Category Archives: Deep Thoughts

I think…therefore I’m dangerous.

Respect

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You have to earn it.

It has been suggested to me that I sometimes exhibit a certain lack of respect for some authoritative figures. I certainly can’t argue with that observation.

But the way I see it, someone has to earn my respect to get it.

I’m not some little pissant who blindly follows the leadership of decision makers just because someone picked them to make decisions. I have a brain and I know how to use it.

I have no respect for decision makers who lack the intelligence to see the the long-term consequences of their decisions. I also have no respect for people who abuse their political power for their own ends. I’m seeing entirely too much of that in Wickenburg these days.

Come on guys, get a life. Your domain of power is an insigificant spot on the map: the Town of Wickenburg, AZ. Stop milking it for your own benefit and think of the people who have to live here — the people who voted for or appointed you. Do what’s best for the community — not for yourself or your friends.

Until you do, don’t expect any respect from me.

What You Need to Believe to Be a Republican

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More political deep thoughts.

My friend, Elizabeth, e-mailed this to me today. I don’t know where it came from, but would be pleased to include the appropriate credit if someone else can point me to the original author. I thought it was something worth sharing.

What You Need To Believe To Be A Republican

Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush’s daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney and Rumsfeld did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush couldn’t find Bin Laden.

Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

A woman can’t be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans’ benefits and combat pay.

If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won’t have sex.

A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle and antagonize our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals, Arabs, and Hillary Clinton.

Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism.

HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.

Global warming and tobacco’s link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

The public has a right to know about Hillary’s cattle trades, but George Bush’s and Dick Cheney’s driving records are none of our business.

Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you’re a conservative radio host. Then it’s an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

Supporting “Executive Privilege” is imperative for every Republican ever born, who will be born or who might be born in perpetuity.

What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the ’80s is irrelevant.

Got something to say? You know where the Comments link is. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of feedback I get from this one.

Major Hurricane “Expected” in Northeast

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Another typical media attempt to breed fear.

Stories like this really piss me off. It’s like someone said, “Hey, I think we could get more hits to our Web site it we published a story that said the Northeast was likely to get hit by a hurricane this season.”

So they wrote the story: “Threat of Major Hurricane Strike Grows for Northeast”, complete with the subtitle, “AccuWeather.com Warns That ‘Weather Disaster of Historic Proportions’ Could Strike as Early as This Year.”

They go on to say:

“The Northeast is staring down the barrel of a gun,” said Joe Bastardi, Chief Forecaster of the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center. “The Northeast coast is long overdue for a powerful hurricane, and with the weather patterns and hydrology we’re seeing in the oceans, the likelihood of a major hurricane making landfall in the Northeast is not a question of if but when.”

They then discuss the last major hurricane to hit the northeast, which was in 1938, leaving me with the impression that someone had done a statistical analysis on the odds of it happening again this year.

Heck, I haven’t won $7 on a lottery ticket in months. Statistically speaking, it looks like I’m due to win again soon!

Just more evidence that the U.S. media’s main marketing strategy is to keep the U.S. public in fear.

I’m Not the Only One

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A friend of mine unknowingly echoes my sentiments.

My friend Jim, who I don’t think reads this blog, wrote the following in an e-mail yesterday to explain why he wasn’t able to get in the mood to write a humor piece for wickenburg-az.com:

However, I spent eight hours today dealing with computer and printer problems, and it may take a few hours to get my sense of humor back. Everything is up and running, but I hate to have people in India talk down to me.

Jim should read my experience with Microsoft’s India-based technical support. It won’t cheer him up, but at least he’ll know that he isn’t the only one frustrated beyond belief.

Outsourcing — or “Offshoring” — Revisited (Again)

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An interesting document exposed by Slate.com.

First, I need to correct myself. I’ve been using the word “outsourcing” to refer to jobs sent overseas. The correct term for that is “offshoring.” Outsourcing is the same thing, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the job has gone overseas. Jobs can be outsourced to other companies in the same country.

That said, Slate.com has published a document that details the following sad little fact:

According to a study released in March by the Government Accountability Office, 48 states “offshore” at least some administration of federally funded, state-administered government programs, most of it in India and most of it involving welfare benefits. The GAO also found that states were offshoring some administration of child support enforcement and — in what seems like a cruel joke at the expense of American workers displaced by cheap foreign labor — unemployment insurance!

Read it (and weep) here: “Hello, Bangalore? Where’s My Unemployment Check?” by Timothy Noah.