Current Day Publius

Avon Ct library found its geothermal HVAC system that was part of the 2012 multi-million-dollar renovation of the library, has had multiple failures. Corrective actions are now going to take place including cutting down several trees and installing new fenced off areas. Doesn’t sound too green to me.

Front page of the Wall Street Journal has a photo of Russian citizens being arrested for protesting the jailing of a previously poisoned “dissident” and foe of Putin. The similarities to 1/6 are stark.

North Carolina sees dramatic increase in home schooling registrations following a trend across the country. Could the exposure to just what our kids are being taught convinced parents they don‘t want their kids indoctrinated with an abhorrent political philosophy?

Pandemic is expected to linger for….DECADES! Now that the yoke of government is around our necks, why would any self-serving politician (I know it’s redundant) remove it? New strains, impact of those not following “rules” and …..Trump (of course) require we keep you locked up and under our thumb.

Hedge fund loses millions in market bet on GameStop. Awwwww, too bad. Investors got no relief in 1987, or 1999/2000 or 2008 but we know somebody made out in every one of those downturns. Most reside in DC.

Bitcoin continues to rise in “value”. Still looking for the bar that will give me a drink for one.

The left keeps marginalizing those who are not left. I thought at first it was just installing their socialist agenda but now I think that won’t be enough for them. Instead, I think it is their strategy to cause an actual insurrection so that they can complete the power grab and effectively wipe out any and all resistance to their naked quest for control. By continuing to poke non-lefties in the eye, they are fomenting the very thing they purport to stamp out and they know it.

The key to thwarting this strategy is to not take the bait as difficult as it will be. A call to arms or any instance, such as a couple of hundred people illegally entering the Capitol, would play right into their hands. The fallout from any real or perceived violent action, even a supposed “plot”, would provide the left with the “mandate” to take quick and decisive action to stamp out this seditious and dangerous effort to overturn democracy. (I can see Pelosi giving the speech as she sends storm troopers out to corral the deplorables.)

Rather, it is critical that election laws be examined and cemented to assure that we still have a chance to have a truly representative government. We have all seen what a one-party government does and not just in foreign countries but right here in the USA. California, Illinois, New York, Connecticut; you pick from these or other one-party entities and I defy you to tell me they’re run well. HR1 is the radical left’s brazen attempt to consolidate and perpetuate their hold on the federal government. Even the name should cause concern – “For the People Act” (https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1/text?q={%22search%22:[%22hr1%22]}&r=1&s=2). Just what people are they referencing?

In an affront to the Constitution, it seeks to install federal election laws that supersede those of the staters as enumerated in Article 1. The very issues that have cursed our most recent election are made permanent. It includes campaign financing that favors incumbents, same day and automatic voter registration, extended periods for voting, and a host of other dictates on mail voting and other nefarious means to invite fraud. Codifying the ability to vote by non-citizens just sets the table for the ”they’re already living here and paying taxes so why shouldn’t they get to (fill in the blank entitlement)” argument they have used so effectively with the 20 million or so illegal aliens they continue to grow. The “fix” becomes permanent and we become a one-party country. Under the continued guise of racism, any questioning or clarification of these laws will be automatically dismissed.

If we are not able to have our voices heard in public, we had better be assured we can still have it heard in the anonymity of the voting booth. Should we lose the ability to select our representatives in fair and free elections, this grand experiment is lost. It will take decades if ever, to get back the beacon on hill that was freedom to so many. That loss could be the spark that gives the left the fight they have been fomenting. Let’s pray, cooler heads prevail and all Americans can unite to keep this most precious country intact.

The entrenched bureaucracy in and around Washington DC has enjoyed the privileged life at the expense of the American people. With sweetheart union contracts that negotiate high salaries, excellent working conditions and of course, virtually impossible removal for ineptness, federal employees live in a bubble world far afield from those of the rest of the country. This leads to execution of laws that do not reflect the reality of daily living. They are remiss in taking into account the effect their interpretation of laws has on those under their spell. In order to gain some level of empathy and more importantly, perspective on their actions’ impacts, it’s time to put the bureaucracy closer to those they serve. It’s time to burst the bubble.

