A Failed State?

Perhaps the primary responsibility a government has is to protect its citizens. If a government is incapable of performing this most basic function, then arguably it is a failed state. Which brings us to Mexico.

The drug cartels are now burning out Mexican citizens - torching entire towns - to strengthen their grasp on lucrative drug smuggling corridors leading to the U.S. Not only is the Mexican government incapable of protecting its citizens from the cartel scum, it doesn't even try to stem the flood of illegal immigrants from Mexico to the U.S. In fact, the Mexican side of the border economy depends on the flow of drugs and people heading across the border.

"Before arriving at La Sierrita, a migrant looking to cross this section of the border must pass through Altar, also in Sonora state. Once a sleepy agricultural outpost, Altar has reorganized its economy around human smuggling. Rows of stores sell backpacks, canned goods and electrolyte-infused soft drinks, while headhunters slip up behind the shoppers, whispering that they can arrange for a competent guide and a safe journey into the U.S."[link here]

So what can be done to help protect the border. Well, basic economics is a good place to start. Increase the risks, or decrease the rewards, and illegal activities will decline. In Mexico's case, however, this is being done by the cartels, not the government.

"Arrests in the Tucson border area were down by nearly a third between October and April, according to U.S. border officials. The Mexican government reports a 25% dip in its emigration rate. The recession is largely to blame, but analysts in the U.S. say the lack of jobs offers an incomplete explanation for why immigration in the region is apparently dropping. Mexico's drug cartels have become a more formidable presence here, taxing the coyotes and threatening their human cargo as they make their way to the border." [same link]

In fact, the cartels are now muscling in on the coyotes, expanding their smuggling operations to include humans as well as drugs.

"As drug smuggling groups find their profits pinched by tighter border enforcement, they have moved into human smuggling, according to U.S. law enforcement officials. And with good reason: The average migrant pays about $1,300 to $1,800 to be smuggled past the bolstered Border Patrol as well as fences, surveillance towers and other new security measures. What once was a wildcat operation with marginal profits has become big business." [one more time]

Indeed, the smuggling business has evolved into kidnapping. Phoenix, AZ, my wife's home town, has become the kidnapping capital of the country. I'm not sure how much attention our federales pay to this, since it's mainly illegal immigrants who are affected.

"Over the last several years, immigrant and drug smugglers have snatched their rivals, associates or their family members as a way to collect unpaid debt for lost trafficking loads, make quick money from crews flush with cash or as retaliation for earlier abductions.

Ransoms range from $30,000 to $1 million and sometimes include demands for large drug loads.

A few kidnapping victims are killed, and others face a range of abuse, such as having their legs burned with clothing irons, their arms tied to the ceiling or their fingers broken with bricks."

In the absence of any U.S. federal action, Arizona officials have decided enough is enough.

"Arizona lawmakers passed a controversial immigration bill on Monday requiring police in the state that borders Mexico to determine if people are in the United States illegally...

The law requires state and local police to determine the status of people if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they are illegal immigrants and to arrest people who are unable to provide documentation proving they are in the country legally."

Bottom line - economic forces are driving both illegal drugs and illegal immigrants from Mexico to the U.S. Mexico can't do anything to rein in the cartels. The U.S. federal government is unwilling to take the necessary steps to protect the border. It's ironic that the two entities taking steps to discourage illegal immigration are the Mexican drug cartels and the Arizona state government.

Since both countries lack the political will to do anything about this, at least at the national level, we must turn to economic countermeasures - increase the cost, and decrease the rewards. Some modest suggestions:

• more physical barriers, at least along heavily traveled smuggling roues
• greater law enforcement presence
• increased surveillance - aerial drones, ground sensors, etc.
• prison time instead of deportation for illegals
• serious punishment for businesses that hire illegal aliens
• elimination of the "anchor baby" citizenship provision

And what about amnesty, you ask? I'll address that in depth at some point in the future, but for now you'll just have to settle for this:

"According to this new bill that's tied up in the Senate, illegal immigrants who can prove they've been here for two years would be allowed to stay. So follow the logic here. If you can prove you broke the current law for two years, you've protected under the new law." --Jay Leno

Update: Will other states follow Arizona's lead in taking action against illegal immigrants? Stay tuned...

A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words

(as Homer would say, click to embiggen)

What A Maroon!

Noted without comment: a recent poll indicates that 8 out of 10 Americans "don't trust the federal government and have little faith it can solve America's ills."

The survey found that just 22 percent of those questioned say they can trust Washington almost always or most of the time and just 19 percent say they are basically content with it. Nearly half say the government negatively affects their daily lives, a sentiment that's grown over the past dozen years.

"Trust in government rarely gets this low," said Andrew Kohut, director of the nonpartisan center that conducted the survey.

In a democracy built on the notion that citizens have a voice and a right to exercise it, the long-term consequences could prove to be simply unhealthy - or truly debilitating.

Well, maybe just one little comment...

When a former president states that anti-government rhetoric can lead to acts of domestic terrorism ("Clinton alludes to 1995 Oklahoma City bombing"), when the head of the Department of Homeland Security considers military veterans a threat and sics the FBI on us, and when the sitting U.S. president buries his head in the sand and refuses to admit that there is such a thing as "Islamist extremism," well then, Hell yes I don't trust the fools in D.C.

Who does that idiot think is stuffing their underwear full of explosives, sending suicide bombers to murder women and children, and - oh yeah - crashing planes into buildings? Non-Islamic extremists?

Bugs Bunny said it best:

Update: In addition to women and children, now those cowardly murdering Muslim assholes are killing donkeys in the name of Allah. What a perversion of religion, that they can somehow justify in their twisted little minds the slaughter of innocents to advance their befouled Weltanschauung.

Go Figure

Since a large chunk of the country is just beginning to emerge from a post-tax day hangover, it might be instructive to examine a few figures. A recent CNN poll indicates that 74% of Americans believe that "a lot" of their tax dollars are wasted by the government, and another 23% believe that "some" of their tax dollars are misspent. Only 3% believe that "not much" of their tax dollars are wasted. Put another way, 97% think that the government wastes anywhere from "some" to "a lot" of the money it collects in taxes. That figure is a little higher than I would have guessed, but the conclusion that government is not very efficient when it comes to managing money isn't terribly surprising.

The poll goes on to reveal that about half the country thinks the tax system is unfair, while the other half say it's fair. That feeling of unfairness results in 40% of the people being angry about the amount of taxes they pay, 36% are satisfied, and 24% don't feel strongly one way or the other.

Where it gets interesting is when we recall the fact that 47% of Americans don't pay any income tax.

