3 months after the explosion at Deepwater Horizon (Or What good is the government?)

     Deep Water Horizon, one of Beyond Petroleum's deep submergence oil wells, exploded on April 20, 2010. 
     It's been a little over 3 months, and what has our shining example of Government efficiency done?  As of today, June 18, 2010, very little.  Operating under the mantra, "Let no crisis go to waste," the federal government has done, well, nothing, except hold hearings, and open up a line whereby people can reach lawyers to sue Beyond Petroleum.
     What has Beyond Petroleum done since then?  They've tried four different containment rigs, all of which have failed, they have tried to suck the oil out of the water, and they've tried to shoot debris into the well head in order to close it down, and have sent ships into the area to suck the crude out of the water. 
     In that time, the Congress has invoked the Jones Act, a piece of legislation from the 1920's, in order to keep foreign countries from sending help.  So far, 43 countries have offered technology that can clean oil from the water, and have offered to help with the clean up, and our government, in it's infinite wisdom, has said, "No, we don't want your help." 
     Hey, DC, I'm saying, "Hell,  yes," it's about time that other countries offer to help us, especially since we've spent 60 years helping out other countries, and still send them aid money.  "LET Them HELP, we'll take all the help we can get."  As far as the Foreign money that's been offered to clean up Ground Zero, in New York, I can understand that, since most of that's been from Muslim countries that still spout nonsense about us being "Devils," but as far as Deep Water Horizon, I don't get your thinking.  The ocean water travels the entire world, and effects most of the gulf coast, and could effect the East Coast, and maybe beyond.  We need to get it cleaned up, and if people are offering to help, let them help.
    Beyond Petroleum has followed the law in setting up a 28 billion dollar fund in order to help defray the cost of cleaning up the region, and have even hired local people and their fishing boats to help with the clean up.  Beyond that, I do think that Beyond Petroleum should be fined for inadequate safety design, and should be cited for not having that handy-dandy little shut off valve in place, or maybe having a back up, or even as Chief O'Brien of DS9 put it, "The Tertiary Backup system." 
     But so far, this administration has used this disaster to try to push Cap and Trade, create a new regulatory agency, and I suspect, have ordered the Coast Guard to impede the clean up. 
     I also suspect that if BP doesn't put a stop to this oil spill and stay for years cleaning up the mess, the Free Market system will put them out of business, as their investors and the public will cease using BP's oil, gas, and diesel. 
     So, since I asked the question: "What has government done?"  I am going to answer again, "Not a damned thing."  and as for the Great Obama, now is not the time to play Golf, get back to work and at least pretend like you give a shit about the people of Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida.  I know it's a stretch to act like you care for the people that put you in office, but once again, it's your job to care.  

Health Care Take over at any cost

A government-takeover of healthcare at any cost. With this singular mission, House Democrats are moving swiftly — as early as next week — to send the Senate government-run healthcare bill to President Obama for enactment — and may do so by avoiding a vote on the actual bill in a futile attempt for political cover.

How can this happen? The short explanation is simply legislative trickery. The longer explanation is that any number of procedural gimmicks may be used — and used simultaneously. Here are just two of the schemes under consideration:

 

The Slaughter Solution

Named after Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), this strategy would create a legislative trick to approve the Senate healthcare bill through the House of Representatives without an actual vote on the bill. That’s right. The Majority thinks they can circumvent democracy and hide their true actions by simply claiming in companion legislation that the Senate healthcare bill passed the House.

 

The result of this shenanigan: the Senate healthcare bill goes straight to President Obama for his signature.

 

Reconciliation

“Reconciliation” is an expedited budgetary mechanism designed to control the size of government and balance the government’s financial ledger with a simply majority vote.  But Democrats in Congress are planning to abuse the legislative process by using “reconciliation” to vastly grow the size of government – with a government-takeover of healthcare.

 

The Majority is also baiting their Democrat Members to send the grossly-unpopular Senate healthcare bill to President Obama by promising “corrections” to the bill through a reconciliation package. But what this bait-and-switch tactic really means is that the kickback-laden Senate healthcare bill becomes law while the so-called “corrections” being made to quell widespread disgust at their backroom deals and to appease their union allies faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

 

 

Either option — alone or combined — tramples basic principles of democracy and defies the will of the American people. At town hall meetings, through letters and calls, and in recent elections, the American people have loudly stated that they do not want a government-takeover of their healthcare.

 

Regardless of what the American people want, the Majority has proven its commitment to utilizing backroom deals to force government-run healthcare down their throats. Here are just a few of the special deals still in the Senate bill:

 

·         The “Cornhusker Kickback:” Provides that Nebraska — and only Nebraska — will see its full Medicaid costs paid for by the   rest of America.

 

·         The “Louisiana Purchase:” Gives an extra $300 million in Medicaid funding to Louisiana.

  

·         “Gator Aid:” Shields 800,000 Florida residents from Medicare Advantage cuts. 

 

·         Special Exemption for Insurer Proposing 56% Rate Increase:  Exempts Michigan Blue Cross/Blue Shield from the new tax on health insurers, despite an Obama Administration report highlighting the insurance carrier’s proposed 56% rate increase in 2009.

 

Our freedom in healthcare is being bought and sold in Congress. This is beyond disgraceful. But since Democrats have a 75+ vote majority in the House, our nation could see government-run healthcare enacted next week. 

 

 

     Common sense states that if you have to trick and bribe people into voting for your bill, then it's going to be a worthless bill.  People need to stand up and stop this crap, unless you want to hand more of your money over to this oppressive government.  This President and this congress have just proven themselves to be criminals and mobsters.  Under the RICCO statutes, Obama, Reid, Boxer, and Pelosi should be arrested for high crimes and misdemeanors.  They have proven themselves to be aristocrats and that they consider us their own private property.  

      We, as sovereign American Citizens are no one's property, and we won't be treated as such.