The Screaming Centrist

Kudos to John McCain

2006-10-31T17:24:00.000-07:00

I admit, I've been criticizing Senator McCain kind of harshly recently due to my disillusionment with his indiscriminate support of the right-wing, social conservative extremism he used to speak against. At the same time, I'm figuring he's doing what he's gotta do to win the '08 primary. It sucks that our political system works that way.

Getting back to the kudos: My girlfriend and I flew to Munich for a two-week vacation around central Europe a couple of weeks ago. Who should we see on the Phoenix to D.C. leg of our trip but the aforementioned senator himself. I was surprised not to see him in first class when I first boarded the flight and thought he must be getting on later. I was even more surprised later in the flight when I got up to use the lavatory and saw him sitting about 10 rows behind us--in coach. Awesome.

By the way, he sleeps on planes much better than I do. Sitting in coach, if I don't move around every minute and a half or so, my left leg starts to hurt like hell.

Side note: Now that I'm no longer planning/going on my European vacation, I should be posting more frequently. Though I realize I'm still a slacker when it comes to blogging.

Letter to the Editor (Technically) Published

2006-09-09T23:05:00.000-07:00

This appeared in the Chandler Republic print edition Friday. Picky as I am, I'm somewhat irritated in that I apparently used the Southeast Valley submittal form instead of the general submittal form. Until I heard that it was going to be publish in the Chandler Republic, I didn't realize there were different submittal forms. I'm irritated, not because I think the community papers are "beneath" the paper as a whole--not in the least bit--but because the topic I wrote about is relevant state-wide, not just locally.

The letter didn't appear online, just in hard copy form.

War on Terror Doublespeak

2006-09-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

The Cato Institute analyzes some of the terms frequently tossed about in discussing the War on Terror. Particularly infuriating is the allocation of some of the homeland security funds. Among other things, it explains why, tragically, I've grown sick of hearing the word "freedom" all the time.

As author James Bovard has observed: "For Bush, freedom seems to be whatever extends his own political power. Whatever razes any barriers to executive power--that is 'freedom'"

Bush Learns a New Word

2006-09-05T21:22:00.000-07:00

Caliphate.

Bush quoted extensively from bin Laden's videotaped messages and writings, comparing him to 20th century dictators like Russia's Vladimir Lenin and Germany's Adolf Hitler.

Yes, bin Laden is evil. We knew that. So why the hell have we let him get away with the murder of thousands of innocent people these past five years?!

Bin Laden has declared Iraq "the capital of the caliphate," said Bush, who has often faced criticism for trying to tie Iraq into the broader "war on terrorism."

Well I'm sure bin Laden is damn pleased with the fact that we've diverted our resources from bringing his head home on a platter to a wasteful, unnecessary undertaking having nothing to do with 9/11. This administration's "War on Terror" is nothing short of pathetic.

Posting at Watchblog

2006-08-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

I've recently been given permission to post at Watchblog in the middle column. I'll be posting there at least a couple of times per month since I'll losing my posting privileges otherwise. Check out my first post, entitled Educated Voter Lottery?

Primaries: My Letter to the Editor

2006-08-31T16:30:00.000-07:00

With September 12 fast approaching, Independents need to be aware that they too can make their voices heard in the primary. When you obtain your primary ballot, either by mail or at the polls, simply specify which party's ballot you would like. The only restriction is that you are limited to a single party--Republican, Democrat, or Libertarian.

It is also important that moderates research the candidates and participate in the primaries, if we are to temper the extremism that has characterized political discourse over the past few years. The primaries have frequently played a larger role in determining our office holders than the November elections have, and thus demand the full participation of eligible voters.

We'll see if it gets published and, if so, if it does any good.

More on the Marijuana Party

2006-08-04T21:21:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago, I posted about the Marijuana, and heard from Marijuana Party candidate Cris Ericson herself! From her first comment:

Hi! I'm Cris Ericson, and I am going to Make Marijuana Legal.
At the moment, I'm on the Republican Party ballot in the State of Vermont as a United States Senate candidate:
http://www.vtgop.org/Candidates/
and I will be on the September 12, 2006 Primary Election ballot.

So, now you will have it, coming from a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, that marijuana should be legalized.
If I lose the Republican primary,
then I will be going on the General Election ballot on November 7, 2006 as the Marijuana party candidate. Only major party candidates compete in the primary election, and if a candidate loses the primary, they can go on to the general election for a minor party.
Okeedokee? You bet!
http://crisericson.com

Now I personally do not chase the Dorito, however I fully support the legalization of marijuana (as do several of my registered Republican friends, apparently). However, the Marijuana Party strikes me as being a little too single-issue for my taste. Either way, best of luck to you, Ms. Ericson. If I lived in Vermont, I'd definitely be studying the rest of your platform.

Election Fasting and Praying

2006-08-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

The Center for Arizona Policy, which Len Munsil resigned as president from to run for AZ Governor, has begun 40 days of prayer and fasting for the Arizona elections.

This freaks me out. Even when I was at my most devout, this would have freaked me out.

Marijuana Party

2006-07-29T00:46:00.000-07:00

I was checking out potential 2008 presidential candidates at Politics1 when I noticed a candidate from the Marijuana Party (Cris Ericson-Marijuana, Vermont). I had never heard of such a party, so I did a little research. Turns out, it's for real! How 'bout that.

