Canadian Case Highlights Socialized “Death Panel” Situations That Will Follow Obama’s Health Care Plan if It Isn’t Repealed

And they say that death panels couldn’t possibly happen?

Take a look at this situation in Canada, and then tell me that death panels couldn’t possibly happen here.

This is awful.

See the Democrats Scream and Run Away: Now Thirty-Seven Indiana Legislators Flee Their State Rather Than Lose a Vote, Fair and Square

Now the Democrats in Indiana are fleeing their state as well, departing Indianapolis and their state  rather than trying to persuade their Republican opponents to vote against an anti-union bill.

This is childish, and more proof that all the states need laws which clearly define dereliction of duty, and the declaration of vacancy of their seats.  Only three of forty Democratic senators showed up for work this morning.

Perhaps they’re going to Wisconsin to get doctors notes too.

All politicians who stoop to using this tactic should be locked out, and their resignations considered accepted.

It may be that anti-union measures need to be put before voters themselves as the state legislatures don’t have the brass to handle this issue.  Right to Work issues probably should go on the ballot anyways as they require amendments to state constitutions in a number of states.

How many more states will be paralyzed by shortsighted politicians who decide that they should stop all work and take a paid holiday just to stall one vote?

State Austerity Measures Are Needed Now, While There is Still a Choice

For some states, the time of austerity is here.  For many others, it’s not very far away.

Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and a couple of others have been in the news, but the problems run much deeper than just the Upper Midwestern states.

According to the Center on Budget and Priority Policies, forty-five states and the District of Columbia will have deficits in 2012, totaling $125 billion.  This is on top of the cuts that many states have already made, between 2009 and 2011. 

All the states need to reduce their deficits to at least break-even.  And that will involve painful cuts on all levels.

I think that the Wisconsin governor asking the unions to give up their say on everything other than wages is going too far.  There is definitely room for a compromise, but both sides in Wisconsin have dug in and adopted a “my way or ELSE” attitude which is not particularly helpful to resolving the stalemate.

As for the missing Democrats in the Wisconsin state legislature, they need to get back to work and do what they were elected to do: represent the people of Wisconsin.  There is no provision in the Wisconsin constitution for the seats of shirking lawmakers to be declared vacant, and special elections called.  This is unfortunate. 

Every state should have such a provision for it in order for all representatives and senators to know what will happen if they abandon their posts.   Their pay should be forfeit, so should any benefits that follow a state legislator’s leaving office honorably.

Lots of problems ahead, for at least forty-five states.

GOP Should Quit Praising Dictator Mubarak and Obama Needs to Drop the “Passive Bystander” Role and Publicly Support the Egyptian People

Former Vice-President Cheney has come out singing the praises of Hosni Mubarak, calling him a “good friend” and a  key U.S. ally.

Israel is also worried about Egyptian/Israeli ties should a new government arise in Cairo. 

This is not good.  

While Egypt has played the role of a moderate in Middle Eastern politics, and played a vital role in the peace process since signing a treaty with Israel, there has been a dictator at Egypt’s helm for thirty years.

And he’s used his military and secret police to murder his opponents, lock up his enemies, and has amassed a $70 billion fortune.  I have no doubt that he’ll be prosecuted for corruption for that alone.  I’m not surprised that his family is allegedly fleeing Egypt.   Wonder what they’re taking with them.

I think that our politicians need to get with the program, and realize that their “good friend”, while he’s contributed to stability in the region, has violently repressed the people of Egypt, and they’re clearly fed up.  Washington and Tel Aviv need to support the Egyptian people, NOW.

Obama’s policy of “passive bystander” is failing.  He needs to get in front of the cameras and state that he supports the Egyptian people and their aspirations for freedom.  And he needs to convince Mubarak that it’s time to leave sooner rather than later.

If Egypt stabilizes and they start having democratically elected governments, it can serve as a model for the rest of the region.  That’s something to strive for, rather than clinging to a dictator who is losing power rapidly.   The U.S. should be embracing the rule of law for Egypt, rather than the rule of one man.