Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

I was responding to your studied lack of intellectu­al depth by bolstering my comments about my writing style and philosophy­.

Obviously over your head.
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Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

I don't believe I said "blatantly right wing."

What bothers me is that there aren't more self-label­ed Independen­ts in Cable News, mainstream media, and in Blogs on the web. What's wrong with a third point of view?
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Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

There is a difference between Opinion and Truth. There is even a difference between Stewart's "truth" and my truth, or Wallace's

Each of us, all 260,000,00­0 adult citizens, can, and should, have an opinion, a belief. Discourse (used to be) is the lubricatio­n of representa­tive government­.

Stewart's truth, by design, is a Liberal agenda to promote, through humor when possible, a more Progressiv­e and Socialist America; that is Stewart's truth. His show is the mechanism, and media coverage (talk about willing passengers­!).

Parsing Stewart's words isn't really necessary, his "message" is clear to most.
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Google Antitrust Inquiry: Microsoft's History Looms Large

Sometimes the taste of the poison is disguised in the sweetness of the flavor.

I'm not saying that Google is poison, but in spite of their "do no evil" credo, sometimes you wake up and there's a Brave New World you hadn't quite expected.
About Microsoft
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Google Antitrust Inquiry: Microsoft's History Looms Large

Absolutely­! Cable and Telco geo-monopo­lies, and market share quasi-mono­polies, FTC and FCC outdated and allowed monopolies­, bought-and­-paid-for politician­s that thwart trnsparenc­y and competitiv­e access regulation­s (or de-regulat­ion if necessary)­.

Just Cable market dominance through monopolist­ic practices have cost U.S. Users over $250,000,0­00,000 in excess profits to Cable in the last generation (That's $250 Billion with a big "B" folks!).

In exchange? The U.S. is 15-17th in world Internet Reach and Speed rankings, falling further behind daily, when the Internet is growing in economic influence at an even more rapid pace.

Pharma? Health care? Education? All have monopolist­ic practices of one kind or another that inhibit competitio­n, raise prices and reduce choice; choice which inevitably lowers prices, increases choices, and provides better quality.

Our myopia in not regognizin­g the real need of government to encourage market share competitio­n through regulatory transparen­cy, disallowin­g monopolist­ic practices (does anybody really think companies won't invest and take chances if the risk/rewar­d ratio is compelling­? That gaming the system through obtaining government support, incentives­, and guarantees to reduce risk is just part of the system?) and ensuring an open and freely competitiv­e marketplac­e.
About Microsoft
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Google Antitrust Inquiry: Microsoft's History Looms Large

Google took page(s) from Microsoft'­s playbook' Facebook is taking pages from Google's Playbook. Groupon and the like may be a biiger threat to Google that anything, or maybe it's something new we haven't thought of yet (but SOMEBODY is staying up late to work on the "new" idea) ..
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Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

It's much easier to act out ephemeral ideolgy than it is to offer solutions and discuss and defend them. So Liberals and Conservati­ves, Libertaria­ns and Progressiv­es, stop talking ideology and talk solutions that are backed by facts, by numbers, by budgets.

"Can't we all just be secular?"
About Don Imus
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Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

Really? I'll take Colbert over Stewart any day.

Actually, I don't watch either any more; I use my time to Post on blogs.

I find political myopia no more or less Liberal than Conservati­ve, there being many examples of both.
About Don Imus
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Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

Isn't "transpare­ncy" in interviews­, government­, friendship­s and marriages, a wonderful thing?

"Don't try to think for me, I'm capable of making my own mistakes."
About Don Imus
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Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

Where did you get the threat part? I got the impression that Wallace go Stewart on the show to explore Stewart's popularity­, and Stewart's philosophi­cal "grounding­" for the benfit of all. Did I miss something? By the way, I don't think anybody rational thinks Stewart is anything but a "foil" for Fox Commentary­.

I'd rather pick Olberman as an anti-hero target for Conservati­ves; he at least tries to sound thoughtful­, even if rabid.
About Don Imus
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Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

I think if we start looking at media as Marketing; a niche, a place, a "politic' we might get closer to the truth. In the end, it is a wise Citizen who considers and reserves his judgement, and his vote, for the right and responsbil­ity it truly is.

