The mayor of Phoenix came out today with an idea to raise additional revenue in this weakened economy - put slot machines in the airport. There is so much wrong with that thinking. But gambling is no longer seen as a moral issue. Once government decided it was a potential source of revenue the game was over (so to speak).
Al Gore has challenged Americans to totally eliminate energy produced from fossil fuels by 2018. Well, that does it for me. If Al Gore says we should do it, I'm on board. And I'm sure that tomorrow, in corporate board rooms across our country, company execs are going to say, "Forget the bottom line. The shareholders won't care. If Al Gore says it, we've got to make the switch."
Apart from laws that make it illegal - and that ain't gonna happen - the use of fossil fuels will last as long as they are more economical than alternative energy sources. Once again, the market place is in control. If the govt. would exercise any influence at all it will be through enacting incentives for the development of new technologies. But it's the guy who comes up with a photocell or wind turbine or efficient battery or ______ that saves the consumer money who will drive the change. Not a speech from Al Gore.
Hey, the govt. could also make it economically feasible to build nuclear power plants by eliminating the endless red tape designed to discourage their construction.
I read an interesting article today in the most recent issue of Imprimis, the journal of Hillsdale College. (This issue won't show up on the web site until the next one is in print.) The guy makes a pretty convincing case that the 14th amendment to the Constitution actually legislates against our current practice of granting citizenship to anyone born in this country even if their parents are here illegally. The phrase, "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" is the key. This must mean more than just born here because they added this phrase to the preceeding words, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States." Someone born here must also be subject to the jurisdiction thereof. His point is that in reality those children are subject to the jurisdiction of the country from which their parents came. This line of reasoning as he lays it out (my description doesn't do it justice) also applies to the notion of dual citizenship. How can someone be subject to the jurisdiction of two countries at once?
Interesting.
The people are the best part!!
On the way home tonight the classical music station played the second symphony by Rimsky Korsokov. Typical Russian music - big and powerful. But she introduced it by saying that the music tells the story of a god who grants a man the three pleasures of life - revenge, power and love. Whaddaya think? If you were to list life's three pleasures would you include revenge? Would you include power? (If you wouldn't include love do NOT tell your spouse that.)
What would be on your list?
The problem with driving a vintage VW is the absence of air conditioning. That would be pretty unpleasant on a day like today, with temps over 110. Hmmm. Maybe I'm going to have to go back to Plan A - a Mini Cooper S.
It's all just dreaming anyway.
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