Tuesday, April 20, 2010

End Run Around the Constitution for Electing the President

There are changes being contemplated in state legislatures all across the country. There is a popular movement afoot to alter the way in which we choose the President of the United States. Delaware is just one of many states to consider these changes.

Delaware HB 198 would diminish the voice of Delawareans in the selection of the President of the United States. The goals sound reasonable on first glance, but on further examination, the warts start to show. This bill is an attempt to ensure that the nationwide winner of the popular vote could not lose the presidency to someone who got fewer popular votes, but more Electoral College votes. This is what happened in the Bush vs Gore election of 2000.

It accomplishes this by coordinating legislation in the various states to award all their Electoral College votes to whichever candidate wins not the statewide popular vote, but the nationwide popular vote. This is a nationwide movement to get as many individual state legislatures as possible to pass similar bills. Delaware HB 198 is an attempt to circumvent the Constitution without formally amending it. The Electoral College mechanism remains intact, but the states change the way they allocate their votes. Here is the synopsis of the bill from the Delaware Legislature website.

The goal may be appealing, ie. the popular vote determines the winner, but there are a couple of problems. First, even if Delaware votes overwhelmingly for one candidate, all of our Electoral College votes would go to a different candidate if that candidate won the nationwide popular vote. The other problem with the legislation is that candidates would have no incentive to campaign in small states or cater to their interests because their Electoral College votes could be secured by appealing to regions with greater populations. They could promise the people of California, New York, Texas etc. whatever they wanted, even to the detriment of smaller states like Delaware, without jeopardizing their Delaware electoral votes. This disenfranchises small states like Delaware.

As appealing as the idea of popular election of the president sounds, there are elements on both sides of the political spectrum who object to the concept. Here is a blogpost from one of Delaware's more liberal websites. Here is one from a conservative site. What do you know. The spirit of bipartisanship lives.

If you agree with me that this bill mutes the voices of Delawareans in choosing a president, please write your State Representative and State Senator and tell them you do NOT support HB 198.

State Senate Contact Info

State Representative Contact Info


Jess

Give Me That Damn Gavel!

This is for my friend Dick.

Jess

Friday, April 16, 2010

Understanding the Charges Against Goldman--This Could be the Start of Something Huge

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Ghandi Was Right

I'm very encouraged by the recent ridicule that has been heaped upon Tea Party protesters. This point of view might surprise you, but let me explain. It used to be that the media went out of their way not to even acknowledge our existence. Remember how sparse the coverage was of the September 12 2009 rally in Washington DC? That's certainly changed these days. Even our Dear Leader has starting making jokes about us. Watch this:






I've cited this quotation before in a different context, but it is certainly appropriate here. Ghandi said:

First they ignore you.

Then they laugh at you.

Then they fight you.

Then you win.

So get ready Patriots. The next stage might get ugly. Be prepared for a fight between now and November.

Jess

Monday, April 12, 2010

The Approach of Danger

"At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow?

Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth in their military chest; with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." Abraham Lincoln

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Monday, April 5, 2010

Introducing Peter Schiff

Peter Schiff is the president of Euro Pacific Capital and a 2010 Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic Senator Chris Dodd.   He was an economics adviser to Ron Paul during his campaign for president. 

The first of these videos is his blog from 4 April where he responds to the ABC interview with Alan Greenspan on their This Week Sunday program.  He blames Greenspan for promoting the bubble that ultimately led to the financial meltdown.  He was appalled by Greenspan's denial of responsibility and for saying that hardly anyone saw it coming and that those who did were just lucky.  He challenges Greenspan to a debate on the subject.  The following videos are clips of Schiff predicting the meltdown way back when everyone else dismissed the possibility.  I think this guy deserves our support for his election bid at least as much as Scott Brown did.

Jess








The information in this last video sounds like common knowledge now, but keep in mind, Peter made this very prescient speech in 2006.


Gee, It Doesn't Feel Like the Government is Lying to Me

The following series of videos from The Real News Network is one of the best comprehensive explanations of the current financial crisis that I have come across.  The interviewed guest is William Black who was a regulator during the 1980's Savings and Loan Crisis and is now an Associate Professor of Economics and Law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.  His expertise is in the area of white collar crime, finance, and control fraud, ie. the use of power by government and business elites to perpetuate fraud.  I encourage you to click the link above for his bio on Wikipedia.  In these videos he focuses on fraud by banks as the major contributing factor in the recent crisis.  He also highlights the role the government is playing, both the current and prior administrations, in perpetuating the fraud for the benefit of the banks and to the detriment of the taxpayer.  Very enlightening if you're prepared to devote the time to watch.

A word about the source.  In a quick perusal of the website that originated these videos, my impression is that The Real News Network promotes a decidedly left leaning opinion, and I'd be reluctant to align myself with their views on other topics of interest to conservatives.  But the public's response to this financial turmoil we are in today seems to cross ideological barriers.  It seems nobody likes fraud and government collusion with big business.  We may have some common cause with liberals on these issues.  Who'd a thunk it?

Jess




More at The Real News


More at The Real News


More at The Real News


More at The Real News


More at The Real News