J-Dub!

change is different

I watched ABC News on Saturday evening because NBC was blabbing on about horse racing.  It's not my regular stop but I was impressed with the decent news coverage.  Around the C-block, I was blown away.  A fantastic package on the rising cost of fuel and all the implications.  They did a fair job of showing that it's growing demand around the world on top of stagnant or dwindling supplies that's creating the rise in cost.  They went on to show how it could affect food, transport, where we live, and tied it back to likely inflation.  Finally, right there on the nightly news, confirmation from the media what we all know to be true. 

There are some who still try to blame it on the Democrats, for not allowing drilling in nature reserves or even for crashing the economy after winning a slight majority in 2006 (no chance, this is a Bush economy).  But the reality is that oil is a finite resource and we've come to the crossroads.  The only thing left is to accept it and adapt.  Change the way we eat, we travel, we work, we build, everything.  I know it sounds difficult, but change always is - until you start doing it.  Then you realize it's just different. 

I (over)did it!

Thanks to everyone who came and helped us celebrate.  I failed to follow age-old party traditions and crashed-hard way to early.  You might say I'm a little out of practice.  I definitely kicked it with flair.  Here's your Sunday flashback. 

I did it!

It seems like this journey began a long time ago.  It did.  It also doesn't seem like it should be over.  It isn't.  My quest for knowledge is never-ending, but one stage is complete.  I sat through the ceremony last night to get that feeling of accomplishment... and to say goodbye to another piece of my life.  This is one part of the ride I really enjoyed, despite the hard work.  I'll always have fond memories of all the people I toiled with at the Truman School of Public Affairs. 

And I have the credentials to prove it.  Master's of Public Administration. I can now bitch about government... with authority.   

Tyranny

I alluded to administrative evil in the last post, and in his most recent column, Charley Reese sums it up pretty well.  The years of the Bush administration borders on tyranny. 

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. 

Bad president

I find everything about this speech by King George offensive.  That he would liken Obama to Nazi appeasers for suggesting diplomacy is ironically sickening, being that modern day genocides have taken place on his watch.  There's a book by Mizzou professor Dr. Guy Adams called "Unmasking Administrative Evil" that W. needs to put on his reading list.  It can teach him a little about the evil he projects onto others and is alive and well in current day. 

Wolf in sheeps clothing

Well over a year ago, I penned a paper called "Funding Transportation: Moving Forward."  In it, I broke down a lot of the issues facing our transportation infrastructure and pitched a few ideas for addressing them.  I used a couple of examples from other states where they were being progressive about planning for the future.  Missouri was not one of them. 

I sent a couple copies of the report to MODOT Director Pete Rahn and asked for his response.  Not surprisingly, it never came.  I imagine that's because it's hard to admit some things when you are the head of a state department and have to advance and advocate a long-term agenda for your vision of the future.  Unfortunately, that's exactly what we expect from our leaders and what this report was about -  setting an appropriate long-term agenda for the state's transportation system.

Well, it looks like I may get my chance to ask some tough questions after all.  I don't think the department knows what it's done yet, but I was invited to an upcoming focus group for MODOT due to my expertise in marketing and communications, specifically blogs. I'll get to provide input on how MODOT can better communicate with citizens about it's needs and agenda.  I've got a few ideas...    

Thank you John Edwards

I knew you would come around eventually.  Welcome aboard. 

Now it's time for the rest of you losers to join us.  We've got a nation to save. 

Good eats

Had to travel to KC today, so I arranged my trip for the obligatory stop in Concordia for Biffles BBQ.  Hmmm, German smokehouse.  It's delicious.  Mom and Pop restaurant, showing a little age, bathroom smells reminded me of grandma's house (in a good way), but you can't beat the eats.  If you're headed down I-70 anytime soon, I highly recommend some Biffles. 

As the Urge would sing... "damn, that shit is good."

Delusions

What?  The Clinton campaign is $20 million in debt and she's thinking of loaning herself more money?  And she wants us to make her president? 

I stopped by the state Democratic convention on Saturday and there was one room with Clinton signs all the way around.  What's up with these people?  Haven't they figured it out yet?  Barack Obama is the nominee for president.  The only person who doesn't seem to know that yet is Hillary.  And that's the saddest part of this story.   

On the lighter side, here's a great new blog - Things younger than McCain.  Priceless.  (hat tip - Kespohl)   

Going down the slope

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I find it humorous that everyone is just now waking up to peak oil.  CNBC has done two days straight on gas prices, and those fools are supposed to be experts.  As we continue creeping towards $4 a gallon (end of May, easy) here's an interesting article from Jim Jubak. Sometimes you have to read between the lines to really understand what's going on. 

You might remember that I pointed out that Warren Buffet was buying railroads last year.  Brilliant.  It's one of his biggest performers so far this year.  Similarly, if you pay attention to what Jim is saying about Exxon Mobil, peak oil jumps right out at you.  They are not investing in discovery or refining because they don't hit the massive profit margins the company requires.  Exxon Mobil can see the writing on the wall, no matter what they are saying publicly.  Welcome to the long decline, the end of the American Empire. 