Current technology now allows robust remote work. Companies are seeing their employees working from home more often and with little if any loss of productivity. It is no longer necessary for federal employees to be housed in or near DC. In fact, it would be better for federal employees to be located near the areas they serve. For example, those working for the Department of Agriculture should be strewn throughout the farm belt. Department of Transportation employees near vehicle manufacturers, road and bridgebuilding companies etc. Living among those affected by their actions can only lead to better implementation of laws and regulations.

To facilitate the bureaucracy being more aligned with its customers, whole departments should be dispersed throughout the country. Again, the Department of Agriculture should be located in the Midwest. Department of Transportation in Michigan or Ohio. There is no reason for the FBI, national intelligence organizations and many other sub-department entities, to be in DC and should be cast throughout the country; security being just one reason. While DC can still be our capitol, a much-reduced center of power exposure provides for resilience in the event of an attack.

Finally, dispersing the bureaucracy has financial implications. The DC area has never suffered through a recession. Indeed, housing prices continue to climb in the immediate area. Locating many of the functions in other parts of the country reduces the cost of the federal government by purchasing cheaper real estate. Lower cost of living provides the ability to negotiate lower wages and benefits with no loss of quality of life for federal employees. A plus is the increased economic activity the relocation will have on the local economies.

Putting our government closer to the people it is supposed to serve has only positive benefits. It is high time we insist that we disperse the centralized federal bureaucracy.

The entrenched bureaucracy in and around Washington DC has enjoyed the privileged life at the expense of the American people. With sweetheart union contracts that negotiate high salaries, excellent working conditions and of course, virtually impossible removal for ineptness, federal employees live in a bubble world far afield from those of the rest of the country. This leads to execution of laws that do not reflect the reality of daily living. They are remiss in taking into account the effect their interpretation of laws has on those under their spell. In order to gain some level of empathy and more importantly, perspective on their actions’ impacts, its time to put the bureaucracy closer to those they serve. Its time to burst the bubble.

Current and future technology now allows remote work. Companies are seeing their employees working from home more often and with little if any loss of productivity. It is no longer necessary for federal employees to be housed in or near DC. In fact, it would be better for federal employees to be located near the areas they serve. For example, those working for the Department of Agriculture should be strewn throughout the farm belt. Department of Transportation employees near vehicle manufacturers, road and bridge building companies etc.

To facilitate the bureaucracy being more aligned with its customers, whole departments should be dispersed throughout the country. Again, the Department of Agriculture should be located in the Midwest. Department of Transportation in Michigan or Ohio. There is no reason for the FBI, national intelligence organizations and many other sub-department entities, to be in DC and, for a myriad of reasons, should be cast throughout the country; security being just one of them. While DC can still be our capitol, a much-reduced exposure provides for resilience in the event of an attack.

Finally, dispersing the bureaucracy has financial implications. The DC area has never suffered through a recession. Indeed, housing prices continue to climb in the immediate area. Locating many of the functions in other parts of the country reduces the cost of the federal government by purchasing cheaper real estate. Lower cost of living provides the ability to negotiate lower wages and benefits with no loss of quality of life for federal employees.

Putting our government closer to the people it is supposed to serves has only positive benefits. It is high time we insist that we begin to transition the centralized power of the federal bureaucracy.

While many are bemoaning the state of political affairs in our country, life continues. There is divisiveness enough to go around and so it is with glee that I look forward to the start of the NHL hockey season tomorrow. Making it even better is seeing my Chicago Blackhawks in the premier opening day game against the Stanley Cup winners, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Expectations are dismally low as my Blackhawks are a team in disarray and undergoing a “rebuild”. Still, the game and the values it promotes are before us and we can only hope that it brings a certain level of calm to us fans and casual observers.

Gary Bettman, league Commissioner and his staff are to be commended for putting together a season in the face of daunting issues. It remains to be seen how well it will be executed but the format appears to satisfy most ardent hockey fans and certainly appeals to the casual fans. The 4 divisions are not equal but then, few things in life are. Travel restrictions and COVID-19 protocols dictated many items but as of now, we will have a truncated but competitive regular season and a Stanley Cup playoff ending with a worthy champion.

