Kevin Bott for Mayor

I recently became aware of a campaign by Kevin Bott to become mayor of Syracuse, NY.  I have visited his website and watched his video (see below), and I have to say I'm impressed.  Here is someone willing to take a shot at being Mayor of a major American city who realizes what it's like to be a normal person in this world.  The fact that he's going about it outside of the two party system that has gotten way out of control is wonderful.

Do I agree with him, or the Green Party, on everything?  Nope.  Some of the issue are pretty much the opposite of what I would want.  However, I want to give him a shot.  What we need more of in our government is outsiders.  People that do not look at politics as a career, but as a civic duty.  I believe that Kevin is one of these people and I would like to encourage everyone in Syracuse to vote for him and for as many of the readers here as possible to donate to his campaign (I have pledged $10 myself).

It's my opinion that the two party system is one of the major reasons for this country being in the mess it is currently in.  Whether I agree with the candidate/party or not, I want to encourage as many alternate party candidates as possible to run for as many offices as possible.  Once real people get control, rather than career politicians, I think we'll have a better chance to turn this around.

Social Media

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Required Viewing on Economics

These videos should be required viewing for all, but especially politicians.

Basics of Capitalism (aka It's OK to go into business)

Running a Buisiness (aka Profits are NOT necessarily evil!)

Investing (aka The rich are NOT necessarily evil!)

Unpopular Bullying Opinion

I'm sorry, but all the stuff I'm hearing recently on bullying in schools, etc just makes me sick.  Bullies are not, by nature, reasonable people.  Treating them like misunderstood, rational beings is as illogical as thier own actions.  You know what stops bullying?  Standing up and letting them know you won't take it any more.  If they can't keep picking on you without resistance, they'll move on to easier targets.  Once all easy targets are gone, they aren't able to be a bully anymore.

Personally, I think this video should be mandatory viewing for all students (and administrators).

Before you ask, no, I was not a victim of bullying.  I was lucky to be both one of the biggest kids in the class and blessed with the "I don't care what other people think" attitude.

I’m Just Fed Up

OK, this has been building for quite a bit, and I have touched on this before, but I’m a really fed up with government.  The over-reaction to the deplorable Sandy Hook Shooting, the gridlock in Washington, etc., it’s just too much.  So, not being one to curse the rain without opening an umbrella, here are my thoughts.

1.       Military

a.       Step One, GET OUT OF AFGANISTAN!  Sorry, was that not forceful enough?  We have no business there, we are not doing anyone any good and it’s Freaking Expensive in both money, and more important, LIVES!  Just be done with it.

b.      This goes down to point 5, but I’ll say it here.  If the military doesn’t want something new, don’t push it through anyway!  I tend to trust the people that have done the job for years and years, and if they don’t want a shiny new <fill in military tech here>, then that should be the end of it.  “But people in my district/state/whatever need work.”  I’m sure that these companies can find something else to build.  Sorry if that’s harsh, but we’re a little beyond sunshine and rainbows in the country.

2.       Domestic Issues

a.       Very simply put, see the 10^th Amendment.  The Federal Government really needs to stop worrying about regulating the states and deal with the Big Stuff that is their responsibility.

b.      Gun Control is not either banning all guns or using a second hand to hold your gun, it is a responsible way for States (see 2a) to control who can legally own a firearm and what kinds of firearms are legally available.  Personally, I don’t see the reason for anyone to own a fully automatic weapon.  There are better ways to make deer pâté.  That is not to say that semi-automatic weapons should be banned, just the full auto.  On that note, I would like to point out that any responsible citizen, who wishes to, should be able to buy any legally available firearm they can afford.  Heck, let’s require everyone who wants to own a particular firearm to pass a 6-week course on how to use it.  Believe or not, criminals don’t obey the law, so no matter how strict your gun restrictions, criminals will still have guns so people will still have to protect themselves.

c.       Please, PLEASE give the President a Line Item Veto.  Just look at the recent Sandy Aid Bill and listen to the oinking.  All these amendments to bills that have NOTHING to do with them is part of the problem in Washington.

