Check out the video, especially the convincing second one that indicates that a Chinese news story on their fighter jets uses a scene from the movie Top Gun, posting it as an actual event in China.
Oops...... Busted.
Best Wishes,
Bernie
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Obama Care's Individual Mandate
The individual mandate included in the 2700 page "Obama-Care" legislation is a linch-pin whose removal can collapse this house-of- cards monstrosity. Why? because the individual mandate is clearly un-Constitutional. If the federal government can force you to purchase something on the thin basis that it thinks it is "good for you", then we no longer have any semblance of limited government. We have arrived at full time nanny-state socialism. If it were to stand then if Michelle talked her husband into it, he could theoretically force you to eat and consume Brussels sprouts, since everyone says they're good for you. (personally I love Brussels sprouts, but why would I force you to eat it, I'd rather keep more for myself 
)
)So far three federal courts have agreed. The latest, in a ruling in a Florida federal court by justice Roger Vinson goes a step further in indicating that because the individual mandate is not "severable" the entire law must be scrapped.
Interestingly enough, President Obama-- at the time candidate Obama-- agrees also. In an interview with Ellen Degeneres during the campaign he says that unlike Hillary, he opposed an individual mandate. He likens it to passing a law forcing everyone to buy as house so as to cure homelessness. He actually makes a good point. Click below for video >>>>>
Funny how he forgot his opposition when he signed the bill with a flourish. What's a little memory loss amongst fellow left wingers?
As it stands now, many say that the rulings will wind their way to the Supreme Court around 2012 to, I think, the great detriment of again Candidate Obama.
Still, Ohio could make Obama-Care a non starter even sooner. The Ohio Project has been, for the past year and a half, gathering signatures for a referendum to the November 2011 ballot that would in effect, allow Ohioans to opt out of Obama Care. Called Ohio's Health Care Freedom Amendment, it basically says that in Ohio, a person can not be forced to purchase health insurance, and nor can he/she be punished or fined if they do not. It's simple and a honest interpretation of our Constitution's neglected 10th amendment which says that any powers not specifically given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people respectively. Now that's freedom baby!
A number of states have already passed, through their legislatures, provisions that allow states to opt out of the individual mandate. But because the Ohio House, and Governors Office has until recently, has been dominated by Democrats, we have had to pursue the more arduous process of ballot initiative. Some of you have helped to collect signatures. The results have been positive, and we are close to the votes needed, with 5 more months to go. Now the good news is that, with a new Republican house, A joint senate and house resolution (SJR1) has been introduced to mirror the objectives of the Ohio Project. But it must be passed by a difficult to get 3/5 of both houses.
As a safeguard, the Ohio Project continues to collect signatures, and indeed has called for greater urgency in doing so. And you can help! Educate yourself... or collect signatures to get it on the ballot
You can find out more by going to www.theOhioProject.com
Best Wishes,
Bernie
Regulation Everywhere: Roman Shades
On December 3, 2010, the WCMA, Window Covering Manufacturing Association, in conjunction with government regulators, has put into place restrictions on the construction of Roman Shades. I know this because I am the owner of a fabric showroom. What has the industry done? Well they have mandated "safety compliant" hardware for Roman Shades constructed after Dec 3.
What has changed? Well Roman shades may no longer be made in the manner they have been since, well probably the time of the Romans. The cords must now be eliminated or encased. Why? because, unfortunately there are a handful of deaths each year in the United States by infants who become entangled in the cords, while their parents are out of the room. And because, if the Association had not voluntarily enacted these new standards the hot-to-regulate federal government likely would have forced the issue.
So the infants benefit by the new rule but who else does? Large hardware manufacturers who produce the new safety compliant equipment.
Who suffers from the new rules?
Consumers, including those who don't even have children because they will have to pay more for Roman Shades regardless.
And small mom and pop workrooms who lose businesses because they can't get the new hardware, or their customers won't pay the increased cost.
Is the change worth it? I can't say. Could a reduction in deaths have been accomplished through voluntary public education-- you know, putting a tag on conventionally made shades and urging parents to supervise their children? Probably, but I can't say for sure. But I can say that the new regulations are indeed costly. I can also say that as citizens, we should carefully look at the cost/benefit analysis of any new safety measure. You hear some saying about proposed safety measures, "it's worth it if it saves even one life" just before they place some new restriction on your life. But is that really true? Putting the speed limit at 20mph everywhere will undoubtedly save thousands of lives every year (including many children) but is that what we want to do? Is it worth it?
Something to think about.
Best Wishes,
Bernie
Ronald Reagan's 100th Birthday!
Sunday, February 6 is the superbowl of course, but more importantly, it is the 100th birthday of Ronald Reagan. I thought you might enjoy some of his humor, represented below in the following videos. Also below you will see his great wisdom, as represented in his quotes.
A movement is afoot in some circles to make comparisons between Ronald Reagan and Barak Obama. This is always the way. Roosevelt tried to make favorable comparisons, and tie himself to that first great Republican President, Abraham Lincoln. Obama tried this too, but I think got no further than that they had both once lived in Illinois.
