So the news today is that there's a tax cut deal. Really? The expatriation of the temporary tax cut has been avoided for two months. Point one - there never was a permanent tax cut, just a temporary one. Neither democrats or republicans ever proposed a permanent reduction in the payroll tax! The deal, such as it is, provides a two months extension of the temporary cut and (here's the important part) provides for a republican/democratic conference committee to work on a one year extension of the tax cut. Still no permanent tax cut, just a 12 month extension. More interesting still is who is on the conference committee. So far what we know is that of the 5 of the 8 house members have already said that they oppose a one year extension!
Common Sense thinks that what we have here is more of the same from our Congress. Just the most recent round of partisan posturing and gamesmanship without any concern for you or me. It's time to change your congressional representative.
With a nod to Thomas Paine, Baron d'Holbach, and "Captain Obvious" perspectives on what should be, but remarkably often isn't, obvious common sense.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Congress and tax cut extensions
Where to begin?
The Democratic controlled Senate passed a bill to extend the tax cuts for, wait for it, two months provided that the president decides about the Keystone XL pipeline in the next 60 days. Having kicked the can down the road the Senate recessed and left town!
Meanwhile the Republican controlled house previously passed an extension bill complete with a number of poison pills involving Keystone, spending cuts, and restrictions on EPA rules knowing full well that the President has said he would veto such a bill! House speaker Boehner now wants the Senate to return to Washington to negotiate a compromise bill noting that making tax policy two months at a time is nuts.
Tax policy two months at a time IS NUTS! Common Sense definitely agrees. So is preventing the EPA from doing it's job and subverting the decision process on Keystone XL. But then this is our do nothing Congress and it's complete disconnect from the needs of the country.
Common Sense thinks the tax cuts should be extended for low and middle class incomes. Jobs only exist when there is consumption. The overwhelming number of potential consumers are low and middle class. When these people do not have the means to consume virtually noting can be done to create jobs. Simply put wealth, in and of itself, doesn't create jobs absent consumers.
As to Keystone, Common Sense thinks that while it will create some jobs for a short period of time that is not remotely sufficient reason to subvert the decision process. Keystone is not about jobs, it's about the environment and shipping oil to Gulf coast refineries. It's about the needs of big oil. While the country needs big oil at least until we have a viable alternative supply, long term we need the 1500 waterways and underlying aquifer that supplies one of the most productive food production regions on the planet.
Common Sense thinks both the House and Senate should be ashamed, the House for passing a bill that ties desperately needed tax relief for low and middle income families to the needs of big oil, the Senate for passing an equally disgusting bill that makes tax policy two months at a time.
Common Sense thinks it's time to replace our Congressional representatives.
The Democratic controlled Senate passed a bill to extend the tax cuts for, wait for it, two months provided that the president decides about the Keystone XL pipeline in the next 60 days. Having kicked the can down the road the Senate recessed and left town!
Meanwhile the Republican controlled house previously passed an extension bill complete with a number of poison pills involving Keystone, spending cuts, and restrictions on EPA rules knowing full well that the President has said he would veto such a bill! House speaker Boehner now wants the Senate to return to Washington to negotiate a compromise bill noting that making tax policy two months at a time is nuts.
Tax policy two months at a time IS NUTS! Common Sense definitely agrees. So is preventing the EPA from doing it's job and subverting the decision process on Keystone XL. But then this is our do nothing Congress and it's complete disconnect from the needs of the country.
Common Sense thinks the tax cuts should be extended for low and middle class incomes. Jobs only exist when there is consumption. The overwhelming number of potential consumers are low and middle class. When these people do not have the means to consume virtually noting can be done to create jobs. Simply put wealth, in and of itself, doesn't create jobs absent consumers.
As to Keystone, Common Sense thinks that while it will create some jobs for a short period of time that is not remotely sufficient reason to subvert the decision process. Keystone is not about jobs, it's about the environment and shipping oil to Gulf coast refineries. It's about the needs of big oil. While the country needs big oil at least until we have a viable alternative supply, long term we need the 1500 waterways and underlying aquifer that supplies one of the most productive food production regions on the planet.
Common Sense thinks both the House and Senate should be ashamed, the House for passing a bill that ties desperately needed tax relief for low and middle income families to the needs of big oil, the Senate for passing an equally disgusting bill that makes tax policy two months at a time.
Common Sense thinks it's time to replace our Congressional representatives.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Bernie Sanders - U.S. Senator for Vermont
Bernie Sanders - U.S. Senator for Vermont:
Common Sense has written previously on the issue of money and democracy and the anti-democracy impact of the Supreme Court decision on Citizen's United v. the Federal Elections Commission. There is now a move to amend the Constitution to undo that outrageous decision. Learn about the issue and consider supporting one of these worthwhile efforts. That's just plain common sense.
Common Sense has written previously on the issue of money and democracy and the anti-democracy impact of the Supreme Court decision on Citizen's United v. the Federal Elections Commission. There is now a move to amend the Constitution to undo that outrageous decision. Learn about the issue and consider supporting one of these worthwhile efforts. That's just plain common sense.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Associated Press: House passes bill to end public election funding
The Associated Press: House passes bill to end public election funding:
Common Sense has commented previously on money and politics. Indeed, the limited campaign finance reform that provided for public funding of presidential campaigns and limits on contributions has been gutted first by the Supreme Court decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and now by the Republican House proposal.
