Politics on Sirius Stuff

Florida boy, 12, arrested for farting in class

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:11:11 -0700

Gotta love our zero-tolerance society showing up in situations like this: Florida boy, 12, arrested for farting in class

Does anyone doubt that if this was the principal’s kid it would be handled differently?

Global Warming & Epistemology

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:11:11 -0700

Matt Maroon in Global Warming & Epistemology articulates far better than I can the reasons for believing that global warming is happening, is caused by mankind, and needs to stop as soon as possible.

Nobody can be right about everything, and the nature of climate change is that the ultimate decisions have to rest with citizens, the politicians they elect, and entrepreneurs, most of whom can’t be expected to know everything about everything, or even everything about global warming. The best they can do is take the most informed opinions around and act on them.

Today is Election Day

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:11:11 -0700

Today is election day. There’s an [article](https: “//replay.waybackmachine.org/20061110231606/https://techdirt.com/articles/20061106/201138.shtml) today in Techdirt referencing a movie about the problems with Diebold (not Deibele) election machines. "

I have to admit that I do miss a little bit the tradition of going to the local school or church and voting. Seeing the volunteers, seeing the other people who were motivated enough to make the time to vote. Stepping into the voting booth, drawing the curtain and putting the completed ballot into the box.

Complicated government? Some business interests want it.

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 06:06:06 -0700

Lawrence Lessig has a fascinating article on how the State of California tried to simplify preparing taxes. It used payroll information to do a “ReadyReturn” that could be just signed and returned. Or they could use the info on it to make their own return.

Of course, the tax preparation lobby started to pressure for the test program to be abandoned. Which is ridiculous. And some lawmakers listened. Which is more ridiculous.

How City of Portland could have bought PGE

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 04:04:04 -0700

The City Council of Portland was very interested in buying Portland General Electric from what was left of Enron. Rate cuts of 10% or more were talked about.

With amazing 20-20 hindsight, it’s now obvious what the City should have done: Keep PGE’s rates the same!

Keeping them the same would have let them

. Give rebates to other cities. Here, Gresham & Beaverton, here’s 10% of the electric bills of everyone in your city boundaries. Now be quiet. . Give money to Portland Public Schools. . Fund the tram . Stop people wondering what would happen when well-paid, unionized private sector workers became well-paid, unionized public sector workers. Did anybody expect there to be fewer people? Less pay?

Bill Gross rips US economy

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 04:04:04 -0700

Bill Gross is the legendary bond analyst/trader at PIMCO. He has strong words about the Economic Report of the President and the state of the US economy.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be anyone out there who’s much interested in trying to solve the problem. We can’t keep spending the way that we have. All the big screen TVs and clothing that we’re buying from overseas is growing their economies as fast as it depletes our resources. It’d be different if we were graduating more scientists and engineers … if we were graduating more people period.