tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122926042024-02-28T10:29:00.855-08:00Pater's PlacePolitical rants, using facts that counter commonly repeated lies.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-82199352482207603072024-02-21T02:50:00.000-08:002024-02-21T03:08:02.773-08:00<p> And The Usurper's administration is just as bad as one would expect from a senile grifter, installed by fraud. The Goverment Debt, balloons to over 34 Trillion dollars. Spineless surrender in Afghanistan. Outright treason, permitting millions of foreign invaders into the country.<br /></p><p>Government policy, to the extent there is one in a headless corpse, is to feed the wars in Ukraine, Israel, but not let them be won. He is willing to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian, and fight Islamic terrorists to the last Jew. </p><p>What would I do differently?</p><p>First, Domestic Policy.</p><p>The police and the district attorney of every jurisdiction must always and everywhere be on the side of the law abiding against the violent criminal. National constitutional carry implemented. Every state is encourage to implement its own concealed carry, but all must have reciprocity with the Federal Concealed Carry license. The Federal concealed carry system requires no felonies, one 8 hour day of class, and a practical exam. The class would be taught by NRA instructors as a requirement for graduation from high school. The license would be for a period of 5 years, renewable. <br /></p><p>Voting would require ID, and the federal concealed carry license would be a valid form of ID. Absentee ballots would be by request, and require a copy of a valid ID be included with the ballot. After voting in person, fingers should be dyed, so there is no multiple voting. Votes are cast on paper, and counted at the local voting site, and held as government records so fraud can be easily detected and prosecuted. <br /></p><p>Shop keepers or designated employees would be permitted to use deadly force when reasonably necessary to prevent armed robbery. Michael Brown never should have left the store he robbed. Insane people would either grow enough sense to stay off the subway, or be mourned by their families. George Zimmerman, Daniel Penny, Kyle Rittenhouse et al. should get medals and a cash award for successful self defense, rather than be prosecuted. For criminal prosecutions, if found innocent, the local DA should pay their legal bills. Certainly they manage to hire public defenders for every guilty thug. Innocent people must not be bankrupted by false prosecution. The Process should no longer be the punishment. </p><p>Yes, the president should have immunity for his official acts from local prosecutors. If you disagree, let me know when you think Obama should be prosecuted for the murder of an American, by drone strike. Let me pick the trial venue. We would resolve the problem of his pension right away.<br /></p><p>Fewer criminals means less crime. More criminals means more crime. Importing illegal alien criminals under color of requests for asylum is a conspiracy in cooperation with their crimes. People who defend themselves against illegal aliens should be given medals and a cash award. Life should be hard for illegal alien criminals, hard enough that they should enthusiastically deport themselves. Free return to their country of origin should be available by turning themselves in to their local police station. Bye.</p><p>Welfare rolls should be cut. In a free country, if you wish to provide food, housing, medical care for the indigent, you will not be stopped. </p><p>Judicial corruption, a.k.a. Lawfare is a big problem. When a judge has his decision overturned, the appelate judges should have the authority to inflict a punishment on the erroneous district attorney and judge, up to the level of the punishment that is overturned, whether in jail time, or in fines. It won't do away with judicial error, but the judges that currently get off scot-free would have skin in the game. Such a program will at least have them treading cautiously. In a just world the verdicts associate with Mark Steyn, Rand Simberg, Donald Trump would be overturned, and damages paid by the erroneous judges, and the corrupt judge and district attorney would have to serve the same time sentence that they sought for the defendants.</p><p> Fauci should be prosecuted for funding the development of the Wuhan virus. His wife should be prosecuted for corruption, because she, as the Ethical officer for the department, gave him a pass.</p><p>Ukraine was given a guarantee of independence by the US, in return for nuclear disarmament. That should be a strong reason to continue to provide aid. The continue hope that the US will not get (more) involved is a strong motivator for Putin et al. The US should negotiate a treaty with Ukraine. The same is true of Israel. Russia must withdraw from all of Ukraine, and pay reparations, the amount of reparations to be based on damages inflicted by Russia. Russia could pay part of the damages by territory. Palestine should also lose territory to Israel, based on reparations for the damages inflicted. Don't think that is fair? Don't elect terrorists. <br /></p>Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-57614426800758170972022-04-10T16:15:00.005-07:002022-04-10T16:15:47.962-07:00<p> So Russia is at war with Ukraine, a war of naked aggression. In some manner the war has continued from 2014, beginning with the invasion of Crimea, then the Donbas pseudo-insurgency. Now it is naked invasion. The battalion deep strike teams didn't work out so well in the early invasion.