Metapost: Slack Blogger

2006-06-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm gaining some readers, I admit that I've slacked off a bit on my posting. I apologize and will try to do a better job of updating this--at least a couple of times per week.

I have a pretty good excuse though, I think. You see, I'm planning to visit Europe for a couple of weeks in October. So, lately when I'm on the computer, rather than update the blog, I've been Googling places I'd like to see. I'm getting it figured out though, so I imagine I'll be picking the pace up here soon.

Flag Amendment

2006-06-29T22:39:00.000-07:00

I love the flag. I love the country for which it stands. I also love the Constitution, and don't want to contaminate it with the excrement of political pandering.

Within the United States, I've never seen nor heard of a flag being burned. That may have to do with the fact that I was born in the Midwest and grew up in Georgia, but it's still a non-issue. That doesn't mean I haven't seen the U.S. flag being defaced; I most certainly have. I've seen flags hanging in tatters from lofty poles after being left up day and night through rain and dust storms. I've seen a United States flag hanging from a makeshift pole mounted in the bed of a pickup truck, ripped apart by the wind until only about a third of it remained. I've seen the flag being written upon by someone who should know better. Why isn't the government going after these people? Who knows.

I get offended when I see the flag being defaced, whether it be deliberate or a thoughtless display of so-called "patriotism." But I'm also offended by the thought of defacing our Consitution with an unnecessary revocation of our first amendment.

Terrorist Having Nothing to do with 9/11 Killed

2006-06-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

Now don't get me wrong. Zarqawi was a scumbag of the highest order, responsible for numerous deaths, and he most certainly needed killing. I'm glad he's dead and I'm glad our troops were able to uncover so much intelligence in the bombed ruins of his "safe" house.

Even so, I can't tell you how much I wish one candidate, Democrat, Republican, or otherwise, would stand up before the American people, and assert the following:

That we have egregiously misallocated our resources and misfocused our priorities in the War on Terror, by diverting our military to a region having nothing to do with 9/11 before capturing the man who was truly responsible.
That by doing so, we have sent a message to terrorists, that if you execute such a devastating assault, you can get away with it for almost five years and counting.
That this is completely unacceptable and that his or her first priority would be to refocus our military on what it should have been doing--leaving no stone untouched until Osama bin Laden and his remaining deputies (Does he have any left? I keep losing track.) are killed or brought to the US to face the consequences of their crimes.

Not anywhere did I say or imply "cut and run" or even "bring the troops home." I'm fed up with wasting our time and people on the Iraqi boondoggle, and I'm fed up with the fact that after five years, the man responsible for the worst attack on US civilians, on US soil, is still at large.

Arizona Republic Conservative Columnist Heaps Criticism Upon Bush and Blair

2006-06-03T00:35:00.000-07:00

Robert Robb, conservative columnist for the Arizona Republic, today delivered an outstanding commentary heaping criticism on Bush and Blair for their handling of the war on terror, namely, their misinterpretations of history to further their own misguided agendas. He states:

Afghanistan would have served as a highly effective deterrent against state support for Islamic terrorism if the threat of similar action in the future hadn't been largely dissipated by the Iraq war.

This is exactly what has troubled me ever since early 2003 (or was it late 2002?) when Bush started rattling his saber at Iraq. However Robb is much more articulate about it than I would've been, which is why he's a columnist and I'm just a blogger.

He goes on:

Islamic terrorism is primarily rooted in the Arab Middle East. Since the end of World War II, the West has sought to manage affairs in the Arab Middle East. And the most important lesson of history is that we regularly have botched it.

There are aspirations to modernity in the Arab Middle East that are incompatible with militant Islam. Rather than trying to manage affairs in the Arab Middle East, the West would be better off allowing the peoples of that region to sort out their future for themselves, in their own way, and on their own timetable. (my bold)

Although I don't always agree with what he has to say, I'm frequently surprised by what we do agree on. I think this is because Robb is a true conservative, rather than a Kool-Aid imbibing sycophant.

Bill O'Reilly Slanders the Greatest Generation

2006-06-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

Keith Olbermann recently called Bill O'Reilly out for falsely stating--twice--that American soldiers murdered German prisoners at Malmedy. In fact, it was the Nazis who murdered captured Americans at Malmedy. On both occasions, the analogy came up while O'Reilly was arguing with Wesley Clark about alleged American war crimes in Iraq. Essentially O'Reilly has twisted a tragic historical event into a complete fabrication in order to support his own specious argument.

Whether you like Olbermann or not, how can you not agree that Bill O'Reilly is a despicable, traitorous bottom feeder after seeing that clip? If Fox News had a tenth of the integrity a news organization should exhibit, O'Reilly would be out on his ear. And therein lies the problem.

(Hat tip: AZPlace.)

Political Independence: Cyber Style

2006-05-30T23:58:00.000-07:00

Some Republicans, Democrats and Independents have joined together online in an effort to provide a third option and promote online balloting in 2008. The project: Unity08. The Washington Post has a good article about it. Looks like something I could get behind. Tell your friends.

Ben Stein on Enron

2006-05-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

::Enthusiatic applause::

Now, it would be nice if the Lay and Skilling convictions marked the end of this kind of fraud. The terrible part is that it's still going on in a huge way. Lately, investigative reporters at "The Wall Street Journal," aided by university professors, are discovering that top executives at some of the biggest companies in the nation are looting their companies in an almost unbelievably brazen way.

