Vulcan's Hammer

Big government cable makes private cable competitive?

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:12:00 +0000

Hmmm...sounds like the public option to me.

20 Years ago--The Fall of Communism

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:55:00 +0000

Blue Staters running to Red States...and fast!

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:41:00 +0000

From Forbes:

For the past decade a large coterie of pundits, prognosticators and their media camp followers have insisted that growth in America would be concentrated in places hip and cool, largely the bluish regions of the country...This narrative, which has not changed much over the past decade, is misleading and largely misstated. Net migration, both before and after the Great Recession, according to analysis by the Praxis Strategy Group, has continued to be strongest to the predominately red states of the South and Intermountain West.

This seems true even for those seeking high-end jobs. Between 2006 and 2008, the metropolitan areas that enjoyed the fastest percentage shift toward educated and professional workers and industries included nominally "unhip" places like Indianapolis, Charlotte, N.C., Memphis, Tenn., Salt Lake City, Jacksonville, Fla., Tampa, Fla., and Kansas City, Mo.

The overall migration numbers are even more revealing. As was the case for much of the past decade, the biggest gainers continue to include cities such as San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. Rather than being oases for migrants, some oft-cited magnets such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago have all suffered considerable loss of population to other regions over the past year.

It seems that the "smart and hip" like low taxes, jobs, and livable surroundings just like the hicks that they constantly vilify. One last point from the article:

Virtually all the top 10 economies that have withstood the recession come from outside the "youth-magnet" field: San Antonio; Oklahoma City; Little Rock, Ark.; Dallas, Baton Rouge, La.; Tulsa, Okla., Omaha, Neb.; Houston and El Paso, Texas.

I may be needing a change of scenery if employment doesn't improve around here.

The Pain Goes On

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:42:00 +0000

The national unemployment rate is now at 10.2%--highest since 1983. If the Obama regime believes that it is going to reflate the economy out of this recession without any consequences, they are going to have a rude awakening.

In other news, the state of California has started, on November 1st, withholding 10% more in taxes from workers to shore up the state's deficit. No debate amongst the public and little news about this in local papers. Another perfect example of how government looks out for itself and how it will always try to expand its power at all costs. So much for representative government.

You can kiss $2.3 Billion bye-bye!

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:44:00 +0000

I’m surprised that this didn't get more coverage. Tax dollars just wasted away. Sigh.

Ron Paul on Larry King

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:15:00 +0000

I'm back! And my first post is about Ron Paul. I saw him on Larry King commenting on health care, corporatism, and capitalism. He was as sharp as always. Before Dr. Paul came on, King had liberal economist Michael Moore vomit more of his worn out welfare-statist ideas. I guess his movie isn't doing all that well.

On Vacation till November 2nd.

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:06:00 +0000

I will be on vacation for 2 weeks. So, no posting for me till November 2nd. I will continue to post from time to time on some of my favorite blogs (you know who you are!) until I get back home. Cheers!

Obama wants to cut a $250 check to seniors

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:08:00 +0000

Since the Social Security Administration won't be adjusting it's payout upwards due to negative inflation, President Obama proposes a one-time payment of $250 to senior citizens. First thought, does he really think $250 is enough? I mean, that's less than 5 bucks a week...that's hardly enough for a gallon of milk. Secondly, now that the value of a dollar has started to slide (partly due to our massive deficit spending) and commodities have started to rise in response because of inflation fears, the $250 bucks amount will essentially amount to squat by the time the bill for it gets through Congress. Thirdly, the funds for this "one-time payment" has to come from somewhere: It's going to come from borrowed funds ("The White House put the cost at $13 billion.") that will have to be paid back with interest. This "one-time" payment is going to be royally expensive and not very effective in reducing economic pain for seniors. Of course, the propaganda from Democrats and the White House is going to be in full tilt for this one. There's nothing like feigning compassion for a powerful voting bloc by granting them funds that is taken from some other group. It works like a charm and it's difficult to argue against.

This leads me to believe that this may be a political ploy by Democrats and the WH to try to pin Republicans (who may resist this one-time payment idea) as being cold, angry, and anti-senior citizens. The timing is interesting because of the health care fire that's dominating Washington right now. And afterall, some of the "brown shirted thugs" at the town hall protests were grandma and grandpa, what better way to win some of their support than to grease their palms with "compassion" bucks. Never underestimate the power of an emotional argument.

Oh, they must be kidding!!

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:48:00 +0000

The Saudi's say that they may want to be compensated for any drop in their oil revenues due to the U.S. adopting any alternative energy uses to combat "Global Warming." While I think that the whole Cap and Trade scheme is a wealth destroyer, the Saudi's really need to get a grip. Adapt or die, nimrod's!

One Tax Hike Everted...For Now

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:02:00 +0000

Major American businesses were able to fight back a tax hike that was proposed by Barack Obama. The big question is for how long can they keep the potential job killer at bay. From the article, I get the sense that many business leaders that supported Obama in the Presidential campaign are experiencing buyer’s remorse.

Pelosi is open to a Value Added Tax

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:49:00 +0000

Don’t you worry dear citizen, there are more taxes on the way! Hang tight because the next 12-14 months are going to be a real rocking good time.

Obama wins Nobel Prize for Peace!!

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:11:00 +0000

I thought that this was a joke when I saw it this morning. Strangely, it's not. When the Nobel committee gave the award to Al Gore, I commented that the Nobel Prize for Peace had at last become politicized. This latest move seals it.