That money, particularly big money, has a destructive effect on representative government is abundantly clear. As Congress has passed laws that favor big business and wealth over the common good and has dismantled public safeguards that limit the risk inherent in big money and big business we have seen the near collapse of the financial system and rampant corruption in that system. We have seen one Congressional scandal after another. We have seen the bulk of the wealth in the country concentrated in the few.
Common Sense believes that these outcomes are destructive of a free and just society and that one essential step in insuring that elected government actually represents the will of the electorate is to get money out of elections. Public funding of elections is a reasonable step. Limiting campaign contributions to those that can actually vote in an election would be a better step still. Likewise restricting the campaign season so that candidates can not easily shape their message to particular primaries makes sense. Regional, or better yet a national primary, would do much to return honesty and candor to politics.
These are common sense steps that have some hope of returning governance to the governed. What the Supreme Court has done and what the Republican House is attempting is simply wrong in a free democratic society.
Common Sense has commented previously on money and politics. Indeed, the limited campaign finance reform that provided for public funding of presidential campaigns and limits on contributions has been gutted first by the Supreme Court decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and now by the Republican House proposal.
That money, particularly big money, has a destructive effect on representative government is abundantly clear. As Congress has passed laws that favor big business and wealth over the common good and has dismantled public safeguards that limit the risk inherent in big money and big business we have seen the near collapse of the financial system and rampant corruption in that system. We have seen one Congressional scandal after another. We have seen the bulk of the wealth in the country concentrated in the few.
Common Sense believes that these outcomes are destructive of a free and just society and that one essential step in insuring that elected government actually represents the will of the electorate is to get money out of elections. Public funding of elections is a reasonable step. Limiting campaign contributions to those that can actually vote in an election would be a better step still. Likewise restricting the campaign season so that candidates can not easily shape their message to particular primaries makes sense. Regional, or better yet a national primary, would do much to return honesty and candor to politics.
These are common sense steps that have some hope of returning governance to the governed. What the Supreme Court has done and what the Republican House is attempting is simply wrong in a free democratic society.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
This week in your failed Congress
Act 1, pizza is a vegetable! Your Congress properly lobbied by various food industry groups and faced with some common sense from the Agriculture Department who set standards for publicly funded school lunches has declared that pizza is a vegetable for purposes of school lunch standards since it includes two tablespoons of tomato paste. OK, Common Sense likes pizza and ate one last night. They are tasty and are high on the comfort food list. They are also, as anyone with any experience and a lick of common sense knows, mostly bread and when not well made starchy beyond belief. On a positive note it's good to see that congress did something even if it's plainly stupid and not in the interest of good nutrition for school students that need good nutrition.
Act 2, a not so super "Super Committee." Lets start with a bit of history. Some months ago House Republicans created a crisis refusing to raise the nations debt ceiling. After much political posturing it was raised and a Super Committee created to cut spending and raise revenues. As anyone with a lick of common sense should have expected given the committee makeup the committee Republicans refused to raise taxes (Common Sense notes that it is NOT a tax hike when a temporary tax cut passed to soften the recession is allowed to expire on its planned expiration date) while the committee Democrats proposed a mix of tax increases and spending cuts. The committee failed to reach any agreement. As a consequence a number of social and military tax cuts will automatically take effect in 2013. The House Republican response is to propose a law with would undo the military cuts.
Common Sense is beyond fed up with Congress. Congress seems to be able to engage in "pizza is a vegetable" foolishness to support the interest of the commercial food industry, it is utterly unable to address the single most serious issue facing the United States government. It's long past time when each of us needs to act to change Congress, particularly those Representatives that block reasonable revenue increases and expense cuts. That's just common sense.
Act 2, a not so super "Super Committee." Lets start with a bit of history. Some months ago House Republicans created a crisis refusing to raise the nations debt ceiling. After much political posturing it was raised and a Super Committee created to cut spending and raise revenues. As anyone with a lick of common sense should have expected given the committee makeup the committee Republicans refused to raise taxes (Common Sense notes that it is NOT a tax hike when a temporary tax cut passed to soften the recession is allowed to expire on its planned expiration date) while the committee Democrats proposed a mix of tax increases and spending cuts. The committee failed to reach any agreement. As a consequence a number of social and military tax cuts will automatically take effect in 2013. The House Republican response is to propose a law with would undo the military cuts.
Common Sense is beyond fed up with Congress. Congress seems to be able to engage in "pizza is a vegetable" foolishness to support the interest of the commercial food industry, it is utterly unable to address the single most serious issue facing the United States government. It's long past time when each of us needs to act to change Congress, particularly those Representatives that block reasonable revenue increases and expense cuts. That's just common sense.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Supreme Court Hears Landmark GPS Tracking Case - YouTube
Supreme Court Hears Landmark GPS Tracking Case - YouTube:
Justices to decide police use of GPS devices on suspects' cars - CNN.com:
Yesterday the US Supreme Court heard arguments on police use of GPS devices to track suspects' cars. The case is based on the unreasonable search and seizure clause in the constitution. Government agents attached a GPS tracker to a criminal's car without obtaining a warrant and arrested the man after tracking his movements charging drum trafficking. Lower courts have held that the tracking device was illegal. The government appealed the case to the Supreme Court.
