This just in: Green Eggs and Ham was written when his publisher challenged Dr. Seuss to write a story using only 50 words.
Elsewhere...
The GOP Path to Prosperity is part Smoke and Mirrors and part...a good idea.
The GOP is acting as if their attack on Medicare is the only part of their budget plan that people disagree with. There are actually three parts: (1) rework Medicare, (2) reduce spending wherever possible and (3) lower the tax rate another 10%.
Here is where I stand: (1) Go ahead and rework Medicare, but don't do it with a voucher that will be of no value by the time I get there. Instead, raise the age limit to qualify. Raise it slowly. This is fair since we are now healthier and living longer than when this was first put in place. (2) Everyone wants to reduce spending. The Democrats want to keep government oversight which costs money. Like I have said before, watch the money-changers but let manufacturing do its job. (3) The top income tax rate needs to be back at 70%. I know that seems high but that is where it was in the 70's. Right now, the rich pay less than 20% on their income while you and I pay 35%. We are paying a higher rate on a smaller amount. Any budget that cuts taxes for the rich - again - needs to be tossed out along with those that propose it. By the way, GOP sweetheart Cain, is calling for the elimination of Capital Gains taxes. This is a tax most often applies to the rich in place of income tax. He is a big believer that someday, a job will be created through tax cuts.
Is it just me or is Galaxy Quest a pretty good movie?
Michelle Bachman has found her soapbox. She wants to eliminate ObamaCare. I want it fixed. However, every time she chants to repeal it, I hear the following, "If elected, I will make sure every 18 to 26-year-old in this country will suddenly find themselves cast off from their parents health insurance policy."
Onward...
Have you heard of Lulzsec? This is the hacker group that is hacking into everything from Xbox accounts to senate emails. They actually have hotlines set up where you can request a hack. There are phone numbers you can call. And yet, no one seems to know where these people are. I actually applaud them. They are basically saying the internet is not secure. They are pointing out a situation that we'd all rather ignore. However, when China wants to shut down our power grids, we'd better be ready to sleep in the dark - or start getting serious about security.
The AARP is okay with taking a look at Social Security. I am okay with looking at it. I am also okay with fixing it so it will be there when I need it. When Social Security was first set up, they anticipate us using it for a couple of years and then dying of old age. Today, we just live too long. I think they need to raise the eligibility age.
For you techies: The Chromebook sucks. This is a cheap laptop that relies on "the cloud" to be functional. Few apps and spotty, high-speed internet make this thing more of a doorstop than a computer. Additionally, you have to pay for data transfer which makes this "cheap" computer suddenly very expensive. Someday, maybe five years from now, we will all have high-speed internet with unlimited downloading ability. Until that time, give this a pass.
The Navy had its Rail-Gun project terminated. I can see why. It's very expensive and there is not certainty that it will work. However, a rail gun is really cool. Imagine shooting a pellet at a target a thousand miles away with such speed and precision that they can knock and ICBM out of the sky as it's lifting off.
All of the best Science Fiction books have rail guns in them.
Who is Tiger Woods?
Did you see that Clarence Clemons from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band last Saturday? This guy was great. By the way, the Boss is now 61! Makes me feel old. He was 25 when he wrote Born to Run. Check out Clarence in the video at the end of this blog.
Trouble brewing...
Microsoft bought Skype and now 8 of Skype executives have left the building. Microsoft better not screw this company up.
A quote for the day: "The expenses of government, having for their object the interest of all, should be borne by everyone, and the more a man enjoys the advantages of society, the more he ought to hold himself honored in contributing to those expenses." Anne Robert Jacques Turgot (a French economist from the 18th century)
There are Republican tax evaders and Democrat regulators afoot. I must run to help save the world from our elected leaders.
Up, up and away...
jim