<br /></p><p></p><p>The slow invasion from 2014 to 2022 has had two effects: Ukraine probably suspected what was coming and prepared, and has a well trained and well equipped military. Russia has been preparing in the usual way, with top down metrics, the reporting of which is much easier than the meeting. Since the punishment for not meeting is the same as the punishment for lying, lying appears to be the standard tactic. </p><p>The fish rots from the head. Putin's justification for the invasion has been a farrago of lies from the beginning. The example he set is the practice that his subordinates have implemented. </p><p>Ukraine was a charter member of the UN. Russia wasn't. The pretense that Ukraine has never been independent from Moscow is a lie. It was the free Cossacks that took Ukraine from the Turks/Tatars, and they allied with Russia at times, with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at other times. </p><p>I can hope that Ukraine does to Russia what Eritrea did to Ethiopia: Dictate the terms of peace in the capital of the enemy. It takes a great deal of hoping to believe that might happen. That would be what is just, and what would be best for Russia. </p><p>Oh, and I have, once again been banned from Facebook. This time for suggesting that if some politicians were hung from lampposts, the remaining politicians would realize they had skin in the game. Of course this is a historical reference to the French Revolution. "Aristos a la lanterne!"<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-82656635698970045952021-04-20T05:22:00.001-07:002021-04-20T05:22:12.193-07:00My dear father's obituary. <p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal">Arthur L. (Larry) Meaker, 88, of Westport NY and El Mirage
AZ, passed away peacefully in El Mirage, AZ, with family by his side on
February 28, 2021. Larry was born the eldest of three children to Arthur Leslie
and Margaret Lynch Meaker on September 5, 1932. He attended Cornell University where
he met the love of his life, Gayle Marie Pratt. He went on to graduate from Cornell
in 1954 and completed his military service in the 76<sup>th</sup> Field
Artillery in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant. After
his service to our country, he returned to Syracuse and attended Syracuse
University where he completed his MS degree in Education. He went on to teach at
Levy Junior High and Nottingham High School in the Syracuse School system. He
relocated the family to Westport, NY in 1964. Together he and Gayle raised five
children while Larry taught high school mathematics including all 5 of his
children for 4 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He retired in June
1985. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to teaching, he was
instrumental in Westport High School Athletics, including Girls’ Basketball, Girls’
Soccer, Varsity Track, and Varsity Golf. He was able to coach his three younger
children at Westport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Larry was also
instrumental in student guidance while serving as the school Guidance Counselor
and the Honor Society Program, where he planned annual trips and drove the bus
for many years. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Throughout his life, Larry was an avid golfer and even had 5
holes-in-1 over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the things
he will be most remembered for are:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Referring to his students as “his kids” while keeping
records on each throughout their high school career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many students/athletes recall him as their
favorite or most influential teacher/coach for his dedication, motivation and all-around
care for their success.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Playing cards, either solitaire or ‘manipulated’ bridge
hands (by himself) early in the morning.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Keeping meticulous records of his trips, both before and
after retirement, including miles, expenses, time and stops/destinations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The extra mile he went to for the students, including
Saturday morning SAT prep, math regents prep classes at night and weekends,
free period/afterschool tutoring (remember the ‘see-mes’) and driving the
school bus for his teams and honor society trips.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of Larry’s last requests was for some ice cream… “Life
is like ice cream, enjoy it before it melts” - Unknown</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Larry is survived by his wife of nearly 69 years, Gayle, and
his children, James (his wife, Carol) of Elizabethtown, NY, Donald of Tucson,
AZ, Margaret (Wendy) Moore of Middlebury, VT, Thomas (his wife, Lisa) of Big
Canoe, GA, and Douglas (his wife, Mary) of Beavercreek, OH. He also leaves
behind 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Services will be held at a later date in Westport, NY at the
convenience of the family.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Donations in his name can be made to the Westport Emergency Squad
