The insurgency

These poor put upon ranchers and other anti-government conservatives who took over a Federal wildlife sanctuary.  Where is the right wing with "America Love it or Leave it" slogans?  This was and still is all the rage when a liberal leaning group protests not to mention if they would take something over.  The right once again shows how they are a bunch of hypocrites.  All you have to do is look at the people hold up in the federal compound.  What I see is a bunch of people who think that they are entitled to more than the rest and who don't want to pay for anything.  Look at the facts.  One of the leaders turned to the Government (which he despises) for a loan after private banks turned him down.  Look at the ranchers who have the privilege of grazing cattle on land that they don't own for $3 per head per month compared to costs of around $20 or more if they actually owned the land.  I agree with the Conservatives who say that this entitlement class needs to end but I think that we start at the top and work our way down to the people who are earning $7.25 per hour and working 2 or more jobs.

How Obama ISN"T responsible for the Divisive Politics

Once again I'm reading how the divisive politics that we currently see is all President Obama's doing.  If only it were that simple.  The author today also tossed in FDR.  Interesting in both cases you had presidents who took over a country whose economy was in shambles and where Congress was controlled by the opposition.  In President Obama's case we know that the leaders of the Republican caucus met on inauguration day to pledge to oppose and obstruct everything that the President wanted to do in order to make him a one term president.  So, the GOP set the stage for divisive politics, but it goes back further.  Who remembers George Bush stating that you are either with us or against us in response to people opposed to the war in Iraq?  Or, Ronald Reagan demonizing anyone who was on public assistance while conveniently not talking about those that receive tax breaks, tax credits, or government loans?  All one has to do is turn on Fox news and listen for the language of divisiveness.  Insurgents against the government are called Patriots if they are carrying guns and are white, whereas people protesting police shootings are called thugs.  Although study after study would show that there is a evidence that they have a point.  The Patriots would appear to be people who think that they are entitled to something.  In this case it is the unrestricted use of Federal land.  Whenever this President issues an executive order it is all about ruling as a King, it is unconstitutional,.... But when Ronald Reagan or  George Bush issued executive orders hardly a peep was heard, although their executive orders expanded the role of the federal government more than Obama has.  At a guess if the next President is a Republican we will not hear a peep when they do the same types of things as President Obama has.  There might be something said when they repeal the ACA but look at the new Governor of Kentucky who is going to replace their version of the ACA with essentially the same plan.  Way to go Kentucky!

Heroin in Wisconsin

We have recently passed a bunch of laws to curtail heroin use in Wisconsin.  How noble.  Unfortunately they will do nothing to curtail the use and abuse of heroin.  Creating a database of everyone with a prescription for synthetic opium will not stop abuse.  Neither will the requirement to show an id.  The numbers are pretty clear that it is both easier and cheaper to get real heroin.  About all that this law will do is be a major inconvenience for law abiding citizens attempting to get their legal prescriptions.  I will give some credit to allowing a greater use of Narcan which will reduce overdose deaths.  A real solution would involve doing stuff and spending money on things that Republicans just can't even comprehend.  Like maybe we should figure out why the use of this drug is on the rise.  Everyone knows that heroin is bad for you, why are more and more people turning to it?  Maybe we could invest in treatment rather than incarceration and creating databases.  Once again a terribly misguided policy and waste of taxpayer money.

Minimum Wage Movement

I think that a lot people are sympathetic to increasing the minimum wage but I think that the movement will flame out without accomplishing anything.  It is a lot like the occupy movement or the 99%; a lot of people identify with the goals and are in those respective groups figuratively speaking but the majority politicians and the mainstream media will not take up the cause.  This would create popular sustaining support and that is lacking.  You have billions being spent to convince would be members of these groups to act against their own best interests.  What we should look at is how many of these low wage workers are voting for Republicans.  It has to be a lot because the Republicans keep getting elected and they are not going to raise the minimum wage.  The silver lining might be that some editorial writers and cartoonists have seized on the fact that many of these workers get food stamps, housing assistance, and medical care covered by all taxpayers and that this amounts to a business subsidy.  I think that this tact could be successful because people are tired of give aways to business in exchange for jobs that never seem to materialize in the numbers or wages that the companies said they would.  So her's to hope that something will move because right now the majority in this country is being crushed by low wages, rising costs and a growing income disparity.

Syria Here We Come...

As the war mongers would say it is about time we get into Syria.  Yes, they successfully got the President to agree to a war if the Syrian government uses weapons of mass destruction.  Apparently they have and we are considering options from a missile strike to aircraft bombardment.  No ground forces yet.

My question is can anyone tell me what side we are on and will we be greeted as liberators like in Iraq and Afghanistan?  One thing is really clear, none of the sides like us.  It is also clear to me that given the track record of using drones and guided missiles that we sometimes miss the intended target.  What happens if one of those missiles get hit by anti-aircraft fire and hits an apartment building, school, hospital,...?  Once again I have to congratulate George W. Bush because it was his idea to remake the Middle East utilizing the domino theory.  Look what we have now a bunch of newly democratic countries that have elected Islamists who have been just as oppressive as the governments that they replaced and they still don't like us.  So we are going to get involved in another war in an effort to bring US style democracy to Middle East.  Who knows it might work this time.

Citizen Ted

Why is the media totally ignore the Ted Cruz citizenship issue.  Is it that they are scared of being portrayed as partisan because they didn't go after Obama as hard.  Once again lets review Obama was born in America, I know it is hard to believe but Hawaii is in the United States.  Cruz was born in Canada.  Certainly not native born but what about natural.  Don't know but maybe the Roberts court can carve out a ruling for Senator Cruz so that they don't allow Democrats or anchor babies the same opportunity.  But again the real issues are did Ted Cruz vote in an election and is someone with dual citizenship allowed to serve in the Senate.  The first one is a felony, which eliminates ones ability to serve as President. 

For you impeachment as long as they are Democrats fans there is an opening here.  Obama could have had dual citizenship until he was 23 and he probably voted in elections which is of course illegal.

Liz Cheney Caught

Liz cheney in an effort to shore up her Republican brand went and got a fishing license in Wyoming the other day despite a lack of evidence that she is a fisherwoman.  Of course with her being a Cheney complications and lawbreaking ensued.  It turns out to get an in state license in Wyoming you have to have lived in the state longer than a few days.  This snafu cost her $250 and a lot of embarrassment.