Indeed, they are...
http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/parenting-family/2010-11-18-boomerloathing18_CV_N.htm?csp=obinsite
I came across that article very (very) randomly (I do not subscribe to anything on parenting -- children are a precious resource, yes, but mainly for food). Anyways, I decided that I, too, am tired of their shit.
It's all about "me", well you know what, who cares?
I guess, ironically (or not, I guess it's more coincidental), this disproves objectivism and other similarly minded philosophies, at least in the manner that I understand them. I am no expert on objectivism or Ayn Rand (mostly knowing her from the works of Rush and the Bioshock video games, though I hear her prose is mediocre at best, and even objectivists dislike her arguments for objectivism, the school of thought she is seen as creating), and I have an outright disrespect for the intellectual dishonesty that is Friedman, but I guess I'm starting to get sidetracked. I understand objectivism as the pursuit of self -- one ought to look out for ones own interests, doing what helps self, not what helps others, and eventually it all works out in the end. Basically it's libertarianism and total free market economics as applied to morality.
Showing posts with label 2010 elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010 elections. Show all posts
11.11.2010
Election Day 2010: Take 3: the House
And so I finally get around to talking about the elections regarding the House of Representatives.
To talk about the numbers results briefly -- the Democrats had a decent majority, took a thorough thumping, and now are the minority party to the Republicans.
Democrats who lost were mostly moderates who won their seats in 06 or 08, in the process of voting out Republicans. Not very many incumbent Republicans lost their seats.
To talk about the numbers results briefly -- the Democrats had a decent majority, took a thorough thumping, and now are the minority party to the Republicans.
Democrats who lost were mostly moderates who won their seats in 06 or 08, in the process of voting out Republicans. Not very many incumbent Republicans lost their seats.
11.06.2010
Election Day 2010: take 2: The Senate
Part 2 of a bit by bit breakdown of this year's election results.
"The Senate"
The Senate, as we are used to thinking, is the senior chamber of Congress. Each Senator must appeal to an entire state during their election process, a concept which would seemingly breed more moderate candidates and elections. In addition the 6 year term would arguably make each Senator more independent, both of their party and the electorate they represent, as they face their wrath far less frequently.
That being said, that is not what happened this year, not at all.
"The Senate"
The Senate, as we are used to thinking, is the senior chamber of Congress. Each Senator must appeal to an entire state during their election process, a concept which would seemingly breed more moderate candidates and elections. In addition the 6 year term would arguably make each Senator more independent, both of their party and the electorate they represent, as they face their wrath far less frequently.
That being said, that is not what happened this year, not at all.
11.02.2010
Election day 2010: take 1
So polls have closed in a good part of the country, I suppose it's time to put a few cents in.
Democrats have taken a pounding thus far, whether deserved or undeserved. But that is usual business for mid-term elections -- the party in power usually loses; 2002 was an apparition (dare I say because of 9/11).
I'll analyze actual results later, as they actually come in and are finalized.
Early cable news coverage was awful. They did nothing but quibble over EVERYTHING, and loudly at that (true to form, I suppose). Once network tv coverage began, the scene mellowed, and the coverage was more sublime. I guess around this time the cable news began to lose SOME of its fury, but it still remains loud whenever they want and for no apparent reason.
Regardless, it looks like party structure in general will be in some sort of disarray/change. Whoever adapts better would appear to be better suited in 2012, not necessarily who is more productive.
-- Knuttel
Democrats have taken a pounding thus far, whether deserved or undeserved. But that is usual business for mid-term elections -- the party in power usually loses; 2002 was an apparition (dare I say because of 9/11).
I'll analyze actual results later, as they actually come in and are finalized.
Early cable news coverage was awful. They did nothing but quibble over EVERYTHING, and loudly at that (true to form, I suppose). Once network tv coverage began, the scene mellowed, and the coverage was more sublime. I guess around this time the cable news began to lose SOME of its fury, but it still remains loud whenever they want and for no apparent reason.
Regardless, it looks like party structure in general will be in some sort of disarray/change. Whoever adapts better would appear to be better suited in 2012, not necessarily who is more productive.
-- Knuttel
10.18.2010
The Marcellus Shale
The Marcellus Shale is a large natural gas reserve that will likely be developed soon, due to its size and the demand for natural gas. Most of this reserve lies in the northern Appalachian mountains, and thus what to do with it has become somewhat of an issue for this years Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
So the main issue is ... should the energy companies be taxed for mining the natural gas? How should they be taxed, if taxed?