or the Westport Federated Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-90659447762220452002021-04-19T11:49:00.006-07:002021-04-19T11:50:59.648-07:00How to Return to Normalcy: The Prescription<p><b> Wuhan China Originated Corona Virus</b></p><p>How to get out of this mess:</p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><u>Stop being a coward. </u></span><br /></p><p><br /></p>Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-7119808397395727552021-01-29T07:34:00.006-08:002021-01-29T07:42:56.624-08:00<p> The 2020 election was fraudulent. That is so obvious, it can be seen from space. A fraudulent election is no election at all. The Interregnum started 20 January, 2021.</p><p>https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/11/breaking-exclusive-analysis-election-night-data-states-shows-millions-votes-either-switched-president-trump-biden-lost/ </p><h3><b>The Chart Lists Votes Switched from Trump to Biden and Votes That Were Lost by Trump</b></h3>
<table style="width: 549px;"><tbody><tr>
<td width="297"><br /></td>
<td width="129"><b>Switched Votes</b></td>
<td width="123"><b>Lost Votes</b></td>
</tr><tr>
<td><span style="color: red;"><b>Dominion Systems</b></span></td>
<td><br /></td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Pennsylvania</td>
<td>220,883</td>
<td>941,248</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>New Jersey</td>
<td>80,242</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Florida</td>
<td>21,422</td>
<td>456</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Michigan</td>
<td>20,213</td>
<td>21,882</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>New York</td>
<td>18,124</td>
<td>623,213</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Georgia</td>
<td>17,407</td>
<td>33,574</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Ohio</td>
<td>14,965</td>
<td>5,102</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Virginia</td>
<td>12,163</td>
<td>789,023</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>California</td>
<td>7,701</td>
<td>10,989</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Arizona</td>
<td>4,492</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Minnesota</td>
<td>2,766</td>
<td>195,650</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Tennessee</td>
<td>2,330</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Louisiana</td>
<td>2,322</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Illinois</td>
<td>2,166</td>
<td>54,730</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Wisconsin</td>
<td>2,078</td>
<td>3,408</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Colorado</td>
<td>1,809</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Utah</td>
<td>1,627</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>New Hampshire</td>
<td>973</td>
<td>116</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Iowa</td>
<td>938</td>
<td>477</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>New Mexico</td>
<td>268</td>
<td>4,610</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Missouri</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>20,730</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Nevada</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Alaska</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Washington</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Hawaii</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr><tr><td><br /></td><td>434,889</td><td>2,705,228</td></tr></tbody></table><p> The Usurper has no authority to sign Executive orders. Obeying the pretended executive orders of The Usurper is unconstitutional.<br /></p>Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-36037473524270492162020-07-04T21:41:00.003-07:002022-04-10T16:17:13.110-07:00Some ideas just don't get expressed. That is probably a good thing.Lovely concept.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="potg" src="https://d1w4q6ldc8l0qo.cloudfront.net/skin/frontend/ammonet/rwd/images/potg-badge-large.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>Don't know that this was going to be. <br />
Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-63951468411532377712020-04-13T09:27:00.000-07:002020-04-13T09:27:11.680-07:00Io SaturnaliaSo, we have made it past the Winter Solstice. Shopping is done, the children who live with me all have their presents. I still need to send the presents to the children who live with my first ex-wife. I have not heard from them much. I hoped once upon a time they could enter their comments here, and perhaps we could develop a distance relationship this way. It hasn't worked out.<br />
<br />
Early winter is commonly a time of depression. That is why we, and before us Scandanavian/English Yule,and the Roman/Saturnalia, celebrate riotous holidays in that window. A really gripping orgy would shut down the bad feedback loops which drive one to inaction and melancholy. On the other hand, religions with their start in the southern deserts had more austere holidays. Eid which supposedly bans even eating during the day, milks depression, but turns the longer nights into a party. As an austere desert religion moves north, the winter holiday becomes more raucous.<br />
<br />
