did it work?

Do you mean the mike? In that case, yes.

The scientific evidence as it is called for “Man Made” global warming is based upon faulty data analysis. There are many scientists that disagree with this analysis. One book, UNSTOPPABLE GLOBAL WARMING: EVERY 1500 YEARS, by Fred S. Singer and Dennis T. Avery, has some interesting statistical data which offers a more realistic approach to this issue. This is actually based upon the natural cycle of our planet and has more to do with the Sun than anything else. I do not think science is or should be used in a way to create an industry of trading carbon credits by basing it on fear mongering. I am a member of the United States Green Building Council and a certified LEED Associate. I understand the propositions of carbon neutrality, but I think humans have less to do with this problem than what naturally occurs. After all, if it is human caused then we can fix it. I also, refer you to Dr. Parkins commentary on the politics of science. I have pasted the link here. http://www.americanpoliticalcommentary.com/index_files/Page779.htm

Thanks for commenting! I’ve heard the faulty data analysis idea before. It’s hard for me to believe something dire is not happening to the planet right now: the hole in ozone layer, the melting ice caps, the sea levels, the depletion of the biology in the sea, the huge floating islands of plastic and other refuse. There has to be a point where what we have done cannot be undone in a manner to sustain human life. Thanks for the link to your father-in-law’s web site.

I LOVE the navel gazing!!!! Love it. So perfect. I liked the rest of this blog and related to it as well. But the navel gazing really stood out for me.

Thank you, Cindy! Hope things are going well in Ohio!

Joe Niocea stats are not facts, but opinion. This idea that it is better to not balance the budget or at least to put some stop in the spending process or that Americans who have an interest in protecting and preserving their country are terrorists is idiocy. I believe that the New York Times opinion page is way off in left field and I do mean left. No wonder the Times is suffering financial difficulty. They are loosing readers faster than anyone. Their share holders will be the ultimate losers. Anyone owning the stock should sell it now.

Interesting. I agree that typifying people you disagree with as “terrorists” is unhelpful. I actually thought the article I was linking was a different one: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/us/politics/02teaparty.html. I see the political spectrum much differently than you do. Obviously since by your own admission you supported Bush’s presidency which I feel has harmed the United States possibly irreparably. Also I have a tendency not to see things as quickly in terms of economics and business as you seem to. FWIW I don’t see the NYT’s problems as growing from any sort of a political stance or even that unique. I think that news reporting is changing and most if not all newspapers are having difficulty understanding and utilizing the new environment.

I am sorry about not talking to you sooner about your house. I do have a layout on the first floor that may be useable. I have had other matters on my mind, and have neglected contacting you. Any way, I will put this together and send it to you.

Ray…I was afraid you might read this blog post and think about your layout project. Please don’t worry about the drawings. Eileen hasn’t mentioned them to me and I only think of them when you mention them. Of course we would be interested in seeing what you came up with, but I hate to take advantage of the expertise of friends…. Hope you’re having a good summer.

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Dent Davidson, the, apparently, former musician at SPR is an acquaintance of mine. We work on the Blessings Project together. I’ll see him next week in San Francisco. He moved to Chicago for the SPR gig. And e used to work with the bishop before the bishop was the bishop. He is, IMHO, a very fine musician who has a solid grasp of the directions church music should be taking. I saw him a few months ago and heard no mention of his departure. He also is a friend of a parishioner’s daughter.

Wow. How bout that? Cool.