To recap: 53% of Americans pay 100% of the income tax, 50% think the tax system is unfair, and 40% are angry about it. I'm surprised that last number is only (!?!) 40%.

The poll also indicates that 50% of Republicans say they're angry, but that figure drops to 44% among Independents and 29% among Democrats. Gee, I wonder which group pays most of the taxes, and which group gets a free ride with other people's money?

"The poll indicates growing public frustration with taxes over the past couple of decades."

"This is a significantly higher level of anger than existed during the 1980s" ... "In 1985, only 27 percent were angry about the amount of taxes they had to pay, possibly a reflection of the tax cuts that Ronald Reagan instituted in his first year in office."

Repeat after me: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore."

April Showers

I've lived in Central Texas for most of my life, and this is one of the best years I've ever seen for wildflowers. I had to drive up around Lake Buchanan yesterday, and it was amazing. The flowers along U.S. 281 were varied, plentiful, and colorful. But what really blew me away was the carpet of bluebonnets that flanked FM 2341 between Burnet and the lake.

Lush, dense, vivid - MS Word doesn't have the synonyms to do them justice. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me, and even if I did I doubt if I could have captured the scope and intensity of the blooms. The bluebonnets literally carpeted the shoulders of the road for miles.

For the last two years this part of the country has suffered under a terrible drought. Streams and creeks have dried up, rivers dwindled to a trickle, and area lakes were down 50% or more. But this winter and spring have been wetter than normal, and things are slowly getting back to normal. Botanists say the drought has helped the wildflowers, since competing plants are stunted and sparse. The wildflower seeds are able to lay dormant for several years, sprouting only when conditions are conducive to growth. So this year they sprouted with a vengeance. I don't know if it's due to an intelligent Creator, intelligent design, evolution, or random chance, but it's truly a marvelous sight to behold.

And believe it or not, some of the credit has to go to TxDOT (Texas Dept. of Transportation). They have a program of sowing wildflower seeds and suspending mowing during the spring, which contributes to the emergence and growth of native flowers and grasses. Of course, being a government agency they find other ways to waste our tax dollars. But in this instance, credit where credit is due.

The scenery was so delightful that I turned off talk radio and cranked up the tunes. I came home in such a good mood that my wife thought I'd been up to something...

BAG It

In addition to today being Tax Day, it's also Buy A Gun Day (BAG Day).

BAG Day is much more fun than Tax Day. I must admit, however, that while I wholeheartedly support the concept, I am not participating this year. I am blessed with a reasonable amount of discretionary income and a wonderful, understanding wife. But as I noted earlier, I just came into possession of a new rifle. So instead of spending $$$ on another firearm, I blew invested a hunk of change in a new scope to top off the new rifle.

I had hoped to get it all together for today, but the rifle-scope combination requires non-standard mounting rings, which had to be special ordered. They should be here soon, and once everything is assembled I'll post pics and details.

In the meantime, I strongly urge everyone to amble on down to their favorite firearms store and stimulate the economy in a truly meaningful way. Right after you leave your local Tea Party rally, of course...

Tax Day

What can I say that hasn't been said by others (see excerpts and links below)?

Not much, other than to note that 47% of Americans pay no income tax.

At the same time, obama's approval rating is at 48%.

Coincidence? I think not.

















In many cases, those not paying taxes get money back from the IRS. Not a refund, mind you, but credits that exceed their withholding. In other words, Uncle Sam (read "you and me") are paying those folks for nothing more than basically living in these United States.

More insidiously, the government is taking money from those of us who do pay taxes and redistributing it to others as a form of social re-engineering: that is, people who behave in a certain way, or who purchase certain goods and services, are being rewarded at the expense of people who don't. As Scott Hodge points out:

The consequence of turning the tax code into a tool for social policy is that we now have a record 52 million filers off the income tax rolls...

The real issue is that millions of Americans no longer have any skin in the game and are becoming inoculated from the basic cost of government. To them, government seems free and politicians can easily convince them to support more and more spending because someone else is going to pay the tab. This trend deserves a broader national discussion than either party in Washington seems willing to engage in.

Sigh...

Other links worth checking out:

The Tax Foundation

Tax Analysts (nonprofit source for tax info)

A Brief Guide to the Flat Tax

Information About the Fair Tax

The Cato Institute's Explanation of Hong Kong's Tax System
(Hong Kong tax form is below - wouldn't that be a welcome change from the mess we have now.)















Final note: In recognition of Tax Day, a new book has been released that contains quotes - 'billions and billions' of quotes - about taxes. You can browse it on-line here. Samples below.

"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can depend on the support of Paul." - George Bernard Shaw

"The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it's just sort of a tired feeling." -- Paula Poundstone

"No one who has witnessed tax lobbyists' perennial infestation of Capitol Hill can ever again confuse the making of tax laws with the making of sausages: at least when you make sausages, you know the pigs won't be coming back." -- J. Mark Iwry

I feel the need for many, many Shiners...

Another "I want one"

I surely would like one of these Texas Grills to go with my Texas Flashlight...




















For those unfamiliar with BBQ Etiquette, here's a refresher.

When a man volunteers to BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:

(1) The man obtains the meat.
(2) The woman buys the rest of the food.
(3) The man prepares the meat.
(4) The woman makes the salad, side dishes, and dessert.
(5) The woman collects the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes them to the man, who is lounging beside the grill, beer in hand.
(6) The woman remains outside the compulsory three meter exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman.

Here comes the important part:
(7) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.

More routine....
(6) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
(7) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will bring him another beer while he flips the meat.

Important part II:
(8) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.

More routine...
(9) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table.

(10) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all:
(11) EVERYONE PRAISES THE MAN AND THANKS HIM FOR HIS COOKING EFFORTS.

(12) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed 'her night off ' and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women!

Texas Flashlight

I want one I want one I want one I want one I want one I want one I want one I want one

Not Again!!!

One year ago obama broke protocol and bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia at the G-20 summit in London (April 2009).
















Then in Nov. 2009 he did it again when visiting Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Well guess what? Evidently the third time's the charm, as obama bows to Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C. on Monday April 12, 2010.




















According to international protocol the President of the United States is both Head of State and Head of Government. As such, he is highest ranking dignitary in most settings (other world leaders generally do not hold both positions in their country). So by virtue of protocol and tradition, the U.S. President does not bow.

Unfortunately, the current loser-in-chief shows respect to just about everyone except the U.S. taxpayer...

We Have Seen The Future II

Here's an article published back in Jan. 2010. It looks at what the model for obamacare has done to the state of Massachusetts. Why on earth this wasn't part of the national debate on obamacare before Congress voted disgraces the lame stream media, the democraps, and anyone else involved in the process who was intellectually or politically dishonest enough to look the other way.

