The government is making marriage obsolete.

Yes, I'm blaming the government. For 45 years the government has been either intentionally or just as "unintended consequences" dismantling the family unit as part of the welfare state.

1960 - Birth control pill introduced helping women manage their reproductive years.
1965 - "Great Society" legislation makes the father less and less important to women and the need for financial security for poorer women comes more from the government.
1973 - Roe V Wade for those that can't or won't use birth control they simply end the child, I'm sorry the non-viable tissue matter.

As unwed mothers rise and the welfare state rewards those who are irresponsible there is no need for marriage. It is among the youth and the poor that this survey shows that pattern. Ironically, the only group who seems interesting in it are gay couples and for them it is just living a fantasy from their youth of being the bride.

Source (abc.com)

The Ponzi Scheme

TSA: Idiocracy in the here and now

Last week I flew from Des Moines to Reagan Int'l and a few days later flew out to a connecting flight in Detroit before landing back in Des Moines. This is my observation of the TSA and air traffic in general.

Last Week we had two things:
"Unions representing pilots at American Airlines and US Airways last week advised their 14,000 members to avoid the scanners, calling them intrusive and saying they could emit dangerous radiation." (UPI News) (AIT)

Second was an individual incident:
(AP video) " “if you touch my junk I'm going to have you arrested.” and now he faces a civil suite.

So, DSM is usually friendly, and quick and this time was no different. I believe that my drop off to the gate was under 15 min. (Quick tip to check in the day before via the internet) One thing different and I don't know if it was new or just because I was going to DC was a "vapor" sniff of my open water bottle before getting on the plane. As part of the rules you get pretty much locked down in your seat for the last hour of the flight and can only use the toilette in the back of the plane.

On my return trip I thought there was a chance I would have to use the newer AIT but not even much of a chance as I only saw one person put in it. I am going to assume I'm too big to use the machine and if ever chosen I will have to be patted down.

I had some time to sit and watch and what I saw two TSA agents that couldn't have been any help except to "observe and report" much like the movie. One gentleman was as big as I am, I know how fast I can run, yes he was at least 10 years younger but still at our size people can run away. The other agent was a pregnant woman who had to un-tuck her shirt to walk around, again not sure who she was gong to stop in an emergency.

The TSA has not changed any since 9/11 except in the way that the government has changed. Blotted with cash and inefficient. Their little high tech toys are still being used by people that would have a tough time getting a serious security job or any job that calls for independent rational thought. Sorry guys.

A good place to start cutting

"Calculations by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and other independent fiscal experts show that the $1.1 trillion cost over the next 10 years of the Medicare prescription drug program, which the Republican-controlled Congress adopted in 2003, by itself would add more to the deficit than the combined costs of the bailout, the stimulus and the health care law." (nytimes)

I have spoke to a few people and they are always surprised how cheap this program is. That might be great but if it is just our money paying for their low prices it can't last. Medicare is hundreds of times more expensive then originally projected and so will this program.

Thomas Jefferson thought the constitution might be rewritten every 19 years, but instead of that I think major laws (ranked by expenditures) should be voted on every 10 years. This will force our representatives in the House and Senate to make a political statement in their vote instead of taking a position that never gets tested.

November 3rd and beyond

In 2008, John McCain was leading Barack Obama until September when the financial crisis hit home. McCain was flip floppy when he canceled his campaigning only to do nothing and then vote for the first bail out. Obama did nothing but looked less uncertain and more ‘Presidential’. Voters did not have time to process what was the right thing to do and voted for the new guy hoping for new ideas.

2 years later people have had a chance to see the results of the “crisis” and the 3+ trillion dollars in added deficits and have rejected Washington solutions.

The Republican majority in the house is slim and the Senate is even with the White House to keep them in check. I believe the White House will now actually get involved with law making, instead of allowing Pelosi and Reid to do what they want and just sign rubber stamp it.

Deficit spending will decline, and passed bills (healthcare, cap & trade) will be cut back before they take effect. Most importantly the tax code will be shored up with a continuation of the Bush tax cuts for a majority of people (not exactly like it is now) and you will see businesses decide it is okay to hire and invest to expand.

I believe it will be a while before banks loosen up credit as we are going to be going through another housing bubble for more expensive homes. This is a subject not yet discussed in the mainstream media.

Thus begins the 2012 election cycle. Have fun, but for now no more crappy campaign ads.

Why the Democrats loose.

Last Thursday I heard the nastiest radio ad ever. A group supporting Boswell ran an ad with back ground noise like a 911 call for the woman that called the police on Brad Zaun some 10 years ago. No such recording exists. The tone would lead you to believe that Zaun was a rapist and almost killed the woman. It was disgusting.

All over the country Democrats, especially those that are incumbents, have taken the gloves off, suggesting their opponents are mentally ill, or a Nazi. It is one thing to question one’s views on issues, it is out of bounds to say if they disagree they are mental.

Voters will turn against those that run these ads and add to the route for the night.