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April 30, 2006
More on Bad Ideas
Okay, I've gotten some sleep so here it goes.
First of all let me say that I do not agree with the statement that drugs are okay and that they are harmless. In a very limited view that statement is valid, but when you stand back to look at the big picture you'll see where the problem is. The argument in favor of using drugs is that it doesn't harm anyone but the user themselves, and that is their choice. This is true in the very short term. The problem with drugs is that they are addictive and so it becomes an expanding problem. While the casual user may start out that way they also have the potential to lose control of their habit. As they use more drugs they do other things less, like work. They become dependent on others for help in the form of family charity, government assistance, and theft. The relationship between drug use and other crime has been studied and confirmed over and over and over again. In the end stages of a drug user's life they become heavy healthcare consumers. Their addiction has consumed them and is now rapidly killing them. So, that simply drug user has now required the participation of countless councilors, police officers, doctors, nurses, judges, and other citizens into their addiction, and that's where the problem comes in.
The argument has been made that if drugs were legalized then the problems that come with them could be decreased, since they would be regulated. This is so obvioulsy an erroneous statement I can't believe I have to comment on it. When has government participation into citizens lives ever made anything cheaper, simpler, or better. Regulation would mean taxes, taxes mean higher costs, and higher costs mean that the theft and other problems would expand. Besides, the government regulates food, tobacco, and alcohol and people over consume those constantly.
So, why should we bother caring if Mexico legalizes drugs? After all, it's not our country, let them lose their souls, right? The problem is that Mexico doesn't exactly have a great track record when dealing with foreigners in violation of their law. If drugs are legalized there I would anticipate a large number of tourists, mostly young, going there simply to do drugs. With their judgement impaired they will break Mexcan law, wind up in jail, and the Mexican government will then use it's form of legalized extortion against the US government and their families to get these people back into the States.
Posted by at 10:24 AM
April 29, 2006
On Bad Ideas
Mexico to decriminalize pot, cocaine and heroin - Yahoo! News
Tasker turned me on to this article and I can't help but want to post on it. Unfortunately I have a job and I have to be there soon.
Just for fun, why don't you all post your ideas on this article without my thoughts to steer you. It's your blog too. Warm up the blogging engines, we'll go for a fun ride.
Posted by at 12:48 PM | Comments (8)
April 28, 2006
On Wal Mart
Every once in a while some debate will spurn up about whether or not Wal Mart is bad for America. Both sides are hotly debated, and then it drops because something more news worthy pops up. In my opinion Wal Mart, and stores like it, are both good and bad, depending on the time line. I hate to pick on Wal Mart individually, so I will use their name when addressing all Wal Mart-like stores (Big Lots, Target, etc).
Wal Mart sell stuff cheap, real cheap. This is good. Wal Mart allows the average consumer to buy the things they need and want and still leave a little jingle in their pockets. This is a good thing, undoubtedly. But that's about where the good ends.
Why does Wal Mart get away with buying such cheap stuff? Because the stuff is produced over seas where the cost of labor is so cheap, they have no union and so get away with some fairly shady practices, they buy in extreem bulk and so get their products at a discount, and they employ illegal aliens in their shipping yards and pay them crap.
Again, this may not seem bad but if you analyse it just a bit you can see the problem. Follow along. Lets say I work for a company makes stuff here in America. I'm a manager, make a good wage, and my employees make a good wage. I like buying stuff at Wal Mart because I like to make my dollar stretch. Because my company is in America they pay minimum wage or better to all their employees, and some employees have a union, with whom we have a good working relationship. Now, we supply our goods to local stores, and ship a bit. Wal Mart doesn't buy our stuff because they can get stuff cheaper over seas at less cost. As Wal Mart expands across our region the stores that buy our products can't compete with their prices and begin to fold. We, having nobody to supply goods to, fold in turn as well. Now, instead of shopping at Wal Mart because I like to make my dollar stretch, I shop there because 1. It's the only place I can afford (further perpetuating the problem) and 2. Because it's the only place I could find a job and they offer a small employee discount.
So, that's it. Wal Mart is good in the short run, bad in the long. I realize how hard it is to look at the long run when your primary concern is making your bills at the end of the month, it's a reality that we all face, but my message in all of this is to encourage you, my readers, to shop locally when you can afford it.
