Winning Platform

I've noticed a sudden decrease in political involvement in those around me. A lot of that has to with the perception that politicians are out-of-touch and not really responsive to the needs of the people.

I've taken the time to craft what I think would be a winning platform. It is composed of just 5 small planks. Unfortunately, in most cases, neither party has a strong interest in these planks.

1. Illegal Immigration - Most of America wants a strong, zero-tolerance policy that is enforced. Both sides of our current parties give lip service to illegal immigration, but don't really want to do anything about it. Instead, they float ideas about guest worker programs or accuse people who want something done as being racist.
   
   However, this issue is on everybody's mind. Citizens are mad about illegal immigration. They are mad at the strain on our social services. They are mad at the language barriers. They are mad at the influx of crime and drugs. Americans are not racist or discriminatory in this respect...they just want to control the borders. They feel we are being invaded and that America will lose her cultural heritage.
   
   I believe that the average Joe American would be amenable to the idea of guest workers if that were coupled with very, very tight border security; I'm talking like a 20 foot high fence, patrolled by the Armed Forces. Yes, there are lots of practical problems like what do you do with the estimated 12 million illegal aliens here. It is practically impossible to round them up and send them all home. However, until politicians can stop the flood we don't need to focus on cleaning up. Stop the leak. Then break out the mops and start repairing the damage done. Politicians have to prove they are serious about stopping the influx, though, before people will listen to their ideas about clean-up.
   
   
2. Eminent Domain\Private Property Rights - We need some politicians who will stand up for private ownership rights. Americans are ticked off at the Supreme Court's Kelo v. New London ruling. While people in both parties gave passionate speeches about protecting people, nobody has really done anything to change the laws. We need a politician who is committed to fighting to let people keep what they own and to use it how they see fit.
   
   
3. Real Tax Reform/Pork Barrel Spending - There is a general dissonant with our tax code. It is oppressive and intimidating. People want a change. They don't just want tax cuts. They don't just want tax reform. They want a full-out tax revolution. Throw out all the old ways of thinking about taxes and give us something new, something fair. Maybe the FairTax.
   
   Included in this issue is out-of-control spending. People are pissed when they see how badly government mismanages its money. Why has non-defense spending skyrocketed the past three years? What happened to the party of limited government?
   
   
4. School Choice - There is a vast under current of regular Americans who want and desire the ability to choose through voucher programs where their children will go to school. It is time for government to get out of the way and allow parents to choose. I've often imagined the following lithe interchange happening at a debate:
   
   "Pro-choice" Politician : My opponent wants to take away a woman's right to choose. He wants us to return to a time of back-alley abortions with coat hangers. However, I am pro-choice.
   
   "Pro-life" Politician: Really, you are pro-choice. Then how about giving a mother the right to choose where she sends her child to school? How about giving a father the right to choose to spend his money on his children's college instead of painting fish on planes? How about giving universities the choice of which athletic programs they want to fund and giving employers the right to choose what benefits the pay for?
   
   (P.S. - I think the issue of abortion plays way too big a role in politics and is misused as a litmus test by too many people. I wonder what kind of response a politician would get if he said, "It doesn't matter what I think about that issue.")
   
   Who is really pro-choice in this debate?
   
   
5. Common Sense Security - Americans have no problem with defending ourselves at home and abroad. We just want it to make sense. Are there really threats from grandmothers that require them to be stopped in the airport? Iran is making nuclear weapons, but because of some bad press in Iraq and some intelligence failures, we have to sit back and wait for the mushroom cloud? This kind of thinking doesn't make sense to most Americans. We are not foolish. We can see danger and we want it taken care of. We don't mind making sacrifices, but not when the sacrifices don't make sense and are merely activities to make it look as if the government is accomplishing something.

So...just some random ideas that both parties are failing at...

Google Acquires Writely

Google Blogoscoped reportsthat Google Acquires Writely, a web-based, word processor. The blogger shows how several seemingly disparate Google services are starting to look a lot like a GoogleOffice may be on its way.

My brother and I have had some discussions about Microsoft's fears of Google. I've contended that those fears are unfounded because I've never seen Google and MS to be direct competitors. MS makes its money from operating systems and office applications. Google makes its money from ads and searching. I've held that they dominate two different markets.

This insightful piece of information shows that Google could be trying to horn in on the application market of MS. This is something that MS should be worried about. I still think their Windows monopoly is secure though.

I've got to get Noah one of these

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/kids/59cc/

People Unmotivated to Prepare for Next Disaster

Even after 9/11, hurricanes galore, raging forest fires, and other miscellaneous natural or human caused disasters, people still live under the illusion that it won't happen to them and that they are safe. A recent study says Californians are unmotivated to prepare for the next disaster. While this article focuses on California, I think the feeling permeates through all of humanity.

According to the article,

"Californians believe that their state is prone to disasters, but see little motivation to prepare for nature's crushing blows, a new poll has found.

The poll, sponsored by the Insurance Information Network of California and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, found that only 22 percent of Californians consider themselves to be prepared or very prepared for a disaster in their area.

Nearly half singled out 'common sense' as the reason to prepare for disaster, but noted few incentives that would motivate them to be ready for future earthquakes, floods or fires"

So, everyone knows they should prepare, but no is motivated to prepare. The article also says that, "Californians also do not believe that they should count on government to bail them out financially after the next catastrophe." I think people are giving the reasonable, logical answer to the pollsters, there, but not the emotional answer.

I know that besides having insurance, Erin and I are not prepared for an emergency. We have taken none of the basic precautions that are necessary. Some preparedness sites are even more extensive. Yet, I am well aware of the natural disasters that can occur in this area (tornados and large storms are most common, earthquakes*, hurricanes**, and even super volcanoes***). In these troubled times there are also terrorist attacks that hit around this area. Still, we sit in the seat of complacency, assured without reason that these things will not affect us.

What's even worse, is that even as I write this, I know it will not motivate us to become prepared. Are we idiots or what?

Footnotes:
* The Eastern Tennessee seismic zone and the New Madrid seismic zone have both affected the middle Alabama area in the past.

** Even though we are about 200 miles inland from the Gulf, Category 1 and 2 winds from a large hurricane can still do a lot of damage in this area.

*** I remember watching a Discovery Channel show about the Yellow Stone caldera and was shocked at how those scientists predicted that an explosion would affect us.

A Week of Sickness

There has been some sort of flu bug going around our house. Erin was not feeling well all weekend...just a cold. Noah and Mihaela got sick Sunday night with vomit and "other stuff." Erin made arrangements to stay home Monday with the kids. On Monday morning, Erin had it. I went to work, but Erin couldn't take care of herself and both kids, so I ended up leaving work early.

Yesterday (Tuesday), everyone seemed back to normal and fine. Then last night, right before, it hit me. I home today recovering. Hopefully this only 24 hours because I have way too much to do to be out this much this week.