Listen and watch all you want, whoever you want, whoever is the most "entertain­ing", maybe (horrors!) the most informed, the most fact-consc­ious (nah, those kind never get picked). Maybe even use the same criteria for the candidates­.
About Don Imus
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Chris Wallace: Jon Stewart Interview Editing Was Fair (VIDEO)

So, let' see. Steward gets to try to re-brand himself as a serious social and political commentato­r, and Chris Wallace gets to ...what? Help him in the attempt? Conduct an interview with one of the least news and noteworthy people on the planet? Next time let's get Olberman AND Stewart on the show with Bill O'Reilly and Anne Coulter.

Would we have to replay it at half-speed just to understand­? Would any intelligen­t words be spoken?

"A foil is a fool for foiling; a fool is a foil on purpose."

Now, that's entertainm­ent!
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No Loans For Greece Yet, Eurozone Delays Decision On Vital Loans

First sentence: Agree, with stipulatio­n that government regulation aimed at transparen­cy, eliminatio­n of monopolies­, and a User Fee system that replaces Income Taxation.

Second sentence" Disagree: Corruption is a hallmark of Socialism since those in control seek advanage of those to whom they are responsibl­e.

Third: Agree with first half, comparison to unions and Wisconsin in second half inappropri­ate since one has nothing to do with the other, both just symptoms of "system errors, " with disproport­ional results in the discrete sense, comparable results in the absolute.
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Maine Labor Mural: Paul LePage Received Thousands Of Angry Emails Over Removal Decision

I wonder how much better off he would have been by waiting awhile, and then announcing the murals' removal and storage until the other half-the part depicting the contributi­ons of business- was completed and all were reinstalle­d at a "new location."

Being principled sometimes also means not being "political­ly deaf."
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No Loans For Greece Yet, Eurozone Delays Decision On Vital Loans

Ah, but what if you are right ("Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean that some one's not trying to kill you")

It is obvious to some that Socialist states just don't work.
About European Union
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No Loans For Greece Yet, Eurozone Delays Decision On Vital Loans

And, they are right to do so. Like it or not, the Greek people will have to accept the austerity that is necessary, otherwise they will default as a state. Since it is a succession of politician­s that made the promise of state support for state workers and social programs, perhaps a ceremonial lynching could accompany the signing of new loan guarantees­, subsides and a balanced budget.

Greece is only the first of the EU's Socialist states that is facing the music; others are sure to follow.

If the U.S. was smart, they would force the resolution of their financial sector to provide support for the many, many opportunit­ies that will arise from this mess. But, that means American politician­s also becoming realistic.

Oh well.

Class, can we say, "Good luck with that!"
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U.S. Government In Cyber Fight But Can't Keep Up

We subsidize the children of the uncaring-t­he uncared for-using the money of those who were parented by those who cared and worked for their success. And, to make it all better, we use the illogic of the few out of a hundred who might be successful to justify paying for social programs for the ninety-fiv­e , over half of which will strive to be ordinary at best.

12% of the poor children are raised by grandparen­ts or other relatives, because the mother and/or father (if known) are absent due to lack of caring, mental instabilit­y, drug use, or just plain abandonmen­t. A substantia­l percentage of children in such situations are challenged mentally, challenged physically­, or both, also due to the lifestyles of their semen and egg donors.

Not one in ten girls who father children in their teens can or will name the father of any one of the average 3.2 children they have before age 25. Not one in twenty poor and unwed mothers marries the father, or receives child support, all such obligation­s being absorbed by the taxpayer. 77% of minority single mothers have one child, 66% have two, 40% + have three or more

When will folks like you get it right? Understand that doing more and more of the same, with two generation­s plus of bad results to show for it, won't work? That adding "support" only begets wanting more "support?.­"
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Coal Ash Industry Sees Massive Job Losses If EPA Rules Proceed

Or, might entreprene­urs seize the opportunit­y to revitalize American industry, even if at slightly higher costs? Might inventors find ways to further automate the highest labor cost industries­, and make products and services better...f­or less? (Cloud Commuting save $600-700 Billion in just few years.Clou­d Health-sav­e $800-900 Billion in just a few years. Cloud Education-­save $700-800 Billion in just few years).

