A cute story was sent to me this weekend. Kinda explains the definition so anyone can understand it.
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so
many others her age, she considered herself to be very liberal, and among
other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more
government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch
conservative, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had
participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that
her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he
thought should be his.
One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher
taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs.
The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be
the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how
she was doing in school.
Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and
let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a
very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no
time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time
for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she
spent all her time studying.
Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?"
She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy
classes, she never studies and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on
campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the
parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too
hung over."
Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's
office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who
only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that
would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."
The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired
back, "That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really
hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work!
Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked
my tail off!"
The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the
conservative side of the fence."
I thought you might enjoy it.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Let's Talk About Ethanol and Your Boat
Who's idea was this? A tree hugger? Nothing against tree huggers, mind you, but I still think we should eat our corn, not destroy our boat motors with their by-product.
Having been the victim of Ethanol Poisoning, I have come to learn a little about it's killer impact on engines. In general, over a period of time (a lot shorter than you might think), ethanol begins to break down. It becomes, in simplistic terms, gasoline and alcohol. Alcohol, as most know, absorbs moisture, aka "water". Moisture from the air, or empty space inside your gas tank. This gasoline/water mixture, number one, doesn't burn well, to say the least. And, the alcohol acts as a cleaning agent, loosening solid particles in your tanks. Back to that in a moment.
Another problem is that alcohol/ethanol fuel can deteriorate older style fuel hoses from the inside. Where you can't see what's going on. Twenty-some years back, during the BIG SNOW of 1989, I had the brilliant idea to use rubbing alcohol, which freezes at a much lower temperature than water, to removed caked ice from my windshield wiper blades. Worked like a champ, I might add. Except that I had to replace the rubberized wiper blades pretty fast, as the alcohol was devouring them.
Ok, back to my thoughts. The particles from your gas tank, as well as the particles from the insides of your fuel lines, have no place to go other than you engines. Carburetors are made up of all sorts of little holes, called jets. These tiny orifices will not pass solid particles. Once clogged, they're much like your body's arteries when built-up plaque breaks loose. Heart attack or stroke time, ya'll.
Ok. What to do to prevent this. First, install a water-fuel separator near your engine. They're a lot less expensive than having a top-notch mechanic rebuild your carbs when the damage is done. They look a bit like a car's oil filter. Make sure they're easily accessible because you should check them REGULARLY...and that doesn't mean every three years.
How to check them. Remove the filter using a...yep, you guessed it... "filter wrench. Available at any auto parts store. Dump the contents of the filter into a clean, clear glass jar. A quart "moonshine-style" jar is perfect for this (and, if you don't know what that is, ask your neighbor, Bubba). Let it set in a corner for a little while, until any particles have time to sink to the bottom; and any water, which is heavier than gasoline, settles to the bottom. Don't know how to tell the difference between water and gasoline? There's no way of missing it. At the bottom of the jar, water will be a cloudy substance. Once you've seen it, you'll have no doubt what it looks like. Do not be surprised if you find a small amount of water. That just means your filter is working well, and has picked up any condensation that formed in the tank. A lot of water, however, means there could be a problem lurking. Or, it could mean your filter hasn't been changed in a while. If the liquid has no particles and is mostly gasoline, you can re-install it, and feel pretty good about the contents of your gas tank. More on this shortly.
But, don't become complacent. If you don't use your boat much, such as during the winter months, the ethanol can continue to break down, and moisture will be absorbed. All gasoline should be treated with a fuel stabilizer. This will not STOP the degradataion, but it will slow it down. I use a brand called Startron (and, no, I'm not on their payroll...at least, not yet). It has worked well for me since my twin 175's suffered a near fatal Ethanol Attack. Another good brand is Marine Stabil. I just go with what has proven itself over the past two years.
The real experts out there will explain, in more scientific language, the damages that can occur when using untreated ethanol. I don't generally understand too much of that, but I do know that it's bad for boat engines. Of course, ethanol-free gasoline would be great. And, there are places that advertise they have it. I've also talked with gasoline distributors who tell me they fill up the tanks at gas stations and marinas alike, using fuel from the same source. I'm told there are kits available that will allow you to test the gasoline at your friendly gas station or marina, and actually tell you what percentage of the fuel is alcohol. Personally, I find it more convenient to treat my gasoline, and I sleep better.
