http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72205.html
The CBO has just proclaimed the wonderful news that 2012 will be another trillion+ deficit year. Am I the only one freaking out about this? If we don't do something to correct this soon, there are only a few options. Default and face all the horrible repercussions that would bring, wildly devalue our currency, or raise the hell out of taxes. All of these are very bad scenarios. It is long past time for some sacred cow slaughtering. Medicare, Social Security and Defense all have to be cut heavily. If people would look towards the long term instead of the short, they wouldn't be so quick to destroy the futures of their children and grandchildren. These are unpleasant topics, but we need to address them quickly (and no, just sitting back and waiting for the economy to grow faster isn't a solution).
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Energy Independence
You know, it's great that we can send billions of dollars to open humanitarian regimes like Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria for their oil. Every time I fill up at the pump, I swell with pride at the thought of women being stoned to death and Hugo Chavez constantly reminding us how evil we are.
When are we going to get serious about energy independence and stop sending our money to support tyrants and people who hate us? Obama rejecting Keystone XL only furthers this trend. Who would you rather your money go to: Canada or a country where it is illegal for women to drive.
And turning food into fuel is not the answer. Food prices have skyrocketed as larger and larger amounts of corn are used to make auto ethanol. I personally believe that a shotgun approach of cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, efficiency, electric vehicles and domestic conventional oil are the only way to fix our oil trade debt problem.
When are we going to get serious about energy independence and stop sending our money to support tyrants and people who hate us? Obama rejecting Keystone XL only furthers this trend. Who would you rather your money go to: Canada or a country where it is illegal for women to drive.
And turning food into fuel is not the answer. Food prices have skyrocketed as larger and larger amounts of corn are used to make auto ethanol. I personally believe that a shotgun approach of cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, efficiency, electric vehicles and domestic conventional oil are the only way to fix our oil trade debt problem.
The morality and ethics of being a Public Defender
Why is it that we as Public Defenders get portrayed as unethical or dishonest, whereas prosecutors are constantly glamorized (Law and Order, etc.). Don't get me wrong, prosecutors perform a very important role, and I have had the pleasure of working with some great ones. I could see myself working as a prosecutor one day. I think, though, that my position requires a lot more discipline and stringent adherence to ethics than people realize.
If a prosecutor has a case they don't think is warranted for whatever reason, they have the power to drop it. I, on the other hand, have to abide by my client's wishes as far as a plea goes. They can confess to me, and I still have a duty to put on my best possible defense if they want to go to trial. It isn't easy or fun to know that a client molested a child/killed someone/or brutalized someone, and yet still do your absolute best to get the best possible outcome for them. It really takes dedication to adhere to the Rules of Professional Responsibility that we, as attorneys have promulgated.
And to all the people that wan't to complain about defense attorneys (when they are ethicall representing their client); this is the system we have chosen in the United States. It is an adversary system. It doesn't work the same way in Cuba or China. We, as a society, have made the decision that this is the best, most accurate way to decide guilt or innocence. It has it's flaws, but look at some of the alternatives, and you might cringe.
I don't like child molesters, thieves, wife beaters or robbers. That isn't why I do the job. I do it because someone has to do it for our system to function. If defense attorneys and prosecutors both do a good job, the right result will usually be reached. The system isn't perfect, but all we can do is work ethically and obtain justice to the best extent it can be
If a prosecutor has a case they don't think is warranted for whatever reason, they have the power to drop it. I, on the other hand, have to abide by my client's wishes as far as a plea goes. They can confess to me, and I still have a duty to put on my best possible defense if they want to go to trial. It isn't easy or fun to know that a client molested a child/killed someone/or brutalized someone, and yet still do your absolute best to get the best possible outcome for them. It really takes dedication to adhere to the Rules of Professional Responsibility that we, as attorneys have promulgated.
And to all the people that wan't to complain about defense attorneys (when they are ethicall representing their client); this is the system we have chosen in the United States. It is an adversary system. It doesn't work the same way in Cuba or China. We, as a society, have made the decision that this is the best, most accurate way to decide guilt or innocence. It has it's flaws, but look at some of the alternatives, and you might cringe.
I don't like child molesters, thieves, wife beaters or robbers. That isn't why I do the job. I do it because someone has to do it for our system to function. If defense attorneys and prosecutors both do a good job, the right result will usually be reached. The system isn't perfect, but all we can do is work ethically and obtain justice to the best extent it can be
Friday, January 27, 2012
Newt Gingrich is a hypocrite
First off, I am not a huge Mitt Romney fan. I think he tells people what they want to hear (worse than most politicians). However, it takes a lot of nerve for Newt Gingrich to criticize Mitt for holding shares of GoldmanSachs. His reasoning is that this is somehow immoral because GoldmanSachs is foreclosing on properties here in Florida. So what? Number one, these people are losing their homes because they made irresponsible decisions. The banks did too, but the home buyers aren't blameless.
Second, and more importantly, my immediate thought was: "I guarantee Newt has investment exposure to companies doing the exact same thing." Mitt Romney, being an astute investor, quickly pointed this out in last night's debate. If you are invested in a mutual fund, odds are that some of your companies (on a tangent: I believe that if you hold stock in a company, on your own or through a mutual fund , you should view yourself as a part owner not a gambler) are foreclosing on properties as we speak.
Second, and more importantly, my immediate thought was: "I guarantee Newt has investment exposure to companies doing the exact same thing." Mitt Romney, being an astute investor, quickly pointed this out in last night's debate. If you are invested in a mutual fund, odds are that some of your companies (on a tangent: I believe that if you hold stock in a company, on your own or through a mutual fund , you should view yourself as a part owner not a gambler) are foreclosing on properties as we speak.
This moral decay you speak of...
http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/26/fear-factor-donkey-semen-stunt-nbc/#.TyK0S4EWk40
So, apparently, NBC believes that they can earn a profit by airing a show where contestants race to guzzle donkey semen and urine. While I might expect this type of thing to be lurking in the deep and shady recesses of the internet, it's being aired on network tv? I am totally opposed to media censorship and I don't think the .gov should act to stop this, but this is just another blatant illustration of the decay of western civilization.
So, apparently, NBC believes that they can earn a profit by airing a show where contestants race to guzzle donkey semen and urine. While I might expect this type of thing to be lurking in the deep and shady recesses of the internet, it's being aired on network tv? I am totally opposed to media censorship and I don't think the .gov should act to stop this, but this is just another blatant illustration of the decay of western civilization.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The solution to the U.S. debt crisis
https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454
This link is hilarious. It seems that the U.S. Treasury has provided the "opportunity" for individuals to "donate" towards reducing the public debt. If you don't believe me, click the above link. This seems like a good way for George Soros, most of Hollywood and the other people that feel guilty about their success to help pay for the huge government and entitlements that they so adore.
I am still having trouble wrapping my head around this one.
This link is hilarious. It seems that the U.S. Treasury has provided the "opportunity" for individuals to "donate" towards reducing the public debt. If you don't believe me, click the above link. This seems like a good way for George Soros, most of Hollywood and the other people that feel guilty about their success to help pay for the huge government and entitlements that they so adore.
I am still having trouble wrapping my head around this one.
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