This case is interesting on several grounds. It pits technology innovation against privacy rights, which incidentally are NOT guaranteed by the constitution unless one takes a rather broad view of the fourth amendment's search and seizure provisions.
Consider first should it be legal for police to follow a criminal suspect without obtaining a warrant? Certainly if there are exigent circumstances such as the person is seen fleeing a crime scene the answer would be yes. But what if a person is simply driving down the street and a police officer decides to follow to see if the driver violates a traffic law? Would that be entrapment? How would you feel if you were the driver? How about if the driver was a known criminal who had previous convictions and was suspected of dealing drugs as is the case here?
Consider as well traffic and surveillance cameras including both private and government deployed cameras. They are increasingly common and the courts have held evidence acquired from such cameras admissible. Such materials may be used without resort to a warrant. But if the government wants to setup a camera to monitor a specific place a warrant is required. Is attaching a GPS tracker to a car similar in that it involves specific real property?
A warrant is required for a telephone tap. But how about listening in on wireless phone calls? Such calls can be monitored by anyone with an appropriate receiver. Should privacy rights be dependent on the technology used to make a telephone call?
How far should privacy extend? When should a warrant be required?
In its arguments the government maintained that it has the right to attach a GPS to any vehicle without a warrant. Common Sense believes that in this case the government is entirely wrong. Surveillance that targets a specific person, place, property, etc. should always require a warrant under the fourth amendment. Absent such protection the government is free to adopt technical means to subvert the fourth amendment and the probable cause protections provided by warrants.
Justices to decide police use of GPS devices on suspects' cars - CNN.com:
Yesterday the US Supreme Court heard arguments on police use of GPS devices to track suspects' cars. The case is based on the unreasonable search and seizure clause in the constitution. Government agents attached a GPS tracker to a criminal's car without obtaining a warrant and arrested the man after tracking his movements charging drum trafficking. Lower courts have held that the tracking device was illegal. The government appealed the case to the Supreme Court.
This case is interesting on several grounds. It pits technology innovation against privacy rights, which incidentally are NOT guaranteed by the constitution unless one takes a rather broad view of the fourth amendment's search and seizure provisions.
Consider first should it be legal for police to follow a criminal suspect without obtaining a warrant? Certainly if there are exigent circumstances such as the person is seen fleeing a crime scene the answer would be yes. But what if a person is simply driving down the street and a police officer decides to follow to see if the driver violates a traffic law? Would that be entrapment? How would you feel if you were the driver? How about if the driver was a known criminal who had previous convictions and was suspected of dealing drugs as is the case here?
Consider as well traffic and surveillance cameras including both private and government deployed cameras. They are increasingly common and the courts have held evidence acquired from such cameras admissible. Such materials may be used without resort to a warrant. But if the government wants to setup a camera to monitor a specific place a warrant is required. Is attaching a GPS tracker to a car similar in that it involves specific real property?
A warrant is required for a telephone tap. But how about listening in on wireless phone calls? Such calls can be monitored by anyone with an appropriate receiver. Should privacy rights be dependent on the technology used to make a telephone call?
How far should privacy extend? When should a warrant be required?
In its arguments the government maintained that it has the right to attach a GPS to any vehicle without a warrant. Common Sense believes that in this case the government is entirely wrong. Surveillance that targets a specific person, place, property, etc. should always require a warrant under the fourth amendment. Absent such protection the government is free to adopt technical means to subvert the fourth amendment and the probable cause protections provided by warrants.
Inside Job - See it and understand what the Occupy movement is all about
If you've not seen the documentary Inside Job you should! Wikipedia provides the following description
If you've ever wondered what the Occupy movement is all about, this film is a must see.
Inside Job is a 2010 documentary film about the late-2000s financial crisis directed by Charles H. Ferguson. The film is described by Ferguson as being about "the systemic corruption of the United States by the financial services industry and the consequences of that systemic corruption."[3]In five parts, the film explores how changes in the policy environment and banking practices helped create the financial crisis. Inside Job was well received by film critics who praised its pacing, research, and exposition of complex material.Common Sense has posted on these matters previously. This outstanding film provides a comprehensive summary of the outrageous conduct of large financial services firms, the corruption of government regulators, and the malfeasance of elected and appointed government.
If you've ever wondered what the Occupy movement is all about, this film is a must see.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Class warfare and social inequality
Common Sense commented on class warfare in a post yesterday. This mourning's news had Rep. Boehner nattering on about class warfare. A bit of research lead to this very interesting and relevant presentation on Ted Talks: "Richard Wilkinson: How economic inequality harms societies." Mr Wilkinson provides some compelling data on the health of a society and inequality. Here's the video:
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Class Warfare
Boehner: Obama wrong to push 'class warfare'
By Tom Cohen, CNN
November 6, 2011 -- Updated 1548 GMT (2348 HKT)
Washington (CNN) -- House Speaker John Boehner says he and President Barack Obama have a "pretty good relationship," but he also criticized Obama for fomenting what Boehner called "class warfare" in the political debate over spending, taxes and job creation.
