Power Blogging

I was feeling particularly verbose today and posted about half a dozen items. I strongly suggest you start here and read them in chronological order (upward on the page) rather than reverse chronological (downward on the page). Yes, I know that this is probably backwards from the way you are used to reading, but frankly, it's how blogs work. Get used to it.

Hyper-Inflation?

$600 for two bags of chips! Yeah, that's special alright.

Improvements for all Time

How, you might be wondering, would our government behave if we returned to our founding principles and a strict adherence to the Constitution. To reiterate, our original principles include small, limited transparent accountable republican government with equal application of the law to all citizens and corporate entities. Here are specific examples of what that type of governance would look like, and how it differs from the corruption we are subjected to today.

1. No bailouts. To anyone or any company at any time (except possibly in time of war to keep a crucial manufacturer in operation temporarily). It is an abuse of power and a violation of equal protection for the government to choose economic winners and losers. As in intervening on behalf of Bear Stearns but not Lehman Bros. In fact, the potential for catastrophic failures like those occurring in the real estate and credit markets would likely be lower if government did nothing to "ease the pain". Under our limited government approach Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would never have existed as quasi-governmental groups, much less have had any implicit federal backing. Without those two creating artificial demand for subprime mortgages, the RE bubble would not have been as large as it was and the ripple effect not so damaging.
2. Flat rate income tax. The vast majority of people would pay one, and only one, rate. Probably something between 10% and 20%. Those at the bottom of the income brackets, earning under maybe $25,000 per year would pay no income tax. Ideally, everyone would pay some tax, if we're to have an income tax at all, but this approach reduces the need for supplemental programs or credits for the poor that could be abused by both recipients and government officials. This scheme would eliminate all deductions, credits, and other tricks that politicians can use to grant favors to special interests and friends. Also, it ensures that nearly all citizens have an economic interest in voting and active civic participation.
3. No czars. The word, or the position, is not found in the Constitution and there is no accountability of them to Congress or the voters. Therefore, the czars and their offices, staff, and budgets are gone. And let's not be slick by labeling them "special advisors" or any similar.
   
4. The number of cabinet positions and their corresponding departments would be reduced, at least by half. Those that would remain include State, Justice, Defense, Treasury, and something that would address natural resources and infrastructure. Key agencies that would stay include FDA, CDC, Coast Guard (under Defense), and possibly FCC.
5. Balanced budgets. Congress could not pass deficit budgets unless during times of declared war.
6. No career politicians. Term limits are probably the only feasible route to accomplish this, although it is not without its own faults. In general, no person could hold elected office or appointed position for more than 8-12 years before having to return to private life for at least 2 or possibly 4 years. Also, Congress would meet only 5-6 months of the year in total. It was never expected or intended that legislators and top officials would be anything other than private citizens with real professions that paid their bills. Another solution beside term limits is to ban A/C from all federal buildings, with the exception of military posts. Congress would flee from Washington as soon as Spring arrived like rats from a sinking ship.
7. Social Security funds (or other non-discretionary entitlements) could not be used for anything but Social Security. Ideally, we would admit that this is the largest Ponzi scheme in the history of world and radically reform it. Make it into something like a mandatory savings/retirement account. Social Security is very tricky, both financially and political, so I won't expound on it here.
   

Go let this sink in for a while. I'll have a few more wacky radical ideas for you soon.

Sweet Space Station Animation

How the International Space Station was constructed in orbit.

We Own That Dome

While we are on the subject of criticizing government, let me share some pictures from the 9/12 Taxpayer Protest March in DC.



I've never seen so many Don't Tread on Me or Come and Take It flags in one place before. And I've never felt so safe in Washington before either.

Message to Congress, the President, and the media: "Can you hear us now?!"

I encourage all of you to go right now to Meetup.com and search for your local Tea Party or 9/12 group. It's high time to restore respect for the Constitution, fiscal responsibility and restraint, transparency, accountability, and integrity to all levels and branches of our government.

Music to My Ears

Russian Punk Rockers Rage Against the Putin Machine


Russia and Putin are usually not topics covered here on Yankee Scribble; I typically leave those Ballista. But since Ballista hasn't made an appearance in over a year, it seems I must take up the slack. Or, more to the point, the angst-filled youth of St. Petersburg have taking their musical jabs at the Soviet-styled strongman. Oh yes, the Ramones and Sex Pistols would be proud. I certainly am. If there is one group that is never afraid to speak out, it's the punk rockers. God bless them.

[T]he outspoken singer of Saint Petersburg-based punk rock band PTVP, saves much of his venom for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, referring to him as a "pig" in one of his most strident songs.

