Just Blowing Smoke...

Sailing Off Course

2012-01-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

So as not to let a writing effort go to waste, I thought I would post the column I wrote earlier in the week for the TFP, one that was ultimately supplanted by my State Of The Union piece. I hope you get a kick out of it ...

It seems amazing that something so large could be allowed to go so far off course, permitted to sail so close to potential disaster, and with danger largely ignored, fail to prevent it running aground on a known hazard. It's astonishing that the person allegedly in charge should all but abandon the charges in his care in a cowardly attempt to save his own skin. It's astounding that as more information becomes known, this person should now attempt to blame everyone and everything around him but his own failed policies and foresight. And in spite of all the mistakes made, responsibilities abandoned, and total failure of leadership, it appears likely that he will ask to be placed in command once more.

Oh sure, you thought I was talking about the recently unsuccessful attempt by the Carnival cruise ship Costa Concordia (with the assistance of the Island of Islo del Giglio) to prove that two objects could in fact occupy the same space at the same time. I was however, talking about another top heavy behemoth that has been off course for some time now. One which seems often to go out of its way to find things to run into … the ship of state.

As for its captain; he appears to have abandoned the concept of working with the rest of the crew to pick a less dangerous course, in favor of taking up the fight to retain his exalted rank and extravagant privilege instead. In traditions more befitting those of captains like the Bounty's Bligh, this one stood cap in hand before us, pleading the case yet again that the cause of all the untoward events of these last three years of voyaging are the fault of the previous captain, members of a sometimes mutinous crew that has refused to follow his wise orders, and passengers who apparently have not paid enough for the voyage. But after lecturing for months that the only way to maintain a properly working ship is for all to work together to keep it on course, he once again seemed unable to heed his own advice, and there is little doubt that we will see a return to a typical election year's acrimonious invective and rancorous rhetoric.

This is not to say that there isn't some cause for the captain's complaint, or that there hasn't been a sizable element opposing both the course being followed and the treatment of crew and passengers alike. Nor is to say that this crew and its ambitions are either altruistic or above reproach, or that they have shown the ability to steer a better course themselves. Such opposition when it deigns to make an appearance is in fact often both inconsistent and disingenuous. Many of the crew seem far more concerned with maintaining or improving their position in the chain of command than improving the lot of the passengers aboard or reaching a more desirable destination. Few have shown the courage of their convictions when faced down by captain, fellow crew, or passengers.

Swaggering around deck and with little clear idea where they would sail if the wheel were placed in their hands, they appear instead content to merely to complain. When put to the question however, their course in fact seems little different from that of their ill-fated captain, with the amount of sail raised amidst the growing storm as their only point of debate. None seems capable of operating a moral compass or charting a clear course away from the dangerous waters that we find ourselves in, nor avoiding the growing maelstrom around us. Any among them that appear of sound judgment or a with grasp of the real dangers at hand are shouted down by captain and crew alike as rabble rousers and trouble makers by a multitude growing in size, ignorance, and inflexibility.

And what do we hear from this blustering and boisterous majority? Is not the captain in charge? Has he not already told us that the ship of state would be in far worse shape had we not sailed the course he has charted? Have we not already given him our every confidence, that we should now question his leadership? Does he not have an able group who still believe in him?

Perhaps then, we are little more than a Ship of Fools; blind to the faults in captain and crew, ignorant of the dangerous waters we sail in, and oblivious to the rising storm around us. Perhaps it's our fate to continue sailing off course until like the ill-fated Costa Concordia, we too capsize, floundering in rising waters far too deep for us to fathom.

TFP Column: SOTU - SSDD

2012-01-26T20:29:00.000-05:00

I had already written a piece for this week's TFP when I suggested to Editor-in-Chief Michael Miller that I might be able to do a State Of The Union (SOTU) piece given a bit of time. His suggestion was pretty much to the effect that I would get 24 hours to do so if I wanted to make it timely.

I was reminded of the famous quote by 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' author Douglas Adams, when he said: "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

Ever-willing to take on a challenge however, I sat down and wrote another piece, "SOTU: SSDD". In listening to both the speech itself and the Republican response, I found myself taken with how much I had heard from preceding residents of the White House, regardless of the political party that they came from, mixed with some new material that struck me as either annoying or amusing. (I also found myself wishing that I could get back the 90 minutes of my life that I lost to the effort of watching well-rehearsed political rhetoric.)

While it's impossible to capture the everything from a speech that lasts over an hour, I think that I hit most of the highlights within the restrictions of an 800 word column. To capture the true feeling of the event however, one would have to combine the experiences being beaten for an hour with a Nerf bat, having a heart attack, banging your head against the wall (cause it feels good when you stop) and being bitten to death by ducks.

If however, you would prefer to instead capture some of the feeling of what is happening in Toledo and NW Ohio, you are going to have to read this weekend's addition of Toledo's largest circulation Sunday and best weekly newspaper, the Toledo Free Press.

(I am waiting to hear back from Michael Miller now to see if I will be using the original effort I produced as a replacement for the mid-week blog effort that I failed to.)

Vote of Confidence: Chapter 8

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Yes I know that I haven't made a significant effort to get a new Chapter up this year, and the guilt I feel is almost overwhelming. It's not so much that it will overcome my normal predilection to be a slacker, but it's possible (though unlikely) that it might put me more in sync for a week or too. At any rate, Chapter 8 is now up.

I call this story, "A twisted tale of Life, Politics, and what some might consider cruelty to animals". (Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that the cruelty part is a bit of a stretch, since no actual animals were in any way harmed physically or psychologically during the production of the story.

I would love to give you some insight into what has gone on in earlier installments, or give some idea of what might be ahead; but that implies that I remember or know, an admission that I am entirely unwilling to make. It would also be giving away the plot in a story that has little to spare.

Since of course any writer likes to be read, I encourage you check it out, knowing that by doing so you will invariably waste some time that I promise you, you will never get back. You may however, find yourself surprised.

Stabilizing the MCP (Again)

2012-01-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

I have spoken before about the Miscellaneous Crap Pile near my desk, comprised of tidbits of information that I found enlightening, interesting, or simply bizarre that I hadn't yet managed to find a use for. The MCP however, is as much mental as physical, requiring periodic review in a mostly useless though never-ending attempt to maintain both stability and storage capacity, both of which appear to be woefully limited around here. These periodic purges allow me to take on a variety of subjects in a form whose brevity is as welcome by JBS readers as it is unusual for me. Since the unusual has long been something that we embrace here at JBS, I am therefore happy to oblige.

The French threatened yesterday to pull their forces out of Afghanistan after four of their ranks were killed and fifteen wounded in what has been deemed an attack by a 'rogue Afghan soldier'. Apparently the fact that the French are out of practice in the act of surrendering, means that in spite of their threat, they're still there today. Of course France's contribution of 4,000 of the 130,000 NATO forces currently stationed in Afghanistan, troops which were scheduled to leave next year anyway, will probably not end either NATO or US involvement in an area that cries out for a lack of involvement. Afghan President Karzai (speaking of both 'rogue' and 'lack of involvement') is due in Paris in a week, and has already offered his condolences to the families (and here many of us thought that President Obama was the only world leader to travel around the world apologizing). Maybe while he's visiting he can also explain how bad guys keep apparently infiltrating the ranks of his army, or how to tell the difference between a rogue soldier and any anyone else in the Afghan army (other than not being ineffectual of course).

For those of you who have somehow missed it, the Costa Concordia is still lying on its side on the coast of Islo del Giglio. To say that no ship's captain has made more mistakes since 'The Skipper' took some folks out for a purported three hour tour with Gilligan is an understatement. I don't mean to make light of a situation in which human life was needlessly lost, but one cannot help but see a certain 'gallows humor' in this tragic example of the vaunted technology of Mankind failing on an epic scale. That one of these floating islands managed to crash into a real one is ironic on a scale seldom seen in fact or fiction. That the circus currently surrounding the circumstances of this maritime disaster involves a ship that's part of a cruise line named 'Carnival' only adds to the incongruity. The concept that environmental scientists are as concerned with the food stored in the ship making contact with the local environment as they are that the fuel will speaks volumes about environmental scientists and what we stuff in our pie holes.The pathetic excuses of the ship's captain in shirking his responsibilities and abandoning his charges to their own fate cannot help but make one believe that this miserable example of humanity has a lot of time to look forward to in prison ... or in politics. In Italy, perhaps both.

Speaking of miserable examples, last week's self-serving announcements by two former Mayors in Toledo about how the current office holder is doing his job is apparently a plot that's thickening. While these lamentable examples of alleged political leadership only sought to take the stage after a story reported in the Glass City's daily paper, we now see that rather than it being a shining example of that institution's fading star of investigative journalism, the facts of the tale were fed to the Blade based on the investigations of a member of City Council. Fortunately, the Toledo Free Press is on the case, and there is little doubt that the facts of the case will now come out.

As for lauding the stalwart former detective / politician / investigative reporter's channeling of Columbo (or was it Woodward and Bernstein), one may want to look a little closer before awarding the laurel wreath. D Michael's legislative aide is a former well-known Toledo blogger whose talent for sniffing out facts, knowing who to talk to in getting them confirmed, and gathering them into a consistent narrative are far more likely to deserve the actual credit than the Councilman. Lest one seek to deride the man in question for taking all the credit for the detective work involved, for failing to first approach the Administration with its results of the investigation, or for handing the story over to the daily in the hopes of embarrassing the Administration; one should first listen to his smug attempt to present his case at a City Council meeting a while back. It seems that his false attempts at humility (he thought he would accused of political grandstanding) and his failures to live up to Peter Falk's portrayal of the intrepid cigar chewing detective are only exceeded by his even greater inability to channel the late Raymond Burr's portrayal of Perry Mason (as well as his failure to distinguish the difference between a hypothetical and rhetorical questions).

The Republicans had another debate this week (yawn) as a prelude to the South Carolina primary (yawn). It was somewhat easier to bear, as with the withdrawal of Rick Perry we were down to a number of candidates on stage that didn't require a wide angle lens. Unchanging however, is the fact that the debate moderators still haven't managed to get most of the contestants of this political version of 'American Idol' to hand out more than political standards and show tune sound bites that the pundits can later congratulate them for. Along the way however, all seemed to have added a number to their repertoire that includes a healthy dose of ridicule for the media themselves, whose feeding frenzy for irrelevancy is only equaled by the candidates willingness to chum the waters for them, and whose inclusion guarantees them a standing 'O'.

This however, is apparently a truly sorry bunch of candidates. Mitt Romney is sorry he made so much money in the private sector (which leaves one questioning why failure should be more laudable in a candidate for this nation's highest office). Newt Gingrich is sorry that he got married so many times, but happy that he paid a higher tax rate than Romney (which leaves one questioning why paying more taxes is good). Rick Santorum is sorry that he can't reconcile his supposed Conservative credentials with his Statist pronouncements and voting record (not that we've ever demanded logical consistency of Presidents). Ron Paul is sorry that no one took him this seriously 20 years ago, that he never learned to speak 'soundbite' well enough to play at this level, and that no matter what he says they're still going to treat him like a crazy relative with turrets syndrome that everyone hopes will leave. The ponderous political process continues however, with all of faux drama of a poorly written reality show, and all of the excitement of the Tic-Tac-Toe championships.

OK, that's enough natural fertilizer for one sitting (though it is a miscellaneous CRAP pile after all). I've cleared enough of the pile away to show me the many other useless writing assignments that I need to work on, so I'm going to get to work.

Smoke em if you got em.

Limited Government

2012-01-18T00:01:00.003-05:00

Many of us who have spent any amount of time studying the Constitution still maintain that this document under which the second form of the federal government of the United States was created was designed in order to limit the scope of that government. While there was a consensus that the Articles of Confederation had created a central body too weak to much longer survive, there was still a great deal of concern so soon after the Revolution that one much stronger would prove equally inimical to both the rights of the states and those of citizens.

And so it was that in "The Federalist Papers" James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay sought to allay the fears of the people that this new document did not do just that. Of course they did so following a very strict interpretation of this document, a point of view no longer widely held by many of those currently in power; but by doing so they managed to get each of the thirteen original States to ratify the document. Even then, ratification was not assured without an agreement placing some additional protection into the document itself, and the first ten amendments or "Bill of Rights" were born.

Today's far more liberal interpretations of the Constitution, as well as the often voiced concept of a 'living Constitution' are causing some of us to revisit this concept of a 'limited government'. We are challenged however in that strict interpretation by a two-party ruling elite far more concerned with protecting their own rice bowl than with the rights of the people that they swore to serve when taking their oath of office. Perhaps therefore, it's time that we took up once again the concept of additional protection from an over-reaching national legislature and bureaucracy.

I therefore propose that we begin to lobby for an addition to the Republican Party Platform in the months leading up to the convention in Tampa for ... Term Limits. Don't get me wrong here, I don't propose that we limit the terms in office of legislators, much as I would like to, as there is little chance that we could get those elected to office to lift their heads from the government trough long enough to even consider such blasphemy. Instead I would like to propose a mandatory limit on the length of time that any new law or regulation can remain in effect without being approved again. Failing to gain that approval, such a law or regulation in question would be automatically rescinded. Without seeking demand for a specific timetable, I would off the suggestion of three years for new legislation passed by Congress and one year for new regulations instituted by agencies and bureaucrats without the approval of Congress.

The time periods themselves are less important however than the concept of a forced review. Suggesting a three year review for legislation should allow for the periodic party swings in the legislature. If a law has merit, such merit and the law itself should prove easy to defend even amidst the pendulum swings of party public favor and renewal should still be all but assured. Should such legislation prove over time to have been either inadequate or over-reaching, the three year period should prove sufficient to allow it to lapse with no loss of face to either party or the legislators who originally passed it.

As for regulations, since most do not go through the debate of 'elected officials' in the first place, the review process should come much quicker. Legislators who have abrogated their Constitutionally mandated responsibility and authority to create law in this country would be forced to take up the issue of accountability that much quicker and at least attempt to do the will of the people; and be themselves judged for doing so.

In addition to addressing new laws, a process which likewise mandates the review of at least 10% of existing legislation should become a part of this obligation. There are far too many confusing and contradictory laws and regulations on the books to allow for continued addition to their number. A recognition of this fact and a way to force the a clean up of the issued cannot help but have a positive effect. A mandatory review would likewise provide the incentive and political cover for elected officials to do so without jeopardizing their political futures. It would likewise put agencies and bureaucrats on notice that their actions should not be unilaterally attempted without eventual consequences.

Now many might believe that placing Congress under such an enormous encumbrance would not allow them time to pass 'new' legislation or regulation. So be it! If one job was created or saved by virtue of bringing the runaway train of the national legislature under even that much control, it would be worth it. Perhaps the burden of such a mandatory review would be just the caution that Congress requires before imposing its will in the way of new laws and rules. The national register (the list of federal regulations) is already over 81,000 pages long. That single fact alone should dictate that it's far past time that something can and must be done to provide new limits. The tax code is over 71,000 pages, far too complex for anyone to comprehend or be able to comply with. Forcing Congress to review each law or regulation may be just the impetus that they need to simplify the entire tax code.

At the very least, adoption of such a proposal into the platform of one of the major political parties might scare potential candidates from taking on such a burden, and dissuade today's generation of professional politicians from seeking to return to the job. Recognizing this as comparable 'Labors and Sisyphus' may allow some new blood to finally seep into the anemic arteries of a largely spineless group of lawmakers; thereby promoting the real hope and change that this country so desperately needs.

Fear of Flying

2012-01-15T00:01:00.018-05:00

It's only now, having gone through a couple of weeks of intense therapy, that I have recovered sufficiently from the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder of the event to begin talking about my recent travel experience. Of course, the whole thing was my fault. It was I who decided to attempt to journey from the land of Oz to the Big Apple, I who decided to attempt to use last significant stockpile of frequent flyer miles that I had to make the journey, and I therefore who found myself standing in an airport on Christmas Eve.

Now lest you fear that these are the ramblings of yet another demented and cranky old bastard (which of course, they are), let me set before you my credentials for service as a Road Warrior. I began traveling by air as part of my employment back in 1979, and did so on a very regular basis for about 30 years. During that period, I managed to visit about 46 of the 50 states (oops, I almost said 58 there), all but one province of Canada, and a number of foreign countries in Europe and South America. There were in fact many years during this period where I flew in excess of 100,000 miles on multiple airlines, achieving a rather exalted level of frequent flyer status. I have flown in everything from single engine private planes to 747's, and have participated in two emergency landings (one in a 727 when an engine fell off, and another in a Shorts 360 commuter plane when we landed wheels up because the landing gear wouldn't lock). None of this however, prepared me for the trials and travails of recent travel to visit my daughter's family near NYC.

Of course the ADL (Anti-Destination League) was in full attendance at all of the airports involved. (For further information on this nefarious organization, you can read about them in this previous post.) Being well-schooled in their tactics however, I was able to strategically position myself in the boarding area and charge forward to the jetway before they were able to properly deploy the boarding gate picket lines. I was equally successful in evading them in the baggage claim area, as since this was a short trip I had all of my worldly possession tightly grasped in my hands throughout the travel process. (I was in fact only required to bludgeon three fellow travelers during the entire trip with a backpack which I had lethally prepared for just such a purpose.)

Regardless of professional preparation however, dealing with fellow travelers whose lack of spacial comprehension convinced them that luggage the size of a sea trunk could be hoisted into the overhead space was a bit off putting. (And BTW, while gate agents are looking at the size of luggage, they might also want to look at the material of construction; and declare that rope handled shopping bags no longer qualify as luggage.) I was similarly caught off guard by the Christmas cheer of the airline staff, having long ago grown accustomed to the type of surly treatment normally reserved by conductors on Japanese subway cars. I had somehow likewise forgotten that the seat back that I was attempting to recline on placed this surface well within kicking range of crumb crunchers flying with their progenitors, producing movements far more violent than either of the emergency landings previously mentioned.

Speaking of children, while I have never been a fan of government agencies and their regulations, I would nevertheless encourage OSHA and the EPA to investigate the noise level on today's airlines. Oh, I'm not talking about that of the engines, which was comforting enough to put me almost immediately asleep, but that of the shrieking children with whom I shared this all too cramped space, and whose hideous screeching soon after takeoff re-awakened me. I neither remembered nor comprehended that infants and toddlers could produce sounds only slightly below a frequency level that only dogs can hear at a decibel level far beyond that of a newspaper printing press running at 60,000 copies per hour. It's far past time that flight attendants issued the hearing protection required for such environments. (Which reminds me that I must remember to sue Sony for the failure of their noise cancellation headphones to perform anywhere near what was promised.)

But of course no tale of the trials of travel would be complete without a description of the performance of those gallant mall cop wanna be's, the agents of the Transportation Security Administration. What then can we say about the TSA that has not been said before?

* That their idea of cost cutting and maintaining work-site cleanliness was to not have me place the shoes that they forced me to take off into their plastic bins, so that they would not have to clean the bins of the dirt that might be on them (Apparently dirt in their X-ray machine was not seen as a concern.)

* That their concept of thoroughness was to challenge me when I said that I didn't in fact have a laptop in the backpack that I was carrying (I didn't).

* That their attention to detail was to berate me for having the 3 oz bottle of shampoo that their rules limited me to in my shaving kit and not in the required zip lock bag (evidently the 3 oz cologne with flammable alcohol in the same shaving kit was of little concern).

* That with all of their new technology, they are in fact no more efficient than when they had simple metal detectors, let alone X-ray machines; and no more effective than a Big 10 football team in a BCS bowl game.

Oh it's true that I eventually returned Kansas physically unscathed, as befits its state motto "Ad Astra per Aspera" (to the stars through the rough); but the psychic scars of my recent travel may linger for years to come. It's strange to comprehend that it's only now after long years of travel and many harrowing experiences that a true fear of flying has begun to grip me. It's not the technology however that causes my skin to pale and my heart to race as I contemplate future travel in these 'Greyhounds of the air', but the collective insanity of my fellow travelers and the perverse nature and ludicrous methods employed by the government that seeks to 'protect' me while doing so.

JBS Alert: Starvation Potential or Investment Opportunity

2012-01-13T21:48:00.007-05:00

While many of you out there have been idling away your time in fruitless pursuits (no not watch reruns of American Idol or new episodes of Glee, but watching the debates or voting in the Republican primaries) the staff at 'Just Blowing Smoke' have been tirelessly keeping their eyes open for the next potentially world-changing story. Kept locked in the JBS research center for hours on end on a diet of Cheetos and Mountain Dew, it's probably not surprising that these labors eventually bore a tasty result.

So for those of you who missed the announcement in the business news earlier this week, I can and should now inform you that on Wednesday Hostess brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The victim of an increasing antagonism to its products, Hostess is but the latest corporation to fall victim to bad press and the nefarious plots of an evil consortium of yogurt and granola producers. For those who because of recent fever or long-term stupidity still haven't quite understood the implications here, let me say this as plainly as I can. This means NO MORE TWINKIES!

