When we have a problem our politicians get together and bounce around all sorts of ideas to address the problem, Then someone writes a "bill" (term used to identify steps to address the problem) and then it is submitted and finally voted on by the house of representatives. Next the senate creates and submits their version or an entirely different version of a bill with their idea of how to address the problem. Then a bill containing hopefully the best of both bills goes to the president to be signed into law.
This is a fair way to address a problem and the best our system offers to date. However my problem with this is that a bill addressing a single problem is never allowed to work through the system to stand on its own merit and pass into law fundamentally sound to specifically address the original problem.
Every single time with few if any exceptions the bill is either watered down, stripped of the original intent, added to with all sorts of wasteful spending to apease for some votes, or turned over to writers who alter the original purpose of the bill so that in the end it either does not address the original problem or it has many unrelated items attached to it or it becomes something else entirely, wasting money or of little benefit to the people as a whole, or the bill is defeated and the problem is no longer addressed.
And then there is the fact that there is so much special interest involved nowadays with both parties that we seem to increasingly be at odds on everything. This is amazing since both supposedly want the same outcome. That being what is best for our country and our citizens. And yet we seem to grow further and further apart on everything.
We need to come together as a society and remember our values and right and wrong and decide things based on what is really and truly best for our people, our freedoms, our health, our safety, our security, our prosperity and our environment. And when we do the right things based on that our success is assured.
And when a bill is made to address a problem, that problem should be studied and understood fully and the bill shoud then address the solutions for that problem and stand on its own merit and other bills should address each other problem and do the same. Then maybe we could solve some problems and save some money to address other problems that need real solutions as well.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Digital tv What's the big deal
Well it's been a few months now since the switch to digital tv. I got my coupons and went out and got my digital converter boxes and hooked them up. IT was going to have more channels and better picture and all sorts of information.
Well I must say the picture once you can get one to come in is much better. The detail left out is that just a regular antenna may not cut it. So I found a design on the web to make a homemade antenna which works pretty darn good.
The next issue was all the new channels. Well there are a bunch of them to be sure but lets be clear, while the major local channels do have 1 or two additional channels they are mostly weather or traffic. The other additional channels are about 8 Spanish channels and about 6 religious channels. Now that is well and good but I don't speak Spanish and they do not cover my religion so they are of little use. I must say though there is mucho caliente chicas on the Spanish stations( that is the extent of my Spanish skills). Other than that not much value to me. There is also 3 or 4 channels with no sound at all (how cool is that ).
The next issue is the guides. Now I have two different brands of converter boxes so it is not the box it is the stations. And in many cases there is no information or the server clocks are wrong so the data is for a different time, etc so the stations are choosing not to keep that data up in many cases. This lends to little value and since some of the stations are not even covered in many of the tv guide (paper or internet) there is just no information.
The last thing is with digital now the signals are different and weaker and in a heavy rain storm there just is no tv at all (kind of like the satelite or cable stuff).
So all in all better picture with right antenna but not as dependable as the local analog signals were, very little additional info with the guides, and in general I guess the bottom line was it got us to go out and spend money for a box and antenna or choose to switch to cable or satelite (the real intent I believe) and not much else. Woopeeeeee!
Well I must say the picture once you can get one to come in is much better. The detail left out is that just a regular antenna may not cut it. So I found a design on the web to make a homemade antenna which works pretty darn good.
The next issue was all the new channels. Well there are a bunch of them to be sure but lets be clear, while the major local channels do have 1 or two additional channels they are mostly weather or traffic. The other additional channels are about 8 Spanish channels and about 6 religious channels. Now that is well and good but I don't speak Spanish and they do not cover my religion so they are of little use. I must say though there is mucho caliente chicas on the Spanish stations( that is the extent of my Spanish skills). Other than that not much value to me. There is also 3 or 4 channels with no sound at all (how cool is that ).
The next issue is the guides. Now I have two different brands of converter boxes so it is not the box it is the stations. And in many cases there is no information or the server clocks are wrong so the data is for a different time, etc so the stations are choosing not to keep that data up in many cases. This lends to little value and since some of the stations are not even covered in many of the tv guide (paper or internet) there is just no information.
The last thing is with digital now the signals are different and weaker and in a heavy rain storm there just is no tv at all (kind of like the satelite or cable stuff).
So all in all better picture with right antenna but not as dependable as the local analog signals were, very little additional info with the guides, and in general I guess the bottom line was it got us to go out and spend money for a box and antenna or choose to switch to cable or satelite (the real intent I believe) and not much else. Woopeeeeee!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Let's change now
Well OPEC is drooling again. They really seemed to like that 80 and 90 bucks plus a barrel a short time ago and oil seems to be edging back up to those prices. The new leader with their "change" mantra have made quite a few changes regarding some other smaller issues as well as some larger ones but where energy is concerned we are still very dependant on foreign oil and we are not working very swiftly to change that.