I told you that you should check your fuel filters regularly. And, you should replace them at least once a year. The more fuel you burn, the more often they should be changed. They're much like swimming pool cartridges...they can become saturated after a while, and will eventually allow water and particles to pass through to your carbs.
A BAD, bad thing.
Having been the victim of Ethanol Poisoning, I have come to learn a little about it's killer impact on engines. In general, over a period of time (a lot shorter than you might think), ethanol begins to break down. It becomes, in simplistic terms, gasoline and alcohol. Alcohol, as most know, absorbs moisture, aka "water". Moisture from the air, or empty space inside your gas tank. This gasoline/water mixture, number one, doesn't burn well, to say the least. And, the alcohol acts as a cleaning agent, loosening solid particles in your tanks. Back to that in a moment.
Another problem is that alcohol/ethanol fuel can deteriorate older style fuel hoses from the inside. Where you can't see what's going on. Twenty-some years back, during the BIG SNOW of 1989, I had the brilliant idea to use rubbing alcohol, which freezes at a much lower temperature than water, to removed caked ice from my windshield wiper blades. Worked like a champ, I might add. Except that I had to replace the rubberized wiper blades pretty fast, as the alcohol was devouring them.
Ok, back to my thoughts. The particles from your gas tank, as well as the particles from the insides of your fuel lines, have no place to go other than you engines. Carburetors are made up of all sorts of little holes, called jets. These tiny orifices will not pass solid particles. Once clogged, they're much like your body's arteries when built-up plaque breaks loose. Heart attack or stroke time, ya'll.
Ok. What to do to prevent this. First, install a water-fuel separator near your engine. They're a lot less expensive than having a top-notch mechanic rebuild your carbs when the damage is done. They look a bit like a car's oil filter. Make sure they're easily accessible because you should check them REGULARLY...and that doesn't mean every three years.
How to check them. Remove the filter using a...yep, you guessed it... "filter wrench. Available at any auto parts store. Dump the contents of the filter into a clean, clear glass jar. A quart "moonshine-style" jar is perfect for this (and, if you don't know what that is, ask your neighbor, Bubba). Let it set in a corner for a little while, until any particles have time to sink to the bottom; and any water, which is heavier than gasoline, settles to the bottom. Don't know how to tell the difference between water and gasoline? There's no way of missing it. At the bottom of the jar, water will be a cloudy substance. Once you've seen it, you'll have no doubt what it looks like. Do not be surprised if you find a small amount of water. That just means your filter is working well, and has picked up any condensation that formed in the tank. A lot of water, however, means there could be a problem lurking. Or, it could mean your filter hasn't been changed in a while. If the liquid has no particles and is mostly gasoline, you can re-install it, and feel pretty good about the contents of your gas tank. More on this shortly.
But, don't become complacent. If you don't use your boat much, such as during the winter months, the ethanol can continue to break down, and moisture will be absorbed. All gasoline should be treated with a fuel stabilizer. This will not STOP the degradataion, but it will slow it down. I use a brand called Startron (and, no, I'm not on their payroll...at least, not yet). It has worked well for me since my twin 175's suffered a near fatal Ethanol Attack. Another good brand is Marine Stabil. I just go with what has proven itself over the past two years.
The real experts out there will explain, in more scientific language, the damages that can occur when using untreated ethanol. I don't generally understand too much of that, but I do know that it's bad for boat engines. Of course, ethanol-free gasoline would be great. And, there are places that advertise they have it. I've also talked with gasoline distributors who tell me they fill up the tanks at gas stations and marinas alike, using fuel from the same source. I'm told there are kits available that will allow you to test the gasoline at your friendly gas station or marina, and actually tell you what percentage of the fuel is alcohol. Personally, I find it more convenient to treat my gasoline, and I sleep better.
I told you that you should check your fuel filters regularly. And, you should replace them at least once a year. The more fuel you burn, the more often they should be changed. They're much like swimming pool cartridges...they can become saturated after a while, and will eventually allow water and particles to pass through to your carbs.
A BAD, bad thing.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Ever Wonder??
That is a good use for tax dollars that I would not object to.
Unfortunately, the "current, but temporary administration" won't allow such a thing to happen.
Perhaps it's time for the private sector to take this on as a project.
