According to 'EarthShare' the United States exports half of it's gasoline to other countries. What should be more alarming are the plans for one energy firm to spend $4 billion on a gas terminal so they can export vast amounts of gas from fracking to Asia (China). However, it's just one of many proposed and supported not only by Republicans, but the Department of Energy and the Obama administration itself.
Contrary To The Rallying Cry 'Drill Baby Drill' Gas energy investors are claiming we have too much and it's driving down prices. By exporting and offering it on the world market gas prices would go up. I can see how energy supplier investors will benefit, but as for as energy independence and consumers, well let them be damned I suppose.
Kinda Ticks Ya Off Doesn't It? We take environmental risks while the public is sold a bag of jack's magic beans in hopes of becoming 'energy independent' Then turn around sell nearly half of it off to other countries causing our own consumers prices to rise.
Kind of makes you wonder who's really steering the ship? Seems like the average American is only being taken along for the ride, doesn't it?
'USA Today' reports.."According to a committee document provided by Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi's office, House Republicans want a $3.3 million budget for this year's operations of the 12-member select committee on the Benghazi attacks....
...By comparison, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs — which has a roster of 25 lawmakers and about 27 staff members — spent $2.5 million in 2013 and has a $3 million budget for 2014. The Ethics Committee budget for 2014 was more than $3 million, with a staff of about 25 serving 10 lawmakers."
COMMENTRAY
First off I have no idea why it cost millions of dollars. Is tossing around nearly $9,000,000 on just three committees the most cost effective way of taking care of business in the U.S. Congress?
Secondly after all is said and done which outcome (like there ever will be one) will benefit taxpaying citizens the most?
I realize in today's world $9 million doesn't seem to go that far anymore However it seems to me it could be spent more wisely on just about anything other then a bunch of windbags sitting around hosting roasts and shamelessly pointing their own imperfect fingers at a bevy of witnesses unlucky enough to be subpoenaed by congress.
In almost every case witnesses called to testify are threatened and placed under intimidation. This by a bunch of jackals who's own backyards are likely to have more weeds in them then the ones they investigate.
If congress spent as much time doing things as they do talking about them we might actually get something done.
I'm all for 'check & balance', but with these committees taxpayers are getting more checks for them then balance dontcha' think?
I read a really well written mind blowing article from a blog entitled 'Wait But Why'. I realize most people aren't interested in this subject. I, on the other hand, can never quite get enough of this kind of stuff. I'll post some copy & paste stuff from there and if readers want to read more they can hook up with that link if they are still interested. After which I will post a few comments of my own.
A Few Comments Of My Own I've always been filled with wonder about what's going on here. It's almost as if we're God's little joke on himself. A game of hide and seek if you will. All accomplished by limiting our human minds and understanding to a tiny glimpse of what is actually going on. After all, if I were I God's place I would probably do the same thing. Who needs to create beings that might one day mucky things up.
The question remains.. will we ever be able to comprehend the vastness or ever achieve the kind of understanding that we desire to comprehend all of this? I sincerely doubt this under our present form. That's why I was a huge fan of Stargate SG-1 in which writers explored many of these issues which previously aired on the Syfi channel.
""With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ~ Mathew 19:16 ~
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” ~ Mark 9:23 ~
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” ~ Luke 1:37 ~
This same thing is repeated in Mark 10:27 and in Luke 18:27. Many may not believe in what the bible says, but certainly there's a grain of truth in them. This didn't come out of thin air and man's imagination alone from these ancient religious scripts. Quantum physics and science are beginning to conclude many of these same things. If someone has a better understanding or explanation of this universe I'd be very interested in hearing from them.
In today's world of skimmer devices and hackers I'm very leery about swiping my credit card with it's $15,000 limit. No I didn't request that amount, but that's what the bank has put on it. Seems to me the parking authority gets all the costs savings benefits with none of the risks associated with this technology. It also appears to me this can yet be another way to track and measure peoples habits.
Is There A Better Way? You can bet your bippy there is -- (1) People could pay cash for electronic parking cards from where ever and in what ever amount. (2) Get together with the state and split the costs for using E-ZPass. Tons of people already have these and wouldn't be inconvenienced having to carry around yet another card.