Here's an excerpt:

"In 2006, the state of Massachusetts passed a sweeping overhaul of the state’s health-care system. The system, which influenced the Obama administration’s plans for national reform, has since faced unexpected and unchecked growth in costs, both to the government and individuals, forcing the government to cut benefits and raise taxes. Now analysts say that without significant policy changes, the program’s long-term viability is in doubt."

I repeat the lessons learned:

1. The government screws up everything it touches.

2. Don't believe anything obama-reid-pelosi say.

3. If the repubs come anywhere close to nominating Romney they're even bigger idiots than the democraps.

We Have Seen The Future...

... and it ain't pretty.

As Rich Lowry points out, obamacare has already debuted in in Massachusetts, and the reviews are in. To no one's surprise - or at least no one with a basic understanding of economics and human nature - costs have escalated far beyond initial projections, people are gaming the system by not purchasing health insurance until they need an expensive procedure, there aren't enough doctors to go around, and de facto rationing and price controls are in place.

Three lessons learned:

1. The government screws up everything it touches.

2. Don't believe anything obama-reid-pelosi say.

3. If the repubs come anywhere close to nominating Romney they're even bigger idiots than the democraps.

A Short History lesson

Over five thousand years ago, Moses said to the children of Israel "Pick up your shovel, mount your asses and camels, and I will lead you to the promised land."

Nearly 75 years ago, FDR said, "Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses and light up a camel. This is the promised land."

Now obama has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of camels, and mortgaged the promised land.

I was so depressed last night thinking about obamacare, the economy, lost jobs, Social Security, retirement funds, etc. that I called Lifeline, the suicide help line. Got a freakin' call center in Pakistan.

I told them I was suicidal. They all got excited and asked if I could drive a truck...

Who does he think he is...

... George Bush?



















This picture was actually taken at a Feb. 2007 campaign event, but I just now saw it.

Observation 1: It's telling that he's wearing a black hat, which after all is symbolic of bad guys.

Observation 2: That's the closest he'll ever get to being a cowboy.

Observation 3: We would all be better off if he would live by the Code of the West. There are many versions, but my favorite is the Lone Ranger's Creed.

I believe:
That to have a friend, a man must be one.
That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.
That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.
In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.
That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.
That "this government, of the people, by the people, and for the people," shall live always.
That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.
That sooner or later...somewhere...somehow...we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.
That all things change, but the truth, and the truth alone lives on forever.
I believe in my Creator, my country, my fellow man.

Somehow I don't think obama subscribes to the Code of the West...

P.S. - Seeing the bozo-in-chief wearing a cowboy hat reminds me of the story about circle flies.

Senior Wedding

Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a drugstore. Jacob suggests they go in.

Jacob addresses the man behind the counter:

"Are you the owner?"

The pharmacist answers, "Yes."

Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"

Pharmacist: "Of course, we do."

Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"

Pharmacist: "All kinds."

Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"

Pharmacist: "Definitely."

Jacob: "How about suppositories?"

Pharmacist: "You bet!"

Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer's?"

Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The works."

Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?"

Pharmacist: "Absolutely."

Jacob: "Everything for heartburn and indigestion?"

Pharmacist: "We sure do."

Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?"

Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes."

Jacob: "Adult diapers?"

Pharmacist: "Sure."

Jacob: "We'd like to use this store as our Bridal Registry."

World Class Rant

This had me spewing Shiner through my nose all over the keyboard the first time I read it.

After repeat readings, however, I began to get fired up.

Bring on November!!!

Warning - very, very adult language...

Time To Do Something

One of the things that disappointed me the most about Bush the Younger was his administration's neglect of this country's cybersecurity. osama-oops-I-mean-obama has failed to impress in this regard as well, dicking around with feel-good legislation at the expense of national security (both physical and cyber). We'll leave the discussion of unilateral disarmament, alienating allies, and porous borders for another time. Today we'll focus on the pathetic state of U.S. cybersecurity.

This is one of the few areas where I'll claim a modest amount of expertise. I've done some research and teaching on the topic. My primary concern is the lack of understanding and focus on the interrelated nature of this country's critical infrastructures, and the subsequent need to protect them.

Recent events have raised the fear of cyberwarfare and it's potential impacts on national security and daily life. This article discusses that possibility in more detail (excerpt below - also note that the links in the article lead to a more in-depth discussion of the relevant topic).

"Few events have crystallized U.S. fears over a cyber catastrophe, or brought on calls for a strategic response, more than the recent attacks against Google and more than 30 other tech firms.

The company's disclosure in January that it was attacked by China-based hackers -- and its subsequent decision to scale back operations there -- have stoked long-standing fears over the ability of cyber adversaries to penetrate commercial and government networks in the U.S.

If a full-fledged cyberwar were to break out, the nation's economy would be hit hard. Banks might not be able function, electricity, water, and other utilities could be shut off, air travel would almost certainly be disrupted, and communications would be spotty at best -- in a word, chaos."

Chaos? Well, think about it. How do you procure the basics of modern life? I'm guessing most of us pay for gas and groceries by using a credit or debit card. We get cash via an ATM card. Most retail establishments use information systems and networks to verify checks. The likelihood of these payment methods functioning during or after a cyber attack are minimal at best.

What about utilities? Delivery of electricity, water, and natural gas is controlled by SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems - industrial control systems that manage functions such as the monitoring and control of electricity generation and current flow, valves and pumps that regulate water, sewage, and natural gas pipelines, and so forth. SCADA systems, like much of the Internet, were initially designed for ease of use. Security was not a consideration. As a result, the system is rife with vulnerabilities.

Communications? What manages and controls TV, radio, telecommunications, cell phone networks, and the Internet? That's right - information systems and networks, all of which are vulnerable to a certain extent to outside threats.

Even the military is exposed. In recent testimony, U.S. Navy Admiral Robert Willard appeared before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee with an even stronger warning about cyber-threats posed by China.

"U.S. military and government networks and computer systems continue to be the target of intrusions that appear to have originated from within the PRC (People's Republic of China)," said Willard.

Willard testified on the military's operations in its Pacific command, which he said "faces increasingly active and sophisticated threats to our information and computer infrastructure."

These threats challenge our ability to operate freely in the cyber commons, which in turn challenges our ability to conduct operations during peacetime and in times of crisis," Willard said..."

No less a personage than Richard Clarke, former anti-terrorism czar under Presidents Bush and Clinton, rates the U.S. cyberwar capabilities below that of even North Korea, for God's sake.














