BP loses court case...

Just read where BP lost its case in court.  The judge found BP negligent, reckless and in error, causing the largest oil spill and spread in history, killing some employees and polluting the seas and gulf.  This is a big “DUH!!!” because it should have been obvious and not tied up in court so long.  Anyway, better late than never.

Just for documentation purposes, I read it in the Austin Statesman[link below] . I sent the following letter to the editor...

P

http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/us/judge-bps-reckless-conduct-caused-gulf-oil-spill/nhFyd/

Dear Editor:

The real crime is that this case has been in court for so long and I doubt whether BP will let the verdict lie, in fact, I would think the company might drag it out further by another appeal in even higher court.

BP and its contractors screwed-up in many ways, from poor or no routine inspections to disregarding safety measures causing the death of several employees and polluted the seas and gulf for many years to come.

No amount of money will correct those issues.

In addition, while I used to believe strongly in fewer regulations from government, this is one of those incidents where apparently more oversight is needed. After all, BP, Halliburton and others avoid taking the right safety measures themselves in the ongoing search for more profits and they continue to take short cuts or other adverse actions that "hurts the world" and "nature" by such activities.

Even after the totals come in on how much in total BP has to pay out, I'm sure the company still will have issues.

Texas Governor Rick Perry Indicted!!!

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.  LOL



Rick Perry has been indicted by a Travis County Grand Jury re: abuse of power and coercion.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20140815-gov.-rick-perry-indicted-on-charges-of-abuse-of-power-coercion.ece

It's about time Perry had to answer for some of his actions.

For the past 14 years Perry has been so protected by the Texas GOP machine.  No one could or would touch him.

Reminds me of how the Feds finally caught Al Capone.  They couldn't get him for all his crimes and murders, but they were able to do an "end around" and send him to prison for not paying his taxes.

Even if Perry escapes being imprisoned, the rest of his 6-month term of governor will be defending himself on the charges.  It also gives Perry a lot of unwanted national publicity.

Social Security and Medicare Programs

Social Security and Medicare Programs

Social Security and Medicare are good, worthwhile and even noble programs that most people pay into their entire working lives to collect benefits when they become elderly or disabled.

Naturally there is abuse in each program by people who try to milk the system, but that is a relatively small percent of the population. Every system isn't perfect, but SS and Medicare are near perfect systems.

One of the main issues with SS is that our Congress continues to permit diversion of collected SS tax dollars to other interests. That needs to stop immediately.

In addition, and I'm sorry to say this but it's true, we need to start replacing some of those deficit tax dollars by slightly increasing the SS and Medicare taxes taken out of our paychecks.  Congress should be forced to return the tax dollars it stole from the SS fund.

Medicare is a perfect example of what we should have accomplished for ALL Americans. It is a system that has been active for decades and for the most part is extremely successful for most recipients.

The Federal Government must institute quicker payments to the medical and pharmaceutical providers, but otherwise the system works.

Naturally, the health care providers don't love Medicare because they can't get paid as much under Medicare as they do under private health care or even Obamacare.

However, Medicare is used mostly by the elderly and/or disabled who have paid tax dollars into the system all of their working lives.

Both SS and Medicare have been proven successful by most standards and by making a few updates and corrections to each program, there is no reason why each cannot continue to remain successful.

Illegal Immigration...

It is finally time the U.S. deals expediently and intelligently with illegal immigration and the many issues surrounding it. 

Some of the issues have become physically chaotic and financially detrimental to our way of life. The main issue with illegal immigrants is that “illegal” means illegal. It is against the law that immigrants arrive, work and live in the U.S. without first observing the laws governing immigration. Those who do not follow the laws and rules, who live and work here, are doing so illegally and it is the responsibility of our Federal Government and the various state governments to work together in resolving the various problems. American employers must stop hiring illegals because it is against the law to do so.