As the article explains, this is nothing new for Russia, however, these voices have been fading.

[R]ussian rock music lost much of its rebellious spirit after being at the forefront of perestroika, the liberal reforms introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s, musicians and critics say.

Ironically, some of the leading figures in 1980s rock now perform at patriotic concerts organised by the Kremlin.

But in Saint Petersburg, a city long seen as Russia's "window to the West", a handful of bands have defied the trend and continue to speak out.

They include PTVP, whose full name translates as "The Last Tanks in Paris," and some veteran bands who complain of being marginalized on television and radio because of their politics.

"Most bands, for some reason, have become conformist and most music is just fun," said Sergey Chernov, a music columnist for the St. Petersburg Times newspaper who has followed Russian rock since the 1980s.

So how is Vladimir reacting to this scrutiny and criticism? As one would expect of a KGB colonel.

Several times over the years, police rushed the stage and stopped concerts after Nikonov sang about Putin, and once in Vyborg he was hauled off to jail before being freed without charges, band members recalled.

"It is mostly provincial towns that are afraid," Nikonov said.

I sincerely hope PTVP keep it up, regardless of the quality of their music. If democracy is ever going to take deep root in Russia, then the artists, musicians, writers, and other creative folk need to lead the way. Imagine America without Thomas Nast, Bob Dylan, or Thomas Paine. Sadly, I have to ask, how long before these guys are found each with a bullet to the head? Or is that reserved for human rights lawyers? It's so hard to keep track of the many methods used by the Kremlin to eliminate its opponents.

Come to think of it, maybe Ballista has become a PTVP groupie. Either that or he's in the gulag. After all, Ballista's last post was on the Russian invasion of Georgia and I wouldn't put it past Ballista to go ballistic and join the Georgian cause.

The Inane Continues

I'm down with a nasty cold on this grey, dreary, chilly, rain-soaked day so I decided to catch up on blogging. Get your readin' glasses 'cause I've got a whole day to kill, endless streams of hot tea, and plenty of cerebral fodder. And, as we all know, I produce some of my best exposition when my head is cloudy with sinus meds and mucus.

Speaking of cold medicine, let's begin with more inane drug laws that are totally out of proportion to reality or common sense:

Wabash Valley woman didn’t realize second cold medicine purchase violated drug laws.

When Sally Harpold bought cold medicine for her family back in March, she never dreamed that four months later she would end up in handcuffs.

Get ready for the next big reality tv hit: Grandmas Behind Bars!

Want more on how I feel about these laws and the jackasses that cause the problems prompting them? Read here.

Surprisingly, I actually enjoy Breaking Bad on A&E. Chalk it up to the same interest we all have for the mob and The Sopranos.

Google Celebrates the Pipe Bomb?

No, today is not the anniversary of the IRA or anything so combustible. It's the birthday of the scientist who is credited with first observing and investigating electromagnetism. But seriously, Google Doodlers, it looks like a time-fused pipe bomb. Listen to the Scribbler on this one.

Forty Years of Foam Fun

Ah, Nerf. So many fond childhood memories of mine involve squishy footballs thrown around a swimming pool or small yellow orbs of foam propelled at people's heads. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Nerf brand. Until the juvenile energetic staff at PC World posted this video of themselves trying out the goody-box sent by Nerf, I had no idea it was that old. Hope Nerf doesn't enter a midlife crisis. Although, judging by some of the current product offerings, you might argue that it has. I prefer to think of it more in terms of "product innovation".





Nerf circa 1969 (Wikipedia)









Nerf circa 2009 (Hasbro)

If I had one of those belt-fed behemoths in my pillow fort nobody would ever capture my flag. That is, of course, until Nerf develops the N-Bomb, which will unleash massive amounts of atom-sized foam balls annihilating everything within a square mile.

By the way, did you know that Nerf is really an acronym? Watch the PC World video to find out what it is, if you don't already know.

Endeth the Empire?

...Uncle Sam is on the verge of paying the City of Los Angeles $30 million to subsidize a ten-year run of Cirque du Soleil.

So it's finally come to pass - America has embarked on the same road down which ancient Rome marched to its ruin: Uncle Sam not only subsidizes bread (by subsidizing wheat production) but now also circuses.

Don Boudreaux - GMU Econ dept. chair

Alex at Marginal Revolution says this is enough to call it the "official" end of us all.

This time the barbarians aren't so much at the gate... they are inside... they are the apathetic, the uninformed, the lazy, the ones who think it's okay for their neighbors to pay for everything, not realizing that their own pockets are in turn being picked. Wake up people, and don't allow your principles, common sense, and personal dignity to be bought off by politicians.