These are the things wars emerge from and we should be really sinking our teeth into this problem now full force. But there are many issues to overcome before we can actually move in that direction. You see once we have money coming in for something we do not want to lose that at any cost. We have the oil companies and the auto industry and the military all wanting that technology first. The oil companies want to have it to replace the revenue stream from oil which is very lucrative indeed and they are willing to do just about anything to keep that revenue stream from drying up without being replaced equally lucratively. The auto makers want to be the once to have that new technology so they not only have the auto revenue stream but the energy stream as well. The military wants the new technology so no one else can have it and we can have the ultimate power again. Also there are other companies that would like to be the once in control of these technologies such as utility companies, communications companies, computer companies, and electronics companies.
Well this is precisely why we are not driving electric cars or fuel cell cars and why the oil spigots are still flowing full boar. And these types of thinking and acting could ultimately lead us into a major war. We are so very vulnerable to the oil rich countries turning the screws on us any time they want to and they could bring nations to a halt if they so chose to.
Now the oil companies would have you believe and they spend a lot of money to get our government to believe that we just need to open up all these areas (pristine treasures of beauty in America) to drilling. Well the truth is that is only to get the last dollars out of a very lucrative revenue stream for them not us. We do not have near the oil rich fields to supply our countries needs for an infinite future and we are fooling ourselves if we buy into that.
Granted it is a large and long historied industry and there are many many jobs at stake and that must be considered as well. But we need to get with it right now and get these new technologies replacing the old not just to power things but for health and environment reasons as well. But as new industries start up these create those new jobs and that all balances out.
There are people all over our country running their own versions (home-made) of electric cars and other forms of technology born of necessity and a caring for health and environment. Many have quietly been doing this for years and years. As a matter of fact when they were first inventing cars back in the day several tried other forms of power such as electric and steam but oil was chosen at the time because it was cheaper and seemed infinite. Well we all know that is not the case now and we need to put greed and fear aside and get busy.
Lets look at this another way some of the stallers might understand. If you oil companies continue to block progress you will end up empty handed. Now they think they are ok because they play all sides (being worldwide corporations) but they will be in for a surprise as other countries can choose to seize their assets at any time they choose.
As for the auto industry, their treachery has a very long and deceitful history and in light of their current problems, blocking or suppressing technology until you can control it as well as turning out cars that only a small portion of society can afford practically ensures that in the very near future you will be having the same problems and asking for more money from the government.
I say let's get it out there and use it now to head our country in a better more peaceful and prosperous direction while we can control that direction. It doesn't even have to be a one single fix everything system, it could be various technologies but let's not let someone else be standing over us able to shut us down in an instant if we don't want to pay their price or everyone loses.
These are the things wars emerge from and we should be really sinking our teeth into this problem now full force. But there are many issues to overcome before we can actually move in that direction. You see once we have money coming in for something we do not want to lose that at any cost. We have the oil companies and the auto industry and the military all wanting that technology first. The oil companies want to have it to replace the revenue stream from oil which is very lucrative indeed and they are willing to do just about anything to keep that revenue stream from drying up without being replaced equally lucratively. The auto makers want to be the once to have that new technology so they not only have the auto revenue stream but the energy stream as well. The military wants the new technology so no one else can have it and we can have the ultimate power again. Also there are other companies that would like to be the once in control of these technologies such as utility companies, communications companies, computer companies, and electronics companies.
Well this is precisely why we are not driving electric cars or fuel cell cars and why the oil spigots are still flowing full boar. And these types of thinking and acting could ultimately lead us into a major war. We are so very vulnerable to the oil rich countries turning the screws on us any time they want to and they could bring nations to a halt if they so chose to.
Now the oil companies would have you believe and they spend a lot of money to get our government to believe that we just need to open up all these areas (pristine treasures of beauty in America) to drilling. Well the truth is that is only to get the last dollars out of a very lucrative revenue stream for them not us. We do not have near the oil rich fields to supply our countries needs for an infinite future and we are fooling ourselves if we buy into that.
Granted it is a large and long historied industry and there are many many jobs at stake and that must be considered as well. But we need to get with it right now and get these new technologies replacing the old not just to power things but for health and environment reasons as well. But as new industries start up these create those new jobs and that all balances out.
