Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Random thoughts because of a postponed game sports v politics
Politics are always full of sports metaphors mainly I guess because of the competitive aspect of running for office. Some of this isn't rocket science, but it is fun to compare the craziness we have for our side whether in sports or politics. Unfortunately for people right now home team wrangling produces seriously bad public policy.
And really any good conservative especially libertarian really doesn't want an effective government, because then you could end up with people trying to control your life, but there does come a point where we need some government. We drive on roads, someone does have to protect the country, I like clean water, and other tidbits of government work that well we need someone to take care of these things.
I have been reading both local coverage of the Texas Rangers and some coverage from the St Louis press on the Cardinals. Take the last game for example. Everyone here talks about how the pitchers got themselves out of jams, while in the St Louis press they talk about how the hitters didn't get it done. And they are talking pretty much the same thing. The little nuiances that took place in those situations where St Louis didn't get the job done or the Texas pitchers did were in most cases situations that were deteremined basically by inches. The pitch a tad bit different or the swing just a bit different could have produced seriously different results. It is the intensity of the press for each side trying to kowtow to local readership that makes all this fun reading. And for sports this is fun and good.
For politics though we do need less playing to the home crowd and serious looks at what our country needs. Right now the Republicans have the most press because of the constant debates we are getting now. Each candidate is stuck in trying to find the right message to play to the home town Republicans. And yes it is pretty much not going to change just because I make an observation about it. What is going to hurt is when we go Rep v Dem next year, and both sides will stick to this constant barrage of how can I please my constituency. Again I am not a fan of having too much government, but at some point we do need help in fixing problems.
In sports we do get help with the home team press vs home team press in judging how the last game went, a read through many national media organizations can give a reader an idea of just how the game went and if there is something to one side's story over the other.
For politics we cannot get away from playing to the home crowd and for most years that wouldn't be a big
deal, but for the immediate and long term future right now we do need a bit more.
As Americans we have developed an attitude on World leadership, that we are in charge and people should follow our lead. We try to down play this publicly on the world stage, but in reality we push our agenda.
And in general our agenda has its good points. The spread of democracy, free markets, and the rights we are suppose to adore can benefit any country. What we have lost is the ablility to lead by example, right now we,as the world public sees us,is a country that isn't living up to expectations. And these are our own expectations. We have had the ability to do something in the past fifty years that has never been done before in world history and we became self absorbed. In my posts I pretty much bash American Wall Street as a major contributor to our current woes. In reality America's problems have been caused by Americans.
Apathy is just as bad as greed when it comes down to it. If we don't care, how can we expect to get better. That is what has happened to public education in general, to point out one example. And as our education has faltered so goes our ability to think critically, make rational decisions, basically know when the emperor has no clothes and say so. Think about it, has any of your children taken classes in ethics, philosophy, remember civics? Yes we do need science etc to keep up with the world technically, but to really lead you need a thorough understanding of how to solve a problem. And problems come in many shapes and sizes.
We can still create the greatest time in world history through our leadership and what we have built not just economically, but through our values, our attitude, can do spirit, our constitution, and the little things like playing softball on Sunday eve, whether in church or beer league. This attitude that life can be lived and enjoyed, the infamous work hard play hard idea is something we should aspire to share with the world.
Right now though we need to sit down and really examine where we stand and what we need to do to achieve this goal. And this comes back around to where I started, we have no one to sit down and make the call on whether this team or that team has the better story. Yes we have the press, but the national press has succumbed to playing to what they think people want to hear instead of saying what we need to hear. The national press use to be a good barometer of where we stood, but as time has passed they have changed to the public perception, not demanding from itself to say what needs to be said. Yes a few members can still step up, but overall the press represent a said reflection of where our society stands.
So it is ironic, we do a much better job dissecting a sports game than dissecting our future. And we wonder why we cannot determine who is best fit to lead our country.
