Reader Reaction Forum: Will gas prices cause you to curb summer travels?
(published 14-Apr-2008, Appleton Post-Crescent)
I hitchhike more, drive through yellow lights very fast, and I put the patron saint of increased gas mileage on the dash. Then I hear the E85 ads on the radio: "We're helping make a cleaner world for everyone." Oh, spare me! Without the subsidies, how many farmers do you think would grow corn for ethanol? How brilliant to subsidize corn for burning! Less food for everyone! You've noticed your grocery bills going up? The politicians natter on about helping the poor, while at the same time dishing out ethanol subsidies to get farmers to divert more of their crops to make ethanol because it's "better for the environment." Once it all goes to ethanol, the environment should be saved, right? Of course, we'll all die of starvation. But before that happens we'll re-subsidize corn for food ... but then ethanol prices will skyrocket ... then we can re-re-subsidize ethanol ...
Showing posts with label Recent commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recent commentary. Show all posts
Monday, April 14, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Time to vote
(Letter to the editor, published 17-Feb-2008, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Presidential primaries are the only elections where you've really got a choice. Last fall, with 16 candidates, I knew that the candidate I preferred was someone I could vote for without holding my nose.
When my guy was asked a question during the TV debates, he answered it immediately and then went on to explain his answer. But highly trained TV interviewers pounce on a "Yes" or "No" answer. They had to have been pleased to be able to interrupt the explanation -- he gave his answer, didn't he? -- so that one of the "star" candidates could throw in his two cents. When thrown into the piranha tank of a televised debate, it's best to dissemble, hedge, demur, equivocate, back-and-fill, joke, divert, and dance rather than answer a question forthrightly.
TV producers aren't interested in substance. Their principal driving motivation is to look like king-makers, to be the ones that were most accurate in forecasting the winner. That translates into ratings. Nothing else matters to them.
That's the political reality: a stupefying concentration of attention on winning. What were campaigns like before thousands of pundits tried to make their prognostications heard above the din? If all the primaries were held on a single day, there'd be no drama, no fake pathos, no nail-biting, no tension. What self-respecting TV executive wants that?
It's a bit disheartening, though, to see the field melt away to five or six candidates before primary day. It looks like they held an election and nobody came.
Even though my guy hasn't won many delegates, he stayed in. I can still vote for someone whose record doesn't disguise his positions, who speaks plainly, doesn't pander, and has the least number of skeletons in his closet. I hope you vote for him, too: Ron Paul.
Steve Erbach
Neenah
Presidential primaries are the only elections where you've really got a choice. Last fall, with 16 candidates, I knew that the candidate I preferred was someone I could vote for without holding my nose.
When my guy was asked a question during the TV debates, he answered it immediately and then went on to explain his answer. But highly trained TV interviewers pounce on a "Yes" or "No" answer. They had to have been pleased to be able to interrupt the explanation -- he gave his answer, didn't he? -- so that one of the "star" candidates could throw in his two cents. When thrown into the piranha tank of a televised debate, it's best to dissemble, hedge, demur, equivocate, back-and-fill, joke, divert, and dance rather than answer a question forthrightly.
TV producers aren't interested in substance. Their principal driving motivation is to look like king-makers, to be the ones that were most accurate in forecasting the winner. That translates into ratings. Nothing else matters to them.
That's the political reality: a stupefying concentration of attention on winning. What were campaigns like before thousands of pundits tried to make their prognostications heard above the din? If all the primaries were held on a single day, there'd be no drama, no fake pathos, no nail-biting, no tension. What self-respecting TV executive wants that?
It's a bit disheartening, though, to see the field melt away to five or six candidates before primary day. It looks like they held an election and nobody came.
Even though my guy hasn't won many delegates, he stayed in. I can still vote for someone whose record doesn't disguise his positions, who speaks plainly, doesn't pander, and has the least number of skeletons in his closet. I hope you vote for him, too: Ron Paul.
Steve Erbach
Neenah
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Recent commentary: free exercise of religion
Should nativity scenes be displayed on government property during the Christmas season?
(published 24-Dec-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". The key phrase is "free exercise". Nothing prohibits, say, Skokie, IL, from erecting a huge menorah for Hanukkah. How lawyers figure that city governments shouldn't have "free exercise" is beyond me. The Green Bay nativity scene kerfuffle escalated when a Wiccan display was vandalized. (Personally I liked the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" idea, but that's just me.) Now the mayor wants only "legitimate" religions to erect displays. There's a Constitutional issue for you: How do you define a "legitimate" religion? Then came the standard over-reaction. Council VP, Chris Wery, has changed his mind: "I thought this would encourage our community to share good will this holiday season, and, as we've seen, it's done the opposite." No, it hasn't. All it shows is that people are sensitive about religion and that some people have bad manners.
