Snake Pit

• Congress getting in on Climategate...or a Partisan Gesture?

  [www.cbsnews.com]
  The leaked documents (see our previous coverage) come from the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in eastern England. In global warming circles, the CRU wields outsize influence: it claims the world's largest temperature data set, and its work and mathematical models were incorporated into [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 24, 2009, 1:24pm EST
  

• My Thoughts on Global Warming

  When it comes to global warming, there are a few things I can say for certain.
  1.  The largest macro-trend in temperature right now is that there is indeed global warming.  This being said, the planet has cooled slightly in the past 11 years.  This is shown in both land-based and [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:00am EST
  

• ClimateGate Breaks: Global Warming Scientists Corrupt

  Just in case you missed this bit of news (I doubt the mainstream media will dwell on this during "Green Week"), the merit of man-made global warming theories face new scrutiny.  Some hackers stole a whole lot of documents and emails from East Anglia University's Climate Research Unit (CRU), whose [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 23, 2009, 10:14am EST
  

• Securitization in our Banking System

  This article seems to clarify a bit about the process of securitization, which surrounded the collapse of Bear Sterns and Lehman Bros. It can get a bit dense, but the essential points are quite clear.
  
  The author fails to mention one point I believe is very pertinent. Monetary inflation helps decrease [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 12, 2009, 2:30pm EST
  

• Who’s Responsible for Job Growth?

  Today I saw a post in Market Watch about the U.S. government being responsible for job growth. It brought to mind several realizations I’ve personally had over the past year.

  When I applied for and won my current job, some people questioned the rationale behind accepting a position in the software [...]

  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 10, 2009, 8:59am EST
  

• Government Wetland Project Raises Questions

  On October 29, 2009, the Montgomery Advertiser ran a story about Lowndes County residents receiving unfair land values from a federal government program vowing to protect wetlands. After doing a little digging, I was still confused. At face value, it appeared to be one of those situations where the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 07, 2009, 5:18pm EST
  

• Florida's Public Homeowner's Insurance Option

  Here is a good description of how "public options" work in respect to the competitive private marketplace.  For those who don't like reading, let me be brief.  The public option becomes the dominant option, then the only option.  It uses taxes on its competition to fund itself, but still' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:31am EST
  

• Quick Health Care Numbers

  Here's some quick numbers for those who still believe our health care industry is an evil bastion of unfettered capitalism, or that private profits are the cause of rising costs.88% of all medical costs are paid by a third party.  The insurance industry in health care is much different than [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 03, 2009, 9:28am EST
  

• What to make of the power of TEA

  I talked to a friend today.  This friend is highly involved in the tea party movement around Montgomery.  He was telling me about how he and his TEA party peeps were involving themselves in New York's special election for the 23rd district.  For those unfamiliar with that race, it involved [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: November 02, 2009, 1:51pm EST
  

• Pelosi vs Vending Machines

  For those of you who might cheer regulation and the nanny-state, consider this.  Yes, the 1,900+ page health care bill regulates food labeling.  Can you imagine the total number of man hours it would take to make sure every eligible restaurant or vending machine in America abides by these [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 30, 2009, 12:26pm EDT
  

• Social Media, understand it and love it

  Three years ago, I was participating in the on campus version of this program.  MySpace was the norm.  Facebook was gaining in popularity and going more mainstream in its delivery.  I had not even heard of Twitter.  Social media rarely came up in any discussion in any class.
  
  A lot happened [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 29, 2009, 3:15pm EDT
  

• Geithner Proves Idiocy To Remnant

  It seems like every time Geithner opens his mouth, something ridiculously dumb falls out.  This recent statement took me a little off guard at first:
  The Federal Reserve should lose its authority to bail out big, failing financial firms like AIG and Bear Stearns under proposed reforms aimed at limiting [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 29, 2009, 10:37am EDT
  

• Five questions that linger for me about Health Care reform

  I posted some tweets today of random questions I had about health care reform and so I will expound here.  You see, I want to have an open mind about such things.  I am not the smartest, most experienced guy with the best ideas in the world, so I [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 28, 2009, 5:29pm EDT
  

• Krugman's Health Care Follies

  Krugman believes markets can't cure healthcare.  Why?
  [Y]ou don’t know when or whether you’ll need care — but if you do, the care can be extremely expensive.
  