It is estimated that the illegal immigrant population in the U.S. totals approximately 40 million even though the government stats cite 20 million. Many illegals are hired illegally by U.S. companies and individual citizens. It is done to hire employees more cheaply or because the jobs available are not the type desired by Americans. In addition, illegals do not receive typical job and health benefits. Illegal immigrants arrive here from many different countries, including India, China, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Cuba, South and Central America, Africa, Vietnam and from many other areas of the world.

Since Mexico borders the U.S. for many miles, and because the Mexican government does not treat citizens humanely and does not provide them with jobs, most of the illegals come into the U.S. from this country. We have permitted illegals in our nation for many decades and have diverted our attention from this issue. Now, we are paying a big price.

There is a political and financial upheaval in Mexico with continuing violence near the border. The illegal drug trafficking and gang-related activity has reached an all time high. The violence has rocked many towns on both sides of the border. Some border towns, e.g., Nuevo Laredo and Juarez, have observed blatant fighting and murders between rivals gangs or cartels, which also have killed Mexican officials as well as American citizens. The once boom town of Juarez is rapidly becoming a ghost town due to the ongoing gang violence. It is estimated that 116,000 homes have been evacuated as homeowners have fled further south or into the U.S. to avoid the bloodshed. The estimate leads to the realization that almost 460,000 residents have fled the town.

Several years ago, a long-time American rancher was murdered by a Mexican [drug cartel] gang member. Many believe that Cochise County rancher Rob Krentz was shot and killed on his ranch some time Saturday, presumably by a drug smuggler. The death, which is being investigated as a homicide, occurred in the San Bernardino Valley, part of the Malpais region. The Krenz family has operated the ranch for 100 years. After this incident and years of violence and burglaries perpetrated by Mexican intruders, U.S. residents living near the Mexican border are banding together to maintain a collective presence that will turn away further intrusive behavior and activity by illegals entering the U.S. They are gathering collectively because the U.S. Government and various state governments are NOT resolving the illegal immigration issue and also are permitting the illegal drug trafficking because many “entities” are benefitting from these acts.

http://www.examiner.com/article/arizona-rancher-murdered-by-illegal-immigrant-who-flees-to-mexico

So far, superficial “Band-Aids” are being placed on the deep wounds of illegal immigration and drug trafficking. President Obama wants to provide amnesty to all illegal immigrants now living and working in the U.S. unconditionally. While the Mexican government wants the U.S. to care for the illegal population, Mexico has strict laws prohibiting illegal immigrants to reside and work in its country. The Mexican government enjoys the economic enhancement it receives from illegal immigrants working and living in the U.S. who send large sums of their earning back home to their families who in turn used the money to purchase goods and services in Mexico. The money sent home is Mexico’s No. 2 source of foreign income after oil exports — totaled $21.2 billion in 2009, compared with $25.1 billion in 2008. Possibly the most money sent to a foreign home outside the U.S. is from illegals originally from India.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/07/07/Documents-Migrants-Sending-Home-Billions-in-Remittances-Boosting-Central-American-Economies

There are some states that provide illegals with identification cards and special driver’s licenses even though they do not have a social security number.  New Mexico, Hawaii, Washington state and Maryland do not check the immigration status of drivers when they apply for a license. An additional problem from this situation is that additional illegal practices and scams have occurred.  These states have enabled criminals and illegals to develop identities and have increased fraudulent activities.  Maryland has been trying to approve a 2-license system of which one is to provide illegals with a permit to drive rather than using the license as a document for legal identification purposes.