All things considered

So the Voter I.D. issue has once again reared it's ugly head.  I've railed against this in the past but have less conviction this time around.  On one hand, it's a solution to which there is no problem.  On the other hand, it doesn't appear to be a huge burden, in that most of us have some kind of picture ID in the first place.  But considering that you must be registered to vote and that it's a inalienable right of every citizen, I don't think the burden is justified.  Some older people and poor people may not have a picture I.D., so why should they be denied the right to vote for that reason alone?  Most of all, you have to wonder why this always comes up during an election year.  All things considered, I believe this has more to do with suppressing votes than solving problems.  When in doubt, keep government out of our lives.  There's no need for this law, and no need for those who insist upon it.  If your rep votes yes, you should vote for someone else. 

Never see cheap gas again

I've said it all before.  There's no going back now. 

Sunshine with dignity

So the AG made a request of the governor and now the gov is lashing out at everybody within reach.  Is that really the way you want to go out?  I mean, I know you're trying to make a point, but ordering the destruction of evidence is a whole different ball game.  There's only one way this all ends...

Unosilicited advice

Saw Lindsey Rendlen on the news tonight.  I love you sweetie, but whoever told you the glasses were great... yeah, not so much. 

Last class

I turned in my last paper tonight... for a while.  It's kind of weird, but I think I'll miss the mental stimulation.  Of course, education never stops - you must continually sharpen the saw.  How sharp is yours? 

Heavy reading

A vote for common sense.  Missouri lawmaker joins the effort to decriminalize marijuana. 

Gospel of consumption.  You've seen the story of stuff.  Here's the background on our growth economy.

Steady-state economy.  What we should have - a treatise on the sustainable alternative. 

The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class.  If you deal with public policy, this is an hour lecture that you must see. 

Pentagon pundits

I got a note from John Kerry today regarding a little publicized story that broke in recent weeks.  The New York Times uncovered a plot by the Bush administration to plant military analysts at the major networks to generate some favorable news stories.  Can you believe it?  This administration was engaged in purposely misleading the public?  Naw. 

Once the story broke the program was quickly discontinued, but Congress is mounting an investigation.  Go here to voice your support. 

Pandering

Now the idiocy of a gas tax holiday has made it's way to the state legislature.  Rep. Jim Lembke is working overtime to become the king of bad ideas.  This is nothing more than a cheap trick to score votes, yet it's so crooked in it's execution that every citizen should be offended.  Have you no shame?

Of course, people like the sound of a tax break, but let's look at the results of this particular idea.  First of all, gas taxes go to fund INFRASTRUCTURE, something for which MODOT is consistently asking for more funding and we are in dire need of - especially revitalized railways and public transportation.  I'm sure they'll propose using surplus money for the refund to keep MODOT from screaming bloody murder.   That's right, as proposed, the state tax would not be lifted - it would still be assessed.   You would just save your receipts and turn them in for a rebate at the end of the summer - cause that works so well.  Let's not forget that we're talking about the state tax of 17 cents, which is less than a third of the increase we've already had to absorb in the last six months.  If history repeats itself, we're likely to see another 50 cent price increase in the next few weeks leading up to peak driving season. 

So who does this type of ploy help?  Big oil, of course.  It's just another subsidy for the companies who are turning in record profits.  They aren't discounting the cost of gas - they'll just pocket the difference.  So slick politicians pull another one over on us while doing more harm than good and helping their big business buddies along the way.  What they really need to be doing is raising the gas tax to reflect the true cost of energy.  That's the only way to encourage us to use energy more efficiently and abandon methods and systems that are unhealthy and unsustainable - multi-car families with mega commutes in inefficient vehicles.  But don't expect any elected official to have the sack to do the right thing.  (Check that- Governor Blunt stands up for once.  Kudos)

Lowering the cost of gasoline just makes us waste more and renders us even less able to absorb inevitable future increases.  Hopefully the good people of Missouri will recognize this cheap trick for what it is and do us the favor of ending the tenure of those who choose to engage in pandering.   

Bumper logic

Deep thoughts, in honor of Albert Hofman, who discovered LSD in 1938, and died today at the ripe age of 102.  I was on campus at Mizzou tonight and saw a sweet bumper sticker on a VW. 

When the power of love

Overcomes the love of power

The world will know peace

pigs at the trough

Maybe I'm too simple for all this economic development mumbo jumbo, but if we believe in the (myth of the) free market, why are all these corporate handouts necessary?  The problem with incentives is that everybody wants some.  I've already got a bad taste in my mouth...

Speaking of which, I understand the Hillbot 2000 likes McAncient's gas tax holiday idea, and old Ike Skelton has put himself in her camp.  The bad ideas just keep coming.  Isn't it obvious we need some fresh blood in government? 

Don't trust anyone over 30 40 50, hell, let's just say 70, yo.  That ought to cover it.  I know I sound ageist, but freaking Arlen Specter is 78 years old, his cancer is back and he wants to run for office again.  Seriously.   Thank you for your service, but you've done enough already.