Campaign Finance Reform

With John McCain looking like the leader in the Republican primaries, I've participated in several discussions regarding campaign finance reform. I am not a fan of the McCain-Feingold law. In my estimation it flies in the face of the first amendment. So what would work better?

I believe the solution is simple.

• All contributions must come from the area the candidate seeks to represent e.g...
• a Presidential may raise funds from anywhere in the U.S.,
  
• a U.S. Senate candidate may raise funds from the state,
  
• a Congressional candidate may raise funds from the congressional district,
  
• etc...
• All contributions must be attributed and public (the truth shall set you free).
• There should be no limit on the size of individual contributions.
• Corporations may not contribute in any manner. No money, no jets, no commercials, Nothing. The electoral process is for citizens. Corporations should be free to lobby politicians, but should have no input in elections.
  

These simple rules would place the power in the hands of the citizens, where it belongs. It is not the Federal Government's place to dictate to the people who they may support or to what extent they may support them. We created the government, we own the government, and we can replace it.

Self Serve Lasik

So… There I was minding my own business, preparing dinner. Was I in a rush? Yes. Was the oil too hot? Yes. Was it stupid? Absolutely. But it’s an ill wind the blows no good.

I had a feeling the skillet was too hot, so I made sure I had the lid handy. Perhaps I should have turned the heat down. Regardless, the oil started to boil the second it hit the pan. Ofcourse, that’s bad. So, to cool the oil down, I thought I’d hurry up and gets the steaks in. You can do some stupid things when you’re in a hurry. Normally I would place the steaks in the skillet so they fall away from the cook (me). This time I just slapped it in and, naturally, it fell toward me. As the steak fell into the searing, boiling oil, the oil ignited.

Let’s recap… Boiling, burning oil in an overheated skillet. Falling steak.

Splash

All I could think, when the burning oil reached my right eye, was “Ouch! Fire? Ouch! Get the lid!, Ouch! Stupid, Ouch!”. I think I actually saw the drop of oil careening toward my eye (I think they call it a false memory). Anyway, I put out the fire and ran to the bathroom. Sure enough, there was a distinct haze in the lower third of my vision in my right eye. I could also see a whitish area on my cornea, where the oil got me. I earn my living through reading and writing. So, I freaked.

At the Emergency Room they told me it was a minor injury. As they predicted, the mind bending pain subsided in a couple days. After three weeks of eye drops, and healing, I noticed something strange. I had decided that I should start wearing my glasses. I have had a mild astigmatism since the mid ‘90s. I don’t have to wear my glasses to read, and frequently don’t, but wearing them helps with eye fatigue and would have prevented this catastrophe. But when I wore my glasses I couldn’t focus properly. Naturally, I assumed my right eye was having some new problem that would shortly make me blind. That afternoon (I already had an appointment with the opthamologist that day) I mentioned it to my doctor. So she checked both my eyes. We were both amazed to learn that the trauma had actually corrected the astigmatism in my right eye, and had returned it to perfect 20/20 vision.

The down side is that I can't use my glasses, but I still have one defective eye. The upside is, I'm making fried chicken tonight ;^)

So, if you know anyone interested in investing in “Scott’s Steak & Lasik”, just let me know.

Workout

Dec 27, 2005
Type - Run

Miles - 5.1
Cal - 678 (1 1/2 King Size Hershey Bars)
AHR - 175
Time - 44:20

Pensions and dependence

With the United Airlines pension debacle, and GM's financial problems, I think it is time for us all to talk about the value of pensions. To start the conversation, I'll throw out the first hand grenade...

The Federal Government should outlaw pensions, and those old world companies that still have them should move to 401(k) plans. That should get some people started ;-)

In the early 20th Century we were all convinced that huge corporations were here to stay. Back then it made sense to have a pension. No one trusted the financial markets, and MegaCorp (your employer) would be there for eternity, to nurture you well into your old age. Ever expanding markets and profits would ensure that the enormous financial base on which pensions rely would be ever-present.

WRONG!!!

The only way a person can reasonably(?) depend on a pension is if it has the coercive power of the government (and taxation) behind it. Governments are the only entities that do not rely on the market for their existence. But even THAT won’t protect the weary pensioner. Governments are subject to a force more fickle than markets, Politics.

Under government sponsorship, beneficiaries are at considerable risk. Social Security is a good example of this. The U.S. Government will continue to exist, barring some catastrophic war or revolution. Therefore Social Security will continue to make payments, as long as it is politically expedient. What happens when it is no longer expedient? It is possible that young people could start voting and decide they don't like the existing system. What happens if the underlying tax-base shrinks below a sustainable level (which is happening all over the industrialized world)? Either the system collapses or the payments are reduced to the point of irrelevance. So much for security.

Private corporations do not have the luxury of sovereignty. Corporations (even huge juggernauts like GM) are not immune to the forces of economics. Relying on pensions in the modern context is crazy. Any corporation that continues to push employees into a pension plan does not have the best interests of their employees or stockholders in mind. It leads to unreasonable risk for everyone involved.

In the 70s there were myriad stories of pensioners going hungry because their 'fixed income' was eviscerated by inflation. My Great Aunt was one of them. Now we hear of corporations being brought to their knees under the burden of pensions. At GM there are people facing the real possibility of being laid off before they reach retirement. Those employees will walk away from a lifetime of work with nothing. Those employees that are lucky enough to make retirement will face an uncertain future. Any system that creates such interdependence is detrimental to all parties.

With a 401(k) you always get to take your money with you regardless of the reason for severing employment. It doesn't matter if you're laid off, downsized, quit, or whatever. They give employees much more flexibility and portability. Employers also benefit because their commitment ends with making any matching contributions, and hiring a reputable firm to manage the plan.

Self-reliance is the American way. It makes better citizens and simplifies our lives. We should embrace it. 401(k)s aren't perfect, but they beat dependence.

Santa 2005

On December 10th we ventured out to visit Santa. The girls were excited, but we arrived just before Santa's break. So, Mommy and the girls went Shopin' while I stood watch in the Santa line. It was pretty boring until I struck up a conversation with an Irish Aussy. We had a nice long chat about bringing children up, how boys are more physical than girls (and how you shouldn't try to make boys act like girls). We had a bit of a disagreement about whether or not the total ban on firearms was a good idea. I, however, was right! Oh well, after an hour of standing and talking, the girls finally talked to Santa. The day was a success and we were all tired. So we went home satisfied.