Ah, the old saying "what you don't know won't hurt you" is, of course, a false statement for so many reasons. What you don't know about your health issues can kill you. Fortunately, with healthcare more accessible here in the United States, people have a better chance of finding out if they have potential life-threatening illnesses or complications. They can then use that … [Read more...] about What people do not know hurts our country
Political Corruption
In addition to corruption and ethical problems common at the federal level, corruption infects state, municipal, and county officials of both political parties. A report in May 2006 noted that more than 2000 investigations into public corruption were active by the FBI, and over 1060 officials at all levels had been convicted of criminal acts in 2004 and 2005. Between 1998 and … [Read more...] about Political Corruption
That is a Good Question: Answering a TMV Reader’s Inquiry
Whether they write professionally or write for the love of writing, pundits occasionally make the mistake of assuming that their audience already knows what the pundits mean whenever they briefly mention a topic that is not directly addressed. Sometimes, the audience doesn’t already know. This writer made such a mistake in his first post featured on The Moderate Voice. … [Read more...] about That is a Good Question: Answering a TMV Reader’s Inquiry
Politix Update: Why Republican Primary Clown Car Isn’t At All Funny
I'd really like to see a competitive presidential election next year in which the Republican nominee gave Hillary Clinton a run for her money. After all, the sooner the GOP shakes off its self-inflicted torpor and becomes competitive again at the national level the better it will be for all of us, not to mention that creaky old contraption known as democracy. But with a … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Why Republican Primary Clown Car Isn’t At All Funny
Yet Another Right-Wing Obama Freakout
Yet Another Right-Wing Obama Freakout By Dick Polman Americans typically celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, fireworks, food, and flags. But alas, some people are incapable of swinging with the holiday spirit. I'm referring, of course, to the Obama haters. They never take a day off, and they're constantly off their meds. Their latest freakout occurred … [Read more...] about Yet Another Right-Wing Obama Freakout
Subway Drops Jared Fogle Amid Child Pornography Rumors
Jared Fogle and Subway will no longer be synonymous -- at least for now. The sandwich giant decided to cut ties with its spokesman after 15 years following a search by federal and state agents of Fogle's Zionsville, Indiana, home Tuesday morning as part of a child pornography investigation involving a former employee of his foundation.… … [Read more...] about Subway Drops Jared Fogle Amid Child Pornography Rumors
South Carolina’s Hurt — and Challenge
South Carolina's Hurt -- and Challenge by Jordan Cooper I know it hurts the bottom of the people's hearts who came before us in South Carolina to see that we are removing a symbol of the experiences of the residents of S.C. The Confederate Battle Flag is likely to come down and be put in another museum in S.C. hopefully. The feverish efforts to remove Ben Tillman's … [Read more...] about South Carolina’s Hurt — and Challenge
The sense and sometimes nonsense of time zones
In 1884 the International Meridian Council suggested a zero point and a way to match clock time with the position of the sun. It looked good on paper but hasn't always made sense. We can see in the map below that times zones can be chaotic, Time zones are often social instruments rather than logical ones. China should have five time zones but only has one. India … [Read more...] about The sense and sometimes nonsense of time zones
The Current Presidential Race
Aristotle said that Man by nature is a political animal. When he said "animal", he wasn’t referring to the kind of animal that one might find in a petting zoo. Political animals are more like the carnivores that one might encounter during an African safari. When dealing with one, it is a good idea to be armed with an elephant gun and plenty of ammunition. Speaking of … [Read more...] about The Current Presidential Race
Donald Trump’s diabolical plan to own centre stage
I think everyone is noticing a phenomenon that Steve Benen wrote about a few days ago, which is that Donald Trump is driving a lot of the debate amongst Republican presidential candidates. It reminds me of something a counsellor friend once said to me, which is that in any group of people, whether family or friends or co-workers or whatever, one person frequently gets the … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s diabolical plan to own centre stage
