Posted on March 12, 2009, 3:54 am, by Jonathan, under
Politics.
A while back I wrote about how the present financial crisis may be the “rock bottom” that precedes better days ahead for the country. A return to our better natures, I hope, and not just a prelude to a collapse. My hope on that front was given a boost when I recently discovered that the [...]
Posted on February 17, 2009, 1:56 am, by Jonathan, under
Politics.
The Democrats went back on their promise to allow a 48 hour period for congress to read the 1000+ pages that comprise the stimulus package just passed. That means that our leaders just spent 800 billion dollars of our children’s money without even knowing what they were voting on. That’s roughly $8,000 for every taxpayer [...]
Posted on February 10, 2009, 10:23 pm, by Jonathan, under
Politics.
In the stimulus package passed by the wise souls of the US Senate, the NIH budgets will get a boost of around ten billion, along with many more to health services in general, with little to nothing going to the NSF. I won’t venture to judge the relative merits of the NSF versus the NIH [...]
Posted on January 29, 2009, 10:33 pm, by Jonathan, under
Politics.
California has announced that it will hold on to tax refunds for 30 days. Given that tax refunds are the property of taxpayers, and not something the state has any legal right to, this amounts to California literally stealing money from over two million residents. At least it’s only for a month, but it’s not [...]
Posted on December 14, 2008, 4:48 pm, by Jonathan, under
Politics.
It’s understandable to recognize legal rights for couples in the law, but it was flat out wrong (and probably even unconstitutional) to base the definition of those unions on anything having to do with religion.
Posted on December 12, 2008, 3:33 pm, by Jonathan, under
Politics.
So far, we the taxpayers on are on the hook for $8.5 trillion. Some of that might get paid back, but nonetheless, we’re at risk for it, and it’s likely we’ll never get it all back. There’s also no evidence that it’s working all that well. Credit markets are still tied up.
Only half the country [...]
Posted on November 14, 2008, 12:53 am, by Jonathan, under
Politics.
I suppose another benefit of our troubles is the bright light being shone on the sausage factory of Washington. Apparently our courageous “leaders” in congress are trying to divert billions of dollars from the bank bailout at the even more hopeless cause of our automobile industry (labor and Detroit being two of the most special [...]