Regardless of your party affiliation, I think you'll find the entire article to be outstanding.

The whole executive-compensation culture has become insane, with corporate executives draining the lifeblood of the nation while worker salaries stagnate, and employees lose their jobs and their pensions (just talk to the people at United Airlines or Delphi).

Easy there, Ben. You almost sound like a liberal. ;-)

Competitive Enterprise Institute "Confuse(s) and Mislead(s)" the Public about Global Warming

2006-05-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

This is pretty despicable. From Factcheck.org:

The business-backed Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) released two ads last week to "counter global warming alarmism."

One of the ads says research shows "The Antarctic ice sheet is getting thicker, not thinner. . . Why are they trying to scare us?" Actually, scientists say increased snowfall in Antarctica's interior [due to increased moisture in a previously arid region] is evidence that global warming is taking place. Scientists also say that the ice sheet is melting at the ocean's edge and a recent report says it is shrinking overall.

The ads drew a protest from a University of Missouri professor who says they are "a deliberate effort to confuse and mislead the public about the global warming debate." He said one of them misuses a study he published in Science magazine last year on the Antarctic ice sheet. An editor of Science also said the ads misrepresent the findings of that study as well as a second study on Greenland's glaciers.

The second CEI ad notes that carbon dioxide (CO2) is "essential to life," and says, "they call it pollution. We call it life." That ad fails to mention that too much CO2 can cause global temperatures to rise or that there is more of it in the atmosphere than any time during the last 420,000 years.

CEI, which gets just over 9 per cent of its budget from Exxon Mobil Corporation, said it was only trying to make sure the public hears "both sides of the story."

Energy Independence

2006-05-27T01:34:00.000-07:00

The Cato Institute has an interesting article on energy independence. I'd say they're right when they say that oil is currently the cheapest source of automotive fuel (emphasis on "currently"). I also agree with the problems they note regarding other potential fuels.

However, they neglect to mention biodiesel, specifically biodiesel created from oil-producing algae. The claims in that article are pretty astounding. I truly hope this approach pans out. It looks very promising.

I'm environmentally conscious, but I'm certainly not Greenpeace material. Still, if we're going to find alternative to petrofuel, it's going to have to be economically viable, not just environmentally friendly. Economics are a large part of the problem when it comes to oil and coal retrieval: exploration, equipment, manpower, safety issues, etc. together serve to make these options less than desirable, especially as oil and coal stores become more difficult to access. Imagine, though, a high output, renewable source that requires little upkeep and can be simply skimmed off the surface. That would be fantastic and a direction I hope this oil producing algae is able to take us.

Incidentally, Arizona Senators and Congressmen, I noticed in the article that this type of algae grows well in desert climates. Perhaps you could, you know, propose a little tax break for those of us who are willing to grow this stuff on our land for experimental purposes? Just an idea.

Napolitano Scrutinzed by Clean Elections

2006-05-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

Shortly after she announced her run for gubernatorial reelection, Governor Napolitano's campaign web site was up, apparently before public funds were available to cover it. Naturally, the Arizona Republicans have worked themselves into a tizzy over this matter. Now, I don't think the Governor is above the law, but in my mind this incident is about 1/100th as scandalous as Bill Clinton's involvement with Lewinsky's oval orifice.

If the Republicans want me to vote against the governor in November, they're going to have to use a different tactic, such as running someone who's worth a damn.

Recent Article on Engineering Shortage Propaganda

2006-05-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

For many years, corporations, universities, and the National Science Foundation have been up in arms about severe shortage of qualified engineers and scientists. Bull pucky. Several articles effectively denouncing this claim have come out over the past few years. Here's the latest one I've found.

Do these bogus claims of a scarcity of skilled technical workers constitute a campaign to avoid having to pay market price for white-collar labor? Yes, but there's more to it than that. Corporations legitimately can anticipate a shortage of such workers in the future, because their own actions are setting the stage for one....most significantly, they have done away with job security -- a critical blunder because product-development cycles are often longer than economic cycles.

This link contains the Wall Street Journal article Mr. Moylan referred to. Here is the Washington Post article.

While I'm at it, a recent study conducted at Duke University has concluded that the number of engineers graduating in China and India relative to the U.S. is grossly inflated.

Bottom line, there is no shortage of engineers and scientists. Just look at the economic indicators. I make a comfortable salary, but the law of supply and demand dicates that I'd be making a hell of a lot more if the so called "engineering shortage" were actually true. What many corporations are bemoaning is a lack of cheap engineers--engineers willing to work for fast food wages.

Rimsza Job

2006-05-19T22:22:00.000-07:00

Espresso Pundit, who is much more conservative than I am, and yet, probably the only blogger linked from Arizona Congress Watch who's more conservative than I am, has a hilarious analysis of Skip Rimsza's campaign sign.

I saw another of his campaign signs on the way home from work today. It still has the ugly yellow lettering on purple background, but to Mr. Rimsza'a credit, the picture is much more flattering. He's wearing denim and a plaid shirt, standing in the desert looking rugged, albeit somewhat awkwardly.

NSA Phone Records Purchase

2006-05-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

Even though I haven't managed to work myself into a frothy rage over it, what can I say? It's a clear violation of the Fourth Ammendment. That is, illegal, pure and simple.

