Yet another selection of government and related news briefs. I’m going to need about 100 surveillance cameras to record all the stupidity coming out of Washington, California, Massachusetts and Florida. But unlike these morons, I’ll actually get them at a good price.
- While you weren’t looking last week, Congress voted itself a $3,100 pay raise and then took a two-week Thanksgiving vacation. Who are they representing again?
- Rob Reiner is opposing a California ballot initiative that would raise state cigarette taxes by $1.50 per pack, because people might quit smoking. In 1998, Reiner championed a 50 cent hike in cigarette taxes that is used for his pet project, First 5 California.
- The LP Blog reports on two Taxachusetts proposals that would require everyone to carry health insurance and provide subsidies to those who couldn’t afford it. People who failed to carry the required health insurance could lose their driver’s licenses. (I really don’t get that.)
- West Palm Beach, Fla., is planning to install surveillance cameras all over town in an attempt to reduce crime. “If we could put up 100 throughout the city, that would be ideal,” Assistant Chief Guillermo Perez told the Palm Beach Post. This won’t reduce crime, but only shift it to other areas, where the cameras aren’t installed. And for those who live under the lens, there goes your privacy. Oh, and somebody has to pay for all this.
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Jason
Nov 23, 2005
Camera’s saw Mohammed Atta.
And look what happened!
Dave Harmon
Nov 23, 2005
Congress: So, what else is new? :-~
Well, the NY cig taxes are a big reason why *I’m* quitting…. I was paying $100 an effing *week* for cigs! (The patch runs about 1/4 that…)
Massachussets: All the college kids too? Riiight. Don’t worry, sanity will prevail. It’s just that the politicos there often fail to “engage brain before putting mouth in gear”.
West Palm Beach — isn’t that the same town that wanted special ID papers for “menials”?
Cindy Potts
Nov 23, 2005
So they raise the cig tax another $1.50 where do they plan to put the money? in their pockets so they can buy their cigs? I have to pay for my RX times 10. Did you know SSA told my husband to get a divorce so we can get the money for 2 people we only get $100. more than 1 person gets On SSA/SSDI because “2 can live cheaper than 1!” Medi-Cal Won’t Pay for my RX that is $279.00. But will pay for the same thing different name for $800. and people wonder why CA is BROKE?
David Russell
Nov 23, 2005
You’re concerned about 100 cameras in a city the size of Palm Beach? At least you don’t live in Blairtopia, we now have cameras every 1/4 mile on motorways (freeways to you guys), cameras on every street corner in town centres, need I go on? America is the land of the free, Britain is the land of the fuckwit.
Michael Hampton
Nov 23, 2005
David, I don’t want to see America go down that same path toward the surveillance state that the UK has taken. That’s why I’m concerned about 100 cameras.
Raymond B
Nov 24, 2005
When things start to go sour it always seems they can get worse. It appears this is the tactic the current administration utilizes when their policies come under intense scrutiny. We hear all the time how things are improving in Iraq, then when individuals start to say we need to begin drawing down our forces, or questioning decisions regarding Iraq, there is a new threat that soon emerges.
Many believe the administration put the threat of Al Zarqawi in the publics’ eye so that we could unite once again against a common threat we would consider a clear and present danger to America. Many have accused the administration of raising the terror levels in America whenever it appeared the Bush administration was experiencing a debacle domestically.
We here from some individuals there will be a draw-down of troops in 2006, then we hear there are numerous conditions which must be met before the draw-down can begin. Why are there conflicting reports on this situation from anyone in congress? If anyone should know the status of the current situation it should be our elected representatives in congress. I believe that the comments by Mr. Cheney, ‘that Iraq will turn into a bunch of Jihadists’, reflect his personal views and not necessarily the actual situation in Iraq. If the Iraqi population would support such a situation then we must ask ourselves, “ why should any one American soldier put his life on the line for any one of these individuals?� However, I think Mr. Cheneys’ comments are sensationalism and do not reflect the current situation.
Why are so many Iraqi government officials calling for us to leave the country if in fact things ware as dire as we are lead to believe. The Iraqi’s believe our presence is part of the irritation that is threatening stability in Iraq. Many Iraqi leaders believe we have completed our mission and it is time to leave them to resolve their current situation. Anyone who thinks their will not be a civil war in Iraq once we leave is kidding themselves, regardless of how long we wait the turmoil is inevitable. However, many great countries, such as America, have evolved from a revolution, and they found greatness within themselves once the conflict was settled. Maybe the civil war is part of a growing pain a free country must experience in order to appreciate true freedom and democracy.
