Gasoline prices are up again--more than 30 cents in the past week in our area. What's the deal this time? The most recent increase a few weeks ago was some refinery problems in Ohio or Indiana or somewhere. Now the story is instability in the Middle East. Huh? When in the past half century has there been stability in the Middle East? Didn't the Temptations sing about that more than 40 years ago? So, now, the excuse is instability in the Mideast?????? Yeah, right......
I would prefer the oil companies just admit that they want to make more money. I wouldn't begrudge them that, well, at least not as much. I can't stand the lying--like my former employer/school district always lying about finances at bargaining time. Does that make Big Oil greedy? Maybe. But what does that make the little league concession stand that buys 24 bottles of GatorAde or Powerade for $5 (about 20 cents a bottle) and then sell it for $1.50? What does it make the tree trimming company that gave us an $800 estimate that another company did (and did just fine) for $150? What does that make Wendy's when it increased the price of one of its 99-cent burgs to $1.69? What does it make the guy who has three cars (all high-end) with only two drivers in the house, a pool with a deck that has more square footage than my house, takes more than half a dozen vacations each year, drinks $20 bottles of wine without a second thought, etc.? "Greed." It's all relative.
I don't know if that Zimmerman guy (I don't recall his first name) is guilty or not, if he deserves punishment, etc. That Trayvon guy (I don't know his first name either) didn't deserve to die. It shouldn't have happened. But what is the federal government doing messing around in that case? News is out that the Justice Dept spent money to organize and promote anti-Zimmerman rallies. Wait! Don't we believe in due process in this country? Don't we believe in fairness? What kind of fair trial is this guy going to get?
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About Me
- Ron Marinucci
- I have been married to Karen for 47 of my 73 years. I have two sons, Mike and Matt, both adults (at least in chronological age), and three grandchildren. I am retired, I suppose. I continue to teach college history, part-time; I still enjoy it, although the increasing amount of silly paperwork is grating and will likely be what drives me to fully retire. I have a BA in history from Amherst College and three graduate degrees. I do a little writing, too, some of which actually brings in some money.
4 comments:
I really do like reading your blog and I agree with you on many things. Even though I tend to be liberal, I too am disgusted by the hypocrisy of the left in regards to their treatment of the current administration. However, I do think there is a strong tendency to take some of the things done by the administration and make them seem far worse than what they really are.
Case in point: "News is out that the Justice Dept spent money to organize and promote anti-Zimmerman rallies."
That is simply not true. They were not organizing and promoting anti-Zimmerman rallies. They were there to try to prevent violence at the protests that were NOT organized by them. You may not believe PolitiFact, but I think they generally do a good job looking these things over.
http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2013/jul/12/judicial-watch/judicial-watch-says-department-justice-unit-organi/
The DOJ spent several thousand dollars to "manage" the demonstrations. First, what does "manage" mean? Does it mean to prevent violence? Maybe or maybe that's just a cover. After all, all levels of government have given us reason to suspect them. Besides, what business is this of the federal government to be anywhere near these demonstrations? Again, the history of the federal government--to be fair, going back a number of administrations--doesn't elicit much confidence.
I concur with the hypocrisy of the media--both sides. I would prefer CNN and Fox both to just admit, "Hey, we're going to give you our side of the news and won't give any balance."
It looks to me like about $3500 was spent. I don't know what for but I am hoping it was to try to prevent violence. Maybe that's naive of me but, if that was the case, $3500 to prevent those protests blowing up into something bigger is money I consider well spent.
I know that to trust any of them is probably silly, but I would ask what would the purpose be of sending people there to foment protest? The Obama administration does not want violence or destruction of property any more than anyone else does. It wouldn't help the administration in any way. Their donors aren't just the 99% no matter what they would like us to believe.
I just think that sometimes the rational explanation is possibly the most valid. And, in this case, I think the most rational explanation is that a few people were sent down to try to cool the emotions and prevent further destruction.
As to the hypocrisy, it isn't just the leftist media that I have a problem with. It is all those protestors who had plenty of time to show their displeasure with the previous administration over just about everything. Where are those same people on drone bombing? Where are they on NSA warrantless surveillance? Those are the people I have the most distaste for. So many people wedded to 'my party' that actually have no real values at all. Their only motivation continues to be having their guy win even if their guy does everything they claim they hate.
Sometimes I am proud of my former students and their insights!!!!!!
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