Passage of a bill looks eminent, so it looks as if the issue will be more rhetorical and theoretical than anything else.
I look at it this way. The natural gas is there. How much is there is unclear, but it's there. Unless the states decide to go to war with one another, or some country invades and takes over the Marcellus Shale, it will still be there, and it will still be in Pennsylvania. In this case, it is the job of the government to make sure minimal damage is done in order to extract the natural gas, or to ensure that what damage is done can be reversed. If it takes a tax to make sure this can be done within the state budget, a tax which is the similar in neighboring Marcellus states (which, by the way, because it's in shale form, cannot be a "my milkshake drinks your milkshake" scenario), then the tax must be enacted. It's the only responsible thing to do. Having the tax will not drive away business because the industry is fixed. The natural gas is where it is and it cannot move. In fact, it is the duty of the state to make sure it is getting its fair share for parting with its limited precious resources. Is not the state its own actor in this market?
Given the recent history of the energy mining industry (ahem, BP, ahem) I'm not so certain stasis can be trusted to the corporations. And to put it flatly, once the natural gas there is gone, so is the industry with the region. Recompense of some kind must be had.
RECOMPENSE!!!!
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20101012_On_Pa__natural_gas_tax__different_polls_yield_different_results.html
-- Knuttel
So the main issue is ... should the energy companies be taxed for mining the natural gas? How should they be taxed, if taxed?
Passage of a bill looks eminent, so it looks as if the issue will be more rhetorical and theoretical than anything else.
I look at it this way. The natural gas is there. How much is there is unclear, but it's there. Unless the states decide to go to war with one another, or some country invades and takes over the Marcellus Shale, it will still be there, and it will still be in Pennsylvania. In this case, it is the job of the government to make sure minimal damage is done in order to extract the natural gas, or to ensure that what damage is done can be reversed. If it takes a tax to make sure this can be done within the state budget, a tax which is the similar in neighboring Marcellus states (which, by the way, because it's in shale form, cannot be a "my milkshake drinks your milkshake" scenario), then the tax must be enacted. It's the only responsible thing to do. Having the tax will not drive away business because the industry is fixed. The natural gas is where it is and it cannot move. In fact, it is the duty of the state to make sure it is getting its fair share for parting with its limited precious resources. Is not the state its own actor in this market?
Given the recent history of the energy mining industry (ahem, BP, ahem) I'm not so certain stasis can be trusted to the corporations. And to put it flatly, once the natural gas there is gone, so is the industry with the region. Recompense of some kind must be had.
RECOMPENSE!!!!
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20101012_On_Pa__natural_gas_tax__different_polls_yield_different_results.html
-- Knuttel
9.16.2010
Division
Let's take a break from sports for a little bit. It's getting repetitive anyway.
There is a great political movement occurring right now, the tea party. When it first started, it seemed easy to write it off as a fringe movement, relegate it to third party status.
Instead of becoming a third party, they simply became something similar to a PAC. They either fielded or supported candidates from both parties, at least initially. Public figures, all of whom could be described in some manner as "Washington outsiders" started taking charge of the party.
The tea party grew increasingly on a more and more conservative base. Originally, it appeared to be made from libertarians who were fed up with being on the outside looking in as the government grew larger. Other right wing oriented groups latched on, also on the outside since the democrats took control of both electable houses of government in 2008.
And while the economic crisis continues, anger grows; more and more people become dissatisfied with the manner in which the country is run. The tea party becomes a symbol of those who feel ignored by the government, who feel even when they vote for the old party line, they vote for the same thing.
That is how Christine O Donnell beat Mike Castle for the republican senate candidate in Delaware.
By all accounts, Mike Castle had no reason to lose. He was a moderate republican in a Northeastern state. He had a long and competent service record -- currently serving as Delaware's lone house member, also served as Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. Aside from espousing the view that our President was born in the U.S.A., there shouldn't have been any issues, and he likely would have had the support of many democrats, winning the Senate seat.
But that's precisely why he didn't win. The tea party has taken over the right wing of the republican party, adding social conservatism along the way. Simply having a long government career was disastrous, no matter how long or esteemed. Not dealing well with conspiracy theorists also doesn't help when fringe movements close in on a party.
So now all of a sudden, Delaware is a race. What was sure to be a seat for Mike Castle and the republicans is now fair game to both parties.
O Donnel had previously run in the 2006 Primaries for Senate, and also ran on the main ticket in 2008 against Joe Biden. She lost on both occasions, but now has tea party steam backing her up. She's stood for some socially crazy positions, claiming to base it on religion (seeing as how I too am a catholic, I know she's full of shit), and etc, but I'm not gonna point that all out. I'll just direct you to a video which should be up in many places of her on a '90s MTV special when she was in her twenties.
