unastronaut*

Tyler Cowen, Professor of Economics at George Mason University and co-author of Marginal Revolution.

I found this particularly interesting, and then I watched related videos for hours. Not exactly the most exciting weekend, but I didn’t want to do a thing and I’m succeeding.

Senator McCain seems to believe he’ll safely and quickly bring gas and fuel prices down by drilling off the coast of Florida.

Safety: The technology is safer, but safer and safe are not the same thing. There were over 80 reported spills during Hurricane Katrina. This is like thinking your clothes are still clean if you only got a little barbecue sauce on them.

Economy: It will take anywhere from 10 to 30 years to actually see any economic benefit or increase in supply of oil. You will see nothing from this. Oil companies will.

This explains why today President Bush announces his support for opening the same areas to drilling. After leaving office, you can bet your ass George Bush will again be soaked in Big Oil. His Dick, Cheney too.

What about this: There are tons of land-based drilling contracts that oil companies are not acting upon. It’s cheaper, safer and easier to drill on land. But if those three factors are true of the process, then the prices and profits are not nearly as high. They don’t drill until the prices are high. The solution is to use other sources. Don’t think so much of gas pricing for cars just yet, think of all the other sources we can replace. To ease the demand on gasoline but also lower the costs of other sources of energy first. When other sources are cheaper than oil, we’ll see people switch with no public policy necessary.

Every public building rooftop in sunny America should be covered in photovoltaic cells, allowing infrastructure to become our power plants. A similar experiment in Los Angeles actually was able to power nearly 150,000 homes and will begin new projects to power more. This doesn’t immediately address gas prices, but energy becomes cheaper, and conversion research carries a stronger incentive.

This is just a farce to help our current administration stay rich and above-the-law after leaving office. Reject this nonsense, the American people — not oil companies — solve our own problems.

Technorati Tags: politics, mccain, bush, oil, war

Jon Taplin had a great post that kind of epitomizes two of the key arguments that have been kicked around early in the general election season.  

First, the lavish lifestyle the McCains live show a stark contrast to the image they try to present.  They are not like the common family. They don’t identify fully, even with their peers in the military and education community.  

Second, John McCain is less fiscally responsible in his personal life than Barack Obama.  Given his lack of an heiress wife, Obama’s actually doing more with less than John McCain, who has never experienced a decade working two jobs to pay back student loans while raising children.  One could argue what McCain experienced was far worse, but I’d argue what Obama experienced was far more common and therefore identifies with more people.  This is further supported by the book royalties for the two candidates in the last year:  $4 million from two books for Obama, compared to less than $200,000 for McCain.

Interesting, to say the least. However the media frames the “working-class” seems to miss the boat with issues like this, where I know more people working their ass off to pay off student loans, to pay for school as they go, to pay for daycare so they can attend school, to pay for college even after they return from Iraq because the GI Bill is outdated, to barely pay their bills and never even have a shred of hope at attending college. I know very few husbands of heiresses. Granted, I know no heiress. I know some people who have been wealthy and healthy all their lives, but only because the lived a frugal, fiscally conservative lifestyle.

Barack Obama - President

When we elect the president this time around, we’re choosing between two distinct directions our nation will head. Only one of those offers a different choice than the status quo by the same means. Prior elections have often felt like choosing between the lesser of two evils. People who could have cared less in the past are now excited about the idea that someday someone in the White House will listen. We know they listen to money and lobbyists now, and it’s getting tired.

Ron Paul - Vice President

In a drastic move, Obama chooses a libertarian-leaning Republican for his ticket. This would never happen, but in my dream ticket, Paul joins Obama on the campaign and begins a new message: Compromise. The nation was built on two very difficult compromises, and stands today in part because change — however slow — keeps this nation great. Ron Paul has challenged both Senator Obama and Senator McCain about many issues, and agrees with both on a few. He would not balk at the chance to actually make an impact.

Al Gore - Department of Energy Secretary

Many people challenge Gore’s ties to green energy companies. Then go fill their vehicle with gas, while our administration is run by oil men. This decision would be hard to push, and would encounter lots of resistance but I think it’s best. Gore brings intellectualism back to the White House. We’ve been led to believe that “educated elites” are controlling the country. This isn’t true, elites with an “education” are in control, and they are not in academia. Research is judged by it’s own scientific discipline and community, not by foolish politicians and groups fighting progress.