(Higher is better)

So what can be done about this? Well, perhaps the federal government should refocus its attention on its primary duty - to protect this country and its citizens - rather than expanding give-away programs that make more people more dependent on handouts. After all, what good does it do to have a bunch of sheep contentedly grazing on the national commons if they're not protected from the wolves that will inevitably gather?

Academic references available on request...

Outsource This

Grading papers is one of those 'necessary evil' aspects of being a professor. It's somewhat like panning for gold - you process a lot of dross in order to find one or two nuggets. Granted, it could be worse. I can do it sitting down in a climate-controlled environment, often with a cold beverage or two at hand.

Still, it is mind-numbing and spirit-sapping to slog through paper after mediocre paper. I teach upperclassmen: college juniors and seniors whom one would presume have mastered the basics of communicating using the written word. Well, one would presume wrong. Most of them can't write a coherent sentence, much less a paragraph, much much less a string of cohesive paragraphs. What do they teach in high schools these days, anyway?

Now comes the innovative Indians, God bless 'em, with the latest in outsourcing convenience. If I'm so inclined I can now outsource the grading of papers.

"Lori Whisenant knows that one way to improve the writing skills of undergraduates is to make them write more. But as each student in her course in business law and ethics at the University of Houston began to crank out—often awkwardly—nearly 5,000 words a semester, it became clear to her that what would really help them was consistent, detailed feedback.

Her seven teaching assistants, some of whom did not have much experience, couldn't deliver. Their workload was staggering: About 1,000 juniors and seniors enroll in the course each year. "Our graders were great," she says, "but they were not experts in providing feedback."

That shortcoming led Ms. Whisenant, director of business law and ethics studies at Houston, to a novel solution last fall. She outsourced assignment grading..."

It's depressing that foreigners now have greater English composition skills than our own native-born American students. Not surprising, however. Why, you ask? Well, just ask yourself this.

Q: Who runs the schools?

A: The government.

Yes, the same folks who are running social security, medicare, and medicaid into the ground, the same people who operate the post office so well that FedEx and UPS are now corporate giants, the same organizations responsible for the efficiency and compassion of motor vehicle offices and the IRS, are the ones who 'educate' our young people.

I fear for our future...

obamacare: Succinct

Economic Rules from Ambulance Driver - a succinct yet comprehensive summary of obamacare.

Rule #1: If you subsidize a thing, people will use more of it.

Rule #2: When the cost of the subsidy inevitably becomes prohibitive, ration it. So that, you know, the people you initially wanted to use the service, can’t use the service as often as you promised them.

Rule #3: If rationing doesn’t cut costs, then slash payments to the people providing the services.

This is where we’re headed with our health care, folks.

Some Things Never Change

Here's osama-oops-I-mean-obama throwing out the first pitch of the 2010 baseball season. He throws like a sissy. I've got a wife and a 13 year old daughter who throw better than that. Hell, I've got a granddaughter who throws better.

One of the comments on YouTube about the video was priceless: "(He) throws like he governs: way to the left."




To illustrate that today's limp-wristed toss was no fluke, here's a comparison of o-loser and G-Dub throwing ceremonial first pitches. o's was from the 2009 All-Star game. Bush's was from the 2001 World Series.

President Bush - First Pitch

• 2-Seam Fastball. Will cut down-and away. The typical strikeout pitch.
• Power-T position before the throw. Generates hip drive for max. velocity.
• Eyes on the target.
• Pitching hand cocked back so batter can’t see ball during delivery.

ASSESSMENT
Strike three – batter looking. Fastball looked inside coming towards plate then broke away on the inside corner.

Obama – First Pitch

• Palm ball. Comes in slow and doesn’t move.
• No Power-T. Right hand hanging down towards dirt.
• Eyes and mouth show fear that a batter will actually be in there to knock it 603 feet..
• Pitching hand open so batter can see ball during delivery.

ASSESSMENT
This ball will be hit so far it will need a flight attendant.

*** SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON ***

Anything I add would be superfluous...

What's he on?

obama rambles and splutters for 17 minutes - 17 friggin' minutes!?! Are you kidding me? - when trying to answer a simple question. The Washington Post reports:

At a Q&A session at a public appearance to hype obamacare, a woman named Doris asked him if it was a "wise decision to add more taxes to us with the health care" package.

"We are over-taxed as it is," Doris said bluntly.

Obama started out feisty. "Well, let's talk about that, because this is an area where there's been just a whole lot of misinformation, and I'm going to have to work hard over the next several months to clean up a lot of the misapprehensions that people have," the president said.

He then spent the next 17 minutes and 12 seconds lulling the crowd into a daze. His discursive answer - more than 2,500 words long -- wandered from topic to topic, including commentary on the deficit, pay-as-you-go rules passed by Congress, Congressional Budget Office reports on Medicare waste, COBRA coverage, the Recovery Act, and Federal Medical Assistance Percentages... He talked about the notion of eliminating foreign aid (not worth it, he said). He invoked Warren Buffett, earmarks and the payroll tax that funds Medicare...

The full article is here.

I thought my wife was incapable of giving a simple answer to a simple question, but this bozo takes the cake. And he's supposed to be so eloquent, such a great speaker. I guess the teleprompter wasn't working...

Locusts

At some point over the weekend we had four 15-year old boys staying with us. At breakfast my wife was making pancakes as fast as she could and I was frying as much bacon in as short a time as humanly possible (fry, drain, repeat). After the locusts left the kitchen we totaled up the carnage: 2 lbs. bacon, 1 dozen eggs, no idea how many pancakes, 1 gallon milk, and 1 quart OJ - and for the adults, 2 cups of coffee and a couple of slugs of Kahlua. We just sat there and recovered for about 30 minutes.

It was like an invading horde swept through the kitchen, pillaging and plundering, and then rode off, leaving the shell-shocked survivors broken and battered. My wife keeps saying we'll miss them when they go off to college, but I'm not so sure...

Happy Easter

* * * * * * * * * *



Where do Easter eggs come from?

Healthcare - An Analogy and A Parable

The analogy is courtesy of the Grouchy Old Cripple, who resurrected an old Mike Royko column in which Mike suggests that, in addition to universal health care, We the People are also entitled to universal legal services. Said services should be provided and administered in a similar manner as health care services, with one interesting twist. You can read the column here. (I've looked all over the internet and I can't find a better copy of the column. If anyone can provide a link to an improved version I'd be grateful.)

God, I miss Mike Royko. If you're not familiar with him you owe it to yourself to read his work. You can find some of his columns online, and there are a couple of collections of his columns in book form that are still available through Amazon or elsewhere.

