Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/myles-spicer/page/3/)
True, every new advance in machinery, science, and technology has been met with skepticism, doubt, and even anger. The first autos were cursed because “those damn things are scaring my horses”. Even more graphic is the wonderful Charley Chaplin movie Modern Times.
Though the Ryan plan to dissolve Medicare in favor of private insurance vouchers now seems moribund, the dynamics of how and why it is being scuttled are worthy of note. Especially to me, a 78 year old senior, who wishes to offer kudos to my peer group. In presenting the plan, Ryan and other conservatives consistently made it clear – the plan would not affect today’s seniors who will remain on Medicare. That was an overt attempt to mollify today’s seniors and elicit their support. Thankfully, it failed, and did not assuage most of my contemporaries. In fact, to their credit, it was today’s seniors who lead the fight to get this terrible plan set back (and hopefully forgotten forever). Continue Reading
We have generally become accustomed to Michele Bachmann’s careless use of facts on a number of issues, but her analysis of domestic oil reserves in the Tuesday, April 26 Star Tribune was beyond her normal exaggerations. Her facts, in fact, were highly distorted and unsupported by any reliable data.Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Bachmann noted potential United States oil reserves in our shale deposits and the deep water Gulf, but her focus was on the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR). So, let’s first deal with her claim that in ANWR “30 to 50 years of oil may be available”. This claim, by any reliable data available is so wildly exaggerated, it defies credibility. Continue Reading
We hear it continually, it is the mantra of conservatives: “we must give tax breaks to the wealthy so they can create more jobs…and higher taxes will stifle economic growth…because the rich are the job creators…” It is the basis of all the tax breaks given the top income groups in recent years, including the contentious extension of the Bush tax cuts to top brackets, last year. It is the common subject of conservatives on the talk shows. Just last weekend, Paul Ryan, now the architect of the new Republican budget, reaffirmed his proposal to cut the top tax rate to 25% claiming in his plan: …advancing pro-growth tax reforms, this budget is a jobs budget. It sends signals to investors, entrepreneurs, and job creators that a brighter future is still possible. Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Continue Reading
Imagine this. A fundamentalist church hires a (closet) atheist as its new minister. Slowly but inexorably the new minister begins preaching about the evils of belief in God. He subtly points out the weaknesses of organized religion. And finally urges the dissolution of the congregation as a needless and wasteful exercise to society. Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Absurd? Absolutely. But this same absurdity can happen…has happened…is happening now. Continue Reading
Thursday, March 24, watching television news, and a stunning juxtaposition was presented. This was the day after Elizabeth Taylor died, and a retrospective on her life showed an incredibly beautiful woman having lived a robust and profoundly interesting life. Next up, a news report on Lindsay Lohan. No glamour here as she sat morosely in a court room learning which sentence would be imposed on her. That is the end of the story, but the beginnings of these two acknowledged stars had a commonality that is so similar it is almost spooky. Each were child phenoms. Each had a mother that was wedded to show business. Each was a child star in major and successful movies (Taylor in National Velvet, and Lohan as a Disney regular). Each had meteoric careers, though Lohan’s star status begin to fade early on; and both added other ventures to their portfolio – each with fashion labels. Lohan mostly clothing; Taylor largely in jewelry and fragrances. Both made a huge amount of money. Continue Reading
Like the proverbial straw that finally breaks the camel’s back, I guess the time has come to end my admiration for Barack Obama. I guess the end came with his recent broken promise — he has now retreated and agreed to keep Guantanamo open, and commence with the military trials. But, the disillusionment had been building for at least a year. I quickly add, sure I will vote for him in 2012. What other choices do we have? It is absolutely pathetic that we vote for someone because the other candidates are worse. Continue Reading
In his LA Times op-ed of February 22, (Public unions must go), Jonah Goldberg offers a menu of myths, fictions and right wing talking points to flat out promote the elimination of public employee unions. He starts by offering a history of how and why these unions began, and his conclusion is “it was rankly political”. No, it was rankly an American right! Simply because one elects to follow a career path in the public sector does not refuse him/her the right of virtually every other American in the private sector– the right to organize for better wages, working conditions and bargaining. Most Americans agree; a USA Today poll shows 61% believe public employees have the right to union collective bargaining. To extend this, we must ask, who are these people that serve us as teachers, firefighters, police officers, judges, nurses, and administrators of our local, state and Federal government? Continue Reading
A teacher pickets the state Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin…a student protests in Cairo…a shopkeeper joins militant crowds in Bahrain…and those who oppose the government in Iran bravely take to the streets. All seemingly different stories. All seemingly different reasons. All apparently different goals. But, all have one common denominator. Continue Reading
I originally titled this “When it comes to voting, too many Americans are ignorant”. But that was too harsh. But not by much! Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. The fact is, most of the socio-economic changes that we see in our country today are a result of negligence, ignorance, or indolence in the voting booth, and if you wish to be brutal about it, those on the bottom of the economic scale in our country may deserve what they get. Witness Egypt. Change can be made, but those who want it must participate and be active. Continue Reading