Obama has also been compared to Roosevelt. Time magazine showed him in the likeness of Roosevelt for example. In his handling of the economy, I'm happy to give him that. Roosevelt, like Obama was an economic buffoon who exacerbated and dragged into a depression a normal downturn that ordinarily, like 1921, would have quickly dissapated. He then used that depression to build the foundation of our modern day welfare state, making some Americans dependents instead of citizens.
Sure, Obama read a book about Reagan over his Christmas vacation this year. But they are, these two decidely different creatures, as any honest cursorary examination will show. I hope you enjoy the below. Let me know what you think.
Best Wishes,
Bernie
PS. Want to know what Reagan was really about? The place to start is Reagan in His Own Words. I highly recommend this book on the actual writings of Ronald Wilson Reagan. Here we see the true Reagan a man of highly refined principle and great intellectual vigor. I read it a few years ago, but I need to read it again. Maybe you do too Click here for a summary>>> http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/574832.The_Uncommon_Wisdom_of_Ronald_Reagan
Click here for a summary>>> http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/574832.The_Uncommon_Wisdom_of_Ronald_ReaganReagan was always ready with his humble, self-deprecating humor. But this time this humor zings back against his opponents. 19 sec.
A summary of the wit and humor of Ronald Reagan
Reagan was beaten mercilessly by the press for his lack of diplomacy when it came to telling the truth about socialism. Still he didn't back down. You'll love these soviet jokes
Reagan and patriotism--- pure Reagan
rr snl skit. somewhat flattering, somewhat typical liberal fare, but very funny
Here's some great Reagan quotes....
Rail Travel: Antiquated Technology
From David Haranyi regarding President Obama's State of the Union Speech on January 25th. Thought you'd enjoy this....
Can you say high-speed rail? The president can. He mentioned railroads six times, because how else are we going to win the 19th century back?
And by the time the president's promise of high-speed Internet for everyone comes to fruition, we'll probably be teleporting like Sulu. But at the very least, let's not re-fight the battles of the early 20th century. Someone already invented airplanes and cars, which, unlike trains, can be pointed in any direction we want, whenever we want, as often as we want.
Best Wishes,
Bernie
Our New "Sputnik Moment"
In his recent State of the Union Speech, talking on supposed the race for "green" technologies, between China and the US, President Obama, thriftily recycling the term from a December speech, called for a new "Sputnik Moment".
Leaving aside the quite obvious lack of analogy between the launch of Russia's Sputnik satellite and the US/USSR space race, lets look at China. Has China indeed launched a "green" technologies sputnik with the goal of economically surpassing the United States? Or was the President's analogy an effort make palatable in the name of international competition, new money wasting "investments" in American green technology paid for by the overburdened American Taxpayer?
Derek Scissors, research fellow in economic policy at the Heritage Foundation's Asia Studies Center, gives us some facts on China...
* Over the past decade, the US has increased its energy efficiency by 2.5% annually, while China despite its superior coercive powers, has raised its only 1.7%
* Coal, generally considered a less clean energy source constitutes less than 1/4 of US energy consumption, while in China it is 2/3
*According to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency Chinese greenhouse emissions were 50% greater than the US.... and this with an economy that is only 40% the size of the United States!
* The Chinese government has acknowledged that much of its investment in wind power is an effort to keep up employment.
* The Chinese target for nuclear power is only 5% of electrical capacity.
* Less than 5% of China's solar panel production is used in the internal market.
If there is a Sputnik here, it is China attempting to react to a Sputnik launched from the US market.
If green technologies were cost effective, or were in the future to become cost-effective over other sources of energy, would the United States government need, via our tax dollars, to "invest" in it? When private investors make a bad choice they lose a little money and get out of the market. When the government begins a program it's forever--- even if that means pouring our money into a hole.
Here's some more statistics: In the US, coal costs $78 per megawatt hour, while wind runs $150 and solar is pushing $400
Right now, green energy, is a poor investment. Says Scissors:
Nobody knows this better than the renewable-energy lobby itself, which is why it constantly clamors for subsidies, special tax credits, and guaranteed market shares.
In his speech, the President also called for a removal of tax subsidies to oil companies. This is an excellent suggestion. Let's let ALL energy production stand on its own feet and let the market determine the winners. That of course would include not handicapping domestic oil production by putting the Gulf of Mexico and ANWAR off-limits, and not enacting proposed dramatic new restrictions on our coal industries.
Meanwhile, the American citizen will be able to enjoy abundant energy while keeping some extra dollars in his pocket to make his own investments.
Best Wishes,
Bernie Iven
PS. It shouldn't be surprising that China's energy situation is much less efficient than the US. Though they have a semi-capitalist market, energy is controlled wholly by Bejing. Socialism always fails. Free markets bring efficiency. And this is what we see over and over. Want cleaner air, more efficient cars?--- root for the market. And this is the theme of an excellent book on this issue, The Improving State of the World by Indur Goklany. I invite you to check it out. To learn more, click here>>>
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