The parable comes from Doctor Zero. It draws a parallel between a homeowners association mandating one form of cable TV for all members, regardless of the individual homeowner's desire. Highly recommended reading.

Final comment: in response to the libs' efforts to smear any and all opposition to obamacare as extremist and racist, bigarmwoman points out that

"... it is possible to believe that health care should be reformed, and yet oppose the bill that just passed without being a terrified racist. It is possible to do this because as a person who lives in the real world you may be a bit skeptical over claims that a bill which increases an entitlement by billions will somehow reduce a deficit, and you’re wondering where, exactly, this money is going to come from seeing as how we’re kind of BROKE and things are just a wee bit unsettled right now, economy-wise.

You may also be skeptical over the whole “We’ll pay for it by taxing people who aren’t YOU, no really, we promise,” line of speaking, partly because the promises kept track record from this administration isn’t all that great, and partly because hearing that makes you hearken back to another president saying, “Read my lips – no new taxes,” and you remember just how well THAT went.

You may also oppose the bill because you’re a bit put off by the manner in which it was written and passed..."

So many reasons to oppose it, so little reason on the "It's a good thing" side...


Update (4/5/10): The Lame Stream Media (LSM) likes to portray the tea party and right-wingers as out of control hate-mongers, but people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones bricks.

Bricks thrown through the windows of political offices. An ominous message left for a member of Congress. A party leader threatened with death.

Angry rhetoric is out of control, fueling hatred that will inevitably result in violence. When in the name of all that is good and progressive will liberals condemn the extremists in their midst?

You see, the bricks were thrown through the windows of Republican Party offices in Virginia and Michigan. The profanity-laced message left for Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla., was that she would “not live to see her next term.” The death threat was against House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia.

Didn't read that in the LSM, did you? Check out the entire column here.

Snippets

Catching up on some things that I meant to post earlier, but somehow got sidetracked:

If Fidel Castro and the U.N. are for obamacare, then it must be good for us, regardless of what U.S. businesses and actual medical professionals think.

"Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on Thursday declared passage of American health care reform "a miracle and a major victory for Obama's presidency..."

"The head of the U.N. World Health Organization on Wednesday praised U.S. healthcare reforms signed by President Barack Obama this week..."

"In the wake of Washington's health-care overhaul, some companies are taking big one-time charges for anticipated costs, fanning tension with the administration over the legislation's impact on corporate America."

"A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for Barack Obama to seek care elsewhere."

So who ya gonna believe, those fat-cat corporate execs and lying doctors, or a commie dictator, the head of a U.N. agency, and of course osama-oops-I-mean-obama?

To see more restrained comments from other medical professionals, check out Docs4PatientCare, a grassroots organization with an emphasis on allowing medical professionals to make decisions about their patients' health care, not government bureaucrats.

And if you'd like a T-shirt that encapsulates your/my/our position on obamacare, go here (thanks to The Whited Sepulchre for the link).

























* * * * * * * * *

In other news, it appears that U.S. workers have ratcheted up their productivity over the last 18-24 months. Most people would think this is a good thing, right? Guess again. In typical liberal/government fashion, these more productive workers are being blamed for holding back job growth and delaying the economic recovery that obama and his cronies swore would result from their bloated stimulus bills and other faulty policies and legislation.

"It is an episode that we're going to -- we, economists in general -- are going to want to understand better and look at for a long time," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said..."

Well, let's see. A government worker who can't understand the tax code also can't figure out why private sector employees might work harder to save their jobs when people are getting laid off left and right. Could it be that government workers have no worries about layoffs, and hence no motivation to be productive? Nah, that couldn't be it...

* * * * * * * * *

Finally, on the lighter side (sort of), there are reports that female suicide bombers are getting breast implants filled with explosives. This makes the explosives virtually impossible to detect by current screening procedures. I don't know how the TSA will react, but I predict a dramatic increase in the number of volunteers for manual patdowns...

Okay, it's Friday evening. There's a Shiner out there calling my name...

Happy Easter.

Circle Flies

I meant to post this on Monday in the spirit of FOD. However, better late than never...

A cowboy from Texas attends a social function where Barack Obama is trying to gather support for his Health Plan. As Obama spoke he kept swatting at some flies that were buzzing around his head. The cowboy says, "Y'all havin' some problem with them circle flies?"

Obama stopped talking and said, "Well, yes, if that's what they're called, but I've never heard of circle flies."

"Well, sir," the cowboy replies, "Circle flies hang around ranches. They're called circle flies because they're almost always found circling around the back end of a horse."

"Oh," Obama replies as he goes back to rambling.

But, a moment later he stops and bluntly asks, "Are you calling me a horse's butt?"

"No, sir," the cowboy replies, "I have too much respect for this country to call its president a horse's butt."

"That's a good thing," Obama responds and begins rambling on once more.

After a long pause, the cowboy, in his best Texas drawl, says, "Hard to fool them flies, though."

Stop It

I've written before about the senseless violence in Mexico, but the hits just keep on coming. The cartels are beginning to expand their influence into Texas. Intelligent, talented, and motivated Mexican businessmen - just the type of people that are needed if the nation of Mexico is to have any hope of surviving, much less prospering - are fleeing their homeland and taking up residence in the U.S. Some observers are beginning to question whether or not Mexico can survive the growing influence of the cartels.

And through it all, Americans continue to puff and toot away, oblivious to the ramifications of illegal drug use.

Sigh...

Spring Break Chickens Come Home To Roost

Well, after a nice, lengthy, relaxing Spring Break, all hell broke loose this week. In addition to a couple of papers and reviews due this week, every damn university committee I'm stuck on has decided to meet - with minimal advance notice. There is nothing pressing, no urgent matters that need attention, but I guess the committee chairs feel the need to exercise their power and justify their positions. Meeting times have gone from one to two and a half hours. Accomplishments have varying from nothing to minimal.

Oh well, it still beats working for a living...

None Of Their Business

Just trashed the census form. I'm okay with a headcount - how many people live in your household, what are their ages, etc. - but when they get into personal information that's none of their business (what's your name? Your wife's name? Your kids' names? What's your ethnic background? and BTW, hispanic isn't considered ethnic, but negro is - wtf?) they can kiss my rosy red All-American Ass.

Fuck 'em all...

Excellent Source

One of the all-time best sources I've found for commentary and facts on the health care debacle is The Whited Sepulchre. In particular, his comparison between the efficiency of Wal-Mart and the U.S. government is a classic, and not to be missed.

Check it out...

Not My Fault

My wife and I have an ongoing argument disagreement discussion regarding the culpability of the male of the species concerning the lasting effect on the male psyche of millions of years of evolution that has conditioned us to breed with as many females as possible.