I love my sports and my teams, I will be honest, but right now, time is important and we need to look at ourselves now to keep up the great experiment of American democracy because this would really be sad that the greatest document written by man, our constitution , would go by the wayside based on apathy and greed. Much to be done, but really the solutions are there and simple, we just need to look inside ourselves to find them.
Long live the constitution, the constitution is dying.
And really any good conservative especially libertarian really doesn't want an effective government, because then you could end up with people trying to control your life, but there does come a point where we need some government. We drive on roads, someone does have to protect the country, I like clean water, and other tidbits of government work that well we need someone to take care of these things.
I have been reading both local coverage of the Texas Rangers and some coverage from the St Louis press on the Cardinals. Take the last game for example. Everyone here talks about how the pitchers got themselves out of jams, while in the St Louis press they talk about how the hitters didn't get it done. And they are talking pretty much the same thing. The little nuiances that took place in those situations where St Louis didn't get the job done or the Texas pitchers did were in most cases situations that were deteremined basically by inches. The pitch a tad bit different or the swing just a bit different could have produced seriously different results. It is the intensity of the press for each side trying to kowtow to local readership that makes all this fun reading. And for sports this is fun and good.
For politics though we do need less playing to the home crowd and serious looks at what our country needs. Right now the Republicans have the most press because of the constant debates we are getting now. Each candidate is stuck in trying to find the right message to play to the home town Republicans. And yes it is pretty much not going to change just because I make an observation about it. What is going to hurt is when we go Rep v Dem next year, and both sides will stick to this constant barrage of how can I please my constituency. Again I am not a fan of having too much government, but at some point we do need help in fixing problems.
In sports we do get help with the home team press vs home team press in judging how the last game went, a read through many national media organizations can give a reader an idea of just how the game went and if there is something to one side's story over the other.
For politics we cannot get away from playing to the home crowd and for most years that wouldn't be a big
deal, but for the immediate and long term future right now we do need a bit more.
As Americans we have developed an attitude on World leadership, that we are in charge and people should follow our lead. We try to down play this publicly on the world stage, but in reality we push our agenda.
And in general our agenda has its good points. The spread of democracy, free markets, and the rights we are suppose to adore can benefit any country. What we have lost is the ablility to lead by example, right now we,as the world public sees us,is a country that isn't living up to expectations. And these are our own expectations. We have had the ability to do something in the past fifty years that has never been done before in world history and we became self absorbed. In my posts I pretty much bash American Wall Street as a major contributor to our current woes. In reality America's problems have been caused by Americans.
Apathy is just as bad as greed when it comes down to it. If we don't care, how can we expect to get better. That is what has happened to public education in general, to point out one example. And as our education has faltered so goes our ability to think critically, make rational decisions, basically know when the emperor has no clothes and say so. Think about it, has any of your children taken classes in ethics, philosophy, remember civics? Yes we do need science etc to keep up with the world technically, but to really lead you need a thorough understanding of how to solve a problem. And problems come in many shapes and sizes.
We can still create the greatest time in world history through our leadership and what we have built not just economically, but through our values, our attitude, can do spirit, our constitution, and the little things like playing softball on Sunday eve, whether in church or beer league. This attitude that life can be lived and enjoyed, the infamous work hard play hard idea is something we should aspire to share with the world.
Right now though we need to sit down and really examine where we stand and what we need to do to achieve this goal. And this comes back around to where I started, we have no one to sit down and make the call on whether this team or that team has the better story. Yes we have the press, but the national press has succumbed to playing to what they think people want to hear instead of saying what we need to hear. The national press use to be a good barometer of where we stood, but as time has passed they have changed to the public perception, not demanding from itself to say what needs to be said. Yes a few members can still step up, but overall the press represent a said reflection of where our society stands.
So it is ironic, we do a much better job dissecting a sports game than dissecting our future. And we wonder why we cannot determine who is best fit to lead our country.
