A Second Hand Conjecture

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How often do I agree with Paul Krugman? Not. Very. Often. But – here is that blue moon moment.

Ignore the snarky dig relating to the fact that President Bush is a recovering alcoholic. Read on and see why we have lost our collective minds by putting ethanol in our tanks.

Increased demand for the grain helped boost food prices by 4.9 percent last year, the most since 1990, and will reduce global inventories of corn to the lowest in 24 years, government data show. While advocates say ethanol is cleaner than gasoline, a Princeton University study this month said it causes more environmental harm than fossil fuels.

“We are mandating and subsidizing something that is distorting the marketplace,” said Cal Dooley, a former U.S. congressman from California, who represents companies including Kraft Foods Inc. and General Mills Inc. as president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association in Washington. “There are no excess commodities, and prices are rising.”

Innovation and creativity to cut back (or better control) our use of fossil fuels? I’m all for it. Ethanol, however, is not the answer, for a myriad of reasons.

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John McCain is speaking in Indianapolis today.

Some high lites

* Doesn’t think subsidies are needed for ethanol

* Speech was heavy on National Defense

* Wants free and fair elections in Cuba, will not provide aid or assistance until political prisoners are released.

* Wants to keep tax rates low, and simplify the tax code.

* We need to eliminate wasteful spending in Washington.

< He's a pretty funny guy on the stage. He's told quite a number of jokes with a point. >

* wants to restore confidence in DC

* We need to take care of our Vets

* Wants to give vets a health card to let them seek private care.

* Iraq “hard, long, tough”

* We are succeeding there, al Queda is on the run but not defeated.

* Setting a date for withdrawal, would let al Queda say they’ve defeated us

* Will bring troops home with honor and victory.

* Will rally people to serve a cause greater than themselves.

**** Q&A

* First question about immigration, Borders first, then dealing with secure ID for foreigners, and then dealing with other issues
* Second about Pence being a VP candidate, now’s not the time to discuss this
* Third Health Care, biggest problem is inflation in health care (10% growth in Medicare,) make insurance affordable and available, outcome based payment for the 5 top illnesses. Put incentives into the process. Wellness and Fitness should be emphasized from youth on up. Govts don’t run things efficiently, and that’s what the Democrats want to do with health care.
* Fourth – didn’t catch question, attack ads, and MSM hit pieces. Trying to keep 527s accountable. Will have a respectfull debate whoever the Dem nominee is.
* Fifth – FCC law? Turn over and allocation of spectrum. Must ensure that first responders are guaranteed part of the spectrum. Wants to keep govt out of it. But wants to make sure there’s not a monopoly. < took the time to answer a followup question to further explain his answer.)
* Sixth - Judges. Respect for the rights of the unborn. Appt judges that would uphold a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
* Seventh - Social Security vs supporting Children - bipartisan committees to solve these tough problems. Reach across the aisle. "SS and Medicare will not be there for young people, if we don't fix the system."
* Eight - Vet w/ Iraq service had questions. -- We need a bigger Army and Marine Corp first, also an Air Force.
* Nine - Veterans will be a high priority for his administration

****

Some coverage of the event...

Forgot about this line, regarding Castro…

You can find links to the video of the event here… or do a search there of “McCain Town Hall Meeting”

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Tyson Foods suffers 40% decline in profits and will now raise food prices. That’s a huge decline, huge! All because people kept clamoring for the federal government to “do something” about the rising cost of oil. This is why I don’t really ever trust the government to solve anything. They’re usually going to make only a few people happy (usually those that lobby the most) and end up making most people suffer. More and more, everyday I’m convinced that corn ethanol is not the way, but it’s the one picked for us by our bureaucratic leaders.

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(photo: Michael Deeble)

With heavy rains flooding Southern Africa and displacing thousands, surely saving graces must be found in parched and dying Swaziland, a country long thirsting for a drop of rain. But somewhat typically, that oppressed country’s autocrat King Mswati III, has taken the event of the rain for more than it is, and in so doing has begun another trek away from the path of reform.

The other day Mswati delivered a speech in the rain to army cadets, saying that salvation had finally come. The king believes that now is the time for his citizens to give up living off donor food from the international community and return to agricultural self-sufficiency:

“The time has come for us to come out of the dependency syndrome and start eating our own food that we have cultivated in our fields instead of depending on the donor community,”

Were it only so simple.

(more…)

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