  Of course costs are extremely high today, after decades without free markets.  Prices are a function of supply and demand, and government intrusions into' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 28, 2009, 10:20am EDT
  

• How the Free Market Works

  Daniel Krawisz gives us a great blog via the Mises Institute to explain the workings of the free market capitalist economy.  It is an elementary exposition of how different roles of economy are filled, and why they work together.  It exonerates why there is a division between proprietors (capitalists [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 27, 2009, 9:35am EDT
  

• Fines and Covering Pre-existing Conditions - Nonsensical "Solutions"

  This health care debate seems to have boiled down to two issues.
  The first is the notion that everybody should have insurance.  Well, the reason people don't is because it's expensive, and for some, likely unnecessary.  The young and the rich can get by without it.  Forcing them to purchase insurance' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 22, 2009, 10:57am EDT
  

• Republican Health Care Hypocrisy

  This is a great, quick article covering the sweeping hypocrisy of "the Right" on health care.  While it focuses on S-CHIP and the prescription drug benefit to Medicare, I should also point out that Mitt Romney, who was not far from getting the Republican bid for the Presidency, created [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 22, 2009, 9:17am EDT
  

• Moore Hypocrisy

  In a previous post, I criticized Michael Moore's new movie, on the main grounds that it drew poor conclusions.  Yet, I also criticized Moore's hypocrisy in his owing his success to capitalism, which he believes is evil.  My argument is admittedly somewhat shallow.  Do I have any real demonstrable [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 15, 2009, 11:09am EDT
  

• Goldman Sachs and the Extent of Corporatist-Oligarchy

  How startled would you be to learn that many of Geithner's "aides" (co-conspirators?) who are earning large salaries at the Treasury Department are also earning large salaries at the Wall Street banks that Geithner is bailing out?  This might be a good time to remember what Geithner's plan for [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 14, 2009, 2:44pm EDT
  

• On Regulating Contracts

  Today, Obama plans to push his financial reform package.  One of the measures is a consumer financial protection agency that seeks to regulate contracts.  Obama claims many contracts are too lengthy and confusing.
  Let's look at the hypocrisy first.  Many would consider the federal register of regulations more confusing than any [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 09, 2009, 1:51pm EDT
  

• Nobel Prize Officially a Joke

  The Nobel Peace Prize is officially a joke.  Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, and now Barack Obama have won.  For what?  The only thing I can think of is being dedicated advocates of big government.  In plain language, big government means the destruction of individual property rights in favor of [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 09, 2009, 10:25am EDT
  

• If You Are What You Create, What Is Left?

  If it's true that you are what you eat, and I believe that it is - then it's not a huge leap to believe that you are what you create.  Americans are known as a consumer nation - and the decline of industrial manufacturing has proven that. So if we [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 08, 2009, 4:08pm EDT
  

• FTC Regulates Internet Speech

  Today, the FTC has effectively regulated speech on the internet.  My thoughts:
  Let's be honest.  How big of a problem is the one the FTC seeks to eliminate?  Are there scores of consumers complaining that the virtually anonymous comments of some product reviewer on the internet misled them into making [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: October 06, 2009, 1:28pm EDT
  

• How is this not a racket?

  So...the market for carbon credits is estimated to become larger than the market for crude oil.
  I'd like to remind people of a few things.
  First of all, the best way to measure the greenhouse effect is atmospheric temperature readings, not surface readings.  While surface readings have been increasing, atmospheric readings' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 29, 2009, 5:07pm EDT
  

• Understanding Sacrifice

  Afghanistan, and the war we are involved in, is beginning to become a main issue in the ideological fight between Americans.  Its being framed by both sides of the political spectrum too as pros try to make or break the Obama administration.  Guess who gets left out... no, not you, [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 25, 2009, 10:16am EDT
  

• Capitalism: A BS Story...OR...Fascism: A Love Story

  Michael Moore is a fat bag of garbage.  He's like a movie critic, except he criticizes the hard decisions of others.  He's never had to make such decisions, riding the success of labeling propaganda films as documentaries, but he qualifies himself as fully-capable of judging those who live in such [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 23, 2009, 3:42pm EDT
  

• Panel votes to NOT grant more government transparency

  It seems that there was another committee meeting by the State Executive Committee on Community Services Grants today.  In said meeting, there were millions of dollars set aside to approve grant requests.  Let me clarify that this was millions more in addition to the millions that get approved in previous [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 23, 2009, 2:49pm EDT
  

• Unemployment Creates Wealth?

