Sen. Nelson Vote Against Hatch Ammendment

SENATOR NELSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE AGAINST THE HATCH AMMENDMENTMENT. I AM OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN GIRLS WERE DYING IN ALLEY WAYS FROM BOTCHED ABORTION ATTEMPTS. THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT HAS NO RIGHT TO PURSUE ITS PERSONAL, PRIVATE RELIGIOUS AGENDA WHICH WILL RISK THE MOTHERS LIFE SO THEY CAN BAPTIZE THE CHILD. WHY DOESN'T ANYONE STATE THAT REASON, THE MAIN ONE REALLY, IN PUBLIC SO ALL CARDS ARE ON THE TABLE. THIS REALLY IS A FIRST AMMENDMENT ISSUE; KEEP RELGION OUT OF POLITICS.

Serena Williams's behavior at U.S.Open 2009

Destroying a tennis racquet. Yelling at and threatening

an official. Are these the acts of a seasoned professional?
As one reaches the apex and denouement of a career
you would hope that it would be done with grace and
dignity. Hard commodities to come by, apparently.

Health Care: I am my brothers keeper

Has this nation become so lost and degenerate that we have abandoned our often touted Judeo-Christian commitment to the common welfare of all of mankind? Does economics trump the right to basic health care, especially in a wealthy, even if economically stressed, nation? If we are the noble, free and resourceful people we usually claim to be, can’t we simply make a commitment to provide healthcare to all of our citizens and visitors (o.k. with some restrictions for those who came in through the back door)? Then we would have an easier time working out the details of how to go about achieving that goal.

Some of our fine citizens are so worried that the healthcare industry might suffer financially or that someone might get an aspirin to which they were not entitled that they would rather have no universal health care system at all.

We are our brothers keepers. It is morally, and actually financially, in our best interest to state it and to be guided by this fundamental principle of a civilized people. And the world is watching as we turn our backs on and seek to avoid providing for those who cannot care for themselves.

For shame.

NYTimes Comment

Regarding Clean Water project in Africa:

Clean, Sexy Water

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
  

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Published: July 11, 2009

People always ask: What can I do to make a difference?

"Mr. Scott Harrison founded Mercy Ships, a Christian aid group that performs surgeries in poor countries with volunteer doctors."

Not only is this good charity, it is good economics for the U.S.A. Since the first world is built out, any new future economic growth will occur in the undeveloped and emerging nations. By carrying the flag in this way, Mr.Harrison is assuring that we, the U.S.A., will have a leg up on the future economc development in those nations. I hope the recipients of the water know what nation it came from. It does not diminish his work to be laying the groundwork for the economc recovery of this nation. In this case, charity does begin, and end, at home

BUILDING BEYOND THE Urban Development Boundary - Miami Herald May 17, 2009 as published - UDB ruling

UDB ruling wrong

I testified as an intervener on behalf of the state of Florida in the administrative hearing against Miami-Dade County regarding the Lowe's and Brown requests to build beyond the Urban Development Boundary. I disagree with administrative law Judge Bram D.E. Cantor's decision in favor of Brown. The law should be enforced as it is now, not as it might be in 2014.

What if the UDB is not moved; will he vacate his decision? This was not a zoning matter. The judge did not see the wider significance and implications of permitting any building beyond the UDB in relation to future building requests.

The county's Building and Zoning staff and the mayor recommended not approving Brown. Do their opinions count for nothing? How can you live hundreds of miles away, drop out of the sky for a few days, hear limited arguments and render a decision in a complex case with an informed understanding of the subtleties of the issues?

Administrative law judges should live close enough to the jurisdictions where they are rendering decisions so as to be familiar with the context of the matters before them.

BARRY J. WHITE, Miami

NEW YORK TIMES STORY

 

READERS' COMMENTS

Slump Creates Lack of Mobility for Americans

By SAM ROBERTS

Fewer Americans changed residence in 2008 than in any year since 1962, the Census Bureau said.

Barry's Comment:

April 23, 2009 8:44 am

This is a good thing. Staying put retains, strengthens and builds family and social ties. The social unrest and angst of the last fifty years has destroyed the fabric and nature of our nation. Using the litmus test of how does less mobility affect the economy? is the same as asking how does stopping global warming do so?; both results are bigger than the economy and will, in the long run, benefit it.

— Barry J, Miami

 

Recommend - by the editors 

Recommended by 9 Readers (Highest Number of Recommendations

Detroit Big Three suggestions

Unless the unions agree to substantial pay and benefits reductions, any fix will fail.
Suggestion: The unions should agree to immediately adopt the exact same wage
and benefits package as Toyota and Honda workers in the U.S. Anything short 

of this will not work and the big three products will not be price competative.

Second suggetion: Since Detroit seems to be incapable of producing a product
that will compete effectively within or outside of the United States, before federal

 money is pledged to bail them out, an indendent blue ribbon advisory board
should be created to approve every aspect of Detroit's product plans for
quality, competativeness and saleability. The "40 miles on one house charge
car" will be dead in the water before it is produced; scrap it. Start listening
to auto manufacturer staff members under 45 years old. It's time for the old
timers to play more golf. And I am 70 years old.

— Barry J, Miami