The question comes to mind is there an actual cost savings?
If we're going to go this route I'd much prefer some sort of transponder. In that way it would be possible to get together with other cities allowing them to work not only in the city of Bethlehem but in other cities as well. Think of the cost sharing opportunities that would then be possible.
Finally there is this... Anyone who works or visits malls and other places outside of the cities never have to deal with this. Anything that adds to their inconvenience is a factor.
The ideal solution would be free parking on streets, municipal lots and decks.
That doesn't mean parking for an unlimited amount of time. I understand cities need to turn over spaces.
There a number of ways I can think of to pay the costs.
A few examples might be.. A fair and proportionate levy on businesses based on the number of employees and customers. A small fractional percentage type of local sales tax (needs state approval). A fee on special events. In Allentown's case a small additional arena ticket fee so even they can park free.
Unfortunately I'm 100% positive free parking will never ever happen because cities have turned these parking authorities into cash cows. This should never have been allowed to happen. They should have been a break-even deal right from the get go. Ask yourself how is it possible that suburban communities survive without the income derived from having parking authorities?
Then ask yourself why the suburbs are growing while cities struggle? One word "convenience". The burbs have driveways, plenty of street and parking for businesses, all free. It isn't about driving to somewhere to shop or do business. People will drive. That's not the problem. They want to get in and out quickly, as close as possible and without the additional hassle of having to find a way to pay for parking when they get there.
Some will still argue that customers actually pay for parking because it's factored in store prices. I have two arguments with that.
(1) It doesn't mean downtown stores will be any cheaper.
(2) Even if prices were a few cents cheaper most would rather not fumble with cards or cash once they get there or risk a ticket from some parking authority. It creates the perception that it cost more.
Proponents can argue as the day is long but all they have to do is look at any parking lot outside of the city and count the number of cars as opposed to those in downtown lots and decks. They also should check out whether it's the city streets or the area highways around businesses which are more packed in the middle of the day. I'm not saying this is the ideal way we want society to go, but that's just the way it is. Denial isn't going to change this fact.
If any city wants to draw folks in from the burbs on a regular basis, free parking would be a start. We may not be able to change peoples buying habits weaning them away from chain stores to come downtown, but we can discourage them. Charging and having less options to pay for parking surely leans in the wrong direction.
At one time people were forced to come downtown to shop at Hess's, Orr's and other major department stores, hence they could be forced to pay for parking. Here's a flash. Hess's and Orr's turned out the lights and aren't coming back. We should have turned out the lights on this paid parking dinosaur when these stores turned out theirs. Paid parking is a relic of a bygone area. When cities begin to realize that, the sooner we can move on to the next era. People, if given the choice, aren't going to pay for parking if they can avoid it. Plain and simple.
One of my favorite things to do in New York City is watch buskers perform. I've assembled a play list. They vary from the famous, to the not so famous, to the Wanna-Be's, to the unknowns. One thing each have in common is their wealth of talent. One could spend a lot of money on entertainment and never find the kind of talent many of these street performers have. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
My thanks go out to the folks who uploaded these various videos.
"When he was a child, George Takei and his family were forced into an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, as a "security" measure during World War II. 70 years later, Takei looks back at how the camp shaped his surprising, personal definition of patriotism and democracy."
George Takei: Why I love a country that once betrayed me
This is my third July 4th weekend post This year I decided to reflect not only on the traditional flag waving, but also back into our history concentrating on some of the darker times we've come through.
I truly believe despite our many blemishes the United States remains the greatest hope for mankind on this Earth. If we should fail to achieve all the highest objectives mankind of this Earth has set for itself what hope shall there be found elsewhere?
With that thought in mind I greet this July 4th with both apprehension as well as ever hopeful that we as a nation of people become greater not for what we have been in the past, but rather what we here in the United States can aspire to in the future. If not we, I fear there will be no other.
Let us not compare ourselves to how badly people treat one another in other parts of the world as measure, but rather how badly we still behave towards one another.
Those are my thoughts on this the celebration acknowledging the birth of our nation.