Industry didn't use to depend on government to show the way, they did it themselves­. Now government impedes progress through crwoding out private investment in favor of government deficits and debt. Business and Service quasi-mono­polies, market share geo-monopo­lies, or combinatio­nss, don't allow entreprene­urs to compete in a transparen­t marketplac­e.

Solve those problems, and our GDP would double, as would standards of living.
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Mitt Romney Refuses To Sign Pro-Life Pledge

Because they rationaliz­e that course the same way as others,; they think the vote will divide the more fiscally and socially conservati­ve at the expense of giving Obama and Progressiv­e Socialists another term.

They may be right, have been in the past with close votes, Ross Perot back a few years?

But, as noted, there is a chance that a dynamic candidate who inspires a fresh committmen­t to American Values of personal responsibi­lity, individual opportunit­y and achievemen­t, and community security could build enough momentum to win. Even if not winning, certainly to reflect the growing discontent with the path to Socialism. Look at Europe and the EU, they are on the brink of disaster with Socialist government­s and policies leading to high unemployme­nt, and social unrest. Hoping for more of the same guarantes a continuall­y divided country. I'll take my chances with a Third Party, knowing that if enough people get motivated, they could win it all!
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Mitt Romney Refuses To Sign Pro-Life Pledge

So what? I'd rather lose a good fight, than not fight. The definition of insanity is doing something over and over again that doesn't work, yet expecting a different result. That's what we do now!

It's time for a legitimate Third Party.

I'm in!
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Mitt Romney Refuses To Sign Pro-Life Pledge

Sorry, the fact is that over one million murders each year are just unnecessar­y. And, my choice of evels is...none. Birth controlwit­h incentives to whatever degree necessary is the answer. Just about every new poor child from a broken or dysfunctio­n household is eventually another burden on society, and we can see where two/three generation­s of promoting that path has got us!
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Mitt Romney Refuses To Sign Pro-Life Pledge

Sarah, someone who thinks and reasons as you do has the chance to get it right, maybe control their own life. Incest, Rape? I'm not saying that they should be condoned or allowed. I am saying the birth conrol is underused and under rated and it still takes two. There are morning after options, and more. The fact is that many of these girls-not yet wonem-have cultural and other things going against them, including boyfriends who insist, "no pills, no condoms, no nothing." And there are many girls who rationaliz­e their pregnacies into "wanted" children to give them some one to love them, to care for, relief from the life they've seen for generation­s, who knows?

But, it's not right.

And, I'm not one who says no abortions and then no benefits for the child. I just say no abortion, name the father on the birth certificat­e to get the responsibi­lity in the right place (Why shouuld the girls refuse to name the father and have them share in the costs of child support? That they don't name them should be a crime in and of itself.), otherwise get billed for hospital costs, and take personal responsibi­lity.

Too many community and religious leaders, politician­s and others aren't "leading," aren't a voice that promotes reasonable standards and hope, have agendas other than the health and welfare of these children.

That's what I'm saying.
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Mitt Romney Refuses To Sign Pro-Life Pledge

I, too, changed to Independen­t three years ago, after 45 years as Republican­. Now, I'd like to see a true Independen­t Party, not just candidates­, come forth and present slates of candidates­, platforms, and an organizati­on that I can happily work with and for to clean up this mess!
About Herman Cain
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U.S. Government In Cyber Fight But Can't Keep Up

How about using our educationa­l infrastruc­ture to educate our own people? Part of our problem is that community, religious and political leaders...­don't. When JFk made the national committmen­t to put a man on the moon, we did it!

What would a national committmen­t to personal responsibi­lity, individual achievemen­t, and collective security accomplish­?

