Here Be Change

A look at the cabinet appointments by each president from 1900 until today, examining the percent with private sector experience. Initially from a JP Morgan report, (hat tip to The American) you can quickly see a radical departure from the past administration's cabinet appointments.

Essentially, 92% of Obama's appointments have no private sector experience. Splendid.

Reid-care Supports Infanticide, The Sun Rose this Morning

John Boehner Congressional Blog: "Beginning on line 7, p. 118, section 1303 under “Voluntary Choice of Coverage of Abortion Services” the Health and Human Services Secretary is given the authority to determine when abortion is allowed under the government-run health plan. Leader Reid’s plan also requires that at least one insurance plan offered in the Exchange covers abortions (line 13, p. 120).

What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run health plan. It’s right there beginning on line 11, page 122, section 1303, under “Actuarial Value of Optional Service Coverage.” The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account – and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.

Section 1303(a)(2)(C) describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run health plan and for those who are given an affordability credit to purchase insurance coverage that includes abortion through the Exchange. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month."

Not surprisingly, the democrat system once again is looking not only to provide the metaphorical axe-handle for free, but require everyone else to pay for the grotesque murder of babies.

As if it isn't offensive enough that we allow infanticide, this would require that the slaughtering of small children be paid for by the government health care system, and in turn, by every single tax pay off of whose back it so gleefully rides on.

If you needed another reason to be horrified by this stampede of socialism, here you go. But then, nothing else can really be expected from a system that leads only to collective graves.

The Stimulus of 76248

In the light of this recent post, I took a closer look at www.recovery.gov, to see how my area was being treated by this catastrophe of legislation. To wit, it has been a colossal failure, an unparalleled crusade against my kids future, and criminally deceptive to the American people.

Recovery.gov is "the U.S. government’s official website providing easy access to data
related to Recovery Act spending and allows for the reporting of potential fraud, waste, and abuse."

Sure. The site cost $27.5 million to develop, where similar sites such as USAspending.gov ring in well under $1 million, so I trust in the Orwellian newspeak of its description.

With little ado, I punch in my zip code, 76248.

My district has no contracts.

My district has some grants, totaling $6,203,318.

My district claims to have job creation as a result of this totaling 2 new jobs.

WHAT???

We spend $6.3 million to create two jobs?

Does. Not. Compute.

Curious, I tried to look into where the grants went near me.

Ok, so $155,000 went to retrofitting Keller City buildings to make it more energy efficient, and that grant comes from the Dept. of Energy.

$2,728,850 to Northwest Independent School District, largely for disability compliance.

$69,008 to Westlake for disability compliance, that mysteriously creates a job.

$6,136,385 to Keller Independent School District, $5.4 million of which is for disability compliance, the rest for preschool development and "Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies"

$10,933 to the City of Keller for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Formula program, to be pooled with the grants of 19 other municipalities to combat crime, under the jurisdiction of Tarrant County.

$24,188 to the City of Watauga for the same program. (Why did the smaller city get more funding for this program? Why is there any federal funding for this program?)

I found a contract for Hastech Solutions to do electrical work in Connecticut for the Army Corp of Engineers, $33,000. How that is efficient or cost effective, I don't know. The closed bidding process for this contract makes me suspicious however, and in light of the rest of this program, dubious.

The simply unimaginable amount of wealth poured into the city streets for this stimulus plan staggers the mind, the calculator, and certainly the bureaucracy.

I encourage you to look up your own zip code and look around, and see if the $3.1 million per job 'created' is the norm. (I still maintain this job creation figures have no basis in reality, and are simply used to fill in wonderful spreadsheets by some mindless drone buried deep within the heaving bowels of the Federal operation.)

Your Stimulous at Work, Invisible Congressional Districts

In a remarkably fine piece of journalism, ABC news puts this up today:
"...In Oklahoma, recovery.gov lists more than $19 million in spending -- and 15 jobs created -- in yet more congressional districts that don't exist.

In Iowa, it shows $10.6 million spent – and 39 jobs created -- in nonexistent districts.

In Connecticut's 42nd district (which also does not exist), the Web site claims 25 jobs created with zero stimulus dollars...."

Change we can believe in Mr. President? Really?

The sun will rise. The sun will shine. The sun will set. This is the nature of the earth.

The government will tax. The Government will waste money. The Government will be corrupt.

This is the nature of Government, power wielded with strength by those who have not earned it to the benefit of none but themselves.

My president's administration claims human error, simple mistakes, for this wanton waste of money that was borrowed to begin with, as expected.

Impossible.

Humans do not assign money to places that do not exist, nor are jobs created in places that do not exist, unless they intend to intentionally deceive, as has become apparent.

The data given at recovery.gov is as transparent as an algae encrusted shrimp brine holding tank slathered with petroleum jelly sitting on a mirror in the midst of an aging smoke filled bingo hall. Further investigation by your favorite intrepid blogger is forthcoming.

Take note, fellow Americans. This is all that can be expected of legislation that is criminal by its very nature. Only further corruption and fleecing of the public can result from the legalized theft of the socialist policies being pushed by my national leaders.

Final Effect of Cash for Clunkers

Beneficial, no?

Even more painful to look at is this Demonstration Video, showing how to seize an engine, as per the Cash for Clunker program.