For a faster, funnier explanation of this visit jibjab.com and watch the Big Box Mart video. Better have a fast internet connection though.
Posted by at 06:46 AM | Comments (3)
April 27, 2006
On Terrorist Threats
Immigrant boycott aims to "close" US cities - Yahoo! News
"There will be 2 to 3 million people hitting the streets in
Los Angeles alone. We're going to close down Los Angeles,
Chicago, New York, Tucson, Phoenix, Fresno," said Jorge
Rodriguez, a union official who helped organize earlier rallies
credited with rattling Congress as it debates the issue.
Doesn't this sound like a terrorist threat to you? It does to me.
The article compares this protest to the 1960's civil rights protest in size, but I'm certain that it'll go a step farther and be compared in mission. Unlike the 60's protests, which were largely acts of civil disobedience and were mostly peaceful I see this having the real possibility to get ugly. The country is fairly polarized over this issue, far from the 60's protests in which CITIZENS of this country were demanding equal rights, this is very different. These people are not citizens, and do not want to become citizens, at least not the right way, the way that's been set up. They want a free ride. They want all the things the people who have worked very hard to become citizens have, but without the hard work to get it. They want it with a sweep of congressional hand. How is that fair to the millions of immigrants who have endoured countless background checks, American History lessons, language courses, and paid countless fees to finally earn the right to call themselves Americans?
I'm further dismayed by the nature of the protests. It calls for work stoppages, children cutting school, and the pouring of people into the streets to disrupt cities. How is a throng of people disrupting business different than an exploded car? The difference is that the throng of people will take longer to clean up after. Children do not need to be invloved in this either. They need to be in school.
What I really can't figure out is why the leaders of this protest can't see beyond the nose on their face. Let's say that congress caves and grants amnesty to illegal aliens. Which one's get amnesty? Just the Latinos? That's who's doing the protesting, right? Or do we give amnesty to everyone? Does that include the Middle Eastern Terrorists that have permiated our pourous borders and are now living here plotting against us? "Thanks for figuring out how to blow us all up, now you're a citizen." How do we tell the difference? Background checks of 11 million people? How do we pay for it? The answer is already there. Use the immigration policies already in place. But that's what they don't want to do.
Aside from causing a major hiccup in commerce this protest will achieve nothing. It won't because it can't. We can't just offer blanket citizenship to everyone in the country, it's a major security hazard. The protestors don't want to use the system that's in place because it's incovenient for them. The organizers persist because they get their names in the paper, and become heros to those who don't know any better. In the end we'll be back to where we are now, with a hotly debated issue and nobody wanting to do anything about it.
Posted by at 01:13 PM | Comments (12)
To "Jane"
To "Jane", whoever you really are.
Nice try putting up advertisements for penis enlargement pills, generic oxycontin, and your other various spam on my site. I check my email often, and when I see that crap, it'll be deleted. In this particular case I think your trash was up for a grand total of 10 minutes before I caught it.
I don't need penis enlargment pills, thank you. I need a winch to urinate as it is. I'm too young and healthy to need oxycontin, and I don't want your spam on my site, period. Find some other sucker.
Worst Regards,
Jordan
Posted by at 12:10 PM | Comments (1)
April 26, 2006
On Illegal Wages
I am so sick and tired of hearing that illegal immigrants deserve their space here because they're tax paying citizens just like you and I. It just isn't true. While they do pay sales tax that's about as far as it goes, and sales tax isn't much. Most do not pay income tax as they are paid under the table. Think about it. They don't have a social security number and so officially recieve wages. Most of their wages are paid weekly, in cash, and is untraceable. Employers of illegals don't want it any other way, that would link them to illegal activity. Illegals don't pay property taxes, as they cannot own land without being a citizen, and since they are not property owners, they do not pay school taxes. They have no bank accounts so they don't pay taxes on their holdings, and I would be shocked to hear that a majority of illegal aliens file a tax return at the end of the year.
The running argument that illegal immigrants contribute to the tax pool is a lie perpetuated by liberals who's primary interest is securing the vote of the millions of registered Latino's and other minorities in the country. Unfortunately it has little leg to stand on. Or maybe it's fortunate since it's a lie that's sure to topple soon.