Ever wonder how we...the United States Government...ended up with so many "czars" in our government? I grew up during the Cold War, and always thought czars (who were pretty much Russian, in those days) were our enemies. In looking over the list of czars imbedded in the current administration's government, perhaps I was right in my thinking.
Ever wonder why city and county governments steal/purchase viable, tax-producing businesses, and create more government wasted space? When a privately owned, tax-producing property (the "tax base) is bought by a local government, it no longer generates tax dollars. And, of course, the "need for additional space" results in expensive building projects, fraught with government delays, along with the additional heating, air conditioning, lighting and other costs. In order to compensate for the 1) loss of tax base 2) construction of offices that may not even be needed, especially in these economically challenging times, and 3) perpetually increasing expenses to operate the offices, local governments will have to increase the tax rate. Afterall, someone's gotta pick up the tab.
I point to Jacksonville (NC) as an example. A retail business, located adjacent to the Police/Fire Hqs, was purchased a year or more ago. The building was demolished. A very nice chain link fence was erected around this vacant lot for some future purpose or another. Word is that additional office space was needed.
So, for a year, no taxes have been collected on the property/business. It cost taxpayers to have the building removed and a very nice chain link fence to be erected. I guess, with a little razor wire at the top, it could serve as a temporary holding facility while the county's jail is being constructed.
All-the-while, just a few blocks away, within walking distance (and, goodness, walking would certainly help a lot of us), there sets a lot of vacant buildings. Yes, many, if not most/all, should be flattened. But, the point is, they set there. Doing no one any good. Not only are they ugly, they're unsafe. Perhaps safe havens for bums and junkies. I don't know, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to go through one with a weapon loaded with rat shot. And, maybe more.
Ahhh...a solution comes to mind. Light bulbs are lighting up. Why not sell, to the highest bidder, the current Police/Fire Hqs, along with that vacant lot that was once a pawn shop, and MOVE the whole mess downtown, occupying the now empty spaces along Court Street, New Bridge Street, and Old Bridge Street? The Law Enforcement community...Police and Sheriff...could be close together. Separate, but close. The City, I'm sure, could get a pretty penny for the property along US 17. And, it could be a real beginning to the revitalization of Downtown Jacksonville, sans the topless bars, tattoo parlors, and massage parlors.
But, I'm absolutely sure that an historic group would object as places like Jazzland, the Twilight Lounge, and countless other historial landmarks would be lost forever.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Fishing
You hear some fishermen gripe and complain that the fishing "ain't near as good as it once't was". I'm not so sure about that. According to some folks, they don't catch as many fish as they did 30 years ago. Perhaps that's because they don't go fishing as much as they used to. And, perhaps they ONLY remember the good days of fishing 30-some years back. You know, the days when they actually filled the bucket with fish.
Thinking back over the decades, I can't seem to recall any bad days for me. No doubt, there were days when I came home empty-handed. But, I tend to forget those times, instead recalling the trips to Cape Lookout with my dive buddies, Ron Brown (yep, a cousin) and the late Cecil Morris. We did very well with the flounders bedded up in the rock jetty. I remember, more than once, when we had to purchase extra lard cans (you don't remember those???) just so we could bring home all the fish we nailed. And, right now, 40-odd years later, I don't ever remember NOT having a good day diving at the Cape.
There's one avid fisherman I know, a good friend and former co-worker. He has been fishing since he was a little tyke, cleaning fish since he was almost big enough to reach the cleaning station at the Kure Beach (NC) Fishing Pier. We've been fishing together for better'n a decade now. And, we've done well. Cap'n Andy Everhart and I hit one of our "honey holes" again this week. The proof is in the pictures. A lot of work, some will say, for the half dozen keepers. Work? I wish all the work I had ever done was as enjoyable and rewarding.
Like the placard says: I gave up fishing once. It was the worst day of my life.
Thinking back over the decades, I can't seem to recall any bad days for me. No doubt, there were days when I came home empty-handed. But, I tend to forget those times, instead recalling the trips to Cape Lookout with my dive buddies, Ron Brown (yep, a cousin) and the late Cecil Morris. We did very well with the flounders bedded up in the rock jetty. I remember, more than once, when we had to purchase extra lard cans (you don't remember those???) just so we could bring home all the fish we nailed. And, right now, 40-odd years later, I don't ever remember NOT having a good day diving at the Cape.
