time, though, the rate is doubled for twice as long. So, do the math!!!!!! Again, in the same vein as the state and Proposal 1. I won't vote for this. I am supposed to trust people who've unwisely spent money in the past?????? What? Have they had some sort of awakening? Let's go back the to the $43,000 bonus given to the superintendent. I know, I know. As one board member told me, "It wasn't a'bonus,'" It was a contractual "performance incentive." Right. As I told her, "If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, you can call it a chicken all you want. It's still a duck."
BTW, it looks like ObamaCare is going to cost me at least another $700-800 this year. So, in two years, it's taken more than $2000, that's additional, out of my wallet.
From the world of sports, more signs that the Apocalypse is near. The U of Michigan offered a football scholarship to some 8th grader in Florida! And, the first pick of the NFL draft was apparently a guy who's been accused of sexual assault. I guess no charges were ever filed, but the wagons sure circled down there in a hurry. But, hey, after all, this is football, the NFL!
That appears to be the case with Proposal 1 coming here in Michigan; the election is Tue. Proponents claim passage will "fix the roads." Nobody argues that Michigan's roads aren't in need of massive "fixing." But despite all the propaganda, and that's what it is, propaganda, I can't see voting for the proposal.
Let's start with this proposal would amend the state constitution, always a chancy move. It would increase the sales tax and gasoline taxes. Far less than half of the money raised (I guess I've heard $1.7 billion??????) would actually go to repairing the roads. Further claims say the average tax increase for Michigan residents would be about $200 a year. I think that's quite disingenuous; one must also consider residuals. My guess the increased burden would be twice or three times that, at least.
But The Who bring me back to what's most unappealing with all of this. These folks in Lansing want us to trust them with more of our money. But they've never come clean on a number of questions. For instance, the governor claims Ohio, right next door, spends more than $1.3 billion more on its roads than we do here in Michigan. How can that be so when Michigan taxes are higher than those in Ohio? Also, if the tax increase would raise about half a billion dollars for the roads, why can't a state budget of almost $60 billion find the money for fixes? Also, since the governor took office, state spending has increased, what?, almost $5 billion. Why didn't that money go for the roads? And, if, as proponents claim, the roads are so vital to Michigan, why weren't they a priority in the budget? Why were they allowed to deteriorate so much?
"Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss." No thanks, I won't vote to trust more of my money to those who have shown an inability to spend it wisely. Finish the song, "We won't get fooled again!"
The same goes for a local school election, a millage of sorts. This is a second go-around of sorts for this money grab. Last August it was soundly defeated. This time, though, the rate is doubled for twice as long. So, do the math!!!!!! Again, in the same vein as the state and Proposal 1. I won't vote for this. I am supposed to trust people who've unwisely spent money in the past?????? What? Have they had some sort of awakening? Let's go back the to the $43,000 bonus given to the superintendent. I know, I know. As one board member told me, "It wasn't a'bonus,'" It was a contractual "performance incentive." Right. As I told her, "If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, you can call it a chicken all you want. It's still a duck."
BTW, it looks like ObamaCare is going to cost me at least another $700-800 this year. So, in two years, it's taken more than $2000, that's additional, out of my wallet.
From the world of sports, more signs that the Apocalypse is near. The U of Michigan offered a football scholarship to some 8th grader in Florida! And, the first pick of the NFL draft was apparently a guy who's been accused of sexual assault. I guess no charges were ever filed, but the wagons sure circled down there in a hurry. But, hey, after all, this is football, the NFL!
Friday, April 24, 2015
A Few Thoughts
With so much money invested in their players, why do Major League teams insist on playing games in such cold weather? I think the Tigers played the last few games when it was in the low- or mid-30s, with quite a bit of wind. At least one of the games was in swirling snow! How easy it would be for a pitcher to hurt his arm or a batter or fielder to get a bone bruise. I would think owners would want to be more careful with their investments.
For that matter, why do high school teams now play so many games in cold weather, too? I know their refrain, "We have to get in the games." But why do the coaches insist on now playing 30 or more games in the season? The little leagues are the same way. There's no good reason for starting so soon, when it's so cold, when the season could be started a month later and extended until mid-July. Professional, college, high school, little league--take my word for it, playing in the cold and snow is not fun.