I went to her website to try and figure out what exactly her positions are on anything, and well, I got this. Yeah, it just asks for donations, and doesn't say anything about her campaign or what she stands for. Even funnier, if you click to the next screen, it doesn't have her updated goal of $1,000,000 posted. For a movement that seems to have sprung quickly with the aid of the internet, I am really disappointed in a website like this one.
Why do I care about this? I don't live in Delaware, after all. Well, I live close enough. What happens in Delaware can effect me, and what happens in Delaware could also be a indicator of what is to come in southeastern PA politics. In addition, driving on I-95 in Delaware is already an unpleasant experience, and I do not want this to be even more unpleasant cos some crazy doesn't want to pay maintenance on it. I could decide it's fiscally irresponsible for me to pay car insurance, that doesn't mean I don't need it to drive my car, and doesn't reflect anything about fiscal responsibility.
Maybe conservatives want Obama, Pelosi, and Reid to be the figureheads of the democratic party in 2012, but I think liberals would likewise be interested to see Palin, O Donnel, and Angle as figureheads of the republicans.
What the hell ever happened to constructive lawmaking? You can't fix anything if you can't agree damnit.
There is a great political movement occurring right now, the tea party. When it first started, it seemed easy to write it off as a fringe movement, relegate it to third party status.
Instead of becoming a third party, they simply became something similar to a PAC. They either fielded or supported candidates from both parties, at least initially. Public figures, all of whom could be described in some manner as "Washington outsiders" started taking charge of the party.
The tea party grew increasingly on a more and more conservative base. Originally, it appeared to be made from libertarians who were fed up with being on the outside looking in as the government grew larger. Other right wing oriented groups latched on, also on the outside since the democrats took control of both electable houses of government in 2008.
And while the economic crisis continues, anger grows; more and more people become dissatisfied with the manner in which the country is run. The tea party becomes a symbol of those who feel ignored by the government, who feel even when they vote for the old party line, they vote for the same thing.
That is how Christine O Donnell beat Mike Castle for the republican senate candidate in Delaware.
By all accounts, Mike Castle had no reason to lose. He was a moderate republican in a Northeastern state. He had a long and competent service record -- currently serving as Delaware's lone house member, also served as Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. Aside from espousing the view that our President was born in the U.S.A., there shouldn't have been any issues, and he likely would have had the support of many democrats, winning the Senate seat.
But that's precisely why he didn't win. The tea party has taken over the right wing of the republican party, adding social conservatism along the way. Simply having a long government career was disastrous, no matter how long or esteemed. Not dealing well with conspiracy theorists also doesn't help when fringe movements close in on a party.
So now all of a sudden, Delaware is a race. What was sure to be a seat for Mike Castle and the republicans is now fair game to both parties.
O Donnel had previously run in the 2006 Primaries for Senate, and also ran on the main ticket in 2008 against Joe Biden. She lost on both occasions, but now has tea party steam backing her up. She's stood for some socially crazy positions, claiming to base it on religion (seeing as how I too am a catholic, I know she's full of shit), and etc, but I'm not gonna point that all out. I'll just direct you to a video which should be up in many places of her on a '90s MTV special when she was in her twenties.
I went to her website to try and figure out what exactly her positions are on anything, and well, I got this. Yeah, it just asks for donations, and doesn't say anything about her campaign or what she stands for. Even funnier, if you click to the next screen, it doesn't have her updated goal of $1,000,000 posted. For a movement that seems to have sprung quickly with the aid of the internet, I am really disappointed in a website like this one.
Why do I care about this? I don't live in Delaware, after all. Well, I live close enough. What happens in Delaware can effect me, and what happens in Delaware could also be a indicator of what is to come in southeastern PA politics. In addition, driving on I-95 in Delaware is already an unpleasant experience, and I do not want this to be even more unpleasant cos some crazy doesn't want to pay maintenance on it. I could decide it's fiscally irresponsible for me to pay car insurance, that doesn't mean I don't need it to drive my car, and doesn't reflect anything about fiscal responsibility.
Maybe conservatives want Obama, Pelosi, and Reid to be the figureheads of the democratic party in 2012, but I think liberals would likewise be interested to see Palin, O Donnel, and Angle as figureheads of the republicans.
What the hell ever happened to constructive lawmaking? You can't fix anything if you can't agree damnit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)