Know what else it is? A goddamn waste of time, money, and effort. So, millions of phone records are going to help us pinpoint the terrorists how? Oh yeah, computers. That should work perfectly. I'm sure we'll zero in on all the terrorist cells in the US with no false positives. Are we actually improving upon our shortfalls from the 9/11 Committee report card, or are we just going to keep going with this phone list wank-fest?

Colbert Roast

2006-05-14T23:42:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've seen the video of Stephen Colbert's scathingly ironic roast of George W. at the White House Correspondents' ~~circle jerk~~ Dinner. Speaking from a centrist libertarian-leaning point of view, I thought it was pretty funny--and bitingly accurate too. To anyone who was actually shocked--SHOCKED--by Colbert's speech, he was putting on the same act he puts on every night on his show. I wasn't the least bit surprised by his presentation.

I saw the GW impersonation thing too. Hokey, cheesy, vomit-inducing lameness. Even if I liked Bush, I think I'd still prefer Colbert's routine. My sense of humor is more edgy that way.

And yeah, I'm blogging about an event that's two weeks old. I only get, like, about two hits per day--what do you expect?

Protect Marriage Amendment Signatures Falling Short

2006-04-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

Boo hoo hoo, the Pharisees over at the Center for Arizona Policy are bemoaning the lack of signatures they need to put the Protect Marriage Amendment on November's ballot. They whine, "Some churches have refused or appear to be reluctant to hold petition drives."

Some churches are refusing to "protect" marriage from TEH GAY? The horror! Which churches would these be?

Incidentally, besides denying marriage to gay couples, it would also deny civil benefits to unmarried domestic couples period, homosexual or heterosexual.

McCain Sucks Up to the Religious Right

2006-03-28T23:12:00.000-07:00

Senator McCain is playing nice-nice with Jerry Falwell by speaking at Falwell's Liberty University graduation ceremony this spring. Unfortunately you have to whore yourself out to the Religious Right in order to win the Republican presidential nomination anymore, which is why I'm not a Republican...anymore.

By the way, did you know that Jerry Falwell started off his career by preaching against desegregation (source: Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism by Bishop John Shelby Spong)? He toned down that message when it became unpopular. Now he directs his ire at homosexually. He's still a bigot. However in order to maintain his popularity, he only overtly supports the bigotry du jour. Some Christian.

Screw Hearts and Minds, Let's Kick Someone's Ass

2006-03-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

Abdhul Rahman, the man who was to be executed for converting from Islam (the religion of "peace") to Christianity, has been freed and is hopefully in hiding, as opposed to being lynched by "peace"-loving Muslims.

Right Thoughts, one of my favorite blogs as of late, was critical (to put it lightly) of President Bush's handling of the situation. I particularly enjoyed this remark:

Another point, and this one is for Dubya personally: Some Christian you are, George. Some Christian you are. Your proclaimed faith is nothing more than a big fat fraud. Forget that you’re the President of the United States of America. Your faith alone should compel you to do everything in your power to make this man safe...

Damn straight. Given that this is the situation in Afghanistan, a country we invaded justifiably and where we've enjoyed relative success and international support, how can we be so arrogant to think that we can change the political structure of Iraq to suit our interests? Perhaps if we'd maintained our focus rather than diverting our resources in the Boondoggle on Terror, Mr. Rahman wouldn't have had to worry about being executed for his religious beliefs.

Immigration Compromise

2006-03-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

The immigration debate rhetoric has gotten quite fiery lately, culminating in the protest of about a jillion-kazillion people, mostly Latinos, in Phoenix (thank God I live and work in the Southeast Valley), LA, Detroit, Washington--the list goes on. After viewing footage of these protests, I'd like to propose the following compromise: Everyone, legal or illegal, who was waving an American flag gets to stay. Everyone, legal or illegal, who was waving a Mexican flag (or the flag of another country) gets shipped to Mexico (or the country designated by the flag being waved). The rest...I'm still thinking about it. Maybe let them choose a flag from a stack of flags, or something.

Edit: The ones who were carrying both a Mexican and United States flag may stay as well, but they have to live in Nogales.

Black History? American History.

2006-02-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Here it is over halfway through Black History Month, and I'm finally writing about it. For my part, I would like to recommend two autobiographies from two black heroes: My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass and Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington.

In My Bondage and My Freedom, we learn of a man who realizes the value of an education, so much so that he risks losing what little freedom he has to learn to read and write and to teach other slaves to do so. After escaping, to a still segregationist North, he gets involved with a group of abolitionists who send him to Scotland while they secure funds to purchase his freedom. In Scotland, he is finally treated like a human, but comes back to the U.S. anyway to fight to free the rest of the slaves. Throughout the book, his bravery is astounding.

In Up from Slavery, Booker T. Washington describes how he founded and built Tuskeegee University to help blacks learn to make a living after slavery has ended. He starts of with a passion toward his own education, extended that same passion toward helping others.

In both of these books we learn about two men who became extraordinarily successful, considering the laws in place at the time. They became successful, not by focusing on the fame and fortune they would one day see, but through an unrelenting pursuit to better themselves and their country.

Don't read these books in February. Read them in May, or September, or maybe July (as a birthday present to me). This is American history, not just black history. These are lessons that apply to everyone, regardless of color or race.