3.       Foreign Issues

a.       Can we PLEASE stop being the world’s police force?  Isn’t there a group of countries, who all send representatives to a meeting yearly, which could take over this function?  I don’t know, some kind of United Nations?

b.      Again referring down to point 5, let’s cut all foreign aid, yes I said all, by half.  I know we can’t responsibly get rid of it all, but we kind of have a cash flow problem here, so let’s trim what’s leaving this country.

c.       Speaking of foreign aid, let’s enact a law/regulation/what-have-you that states “If a country receiving US foreign aid is found to be harboring a wanted enemy of the US, all foreign aid immediate stops and cannot be restarted for 10 years.”  Osama Bin Laden anyone?

4.       Elected Officials

a.       I would like to see a Constitutional Amendment implemented that states “No individual may hold elected office on any level (local, state, federal) more than a cumulative total of 20 years.”  Career politicians just annoy me on how out of touch they are and limiting how many terms of a particular office they can hold just isn’t going to deter them.  This would not apply to appointed offices, such as cabinet positions, just elected.

b.      The House of Representatives has been so f’d up for the past decade or so (yes, both Republicans and Democrats are to blame) that we should really think about implementing the Greek method of choosing.  Take all the names of all constitutionally qualified candidates in a congressional district and pick one.  That’s your Congressman/woman for the next two years.  Can anyone really argue that we’d be in worse shape?

5.       Budget

a.       First thing to do, get rid of all automatic increases in spending.  I don’t get a raise every year just because time passed, and neither should government agencies/employees.

b.      You want to raise taxes on the “rich” to increase revenue, be my guest.  But this won’t solve the problem.  There is no way that was can tax our way out of this mess we’re in.  Severe and across the board spending cuts are needed.  It’s not going to be pretty or fun, but it needs to be done.

c.       Speaking of taxes, let’s close any and all loopholes in the tax code and implement a flat sales tax.  No deductions, no tax shelters, nothing like that.  You owe X% of your purchases to the government and that’s it.  Basic necessities, such as produce, dairy, clothing, diapers, etc, would be exempt, but you want a 72” 1080p TV, you’ve got to pay the tax.  Personally, I think this is fairer than taxing income, since it doesn’t punish success, just luxury.  Yes, there could be a Scrooge out there who makes a lot of money but lives like he’s poor, but I think that’s far more the exception than the rule.

The True Meaning of Brotherhood

As most of you know, I’m a native and current resident of the great state of New Jersey.  As such, I was among those affected by Hurricane Sandy, to the point where our residence was rendered unlivable.  We’re all fine and now have a new place to live (thanks to my wife annoying the heck out of the real estate agent who was assigned to work with us), so there’s no reason to go into that.

What I would like to talk about, however, is the 3 weeks that we were without a home of our own.  My wife, 4 year-old daughter and I (the dog was being boarded) descended upon the Philadelphia apartment of my good friend and Fraternity Brother, Kurt.  For three weeks he not only put up with us invading his single life, but cooked us dinner and helped with the clean-up/recovery at our old place.  There aren’t many people in this world that are anywhere near as generous or patient as Kurt, who treated us like family.

Many people accuse those that join fraternities as trying to buy friends, or the like.  But when you have someone that offers you a place of stability in an extremely chaotic situation, you see just what kind of people you have joined up with.  Kurt and I took an oath (at different times, mind you) to treat all members of Triangle as brothers.  As a Heathen, I take oaths very seriously and I have to say, Kurt has upheld his in spades.

So I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank him and salute him for being a pillar of brotherhood and a man of unimpeachable character.  Wassail, Kurt!

Power Up

You know, I wish I could say it this well, but I can't.

The Devil's Panties - 10/22/2012

Being a Heathen as well as have a Masters Degree in engineering, I'm all for as many alternatives for powering my life as possible.  Clean, efficient, reliable power is what we all (I think anyway) want in our lives.  Saving the planet is a great goal, but we can do that and research nuclear, natural gas, coal, wind, hydro, geo and solar power possibilities.