We, for all our pretensions, are still trapped in a monkey body. Though we create an image of G-d in our own likeness, our deepest desires are still that of a frightened monkey, scavenging from larger predators on the African plains. That is what we were only a million years ago. The progress we have made in the last few years is amazing. It is no wonder that conservative religious belief has trouble adapting.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-1158637935806098832020-04-13T09:25:00.002-07:002020-04-13T09:25:57.448-07:00Letters to My Children<a href="http://letters2children.blogspot.com/">Letters to My Children</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I started the above because my older children were withheld from me and I was sad. I thought I would write things to say to them. I am not by nature a wordy person. As time went on, life continued, and my memory of my children dimmed. I had less to say, to them and more to say to my younger children.<br />
<br />
I try not to think about it too much, but I really miss the notion that I had of what my life with my older children would be. They have grown, and are now successful and functioning adults. In many ways, that is all I could have hoped for.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-16265022862585614572020-04-02T13:46:00.002-07:002020-04-02T13:46:39.432-07:00We find the projections of death going down on the Wuhan coronavirus. The projections from the Diamond Princess (10 dead from 4000) adjusted by the slant to the older demographic you see in cruise lines still appears to be pretty valid. Once again, we see that some good data is a lot better than a whole bunch of bad data. Italy produced bad data, with everyone who died being nearly assumed to have had Wuhan coronavirus. Germany is producing bad data, with everyone who dies, being tagged with a different cause of death whenever possible. China and Iran are producing laughable data, as many die, and the government is covering it up. Bad hygiene is bad. Wash you hands. The US practice of a daily shower, and washing hands after using the toilet doesn't look so bad after all.<br />
Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-56950780815328352932020-03-15T17:21:00.003-07:002020-03-15T17:21:51.163-07:00Welcome back.<br />
<br />
Coronavirus, aka China Originated Viral Infection Disease-19 seems to be giving all the usual suspects in government a rational for doing what they want to do. Pelosi snuck abortion funding into the 'emergency' legislation. DeBlasio wants to nationalize industry. Bernie wants national health care.<br />
<br />
The US has more intensive care beds than Italy, so is better situated to handle severe cases. Of course the advocates of national healthcare use the metric of hospital beds, which is where you don't want infectious people, because they will infect the rest of the hospital and staff.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-79403007823962387892016-10-08T17:21:00.000-07:002016-10-08T17:21:09.800-07:00The movie "13th" asserts that the US 13th Amendment which banned slavery, had a loophole- that loophole was that people could be incarcerated after being convicted of a crime. Further, it asserts that that so called loophole was created to keep black people enslaved.<br />
<br />
Of course if the usual suspects want to cut back on the US incarceration rate, we could have more crimes and more criminals subject to the death penalty.<br />
<br />
Rape- death penalty (Hear that Bill Clinton?)<br />
Robbery- death penalty<br />
Burglary- death penalty<br />
Aggravated Assault- Death Penalty<br />
Manslaughter- Death Penalty<br />
Drug trafficking- Death Penalty.<br />
<br />
That would cut back on the incarceration rate. I don't favor it, but it would be one alternative. So, are we really about cutting back on the incarceration rate?<br />
<br />
One approach would be to stop punishing people (Think George Zimmerman) when they protect themselves from crime. <br />
<br />Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-48256901900998487092013-03-08T13:04:00.000-08:002013-03-08T13:04:07.465-08:00Why are politicans not libertarian?After about two weeks in office they figure out, that if there is no graft in government, there is no point (for them) in being at the top.<br />
<br />
Some rich people run for office and steer contracts to their companies or to their husband's companies (Pelosi). It is rare to find someone honest as Palin, who turned down Fox News contract, resigned from an oil board to be free to reveal the shady dealings going on, and resigned from being governor to avoid killing Alaska with legal dealings.<br />
<br />
The most important qualification for being president is to not want the job.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-66774656914883275742012-12-11T10:08:00.001-08:002012-12-11T10:08:03.231-08:00One way to reduce tax burdern from ObamacareI would like to understand what would happen if a state established an Obamacare "State-Exchange", and then abolished it.<br />
<br />