A Probably Unpopular View RE: Gas Price Investigation and Regulation

2006-02-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

The gas companies are making money hand over fist, while at the same time the rest of us are emptying our wallets into our gas tank. The natural inclination is to punish these bastards for financially disemboweling us and bathing in our monetary entrails. However, as much as it pains me, I'm against any sort of investigation or regulation. After all, did they do anything illegal? As this article explains, it's a supply and demand thing.

New Blog

2006-01-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

I recently started a new blog, called the Arizona Technology Roundup, to spotlight science, engineering, and technology development in Arizona. Since I still intend to have a life, I imagine this one will fall by the wayside somewhat, although I'll still have some political pontificating to do occasionally.

See you there!

You're the Top

2006-01-21T01:44:00.000-07:00

At one point during my pre-teen years, there was an episode of M*A*S*H in which B.J. vows to pull the greatest practical joke in the 4077th's history. In repsonse, Hawkeye bets B.J. that he can go for 24 hours without being the victim of any of B.J.'s pranks. Hawkeye takes ridiculous measures to try to win the bet, going as far as to sleep in a storage area enclosed by a chain link fence and razor wire. After 24 hours, Hawkeye, confident that he has triumphed, approaches B.J. in the mess hall to collect on the bet. B.J. asserts that he was the one who won the bet, and that the joke was to instill Hawkeye with such a ludicrous sense of fear and paranoia that he'd go the extraordinary lengths to avoid a prank that was never to occur. Once Hawkeye realizes he's the one who lost, he holds up his end of the bargain by pulling down his pants and serenading everyone in the mess hall with "You're the Top."

There is a good possibility that the U.S. will be targeted for another terrorist attack. As we work toward thwarting such an attack, let us be cautious, let us be vigilant, let us be aggressive. But let's not end up singing "You're the Top" in the mess hall with our pants pulled down around our ankles.

"Nerd" School in Mesa

2006-01-21T01:15:00.000-07:00

Overall, I'm quite pleased to learn about Project Lead the Way. However I must address a statement put forward by Albert McHenry, dean of Arizona State University Polytechnic's college of technology and applied sciences. He states that more students are not pursuing technical careers because

...too many young students are scared off by the math and science associated with careers in engineering, or deterred by the brainy stigma that accompanies the subjects' masters, leaving a few "self-selectors" who put themselves on the engineering path.

There are a few more problems:

Despite McHenry's assertion that "There's nothing wrong with nerds," many kids, and adults I might add, would rather not pursue a career where it is apparently considered socially acceptable to be referred to as a "nerd."
With engineering jobs being offshored to India and China in an aggressive campaign to find the lowest bidders, a career in engineering is not nearly as stable as one in, say, business.
An engineer, even one with a Master's or PhD, is typically not going to receive the same sweet, sweet starting salary and signing bonus as an MBA.

Really, it was the "nerd" thing that fueled my ire.

Former EPA Heads Condemn Bush's Environmental Policies

2006-01-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

Ex-EPA Chiefs Blame Bush in Global Warming

Six former heads of the Environmental Protection Agency — five Republicans and one Democrat — accused the Bush administration Wednesday of neglecting global warming and other environmental problems.

Those damn hippy, tree-hugging, granola-eating, dreadlock-wearing Democrats with their partisan mudslinging.

Oh wait, you say there are Republicans making that accusation? Five of them? Five out of six, as in 83.33 per cent?

Ouch.

Good Catch, Ms. Rigby

2006-01-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

From the Arizona Republic Opinion's page: Maybe a Little Family Planning? Donna Rigby of Prescott writes:

Here we have a family with an income of $80,000 a year, unable to afford health insurance, unable to pay debts, expecting doctors and hospitals to reduce fees, moving in with parents and utilizing Medicaid.

The funny/pathetic part of the whole story is that even though this family was unable to afford health insurance or pay their bills, they kept having children! There are six children in the photo of what appears to be a rather nice two-story house.

Although I agree there is a real crisis with affordable health insurance in this country, I do not agree with the thinking of people who feel it's their right to have large families and then expect others to help them out.

Right on. While I don't feel that we should invoke limits on the number of kids parents can have...yet...we should not be expected to cover for other people's poor planning and irresponsibility. And yes, being pregnant with your fifth child while collection agencies are calling is extremely irresponsible. So is being pregnant with your sixth when your husband isn't getting paid. Accepting a job with no health benefits, no matter what the salary, while planning to fill your household with a litter of kids is also irresponsible.

On a more presumptive note, do you think they waived their tithing to the Church of Latter Day Saints?

Shadegg on Fox News

2006-01-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

The transcript from the Sunday, January 15 Fox News interview with Shadegg and, oh yeah, Blunt and Boehner, may be found here.

...I think the American people are questioning, you know, did we change Washington or did Washington change us.
-John Shadegg

Evolution vs. Religion?

2006-01-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

Last week, in his interview on the Colbert Report, Kenneth Miller of Brown University presented the most eloquent defense of evolution from a theological perspective that I've heard. Onegoodmove has the video.

I don't choose to believe in a deceptive creator.
Kenneth Miller

The Screaming...Libertarian?

2006-01-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

I've had libertarian leanings for a while, but lately have found myself embracing libertarian principles more and more, due to recent readings. My priorities haven't changed at all, but my ideas as to how to best address those priorities have.