I love my sports and my teams, I will be honest, but right now, time is important and we need to look at ourselves now to keep up the great experiment of American democracy because this would really be sad that the greatest document written by man, our constitution , would go by the wayside based on apathy and greed. Much to be done, but really the solutions are there and simple, we just need to look inside ourselves to find them.
Long live the constitution, the constitution is dying.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Greatness, but they are driving me crazy
How can these pitchers keep letting people on then getting people out? Please just get them out in the first place. GO RANGERS
Wednesday is a long way away now.
Wednesday is a long way away now.
Friday, October 21, 2011
1-1 coming home,
Well you gotta admit that last game was anxiety central. Great job by Rangers to stay with the game and never give up. Cardinals having wrong defense for first hit made the whole inning possible. If the first hit doesn't drop in, the inning probably doesn't happen. This is at the point where you want to believe, but just like the Mavericks the history isn't there to support it yet. Saturday's game will be great, and of course we don't want it going back north.
Is it really possible two championships in one year and the Cowboys are second page news? Wow childhood loyalty is under pressure. Actually it will take much more for the Cowboys to fade even now. Was watching the news after game 2 on channel 8 and the Cowboys had second story, but more actual minutes for the sportscast. Or at least it seemed that way.
Even the texting buds are relatively quiet waiting for this to really happen.
The weather is going to be great this weekend, only slight chance of rain, down somewhat from earlier in the week. So whatever you do this weekend get outdoors. Weather like this is what makes it really worth it to get up in the morning, so give thanks.
Is it really possible two championships in one year and the Cowboys are second page news? Wow childhood loyalty is under pressure. Actually it will take much more for the Cowboys to fade even now. Was watching the news after game 2 on channel 8 and the Cowboys had second story, but more actual minutes for the sportscast. Or at least it seemed that way.
Even the texting buds are relatively quiet waiting for this to really happen.
The weather is going to be great this weekend, only slight chance of rain, down somewhat from earlier in the week. So whatever you do this weekend get outdoors. Weather like this is what makes it really worth it to get up in the morning, so give thanks.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Reading internet news, GOP politics, wall street protests
Couple articles out on the various internet sites about Perry and Cain. Both basically stating that the candidates are getting support mainly from small groups of people with money.
Again our economic problems will continue until the middle class wakes up and realizes the elitist leadership in the republican party only plays lip service to them and the democrats still haven't come up with anything new but to spend our way out of this and well how is that going? Especially now.
The tea party is not backed by the people, but by a small group of billionaires, Perry is supported by a small group, Cain by another group called Americans for prosperity, none has the true interests of the middle class in their agenda.
And until the middle class gets back on their feet with real income growth, real jobs, an infrastructure we can afford, and better education; democracy and America are in trouble. A healthy middle class is a sign of a healthy economy and democracy.
I love our country that is why I want to speak. Special interests cannot rule our country because quite frankly they are "special interests" for a reason, and are not working for the general good.
And the wall street protests are just noise for now,,, what agenda do they have to actually fix what they are complaining about which seems to be..... well I don't know specifically hmmmmm
Creating policy that supports the middle class will just about take care of the country because we are the country.
Again our economic problems will continue until the middle class wakes up and realizes the elitist leadership in the republican party only plays lip service to them and the democrats still haven't come up with anything new but to spend our way out of this and well how is that going? Especially now.
The tea party is not backed by the people, but by a small group of billionaires, Perry is supported by a small group, Cain by another group called Americans for prosperity, none has the true interests of the middle class in their agenda.
And until the middle class gets back on their feet with real income growth, real jobs, an infrastructure we can afford, and better education; democracy and America are in trouble. A healthy middle class is a sign of a healthy economy and democracy.
I love our country that is why I want to speak. Special interests cannot rule our country because quite frankly they are "special interests" for a reason, and are not working for the general good.
And the wall street protests are just noise for now,,, what agenda do they have to actually fix what they are complaining about which seems to be..... well I don't know specifically hmmmmm
Creating policy that supports the middle class will just about take care of the country because we are the country.
