According to Aviation Week, British aerospace and defense companies are speaking out against Brexit. Airbus, airlines RyanAir and Easy Jet, and the company operating Heathrow airport have all decried Brexit. A report compiled by accountants KPMG suggested that three quarters of British aerospace and defense companies would vote to remain in the EU.
Too bad companies don't get to vote.
Good to hear that a few Brits have their heads screwed on nose to the front.
This blog posts about aviation, automobiles, electronics, programming, politics and such other subjects as catch my interest. The blog is based in northern New Hampshire, USA
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Monday, March 7, 2016
Open and Closed Primaries
States like NH hold open primaries, anyone can vote in either party's primary. Other states like Massachusetts hold closed primaries, you have to be a registered party member to vote in the party primary.
Arguments for closed primaries are thus. An American political party is more than just a bunch of voters. The party stands for things and politicians who campaign under the party banner are expected to support their party on all levels. Elected politicians are expected to vote the way the party leadership calls for, even if they themselves are against the party position. In which case, it makes sense for the selection of nominees be limited to party members, in order to insure that the nominee thinks the way the party rank and file do. Allowing independents and opposition party people to vote in party primaries dilutes the party members vote and allows the election of wishywashy or even hostile thinking nominees.
The strongest argument for open primaries occurs in one party states. In a solid red or solid blue state, winning the primary is equivalent to winning the general election. In solid blue Massachusetts, winning the democratic primary means you will take office a few months later. So members of the opposition party cry out for votes in the only election that really matters, the dominant party primary.
Arguments for closed primaries are thus. An American political party is more than just a bunch of voters. The party stands for things and politicians who campaign under the party banner are expected to support their party on all levels. Elected politicians are expected to vote the way the party leadership calls for, even if they themselves are against the party position. In which case, it makes sense for the selection of nominees be limited to party members, in order to insure that the nominee thinks the way the party rank and file do. Allowing independents and opposition party people to vote in party primaries dilutes the party members vote and allows the election of wishywashy or even hostile thinking nominees.
The strongest argument for open primaries occurs in one party states. In a solid red or solid blue state, winning the primary is equivalent to winning the general election. In solid blue Massachusetts, winning the democratic primary means you will take office a few months later. So members of the opposition party cry out for votes in the only election that really matters, the dominant party primary.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Newsie's day dream, a "brokered convention"
The TV newsies keep talking about one. They would just die to cover a "brokered convention". The good old fashioned smoke filled room where party bosses cut a deal to select the nominee. Dream on newsies.
In real life, the voters expect the party nominee to be chosen in primary elections. If this doesn't happen, the voters will think something illegal, or immoral, or merely fattening, has happened behind closed doors. They will refuse to support for any nominee selected by anything except a majority of the primary elections. If necessary they will vote for a third party candidate who has some legitimacy. Which will hand the general election to Hilliary.
Does the establishment or the voters understand this? Given the horrible state of American schools, they may not.
In real life, the voters expect the party nominee to be chosen in primary elections. If this doesn't happen, the voters will think something illegal, or immoral, or merely fattening, has happened behind closed doors. They will refuse to support for any nominee selected by anything except a majority of the primary elections. If necessary they will vote for a third party candidate who has some legitimacy. Which will hand the general election to Hilliary.
Does the establishment or the voters understand this? Given the horrible state of American schools, they may not.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
NH legislature off on wild goose chases
Let's see. First we have the commuter rail project. Costs $300 million to set up, plus $12 million a year running costs, Only serves Nashua. They want all the taxpayers in NH to pay for it. Nice work if you can get it Nashua.
Then somebody wanted to pass a new state law on indecent exposure. We have been doing just fine with existing law going back to the colonial period. Why do w need to change anything. Far as I am concerned, if guys or girls want to walk around stark naked, fine by me. I will enjoy the view. I don't see any need for a law.
Then someone else wanted to pass a new law about bestiality. I know the Old Testament is again it, but I hadn't heard of any cases in NH in the last fifty years. Again, we have law on the books, going back to colonial times, that has been perfectly adequate.
Why is our gallant legislature wasting time with this sort of stuff?
Then somebody wanted to pass a new state law on indecent exposure. We have been doing just fine with existing law going back to the colonial period. Why do w need to change anything. Far as I am concerned, if guys or girls want to walk around stark naked, fine by me. I will enjoy the view. I don't see any need for a law.
Then someone else wanted to pass a new law about bestiality. I know the Old Testament is again it, but I hadn't heard of any cases in NH in the last fifty years. Again, we have law on the books, going back to colonial times, that has been perfectly adequate.
Why is our gallant legislature wasting time with this sort of stuff?
Labels:
bestiality,
commuter rail,
indecent exposure,
NH legislature
Friday, March 4, 2016
Kelley Ayotte event in northern NH
Kelly Ayotte is our incumbent US Senator, running for re-election. She traveled up to northern NH to give a town hall event today. It was held in the classic NH location, a VFW hall, this one in Haverill. Turnout was good, parking lot was full, so was the VFW hall. It was a close knit affair, Kelly knew half the people present and greeted them all.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Learning to trash The Donald
Just watched Mitt Romney laying into The Donald on TV. Wow. Zap. Mitt came on just as strong as Marco Rubio, maybe stronger.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Learning to love The Donald
The Donald is gonna win the Republican nomination, unless something really weird happens, like an assassination, or all the other Republicans consolidate behind either Cruz or Rubio. Or lightening strikes the convention. Not likely.
I have some problems with The Donald as president, but I have more problems with Hilliary. So I'll vote for The Donald, and work to get him elected. I sincerely hope that The Donald can beat Hilliary in November, but I have my doubts. Hilliary's negatives are very high, but The Donald's are higher.
I have some problems with The Donald as president, but I have more problems with Hilliary. So I'll vote for The Donald, and work to get him elected. I sincerely hope that The Donald can beat Hilliary in November, but I have my doubts. Hilliary's negatives are very high, but The Donald's are higher.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)