Maybe I'm the only one not particularly happy with the Red Wings' new arena plan being approved. That's sacrilege, I know, but...... I guess I'll never understand why taxpayers (or rather the politicians who agree to it) should pay, at least in part, for a billionaire to build a stadium. I know why the billionaire wants the taxpayers to do so, but not why taxpayers always seem to agree to it. The argument goes that more jobs, more business traffic, etc. from the new stadium will generate more revenue for the city and surrounding businesses. I think several studies have shown, after the construction is completed, there's no financial benefit. Revenues are flat. I suppose the argument might hold water in that some blighted areas are improved, but...... Such taxpayer-funded arenas will never disappear; Americans love their sports too much.
I read an interesting article on the value of community colleges. Among several good points, community colleges allow students who might not be sure they want college to experiment, to try out the college academics without paying the outrages costs of four-year schools. They can then decide if college is for them or not. But the article also lauded President Obama's recent call for free community college. The author fell into the same old trap: it wouldn't really be "free." Someone somewhere is paying for it. As Milton Friedman once said, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." I suppose this falls into our generational mindset that also holds, "Why should I have to work at a job I don't like just to provide [health care] for my family." This came from H. Clinton in one of her "follow your dreams" speeches. How typical! Let others pay for what we want. And we call "the 1%" greedy??????
Just throwing around a few figures, maybe I am in favor of those fast-food workers' quest for $15 an hour. At one of the colleges, using the ObamaCare formula to determine weekly hours, I am now working (that is, teaching college history) for about $13.50 an hour. I would like a raise, too!
I see the IRS didn't respond to more than eight million calls for assistance. The agency, according to its director, is undermanned. (Can I say "underpersoned" or "underpeopled?") Its customer service has never been top flight. Of those who did get through to the IRS, only 40% talked to a real person. The excuse is the cost of ObamaCare, how the IRS had to divert funds to handle the mandates ObamaCare placed on it. Gee, I wonder if we paid our taxes with the same concern and efficiency we get from the federal government......
I got a kick out of the recent U of M (and I think EMU?) reactions to showings of the film, American Sniper. Student protests/petitions initially led to cancellation of the showings, apparently because the film depicts Islamic terrorists in a bad light. I'm still trying to imagine how to portray them in a good light or at least a better one. But there are other concerns, too. First, it appears the new administration at U of M is governing by student petition. Maybe not, but it seems so. Second, aren't the colleges/universities supposed to be institutions where a diverse number of viewpoints are presented? Yes, I said it, "diversity!" Perhaps my definition or at least understanding of it is different from the colleges' defs. And OK, students can and should protest; it's part of the educational process. But, unless the local media didn't cover it, I never ever saw a college protest over the beheading of Christians, throwing of gays off of buildings, etc. Maybe such protests would portray the beheaders in a bad light??????
For that matter, why do high school teams now play so many games in cold weather, too? I know their refrain, "We have to get in the games." But why do the coaches insist on now playing 30 or more games in the season? The little leagues are the same way. There's no good reason for starting so soon, when it's so cold, when the season could be started a month later and extended until mid-July. Professional, college, high school, little league--take my word for it, playing in the cold and snow is not fun.
Maybe I'm the only one not particularly happy with the Red Wings' new arena plan being approved. That's sacrilege, I know, but...... I guess I'll never understand why taxpayers (or rather the politicians who agree to it) should pay, at least in part, for a billionaire to build a stadium. I know why the billionaire wants the taxpayers to do so, but not why taxpayers always seem to agree to it. The argument goes that more jobs, more business traffic, etc. from the new stadium will generate more revenue for the city and surrounding businesses. I think several studies have shown, after the construction is completed, there's no financial benefit. Revenues are flat. I suppose the argument might hold water in that some blighted areas are improved, but...... Such taxpayer-funded arenas will never disappear; Americans love their sports too much.
I read an interesting article on the value of community colleges. Among several good points, community colleges allow students who might not be sure they want college to experiment, to try out the college academics without paying the outrages costs of four-year schools. They can then decide if college is for them or not. But the article also lauded President Obama's recent call for free community college. The author fell into the same old trap: it wouldn't really be "free." Someone somewhere is paying for it. As Milton Friedman once said, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." I suppose this falls into our generational mindset that also holds, "Why should I have to work at a job I don't like just to provide [health care] for my family." This came from H. Clinton in one of her "follow your dreams" speeches. How typical! Let others pay for what we want. And we call "the 1%" greedy??????