However, as Rome shows the way to ruin, she always lights the way back to prosperity - The Republic.

Concrete Answers

Sifting through the mail today, I came across an advertisement for the Portland Cement Association on the back cover of a magazine. I stared at it for a moment wondering why the cement trade group would need to advertise in a popular current affairs newsmag. Being the inquisitive bloke I am, I resolved to dig deeper. A quick visit to cement.org gave me the answer, or the "hard" facts if you'll excuse a pun. Federal por... er, stimulus, money. Seems the cement people are lobbying hard to inform you, humble taxpayer, that concrete is far more durable and cheaper than asphalt for road construction. As with so many things these days, the answer is politics and the money trail leads back to Washington. Hey - maybe we can get these guys to fit the Treasury's printing presses with some cement shoes. Now that would be money well spent!

Incidently, did you know that Thomas Edison invented a new process for building with Porland Cement? Nor did I until my recent visit to Edison's home, Glenmont, in West Orange, NJ. It's a national historic park and well worth the trip, particular if you enjoy Victorian art and architecture. And - nerd alert - the Edison Company laboratory is set to re-open in the fall after a 7-year renovation. Seven years, huh? Wow, I sure hope my government healthcare system operates just as quickly as the Park Service!

Disclaimer: that "concrete answers" title came from the cement.org site, much as I'd like to take credit for another zippy pun.

A Giant Leap...

It is hard to believe. Forty years ago today man walked on a solitary orb of rock called the Moon. It's hard to believe that three men traversed the chilly vacuum of space to land on a celestial body. It's hard to believe that what was only a dream was achieved in less than 10 years of dedicated effort. In our current times of economic turmoil, when scions of industry and technological change like General Motors can barely produce cars people want and airlines are cutting services, that we as a nation, as a united people, as a human race could join minds to invent and build countless technologies and tools to safely carry people to and from the Moon.

I note this to both highlight how exceptional an achievement the Apollo 11 mission was and to send out a message of encouragement. We can accomplish great things, overcome insurmountable obstacles, and change the way we think about the universe if we devote our time and resources to it. And, if we push the doubters, naysayers, and red-tape dispensers out of the way. Innovation and progress do not result from overseers, lawyers, judges, administrators, or politicians but from risk-takers, hard workers, and all-around bright and dedicated people. While our national leaders can set an agenda, it is for us - the everyday people - to make dreams become reality to the betterment of all mankind. We went to the Moon because we chose to. Not even the sky is the limit to our success when we choose to.

Sons of Columbia

A favorite compendium of mine is the Book of American Values and Virtues: Our Tradition of Freedom, Liberty & Tolerance. I turn to it from time to time when I need words of inspiration and a reminder of all that we as a nation have overcome. The other night, after digesting the Declaration of Independence - which you all should re-read occasionally, especially when you hear any news out of Washington - I came to a poem that resides on the opposite page. I found it remarkable in its simplicity and clarity of vision, not to mention the message conveyed. The words had an effect on my and I would like to share them with you now.

Ye sons of Columbia, who bravely have fought
For those rights which unstain'd from your sires you descended,
May you long taste the blessing your valor has brought,
And your sons reap the soil which your fathers defended.
'Mid the reign of mild peace,
May your nation increase,
With the Glory of Rome and the Wisdom of Greece;
And ne'er may the sons of Columbia be slaves,
While the earth bears a plant or the sea rolls its waves.

Let Fame to the world sound America's voice;
No intrigue can her sons from the government sever;
Her pride in her Adams-his laws are her choice,
And shall flourish till Liberty slumber forever!
Then unite heart and hand,
Like Leonidas' band,
And swear to the God of the ocean and land
that ne'er shall the sons of Columbia be slaves,
While the earth bears a plant or the sea rolls its waves.

~ Robert Treat Paine

Ne'er shall the sons of Columbia be slaves.



Update: This is only part of the poem, the first and last stanzas. The entire piece, along with a short bio of the author, can be found here.

Automotive Milestone

In case you can't tell, that's 250,000 miles on the odometer of my venerable 1992 Saab 900 hatchback. By sheer coincidence, this occurred just as I turned into a friend's driveway so I was fortunate enough to be able to snap these pics.

What's even more impressive is the minimal amount of maintenance required to get to this milestone. The only power train-related repair was the recent replacement of the crankshaft timing sensor. I'm convinced that the engine on this Saab will outlast every other part of the car. I'm expecting that some day the body will just fall apart all at once, leaving only the motor sitting on the frame. I've taken to thinking of my Saab as though she's the Battlestar Galatica at the end of the Sci-Fi series: a proud, distinguished history; well deserving of retirement yet still called to service; and always a few trips away from busting wide open.