Romney is correct. These public and private corporations would not exist without people. It is easy to demonize a faceless entity “corporation”, but these are usually publicly owned. Most people if they have any assets at all (even assets in a local bank) own some sort of financial instrument issued by a corporation. No corporation pays taxes. They simply pass the tax along to the consumer. FICA tax 15.3%,employees pay about half out of their net income, medicare tax which is 2.5%, personal income tax are all collected by corporations/employers and paid to the U.S. government. This amounts to about $200 Billion per month. Additionally, without businesses voluntarily doing this, the government would not get a cent. It seems to me that the problem is about fair treatment for all individuals. The current tax system and especially the ones that we have had by progressives will punish those who do make a lot of money. Of course a simple solution would be to eliminate deductions and create a tax that is the same for all. This would eliminate the social tinkering of the tax code creating lots of deductions etc which will be used by people to shelter income. For example, if everyone (and I mean everyone)pays 10% of income to the government. There would be no need for complex tax forms, huge IRS collection issues, depreciation schedules etc.. All of which creates a lack of understanding by the public. Complex analysis of a simple comment.

You and Mitt are unconvincing to me because you do not seem to address some of the problematic aspects of corporations and banks, one of which which is public accountability.

An institution is not a person. It does not feel emotions. It does not reason. Institutions do take on lives of their own. But they center around their purpose (ultimately to perpetuate themselves – see the institutions of church, college and government which are also not persons by the way even though they are made up of people).

Business organizations have at their base not the welfare of the communities they are housed in, but profit motive of the individuals involved. Profit motive + lack of accountability seems to have gotten us into a situation where the rich get richer and hoard capital and build their gated communities and the poor and middle class are left to their own devices, worldwide, outside the jurisdiction and protection of their governments (see the recent U.K. riots).

I find economic explanations such as you make, not complex, but actually simplistic because they do not factor in important things to me about being alive and being human.

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It is true that some of the questions to Romney was about FICA tax. Currently, it limits at a little of $109,000. of income. There always has been a limit in FICA. The top limit has moved upward for as long as I can remember. It use to be when I started paying into it, $15,000. This question was really about class warfare. The idea that the people making more should pay more. The fact is that they do. FICA currently, is solvent according to the S.S. trust fund governors. The problem is though that the U.S. treasury provides to the trust fund a series E bond as a representation of value. The cash actually stays in the treasury. A lot of people say things, but really are not analyzing the situation critically. So…..When someone yells out Corporations are bad and Institutions are bad, well this may or may not be true. Some corporations operated by individuals without a moral compass can do bad. They are still operated by individuals. When Institutions like Universities, Colleges et. al. allow students to borrow money from the public to attend classes that they never attend. Is this a problem? When money is given away and not earned, do individuals respect the source of the money? When you cut off these funds due to less tax collections, does this create some of the problem that we are seeing in Europe? This idea that money without responsibility, that it is the government’s money is false and a lie. The government must first take it from someone. Of course my simplistic analysis is just that, simple. I understand simple, as do most folks.

Ray,

Thanks for commenting. I wrote a long reply to you and then thought better of it. Suffice it to say that you and I probably going to disagree about politics for the rest of our lives (may they be long!).

This talk about politics and economics is such a small part of what I think about.

I think about you much more in terms of our ancient history together. I remember so many good times you and I had together. Like the time we were driving in a snow storm and you shut off the van and all of us listened to the quiet and watched the snow fall. Do you remember that?

I remember you teaching me to towel dry my long hair.

I remember you commenting that when you are little liqueurs sound like such an enchanting idea, but when you finally taste one they are startling bad tasting to a child’s taste.

I have dozens of memories of you. Almost everyone of them ones I treasure.

Fuck politics, dude.

your friend from the past,

Steve

Yes, it is true that my sense of enjoyment of things has left me. I have forgotten all of the things that we have had together. My commentary is not meant to be negative, but perhaps an opportunity to save what I can. There is not much that I enjoy anymore. I have had great responsibilities over other peoples lives in many different aspects. This sense of responsibility to others is difficult to let go. Peace to you and your family

Yes the problem is with the Federal Reserve and specifically with the Treasury Secretary. If you look closely, even the Bank of Scotland received over $89 billion. And the American taxpayer picked up the tab. And no one knew. This is outrageous.
It is also an indictment of the laws that congress passes that always have unintended consequences. Most of this of course goes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities in real estate mortgage guarantees.