Sports in Dallas gotta love it
Now that the Rangers are going back to the World Series again, and FC Dallas made the playoffs ,Mavericks having won the NBA,,,,,,, why do people still keep talking about the Cowboys hahaha
actually still a big Cowboy fan, but you gotta love it here in Dallas now
actually still a big Cowboy fan, but you gotta love it here in Dallas now
Friday, October 14, 2011
Getting a bit brave,,, some comments on the military
This is not a comment on any wars, or a political bombast on the military,but some observations I have accidentally run across and a couple of my own thoughts.
If you have read any of my past posts I have alluded to my frustration with being underemployed because of the recession, however, in my role I speak to a good chunk of military personnel or military people.A very large portion of the time these are very short conversations and are only about the business at hand.I have spoken to enough of them to realize a couple of points.
First with all the budget talk in Washington Congress can actually cut some budget with the military and it will not affect our ability to defend our country in the least, in fact, it might increase because some budget cutting might produce more effective management.I know most Congress people would be hard pressed to make cuts on any military project not because of pressure from the Pentagon, but pressure from local voters because of the economic benefit of having military operations for the local economy. And especially now since any jobs cut only puts more downward pressure on the economy. And I have spoken about need to go to Congress to put pressure for them to make better decisions.So saying cutting military budget might seem contradiction to some of my previous thoughts, but in reality we all need some budget help and wasteful spending is hurting us almost as much as lack of jobs.
Now the Pentagon would be lobbying Congress not to cut budget mainly to preserve what they have, however,there are some sharp individuals at the Pentagon who really know there is ways to preserve programs and save money and not affect our true ability to defend our country. Problem is these individuals would have a hard time making headway in today's world with all competing factions to get the government to spend money on defense.
So where does all this go from here. One example from the recent past that might get the least potential to do something was closing bases.This caused quite a stir last decade and now would cause even bigger push back. Yet you don't have to close bases to reduce costs. Just like the federal government there is much duplicity in military operations that can be consolidated.Make bases more specialized and yes I know the Pentagon will say we already have specialization, but just talking to people you hear that certain trainings are being wasted, people are creating jobs to keep them busy, duplication of efforts abound, some posts aren't even staffed properly, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that anything as large as our military could use some bureaucratic shape up. I hate posting this because I am not out for a witch hunt on military spending,but we really need to look at our whole government spending to help balance the budget.
People seem to be afraid to say something about cutting military costs and even I am walking lightly, but we need to step up and ask what is a strong military, and how much does it truly cost. And again even the Pentagon in an honest moment knows there can be some effective cost cutting that doesn't affect our ability to be the best military on the planet.And one quick comment I am not talking about the infamous over priced toilet seats.
Another point and this story has been well documented in the past, but I want to put my two cents on it. We have done a severe disservice to Vietnam vets. With all the return to people respecting military personnel for the Iraq and Afghanistan vets even if they didn't support the war it only aggravates the Vietnam vets more.They may not say it directly, but there has been an injustice served to the people who served at that time.Especially for those whose only military experience was the one or two tours they did in Vietnam. And I know that there has been some soul searching by people who took out their protest for the Vietnam conflict on the Vets that came home, but as a country it would really help if we looked to do more for them. Many are coming upon retirement age with nothing. They came back to unhappiness, depression, low paying jobs, no help acclimating back into society, and now they are retiring with no savings, no support, and watching current Vets being treated with respect even by people who don't support the current campaigns.So as a society we seemed to have learned the lesson that the soldier isn't the problem, but for the Vietnam Vet they are still in the shadow of us having learned that lesson.
So next time you run across someone who served remember to thank them for their service.Show them that we respect what they did fighting for our country as called, it is up to us as citizens to elect leaders that make better decisions on what conflicts we enter, but not to blame the soldier for doing his job. And if you want to lobby Congress just remember to put in a word for better disability and help for Vietnam Vets as they retire from the civilian world. There are many organizations out there you can also contribute to that help them. Just some thoughts as I watch bitterness overtake many men that suffered more there and here than they should have.
