Eureka Iron Works

The Latest Health Care Bill

I'm certain that Congress has our well being in mind when they write crap like this excerpt from the newest version of the Health Care Bill:
 

"Pg. 1516 regulates vending machines: In the case of an article of food sold from a vending machine that ‘‘(I) does not permit a prospective purchaser to examine the Nutrition Facts Panel before purchasing the article or does not otherwise provide visible nutrition information at the point of purchase; and ‘‘(II) is operated by a person who is engaged in the business of owning or operating 20 or more vending machines, the vending machine operator shall provide a sign in close proximity to each article of food or the selection button that includes a clear and conspicuous statement disclosing the number of calories contained in the article."

 
I have an idea:  We will allow Congress to pass however many pages of the bill that Nancy Pelosi can eat in 30 minutes.  
 
All you folks who voted for these Democrat-Idiots should have write the contents of the bill on the blackboard 100 times before dinner or until you die, whichever comes first.

Jenny Blows

Everyone, of course, remembers the quote attributed to Jennifer Granholm during the last campaign:  "in five years, you're going to be blown away..."  Well, the blows part did come true. 
 
Anyway, we've also heard a load of hooey from the Guvnerette about wind power and green jobs, etc.  Here's a refresher:   (Granholm Says Renewable Energy Sector...)

"Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that Michigan's plan to diversify the state's economy by growing the renewable energy sector to create jobs is the right plan for Michigan...."By investing in our work force, manufacturing infrastructure, and natural resources, we can make Michigan the state that helps end our nation's dependence on foreign oil and create good- paying jobs in the process." Granholm said. "Michigan is uniquely positioned to diversify its economy and create jobs by growing the renewable energy sector."

The Germans have been doing this for a while, with less than impressive results.  

"While employment projections in the renewable sector convey seemingly impressive prospects for gross job growth, they typically obscure the broader implications for economic welfare by omitting any accounting of off-setting impacts. These impacts include, but are not limited to, job losses from crowding out of cheaper forms of conventional energy generation, indirect impacts on upstream industries, additional job losses from the drain on economic activity precipitated by higher electricity prices, private consumers' overall loss of purchasing power due to higher electricity prices, and diverting funds from other, possibly more beneficial investment."

You can read more details here:  Economic impacts from the promotion of renewable energies: The German experience

"Although Germany's promotion of renewable energies is commonly portrayed in the media as setting a "shining example in providing a harvest for the world" (The Guardian 2007), we would instead regard the country's experience as a cautionary tale of massively expensive environmental and energy policy that is devoid of economic and environmental benefits. 

 
Not really a resounding plan.  

Stimulus Bill Creates 1.06 jobs in Wyandotte!

Howz that stimulus working for ya, Wyandotte? 
 
Disaster: Hard Stimulus Data Reveals That Michigan "Saved Or Created" Only 397 Jobs For 620 Million Stimulus Dollars, FAR Short Of 19,500 Claim
 
On a per-capita basis, that means the stimulus created 1.06 jobs in Wyandotte. 

Heck, you could have bought $620 million worth of Michigan Lotto tickets, tossed any winnings off the top of the Fisher Building and still have created a better economic impact.  And you would have funded the schools, too.
 
I can't even invent an adjective to describe how totally disgusting this debacle has been.   
 
Tomorrow I get to work a camera in the Wyandotte Cable Studio when Representative Cheeks-Kilpatrick explains all this to our community.  I've already started drinking in anticipation.  
 
More Kahlua required.  Much more.

Obama: I'll Screw your Grandkids for $250

The next phase of selling Obamacare has begun:  Obama is now pandering to seniors.  With no COLA this year for Social Security and the upcoming pillaging of Medicare, he has nothing to offer our seniors except a lousy $250.  And for that, he expects them to quiet, wave your flags at the parade, and stand by while I pass these bills that screw your grandkids by saddling them with all that debt.

Hot Air:  Buying seniors for $250 for ObamaCare
 

"Barack Obama has a big problem with seniors after pushing his version of a health-care system overhaul all summer long, one that proposes massive cuts in Medicare funding to pay for new entitlements and subsidies. How can he best resolve that conundrum and get seniors on his side? Apparently, his answer is to toss $250 each to seniors as a means of cushioning the loss of the cost-of-living increase from Social Security, the first such COLA denial in 25 years"

 
At least when Clinton screwed folks he did it in the privacy of the Oval Office.

Waterfront Delusions

In recent years, Wyandotte's City Council has been suffering from delusions regarding the ability of a "transient marina" to somehow revitalize our downtown area.  If you do the math, it's a total loser of a project that won't pay for itself in any way, and won't really provide a substantial downtown boost.  Perhaps the City Council has some study that can explain all this, but I'm not aware of it.  During the City's Strategic Planning Session last month the Marina was poorly supported, except by the vocal minority of merchants at the meeting, who can always be counted on to use the taxpayers money for their benefit.   
 
Now, the Secretary of Transportation is selling the same hooey to Detroit:  
 
"U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says Detroit's planned $22 million ferry and cruise-ship terminal is a key part of revitalizing the area's economy."
 
Not much of a story here..more like a quote: Obama transit chief says port project is key to revitalizing local economy
 
Woo.  2 cruise ships a year, and Diamond Jacks.  It's working wonders in Wyandotte, so it's gotta work in Detroit, too!

Mr. Congeniality

I saw on the news this morning that President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize.  It's amazing (but not surprising) that you can actually win a Peace Prize without creating any peace.   
 
Frankly, since they gave a Peace Prize to Jimmah Carter it's clear that the Nobel Committee is made up of society dilettantes and various euro-commie weenies.  And it's obvious that they are giving him this award for trying hard and being nice.  And I'm sure the media will spend the next few media cycles fawning over his non-accomplishments and all the potential wonderful things that will come of this. 
 
Just like those beauty pageant contestants who vote among themselves for the nicest one of the bunch.   
 
The Brits agree:  Comment: absurd decision on Obama makes a mockery of the Nobel peace prize
 
If he had any cojones (or his advisers any brains) he'd refuse to accept it. 
 
Ptoey!

Ironic Spending Moment of the Week

Note here that Congress voted itself a budget increase this year, so as to continue their super good work in governing us while borrowing money from our unborn grandkids.
 

In tight times, Congress boosts its budget

 
I found this quote particularly interesting:  
 

"The measure includes a hodgepodge of new funding for lawmakers: a $500,000 pilot program for senators to send out postcards about their town hall meetings"

 
The first thing that comes to mind is WHAT TOWN HALL MEETINGS?  I'm sure we all noticed how our elected representatives all ran for the phone banks instead of having actual town hall meetings over health care.  

Dumbasses.  Tar, meet feathers!

We're In the Best of Hands

Surely the country is in the best of hands:
 

 
If we had just given the "stimulus" to the people in the form of a tax credit (to those who actually pay taxes), this likely would be much better.