There are people all over our country running their own versions (home-made) of electric cars and other forms of technology born of necessity and a caring for health and environment. Many have quietly been doing this for years and years. As a matter of fact when they were first inventing cars back in the day several tried other forms of power such as electric and steam but oil was chosen at the time because it was cheaper and seemed infinite. Well we all know that is not the case now and we need to put greed and fear aside and get busy.
Lets look at this another way some of the stallers might understand. If you oil companies continue to block progress you will end up empty handed. Now they think they are ok because they play all sides (being worldwide corporations) but they will be in for a surprise as other countries can choose to seize their assets at any time they choose.
As for the auto industry, their treachery has a very long and deceitful history and in light of their current problems, blocking or suppressing technology until you can control it as well as turning out cars that only a small portion of society can afford practically ensures that in the very near future you will be having the same problems and asking for more money from the government.
I say let's get it out there and use it now to head our country in a better more peaceful and prosperous direction while we can control that direction. It doesn't even have to be a one single fix everything system, it could be various technologies but let's not let someone else be standing over us able to shut us down in an instant if we don't want to pay their price or everyone loses.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Common Courtesy
You know once upon a time people used to be taught to say things like "yes sir" or "ma'am" and "thank you" and "please" and "excuse me" and hold doors open for people,etc. Firstly and most importantly it was taught in the home (where it should be) but then also it was re-enforced in the school system and thirdly out in society itself.
Yeah those were the good old days when after a war we realized just how fragile life is and how important another human being was and how much it meant to have respect for each other as well as our homes and property.
Now days it seems like with all this "gangsta" garbage and the survival mentality that these things are a sign of weakness. The parents are kids themselves and don't know how to discipline their children or are afraid to and the schools are afraid to discipline for fear of lawsuits or other consequences.
Well I say manners, respect and courtesy still have a place in our society and in fact they are needed now more than ever.
As the world gets more crowded we all seem to have gone into this jungle mode where it is everyone for themselves. You can see it everywhere in stores and schools and work and especially on the roads.
Is that one car length really so important that you can't let someone in front of you. Give me a break people. We used to drive with courtesy in mind but now everyone is in so much of a hurry they disregard it completely.
You know the reason for the driving rules such as 1 and 1/2 car length separation between cars has a purpose and that is not only for stopping safety but also so that another person can change lanes when they need to and it used to be common courtesy to allow it.
Everyone now drives like they are in nascar and we are putting not only our lives but others lives in jeapordy by doing so.
Another thing is we are so wasteful and throwing or leaving our garbage everywhere. Yeah I know you think there is someone whose job it is to pick it up. Well maybe that is true but not always and anyway we ALL have a stake in a cleaner environment.
Now I know everyone is stressed and tired and rushed most of the time but we are using this as an excuse to be rude, mean, disrespectful, slobs not only with each other but in the not picking up after ourselves and leaving waste everywhere in parking lots, campgrounds, beaches, our homes, etc.
Anyway the point is it is time we stopped using excuses for acting more like animals than human beings and got back to teaching some basic societal rules that make us better people and our world a better place don't you think.
Yeah those were the good old days when after a war we realized just how fragile life is and how important another human being was and how much it meant to have respect for each other as well as our homes and property.
Now days it seems like with all this "gangsta" garbage and the survival mentality that these things are a sign of weakness. The parents are kids themselves and don't know how to discipline their children or are afraid to and the schools are afraid to discipline for fear of lawsuits or other consequences.
Well I say manners, respect and courtesy still have a place in our society and in fact they are needed now more than ever.
As the world gets more crowded we all seem to have gone into this jungle mode where it is everyone for themselves. You can see it everywhere in stores and schools and work and especially on the roads.
Is that one car length really so important that you can't let someone in front of you. Give me a break people. We used to drive with courtesy in mind but now everyone is in so much of a hurry they disregard it completely.
You know the reason for the driving rules such as 1 and 1/2 car length separation between cars has a purpose and that is not only for stopping safety but also so that another person can change lanes when they need to and it used to be common courtesy to allow it.
Everyone now drives like they are in nascar and we are putting not only our lives but others lives in jeapordy by doing so.
Another thing is we are so wasteful and throwing or leaving our garbage everywhere. Yeah I know you think there is someone whose job it is to pick it up. Well maybe that is true but not always and anyway we ALL have a stake in a cleaner environment.
Now I know everyone is stressed and tired and rushed most of the time but we are using this as an excuse to be rude, mean, disrespectful, slobs not only with each other but in the not picking up after ourselves and leaving waste everywhere in parking lots, campgrounds, beaches, our homes, etc.
Anyway the point is it is time we stopped using excuses for acting more like animals than human beings and got back to teaching some basic societal rules that make us better people and our world a better place don't you think.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)