National Job Approval" Barach Obama December 8, 2009
Partly because it’s showing the shine is wearing off and America is starting to understand what many of us saw at the outset. But also because this is a “poll of polls”. Go to the site and see for yourself. Each dot in the graph shows the results of an independent poll. USToday, CNN, Gallup and so on. And, in short, the survey SAYS!
NoBama.
Posted in Politics: National
Tagged Barack Obama, Conservative, Democrat, Liberal, North Carolina Politics, Politics, Republican, zNorth Carolina
Ben Hoffman is having another monster conversation describing Common Right-Wing Lies. Ben’s post begins by talking about what he considers lies:
And then he refutes that by claiming the “Fact”:
Now, there is a whole board full of comments on the subject; stop over for the debate.
However, during that debate, we began to take on the role of Government and really what it means when the Government creates public programs; Libraries, Parks, Beaches, Zoos and Police/Fire Stations. I contend that when the government uses public money to establish and run these organizations, it is the equivalent of robbing one neighbor at gun point only to take that money and give it to your other neighbor in the form of a library, museum or zoo.
Of course this is a Libertarian point of view. And maybe taken to its extreme, is a bit untenable. But I do maintain that if a government is going to set up public works programs, it should be as local to the people as possible. There is very little argument that can be made that would support taking money from citizens in North Carolina to support a Federal program giving money to an Art District in California.
Anyway, during the debate, one of us, Arbourist, made a comment stating that Socialist States are alive and well in the world:
Of course not, libertarianism has not ever been implemented, nor will it ever be implemented. It is not a practical way to run a society, unlike socialism which has many practical applications, and is doing great in many locations:Cuba, Venezuela, Nigeria, Canada, Sweden, Norway, […].
This got me to thinking. So, I went out and grabbed some data here and here. Put it down and paper and came up with this:
GDP per Capita
This is a graph showing the GDP per Capita of the World’s richest 50-60-70 nations, some interesting nations not in that group and then the list of nations quoted by Arbourist. Further, I have compared these nations to the States of the United States of America, just to see where they rank.
Check out some interesting notes:
No, the fact remains. The United States of America is the single richest Nation ever in the history of the world. And we are so rich because we try to maximize the free market and the flow of capital and the driving motivation of profits. The freer the market, the better off her citizens.
Posted in Economics
Tagged Conservative, Left, Liberal, Politics, Socialism, zEconomy, zNorth Carolina
I was thinking about this last night as I was posting on the “Night is Day” thing:
All eight initiatives were the result of a series of private meetings in the past month between the four new members and the new board chairman, Ron Margiotta. Those meetings also included members of private groups that Margiotta declined to identify. Members of the new majority defended their private meetings, saying they didn’t violate state mandates because they had yet to be sworn in.
Look, I get it. The old Board did things, and in ways, that some people didn’t like. Because of that, the election process removed them from their seats and gave new people with new voices the ability to shape things. That’s ho it’s supposed to work. I’m very happy that it did work.
But these shenanigans are really really over the top:
Malone said they met before Tuesday because heading into the meeting unprepared would have sent their supporters a bad message.
“It’s not illegal,” Malone said. “We needed to be prepared. I had nightmares about walking into the meeting not being prepared.”
It’ll be fun to continue to watch this. Fun to see if anything really changes.
I have been following the WCPSS drama for nearly three years now. Besides the pure raw emotion poured into this debate, the shocking role reversal has been astounding. Now, you would be hard pressed to find anything more local than a school board; perhaps a Home Owners Association or maybe a PTA board, but really, for all intents and purposes, the local school board is as close to the people as government is going to get. And with that in mind, the folks involved, on both sides, really do try and give the appearance that they are not affiliated with any major political party.
But they are; they all are.
The support and the money breaks too neatly down party lines for it to be ignored.
All of which gives me a moment’s pause. You see, when it really comes down to it, we have conservatives acting like liberals and liberals acting like conservatives. And I say that from a conservative view-point. See, normally, we on the right are acting from a standpoint of Liberty and freedom. But here, the Republicans are acting like they can ignore such things. For example, given two quotes, tell me which is the conservative and which is the liberal:
Politician One: “We have to do something and move forward,” Politician One said. “Parents have a right to decide if they want a year-round school.”
Politician Two: “If we’re talking about doing away with year-round schools, we’ll have to raise taxes,”
See what I mean? You can’t tell. You can’t tell because you know what the answer SHOULD be, but because I have been ranting you feel suspicious. In this topsy tervyy world that is WCPSS, you have conservatives claiming they have a “Right” to select the location of their public education and you have a liberal resisting a tax increase. Amazing.
Posted in Education, Politics: National, Politics: North Carolina
Tagged Conservative, Democrat, Liberal, North Carolina, Republican, Wake County, WCPSS
Wanna know why public education can’t keep up with private industry? One word.
Unions.
It’s the teacher unions in this country that have the educational process in a strangle hold. These organizations restrict innovation, creativity and mobility. It becomes virtually impossible to implement any sort of meaningful change as a result. All of which gives me great joy to see this happening in Wake County:
Wilburn Elementary is the only Wake school that offers merit pay, in which some teachers could get bonuses while others get none based on how their students and the school perform.
Finally a system that incents people act in a manner that closer resembles the goal of the organization. We want teachers to teach better. Therefore, we should, as closely as possible, offer more money to teachers who teach better; not just longer.
As excited as I am over the policy, I am very concerned with how the new Board of Ed is couching it; and why we need it:
Posted in Economics, Education, Politics: North Carolina
Tagged Conservative, North Carolina Politics, Politics, Unions, Wake County, WCPSS
I love it. I really love that “ah-haa” moment when the light bulb clicks and someone sees what’s really happening. When the fog dissipates and the realization of the truth occurs. I simply LOVE that moment.
