A New Dancing Season with the Stars

My television watching is really quite limited beyond about two to three hours a day of news and commentary.  The one program I do seem to be watching is “Dancing with the Stars.”  It is the professional dancers that are really the attraction for me, especially the women.  Just watching Julianne Hough is enough to get me excited.

 

I am surprised these dancing couplings have not resulted in more romances.  It’s reported that professional dancers Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff are now engaged.  Propinquity does count for something.  The next season has been announced and my DVR has been set to record all the programs.  I do believe the drums and music prior to announcing which couples has been voted off the show is really quite corny but after all the longer you watch the more commercials they can sell.  It’s really all about the money.  In this environment that is just one more good thing about this excellent entertainment spectacular.  I live right here in Los Angeles.  How do I get tickets to see this show live?

Relying on the FDA

There is no way anyone can know the source of the ingredients of the foods they eat.  We must rely on the FDA to ensure safety.  Simply put that agency has failed.  There have been numerous food scares during the past few years.  Mad Cow Disease was followed by salmonella in spinach, peppers and tomatoes.  The issue of salmonella tainted peanuts  is not new.  A few years ago the contamination was in Peter Pan Peanut Butter. 

 

Now the contamination is in dry-roasted and oil-roasted peanuts, granulated peanuts, peanut meal, peanut butter and peanut paste.  This situation has evolved into a criminal investigation by the FDA and the Justice Department at the Peanut Corp. of America facility in Blakely, Georgia.  The problem is the cavalier attitude of the people involved.  The peanut company and even the town mayor have the attitude that they can get away with their behavior.

 

Blakely Mayor Ric Hall said, “We’re in hot water. When they found salmonella in spinach, peppers and tomatoes, people said they would never eat them again, and guess what? We’re right back in there eating salads. I think the same thing will happen with peanuts.”

 

Is the relaxing of FDA inspection part of Bush administration laisseze faire policies?  There is nothing on the internet to support that idea.  Still the number of incidence during the past eight years does make me suspicious.  Ot would take a thorough investigation by a news investigating organization.  60 Minutes, the Tribune Company, or the Washington Post should research inspection records.

Now It’s Hardball

Barack Obama’s speech about everyone being part of the United States rather than being part of red or blue states sounds wonderful in theory.  The reality is Americans do hold different values depending on their geography and history.  Southern states have been more rural.  Central California farming valleys and farming plains states have different perspectives than Jamaica, New York, South Chicago, or San Jose, California.

 

The President did try to reach out to Republicans during his first two weeks in office.  Unfortunately the Republican response was “no we will not compromise.”  That decision by the GOP has left only one path for our new President.  He will have to play the partisan game.  That means finding a few Republican Senators that understand the meaning of compromise and working to ensure solidarity among the Dems.  Rahm Emanuel, the president’s Chief of Staff, is known as a hardball player from his days as a Congressman.  He will undoubtedly lead the process for keeping all Democrats in line.  David Axelrod, Obama’s cool campaign co-ordinator, will probably be the nice guy to bring in the needed Republicans.  So much for “We are all part of the United States.”

NO on Los Angeles Measure B

There is a proposition on the March 3, 2009 ballot for some kind of investment that will provide solar generated electric.  The issue with the plan is the actual cost.  As I understand the plan solar cells will be installed on top of major buildings and be sent into the city’s electrical grid.  Two reports on the cost are providing conflicting data.  One report says the cost will be $1 billon and a second says the cost will be $3 billon.  Too many people oppose this proposal to support it.  Included in the opposition is the highly respected city controller, Laura Chick.  I really honor her opinion.  This situation is so bad that we have not received sample ballots for the upcoming election.  Clearly this is a city suffering with major mismanagement.

Too Much Cable Television News

Glenn Greenwald is one of many writers on Salon.com.  However Salon is just one of many new opinion web site that seem to be growing in number weekly.  Each one of them has a host of interesting writers.  Unless you want to devote you entire life to reading their thoughts you will have to make choices.

 

Mr. Greenwald, a lawyer and writer, has appeared on at least two televison interview shows this past week.  He had the nerve to critcize those people who watch cable television news, claiming “you can actually physically feel your brain shrinking.”  What he does not seem to understand is that most of us have never heard of him and most of his colleagues before they appeared on CNN, The Rachel Maddow Show, Bill Moyers Journal, etc.

