January 2014 Archives

Our National Check Book

Our Congressmen are patting themselves on the back because they managed to pass a budget without closing down the government.  Never-the-less, for the past five years, those in charge of our national check book have been busy spending nearly a $-Trillion more than revenue received, and yet they claim this "new" budget will reduce this deficit spending by $23 billion next year, and nearly $83-billion over the coming decade.

 

The National Debt now stands at $17.2 trillion and is increasing by $2.59 billion each day; hence, the annual interest - which is over $400 billion - will exceed the so-called $23-billion savings these Legislators are so proud of.  Simple grade school math reveals to us this budget is far short of solving this nation's fiscal problems. 

 


Afghanistan at the Cross-roads

Some may recall when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan (Dec. 27, 1979), the goal was to establish a modern socialist state.  After years of war and destruction, on February 15, 1989, the Soviets had to abandon their efforts when faced with a popular uprising.  Then in 1992, the Mujahedeen forces, (supported surreptitiously by the U.S.), took power away from Mohammad Najibullah who was the Soviet backed Afghan leader.  Continued turmoil followed until in 1996, Kabul fell to the Taliban, and Najibullah, who had stayed on in a UN compound, was killed and hung in the main square.


The U.S. involvement began after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack when President George Bush pursued Osama bin Laden who was reported to have terrorist training facilities in Afghanistan.  The U.S. and NATO ousted the Taliban from control of Afghanistan and Hamid Karzai assumed the role of President.  He has been re-elected to office twice.


The goal was to transform Afghanistan into a modern nation.  Even though the rebuilding is an international effort, the U.S. alone had committed $51 billion during the years 2001 to 2010 with the prospects of billions more to come.  The first order of business was to provide electricity to the more than 500,000 residents of Kabul, the country's largest city.  Costs for the $100 million diesel-fueled power plant ballooned to $305 million as construction lagged a year behind schedule and now it often sits idle because the Afghans were able to import cheaper power from a neighboring country.  Even so, the number of Afghans with access to electricity has only inched up from 6 percent in 2001 to an estimated 10 percent in 2010.


The Brave New World

Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 1266, which specifically regulates "trans-gender" behavior for elementary and secondary school children.  It states: "A pupil shall be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil's records."


Apparently,  a male student, who feels he is really a female, can enter a female athletic competition including the use of bathroom and shower facilities consistent with the female sex and a female student is afforded the same opportunity to compete and shower with male students.


Us older folks have come to accept same-sex marriage, and now it appears we are headed for a society where sex is no longer relevant.  What's next - an "Orwellian" Anti-sex league?


Possibly, our local (Monterey County) law makers:  State Senator Bill Monning, Assemblymen Mark Stone and Luis Alejo might reveal the logic behind this bill - they voted for it.

December 2014

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