Posted by at 11:12 PM | Comments (2)
On Communication
Communication is so key to everything we do. From the very simply to the incredibly complex, our ability to effectively communicate with each other is what allows all interaction. We've all experienced the frustration of trying to communicate with someone who cannot speak our language. When you ask a very old married couple what's kept them together so long somewhere in the conversation communication will have come up.
Part of the point of this blog is that I can communicate with others. The beauty is that these are people that I probably would never have been able to share ideas with if not for this site. Anthony Watts, Cris, Ron, Tasker, Tina, and the other regular bloggers here are examples. I try to keep the flow of communication open, share all ideas, not just the ones I agree with. That's why I named my blog what I did. It denotes getting everything, some good, some bad. But if communication is to flourish then one has to accept that they will sometimes hear things they won't like.
Communication can be the making or breaking point for a lot of ideas. A person may, for example, be the most qualified applicant for a job, but if they cannot effectively communicate that fact, they will still be unemployed. I consider lack of communication one of the rudest things possible in my interactions with companies I do business with. I will pay a bit more for a good or service if the company is easy to work with and communicates with me.
I won't lie and say that I'm a great communicator. I'm stubborn and strong willed. I value my privacy and don't always say the things I should. I also speak up when sometimes the best communication is a closed mouth. But, I try, and I know that communication is important and that's a good start.
Posted by at 03:06 PM
April 21, 2006
On Lookout Point
The Chico ER reports today that attempts to purchase Lookout Point is going at an dismally slow pace for a number of reasons that I'll leave you all to read. Whatever the reason that the negotiatoins for the land purchase is stalled needs to be circumvented, and like now. If as many people died at an intersection as have died driving themselves off of lookout point then people would be up in arms, emergency funds would be sought, and things would be happening, but because the deaths are self inflicted it seems that things are just business as usual.
The cities and counties involved in this need to get off their asses and get some work done. The suicide rate over that edge is staggering. Two in the last month. Dozens over the past several years. It's too many, and not enough is being done. This should be a top priority, over chess boards in the new park, parking garages downtown, or whatever other little pet projects our council is busying themselves with. People are dying here. If we can't get the money one way, get it another. Hold a bake sale if you have to.
Posted by at 02:47 AM | Comments (3)
April 18, 2006
On Why Islamist Goverments Hate Us
Ever wonder why so many of the radical Islamist governments out there hate us so much? Why is it that they can't just let us be us while we let them be them? Well, here's my take on it, and I welcome criticism (bring it Tasker).
It's as simple as this: While Islamist governments control everything their people hear, see, and learn it's easy for them to dupe their people into believing anything they want. They could teach that the world is flat and make it an affront to Allah to challenge that belief, imprison or execute anyone who speaks up, and propagate the notion wherever they go. In no time flat, boom, to Muslims under that system, the world is flat. This is what they're doing to news about America and the West.
They spread lies as thick as the desert sands, and the people are forced to believe it. Sure some challege the notion that we're all demons but they're charged with blasphemy and duly beheaded. Many more believe the notion (look how many came out to celebrate the West when we liberated Iraq) but live in fear of speaking up and so stay silent. But why do they do this? It's as simple as a cheap magic trick. Keep 'em looking at your left hand while your right is stuffing the rabbit into the hat. These governments need the people to be mad about something so they can stay blind to what's really happening. If Muslims think that it's the West that's to blame for their woes, their poverty, the mass genocides, the destruction of their lands, then they'll never challege the real culprit: Their own government.
While many Islamist governments sit on the most precious comodities on the planet (oil, gems, and titanium) they get rich, and offer nothing to the people they supposedly represent. The government weaves an intricate web of lies and keeps the people looking West for answers to their problems, when the true reason why there are more underground caches of weapons than schools, why everyone but the ultra elite has little to nothing, why people inexplicably disappear, why mosques explode, lies somewhere further East.
Posted by at 11:51 PM | Comments (9)
April 14, 2006
On The Immigration Debate
I often wonder if America's primere public employees (ie. politicians) ever sit down and serious wonder what their employers (ie. the rest of us) really want without consideration to special interest groups, campaign contributers, and other bottom feeders of the like. On that track I wonder if any of them have considered what the average American thinks we should do about the Immigration Debate. Well, Time magazine asked 1,004 adults and here are the results. Just a note though, I didn't come up with this, it's straight out of the magazine.