Just throwing around a few figures, maybe I am in favor of those fast-food workers' quest for $15 an hour. At one of the colleges, using the ObamaCare formula to determine weekly hours, I am now working (that is, teaching college history) for about $13.50 an hour. I would like a raise, too!
I see the IRS didn't respond to more than eight million calls for assistance. The agency, according to its director, is undermanned. (Can I say "underpersoned" or "underpeopled?") Its customer service has never been top flight. Of those who did get through to the IRS, only 40% talked to a real person. The excuse is the cost of ObamaCare, how the IRS had to divert funds to handle the mandates ObamaCare placed on it. Gee, I wonder if we paid our taxes with the same concern and efficiency we get from the federal government......
I got a kick out of the recent U of M (and I think EMU?) reactions to showings of the film, American Sniper. Student protests/petitions initially led to cancellation of the showings, apparently because the film depicts Islamic terrorists in a bad light. I'm still trying to imagine how to portray them in a good light or at least a better one. But there are other concerns, too. First, it appears the new administration at U of M is governing by student petition. Maybe not, but it seems so. Second, aren't the colleges/universities supposed to be institutions where a diverse number of viewpoints are presented? Yes, I said it, "diversity!" Perhaps my definition or at least understanding of it is different from the colleges' defs. And OK, students can and should protest; it's part of the educational process. But, unless the local media didn't cover it, I never ever saw a college protest over the beheading of Christians, throwing of gays off of buildings, etc. Maybe such protests would portray the beheaders in a bad light??????
Friday, April 10, 2015
"A Mystery...
...never fully explained." That line, of course, is from the opening scene of The Phantom of the Opera, a favorite play of mine.
I thought of it several times last week.
My GPS watch sometimes, for no apparent reason, just stops working. It's plugged and recharging, just like usual. I take it off the dock and it doesn't turn on--no nothing. I've learned, though, to just replug it into the dock and a few days later, never much sooner than that, it is working just fine again. Perhaps it just needs a rest......
And my new laptop also seems to have a mind of its own. I will be typing an e-mail/letter or an article/column and suddenly find myself in the middle of a paragraph earlier on the page. My previous computer never did that. Hmmm......
In my office at work, from out of nowhere, my printer and computer couldn't find each other. This had never been a problem before, in almost ten years. I finally, after doing everything I could think of (well, that as a nonadministrator I am allowed to do), I called IT. "Hmmm," said the techie who answered. A ticket was issued and someone came over the next work day to check it out with me. He admitted, "I did nothing, really," but it began to print, like normal. "What did you do?" I asked. He repeated, "Nothing, really." Why did that happened? Somewhat non-techie, he replied, "Sometimes it just does." Hmmm......
This week, early, I ran in 32 degrees. Three days later, at the same time of day, I ran in 54 degrees. Another day brought flow snurries and this AM the wind was extremely blustery. Yesterday, there were thunderstorms and raindrops as big as marbles or golfballs. All in a week, the same week. What's up with that?
I thought of it several times last week.
My GPS watch sometimes, for no apparent reason, just stops working. It's plugged and recharging, just like usual. I take it off the dock and it doesn't turn on--no nothing. I've learned, though, to just replug it into the dock and a few days later, never much sooner than that, it is working just fine again. Perhaps it just needs a rest......
And my new laptop also seems to have a mind of its own. I will be typing an e-mail/letter or an article/column and suddenly find myself in the middle of a paragraph earlier on the page. My previous computer never did that. Hmmm......
In my office at work, from out of nowhere, my printer and computer couldn't find each other. This had never been a problem before, in almost ten years. I finally, after doing everything I could think of (well, that as a nonadministrator I am allowed to do), I called IT. "Hmmm," said the techie who answered. A ticket was issued and someone came over the next work day to check it out with me. He admitted, "I did nothing, really," but it began to print, like normal. "What did you do?" I asked. He repeated, "Nothing, really." Why did that happened? Somewhat non-techie, he replied, "Sometimes it just does." Hmmm......
This week, early, I ran in 32 degrees. Three days later, at the same time of day, I ran in 54 degrees. Another day brought flow snurries and this AM the wind was extremely blustery. Yesterday, there were thunderstorms and raindrops as big as marbles or golfballs. All in a week, the same week. What's up with that?