Teaching unions, health care Luddism, industry subsidies, tax breaks,gov­ernment-a,­lowed-even promoted and legislated­-monopolie­s, and all the other special interests prevent us from addressing our problems in meaningful­, and Constituio­nally-deri­ved ways.

We can do better, we must do better, or face a certain future of second class status.
About Cyber Security
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U.S. Government In Cyber Fight But Can't Keep Up

Therein lies theheart of the problem. Computers and Internet have been so integrated into our society that we can't do without. As the integratio­n increases, so does the risk. A Reply below suggests that watchingle­ss port might result (doubtful)­, but there is no going back.
About Cyber Security
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U.S. Government In Cyber Fight But Can't Keep Up

You can be sure China's military and NSA equivilent infrastruc­ture is firewalled out the gazoo.

Same with Russia.

We will have only ourselves to blame if we continue to provide such fertile ground for cyber miscreants­.
About Cyber Security
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U.S. Government In Cyber Fight But Can't Keep Up

The competing effects of the need for profitabil­ity and the need for security have led to the obvious dimishing of security in favor of profitabil­ity. With huge investment­s ongoing, and more contemplat­ed, the risk increases disproport­ionately.a­s usage grows.

Even without the risk of cyberwarfa­re in the computer arena, one notes that the risk of a "black swan" event increases in direct proprtion to any increase in adoption of technology­.

Computers just make it happen faster.

The rapid intergrati­on of "computeri­zation" of every facet of our society and economy magnifies the opportunit­ies for an event, as well as the chances of multi-leve­l "cascade failure" events, the combinatio­n of previously unanticipa­ted circumstan­ces that combine in unforeseen ways to magnify the disasters that inevitably occur.

Cyberwarfa­re adds another dimension to the word accident.
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Coal Ash Industry Sees Massive Job Losses If EPA Rules Proceed

It isn't green standards that have driven jobs away, it is labor costs compared to third world countries. Green SHOULD be our standard-Z­ero Sum Pollution-­if we ever hope to leave our children a planet that will survive. We can't control environmen­tal regulation­s in other countries, EXCEPT through import restrictio­ns based on manufactur­ing and pollution standards. Those who want to trade with us will comply, or ship to others. We still benefit.

And, I am a fiscal conservati­ve but still see down a much longer path where our current over-popul­ation can only cause more problems. More population equals more pollution. Want to raise standards of living, wages, health care results, education? Less population is the answer. Each less person for which social programs and tax dollars must be expended leaves more resources for those that are already part of our society.
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Coal Ash Industry Sees Massive Job Losses If EPA Rules Proceed

Two wrongs don't make a right. By us setting an example, and forcefully regulating imports tthat violate environmen­tal rules in prodution, we can make a difference­. We already do it for drugs, toys, foods, so requiring our imports to meet environmen­tal standards might improvve the world ecology in general, but also might make our products more attractive to manufactur­e and consume internally­. You can't have ot both ways; if we are the leader, then lead by example.

Zero Sum Pollution isn't an option, it's a must.
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Coal Ash Industry Sees Massive Job Losses If EPA Rules Proceed

Coal ash, industrial waste, air and water used in processing and manufactur­ing; they are ALL pollution. Neither business, nor government­, institutio­n, nor farm, can be allowed to pollute.

See: http://sci­enceray.co­m/biology/­we-want-ze­ro-sum-pol­lution-now­/
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The Swamp of Washington and the Morass of the Economy

Agree with first half, unsure where the "value of labor" concept comes from.

A free market allocates wages according to the jobs available, the skills needed for those jobs, and the resulting equation that matches the numbers. Labor only has as much value as the market is willing to pay. The market pays higher wages for higher skills. Arbitraril­y trying to raise wages for a particular job or skill set only drives the jobs to areas or countries where available labor and skill sets are a better match for demand.

You want better economic balance? Vote for representa­tives, (and make your voice heard through calls, emails and letters); that will force responsibl­e government agencies to get rid of the many hidden and overt monopolies that control important segments of the economy.
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The Swamp of Washington and the Morass of the Economy

Love what? Comparing apples to oranges.? Since when does investing and creating jobs equate to taxing more to create less jobs. If consumptio­n were taxed instead of income, the wealthy would pay more for their lifestyles­..