 

The problem with too many of these commentators is that they believe that they have the inside track to knowledge.  They seem to think that their readers and viewers are not bright enough to understand the real things that are happening in the world.  WordPress.com  has more than 163,000 active blogs.  Considering there are other blogging opportunities as well, it should be obvious to all that watching cable TV is only part of our passion.

Same Old Politics

American political parties are bankrupt.  By this I mean that there are few differences between Democrats and Republicans.  This is not a new opinion of mine.  Take a look at the party in power and the one out of power and they almost always behave the same way depending upon their current predicament.

 

During the George W. Bush administration the Republicans had control of both houses of Congress for six of the eight years.  The result was over spending and a lack of focus on the future impact of the laws they passed or did not pass.  Earmarked pork projects were perfectly acceptable.  It was the very things that Republicans accused Democrats of doing.  Another good example was Richard Nixon imposing price controls in the early 1970s.  The idea was one that has been promoted many times by Democrats.  It was an effort to control inflation.  Once those controls were removed inflation roared into life and would be one of the factors that resulted in Jimmy Carter becoming a one term president.

 

Now it’s the Barack Obama administration with a Democratic Congress in control and this administration behaves in the same manner.  The Democratic Congress wants to pass legislation that takes our nation even deeper into debt with no plan on how the nation will solve its long term economic issues.  The Bush administration rushed TARP, Troubled Assets Relief Program (the bank rescue plan); through Congress without adequate consideration and now Obama wants to do the same thing in reviving the economy.

 

The minority party always takes the opposite view of the majority even when the majority is correct.  Where are the new ideas that will make our nation succeed?  They are not likely to come from the same old crowd that has been part of the political parties for decades.  Barack Obama was correct stating that we need change.  He just has not provided any of it.  At the end of the first 100 days and later at the end of the first 1000 days I predict that it will still be politics as usual.

Obama Outreach

Clearly there are flaws in the Obama Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Then again what law was ever perfect?  President Obama is not receiving the bi-partisan support he had wanted. 

 

If you watched any of the Sunday morning political talk shows the question of coming together for the good of the country was clearly kicked aside.  The Republicans want to show that their opinion matters so they are taking a contrary position even if it is irresponsible. The Democrats have an overwhelming majority in the House and a near filibuster proof majority in the Senate.  The President has taken the next step by going directly to the public.  He sent me and everyone else on his email list an email entitled “What recovery means for you.”

 

Here is the body of that mail

The economic crisis is growing more serious every day, and the time for action has come.
Last week, the House of Representatives passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will jumpstart our economy and put more than 3 million people back to work.
I hope to sign the recovery plan into law in the next few weeks. But I need your help to spread the word and build support.
It’s not enough for this bill to simply pass Congress. Americans need to know how it will affect their lives — they need to know that help is on the way and that this administration is investing in economic growth and stability.
Governor Tim Kaine has agreed to record a video outlining the recovery plan and answering questions about what it means for your community. You can submit your questions online and then invite your friends, family, and neighbors to watch the video with you at an Economic Recovery House Meeting.
The stakes are too high to allow partisan politics to get in the way.
That’s why I’ve consulted with Republicans as well as Democrats to put together a plan that will address the crisis we face.
I’ve also taken steps to ensure an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Once it’s passed, you will be able to see how every penny in this plan is being spent.
You can help restore confidence in our economy by making sure your friends, family, and neighbors understand how the recovery plan will impact your community.
Sign up to host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting and submit your question for the video now:
Our ability to come together as a nation in difficult times has never been more important.

I know I can rely on your spirit and resolve as we lead our country to recovery.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

P.S. — If you can’t host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting, you can still submit your questions for Governor Kaine and then share the video with your friends and family this weekend. Learn more here:

http://my.barackobama.com/recovery 

 

 

 Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee — 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

 

Highly respected economists on both the right and the left have stated that the government needs to implement a stimulus package very quickly.  Representative Barney Frank, D-Mass., the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said the bill was designed to help people who have been damaged in the economic meltdown as well as stimulate the economy.  His words, “I never saw a tax cut fix a bridge. I never saw a tax cut give us more public transportation. The fact is, we need a mix.”

 

Republicans would do well to support this plan even if it’s not perfect.  The alternative could easily mean another Great Depression.