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Whew!
I sometimes think now logging in to this site isn't worth the effort of doing so. I know some folks have said to me that it's difficult to add comments, but sometimes it's even difficult for me to sign in.
I hope this Iran deal is a real deal, but I am skeptical. Both sides are somewhat cryptic about the terms. What is known seems to have come from leaks. But it appears Iran won a lot and conceded very little, if anything. Of course, all depends on honesty. Will Iran keep any word it gives? Will the US have the guts to identify any violations of the terms? The current administration doesn't exactly lead to any confidence it will.
The Iranians, according to the leaks, won't have to dismantle their heavy water reactor, can keep hundreds of centrifuges, maintains its underground facility, all with an American promise of lifting the sanctions (soon?). This seems like a one-sided negotiations result, as if the US was negotiating from a position of weakness, of capitulation.
The whole deal seems like the Iranians are laughing, knowing that they can continue to sneak their way to nuclear weapons because the US and its diplomats will be far too busy patting themselves on their backs over their agreement.
The Indiana religious freedom episode is troubling. I fully understand the concern with possible discrimination against gays. But I think the problem is far deeper than this. In this instance, I think those whose religious beliefs oppose gay marriages are the ones facing discrimination. Were I a baker or a florist or a DJ or a......whatever I would take the money to serve a gay marriage. Sure I what, no doubt.
But if one's religion is opposed to gay marriages, why can't one refuse to endorse such marriages by actively engaging in it? I can see a prohibition against no serving an individual gay because of sexual orientation, yes. But there, I think, is a difference between the individual and the institution of marriage.
Could this, then, lead to the arrest of a minister or priest who is asked to marry a gay couple, but refuses to do it? What about, taking this to the extreme, could a doctor whose religion opposes abortions be penalized/punished for refusing to perform abortions?
I think I saw, too, online an article where some Detroit media personality posed as a gay man who wanted a Dearborn Muslim bakery to cater his wedding, but was refused. There were multiple accounts of it, so I assume it's true. Where is the equal outrage, other than there is no such law in Michigan? But isn't the principle the same?
I don't know, but the world is getting to complicated for me......
I hope this Iran deal is a real deal, but I am skeptical. Both sides are somewhat cryptic about the terms. What is known seems to have come from leaks. But it appears Iran won a lot and conceded very little, if anything. Of course, all depends on honesty. Will Iran keep any word it gives? Will the US have the guts to identify any violations of the terms? The current administration doesn't exactly lead to any confidence it will.
The Iranians, according to the leaks, won't have to dismantle their heavy water reactor, can keep hundreds of centrifuges, maintains its underground facility, all with an American promise of lifting the sanctions (soon?). This seems like a one-sided negotiations result, as if the US was negotiating from a position of weakness, of capitulation.
The whole deal seems like the Iranians are laughing, knowing that they can continue to sneak their way to nuclear weapons because the US and its diplomats will be far too busy patting themselves on their backs over their agreement.
The Indiana religious freedom episode is troubling. I fully understand the concern with possible discrimination against gays. But I think the problem is far deeper than this. In this instance, I think those whose religious beliefs oppose gay marriages are the ones facing discrimination. Were I a baker or a florist or a DJ or a......whatever I would take the money to serve a gay marriage. Sure I what, no doubt.
But if one's religion is opposed to gay marriages, why can't one refuse to endorse such marriages by actively engaging in it? I can see a prohibition against no serving an individual gay because of sexual orientation, yes. But there, I think, is a difference between the individual and the institution of marriage.
Could this, then, lead to the arrest of a minister or priest who is asked to marry a gay couple, but refuses to do it? What about, taking this to the extreme, could a doctor whose religion opposes abortions be penalized/punished for refusing to perform abortions?
I think I saw, too, online an article where some Detroit media personality posed as a gay man who wanted a Dearborn Muslim bakery to cater his wedding, but was refused. There were multiple accounts of it, so I assume it's true. Where is the equal outrage, other than there is no such law in Michigan? But isn't the principle the same?
I don't know, but the world is getting to complicated for me......
Friday, March 6, 2015
Statistic, Damn Statistics, and Lies
I was reminded of Mark Twain several times last week. One was his quip that "lies make it halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes." (Or something close to that.)
