Caralis

Deval's Shell Game?

As someone who whole heartedly supported Deval Patrick (after the primary) I am a bit surprised by Governor Patrick's latest solution to the $1 billion dollar deficit.

 

Patrick also said he wanted to introduce legislation that would let cities and towns implement "local option taxes" on certain goods and services. Those taxes could ease the property tax burden.

"I trust you and your neighbors to determine whether a 1, 2, or 3 percent tax on lunch at the local pub is appropriate," he said.

So we introduce one tax to alleviate another??? This policy sounds familar. The words "Shell Game" comes to mind.

Please tell me I am wrong!

Iraq - Do the right thing

President Bush is about to announce a policy change in Iraq this week.  Speculation is that he wants to add up to 20,000 troops and 1 billion dollars for a jobs work program. Is this the right thing to do? I don't know, but after reading this article in the New York Times today I tried to step back and think about this as objectively (I was against invading) as I could.

Johan Spanner for The New York Times

Before the war Iraq was in dire straits.
  * They had a poor infrastructure
  * Saddam was in power
  * Society for the most part cut along sectarian lines.

Now after the invasion:
  * Iraq's infrastructure was all but destroyed
  * Saddam has been replaced by a new government.
  * Iraq is essentially in all out civil war
  * 3000 civilians are being killed each month
  * Over 3000 courageous American soldiers' dead

We as a nation are directly responsible this.

The big question is what do we do now? Yes we would all like the Iraqi government and the military to stand up and defend their country, but we must also take into account the dire straits their country is in and how difficult it must be for them. We cannot invade a country, destroy its infrastructure, ignite a civil war and then leave. I believe we have a moral responsibility to the tens if not hundreds of thousand Iraqis that have died and the thousands of American soldiers killed and injured to do the right thing. 

I believe the right thing to do is to stay committed to Iraq. I don't think most of us have the enough information to give an informed opinion as to whether adding troops is the right thing to do, but it seems to me that withdrawing troops will only lead to further destabilizing Iraq.

The Golden Age Of Global Warming

Don't you just love this climate changing, greenhouse gassing, global warming little planet of ours? We are truly blessed to be living during the start of what can only be called the golden age of global warming.

I'm sick of reading all the whining about climate change. Just think of the possibilities:

• Year-round concerts at the Hatch Shell. We are mere years away from the permanent closing of Storrow Drive's right lane!
• No more irritating L Street Brownies New Years day stories.
• Forget Florida, retire to Revere!
• Who likes ice sculptures anyway, coming soon - First Night beach parties.</li>
• Year round Cape tourism.
• More cool looking footage of polar ice shelves breaking than you can shake a stick at.

See what I mean, all it takes is a little change of perspective. Just think of how happy Shackleton would be. So let's stop all the whining and enjoy these next couple of years while we can. Meanwhile I'll be investing in some ocean front property in the Berkshires.