(published 24-Dec-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". The key phrase is "free exercise". Nothing prohibits, say, Skokie, IL, from erecting a huge menorah for Hanukkah. How lawyers figure that city governments shouldn't have "free exercise" is beyond me. The Green Bay nativity scene kerfuffle escalated when a Wiccan display was vandalized. (Personally I liked the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" idea, but that's just me.) Now the mayor wants only "legitimate" religions to erect displays. There's a Constitutional issue for you: How do you define a "legitimate" religion? Then came the standard over-reaction. Council VP, Chris Wery, has changed his mind: "I thought this would encourage our community to share good will this holiday season, and, as we've seen, it's done the opposite." No, it hasn't. All it shows is that people are sensitive about religion and that some people have bad manners.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Recent commentary: likeable politicians
Who's your favorite public official?
(published 29-Oct-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
In school I thought that one of the female Congresscritters might be worth admiring because there's no way she could be worse than her male counterparts. I've always liked Mike Ellis, ever since we used a couple sound bites of his back in my radio days for our annual blooper tape. But that probably isn't the best reason for liking a public official. I also like and support Congressman Ron Paul, even to the extent of being one of the people that hold up those "Ron Paul for President" signs you see on highway 41. Judging by the ratio of thumbs-up to other, less congenial hand gestures I've seen, lots of other folks like him, too. The guy makes sense, he's intelligently consistent, his voting record is Constitutionally superb, and he tells it straight. His Texas constituents have re-elected him nine times. I'd love for us to elect him as President.
(published 29-Oct-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
In school I thought that one of the female Congresscritters might be worth admiring because there's no way she could be worse than her male counterparts. I've always liked Mike Ellis, ever since we used a couple sound bites of his back in my radio days for our annual blooper tape. But that probably isn't the best reason for liking a public official. I also like and support Congressman Ron Paul, even to the extent of being one of the people that hold up those "Ron Paul for President" signs you see on highway 41. Judging by the ratio of thumbs-up to other, less congenial hand gestures I've seen, lots of other folks like him, too. The guy makes sense, he's intelligently consistent, his voting record is Constitutionally superb, and he tells it straight. His Texas constituents have re-elected him nine times. I'd love for us to elect him as President.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Recent commentary: Favorite fall thing
What's your favorite thing about fall in Wisconsin?
(published 1-Oct-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Halloween! My wife makes terrific costumes, especially duplicates of costumes from artsy children's movies. Last year she dressed our daughter in the wedding dress from "The Castle Cagliostro". Obscure, hunh? She's very good at papier mache, too. We still have an amazing papier mache mask of Anubis that she made for our second son a dozen years ago. I even managed to squeeze into it when I had bowl duty. Nobody quite knows what to say when Anubis answers the door, you know? The kids, having been drilled never to take candy from strangers, know that it's different on Halloween; but a guy in an Anubis mask holding out a bowl of Snickers and Milk Duds crosses the line somehow. You can almost hear them thinking, "Is this dude like Jason from 'Friday the 13th' and he's going to whip out a chainsaw or something?" How can you beat that?
(published 1-Oct-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Halloween! My wife makes terrific costumes, especially duplicates of costumes from artsy children's movies. Last year she dressed our daughter in the wedding dress from "The Castle Cagliostro". Obscure, hunh? She's very good at papier mache, too. We still have an amazing papier mache mask of Anubis that she made for our second son a dozen years ago. I even managed to squeeze into it when I had bowl duty. Nobody quite knows what to say when Anubis answers the door, you know? The kids, having been drilled never to take candy from strangers, know that it's different on Halloween; but a guy in an Anubis mask holding out a bowl of Snickers and Milk Duds crosses the line somehow. You can almost hear them thinking, "Is this dude like Jason from 'Friday the 13th' and he's going to whip out a chainsaw or something?" How can you beat that?
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Recent commentary: P-C Pro & Con -- Universal Health Care in WI: I'm against it
Universal health care isn't for U.S.
"The government is good at one thing...it knows how to break your legs, and then hands you a crutch and says 'See? If it weren't for the government you wouldn't be able to walk.'" -- Harry Browne
That quote is so astoundingly appropriate to the universal health care debate one hardly has to say anything else. But for those that think the government makes great crutches, read on.
I must first make a sobering observation: we are going to have more government meddling in health care. The government juggernaut cannot help but roll over every aspect of health care delivery, covering the landscape with new regulations. This is not a guess. No matter how vehemently I or anyone else opposes greater regulation of health care, it is simply going to happen. If that makes you happy, then give three cheers because you're gonna get what you've always dreamed of.
All I can do is play Cassandra and, in my humble yet deadly accurate way, predict just what will take place.
First health care will get scarcer. That is, it will take longer to get any AND there will be less of it. When health care is "cheaper" because it's "universal" and the government is subsidizing it for the millions of people without insurance, the first thing that will happen is that you won't be able to see your doctor nearly as quickly as you do now because loads more people will start going to see her. It's the Iron Law of Economics and it works for health care just as it does for milk, iPhones, and mortgages: people will buy more of something at a lower price than they will at a higher price.
You say that you're OK with longer waits as long as everybody gets to have a chance to see a doctor without breaking the bank? Then please consider how long our neighbors in the Great White North have to wait for certain procedures. Canada's Fraser Institute does a survey every year to determine average waiting times for surgery and other treatments by specialists. The AVERAGE wait time in Canada is near its all-time high of 18 weeks -- over four months.