Taxes and the economy are concepts that don’t register with younger folks; never did with me. I didn’t make enough to really PAY taxes and I had jobs that really didn’t put me in full view of the economy. In short, I just didn’t care.
So it is refreshing to see the “care” start to sink in for some of these folks:
“Well, for one, I know nobody wants to pay taxes for anybody else to go to the doctor — I don’t,” said Kate Kuhn, 20, of Acworth, Ga. “I don’t want to pay for somebody to use my money that I could be using for myself.”
How awesome is that? Especially enlightening is the part where young Kate mentions that she might be better served “using the for herself.”
And maybe it’s not so much that I didn’t care when I was younger, it’s that no one took time, including me, to tell me what the trade offs were.
For example, according to Pew in October, nearly 82% say they favored a ban on policies took into account pre-existing conditions. When a separate poll explained that such a ban would result in higher premiums support for that ban went down to 43%.
Another example, mandatory coverage: 67% of those asked were in favor of all people having health insurance. But when asked with the added detail that those who failed to obtain such coverage would face Federal penalties, support plunged to 28%.
“I think it’s crazy. I think it infringes on our rights as a citizen, forcing us to do these things,” said Eli Fuchs, 26, of Marietta, Ga.
Music. Sweet Music!
Posted in Economics, Health Care
Tagged Conservative, North Carolina, North Carolina Politics, Politics
The Pink Elephant has moved. And she has a name; Tabitha Hale
Good luck in Washington; do us proud!
The Twins traded Carlos Gomez to the Brewers for J.J. Hardy on Friday. The thinking in the Twins front office is that they were able to move out weak hitting center fielder and bring in a short stop that can hit for power and has a decent average. Further, Hardy is a fantastic fielder bringing an elite defender to the Twins infield.
This is a good deal.
The Democrats would have us believe the same is true of the trade they made this past Saturday. What they have passed in the house is a trade of sorts. The thinking in the minds of the Democrats is that we are able to get rid of a system that costs too much and leaves too many people uninsured. By passing laws that prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions they are able to bring in a system that allows for insurance to everyone. Further, to help bring down costs to those most in need, the plan calls for all Americans to enroll in an approved policy or face a fine.
This is a good deal.
Back to baseball. I began to look a little deeper into the trade and began to see a couple of things. By moving Gomez out and brining in Hardy, not only did we trade away a .229 average for a player that hit .283 in 2008. Further, Brady hit 24 HR to 3 for Gomez. On top of that, with Gomez out of the lineup the Twins now have room for Delmon Young who has a career average of .290. Not only are we trading for a player with 57 some odd points to the plus, we are also able to play Young for a full season.
This is turning into a REALLY good deal.
On top of the fact that insurance companies are no longer able to restrict insurance for people with pre-existing conditions the House bill doesn’t raise taxes for a majority of Americans. Rather, people making $500,000 or more would see a 5.4% increase on their tax bill. Further, those “Gold Plated” policies would see a tax hike; up to 40%. But for the average middle class American, the tax bill remains the same. On top of that, the bill includes language that allows families making up to 400% of the poverty level to receive federal assistance; albeit on a sliding scale. Last, if you currently receive insurance from your employer, you can continue to do so. Or, if you don’t, there will be a National Exchange.
This is turning into a REALLY good deal.
As I wrap up my trade analysis, I end up with the unintended consequences. By trading away Carlos Gomez, the Twins center fielder, the team must now play Denard Span in CF. And THAT means with Span in center, Delmon Young has to play in left field. Now, when the Twins had Gomez in CF and Young in LF, they were able to brag the best OF in baseball. But, with the unintended consequence of Span in center and Young in left, the Twins will now be start the worst OF in baseball; to the tune of 88 runs to the bad. That doesn’t even come close to the benefit they gain by adding Hardy to the team.
The unintended consequence of a horrible defense has made this trade: BAD.
Sadly, the story is much the same for the Democrats and the House bill. By allowing people to purchase insurance without regard for pre-existing conditions, people are not compelled to purchase insurance while they are healthy; they can be assured that they can buy it when they become sick. But-but-but, they HAVE to buy a policy or they will pay a fine! Well, the fine is very very much less than whatever policy I would otherwise buy:
The average cost of an insurance policy with family coverage in 2009 is $13,375. A married couple with a median family income of $75,000 who choose not to insure would be subject to a fine of 2.5 percent of that $75,000, or $1,875. So the family would save a net $11,500 by not insuring.
Hmm, the unintended consequences of horrible incentives has made this trade: BAD.
Posted in Health Care, Politics: National
Tagged Conservative, Democrat, Liberal, North Carolina, North Carolina Politics, Politics, Republican
I posted yesterday about a North Carolina Democrat that was going to vote against the health care bill; and he did. I also mentioned that we needed Heath Shuler; and we got him. The ones we missed I knew we were going to miss.
Those that voted against:
This dog of a bill made its way through the House but will have a much tougher way finding its way through the Senate. First, it has to get 60 votes to prevent a filibuster and I don’t think it will get that. The Senator from Connecticut seems to have committed that he will not support the bill. Further, there are several Democrats that are more fiscally conservative than others, and they may save the day. Further, thhe vote in Virginia and in Jersey may be weighing on these guy’s minds; American’s don’t want this thing.
Posted in Health Care, Politics: North Carolina
Tagged Conservative, Liberal, North Carolina, North Carolina Politics