That way Obama care mandates and taxes could not be collected via the State Exchange, but since a State Exchange was established, no Federal Exchange could be established in competition with the now defunct state exchange.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-62687927334584855812012-07-08T20:02:00.000-07:002012-07-08T20:02:06.068-07:00People of the Gun....<a alt="Join the Tribe at Ammo.net" href="http://ammo.net/people-of-the-gun" title="People of the Gun at Ammo.net"><img border="0" src="http://ammo.net/media/potg/banners/medium-potg_badgepng.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-35836732754114081322012-03-04T01:04:00.000-08:002012-03-04T09:46:08.585-08:00Including Contraception in Health InsuranceHealth Insurance regulation should not be a federal function. It would not be under the interstate commerce clause, because the original meaning of commerce included goods, not mere promises or financial transactions not include insurance. Accordingly, insurance should be regulated by the states, perhaps guided by the full faith and credit clause.<br />
<br />
The supreme court precedent for an individual mandate is Korematsu vs US which required Mr. Korematsu, an American citizen of Japanese ancestry, to report to a concentration camp. I would hope and pray that the SCOTUS uses its review of health care legislation to overturn the shameful Korematsu vs. US. At least that precedent shows that the ability of the federal government to mandate individual behavior would end with all of us in concentration camps.<br />
<br />
The federal requirement that health insurance include contraception violates some American's religious beliefs. I am sad to say for some in the current administration that is not a bug, but rather a feature. If the left can force the most righteous to commit a crime in their own eyes, then they are half way home. Still, all are sinners in the eyes of the divine, and we depend on the grace of the divine for our salvation.<br />
<br />
Birth control pills cost perhaps 5$ a month. No one needs insurance for that. Insurance is needed to pool risk, taking money from many, and paying money out for for few who have a bad event (less the cut for administration). If routine costs are covered, there is no risk pool created, everyone has the perverse incentive to get as much care as possible, for money saved is an opportunity for benefit that has been missed.<br />
<br />
I have a religious objection to paying more for insurance than needed. I prefer to spend money on myself and my family, or on the needy. I want a high deductible, and low rates, just like my car insurance- I don't have insurance that covers gas, or oil changes. I want insurance that protects me from risk of an expensive accident (a rare event) that could cost a lot of money. Routing money through the insurance company doesn't multiply the amount of money available- and is logically reduces the amount of money because the insurance companies need to pay for their administration and profit. Let me pay for gas and oil changes, let me pay for tires and the occasional windshield replacement. Let them take their legitimate cut out of the risk pool money. Let the market help set that price level.<br />
<br />
Where insurance pays for contraception, then there is no advantage to those who are moral, and don't need it, or for those who are old, and don't need it, or those who have resolved such matters years ago. They are not part of the risk pool, and should not pay for others risk who are in that group. The market can provide alternative plans for people who don't want certain services. The federal government has no legal authority to interfere, and no moral authority to set perverse incentives that encourage bad behavior.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-27148956605009207502011-11-15T10:33:00.000-08:002011-11-15T10:40:06.301-08:00Why keep tax rates low?We know what happens when there are high tax rates for high earners. They pay less.<br /><br />During the Carter Administration, the tax rates were 70% at the highest level. The top 1% paid only 18% of the income tax. Now when they pay about 30%, the top 1% pays 30% of the income tax.<br /><br />If you increase the top rate to 100%, they will pay zero. Who would work if they would not gain? Of course productive people, if they work less, produce less, so we are all poorer, with fewer houses, cars, cloths, or electronic devices.<br /><br />The productive workers are not slaves. We can't whip them to force them to work. We depend on them handing the products of their work over to the government willingly. That happens best at low rates.<br /><br />Better than a single tax at high rates, is many taxes at low rates. At low rates, it is easier to pay the tax than to change your behavior to avoid the tax. That means willing compliance.<br /><br />Democrats like high rates, apparently. They can then broker tax exemptions for the very few in return for campaign contributions. GE used tax exemptions last year to pay less than no income tax. The Democrats then use the campaign contributions to tell stupid people how lucky they are that the rich have high tax rates, not that Democratic rich ever pay those rates.<br /><br />Republicans seem to prefer lower rates. They use the threat of higher tax rates promoted by the Democrats to get campaign contributions from the mass of people who can't manage a special tax exemption.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-10074255981802174052011-11-14T13:15:00.000-08:002011-11-14T13:29:08.669-08:00Why a recession?<a href="http://modeledbehavior.com/2011/11/13/prices-clear-markets-ctd/">http://modeledbehavior.com/2011/11/13/prices-clear-markets-ctd/</a><br /><br />Above blog post has a good explaination of why there is a recession.