It is time U.S. employers stop paying low wages to illegals by enforcing the immigration laws currently on the books, which includes jail time and fines to those who employ them.   Congress must stop doing what it does best, pushing away difficult problems to future generations. While the Mexican government sends its envoys to the U.S. to demand better treatment of illegal Mexicans living and working in the U.S., our nation does not object to the Mexican government’s treatment of Mexico’s population. If the Mexican government would treat its citizens humanely with respect and to provide them with jobs, these people would not be endangering their lives by high-tailing it to the U.S.  We need to make some demands on Mexican leaders and not let them tell us that we need to keep and employ their refugees who came here illegally.

http://www.tpnn.com/2014/02/28/mexicos-president-indignant-about-deportations-says-u-s-has-a-lack-of-a-conscience/

The same situation occurs with other countries and the immigrants who arrive here illegally.  Illegal immigration is a difficult problem that is made worse every day that we do not deal with it. We can no longer ignore the problems inherent in permitting illegal immigrants to live and work here in the U.S. since the issues will continue to worsen politically, socially and economically.  We need to be fair, but legally and enforcement firm.

In response to "House leaves border bill."..

What the hell....  "$%^&*&*(#$%$"

Do you really think that Congress will do ANYTHING to help Americans?


As much as Obama is a major disappointment as President, it's been decades since we had a  Congress that works for the American community.




People just need to continue to vote out the deadwood in Washington by voting for new blood in Congress.  

If we keep getting rid of incumbents who do nothing for us and are special interest directed, we may start changing that band of brigands to work for us.

Iraq and American Democracy: Leading the Charge

President Obama has not learned much in the past 7 years as America's chief.  What a huge disappointment this guy has become.

American taxpaying voters have the right to know what the real plan is in Iraq. Aside from the noble, yet questionable, attempt to provide Democracy in the Middle East, and also sweeping aside the obvious need to control the oil fields and support American businesses and contractors — what are the Obama administration’s short-term and long-term plans?

Certainly if the leader of a great nation wants the support of its people in fighting and paying for war and reconstruction, isn’t the obvious method to declare the intent, to submit a realistic budget, thereby providing rationale behind the slogans and efforts?   Obama shakes his head and laughs, “I’m NOT going to give a timeline. It just isn’t possible.”   President Obama prefers not to follow the Constitution and instead uses his Executive privilege whether he may abuse it or not.

If the real intent is to eliminate the “radical terrorists” inside the Iraq perimeter, why doesn’t the U.S. declare martial law so it can scour the cities and countryside to “search & destroy” the remaining “enemy” without more American soldiers dying from daily attacks and to divert a response killing more innocent civilians?   The use of drones may be required in the searching.

“Respect your President.”  “Honor the soldiers.”  “Don’t show cowardice to the enemy [terrorists]; it helps them.”

 

Enough of the outcries, slogans and propaganda.  Enough of the anger directed at each other.  Enough of the lies and “confusion” spread by America’s management.   No more vague promises, no blind faith in a positive outcome.  The time has come for the truth and a realistic game-plan.  

If the President and his followers believe him to be a real leader he owes it to all Americans to prove it, especially to those fighting and those who have died for some obscure, veiled causes.

It’s really not that difficult.   

Simply, “Mr. President, what’s the game-plan?” 

Toll Roads Being Pushed in Texas

Toll roads are being pushed for all main roads in Central Texas.

I sent the following email/letter to Texas transportation agencies and legislators.  Those in charge want to toll all roads in Central and South Texas.  It will be a constant battle for future generations to keep the pressure on the special interests who want this.  They all know me for years and don’t really care what I have to say, but I keep saying it anyway.

If you want to contact all those in Texas who are pushing for increasing toll roads, specifically the tolling of MoPac and SH 45, you may go to the following site at Keep MoPac Local:

http://www.keepmopaclocal.org/take-action

Name : Peter Stern
Email : pstern@austin.rr.com
Subject : Keep Mopac Local: Oppose the $100 million SH 45 SW toll road
Message : Dear CAMPO, City, County, and State Officials:

If you think toll roads work well, all you have to do is to look at states that have had them for decades. Some of those states are New York, New Jersey, California, to name a few. Toll roads add long-term debt, more traffic, pollution and they are private roads for the wealthy who can afford them.

