Fed Bailout for Subprime Loans?

Treasury Secretary Paulson has proposed a bailout for those who made a bad financial decision to finance their home with an ARM. I can’t believe this is being proposed by a Republican Administration. Sounds more like a Democratic, nanny-state proposal. Just goes to show the similarity between the two parties, and how they’ve grown more similar over time.

I’m absolutely disenfranchised from both parties, but that’s fuel for another post.

A recent reader poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal Online Edition showed readers were heavily against this proposed program, by an 84% to 16% margin. Couldn’t the administration have gotten a read on whether this would be well accepted BEFORE they proposed it? How out of touch are they? The only ones who want this government interference are the financial companies. The fact is some of them need to go out of business, because of their failed business model, they shouldn't get propped up by the feds.

Any such government program is paid for with tax dollars collected mostly from those of us smart enough not to have taken out a subprime loan. How fair is that?

This also gives us baby-boomers a glimpse of the future. Those of us who were smart enough to save for our retirement will likely have it taken away to support those who weren’t so smart.

SMOKING BAN AT C.U.?

The University of Colorado has decided to pursue the banning of smoking entirely from the campus in Boulder, Colorado. Not only inside buildings, but also outside in all areas. The starting point will be a survey of students to determine if the students wish to ban smoking in all areas.

Smoking is a legal activity in the U.S. In fact, virtually all levels of governments receive tax money from the sale of this legal product.

Yet, it appears to be OK for the majority to impose it’s will on the minority, and prevent them from enjoying a perfectly legal product, at least in the case of the University of Colorado. Individual rights be damned.

Now, I’m all in favor of banning smoking from public buildings in the name of protecting the general public’s health. But, to ban a legal activity everywhere on campus, including outside in the open air, is just wrong.

The Founding Fathers created the Bill of Rights to protect the minority from the possible tyranny of the majority.

I can guarantee if the University tried to take the rights from any other minority group on campus all hell would break loose, and rightfully so. But, smokers are losing their rights, little by little.

Smokers and non-smokers alike should be outraged. Or, will outrage only occur when “they” try to take one of your rights away?

Dems no better than Repubs

If you thought the Democratic presidential candidates were taking a higher road than any Republican, think again.

At a Democratic candidate debate last night in New Hampshire, the moderator Tim Russert asked the candidates if they were comfortable with having a story about two princes falling in love being read to second grade students. Although most of the Dem candidates have said they oppose same-sex marriage, they apparently think it's OK to teach second graders about gay marriage.

Regardless of your opinions on gay marriage, the point is the duplicity of these candidates. They tell the audience whatever they think the audience wants to hear, depending, of course, on the audience.

Are they really opposed to same-sex marriage? Or, are they really in favor of it? Hard to tell if you listen to everything they say.

When will this country get other choices than Dems and Repubs? They're all the same, same BS, just in it for their own egos nor for the good of the country. Whatever happened to viable 3rd party candidates, like Eugene McCarthy?

Thoughts on a couple of news stories of the day.

Someone set fire early to the burning man. Burning Man is a counterculture event held every year in Nevada. What is it called when someone acts counter to a counterculture event?

Where does John Edwards get off telling us we should "sacrifice" our SUVs when he lives in a 28,000 sf house? Sure don't want a leader who says to do as he says, not as he does.

An elementary school in Colorado Springs has banned "tag" after some students complained they were harassed or chased against their will. OK, so they won't do it at school, but that won't keep them from doing it away from school. It also won't prepare them for the unfairness of the real world. Another example of our schools teaching kids how to be "fair" rather than be competitive, like competitiveness is bad.

Katrina - $96Billion has been made available over the last 2 years to local government for rebuilding efforts, yet it still looks like a war zone down there. And, we think we can police the world? We can't effectively handle disasters in our own country.

The Bush Administration is planning to allow Mexican trucks to carry cargo anywhere in the U.S., starting this Saturday. It's a one year demonstration project. Whether you agree or disagree with this change in policy, the interesting thing I found is this. The Sierra Club, of all groups, has come out against this. The Sierra Club?

Time Spent Elsewhere

Been spending most of my blogging time on another site - http://eastboco.blogspot.com/. Good site for exchanging views on what's happening in East Boulder County, Colorado. Check it out.

Imus Free Speech

Most of the stories in the media, and blog comments are being made by people who have never listend to Imus. If you’ve never listened to him you may not know this guy makes derogatory comments about nearly everyone. In that sense, he doesn’t seem to be racist, just insensitive.

The sad truth is, he has nearly as many listeners as the CNN news program broadcast during the same time period.

But, he has the right to say what he wants, just as all of us do. Let’s not give up our 1st Amendment right to free speech in the name of political correctness. If you don’t agree with his abrasive talk, don’t listen to him. Without listeners, he’ll have no forum.

And, don’t fuel the fire by posting blogs like this. Shame on me.