<br /><br />People want too much money for what they do. They don't understand that the value of money has increased. People are pulling their money from investments, and buying gold, a practically worthless commodity with high liquidity costs.<br /><br />So the work that their money does leads to no production. Why do it? Because we don't trust the government's fiat money. We expect the government to respond with inflation. The government can create money from nothing, and increases in productivity can't keep up with that.<br /><br />Why do people want too much money? Because they expect inflation, just as they expected inflation in the Carter Administration, and demanded a new job pay them in advance for the inflation they inspected. Inquiring minds may recall that the Phillips curve asserted that some inflation encouraged consumption, and it was thought that creating inflation would decrease unemployment. But that only worked until people caught on and expected unemployment. At that time, rather than accept a job that resulted in lower pay from inflation, they demanded higher wages to pre-empt the inflation they inspected. If they didn't get that job, they stayed unemployed or under employed for longer, and so the unemployment rate of the later Carter administration remained high.<br /><br />Under Reagan's first term, the Fed chief cut money creation, and thus inflation expectations. People didn't expect so much inflationary compensation, and accepted jobs.<br /><br />What is wrong with prices now? We have a Socialist as president. So soon as it became likely that he would be elected, it was expected that taxes would increase, that money would be created to pay for the government programs, and eventually inflation would be the result. People know that drill, and want to be paid up front for the money they will lose to inflation, and so don't take jobs. Company management don't see how they can raise prices for their products, and so don't increase production. Government has stopped or slowed the forclosure process to clear the housing glut. Housing prices are wrong, but not allowed to change.<br /><br />Recession. Not man caused- Government caused.<br /><br />Prices clear markets.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-13490785964924422072011-10-18T23:42:00.000-07:002011-10-18T23:51:22.358-07:00Illegal ImmigrationThe US has about 9% unemployment, and about 10% of the people in the US are illegal aliens. One way to reduce unemployment is to reduce the number of illegal aliens.<br /><br />1. Build a fence.<br />2. Patrol the country within the borders to capture and remove illegal aliens.<br /> a. Offer a cash reward to state and local police for illegal aliens who are turned over to INS/Border Patrol<br /> b. Offer a cash reward to private citizens for information on illegal aliens.<br />3. Require "instant check" of citizenship for schools, hospitals, landlords, employers.<br />4. Increase significantly the number of legal immigrants permitted from Mexico. Legal immigrants would have to apply at the US consulates in Mexico. Evidence of illegal entry into the US would be disqualifying.<br /><br />Thus illegal immigration would be reduced, unemployment would be reduced.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-7226143645546560812011-08-28T06:54:00.000-07:002011-08-28T06:55:08.584-07:00A good site to add to blog rolls.
<br />
<br />http://politicalcalculations.blogspot.com/
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<br />Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-83908430569888657192011-08-28T06:23:00.000-07:002011-08-28T06:26:29.685-07:00Site for political surveys.<h1 class="entry-title">PQ Survey Results</h1> <p> </p> <p>Here’s your PQ: 4.1</p> <p>Politicians with similar PQs are:</p> Michele Bachmann (R-Minn, 2007-09) PQ=-4.1
<br />James DeMint (R-S.C. 1999-2009) PQ=5.1
<br />Newt Gingrich (R-Ga., 1979-94) PQ=11.4
<br />Richard Nixon (R-Calif., 1947-52) PQ=12.5
<br />
<br />http://www.timgroseclose.com/pq-survey-results/
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<br />No surprise, except I was surprised how good taking this survey was at bringing back to mind how many seriously bad legislative and budgetary ideas have been passed in the last few years.
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<br />Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-26378466339099229042011-08-27T19:26:00.000-07:002020-04-02T13:53:18.880-07:00Sherman Tanks"If you can be seen, you can be hit. If you can be hit, you can be killed."
<br />
<br />
That was the mantra repeatedly drilled into our heads when I was a young Second Lieutenant of Infantry.
<br />
<br />
Observe
<br />
Orient
<br />
Decide
<br />
Act
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Those are the 4 steps of John Boyd's decision making process. In combat you have to Observe what is going on, Orient yourself based on what you see of your enemies' acts in terms of what you understand of his doctrine, and make an attempt to understand what he is trying to do. Then you Decide what you do to counter, and you Act. If you can go through the 4 steps faster than your enemy, you have a big advantage. If your enemy goes through the 4 steps slower, then his fires are inaccurate, his maneuver is uncoordinated. Your advantage increases with each time you cycle through the OODA loop. Eventually your enemy will lose his will to resist, and attempt to escape.
