Thursday, January 5, 2012

Reduce/increase spending, taxes.

I see now that we have withdrawn our troops from Iraq and are reducing our troops in Afghanistan that President Obama has proposed reducing military spending. Seems reasonable to me. As we are no longer at war, except for the one in Afghanistan that is being drawn down, it would seem reasonable that we don't need such a large military budget. Usually when you finish a war you are going to be spending less on war! When World War two ended, we spent less on war.

But no, immediately that he made the proposal the Republicans objected! They objected to us spending LESS money! For months now they have been up in arms about spending less. When Obama says we will spend less they object. I noticed that they objected to him spending more too. They also objected to him raising taxes (Which he has NOT done, not ONCE since coming into office.) But the Republicans objected anyway. They also objected when he wanted to CUT taxes!

So what does that mean to you? They object to the President increasing OR decreasing spending. They object to the President increasing OR decreasing taxes.

What does it mean? It is a mystery to be sure.

First snow of the season.

Here we are in January and we have just had our first snowfall, not only of 2012 but of the season. Except of course for the "Snow" of October the 30th last year - the worst October snowfall on record - which just missed us. We had a few small flurries, nothing that laid, but everywhere north of us got hammered. I think in New England they got something like 30 inches. Even Philadelphia got 6" or so and New York got a foot or something.

Last night we got a scant 1/4 inch, or less, probably less. I might not have even noticed it except that I was driving home from a Networking meeting in Bethesda at 10 o'clock last night and it was "snowing" all the way home. Well not really snowing, just flurrying. But it was right at 32 degrees and the bridges were icy, I skidded a couple of times crossing some bridges and saw two accidents. It got heavier as I approached home, but was still very light.

This morning I might have forgotten about it and thought there had been a heavy frost had I not been out in it. But what made it really noticeable was The Lake, which was covered with snow. You see, the night before we had our first cold night of the season when it went down to 17 degrees here, and The Lake froze. It was almost completely frozen over except for a couple of small areas that did not close in.

Of course when The Lake is snow covered things really look like winter. And sure enough it is winter. The temperature is still right at freezing and the bewildered birds are sitting out on the snow and ice covered Lake.

And to think that I only just picked the last of my lettuce on Tuesday! Lettuce in January. Amazing. The last of the sweet potatoes I had dug the day before that.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Science, Religion and Politics.

As time goes by, ideas coalesce in my mind. One such idea that is taking root - and scaring the heck out of me - is the idea of what will happen to America if the "Religious Right" gets into power. The changes that I can see gradually taking place would, I am sure, upset our founding fathers who advocated a "Separation of Church and State". Perhaps the "Born Again Christians" of the "New Religion" don't see this as a problem. But I do.

I see Science being relegated to a back seat in our classrooms at best and eliminated altogether at worst.

The Religious Right seems to be ignoring and denigrating science completely. They appear to be trying to push Creationism, and to ban Evolution teaching from our schools. I'm afraid if these radical, extreme views are allowed to continue to proliferate, the teaching of Science and Evolution and a host of other teachings that have been the basic tenets of America since its inception will be banned.

Why do they feel we have to have Science OR God? Why can we not have both?

I see statements like "God said it, I believe it, that settles it."! Rational thought is being pushed out in favor of blind obedience or even superstition.

Our education system seems be deliberately dumbing down our kids! What possible reason can there be to do that? I don't know, do you? But I'm sure I see it happening.

Beginning in the Bush Administration we saw suppression of science. Only accepting "good" results from scientific studies. if the administration did not like the results, they were sent back to be "redone" until they matched what the administration felt was the "right" result!

Many will not remember this, but I do, because I remember being horrified by it. They actually refused to accept results that they did not like. And of course the scientists were put in an untenable position. If they did not produce the "right" results they could lose their research funds and maybe even their jobs!

And things are getting worse, science is being ridiculed or ignored or called wrong by The Religious Right, Born Again Christians, Creationists and other extreme Zealots and Fanatics. Schools are being forced to change their curriculum's by teachers and parents who want their beliefs taught. Children are being indoctrinated in these irrational, radical theories and are spouting "their own" theories about Religion, Politics etc. There is no room in these religions it seems for respecting the beliefs of others.

In case you have not already caught on, I think that the Bible, and all other religious books from other faiths, were all written by human beings. In other words they are fables, and I do not want to base my life on a fable.

For the record;:-

Peace is Good.
Ethical behaviour is Good.
God is Good.
Science is Good.

I am a Humanitarian. I believe in treating others the way that I would like to be treated.

Just some of my beliefs and opinions - and as everyone knows - Dave is ALWAYS Right (As in, correct!)