One end is in New Jersey, the other end is in New York. The usual arrangement in such a case, is a bi state commission to run the bridge. Equal numbers of commissioners from each state. Equal numbers of patronage appointments to each state. Equal amounts of money spent in each state for supplies, maintenance, painting, etc.
In such a case, how does New Jersey, acting on its own, get to close down bridge lanes? Does not New York have to go along? And why would New York go along? Cause massive inconvenience to New York commuters just to settle some political hash in New Jersey?
There must be a way, but I have no idea what it was.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Obama's Promise Zones
There was Obama, on TV, out in some really hard hit location, Appalachia or Brooklyn, can't remember for sure which. He was talking about "promise zones", which would bring all sorts of government handouts to depressed areas.
I'm watching this, thinking to myself, What those places need is real jobs. Like say an automobile plant, or a Boeing plant. I didn't hear a word from Obama about getting some industry to move into the area, which is what is truly needed.
I'm watching this, thinking to myself, What those places need is real jobs. Like say an automobile plant, or a Boeing plant. I didn't hear a word from Obama about getting some industry to move into the area, which is what is truly needed.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Nobody knows WHAT spilled into the water in West VA.
The newsies have been reporting a chemical spill in West VA that has contaminated the water supply. Residents are being told not to drink the water, not to use it even for washing clothes. Sounds pretty bad.
However, nobody seems to know what was spilled. At least no newsie has mentioned a name for the "chemical" that is causing so much alarm. Could it be that no newsie ever took high school chemistry? Perhaps they cannot pronounce any chemical name more complicated than "water" ?
However, nobody seems to know what was spilled. At least no newsie has mentioned a name for the "chemical" that is causing so much alarm. Could it be that no newsie ever took high school chemistry? Perhaps they cannot pronounce any chemical name more complicated than "water" ?
Whither Chris Christy?
Chris Christy, governor of New Jersey, front running Republican candidate for 2016, has a nasty scandal simmering on his front burner. Back in September, someone ordered three lanes on the George Washington bridge closed, creating horrendous traffic jams. Christy stands accused of doing it as political retaliation on the mayor of Fort Lee.
Yesterday Christy held a marathon news conference, at which he announced the firing of two people, pretty high up in his adminstration, said he was sorry, and took all reporters questions for nearly two hours. Christy blamed the whole thing on underlings. He is a convincing speaker.
So what next? If you believe Christy, it wasn't his fault, and he has taken action against the perps. If you like Christy, and a lot of people do, you are inclined to believe him. As long as no evidence surfaces to pin the blame on the governor, this will probably blow over, in time. Right now, the state legislature (all democrats), and the federal government (mostly democrats) are going to investigate, i.e. go on fishing expeditions looking for something to hang Christy with. So long as they don't find anything incriminating, Christy ought to be OK. I figure they can keep this ball in the air for another 6 months or so.
I can believe that in New Jersey, plenty of pols at all levels are into eye-for-an-eye. I can believe that underlings could have pulled this off without Christy's knowledge. After all, that's what happened to Nixon. Gordon Liddy planned and executed Watergate without Nixon's knowledge.
We'll see. I kinda like Christy, and I hope he survives.
Yesterday Christy held a marathon news conference, at which he announced the firing of two people, pretty high up in his adminstration, said he was sorry, and took all reporters questions for nearly two hours. Christy blamed the whole thing on underlings. He is a convincing speaker.
So what next? If you believe Christy, it wasn't his fault, and he has taken action against the perps. If you like Christy, and a lot of people do, you are inclined to believe him. As long as no evidence surfaces to pin the blame on the governor, this will probably blow over, in time. Right now, the state legislature (all democrats), and the federal government (mostly democrats) are going to investigate, i.e. go on fishing expeditions looking for something to hang Christy with. So long as they don't find anything incriminating, Christy ought to be OK. I figure they can keep this ball in the air for another 6 months or so.
I can believe that in New Jersey, plenty of pols at all levels are into eye-for-an-eye. I can believe that underlings could have pulled this off without Christy's knowledge. After all, that's what happened to Nixon. Gordon Liddy planned and executed Watergate without Nixon's knowledge.
We'll see. I kinda like Christy, and I hope he survives.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Antibiotic Resistant Diseases
The TV news has been running pieces about the rise of drug resistant diseases. The bacteria evolve resistance to what ever it is in antibiotics that kills them. Survival of the fittest. The narrators on TV, often guys in white coats, blame over use of antibiotics by doctors. Antibiotics only work against bacteria, they do nothing against virii. When parents bring children in to the doc, with earaches, or the flu, or all those childhood problems, the doc often proscribes an antibiotic on general principles. The kids get well and every one is happy.
