I’m a mutt. I have parents that German and Swedish. I can’t make the case that my whole heritage is contained within the Nordic states, but it can be said that half of me is.
Further, I’m from Minnesota. A state dominated by Swedes, Fins, Norwegians and the like. It’s who we are, don’tcha know?
And I’m proud that part of who I am has been chosen to represent the state’s football team. Who wouldn’t?
Posted in Government, Idiots on Parade, Politics: National, States Behaving Badly
Tagged Minnesota Vikings, NCAA, North Dakota, Sioux
If you needed further proof that the whole GM bailout thing was anything but political, you can check out the most recent news from Washington:
The U.S. government plans to sell a significant share of its remaining stake in General Motors Co. this summer…
On one hand, that’s great news. The less productive assets we have in the hands of the government, the better off those productive assets are.
On the other hand, it’s kind’of a bummer.
Posted in Government, Politics: National
Tagged Abuse of Power, Bailout, Barack Obama, GM, Politics, Unions
The battle lines are drawn. On one side you have the conservatives demanding that we cut spending. The other; we have to raise taxes on the rich.
The battle? Well, the battle is the deficit.
So, who’s right, who’s wrong? Let’s check it out.
Posted in Economics, Government, Politics: National, Rocket Surgery
Tagged Barack Obama, Budget, Deficit, Politics, Taxes
In breaking news, the sand and sand bars of North Carolina’s Outer Banks are prone to shifting, moving and overall change. What once was impassable water often turns into a navigable channel. In a similar manner, mother nature may decide that she would like to “fallow” a section of the sea from time to time.
This should not surprise any one. Or alarm them.
But the expectations and actions of our government is both surprising AND alarming.
I think it’s important to ask and then answer this question. Are Unions, by themselves, bad or damaging?
My answer might surprise you. And that might be my fault for not explaining my position well enough. I do not think that the act of individual laborers joining together collectively and forming a union is, by itself, a bad thing.
I was listening to the Brad and Britt Show last week and they were discussing the proposed changes to North Carolina public employee’s health insurance payments. Currently the State pays 100% of the health care premiums for its employees. The new proposal would require employees to contribute $11 per month this year and then $22 per month next year.
Further, premiums would be subject to individual conditions as it relates to weight and smoking habits of those employees. For example, if an individual was over weight, they may find that their premium would be higher than their svelte co-worker. Similar to that concept is the idea of determining the premium based upon smoking habits. A smoker would face a higher premium than a non-smoker.
Given the Left-leaning tendancies of our hosts, I felt for sure that they would be against such discrimination.
I was pleasantly surprised.
Posted in Government, Health Care, Politics: North Carolina
Tagged Insurance, North Carolina, North Carolina Politics, Public Unions, Tribal
The rest of the nation is moving on the public sector unions. The inertia is clearly in favor of those who wanna reign in the influence of those unions.
However, that doesn’t mean the fight is over; far from it. For example, recent developments in Wisconsin show how delicate the balance really is:
MADISON, Wis. – The monthlong saga over Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to drastically curb collective bargaining rights for public workers in Wisconsin took a turn Friday that could force a dramatic rebooting of the entire legislative process.
A judge temporarily blocked the law from taking effect, raising the possibility that the Legislature may have to vote again to pass the bill…
It isn’t over folks.
Posted in Education, Government, Lobby/PAC, Politics: National
“Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power.
And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year because they believe we are the unions that can most effectively represent them.
…
But they need not and MUST not, be achieved at the expense of due process, employee rights and collective bargaining. That simply is too high a price to pay.”
Yeah….sleep well gentle Unionista. Knowing full well that your organization is about power. And not educating.
Posted in Education, Government, Lobby/PAC, Politics: National
Tagged Bob Chanin, NEA, Union, Unionista
Here in North Carolina you are able to vote at a polling location if you have already registered as long as you claim that you who you say you are and live where you say you live.
No requirement to prove you are who you say you are or that you live where you say you live.
Just show up. State your name and address. Sign on the line.
Posted in Government, Politics: North Carolina, Race
Tagged Democrat, North Carolina, North Carolina Politics, Politics, Republican, Voter ID