From the latest (Oct, 2006) report: “Canadians should not expect to see any dramatic improvement in waiting times as a result of the latest federal-provincial agreements regarding waiting lists. The long waiting times for medically necessary services are a symptom of a much greater problem: a poorly designed health care system.”
The totally government-controlled health care system in Canada is "poorly designed"...and they're talking about "medically necessary services", not Botox treatments. In other words operations that will keep patients alive can't be had because the waiting lines are so long.
If it weren't for the government you wouldn't be able to walk!
Second, doctors will leave practice early or will avoid certain specialties. There is already a crisis in 22 states with ob-gyn doctors: there aren't enough to go around because of astronomical malpractice insurance rates. Some hospitals have closed their obstetrics departments. Universal coverage will do nothing to bring ob-gyn doctors back. Not only that, but geriatrics as a branch of medicine is imperiled by low Medicare (government) reimbursements.
Third, more of the doctors that are left will refuse to take patients covered under the new regulations. If you think that the new "universal" plan will force a doctor to see patients, you must not have heard of Medicare and Medicaid. The American Medical Association's own survey done last year revealed that 45% of physicians treating elderly patients would refuse to take new patients after the January, 2007, Medicare cuts went into effect. Medicare already pays less than most insurance plans...and it's a LOT harder to shake down the government.
U. S. Representative Steve "Doctor Millionaire" Kagen -- the darling of the universal coverage set -- wrote in the Post-Crescent on August 8th: "We cannot fix health care without doctors, and the [Children's Health Care and Medicare Protection] CHAMP Act ensures doctors will be paid adequately so they may continue to care for their patients." He recognizes that government meddling has made for reduced availability of doctors because they weren't paid enough from the public trough. So he's going to put a pin in one of the legs that the government broke to see if it'll hold up without crutches.
He also says it's "fiscally responsible". It takes a big man to admit his mistakes, but what kind of metaphor applies to enormous government programs? What does it say about Medicare's multi-decade custodians that the program will only NOW be "fiscally responsible"?
Universal health care will definitely be more expensive, less available, more unwiedldy, and less effective than the mess we're already in. If you think that it's expensive now just wait until it's "free".
Government system more expensive, less effective
(published 13-Sep-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)"The government is good at one thing...it knows how to break your legs, and then hands you a crutch and says 'See? If it weren't for the government you wouldn't be able to walk.'" -- Harry Browne
That quote is so astoundingly appropriate to the universal health care debate one hardly has to say anything else. But for those that think the government makes great crutches, read on.
I must first make a sobering observation: we are going to have more government meddling in health care. The government juggernaut cannot help but roll over every aspect of health care delivery, covering the landscape with new regulations. This is not a guess. No matter how vehemently I or anyone else opposes greater regulation of health care, it is simply going to happen. If that makes you happy, then give three cheers because you're gonna get what you've always dreamed of.
All I can do is play Cassandra and, in my humble yet deadly accurate way, predict just what will take place.
First health care will get scarcer. That is, it will take longer to get any AND there will be less of it. When health care is "cheaper" because it's "universal" and the government is subsidizing it for the millions of people without insurance, the first thing that will happen is that you won't be able to see your doctor nearly as quickly as you do now because loads more people will start going to see her. It's the Iron Law of Economics and it works for health care just as it does for milk, iPhones, and mortgages: people will buy more of something at a lower price than they will at a higher price.
You say that you're OK with longer waits as long as everybody gets to have a chance to see a doctor without breaking the bank? Then please consider how long our neighbors in the Great White North have to wait for certain procedures. Canada's Fraser Institute does a survey every year to determine average waiting times for surgery and other treatments by specialists. The AVERAGE wait time in Canada is near its all-time high of 18 weeks -- over four months.
From the latest (Oct, 2006) report: “Canadians should not expect to see any dramatic improvement in waiting times as a result of the latest federal-provincial agreements regarding waiting lists. The long waiting times for medically necessary services are a symptom of a much greater problem: a poorly designed health care system.”
The totally government-controlled health care system in Canada is "poorly designed"...and they're talking about "medically necessary services", not Botox treatments. In other words operations that will keep patients alive can't be had because the waiting lines are so long.
If it weren't for the government you wouldn't be able to walk!
Second, doctors will leave practice early or will avoid certain specialties. There is already a crisis in 22 states with ob-gyn doctors: there aren't enough to go around because of astronomical malpractice insurance rates. Some hospitals have closed their obstetrics departments. Universal coverage will do nothing to bring ob-gyn doctors back. Not only that, but geriatrics as a branch of medicine is imperiled by low Medicare (government) reimbursements.
Third, more of the doctors that are left will refuse to take patients covered under the new regulations. If you think that the new "universal" plan will force a doctor to see patients, you must not have heard of Medicare and Medicaid. The American Medical Association's own survey done last year revealed that 45% of physicians treating elderly patients would refuse to take new patients after the January, 2007, Medicare cuts went into effect. Medicare already pays less than most insurance plans...and it's a LOT harder to shake down the government.
