Arizona

As the whole immigration flap has unfolded one thing has truly puzzled me, California's politicians repeated disdain for the Az. bill. One would expect opposition to a bill from some quarters it's almost obligatory. California struck me because they should understand Arizona's plight. California probably has an even bigger illegal immigrant problem.

Now this is just speculation but isn't it possible that California's objection is because they fear the Arizona bill will work. If it works in Arizona it's libel to increase California's problem. After all why cross where you might be hassled when you can cross into a less vigilant state.

Whose money is it

Here in Ohio there is a program similar to the cash for clunkers program the feds ran. This program gives rebates for buying energy star products and proving you scraped your old appliance. Of course this is run with the usual government efficiency. Thousands of people are waiting on their rebates. The state gives a variety of reasons for this,forms not filled in correctly,model numbers not matching( the state has an incomplete listing in it's computer ), or not having the original receipt. The spokesman explained that after all this is tax payer money we have to be careful.

My question is if their so concerned about their fiduciary duties why do the program at all. Taking money from one citizen and giving it to another can never be justified.

Children

I heard a woman on the radio yesterday I believe her name is Lenore Skanzy. She is the author of a book called Free Range Children. Recently she has been promoting today Saturday May 22 as the first annual national take your kids to the park and leave them there day. She was talking about children as young as 7-8 years old and leaving them alone for time commensurate with their ages.

People today are utterly terrified of what can happen to there children. When I told my wife about the radio show she asked if this was just a ploy to lure in all the perverts. My thought is that I'm not sure if a national ditch your kids day is good, but I know living in fear is bad.

I wonder if the increase in both parents working hasn't helped exasperate these fears. Years ago when I was young most of the moms didn't work and kids were everywhere. We can't go back and I don't know that it would fix anything, but we do need to find a way to not live in fear. The fear we have we share with our kids so be smart and let them grow strong and fearless.

Kagan

It's kind of early to have reached much if any opinion about Elena Kagan's Supreme Court qualifications. The Cleveland Plain Dealer asked readers to comment on Kagan's nomination. Many of the letters focused on whether having been a judge should be a prerequisite. Most said they didn't believe time on the bench should be necessary. One letter stood out in it's reasoning. They reasoned that Kagan may be better than most because she spent time in the real world and wasn't secluded in the world of the law and judiciary. Now I might be wrong but I don't recall hearing any positions held by Kagan outside of academia.

So the question is what's a more sheltered existence the law or academia. I believe by far academics are sheltered from the real world to a greater degree. Living ones life on campus shields them from the economic pressures that the working man must face. Raises without profitability and tenure that guarantees employment for life are just some of sheltering effects.

Kagan may well be qualified for the scotus but to claim a more worldly position than many others is ludicrous.

Civilty

I generally try to remain respectful of others when in dialog in person or on the computer. I told my wife Lynne yesterday how refreshing it was to have an honest disagreement with jockeystreet and still remain respectful and actually listen to the other person.

Zogby did a poll for Allegheny College one of the questions was who or what has caused politics to be less civil. Some of the responses were Political parties70%, talk radio61%blogs42%television news61% while all had a part I don't think they mentioned the main cause. When thinking of divisive and polarizing issues most people realize the Roe v Wade heads the list. We can't even discuss Supreme court nominees anymore without this issue affecting opinion. It's not that this is the only issue that raises disagreement but it is the disagreement that stirs the pot and separates the parties.

Personally I don't really think either parties hierarchy wants the abortion debate resolved it works too well at keeping people in their respective camps.

Dystopias

There is a list for practically everything on the web. I like lists there is a certain orderliness to them. I also like to compare my likes and dislikes with other peoples. I like scifi and I've seen lists of scifi authors,and series of books ,future histories, and alternate histories and others. Here's a short list of Dystopian books.

1. 1984 by Orwell
2. Brave New World by Huxley
3. Lord of the Flies by Golding

Feel free to add your own in the comments.

I read an article recently asking whether we are now or are we heading into a Dystopia. They called it the salt Dystopia based on a proposed law restricting added salt in restaurants. I believe all politicians think they are moving our society to a more perfect place. The question is are they right in this assumption.

Lincoln undoubtedly moved our society forward when he helped to push us away from slavery ending in it's abolition. LBJ even spelled it out as his goal during the civil rights era of the 60's. He called it the Great Society the idea was to end poverty and put everyone on an equal footing. Many people now see Johnson's policies as a failure, because many of the the people are now poorer and less educated.

The Obama administration also thinks they are moving us towards that utopian society. With health care for all and wealth more fairly distributed. How is this happening with health care that that is largely unfunded and with government poking it's nose into day to day operations of businesses, G.M., Chrysler, and the insurance companies. Obama himself gives a picture of the kind of world he sees through a statement he made in a speech last week in Quincy Illinois. Paraphrasing he said I think at a certain point people have just made enough money. Money isn't the only issue though it's an over all intrusiveness into our daily lives.

So beware the utopia we know not where it leads.