AB-Prosper

Here.

Actually its a a bill to require cell phone cameras to click when used. Its allegedly to protect
people from “upskirt” predators and the like but the real effect is what mor elike what I called it

Since the government of a free country can apparently spy on its citizens with street cams at will and search pretty much with impunity we need to use every opportunity to spy right back on them.

The effect of this bill is to make it easier for crooked police to seize cameras and cover up abuse. On those grounds alone is bad legislation.

Now Yahoo Tech say the bills has no sponsors currently but I hear the legislation is moving along ‘ll let you know.

This article on the IHT discussing the much overdo global move to social democracy made a particularly interesting point about China

In China, where the demise of the American market has brought to light the perils of excessive savings at home, the government has not only recently proposed a big Keynesian-style stimulus program but has also just announced a three-year plan to provide universal health care. Though modest by comparison, China’s health care plan goes in the direction of what has long been considered a fundamental right in Europe.

Apparently China, a country with about 1/10 our GDP can get universal coverage but we can’t even manage to get birth control included in a bill.

Folks if this keeps up I am learning mandarin because this sure won’t be the American Century. At that point I’ll say (huānyíng guānglín) to the new Chinese century

Outsourcing the Drive Thru.

While so far these jobs are stateside what this means is fewer people are doing more work, in short layoffs, for vulnerable young and poor workers and the loss of even more starter jobs.

If we as a society we don’t put a stop to this kind of thing we will destroy the basis which we use for transfer of wealth and one important tool to teach work skills. In the long run it means means much more and social decay and possibly worse things.

And before your start screaming progress, most effective societies are highly socialized. Unless folks want the US to either fall apart, look like 70’s Sweden or go Marxism 2.0 than people will have to voluntarily look out for their neighbors and nations well being.

I love the term Republicant but I can’t take credit for it. That rightly belongs to Mama Prosper.

Now that the House Republicant Leadership has decided the best thing in the world to do is sabotage the stimulus in hopes of damaging the Democrats enough for their party to regain power its time for the Democrats to play this Chicago style.

First, I’d fire Speaker Pelosi if only for not having enough push to get some as minor as birth control included. If she can’t handle the theocrats over the small stuff she’ll never be able to get anything big like Universal health care done. I’ve come to the conclusion she is just too timid and risk adverse to play in the big leagues and she needs to be replaced as Speaker

Second, Play HARDBALL. Most of the current, non country club, non moderate Republicans best respond to money and fear. User these tools to whip them into shape. Less Carrot More Stick.

Here is what I’d tell the Republican leadership

“To my esteemed members of the opposition party. While I respect your right to oppose any and all legislation as your conscience desires I wish to give you fair warning . Make no mistake. We are in charge.
It seems that your leadership thinks it can oppose the bill, allow us to pass it and reap the benefits.
Well I am going to inform you today that if you choose not work with us on the bill in a constructive manner than I will take this as an indication that your district has no need to any federal funds for any purpose.
Because you apparently do not need then and are in fact opposed to them I will grant your request.
Your district will receive nothing in this bill or any other that pass this body this year.

If you aren’t bluffing you can watch them fall into line.

I know some folks will be afraid th Republicans will try the same thing if the get into power gain, lord forbid. Let them. All the Democrats have to do is inform the states to hold back revenue and handle it internally. You see most of the Reddest States get more than they give and as you all know, the hand that controls the supper dish rules the world.

Linking to the good stuff so you don’t have to read as many blogs as I do (which folks is far too many for my own good)

Samuelson is spot on “It’s three Crisis in one.”

I rather liked this article and if you haven’t read it I highly recommend it.

Its a real problem folks.

Not not a real story besides I am anti capital punishment.

Still having deleted nearly 800 spams (with not one message from my loyal readers) and gotten dozens of robo-calls the sheer nuisance factor is enough to make me reconsider my stance for that heinous offense.

If we did execute spammer scum it would have to be a guillotine or something though. The chair is too good for them.

I’m actually going to break my usual habit and link to Drudge on this one.

Of course Speaker Pelosi is correct in that federally funding birth control will be good for the economy. It will help struggling people with family planning, reduce expensive unwanted pregnancies and in the long run reduce crime and increase stability.

I am strongly in favor it.

On the other hand its also incredibly cynical . Imagine if the Congress came right out and said “Well we can’t have good society that works well with good jobs so just don’t have babies.”

Not exactly pro people in my book.

Having heard various rumors relating to the new stimulus package I want to share my opinion with you folks

Personally think some infrastructure spending is an excellent idea as there are roads and bridges that are long overdo for repairs. I’d rather like to see national health care as well.

That being said a bunch of pork programs aren’t going to create any wealth or distribute it effectively either.

The real key to prosperity is a broad job base and good wages.

People need to make what they use, get a decent chunk of the economic pie for themselves, reduce debt and put away a decent amount in savings.

Between changes in technology and “globalism” we are reaching the point where this is effectively no longer possible with a standard wage system . Not only are the markets we sell into shrinking or stagnate (low birth rates are a bummer) but computers and automation have whacked whole job categories.

A simple example, I drove by a closed Hollywood Video yesterday. It was more or less replaced by a combo of video on demand, downloads (legal and illegal) and Netflix.

The thing is each closed store means a loss of a lot of jobs, say 8 or ,more low wage jobs for college and high school kids, a manager (which can pay a lower middle class wage) and an assistant manager - sometimes more. and that doesn’t even count for jobs shipping, warehousing and manufacturing DVD’s or in the old days VCR tapes.

As technology increases (say DVD’s are replaced by streamed video) even potential jobs are wiped out. Yes there are new jobs created but there are less of them and they are highly specialized. There simple is less work

This impacts almost every single job category.

The real solutions are “work sharing” aka a shorter work week “balanced trade” aka Warren Buffet’s trade certificates, insourcing jobs and screw the “moral hazard” here, direct transfer payments (aka cash)

Worrying that people will save the money and not spend it is foolhardy. Not only do we want more savings but we want less debt. Getting this debt paid off will allow people who’d like to buy a house or a car to feel comfortable taking out a loan. Its also really only benefits China.

Once the debts are knocked down and savings are up, and people have surplus income the economy will recover.

The key is getting people more surplus income,the best way being cut people a check big enough to matter. Not some contemtuous $500, not more money for people with kids but enough money to knock down debts, save a little and be secure enough to spend some.

Pork programs certainly won’t do it. You know as well as I do most of the money won’t be used wisely or in the right places. The nature of politics being what it is, it can’t be.

So it will fail to bring real prosperity.

From Another Forum/Another Place

Someone asked — what are Conservative values anyway ?

My reply

This is what I consider conservative values, the old Reagan Republican/Country Clubber and Paleo-Con Values. This isn’t an endorsement, mind, but a list in no particular order.

#1 Don’t do nothing in public that would offend the neighbors

#2 Peace through a strong military

#3 Be fiscally prudent

#4 Its better to be religiously faithful than not

#5 Big government is not the right way to go

#6 Whats good for business is good for America

#7 You should strive to be rich

#8 Communism is evil

#9 When in doubt follow the words of the Founding Fathers

#10 The “best” culture is “White” Middle and Upper Class although there is no shame in being working class so long as you aspire to those values.

#11 There is a right to bear arms for self defense and defense of the state.

#12 The optimum family is the nuclear one though extended families are A-OK