Here are some worthy people that I think should have received this award and that are certainly far better picks that Barack Obama: Burmese monks whose defiance against, and brutalization at the hands of, the country's military junta captured the attention of the Free World several years ago and continue to bravely resist their government. The prize should have been awarded to Morgan Tsvangirai, Arthur Mutambara and other Zimbabwe opposition leaders who were arrested and in some cases beaten by police back in 2007 while protesting peacefully against dictator Robert Mugabe. The Prize should have gone to Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Catholic priest in Vietnam arrested in 2007 and sentenced to eight years in prison for helping the pro-democracy group Block 8406. The prize should have gone to Wajeha al-Huwaider and Fawzia al-Uyyouni, co-founders of the League of Demanders of Women's Right to Drive Cars in Saudi Arabia, who are waging a modest struggle with grand ambitions to secure basic rights for women in that Muslim country. The prize should have gone to the people of Iraq, who bravely work to rebuild and reunite their country amid constant threats to themselves and their families from terrorists who deliberately target civilians. And finally, if the Nobel committee had any real moral rectitude, it could have awarded the prize to the people of Iran who resisted and protested against a corrupt voting process in their country.

It is pathetic that the Nobel committee chose to give the Peace price to someone who has done nothing to deserve it.

A 70-80 Percent Tax Increase!!!

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Economist Greg Mankiw of Harvard University took a long hard look at Max Baucus' healthcare bill and has concluded that it is a massive tax increase (close to 80%!!) for a very large portion of the American working population. While I am not surprised by Mr. Mankiw's overall assessment, I am very concerned that his analysis will be spun as right wing political noise. You can bet that most in Congress that want "reform" at all costs will not be debating this expensive conclusion.

Lost jobs may be gone forever

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:59:00 +0000

This is quite depressing as our national unemployment rate continues to rise.

(Graph is from the Wall Street Journal.)

Downsizing The Government

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:57:00 +0000

The Cato Institute has a new blog dedicated to cutting down the size of government. Lot's of great information, graphs, and data.

Is school choice making some ground?

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:27:00 +0000

Listen to Overpaid Celebrities

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:09:00 +0000

This video is a response to Will Ferrell's stupid MoveOn.org video.

New car sales crash after "clunkers" program

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:47:00 +0000

Wow. What a surprise. And to think that cheerleaders for this massive government transfer were just weeks ago patting themselves on the back. How long before Congress starts making noise to have another "clunker" of a program?

The Power of the Poor

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:33:00 +0000

From the Freedom To Choose Network we see that a legal system and entrepreneurship emerges from humble origins even when government bureaucracy stifles opportunity and access to rights. Human beings don't need a government to organize, to create values, to act lawfully and to be legitimate productive members of a society.

The war that punishes patients dealing with pain

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:35:00 +0000

Your Tax Dollars Are Paying for Finnish Cars!!

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:10:00 +0000

Thank you, Al Gore:

WASHINGTON -- A tiny car company backed by former Vice President Al Gore has just gotten a $529 million U.S. government loan to help build a hybrid sports car in Finland that will sell for about $89,000.

The award this week to California startup Fisker Automotive Inc. follows a $465 million government loan to Tesla Motors Inc., purveyors of a $109,000 British-built electric Roadster. Tesla is a California startup focusing on all-electric vehicles, with a number of celebrity endorsements that is backed by investors that have contributed to Democratic campaigns.

The awards to Fisker and Tesla have prompted concern from companies that have had their bids for loans rejected, and criticism from groups that question why vehicles aimed at the wealthiest customers are getting loans subsidized by taxpayers.

"This is not for average Americans," said Leslie Paige, a spokeswoman for Citizens Against Government Waste, an anti-tax group in Washington. "This is for people to put something in their driveway that is a conversation piece. It's status symbol thing."

Sweet! Be a Democratic contributor and get to stick your hand in the taxpayer trough! So now my taxes (and yours, dear reader) are going to benefit some Finnish eco-car company because Al Gore has convinced enough lemmings that the global apocalypse is nigh. Arrrggh!

But this also highlights some of the folly of having government, through tax payer funds, attempt to pick winners and losers in a market. In this case it's electric cars. Invariably, taxpayer dollars are going to go where taxpayers probably would not have wanted it to end up--in the hands of foreign capitalists trying to make a buck on our dime.

I still can't get over Al Gore, though. That fat cat is sitting pretty. He probably rubs his Nobel every night before he goes to sleep.

Good Little Citizens

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Great post from Hornberger's Blog:

What the Left and the Right fail to recognize, however, is that the fundamental problem of public (i.e., government) schooling is not so much the indoctrination that inevitably takes place during the 18 years that children are attending.

Instead, the problem is the ultimate goal of government schooling — the molding of each child into a “good, little citizen,” one who will faithfully support the state and never challenge it in fundamental ways. That’s the state’s primary purpose of controlling the educational system in every country.

Real Members of Congress: Charlie Rangel

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:57:00 +0000

LOL!! Ah, yes! Charlie Rangel is a real piece of work.

Penn Jillette - Taxes

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:38:00 +0000

The madness of the progressive tax code is explored--only a bureaucrat out of a Kafka novel would love it. (Warning: Strong language.)

HT: Liberty Pen

Pictures of the day

vulcanhammer@sbcglobal.net (VH) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:11:00 +0000

Amazing pictures of a dust storm in Australia