Long attacked for unsubstantiated charges of large-scale population poisoning, Hostess was long seen has having evil design bent on shortening human lifespans through the sale and consumption of unhealthy snacks (Frito Lay has faced similar dubious charges over its products). The truth however, is that the makers of the Twinkie were merely serving the public dietary need for Calcium and Sodium Caseinate, Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60 and Stearoyl Lactylate (and of course yellow #5 and Red #40 dye).

The implications of the potential demise of this 87-year old, privately-held baked goods organization however, are truly staggering when fully considered. Laugh if you will my friends, but these little sponge cake beauties contain three of the major food groups: sugar, cake, and chemically produced, non-dairy cream filling. Dip them in chocolate and wrap them in bacon before deep frying them, and you will have surpassed your daily dietary requirements for all the foods that make life worth living.

Hostess however, is apparently yet the latest in a series of US corporations about to fall prey to its poorly negotiated union contracts over the years. Long grown fat and happy (pun intended) as the 'snack bubble' grew, Hostess chose to mostly ignore the warning signs of a trend towards healthier eating habits. With that bubble now apparently burst and burdened under contracts with the Teamsters that provide lavish health and pension benefits, it's in fact Hostess's health and future that are in jeopardy.

Little is know of the dim beginnings of the dysfunctional relationship between Hostess and its Unions. It's rumored however, that some of the names of others of their most famous products came as a result of their negotiations. 'Ding Dongs' is rumored to have come from the name Teamster negotiators used in describing their corporate counterparts for many years. 'Ho Hos' is likewise said to have come from a comment made by one of the Teamsters sitting at the table when asked by a reporter how their negotiations of their most recent contract were going. (There was a parallel rumor that this term described the way that Union negotiators treated management over the years, but this 'blue version' cannot be corroborated.) Few are apparently laughing however, when viewing the implications of a temporary, let alone a permanent Hostess shut down.

Of course there are potential immediate health risks involved to the general public, as those suffering from gastronomic addiction attempt to overcome TWS (Twinkie Withdrawal Symptoms). There is likewise considerable concern that without Twinkies, long seen as a 'gateway snack', users will eventually turn to more debilitating confections like strawberry shortcake, chocolate mousse, or banana pudding; and eventually suffer addiction to those most dangerous of substitutes ... cheesecake, turtle pie, and creme brulee.

While certainly some of us may survive for a limited period of time if the maker of Ho Hos and Ding Dongs goes belly up (metaphorically speaking of course, as a steady diet of these bad boys permits no other position), the fact we are looking at the demise of the Twinkie (even to those who have stockpiled them) is perhaps yet another sign that Armageddon may in fact be in sight.

I don't know about you my friends, but it's my intention to make stops at all of my regular grocery and snack outlets to obtain as many of these pastry delights as I can lay my hands on this weekend. I do this not only in a show of solidarity with my Hostess brothers and sisters, but in the hopes of putting as many Twinkies into storage as my one bedroom apartment allows (I'm even considering renting a storage area).

Laugh if you will, but it's my guess that in the years ahead (Twinkies have in fact proved in government funded studies to have a half-life equivalent to that of Uranium-235), that this stockpile may in fact serve me very well indeed as a retirement investment. Real estate prices (as we have recently seen) may rise and fall, currencies may likewise command respect and be heaped with scorn, even the price of gold and silver may rise and fall over time; but the value of the Twinkie when none can be found on the shelves (like the efficacy of the pastry itself) will live forever. The Twinkie standard of exchange may not be one currently accepted on the world markets, but many of you will rue the day that you failed to join me in the purchase of what will become the first truly edible form of exchange.

Will The Real Conservatives Enter And Sign In Please

2012-01-12T00:01:00.004-05:00

A little over a year after I was born, a TV show premiered on CBS called "To Tell The Truth". (Yes, they did have TV that far back, though the screen was small, round, and only showed pictures in black and white.) The premise of the show was simple, three people would claim to be something that only one of them actually was, and the game involved figuring out which of the three was doing so.

Each of the contestants not telling the truth about who or what they were schooled enough to be able to answer questions about their false claim. Some pulled it off pretty well and fooled a panel of pundits put in place specifically to see through them. Others were pretty obvious as lame set-ups and were quickly unmasked.

Because we are now entering the heart of the Republican Party Primary season, you've probably decided that what I'm talking about Republican presidential candidates ... but you'd be wrong. In fact with one exception, there is nothing that any of the Republican candidates for President can tell me at this point that will make me believe that they tell the truth when they say that they're Conservatives. What I'm far more concerned with are those who entered Congress two years ago, and those that will soon be running this year for office in both the House and the Senate. Which of those in office has proved to tell the truth with regards to their Conservative credentials and which newcomers to the process can lay claim to such truth? Tea Party or not, far too many seem to have proven to be little more than a 'storm in a teacup', have fallen far below the standards that they set for themselves when running, and are a far cry indeed below the ideal that one might have assumed based on the rhetoric of the 2010 election.

Each of the two Houses of Congress firmly in the grip of one of the two major political parties, and both seem incapable of changing the direction in which the nation is going. Regardless of party affiliation or declared principles, we continue to see the national legislature function under the concept of 'business as usual', with little or no impact felt by the introduction of these so-called Conservative elements.

* So-called spending 'cuts' still have little to do with the reducing even the natural increase in spending, and nothing at all to do with actually reducing the amount that this nation spends from one year to the next.

* Entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare continue to go bankrupt, and increasingly appear to have the potential of taking the rest of the country with them. Instead of attempting to address the situation however, the best that those in power can suggest are 'premium' holidays that only speed up the death spiral process. (Don't even let me get started on where Obamacare fits into this.)

* Government Bureaucracy continues to increase at an alarming rate, with the legislators finding it politically expedient to turn over their Constitutionally Mandated Authority to an ever greater number of agencies and ever larger gang of unelected paper pushers. After promising before each election to eliminate these ineffective agencies, they instead add to the total number of bureaucratic drones collecting a government paycheck.

* Government regulation likewise continues to increase with the National Register (the big book of federal regulations) in fact growing at a record pace. Few should be surprised however, as many of these new regulations are generated by the out-of-control bureaucracy that will administer them, their mandates taking effect without the approval or perhaps even the knowledge of legislators whose province such rules once were.

Though much was made of their entry in 2010, after sufficient cajoling and scolding, it appears that the professional politicians have once again brought their young and inexperienced members into line. Having carefully explained to them about 'the way things are done' and how to real power in Congress, they now seem content to pass meaningless votes that show some level of intestinal fortitude; knowing that even these lackluster efforts will be compromised the first time that their opponents denigrate them for doing so.

Basking now in the pay and privilege afforded by their election to Congress and showing little understanding of the definitions of 'fair share' or 'compromise', and especially that of 'personal responsibility', they continue to follow a path of destruction and roll up the national deficit at a pace never dreamed of in this nation's past.

Living by their own special set of rules (like those on Insider Trading) and showing apparently no understanding of the burden that they assumed when seeking elected office, they allow themselves to get 'schooled' (or perhaps more accurately 'punked') by their wiser, more experienced, and perhaps more jaded colleagues.

So perhaps while we are still some ten months from the election, it's time to ask those seeking office if they are the real deal where conservative principles of a small government, defined and limited by the Constitution are concerned; or something that merely masquerades as a Conservative for the benefits of the cameras and the game.

Many of us out here find that we've grown tired of this game. We've discovered that we're no longer entertained by claims about whether you're 'red' or 'blue', or affirmations that you represent the party of elephant or the jackass (we're coming to believe that members of both are jackasses). No, we don't care any more what party's banner you carry and which you claim to represent. What we really care about is whether this time is if you're going to truly try and represent us, rather than betray us to the agendas two major political parties like so many before you.

So before we all but write you and your little clubs off completely, would the real Conservatives enter and sign in please ....

TFP Column: Succession in Silence

2012-01-10T20:26:00.002-05:00

Monday Toledo's two former strong Mayors decided to hold a press conference to comment on the current officeholder's recent action to fire Department of Neighborhoods Director Kattie Bond and Housing Commissioner Mike Baddick. Monday night, after listening to the highlights of this shabby event, I decided to sit down at the keyboard and comment on the pathetic actions of the two former Mayors. Tuesday, Michael Miller, having calculated that I had not contributed to the madness of Toledo politics for a couple of weeks, put my effort up on the website almost as soon as it reached him. Such is the nature of news in these days of the 24 hour cycle and the electronic newspaper.

So it is that you will find my insight into the behavior of former elected officials in "Grateful For Succession in Silence" before not only the TFP comes out this weekend, but even before the mid-week "Star" edition.

(There is also an ugly, but unconfirmed rumor that it will be reprinted in the print edition this weekend.)

Since it's so early in the week, I have the rare opportunity to recommend both to you. With the weather turning colder, lighting a fire is probably in order (I understand that the Blade is good as kindling, though perhaps not for much else), and find out what's going on in the Glass City and NW Ohio in Toledo's largest Sunday circulation and Ohio's best weekly newspaper (3 years in a row, no less), the Toledo Free Press.

2012 Primaries: Let The Games Begin

2012-01-07T14:52:00.013-05:00

The new year has begun and after an endless number of debates, the seemingly endless process of actual voting begins. Iowa got to go first in what they appear to deem a reward for being known for damned near nothing else; except perhaps their ability to produce pork on a scale that only the federal government can compete with. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I should point out that my father's family came from Iowa, and many of them still reside there.)

Using an arcane caucus process whose rules are so convoluted that no one knows or cares whether they are followed and so ridiculous that even the IRS laughs at them, they managed to produce a virtual tie between the Republican front runner and a guy that a week before was tied for last. Casting aside a 'favorite daughter' in Michele Bachmann that only months before won their straw poll (an equally enigmatic and incomprehensible practice), they gave their blessing (a prediction that has had much the same accuracy as a coin flip) to former Governor Mitt Romney and former Senator Rick Santorum before passing them off to the next stop on the rodeo circuit, New Hampshire.

New Hampshire of course is known for three things: its rebellious "Live Free or Die" state motto, not being Iowa, and getting to vote after them. They were granted this favored #2 spot because they suffer from New England's equivalent of Iowa's dreariness. Unlike their Midwestern counterpart however, they recognized that the odd shape of their state and its pugnacious slogan were enough eccentricity for any one place, and chose instead to use a more normal primary election format to make their own selection. (Pity they didn't show a bit of New England austerity as well, and bill the entire process to the parties involved.)

As any who follows the primary process knows (very few, except for politicians and political pundits), these selections then move south to South Carolina and Florida before January ends, then scatter like the fall leaves amongst the winter snows in February; with the entire process completed in June. And in spite of the fact that only one primary has been held, most of those 'in the know' are once again predicting that the entire process will be all but over after just four of the some fifty odd contests (pun intended) are completed.

I am not counting as part of the fifty, the primaries which are held in Guam, Puerto, or any of the other US possessions, as they are meaningless in terms of sending delegates to the Republican Convention. Of course the same might be said of the Missouri primary held on February 7th, as delegates to the convention in this state are sent based on a caucus held a month later. Missourians however, are known to be a stubborn lot, unwilling to surrender their right to choose regardless of how superfluous it proves.

Primaries in my last three states of residence are strangely enough, grouped together in March; with Georgia on 3/3, Kansas on 3/6, and Ohio on 3/10. All three share dates with other states across the nation, and curiously two of them share a date with Wyoming (3/6 thru 3/10). Apparently citizens in Wyoming enjoy the caucus process so much (or things are so boring in Wyoming) that they participate in it for five days, though their ultimate decision gains no more credit than if they had done so in one. (Maine also has an extended state caucus, one which runs even longer [4/4 thru 4/10], but their eccentricity might easily be explained by similar boredom, and sharing more border with Canada than the rest of the US.) In perhaps some twisted form of egotism, Utah's primary is the last one held that actually gets to send delegates to the convention. Though not able to send any great number of delegates, they do have the dubious honor of having their choice be usually and largely irrelevant.

And while the Republican candidate needs the votes of some 1144 of these party representatives, let us not forget that there are 132 'superdelegates' who will also cast votes at the convention. These delegates are long-time party members in good standing who become a kind of Republican 'Hall of Fame', rewarded with a trip to the Convention held in Tampa, Florida this year in August (not what many would consider much of a reward). These delegates are not obligated to vote based on the results of the primary held in their state of residence, but can instead simply vote their conscience (assuming after years of party politics, they still have one). At the very least, they might hope to be courted by a number of candidates and get their names and pictures in the news one last time before sinking back into political irrelevancy and relative obscurity.

According to most of the pundits this whole thing is inconsequential anyway, as Mitt Romney will achieve the nomination because they say he will, because it's his turn after his prior attempt in 2008, or perhaps because he pulled a sword from a stone. Apparently the only reason that we continue to go through the motions at all is to give the 24-hour news networks something to talk about for the next six months and to provide temporary boons to the economies of each state brought on by campaign events and media buys. Besides, there is always the off chance that at least one of the candidates (or as in this year, all of them) will say something really stupid at a time when someone is there to record it (which is pretty much guaranteed) and provide sufficient fodder for the media to criticize them now, having previously built up their effort to seek high office.

But what the heck, the media circus involved seems to be providing sufficient distraction for the president to circumvent the spirit and the letter of the Constitution with recess appointments, allows Congress to demonize trading practices as illegal on Wall Street that they legally commit themselves, and have both doing nothing to halt a Federal Reserve increasingly taking control of the economy and a federal bureaucracy intent on expanding its own legislative / regulatory power while the two elected arms of government that are supposed to be in charge seem perfectly willing to cede them such responsibility.

So by all means, let's have more 'bread and circuses' for the masses. Let these ridiculous, irrelevant, and inappropriately taxpayer funded internal party games begin.

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Under the Weather

2012-01-04T07:31:00.001-05:00

I have been fighting a bug for going on week now, which is increasingly impacting production on either of the blog sites. Even when my fevered brain manages to come up with something that at least appears to resemble coherent thought, such fleeting awareness becomes impossible to translate to the computer after dealing with the typos and screen cleaning caused by constant coughing and sneezing.

I continue to experiment with self-medication however, and hope to be back in front of the keyboard soon ...

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New Year's Resolutions - 2011 (Part I)

2011-12-31T00:02:00.019-05:00

The end of the year is fast upon us, and for many of us it's once more time to make those time honored 'resolutions' of expectations that we have for ourselves for the coming year.

I find myself on the eve of the election year of 2012 looking at the process much as I did in 2009 in a New Year's Resolution effort for the Toledo Free Press, and added to here in Just Blowing Smoke. I find that in the intervening years, I have held surprisingly firm to those resolutions; so perhaps it's time now to offer a few more serious ones and let you who have lost far too many hours reading the nonsense of JBS decide whether they have value, and whether I stick to them in the days ahead.

I resolve to treat the pronouncements of Republicans and Democrats (and even Libertarians) with equal disdain, knowing such pronouncements can often be little more than the empty noise of political expediency at best and despicable political pandering at worst.
I resolve to speak out whenever the opportunity arises against the unjust practice of forcing taxpayers to pay for primary elections in this country. If D's and R's require such ballots to pick candidates, let them pay for the process themselves. If however, taxpayers are going to be forced to pick up the tab for these increasingly irresponsible organizations, let suffrage be universal and not restricted to club membership.
I resolve to ignore most of what the 'pundits' say most of the time. Most of this group is becoming just as guilty of self-serving bullshit as the politicians that they attempt to mold opinion on as they build them up, take them down, and pronounce them suitable for election (or not).
I resolve to similarly ignore the polls, as they have become similarly tainted by their constant repetition and ever-changing results. Polls may be of some use to candidates in determining their relative position in a given field or the sound bite that will get them the most media attention, but they are no basis for voters to use in choosing a candidate. In fact, their influence on recent election process has probably done more harm than good (at least according to my recent polling numbers).
I resolve to call out any misuse of the term 'spending cut'. No longer allowing those in power to call a reduction in the increase in spending a cut. If you're spending more this year than you did last, and if you're planning on spending more next year, you haven't "CUT" anything.
I further resolve to call out any of the accounting trickery used to raise revenues (taxes) now in exchange for spending cuts later for the deceit that they are. It has long been apparent that in this form of 'Wimpy Economics', taxes do increase, though no spending cuts inevitably occur. Only changes that take effect immediately on both sides of the equation have equality.
I resolve to highlight and attack any increase in the federal bureaucracy in this country. Not only does it increasingly place the real power of government in the hands of people who are at no time responsible to the electorate, but the increasing restriction of their mandates is currently the greatest threat to freedom in this country.
I resolve to continue to highlight the hypocrisy of politicians on both sides of the aisle talk about the reforms required in government union pensions and entitlement programs, while doing absolutely nothing to reduce the costs of their own compensation packages and pension programs.

At the very least, this should keep me busy enough to stay out of trouble in an election year that promises to be a truly 'target rich' environment.

Happy New Year!

New Year's Resolutions - 2011 (Part II)

2011-12-31T00:01:00.037-05:00

Having attacked the problem of New Year's resolutions from a serious attitude (some would say too serious), I decided that it was also in keeping with the holiday spirit and the nature of "Just Blowing Smoke" to confront the process from a slightly more twisted perspective. I therefore offer the following New Year's resolutions for your consideration:

I should probably resolve to lose a bit of weight this year, as I do every year. It's a time honored tradition that dates back to when I could still see my feet without bending over, and one not likely to end until they have to force the lid closed on my coffin.
In the spirit of my first resolution, I could (and should) then resolve to exercise more. I have a Chuck Norris 'Total Gym' leaning against the wall (where it seems so comfortable), that occasionally calls my name. Its proximity to the refrigerator is a challenge that I have yet been able to meet effectively. Walking is my favorite form of exercise, though it's always difficult this time of year, as it's hard to hold the cigars I'm smoking in the gloves that I wear.
Which bring us to the fact that I could resolve to quit smoking. This isn't likely, as it would be a waste of the money previously spent to fill a couple of humidors, something truly shameful in these tough economic times. Besides, without the cigars to smoke, what reason would I have to do the walking that I've resolved to do as exercise.
I thought about resolving to become a more tolerant person, but realized that everyone would be suspicious of such an attempt and worrying about what I was up to. Since I didn't want to put anyone else to such trouble, I decided to remain the grumpy bastard that I have always been.
I could even resolve to become a better person, help feed the world's hungry, save the planet, or work to achieve world peace; but these would imply that I was a finalist in the Miss America Pageant. Not only would this create a picture of the swimsuit competition that none of us is willing to contemplate; but being a Curmudgeon, these seem rather unlikely goals.
I could resolve to spend less time in front of the computer, but feel sure that those who employ me would find such behavior incompatible with my assigned duties. Oh sure, I could probably sacrifice a bit of keyboard time in the evenings instead, but then how would I know what my Facebook friends are up to, or get any of these posts written.
That being said, I even considered resolving to no longer write posts for "Just Blowing Smoke", but realized that if I stopped annoying the general public with the absurdity, claptrap, drivel, gibberish, inanity, madness, rubbish, and tripe (taken in alphabetical order no less) contained in it, I would be forced to once again burden family and friends with this nonsense (a punishment that they do not deserve for a crime they have not committed).

Well that's enough for me. I will have trouble enough remembering all of these things that I don't want to resolve, let alone following up on them, that I may slip up and do something by accident that I never would have perpetrated on purpose.

Happy New Year!

Paid My Dues

2011-12-28T00:01:00.014-05:00

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One of the hotbed political issues for Republicans and Conservatives in 2011 (I list these groups separately because all Republicans are not Conservative and many Conservatives are not Republican) is the idea that people shouldn't be forced to join a union in order to participate in certain parts of the economy. There is likewise a feeling that even such participation should not force one to pay dues to an organization that they either did not and would not join if they had an actual choice in the matter, and that they feel does not represent them in spite of the money that they are forced to contribute. I could not agree with these sentiments.

How is it then that the greatest offenders on a national scale are many of those same politicians? Oh, don't get me wrong here, I don't believe that there is a 'politicians union' operating in this country, in spite of the fact that they have much of the same negotiating philosophies with their bosses; and seem perfectly willing to let their job provider (us) go down the tubes as long as they are in a position to collect their healthy compensation & pension packages. There are in fact however, two national organizations that seem to follow many of the same practices as those that (at least on the right) they demonize.

How else am I to view Democrats and Republicans? Both of these national organizations, like Unions, normally require proper affiliation before they offer preferred treatment and seek to help you. Even when membership requirements have been established, they provide only limited assistance when seeking a job (and less than that for Republicans in Lucas County, Ohio). Both insist on demonstrations of loyalty before power and responsibility are granted within their ranks. Both seem perfectly content to sacrifice one of their 'brethren' if such sacrifice in turn protects their own position. Both often cause a great deal of damage in the process of exercising their real or imagined power. Neither appears willing to allow secret ballot when voting; and neither appears to be above twisting the truth or using strong arm tactics to see their ends met.

There is a difference however. Unions at least, only charge their members dues, and do not insist on all of us paying for their internal elections.