My (eminently logical) position is that we (males) can't help it - we are genetically programmed to share our seed with multiple receptive females. Her (entirely unreasonable) position is that we (males) haven't evolved since prehistoric times.

Now I finally have unassailable science on my side. As this article explains - written by a feminist doctor, no less - men are hardwired to distribute the fruit of our loins as widely as possible. To (selectively) quote from the article:

"I wish I could say that men can stop themselves... But the truth is, they can't."

So there. It's not my fault!

Having said that, I now feel like a liberal. "It's not my fault. I'm a victim of my background, upbringing, situation, context..."

Oh My Aching Butt

Every time I think that idiot in the White House can't do anything else to trash this country, he proves me wrong. His latest insult to America involves ordering military units in Haiti helping that country recover from the earthquake to stop flying the U.S. flag because it might give the impression that we are there as an occupying force, instead of providing humanitarian assistance.














Thanks to Stilton Jarlsberg at Hope n' Change for the cartoon.

Life Is Still Good

Like many citizens, I am disappointed, disgruntled, and disgusted by not only the vote on the health care bill, but also by the corrupt and secretive process leading up to it. I woke up this morning in a bad mood that went downhill as I waded through the aftermath. Then a couple of things happened...

First, I got a call from the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation. We travel to Wyo every summer to spend some time with friends who have a ranch up there. My wife's father was a rancher in Arizona, and back in the '40s and '50s the Wyo folks used to winter their stock next to her father's place, located in the accurately-named Skull Valley. I grew up in central and west Texas, which can be pretty desolate, but Skull Valley is the most God-forsaken place I've ever seen. Nothing but rock, sand, and cactus.

Anyway, my wife's parents and the Wyo ranchers became friends, and my wife's family began to visit the Wyo ranch in the summer to avoid the Arizona heat (this was before air conditioning became widespread). When I married into the family it was expected that I would become part of the "it's summer, time to visit Wyoming" tradition. To make a long story short, it's been great. Great country, great people, great times. I liked it so much I began going up there during hunting season whenever I could draw a tag.

So back to the Wyoming Wildlife Federation call. They have an annual fund raising raffle that offers an assortment of merchandise, including several firearms. They called me this morning to tell me I won a Weatherby .300 Win Mag. I've been contemplating an elk hunt, but have held off because my 'old faithful' rifle is a sweet-shooting .270 Remington BDL that I've had for 35+ years. It's been accurized by Hill Country Rifles to where I can cover three shots at 100 yards with a nickel (from a rest, of course - unfortunately, now I don't have an excuse for missing). I've used it to take whitetails, muleys, and pronghorns, but I've been a little reluctant to go after elk with it.

Some of my Wyo friends use .270s to hunt elk. They assure me that it's enough gun, but I still feel a little under-gunned. And yes, I know that bullet placement is the most important factor in hunting, but confidence in your rig is a close second. I just feel more confident with a heavier caliber than a .270 when hunting what I consider truly big game. Plus if I ever get to go to Africa I'm now prepared.

So to make this long story short, after the bitter bile of the health care debacle, my mood was brightened by the raffle results. Building on that, as part of my schedule Mondays are the day I drive from central Texas to Laredo, where I teach at the local university three days a week. I spent the last 10 days at home in CenTex for spring break, so I was a little bummed to have to leave. However, the weather today was wonderful - clear blue skies, comfortable temps, all that good stuff. Once I got about 30 miles south of San Antonio I found that Spring had come to south Texas.

All the plant life was green , and there were wildflowers everywhere. I'm not a flower guy, but there were Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, and a bunch of other flowers dressed in pink, purple, violet, yellow, and white, all shimmering in the sun and rippling slightly in the breeze. Buffet and Bonnie Raitt were serenading me, and after the first 100 miles I yielded to the temptation and popped a brew.

Yeah, I know that drinking and driving is not cool, but I was only about 40 miles from my destination. I figured by the time the alcohol kicked in I'd be there. Besides, it's not like I was talking on a cell phone or anything.

Bottom line - take a step back from the nonsense in D.C. Gain a little perspective. Life goes on, and it's not bad. In fact, it's pretty damn good...

In Response to obamacare...

... a picture is worth a thousand words.

The Vote Is In...

... we are fucked.

Let's all pray for a glimmer of hope... (thanks to Harper at Passed Up Strange)

Health Care Debacle

I haven't posted much on the health care debacle that's currently being played out in congress. Others have done so more extensively, more passionately, and mo' better than I could. My little $.02 worth is that IMO a very basic and fundamental principal has been obscured by all the sturm und drang over specific provisions of the bill and the corrupt legislative processes being used to advance it. What is it, you ask...

Simply this. We supposedly live in a free country. Now, if this abominable bill passes, we will be forced under penalty of law to buy health insurance. No freedom of choice, no other options - either buy health insurance or go to jail. That is so, so wrong. The government is forcing me to spend my money on something I may or may not want. But either way, it should be my choice, not some faceless, soulless government entity.

What's next? Is the government going to force us to buy life insurance? Or a car? Or a house? Or something to support whatever cause the liberals next 'deem' worthwhile? The idea of being forced to buy something by the feds is so abhorrent that my stomach literally churns whenever I contemplate it.

And please don't trot out that tired old analogy about liability insurance for cars. That is so flawed. First, you only need liability insurance if you register a car to drive on public roads. If you don't have a car, like many city-dwellers (for example, according to the 2000 census over 1/2 the households in New York city do not own a vehicle ) you aren't required to purchase liability insurance. Similarly, in my neck of the woods, many people have ranch or hunting vehicles that aren't driven on public roads. No insurance necessary for them. Second, liability insurance is priced according to risk factors. Drive carelessly, as evidenced by citations or accidents, and you pay more. Will health care premiums be higher for people who are overweight, sedentary, abuse drugs or alcohol, or indulge in other self-destructive behavior? Of course not. That would require holding individuals accountable for their actions, something liberals find repellent.

The moral argument advanced in favor of universal health care insurance is equally flimsy. I'm all in favor of helping those in need. But any moral justification for doing so vanishes once it becomes mandatory. Would it be moral to require me to contribute to charity? Or tithe to a church? Or help little old ladies across the street? Of course not. So how is it moral to require people to buy health insurance?

I'm not necessarily opposed to the idea of establishing a social safety net. But the devil's in the details. Medicare and Medicaid are supposed to provide health care for those unable (or unwilling) to provide it for themselves (we'll save a discussion of Social Security for another day). Why not fix what's wrong with those programs, rather than cramming a new, monstrously unpopular, and fatally flawed federal program down the throat of an unwilling public? Why not? Because that would require congresscritters with intelligence and fortitude, something that's sadly lacking in the vast majority of the assholes currently populating congress.