If you have read any of my past posts I have alluded to my frustration with being underemployed because of the recession, however, in my role I speak to a good chunk of military personnel or military people.A very large portion of the time these are very short conversations and are only about the business at hand.I have spoken to enough of them to realize a couple of points.
First with all the budget talk in Washington Congress can actually cut some budget with the military and it will not affect our ability to defend our country in the least, in fact, it might increase because some budget cutting might produce more effective management.I know most Congress people would be hard pressed to make cuts on any military project not because of pressure from the Pentagon, but pressure from local voters because of the economic benefit of having military operations for the local economy. And especially now since any jobs cut only puts more downward pressure on the economy. And I have spoken about need to go to Congress to put pressure for them to make better decisions.So saying cutting military budget might seem contradiction to some of my previous thoughts, but in reality we all need some budget help and wasteful spending is hurting us almost as much as lack of jobs.
Now the Pentagon would be lobbying Congress not to cut budget mainly to preserve what they have, however,there are some sharp individuals at the Pentagon who really know there is ways to preserve programs and save money and not affect our true ability to defend our country. Problem is these individuals would have a hard time making headway in today's world with all competing factions to get the government to spend money on defense.
So where does all this go from here. One example from the recent past that might get the least potential to do something was closing bases.This caused quite a stir last decade and now would cause even bigger push back. Yet you don't have to close bases to reduce costs. Just like the federal government there is much duplicity in military operations that can be consolidated.Make bases more specialized and yes I know the Pentagon will say we already have specialization, but just talking to people you hear that certain trainings are being wasted, people are creating jobs to keep them busy, duplication of efforts abound, some posts aren't even staffed properly, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that anything as large as our military could use some bureaucratic shape up. I hate posting this because I am not out for a witch hunt on military spending,but we really need to look at our whole government spending to help balance the budget.
People seem to be afraid to say something about cutting military costs and even I am walking lightly, but we need to step up and ask what is a strong military, and how much does it truly cost. And again even the Pentagon in an honest moment knows there can be some effective cost cutting that doesn't affect our ability to be the best military on the planet.And one quick comment I am not talking about the infamous over priced toilet seats.
Another point and this story has been well documented in the past, but I want to put my two cents on it. We have done a severe disservice to Vietnam vets. With all the return to people respecting military personnel for the Iraq and Afghanistan vets even if they didn't support the war it only aggravates the Vietnam vets more.They may not say it directly, but there has been an injustice served to the people who served at that time.Especially for those whose only military experience was the one or two tours they did in Vietnam. And I know that there has been some soul searching by people who took out their protest for the Vietnam conflict on the Vets that came home, but as a country it would really help if we looked to do more for them. Many are coming upon retirement age with nothing. They came back to unhappiness, depression, low paying jobs, no help acclimating back into society, and now they are retiring with no savings, no support, and watching current Vets being treated with respect even by people who don't support the current campaigns.So as a society we seemed to have learned the lesson that the soldier isn't the problem, but for the Vietnam Vet they are still in the shadow of us having learned that lesson.
So next time you run across someone who served remember to thank them for their service.Show them that we respect what they did fighting for our country as called, it is up to us as citizens to elect leaders that make better decisions on what conflicts we enter, but not to blame the soldier for doing his job. And if you want to lobby Congress just remember to put in a word for better disability and help for Vietnam Vets as they retire from the civilian world. There are many organizations out there you can also contribute to that help them. Just some thoughts as I watch bitterness overtake many men that suffered more there and here than they should have.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Well here come the Tigers
Something to think about for Detroit, Rangers can hit the ball like the Yankees but Wash also will play to manufacture runs.So in a close ballgame you may not see hitting away with the bases loaded as in New York, but Wash trying to get the one or two runs in the early innings to get what we can early, could make a big difference in the upcoming series.GO RANGERS
Big sports weekend in the Dallas area, so go Texas and go Texas. I would avoid the highways at all costs Saturday,way too many crazed drivers.
