My View

Random ruminations from your resident curmudgeon...

In 2012, our economy as measured by the Gross Domestic Product (the value of all goods and services produced in the United States) grew at a rate of 2.2%. That is better than the rate of 1.8% for 2011. The GDP is a measure of economic activity and is closely watched by economists, politicians, and business leaders as one of the signs of overall economic health and growth. So it's a good thing that GDP grew in 2012 over the level of growth in 2011, right? Absolutely. But a troubling number emerged from the data. Although the full year number was positive, the 4th quarter surprisingly fell .1%, stunning economists who had expected the growth that occurred in the third quarter of 2012- up 3.1%- to continue. Part of the downturn is attributable to cuts in defense spending and slower growth in business inventories. The pullback in those areas offset growth in housing, consumer spending, and business investment. Longer term, a troubling consideration for the economy is that consumer confidence is starting to turn down as consumers come to grips with the effects of higher taxes, cutbacks in hours due to Obamacare requirements, and persistent high unemployment. As the nascent recovery tries to get traction, Washington should do all it can to encourage growth and business investment. As it is, Washington is more of an impediment to growth that an asset.

My children text me "plz" because it is shorter "please". I text them "no" because it is shorter than "yes".

In his inaugural speech, President Obama called for the U.S. to "respond to the threat of climate change." He went on to say, "Some may deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, crippling drought, and more powerful storms." The "overwhelming judgment of science"? Okay, let's see what the overwhelming judgment of science says about the very things you cited, Mr. President, as evidence of climate change. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the number of annual wildfires has been consistently declining for 30 years. In fact, in the 90's, Federal Land management officials with the support of environmentalists began to let naturally caused wildfires burn to eliminate forest overgrowth and the abundance of kindling that results from that overgrowth. So the result has been a consistent decline in the number of wildfires in the U.S. So what about droughts? According to Global Soil Moisture Data Bank, global soil moisture increase throughout the 20th century at almost 100% of their soil measuring sites. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)reported that droughts in the 20th century were much milder than in previous centuries. Finally, the peer reviewed journal Nature found that there had been little change in the number of droughts or the severity over the last 60 years.  And the more powerful storms supposedly caused by global warming? NOAA reported a long term decline in strong tornadoes in the U.S. and the National Hurricane Center reported that the past 40 years the U.S. has experienced the fewest hurricane strikes since the late 1800's. So what is the end game with the renewed interest in global warming? Simply follow the money, friends. Beginning with the corrupt Al Gore and his cadre of acolytes and continuing to President Obama, the goal is to cripple our economy in the name of being green and to transfer wealth to environmental causes and favored companies (take a look at all the bankrupt "green companies" this administration funded in its first term. You and I have paid out billions for nothing). This attempt by the administration to re-institute climate change initiatives is nothing more than a blatant money grab.

A friend dropped a box of Italian pastries on the floor. I cannoli imagine how he feels.

Do you know Richard Windsor? "Richard Windsor" is a fictitious employee that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson created so she could appropriate "his" e-mail account. Why do that? The false identity allowed Jackson to conduct official business on behalf of the EPA and avoid federal record keeping and disclosure laws. What's the big deal, you ask? The Windsor account contains some 12,000 secret and previously undisclosed e-mails. Now ask this question: why would the administrator of a national and public agency need a clandestine e-mail account? Why would she want to hide public business and not have that business conducted in her name? If the word "Solyndra" jumps to mind, you are probably close to the truth. I would guess that a great number of these e-mails are related to Solyndra, the first of the "green energy" companies that failed and cost the taxpayers a boatload of money. This account was intentionally created to allow the the agency and its administrator to avoid public accountability and to conduct government business under the table. It is a pattern with this administration, one that Obama pledged to be "the most transparent ever". And these are the people that want to run our health care system.

I have found that there are three kinds of people in this world: those who can count and those who cannot.

And that, my friends, is my view.