With 2 and 3 back-to-back game series, rivalries will be heightened. Will we find ourselves reverting back to the rough and tumble days of Bob Probert? Not likely. But knowing you’re right back on the ice against the guy who took out your star player will elicit some kind of response. Familiarity should also highlight the skills to make adjustments in the style of play. Coaches will be looking at film wondering how to counter what they saw in yesterday’s game. Goalies probably won’t mimic Glenn Hall and play every game of the season but look for some to play back-to-back games. Something we have seldom seen in many years.

Look for players to do the “aw shucks” interviews and give all praise to their teammates again. They have been brought up in an environment where, despite their considerable talents, they understand they didn’t do it on their own. From host families when they were in their teens, to college and junior league coaches who nurtured them, hockey players learn humility and the value of teamwork. Our leaders would do very well to emulate them.

Drop the puck! It couldn’t have come at a better time. Amen!

It seems that the source of information people use dictates their understanding of how things are. With so little cross over from one source to another and suspicion of each, it is time to re-define information. An informed society is the underpinning of democracy and therefore paramount to its very existence as evidenced by the many confrontations of 2020. We must feel some level of trust in what we are being told. Unless we can all agree on facts, we will never be able to unite and all the talk about bringing us back together will be nothing but more platitudes. With that, let’s try this.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should promulgate rules defining publicly disseminated information. All forms of commercial media that fall under the auspices of the FCC will be subject to these definitions and fines and other enforcement. All communications must be prominently and continually (in the case of audio and video) labeled according to the definitions below.

NOTE: This assumes newspapers and social media are or will be under FCC regulation.

News – Articles labeled as news are to contain only observable facts seen or heard by two or more people with attribution. No allusions or non-attributable quotes may be used. Any statements must be assigned to the named person(s) who said or wrote them. Any and all content must be verified by at least two sources and subject to independent verification by other parties. By-line authors, their editors and publishers are all subject to penalties for failing to follow the rule.

Analysis – Media labeled as analysis can contain innuendo, background and context for the topic. Non-factual or unsubstantiated information (unable to be independently verified with at least 2 sources) must be labeled as such. Hearsay, and “on condition of anonymity” are dis-allowed.

Commentary – This content allows the communicator to offer their thoughts on the meaning of the subject. They can express their views but only in the context of the facts as defined above and their analysis of the topic. It cannot contain non-factual information but the writer is allowed to bring in disparate facts they feel offer support to their position.

Opinion – Here the writer is free to express their thoughts using hypotheticals, non-attributable background information, hearsay and any manner of sources of other information. Opinion is just that, one person’s thinking based on whatever it is that brought that thinking to them.

Despite being force fed a million other reasons to submit to governance, the single most important and the one clearly codified in our Constitution is security. Governments are supposed to keep us safe first and foremost. Its not to feed us, clothe us, shelter us, or even educate us. That so many have come to expect those things now is a testament to how successful our experiment has become. The prognostication of from bondage to bondage is playing out in our generation because government has far exceeded it’s true role and to our detriment. We are fat, dumb, and not very happy and it’s not a good place to be.

Those “safety nets” and “social programs” are nice to have but the must have is slipping away. Without security you don’t have all those wonderful programs. The deterioration of our local law enforcement is the most direct evidence of the ineffectiveness of our current governance. A small number of anarchists and those who seek to undermine our country are holding sway over the vast majority of citizens who want to live in peace and prosperity.

While we’re not dealing with domestic insurrection, nefarious foreign actors are exploiting our open society. Chinese spies have wormed their way into the very fabric of our governments and economy. Our good will and welcoming policies have allowed wholesale theft of our intellectual property. Instead of making sure our infrastructure is safe and secure, our leaders are working hard to “forgive debt” and make sure we’re all “equal”. Indeed, many are working to open our borders to anyone and everyone. Great stuff when Russia is tapping in to disarm our defense capabilities. Nice that we’re reimagining police work when all your banking and health data is being laid bare in China.

We have taken our eye off the ball and are going to suffer the consequences for years. It is no secret that China is building a war machine that will rival ours soon enough. It includes undermining our society with information meant to tear at our divisions. This exploitation is made easier by compliant leaders who care less about us than their next election. While Congress plays politics, China and Russia are playing war games.