We raised three children, and when they were small, we had a bottle of that pink amoxillin stuff in the fridge pretty much all winter. Some times for one child, sometimes for another child, sometimes for all three at once. I dare say things are much the same in most households.
Although doctors ought to back off on antibiotic use, we ought to bear down on the farmers. They feed antibiotics to livestock pretty much every day. It's not that the stock is sick, it's that they grow faster and put on more weight when fed antibiotics. That may be, but the practice breeds up an army of drug resistance bacteria. The light dose of antibiotic kills the weaker bacteria, leaving the more resistant bacteria alive to breed. Animal diseases can infect people. Smallpox, swine flu, bird flu are three that come to mind. There has got to be others.
So, before we get too fierce about doctors proscribing too many antibiotics for small children, we ought to get fierce about feeding antibiotics to livestock.
We raised three children, and when they were small, we had a bottle of that pink amoxillin stuff in the fridge pretty much all winter. Some times for one child, sometimes for another child, sometimes for all three at once. I dare say things are much the same in most households.
Although doctors ought to back off on antibiotic use, we ought to bear down on the farmers. They feed antibiotics to livestock pretty much every day. It's not that the stock is sick, it's that they grow faster and put on more weight when fed antibiotics. That may be, but the practice breeds up an army of drug resistance bacteria. The light dose of antibiotic kills the weaker bacteria, leaving the more resistant bacteria alive to breed. Animal diseases can infect people. Smallpox, swine flu, bird flu are three that come to mind. There has got to be others.
So, before we get too fierce about doctors proscribing too many antibiotics for small children, we ought to get fierce about feeding antibiotics to livestock.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
We have secret ballot. Why not secret political donations?
We have secret ballot so voters can vote for who ever they choose without fear of retaliation by political bosses, bosses at work, union bosses, the mayor, the sheriff, who ever. Secret ballot has been standard in the US since the revolutionary war. It's an established bulwark of democracy. Countries that lack secret ballot are regarded as banana republics.
Next to voting, contributing money to candidates, parties, and causes is the basis of political liberty. Many, perhaps most, would prefer to donate anonymously to protect themselves from retaliation, harassment, assault, strikes, picketing, and kidnapping by the political opposition.
So why not allow citizens to donate anonymously?
Largely because of a dense web of campaign finance laws passed by "good government" (Goo-goo) groups over the years. I ran for a minor state office up here in NH some years ago. I raised less than $1000, which I spent on yard signs and palm cards. I had to file forms monthly in Concord listing name rank and serial number of each of my contributors. PITA. The "good government" groups feel that campaign contributions are the same as bribes and attempt to outlaw the practice.
The Goo-Goos are mostly democrats. They oppose campaign donations because the Republicans have members who will write checks. Democrats are mostly academics, newsies, union people, students, welfare people, and incumbent pols, none of whom will write a check. Partly 'cause they are cheap, and partly 'cause they don't have any money.
The country would be more democratic if we scrapped all the campaign finance laws and let anyone contribute as much as they please, and keep it secret. The Supreme Court, in the Citizens United case agrees with me.
Next to voting, contributing money to candidates, parties, and causes is the basis of political liberty. Many, perhaps most, would prefer to donate anonymously to protect themselves from retaliation, harassment, assault, strikes, picketing, and kidnapping by the political opposition.
So why not allow citizens to donate anonymously?
Largely because of a dense web of campaign finance laws passed by "good government" (Goo-goo) groups over the years. I ran for a minor state office up here in NH some years ago. I raised less than $1000, which I spent on yard signs and palm cards. I had to file forms monthly in Concord listing name rank and serial number of each of my contributors. PITA. The "good government" groups feel that campaign contributions are the same as bribes and attempt to outlaw the practice.
The Goo-Goos are mostly democrats. They oppose campaign donations because the Republicans have members who will write checks. Democrats are mostly academics, newsies, union people, students, welfare people, and incumbent pols, none of whom will write a check. Partly 'cause they are cheap, and partly 'cause they don't have any money.
The country would be more democratic if we scrapped all the campaign finance laws and let anyone contribute as much as they please, and keep it secret. The Supreme Court, in the Citizens United case agrees with me.
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