Heard on NPR this morning (paraphrasing): "Think of the [New York State] loans [for weatherizing houses] as a bridge. These people can save $10,000 over the next ten years. But only if they spend $10,000 now, which they don't have. These loans provide that."
No wonder NPR needs all those pledge drives, if they invest their money like this.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
DNC Losing It
This just in from the Democratic National Committee (via Daily Kos):
This is standard fare on the over-the-top hate-fest that is Daily Kos. But for some reason I expected better from the DNC. Guess I learned my lesson today. If nothing else, we have certainly learned that while it is unacceptable to question someone's patriotism for, say, opposing funding combat troops in an active war zone, it is perfectly OK to do so for questioning the propriety of winning a Nobel Peace Prize after ten days as President.
Something to remember the next time you hear Kos - or any other liberal - complaining how the DNC pulls its punches.
The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists — the Taliban and Hamas this morning — in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize. Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize — an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride — unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It's no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore – it's an embarrassing label to claim.
This is standard fare on the over-the-top hate-fest that is Daily Kos. But for some reason I expected better from the DNC. Guess I learned my lesson today. If nothing else, we have certainly learned that while it is unacceptable to question someone's patriotism for, say, opposing funding combat troops in an active war zone, it is perfectly OK to do so for questioning the propriety of winning a Nobel Peace Prize after ten days as President.
Something to remember the next time you hear Kos - or any other liberal - complaining how the DNC pulls its punches.
Other Prize News
In other news:
The New York Yankees have been awarded the 2009 World Series. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said, "They're such a good team, and everyone likes them, and they've worked so hard to get here. They deserve it."
Brazil has been declared the winner of the soccer gold medal in the 2016 Olympic Games. "After all," said IOC President Jacques Rogge in a written statement, "they will be the home team. Does anyone really doubt they will win it?"
Nine-year-old Peewee League quarterback Johnny Minton of Odessa, Texas, has been announced as the winner of the 2020 Heisman Trophy. Asked about the honor, Johnny said, "Well, why not? President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. I have a lot of potential, too."
The New York Yankees have been awarded the 2009 World Series. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said, "They're such a good team, and everyone likes them, and they've worked so hard to get here. They deserve it."
Brazil has been declared the winner of the soccer gold medal in the 2016 Olympic Games. "After all," said IOC President Jacques Rogge in a written statement, "they will be the home team. Does anyone really doubt they will win it?"
Nine-year-old Peewee League quarterback Johnny Minton of Odessa, Texas, has been announced as the winner of the 2020 Heisman Trophy. Asked about the honor, Johnny said, "Well, why not? President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. I have a lot of potential, too."
Nobel Absurdity Prize
So Obama has now won the Nobel Peace Prize. World leaders have certainly won it before:
2008: Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, won "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts."
2002: Jimmy Carter, former president of the U.S., won "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."
2000: Kim Dae Jung, then president of South Korea, won "for his work for democracy and human rights in South Korea and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Korea in particular." While only elected president in 1998, Kim had been in politics since 1954.
Other world leaders winning the Prize won for finding peace in Ireland, in the Middle East, South Africa, Indochina, etc.
Remind me: what exactly has Obama done? The Nobel committee says: "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Could they, maybe, name a few? Desmond Tutu (winner of the 1984 Prize) had this to say:
"In a way, it's an award coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young president that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all," he said. "It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."
Right. So it really has nothing to do with any accomplishments at all. Got it.
This will not bode well for our President's already inflated ego.
2008: Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, won "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts."
2002: Jimmy Carter, former president of the U.S., won "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."
2000: Kim Dae Jung, then president of South Korea, won "for his work for democracy and human rights in South Korea and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Korea in particular." While only elected president in 1998, Kim had been in politics since 1954.
Other world leaders winning the Prize won for finding peace in Ireland, in the Middle East, South Africa, Indochina, etc.
Remind me: what exactly has Obama done? The Nobel committee says: "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Could they, maybe, name a few? Desmond Tutu (winner of the 1984 Prize) had this to say:
"In a way, it's an award coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young president that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all," he said. "It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."
Right. So it really has nothing to do with any accomplishments at all. Got it.
This will not bode well for our President's already inflated ego.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
French Happiness
A recent story in the New York Times (free registration required) points to data showing that France's suicide rate is the highest in Europe, and about 50% higher than America's. Even more surprising, most of these suicides appear to be related to workplace stress.
Two months ago I came at this from a different direction:
These suicide numbers are just more evidence that mandatory short work weeks does not happiness make.
Two months ago I came at this from a different direction:
And does [France's 35-hour work week] lead to more personal satisfaction? There may be "some indication" that it does, but there is also plenty indication that it does not. The world map of happiness shows the U.S. ranked 23rd out of 178 nations surveyed (and the highest-ranked really large nation). France comes in 62nd. "Industry is the enemy of melancholy," said William F. Buckley. Why should we assume that more leisure equals more happiness?
These suicide numbers are just more evidence that mandatory short work weeks does not happiness make.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Liking Paterson
I have to admit to having a soft spot for Gov. David Paterson of New York. Sure, I don't like many of his policies. Sure, he's a liberal Democrat. But he specializes in annoying all of the right people. After months wrestling with New York's fiscal woes, he's denied funding increases to the powerful state health care industry, fought with the teachers' union, and now comes a story in which he announces an 11% across-the-board cut in spending. Well, not quite across the board: Medicaid and public education are left untouched. But it's a start, and for an unpopular governor facing almost certain electoral defeat it shows gumption. Kudos.
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Totalitarian Impulse
Tom Friedman rightly came under fire a few weeks ago for writing in his NY Times editorial:
Yes, it certainly would be easier to get things done if you don't have to deal with all that messy democracy stuff.
This impulse is not confined to the left, of course. Over the weekend, Andy McCarthy from NRO posted the following exchange:
Here, "A" is McCarthy and "E" is his son. It's possible to make too much of this innocent exchange with a 7-year-old. But clearly McCarthy is intrigued by this idea. Is it necessary to point out to him the reason why we have a civilian leading the armed forces, the historical reasons for this, and the advantages of doing so? It intermingles politics with war-fighting, and that's certainly messy, but the desire to undo that is no less dangerous than what Friedman yearns for.
One-party autocracy certainly has its drawbacks. But when it is led by a reasonably enlightened group of people, as China is today, it can also have great advantages.
Yes, it certainly would be easier to get things done if you don't have to deal with all that messy democracy stuff.
This impulse is not confined to the left, of course. Over the weekend, Andy McCarthy from NRO posted the following exchange:
E: Hmm. I think the marines should be the commander in chief.
A: [Laughing, of course] I bet the marines would like that.
E: I mean, if we didn’t have the marines, what could Obama do?
Here, "A" is McCarthy and "E" is his son. It's possible to make too much of this innocent exchange with a 7-year-old. But clearly McCarthy is intrigued by this idea. Is it necessary to point out to him the reason why we have a civilian leading the armed forces, the historical reasons for this, and the advantages of doing so? It intermingles politics with war-fighting, and that's certainly messy, but the desire to undo that is no less dangerous than what Friedman yearns for.
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