There's one avid fisherman I know, a good friend and former co-worker. He has been fishing since he was a little tyke, cleaning fish since he was almost big enough to reach the cleaning station at the Kure Beach (NC) Fishing Pier. We've been fishing together for better'n a decade now. And, we've done well. Cap'n Andy Everhart and I hit one of our "honey holes" again this week. The proof is in the pictures. A lot of work, some will say, for the half dozen keepers. Work? I wish all the work I had ever done was as enjoyable and rewarding.
Captain Andy Everhart, Southern Sportfishin
For me...you know, the guy who never leaves home without a camera (or 2, or 3)...I never come home empty handed. Even if we had not scored any fish, I would have brought home memories and more:
Like the placard says: I gave up fishing once. It was the worst day of my life.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Guns DO kill people....
...but, only in the hands of PEOPLE.
I didn't believe this until I sat in my chair, staring at a .45 Sig Sauer, a Ruger Mini 14 .223 carbine, a Russian SKS\ rifle, a Winchester Defender 12 gauge shotgun, and a Smith and Wesson model 29 .44 magnum revolver.
I stared at this arsenal of weapons for about two hours. All were loaded. And, at the end of the 120 minutes, there was not one dead person in the room. All of the firearms remained loaded and unfired. Each had an equal opportunity to conduct mayhem and leave in their wakes a lot of blood. But, lo and behold! Not one of those pieces even moved from their perches.
In that 120 minutes, you can find stats that will show the number of people killed in traffic accidents in the US. And, if you're interested enough, you can find the total estimated number of firearms, the total number of registed motor vehicles, and with a little math, determine the number of people-deaths per hour by guns and by cars.
You could do that, but it would only confuse the issue.
The basic issue is a constitutional one.
No amendment gives any person the right to drive a car. Every state's DMV will tell you that. They don't have to give you a driver's license, even if you meet all the necessary requirements.
However, the Second Amendment to our Constitution DOES guarantee every free man the right to bear arms. From Thomas Jefferson, one of our wiser forefathers and leaders: No free man shall ever be debarred from the use of arms.
I'm just not sure how much simpler it can get.
Following is a heckuva piece of video from the 1990's.
A Texas girl talks to a bunch of anti-gun senators.
The senators, you'll note in the cutaways, are quiet, but squirming.
She's got their full, undivided attention, that's for sure.
She was a survivor of the massacre by a deranged man in Texas at a restaurant (sorry, but crazy people can kill, too. Being nuts is a legal defense, but nuts can leave you just as dead as a mafia hit man).
Well worth watching. And, worth sharing.
Well worth watching. And, worth sharing.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Election Day
It's almost over, many say.
Not so.
It's only beginning.
If even the most conservative predictions come true, there will be a change in the US House of Representatives by the time the "day is done". Republicans will control that body of our government for the first time since 2007.
What good will that do? Only time will tell if it will make any real difference in our lifestyles.
You can bet, though, that it will shake up the way Washington has been doing business. Professional politicians are likely to feel much more vulnerable than they have in a long time. "We put you there and we can take you out" is a message that many are already hearing.
And, it's about time.
Ok, we'll wait, watch, and see if anything good comes of this, or whether the new blood will become as tainted as many of our current leaders in the nation's capitol.
We are watching. And, 2012 isn't that far away.
Ok, enough of that. At least for today.
On a much "funner" note.
Had a great time Monday night. I videotaped a new episode of a half hour fishing show, a show that Captain Andy Everhart and I had been producing for several years. Well, Southern Sportfishing is returning to television. For those in the Wilmington (NC) area, you'll be able to see it Saturday mornings beginning in the late spring of 2011. Between now and then, we'll shoot 26 episodes. Cap'n Andy has prepared some sponsorship packages that he is presenting to potential advertisers, and we are dusting off the poles and lures.
What? You thought the fishing season was over for this year? Absolutely not. November started out with a bang. We returned to one of our favorite trout holes (and, no, I'm not going to tell you where that is), and we scored well. Eight or nine strikes, four fish on the beach. We kept three, pretty much all we wanted for the dinner table.
Two weighed in just over three pounds, and one tipped the scales at 4 pounds. Some nice fish. Cap'n Andy's wife prepared a trout dinner before we headed for the hole (Andy had caught trout the day before, too). Never had 'em this way...but, you can bet that I will try this recipe sooner than later.