Eh, I'll continue to remain the "Screaming Centrist" for now, at least until I come up with a catchy alliterative title containing the word "libertarian."

"Drunk With Power..."

2006-01-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this article was published at Foxnews.com.

...President Ronald Reagan vetoed a transportation bill passed by Congress because it had 157 "earmarks"...(snip)

Fast-forward to 2005. Republicans control the White House and both houses of Congress. Early on a Saturday morning in August — the day of the week, and the month of the year, least likely to attract media attention — President Bush signed into law a highway bill passed by his own party with more than 6,000 earmarked projects.

Goes to show you what can happen when a single party retains power. This is one of the reasons I'm no longer a Republican (at heart, anyway; technically I'm still registered Republican). Democrats are supposedly "tax and spend," but lately Republicans have consistently proven themselves to be the party of "spend and spend" (and spend and spend and spend). Check some of the quotes from the article.

Upon hearing that only one other lawmaker in the entire Congress had outdone him in securing pork barrel projects, [Alaska Representative and chairman of the transportation committee Don] Young told the New York Times, "I'd like to be a little oinker, myself. If he's the chief porker, I'm upset." (snip)

"I fold [pork projects] into bills where you can't find them," [Mississippi Senator Trent] Lott boasted. "I've been around here long enough to know how to bury it."

Letter to My Congressman

2006-01-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

To the Honorable Jeff Flake

Dear Mr. Flake:

As registered Republican turned largely independent, I would like to say a million 'thank you's for standing up and campaigning against the graft, corruption, and pork that has sadly tainted Congress and, more unfortunately, the Republican Party in particular. I'd also like to encourage you to keep up the good fight, whether you need the encouragement or not. An overhaul is necessary if we are to maintain the American res-publica.

I would also like to lend my whole-hearted support to Rep. Shadegg, or any Republican who can bring about genuine reform, in his effort to become House Majority Leader. The information I've read on Boehner and Blunt regarding their ties to lobbyists and pork is terribly disconcerting. Beyond writing my congressman, which obviously isn't necessary in this case, I don't know what I can do personally to promote, if not Shadegg himself, the qualifications and ideals we need in a House Majority Leader. Please let me know if there is any action I can take regarding this.

In the past you've been criticized for staying in Congress for more terms than you originally promised. However, I would like to encourage you to continue to run in future elections. The House needs more people like you who are not only willing to stand up to corruption and pork, but to make it a personal crusade. You will most definitely be receiving my vote this November.

There are a number of issues I've disagreed with Mr. Flake on, such as gay marriage. This, however, is vitally important and anyone who is willing to fight this sort of corruption deserves nothing but encouragement.

Jeff Flake Helps Oust DeLay, Stands Up to Pork

2006-01-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

Nothing new on the pork thing; he's been fighting that for years. I'm impressed that partisanship hasn't caused him to waver.

Citing the Abramoff scandal, he criticizes "earmarking" in a letter to Dennis Hastert.

"While some of what has occurred can be attributed to partisan politics, much of it cannot," Flake continues. "We have allowed, and in some cases fostered, an atmosphere that breeds corruption. I am speaking, specifically, of the escalating practice of 'earmarking.'"

He, along with Charlie Bass, was successful in getting Tom DeLay to step down as House majority leader.

My fear is the first reform that we will go for is to beat up on lobbyists. Let's blame this all on them. We really need to put our own House in order. That's really a peripheral issue, the lobbyists. As others have said, you can't have a corrupt lobbyist unless he has somebody to corrupt.

I tell you what, there are plenty of issues I don't agree with him on, but he's doing a hellavua job securing my vote this November.

Minimum Wage Hike?

2006-01-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Where the hell am I? Massachusetts? I don't remember moving here.

Why the confusion? Because I just read an article that, according to a recent poll, Arizonans approve a minimum wage hike from $5.15 to $5.95/hr with a jump to $6.75 in 2008. The margin was enormous, with 76 percent approving the wage hike vs. 19 percent against it. Where were the Republicans in this poll? Dodging indictments?

The increase may not sound like much, if you support the idea of a minimum wage. But, if we require an artificially inflated wage rather than paying workers fair market value, then we're (to repeat the mantra) looking at increased unemployment and black market labor, and increased prices, with the smaller businesses suffering the most. Coyote Blog presents an excellent case study on the effects of minimum wage. Another case study may be found in the San Fransisco Chronicle, under the cumbersome headline, Minimum wage law praised in new study But restaurants say they raised prices, earned lower profits (Do they have an editor there?). Some key points:

Kevin Westley, head of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, said his group had conducted its own economic survey of 1,100 restaurants in 2004...and the responses back were overwhelmingly negative.

"Ninety-eight percent of restaurants raised prices, and more importantly, 89 percent raised prices significantly," Westley said. "To say there is no impact is simply incorrect. Fifty-four percent of restaurants reduced the number of employees. Ninety-one percent reported lower profits."

Westley...called the wage increase a "significant factor" in lower profits for restaurants.

"...we've seen people who have closed their original restaurants and reopened outside San Francisco just based on the cost of doing business here."

Go figure that UC Berkeley would praise the minimum wage hike.

Another study, Sense and Nonsense on the Minimum Wage, strongly supports the idea that increases in minimum wage lead to decreases in employment.

Going back a bit, the sense of entitlement expressed in the AZCentral article disgusts me.