This is the type of quality that Saab was capable of producing before the buyout by GM. In fact, it is not too uncommon for Saabs from the 80s and early 90s to reach 300,000-500,000 miles. My hope is that we will see some wonderful engineering and design work under the stewardship of the new owners of my favorite Swedish brand. Koenigsegg certainly knows how to build things that go very fast, which might pair well with the "Born from jets" heritage of Saab.

Funny Tees for Nerds

PCWorld.com has a bevy of tech-themed shirts posted today, including the two above that made me LOL. These are strictly for geeks, so get your taped-up glasses pointed over there now. Full slide show here.

Friday Fun

With the weather warming and the weekend upon us, who really wants to focus on mundane stuff like work? Therefore, I will share with you my joyful distractions for today. As I've done before, I give you otters.


Now for the really cool part. The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers a plethora of webcams to view some of their exhibits, including one for... are you ready for this... OTTERS! Actually it's 3 webcams: 1 for sea otters, 2 for river otters.

Tune in to the sea otter cam at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm (all times Pacific) for feeding and training sessions - includes audio commentary by the staff.

By sheer coincidence, the above picture was one of the pics that Picassa served up on the daily Explore feature that grabs a variety of images from different users to share on the main page. The guy who took the picture, Edward Rooks, has many more amazing nature shots that you should check out. This particular picture highlights the surrogate program the aquarium conducts to nurture displaced otter pups before they are released back into the wild.

The Framework

Spring is here and all the plant pods are open. That means my sinuses are closed. Therefore, because I'm feeling a bit loopy, my brain being starved for oxygen, thus putting me on par with your typical elected official, I decided it would be a grand time to lay out what I believe are the critical, necessary characteristics of any good government. This is an easy starter into the bedrock values that underpin my suggestions for the future of the nation.

First, any government should be effective. While it should be obvious that we as a people would want any organization formed for our benefit to be able to efficiently and functionally accomplish its chartered mission, recent history in particular has shown that this is not obvious (see any federal department/bureau/agency, excluding the military).

Second, any government must be simple. By this I mean easily accessible to the average person. Laws, statutes, and regulations should be written as plainly as possible so that every literate individual can be engaged with his or her government and understand what their representatives and agents are doing. A great example would be the federal tax code. Presently, the tax code is 80,000+ pages long. Armies of lawyers and accountants are currently employed to both write and decipher it, which inevitably leads to numerous different interpretations and loopholes. (Also leads to tax "oversights" by supposedly intelligent and informed people like House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel and Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner. Those would be the guys responsible for respectively writing and overseeing enforcement of the tax code. Ooops!) A simple tax code would be 1 or 2 pages, consisting of such "complex" language as "multiple your income by 0.15. That is your tax responsibility."

Third, good government must be transparent. Transparency dictates that everything the government does, aside from what is related to national security, is open to inspection by the public. It also requires a simple and effective (see above) process for accessing government records, publications, and proceedings. Again, transparency enables the average citizen to remain engaged and knowledgeable about what the government is doing. It can also work to keep politicians and bureaucrats honest (I know, oxymoron.) because everything they do is open to the light of day. Except for the Pentagon, every government office should be a metaphorical clear glass building.

Fourth, good government should be small and limited in powers and scope. This could be two criteria, but I'll treat them as one since they are so closely related. If you consider it for a moment, you will see that small and limited are absolutely necessary qualities if government is to be effective, simple, and transparent. Really, it's intuitive - the larger and more complex something becomes, the less efficient, simple, and easily understood that thing becomes. Does anyone who has every been on the phone with tech support think Windows is simple and effective? Furthermore, I firmly and absolutely believe that you know best for your own life and have the right to the opportunity and power to make those decisions for yourself. Put another way, the closer to you the power is, the more likely that you will achieve the outcome you want. Conversely, the further away from you the power resides, the less likely that decisions will be made that best represent your wants and needs. In practice, your local and state governments should retains as much power as possible while the federal government looks after several critical functions. But at all levels of government, power needs to be clearly deliniated and as as limited as possible. Small and limited government keeps people who don't know you, or answer to you, from making important decisions for you. It also contrainsts ambition, corruption, and greed; and, when government is also simple and transparent, you will readily perceive when those in power are misusing their position. Then you can take action against the transgressors.

Now, some would argue that you cannot have an effective government if it is simple and small. I reject these claims. Such arguments presume that the government knows better than individual citizens and should thus have a wider, deeper role in the affairs of the country. They also assume that the government can do many things better. Beyond several key functions, such as national defense and a justice system, this is laughable and demonstrably false. Think of your own life. Don't you achieve more and get more done when tasks are well defined and you have a simple method to do it? Of course you do! That applies to any organization, including government. The less they have to do, and better defined those tasks are, the more effectively, quickly, and inexpensively can they do it. And, the better you can judge success or misuse of power.