U. S. Representative Steve "Doctor Millionaire" Kagen -- the darling of the universal coverage set -- wrote in the Post-Crescent on August 8th: "We cannot fix health care without doctors, and the [Children's Health Care and Medicare Protection] CHAMP Act ensures doctors will be paid adequately so they may continue to care for their patients." He recognizes that government meddling has made for reduced availability of doctors because they weren't paid enough from the public trough. So he's going to put a pin in one of the legs that the government broke to see if it'll hold up without crutches.
He also says it's "fiscally responsible". It takes a big man to admit his mistakes, but what kind of metaphor applies to enormous government programs? What does it say about Medicare's multi-decade custodians that the program will only NOW be "fiscally responsible"?
Universal health care will definitely be more expensive, less available, more unwiedldy, and less effective than the mess we're already in. If you think that it's expensive now just wait until it's "free".
Friday, August 03, 2007
Recent commentary: volunteerism
Do you spend any time volunteering?
(published 6-Aug-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Cub Scout leader, community theatre board, chess club director...all that's in the past. My full-time volunteer work continues: rearing two step-sons and a bio-daughter. Anyone who marries into an existing family makes an interesting – to say the least – volunteer commitment. There have been many times that I've tried to live up to the example of my own step-father. He was steady, fair, firm, and reliable. Not particularly warm and fuzzy, but he had plenty to handle with four of us reacting to him in a variety of prickly ways. I have half as many step-children so I figure my task is one-fourth as difficult (inverse square law). Every kid is different and my step-sons really aren't like my brothers and sisters. I only hope that they'll look back with understanding on my attempts to rear them when they become fathers and step-fathers themselves.
(published 6-Aug-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Cub Scout leader, community theatre board, chess club director...all that's in the past. My full-time volunteer work continues: rearing two step-sons and a bio-daughter. Anyone who marries into an existing family makes an interesting – to say the least – volunteer commitment. There have been many times that I've tried to live up to the example of my own step-father. He was steady, fair, firm, and reliable. Not particularly warm and fuzzy, but he had plenty to handle with four of us reacting to him in a variety of prickly ways. I have half as many step-children so I figure my task is one-fourth as difficult (inverse square law). Every kid is different and my step-sons really aren't like my brothers and sisters. I only hope that they'll look back with understanding on my attempts to rear them when they become fathers and step-fathers themselves.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Recent commentary: the Commutation
Was President Bush right in commuting Lewis Libby's sentence?
(published 9-Jul-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
He certainly has the Constitutional right. Joe Wilson, Plame's husband, can spout off all he likes about a congressional investigation, but the President's power to pardon is absolute. What's fascinating to consider is what someone else might do with the pardoning power. Hillary Clinton said last month that "Nonviolent offenders should not be serving hard time in our prisons." Sounds like all the pot smoking Democrats in Leavenworth might have freedom to look forward to. But just 4 days later she said: "This commutation sends the clear signal that ... cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice." Not that I understand what that means, exactly, but it seems that certain non-violent offenders, namely Republicans, deserve prison. Ex-President Clinton pardoned actual violent criminals, Puerto Rican terrorist bombers, just before his wife's Senate race in New York, a stronghold of Puerto Rican votes. Might cynicism trump justice, too? But that's different: they vote Democrat.
(published 9-Jul-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
He certainly has the Constitutional right. Joe Wilson, Plame's husband, can spout off all he likes about a congressional investigation, but the President's power to pardon is absolute. What's fascinating to consider is what someone else might do with the pardoning power. Hillary Clinton said last month that "Nonviolent offenders should not be serving hard time in our prisons." Sounds like all the pot smoking Democrats in Leavenworth might have freedom to look forward to. But just 4 days later she said: "This commutation sends the clear signal that ... cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice." Not that I understand what that means, exactly, but it seems that certain non-violent offenders, namely Republicans, deserve prison. Ex-President Clinton pardoned actual violent criminals, Puerto Rican terrorist bombers, just before his wife's Senate race in New York, a stronghold of Puerto Rican votes. Might cynicism trump justice, too? But that's different: they vote Democrat.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Recent commentary: favorite quote
What's your favorite quote?
(published 11-Jun-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Oh, man! That's like asking for my favorite word! How about a quick potpourri? Robert Heinlein: "Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks!" P. J. O'Rourke: "Giving money and power to the government is like giving whisky and car keys to teenage boys." Harry Browne: "Government breaks your leg, hands you a crutch, and tells you you're better off." Hard to beat Mark Twain: "Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits." Can't leave out Ben Franklin: "A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats." Thomas Babington Macaulay: "Many politicians lay it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim."
(published 11-Jun-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Oh, man! That's like asking for my favorite word! How about a quick potpourri? Robert Heinlein: "Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks!" P. J. O'Rourke: "Giving money and power to the government is like giving whisky and car keys to teenage boys." Harry Browne: "Government breaks your leg, hands you a crutch, and tells you you're better off." Hard to beat Mark Twain: "Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits." Can't leave out Ben Franklin: "A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats." Thomas Babington Macaulay: "Many politicians lay it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim."
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Recent commentary: Gas boycott
Do you plan on participating in the May 15 "gas out"?
