Issues
They Said It – Issue 83
Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other.
– Oscar Ameringer, Socialist author
The Top 10 Liberal Superstitions – #4
– Kate Bachelder, The Wall Street Journal
4. Raising the minimum wage helps the poor. The president wants to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 from $7.25, with the tagline “Let’s give America a raise.” The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the hike would cost 500,000 jobs…
Minimum-wage increases help some poor families—at the expense of other poor families.
The Top 10 Liberal Superstitions – #3
– Kate Bachelder, The Wall Street Journal
3. Republican candidates always have a big spending advantage over Democrats
Right? Sen. Harry Reed calls the Koch brothers “radical billionaires” who are “attempting to buy our democracy.”
So how come is it the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raked in about $30 million more than the Republican Senatorial Committee in this cycle?
How come the Dems. bought more TV ads in several pivotal states?
And did we mention that labor unions coughed up $4.4 billion between 2005 and 2011 – mostly for Dems? Republicans? They didn’t even come close. But the superstition lives on.
Dollars Fly Away on the Wings of…Butterflies
This week’s Golden Fleece Award, presented with two dozen butterfly kisses, goes to our pals at the United States Department of Agriculture for awarding $500,000 of your dollars to the 900 Thlopthlocco Tribal Members in Okemah, Oklahoma to farm butterflies.
George Scott, the Mekka Thlopthlocco Town King (we’re not kidding), sees it as a way to diversify his tribe’s economy.
Long time butterfly farmer Jane Breckinridge reports that raising these winged wonders, currently a $64 million industry and growing, profits from a shortage of the little critters.
Our question is “Why does a growing, $64 million industry enjoying a shortage of supply of its product, need $500,000 of your earnings to promote itself?”
Facts That Make You Cringe – Issue 73
“We spend almost $800 billion on 92 federal programs each year to fight poverty. And yet the poverty rate is the highest in a generation.” – Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Little Hens on the Prairie
This week’s Golden Fleece Award, encased in a garland of chicken feathers, goes to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which is spending $181,730 to “seat” 91 endangered prairie chickens on State planes and fly them to the Prairie State.
Unfortunately, prairie chickens seem not to like Illinois, which is why most of them die rather than suffer through its cold winters.
And did we mention that the Feds are contributing $337,500 of your money to this three year boondoggle?
We wonder who gets these doomed critters’ frequent flyer miles?
New Cover Oregon leader promises change
– Saerom Yoo, Salem Statesman Journal, Apr. 22, 2014
Cover Oregon’s new interim director Clyde Hamstreet said the state health insurance exchange he is charged with restructuring has committed employees but suffers from a lack of organization…
Our Response & Your Comments
“[L]ack of organization?” We’re shocked! Shocked!
Is he talking about the crew that promised us last September that the Cover Oregon website would be up and running in October? That blew about $200 million on a website that still can’t directly sign up one person? That spent almost $3 million advertising the “website that wasn’t?” That is planning to spend another million telling Oregonians that they have an extra month to sign up? That can’t pay commissions to brokers?
No – Clyde Hamstreet must be talking about someone else. Right?
Link: New Cover Oregon leader promises change