Obama on Obamacare

Politico: "“What I think is appropriate is that in the same way that everybody has to get auto insurance and if you don't, you're subject to some penalty, that in this situation, if you have the ability to buy insurance, it's affordable and you choose not to do so, forcing you and me and everybody else to subsidize you, you know, there's a thousand dollar hidden tax that families all across America are -- are burdened by because of the fact that people don't have health insurance, you know, there's nothing wrong with a penalty.”" - Barack Obama

Auto Insurance Premise:

A. Driving involves inherent risk to other people

B. This risk is best minimized by requiring auto insurance.

This is true, and A is correctly followed by B. Driving is dangerous, large and heavy metal objects moving about quickly with drivers who may or may not be competent.

Not only does insurance help cover property damage, it also provides medical liability, and provides a free market response to reckless driving by increasing rates. By requiring a driver and vehicle to possess insurance, society can minimize the risk and maximize the benefits of utilizing public roads.

Obamacare Insurance Premise:

A. Medical care is the obligation of all society

B. Medical insurance should be required to benefit society.

C. If a person lacks medical insurance, they harm society.

These premises fail on several levels. Medical care is the responsibility of the individual, and that is the sole place where this responsibility falls. How they choose to do this is their prerogative, but it remains with them nevertheless.

Corollary, medical insurance is not always the best choice, for many it does not make financial sense to insure themselves if they are in good health.

An individual with no health insurance does no harm to be personally, and to require them to do so would only further damage the fabric of society.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Tom Smith's Bread

TOM SMITH AND HIS INCREDIBLE BREAD MACHINE

by R.W. Grant

This is a legend of success and plunder

And a man, Tom Smith, who squelched world hunger.

Now, Smith, an inventor, had specialized in toys.

So, people were surprised

When they found that he instead

Of making toys, was BAKING BREAD!

The way to make bread he'd conceived

Cost less than people could believe.

And not just make it! This device

Could, in addition, wrap and slice!

The price per loaf, one loaf or many:

The miniscule sum of under a penny.

Can you imagine what this meant?

Can you comprehend the consequent?

The first time yet the world well fed!

And all because of Tom Smith's bread.

A citation from the President

For Smith's amazing bread.

This and other honors too

Were heaped upon his head.

But isn't it a wondrous thing

How quickly fame is flown?

Smith, the hero of today Tomorrow,

scarcely known.

Yes, the fickle years passed by;

Smith was a millionaire,

But Smith himself was now forgot Though

bread was everywhere.

People, asked from where it came,

Would very seldom know.

They would simply eat and ask,

"Was not it always so?"

However, Smith cared not a bit,

For millions ate his bread,

And "Everything is fine," thought he,

"I am rich and they are fed!"

Everything was fine, he thought?

He reckoned not with fate.

Note the sequence of events

Starting on the date

On which the business tax went up.

Then, to a slight extent,

The price on every loaf rose too:

Up to one full cent!

"What's going on?" the public cried,

"He's guilty of pure plunder.

He has no right to get so rich

On other people's hunger!"

(A prize cartoon depicted Smith

With fat and drooping jowls

Snatching bread from hungry babes

Indifferent to their howls!)

Well, since the Public does come first,

It could not be denied

That in matters such as this,

The Public must decide.

So, antitrust now took a hand.

Of course, it was appalled

At what it found was going on.

The "bread trust," it was called.

Now this was getting serious.

So Smith felt that he must

Have a friendly interview

With the men in antitrust.

So, hat in hand, he went to them.

They'd surely been misled;

No rule of law had he defied.

But then their lawyer said:

"The rule of law, in complex times,

Has proved itself deficient.

We much prefer the rule of men!

It's vastly more efficient.

Now, let me state the present rules,"

The lawyer then went on,

"These very simpIe guidelines

You can rely upon:

You're gouging on your prices if

You charge more than the rest.

But it's unfair competition

If you think you can charge less.

"A second point that we would make

To help avoid confusion:

Don't try to charge the same amount:

That would be collusion!

You must compete. But not too much,

For if you do, you see,

Then the market would be yours And

that's monopoly!"

Price too high? Or price too low?

Now, which charge did they ma~e?

Well, they weren't loath to charging both

With Public Good at stake!

In fact, they went one better They

charged "monopoly!"

No muss, no fuss, oh woe is us,

Egad, they charged all three!

"Five years in jail," the judge then said.

Your lucky its not worse.

Robber Barons must be taught

Society Comes First!"

Now, bread is baked by government.

And as might be expected,

Everything is well controlled;

The public well protected.

True, loaves cost a dollar each.

But our leaders do their best.

The selling price is half a cent.

(Taxes pay the rest!)

Saudi Justice

Reuters: "A Saudi court of cassation upheld a ruling to behead and crucify a 22-year-old man convicted of raping five children and leaving one of them to die in the desert, newspapers reported on Tuesday.

The convict was arrested earlier this year after a seven-year old boy helped police in their investigation. The child left in the desert after the rape was three years old, Okaz newspaper said."

I agree with this decision, and I can't understand the international humanitarian outcry over this decision.

The man raped 5 kids and killed 1. He can be crucified and then beheaded for all I care.

Oddly Timed Election Results

"Looks like a Republican sweep tonight in NY, Virginia AND New Jersey. Woo hoo! The New Jersey one is huge." SolaMeanie, commenting last night.

And that about sums up everything I could say. It appears that even in the brutally liberal North East, there is disgruntilification of the voting base.