In an interview broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week" program, Boehner defended Republican opposition to efforts by Obama and Democrats to increase taxes on wealthy Americans as part of deficit reduction and job creation measures.
"Come on. The top 1% paid 38% of income taxes in America," Boehner, R-Ohio, said in the interview taped Friday when asked about the persistent GOP stand against tax increases. "How much more do you want them to pay?"Common Sense says "Really?"
Common Sense notes that class warfare isn't new. Mr Obama certainly didn't invent it. Don't think so? Consider Warren Buffett's famous remark "There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning."
So the top 1% paid 38% of income taxes in America. OK, but they control 48% of the wealth. And the fact that they paid 38% of taxes says nothing about their tax rate. Many many Americans have total tax rates well over 38%.
Common Sense notes that the distribution of wealth has become so skewed that social unrest and class warfare is inevitable. Consider this:
Mr Boehner and many radical conservatives fail to realize that the essence of democracy is fairness, that democracy depends on the govern believing that society and government is reasonably fair. Sadly, that is no longer the case in contemporary America. While that remains so, class warfare and civil unrest are inevitable. That's unfortunately common sense.
Candidate Cain: race v. sexual harrasment
Cain has tried to make his surprising presidential run to be about anything but race. He has chided other African-Americans for blaming their circumstances on race, has blasted black voters for being "brainwashed" for voting for Democrat, and he has garnered applause from his mostly white audiences by lighting into identity politics.Common Sense is not so much surprised as dismayed by Mr Cain's posturing trying to shift focus from his sexual behavior to race. While it is certainly true that sexual misconduct is not a bar to political office, note most recently Mr. Clinton's troubles, it is true that there is a difference between sexual impropriety between consenting adults and sexual harassment. It is also true that denying conduct that is a matter of public record is beyond foolish to the point that the denial becomes an issue in one's qualification for the presidency. To then argue that the questions aren't about one's conduct but race, Common Sense remembers that Mr. Clinton is not black, compounds the problem.
Common Sense thinks that America deserves more, much much more, from those who would be president than sexual harassment, lying, playing the race card, and posturing so outrageously foolish as to border on wingnut stupidity.
Stock market, social security, and presidential campaigns
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Shares of daily deals site Groupon closed at $26.11, roughly 31% above their initial offering price in the public debut of the stock on Friday.
Groupon (GRPN) had priced its initial public offering at $20 a share late Thursday, the last step on a rocky journey to its debut. Under the ticker GRPN, Groupon began trading Friday at about 10:45 a.m. ET on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and opened at $28, 40% above the target.
Common Sense has commented from time to time on the foolishness of the stock market. Here's yet another example. Don't misunderstand, Groupon is OK. In fact Common Sense has used the service from time to time. What Common Sense doesn't understand though is how an internet company that has never made money, that has an intermediary business model that provides no value add, with very low barriers to entry, and competitors including Google and Amazon could possibly be worth $30 billion! Common sense has clearly left the trading floor!
Of course, this kind of foolishness is nothing new and in the larger scheme not all that unusual.
Common Sense is mindful of several recent proposals by candidates who would be president to privatize social security by allowing some workers to invest in a stock market that values a company that has never made money, has a doubtful business proposition, and has strong competitors at $30 billion. Common sense clearly need not be part of presidential campaign proposals.
Common Sense also notes that it was foolishness of this sort that lead to the collapse of the real estate market. Perhaps we shouldn't repeat that experience.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Why it doesn't matter who is president
We are once again in the midst of a presidential campaign. I've watched with both amazement and disgust the various Republican presidential candidates and their often bizarre posturing. Aside from campaign statements that border on lunatic ravings, I'm struck by how completely irrelevant the entire presidential election is.
Consider the issues.
The country is running unsustainable budget deficits. Both Democrats and Republicans agree. What they don't agree about is how to balance the budget, balance income and expenses. Note that there are two parts to this issue, income and expenses. The president has balanced both cuts in expenses and increases in income. Congressional Republicans say no to increased income favoring only cuts in expenses. Congressional Democrats, a minority in the House, are unable to change this posture.
The key point here is that the issue remains unresolved, not because of the president but because of Congress. The country remains mired in a Great Recession not because of who is president or Presidential action or inaction but because of a completely dysfunctional Congress.
Consider if there were a Republican president. Would things change? I think not. Congress would still be divided and mired in partisan inaction. While the President's proposed policies might differ absent Congressional action the country would remain gridlocked, stuck in a protracted recession.
In this way, who is president doesn't really matter. Changing Congress by changing senators and representatives, and changing Congressional Rules does. It is only by changing Congress that the current gridlock can be changed.
Consider the issues.