<br />
<br />
The Sherman tank had superior ability to Observe. The Sherman gunner had a gunner's periscope that gave him better ability to pick up a target, rather than the very small optics of German tanks. The US tanks also were faster to act, having the ability to train their tank cannon while moving over fairly rough ground. The M-4 main gun stabilizer was, over fairly rough ground while moving at 15 miles per hour, had about a 70% probability of hit from 300 to 1200 meters. That meant they could hit repeatedly with the coax machine gun, and had a good chance of hitting with the main gun. The turret traverse was fast, 15 seconds to traverse 360 degrees, and for a 30 degree traverse, about a second and a half. In short, the unit equipped with Shermans in a mobile battle could be the first to see, the first to hit, and its advantages would continue the longer a battle lasted.
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<br />
By contrast, A Panther had to identify the target, command the vehicle to come to a halt. The driver would have to shift to neutral, and then race the engine to permit the Panther's hydraulic traverse to use high rate. The Panther gunner had to pick up the directed target through the sight, and then make small corrections with hand wheels. The Panther had a very good gun (so good it was copied by the French and mounted to Shermans, and sold to the Israelis after the war). and began many battles from an ambush position. There was a high initial price paid by US tankers when they were ambushed by Panthers. But as the battle continued, the US advantages increased as the battle continued. German fire became less effective. German maneuver became increasingly disjointed from the units mission.From ambush position, it was often difficult to see the Panther, as they used low flash powder. But as the battle continued, Shermans would get to the flank of the Panther, and that would be the end of the Panther.<br />
<br />
The Sherman had lighter frontal armor, and its crews tried to engage M-4 front to Panther flank. LtColonel Abrams of the 4th Armored division was sent to the 12th Armored division to coach them in how to use the Sherman to win. M-4 has a weaker gun, thinner armor, but greater reliability, narrower width, and shorter height than Panther. Its fast traverse and ability to train the gun while moving gave the M-4 crews a great advantage when attacking from flanks. So get to the enemy flanks, sneak up on them. Play cowboys and Indians. Use covered and concealed routes.
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<br />
And so, when US tankers took his coaching to heart, they were able to win. Not without losses, and not without risk. but in battle after battle the US was able to take ground defended by Panther, and because of the proliferation of M-4s (14 armored divisions plus separate tank battalions that made up the equivalent of another 25 armored divisions) take ground where there were no Panthers.
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German armored units were only 5% of German combat units. The M-4 with its 75mm gun had a great HE round with good effectiveness against those 95% of German combat units. Against the 5% of German armor units, the US was able to concentrate more units. That itself was a great advantage.
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The Lanchester equations are differential equations which describe combat effectiveness based on relative strengths. The relative strengths provide an advantage to the larger force, how much advantage is expressed as an exponent in the equations. When armed with spears, the exponent is 1. (A 5 to 1 numerical advantage gives to a 5 to 1 combat advantage). when armed with repeating weapons, the exponent is 2 (a 5 to 1 advantage in numbers gives a 25 to 1 advantage in combat power). The ability of the M-4 to conduct long road marches and still be able to fight at the end was of great advantage.
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A German officer, captured by the 2nd Armored Division asked "how many 2nd Armored Divisions do you have?" His intelligence appreciation put the 2nd Armored Division 70 miles north of the Ardennes. It was not possible for an armored unit to break contact, drive 70 miles in winter, and fight at the end of such a road march. Well it wasn't possible for the German armored divisions. That is exactly what the 2nd Armored division had done. Nor was that rare. The 10th Armored Division at Bastogne, and the the 7th Armored Division at St. Vith had made similar road marches.
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What happened during the Ardennes Offensive? The German main effort was to be made by the 6th Pz Army. They were to lead with an artillery barrage, and exploit with an infantry infiltration. Then the Armored striking force was to dash through the holes thus created. The artillery barrage was of little effect. The infantry infiltration did not succeed. The armored units were able to punch through a weak point, but had little backup. without the infantry followup, without the German artillery able to move forward, and above all without German air cover, the US engineers were able to blow bridge after bridge in front and on the flanks of the German attack. US truck companies were able to move fuel depots away from the identified attacks.