How else am I to view the coming 2012 primary season? While we are told that this is simply the process of picking presidential election contenders, the truth of the matter is that it's no more or less than picking representatives of the two major political parties. As much as members would like us to believe that they are a part of the government, they aren't. Therefore the picking of their representatives for a political contest is their own responsibility. Yet over the years, voters in states across the country have become convinced that it is the responsibility of EVERY TAXPAYER to foot the bill for a part of internal party politics.

Argue if you will that the primary process is necessary, such arguments do not make the process of billing the taxpayer for it any less egregious and unfair. How can it be unfair you say, when all allowed to vote? Really? Try voting in a Republican or Democratic primary in many of these contests if you are a registered Libertarian or Independent. In spite of the fact that all of us are paying for this process, many of us (in what should be considered an obvious case of voter disenfranchisement) will not be allowed to participate, since we haven't joined one of the two big clubs.

Of course we are told that if such restrictions aren't imposed, that members of opposing parties will sabotage elections. I'm sure that those attempting to enforce 'Jim Crow Laws' had similar defenses used in justification for their deplorable behavior in restricting the right of a citizen to vote in the 19th and 20th centuries. The possibility of misuse of the right to vote however, has never been seen as legal justification to restrict its exercise. If the concern for abuse is so great, why not let each voter select a representative from each major political party and let such potential damage (and benefit) be shared equally? This at the very least, might produce candidates that represent the views of the majority of those exercising the right to vote in such events, rather than the majority of those supporting the political party in question.

Ah, but while such a revision to the process might better serve the people footing the bill, it does not serve the greater goals of the parties themselves. Apparently Republicans and Democrats do not want the opinions of every citizens (much as they need them in general elections), only those 'loyal to the party'. Well I'm sick of it; and I'm going to keep bringing this up until somebody starts paying some attention to what's going on. Since it seems that the only way to get attention for an evil in this country (real or perceived) is to complain about it constantly until someone finally does something about it to shut you up, I am going to do so.

After all, it's not as if I haven't earned the right to do so. If you counted up all of my taxes wasted in the name of Democratic and Republican primaries, you could certainly say that I've paid my dues ...

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Holiday Health Alert

2011-12-24T00:02:00.001-05:00

Christmas is once more upon us and in the spirit of the season’s traditions, Just Blowing Smoke is once more issuing a holiday alert. While many are concerned rampant consumerism that the claim that Christmas has degenerated into, our staff long ago realized that it was rampant consumption that was the greatest threat during the holiday season. While the list below is incomplete, it’s hoped that by its posting, it will aid some in restraint of the dangerous behavior that many are about to participate in. (And as our politicians are oh so fond of saying, if just one life is saved….)

Egg Nog: Let’s face it folks, considering the cholesterol and calories imbued in this beverage produced especially for the holidays, you might as well slather it on like sunscreen rather than drink it. Not only will you spare yourself endless hours on the treadmill, but I understand that it does wonders for the complexion. While there are tales that the deleterious effects of Nog can be somewhat mitigated by mixing it with alcohol (dark rum is a personal favorite), there is nothing but anecdotal evidence to support such claims. (On the other hand, having partaken of it in this fashion, it's unlikely that calories or any other coherent thought will be of much concern to you.)

Fruit Cake: In spite of the bad wrap that this treat has received over the years, the truth of the matter is that it poses little health risk to most of the population; and can in fact be used beneficially. No, it’s not the fruit of which it’s comprised or the way in which it's prepared that makes it healthy; but the fact that it’s so awful that it’s usually consumed in very small portions which limit exposure to its toxic effects. Fruitcake carries the additional benefit of having left over sections that can be used as a substitute for a truncheon or throwing weapon to drive guests away from other tastier and potentially more deadly treats at the holiday table.

Cookies: These tasty little confections, while around all year in some form, put on their ‘party best’ for the holiday season. Dressed in clever shapes, colored icings, and of course sprinkles and glitter, the confections have been effectively camouflaged in every variety of holiday masquerade. These deadly little delicacies however will challenge even the most dedicated of diets, and in spite of their danger, do in fact contain most of the major food groups: sugar, chocolate, useless carbs, and unpronounceable chemicals. (If someone could get red meat or bacon onto them, they'd be perfect.) They are considered the most accessible of temptations, since they can normally be crammed into one's pie hole all at once; minimizing the risk of discovery and disguising the damage they're doing. (Be careful to make sure that you've brushed the crumbs off though, as they are a dead giveaway.) Vowing to abstaining from future consumption of them and to exercise the calories gained from cookies are among the top five of resolutions for each New Years.

Cheese: For some reason, cheese has long found a place at our holiday tables, often in rather bizarre forms. Sure you can go with the snooty specialty and European cheeses if what you’re looking for is something in the way of flavor, but the natural ingredients found in such products can expose the consumer to greater risk. The American tradition is much more likely to be defined by cheese balls, cheese logs, and the ever-popular “Cheese Whiz”. As most of us know, the more processed such cheese is, the better for you it probably is; with the piston cans of “Easy Cheese’ being the most healthy (and containing the least cheese) of all of the products available. There is nothing like emulsifiers or carrageenan to bring real cheese texture to a dish and nothing like citric acid when it comes to real cheese flavor. While we're at it, let’s not forget all of the wonderful processed products that are in most of the crackers we put this on, in an opportunity to add insult to injury (literally).

Cocktail Weenies: No one really knows what animals these tasty little treats come from, let alone what parts of those animals might be involved; and quite frankly (pun intended) no one wants to know. This ostensible meat product however has become a holiday favorite over the years. This probably has something to do with fact that it can be served in so many ways. Drowned in equally toxic sauce and cooked so long that the surrounding liquid congeals to the consistency of paste, or wrapped in a variety of equally mysterious (and probably unhealthy) substances, it can be served as a blue collar staple by the scoop or daintily displayed on the finest serving-ware, impaled upon toothpicks with colorful frills at one end. Do not be distracted by its innocent appearance however (and be careful to use on the untasseled part of the toothpick). Not only is there little or no actual food value in this diminutive dog, but government funded studies have found it to be extremely habit-forming and a gateway food to Brat and Andouille sausage addiction.

Alcohol: The health dangers of exposure of alcohol come in many forms, ranging from what are largely the stealth efforts of rum balls and the aforementioned Egg Nog to the traditional holiday cocktails (like rum punch), and ending with the indulgence in every form fermented and distilled beverages. Let me state for the record that here at JBS, we approve heartily in such indulgences. Not only are recent studies showing the positive health effects of moderate consumption of such beverages, but with the year all but at its end, it’s probably long past time that as survivors, we celebrated its successful conclusion.

Overindulgence carries significant long-term health risks however, usually from one’s spouse. The immature, impolite, and down stupid behavior committed while under the influence of ‘that demon rum’ will no more likely be forgiven in the spirit of the holiday than it would otherwise. The damage can be significant and reputation rehabilitation process can be a long and painful one.

I should also note under this section, that driving while intoxicated can additionally be damaging and expensive. Not only do you risk spending some or all of your holiday in jail and thereby ruining the occasion for the whole family; but the economic and employment repercussions can be devastating for subsequent year’s holiday celebrations.

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While Santa is the spirit of the holiday season in many households, there's no reason to attempt to equal his girth as well as his good cheer. While the fact that the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world is less than twelve months away, there's no reason to expedite the process on a personal scale by overindulgence at the end of this one. So by all means enjoy your holidays, and by all means enjoy the tasty treats of the season; but if for no other reason than my concern for you, please do so in moderation. (Besides, the use of such intelligent behavior will undoubtedly leave more for me…)

Vote of Confidence: Chapter 7

2011-12-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

I didn't want to ruin Christmas for anyone, but wanted to get back on schedule for releasing edited chapters of this effort (especially since Christmas tends to be a rather busy holiday for me). So for those of you still brave enough to try and follow along with this effort, I can announce that Chapter 7 of "Vote of Confidence" is now up.

I call this story, "A twisted tale of Life, Politics, and what some might consider cruelty to animals". (Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that the cruelty part is a bit of a stretch, since no actual animals were in any way harmed physically or psychologically" during the production of the story.)

I would love to tell you a bit about what's gone on in the earlier installments, or give you some idea of what's ahead, but that implies that I remember or know, something that might be considered a bit of a reach. Besides, that would be giving away the plot, and as I've said before, there's not enough of one to spare.

While I don't expect anyone to waste any part of Christmas on this nonsense, it might provide a little amusement after the last bit of egg nog has been consumed (hopefully with a bit of rum), the last play of the last football game of the day has been played out, and family has worn itself out. I therefore encourage you (since a writer likes to be read) to waste a few minutes of your life that I promise you that you will never get back in order to check the out latest addition to this effort, an attempt to serialize a novel on a blog site.

(Who knows, this literary masterpiece may in fact prove to be just the sleep aid required to end the holiday.)

Dear Santa 2011

2011-12-23T00:01:00.009-05:00

Santa Claus

c/o North Pole

Dear Santa,

Listen, I know that this is kind of late and that you have a lot of letters to read at this time of year (especially with the problems that the Post Office is having getting stuff delivered), so I'll get right to the point.

It seems that there are some people out there who could use a few things, and might forget to put them on their lists. So I thought I would try, on their behalf of course, to help them out. Don't get me wrong Santa, they're not children (though it would be difficult to believe this, based on the way they act much of the time) and I'm sure that more than a few of them are on your 'naughty' list rather than your 'nice' one. You may even find them rather hard to sort out, except by the fact that they've been elected to public office.

Yes that's right Santa, I want you to bring presents to politicians. No don't worry Santa, I haven't gone any crazier than usual. There's just a couple of things that I think you could give politicians right now that might turn out to be gifts for all of us. Yes Santa, I know that we already give politicians too much (when they're not taking more), but these particular selections might be considered vitally important to the national interest (and will probably be as welcome as the rabbit pajamas my grandma gave me when I was seven, and that I still have nightmares about).

Anyway, here's my list:

A new Calculator: Maybe you could find a special one with a really big display that shows all the zeros in a trillion dollars (the regular ones don't). I'm not sure that those in Congress actually understand that, or they wouldn't keep throwing that number around like it wasn't as big as it actually is.

A new Dictionary: Listen Santa, there seems to be some real confusion out there about what constitutes a 'tax', or what the definitions of 'spending cuts','fair share', 'entitlement', and 'rights' are. If you gave them a dictionary, they might look these words up when they get confused before voting on laws (you will note that I didn't say read, as most of the time they appear to vote on them before they read them these days).

A copy of the National Register: Yes Santa, I know that the book listing all federal regulations has 81,405 pages (and maybe more since I wrote this), and that it will be hard to load them into the sleigh; but then that's the point isn't it. Maybe if you block their view of the tree with this monster, they will get the message that what doesn't appear to them as enough is far too much already. If you really want to get the point across, stack a copy of the tax code (71,684 pages and growing) on top of it.

A copy of the Constitution: As long as you are adding to their reading lists, I thought that you might add this one. Yes, I know that they keep a copy on display in Washington Santa; but I'm not sure how many have ever bothered to look at it, even while they “solemnly swear (or affirm) that [they] will support and defend it from all enemies, foreign and domestic, that [they] will bear true faith and allegiance to the same”. I know that they've got these really neat little pocket editions (because I have a couple), so I was thinking that maybe you could use them as stocking stuffers.

I know I haven't asked for anything for myself this year, but I didn't ask for anything last year either, and you still managed to show up with some pretty great stuff … thanks. I'm especially thankful to you by the way, for whatever you give Michael Miller that convinces him to put my writing efforts up in the Toledo Free Press (maybe if you give him a little more, I'll make the print edition more often).

I know that there are a lot of people out there whose need is far greater than mine, so you would be doing me a big favor to help them out as much as you can instead. (Come to think of it, you might want to get lots of them copies of “Holiday Wishes” through the TFP, which would help twice over.)

Merry Christmas,

Tim

P.S. If you want to stop by again this year while making your rounds, you are more than welcome; and the cookies and milk will be on me. Besides, we never did finish that discussion on diets that don't work and the proper care of white beards.

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TFP Column: Cowboys and Indians

2011-12-22T17:40:00.002-05:00

Another weekend arrives, and this time Christmas is almost upon us. While I thought I would be putting up a link to one effort for the Toledo Free Press, it seems that I will be putting up a link to another instead. Have no fear however, for the very timely effort that I thought I would be linking to will be found here at Just Blowing Smoke on tomorrow. (And if you think that you're confused about all of this, you ain't seen nothin'.)

This week in the Toledo Free Press instead, you will be regaled with stories of political parties and Congress, both of whom this year seem to be vying for the lead role in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". The title of this holiday effort however is instead "Cowboys and Indians".

Now I will be gone for the weekend because of an annual commitment that cannot and must not be set aside. There will be things previously prepared and delivered throughout the holiday weekend however (hmmmm .....) for you viewing pleasure here at Just Blowing Smoke.

If you truly wish for some viewing pleasure however, you will set down the Egg Nog and Christmas cookies, and stop rattling presents long enough to pick up a copy of the this weekend's edition of Toledo's largest Sunday circulation and Ohio's Best Weekly newspaper, the Toledo Free Press.

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Republicans Aren't Perfect

2011-12-21T20:47:00.004-05:00

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Upon reading the title of this piece, there may be some of you out there that are shocked, either by seeing such an admission in Just Blowing Smoke, or that I could even conceive of such a thing, let alone write it. Others of you who occasionally visit this site (or who have a number of assumptions about it), may only disagree with me in part; believing that they are in fact perfect: perfectly heartless, perfectly soulless, and perhaps even perfectly evil. Those of you who regularly visit the site however, will have previously noted that I am more than willing to take shots at any political party when the cause and need arise. Such is in fact the case today.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess that I am not in fact a Republican, but a registered Libertarian. In my rather long voting history, I can affirm that I started out as a Chicago Democrat (a shameful confession, I admit), and became a Republican for some years before becoming finally and fully enlightened.

The situation of which I speak of course, is the current debate over the payroll tax deal. Oh don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those who's about to go all mushy and talk about the spirit of compromise while beating my breast over John Boehner and House Republican's unwillingness to vote on the Senate proposal. In fact, just the opposite. I think it's high time that the House threw the whole thing back in the Senate's face.

How did political discussion in this country reach a point where standing on principle makes you intransigent? When did having principles that you were willing to fight for make you the lunatic fringe (and you Tea Party members, God love you, know who I'm talking about)? When did compromise mean that Republicans must give way to the desires of Democrats, but Democrats need not give anything to Republicans in return? Why is the House the will of the people when controlled by Democrats and an obstructionist and unruly mob when controlled by Republicans?

(As a side note, when did spending 'cuts' become reduction in the increase of such behavior? When did government begin to accept the concept of 'Wimpy Economics' where tax increases occur immediately, but spending cuts, such as they are, can be deferred to a later date which never actually comes; only to later become forgotten promises by the same politicians who promised fiscal responsibility when looking for votes?)

How is it that Republicans (who I admit again, aren't perfect) are held as irresponsible for not voting on the Senate Democratic bill, when those Democrats are not in turn held accountable for not voting on a bill previously passed in the House (whether by Republicans or on a bi-partisan basis)? Why isn't the 'Democratically controlled' Senate being castigated for taking their vote and then ducking out of town, throwing compromise to the wind in the spirit of 'my way of the highway'? Why isn't the President and media complaining about the Senate one again ducking their budgetary responsibilities (it has after all been over 900 days since they passed a budget) and attempting to kick the can down the road once more? When did national tax policy become something that required bi-monthly approval? What can businesses to do in the way of long-term planning (let alone hiring) when so much uncertainty looms, with 2012 being an election year that promises only more of the same, and with the taxation and spending policies of this government being announced as the chosen battlefield?

Don't get me wrong. I know that these are a lot of uncomfortable questions for many these days; but perhaps it's time someone asked them (the media certainly won't). The nation is tired of seeing economic policy in this country treated like an empty can of beans (which Congress seems all too full of) being used in a child's game. It's tired of elected officials shirking the responsibilities that they are paid very well for in the pursuit of keeping the job that they apparently seem incapable of performing. It's tired of politicians and pundits demonizing business leaders who could be creating jobs in this country, if those in elected office could only provide them with some 'Insider Information' (you know, like businesses give members of Congress) so that they could find a way to cash in on the future and get the economy jump-started.

Wait, I seem to have gotten off track here. Where was I? Oh yeah, I started this whole thing by talking about how Republicans aren't perfect ... and they're not. I have little doubt that under the pressure of the President's bully pulpit and the media's willing cooperation, they will once again cave in on a proposal of their own which did little or nothing, in favor of one proposed by Senate Democrats that does even less. Displaying the type of fortitude that normally requires a visit to the Invertebrate section of a museum to find, they will fold faster and easier that the paper used for Christmas presents; and the whole pointless disagreement can begin again in time for the next holiday ... Valentine's Day.

Now I don't expect perfection from Republicans (and I expect even less from Democrats under Harry Reid), but I wish that someday they would at least aspire to be more than they are today. At some point they must learn not to always be the first one to blink in this game of political chicken. Yes I know that Republicans aren't perfect, but they would be vastly improved by hiring a half decent media consultant / press secretary, getting a spinal transplant, and agreeing to an injection that would help them grow a pair.

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A Falling 'Leaf'

2011-12-17T00:01:00.058-05:00

By now, I'm sure that you've all seen this commercial for the 'all electric' Nissan Leaf (and if you've somehow managed to avoid it or have forgotten that you've seen it, please press 'play' above before continuing). I have to give credit to the ad agency that came up with the concept, the actors for playing their parts without a snicker, and Nissan for using such a spot to highlight their latest example of "Green Technology".

Watching it brings back memories of the film style of Terry Gilliam (of Monty Python fame, especially the animation). This effort, and the expressions of the actors, is very reminiscent of Gilliam's obscure and perplexing "Brazil", which I think I watched three times before I began to get a hint of understanding how to follow the plot. Having heaped praise and a bit of confusion onto Nissan's sixty-one second cinematic effort, I am forced to ask however:

What do they think we are, morons?

It's bad when an automobile manufacturer attempts to heap scorn on the modern technology that has contributed to the very development of the product that they are trying to sell us. It's worse when Nissan calmly suggests that everyone jump in on their 1st Generation technology, one that's likely to prove either faulty or obsolete, long before the natural lifetime of this vehicle expires. It's worse still for them to 'guilt' us into buying a vehicle whose batteries probably contain more in the way of long-term environmental hazards than their gas burning counterparts. It's downright aggravating to be scolded by a company that has made all of its money selling vehicles that burn fossil fuels about the evils of doing so.

Perhaps worst of all for me is watching the end of the commercial when they oh so smugly ask, "What if everything ran on gas? Then again, what if everything didn't?" while showing us the clean and efficient sidewalk charging station.

Well Nissan, I have a couple questions in return, "Where do you think the electricity for that charging station comes from? Could it fall from the trees that the charging station is in line with? No, then perhaps it magically comes out of the ground beneath the charging station? No again, then maybe the power for Nissan Leafs comes from 'Magic Electricity Fairies' who have an endless supply for those lucky enough to own such an Earth-friendly vehicle?"

In point of fact in this country, the odds are that any electricity the charging station uses comes from a power plant that burns fossil fuels (you know, like coal, oil, and gas). After all, renewable energy in this country (including wind, hydro, solar, and geothermal) accounts for just over 14.3 % of all of the power generated. That means that there's better than a 1 in 6 chance that the power going to that charging station comes from the very technology being demonized in the ad.

By implication therefore, an increase in power generation required to keep a fleet of Nissan Leaf's on the road would require even more fossil fuel to be burned to generate such electricity; which seems counter-intuitive to the concept that these vehicles will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Certainly we can expect no additional help from nuclear power generation, as since the Japan earthquakes, even discussing the implications of increasing nuclear power in this country is anathema.

As for the evil fossil fuel power generation going on in the US, it's coming under increasing attack from the EPA. Many current coal burning power plants are scheduled for shut down, as their operators tell us that if not impossible, it's unprofitable to bring them up to the standards required by the government. With the shutdown of these aging power plants across the country, the US electric grid will come under sizable strain to keep up with existing power usage in this country. Many are in fact predicting the likelihood of rolling blackouts even without the growth in current usage, an increase that will be impossible to avoid if and when the economy again begins to expand. Buying electric cars by extension therefore, will only deepen the real possibility of power shortages in this country.

In yet another classic case of what economist Thomas Sowell calls "Stage One Thinking", we are once again being encouraged to adopt a technology whose implications yield eventual dire consequences. Forget or ignore the manufacture, placement, and logistics involved with the charging stations. Forget as well the limited range, the replacement or disposal costs of batteries, or a hundred other things required to support such vehicles on a practical scale. Forget as well, some of the missteps like the Chevy Volt; which has already proved itself more than capable of catching fire when charging or sitting in a parking spot (let alone what might happen to passengers during a actual car accident). Let us by all means race blindly ahead in implementation, trusting that such problems will be solved (perhaps by the 'Power Fairies').

But 'Bravo' to Nissan, who instead sends us a not-so-subtle message by showing us a jogger waving away the fumes of a gas-powered cell phone while using a gas-guzzling Ipod. (In fact, wasn't it strange that every device in the commercial had a visible exhaust?) Kudos as well for the comparison of the guy filling his car with gas in shirtsleeves, and the guy at the charging station wearing a sport coat. We all of course missed the implication that by being better dressed, those who use electric vehicles are somehow smarter, better off, or more important than those who continue to rely on energy derived from dead dinosaurs.