How it's done:
Sautee onions...one of my favorite things to kick off pretty much any recipe.
Slice up yellow squash, carrots and potatoes. All should be about the same thickness...cooks more evenly that way.
Layer the veggies in a glass dish. Add a small amount of olive oil...I like to use a pump-up bottle. It allows me to spray the veggies with olive oil, making it easier to evenly coat them. Salt and pepper, and anything else you like for seasoning.
Don't forget the onions.
Add trout filets (Cap'n Andy and I like to skin our filets, too) to the top of the veggie pile. Season the fish with whatever you like.
Cover with foil. Cook, as best I remember, on 450-degrees, for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and cook uncovered for another 15 minutes at 450.
The veggies are still slightly crunchy, not mush-y. Just the way I like them.
The fish is superb.
Thanks, Michelle, for a job well-done.
In the coming weeks and months, I'll keep you up to date on the fishing shows we produce. And, I'll let you know which station you can dial up and watch. Hopefully, in addition to the Wilmington market, we'll have some interest from stations in other areas.
I haven't forgotten about the Ethenol Scourge. I just picked up a little more info from out outboard motor manufacturer on how much more damage this corn-gasoline mix is doing to boat engines, and I'll be passing that info, along with some things you'll need to do in order to save your boat motors from an early death (not to mentio saving some of your hard-earned cash).
Stay tuned.
Not so.
It's only beginning.
If even the most conservative predictions come true, there will be a change in the US House of Representatives by the time the "day is done". Republicans will control that body of our government for the first time since 2007.
What good will that do? Only time will tell if it will make any real difference in our lifestyles.
You can bet, though, that it will shake up the way Washington has been doing business. Professional politicians are likely to feel much more vulnerable than they have in a long time. "We put you there and we can take you out" is a message that many are already hearing.
And, it's about time.
Ok, we'll wait, watch, and see if anything good comes of this, or whether the new blood will become as tainted as many of our current leaders in the nation's capitol.
We are watching. And, 2012 isn't that far away.
Ok, enough of that. At least for today.
On a much "funner" note.
Had a great time Monday night. I videotaped a new episode of a half hour fishing show, a show that Captain Andy Everhart and I had been producing for several years. Well, Southern Sportfishing is returning to television. For those in the Wilmington (NC) area, you'll be able to see it Saturday mornings beginning in the late spring of 2011. Between now and then, we'll shoot 26 episodes. Cap'n Andy has prepared some sponsorship packages that he is presenting to potential advertisers, and we are dusting off the poles and lures.
What? You thought the fishing season was over for this year? Absolutely not. November started out with a bang. We returned to one of our favorite trout holes (and, no, I'm not going to tell you where that is), and we scored well. Eight or nine strikes, four fish on the beach. We kept three, pretty much all we wanted for the dinner table.
How it's done:
Sautee onions...one of my favorite things to kick off pretty much any recipe.
Slice up yellow squash, carrots and potatoes. All should be about the same thickness...cooks more evenly that way.
Layer the veggies in a glass dish. Add a small amount of olive oil...I like to use a pump-up bottle. It allows me to spray the veggies with olive oil, making it easier to evenly coat them. Salt and pepper, and anything else you like for seasoning.
Don't forget the onions.
Add trout filets (Cap'n Andy and I like to skin our filets, too) to the top of the veggie pile. Season the fish with whatever you like.
Cover with foil. Cook, as best I remember, on 450-degrees, for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and cook uncovered for another 15 minutes at 450.
The veggies are still slightly crunchy, not mush-y. Just the way I like them.
The fish is superb.
Thanks, Michelle, for a job well-done.
In the coming weeks and months, I'll keep you up to date on the fishing shows we produce. And, I'll let you know which station you can dial up and watch. Hopefully, in addition to the Wilmington market, we'll have some interest from stations in other areas.
I haven't forgotten about the Ethenol Scourge. I just picked up a little more info from out outboard motor manufacturer on how much more damage this corn-gasoline mix is doing to boat engines, and I'll be passing that info, along with some things you'll need to do in order to save your boat motors from an early death (not to mentio saving some of your hard-earned cash).
Stay tuned.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Election Time
Well, I finally did it. I voted early. What a breeze. No long lines. No waiting in the cold. No meeting friends that you haven't seen since the last election.