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The main battlegroup of the 1st SS Panzer Division was Kampfgroup Peiper. He got the job because as a battalion commander he had taken two Russian towns, and murdered all the inhabitants prior to burning the towns. His mission was the bridges over the Meuse. He never came close. He lead his 5,800 men against the US, and only 770 were able to walk back without their vehicles. Over 500 were captured and interrogated as POWs on his actions, and their testimony was instrumental in his war crime trial. Peiper's unit murdered over 350 Belgian civilians, and about 135 US soldiers.
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Further south, the 5th Panzer Army was also able to penetrate, and captured two regiments of the sadly green 106th Infantry Division. The 5th Pz Army was unable to accomplish their mission and that of the 6th Pz Army too. Their losses were too heavy, their progress too slow. The 2nd US Armored division was able to move from the north, the 4th Armored division from the south.
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And so the Ardennes battles were decisive. Germany lost 6 months of their increasingly anemic armor production. They would never attack again.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-28785980538775346262011-08-27T19:02:00.001-07:002011-08-27T19:20:29.014-07:00Government PolicyNow that the Republicans have increased the budget ceiling, there is no chance to cut back on government spending in the short term. What a revolting development.
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<br />What government departments should be cut 100%?
<br />1. Department of Education: Department of Defense schools should be returned to Department of Defense. The rest should be cut.
<br />2. Department of Energy: Nuclear weapons production facilities should be returned to Department of Defense. The rest should be cut.
<br />3. Veterans Affairs should returned to Department of Defense.
<br />4. Labor should be cut, without exception.
<br />5. Health and Human Services should be cut without exception. To enable the market to adapt to the changes, the cuts would be scheduled to take effect over 10 years.
<br />6. Housing and urban development should be cut without exception. To enable the market to adapt to the changes, the cuts would be scheduled to take effect over 10 years.
<br />7. EPA should move portions that regulate government property to the Dept of the Interior. The rest is cut without exception. Laws that pretend to regulate emissions by protecting emitters from liability be repealed. Emitters would become liable for damages done by their emissions.
<br />8. Department of Agriculture should be cut without exception. Government's regulations which permit substandard products to be sold without liability would be abolished. The death penalty for the organization is fitting for the perpetrators of the Pigford discrimination.
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<br />The government unilaterally made promises by law, they can change the terms or abolish the promise through law. If they were privatized, losing the right to coerce money, but having to provide cost competitive services or lose customers, then Social Security would offer more than a tenth of a percent of interest per year in benefit, or people would be free to make alternative arrangements. The money in the 'trust funds' would become available to productive businesses to borrow. Social Security could be cut up into many smaller funds, (A through Z) each in competition with each other, and in competition with OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES. None of the new SSA-SSZ entities would be too big to fail.
<br />Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-33582462822770565022011-03-23T12:50:00.001-07:002011-03-23T12:50:50.504-07:00How to Fix the Budget CrisisThe proper legislation that the Republicans can use to fix things is to not extend the debt ceiling. The US govt revenue is 2.2 trillion a year. without borrowing, spending will have to drop to that level, rather than continue on at 3.7 trillion a year.<br /><br />That will mean that the unconstitutional government Ponzi pseudo-insurance programs will have to be cut. They are about 60% of the budget, and cutting them to nothing would solve the problem nicely.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-3205266700267066332011-01-05T05:06:00.000-08:002011-01-05T05:08:49.709-08:00Happy New YearMore on the Navier Stokes Equations:<br /><br />Edward Lorenz developed a sample set of equations that use nonlinearities from the Navier Stokes equations. He has, kindly published "The Essence of Chaos" setting forth his developing understanding of the importance of that non-linearity. I recommend that book.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12292604.post-44115230924822212022010-03-12T07:10:00.000-08:002010-03-12T07:14:07.318-08:00http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-we-got-here-is-failure-to.htmlthe unconstrained vision in action....<br /><br />The Navier Stokes equations are nonlinear. It is impossible to predict weather far in advance. The Sun is nonlinear. It is impossible to predict far in advance.<br /><br />The Economy is nonlinear. It is impossible to predict far in advance.<br /><br />Life has to be lived. You need all your brain to live your own life. Noone can live your life for you. Noone should be allowed to command other's lives, or if they give commands, the commanded must assent, or the command becomes null.Don Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.com0