Sunday, January 23, 2011

Absent but not gone

Time to check in.  I know that I've been away for a bit but don't worry.  If I am your main source of news, you haven't missed much.

I find myself much less motivated to "bitch" about politicians now that I am boycotting the Pretend News people on radio and television.  In keeping with my new year's resolution, I shall not mention them by name.  I can tell you this, when I listen to them, I get pissed off...at them.

The GOP has managed to pass a vote to get rid of health care.  I have mixed feelings about this.  Just recently, I think the health care is possibly too broken to fix so maybe we should start over.  The problem is that I don't think the GOP wants to start over.  They want to kill it.  As a rule of thumb, if it involves big money, the GOP stands to benefit by being on the side of the money.

Now, I think it's best to look at Health Care as two separate issues.

Health Care issue #1: Get costs under control.

Health Care issue #2: Insurance for everyone.

I say fix issue #1 first.  Once the economy is better, take a look at issue #2.  Right now, issue #2 is considered accomplished simply by making it illegal not to have insurance.  It also alienates states by making them pick up the tab of insuring those that can't afford it.  This is sort of like passing a law that from now on, everyone can fly by simply flapping their arms.  Voting for it doesn't make it true.

I saw a great movie yesterday.  Black Swan.  This is a 4-star movie that gets my highest recommendation.

Onward...

China owns us.  Don't be mistaken on this point.  We are as politically hog-tied as those that the Chinese throw in jail for speaking out.  We need to grow a pair and say, "Starting next week, we will impose a 25% tax on all imports that exceed the "one-for-you-one-for-me."  Said another way, balanced trade or pay for the difference.

We are sort of saying this now but in a very wimpy way.  "Please China, won't you quit manipulating the value of your currency so that we can compete fairly." To which they respond, "You have insulted me by bring this up in public - No Soup For You."

Don't get me started on copyright infringement.  Did you know they reverse engineered their stealth fighter?  Back in 1998, a stealth 117 Nighthawk helicopter was shot down over Serbia.  The Chinese went around and bought pieces of it from local farmers and then figured out how to make one of their own.

Did you hear the country is suffering from Palin Burn-out?  Who didn't see that one coming?

The UK is having yet another round of inquiries about the invasion of Iraq way back when.  I was watching when one politician said to Blair, "Tell us again why we helped invade Iraq when there was no evidences of WMDs."

I am in a writing contest that lasts for 15 days.  Each day you get a picture prompt and have 15 minutes to write a story.  There are 50 writers.  With 5 days to go, I am in a tie for second place.  Wish me luck.

Looks like its going to be Green Bay and Pittsburg playing between commercials during the Super Bowl (although the Jets could still pull it out as of the time I am writing this).

The State of the Union is coming up soon.  Can't wait to see how that goes down.  My guess is the political cooling down period following the Arizona shootings will have passed.

Time to get my cape on.  It looks cool flapping in the wind as I slide down the pole...

There is a world to save....to the Bat Cave...

Up, up and away...

Jim