(published 14-May-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Stupid ideas never die; they live forever on the Internet. The Gas Out is the perfect protest: it doesn't cost anything, you don't have to march in the rain with people who haven't bathed in a while...it isn't even inconvenient! You simply buy gas a day earlier or later than May 15th and voila! Those evil oil companies will lose ... um ... well, nothing. Talk about a hollow threat. With a real boycott you have to actually sacrifice something. The Gas Out will have as much impact on the oil companies as World Jump Day had on the climate. What was World Jump Day? It was an international campaign to get everybody on Earth to jump up at the same exact instant. When everybody landed the earth's orbit would be perturbed just enough to push it a bit further from the sun, thus ending global warming! Didn't you jump? I did!
(published 14-May-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Stupid ideas never die; they live forever on the Internet. The Gas Out is the perfect protest: it doesn't cost anything, you don't have to march in the rain with people who haven't bathed in a while...it isn't even inconvenient! You simply buy gas a day earlier or later than May 15th and voila! Those evil oil companies will lose ... um ... well, nothing. Talk about a hollow threat. With a real boycott you have to actually sacrifice something. The Gas Out will have as much impact on the oil companies as World Jump Day had on the climate. What was World Jump Day? It was an international campaign to get everybody on Earth to jump up at the same exact instant. When everybody landed the earth's orbit would be perturbed just enough to push it a bit further from the sun, thus ending global warming! Didn't you jump? I did!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Recent commentary: Will I be voting?
Are you planning to vote in the April elections?
(published 19-Mar-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
You're kidding, right? Like, I'm in the April elections! Yer darn tootin' I'll be votin'! Two or three times if I can swing it! Say! My district includes the Oak Hill Cemetery. Lots and lots of nice, quiet potential voters. Just have to figure out how to get 'em to the polls. If Mayor Daley could do it, I sure can! [Full disclosure: Your humble, yet deadly accurate, correspondent is the incumbent candidate for 3rd District alderman in Neenah, running against Lee Hillstrom, chairman of the Neenah Park and Rec Commission, and the most gracious and cordial opponent a guy ever had. Come see us at the League of Women Voters Candidates' Forum Thursday at Neenah City Hall, 6:30.] [Further full disclosure: I had nothing whatsoever to do with the selection of today's topic. Absolutely nothing. Nope. Not a thing to do with it. Had no clue. Wasn't aware. Merest coincidence. Really.]
(published 19-Mar-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
You're kidding, right? Like, I'm in the April elections! Yer darn tootin' I'll be votin'! Two or three times if I can swing it! Say! My district includes the Oak Hill Cemetery. Lots and lots of nice, quiet potential voters. Just have to figure out how to get 'em to the polls. If Mayor Daley could do it, I sure can! [Full disclosure: Your humble, yet deadly accurate, correspondent is the incumbent candidate for 3rd District alderman in Neenah, running against Lee Hillstrom, chairman of the Neenah Park and Rec Commission, and the most gracious and cordial opponent a guy ever had. Come see us at the League of Women Voters Candidates' Forum Thursday at Neenah City Hall, 6:30.] [Further full disclosure: I had nothing whatsoever to do with the selection of today's topic. Absolutely nothing. Nope. Not a thing to do with it. Had no clue. Wasn't aware. Merest coincidence. Really.]
Friday, February 16, 2007
Recent commentary: The Avery trial
How much attention do you give the Steven Avery trial?
(published 19-Feb-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Murder trials don't grab me. I never saw any of the TV coverage of O. J. Simpson's murder trial, nor did I even follow the Jeffrey Dahmer case years ago. I did a survey at work. One fellow scoffed at the idea that the evidence against Avery isn't conclusive. Others had a general idea of the facts of the case but didn't work up too much spit over it. While waiting to have a tire mounted at Expert Tire I saw both a TV and a Post-Crescent story, so it sure is hot. Last Thursday's story with the nephew changing his tune about when Avery made the body-disposal joke was interesting, but I just don't get any vicarious ... well, "pleasure" isn't the word I'm looking for. Maybe I should just say I don't get my jollies from sordid murders. Politics is more my speed. (See my ad on this page!)
(published 19-Feb-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Murder trials don't grab me. I never saw any of the TV coverage of O. J. Simpson's murder trial, nor did I even follow the Jeffrey Dahmer case years ago. I did a survey at work. One fellow scoffed at the idea that the evidence against Avery isn't conclusive. Others had a general idea of the facts of the case but didn't work up too much spit over it. While waiting to have a tire mounted at Expert Tire I saw both a TV and a Post-Crescent story, so it sure is hot. Last Thursday's story with the nephew changing his tune about when Avery made the body-disposal joke was interesting, but I just don't get any vicarious ... well, "pleasure" isn't the word I'm looking for. Maybe I should just say I don't get my jollies from sordid murders. Politics is more my speed. (See my ad on this page!)
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Archived commentary: Under God
From the archives:
What purpose does the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance serve?