Big sports weekend in the Dallas area, so go Texas and go Texas. I would avoid the highways at all costs Saturday,way too many crazed drivers.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
whew
The Rangers pulled out two close ones in a row.Definitely will take it and wait for the weekend.
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Wall Street protests
Well it is pretty interesting that people are coming down on wall street, but unfortunately probably going to be ineffective in doing anything. Until people vote in new set of legislatures or demand their representatives represent them the now infamous 1% will still control the game. With money control of Congress they are writing their ticket.
It is amazing that people let this 1% control so much when we actually have the power to do something about it. Our constitution gives the power to those who vote over the money, but we refuse to stand up and force our representatives to listen to the majority.
This shows that mediocre education is destroying the middle class. No understanding of how to think critically, to realize where to put pressure and to understand there are many answers out there that are better than what our elitist republicans and ineffective democrats are giving us.
The large majority of this country has basic conservative tendencies, even most minority voters tend to lean a tad bit conservative on economic issues if they belong to the middle class, but this large majority cannot see the answers that are so easy.
We need to take away lobbyist power, make them stand up in open sessions if they want to speak to Congress, reduce the size of the government by reducing duplicity in the bureaucracies, holding corporate America accountable for their actions, creating tax policy and programs that are flexible to the economic needs (which right now are to create jobs), shift tax burden equally among all groups, reduce public works programs that rely totally on the federal government and create more public private partnerships, including more public private partnerships with state and local governments so localities can rebuild their economies, encourage economic development of new industries (again tax policy and policy encouragement of lending by private groups) especially industries that create new products with new jobs so we can start balancing trade the right way, and many more.
There are many ideas out there, we just need to start implementing policy that benefits the middle class. The strengthening of our middle class will maintain democracy, strengthen our overall economy, which in turn will allow capitalists to continue to succeed, yes, they won't get everything they want, but they will get back a viable economy to do business, be successful, and continue to invest in America where they can continue to grow. As long as we allow them to do what they want they will eventually drain the economy for their own benefit which will eventually swallow them. People who are obsessed with money should not be allowed to make policy decisions for the masses.That is where our democracy should be allowed to take over so better policy for all the people is made. Unfortunately we make much noise (Wall Street protests), but never put our energy where it will do the most good.
So if you want to get our economy back together you must get off wall street, back on main street, find candidates that will support the middle class and put them in office and then the first order of business is to create laws limiting lobbyists and money in elections. Then rebuilding our education system is the first long term plan to put in place, the rest is creating policy that puts jobs first, real jobs, ones that build, not ones based on consumption.
Now I am against federal government public works projects as a way to get us out of the recession because no long term job growth, however, there is one project that is bubbling up in my mind. And of all things the oil pipeline they are trying to build gave me the idea. If we can pump oil thousands of miles why not water, if many different water districts municipalities got together with Federal help maybe we could start creating a large water project where areas already overloaded can pump to dry areas when more rain gets predicted for the overloaded area,,, create large pools of rain run off that can be moved as necessary and since it is water if we start to get too much we can always let it run to the ocean like it would do naturally. The pipes could be set up along the interstate system so the infrastructure is easy to map out.This is a simplistic example of the project in my mind, there are some serious logistic plans to make, but really it is basically creating man made pipe rivers to redirect water before areas get close to being flooded or relieve rivers as they are rising to reduce flooding. Again simplistic discussion here, but some food for thought. And not for the federal govt to do alone, but in conjunction with local water companies and water districts.
Another way to fight droughts along with desalinization to create jobs that helps our agriculture feed us and balance our trade.