Another argument against obamacare is the status of existing government health care programs. The VA does a terrible job of providing health care for those who deserve it the most - our veterans. Medicare and Medicaid costs consistently exceed expectations and place bureaucratic obstacles in the way of service delivery. It's reached the point where doctors and pharmacies are refusing Medicare and Medicaid patients. If the governement has proven incapable of managing health care in the past, whatever on God's green earth makes anyone think it can do so in the future?

Finally, consider the basic economics of supply and demand. obamacare would add somewhere around 32 million new patients to the nation's health care system. Where will the doctors and nurses come from to meet that staggering increase in demand? How difficult will it be to get an appointment in the future? The imbalance between supply and demand will result in de facto rationing, no matter what those lying assholes in D.C. say.

We can only hope and pray that this detestable bill goes down in flames. Failing that, let's hope the repubs come up with enough delaying tactics to stall things until the Nov. elections, when hopefully the balance of power in congress will change and the evil axis of obama-pelosi-reed will be stymied.

more 'Victimless'

The drug cartels in Mexico have become so powerful and brazen that they are now closing major highways near the U.S - Mexico border.

Imagine if gangs in the U.S. shut down the interstate between Dallas and San Antonio. That's what's happening to our neighbor in the south.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I've said it before. Drug use is not a victimless crime. If you use drugs - including marijuana - you share responsibility for the killings, torture, and terrorism that gangs and cartels inflict on innocent people.

More Spring Break

Okay, so maybe us professors do have a little fun on Spring Break. In the past we've done the skiing thing, the beach thing, and the roadtrip thing. Of course, with our kids along we're a little more restrained than the typical college student (usually...). However, yesterday and today were hard to beat.

Yesterday we went kayaking in the upper Guadalupe River. If you're not familiar with Central Texas that probably doesn't mean much to you, but to folks from around here the Guad-a-loop, as it's usually pronounced, is pretty close to holy water. The sky was that deep, deep bluebonnet blue of spring, unsullied by clouds. The air was crisp, the sun was warm, the water was cool, and the beer was cold. Almost heaven...

Today was almost as good weather-wise. I got in a leisurely round of golf, played better than usual, and won $10. Oh yeah, the beer was cold...

Skiing et al. are fun, but a nice, relaxing week at home with great weather, good friends, excellent food (I left out all the home cooking and barbecuing stories), and the family is what life's all about. It makes it worthwhile putting up with all the crap that resumes next week. Actually, some of the crap has spilled over into this week, but I haven't said anything about it because I'm practicing denial...

Spring Break - Continued

Despite my earlier post, Spring Break is not all fun and games for faculty. We have grading to do, papers to write, journal articles to review, grants applications to submit, and miscellaneous (and totally unnecessary) committee and service work to do.

On the plus side, we can do all this when and where we want. At home in sweats with either a cup of coffee or a beer, depending on the time of day, is my preferred dress code, time and place, and beverage of choice.

That's a synopsis of faculty life in general (excluding, of course, regularly scheduled classes and assorted administrative nonsense). Even when classes are in session it still beats the corporate world. I took a 30% pay cut when I transitioned from corporate America to academic America. I also work approximately the same number of hours - anywhere from 40 to 60 per week, depending on what's going on.

There is still administrative and bureaucratic b.s. to put up with, and academic politics make corporate politics tame by comparison. An old saying goes "Politics in academia are so vicious because the rewards are so small." I'm here to testify that there's a lot of truth in that.

Still, my schedule is pretty flexible (outside of the aforementioned classes). I traded in my suit and tie for my standard teaching uniform of khakis and Hawaiian shirts. Students can be a pain, but it's also incredibly fulfilling when you have kids that really want to learn, and when you see the light come on over their heads when they get it. And I'm much more relaxed and less stressed-out. I also get to spend more time with my wife and kids. So all in all, I'm glad I made the move.

As one of my mentors said, "The three best things about the academic lifestyle are June, July, and August."

And speaking of Spring Break, it is Spring Break, Hump Day, and St. Patrick's Day. Somewhere out there a beer is calling me...

Victimless? Bullshit!

Anyone who thinks smoking marijuana is a victimless crime needs to read this.

FWIW, I'm not rabidly anti-drugs. I don't believe that smoking marijuana leads to using hard drugs. Nor do I believe that recreational tooting makes one a slack-jawed drooling pothead. I do, however, believe that actions have consequences. Anyone who chooses to smoke marijuana has some degree of moral culpability in the deaths of not only Lesley Enriquez and Arthur Redelfs, and the orphaning of their baby, but also the deaths and downstream impacts of everyone else killed by the drug cartels.

I work three days a week in a Texas border town. Things happen down there that aren't reported outside of the local media, and often aren't even reported there. The cartels torture and murder government officials, law enforcement personnel, journalists (link1; link2 - note the quote "The Inter-American Press Association says a fifth [journalist in 2010] was recently killed in the border city of Reynosa, but media outlets there are too afraid to file a police report." - link 3), and even social workers and priests in the most gruesome ways imaginable, with no regard for innocent bystanders or collateral damage (11-month-old shot in the head; summary) .

Many of my students, and some of the faculty, live across the border and come to the U.S. to study or teach. They tell stories of hour-long gun battles in the streets, grenade attacks on police stations, and road blocks by cartel members - not police - for purposes of kidnapping, extortion, and intimidation (BTW - we can hear the shots and explosions from our side of the river). Once they cross the border into Mexico they go straight home and stay there until it's time to return for class. All their shopping and socializing is done on the U.S. side. It sounds like life in Baghdad or Kabul, not in a city that is literally a stone's throw from the United States.

So what's the solution? Well, to me it seems a lot like Prohibition. Organized crime got a big boost when alcohol was criminalized. Once it was legitimized the sale and consumption was regulated and taxed (God knows the government could use the income, the way obama and the dems are bleeding us dry - and I'll take the IRS against even the toughest, most vicious cartel), and the gangs turned to other sources of income (prostitution, gambling, loan-sharking, unions...). IMO we should learn from history and give legalization a try. It can't be worse than what's happening now.

And if you use drugs, you share in the responsibility for the abhorrent and cowardly violence that is desecrating Mexico and spreading northward...

Spring Break...

... isn't just for students. Woke up this a.m. with a pounding head, a dry mouth, and a fuzzy memory of running out of beer and moving on to wine. Water, aspirin, and a nap, in that order, are on the agenda - immediately!