The Past Through Pictures V
It's not as hot today but it's still warm so how about some more winter pictures from Munich. Swans in the Isar river that cuts through Munich. Ice skating: Links to previous posts. Change Is Hard – II The Past Through Pictures The Past Through Pictures II The Past Through Pictures III The Past Through Pictures IV … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures V
South Carolina Senate Approves Flag Removal Bill
State Senate gives final passge of the bill on a vote of 36-3 with 5 not voting. They needed 67% they got 92% of those who voted and 82% of overall membership. Goes to State House next, where test votes suggest similar margins. One test vote passed 93-18 which is 83% or 75% of overall membership. … [Read more...] about South Carolina Senate Approves Flag Removal Bill
Bernie Sanders, Guns, And A Respect For Individual Liberty
Clinton supporters have increasingly been trying to smear Bernie Sanders by claiming he is pro-guns and supports the NRA. Actually the NRA has in various years given him grades of F and D- on gun control measures which he has supported, including bans on assault weapons, restrictions on concealed weapons, ending the “gun-show loophole,” and expanded background checks, plus … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders, Guns, And A Respect For Individual Liberty
The American Nightmare
In my old age I find myself musing more and more. So what is the American nightmare? It's the suburbs. I grew up in a middle to upper middle class neighborhood less than 2 miles from downtown Portland. Our neighborhood was a community. We interacted with each other and helped each other as needed. We had community barbecues on the weekends and occasionally took a weekend … [Read more...] about The American Nightmare
Eugene McCarthy 2.0?
WASHINGTON -- Is Bernie Sanders the political reincarnation of Eugene McCarthy? I doubt it, but let's hope he makes the Democratic presidential race interesting. I don't know if front-runner Hillary Clinton shares my wish, but she ought to. I'm not of the school that believes competition for competition's sake is always a good thing. But Sanders has an appeal for … [Read more...] about Eugene McCarthy 2.0?
Whether Greece stays or goes, Europe must do what it can to protect the future of the EU
Thousands of Greeks spent Sunday celebrating their overwhelming rejection of their creditors' terms for assistance in managing the country's massive debt. It was a picturesque reaction, but raised the question: just what, exactly, were they celebrating? They awakened Monday to find themselves citizens of a country that is in default of €240 billion ($335.7 billion), and… … [Read more...] about Whether Greece stays or goes, Europe must do what it can to protect the future of the EU
Obama to Meet With Vietnam Communist Party Chief
Forty years after the fall of Saigon and the end of one of America’s most unpopular, divisive and costly wars, President Barack Obama will be hosting none other than Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong in the White House on Tuesday. While economic relations and trade issues with Pacific Rim nations are important -- Trong's support for the Trans-Pacific … [Read more...] about Obama to Meet With Vietnam Communist Party Chief
Obama Plans Clemency to Free Nonviolent Drug Offenders
Obama plans to free dozens of federal prisoners held on nonviolent drug offenses. The New York Times reported: Sometime in the next few weeks, aides expect President Obama to issue orders freeing dozens of federal prisoners locked up on nonviolent drug offenses. With the stroke of his pen, he will probably commute more sentences at one time than any president has in nearly … [Read more...] about Obama Plans Clemency to Free Nonviolent Drug Offenders
Global Warming
A friend of mine on Facebook said last night that it is a good thing global warming is a hoax -imagine how hot it would be if it wasn't. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have had a record breaking heat spell. And I do mean record breaking. I have lived here most of my life and I remember 2, 3 or even 4 hot days of hot temperatures followed by a cool down - this has been … [Read more...] about Global Warming
South Carolina Likely To Remove Flag (Updated)
Updated: 1:11pm/4:11pm The South Carolina Senate has voted 37-3 in favor of the bill to remove the confederate battle flag This was the 2nd of 3 procedural votes with the final vote likely tomorrow. It could be that some who voted yes on this one will vote no on the next but 37-3 provides more than enough margin to get the needed 2/3rds. One chamber down, one to … [Read more...] about South Carolina Likely To Remove Flag (Updated)