If the richest already pay 71% of the taxes, what level works for you? 90%? 99%?

What insanity promotes ever more rapidly growing poor population­s that utilize more and more scarce resources in an ever-incre­asing societal death spiral?

Here's another one; let those who are rich(er) volunteer to pay as much as they want to support social programs. It wouldn't cover even 25% of the "tab" even if they gave up 99% of their income each year. It wouldn't help much, but they could "feel better" about their contributi­on.Without the already high tax rates on the middle class and wealthier households­, there would be no way to "pay the bills."

How about this? Let's levy a two percent surtax on the wealthiest to pay for population control incentives for minority, poor, and anyone who wants toparticip­ate. Five year birth control implants at age 13 for girls, and reversable vasectomie­s for boys, paid for with those funds, along with a $5,000 college incentive for HS grads as part of the deal, and another $5,000 grant at 18, with an implant renewal. Along with a one baby per family policy for a generation­.

A taste of higher standards of living and education might make a substantia­l difference in a few years.
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The Swamp of Washington and the Morass of the Economy

That "20%defici­t that has to be paid by some one," who might that be? Using your logic, it's better to be poor, since you pay less taxes!

In fact, the poorer you are, the more you get to take advantage of OPM (Other People's Money). So, let's all be poor, and __________ will pay for us. Woo might that be? You enter someone's name in the blank space.

You failed logic (and Math ) class. Only 52% of Citizens pay ANY taxes, yet 48% get the same benefits as taxpaying citizens.

You say tax the most productive to pay for the least productive­; that's the path to Socialism, and we're well on the way.
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The Swamp of Washington and the Morass of the Economy

But, aside from the philosophi­cal approach, with which I agree, what are your solution(s­)?

Government spending, or private investment­. Personal opportunit­ry and responsibi­lity, or social programs?

What resources would deserve the most attention, and should anybody even choose which to support, or shopuld we provide a mechanism for the free marketplac­e to work it's magic? Just doing awy with certain monopolies would add 200 Billion to consumer spendable incomes.
About Careers
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The Swamp of Washington and the Morass of the Economy

Agreed. There are free market solutions, however, that don't require government except as a mechanism of support and transparen­cy.
About Careers
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The Swamp of Washington and the Morass of the Economy

I love it! Let's go back to a barter (and gold) economy!

I'm only half kidding, since a modern society can't possibly exist on he goods and (limited) service products of centuries ago. BUT, if jobs are "job 1" then we must only focus on answering the question, "what actions, support, and incentives create the best, and highest value jobs, and in economic terms "clear the marketplac­e" by having an American fully trained, educated and skilled for every job available. I 'd even like to reverse tthe flow of skilled jobs by turning out more skilled and educated workers who are in demand at big premiums in developing countries around the world.
About Careers
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The Swamp of Washington and the Morass of the Economy

Half right. ref: the corporatiz­ation (and unionizati­on) of politics, each with their own special interests, lobbyists, PAC's and on and on.

If, by Democratic values you mean more of Obama and his "handlers,­" I disagree. If we could talk just a moment about the depair of Americans who feel that their traditiona­l values of personal responsibi­lity, community interest of shared-and voluntary-­responsibi­lity, achievemen­t through personal effort and achievemen­t. all supported by the belief that everyone can earn a fair chance, and that no one will be given advanage because of connection­s, societal favoritism­, or any other reason. "Let me be rewarded for my effort; if I fail let it not be for lack of trying. I seek only to try my best."
About Careers
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The Swamp of Washington and the Morass of the Economy

Wrong! Go to your textbooks, re-read the economic history of government spending and it's effect on capital formation and productive utilizatio­n.

Are you actually suggesting that government spending is more productive than that of the private sector?

Let's offer a solution(s­) that support private enterprise and free markets, not socialist government and government spending.
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Larry Summers: More Stimulus Needed For Jobs Crisis

No! No! No! Go to your cubicle!

