Tuesday Open Thread

39 thoughts on “Tuesday Open Thread”

1. they say that they do. But, whenever President Obama talks about goals, needs, etc he gets attacked for “forcing stuff down throats”. Perhaps a more meaningful and more productive means of leadership these days is to, “from behind”, hear the clamor for immigration reform and act on that. Etc

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2. Now the the Dems are back in charge in Colorado, the first order of business will be cleaning house and padding the back-burner bills that have been on hold for the last two years, which should happen quickly.

   But after that is done with, what do you all expect will be the big fights this year? I expect the implementation of the marijuana initiative will be the most publicized in the media because of its ground-breaking nature, but are there any issues likely cause trouble in Democratic paradise a la SB191?

   Its still early, but a lot of people here have their ear to the ground, and may have an idea or two about what is to come this Spring.

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3. Why? . . .

   Because I said so? . . .
   
   (I think I remember that used to work a dozen or so years ago with at least one of my kids . . . once . . . maybe . . .)

   First, Warren Buffett:

   A Minimum Tax for the Wealthy

   http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11…

   SUPPOSE that an investor you admire and trust comes to you with an investment idea. “This is a good one,” he says enthusiastically. “I’m in it, and I think you should be, too.”

   Would your reply possibly be this? “Well, it all depends on what my tax rate will be on the gain you’re saying we’re going to make. If the taxes are too high, I would rather leave the money in my savings account, earning a quarter of 1 percent.” Only in Grover Norquist’s imagination does such a response exist.

   . . .

   In the meantime, maybe you’ll run into someone with a terrific investment idea, who won’t go forward with it because of the tax he would owe when it succeeds. Send him my way. Let me unburden him.

   Next, Paul Krugman:

   Fighting Fiscal Phantoms

   http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11…

   Given these realities, the deficit-scold movement has lost some of its clout. That movement, by the way, is a hydra-headed beast, comprising many organizations that turn out, on inspection, to be financed and run by more or less the same people; dig down into many of these groups’ back stories and you will, in particular, find Peter Peterson, the private-equity billionaire, playing a key role.

   But the deficit scolds aren’t giving up. Now yet another organization, Fix the Debt, is campaigning for cuts to Social Security and Medicare, even while making lower tax rates a “core principle.” That last part makes no sense in terms of the group’s ostensible mission, but makes perfect sense if you look at the array of big corporations, from Goldman Sachs to the UnitedHealth Group, that are involved in the effort and would benefit from tax cuts. Hey, sacrifice is for the little people.

   And, then,

   When ‘Super PACs’ Become Lobbyists

   http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11…

   Americans for Prosperity, the so-called social welfare group founded with the support of David and Charles Koch, spent at least $36 million this cycle in a largely fruitless attempt to defeat Democrats and elect Republicans. Now it is joining with other conservative groups to lobby Congress not to raise taxes in the current negotiations over the “fiscal cliff.” The group is also demanding there be no reduction or delay in the budget sequester, the widely loathed measure that, in January, will begin cutting $1 trillion in spending over a decade.

   It will be joined in that effort by the Club for Growth, which spent $19 million to elect Republicans; by Americans for Tax Reform, led by Grover Norquist, which spent almost $16 million; and by the American Crossroads groups, founded by Karl Rove, which spent $175 million. None of the candidates Crossroads supported won their races, but, nonetheless, the groups are planning a new lobbying and advertising effort on the fiscal cliff, as well as energy and health care issues, according to Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper.

   . . . .

   OK, you don’t like to read so much, maybe?  Let me summarize:

   1.  Even the rich agree, the rich should pay more.

   2.  The “fiscal cliff” is a manufactured sham — I wonder why we always get these Mayan-Y2K-next-end-of-our-world-events coinciding with the end of our calendar year?

   3.  Real campaign finance reform is the key — now needed more than ever post Citizens United.  Elected officials may listen to the results from the electorate, but money almost never does.  

   On this last point, try to find and listen to  the NPR segment from yesterday, when they interviewed a psychologist who, in the 1970’s, sent out about 600 Christmas cards randomly to complete strangers he picked out of the phone book.  The results?  He received Christmas cards back from nearly a third of the strangers; and, some continued to send him Christmas cards each year for as long as up to fifteen years.  Why? — the universal human “rule of reciprocation.”

   Then wonder to yourself, if it’s really true when politicians say they’re not influenced by the massive campaign donations from big donors.

   . . . .

   Lastly, after you’ve finished your reading, enjoy a fresh brewed cup of coffee, go outside and take a walk, and forget about money for the rest of the day.  Why?  Because life is way more than just about money . . . and, because I said so, dammit.
   
    

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4. Here is the email:

   Obama for America info@barackobama.com

   It did not direct me to a webpage, it had a link in the email. When I clicked on the email, it took me to a web site with the questionnaire…but the second page asked for the ID stuff.

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5. COLORADO’S ENERGY RANKINGS
   
   According to 2012 data from the federal Energy Information Administration:
   
   Colorado ranks 7th in the nation in overall energy production:
   
   9th in crude oil production
   
   5th in natural gas production
   
   11th in coal production

   -Denver Business Journal, 11.23.12

   Colorado is a fossil (finite) fuel bonanza…for those who don’t care about poisoning our air and water.

   It is also a renewable (infinite) fuel bonanza…for those who do care about keeping our air and water pure and safe to breathe and drink.

   Do we really want to continue to support and promote the future of a dying industry? To support the status quo insofar as the current setback regs is beyond a joke.

   Setbacks of at least 2,000 ft. would be a good starting point. A “ring of safety” is imperative around wellsites, and local hydrology must drive a rigorous testing regime. Anything less is caving to the industry.

   Are you listening , Governor?

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