Monthly Archives: February 2012

Mimi Alford: “Once Upon A Secret”

Long before the 2003 revelation that John F. Kennedy had been shtooping his hot little intern the whole world knew that King Arthur was shtooping just about anyone he wanted.  So, I guess the fact that we are now seeing a book penned by said intern isn’t that big of news.

On the other hand, the tell all tale certainly does offer an interesting insight into the White House during the days of Johnny K.  For example, it took the President all of 4 days to bed his mistress.  Not bad considering.  Then the wonderful news that he told her to make herself available to other men.

Ahh, great stuff.

But more interesting to me than the story, after all, it’s hardly news, right?  Is the review that the NY Times ran Wednesday:

“Once Upon a Secret” can be better appreciated for what it really is: the strangest memoir about secrets and lies since “The Politician,” by Andrew Young, exposed the delusional arrogance behind John Edwards’s presidential campaign. Like Mr. Young, Ms. Alford seems to have little idea how badly her stories reflect on herself.

In one fell swoop the Times takes the time[s] to go after two authors of a book that would dare tell all of the sordid affairs of powerful Democrat men.  I can’t say that I’ll read the book, after all – why -, but man o man is the review is brutal.

Michigan Tax Policy: Reducing Rates Expanding The Base

It doesn’t matter who’s doin’ the takin’.  If your property is being confiscated even as you grow it, you are going to either quit working so hard to make more property, hide that property better or move to a place where that property won’t be confiscated.

The fact that the government is taking that property doesn’t matter; at some point people just reach a limit and slow down.

So what happens when the confiscation stops?  Growth occurs.  Witness Michigan.

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Youth, Labor, Recessions and Minimum Wages

One of the most frustrating aspects of being conservative is that it’s too easy for the other side to fall back on a “you hate X” where X is any group that you are really, in fact, trying to assist.

An easy example to consider is a school child and her homework.

When I was a teacher I could very easily “give” the student an A on her blank homework.  However, I felt that it would do her more good in the short term, the long term and in other character building aspects if she actually worked for and earned that grade.

In today’s liberal dialogue, I would be said to “hate kids”.  Or, if the individual liberal were truly on his game he could claim that I “hate girls”.

Silly example?  Perhaps.  But consider modern day minimum wage laws.

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Federal Workers: Overpaid Compared to Private Employees

It used to be that taking a government job meant that you sacrificed some on the salary side but gained some on the “job for life” side.  Safe career but lower pay.

We’re not seeing that any longer.

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Obama Job Creation: How It Ends

For those of you not gifted with my humor; this is funny.

 

Halftime In America: Another Take

Chrysler built an amazing ad shown during the Superbowl.  First, the ad is well done and carries a powerful message.  The imagery, the script and the actor; all perfect.  Second, the ad is a marketer’s dream come true.  I’m sure the ad itself has been shown and viewed more than a couple of multiples of the views it had during the Superbowl itself.

Brilliant.

But is it accurate?

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Open Question: Equality

If we were more equal in relation to each other but were less advanced as a society would you still favor more equal?

North Carolina Toll Road: Winning

Earlier this year North Carolina introduced it’s first toll road; a small little connection between147 and 540.  The first segment planned in the loop.  I’ve been in favor of toll roads because I enjoy two aspects:

  1. I like the payment of thing to be given to the user of a thing.
  2. I like that we can impact traffic flow by raising rates during peaks times.

Taxing the use of a road is a much more efficient way of paying for the road than taxing a kid who mows lawns by taxing gasoline.

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Occupy Raleigh: Wherein The Pupil Becomes The Master

Self reflection.  An uncommon ability, to be sure.

I make my way in society by working hard.  I contribute.  I like to think that I go above and beyond.  I give and I give back.  Often.

I understand that even as I benefit from my hard work and sacrifice, I want people to step up and do the same.  If you wanna enjoy the rewards of success, then by gawd, partake of the hardships of the work.

This is the story of the 53%.

And it is delicious irony that the Occupy is just now discovering it.

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Obama’s Recession Recovery: Reagan and Bush

I’m very excited to see the economy continue to strengthen.  I’m happy when folks spend money.  I like seeing my local restaurants have waiting lines of an hour or more.  I enjoy it when people feel optimistic.

However, Obama isn’t driving the recovery; he’s dampening it.  Reagan trounced him and I’m not even normalizing for a smaller work force.  Bush beat him by 40% or so, and again, the economy was smaller then.