Some may actually buy into the persuasion of such 60 second cinema. Of course they're probably the same ones convinced that they will gain respect of their peers by drinking the right light beer or get the girl if they only wear Axe cologne. As for me, I remember that the problem with a leaf is that while it's attractive enough to look at, it's doomed to fall ... and usually far too soon ...

Vote of Confidence: Chapter 6

2011-12-16T00:01:00.006-05:00

For those of you still brave enough to try and follow along with this effort, I can announce that Chapter 6 of "Vote of Confidence" is now up.

I call this story, "A twisted tale of Life, Politics, and what some might consider cruelty to animals". (Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that the cruelty part is a bit of a stretch, since no actual animals were in any way harmed physically or psychologically" during the production of the story.)

I would love to tell you a bit about what's gone on in the earlier installments, or give you some idea of what's ahead, but that implies that I remember or know, something that might be considered a bit of a reach. Besides, that would be giving away the plot, and as I've said before, there's not enough of one to spare.

I actually hope to catch up a bit on the editing process over the holidays, and may be able to put a couple more chapters up in a more timely fashion as a consequence

I encourage you (since a writer likes to be read) to waste a few minutes of your life that I promise you that you will never get back in order to check the out latest addition to this effort, an attempt to serialize a novel on a blog site.

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The Value of a Contract

2011-12-14T00:01:00.108-05:00

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There's something that's fundamentally wrong going on out there these days. It appears to be having increasing impact on society in general and the United states in particular; and has to do with the the concept of a contract.

Now a contract is an agreement between two or more parties to do (or not do) something, usually as part of some kind of exchange. Because such agreements can have something to do with both goods and services, they also become central to the definition of property; which includes not only the things that a person possesses, but the labor and freedom used to create them. Because contracts have to do with property, they by extension have a great deal to do with liberty, as one of the central liberties is that which allows us to own or dispose of our goods and labors as we see fit. A legally binding contract is so foundational that it's one of the few things that's recognized internationally, even in places where basic standards of the rule of law and liberty do not exist.

Once upon a time in fact, it was held that a person's word was their bond and sufficient pledge to be considered a legal contract. Well, that used to be that case anyway. This is less the case these days, when contracts are almost always written, and grow ever longer as they simultaneously grow unenforceable.  Let's take a look at the chain of failure in the concept of a contracts in sports:

Athletes going to college on scholarship enter into an agreement to play a sport at an institution of higher education in exchange for room, board, expenses, and what passes for a college education these days (at least in theory). Along with this, they are provided with specialized training and the exposure required to move them on into the pro ranks when that agreement is complete. While the agreements are set to last for four years, they are rarely fulfilled; as athletes find that they cannot resist the urge to cash in on the fame and fortune that such training has provided.

It's hard to blame them however, when the coaches who signed them to these agreements similarly abandon their own written contracts with the university to run a sports program, ditch their current employers, and the walk out on the players who committed to them in order to accept the first better offer that comes along. In some twisted form of payback perhaps, the coaches often abrogate the agreement with the athletes before they can do it themselves; both sides abandoning their given word in order to bolt for cash.

The next step in the process allows both versions of oath breakers to truly enter the professional ranks, where this time they sign a truly legally binding agreement to provide a service for a fee. Signing such legal documents in the presence of agents and lawyers representing both sides however, doesn't end the hypocrisy. Apparently even these contracts are easily set aside by a player having an especially good season or a coach approaching the end of a commitment. Both now demand to renegotiate such agreements whether they are legally eligible to do so or not; content to violate their oath under threat that their job performance will suffer.

Government has learned a valuable lesson from this behavior, and while ostensibly being the arbiter of the law where contracts are concerned, it now contributes to the increasingly ineffectual nature of such legally binding agreements. Seeking to serve those in elective office rather than the rule of law it was instituted to protect, it become increasingly more intrusive where contracts are concerned.

And we see government itself (or its agencies) willing to ignore the letter of legal contracts to achieve what it perceives to be a desired end. It directly or indirectly threatens one party in such an agreement (like Boeing) in favor of another (the Machinist union) in effect dictating where and how such a company will do business. (The fact that the government is one of the largest customers of Boeing had nothing to do with its surrender, I'm sure.)

Boeing is not the first place (even recently) where government intrusion has rejected legally binding agreements in favor of 'approved' ones. During the bankruptcy settlement of GM and Chrysler, bond holders who by definition hold first call on the assets, were passed over in violation of obligation clearly established in bankruptcy law (and tradition) to a group whose claim to recompense was far less. Once again, a union (the United Auto Workers) was awarded what it was not legally eligible to receive at the discretion of the government which was financing the bail out of the companies involved (a bailout which Congress in fact voted against).

Not wanting to limit itself to one segment of the economy in which it can ignore contractual obligation, government has gone on recently to establish that it can step in between an individual who signed a contract to borrow money to buy a home and the company that loaned them that money for this purchase. The government now apparently believes that it's alright to ignore this legal contract and force financial institutions to renegotiate such agreements because the value of property is now well below the value of the loan.

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The fundamental question called into question is whether this is indeed a nation governed by the rule of law as we were taught and as the Founders once believed? If so, what happens when respect for such laws no longer exists by the very government put in place to protect them? If such legally binding agreements can be so casually disregarded by the government itself, to whom can citizens turn for redress of ills suffered? What about the social contract between citizens of the United States and their government defined and limited by the contract known as the Constitution? If government is allowed to abrogate lesser agreements without apparent challenge, how long will it be before the greater likewise becomes all but meaningless?

This is far more even, than the so-called 'living Constitution' that we've heard of, that allows government to claim the right to reinterpret this document after viewing it in a modern light, rather than use the Amendment process designed for such situations. This is the thinking that casually confiscates the fundamental rights of citizens guaranteed in the first ten of those Amendments by passing unconstitutional legislation like 'The Patriot Act'. This is the thinking that, as we speak, allows Congress to weigh the benefits of being able to use the military within the borders of the United States to arrest and detain US citizens indefinitely without the requirement of ever going before a judge (A bill known as the 'National Defense Authorization Act' which violates both the legal principle of habeus corpus and the Posse Cumitatus Act of 1878). This is an elemental change in our interpretation of the law of the land in this country is bound to have dire long-term consequences.

Society may have begun the mischief and misbehavior by allowing the degeneration of the concept of a contracts, and by extension the rule of law that goes with them, treating their oaths (oral and written) as something of little or no value. It's government however that will in the end determine whether this moral lapse will into future misery, if not outright tyranny, for the citizens of this country.

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Recognized

2011-12-10T00:01:00.083-05:00

The time of year has once again brought its own set of personal annoyances to be dealt with. Apparently it's not enough for me to have to deal with the normal perils and pitfalls Christmas shopping in crowded malls and big box stores; fighting the maddening herds of ill-behaved shoppers, dealing with the constant disappointment out-of-stock merchandise, and contemplating the mounting debt caused by my purchases like everyone else. I am additionally beset with trials and tribulations that I have neither sought, nor encouraged.

For some strange reason, children that I don't know and have never in my life met seem to believe that they recognize me. Often racing up to greet me and grabbing me tightly by the leg (making it damned hard to get some of the stains out, I might add), they seem convinced that we have in fact known each other for years and have been communicating on a regular basis. Try as I might to convince these smiling little faces that I have never before had the pleasure of their acquaintance, they not only refuse to be persuaded and persist in believing that I'm wrong, but seem amused at my repeated contentions of ignorance over recognition of their identity. Insistent on convincing me of their good behavior and wanting to know if I received their latest personal missive, they refuse to let go in spite of any and all protestations on my part.

Don't get me wrong, there are children in this world that I'm rather attached to (my offspring); though I suppose that at their respective ages, they are no longer considered children by anyone but their mother and me. I am also rather taken (and I believe appropriately so) with their offspring, who are in fact still children. Most of the rest I am able to deal with well enough, so long as they realize that unlike their parents, I am not there for their constant and immediate gratification. In light of some of the recent accusations, trials, and convictions regarding the clerics of the Catholic Church and some sports coaches around the country however, you might well understand the panic that I feel when confronted by such diminutive displays of affection by strange children in places public or private.

Interestingly enough, the parents of these little carpet crawlers (a term that I use with the utmost affection), seem mostly unconcerned by these astonishing displays of attachment to what they must realize is a complete stranger; while likewise appearing to be either unable or unwilling to persuade their offspring of this case of mis-identification. In fact, they seem patently amused at the spectacle and merely smile at my continued protestations of innocence.

While age continues to diminish a memory that was never the best to begin with, I continue to believe that I am correct in believing that these are cases of mistaken identity and not the early onset of senility (though there is ample evidence to the contrary). I have to say however, that these diminutive displays of unwarranted and undeserved devotion continue to be disconcerting to say the least. Not that I have anything against displays of affection where I'm concerned you understand; but if I'm to suffer such demonstrations of undying devotion from strangers, I would prefer to have some choice in the demographic involved (Victoria's Secret Supermodels comes to mind as an example, and single women within my own age group would likewise be acceptable).

Fortunately, we are now about half way through the four week period of juvenile madness during which these bizarre occurrences seem to be most prevalent, one that begins in late November and ends late in December. I grow increasingly anxious for the abatement of whatever conditions seem to cause this temporary madness though, and I long for the day when I will once again be allowed to return to my normal and perhaps preferred state of public anonymity. Meanwhile like it or not, I get recognized ...

(A tip of the hat by the way, to this old Stephen Bishop tune from the days of my youth; which helped to put a hook on some random thoughts trying to become a blog post.)

Vote of Confidence: Chapter 5

2011-12-09T21:11:00.000-05:00

For those of you still brave enough to try and follow along with this effort, I can announce the next section of "Vote of Confidence" is now up. It's been only slightly more than a week; but Chapter 5 is hot off the editorial table, only slightly more than a week after its predecessor.

I call this story, "A twisted tale of Life, Politics, and what some might consider cruelty to animals". (Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that the cruelty part is a bit of a stretch, since no actual animals were in any way harmed physically or psychologically" during the production of the story.)

I would love to tell you a bit about what's gone on in the earlier installments, or give you some idea of what's ahead, but that implies that I remember or know, something that might be considered a bit of a reach. Besides, that would be giving away the plot, and as I've said before, there's not enough of one to spare.

I encourage you however (since a writer likes to be read) to waste a few minutes of your life that I promise you that you will never get back to check the out latest addition to this effort, an attempt to serialize a novel on a blog site.

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December 7th

2011-12-07T11:16:00.012-05:00

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(Update: Some hours after this post was put up, the House did in fact pass REINS by a vote of 241-84, with 4 Democrats crossing over and joining the Republicans present for passage. The White House issued a press release threatening to veto it if the Senate passes the measure.)

It would be difficult for anyone in this nation not to realize that today is the 70th anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor; and many today writing blog posts will touch on the dastardly nature of the attack, the courage that so many exhibited on that awful day, and the terrible sense of purpose that awakened in the American people as it entered the last conflict ever preceded by a Declaration of War by Congress. While I have written such efforts myself in the past, I found myself focusing on another part of the story instead.

Many know (or at least should know if they had paid attention in American History or watched any of the number of films about the attack), the US at the time could decrypt the Japanese diplomatic code, but not the military one; and there were hints and warning in those communications that went largely ignored. What most forget however, is that not only weren't the operational army and navy commanders at Pearl Harbor (or any of the other major commands around the world) privy to much of the information in these decryptions, but perhaps even President Roosevelt himself was not included on everything that was being translated in those messages.

Regulations that had been put in place for the safety of a nation under the threat of impending war by some in unelected positions, in fact did everything but protect us.  Thousands of lives were lost, at least in part, as a consequence of this misjudgment. The men who created these regulations were not evil, but were misguided in thinking that they and they alone knew best what was best for the nation. These thoughts struck a chord in me as I considered a couple of things that have recently come to my attention.

A recent piece in the City Journal called "The Regulatory Thicket" by Iain Murray and David Schoenbrod speak directly about regulation, and its astonishing growth in this country. Of course it would be easy to blame Congress (and mostly accurate)  for creating their share of this ponderous pile of policy; but that would be letting them off the hook for likewise creating the un-elected and out-of-control bureaucratic monster to whom they have relinquished the responsibility for the rest of it. As Mr Schoenbrod tells us, "The Office of Management and Budget has estimated that since 1980, federal regulators have written more than 130,000 rules, an ever-thickening tangle that Americans and American firms must reckon with."  Mr Murray goes on to cite an annual report compiled by Wayne Crews called "The Ten Thousand Commandments" that shows that the Federal Register (the big book of Federal regulations) has grown since 1996 from 67,000 to 81,405 pages.

One cannot help but wonder at what could possibly have possibly been going on in a 15 year period that it required this 18% increase in regulations. While questioning the cause, one might also wish to consider what impact the regulatory beast has on the economic growth of businesses in this country in the current recession; especially small ones whose small staffs make dealing with compliance even more difficult. The 'City Journal' piece in fact states: "The costs of complying with regulations average $10,585 per employee" according to the Small Business Administration (SBA), "enough to throw a small firm of 20 employees with $200,000 in profits into just-breaking-even territory".  Murray reports that the SBA  estimates that, "the regulatory burden on our economy is a staggering $1.75 trillion annually".

(It should be pointed out that these numbers are before most of the "Affordable Health Care Act" (Obamacare) became law, and before a great number of the regulations required for its full implementation are yet in place.)

One cannot help but compare such sums to the amounts being tossed around by the Administration, Congress, and Keynesian economists for what they believe is the type of stimulus ideally required to jump start the US economy. What kind of stimulus might be produced if this regulatory morass were in temporarily reduced; or better still, eliminated?

Strangely enough, Congress is currently considering HR 10, the "Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011". The REINS Act (man, they really need better acronyms for these bills) is designed to impede the addition of new rules by dividing regulations in two categories of cost, using $100 million worth of burden as line between "major" and "non-major" ones. Major ones would require submission to the Congressional committee whose responsibilities the regulation would fall under, and passage by a joint resolution of Congress or by Executive order before going into effect. Non-major rules would go into effect unless, after similar review by Congressional committee, a joint resolution of Congress is passed or Executive order issued to keep them from doing so.

Of course, even if REINS manages to get through the House, there isn't a prayer that the Senate will allow it to see the light of day.  Reduction in government regulation is tied to the potential number of unionized government workers required to write and enforce them. This is turn is tied to the unions those workers belong to, unions who have pledged significant sums to the re-election of the President and other incumbent politicians in Washington this close to an election; which is anything but good politics.

Such potential roadblocks do not deter Murray and Schoenbrod from taking it even further however. They propose setting up a bipartisan commission to review existing rules and identify those that need repeal. This group would conduct cost / benefit analysis of such regulations and make recommendations to the House for their continuance or removal. They further suggest a five year 'sunset provision' on all new regulations, which would make them subject to automatic review before extension. They even have the temerity to suggest creating 'enterprise zones' where businesses might be free of some of these onerous regulations to be able to establish themselves on a profitable basis at lower costs.

Of course these are all intelligent (and some would say common sense) ideas, but like many considered in 1941, they seem unlikely to be put in place. I can't help but think back on this day however, and wonder if whether Admiral Husband E Kimmel would have wished for a few less regulations early in December of 1941.

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Is There A Doctor In The House?

2011-12-03T00:01:00.017-05:00

Warning: If you say "yes" around me, you had better be prepared to produce a stethoscope!

Don't get me wrong, I've read up on the history of the awarding of academic degrees, and I have nothing but the highest respect for higher education (a term which had multiple meanings for those of us in college in the 70's); but I have just about had it with some of those whose so-called academic credentials make them insist that you call them Doctor these days.

I wish that I had managed to stick it out and get a BA or BS (though the latter term is often used in descriptions of me regardless of the level of education that I've attained). I have even greater respect for those like my daughter Laura Demaria, who managed to follow through and earn a Master's degree in education; and am grateful that she does not insist that family, friends, or students address her as 'Master' (though I'm equally sure that sometimes she would like to). It's some of those who as Yoda once said "have completed their training", and insist on having this achievement recognized wherever they go that I have a bone to pick with. (Sorry, since we're talking about education, I suppose I should have said "with whom I have a bone to pick.)

But let me not be hasty in making such judgment. Let's instead analyze what it takes to achieve such a learned and lofty status:

* Having already dedicated what is probably some 4-6 years to the rigors of academia, you must commit yourself to spending a couple of more at least. (I don't know about you, but most college campuses are far nicer, safer, and more congenial surroundings than your average factory or office floor full of cubicles; and one which I would freely choose instead. Besides, the scenery is usually better no matter which team you're playing for.)

* You have to be willing to slave away for a few years for a number of people for which you have no respect (and if you're lucky, a couple that you all but worship); bending your will to their every need, desire, and whim will become your sole mission in life; regardless of whether such labors are noticed, appreciated, or properly compensated. (Which pretty much sounds like every apprenticeship program or entry level position that I have ever worked at, or even heard of.)

* You have to spend considerable hours reading. (While this might sound like hell to some, I'm sure that I could name an equal or greater number that would consider this little short of the promised land. Put my name on the top of that list.)

* At some point you are going to have to write a report (dissertation) which will be reviewed by this select group of people whose respectability you have previously called into question, knowing that only by their approval will you be allowed to continue down your chosen career path. You must be prepared to be asked to rewrite sections of this work, no matter how brilliant, accurate, and lyrical that it is; so as to allow this group of mostly hackneyed academics to feel that they have contributed to your abilities in some way. (As someone who has written a novel, hundreds of newspaper columns, hundreds of blog posts, and some 30 years of sales forecasts, some of which actually had to be done in Microsoft PowerPoint, I can tell you that this isn't as tough as it sounds. The latter however, will require swallowing your pride, if not your tongue. You will find it a far easier task if you accept grovelling and scraping, while attempting to cater to every pet theory on your subject held by those on the review board that you can without contradicting yourself too often. A next to incomprehensible title filled with polysyllabic terms that fills up most of the title page would probably help as well.)

Of course many of those out there running around with the designation more commonly held to stand for 'Piled Higher & Deeper' have been asked to complete none of these steps. They instead are merely famous or rich enough to have been asked to come and speak to the assembled faculty and students, receiving an honorary degree instead of the honorarium that such a performance would normally command. Having achieved both fame and fortune (something that those who got their degrees by the more conventional and difficult path are likely never to attain) they are invited to share their wit and wisdom with an appreciative audience in exchange for the ability to add an undeserved, unearned, and meaningless title to what is already probably a pointless existence.

You know ... one of the running gags of the original "Star Trek" series that's remembered even today was Dr. Leonard McCoy (played by Deforest Kelly) admonishing Captain James T Kirk (William Shatner) that he was only a humble medical practitioner, and incapable of performing any number of other impossible tasks handed to him by his intrepid superior. It was used for example, in "The Devil in the Dark" episode; when 'Bones' (as McCoy was nicknamed) was presented with a alien patient that seemed little more than a living rock (and looked like a steaming cow patty). In a well tested formula, McCoy replied "Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer".

Of course he nevertheless managed to patch the creature's wounds with a McGuyver-like concoction of what appeared to be bathtub caulk and concrete; which allowed him to assume a smug and self-satisfied attitude (much like those with PhD's), and produce the happy ending that was required. These days however, it's not the physician attempting to usurp the domain of the construction worker with which we are confronted. Instead it's the academic whose knowledge of English Renaissance Literature or The History of Basket Weaving in the Western World that allows them to assume the preeminence of a healer with which we are challenged.

One of these days I'm afraid I'm liable to give one of these self-important little pip squeaks who insists on being called by his academic achievement a short dissertation of my own. I suspect that it will be one that calls on the medical skills that the title they insist upon being called by purports to carry ....

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TFP Column: Economic Holiday Fat

2011-12-02T20:50:00.002-05:00

Stepping up on the bathroom scale and listening to Toledo's Administration and City Council begin talking about the city's budget are both things which are becoming increasingly difficult to do.

As I point out in this week's effort for the TFP, "Economic Holiday Fat", both appear to be subjects filled with temptation, self-delusion as to the facts, and the perpetration unhealthy practices. While I however, am only playing Russian roulette with my own future health and well-being by recent lack of rectitude, they are gambling with that of a large number of people who have placed them in a position of trust and responsibility.

It's not bragging to say that I am far more sure of my own ability to get out of control consumption under control than I am of those in charge of the Glass City, based on their prior track record.

But there's also good news to be had as this holiday season kicks into full swing, much of which you will never know about unless you read this weekend's edition of Toledo's largest Sunday circulation and for the third year in a row, Best Weekly newspaper, the Toledo Free Press.

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Ideology And Vaclav Havel

2011-12-01T00:01:00.003-05:00

"Why bother with a ceaseless and in fact hopeless search for truth when truth can be had readily, all at once, in the form of an ideology or doctrine? Suddenly it is all so simple. So many difficult questions are answered in advance! So many laborious existential tasks from which our minds are freed once and for all!"