32% think illegal immigration is extremely serious.
36% think it's very serious.
82% don't tink the US is doing enough to keep illegal immigrants out.
69% don't think illegal immigrants should have driver's licenses.
51% don't think they should attend public schools
75% don't think they should be able to obtain government services such as food stamps and health care.
55% think illegal aliens are taking jobs that US citizens don't want
35% think they're taking jobs from US citizens.
51% think that the US would be better off if there were no illegal aliens in the country
72% favor granting temporary visas to immigrants not in the US so they can do seasonal or temporary work and then return home
71% favor mandating major penalties for employers convicted of hiring illegal immigrants and strongly adhering to them.
62% favor stopping illegal immigrants from entering the US by whatever steps are necessary to guard the border with Mexico, including military force.
56% favor building a security fence along the border with Mexico.
47% favor deporting illegal aliens back to their countries.
Like I said, I don't come up with the numbers, just throwing them out there. It would seem that, assuming the poll is representative of the country, American's want something done, and consider illegal immigration a problem. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If our employees (politicians) can't get the job done they've been hired to do, they need to be replaced with someone who will.
Posted by at 01:12 AM | Comments (3)
April 12, 2006
On Education
It seems that the educational system around the country, as well as locally, is finally starting to clue in on what should be a fairly obvious fact: Not every kid is college material, and that's okay.
Many school systems, dismayed at their drop-out rates and truancy rates, are starting to introduce various vocational programs into their schools. What they're realizing is that not all of their students are bound for college, and that many, for various reasons, would rather learn a trade. Skills like welding, engines, drafting, computer repair, web design, as well as others are being introduced. What a great idea.
I remember in high school a number of my peers expressed a dismay in what they were learning, stating that they weren't planning on going to college and would rather learn something they could use. Now schools are starting to deliver it. It's a neat idea, and one that I think will be successful in reducing the drop-out rate, improving attendance, and smoothing the transition for some students out of high school and into the working world. I applaud the effort and hope that the new program becomes a lasting success.
Posted by at 01:56 AM
April 09, 2006
On Chico Shriners
Yesterday, Saturday the 8th the Chico Shriner's Screening Clinic went off, for lack of a better word, flawlessly. 27 children were screened in 4 hours by Dr. Jared and of those 21 were referred to Shriner's Hospital for Children. That's 21 kids who would have otherwise had to suffer a lifetime of debilitating deformity else their families struggle to make extreemly costly medical bills. These kids will get the help they need to reach their fullest potential and they'll get it absolutely free.
It brings a glad tear to my eye to think of how many people gave up their free time one one of the first sunny Saturday mornings in weeks to help this cause. God bless and keep all of you, you are truly special and thanked.
Posted by at 12:24 AM | Comments (3)
April 08, 2006
On an Interesting Commodity
Gasoline, from a commodities point of view is really quite interesting. Most tradable goods have predictable fluctuations in their price. For instance, if there is a lot of something, and not much call for it the price drops. If there is a lot of something but a bunch of it is destroyed, the price rises...and so on. Gas doesn't seem to follow such a trend.
When there's a lot of gas out there the price rises because it has to be stored. When there is a little the price rises because it is scarce. When the weather is hot the price rises because of travel and tourism. When it's cold the price rises because of heating oil costs. How about this. There's a petition circulating right this instant to put an initiative on the ballot to impose a 20 cent tax on gas in order to research ways to make gasoline more affordable. Ummm, yeah.
It seems no matter what the situation gasoline gets more expensive, it may drop a few cents here and there, but only after rising triple that. A few months ago people got fed up with the high gas prices. We were told that hurricanes knocked out refineries and the war had shut down some oil fields, but when an inquiry was made, the prices dropped suddenly. How about that! Now prices are sneaking back up. We're not seeing the dime increases per gallon over night like we were last year but they're still inching back towards $3 a gallong again. Soon the outcry will begin and excuses will be made and prices will drop, a little, for a while, and then they'll go back up. I suppose that's just the way of things.
Posted by at 10:22 PM