Raymond B
http://www.voteswagon.com
Raymond B
Nov 25, 2005
As I went out today and contributed my share of money to the gross domestic product of America, I took time to consider my fellow Americans in the military who are serving abroad. They are performing an admirable job carrying out their assigned mission for the American people, as well as completing a very appreciative service to a foreign country trying to embrace a new concept of freedom. Rather than spend time debating the merits of bringing our soldiers home today or tomorrow I wish to reflect on a moving story I read a day or two ago about soldiers just trying to perform their duty. The story revolves around the life of marines in and around Fallujah. I wake up each morning, have my morning drink, take a shower, warm up the car, drive to work, drive home, then relax. After relaxing I turn on the daily news and watch the highlights or hot topics of the Iraq war. The television has sensationalized the war so much that at times I believe people forget these are real people in these 30 second video clips, this is someone’s brother or sister we are watching, not an actor who walks back to his trailer after a filmed battle scene. I hear debate over when the troops should be brought home, the discussion seems so impersonal, I feel that this is the wrong way to discuss this topic, the topic should be nothing but personal. Each time I drive down the freeway to work and I see the flag at half staff I throw up a quick prayer for the soldier that flag symbolizes, I may not know him but I know his kind and if praying for him is the least I can do to show my appreciation and respect then I consider it an honor and privilege to do so. I hope in the weeks to come more and more people discuss this topic, do not be discouraged by close-minded people who call you un-American if you discuss this issue. American soldiers such as these same brave men and woman fought for and died for your right to discuss these exact types of issues. Educate yourself, speak with your elected officials, do all that you can to support these brave men and women. Do more than just watch a 30 second clip on CNN or Fox News. Get involved, find out information, make an informed comment when you discuss the issue of bringing home our soldiers.
Raymond B
http://www.voteswagon.com
Raymond B
Nov 26, 2005
Is there a reason Iran is pledging over a billion dollars to aide in Iraq? With its recent actions of late this move by Iran appears very suspicious. Let’s review the recent actions of the Iranian government. Iran has recently been accused of attempting to work out an ‘oil for weapons technology’ deal with North Korea. Recently there has been proven contact between Iranians and the A.K. Khan. Network. As recently as a few weeks ago there was the president of Iran calling openly in public for Israel to be “wiped off the map.” During the past week Iran’s hard-line president stated that he firmly believes the Bush administration should be tried on war crimes charges related to Iraq while also taking time to denounce the West for its position on Iran’s contentious nuclear program.
Many have known for years that Iran supports and finances the Hezbollah fighters in and around Palestine and Lebanon; they utilize this group to further their political agenda and influence in the Gulf region. And now Iranian lawmakers have voted to resume uranium enrichment and end snap UN checks of its nuclear sites if Tehran is referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions. You add all of this up and two questions must be asked, ‘Why has Iran not been brought before the U.N. security council?’ and ‘Why are they so anxious to help out in Iraq?’
The first question is easy to answer, because the structure of the IAEA Board of governors has changed and the new participants consist of countries not as likely to go along with Western policy, among them, Cuba and Belarus, the U.S. has decided to allow Russia to be more active in resolving the nuclear issue. Many U.N. statesmen believe that if a vote is conducted there will be more abstentions than the last time, and this would be a political nightmare for the Bush administration. The second question is not so easy to answer. Iraq and Iran have fought a brutal war the past 25 years; the countries have a deep rooted hatred for one another. Iran has struggled to try and rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein, this has been accomplished. Iran has also wanted Iraq to become de-Baathified, which has also occurred. So now why is Iran so interested in helping out the country? Do they see an opportunity to walk in the back door and snatch a hard earned democracy from their neighbors in Iraq? Is there an ulterior motive to their sudden policy shift? Has the Untied States and its allies fully addressed the influence Iran will try to now apply in Iraq? What alliances will the new Iraq government form with Iran? I feel these are all valid questions that must be asked by those leading the march to democracy in Iraq. When a newly formed government, such as Iraqs, struggling with its hold on power, begins to cozy up with a country with a reputation such as Iran’s, I feel it must be asked, what is the motive?
Raymond B
http://www.voteswagon.com
Michael Hampton
Nov 26, 2005
And what does this have to do with anything?
Raymond B
Nov 27, 2005
I feel surveillance cameras are a good thing in large urban areas where many people congregate. I know some people say they are an infringement on their rights but I don’t mind them in large populated ares in major cities. As far as the pay increase, I guess at least someone is getting a raise, too bad the people these individuals represent are lsoing their jobs becasue these same individuals are not protecting them with effective legislation.