- Vaclav Havel

Havel is notable for being the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic; and I find this quote from the noted essayist, poet, and politician occasionally poking out its ugly head as I watch both the political left and the right participating in Washington's 'business as usual'.

The endless puppet show of the Republican debates goes on, as the mainstream media continues to tell us that Mitt Romney is the presumptive candidate; ignoring anyone else in the field, unless it's to speculate on when that current challenger will implode certainly seems to fit the bill. Perhaps they feel that by the power of repetitive suggestion that non-Democrats will stop paying attention, accept their shrill and dismissive rhetoric as gospel, and stop questioning those seeking the highest office in the land on the Republican side.

Meanwhile, any candidate questioning the pre-existing national party doctrines as defined by political pundits is marginalized to the point of non-existence. Caught up in what Thomas Sowell would call 'Stage One Thinking', and ignoring the potential risks of sound-bite solutions that candidates are forced to give in the debate format they are handed, they refuse to accept anyone and anything beyond per-established political doctrine. If this is what party politics and the electoral process has come to, maybe it's time to leave the party.

The President continues a speaking tour that's little more than campaign to swing states at taxpayer expense to promote a plan that has already turned into a carcass picked more cleanly than last week's Thanksgiving turkey. Some less cynical than I, might even find it strange that he feels he can do more good promoting it in stump speeches than working in Washington with legislators already caught up in their own ideologies. Perhaps this is what leadership has come to mean (though I highly doubt it); though one cannot help but question how the oft heralded spirit of compromise is supposed to work when what we're handed is little more than strictly adhered to ideology from the bully pulpit of the White House.

This however, is how the current resident of the White House got to reach that exalted position (as did many of those before him), and it's no doubt the way he intends to maintain 'the last job he will ever have'. This too is a well-known doctrine of politics.

Meanwhile the 'dance of the dead' (well, brain dead at least) goes on in Washington, where 535 legislators can't agree on the what a budget is or how to pass one, don't seem to know what constitutes a spending cut and can't agree on when such a cut will happen even when they agree that in fact it must, and attempts to operate the nation's economy on a principle of 'Wimpy Economics' that says we can pay for spending cuts tomorrow with tax increases today.

And while most agree that closing some of the loopholes in the tax code that Congress itself created is a good idea, ideology (and the 2012 elections) prevent them from doing so. While most likewise agree that we cannot continue to spend and increase our national debt at current rates, ideology again prohibits them from doing anything to address this problem as well.

They ignore common sense and the basic principles of math including addition, subtraction, and the calculation of percentages; all the while telling us that they do so in the name of an ideology that's either inconsistent, contradictory, or both. And while both parties attempt to tell us that this debate is all about holding firmly to such ideology, we all know that it's more about political expediency and not throwing away a gig that pays in excess of $165k in tough economic times. Even those as apparently ignorant as those we hired as 'public servants' know better than to do anything that might lead them to having to look for a new job in this economy.

Adding insult to injury, we watch in stunned silence as information is released that the Federal Reserve lent over $7 trillion dollars to banks around the world (and plans to lend more). Of course why we would expect a group of unelected bureaucrats who are nothing more than independent bankers to do otherwise is a mystery to me. After all, who better than the financial experts who either participated in or blithely sat by and watched as the world's economy went to hell should we trust to act in our best interests rather than their own (or that of their brother bankers)?

And while we prop up the world's financial system with electronically printed money that our grandchildren's grandchildren will be paying for, we have the comfort of knowing that those running the banks will continue to receive the exorbitant bonuses promised to them by contract, as those in charge simply play the game by the rules that they created, following the time honored ideology that got us where we are today.

I wonder if Mr. Havel chuckles or cries as he recognizes the terrible truth he has taught us?

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Vote of Confidence: Chapter 4

2011-11-29T00:01:00.008-05:00

For those of you brave enough to try and follow along with this effort, I can announce the next section of "Vote of Confidence" is now up. There has again been a gap of more than a week in getting Chapter 4 up, but I am after all at heart, a slacker.

I call this story, "A twisted tale of Life, Politics, and what some might consider cruelty to animals". (Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that the cruelty part is a bit of a stretch, since no actual animals were in any way harmed physically or psychologically" during the production of the story.)

I would love to tell you a bit about what's gone on in the earlier installments, or give you some idea of what's ahead, but that implies that I remember or know, something that might be considered a bit of a reach. Besides, that would be giving away the plot, and as I've said before, there's not enough of one to spare.

I encourage you however (since a writer likes to be read) to waste a few minutes of your life that I promise you that you will never get back to check the out latest addition to this effort, an attempt to serialize a novel on a blog site.

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Days of Bread, Circuses, and the Budget Supercommittee

2011-11-26T17:19:00.001-05:00

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For those of you who didn't pay attention in ancient history class, let me be the first (OK then, the second) to let you know that the Roman Empire was not in fact brought down by the barbarian hordes (or even the World of Warcraft Horde for that matter). In fact the Roman Empire had already brought itself down, its moral and intellectual foundation having so crumbled that the first strong wind would bring it down. It was there waiting for a tipping point, when a group of people who had once been in the service of the Empire, had the vitality and the drive that Romans once had, and were willing to earn what they needed to keep from starving (by fighting if necessary), reached the center of this empire to pick at the remains of the carcass that was once the greatness of Rome.

That greatness began to fade when the politicians (in this case the Emperor and Senate), continued to try to maintain power by giving the citizens what later became known as 'bread & circuses'. It was Government at that point, that provided food made from the grain confiscated (taxed) from subjugated lands and peoples, and entertainment to keep them distracted from how bad things had actually become and unaware of the storm growing around them.

Like many throughout history, the Romans soon enough discovered that the strength required to maintain an empire exacted far more than gaining it. They also learned the tragic lesson of empire that eventually the producers begin to resent those living off their labor, a resentment which will sooner or later boil over. Unfortunately for most empires, by the time they realize these facts, they also realize that once you give citizens something that they have not earned for themselves, it's ever more difficult to withdraw it and stay in power. Like every government before and since, they failed to learn the lesson of history that 'there's no such thing as a free lunch'; and that eventually all things must be paid for. (Of course this is a much simplified version of ancient history, but one with no factual errors that should stand up to fairly close scrutiny.)

Step forward some 15-18 centuries (depending on where you wish to begin the fall of Rome), and view now the 'empire' of the United States. (Anyone who says it's not an empire is kidding themselves. But look at a map of the location of these united 'States', and the 'territorial possessions' of this country and make your best case.) We too are seeing our 'bread and circuses' in the form of entitlement programs handed out by a ruling elite to a common man. (I make no comment here about the desirability of such entitlement programs, but many will be able to draw the comparisons.)

Now we see a nation just passed the $15,000,000,000,000 mark in national debt (and yes, that's 15 trillion and those are 12 zeroes). The nation is functionally bankrupt, except for its ability to print money and functionally reduce the 'value' of the debt owed. The upper house of Congress, the Senate, controlled by Democrats since 2007, has failed to pass a budget (good, bad, or indifferent) since April of 2009. The House of Representatives (or lower house) , controlled by Democrats from 2007-2011 and by Republicans from early 2011 to the present, has recently passed budgets, but ones which they knew would never pass in the Senate.

In the most recent 'kick the can down the road' confrontation, the two parties once again managed to accomplish next to nothing. No agreement to cut spending (or even significantly reduce the automatic annual increases in spending was achieved). Neither was any realistic look to increasing revenues as an offset made by closing some of the gaping loopholes in the tax code that they themselves had previously created under pressure from lobbyists and well-to-do contributing constituents. Instead they managed to defer the jobs for which they were hired and sent to Washington for (regardless of party) to a 'Super Committee' which would, because of its smaller numbers, supposedly be able to do the heavy lifting that this larger and politically fractious group of apparent Statesmen could not.

Not surprisingly, since most of those appointed by both parties were firmly entrenched in the political posturing of their masters, this so-called 'Super Committee also failed in its task; a failure which supposedly will lead to drastic and unsupportable cuts in the government across the board, to the tune of $1.5 trillion over 10 years. Setting aside the trivial number involved, considering the size of the government budget and that of the debt, we find that most of these cuts are a twisted form of "Wimpy Economics" at best, where cuts are made tomorrow for tax increases imposed today. Any actual cutting however, is usually pushed out far enough that by the time it's must be done, no one remembers it's there; making it easy for those in power to conveniently forget about it and never make the cuts.

But this is OK, according to those in power, because it allows the politicians to enter the 2012 election year with clean hands and not being directly responsible for either the raising of taxes on those contributing to campaigns (or many of those voting). Neither are they responsible for any cutting part of the unsustainable entitlement funding that many of those not paying much in the way of taxes (also a significant voting bloc) have come to count on as part of their fair share.

Congress and the Super Committee have once again provided us a valuable lesson in ancient history, and as we see them continue to provide the modern form of 'bread and circuses' we cannot help but wonder if it will turn out better for us than it did for the Romans. I doubt it ....

TFP Column: Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T00:01:00.009-05:00

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I decided to overindulge (something that I normally reserve for the dinner table for this holiday). In this case however, the overindulgence involved has nothing either to do with eating or drinking. Instead, I have overindulged in a bit sarcasm and some truly over-the-top nonsense where the Thanksgiving holiday and its history are concerned.

I have to tell you that writing "Thanksgiving Is No Longer Acceptable" was a lot of fun, though I'm sure that someone will misinterpret my intentions, and the sarcasm key on my computer's keyboard will now requires significant repair, if not replacement.

I hope that you get to take the time to enjoy my attempted slap in the face of political correctness and those who want to demonize every tradition remaining in this country. I also hope that you get a chance to enjoy time with friends and family over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Most of all, I hope you get a chance to enjoy all of the efforts put forth in Toledo's largest Sunday circulation and Ohio's Best Weekly newspaper (for three years in a row no less), the Toledo Free Press.

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Warning: Thanksgiving Health Alert

2011-11-19T00:01:00.070-05:00

The nation once again faces a pandemic of fantastic proportions that has been largely ignored in what can be seen as little more than a national health scandal. And while many of you have probably experienced one of these outbreaks, which suspiciously occur on the fourth Thursday of November each year, few have the proper medical training to in fact recognize one when it occurs.

Though anecdotal reports of symptomology have surfaced for many years, both the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control have failed to take these annual scourges with the degree of seriousness that they undoubtedly deserve. For those of you who may not have heard of this dread affliction and are wondering what all the fuss is about, I am of course talking about:

Personal
Inability to resist
Gorging on
Outrageous and
Unbelievable amounts of
Turkey

More commonly known as 'PIGOUT'; this disease is characterized by an inability to stop consuming vast quantities of such seasonal dishes as turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and jellied cranberries. Even when such consumption reaches herculean proportions, causes incredible discomfort, and forces the loosening of clothing at the waistline; sufferers continue attempts to nibble, often picking at the remains of these Bacchanalian feasts while voicing plaintive cries that, "of course I still have room for a slice of pie".

Apparently overcome by an overwhelming and uncontrollable urge to stuff their 'pie holes' (appropriately named as the disease runs its course); they are now apparently unable to drag themselves away from the table until the sounds of football games can be heard coming from their television sets. Stuffed far more than the turkeys that they regretfully (and very carefully) abandon, full on a scale that makes even Mr Creosote seem anorexic (careful, this link contains questionable and disturbing material), and having seemingly waited all day to watch these sporting events, they now find an irresistible urge to sleep off the effects of their hours long binge; missing these long anticipated games almost entirely. (Apparently, a chemical substance known as Tryptophan is released by the bird in question, which contributes in some unknown fashion to the already egregious symptoms.)

Gradually waking, and ostensibly having recovered from an eating binge that would put Orson Welles and Michael Moore off their feed for a week; they will sometimes nevertheless relapse into symptoms on a somewhat smaller scale, only to once again slip into somnolence.

There is no need to call 911 or to seek emergency medical treatment for such an outbreak. Effective treatments for PIGOUT in fact do not exist, and there is nothing to do for those suffering except to provide them time, patience, and plates of snacks to aid in their recovery. (There have been rumors for years that this lack of effort in seeking a cure is in fact a conspiracy perpetrated on an unsuspecting public by a cartel of fowl corporations, who have long paid off major pharmaceutical companies to withhold release of possible treatments; but evidence has been difficult to gather and whistle blowers have refused to come forward for Congressional hearings long-delayed during abortive budget debates.)

While modern medicine seems largely unconcerned over the potentially devastating effects of PIGOUT, we here at 'Just Blowing Smoke' feel it our civic duty to sound the alarm on such potential health hazards. And while a cure for this debilitating disease remains beyond the grasp of modern medicine, drawing attention to its ravages may be of some assistance as a prophylactic measure. At the very least, being forewarned of a potential outbreak this far in advance may allow you to prepare for it by wearing loose clothing on the day in question, reinforcing the furniture that may come into use, and in the worst case scenario, keeping a number of buckets handy for proper disposal of what will undoubtedly be material considered a bio-hazard.

Happy Thanksgiving

'Unoccupy' Thanksgiving

2011-11-16T22:01:00.005-05:00

Tax-paying citizens from New York to Oakland have patted themselves on the back as law enforcement agencies finally moved into parks across the country to at long last oust 'Occupy Wall Street' (OWS) protestors from these downtown venues. Cries of "About time!" and "Well done!" undoubtedly greet police and politicians alike as city residents take stock of the damage and take the measure of the clean up efforts that will required to put things in order. Hearty congratulations ring all around as in what curiously seemed an almost organized effort to free downtown venues from the grip of an ill-conceived and unwashed mass of humanity. (OK, maybe not mass, but more than a gaggle and less than a herd.)

Curiously (or perhaps not so), few wondered at how so many different municipalities, many with divergent political outlooks and party control, managed to have come to the same conclusion all but simultaneously. Being by nature a cynic and a skeptic however, I was unable to accept this. I found that I was uncomfortable with and curious about such timing. Coincidence is a thing of dime detective novels and not the way that cities are run; so there had to be something else. Then it hit me ... Thanksgiving!

What would the image of NYC be if the Macy's parade were held with the potential specter of OWS protestors appearing amongst the crowd, or (worse yet) on camera during the broadcast? How many of the normal crowd of onlookers might be persuaded to pass up a trip to Manhattan to avoid running into some of the more odious (and odorous) of the 99%? How would the image that Mayor Bloomberg and the city desperately wanted to portray as welcome and safe be affected by crowds of the disaffected attempting to get their message across? And I'm sure that New York is not the only city to have considered this.

How many other cities around the country are having 'Holiday Parades' that they would prefer not to have hampered by these rag-tag and ill smelling protestors? How many cities fear the effect on downtown tourism in an already bad economy if it were known that an OWS group were on hand somewhere? How, for example, would Kansas City's famous turning on of the Plaza lights be impacted by the shadow of disreputable, dirty, and foul-smelling people attempting to take center stage (and that's just the politicians).

I'm sorry to rain (almost quite literally) on the parade of those whose mostly unwritten and unspoken (except in the privacy of their own homes) demands have been to take back their cities from this movement without apparent cause or purpose; but the horrible truth of it is that the right thing has been done in cities across the country once again for no better reasons than municipal vanity and seasonal greed.

Not only do these cities not want their worst foot put forward when most on public display, but they certainly don't want a hint of impairment to a season of rampant consumerism in the way of holiday parties at expensive downtown hotel and restaurant venues, and seasonal shopping that accounts for the lion's share of profit for retail outlets in an already down economy.

Making the move when they did allows cities to clear out and clean up the mess left behind by protestors to whom sanitation was yet another word that their expensive educations had not permitted them to grasp. Plenty of time was left to hose downs parklands and sidewalks, dispose of the make-shift tents and trash, and process the human debris arrested on misdemeanor charges for refusing to move along. Thanksgiving crowds will likely even find smiling city workers to greet them on their arrival next week; those workers having already given considerable thanks for recent hefty paychecks (including overtime earned during the clean up) that they have received for their disinfecting efforts.

Yes, it seems likely that rather than the praise that we would like to heap on our local government, we may be forced to settle for measured disdain. Altruism probably had little or nothing to do with the ultimate decision have those of OWS move along. Instead it was invariably political expediency, vanity, and greed that motivated those ostensibly in charge to do what we all knew must be done some time ago. We may nevertheless take some consolation, as we occupy prime seats for these holiday celebrations, that the unwashed part of the 99% has 'Unoccupied' Thanksgiving.

Vote of Confidence: Chapter 3

2011-11-15T00:01:00.002-05:00

For those of you brave enough to try and follow along with this effort, I can announce the next section of "Vote of Confidence" is now up. There has been a slightly greater gap in getting Chapter 3 up, but that's just too bad. It's not like anyone's hanging on the edge of their seat waiting for each installment. Besides, putting it up on November 15th also allows me to send the proper greetings to my mother, whose birthday this is today.

(Happy Birthday Mom!)

I call this story, "A twisted tale of Life, Politics, and what some might consider cruelty to animals". (Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that the cruelty part is a bit of a stretch, since no actual animals were in any way harmed physically or psychologically" during the production of the story.)

I would love to tell you a bit about what's gone on in the earlier installments, or give you some idea of what's ahead, but that implies that I remember or know, something that might be considered a bit of a reach. Besides, that would be giving away the plot, and as I've said before, there's not enough of one to spare.

I encourage you however (since a writer likes to be read) to waste a few minutes of your life that I promise you that you will never get back to check the out latest addition to this effort, an attempt to serialize a novel on a blog site.

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Getting Too Much Facetime

2011-11-13T12:03:00.001-05:00

I got on Facebook again this morning, something that I seem to do almost every morning, often for reasons that I don't entirely understand. I was able to get a much needed update on some friends and family that don't see nearly often enough or haven't seen in a while (which is why I signed up for Facebook in the first place). In some cases, I was also able to see into some parts of their lives far deeper than anyone should get to or have to, but those are choices that each of us have to make in the use of social networking. There were even, as there always are, some bits of wisdom and clever witticisms to be gleaned from the literary efforts placed in the status of many of those on my friends list; something that being a scribbler, I always appreciate and enjoy.

There were also the usual (inevitable) requests to repost something as my status in order to prove I was a true friend or to show the world that I cared. (Just to be clear, in most cases I do care, but usually not that much.) Unfortunately, I have placed reposting requests in the same pile as the emails that I'm supposed to forward to 5, 10, or 21 different friends in order to have my wish granted or good luck come my way. (Of course, the fact that I have such a pile may in some way explain why none of my wishes have been granted and why good luck has not come my way; but I am content with my choices.)

Listen, putting up a link to a news story (especially on something not widely known and from a credible source) and you're providing a service to your friends. Put up a couple of links together on interesting tidbits, and you maintain your status (pun intended) of still mildly interesting and informative. Put up three, regardless of content in the same hour, and you're starting to push my 'annoying' button. Put up more than four in that same hour and I will probably push the 'ignore' button and stop really noticing what you've put up.

As for those of you on my friends list who puts up half of the video music library that you've just discovered in the hopes that I will enjoy an evening of listening to obscure artists, musicians who've been dead for 20 years, or genres of music only popular in places I've never been to; let me tell you that I subscribe to Pandora in order to listen to what I want to and that the non-stop links have caused me to stop caring whether you've put anything up or not.

Please don't get this wrong or get offended by my comments. (No, that's wrong. Go ahead and get offended if you want to, that's your Facebook right. But while you're feeling a little put out, put up a little less.) It's not that I don't like you or some of the stuff that you put up, but everything has limits. (Well, everything except the collective stupidity and aggressive ignorance of the American electorate; but that's an entirely different subject.) While I'm willing to take a drink from a hose, especially when thirsty, I'm not even vaguely interested in attempting to do so from a fire hose.

Learn to pace yourself and your postings and you will not only maintain a receptive audience, but probably one that looks forward to your next effort. Learn to keep your audience begging for more and they will appreciate you more. Learn not to tell us everything you know at once, and we will be astounded by the depth of you knowledge. Learn to limit your efforts, and you won't have cranky old bastards like me complaining about it in public.

OK, that's enough ranting this morning. If you will excuse me, I would like to get back on Facebook to post a link to this effort (ironic, isn't it), and for what I'm really interested in ... cute little pictures of cats (which, since I"m allergic to them is the only way they remain cute) and grown men crying over the performance of their favorite college or professional football team.

(If this posting causes you to 'unfriend' me, let me say before you get back to Facebook to do so that it was nice knowing you.)

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Unhappy Valley

2011-11-12T10:40:00.007-05:00

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It's Saturday, and for the first time in 46 years, Joe Paterno will not be on the sidelines at Penn State. Last week "Joe Pa" was fired, not for his performance on the field for the 'Nittany Lions' where he has 409 victories (vs 136 losses), but for a defeat that he suffered off of the field. That mistake was one of judgment with regard to one of his assistant coaches Jerry Sandusky.