  That's what our moron congressmen think.  Allow me to quote from this CNBC article:
  "Providing these Americans with a modest economic lifeline is not only the humane thing to do but it's in the economic interest of the country," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., noting that every [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 23, 2009, 11:17am EDT
  

• Alabama Remembers Sept. 11th

  We all have our own ways of remembrance and some of us prefer the fellowship of our fellow man.  It's very hard to believe that the worst day in American history in my lifetime happened eight years ago today.  The memories so impacted me that they still seem fresh in [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 11, 2009, 9:07am EDT
  

• Anatomy of an Economic Ignoramus by Thomas Woods, Jr.

  I hate to simply link blogs, but this is too good to pass up.  Woods uses a wrecking ball to destroy a feeble Marxist's belief structure, while clarifying exactly what a free market actually is (rather than the perceived image created by "right-wing" politicians that amounts to subsidizing the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 10, 2009, 10:36am EDT
  

• The Unemployment rate and the questions it raises for me

  U.S. unemployment rate jumps to 26-year high of 9.7%
  
  This rate keeps going higher and higher.  Government officials tell us that the worst is supposed to be behind us.  VP Biden said yesterday,
  
  "The Recovery Act has played a significant role in changing the trajectory of our economy and changing" [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 04, 2009, 1:04pm EDT
  

• Government involvement in all these areas show how "We the people" are failing

  Yeah, I said it.
  
  With all the numbers, facts, and figures being parlayed back and forth among all the political strategies in this war between different ideologies out there, we are missing out on some very important things.  The more government has to provide shows that the American people are becoming [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 02, 2009, 10:58am EDT
  

• Cash for Clunkers got us nowhere

  Interesting read on the Cash for Clunkers program...
  
  Irwin Stelzer: Seven lessons of Cash-for-Clunkers' failure
  
  The government program did not mean a hill of beans really.  GM, Ford, and Chrysler sold only 39% of the cars bought through this program and most dealers haven't even received their money yet.  This article [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: September 01, 2009, 2:10pm EDT
  

• Artur Davis is against the health care bill, and that's a fact

  Yesterday I made an emotional appeal about ideology and finding ways to work together.  I still believe today what I wrote yesterday, but in those instances where you have an opportunity to say something that IS factual, don't screw it up. 
  
  This morning on my drive into work, I was' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 28, 2009, 9:17am EDT
  

• The truth as you see it

  is not the truth as someone else may see it.  You see, in politics and governance, there is little truth and a whole lot of ideology.  For every statistic concerning any issue of late, health care, cap and trade, etc.... there is one that can counter it.... if you are [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 27, 2009, 3:54pm EDT
  

• Candidate for Governor: Ron Sparks

  Ron Sparks is currently the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.  You can find his website here.  Here is his stand on the issues:
  

  
  LifeStart Scholarship Lottery Program
  
  State lotteries are educating the children of Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. Every year Alabamians spend millions on these lotteries to help educate [...]

  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 26, 2009, 12:33pm EDT
  

• Candidate for Governor: Roy Moore

  Judge Roy Moore most recently was the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.  You can find his website here.  Here is his stand on the issues.
  
  Economy

   

  The biggest challenge in our state and nation today is the failing economy. We need to create jobs and recruit new industry. but [...]

  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 26, 2009, 12:17pm EDT
  

• Candidate for Governor: Bill Johnson

  Bill Johnson lives in Prattville and most recently was Director of ADECA.  He is a Republican and you can find his website here.  Here is his stand on the issues:
  
  Priorities
  
  
  

  Economy, Economic Development and Jobs

  As Assistant Director and Director for 6 1/2 years for the Alabama Department of Economic [...]