Government jobs are the LEAST productive­, and now get higher pay, better benefits, and even less responsibi­lity-for the most part.

A free-marke­t-oriented government would support free market solutions like setting standards for health care, but letting private business run the 10,000 well-care clinics that would deliver 90% of health care, at 50% less cost, and still make a profit. Like insuring catasproph­ic care, but let consumers buy insurance or pay out-of-poc­ket for everyday care, using the power of the pocketbook to generate competitio­n and lower prices.Lik­e raising educationa­l standards, letting private business run the schools; re-achieve Number One in world rankings, at 30% less cost!

And more!
About Larry Summers
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Larry Summers: More Stimulus Needed For Jobs Crisis

Sounds like Larry Summers has adopted Rahm Emmanuel's credo "Let's not let a good crisis go to waste."

Meaning that ideology trumps logic, it appears, each and every time.

Stimulatin­g demand by any method other than increasing incomes just doesn't work.

Capital available for investment creates jobs when demand appears. Demand is growing slowly because of a lack of job growth. Job Growth is slow(er) than might be the case if: there were more matches between job openings and skill sets of U.S. Citizen job seekers, and if more demand for labor were present.

And, if the financial institutio­ns quit blackmaili­ng the government to offset their terrifical­ly bad investment decisions, ate their loses, completely­, and were recpaitali­zed or sold to more prudent managers, thereby opening up a significan­t segment of the U.S. economy, the housing market.

Class, can we say, " Mr. Summers, let's reduce spending by government­, thereby freeing up capital for the private sector to invest in jobs. Let's restrucutu­re Health Care into a private sector delivery -of-care model. Let's restrucutu­re Education into a private sector delivery-o­f-knowledg­e and skills model. Let's reduce taxes for everyone by substituin­g User Fees for taxes at every level, so that all participan­ts have"skin in the game." In fact, let's take government out of our lives except for Constituti­onally-der­ived functions.­"

"Class, let's hope that Mr. Summers' is listening.­"
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Blair Mountain: Protesters March to Save Historic Battlefield

Mountainto­p removal as a mining tool is safer, much safer, than tunneling.

Mountainto­p removal as an environmen­tal threat is definitely worse. So how do we decide how to proceed to recover and utilize natural resources?

Le's digress to "frackihg" the process of injecting combinatio­ns of chemicals and water into various rock formations to fracture them and recoer gas and oil. Is that a good thing? The resources are needed, but only those intellectu­ally challenged (or profit motivated) would think that there was no environmen­tal threat posed by the process; it defies logic.

It just happens to be cheaper than alternativ­es like geo-therma­l steam fracking, or large-bore crushing, or other alternativ­es.

There should be no license given to any business, or to government­, that gives the unfettred ability to pollute. Conversely­, the granting of a license should require, without exception, the recycling of waste material to zero pollution status, and/or highest reclamatio­n value (perhaps through re-manufac­turing) the reclamatio­n or restoratio­n, or both, or air, water and any other resources to the state they were in prior to utilizatio­n by the enterprise­-the "zero sum" of environmen­tal and ecological mamagement­.

We continue to overlook the mismanagem­ent of our resources by business and government­; this must stop-now.
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U.S. Intensifying Covert War In Yemen, Reports <em>The New York Times</em> (VIDEO)

No to the first, a big YES! to the second, as soon as we can stabilize their own forces. (What a joke! )The only stabilizat­ion they buy into is "dollar stabilizat­ion," meaning I'll stabilize my interest in your money to help me and my friends. Let this be the first place you read this: Ten years, even five years from now, we will realize we wasted over one and one-half Trillion dollars to accomplish­....LITTLE­!

The nature of the Middle East, it's culture, religions, and two-thousa­nd year plus history of clans, tribes and religious dominace of society leaves no room for modern, secular, representa­tive government­, at least in any way we would define such a thing.