Mr Sandusky worked with Coach Paterno for some 20 years as a defensive coordinator, and seemed at one time to be the heir apparent to the throne in Happy Valley (a rather dubious honor, since Joe at 84, showed little interest in retiring until this week). Mr Sandusky lost his status in1999 however, abruptly retiring after an incident reported by the mother of an 11 year-old in which he was giving the child a bear hug in the shower. The University police investigated this occurrence, but no charges were filed, nor apparently was the information turned over to local authorities outside of the university.

Three years later, as it emerges in a recently released Grand Jury report, Sandusky was apparently caught in the showers at a campus locker room with a boy who appeared to be around 10 years-old by now linebacker coach Mike McQueary, who was a graduate assistant at the time. Though there was some delay involved, McQueary eventually reported the incident and this report reached Coach Paterno, who in turn reported it to the Athletic Director. That Grand Jury report in fact points to eight potential victims of Mr Sandusky, and is often the case when such charges are publicized, more may yet surface.

OK, these are the alleged facts as we know them now, but how then do we question what went on and judge those involved, if such judgment is permitted?

Why weren't the accusations in 1999 reported to local authorities? When did it become the province of University Police to determine such things? If Jerry Sandusky retired in 1999, what was he doing on campus, using school facilities, three years later? Who permitted this and gave him access or keys? Why, if he was granted access at all, wasn't he under closer scrutiny, based on previous accusation? One must certainly call into question the judgment of the University in general and the Athletic Department in particular for allowing an alleged sexual predator access to the scene of many of his alleged past crimes.

Forget the delay in 'reporting' on Mike McQueary's part, why didn't he move immediately to protect the child in question? It's reported that McQueary called his father for advice, so the question extends to asking why his father didn't tell him to go back and protect the child? These events show a serious lapse in judgment on McQueary's part, if not one of courage. There is guilt by commission and guilt by omission, and if the story told by McQueary in this case is true, he is certainly guilty of the latter in the form of a cowardice that would be hard to defend.

(On a side note, let me say that a reaction of 'kicking the crap out of Sandusky seems the rather logical and immediate, if a bit Neanderthal solution. If this didn't occur to McQueary Jr, it should have certainly occurred to McQueary Sr. I understand that Michael McQueary is currently under suspension. Perhaps he should be permitted to keep his job if he allows the father of the abused child to kick the crap out of him as he should have done to Sandusky when witnessing this event.)

How could no one else have noticed what was going on? Campus life is largely provincial, and everyone knows everyone else's business. It seems to defy credibility that this could have been going on for an extended period of time (which it apparently was) without others knowing. If in fact others did know, then they too must share some complicity in this heinous behavior.

While I don't normally comment on sports, this story transcends athletics, and should act as an indictment of Penn State University itself. This is not an NCAA rules violation on recruiting, undercover payments to players by slimy Alumni, or players attempting to cash in early on a fame that may be all too fleeting. This is an institutional and systematic choice to turn a blind eye to child abuse going on by a current or former employee on your property. It's also an apparent willingness to sweep such immoral and illegal behavior under the rug to keep the money associated with college sports spilling into Penn State's coffers.

If the NCAA is to continue to hold any moral dominion with regard to its mandated mission, there can be only one answer to these charges, if they are in any part proven to be true: "The Death Penalty". I leave it to this organization of dubious moral character whose inability to police its members is well known, the period which Penn State should do without their football program; but considering the length of time that this appears to have been going on, certainly such punishment should be greater than any of the one or two year sentences previously handed out by this bastion of all that's fair in college sports (sorry, that's alleged bastion).

I pronounce sentence without desiring to see any of the players currently on the Penn State football team punished (though I'm afraid that they will be forever tainted by association). They should be permitted to transfer without eligibility penalties and allowed to continue their sports futures. Penn State and its football program must however be punished in the only way that Universities and 'Big Time College Football' programs seem to understand, by hitting them in the revenue stream where it hurts.

Could this hurt other sports programs at the university or the admissions of new students? I'm sure it could, but it certainly appears that more than the Athletic Department were at least aware of this situation and that the university as a whole is responsible for looking the other way for a considerable period of time.

Let the picture of an empty stadium in what will become 'Unhappy Valley' be shown every week on 'football Saturdays' to serve as a reminder to all those who see themselves as living in the ivory towers of academia and above the more mundane concerns of everyday living that they have a responsibility to the mere mortals who surround them and the communities they live amongst; and most especially to the children who may one day walk their halls.

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Happy Veteran's Day 2011

2011-11-11T00:01:00.052-05:00

I have used the words of what follows on a couple of prior occasions, but find them a fitting Veteran's Day tribute (and far better than I anything I am likely to write today). I was exposed to this hallowed symbol of service in 2008 while attending a Marine Corp reunion for my father's unit from World War II being held at the base in Quantico, VA ... Company A of the 10th Amphibian Tractor Battalion. There was something about sharing my introduction to this sacred ground with those veterans and their families that brought even more meaning to the experience. That they went there not only to pay tribute to the commanding officer buried there (Colonel Peck) but to all of their fallen comrades, carries far more meaning than any humble words I write could ever hope to.

Never having had the privilege of serving in this country's Armed Forces, it's difficult for me to express the sentiments that I have when giving this day its due consideration or even whether I'm worthy of doing so. I would therefore instead simply like share with you a bit of information about the symbol of ultimate sacrifice for Veterans in this country. So instead of boring you with my normal attempts at either significance or relevance, I will once more share with you the simple facts of this National Shrine, dedicated to those veterans who have fallen in battle, the Tomb of the Unknowns.
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Tomb of the Unknowns

The tomb contains the unidentified remains of a soldier who served in World War I, World War II, and Korea. (Though a soldier killed in Viet Nam was originally interred here, that body was later removed and identified through DNA testing. It was subsequently decided to leave the Viet Nam crypt empty.)
The Tomb was dedicated in 1932, and has been guarded continuously since 1937.
Those guarding the Tomb are members of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), and those "walking the mat" wear no rank insignia on their uniforms while on duty so as to preclude the possibility that they might outrank one of those lying in the Tomb.
The Guards take 21 steps, in recognition of the 21 gun salute; the highest honor given anyone in the military or any foreign dignitary. Upon completion of those steps, the guards hesitate 21 seconds in memory of that same honor, turns 90 degrees and hesitates again for 21 seconds, then completes another 90 degree turn and hesitates yet one more time before resuming their march.
The Guards march with moistened gloves to prevent the gun from slipping from their grasp while on duty.
Guards are changed every 30 minutes; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Tomb guards normally cut their hair the day before their duty, take five to six hours to prepare their uniform, and shave twice a day while serving their watch.
The guards always carry the rifle on the shoulder furthest from the tomb, shifting it as they reverse the course of their march. This move places the sentinel between the tomb and any threat.
The Guards of the Tomb, an honor currently carried by very few soldiers (there were just over 500 people in 2008), is awarded only after careful examination and is recognized by the award of a wreath pin. They subsequently live under very strict guidelines of personal conduct for the rest of their lives.
In order to achieve this honor, for the first six months of duty, guards spend most of their free time learning of the most notable people buried in Arlington in preparation for their exam. With their rigorous training, hours of marching, and rifle drill, they have little time for anything else.
In 2003 as Hurricane Isabella approached, and again in 2011 as Hurricane Irene struck Washington; while Congress abandoned their post in the city in anticipation of the dangers of these storms, these guards stood their duty. Soaked to the skin, they continued to march their rounds in the pelting rain and in the case of Irene, in winds of 85 miles per hour. They had been offered the opportunity to suspend this assignment in 2003, but refused; stating that such duty was not simply an assignment, but was the highest honor afforded to a serving member of the military.

Honor indeed should be given to our troops serving in defense of freedom around the world today, and to those who have done likewise in every conflict where Americans have been called on to do so during its history. Greater veneration still is due those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for those they served with and for the nation that honors them on this day. May this symbol and this day serve as a reminder to us all that the cost of liberty sometimes carries a very high price indeed; and may we remember to accord them equal esteem on every other day in which we live under the protection of peace and freedom that they provide us.

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Happy 236th Birthday Marine Corps

2011-11-10T00:01:00.093-05:00

Once again, we pause to celebrate a very happy day indeed, the anniversary of the birth of the United States Marine Corps. The USMC was originally formed as two battalions of Continental Marines on this date back in 1775 (before there was even a nation to serve). The Marine Corps has proudly been the "First to Fight"; continuously serving this nation with fidelity, with honor, and with distinction for the 236 years since.

Being the son of a Marine it is therefore with humility, but also a great deal of pride that I wish a happy birthday to the Corps that my father loved and served with during WWII. Rather than bore you with information that I have previously detailed in this blog however, I will refer those wishing to look back at that additional information to some previous postings that I have done on the subject of the Marine Corps.

They include one with a number of photos from the Marine Corp Museum in Quantico, VA that I was able to visit while being privileged to attend a reunion of WWII Marine veterans that my father served with, and which was held at the base in Quantico.

Another stop during that memorable trip was a visit to the original Marine Barracks (first used in 1801, and one of the few structures in Washington not damaged during the British occupation of Washington in the War of 1812). On this occasion, I was doubly lucky, as I was fortunate enough to be there to listen to the President's own Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps. There I was not only able to watch a truly intelligent, gifted, and talented group of soldier musicians as as they performed. While not surprised that those in the band were all volunteers, I was amazed to discover that almost all of these soldiers have advanced college degrees; and that they compete constantly and fiercely for the honor of serving.

As if the opportunity of listening to the Drum and Bugle Corp was not enough, I was also privileged to see the Silent Drill Platoon perform the silent cadence of The Evening Parade. Not surprisingly, many of those that we talked to in the Platoon had recently returned from front line service overseas. While honored to be back in the States and once more working with the Silent Parade, most were anxiously looking forward to future deployment to where the action was. Without fail however, every one of the Marines we talked to that evening was happy to share the history of the barracks, the ceremony, and the Marine Corps with each and every one of us; and to impart some part of the dedication that they felt to those of us who had never served. They were likewise especially attentive to those I was traveling with, who had served in WWII, treating them as honored brothers and distinguished guests . And as the bugler played 'Taps' at the end of the performance, anyone not moved by the especially emotional nature of that ceremony in that place by those individuals could have had no heart.

Of course no history of the Corps would be complete in my mind without a recounting of the very special, and to me very personal story of "Lost Battalion", Company A of the 10th Amphibious Tractor Battalion (in which my father served during WWII). The story of their rather remarkable days in the Pacific is well worth remembering as part of the history of service of the Marines.

So to all those jar heads (for the high and tight haircut), devil dogs (for the Marine Corp bulldog mascot) and leathernecks (for the leather collar that was part of their Revolutionary War uniform) out there; let me send out a proper birthday greeting:

Semper Fi Mac!

TFP Column: Issue 2

2011-11-07T19:17:00.001-05:00

So many weighed in last weekend in the Toledo Free Press on Issue 2, the ballot initiative to keep SB5, and limit the bargaining ability of public sector workers; that I told editor-in-chief Michael Miller that I felt a bit left out. His response was that if I felt moved to speak out, that by all means I should do so. Never being one to pass up an opportunity to share my views with others (whether they want me to or not), I did as well.

The problem that I face in writing this is that I actually wrote two pieces over the weekend on Issue 2. Not surprisingly, I both held to the same position on the Issue; that it's far past time that we broke the cycle of dependency by public sector unions and politicians in Ohio. One however, after reading some of rather strongly worded rhetoric, takes a little bit lighter tone on the issue.

With elections on Tuesday however, before you step into that ballot booth, you might want to look over all of the efforts to voice an opinion in the Toledo Free Press.

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Vote of Confidence: Chapter 2

2011-11-06T14:24:00.000-05:00

For those of you brave enough to try and follow along with the effort, I can announce the second installment of "Vote of Confidence" is now up. I call this story, "A twisted tale of Life, Politics, and what some might consider cruelty to animals". (Though in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that the cruelty part is a bit of a stretch, since no actual animals were in any way harmed physically or psychologically" during the production of the story.)

I would love to tell you a bit about what's gone on in the first installment, or even some of what will be happening in this second. Unfortunately, that would be giving away the plot, and as I've said before, there's not enough of a plot to spare.

I encourage you however (since a writer likes to be read) to waste a few minutes of your life that I promise you that you will never get back to check the out latest addition to this effort, an attempt to serialize a novel on a blog site.

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Stabilizing The MCP

2011-11-05T11:39:00.005-04:00

For most of my life, I've kept a Miscellaneous Crap Pile on or near my desk. It was comprised of tidbits of information gathered that I found enlightening, interesting, or simply bizarre that I hadn't yet managed to find a use for. I knew however, that sooner or later, most of the collection could or would contribute to the greater good. And while not quite so precariously piled as the image depicted, that MCP needed periodic review to increase its stability (something around here certainly needs some increase in stability), to determine what actually still remained in the pile, and whether the aging process had caused items to either pass their expiration date or produce something that could or should now be consumed.

While there is a physical MCP that must be addressed at Just Blowing Smoke, there is a mental one as well. In it are any number of ideas that I have about subjects that I always think I want to get around to writing about, but never seem to find the time or the right hook required for the piece to actually do so. Considering its location, the stability of the pile is seldom considered; storage capacity however has increasingly become an issue. There was little enough to begin with, and my continued predilection to fill it with useless information doesn't help things. Since spreading useless information (like fertilizer) is what we live for at JBS, perhaps it's time to share some of these tidbits.

Those at the head of the uprisings cleverly dubbed the "Arab Spring" are now assuming power. In sharp contrast to the pronouncements about seeking democracy and freedom from despots that the mainstream media attempted to convince us was the goal of these movements, all now seem intent on adopting Sharia Law as their cornerstone of government. Strangely however, having apparently misjudged, misrepresented, and missed the boat on the goals of these movements; that same media is now curiously silent as what they initially deemed a spring falls back on demonstrably restrictive principles and a kind freedom that the Spanish Inquisition would be proud of. I wonder in the days ahead if some of them won't look back with fondness on the days living under the tyranny of dictatorship that they have now escaped.

While restrictive practices are returning to the Middle East, their end may be seen in yet another place here in the Midwest; as voters go to the polls in Ohio to vote on Issue 2 which seeks to end the stranglehold that public-sector unions have on government in this state. Curiously, those against this Issue seem only capable of defending policies which are bankrupting cities, counties, and this state by the use of what is known in NW Ohio as "half-truths, mistruths, and outright lies". Also curious is that after accusing those in favor of the issue of funneling outside money in to break unions in Ohio, we find that those opposed to Issue 2 are outspending those in favor by almost 4 to 1; most of which has been funneled into their coffers from out-of-state unions.

(I have to note here that I have been getting robocalls from the AFL-CIO for weeks now, urging me to vote no on Issue 2. What fascinates me is that these calls never come from a number in Ohio, that their efforts are wasted since I now live in Kansas and cannot vote on it, and that their calls are pre-recorded as opposed to using a live union employee. Is it a lack of solidarity that causes them not to use a union employee, or can they simply not afford to pay someone scale to make the calls?)

Kansas City parents are facing a curious educational dilemma these days. The Kansas City school district recently lost its state accreditation, and the support of much of the community; especially those with students in it. It's unlikely that this situation will be resolved quickly, quietly, or cleanly; as far too much time is currently being spent on accusations and recriminations about who's at fault and faretoo little on how to repair the damage. Parents cannot hope to find relief from the Parochial school system in KC however, as the increasing uproar over priests and alleged child-abuse continues. One priest is under indictment, and three others are facing some tough questions. Even the bishop of the KC diocese has been indicted on a misdemeanor charge for failing to turn information over to authorities in one of the cases. Talk about being between 'the devil and the deep blue sea'!

And how would such a clean up be complete without talking about the 'Occupy Movement' whose areas of occupation in most parts of the country could do with a bit of cleaning up themselves? What can we say about these intrepid idealists braving increasingly inclement weather without proper shelter; desperately seeking social justice and egalitarianism (I wonder how many of them know what that word really means), while likewise searching for a WiFi connection and a cup of coffee from Starbucks (one can normally be found at the other BTW)? Perhaps what we should say is that those who apparently didn't get a marketable education in college are now getting a rather brutal one from 'the school of hard-knocks'. Theft, assault, and rape occurring in these encampments are not the lessons I would have wished for them however, in spite of the fact that I am a supposedly evil Conservative.

Idealism and a desire for change are often the last notions that the real world manages to batter out of us on the path to maturity (a path BTW, that I am unwilling or incapable of following). Age, time, and responsibility will have their way soon enough without giving humanity's worst elements and predators the opportunity to further disillusion if not permanently scar them. My only advice is for those of you out there (who will probably never see this) is to take a closer look at the world and adjust your target identification systems.

One more bit I should mention is a farewell to fellow Curmudgeon Andy Rooney. At age 92, Mr Rooney managed to precede me at attaining room temperature by passing away yesterday, hopefully by as many years as he preceded me at attaining the position of 'grumpy bastard'. It was a role for which he was perfectly suited in both appearance (Who can forget those eyebrows?) and temperament. He had a wry wit and a great delivery that annoyed while enlightening, which is the highest aspiration of any in our trade. If there is a heaven, has probably already secured a great spot inside from which to bitch about things.

The Future of Government and Higher Education?

2011-11-02T22:07:00.004-04:00

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Many in the 'Occupy' movement are complaining about the burden of student loans that they have after leaving an institution of higher learning. Having completed a degree in English Renaissance Literature or Sociology (and not paid attention during those boring economics courses), they are only now discovering that their investment in higher education is not going to pay the dividends that the broker (Admission's Counselor) encouraging them to speculate led them to believe.

Now finding themselves so underwater on college loans that they will never be able to achieve the American Dream of being underwater on a mortgage, they (like many homeowners) look to the government for relief. Like many in banks, auto manufacturers, and green energy companies, they would like some assistance to help them survive the piling of one bad loan upon another, in their own form of investment 'bundling'. It is their contention that government's involvement and intervention is not only preferable, but essential. Some even go so far as to say that government should provide such education as a 'right'.

(Am I the only one who's noticed that the group constantly asserting 'rights' are those on the 'left'?)

While not normally being one for capitulating to the demands of those with little in the way of logic and reason on their side (evidently these too were courses mostly ignored). There are times when one must seek a more compassionate perspective; and I am willing to expend the effort required to do so.

Oh I don't believe that these loans should be forgiven. Personal responsibility is something that society should prize, and not allowing them the opportunity to accept responsibilities for past mistakes and pay back legitimate financial obligations would be doing them a serious disservice. I am willing to concede (or accede, as the case may be) to their cries for government intervention in higher education if that is the path that they wish to take. In fact, I believe that some of the proposals that progressives in both education and government have told us for many years have reaped great rewards in society as a whole should be used as a model of such intervention.

I therefore propose:

* Reducing or eliminating much of the funding in pure research at universities that sees no likely immediate return. Like that done for defense or space exploration, most could be done away with in the name of attempting to maintain the costs of operation within reasonable growth percentile. There should likewise be a National Research Board to strictly monitor and regulate what research is done and who will do it in the name of fairness. There's no point in having one university duplicate the research of another .... that's simply inefficient. Ultimately we need to recognize that Professors are after all teachers; and teachers get paid to teach, not financed for working on a patent that could make them rich.

* A National Board of University Departments would have to take control and come up with rules to cover the regulation of all university departments, their budgets, and even their necessity. I'm sure that a mostly college-educated bureaucracy could come up with a set of guidelines in enough annoying detail for even the most prestigious of universities to be able to understand and follow. Just as with research, it would be inefficient to have too many colleges too close to each other, duplicating the departmental offerings of others. Certainly some form of government regulation could relieve some of this duplication and function in as efficient a manner as say, government regulated railroads.

* A National College Housing Authority will be needed institute rent controls for dormitories across the country. Student housing is a classic example of people living on minimal (or even borrowed) income that need affordable housing. It would not be fair to let universities take advantage of this need through market regulated pricing structures when so many are in need. Additionally, universities should be mandated to provide low-income housing to any and all students that require it as a measure of egalitarian compliance. Something will likewise have to be done in regards to food for these students, but that can be addressed by further regulation and bureaucracy after the housing issue is addressed.

* Perhaps a National Tuition Board should be appointed as well. Colleges like Princeton, Harvard, and Yale simply cannot be allowed to charge whatever extravagant prices for their offerings they choose, regardless of the services they offer or the potential advantages that a diploma issued by them provides. To do so would hardly be fair to those to whom it's not available. Of course it's possible that they could allowed to continue to charge what what the market will bear for their product (perish the thought), but only if no federal money in the way of grants, loans, subsidies, or funding in any way, shape, or form is provided to the university. If even $1 is accepted by any part of the university, they too become subject to the rules of a faceless bureaucracy that probably graduated from far less grand institutions (and in the bottom half of their class).

* Of course, all of this leads to the logical conclusion that in fact a Government Board of Admissions would also be required. You can't just have people taking government money for education and spending it wherever they chose. A government regulatory board to apportion admissions to all universities using that money would be required. Through the use of government efficiencies and 'mandated fairness' to determine the placement of students, a sufficiently egalitarian method of placement could replace the current unfair method of having them simply choosing a school based on its educational expertise, the pleasant nature of the campus, or whether the student feels that an education in such a place would be enjoyable.