California Government Incompetence

The California legislature is a failed institution.  The LA Daily News says in today’s front page editorial that our Leaders fail to lead in crisis.  The legislature has been deteriorating for at least the past 30 years.  1978 was the year that the “People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation”, known as Proposition 13, was voted into law.  According to Wikipedia 64.8% of the voters gave a Yes vote to the proposal despite the fear mongering of elected officials that government services would be desimated.  The legislature’s half hearted alternative to the proposition has not been forgotten.  As a young family in our first home we saw our property taxes increase by 50% in one year.  The savings and loan holding our mortgage raised our monthly payment into an impound account to pay the taxes by 100%.  Of course we voted for that initiative.  Our property taxes returned to their previous level the following year.

 

The power of one third of the legislature to determine the fate of this state’s fiscal condition was a well meaning but ill advised effort to control spending during the Great Depression.  California has failed to balance its budget for at least four successive years.  The public will feel the effect of this situation starting Monday, February 2, 2009 when public services are drastically reduced.

 

There really is only one way to change this situation.  The state constitution needs to be revised.  The Sacramento Bee reports that a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) state wide survey indicates 54% of “believe that it is a “good idea” to change the two-thirds majority to a 55 percent majority.”  I will gladly stand in front of Von’s and CVS to obtain the needed signatures.

Bonuses – We Have No Shame

The average Wall Street bonus was $112,000.  That includes everyone from clerks to the top paid executives.  It’s Theirs and They’re Not Apologizing.  That is the report in the New York Times.  Those of us who are not part of that Wall Street crowd are probably socialists.  That is their message.

 

The Washington Post reports “A senior executive may have a base pay of $200,000 to $300,000 but make another $2 million to $10 million in bonuses, a portion of which may be in company stock.”  There is no wonder that President Obama called those bonuses shameful.

 

Not one of those high paid people has appeared on any television show to justify their pay let alone the bonuses.  The reason is apparent.  The executive boards and the managers of these companies are all part of the same group and they control the compensation packages.  They do not care what the rest of us think.  The problem for them is that they have asked for government bail outs.  The wealthy capitalists are inviting the controls they do not want.  They seem to think that those calling for more reasonable pay are “socialists.”  As unemployment rises, house values fall, and businesses close will that that word be a sufficient barrier?  I doubt it. 

 

Read my column And You Thought You Were Wealthy for more information about America’s rich.

A Fourth World Nation at America’s Door


Forty five years ago I went on a tour of Mexico City, Taxco, and Acapulco.  I had a wonderful time.  All three places were filled with interesting things to see and taste.  An acquaintance from Mexico City says those days are gone now.  It’s not safe to visit there anymore.  The killing of a French tourist at the airport confirms her words.  

 

A favorite place for sightseeing, when visiting San Diego, was Tijuana, Mexico.  San Diego has a wonderful light rail trolley system that includes a ride to the Mexican border.  You can board the trolley at the Old Town station and ride to the border gate for $2.50.  It’s a bargain when you consider there is free parking at the Old Town station.  At the border you walk over the boulevard on a pedestrian ramp, through a revolving metal gate and you are in Mexico.  An easy 10 minute walk takes you to the main street of Tijuana.  We don’t go there now.  Many friends have also stopped visiting.

 

The Los Angeles Times has had too many stories of people being held up, kidnapped, and murdered in Mexico.  The perpetrators are gangs.  It is not just Tijuana, it is all of Mexico.  A couple from Southern California liked motor homing to Rosarito Beach and San Felipe on the Gulf of California.  After being held captive and being beaten they finally obtained their release.  They have told their story on Los Angeles television.  Check tours to Mexico and you will find there are none to Mexico City because the crime against tourists is too high.

 

 

 

Here is a quotation from the U.S, State Department about crime in Mexico

 “CRIME: Crime in Mexico continues at high levels, and it is often violent, especially in Mexico City, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey, Acapulco, and the state of Sinaloa.  Other metropolitan areas have lower, but still serious, levels of crime.  Low apprehension and conviction rates of criminals contribute to Mexico’s high crime rate.  U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are encouraged to report the incident to the nearest police headquarters and to the nearest U.S. consular office.”

How different is Mexico from Somalia where the United States failed to bring any kind of peace?  Remember “Blackhawk Down?” Somalia has no organized government.  Mexico does.  Somalia is the home of pirates that attack on both land and sea.  Mexico has drug cartels that kill each other and anyone else who gets in their way.  As reported in the Los Angeles Times the U.S. Joint Forces Command recommended that Mexico be monitored alongside Pakistan as a “weak and failing” state that could crumble swiftly under relentless assault by violent drug cartels.

February 3, 2009

The latest news is the unfortunate killing of three people outside of Cancun, Mexico.