Interesting to see all the campaign signs in a corral just outside election hqs.What a misinformation overload at the last minute. I guess, though, that a few voters (likely many more than a "few") actually wait until the last second to decide which box to check.
Regardless of the outcome, if the forecasters are right, there's gonna be a real "change" this time. If that "change of faces" actually happens, let's hope that the newly elected folks, the RETURNEES, as well as the senators who are not up for re-election until 2012 and 2014 get the message: we are tired of the same old rhetoric and we won't take it any more. To paraphrase Bill Cosboy, we put you in there and we can take you out.
It still amazes me that so many of us are so easily fooled. When a congressman "comes back to the district", with a check in his hands for a couple hundred thousand dollars, to give to a local, deserving organization, he/she gets his/her grip-n-grin picture in the newspaper, and is applauded as a hero. Let's examine this with my typically cynical eye. I think of that money in much the same way I think of the money that "paid professional solicitors" give to deserving organizations. Organizations, in those cases, contract with the solicitors who contact, usually by phone, folks like you and me (while we're eating dinner), wanting us to buy a ticket to some podunk event or another to "help out" the organization. Yes, it's for a good cause. But, as I've stated in another posting, the deserving organization gets as little as 7-percent of the funds collected. The rest of the money covers "expenses" of the solicitors.
How does this apply to the homespun congressmen? Glad you asked. Consider the congressman as that "paid, professional solicitor". You send a lot of your hard earned money to Washgonton in the form of taxes. The "paid, professional solicitors" take out their expenses and return, perhaps, 7-percent of your money to the district. You can consider the other 93% as expenses, or even "shipping and handling" charges. After all, the congressmen must fly to their districts in order to present the checks, right? Never mind that a first class stamp would do the trick.
Anyway, one more day. Then, another year or so until the "signs of the times" finally fade blow away. Since duly elected city councilmen and county commissioners don't seem eager to adopt regulatory ordinances forcing policiticians (including themselves) to remove their signs in a timely manner, maybe they'd consider requring those signs be made of a biodegradable substance that will become "one with nature" 45 days after it's erected. Now, there's an idea worth exploring.
Interesting to see all the campaign signs in a corral just outside election hqs.What a misinformation overload at the last minute. I guess, though, that a few voters (likely many more than a "few") actually wait until the last second to decide which box to check.
Regardless of the outcome, if the forecasters are right, there's gonna be a real "change" this time. If that "change of faces" actually happens, let's hope that the newly elected folks, the RETURNEES, as well as the senators who are not up for re-election until 2012 and 2014 get the message: we are tired of the same old rhetoric and we won't take it any more. To paraphrase Bill Cosboy, we put you in there and we can take you out.
It still amazes me that so many of us are so easily fooled. When a congressman "comes back to the district", with a check in his hands for a couple hundred thousand dollars, to give to a local, deserving organization, he/she gets his/her grip-n-grin picture in the newspaper, and is applauded as a hero. Let's examine this with my typically cynical eye. I think of that money in much the same way I think of the money that "paid professional solicitors" give to deserving organizations. Organizations, in those cases, contract with the solicitors who contact, usually by phone, folks like you and me (while we're eating dinner), wanting us to buy a ticket to some podunk event or another to "help out" the organization. Yes, it's for a good cause. But, as I've stated in another posting, the deserving organization gets as little as 7-percent of the funds collected. The rest of the money covers "expenses" of the solicitors.
How does this apply to the homespun congressmen? Glad you asked. Consider the congressman as that "paid, professional solicitor". You send a lot of your hard earned money to Washgonton in the form of taxes. The "paid, professional solicitors" take out their expenses and return, perhaps, 7-percent of your money to the district. You can consider the other 93% as expenses, or even "shipping and handling" charges. After all, the congressmen must fly to their districts in order to present the checks, right? Never mind that a first class stamp would do the trick.
Anyway, one more day. Then, another year or so until the "signs of the times" finally fade blow away. Since duly elected city councilmen and county commissioners don't seem eager to adopt regulatory ordinances forcing policiticians (including themselves) to remove their signs in a timely manner, maybe they'd consider requring those signs be made of a biodegradable substance that will become "one with nature" 45 days after it's erected. Now, there's an idea worth exploring.
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