Category Archives: Politics

I came across an interesting website today http://www.dontvote.org.

Its basically a little test to see how informed you are as a voter by showing you pictures of people and having you identify them. I scored a B at 83.43% There were a few I didn’t know. I had forgot there was a new guy in charge of the UN, missed a couple House of Representatives leaders and the guy currently running Israel.

It made me think about the thing Leno does from time to time, going out on the street with a picture of someone high up in government and asking people who that person was. I guess that makes good entertainment, the audience laugh but really it is sad. This also gets me thinking of the get out the vote, rock the vote or any other pro-voting movement. I wonder how many of the people these organizations reach are informed on the issues. How many are voting for the sex or race of the candidate, how many are voting just for ‘change’ without change really ever being explained.

There was a time in the US where you had to a white landowner to vote. I wonder though, back then without TV and the rest of the current media how informed were these white guys on the issues and the candidates. Did people pay attention and how? Newspapers I guess. There really wasn’t a way to watch cspan. Nowadays just about anyone can vote unless you are in prison or felon who served your time, depending on the state. I’m not sure I agree with that, especially with the continuously expanding ‘non very serious’ crimes that could get you a felony, but thats a whole another post.

So another day light savings time day comes. My blackberry which automatically updates DST woke me up this morning essentially an hour too early.
Currently my computer says it is 11:18am when it is really 10:18am. I would not go as far as saying DST is evil since well, DST has not tried to exterminate a race of people.
I would say DST is at the very least annoying just like I wrote about it back when Congress decided to increase the length of DST.

Actually it isn’t DST itself, but the change. Tricking people to get up an hour early is fine, but if it thats important lets just stay on DST permanently. People wont lose sleep and us people that work in IT wont have to worry about software that gets screwy with DST.

Some research (PDF) is starting to show that DST does not save energy.
Any politicians out there want to get on the get rid of DST change bandwagon?
Even if I don’t agree with anything else they stand for, I just might just have to vote for them, to get rid of something that is so useless and annoying.

I agree with everything in this peice by John Fugelsang

I first have to say that I do not partake in any of these illegal substances, because well they are illegal, but I don’t think they should be. What consenting adults do in their own homes on their own properties should be no business of the government no matter what substances are involved. If I want to grow Marijuana for my own use on my own property what right does the government have to come in and arrest me and destroy it?

While I have no proof of this it seems that the war on drugs, particularly on pot is failing. The perception I get is use is on the rise and society is starting to accept it. I think this trend will continue and some time later in my lifetime I will see legalized pot here in the US.

Below is a letter written by David Stoddard retired US border patrol agent to Senator Frist. While a couple of the statements I don’t know to be true overall I agree with his stance.

Dear Senator Frist:

There is a huge amount of propaganda and myths circulating about illegal aliens, particularly illegal Mexican, Salvadorian, Guatemalan and Honduran aliens.

1. Illegal aliens generally do NOT want U.S. citizenship. Americans are very vain thinking that everybody in the world wants to be a U.S. citizen. Mexicans, and other nationalities want to remain citizens of their home countries while obtaining the benefits offered by the United States such as employment, medical care, in-state tuition, government subsidized housing and free education for their offspring. Their main attraction is employment and their loyalty usually remains at home. They want benefits earned and subsidized by middle class Americans. What illegal aliens want are benefits of American residence without paying the price.

2. There are no jobs that Americans won’t do. Illegal aliens are doing jobs that Americans can’t take and still support their families. Illegal aliens take low wage jobs, live dozens in a single residence home, share expenses and send money to their home country. There are no jobs that Americans won’t do for a decent wage.

3. Every person who illegally entered this nation left a home. They are NOT homeless and they are NOT Americans. Some left jobs in their home countries. They come to send money to their real home as evidenced by the more than 20 billion dollars sent out of the country each year by illegal aliens. These illegal aliens knowingly and willfully entered this nation in violation of the law and therefore assumed the risk of detection and deportation. Those who brought their alien children assumed the responsibility and risk on behalf of their children.

4. Illegal aliens are NOT critical to the economy. Illegal aliens constitute less than 5% of the workforce. However, they reduce wages and benefits for lawful U.S. residents.