(published 27-Oct-2003, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Most people don't know that one part of the original Pledge ritual was to raise the arm, palm up, toward the flag. After the Nazis came to power in Germany, that "sieg heil" salute became the present hand over the heart. "Under God" was inserted in the pledge to counterbalance "godless" communism, not solely to acknowledge our nation's debt to the Creator. Reciting the Pledge is not required at any time. The entire squabble is essentially about legislating manners -- and everyone is behaving badly. Most people are happy with "under God," though. It went through Congress in 1954 like grass through a goose. Now somebody's got his knickers in a knot about it and wants to force everybody else to change. It would be too simple just to omit saying the words, "under God." No, in our great democratic tradition, everyone in the country must be enjoined from saying them.
What purpose does the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance serve?
(published 27-Oct-2003, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Most people don't know that one part of the original Pledge ritual was to raise the arm, palm up, toward the flag. After the Nazis came to power in Germany, that "sieg heil" salute became the present hand over the heart. "Under God" was inserted in the pledge to counterbalance "godless" communism, not solely to acknowledge our nation's debt to the Creator. Reciting the Pledge is not required at any time. The entire squabble is essentially about legislating manners -- and everyone is behaving badly. Most people are happy with "under God," though. It went through Congress in 1954 like grass through a goose. Now somebody's got his knickers in a knot about it and wants to force everybody else to change. It would be too simple just to omit saying the words, "under God." No, in our great democratic tradition, everyone in the country must be enjoined from saying them.
Archived commentary: The American Way
What is 'the American Way?'
(published 13-Oct-2003, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Remember the stories about how Nazi soldiers couldn't fix their own tanks when they broke down, but American GIs could fix theirs? Yankee know-how, a can-do attitude, and self-reliance are vital parts of the American Way. Why didn't Japan become an American territory after WWII? Why won't Iraq become an American territory? Because respect for self-determination and sovereignty is part of the American Way. Which nation in the world gives more to charity? Which nation has forgiven more debt? Generosity is the American Way. Whether it's outer space or the Wild West, exploring the unknown is part of the American Way. And how can we ignore Arnold Schwarzenegger? He understands what the American Dream and the American Way mean to the immigrant. We took this Land of Opportunity and made it a magnet for every race and culture on the planet; a place to call home. That's the American Way.
(published 13-Oct-2003, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Remember the stories about how Nazi soldiers couldn't fix their own tanks when they broke down, but American GIs could fix theirs? Yankee know-how, a can-do attitude, and self-reliance are vital parts of the American Way. Why didn't Japan become an American territory after WWII? Why won't Iraq become an American territory? Because respect for self-determination and sovereignty is part of the American Way. Which nation in the world gives more to charity? Which nation has forgiven more debt? Generosity is the American Way. Whether it's outer space or the Wild West, exploring the unknown is part of the American Way. And how can we ignore Arnold Schwarzenegger? He understands what the American Dream and the American Way mean to the immigrant. We took this Land of Opportunity and made it a magnet for every race and culture on the planet; a place to call home. That's the American Way.
Archived commentary: Censorship
From the archives:
When is censorship appropriate?
(published 29-Sep-2003, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Mostly it isn't. In a family, though, it's entirely appropriate. Parents do it all the time, or should. What TV shows, movies, and reading materials are forbidden; what kind of language isn't tolerated, etc. Outside the family, certain types of "censorship" protect our rights. For example, public elections are by secret ballot – a form of censorship that I heartily endorse. Censorship of movies by anybody other than the movie studios themselves isn't appropriate. The censoring of Hillary Clinton's book in China is something about which we can do very little. It's rude from the standpoint of publishing rights ... but it highlights what governments have done and continue to do on a regular basis. Our First Amendment makes it easy for us to forget that the printed word isn't treated with the same respect in other countries. I'm sure that the Ayatollah Khomeini would have censored "Satanic Verses" in a heartbeat.
When is censorship appropriate?
(published 29-Sep-2003, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Mostly it isn't. In a family, though, it's entirely appropriate. Parents do it all the time, or should. What TV shows, movies, and reading materials are forbidden; what kind of language isn't tolerated, etc. Outside the family, certain types of "censorship" protect our rights. For example, public elections are by secret ballot – a form of censorship that I heartily endorse. Censorship of movies by anybody other than the movie studios themselves isn't appropriate. The censoring of Hillary Clinton's book in China is something about which we can do very little. It's rude from the standpoint of publishing rights ... but it highlights what governments have done and continue to do on a regular basis. Our First Amendment makes it easy for us to forget that the printed word isn't treated with the same respect in other countries. I'm sure that the Ayatollah Khomeini would have censored "Satanic Verses" in a heartbeat.
Archived commentary: The most uplifting thing
From the archives:
What was the most uplifting thing you ever saw?
(published 22-Sep-2003, Appleton Post-Crescent)
The most uplifting thing I ever saw - and the most poignant - was the moon landing on July 20, 1969. I remember the wonder and awe in Walter Cronkite's face that night as we heard the words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Could there ever be anything in the world as fantastic and supremely cool as that first step on the moon? But that was the last time the world would stand with the U.S. and feel the same wonder and awe. We raised the bar for space exploration - we built the stadium to house it and staged a dozen other world-class events - but we only jumped over it a handful of times before we tore it down. Some say we're preparing for another shot at it when the rest of the world is ready. But that just doesn't seem to be the American way.