The country is running unsustainable budget deficits. Both Democrats and Republicans agree. What they don't agree about is how to balance the budget, balance income and expenses. Note that there are two parts to this issue, income and expenses. The president has balanced both cuts in expenses and increases in income. Congressional Republicans say no to increased income favoring only cuts in expenses. Congressional Democrats, a minority in the House, are unable to change this posture.
The key point here is that the issue remains unresolved, not because of the president but because of Congress. The country remains mired in a Great Recession not because of who is president or Presidential action or inaction but because of a completely dysfunctional Congress.
Consider if there were a Republican president. Would things change? I think not. Congress would still be divided and mired in partisan inaction. While the President's proposed policies might differ absent Congressional action the country would remain gridlocked, stuck in a protracted recession.
In this way, who is president doesn't really matter. Changing Congress by changing senators and representatives, and changing Congressional Rules does. It is only by changing Congress that the current gridlock can be changed.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Severe weather phone calls
The town I live in has a phone warning system for severe weather and other disasters. It's a fairly common arrangement in this area and makes a good deal of common sense on the face of it.
Comes today when there is some severe weather in Massachusetts that includes a couple of tornadoes that touch down. The first NWS TV broadcast was around 4:30 or so in plenty of time to let people know that there might be an issue. Mind you, there was plenty of thunder and lightning so you'd have to be def and blind not to know. So I check with NECN, the regional cable news that has a VERY enthusiastic weather man given to detailed ongoing weather coverage. I watch for a bit and find that the storms are tracking toward my town. They are still a good ways away and, fortunately, hook and track well south of us by about 5:30 or so.
Now at 6:05 I get an emergency notification call from the town's emergency alert system that a) the NWS has issued a tornado warning that includes Sudbury (btw, it never did) starting at 5:00 and that the storm is expected to arrive about 6:08. That's great right? Three minutes warning for something that actually happened 35 minutes ago! Not to worry though the town has my best interest at heart and call again at 6:18 with the same message.
At some level it's a case of no harm no foul as the storm went south of us. But really what would have happened if it hadn't? Common Sense suggests that for an emergency alert system to work it is necessary that it provide timely and accurate warning. Warnings 65 minutes after the NWS issued them, 35 minutes after the event would have occurred, and then again 78 minutes after the original NWS warning doesn't work and doesn't make common sense. Surely the town can and should do better.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Strict Arizona immigration law gets Supreme Court blessing - Political Hotsheet - CBS News
At last, some common sense from the Supremes. Having struck down state enforcement of federal immigration law and state law to enforce existing federal immigration law by logic that defies common sense, the Supreme Court will allow states to enforce state laws when illegal immigration is an underlying factor. The law at issue allows the state to deny/revoke the business license of those companies that break immigration laws.Image by hey skinny via FlickrStrict Arizona immigration law gets Supreme Court blessing - Political Hotsheet - CBS News: "The Supreme Court gave its blessing today to one of the strong immigration control laws passed by Arizona, a law that has served as a model for similar measures in other states.
Arizona requires businesses to use the national eVerify system to check workers immigration status. Licenses are revoked when illegal immigrants are intentionally employed.
The Chamber of Commerce and labor groups formed a powerful coalition to challenge the law. They argued it steps on the federal government's broad immigration powers.
Conservatives carried the day in the 5-3 vote. Chief Justice John Roberts said while federal law bars states from imposing civil and criminal penalties for immigration violations, Arizona's license revocation statute doesn't fall into the category."
Common Sense is concerned about illegal immigration, as we all should be. Immigrants come to the US seeking a better life as did the families of almost all Americans. That's as it should be. But when businesses take advantage of illegal immigrants as they often do subjecting them to low pay and substandard working conditions that's simply wrong. When businesses use illegal workers denying jobs to US workers that's simply wrong. Laws that deny such businesses the right to operate just make good common sense. They help remove one of the principal motivations for illegal immigration and protect jobs for those who are in the US legally.
Related articles
- Is Supreme Court Right to OK Arizona's 'Business Death Penalty'? (usnews.com)
- Supreme Court upholds Arizona illegal-worker law - San Francisco Chronicle (news.google.com)
- Supreme Court upholds Ariz. employer sanctions law (usatoday.com)
- Arizona, Immigration, and Common Sense
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Honesty in a political candidate - will wonders never cease
Image by Getty Images via @daylifeRaising Cain’s Honesty | Logarchism: "Former Godfather’s Pizza CEO and radio talk show host Herman Cain announced over the weekend that he is running for President. Cain has never held political office before. Rather than discussing the gentleman’s positions, I want to look at the man’s character."Never mind that on the face of it, Mr Cain isn't really much qualified to be president. Can you believe that when a) asked about the "right of return" and obviously NOT knowing what it was about, then b) being interviewed on a subsequent day on national TV and asked again Mr. Cain actually admitted to not previously knowing. So huge common sense points for honesty. Not so many common sense points for being reasonably informed. Common Sense isn't so sure that he should run for president but Mr. Cain might be a real breath of fresh air during the election cycle and might make a decent Congressman, at least as good of some of the stunningly dishonest current members.
