Rebane's Ruminations
July 2010
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George Rebane

Why is it that the House is trying to pack the latest mid-east war funding bill with added pork and other issues?  There would be instant bi-partisan support for a ‘clean bill’, but the progressives are willing to spend whatever time it takes to pass a padded bill, and get it through Congress to the President’s desk while pointing out that the Republicans are starving the war of needed funding.  If the pork and add-ons are so important and worth passage on their own merits, then why not let them go through as two or more bills?  The Krugman Keynesians are totally unclear on the concept of debt and deficits – or are they?

But of course we know that the additional pork would not fly on its own, so it has to be duct taped to the back bumper of something everyone agrees should pass – funding for our troops in harm’s way.  Whether you approve of this crappola or not kind of paints your ideological wagon for all to see.

NCARRA100702

Meanwhile we in Nevada County slumber along as summer has arrived and the weather is getting warmer.

[4jul10 update]  In Washington DC (district of corruption) the Capitol sleazebags passed a “deemed budget” that allows the spending of $1.1T of 2011 monies to start without any member of Congress having to put their name on the line for any specific line item.  This is an historic first and reaches a new high in fiscal irresponsibility and corrupt governance.  The “Budget Enforcement Resolution” passed 215-210 with no Republican voting for it and 38 Democrats having the backbone to say Enough!  As is becoming more and more the norm, this pilfering had to be done quickly and in the dark of night on Saturday.

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18 responses to “Pork and More Pork (updated 4 July 2010)”

  1. Russ Steele Avatar

    Well California is not getting any of the ARRA Broadband Stimulus Pork. Of the 66 projects listed, none are in California. Big noon announcement by the President. The list is here; http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/Broadband_Award_Roster.pdf

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  2. Mikey McD Avatar

    Is the following too much to ask?
    1-anyone who votes for or against a bill should first have to read the entire bill
    2-the TITLE of the bill and ALL included laws and funding should be directly connected to said title
    3-each bill should be no more than say, 4 pages.
    These pork bastards must live in homes without mirrors, not care what their mom thinks of them and long for an eternal afterlife tormented by the worst hell can offer.

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  3. Mikey McD Avatar

    It would do our politicians well to read Davy Crockett’s “Not Yours To Give” speech…
    Not Yours To Give-
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoEJ-D2bgc0&feature=player_embedded

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  4. Steven Frisch Avatar
    Steven Frisch

    Wow Russ is bummed we are not getting pork! Can anyone spell hypocrite? It is spelled s-t-e-e-l-e!

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  5. Scott Obermuller Avatar

    OK Steven, I’ll bite. How is Russ a hypocrite for pointing out a fact?

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  6. Steven Frisch Avatar
    Steven Frisch

    Russ is on record here, and at his home site, criticizing the stimulus as wasteful and unnecessary. Yet he is on record clearly supporting stimulus funding for rural broadband, and openly wishing for Nevada County to be awarded a grant.
    I agree with him, I wish Nevada County was awarded a grant, and hope we are in round two, but the hypocrisy I am pointing out is the act of simultaneously criticizing ARRA and hoping for funds.
    And, as I have pointed out every time I have posted here, GEORGE’S NUMBERS ARE WRONG.
    These numbers do not represent an accounting of all ARRA funding applied for or received in Nevada County. For a more accurate accounting, although still not perfect because it does not count regional ARRA funding that Nevada County residents are a part of, go here.
    http://www.recovery.ca.gov/html/funding/stimulus%20map/stimulusmap.shtml

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  7. Russ Steele Avatar

    So far each job created by the stimulus cost $700.000. How many jobs could a small business man/woman create with $700.000? I think that expansion of broadband is a good economic development strategy. The round one request was for $13 million. Rethinking the project, increasing community involvement the request was reduce to $7 million. If Nevada County really wants broadband, the ERC, working with the County could use bond funding for the project. However, that would most like bring the phone company lawyers to stop or at least delay the project, raising the cost to an un-acceptable level. If we really want broadband as an economic development tool, we can do it with our federal stimulus and control. The strings attached to the federal money were more like ropes than strings.

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  8. Russ Steele Avatar

    Opps should real “most likely bring” and “do it with out federal stimulus” Should have hit the preview button first.

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  9. Steven Frisch Avatar
    Steven Frisch

    I would wholeheartedly support Nevada County investing taxpayers money in expanded broadband access. Of course if some here think the private marketplace is always the bets way to provide services I would ask, why hasn’t the private marketplace taken care of this little problem for you all?

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  10. Steven Frisch Avatar
    Steven Frisch

    that should read ‘best’.

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  11. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Russ, I see you had to straighten out the misguided again. He is tiresome. Keep pitting those sensible fats out for all to see. Good job.

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  12. George Rebane Avatar
    George Rebane

    Garrett Hardin taught us in the Tragedy of the Commons that all who behave altruistically with respect to an ESTABLISHED commons will be doubly punished – they will simply not get their share of the spoils, and the commons will be destroyed anyway.
    The conservatives opposed the launch of the ARRA commons and lost. ARRA was passed anyway. Given that this commons now exists, it would be foolish to not attempt to get one’s share of it. All the ARRA monies will be allocated to the successful applicants in any event.
    This may be a too subtle point for liberals to understand as they paint anyone with their ‘hypocrite brush’ who opposed ARRA, and then lamented not getting their share of its fait accompli. I wish it were simpler.

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  13. Steven Frisch Avatar
    Steven Frisch

    it would be simpler George if you actually stood on the principles you profess.

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  14. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    George, thanks for clarifying what the critic obviously is unable to understand. I think he lives on grant money so it is probably not his fault.

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  15. Mikeymcd Avatar
    Mikeymcd

    Russ, the desire for the tainted and immoral arra funds for broadband is hypocritical. Besides, unless a ‘project’ adds government jobs or benefits the union bosses an rfp is futile.

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  16. Mikeymcd Avatar
    Mikeymcd

    To ‘go after’ gov funds = failure

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  17. bill tozer Avatar
    bill tozer

    Phew. Suppose it does no good to say I told you so, George told us so, Russ told us so, countless told us so….sad but true.

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  18. bill tozer Avatar
    bill tozer

    Part 2: referring to the “deemed budget”. Now they can spend like they were….business as usual. I feel ill.

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