For all his faults, President Trump laid out the real issues for our country. China is a bad actor. Iran is a bad actor. Russia is a bad actor. Our own Congress is a bad actor too. Its their job to keep us safe first and foremost and they are failing miserably at it.

Talk about the fix is in! Are you ready for the Kamala Harris presidency? If Joe doesn’t die, or the 25^th amendment isn’t invoked for his lack of mental acuity or they impeach him for an actual crime, the Democrats might pull a House of Cards act to install Kamala. The drum beat of the circular firing squad is already sounding. The radical left is crowing about the reinstatement of the Obama administration. Where are the roles for Stacy Abrams and Bernie? What happened to Treasury going to Pocahontas? Oh wait, we have to see what happens in Georgia first. Should either Perdue or Loeffler prevail, the Senate door will open for those two serving to slow down the concerted effort to oust Joe. Pass over them and the fire just got bigger.

If I were Joe, I would be watching my back. The NY Times today is already calling for a larger role for the VP elect. The radical left wing of the party is none too happy with Joe right now and is holding its powder until after 1/5 but the guns will be blazing if he doesn’t lurch further left. These radicals have shown no limits to their quest for power and the change they envision once gained. As their guiding light, Saul Alinsky, has said, the end justifies the means and no crisis, like a criminal case against a sitting President, should go to waste.

I’m betting Kamala is President soon after the mid-term elections. In 2022, the House will revert to Republican control and then, with both houses out of their hands, there will be a coordinated campaign to oust Joe.  They’ll point to (fill in the blank of left-wing policies he failed to implement), or the generally poor job Joe has done due to his inability to think straight. If that doesn’t work, they’ll just make up stuff. They’re really good at that having practiced for at least 4 years.  

Enjoy it while you can Joe. Your days are numbered.

Was anyone else thinking this must be a fictional movie? Here’s a man in declining physical and mental states standing before a backdrop with a made-up name (Office of the President-elect) and a phony symbol (some kind of bird). If that were the beginning of a Hollywood movie, we would probably keep tuned in. But it was real and coughing Joe is now our actual President-elect.

The unifier-elect spent much of his time lecturing his audience on the election and how stupid you are for believing it had its flaws or, dare we say, fraud. Whoever wrote the speech apparently didn’t get Joe’s message about unifying the country. He dissed the 74 million who didn’t vote for him and the many who still believe the cabal of mass media, social media and his political party rigged the election.

Of course, the liar-elect neglected to take any questions at the conclusion of his diatribe against those who would dare to think he was illegitimately vaulted into the most powerful role in the world. Questions many would like answers to. Simple ones like, “What did you think of your office mate, Gongwen Dong?” No press I guess. In their place, the small “d” doctor rushed out to assist the feeble septuagenarian off the stage after waving to…who?

Exit stage right! Sequel to follow.

The retread infrastructure “why can’t we all get along” issue is once again on the docket. The amorphous plan includes trillions for projects designed to heap money on Democrat supporters in return for their steadfast votes. Republicans who do not want to look cheap and want a highway, bridge, waterway etc., named after them, fall in line on the massive spending and for what? I thought we were “greening” our world.

If in fact, we’re seeing the inflection point of turning away from automobiles and lifestyles built around them, shouldn’t we be investing in other infrastructure? The recent announcement of spending money building out broadband in rural areas seems a better bet on the future. People working from home don’t need cars, they need internet. Yes, we need to at least keep our bridges from falling down but the transition to a dispersed population no longer dependent on transportation for their incomes demands we look to the future and not the past. Any investment in traditional roadways must account for the advances in technology. Smaller lanes, fewer traffic controls, re-imagining of space devoted to parking are all front and center with technology in hand.

Public transportation is a loser. Outside of major metropolitan cities, counting the number of people on busses and subway cars even before the impact of the pandemic, tells you it is severely inefficient. The coming advent of transportation on demand will relegate most public transportation obsolete. That is, it would be more efficient and cheaper to provide subsidies (if necessary) to those now dependent on public transportation than to spend the billions now being considered in the infrastructure bills being shopped.

Beware when the political elite agree on anything. It nearly always means spending money we don’t have and on something we probably don’t need.