House Republicans to hold vote on debt limit increase – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs
The politics of grid lock is clearly in full sway. So lets get this straight, under Congressional rules in the House, the speaker, in this case Mr Boehner, controls what can come to a vote. He also controls the Republican caucus and can influence, often to the point of controlling, how elected representatives vote. You remember the notion of elected where voters elect someone that is suppose to represent the will of the electorate as distinct from the will of Mr Boehner or the Republican party. So Mr Boehner having instructed the Republican caucus NOT to vote for this measure even knowing full well that not extending the debt ceiling is a non starter brings this measure to a vote. Why? This is political theater at its worst. It's not about the debt ceiling. It's certainly not about good governance. One thing it clearly shows is that the two party system and Congressional rules are seriously broken.Image by Getty Images via @daylifeHouse Republicans to hold vote on debt limit increase – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs: "Washington (CNN) – House Republican leaders have scheduled a vote next week to raise the debt limit without any spending cuts attached in order to demonstrate that a so-called 'clean extension' preferred by President Barack Obama and some congressional Democrats cannot pass in the GOP-majority chamber.
According to several aides, GOP leaders announced the move Tuesday at their regular weekly meeting with rank and file Republicans.
The Republican proposal, sponsored by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, would raise the Treasury's borrowing authority by $2.4 trillion, which is the same amount in Obama's proposed budget, and would give the Treasury Department the authority to continue paying its bills through December 2012.
The vote is not expected to get any Republican support, dooming its chances of winning House approval."
Here is a common sense notion, perhaps we shouldn't pay Congress when they engage in this sort of political theater since they are clearly not working for the American voters.
Democrat Kathy Hochul wins House seat in New York special election - CNN.com
Democrat Kathy Hochul wins House seat in New York special election - CNN.com: "(CNN) -- Democrat Kathy Hochul swept to victory Tuesday night in a closely watched Congressional election in New York state, which turned into a proxy battle on a House Republican proposal on Medicare. The race in New York's 26th Congressional district was to fill the seat of former Republican Congressman Chris Lee, who resigned over pictures and e-mails of him trying to find a date on Craigslist. The seat had been considered safe for Republicans, who had held the district for more than four decades. Democrats claimed the victory 'had far reaching consequences around the country' over Medicare, while a top Republican warned trying to 'predict the future based on the results of this unusual race is naive and risky.'"It seems that at least occasionally even money doesn't trump the will of voters and common sense. It also seems that the mandate for the radical right is, well, not so much a mandate as say an expression of voter frustration with a profoundly broken political system, Congress, and both political parties.
Common Sense says good for New York and common sense.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Newt Gingrich’s dubious claim of a ‘normal’ no-interest charge account at Tiffany - The Fact Checker - The Washington Post
Image via WikipediaNewt Gingrich’s dubious claim of a ‘normal’ no-interest charge account at Tiffany - The Fact Checker - The Washington PostSpeaks for itself. Would the G know 'normal' if it bit him? Would he know 'common sense' if it knocked on his door? Seems unlikely.
Comcast - get a clue
Image via CrunchBaseSomething happened a few weeks ago that was, well, rather irritating. Comcast, our cable provider, decided to disable fast forward for On Demand content. Now, that must seem and is in the greater scheme of things really rather trivial. Still it's irritating. At any event, Common Sense called Comcast to complain and ask that fast forward be restored for On Demand content. I didn't expect to get very far and didn't. Comcast says "the broadcasters made us do it."Now, I know better and told Comcast so. The broadcasters don't send the disable code, Comcast does. So passing the buck is just, well, a lie! I explained this notion to comcast. No effect expected. None occurred.
Here Comcast made a mistake. They think that they still have a lock on high speed service to my house. As it happened, last week a Verizon contractor pulled cable pipe for FIOS down our street! I explained this to Comcast and noted that when Verizon came around asking if I'd like to switch they were rather likely to get to yes. No effect expected. None occurred.
All of this leaves Common Sense wondering. How is it that Comcast thinks that eliminating useful functionality that their customers previously enjoyed is a good business decision? Really, Comcast, get a clue. All that's really going to happen is that I'll turn off the sound and go get a cup of coffee. Later, when Verizon sends a promotion I'll say yes then call Comcast and fire them.
Now, I'm just one customer so I don't expect Comcast to particularly note my departure. But if enough people leave then it will matter.
All of which has got Common Sense wondering why it is that large companies so often become so arrogant that they start ignoring the customer's interest? Common Sense has seen it fairly frequently of late as companies try to maximize profit. As often as not all they really end up doing is loosing customers. That's just bad business and, frankly, dumb. So here's a clue for Comcast and other large companies -
The money starts in the customers hand. If you want the money to get to your hand you actually have to satisfy the customer! The customer was fine before doing business with you and chances are will be just fine after firing you.
Just a common sense POV.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Piracy of Intelectual Property is Illegal and Has Consequences
Feds Seize 8 More Domains in Piracy Crackdown | Threat Level | Wired.com:
Common Sense says about time. Copyrights matter and illegal is illegal. That's just common sense.
By David Kravets Email Author
May 23, 2011 |
The Department of Homeland Security seized at least eight website addresses over the weekend, bringing to 128 the number of domains confiscated as part of a government piracy crackdown.
