A current events round-up for conservatives
THE OTHER SHOE DROPS: Turning back the tide of information overload with a digest of the latest developments in news conservatives need to pay attention to:
† Living In These Mad, Mad, Madoff Times: Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich’s sobriquet, “The Food Stamp President,” for President Barack Hussein Obama, isn’t just campaign rhetoric. Because of the prolonged recession, high unemployment levels and stagnant wages, nearly one out of two Americans are economically insecure or have crossed the line into poverty, reports The Associated Press:
About 97.3 million Americans fall into a low-income category, commonly defined as those earning between 100 and 199 percent of the poverty level, based on a new supplemental measure by the Census Bureau that is designed to provide a fuller picture of poverty. Together with the 49.1 million who fall below the poverty line and are counted as poor, they number 146.4 million, or 48 percent of the U.S. population. That's up by 4 million from 2009, the earliest numbers for the newly developed poverty measure.
The new measure of poverty takes into account medical, commuting and other living costs. Doing that helped push the number of people below 200 percent of the poverty level up from 104 million, or 1 in 3 Americans, that was officially reported in September.
Kansas City, MO Mayor Sly James, who co-chairs a mayors' task force on hunger and homelessness, tells AP that, "People who never thought they would need food are in need of help." He’s not kidding. “The percentage of U.S. households using food stamps more than doubled in six of the nation’s 10 wealthiest counties as more residents find themselves out of work and unable to sell their homes,” reports The Washington Post:
“Sometimes people will come in a Mercedes,” said Gina Davio, program director of social services at Fisherman’s Mark, a nonprofit group in Lambertville, a city of 3,900 on the Delaware River. “Sometimes they come in nothing but Ralph Lauren, but you never know: That may be all they have left.”
† Chevy Volt: An electric Edsel: In an interview with MSN, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen said that the Chevy Volt will fail; that anybody who buys the Volt, in particular, is an idiot; and that people who buy electric vehicles (EVs) are just members of an “intellectual elite who want to show what enlightened souls they are.” Volt owners are elite: According to GM CEO Dan Akerson, the average Volt owner makes $170,000 per year. These folks can certainly afford to pay an inflated price for a car that no one else seems to want, and though they tell anyone who will listen that they want to pay higher taxes, they enjoy a $7,500 tax credit. But that’s just a tip of the iceberg. Each Volt sold to date has been subsidized by as much as $250K in state and federal loans, rebates, grants and tax credits, according to an analysis by James Hohman, assistant director of fiscal policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports: The Volt subsidies flow through multiple companies involved in production. The analysis includes adding up the amount of government subsidies via tax credits and direct funding for not only General Motors, but other companies supplying parts for the vehicle. For example, the Department of Energy awarded a $105.9 million grant to the GM Brownstown plant that assembles the batteries. The company was also awarded approximately $106 million for its Hamtramck assembly plant in state credits to retain jobs. The company that supplies the Volt’s batteries, Compact Power, was awarded up to $100 million in refundable battery credits (combination tax breaks and cash subsidies). These are among many of the subsidies and tax credits for the vehicle. And weak consumer demand for the Volt may be even more anemic than believed. In an interview with Neil Cavuto, Mark Modica, an Associate Fellow of the National Legal and Policy Center claims that the cars are not being sold to consumers but are fleet sales to municipalities and corporations like General Electric. Modica says that Chevy dealers have told him the Volt attracts “gawkers” and not buyers. Ditto the Nissan Leaf, he says.
† Is Obama already a lame duck?: With the Obama administration not lifting a finger to stop Bashar Assad from murdering his countrymen, these Syrian protesters are amongst those who miss President George W. Bush (related article, ninth item on the page):
The Stiletto wonders whether these were the protesters Time magazine had in mind when it named “The Protester” its “Person of the Year.”