Funny thing Brazil is making great headway in using plants to create fuel. They borrowed our scientists from our universities to help them. We have the ability in our country we just need to start using it
A few scattered thoughts that have come together over the last few days while stressing out over the Texas Rangers making another playoff run. I knew I didn't want them to play the Rays again in this year's playoffs because of how hot they were ending the season,but tonight Rangers won 4-3 and hopefully took some of the heat out of the Rays sails. Still got to win the next one, there are no guarantees in the playoffs.
It is amazing that people let this 1% control so much when we actually have the power to do something about it. Our constitution gives the power to those who vote over the money, but we refuse to stand up and force our representatives to listen to the majority.
This shows that mediocre education is destroying the middle class. No understanding of how to think critically, to realize where to put pressure and to understand there are many answers out there that are better than what our elitist republicans and ineffective democrats are giving us.
The large majority of this country has basic conservative tendencies, even most minority voters tend to lean a tad bit conservative on economic issues if they belong to the middle class, but this large majority cannot see the answers that are so easy.
We need to take away lobbyist power, make them stand up in open sessions if they want to speak to Congress, reduce the size of the government by reducing duplicity in the bureaucracies, holding corporate America accountable for their actions, creating tax policy and programs that are flexible to the economic needs (which right now are to create jobs), shift tax burden equally among all groups, reduce public works programs that rely totally on the federal government and create more public private partnerships, including more public private partnerships with state and local governments so localities can rebuild their economies, encourage economic development of new industries (again tax policy and policy encouragement of lending by private groups) especially industries that create new products with new jobs so we can start balancing trade the right way, and many more.
There are many ideas out there, we just need to start implementing policy that benefits the middle class. The strengthening of our middle class will maintain democracy, strengthen our overall economy, which in turn will allow capitalists to continue to succeed, yes, they won't get everything they want, but they will get back a viable economy to do business, be successful, and continue to invest in America where they can continue to grow. As long as we allow them to do what they want they will eventually drain the economy for their own benefit which will eventually swallow them. People who are obsessed with money should not be allowed to make policy decisions for the masses.That is where our democracy should be allowed to take over so better policy for all the people is made. Unfortunately we make much noise (Wall Street protests), but never put our energy where it will do the most good.
So if you want to get our economy back together you must get off wall street, back on main street, find candidates that will support the middle class and put them in office and then the first order of business is to create laws limiting lobbyists and money in elections. Then rebuilding our education system is the first long term plan to put in place, the rest is creating policy that puts jobs first, real jobs, ones that build, not ones based on consumption.
Now I am against federal government public works projects as a way to get us out of the recession because no long term job growth, however, there is one project that is bubbling up in my mind. And of all things the oil pipeline they are trying to build gave me the idea. If we can pump oil thousands of miles why not water, if many different water districts municipalities got together with Federal help maybe we could start creating a large water project where areas already overloaded can pump to dry areas when more rain gets predicted for the overloaded area,,, create large pools of rain run off that can be moved as necessary and since it is water if we start to get too much we can always let it run to the ocean like it would do naturally. The pipes could be set up along the interstate system so the infrastructure is easy to map out.This is a simplistic example of the project in my mind, there are some serious logistic plans to make, but really it is basically creating man made pipe rivers to redirect water before areas get close to being flooded or relieve rivers as they are rising to reduce flooding. Again simplistic discussion here, but some food for thought. And not for the federal govt to do alone, but in conjunction with local water companies and water districts.
Another way to fight droughts along with desalinization to create jobs that helps our agriculture feed us and balance our trade.
Funny thing Brazil is making great headway in using plants to create fuel. They borrowed our scientists from our universities to help them. We have the ability in our country we just need to start using it
A few scattered thoughts that have come together over the last few days while stressing out over the Texas Rangers making another playoff run. I knew I didn't want them to play the Rays again in this year's playoffs because of how hot they were ending the season,but tonight Rangers won 4-3 and hopefully took some of the heat out of the Rays sails. Still got to win the next one, there are no guarantees in the playoffs.
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