The government is taking the sites with court approval, under the same civil seizure law the government invokes to seize brick-and-mortar drug houses, bank accounts and other property tied to illegal activity.
Lightbulbs common sense and wingnuts
Image via WikipediaPolitiFact | Conservative group claims new law would require people to throw away existing light bulbs and replace with more efficient ones
A fundraising letter making the rounds from a conservative political action committee draws a political line in the sand over light bulbs.
The letter, circulated by AmeriPAC, a political action committee that largely supports conservative Republican candidates, claims President Barack Obama is "banning" incandescent light bulbs in favor of compact fluorescent lighting. It includes a lengthy letter purported to be written by Ron Arnold of the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise Action Fund.
"A silly little light bulb is merely a small piece of the larger puzzle of global socialism that he feels is his agenda to enslave the American people -- and to choke Americans from a free enterprise system!" the letter states.
Ok, lets try some common sense. Choice 1 - you can buy a bulb that doesn't last very long and uses lots of electricity while energy prices continue to climb ever upward. Choice 2 - you can buy a bulb that last much longer, doesn't use as much electricity, and is somewhat more expensive. Lets see, what would Common Sense do. I know something sensible like buying an energy efficient bulb that is only somewhat more expensive and last several times as long.
Some years ago Common Sense had an energy audit done. It was sponsored by the gas and electric companies in Massachusetts. Nice chap came out and said things looked good save for a door that needed better weather stripping. He also GAVE, that's for free, several cases of compact florescent bulbs. Nine, that's right nine, years on we are still using the ones he gave us and still have several dozen bulbs left.
There are some negatives with compact fluorescent bulbs though. Some of the early ones took a while to reach full brightness. That's no longer the case with newer bulbs. Also, you have to buy a special cold weather bulb for use outside or in other cold environments since the regular ones don't light properly when it's really cold outside. Finally, you have to buy a special bulb to work with dimmers. Other than those rather minor issues Common Sense has had nothing but good luck with compact fluorescent bulbs.
BTW, it's worth noting that from the power companies point of view it's much cheaper to give away efficient light bulbs than it is to finance and build a new power plant!
Common Sense to wingnuts - get a grip. Using energy efficient bulbs is just common sense. It is certainly NOT the stuff of the decline and fall of America.
Image by electric vehicle fan via FlickrWhile we're in the neighborhood, does anyone out there remember all the moaning about CAFE (millage) standards? Couldn't be done, remember. Well we now have cars that get 35 MPG on gasoline or diesel and hybrids that are much more efficient than that. Then there is the automotive X prize for a real car that gets OVER 100 MPG. These are small but none the less real cars. It is just common sense that setting standards can help drive development. Wingnuts notwithstanding this one is a win for common sense.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Birth Certificate Mug
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Stay caffeinated for campaign events (and everything else) with a limited-edition Made in the USA mug. Donate $15 or more to get yours."
What can Common Sense add? Pure American kitsch. Now if we could only get Vince from Shamwow to promote them this bit of nonsense would be perfect.
Of course you'll also need your copy of "Where's the Birth Certificate?: The Case that Barack Obama is not Eligible to be Presidenthere's the Birth Certificate," really! Who says politics isn't fun! That's just common sense.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Poll: Americans as unhappy as ever with Congress - USATODAY.com
Image via WikipediaPoll: Americans as unhappy as ever with Congress - USATODAY.com: "WASHINGTON — Americans voted to turn over control of the House of Representatives to Republicans last fall, but a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds they remain as unhappy as they have ever been with Capitol Hill."By more than 2-1, voters say most members of Congress don't deserve re-election, matching a historic low reached last spring. Twenty-eight percent say most members should get another term in office; 63% say most should be replaced.
Feverish discontent with Congress last year fueled the conservative Tea Party movement and cost Democrats their hold on the House. The levels of dyspepsia are higher than they were just before elections in 1994, 2006 and 2010, all years when control changed hands.
So what do you think, do the Tea Party congressmen have a mandate? How about the Republicans or Democrats? Guess not.
Common Sense has frequently commented on our dysfunctional Congress and continues to believe it should be replaced, preferably with citizens that have some common sense and are neither Republicans or Democrats. Those fools have had plenty of chances to govern reasonably and have failed rather stunningly. Makes a fair bit of common sense that a different way should be tried.
Sharing Information Corrupts Wisdom of Crowds | Wired Science | Wired.com
Sharing Information Corrupts Wisdom of Crowds | Wired Science | Wired.com: "When people can learn what others think, the wisdom of crowds may veer towards ignorance.Ever wonder why the birther idiocy had such traction? How about ancient aliens or the Bermuda triangle? Gives one to wonder if we will all become stupid when subject to a steady diet of doubtful surveys, misrepresentations and outright lies from politicians, and sundry other foolishness from the Internet and TV. It might be a good common sense idea to actually think about things before forming opinions. Just a common sense thought.
In a new study of crowd wisdom — the statistical phenomenon by which individual biases cancel each other out, distilling hundreds or thousands of individual guesses into uncannily accurate average answers — researchers told test participants about their peers’ guesses. As a result, their group insight went awry.
