An article in our local newspaper, the Gainesville Sun, announced that a local medical firm will be receiving money from the National Institute of Health to develop an inhaled vaccine for smallpox. Smallpox has all but been eradicated in nature since 1977, with the WHO declaring it eradicated in December 1979. So, why are we working on an aerosol vaccine for something eradicated nearly 30 years ago? Are there any biological terror threats we need to be aware of??
The White House finally acquiesced to the fact that the deficits projected by the Congressional Budget Office are more in line, saying that the deficits projected over the next 10 years will approach $9 trillion. This would push the national debt to $20 trillion, which is nearly 50% more than the 2008 GDP of the entire United States (which was around $14.3 trillion). Where's the money going to come from? Also, is the the CBO right about the projected costs of the Health Care proposals?
What is going to happen with auto sales now that the Cash for Clunkers program is over?
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Politics
It is very interesting on how different partisans view dissent as the rulers changed in Washington DC. As the party not in power, those against the war in Iraq said that dissent was the highest form of patriotism. Now that the Democrats are in power, I guess that dissent no longer is patriotic. There have been many stories out there where various public officials do not want and fear protests on the health care "reform" that is working through the House of Representatives. People like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reed, and others have called the protestors Swastika Carrying, Brown Shirt Wearing, and otherwise scolded for protesting.
Where is the freedom that was given to the anti-war protestors. Former President Bush had Cindy Sheehan protesting outside his personal property for 2 years. But if an individual protests the growth of spending in the Federal government (see TARP and Stimulus programs) and especially the Health Care reform bill, they are corporate organized, racists, Nazis, among other things. Even if you find a site that might disagree with the health care reform, our executive branch wants you to report them to flag@whitehouse.gov. That tactic should be controversial, since there is a freedom of speech in this country, at least according to the First Amendment. How a lawyer that was elected to the White House doesn't think about it being a borderline issue is beyond me.
They must be so afraid of public dissent. That explains why they try to rush and pass bills without allowing the public to read (against Obama's campaign promise).
What is in the health care bill do they need to rush through? Analysis here, and bill here.
You decide....
Over the past 4 weeks or so, I have been listening to an audio version of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. It is a very interesting read in this day and age, where our Federal Governemnt has interfered in the bankruptcy of General Motors, Chrysler, and likely some of the financial institutions (probably Citibank). I can imagine such characters such as Wesley Mooch, Mr. Thompson, Jim Taggart, and other various characters and directives for the governnment for the whole good of the people.
One reaction that I couldn't help but hear was the reaction to the temporarily stay on the Chrysler bankruptcy. If you read the following Wall Street Journal Article, the implications are as follows:
"By refusing to make the relatively small sacrifices that would avert a calamity, the pension funds will instead create a great catastrophe, which is the same kind of shortsighted thinking that got us into the Great Depression," Dingell said in a statement. "Make no mistake: If these pension funds can't see past their own pain, they threaten to create a kind of agony for their state and the nation that is difficult for most people to imagine or condone."
People should sacrifice for the common good??? Come on, Congressman. What country are you living in?
All you have to do is read the news to see some disconcerting stories, and that is just just from our Federal Government:
- New cyberbullying law being drafted - possible attack on first amendment rights. http://tr.im/kAYK
- Bank stress tests due out Thursday...nearly 2 weeks after the banks found out their results....how bad can it be? Reports of 10+ needing more capital to weather a financial storm, at worst case, 11 out of 12 largest bank (Chase seems to be the only one that might be safe). Watch for the report after 4 pm on Thursday.
- Report of large database breach in Virginia, including a supposed threat of a $10 million extortion. - http://tr.im/kB2U
Some random thoughts that have come up while hanging around the house one Friday night:
- With Justice Souter retiring, we get all sorts of names as possible replacements. One name that I heard on TV tonight was former President Bill Clinton. Wouldn't that be the judicial equivalent of putting John Dillinger in charge of the FDIC?
- Though I doubt this will happen, will President Obama nominate someone who will interpret the Constitution primarily, and not try to be a legislator from the bench.
- The White House has its own Twitter account @whitehouse. Does this mean we can tweet the President with ideas to improve the country? Or will it be spin doctoring in 140 characters or less?
- Why does it feel we are not getting a full story with regards to the swine...(errrr, I mean the A/H1N1) flu? We have the WHO saying that there are only about 330 confirmed cases, but they have raised the pandemic level to 5 (out of 6), and the attributed death toll by the WHO is low. Something just does not seem to add up.
- Which virus will end up getting more hype - Swine Flu or Conficker?
- Why is Ashton Kutcher the top person followed on Twitter? I thought he was just Demi Moore's boy toy husband.
- Looking forward to seeing the new Star Trek movie. Hope it turns out at good as the previews and hype seem to portray it.
- Favorite conspiracy theory podcast - No Agenda. Adam Curry is just full of them, with John C. Dvorak trying to rein him in.
- Interesting new video podcast - Fox's Freedom Watch. Online program with Judge Andrew Napolitano as the host. Chock full of Libertarian-mined individuals, and free market economists. The show brings up some scary instances of attacks on people's liberty in the name on security.
- I love this time of year in Florida. Not too hot, cool evenings, and lots of sun. Perfect golfing weather.