Janet Napolitano - Department of Labor Secretary

She understands the need to bring jobs, train competitive workers and power our own economy. She wouldn’t oversee tax breaks being given to companies shipping jobs overseas, but would understand the role of comprehensive immigration reform on labor.  She who wouldn’t ignore the role of some businesses in giving jobs to undocumented workers and sending our unemployment higher.  Time Magazine has called her one of the five best governors in the nation, and jobs are her specialty.

Hillary Clinton - Department of Health & Human Services Secretary

Some might scoff at this position for the former Democratic candidate and near-nominee, but this is where she could make her mark, and prime herself with an accomplishment that would help her in future elections. It is from this post that she could best use her desire to bring quality, affordable health care to all Americans. With such a team, these individual projects would also be far more likely to connect. The Bush administration has given the playbook for a bombardment strategy. After being used to destroy our economy, morale and national health we can now use the same strategy to repair.

Mitt Romney - Department of Commerce Secretary

This would be another highly controversial and has zero likelihood, but again the incentive to Romney is the chance to accomplish something in a post-partisan administration and the Obama administration gains one hell of a business leader. Romney has proven himself as a solid economic executive in the business sector and at the state level. He’s also worked with the likes of Senator Edward Kennedy in Massachusetts to implement a statewide health insurance initiative. That program had its critics, but he certainly proved he does care about health and can work with everyone.

Wesley Clark - Department of Defense Secretary

Service, experience, commitment to getting American troops home safely and keeping us safe. There’s also nobody who would question his patriotism and should beware of such slimy attacks on an administration of which he’d be a part. It’s a smart political move and sends a strong message that the American people will be safe with a President Obama.

Bill Richardson - Secretary of the State Department

A former ambassador, and a strong leader in diplomacy and fearless engagement with our enemies would be perfect for this administration. His experience during the Clinton administration also helps his recognition around the world. He’s also not going to roll over and become a puppet like a certain past Secretary of State.

(ask Ron Paul) - Department of Education Secretary

Fifty departments of education in each state should compete. American competition will save our schools. Stop trying to push nonsense like school choice (tax incentives for those who can already afford private schools) and standardized testing. Until learning environments and school resources are standardized, stop trying to standardize the tests.

John Edwards - Special committee chairman to eliminate poverty.

As the pet project of Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth for quite some time, this position is tailor-fit for the pair. They ooze a bit of hypocrisy with their own lifestyles, but their intentions could be judged in two years and I believe that until Edwards is given a shot, it’s rude to judge them as hypocrites. His post would entail getting into the root causes of poverty and have a war on something that actually cripples America. Rather than throwing money into welfare, Edwards will work with other departments to promote job growth and bolster local law enforcement.

=================

Of course, after this announcement all of these people would join each other on state and candidly talk about some things they agree with and disagree with in the others’ politics, but in a way that emphasizes the new campaign message ‘Compromise’. The team would then each have a final word on what they believe will be the cornerstone of their presence in the administration and what the American people can expect from them. It wouldn’t hurt for us to get to know the depth of the administration you wish to appoint to lead this nation back to prosperity.

If you read this with the intent of criticism, that’s fine, but please keep your comments in the nature of debate.

According to a recent MSNBC Online Poll, 89% of the American public believes President Bush should be impeached. It’s time our Congress stepped up. Write letters to everyone who represents you. They are slow, but they will hear the voice of the people.

FYI: It’s not too late, it’s not meaningless.  Tell your children you didn’t sit on your ass doing nothing while our Constitution was torn to shreds.

He actually understands our economy and Economics in general, unlike the cronies of the past 8 years. As a signal of executive ability, judgement and leadership I am glad Senator Obama made this move. Furman’s history gives a strong indication of Obama’s willingness (and ability) to work across the aisle. Fiscal conservatism needs a strong voice in a campaign that aspires to such great projects. The American people are not as weak-willed as the pundits who say these things are impossible, we just know if we elect another troupe of idiots we’ll never get the major problems of our day solved.

Technorati Tags: politics, economics, obama, furman

Compare that the the utter crap John McCain told Matt Lauer today and you have one of the worst examples of a fall from grace I’ve ever seen. I’ve campaigned for McCain in the past, and I’ll probably just stop admitting that. An absolute hero in 2000 has been reduced to literally ignoring facts and the American people and towing the party line. It’s actually not even the party line, just the extreme idiot wing of the party. George Bush’s third term? Did anyone pay attention to the first two?

Of course some of your best friends are Democrats, they are just as much to blame. We don’t want them to have the power now, we don’t want any of you pieces of garbage to control our nation. We want the power back in the hands of the people. Break this mold for Posterity, as our Founding Fathers did for us.