  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 26, 2009, 12:02pm EDT
  

• Candidate for Governor: Tim James

  Tim James is a businessman and lives in Greenville.  He is a Republican and you can find his website here.  Here is his stand on the issues:
  
  COMMON SENSE FOR JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 1. Give Alabama small businesses the same incentives for growth that are used to recruit out-of-state companies. [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:36am EDT
  

• Candidate for Governor: Artur Davis

  U.S. Congressman Artur Davis represents the 7th US Congressional District.  He is a Democrat and lives in Montgomery.  You can find his website here.  Here is his stand on the issues:
  
  

  Creating Jobs & Transforming our Economy
  
  

  With unemployment in double digits in half our counties, Artur Davis knows we must [...]

  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:27am EDT
  

• Candidate for Governor: Bradley Byrne

  Bradley Byrne lives in Fairhope and most recently was the Chancellor for the Alabama 2 year College System.  He is a Republican and you can find his website here.  Here is his stand on the issues:
  
  The Issues

  We will be discussing many important issues challenging Alabama, and I am committed [...]

  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:17am EDT
  

• Candidate for Governor: Robert Bentley

  Dr. Robert Bentley is a State legislator from Tuscaloosa.  He is a dermatologist at home and is a Republican.  You can find his website here.  Here is his stand on the issues:

  Honesty & Ethics
  
  Honesty, Integrity & Character
  Integrity in government is one of the most important aspects in a political [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:04am EDT
  

• Spending grant money, or pork if you see it that way

  Mark Montiel has a radio show on 107.9 FM in Montgomery and he was lathered up over the spending that is going on in Montgomery.  Is it pork?  Perhaps, but some of it goes to fund schools, volunteer fire departments, among other worthy organizations.  Perhaps that was the thought [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 25, 2009, 10:23am EDT
  

• Plum lines to reading to rolling reserve budgeting: A review of the CCA Forum

  First, let me say, I want to thank Kris from The World Around You and his lovely wife, as well as some other politicos in the Montgomery area, for conducting our first tweet-up.  We had some pretty awesome burgers at Five Guys before heading off to the gubernatorial forum [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 25, 2009, 8:49am EDT
  

• A Gubernatorial Forum for the Christian minded folks, but please have your ticket

  Organized religion really never fails to surprise me.  And mixed with p;politics you really get your fill for the Ripley's Believe It or Not bone in our bodies. The Christian Coalition is hosting a forum complete with several of the candidates running for governor.  Several, but not all.
  
  To be in [...]

  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 24, 2009, 9:48am EDT
  

• What Soviet Medicine Teaches Us by Yuri N. Maltsev

  From [mises.org]:
  In 1918, the Soviet Union became the first country to promise universal "cradle-to-grave" healthcare coverage, to be accomplished through the complete socialization of medicine. The "right to health" became a "constitutional right" of Soviet citizens.
  
  The proclaimed advantages of this system were that it would "reduce costs" and eliminate the [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 21, 2009, 10:25am EDT
  

• Considerations for Health Insurance

  My bank and insurance company, USAA, had a worthy read on taking action if your thinking about health insurance.  I thought it might help someone out there, so I am posting it.
  
  Do you feel sick just thinking about health insurance?
  It's time to turn your queasiness into action, especially if you're' [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 17, 2009, 11:25am EDT
  

• Amazing Statements by Paul Krugman

  In this article, Krugman seeks to dispel criticism of government control over health care.  Besides the specifics he gives about how each of several nations' health care systems are actually run, this article sounds a lot like this: "Government health care good (not so bad), private health care bad'" [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 17, 2009, 9:37am EDT
  

• 20 questions for your Congressman

  Robert Tracinski posted this over at The Intellectual Activist.
  
  "The smear against small-government advocates who have confronted their congressmen at town hall meetings is that they are an "angry mob" who just want to shout down advocates of Obama's health-care bill. In fact, these protesters have come to the meetings" [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 14, 2009, 1:07pm EDT
  

• Top 10 Reasons Obamacare Is Wrong for America

  Here, from Human Events, are the Top 10 Reasons Obamacare is Wrong for America.  I am fully compelled to back these as facts based upon an analysis of the current proposed legislation made available for our consideration.  This top ten list was compiled by the Heritage Foundation and made [...]
  Share | Rate | Archive

  Posted: August 13, 2009, 2:01pm EDT