Please remove the proposed $100 million SH 45 SW “aquifer toll road” from the 2015 to 2018 Transportation Improvement Plan. If built, the project would make congestion on Mopac worse while polluting the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer.

CAMPO’s own December 2013 traffic study showed that building the SH 45 SW aquifer toll road will divert traffic from Interstate 35 to Mopac, which is already overloaded. Only a relatively few Hays county commuters will benefit at the expense of current Mopac commuters, Mopac corridor neighbors, taxpayers, and Barton Springs.

The $100 million cost of SH 45 SW should be directed to projects that improve traffic flow on I-35, provide transit options to north-south commuters, and encourage development and use of the SH 130 corridor.

The proposed SH 45 SW is really just one piece of the larger project to convert Mopac to a western alternative I-35. This loop and bypass plan should be studied first, as one whole project, rather than pursued in piecemeal fashion. Mopac should continue to serve primarily as a local commuter highway, with limited access at the south end, until such time as all of the costs, benefits and environmental impacts of expanding Mo pac to a full freeway, expanding the Mopac bridge over Lady Bird Lake, and building SH 45 SW are considered together.

Thank you for your consideration. Please start working in the best interests of the ENTIRE community and not merely special interest and/or the wealthy.

Texas should be renamed Taxes!

 

Taxes are destroying Americans.

 

 

In Texas it’s property taxes that need to be significantly lowered. While the GOP is very fond of saying "No new taxes," the reality is that even it raises fees and penalties and pushes for toll roads. No matter what Republicans say, they ARE raising taxes by these means and by various and frequent road, schools and other bond packages that increase taxes further.  Business taxes are high and there also is a push to levy a Personal State Income Tax.  That would be another huge mistake.

So, let's call a tax a tax and let's not just blame Democrats for "tax and spend" mentalities. Both parties continue to take money from the poor and what's left of the middle class. The wealthy have deductions and the ability to pay taxes if they are levied.

The 2-party system has failed most Americans.

Our Constitution has been manipulated to enable and protect the wealthy and not all Americans.

I believe our forefathers would be shaking their heads at how the political system has challenged the survival of most Americans and would be reminded of why we held a revolution against the British in the first place... sky-high taxes!

 

Losing Good Teachers...

There are many reasons for public education falling into the muck created by man. Republicans are not immune in their contribution to the mess and chaos in public education.

One of the most dramatic changes in public education and in other areas of our lives, has been the disintegration of the American family. No other cause has been as great a detriment to public education except for government's interference in the quality and objectives inherent within our current system.

Republicans and Democrats get divorced and/or screw up their families. It's more human nature these days than political affiliations.

As for public education, it is government regulation (that includes financing, ability to teach teachers, objectives, politics, stupid tests, "incentive" programs, teacher salaries and class sizes) that is killing public education.

Obama, Democrats push for new immigration reform...

The big news in D.C. is that Democrats are vying for a better foothold for the 2016 national elections and pushing for new immigration reform would get them mega votes that they need to win.

Do we really need immigration reform?  or, do we need to enforce the immigration laws we have.

This is an emotional issue even more than a social and political one.  We Americans should really consider how during the past several decades immigration has affected our nation and really think what any type of new immigration reform will do in our future.

No doubt Obama is trying to leave a legacy.  He tried to do so with the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, but the new health care law has been creating havoc throughout the nation, even before the law takes effect on January 1, 2014.

As for new immigration reform:

During the past 50 years we have been lax to enforce our immigration laws.  The reasons for this are varied, including political, economic and humanitarian issues.

However, the U.S. doesn't need immigration reform.  We need better enforcement of our current immigration laws, the ones our parents, grandparents, great grandparents and great-great grandparents had to abide by.  Why should illegals get a free ride being here illegally?  Our ancestors didn't get any free passes.  They came here legally, followed the laws, learned to speak English and assimilated to American culture.  They didn't try to get Americans to assimilate to theirs.

At least that's what I believe.  How do you feel about the immigration issue?