You know, if we are going to in effect, nationalize higher education, perhaps professors should be put under government employment standards while we're at it. Based on teaching ability, education, and testing, they would be granted government occupational pay levels or 'grades'. University Administrators would likewise be given government ratings to provide an equitable level of compensation for all of those in salaried positions. Of course such strict structures as the granting of 'tenure' or allowing paid leaves like 'sabbaticals' would need to be done away with, as they would hardly fall within existing federal employment guidelines and compensation plans. Professors would however, have a government pension to look forward to; and at least be able to compete on a equal footing for advancement once they reach the 'full-performance level' of their existing position.

I can't help but wonder how many professors would be out in the quad protesting in solidarity with their students if such a double dose of of their demands were granted to them? I wonder how many of those universities would allow them to do so if they understood that the strong arms of federal bureaucracy were about to tightly embrace them? I wonder how many of those students would be protesting if they knew that new federal regulation and restriction on their choices was going to be the likely result? Then again, perhaps among the other things that they have yet to learn is that with government funding comes government control. But such would inevitably be the case for the future of government and higher education if those in 'Occupy' get their wish.

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TFP Column: Inevitable Criticism

2011-11-01T20:33:00.001-04:00

I have been doing a lot of serious reading lately on political philosophy and economics. (I know, am I living the dream or what?) One of those recent books, and an interview that I managed to capture a part of on PBS recently led me to attempt to connect the dots between politicians changing their positions on issues ... and why. It was Michael Sandel and his book "Justice - What's the right thing to do?" that inspired this week's TFP effort, "Inevitable Criticism".

While I can't say that I'm a fan many of those running for office these days, I like to think I keep an open and objective mind where the slimy little bastards are concerned. Seriously though, I usually allow those on both sides of the aisle the benefit of the doubt until they prove themselves to be ethically flawed one way or the other.

It's actually not the apparent flip-flopping that they do on major policy positions that's my problem with them however, but the annoying buzzing sound coming from ... What? That's them speaking? Oh man, this may be a bigger problem than I thought.

Anyway, it's early in the week (and next Tuesday's an election day), so if you want to know everything that you're going to need to, you better be keeping up with Toledo and Northwest Ohio in Toledo's largest Sunday circulation and Ohio's Best Weekly Newspaper (for the third year in a row, no less), the Toledo Free Press.

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New Blog Site: Vote of Confidence

2011-10-29T00:03:00.002-04:00

To the disappointment of some and the immense relief of others, there will be no weekend rant today in "Just Blowing Smoke".

In lieu of my attempts at a more humorous tone on the weekend (which have been known to fail on a Biblical scale), I am offering instead, a link to an entirely new blog site. This site will become the home to a writing effort that began for me just over six years ago, as I decided that there was a book inside my head that needed to come out (if for no other reason than that there's far too much clutter up there as it is). Understanding lately that in today's publishing environment it's unlikely to ever see the light of day, I have decided to post it to a site specifically for that purpose; and to do so in a serialized fashion that was once popular in the science-fiction magazines that I read as a kid, as I go through the arduous process of re-writing and editing it once more.

The title of this effort is "Vote of Confidence" and while I have often been asked what it's about, even I who wrote it hardly know how to describe it. The best that I can come up with is below the title, stating that it's "A twisted tale of Life, Politics, and what some might consider cruelty to animals..." (though in fairness, no animals were actually injured during the writing of this book). There's little danger of giving away the plot, since there's little in the way of one to give away.

I will be posting new chapters as the work on them is completed, and will post links to those efforts both here and on Facebook. I have high hopes that the years of effort that I've been making to improve my writing ability through the writing this blog and the pieces that have been very kindly deemed worthy by the Toledo Free Press will have led to a considerable improvement of this revised version over the original. I likewise hope that those choosing to make the effort to read it will find the experience of doing so as enjoyable as that I have had in writing it.

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Education Quotes

2011-10-28T20:52:00.001-04:00

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My disdain for some of that which calls itself higher education has been increased recently by some of those in 'Occupy' movements across the country. It appears however, that I am not alone; and that such thinking has roots in minds far greater than mine for a far greater period than I have been around:

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.
- Oscar Wilde

Education is a state-controlled manufactory of echoes.
- Norman Douglas

An education was a bit like a communicable sexual disease. It made you unsuitable for a lot of jobs and then you had the urge to pass it on.
Terry Pratchett

Nothing in education is so astonishing as the amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts.
- Henry Adams

Education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of prejudices.
- Laurence J Peter

The advantage of a classical education is that it enables you to despise the wealth that it prevents you from achieving.
- Russell Green

Strange as it seems, no amount of learning can cure stupidity, and higher education positively fortifies it.
- Stephen Vizinczey

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Government Protection Racket

2011-10-26T00:01:00.004-04:00

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Everywhere we turn these days, we find constant reminders of the lousy economic numbers in this country; and while economists refuse to talk about a 'double-dip recession' that hasn't yet met their strict definition, we all know it's here. Many of us know the culprit as well. It's not evil corporations or the wealthy 1%. It's not even really the bankers, though they certainly haven't gone out of their way to help the situation. In fact, it's those in government telling us that something must be done for our protection, when the only thing that they're really trying to protect are the cushy jobs that most of them will have to attempt to keep, some 12 months from now.

Government is something that we created in this country over 200 years ago to do for ourselves together what we could not do alone. It was not instituted to do things we have apparently now become too lazy to do for ourselves. Look at the Government's latest answer to fixing the economy if you'd like an example, as the Senate passes legislation seeking tariffs against the Chinese for flooding the US with 'cheap goods', and preventing our own from being competitive. Really?

Isn't that the same government that's telling us that the biggest problem is that consumer demand for goods is down? Do they think that demand will improve if the costs of those goods are increased through tariffs on produced in China or the sale of more expensive goods from elsewhere (even the US)? What will happen to a cost of living calculation that's already little more than pointless fiction, since it doesn't include the costs of food and energy, if we add to it what will now be the higher costs of imported goods?

Politicians complain that the Chinese are pumping money into their own economy to artificially prop it up (which seems rather disingenuous of those who passed two different Stimulus plans and would like to see a third passed). But so what? What's wrong with taking advantage of China spending their money to makes its goods cheaper to buy until they can no longer afford to do so? Aren't we glad that China is using this money to prop up their exported goods, rather than using it to build fleets of ships, squadrons of airplanes, and silos full of missiles? If they think that the best use of their national treasure is an attempt to sustain something that cannot be sustained forever, let them. In fact, let's applaud and encourage them to continue to do so while enjoying the fruits of ignorance that allow us to buy more and cheaper stuff with our own money.

Of course placing tariffs on goods coming out of China will likely spur retaliatory ones on US goods being shipped to China and lead to a trade war, but what's wrong with that? Well for one thing and like so many other times, Washington will be fighting the last war and not the one one we're facing. We are no longer in a position of strength to bully other nations on the world stage. The economy is a house of cards and the windbags in Washington are doing little more than seeking to blow it down. For another, these are the same policies that proved a dismal failure during the Great Depression when they signed in 1930 the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law. Rather than helping the economy recover, this bit of odious political economic theory in fact extended the damage of the Depression far beyond what it should have. Is repeating one of the poorer examples of legislative governance in this country's history the only way that we can prove its lunacy?

Perhaps what we need to be asking ourselves more often is whether much of the very protection that the government is attempting to provide is what's stifling the economic recovery that it claims to be seeking. Cheap energy is a necessary component to fueling a recovery for example, but the govt refuses to issue permits for drilling on land and sea in this country. When Canada offers to ship us less expensive oil that it's choosing to recover from its own lands, we refuse to allow them permission to build a pipeline across the US for processing. Such thinking not only ignores the necessity of obtaining such energy from a friendly source, but the large number of good paying jobs that will result from looking for it, getting it out of the ground, and building the pipeline across this country to move it to refineries. What kind of protection is that?

The president demonizes the TEA party movement seeking a return to a limited government as defined by the Constitution that it was created under. He finds sympathy however, for an Occupy movement that seeks not equality of opportunity but equality of result. Doesn't this kind of equality stifle the very spark of potential genius this country was built on under a pile of stinking egalitarian mediocrity? In the rush to seek some imagined progressive government utopia of uniform opportunity, are we instead getting a conformity mandated by the force of law? In the seemingly constant incremental surrender of individual freedom, could we be dooming ourselves to stagnation instead? Have we exchanged a true diversity of ideas for little more than a divergent set of paths to failure? While decrying a lack of competitive edge in this country, has government itself instilled a placidity whose only goals are illusionary props to self-esteem?

This protection by legislation and regulation is not only doomed to failure by the faulty thinking it comes from, but by the imperfect assumptions it's based on and the defective methods involved in writing it. What makes all of it even worse however, are the inevitable strong-arm tactics that will be used to enforce what are little more that crooked, flawed, and unsound policies for no other reason than that those in power believe that they know what's best for you. Growing up in Chicago around the stories of mob influence during the days of another flawed government mandate, Prohibition, we knew what to call this kind of protection. Used very effectively by criminal enterprises that often seemed far more organized that our government (then or now), we called them Protection Rackets.

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Higher Education

2011-10-22T10:46:00.022-04:00

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You know, you have to sympathize with the complaints of some of the recently graduated college students in the 'Occupy' movement. After all, leaving the safety of protection of the academic world after 4-6 years, only to find yourself saddled with a debt equivalent to the purchase of a small home in the Midwest can be a rather startling revelation. Discovering that this encumbrance has provided you little in the way of earning collateral, since your degree in English Renaissance Literature has as much value in the real world as one in Underwater Basket Weaving can be unnerving.

Listen, I can feel your pain. Back in the days when I was seeking a degree in Philosophy (and no, Socrates and Aristotle were not teaching then, but I think Descartes was), I remember how interesting the courses were and how exciting and fun it was to be learning things that I'd never dreamt existed. Fortunately for me, I was waylaid in my quest for ultimate knowledge by a professor at the University of Missouri at Kansas City from whom I was taking two courses from at the time. Though not my academic adviser (who curiously enough, I never met during my time at UMKC), Dr. Minton took the time to patiently explain to me that my Bachelor's degree would do little more than qualify me to sort mail at the Post Office. He further explained that I would need both a Masters degree and Doctorate to pursue the one job open to such graduates, becoming a professor like him. Soon after that, I left school forever to pursue the full-time employment in the printing industry that led me to where I am today.

(Of course looking back, getting a job at the USPS in the mid 70's would have meant that I could have been retired by now with a pretty decent pension, instead of having to restart a career after the all but demise of the daily newspaper business; so I should probably be a little pissed at the man. He at least did me the favor of explaining the hard realities of the world to me however.)

Knowledge is a beautiful thing in and of itself, and continuing education is a goal to be pursued, not a destination to be reached. Nor is the process limited to the academic environs of a university and the structure of a classroom. I have achieved far greater knowledge and insight in the last few years under the tutelage of friends now living in Virginia or still living in Toledo than I did in many of the years before (Thanks Brian and Maggie). With no more instruction than, 'if this is what you believe, figure out why and keep your thinking logically consistent' and 'here's the title of a few good books you might want to read'; they sent me on a voyage of discovery that will likely never end. The cost of this instruction by the way, has been that of the books themselves, and the treasured and all too rare opportunity to provide reimbursement to those instructors through the purchase of an adult beverage.

I understand that not all were or will be as fortunate however, and the cost of a college education continues to rise. While the rest of the world is suffering in the economic malaise and many commercial concerns are seeking strict cost cutting measures, the world of academia seems to be living a far different existence. Many universities across the country are building new dormitories to provide what most would consider 'high-end amenities' to current and prospective students. Sports facilities, long a source of contention between academics and alumni, likewise continue to be erected or upgraded in an effort to attract the best and brightest on and off the field.

At a time of complaints over the reductions of aid to education by states already strapped for cash is demonized, pay continues to increase for both instructors and administrators. Here in Kansas, the Board of Regents approved modest increases of 1.8% for all; but in spite of the tough times, slightly larger ones for some who they felt were being paid less than their peers. Kansas State's Kirk Schultz's pay will go from $350,000 to $400,000, President of Pittsburg State Steve Scott's compensation will go from $213,000 to $248,000, Hays State's Ed Hammond's pay will jump from $222,860 to $255,200. By comparison, the increases of University of Kansas Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little from $425,000 to $432,650 seems hardly worth mentioning (except that she's making over $400k); as does the increase of Wichita State University's Don Beggs from $277,160 to $282,150. (And don't get me started on the pay of full professors, the madness of the tenure system, how much of their responsibilities they delegate to TA's and graduate students, or the concept of paid sabbaticals.)

I know that Universities, like other businesses, seek to attract the top flight administrators; and compensation is certainly a way to do that. While recognizing this necessity however, I cannot help but deplore what at best is an example of poor public relations and at worst an almost intolerable insensitivity to current economic realities shown by such compensation packages.

Perhaps those camped out and sleeping under tarps in places where they aren't allowed to do so might want to redirect their faulty target identification systems from the fat cat bankers who loaned them the money for an education they can't find a use for to the institutions of learning that accepted that borrowed money in what they believed was a legitimate contract to provide them with not only an education, but a future. (A situation which has apparently been solved now by insuring that most if not all student loans in this country will come henceforth from the government.) Perhaps they might also set their sights on those in Washington DC who strangely seem oblivious to the fact that education costs have been going up at rather startling rates lately.

I fear however, that until we either stop telling young people that they need a college education to succeed in life, or start telling everyone in this country that tuition rates have been going up at twice the rate of inflation since 2000, those entering universities around the country will indeed be seeking and getting a 'higher education'.

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TFP Column(s): Halloween Costumes 2011 / The Perfect Storm

2011-10-20T19:37:00.003-04:00

Well it's that time of year again when demons, zombies, and delusional freaks who believe they are super heroes will once more be walking the streets. Oh sure, you can say that they're just politicians making last ditch attempts to scare up a few votes for next months elections, but quite frankly they terrify the hell out of me.

Far less alarming however, are this year's suggestions for disguises that can be used for garnering the only handouts that do not come from the government these days. So it was with recently repaired sarcasm and irony keys on my computer and tongue planted firmly in cheek, that the annual "Halloween 2011" costume recommendations was penned for the TFP.

Of course it's all a bit of harmless Halloween fun ... you know, like lighting bags of dog crap on fire on people's porches (not that I ever did anything like that of course), and a lot easier to clean off of your shoes.

There were even a few costume additions that limitations on column space and time restrictions did not permit me, that I am now able to add here:

Stand on the porch of the homes you visit with a shoe (or rubber foot) in your mouth. When asked, tell them you are VP Joe Biden; then quickly shove the item back into place to before you say something else stupid.

Put on your Sunday best, pin a piece of paper with a "1" on it to your clothes, and wear a demonic mask or makeup. When queried, respond that you are one of the 'evil rich' and don't they wish that they were too.

Women can paint a black eye on while wearing anything else that they choose. When asked, tell them you are recently returned from Topeka, Kansas; where misdemeanor domestic violence laws were not being prosecuted (and where existing laws for charging this misdemeanor were dropped by the city council) for a day in a rather sad political budget pissing match.

Wear something business casual and carry a clipboard full of multicolored forms, a stick pen, and a very stern expression. When asked about your costume, tell them that you are the most dangerous person in the United States (as defined by Ronald Reagan), "someone from the government who's here to help".

Hey listen! Since the candy being handed out to children as an integral part of this celebration violates every one of the recommended government dietary requirements, I urge all of you to 'Occupy Halloween' by putting the children in your neighborhood in a sugar frenzy that their parents will not soon forget.

If that concept isn't scary enough for you however, try this one on for size:

What might happen if those in the 'Occupy' movement, keen on taking bankers and Wall Street villains to task, come to realize that it's the government regulations and regulators that are really to blame for rigging the game. Then add in the righteous (and more well organized) indignation of the TEA Party movement that has likewise come to realize that the enemy, if there is one, is the faceless bureaucrat who regulates their every moment and the legislator who ceded his Constitutionally mandated power to a bunch unelected government courtiers and sycophants.

What it meant to me at least, is the possibility that the best and brightest from the two groups might begin to recognize their power and come together in "The Perfect Storm" thirteen months before the next big election.

Of course what this means is that after an absence of a couple of weeks, you will find not one, but two efforts of mine in this weekend's Toledo Free Press. (There's even an ugly rumor going around that the Halloween costume bit will appear in the print edition this week as well.)

As always however, there is far more and far better to be found in the pages of this weekend's edition and some exclusively on the TFP website. I therefore urge you to spend a little time catching up on everything else that's going on in Toledo and Northwest Ohio this weekend with Toledo's largest Sunday circulation and what's recognized as Ohio's Best Weekly Newspaper, the Toledo Free Press.

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Shepherd Indicted by Flock

2011-10-20T00:01:00.005-04:00

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While the title of this post may appear a bit confusing at first, its meaning will become plain quickly enough. For it seems that a Grand Jury in Jackson County, Missouri (Kansas City), at the urging of the County Prosecutor, has handed down a misdemeanor indictment for Bishop Robert Flynn, as well as the Diocese of Kansas City - St Joseph, MO for failure to report suspected child abuse.

It seems that Bishop Flynn failed to report the suspected child abuse activities of one of the priests in the diocese, Rev. Shawn Ratigan; who is now facing federal child pornography charges. After apparently hundreds of images of this child pornography were found on the good Father's computer, the Bishop had Father Ratigan reassigned away from parish duties that might bring him into contact with children, but failed to report the situation to police for a period of some five months. The Bishop also apparently failed to read a memo submitted by the principal of the Catholic school where Father Ratigan worked in May of 2010, some seven months before the items were discovered on the computer and a year before authorities were informed.

The December 2010 time frame is coincidentally the time when I had previously written a piece on the Church's position on accepting responsibility for the actions committed by these priests, "Suffer The Little Children". I wondered then whether someone in authority would be held accountable:

"If the Catholic Church were to be judged like any other multinational corporation, a good faith effort at atonement would require that they would terminate not only the offenders, but any of those in management (Monsignors, Bishops, and Cardinals) involved with the cover up of illegal activities at the very least."

It appears that being held to that standard was not as long in coming as I would have suspected. Of course Bishop Flynn and the Diocese are likewise named in a number of civil suits relating to this situation that will likely take years of legal wrangling to resolve. The calls for Bishop's Flynn's resignation have likewise been surfacing regularly since May when Ratigan's situation first came to light, but the Bishop appears not to be giving serious consideration to accepting his own responsibility in this situation (other than to issue apologies), to be under no pressure from the Vatican to do so, and is in fact pursuing a full schedule of appearances. The Holy See for its part, is remaining purposefully silent on the situation, claiming on the surface at least to be attempting to avoid the appearance of interference with the local legal proceedings.

Perhaps the Pope and the rest of the Church authorities fail to realize that it is this very silence that has stirred the righteous indignation of the faithful, both in Kansas City and elsewhere. Even the most devout recognize that not only is it far past time that the Catholic Church stopped trying to cover for those who violate its most sacred trusts; but accept responsibility for what some might call being an accessory after (and in some case before) the fact for these criminal acts.

Forgiveness is one of the core tenants of the Catholic faith; but such forgiveness is not achieved without making a Confession, following through with a true act of contrition, and the performance of a penance. While certainly no one believes that those higher in the Church hierarchy 'committed' these sins, the Church has long recognized 'sins of omission' which those in authority certainly appear to be guilty of by their failures in protection of their flock and to turn over the perpetrators to the proper authorities. The failure of those in the Church to protect those in its care that are most vulnerable is inexcusable. The apparent belief that those in authority need not share some of the guilt for the damage done when they fail not only to prevent this when they could, but to report it when they knew of it is unconscionable. The idea that members of the clergy might be above the law because of their position is intolerable.

Until Church leaders too step forward, perform more than a simple 'mea culpa', and accept responsibility and penance for these detestable deeds, I'm afraid that this won't be the last time that what was once a loyal flock seeks to indict its shepherd.

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More Transparency From Your Government

2011-10-17T19:51:00.003-04:00

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In a story little reported around the rest of the country, the KC Star follows up on a story that it has itself become involved in, with the shut down of public access to a medical database by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Today, the paper reports that Senator Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican member of the Judiciary Committee is demanding an explanation for why HHS now denies full access for anyone to a national database tracking malpractice and disciplinary cases among doctors saying: "More transparency serves the public interest." Grassley has in fact called for a briefing from HHS as to why such information is no longer available to journalists, researchers, and the public in general.

Of course the KC Star has every reason to continue to follow this story, since it was one of its investigative reporting efforts that led to the current policy. The Star's involvement in fact dates back to September, when it "reported finding 21 doctors in the two states who had 10 or more payouts" ... (It tracked cases in Missouri and Kansas for malpractice) ... "but had not been disciplined". By putting these records (which have names removed) together with court records it obtained separately, the Star was able through its efforts, to discover the names of one of these doctors.

Both universities and other journalism organizations have since called for full access to this information, but have been denied that which was previously available by HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sibelius. Instead, her agency now says that it might agree to release specific data, but retains the option to deny any such a request made.