I showed that column to a friend of mine who replied:
And here I'd written about how the world stood with us to witness this awe-inspiring event. I guess the French are a separate case.
What was the most uplifting thing you ever saw?
(published 22-Sep-2003, Appleton Post-Crescent)
The most uplifting thing I ever saw - and the most poignant - was the moon landing on July 20, 1969. I remember the wonder and awe in Walter Cronkite's face that night as we heard the words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Could there ever be anything in the world as fantastic and supremely cool as that first step on the moon? But that was the last time the world would stand with the U.S. and feel the same wonder and awe. We raised the bar for space exploration - we built the stadium to house it and staged a dozen other world-class events - but we only jumped over it a handful of times before we tore it down. Some say we're preparing for another shot at it when the rest of the world is ready. But that just doesn't seem to be the American way.
I showed that column to a friend of mine who replied:
I remember it well because I was in Paris at the time. The Americans were crowded around the TV in the lobby cheering. I thought the French were going to puke. They were so put off by our success. Thought they were going to evict and then deport all of us. What a bunch of sourpusses.
And here I'd written about how the world stood with us to witness this awe-inspiring event. I guess the French are a separate case.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Recent commentary: Kagen and manners
What do you think about the controversy surrounding Rep. Steve Kagen?
(published 22-Jan-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Well, my mom voted for Mr. Kagen, so I won't be too hard on him; but I'm certain she would admit that he was rude. It's as if his wife had given him "Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior" and he read with eager anticipation the chapter on proper etiquette while waiting to shake the hand of the President of the United States in the receiving line. Imagine his disappointment at discovering that he was supposed to say, "Good evening, Mr. President, good evening, Mrs. Bush". Obviously, he had an attack of the dreaded disease that strikes adults who can't stand the thought that their mothers were right about manners: retro-adolescence. This disease is marked by shivery thrills whenever one insults a lady directly to her face. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that, after dinner, Kagen got his wife to stuff some of the dessert into her purse.
(published 22-Jan-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Well, my mom voted for Mr. Kagen, so I won't be too hard on him; but I'm certain she would admit that he was rude. It's as if his wife had given him "Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior" and he read with eager anticipation the chapter on proper etiquette while waiting to shake the hand of the President of the United States in the receiving line. Imagine his disappointment at discovering that he was supposed to say, "Good evening, Mr. President, good evening, Mrs. Bush". Obviously, he had an attack of the dreaded disease that strikes adults who can't stand the thought that their mothers were right about manners: retro-adolescence. This disease is marked by shivery thrills whenever one insults a lady directly to her face. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that, after dinner, Kagen got his wife to stuff some of the dessert into her purse.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Recent commentary: Don't control health care prices
(published 28-Jan-2007, Appleton Post-Crescent)
Governor Doyle, California Governor Schwarzenegger, and Senator Edward Kennedy have all been demanding more government control of health care. None of these worthies think beyond their next election nor do they remember what happens when government sets prices. As with gasoline price controls in the 70s, price controls on health care will mean that more health care services will be "consumed" at the lower price, leading inexorably to shortages. In the real, non-price-controlled world, if a product is popular, manufacturing ramps up and more providers market it. The price goes up, too, in response to demand until an equilibrium is reached. That is, demand and price find their own level: there's plenty of product to go around, it's just cheap enough for people to keep buying it, and manufacturers can continue to make a profit. Since the price will not be allowed to go up with price-controlled health care services, the supply will simply dry up and the lines will form, just like gas lines in the 70s. Then somebody will have to decide who gets to see the doctor and who has to wait. We can see this happening in Canada, where health care is "free". Canadians come to the U. S. for surgery. Why? Because they can get it when they want it. Need has nothing to do with it. Now before you lynch me, consider: people starving around the world need food. Why can't they get it? Oftentimes it's their own governments that prevent it. If we get "universal" health care, just how do you imagine our government being able to GUARANTEE new life-saving drugs, plenty of doctors, no waiting for an office visit or surgery ... all for cheap? Get the government out of health care! If you think it's expensive now, wait until it's "free"!
Governor Doyle, California Governor Schwarzenegger, and Senator Edward Kennedy have all been demanding more government control of health care. None of these worthies think beyond their next election nor do they remember what happens when government sets prices. As with gasoline price controls in the 70s, price controls on health care will mean that more health care services will be "consumed" at the lower price, leading inexorably to shortages. In the real, non-price-controlled world, if a product is popular, manufacturing ramps up and more providers market it. The price goes up, too, in response to demand until an equilibrium is reached. That is, demand and price find their own level: there's plenty of product to go around, it's just cheap enough for people to keep buying it, and manufacturers can continue to make a profit. Since the price will not be allowed to go up with price-controlled health care services, the supply will simply dry up and the lines will form, just like gas lines in the 70s. Then somebody will have to decide who gets to see the doctor and who has to wait. We can see this happening in Canada, where health care is "free". Canadians come to the U. S. for surgery. Why? Because they can get it when they want it. Need has nothing to do with it. Now before you lynch me, consider: people starving around the world need food. Why can't they get it? Oftentimes it's their own governments that prevent it. If we get "universal" health care, just how do you imagine our government being able to GUARANTEE new life-saving drugs, plenty of doctors, no waiting for an office visit or surgery ... all for cheap? Get the government out of health care! If you think it's expensive now, wait until it's "free"!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Recent commentary: Christmas memory
What is your favorite Christmas memory?