Hopefully, it is clear to you, dear reader, that these 4 characteristics of good government were all instituted at the time of the founding and ratification of the Constitution. These are not radical changes for our nation; quite the opposite. They all exist to one degree or another still. Rather they are a framework for evaluating how well our government is representing us and how healthy our republic is. Unfortunately, our national problems today can be traced to a steady creep away from effective, simple, transparent, and small and limited government. Especially at the federal level. We The People must demand from our government a steady return to strict adherence to these qualities.

A (Red) Banner Day

It is May Day, comrades! And what a glorious day for the proletariat is it. Those vile capitalist corporations General Motors and Chrysler are now securely in the hands of the State and the unions, just as it should have been all along. Dear Leader Obama has justly redistributed the means of production from the guilty financial pigs who took money from the masses and enriched the hapless heads of these vital national industries. If not for these brave moves by the State, the proud workers, whose labor is the root of all production, would have been left robbed of their entitled place in the factory.

Now, the unions, which tirelessly strive for the benefit of the common worker, will direct the activities of the auto giants. In addition, "our friends from Italy" at Fiat will ensure that the latest socially responsible policies from Europe are enacted, and that no trouble is caused by bourgeois provocateurs. Yes, Fiat, which has been slandered by agents of the West with the moniker "Fix It Again Tom" will help bring culturally progressive transportation to the people. Indeed, the compassionate State and its enlightened partners have "fixed it".

Additionally, the banks, which once sought only profit - the evil of all mankind - now follow the will of the State, ensuring efficient transfers of wealth to the unions. The auto makers never need worry about "money" again, leaving them free to maintain proper employment levels that will give a living wage to all workers, regardless of skill or seniority.

Soon, new cars will be rolling off the line. Cars that reflect the glory of the State in ushering forward a future of social equality. Of course, consistent with goals of the progressive society, cars will be distributed fairly, without callous regard for income or status. We can all be assured that the great and wondrous State and the unions will make excellent design selections. These will be cars that you will have no choice but to drive - literally.

Let us give thanks to our benevolent leader Obama and his deputies, and to the people's servants the unions. With our support they will surely extend their wise policies to every other industry. Already we see their efforts in the energy and health care sectors. Hope and Change are upon us! An illustrious May Day. Let us sing...

Would You Want This Guy as Your Boss?

A major public corporation was in need of a new CEO. One candidate was a young executive who had been with the company less than 2 years and had never before served as chief executive of any company. However, the search committee and the Board of Directors found him quite charismatic and full of potential. He had excellent rapport with employees, too. The young exec wooed the Board with ideas for increasing employee morale and productivity, boosting sales, and making the firm a true industry leader. This was music to the ears of the Board as their corporation had recently experienced financial trouble and was seen by some in the public and press as out-dated and uncaring toward employees and other stakeholders.

The young exec was eventually appointed CEO and expectations from all quarters were high. The Board hoped that soon their stock price would rise and the company's image would improve as the energetic and eloquent CEO set out to promote the corporation. At a "town hall" meeting with employees, the new CEO stated his vision for the company but offered few details about what strategies would be implemented. He then told the workers that the company was making products that were of questionable quality and safety and that some employees were making too much money.

Next, at the CEO's first major appearance, at an industry conference, he used most of his speech to highlight what he considered the past mistakes of the company. He apologized for these and even indicated that his enterprise had too much market share. Then, rather than note some of the soon-to-launch products of the company, the CEO talked vaguely about products that had so far proven unpopular and unprofitable.

A while later, the CEO announced that the company would be acquiring several businesses in various industries completely unrelated to the corporation's core products. Moreover, these would be hostile takeovers, the existing managers at these firms would be fired, and the CEO and his deputies would take over strategic decision-making for them. This latest move was unnerving to investors because the CEO knew nothing about these new businesses.

Then, the CEO sent out a memo that some managers would be docked pay and denied promotions because the he simply didn't like the opinions they offered on a special task force under the old CEO.

At this point, if you were on the Board of this company, wouldn't you want to know what the hell the CEO was doing? Wouldn't you question what the CEO actually liked about the corporation and why he really wanted to be its leader? If you were an employee or manager, would you want this guy as your boss?

Mull this over and come back in a day or so for the rest of the story.

The Experts Agree

I'm not the only one who thinks that fundamentals are critical to success. Read the advice one well-respected teacher/blogger offers to another.