A victory for the minimum-wage increase would be welcome news for Jessa Johnson and Dan Brown, both 23, who live together in Gilbert. The couple...work together at an auto shop where they make a little more than the current minimum wage.

"People need money to live," Johnson said. "We work 80 hours a week and barely make it. We want a house, two new cars, this and that - it's never enough."

Tell you what, Jessa, go to college, gain some skills that allow you to work somewhere besides an auto shop, and find something that pays more.

I will contend that our education system is in shambles. Everyone who is motivated to do so should have the means of improving his expertise and skills so that he may pursue more ambitious goals in life. Any effort we put forth to make these pursuits attainable will pay off generously in overall societal and economic growth. But, hiking the minimum wage is not the way to do it.

One of the Most Important Websites...Ever

2006-01-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

I read FactCheck.org pretty regularly during the 2004 presidential campaign, but quickly forgot about them after the election. However, they're still going strong, providing throughly researched political information to the masses. Check it out and sign up for their newsletter.

Pat Robertson: Pharisee

2006-01-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

Should I even dignify this with a response? Only a hateful, sociopathic, heretical little worm would preach that God prefers war over peace.

Democrat vs. Republican Military Service

2006-01-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

Jane AZ, over at Arizona Congress Watch, linked to this site regarding the military service of Democrats vs. Republican politicians and pundits. (John Wayne and Ted Nugent are pundits? That's news to me.) Since the freakin' comments seem to be busted over there, at least for me (time to send her another email), I'll just post here what I was trying to say over there:

Although I agree with the spirit of the message, regarding chickenhawks sending kids to die in the Boondoggle on Terror, I have to point out the obvious padding of that list. Al Gore? OK, so I'm pretty sure he has an opinion about the Iraq War. But George McGovern?? OK, checking Wikipedia I see he's commented recently about needing a "Deep Throat" for the Iraq BS. But Walter Mondale??? If you're going to include these guys, then you at least should include Bob Dole and George H.W. Bush, both of whom served admirably in WWII. And if you're going to include Ronald Reagan, who can't comment one way or the other on the Iraq war, you may as well include Gerald Ford, who did serve in the Navy during WWII.

Some glaring omissions from the Republican list include Jeff Sessions, who was in the Army reserves; Ted Stevens (sigh) who, as a WWII pilot, was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and the Yuan Hai medal awarded by the Republic of China (and no, that doesn't mean I like him); Senator John Warner, who served in the Navy during WWII and in the Marines during Korea; and Heather Wilson, who was in the Air Force from 1978-1989. Here is the site where I got my information.

Although the same point could've been made by including more complete information, it's this sort of slant that gets the conservatives ranting about "those insane liberals."

(Of course, I'm not criticizing you, Jane AZ, but the blog you linked to.)

A Word About My Political Leanings

2006-01-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

Reading my entries, you may get the impression that I'm some sort of liberal, hippy, bleeding-heart Democrat. This is certainly not the case. But, thanks to the GOP, there are a number of issues at the forefront with which I'm in strong disagreement, such as allowing fundamentalist Christian sects to try to tell us what we can do in the privacy of our homes, the gross misallocation of resources in the Boondoggle on Terror, its anti-science stance, and the financial abyss we're in due to runaway spending (weren't Republicans supposed to be against runaway spending?).

Now, if the major issues were welfare and labor unions, you'd find out just how conservative I really am.

Len Munsil Calls Out Libetarians for Behaving as "Liberals"

2006-01-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Oh my God, the liberatarians have shown that they're not tools of the theocratic religious right. What a shock! Perhaps you should say a prayer to God to strike us down for our evil, liberal (or is that "ultraliberal"?) ways.

(I have no idea when the article was written, or when it'll change. I just ran across it and couldn't find a date on it.)

Book Recommendation

2006-01-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science, by Charles Wheelan. This book satisfies my top three criteria for an impressive non-fiction book: it's accessible, engaging, and humorous. And it covers a topic that everyone should be familiar with. Read it.

Energy...Independence?

2006-01-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

(Another entry I would've posted sooner, had I not been a quivering mass of hacking, feverish humanity at the time)

Poor Pubbies. Those mean Democrats once again have thwarted the United States' plans to throw of the yoke of foreign oil dependence by blocking drilling in ANWR. Ted Stevens, his skull practically splitting his face open, swears up and down that this is a vital step toward energy independence. But is it really? Let's do some basic math here. ANWR drilling is expected to yield a grand total of 10 billion barrels of oil. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? Unfortunately, the United States consumes 20 million barrels of oil per day. After some simple calculations, we find that, given current consumption rates, drilling in ANWR is expected to yield a total of a year and four months of oil. This isn't energy independence. This is the equivalent of the runner-up prize on a game show.

Folks, we need to make drastic changes if we're going to cut the foreign oil umbilical cord, way beyond drilling and refinery construction. We must aggressively pursue alternative energy technologies and take energy conservation seriously. These investments will pay off generously on the long run--in economic growth, national security, and environmental protection.

As for my opinion regarding ANWR drilling--I lean toward seeing Ted Stevens burst a forehead vessel live on C-SPAN.

Intelligent Design "Breathtaking Inanity"

2005-12-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

Thus sayeth U.S. District Judge John E. Jones, a Republican churchcgoer, after a six-week trial regarding the Dover, PA policy of including "Intelligent Design" in the biology curriculum. Pat Robertson is probably having a massive coronary right now. We can always hope.