(published 25-Dec-2006, Appleton Post-Crescent)
I learned something important about manners one Christmas in Appleton twenty years ago or so. My peripatetic younger brother (currently in Afghanistan managing a military construction operation. No! Not Halliburton! Settle down!) hosted a family Christmas gift exchange. I'm a voracious reader; thus it can be chancy buying a book for me. Well, my mother bought me a book I'd just read! I unwrapped it and smiled a big smile, but I made the mistake of saying, "I already own this." My mother, always gracious, made light of it; but I realized instantly that it would have been better to say, "I've been meaning to buy this for myself! Thank you! He's my favorite author!" It brought home to me that it's far better sometimes to tell a lie that brings a smile than to tell a truth that makes one's mother feel that her son is an unmannered galoot!
(published 25-Dec-2006, Appleton Post-Crescent)
I learned something important about manners one Christmas in Appleton twenty years ago or so. My peripatetic younger brother (currently in Afghanistan managing a military construction operation. No! Not Halliburton! Settle down!) hosted a family Christmas gift exchange. I'm a voracious reader; thus it can be chancy buying a book for me. Well, my mother bought me a book I'd just read! I unwrapped it and smiled a big smile, but I made the mistake of saying, "I already own this." My mother, always gracious, made light of it; but I realized instantly that it would have been better to say, "I've been meaning to buy this for myself! Thank you! He's my favorite author!" It brought home to me that it's far better sometimes to tell a lie that brings a smile than to tell a truth that makes one's mother feel that her son is an unmannered galoot!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Recent commentary: what should Congress tackle?
What issue should the new Democratic Congress deal with first?
(published 9-Dec-2006, Appleton Post-Crescent)
New Congress' top priorities: Iraq and Afghanistan, national security, immigration and seriously cutting government spending.
Then let's abolish payroll withholding. It's more important for our freedom that we experience firsthand how much is being siphoned, sucked and hoovered out of our paychecks. If every wage earner had to send a quarterly check to the guvmint like businesses do, boy, howdy! Taxes would be cut right quick.
Those who shout the most about oil price controls, increasing the minimum wage, high levels of foreign investment, outsourcing jobs and national health insurance haven't a clue about how the economy works. If you think that, because we live in a democracy, we can vote ourselves "free" health care, low gas prices and high-paying jobs, you'd better get your doctor to prescribe the good tranquilizers.
Have your congressman explain why the minimum wage can't be a "living wage" of $20 or $30 an hour.
Let people save for their own retirements. Let people give to the poor themselves rather than extorting "charity" in the form of taxes that give the bureaucrats a good living before they give to the poor.
Forget about global warming. But if you can't forget about it, then double the number of atomic power plants and shut down the oil- and gas-fired plants and make OPEC drink its own oil.
Repeal the No Child Left Behind and the Patriot acts. Dismantle the departments of Education and Transportation. And repeal all tariffs, subsidies (including farm and business subsidies) and price controls (including rent and medical prices).
One more thing: congressional term limits. Two terms for senators, six for representatives. If the president can be term-limited, why not Congress?
Remember the words of that wise man, Harry Browne: Government breaks your leg, hands you a crutch, then tells you you're better off.
Steve Erbach, Neenah
(published 9-Dec-2006, Appleton Post-Crescent)
New Congress' top priorities: Iraq and Afghanistan, national security, immigration and seriously cutting government spending.
Then let's abolish payroll withholding. It's more important for our freedom that we experience firsthand how much is being siphoned, sucked and hoovered out of our paychecks. If every wage earner had to send a quarterly check to the guvmint like businesses do, boy, howdy! Taxes would be cut right quick.
Those who shout the most about oil price controls, increasing the minimum wage, high levels of foreign investment, outsourcing jobs and national health insurance haven't a clue about how the economy works. If you think that, because we live in a democracy, we can vote ourselves "free" health care, low gas prices and high-paying jobs, you'd better get your doctor to prescribe the good tranquilizers.
Have your congressman explain why the minimum wage can't be a "living wage" of $20 or $30 an hour.
Let people save for their own retirements. Let people give to the poor themselves rather than extorting "charity" in the form of taxes that give the bureaucrats a good living before they give to the poor.
Forget about global warming. But if you can't forget about it, then double the number of atomic power plants and shut down the oil- and gas-fired plants and make OPEC drink its own oil.
Repeal the No Child Left Behind and the Patriot acts. Dismantle the departments of Education and Transportation. And repeal all tariffs, subsidies (including farm and business subsidies) and price controls (including rent and medical prices).
One more thing: congressional term limits. Two terms for senators, six for representatives. If the president can be term-limited, why not Congress?
Remember the words of that wise man, Harry Browne: Government breaks your leg, hands you a crutch, then tells you you're better off.
Steve Erbach, Neenah
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