Topics or ... a Rant.
The US income gap widens, is the headline (or part of it). But I think the more telling information is the below:
Ouch. Can we focus, folks, on the problem at hand? Which is jobs, incase you're clueless. And not whether or not Chicago gets the Olympics?
Typically, I'm in the camp that Olympics in the US are a good thing, and should be fought for, but rumor is Chicago doesn't want them. Except Daley and his fat cat friends who aim to get rich off the building contracts. And they are trying to get Federal money (read: our tax dollars) to help pay for it. I have no idea if that's unprecedented or not. And as costs for these events spiral out of control, the host cities sink deeper and deeper into debt to cover it. Usually at tax payers expense. Which, I didn't know, I thought they made money. I guess I bought the IOC propaganda.
But I digress.
I'm also concerned about the blase way we seem to be dealing with uranium and the missile launches in Iran. And their openly stating they have uranium, they will enrich it, and their missiles can "target any threat". I find it very odd that France and Germany (and Israel) all think that Iran is building a nuclear weapon, and it's the Americans (supposedly) who don't think they are there yet.
The analysis HERE by (found via powerline) is what lines up most with what I think is going on. Iran announced their secret nuclear facility because they knew nothing would happen. They have no fear of military action from this Presidency, which I think they didn't know how the last "Cowboy" would react. In President Obama, they think he will go with sanctions. Which, if Russia and China don't support said sanctions, they have no teeth, which is why they've failed in the past.
And don't get me started on Afghanistan. When a military general tells you what he needs, you should give it to him. There are lives on the line if you don't. If you aren't going to give it to him, then you close up shop and send them home. You do not leave United States servicemen in a war zone without the support they need. It's just wrong.
I don't think they should come home. I see a huge security threat if they do, or rather, I agree with John Bolton who sees a security threat if they do. (He was on Dennis Prager this afternoon) If we leave, the Taliban regains control of Afghanistan and makes headway into Pakistan, where they have access to lots of very expensive nuclear weapons. I also think that success is achievable, and if it is achievable, our men and women will get it done. With help.
And I just want to point out ... if you're argument is that President Obama is being thoughtful and working through Iran ... how is he doing that? He had one meeting with Gen. McChrystal in 70 days. That's dispecable, and the troops deserve more from their commander and chief. So he's not being thoughtful, or if he is he's thinking about the people at home and not the people overseas, and the actual issues involved.
But none of this is much concern to the current administration. Or if it is, and it very well may be, I'm not seeing the urgency. But neither are a lot some other people:
Howard Fineman in Newsweek: "The Limits of Charisma: Enough TV, Mr. President"
Richard Cohen in WaPo: "Time to Act Like a President"
Both of those stories are reaction to the President's Sunday morning press tour a week or so ago. Which had no effect on his health care debate. He's still losing. And today the Senate, in committee, voted down the Public Option.
One of two things will happen with health care: 1 - it won't pass at all, in any form. 2 - it will pass, the Dems with their cloture proof majority will ram it through, and in 2010 Congressmen and women will pay for it. It seems you can pass a lot of legislation that Americans will overlook, but talk about their healthcare, and they take it personal. Now I could be being hopeful there, because Americans are fickle, and what passes in 2009 may not be remembered in 2010. We shall see. I guess with the rest of the America worried about being laid off Congress will be worried too.
The wealthiest 10 percent of Americans -- those making more than $138,000 each year -- earned 11.4 times the roughly $12,000 made by those living near or below the poverty line in 2008, according to newly released census figures. That ratio was an increase from 11.2 in 2007 and the previous high of 11.22 in 2003.
Household income declined across all groups, but at sharper percentage levels for middle-income and poor Americans. Median income fell last year from $52,163 to $50,303, wiping out a decade's worth of gains to hit the lowest level since 1997.
Poverty jumped sharply to 13.2 percent, an 11-year high.
Ouch. Can we focus, folks, on the problem at hand? Which is jobs, incase you're clueless. And not whether or not Chicago gets the Olympics?
Typically, I'm in the camp that Olympics in the US are a good thing, and should be fought for, but rumor is Chicago doesn't want them. Except Daley and his fat cat friends who aim to get rich off the building contracts. And they are trying to get Federal money (read: our tax dollars) to help pay for it. I have no idea if that's unprecedented or not. And as costs for these events spiral out of control, the host cities sink deeper and deeper into debt to cover it. Usually at tax payers expense. Which, I didn't know, I thought they made money. I guess I bought the IOC propaganda.
But I digress.
I'm also concerned about the blase way we seem to be dealing with uranium and the missile launches in Iran. And their openly stating they have uranium, they will enrich it, and their missiles can "target any threat". I find it very odd that France and Germany (and Israel) all think that Iran is building a nuclear weapon, and it's the Americans (supposedly) who don't think they are there yet.
The analysis HERE by (found via powerline) is what lines up most with what I think is going on. Iran announced their secret nuclear facility because they knew nothing would happen. They have no fear of military action from this Presidency, which I think they didn't know how the last "Cowboy" would react. In President Obama, they think he will go with sanctions. Which, if Russia and China don't support said sanctions, they have no teeth, which is why they've failed in the past.
And don't get me started on Afghanistan. When a military general tells you what he needs, you should give it to him. There are lives on the line if you don't. If you aren't going to give it to him, then you close up shop and send them home. You do not leave United States servicemen in a war zone without the support they need. It's just wrong.
I don't think they should come home. I see a huge security threat if they do, or rather, I agree with John Bolton who sees a security threat if they do. (He was on Dennis Prager this afternoon) If we leave, the Taliban regains control of Afghanistan and makes headway into Pakistan, where they have access to lots of very expensive nuclear weapons. I also think that success is achievable, and if it is achievable, our men and women will get it done. With help.
And I just want to point out ... if you're argument is that President Obama is being thoughtful and working through Iran ... how is he doing that? He had one meeting with Gen. McChrystal in 70 days. That's dispecable, and the troops deserve more from their commander and chief. So he's not being thoughtful, or if he is he's thinking about the people at home and not the people overseas, and the actual issues involved.
But none of this is much concern to the current administration. Or if it is, and it very well may be, I'm not seeing the urgency. But neither are a lot some other people:
Howard Fineman in Newsweek: "The Limits of Charisma: Enough TV, Mr. President"
Richard Cohen in WaPo: "Time to Act Like a President"
Both of those stories are reaction to the President's Sunday morning press tour a week or so ago. Which had no effect on his health care debate. He's still losing. And today the Senate, in committee, voted down the Public Option.
One of two things will happen with health care: 1 - it won't pass at all, in any form. 2 - it will pass, the Dems with their cloture proof majority will ram it through, and in 2010 Congressmen and women will pay for it. It seems you can pass a lot of legislation that Americans will overlook, but talk about their healthcare, and they take it personal. Now I could be being hopeful there, because Americans are fickle, and what passes in 2009 may not be remembered in 2010. We shall see. I guess with the rest of the America worried about being laid off Congress will be worried too.
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