Intelligent Design, for those of you who have been living in a cave, is based on the notion (not a theory, not even a good hypothesis) that life is sooo complex that some higher being (or aliens; could be aliens too!) must have been directly involved in its creation. The big fallacy I see that hasn't been covered by the media is that evolution is somehow against God. God's involvement shouldn't come into play here. Perhaps he is directly involved on a species by species level in their development and evolution. Perhaps he created the universe under benevolent intentions and let the laws of nature play out. Perhaps he (gasp) doesn't exist. Since we don't know, and since many faiths interpret God's involvement (or lack of involvement) differently, it's not up to the teachers to say.

The only problem I imagine the religious right having with the teaching of evolution is if it--what we've studied, observed, and proven--goes against some sort of religious text they follow whose literal interpretation, an interpretation they wish to impose on the general populace, is in conflict with these facts. That couldn't be it, could it? Naaahhh.

I realize this isn't the most timely blog entry. I was working on a draft when I was suddenly stricken with the flu. That, and my Christmas vacation trip to see the parents, who have dial-up, delayed things a bit.

Len Munsil

2005-12-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

I've read some criticism recently of reporter bias, specifically the way politicians are labeled, e.g. "extremist," "right-wing," "radical," etc. The criticisms are founded, I think; I was taught in fifth grade that reporters are supposed to be objective. Columnists and bloggers are immune from this restriction, of course. Nevertheless, I'm going to refrain from using any labels, at least in this post. Instead, I'm simply going to link you to The Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), a "pro-family" organization of which Len Munsil, potential GOP candidate for Arizona governor, is president.

I won't stop there though. I'll save you some clicking by linking you directly to the AZ Family Focus newsletter, a publication of CAP authored by Mr. Munsil, esq. himself.

You know what? I think I'll go ahead and save you even more time and effort. I'm going to provide some choice quotes from the newsletter archives.

From the August Newsletter:

God has given us an active role to play in sharing and demonstrating our faith, and for reflecting God's truths and His original design for mankind, including His plan for human governments and nations. (my bold)

From September:

These Godly principles can only be promoted if "moral and religious" people are willing to enter the public arena and allow their voices to be heard in government.

And finally, from October/November:

Our duty to be salt and light, to spread biblical truths in our culture, to have the righteousness of God reflected in our society's laws and values, is constant...We must continue to be engaged, and to pray for a widespread turning of our people to faith in God. That will transform our culture and laws more than any single political win.

Of course, when he talks about morals and faith, he's talking about his morals and faith in his version of God. Read the rest of his newsletters and tell me I'm lying.

Offshoring Engineering

2005-12-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

Biases: I'm a rocket scientist, actually a structural engineer on launch vehicles. My last job was in engineering consulting and computer-aided engineering software training and support. I've dealt with engineers at some level from all over the world.

I submitted the following in a letter to the editor yesterday. It makes a point beyond any free trade or free market issues. Actually I had free market considerations very much in mind when I wrote it.

Regarding the sidebar to "More jobs moving offshore" (Republic, Monday):

According to the McKinsey Global Institute, 52% of U.S. engineering jobs could be performed elsewhere. Based on my experiences in mechanical engineering, I disagree in that qualified engineers are less plentiful overseas than many corporate executives would have us believe. [Note: I'll expound on this in a later post.] Regardless, it is evident that high-tech jobs will continue to be offshored to people willing to perform, or at least attempt, engineering services for McDonald's wages.

Ironically, I have encountered numerous articles bemoaning America's lack of quality education in math and science. My question is, given the trend toward the "globalization" of technology, i.e. the elimination of American engineering jobs, what motivation do U.S. students have to pursue high-tech careers?

I am fortunate that my company values the skills and expertise of its U.S. engineering force. However this continues to be the exception. My colleagues and I agree that children should be encouraged to study business rather than technology. The reasons are simple: a degree in business provides more prestige, more versatility, and, with the possible exception of accounting, more stability than an engineering degree.

So forget science, kids, but don't neglect math. You'll need it for business school.

Remembering the Terri Schiavo fiasco

2005-12-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

Visit TerriPAC.

"...one thing that God has brought to us is Terri Schiavo, to elevate the visibility of what's going on in America."
-Tom Delay

Welcome

2005-12-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the home of the "Screaming Centrist!" There are actually two of us posting, so apologies in advance for the apparent "split personality" of our posts. We're new to Blogger, so bear with us while we get familiar with the tools and functionality here.

We are barraged daily by pundits, bloggers, politicians, et al who scream from the left and scream from the right. The Screaming Centrist is here to scream from the center.

Lest you think that we're indecisive in our beliefs, we should clarify that we stand to the left on some issues, and to the right on other issues. We believe in a minimal amount of government but feel it to be a necessary evil in some instances. All in all, our political leanings average out to about the middle.

While Googling to see if the "Screaming Centrist" name had been taken, we came across an article where someone had referred to Howard Dean as a "screaming 'centrist.'" Make no mistake, we are not a pro-Dean blog, Howard, John, or otherwise. We are not a pro-anyone blog. We are pro-reason and pro-responsibility, and we're going to keep screaming until we get it.

So sit back, stay tuned, and enjoy (or be completely offended--whatever floats your boat).