Decius wrote:

When George W. Bush signed the bankruptcy bill into law earlier this year, he made clear his vision that whatever troubles face American families, it is their own fault, and his plan is to punish them. America’s middle class deserves better.

Literally every single argument made in favor of that abominable bill was a lie. This article provides a long refutation of the GOP's position that the middle class is plagued by lazy overconsumption and provides some reasonable policy priorities that would actually be useful.

Interesting article in 2005 by Elizabeth Warren. Though, I think the lobbyist might be a large part of the problem:

The bill was written by credit-industry lobbyists, shopped to their friends in Congress, and supported by tens of millions of dollars in lobbying and campaign contributions.

RE: The overconsumption myth.

Decius wrote:
] After all, goes the logic, the world has learned to live
] with America’s outsize deficits. Why can’t it continue to do
] so indefinitely? In my view, this is yet another example of
] the “greater fool theory” that took NASDAQ to 5000 four and a
] half years ago. All the classic symptoms of a US
] current-account adjustment are now evident.

I welcome NASDAQ at 5000 and .com 2.0. ;) ;)

RE: Red states won - now the red ink | csmonitor.com

Decius wrote:
] Elonka wrote:
] ] Yes, but if he *did* get rid of Rumsfeld, and Ashcroft, who
] ] would you most like to see in those posts? Are there
] moderate
] ] names that come to your mind, who you think would be good
] ] choices?
]
] I honestly don't know enough about this to have an answer. Who
] are the hot shot federal attorneys? Who is making waves at
] State or the Pentagon or the strategic think tanks? Knowing
] these answers would be instructive in that it would allow you
] think think about who is likely to be running things 4-8-12
] years from now, but I don't even know where to start.

The two people who I think we should be most concerned is
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chairman of the
Federal Reserve. These two positions wield a huge amount
of influence over our nation. I think next on the list is who
is going to be the National Intelligence Director. I just hope
it is not someone like Ashcroft or we are more doomed.

The Washington Beltway rumors is that Ridge is unhappy as he
doesn't seem to have that much power. Being the front man
who has to go on TV and tell everyone to change their safety
level from Blue to Yellow isn't feeling the love.

Dr. Rice and John Snow does a fine job. Though I always
thought Dr. Rice would have been more effective as
Sec. of Education. Im sure she knows how to bend the
Presidents ear when she needs it.

Your right about the anchors, Powell, Rumsfeld and Chaney
run the show, everyone else follows. Rove gives the thumbs up
and the President puts the big W at the bottom of the executive
order.

I think more eyes are all on the Supreme Court as to who is
going to be replaced. Names are already floating around
Washington. I am sure W likes Theodore Olson but he is
about as old as the judges on the bench.

RE: Bush wins

Someone got an early copy. It has a little fun at the RIAA's expense.

Pepsi / iTunes Superbowl Ad

Show Dates: January 29-February 1, 2004
Show Hours: Thursday: 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Nashville Auto & Truck Show-Welcome

Motivational posters for the sober challenged.

Inspiration Through Inebriation!

So it's not just Americans who can't speak French?

The French: Why do they hate us?

cyantist wrote:
] ] A Japanese scientist has developed a coat which appears
] ] to make the wearer invisible
]
] Oh My God, this is sooo cool. Watch out Harry Potter!

That looks like a very cool coat!!!

RE: Ananova - Japanese scientist invents 'invisibility cloak'

] 'While the headlines screamed loudly about the race to
] win control of the Congress and huge money poured into
] those races that were close, most legislative races in
] fact were completely noncompetitive. Our Center for
] Voting and Democracy's pre-election projections of who
] would win and lose more than 75% of U.S. House races held
] up with an apparent perfect score -- the same model
] projected 929 of 930 winners accurately in 1996-2000.
] Within days we will issue our projections for the
] November 2004 elections (yes, that's right -- the
] elections two years from now) in some 350 House races
] with the same degree of confidence.
] We can confidently make these projections without knowing
] anything about the quality of the candidates and
] inequities in campaign finance because we use
] "winner-take-all" elections in districts that generally
] tilt clearly toward one party or the other. This lean is
] no accident, as state after state enacted incumbent
] protection plans in redistricting over the past year.
] With only a few exceptions, incumbents and party leaders
] gerrymandered districts to guarantee the reelection of
] incumbents, as well as the over-representation of
] whatever party controlled the redistricting process in
] their state. In California, the Democratic Party
] incumbents actually paid "protection money" in the amount
] of $20,000 apiece to have their legislative districts
] drawn to guarantee them a safe seat, an audacious example
] of political "insider trading." '

Center for Voting and Democracy

"I talked to the own of Cafe Coco today, and we have come to an agreement concerning a barter - to work for food. He has several outdoor tables that are in disrepair, and are in need of new and more durable tops. So, I will be covering them with mosaic tile. It's a chance for me to be a little creative, as well as earn more of my keep. "

The Homeless Guy: Blog run by Nashville area homeless guy