“Although groups are initially ‘wise,’ knowledge about estimates of others narrows the diversity of opinions to such an extent that it undermines” collective wisdom, wrote researchers led by mathematician Jan Lorenz and sociologist Heiko Rahut of Switzerland’s ETH Zurich, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on May 16. “Even mild social influence can undermine the wisdom of crowd effect.”"
Sexual Revolution Cited as Cause of Priest Abuse - NYTimes.com
Sexual Revolution Cited as Cause of Priest Abuse - NYTimes.com:
Common Sense thinks there is a far far more likely explanation. First a patently corrupt hierarchy actively participated in a coverup of clearly illegal, never mind immoral, actions by its priest. The Catholic church denied the crime. Second, in many cases even after knowing of this action the corrupt hierarchy simply shuffled criminal priest around. Left them free to abuse other children. Third, a religious faith persist in asking it's clerics to deny one of the most fundamental of human drives. When you ask many thousands of men to do something contrary to their nature you can depend on many of them failing. Fourth, caught in this illegal and immoral activity the church did and continues to do whatever it can to avoid and minimize ethical responsibility and legal liability for its actions and those of its employees. And finally, after being dragged kicking and screaming to face the issue, the church spends five years to create a stunningly ineffectual excuse for itself.
Ethical standards derived from religious faith or elsewhere matter. That's just common sense. When a faith purporting to represent not just an ethical standard but the will of God engages in such illegal, immoral, and clearly unethical activity Common Sense thinks it no longer deserves respect.
xxx
"Church Report Cites Social Tumult in Priest ScandalsIf the Catholic Church wants to know why Catholics are leaving it need only look at this sort of nonsense. The report wants to say that the real problem wasn't in the church. Oh no, it was in the sexually liberal external society. Our priest weren't trained well enough. The church hierarchy didn't pay enough attention to the victims.
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: May 17, 2011
A five-year study commissioned by the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops to provide a definitive answer to what caused the church’s sexual abuse crisis has concluded that neither the all-male celibate priesthood nor homosexuality were to blame.
Instead, the report says, the abuse occurred because priests who were poorly prepared and monitored, and were under stress, landed amid the social and sexual turmoil of the 1960s and ’70s.
Known occurrences of sexual abuse of minors by priests rose sharply during those decades, the report found, and the problem grew worse when the church’s hierarchy responded by showing more care for the perpetrators than the victims."
Common Sense thinks there is a far far more likely explanation. First a patently corrupt hierarchy actively participated in a coverup of clearly illegal, never mind immoral, actions by its priest. The Catholic church denied the crime. Second, in many cases even after knowing of this action the corrupt hierarchy simply shuffled criminal priest around. Left them free to abuse other children. Third, a religious faith persist in asking it's clerics to deny one of the most fundamental of human drives. When you ask many thousands of men to do something contrary to their nature you can depend on many of them failing. Fourth, caught in this illegal and immoral activity the church did and continues to do whatever it can to avoid and minimize ethical responsibility and legal liability for its actions and those of its employees. And finally, after being dragged kicking and screaming to face the issue, the church spends five years to create a stunningly ineffectual excuse for itself.
Ethical standards derived from religious faith or elsewhere matter. That's just common sense. When a faith purporting to represent not just an ethical standard but the will of God engages in such illegal, immoral, and clearly unethical activity Common Sense thinks it no longer deserves respect.
xxx
In Japan Reactor Failings, Danger Signs for the U.S. - NYTimes.com
In Japan Reactor Failings, Danger Signs for the U.S. - NYTimes.com
"In Japan Reactor Failings, Danger Signs for the U.S.
By HIROKO TABUCHI, KEITH BRADSHER and MATTHEW L. WALD
Published: May 17, 2011
TOKYO — Emergency vents that American officials have said would prevent devastating hydrogen explosions at nuclear plants in the United States were put to the test in Japan — and failed to work, according to experts and officials with the company that operates the crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant."...American officials had said early on that reactors in the United States would be safe from such disasters because they were equipped with new, stronger venting systems. But Tokyo Electric Power Company, which runs the plant, now says that Fukushima Daiichi had installed the same vents years ago.
Which makes Common Sense wonder about this recent news item:
US power plants would be 'kept safe' after 'extreme' events: NRCCommon Sense has commented previously about nuclear power and safety. Here we have those with a vested interest in nuclear power saying "don't worry be happy" we're safer and those that have just experienced a level 5 nuclear disaster, the most serious kind, noting "hey guys we made those changes and they didn't work." So who do you think common sense suggest we believe, the people who have studied the problem or the people trying to clean up after the problem occurred? Common Sense thinks that the reality of experience trumps paper every day.Washington (Platts)--16May2011/413 pm EDT/2013 GMT
US nuclear power plants "would be kept safe" even in the event of "extreme events" like those that struck Japan's Fukushima 1 nuclear plant, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said based on the findings of recent inspections.
The agency Friday said it is in the process of releasing reports documenting its inspections of the plants' "abilities to deal with power losses or damage to large areas of a reactor site following extreme events."
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