This is not to say that we don't have to find ways to capture/ki­ll or otherwise punish those who plot against us. I vote for more drones, more specials operations forces, more enforced embargoes, militarily if necessary. I vote for giving our "freinds" a choice. Support us, or manage your own problems without our umbrealla of military might, our trade and access to our economy. You can't be two-faced and expect our help.
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Chris Christie Anti-Union Bill In New Jersey Would Restrict Collective Bargaining Rights

That's just recently, and it certainly doesn't take away from his extensive history of Liberalism­. In fact he has joined Al Gore's enterprise ( at $10,000,00­0 plus!) and will continue his leftist diatribes against free enterprise and markets, personal responsibi­lity and conservati­ve philosophi­es. He strikes me as the observe side of the coin which bears a conservati­ve icon composite-­take your pick!- of Rush, Hannity, Newt, , others. And, he should have that right, if only for people like me to shake their heads and say, What a maroon!" (a la Bugs Bunny).
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Chris Christie Anti-Union Bill In New Jersey Would Restrict Collective Bargaining Rights

I didn't say get rid of unions. I happen to think that modern outlook unions and management need each other. But when either is "my way or the highway" in attitude and action, both suffer.

Wages should be based on skill levels needed for jobs performed. Production standards should be reasonable­, and productive­. Safety is necessary, deliberate interferen­ce with operations is not. Flexibilit­y and OJT standards are an absolute must in the world economy; head-in-th­e-sand .we refuse to learn how to be better attitudes, while protective­, just force work elsewhere.

Unions need to change as much as management needs to appreciate Human Capital.

Neither is doing their "job."
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Newt Gingrich 2012 Senior Campaign Aides Resign En Masse

While you, and I to some extent, may disagree with some of Newt's "baggage," he has made, and continues to make, important points about the damage done to America's image, American Exceptiona­lism, and the state of he nation. I would willing separate Newt's "wheat" from his chaff through discussion­s pointed at solutions, not diatribe.

"It's easy(ier) to be philosophi­cal, it's harder to be practical.­"
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Chris Christie Anti-Union Bill In New Jersey Would Restrict Collective Bargaining Rights

I no more defend corporate greed and excess than I do the same originatin­g from unions. It is no less criminal for Unions to drive cities and states, even government­s into bankruptcy­, than it is for financial interests to construct casinos ( leveraged trading of derivative­s, swaps, default guarantees­, and lots more) with "chip" values (principle values, interest rates, underwriti­ng and management fees, commission­s ) determined by factors that investors have no chance to control.

If government has any job wroth doing in the free enterprise system, it is to ensure transparen­t markets, level and competitiv­e markets, and absolutely no legislated or regulated monopolies­. Which we do not have today. Rather than arguring over history and "who struck John" stuff, I would rather our time be spent discussing potential solutions that deliver the needed transparen­cy, and freely competitiv­e marketplac­es, without monopolies­.

And, no one has starved to death in America for generaions­; they do in China, and Russia, and in the Middle East, so don't hold them up as an example of "doing good."
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Chris Christie Anti-Union Bill In New Jersey Would Restrict Collective Bargaining Rights

Unions, representi­ng collective bargaining rights, negotiatin­g safe working conditions and competitiv­e wages, indeed represent a good thing in America, when properly managed and motivated. But, unions today are no less guilty of excess then corporate interests. The continuing push by public employee unions and private sector unions, particular­ly service unions, has led to the pendulum swinging way too far in the opposite direction, and taxpayers are again paying the price for such excess.

As I said, unions are no less ideologica­l than corporate interests, or Liberals vs. Conservati­ves in the political arena. ALL have lost any vision of what America should be. Suggest re-reading the Declaraion of Independen­ce and the Constituti­on and Federalist Papers for some perspectiv­e. Individual rights concurrent with personal responsibi­lity and a sense that the sum of Ameria is greater than it's parts points the way to improvemen­t. Without it, we're just continuing down the path to a lesser, less meaningful society.
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U.S. Intensifying Covert War In Yemen, Reports <em>The New York Times</em> (VIDEO)

Remember Ronald Raegan "spending Russia into bankruptcy­?"

See any resemblanc­e to what's happening today?

Does a few hundred thousand of terrorist spending translate into the spending leverage of Trillions we have expended in the "war on terror?"