“Shutting down public access to the data bank undermines the critical mission of identifying inefficiencies within our health care system,” Senator Grassley is quoted as saying in the story.

And with barely the stroke of a pen, the same federal government that wishes to take control of health care in this county once and for all believes that patients, researchers, or the media do not have the right to know whether there are incompetent doctors out there who are not being disciplined by their peers in the medical profession. And in yet another example of the 'transparency' touted by the Administration when it entered office, it once denies consumers of vital information that might help them to make better choices in medical care for themselves.

"My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government."
(quoted from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/TransparencyandOpenGovernment/)

The Top 1% Win Because They Play

2011-10-15T12:41:00.008-04:00

Didn't being in the top 1% used to be a good thing?

I remember my years in high school (difficult to forget, since Gutenberg had just invented movable type) when were given standardized tests. I took up the challenge of the PSAT, the SAT, and the ACT with relish as part of the college application process certainly, but also to measure myself against other students in the nation in a similar position. Seeking and achieving a higher score in these tests was not only a source of pride, but assuaged the need to compete that I felt.

After my halcyon days of education and standardized tests were over, I was left to find new ways to measure myself against my fellow man. Advancement in career was certainly a part of that, and being granted additional responsibilities was certainly a source of pride; but a job title never paid the rent or bought groceries. No, it was financially that we ultimately measured ourselves against our contemporaries (and even many whose station was above ours). In fact, I remember telling many a new salesman during their training period that commission checks were not only a justly earned reward for the hard work that they did, but a great way of keeping score.

Competing wasn't limited to work, and contests with peers on the simple electronic games of the time were always a part of the fun. From 'Pong' and 'Donkey Kong' in those earlier days, to Role Playing Games (RPG's) like 'World of Warcraft' to 'Lord of the Rings' more recently, pitting ones skills against other players and those who write the rules (especially when you figure out the tricks and shortcuts) was eminently satisfying. And while I'm not as good as some in my clan, I keep score and try to improve my standing.

It's with this in mind that I view the misguided thinking of the whole 'Occupy' movement. Somewhere in the midst of being caught up in a twisted entitlement mentality, they've come damn close to something, but failed to grasp it. Yes, the top 1% is getting a lot of the breaks these days; but it's not capitalism that's at fault for all of the world's problems, but crony-capitalism. After all, we've had capitalism in this country since it was founded, and the disparity that they claim to so disparage has only become an issue in recent years.

What changed? Certainly it isn't the principles of capitalism itself. Capitalism is only an economic system in which the private ownership of the means of production and distribution is maintained. It's a system where anyone can own both physical and intellectual property, and the score is kept based on how much of both you have. Now maybe I'm wrong, but what they appear to object to is their inability to play the game by what they consider 'unfair rules'.

What they fail to grasp apparently, is that this game that has worked for centuries is increasingly being rigged ... by the government created to protect it. This doesn't make those bending the rules to the point of breaking (or hiring someone to do it for them) worthy of praise, but neither does it make them into maleficent demons. What it does make them is pretty damn good at scoring points on a real-life strategy game with some pretty twisted and always changing rules. But like most of the electronic RPG's out there, the players don't write the rules. No in this case, that's done by those clever little programmers in Washington DC and by their pals the lobbyists, hoping to get a jump at getting to and staying at the top of the pile.

Is the tax system rigged? Of course it is. It's a set of originally simple rules that gets more complicated every time someone in Washington decides to 'fix a bug' in it. Hell, even the IRS cannot and does not understand the thousands of pages of tax code that they are supposed to enforce. But if you want taxes to stop favoring the rich, simplify the tax code! Take out the ponderous pages of rules, regulations, incentives, loop holes, and deductions so that there's nothing to take advantage of. Join with Conservatives that have been pushing for years to see a 'Flat Tax' with the same rate for everyone or 'Fair Tax' based on the consumption of goods. No exemptions, no deductions, and no tax-free investments for anyone. (And oh by the way, without a complicated tax system, we'd need little or none of the massive IRS bureaucracy and the money we waste on it.)

You want to fix the banking system, don't let the government add to the already ponderous regulation that it works under (and under which it collapsed), then bail them out when they flip a coin that says "heads I win, tails you lose". Get the legislators and lobbyists out of the process and tell them that they're a business like any other. Tell them that if they gamble their (our) money on risky investments and lose it, they will go bankrupt. And tell them by the way, that they'll be going to jail as well for doing so, and have every personal asset they own confiscated to settle the bill.

You want foreclosures to end, then shut down government interference in the system and government run Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as well. It was government regulation that convinced people to buy houses they couldn't afford and forced banks to lend them the money to do so. It was government regulation that allowed the bundling investments that burst the housing bubble. It's complying with government regulations that is hindering with clearing up the paperwork so the system can reset itself and move on.

You want to fix Wall Street, then stop letting Congress write regulations for its operation that allow the most egregious offenders to speculate without putting real money up. You want major corporations to act responsibly, then yank the government safety net out from under them. Stop the taxpayer funded incentives, the subsidies, and the legislative picking of winners and losers; and make the system run with little government supervision and no support. Everybody from people who run trains to those who build cars knows that right now they can continue to operate under practices that are not and cannot be self-sustaining, and when the inevitable happens they can run to legislators under the 'too big to fail' scenario with their Oliver Twist suits on to beg for money. Tell the government that it has to stop.

If nothing else however, remember that real capitalism is little more than a game with rules that you need to learn and understand. And like any other game, it's one you can't expect to win unless you play. Watching over the shoulders of others exerting themselves, and complaining that the rules won't let you compete won't get you into the game or take you to the next level. So log in, get your password, and start playing with the rest of us. Who knows, you might find that you enjoy this fairly realistic and rather challenging RPG far more than you thought.

And as for those you're trying to demonize for playing too well ... don't blame the player dog, blame the government writing and rewriting the rules of the game ...

Ideological Inconsistency

2011-10-12T00:01:00.017-04:00

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I am becoming increasingly frustrated by what is apparently the most widespread epidemic in the world today, ideological inconsistency. From the pundits to the electorate, few have managed to escape a malady afflicting the nation. While I don't consider myself above occasional bouts that must be treated, I do try however to give myself regular inoculations of the cold, hard facts in a largely successful prophylactic effort. Perhaps that's why the dissonance of arguments on both the left and the right seem so confusing to me these days.

Conservatives want to remove subsidies from farmers (something long overdue), solar and wind technology, and ethanol producers. They claim that industries and technologies that are marketable do not require government assistance in order to survive. How then do we explain the inconsistency to their wanting to continue subsidies to oil companies and defense contractors? Is the oil industry not profitable without government assistance? If such assistance were removed, would they not maintain their profit margins through the market? And how much has been and is still being poured into corporations developing technologies that this country will never deploy in its own defense? How much treasure is wasted in contractor malfeasance and featherbedding for projects woefully behind schedule or those that will never succeed?

Progressives for their part, want to pull the financial plug on any form of energy coming from oil and coal which are already in place and generating inexpensive power much needed for potential economic growth; leaving in place supports for energy sources that will never be more than marginal ones incapable of supplying current, let alone future needs, in anything like their present form. They somehow manage to forget fact that according to their ideology, subsidizing corporations is inherently evil (especially when any of their manufacturing is done overseas), apparently capable of setting aside such ideology in the name of 'green technology'. Ideology likewise seems irrelevant when it's pointed out that ethanol produces more pollution (and less energy) than oil; or the concept that while mercury pollution produced by the burning of coal is unforgivable, that released when an energy-saving light bulb is broken is OK.

Meanwhile Congress continues pointless ideological discussions of how to cut the growth of spending in the future instead of the actual spending in the present that's behind our runaway debt. In a perfect example of conflicted dogma, the left and right simultaneously debate how to raise revenue (taxes) without raising taxes (except on those paying most of them already). Naively believing that this time they can tax the hideously rich (some of whom are already in Congress) without having them lobby their way around it or move their money out of the US to avoid such taxation entirely (and further hurting the economy); they ignore the elephant in the room that even if they were capable of such a monumental feat of legislative legerdemain, the sum taken in wouldn't come close to balancing the government's books (paying 1-2% of the current deficit by most respected estimates).

While they wrestle with this insubstantial demon, the unmistakable monster of government bureaucracy before them continues its reign of terror, absorbing more money and power with each passing moment. In this government-approved version of "Oliver Twist", the young orphan attacks the grown-ups with his plate, and beats them about the head and ears while taking whatever he determines is his fair share. Ideologically weak legislators on both sides of the aisle, intimidated by this unruly juvenile delinquent, seem unwilling or unable to curb his monstrous appetite; nor can they deny him the increasing authority he takes without asking. Regardless of Ideology, everything be damned when the business of 'government as usual' is at stake for these unelected courtiers of an increasingly corrupt system.

And of course what discussion of distorted and duplicitous ideology would be complete without touching on the choosing of a Republican challenger for the sitting President that's so much in the news and on the minds of 'those who know'. USA Today for example, talks recently about non-candidate Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey never entering the race as a governor who after all, "has held office for less than two years" (a crime that they consider Sarah Palin equally guilty of). True enough as far as it goes, unless one wishes to look at the time before Christie entered office, when in 2008 we elected a junior Senator from Illinois with 'less than two years experience' (and who spent most of that time campaigning for the office he currently holds), to the highest office in the land .

Not to be left out on capricious and incoherent thinking, those on the right still talk about a movement to draft this man of relative inexperience during the national convention where they hope to pick a replacement for one that they complain does not have a proper background and experience of leadership required to perform this function.

Herman Cain is likewise attacked for a lack of experience from the left and the right, but no one asks whether the experience of running a profitable business is better that of leading an unprofitable government, or why the experience of being a professional politician is a good in and of itself. We've had experienced politicians in the White House much of the 20th and 21st Century after all, and what have they gotten us except into the mess we now find ourselves desperately seeking a way out of.

Strangely, the only candidate with a consistent ideology is the one most disregarded and demonized. One cannot help but wonder that if consistent ideology is sought by Republicans, what clearer choice could they have? Who has more knowledge of what caused the financial disaster we stand on the brink of or spoken more clearly on its solutions? Who has likewise spoken more often and plainly on a return to a Constitutionally limited government that so many claim as their ideology?

Instead of praise for such ideological purity however, Paul has been marginalized. In spite of the fact that he has more experience at working with Democrats and Republicans alike in Congress than any of his counterparts, he's seen as unable to do so. In spite of apparently standing for exactly what the Republican electorate claims they want from the next candidate for the highest office in the land, the argument continues to be over which of the other candidates is the most electable lesser of evils.

Like Alice down the rabbit hole, the whole concept of consistent ideology has become 'curiouser and curiouser'. At a time when we most need an outlook based on an objective analysis of the facts before us, what we get is anything but. The facts today don't seem to count except in how they are capable of being edited into soundbites that fit a pre-existing ideological vision more twisted than the Red Queen. We've so lost sight of what it means to hold firm to anything like the tenets of a consistent personal philosophy that we may soon use H G Wells instead of Charles Dodgson to say that, 'in this country of the blind, the one-eyed man will soon be forced to have government mandated and paid for Lasix surgery'.

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SOS Dictionary: A New 'Terrorism' Definition

2011-10-07T20:48:00.006-04:00

Last week's cross-disciplinary effort was apparently much more fun for the staff than I had realized (or intended, for that matter). Both the Department of Just Blowing Smoke Security and the Stuck on Stupid lexicographers asked for an opportunity to try again. (I originally suspected that sampling a hidden bottle in the attic that they didn't want to share caused this attempt to repeat their effort. I have since come to believe however, that it has more to do with the flattery advanced by a certain attractive lady from a land far away.)

In the spirit of benevolent dictatorship, I bowed to this entreaty, knowing that the chances they could equal their last effort were worse than Michelle Bachmann's odds on getting the Republican presidential nomination. (Of course it might have something to do with the fact that I'm a slacker who sees no reason to write something of my own when someone else volunteers.) After an extended session in which scrap paper was generated equivalent to the number of trees required to deforest Delaware, I was presented with a result that I had neither looked for, nor expected.

Looking at this effort now, I can't help but be amazed at their exhaustive research (which I assume from the periodic snoring that came from upstairs) in identifying a previously known, but unrecognized core group of nefarious characters plotting against this nation. I found this group to be not only a credible threat, but insidiously clever in calling themselves by the very name that describes their activities.

This 'hiding in plain sight' mentality is an excellent form of misdirection; but unfortunately for them, one that proved not entirely successful when subjected to the scrutiny of a group of miscreants who are themselves well-schooled in the art of not being noticed when they don't want to be. I therefore present the following addition both as a terror alert and as a new definition for the Stuck on Stupid (SOS) Dictionary.

Terrorism:

Taxing the
Evil
Rich to
Reduce
Obligations
Resulting from an
Immoderate government
Spending
Movement

1. The efforts of 'Tax and spend' true believers in Congress and the White House who seek to mitigate their profligate spending through the forced confiscation of the abundance of those they deem affluent.

2. The misguided attempts of followers of the 'Robin Hood' theory of economics (like Paul Krugman) that justifies giving the poor that which they have not earned and don't deserve by taking it from an alleged 'evil rich' who have committed no crime except succeeding at life through their own hard work.

3. The misguided tactics of a guerrilla government to balance its books by robbing Peter to pay Paul. The inherent failure of their tactics comes from the fact that Peter can never have enough taken from him to make Paul happy.

4. Grand Inquisitors of Keynesian economics using WMD's (Weapons of Mass Distraction) to so poison the intellect of the electorate that they believe that although the top 1% of wage earners pay 38% and the top 10% pay 70% of the taxes in this country, they are not paying their 'fair share'. (statistics are from The Heritage Foundation)

5. The activities of suicide bombers like Warren Buffet and Ron Howard who misuse a combination of wealth and celebrity to destroy economic growth in this country through the use of 'Media Explosive Devices' (MED's) that maim rich and poor alike when detonated in public places.

6. The actions of elected officials (mostly rich themselves) who believe that it's alright to take money from other rich people as long as the 'servants of the people' are left alone with their lavish pensions and exceptional medical care.

7. The strategies of subversive left-wing social planners, with an army of IRS enforcers at their back, who have managed to create an aura of fear wherever and whenever the concept of personal success rears its ugly head in this country.

8. The stunts performed by adversaries of free market capitalism who have pronounced a jihad on those who believe in the principle of the 'pursuit' of happiness, rather than government-enforced egalitarianism.

9. The enterprises of insurgents that hand money that isn't theirs (and exists only as government debt) to Wall Street brokers and 'too big to fail' bankers by the wheelbarrow full, only to later feign attacks on them for the purpose of disingenuous propaganda; all the while appropriating funds to continue to do so from the innocent bystanders they claim to be defending.

10. Seditionist strategies by elements of society that claim to be attempting to free the people of this country through an unrelenting program of tax slavery.

11. The activity of those who see themselves best suited to pick the winners and losers in life by attacking the most successful on behalf of the least able.

Those who have somehow missed previous Terror Alerts or entries in the "Stuck on Stupid" Dictionary may find them by typing 'terrorism' or 'dictionary' into the search function on the left tab.

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Social Security Taxation - A Brief History Lesson

2011-10-05T21:01:00.003-04:00

Nothing truly inspirational has come across my path this week that deserves a full-blown rant, but I did come across an interesting bit of the past where Social Security was concerned in my continuing education course, "Things this dummy never learned in college".

Since I am all but incapable of maintaining the structure required for 'higher education' these days, I have been force to audit even this class; which has no lectures, no syllabus, and no testing (and therefore no grades). Apparently the ne'er do well leading the program has no plan in mind except the acquisition of knowledge, regardless of the department or discipline involved. This would be an admirable goal in and of itself normally, but I am familiar enough with this reprobate to recognize that no praise for this tortuous effort is warranted.

At any rate, I came across this bit of the history of Social Security in "Economics in One Lesson" but Henry Hazlitt. While last updated in 1979, Hazlitt provides a wealth of information in just over 200 pages that could help even the most moronic of students understand the basic principles of the Austrian school of economics (and I ought to know).

Concerning our 'Senior Safety Net', he said:

"Social Security was to be entirely a self-financed insurance plan based on strict actuarial principles. A reserve fund was to be set up sufficient to meet future claims and payments as they fell due.

It never worked out that way. The reserve fund existed mainly on paper. The government spent the Social Security tax receipts, as they came in, either to meet it's ordinary expenses or to pay out benefits. Since 1975, current benefit payments have exceeded the system's tax receipts. ....

In the original 1935 bill the salary taxed was only the first $3,000. The early tax rates were very low. But between 1965 and 1977, for example, the Social Security tax shot up from 4.4% on the first $6,600 of earned income (levied on employer and employee alike) to a combined 11.7 percent on the first $16,500. (Between 1960 and 1977, the total tax increased by 572 percent, or about 12 percent per year compounded.) ... At the beginning of 1977, unfunded liabilities of the Social Security system were officially estimated at $4.1 trillion." (Emphasis added)

Now if that period after 1965 seems oddly familiar, those of you old enough, or who have studied your history might remember that Medicare and Medicaid were added to this program in the Social Security Act of 1965.

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TFP Column: Government "Prop"aganda

2011-10-02T00:01:00.015-04:00

I was late this week in attempting an effort for the TFP, and Editor-in-Chief Michael Miller may have thought that he had escaped at least one week without having to deal with my illiterate scribbling. As much as I like Michael however, I found myself caught up in the books on Economics that I have been reading for the last couple of weeks.

(Reading books on Economics for fun ... am I living the dream or what!)

I only wish that some of those in government had read some of the same material that I have, and we might all have been spared a good deal of misery (and a larger portion of debt) in the last couple of years.

Applying my 'book learning' to the situation at hand (the next proposed Stimulus), led me to put together a piece called "Government 'Prop'aganda", which discusses some $447 billion in props to the economy proposed by the President and some of the disinformation surrounding it.

As always, anything worth knowing is going to find its way into the TFP this weekend. So if you want to know everything that's going on in Toledo and NW Ohio, you're going to have to look in on Toledo's largest Sunday circulation and Ohio's Best Weekly newspaper, the Toledo Free Press.

The New Definition of Govt "STIMULUS"

2011-10-01T00:01:00.088-04:00

In perhaps the finest example of cross-disciplinary cooperation in the history of "Just Blowing Smoke", the Department of Just Blowing Smoke Security and the lexicographers of the "Stuck on Stupid" Dictionary have combined their talents to produce this weekend's effort. Senior staff at JBS, understanding that potential jurisdictional disputes could create unnecessary friction; or worse, incite the staff to seek organization under a union, spared no expense in securing the full cooperation of the respective personnel.

Of course this meant that we had to send out for a pizza with real Italian Sausage from "Italian Delight" and serve it with a choice of Leinenkugel Red or Dos Equis Amber. ( A few disgruntled scribblers complained about the lack of Guinness as a selection, until it was explained that such nectar can only be served on tap and threatened the removal of alcohol choices entirely as an alternative.)

Setting aside the minor effort at insurrection by this bunch of minimum wage, minimum IQ, and minimum accomplishment slackers; I must admit that this effort is an interesting addition to the growing legends (in their own minds, at least) of both departments.

Government STIMULUS:

Statesmen
Trying to
Interfere with
Monetary policy
Using
Larceny,
Usury, and
Subterfuge

1. An attempt by the government to jump start a failing or stagnate economy by an infusion of capital, a program of incentives, or both.

2. The transference of money from one person (or group of people) to another, so that they can use such cash to stimulate the economy. Invariably such a transference hurts those it takes from, does not reach those it was designed to, and is not used in the fashion originally intended if by mischance it actually does arrive. In the process however, more than a little of the cash allocated is siphoned off by the useless drones of government bureaucracy to perpetuate or increase the size of their fiefdoms.

3. A misguided misreading of the principles of economics that leads some to believe that the laws of supply and demand will not invariably do a faster and much better job of returning stability to a nation's economy that any artificial attempts to do so.

4. Asinine attempts by politicians to provide a quick fix for the economic malaise using principles that they understand about as well as they understand those of particle physics. (No wait, not even that well ...)

5. Ludicrous, nonsensical proposals for economic recovery made by those attempting to run for or keep elected office which are used as little more than a bully pulpit from which to demonize their political opponents.

6. A government program which trades failed short-term solutions for long-term stagnation caused by its very interference.

7. An opportunity for elected officials to line the pockets of selected constituents, lobbyists, and especially donors in the name of 'sharing the burden' of a sagging economy.

8. Attempts by the public sector to pick winners and losers in the private sector. In doing this job poorly and indiscriminately, they often decimate such private sector businesses in the process, whether chosen to reap the benefits of such an attempt or not.

9. Misguided efforts by those who have mostly never run businesses (or held jobs other than in government) to decide how those attempting to do so should be 'helped'. Not surprisingly, they either cannot or simply refuse to hear the pleas of their intended victims attempting to tell them that in order to do so, they need merely: "Get out of the way!"

10. Government wealth transfer programs in which some funds are misappropriated, others are misapplied, and still others are simply missing.

11. An attempt by a government to spend money it doesn't have, on programs it doesn't need, to solve problems it cannot fix.

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