5. This is NOT an immigrant nation. There are 280 million native born Americans. While it is true that this nation was settled and founded by immigrants (legal immigrants), it is also true that there is not a nation on this planet that was not settled by immigrants at one time or another.

6. The United States is welcoming to legal immigrants. Illegal aliens are not immigrants by definition. The U.S. accepts more lawful immigrants every year than the rest of the world combined.

7. There is no such thing as the “Hispanic vote”. Hispanics are white, brown, black and every shade in between. Hispanics are Repu blicans, Democrats, Anarchists, Communists, Marxists and Independents. The so-called “Hispanic vote” is a myth. Pandering to illegal aliens to get the Hispanic vote is a dead end.

8. Mexico is NOT a friend of the United States. Since 1848 Mexicans have resented the United States. During World War I Mexico allowed German Spies to operate freely in Mexico to spy on the U.S. During World War II Mexico allowed the Axis powers to spy on the U.S. from Mexico. During the Cold War Mexico allowed spies hostile to the U.S. to operate freely. The attack on the Twin Towers in 2001 was cheered and applauded all across Mexico. Today Mexican school children are taught that the U.S. stole California, Arizona, new Mexico and Texas. If you don’t believe it, check out some Mexican textbooks written for their schoolchildren.

9. Although some illegal aliens enter this country for a better life, there are 6 billion people on this planet. At least 1 billion of those live on less than one dollar a day. If wanting a better life is a valid excuse to break the law and sneak into America, then let’s allow those one billion to come to America and we’ll turn the USA into a Third World nation overnight. Besides, there are 280 million native born Americans who want a better life. I’ll bet Bill Gates and Donald Trump want a better life. When will the USA lifeboat be full? Since when is wanting a better life a good reason to trash another nation?

10. There is a labor shortage in this country. This is a lie. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American housewives, senior citizens, students, unemployed and underemployed who would gladly take jobs at a decent wage.

11. It is racist to want secure borders. What is racist about wanting secure borders and a secure America? What is racist about not wanting people to sneak into America and steal benefits we have set aside for legal aliens, senior citizens, children and other legal residents? What is it about race that entitles people to violate our laws, steal identities, and take the American Dream without paying the price?

For about four decades American politicians have refused to secure our borders and look after the welfare of middle class Americans. These politicians have been of both parties. A huge debt to American society has resulted. This debt will be satisfied and the interest will be high. There has already been riots in the streets by illegal aliens and their supporters. There will be more. You, as a politician, have a choice to offend the illegal aliens who have stolen into this country and demanded the rights afforded to U.S. citizens or to offend those of us who are stakeholders in this country. The interest will be steep either way. There will be civil unrest. There will be a reckoning. Do you have the courage to do what is right for America? Or, will you bow to the wants and needs of those who don’t even have the right to remain here?

There will be a reckoning. It will come in November of this year, again in 2008 and yet again in 2010.

We will not allow America to be stolen by third world agitators and thieves.

David J. Stoddard
U.S. Border Patrol (RET)
Hereford, Arizona

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) – A controversial Texas program to send undercover agents into bars to arrest drunks has been halted after a firestorm of protest from the public.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has “temporarily suspended” what it called “Operation Last Call” even though it still believes it was worthwhile, commission spokeswoman Carolyn Beck said on Thursday.

“We understand that everything has room for improvement, this included,” she said.

She said most of those arrested in the sting operations had been “dangerously drunk” and might have tried to drive if TABC agents had not busted them.

The TABC has launched an internal investigation of Operation Last Call and a Texas Legislature committee will hold hearings on the program on Monday.

The TABC announced the program in late August but it received little attention at the time.

But recent media reports that drunks were being arrested in bars provoked both ridicule and anger around the world and, perhaps more importantly, complaints from hotels, restaurants and bars in Texas who said it could hurt business.

The program drew support from groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The Houston Chronicle found that 1,740 people across the state had been arrested for public intoxication in Operation Last Call.

It seems the media has brought some common sense to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

“most of those arrested in the sting operations had been “dangerously drunk” and might have tried to drive if TABC agents had not busted them.”

Most? Might? So arrest all the legally drunk people because some might want to drive? How insane is that? What if they have a designated driver, was going to walk, or catch a cab?
Why not just hang out in the parking lot and test individuals that get in the drivers seat of a vehicle? Doesn’t that make more sense then lurking about in the bar?