Vermont Shows The Way

The legislature---not the courts---are where contentious issues such as gay marriage should be solved. Abortion should have been solved the same way. The decision made by Vermont today should be applauded by people on both sides, not because of the final outcome, but because of the process used to decide it.

That is the purpose of the democratic process, to help societies solve their differences. It is a gift we too often take for granted. Let's hope in the future we remember the lesson learned.

The House Democratic Bolshevik Wing Visits Castro

And praises him. Great timing too, right after Cuba offers to host Russian bombers and institutes its latest crackdown against political dissidents. Class acts.

Obama Puts America Right With The World

Obama Administration Seeks to Help Financial Institutions Side Step Rules

Don't put your pitchforks up just yet. Read this:

The Obama administration is engineering its new bailout initiatives in a way that it believes will allow firms benefiting from the programs to avoid restrictions imposed by Congress, including limits on lavish executive pay, according to government officials.

Surely this is a misprint. Not only is the administration trying to sidestep congressional rules, it is creating shell companies to accomplish it. More here:

The White House says it doesn't think companies will accept federal bailout money if the cash comes with restrictions, such as limits on executive pay. In order to get around the strings put in place by Congress, the White House is planning to distribute bailout money to shell companies, which will then hand it over to the intended recipients.

Is this legal? It certainly shouldn't be. Using shell companies to bypass congressionally mandated laws is duplicitous at best. I am not the only one who thinks so:

The federal watchdog agency overseeing the bailout is looking into the matter, trying to determine whether the Treasury's actions are legal.

If it is legal. someone should pass a law to stop it. Say, maybe, Congress.
So much for Obama's feigned anger at executive compensation.

Fox, Meet Henhouse

"Financial Industry Paid Millions to Obama Aide" is not exactly the type of headline Americans want to be reading right now. And Lawrence Summers isn't exactly an "aide" per say. Read this:

Mr. Summers, the director of the National Economic Council, wields important influence over Mr. Obama’s policy decisions for the troubled financial industry, including firms from which he recently received payments.

Mr. Summers is rightly perceived as one of the keenest economic minds in the country. But this is clearly and blatantly a conflict of interest.

One thing is certain. Washington may or may not know how to solve this crisis, but they haven't a clue how to do it without making Americans outraged at the process.

Video of Taliban Flogging Young Girl

And her "crime"? She apparently was having an affair. If this were a just world the givers and the recievers of this flogging would be reversed.

Our Employer Provided Privately Funded Health Care System Has Failed

The United States stands alone among the world's developed nations in its lack of government provided universal health care coverage. This is not as sinister as it is made out to be. After World War II the United States achieved an amazing full employment economy, with the most generous employer provided benefits in the world, including private health insurance plans. This provided the always provable innovative benefits of a free market system, creating the greatest advances in medical care and science in history.

This system has now clearly outlived it usefulness. It is in everyone's interests now, including businesses, to support the changeover to a single payer universal health care system. Read this:

Apart from the hysterical fear that government health insurance constitutes socialism, American business has no real reason to oppose its expansion and has everything to gain from it.

That's an important point, but an even more important point is this. The system we have now is fundamentally unfair, benefiting only the lucky, and punishing more and more people. Workers are having to make critical career decisions based solely on who provides health insurance and who does not. This does not bode well for America's well deserved sense of pride in our ability to provide flexibility and mobility in employment. People shouldn't have the important decision on where and under what circumstances they work based solely on their ability to provide health care for themselves and their families.

If you are one of the dwindling numbers of Americans still enrolled in a decent and affordable health insurance program, congratulations. But in this era of jobs being lost by the millions, we would all be wise to remember the axiom "There but for the grace of God go I". Something as important as health care shouldn't just be decided on how lucky one is.

This economy will rebound someday, but our company provided health insurance system will not return. Businesses can no longer afford it, and individuals are paying too high a price with their liberty pursuing it.

The time has come for ideology to be set aside, and renew America's promise of economic dynamism, liberty and mobility. The time for action is now.

Fannie and Freddie Raid The Till

I am shocked. SHOCKED I say..... OK I'm not. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, erstwhile government creations, recently saved from eminent demise by taxpayer largess, decided to respond to the populist rage engendered by the AIG bonuses by mirroring their actions. Oh the humanity. Read this:

Just a few weeks after retention bonuses at American International Group became a national scandal, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two mortgage-financing giants that the government rescued last fall, have outlined plans to pay an additional $159 million in bonuses to retain employees in 2009 and 2010, on top of the nearly $51 million already paid out last year.

Someday a few good books will come out explaining how all of this came to pass. Do yourself a favor and don't read them. You couldn't stand the stench.

Women Photoshopped Out of Official Government Photo in Middle East

What kind of backward, theocratic, medieval society would crop the women out of their official government photo to keep from offending an intolerant segment of their society? Unfortunately, a Jewish one would. Read this:

Israeli newspapers “aimed at ultra-Orthodox Jewish readers” digitally manipulated a photograph of the new Israeli government, to remove two female cabinet ministers, Limor Livnat and Sofa Landver.
As The A.P. explained:

Ultra-Orthodox newspapers consider it immodest to print images of women. The daily Yated Neeman digitally changed the photo, moving two male ministers into the places formerly occupied by the women.

Well, I guess Islamic extremists the world over are gleeful that some other group has taken their place as the worlds most backward idiots. But defenders of Israel who rightly argue that it is the only democracy in this troubled part of the world should agitate to put a stop to this insanity.

It's just so 13th century.

Legalize Marijuana

What can be the rational of maintaining the prohibition against legalization of marijuana? Putting untold numbers of people behind bars for what is a minor infraction, comparable to a few drinks, is unconscionable. Many of these people come out of prison hardened, unable to find employment because of a prison record, and doomed to a life brutish and short.

This isn't to say that marijuana use is wise, but neither is alcohol or tobacco, and they are legal. And since when does everything we do have to be wise or prudent? Are we really interested in policing petty moral infractions? I know I am not.

There is a movement afoot to radically decrease the prison population. We should oppose this at the point where violent inmates are let loose upon society, because we all know how that story ends. But a good way to decrease the financial and social costs of massive incarceration is to decriminalize the possession and use of marijuana.

It is not an exaggeration to say that we have scared many people out of leadership positions in this country because of the morals police that is unleashed upon you when nominated for an important position. The fact that someone imbibed a bit in their youth should not disqualify them from responsible leadership for life. This is an easy call, time to get it done.

Iowa Decides Gay People Should Be As Miserable As Everyone Else

Before they jump in to the marriage thingy, gays should give a tryout to divorce. Tell them to find someone they hate and buy them a house.

Be careful what you wish for.

Do You Feel Safer Now?

Do you feel better knowing your fate is in the hands of this group? I do not.

Memo to Prime Minister Brown: Ixnay Ewnay Orldway Orderway

Please tell me he didn't. President Bush the First has never lived down uttering the term "New World Order". Now Prime Minister Brown of England drops the same phrase.

The number of conspiracy theories created by this speech in the coming years will be incalculable. They never learn.

Russia Lies, Again

History does indeed repeat itself, at least in this case:

Nearly eight months after the war between Russia and Georgia, Russian troops continue to hold Georgian territory that the Kremlin agreed to vacate as part of a formal cease-fire, leaving a basic condition of that agreement unfulfilled.

By my reading of history this has been a pattern of the Russian government since about the 4th century. It is a shame they don't experiment with modernity by trying to live up to their promises. But I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.