A little mini debate about our trade policy between Lou Dobbs and Gary Shapiro. Shapiro argues that our free trade agreements are creating new jobs in this country. Hmmm, I think those new jobs pale to the number of jobs being sucked out of this country. I suppose with the dollar being smacked down flat that we might increase exports for a short time, but that's only because the economics in this country are poor as we slope down toward becoming a third world country.

Contempt for the Law - washingtonpost.com

An article from the Washington Post about the destruction of emails, tapes and anything that might reveal the soil on the White House.

Dan Froomkin - Contempt for the Law - washingtonpost.com

Reshaping the Gay-Marriage Debate | Newsweek Culture | Newsweek.com

Stories like the one on the link below are hard to brush off when it comes to the issue of gay rights and marriage. I don't care what people want to call it, marriage or civil union, or legal whatever, two people who have built a life together need to have some protection and rights if something happens to one of them. As it stands the partner left alive has no more rights than some stranger off the street when it comes to any decision making. This has to change.

Reshaping the Gay-Marriage Debate Newsweek Culture Newsweek.com

If We Don't Begin To Solve Debt Problems

Moody's recently said that the United State's AAA bond rating could be in trouble once Medicare and Social Security costs skyrocket with the retired baby boomers. Moody's rates bonds from nations around the world.

There is still time to fix the issue, or at least start to get things under control if Congress and the President are willing to face the hard truth. But each year gets us closer and closer to the eventual massive shortfalls of social security and medicare we will have to face.

The subprime meltdown is a relatively minor event comparatively and it has Wall Street panicked. Imagine what is in store for us once the social security/ medicare meltdown begins to kick in. If our bond rating gets downgrading the result will be crushing.

I understand Iran is already using the dollar as toilet paper. We might be doing the same if we don't get our house in order and have to start printing lots of money to keep paying our debt.

I used to be optimistic that we could indeed begin to fix the issues especially with a Republican President. Republicans are supposed to be against big government and excessive spending right? Ironically Clinton not Bush did more to balance the books and reduce debt. Bush has only exacerbated the problem. Government has grown at an out of control rate under his presidency and so has the national debt.

It is probably impossible that any President and Congress would be willing to approach the American public and tell them we need to make some sacrifices so our children can enjoy some prosperity. Presidents are elected on their optimism not their pessimism. We need to tighten our belts and nobody wants to hear that in an election year.

I've heard enough talk about rainbows and sunshine. A little pessimism would do this country some good.

Big US Automakers Dropped the Ball, How Much Sympathy Should We Have?

How much sympathy should we have for the big US automakers when that lack foresight and innovation. Both Ford and Chevy had opportunities to become leaders in hybrid and electric car manufacturing. Instead they scrapped their programs when California changed their environmental laws. Now the jokes on them. Toyota and Honda are leaving them in the dust in a time when fuel efficiency is only going to become increasingly more and more important.

Ford pulls plug on electric car - Aftenposten.no



http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=7885

Homegrown terrorism act = Thought Police = Big Brother | Seven Generational Ruminations

Homegrown terrorism act = Thought Police = Big Brother Seven Generational Ruminations

I was really surprised to see Senator Collins co-sponsor this bill in the senate. She has leaned toward the side of civil rights in the past. This bill does include some safeguards but judging by the way our federal government acts, often in contempt of the Constitution, I would not bank on those safeguards preventing abuse of this act. I always worry about the rather broad interpretations the federal government comes up with to put someone under the umbrella of promoting dangerous ideas.

The fact the the bill passed the house with an overwhelming majority without debate is a little disturbing.

Conflict of Interest

Glenn Beck wants to criticize GE and other companies for conflict of interest but his guest turns the table around on his own parent company. I do love it when guests on these propaganda shows turn the tables once in a while.