The other was the report coming from DOJ about Ferguson. I have no doubts there are some things that really need to be cleaned up there--and in many other parts of the country. But I heard one person, whose name escapes me, in discussing the report conclude that racism was evident there because, while the black population of Ferguson is 67% (I think that's what she said), 90% of the arrests there are of blacks. I don't know if that's true. I will assume the "arrests" don't include traffic stops, but they might; I don't know. Still, such a comparison of percentages is far off the mark. A much better way to draw conclusions is to compare the crime rate among blacks with the arrest rate. If this woman's logic were accurate, then I think we'd also have to conclude the Ferguson PD is also biased against men. After all, without even know any of the stats, I'd assume that 50% of the arrests there are not women. Hmmm...... Let's at least play fair with numbers.
And I'm still amazed that two guys can try to carjack a car from five people outside a night club and, when their crime is resisted, they open fire. Two of the resisters (I think) were killed and the three others were wounded. That happened about a week ago here in Detroit, on the East Side. Where do such attitudes originate?????? Somewhere, Someone must be teaching that it's OK to steal something that belongs to someone else and, if there's any resistance, it's OK to shoot them. Such stories seem to come on a weekly basis here. I wonder if that's the same all over the US.
I see, too, that the federal gov't is getting involved in the broadband business. Well, what the FCC is trying to do is to overturn state laws that prohibit cities, counties, etc. from creating their own tax-payer funded broadband connections. First, states have authority over their municipalities; so states the Constitution. Some federally-appointed commission doesn't. More important, states acted to help taxpayers/citizens in preventing cities, counties, etc. from wasting their money. The list of cities which have tried to create broadband connections and failed while spending tens of millions of dollars is long. There may have been some successes (I don't know), but the list of failed attempts can start at Groton, CT, Provo, Ut, I'm reminded of federal attempts over the years to get involved in other enterprises and ended up wasting millions and millions of dollars, if not more. Again, we can make a list of such fail endeavors, starting with the fur trade and transcontinental railroad. No wonder history isn't deemed important in the schools by the Establishment. Correctly learned, history might provide some lessons on the folly of government enterprises.
The other was the report coming from DOJ about Ferguson. I have no doubts there are some things that really need to be cleaned up there--and in many other parts of the country. But I heard one person, whose name escapes me, in discussing the report conclude that racism was evident there because, while the black population of Ferguson is 67% (I think that's what she said), 90% of the arrests there are of blacks. I don't know if that's true. I will assume the "arrests" don't include traffic stops, but they might; I don't know. Still, such a comparison of percentages is far off the mark. A much better way to draw conclusions is to compare the crime rate among blacks with the arrest rate. If this woman's logic were accurate, then I think we'd also have to conclude the Ferguson PD is also biased against men. After all, without even know any of the stats, I'd assume that 50% of the arrests there are not women. Hmmm...... Let's at least play fair with numbers.
And I'm still amazed that two guys can try to carjack a car from five people outside a night club and, when their crime is resisted, they open fire. Two of the resisters (I think) were killed and the three others were wounded. That happened about a week ago here in Detroit, on the East Side. Where do such attitudes originate?????? Somewhere, Someone must be teaching that it's OK to steal something that belongs to someone else and, if there's any resistance, it's OK to shoot them. Such stories seem to come on a weekly basis here. I wonder if that's the same all over the US.
I see, too, that the federal gov't is getting involved in the broadband business. Well, what the FCC is trying to do is to overturn state laws that prohibit cities, counties, etc. from creating their own tax-payer funded broadband connections. First, states have authority over their municipalities; so states the Constitution. Some federally-appointed commission doesn't. More important, states acted to help taxpayers/citizens in preventing cities, counties, etc. from wasting their money. The list of cities which have tried to create broadband connections and failed while spending tens of millions of dollars is long. There may have been some successes (I don't know), but the list of failed attempts can start at Groton, CT, Provo, Ut, I'm reminded of federal attempts over the years to get involved in other enterprises and ended up wasting millions and millions of dollars, if not more. Again, we can make a list of such fail endeavors, starting with the fur trade and transcontinental railroad. No wonder history isn't deemed important in the schools by the Establishment. Correctly learned, history might provide some lessons on the folly of government enterprises.
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