Heal Thyself

At the most recent of an innumerable, interminable, and totally unnecessary string of committee meetings one of the attendees hacked, coughed, sneezed, and sniffled throughout our little get-together. I guess she thought she was so indispensable that we couldn't manage without her. Of course, like most of these damned meetings, we didn't accomplish much with or without her. But that's another story.

Two days later my throat was raw and my sinuses were both congested and dripping (how can they be both at the same time?). Why the hell didn't she just stay home?

Anyway, today I'm subsiding on cough drops, decongestant tablets, and Shiner. Who needs health care reform when one can self-medicate?

The More Things Change...

We spent a large chunk of yesterday visiting my 92-year old father and my 84-year old mother. They lived in their own place until Nov. 2009, when they moved into an assisted living facility. Mom has an advanced case of dementia, and Dad just couldn't take care of her by himself anymore, so that seemed the best solution.

It's worked out well so far. The place where they live now is quite nice, and staffed by people who seem to genuinely care abut the residents. Mon and Dad have adjusted well.

One of the nice things about the facility is that they have daily shuttle bus serve to local grocery stores, doctor's offices, Wal-Mart, etc. My sister and I usually get by there at least once a week to bring them things they need (I usually slip Dad a six-pack or a bottle of wine), take them out for meals, and so forth.

As a result, Dad has realized he doesn't really need to drive anymore, so he's passed on his 1995 Crown Victoria to our 15-year old son. The car's in great shape - clean, well maintained, and with less than 115K miles on it (my truck has more than that). It also has a top-of-the-line sound system (well, it was top-of-the-line in 1995). Son was quite mystified at the slot in the dash labeled "cassette player."

The boy is all excited, and very possessive, about the car, even though he only has his learners permit (he won't be old enough for his full license for 3 more months). He was quite put out when neither my wife or I would give up our garage spots so he could park his car indoors, instead of leaving it outside exposed to the elements.

It brought to mind the time when I got my first car. It was a 1962 Rambler station wagon, with well over 100,000 miles on it. No A/C, a 3-speed on-the-column manual transmission, and an AM radio. My father 'gave' it to me (in exchange for a summer's worth of above-and-beyond chores). It wasn't until many years later that I found out the new car dealer only offered him $50 as a trade-in allowance.

But none of that mattered. It was MY car. It gave me freedom, or so I thought. I conveniently overlooked the parental requirements that I would now drive my younger sister to her appointments and events. I also overlooked certain operational details like paying for gas, insurance, maintenance and repairs, registration...

I see the same thing happening all over again, but this time from the perspective of a parent. I'm trying to tell him the same things my father told me, but I can see it going in one ear and out the other, just like 40-some years ago. I only hope he doesn't repeat ALL the mistakes I made when I was his age.

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Jumping Through Hoops

The university where I work recently went through a search process to hire a new faculty member in my department.

My discipline is Information Systems, a field in which there is a disproportionate ratio of non-U.S. citizens to U.S. citizens (regrettable, but a subject rich with issues for discussing at another time).

We posted an appropriate ad in an appropriate venue (thank you, HR [sarcasm]). After reviewing the responses, conducting phone interviews, and bringing the short-list survivors in for a campus visit, we hired the person we felt was most qualified for the job. He turned out to be a non-U.S. citizen. Not a surprise, given the previously mentioned imbalance of us vs. them (not being judgmental, just categorizing contestants like the Olympics) .

Anyway, the USCIS (gov't. agency that used to be the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or INS) requires that the hiring institution conduct an assessment to determine that a non-U.S. citizen is hired only if there is not an equivalently qualified U.S. citizen. So it would seem logical that all we need to do is go through our pool of applicants and compare the U.S. citizens to the person we eventually hired - right?

Not so fast, Kemo Sabe.

Seems there's another government agency, the Dept. of Labor, that feels it must justify its existence by getting involved. The DOL insists that we go back and review ALL the applications - all 100+ of them - and document why the selected applicant was better-qualified than each individual non-selected applicant. Which is what we did as part of the search process. But does that satisfy the DOL? Noooooo...

Because we are re-assessing the candidates to satisfy the USCIS, the DOL considers that a new search, and therefore we must go through the entire evaluation process again. (Bang head against desk repeatedly.)

Bottom line - we are complying with DOL requirements and thoroughly, meticulously, and painstakingly reviewing all the applications (wink, wink).

Celebrate Texas Independence

On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico and became a free and independent republic. About ten years later Texas annexed the United States.

Sam Houston, commander of the Texas Army, later president of the Republic of Texas, also a U.S. Senator from Texas and the governor of Texas, offered this timeless advice that makes even more sense today.

"Govern wisely, and as little as possible."

So celebrate Texas Independence Day with a cold Shiner, Lone Star, margarita, or other beverage of your choice. And while you're at it think a good thought about all those who sacrificed to make it possible.

Ungovernable? Nonsense

It's become chic these days to say that government is broken, that the country is ungovernable. Well, Charles Krauthammer delivers an excellent counterargument to that premise, reminding us of earlier times when the same claim was made. Excerpt below.

In the latter days of the Carter presidency, it became fashionable to say that the office had become unmanageable and was simply too big for one man. Some suggested a single, six-year presidential term. The president's own White House counsel suggested abolishing the separation of powers and going to a more parliamentary system of unitary executive control. America had become ungovernable.

Then came Ronald Reagan, and all that chatter disappeared.

The tyranny of entitlements? Reagan collaborated with Tip O'Neill, the legendary Democratic House speaker, to establish the Alan Greenspan commission that kept Social Security solvent for a quarter-century.

A corrupted system of taxation? Reagan worked with liberal Democrat Bill Bradley to craft a legislative miracle: tax reform that eliminated dozens of loopholes and slashed rates across the board — and fueled two decades of economic growth.

Later, a highly skilled Democratic president, Bill Clinton, successfully tackled another supposedly intractable problem: the culture of intergenerational dependency. He collaborated with another House speaker, Newt Gingrich, to produce the single most successful social reform of our time, the abolition of welfare as an entitlement.

It turned out that the country's problems were not problems of structure but of leadership. Reagan and Clinton had it. Carter didn't. Under a president with extensive executive experience, good political skills and an ideological compass in tune with the public, the country was indeed governable.

Mr. Krauthammer makes the point that the liberals and mainstream media can't believe - or bring themselves to admit - that the current situation is in any way a result of deficiencies in obama. Instead, it must be a failure of 'the system.'

Au contraire. The system is working just fine. The checks and balances slowed highly questionable and flawed legislation long enough for the will of the people to make itself felt.

Please do yourself a favor and read his entire column.