P.S. - Nice little slip “lower Americans”. Thanks, dick. People who work their asses off to barely get by are the ones who enable paper-pushers for shoddy bureaucracies to keep their jobs. And some drink that skunky crap your wife sells, enabling you to fly around in her private jet when your campaign is low on money (even if it’s contrary to a rule bearing your name). You should figure out a way to start respecting the American people, average ones.

Technorati Tags: mccain, iraq, war, bullshit

John McCain seems to not need a memory. Or facts. Or ideas even. He simply lies about Barack Obama’s tax plan and misquotes his “bitter” comments in such an interesting way…

Yes, Senator McCain, I cling to the Constitution, and I am bitter. Do you know why? Because your party and the president whose policies you whole-heartedly endorse have trampled all over the Constitution, the nearly 800 year old writ of habeas corpus, and our civil liberties. And yes, I must now cling to my gun. Not because I think those hippie liberals will take away my right to defend my family or go hunting, but because the essence of the 2nd Amendment is slipping.

Read the 2nd Amendment, there is no doubt the Founding Fathers were skeptical of government themselves. Our right to bear arms will always protect our freedom — from the government. Yes we use them for sport and personal protection, but the root of this freedom came from people who knew what it was like to be oppressed and have no rights or representation.

So Senator McCain, I cling to my gun and the Constitution. I find this works best when the Constitution is under attack. Maybe if you could correctly identify or quote anything, you’d understand just WHO they are under attack from — ideologues, on both sides.

When it comes right down to it, anyone who understand the incredible personalities of our Founding Fathers knows any one of them would cold-cock any or all of our elected officials for gross offenses to the Constitution. Less than 1% of those we’ve elected to represent the people are actually representing our interests. This isn’t so much about any one party as it is about partisanship in general. It’s phony. It’s old school. A dying school, I pray, for the sake of my country.

Technorati Tags: politics, mccain,, constitution

If you like 26-year-olds being able to retire, then you love the 15% capital gains tax. If I have extra money and put it in the market to make more money, I pay that 15%. If I work my ass off 60-hours a week in a warehouse, I’m paying around 30%. That’s pretty awesome, huh? And truly, why are we taxing work (something we want people to do) at all?

Most people in America, at or around age 65 are forced into retirement. This is common practice, and perfectly acceptable in modern business. Maybe it is a good idea, but if we’re doing anything at all we should at least apply the rule to everyone. So I guess the question is…why do we allow people well past our own working age to run for the highest office in the land, if they’re no longer fit to work for the United States Postal Service? How can we have a commander-in-chief well past retirement age for our Army officers?

Today I heard someone spouting the “marijuana is a gateway drug” argument and something hit me. Besides the obvious fact that alcohol and nicotine are always the first drug anyone tries, everyone who actually perpetuates this hollow argument has either a) never even tried marijuana or b) tried marijuana and stopped. The base hypocrisy in this is hard to ignore.  

Reformed junkies don’t come back and say it was the fault of marijuana as their gateway. Parents of junkies might say that, but they probably have a well-stocked liquor cabinet at home. I know this whole argument has been played-out on both sides, but truly, one side is glaringly ignorant in the whole affair. It doesn’t affect stoners, it affects cancer patients receiving the best possible treatment for their nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. It actually affects everyone, when you consider the loss of potential tax revenue and incredibly high costs of a failing war on drugs.

The War on Health: 35 states have legally recognized marijuana’s medicinal value.

They continue to mention the proposed windfall tax on oil companies in the Senate, but haven’t yet mentioned the introduction of Articles of Impeachment against President Bush in the House of Representatives. Do they need a map of the Beltway? It’s not like they’d need to travel far.

Is this the same media that made every marital misstep of President Clinton a national story for months? I’m not saying he shouldn’t necessarily be judged at some point, but maybe in a book — or if you’re religious, by God — and not in a media that should for the benefit of the people. It’s more like the media that allowed a Pentagon-planted propaganda campaign to lead us into a false war of aggression. The Founding Fathers would have loved the internet in its current state, free enough to matter and alert enough to call shenanigans on corruption.

Check out Raw Story for more video and a PDF link for the entire Articles of Impeachment.

Technorati Tags: politics, impeachment, bush, cheney, war, propaganda

He’s losing grip on everything he once was. I’m ashamed of the campaigning I did for him in 2000, although I still wish it had been him over President Bush in the first place. This is what he has become:

Technorati Tags: mccain, obama, change, progress, politics