† Obama is just about every U.S. president all rolled into one!: Although President Barack Hussein Obama has taken to likening himself to Teddy Roosevelt, GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney (R-MA) is having none of it:
[T]he important difference between Teddy Roosevelt and Barack Obama. Roosevelt believed that government should level the playing field to create equal opportunities. President Obama believes that government should create equal outcomes. † Those who can’t teach, cheat: A pervasive cheating scandal that roiled the Atlanta School System (related article, sixth item on the page) also occurred in the Dougherty County School System where, “a new investigative report details a second major standardized test cheating scandal … implicating 49 educators, including 11 principals,” The Washington Post reports: A key reason for the “disgraceful” cheating, investigators said, was pressure to meet No Child Left Behind requirements. The probe (see here and here) by the Georgia governor’s Special Investigators team into cheating in the Dougherty County School System concluded that “hundreds of school children were harmed by extensive cheating.” … The report cites three key reasons for the cheating: *Pressure to meet the adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act, a provision that requires school districts to annually increase the number of students who score at the proficient level on math and reading standardized tests. *A fear by teachers and principals of being perceived as failures. *The failure of principals, as well as the system’s administration, to lead. … A conclusion in the report was this: “Since the enactment of NCLB, standardized testing has become more about measuring the teachers, principals and schools than accurately assessing the children’s academic progress.” Or, to put it another way, an unintended bonus of high-stakes testing is that it not only measures a teacher’s competence, but also his or her honesty, integrity and professionalism. † SOTU = Stuff Our Taxes Underwrite: James Bacon makes the case in this Washington Times op-ed that instead of wasting “hundreds of billions of public dollars building a high-speed, intercity rail network,” President Barack Hussein Obama should get out of the way of entrepreneurs who are building a less glamorous – but more feasible – network of intercity buses without bleeding taxpayers dry (related article, seventh item on the page): According to a study published by DePaul University's Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, intercity bus was the only major long-distance passenger mode to grow appreciably this year. Daily intercity bus operations expanded by 7.1 percent. The most spectacular growth occurred among curbside operations, including BoltBus and Megabus, which eschew traditional bus stations in favor of curbside pickups. This category expanded operations by 32.1 percent. Compare that to the 5.2 percent growth for Amtrak, 1.8 percent growth for airlines and 1 percent decline for private automobiles. What's going on? The higher cost of automobile ownership and gasoline is pushing people to consider alternatives to driving. But that's only half the story. The intercity bus industry is highly competitive and driven by innovation. … Even stodgy old Greyhound, which operates out of traditional bus stations, is getting creative. The company has introduced Greyhound Express, a premium service that provides free Wi-Fi and power outlets at every seat, has upgraded waiting areas for its Express passengers and has entered into a partnership with 7-Eleven stores to sell tickets. Unlike publicly owned mass-transit companies, which face political pressure to maintain money-losing routes, private intercity buses are free to shut down unprofitable routes and redeploy resources to achieve greater growth potential. Flexibility is the hallmark of the curbside bus operators, which aren't tied down by fixed investment in bus stations. Bacon suggests that the federal government invest in public safety and better police the "Chinatown bus" services that have been involved in several deadly crashes recently. † "Persistent Vegetative State" Diagnoses Too Often A Rush To Judgement (second item on the page): The Schmid family was blessed with its own Christmas miracle when 21-year-old University of Arizona student Sam Schmid, who was comatose after a car accident on October 19th, had done so well in rehab that within two months he was able to talk and move around with the aid of a walker, The Washington Times reports: Doctors at Barrow Neurological Institute say Schmid has a long recovery ahead of him to regain full speech, balance and memory abilities. … He underwent surgery performed by Dr. Robert Spetzler. With no responsive signs, staff discussed taking Schmid off life support. … Spetzler said Schmid was never officially classified as a potential organ donor. And after an MRI scan showed he wasn't at a point of no hope of survival, Spetzler recommended keeping him alive for one more week. Then on Oct. 24, Schmid shocked doctors by following commands to hold up two fingers. "It may not seem like a lot to you," Spetzler said. "It's an incredible loop to show brain ability. That was like fireworks going off." Neither Schmid’s family nor his doctors gave up on him. He is luckier than many patients in his situation. † Is Hillary Clinton Campaigning For President?: Two weeks ago, an E-mail blast from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign asking supporters to donate money so she can retire her 2008 campaign debt that included this quote from her speech at the Democratic National Convention, “You never gave in. You never gave up. And together, we made history.” Just before Christmas, voters in AZ, FL, MD, PA, MI, NY and WI – primary states that Hillary Clinton won in 2008 – got a robo-call stating that “America would be better off today if Hillary Clinton was our president” (related article, tenth item on the page). The call ends by asking voters to sign a petition on RunHillary2012.net to persuade Hillary to make another run for the White House. The Washington Post reports that a spokesperson for the Secretary of State has disavowed Hillary’s connection to the effort. Dem pollsters Doug Schoen and Pat Caddell – who have written several op-eds urging President Barack Hussein Obama to step aside and allow Hillary to run as the party’s nominee – also swear they have nothing to do with it. † Is Armenian Genocide Denial Good For The Jews?: In the latest fallout from Turkey’s increasing Islamization, Israel abruptly cancelled a $140 million contract for Israeli electronic defense firms Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries to provide its erstwhile Muslim ally with a sophisticated aerial surveillance system over concerns that the technology (related article, sixth item on the page). Israel's Defense Ministry, which must approve all defense-related contracts, is concerned that the technology could fall into the hands of Iran, its existential enemy, The Washington Times reports: The cancellation comes a week after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told parliament in Ankara that Turkey's Middle East policies had "brought Israel to its knees" and had isolated the Jewish state. The Israeli announcement made no reference to Mr. Davutoglu's remark; however, it appears relevant since Turkey's ties with Iran have long been known and the contract was signed three years ago. Israel's once close defense and political relationship with Turkey began to unravel as the Turkish government sought to extend its influence in the Arab world during the past few years. † 10 reasons Michelle Obama should be proud – really proud – of America: This latest installment in The Stiletto Blog’s ongoing series (previous article, last item on the page) meant to help instill the necessary pride of country in Michelle Obama’s consciousness to enable her to serve as an unofficial ambassador focuses on Bryan VandenBosch, who owns the at A-Z Outlet pawn shop in Holland, MI. In November, veteran hocked one of the two Purple Hearts he had earned in while serving in Afghanistan so he would have money to cover his Christmas bills. VandenBosch tells The Holland Sentinel that he will “never sell” the medal and “it will be here waiting for him” when he is ready to retrieve it. Stars and Stripes reports that “Veterans groups and other local charities have been flooding the store with donation requests in the days since the story broke, but the owner has been directing them to other military support programs.”
In an entitlement society, everyone receives the same or similar rewards, regardless of education, effort, and willingness to take risk. That which is earned by some is redistributed to the others. And the only people who truly enjoy any real rewards are those who do the redistributing – the government.
Comments