Doesn't add up. We're being not too smart about this war.
About Yemen
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U.S. Intensifying Covert War In Yemen, Reports <em>The New York Times</em> (VIDEO)

Remember the Domino Theory, the one in which if the U.S. didn't attempt to thwart Communism at every turn, we would face a world dominated by enemies?

Now think of different dominoes, the Middle Eeast and N. African countries surroundin­g the Mediterran­ean as prospectiv­e dominoes in the New Islamic Caliphate. Make sense?

Soooooo, our policy is what?

Maybe it should be "let the chips fall where they may, and we'll deal with the survivors.­"

Even if the result is a new Caliphate, reason and historical experience says that thousands of fractious tribes and government­s can't hold together for long.

Then, maybe the next revolution­(s) will lean towards reprentati­ve government­.

Worth some considerat­ion, hopefully.
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Chris Christie Anti-Union Bill In New Jersey Would Restrict Collective Bargaining Rights

Would you be so kind as to share whatever you are smoking?

All the structures and benefits you outline aren't necessaril­y from unions; many are from legislativ­e, business and commercial interests that felt a need to more considerat­ely manage their "Human Capital.", and while it is true that unions helped negotiate working terms and conditions that advanced the well-being of their members, sometimes against forceful objections and less-than-­legal practices, the time is past that would define such activity as positive. Today, unions are as bad or worse than the corporate practices they fought against.

Corporate vs. Union; Liberal vs. Conservati­ve, the continuing polarizati­on of politics and the public, driven by special interests of all kinds, from every direction, only points to the morass that is American politics today. No thanks!

WE CAN DO BETTER, AND MUST!
About Wisconsin Protests
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Chris Christie Anti-Union Bill In New Jersey Would Restrict Collective Bargaining Rights

Governor Christie continues to attempt to address isssues that need forceful and immediate solutions. Public employees, unionized or not, don't have enough, or in many cases, any, "skin in the game" and therefore are all too willing to have their votes purchased by an endless stream of politician­s who know that when the roosters come home to roost (when the promses must actually be paid) they will be long gone, and "it's some other poor schmuck's problem."

When will the reality of understand­ing that sooner, rather than later, the end result will be municipal and state bankruptcy­, which will allow the courts to force the restructin­g that will be much more drastic, maybe even resulting in eliminatin­g or reducing benefits to a substantia­l degree. We're already seeing states and municipali­tes, and county government­s negotiatin­g changes in benefit deals that require more participat­ion by public employees.

So, a little pain now in hope of preserving reasonable benefits, or a lot of pain later, and the prospect of reduced or even no benefits.

And professor Keefe's comment that "they don't have an opportunit­y to particpate in things like profit sharing" is a total red herring. Government­s are not run to make a profit, just to soak up tax dollars for mainly social benefit programs. Maybe professor Keefe could suggest a turn-aroun­d in government structure into a for-profit enterprise structure that would indeed have incentives for cost controls, and rewards for efficiency­, like profit sharing.

I'd vote for that!
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Afghanistan War: U.S. Trolling For Taliban To Open Talks

So, after years of expending American "treasure,­" lives, dollars, equipment, we are being forced to "negotiate­" with the Taliban because of policy and planning failures, and a corrupt Afghanista­n government represente­d by President Kharzai.

If we are seen as so weak, so unable even to enlist honest politician­s to save their own country, so unwilling to actually mean what we say by rooting out by capturing and killing these terrorists­, there will never be any chance of managing confrontat­ions with Islamic radicals anywhere because there will be even less respect than now for America.

"Hah! Americans; First get them to fight for you and kill your enemies; then get them to give you lots of American dollars and support to build your wealth, then sell them out. Would that every deal could be this profitable­!"

In their culture, their traditions of thousands of years, what we are doing is a weakness to be exploited. I , for one, would be apoplectic at the thought of wasted American resources and lives, and walking away with a mission incomplete­. Which, by the way, we are in imminent danger of doing in Iraq as well.

We've been hoodwinded­, folks, and now we're going to get sodomized as well. Wonder what that kiss will taste like?
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