Let's say this college student got caught in a dragnet. Let's say he was hauled to a California Lubyanka. Let's say he was told he would be released and driven home. Let's say he was then tossed into a tiny holding cell and left there for five days, without food, water, or a toilet. The reason? "We just forgot."
And let's add, just for good measure, that the jailers accidentally left a dose or two of meth in that cell.
Now, what would you call authorities like that? Incompetent? Criminally insane? Thugs? Guards-in-training for the next Dachau?
Wrong, Bunkie. You should call them dedicated employees of your federal government, specifically of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
.
May 2, 2012
May 1, 2012
A sterling idea
The Republican lawmaker probably didn't mean to be taken too seriously when he said the deadlocked Iowa legislature should throw up its hands, go home, and try again next year. I suspect he was just amusing himself by jerking chains.
Our Capitol Theatre of the Absurd is skivvy-knotted over -- you guessed it -- how much to extort and spend. Most of the hot air is being belched over commercial property taxes which are too high. Republicans want to cut them. Democrats, secure in their knowledge that all business people are thieving plutocrats, don't.
If our solons go home without writing a budget, the state would, theoretically, have to shut down. And we learn the results from Senate Boss Michael Gronstal, who represents AFSCME, SIEU, the teacher's union, and, incidentally at best, the people who elected him.
“Therefore, one-quarter of all people in nursing homes would be thrown out ... and schools would lose thousands of teachers. It’s not really a plan that works.”
Of course. And conservatives, being what they are, would delay evicting your nonagenarian grandma from the care center until a nice January blizzard. Just to make the point more vividly. Gurneys in the snow banks. What a photo op.
---
Both sides bring considerable financial lunacy to the tax debate. Democrats argue that lower business rates will mean higher residential rates. Quite true. Republicans say,"So what?" although in much subtler terms and accompanied by various plans to delay and disguise the rape of the smaller taxpayer.
Neither likes to soil its hands with the ultimate solution to confiscatory property taxes. Which is, broadly sketched, to ravish goofy spending programs, swinging sabres and thrusting spears with all the fervor of a Mongol horde riding down a Crimean village.
True, school districts might have to do way with a few administrators who never deal with an actual student from one year to the next. Cities and towns would face survival without the services of a a third-assistant deputy zoning administrator. Other horrors would likewise exist, but, in the end, the more lightly taxed proletarian might no longer need to pick his neighbor's pocket to finance great-gram's bedroom.
Our Capitol Theatre of the Absurd is skivvy-knotted over -- you guessed it -- how much to extort and spend. Most of the hot air is being belched over commercial property taxes which are too high. Republicans want to cut them. Democrats, secure in their knowledge that all business people are thieving plutocrats, don't.
If our solons go home without writing a budget, the state would, theoretically, have to shut down. And we learn the results from Senate Boss Michael Gronstal, who represents AFSCME, SIEU, the teacher's union, and, incidentally at best, the people who elected him.
“Therefore, one-quarter of all people in nursing homes would be thrown out ... and schools would lose thousands of teachers. It’s not really a plan that works.”
Of course. And conservatives, being what they are, would delay evicting your nonagenarian grandma from the care center until a nice January blizzard. Just to make the point more vividly. Gurneys in the snow banks. What a photo op.
---
Both sides bring considerable financial lunacy to the tax debate. Democrats argue that lower business rates will mean higher residential rates. Quite true. Republicans say,"So what?" although in much subtler terms and accompanied by various plans to delay and disguise the rape of the smaller taxpayer.
Neither likes to soil its hands with the ultimate solution to confiscatory property taxes. Which is, broadly sketched, to ravish goofy spending programs, swinging sabres and thrusting spears with all the fervor of a Mongol horde riding down a Crimean village.
True, school districts might have to do way with a few administrators who never deal with an actual student from one year to the next. Cities and towns would face survival without the services of a a third-assistant deputy zoning administrator. Other horrors would likewise exist, but, in the end, the more lightly taxed proletarian might no longer need to pick his neighbor's pocket to finance great-gram's bedroom.
Apr 30, 2012
Social solecisms
After the awards ceremony, we had a family lunch at a Des Moines brew pub. One of my heirs and assigns had just accepted an academic award and shaken hands with the governor and with Lieutenant Governor Kimberly Reynolds. She was generally unknown until Gov. Branstad picked her as running mate. My son idly wondered, "Where did she come from?" I replied helpfully, "Out of left field."
Then, never one to shut up at opportune times, I noted that she's at least the third consecutive female loot gov because we found out that if we put "them" there we never have to give "one" an important job.
I'll probably try not to say that again while sitting at a table with three lovely and liberated ladies. :)
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(Turns out she's the fifth.)
Then, never one to shut up at opportune times, I noted that she's at least the third consecutive female loot gov because we found out that if we put "them" there we never have to give "one" an important job.
I'll probably try not to say that again while sitting at a table with three lovely and liberated ladies. :)
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(Turns out she's the fifth.)
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