Just a short blog to reflect on the continued nonsense coming out of Congress this week. In case you missed it, the GOP introduced a major change to their existing rules requiring all Chairs of House committees to step down should they seek a new political office (ie., Governor, Senator or President). As we all know, politicians at virtually all levels of government leverage their existing political positions to run for new positions while taking exploiting their inherent elevated media exposure. Certainly, the advantages Senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul have while using their senatorial spotlight are high when considering runs for president. The same goes for Rep. Paul Ryan's elevated media exposure as upcoming Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Yet, a new rule was enacted by the GOP Conference restricting existing committee Chair's ability to run for a new position without first stepping down from their existing chairmanship. Sounds great right?
Haven't we all been waiting for something like this to happen so we eliminate the use of existing political standing as a mere stepping stone to higher office? I mean, aren't the taxpayers being defrauded when elected politicians swiftly move into campaign mode for another office instead of completing the jobs already elected to? Does anyone else find it distasteful when Senators and Congressmen spend most of their time running for another office (presidential campaigning) instead of being in Washington doing their existing jobs? So the GOP rule change makes sense right? Except like all things truly political, the rule only passed the GOP with an allowance to "waive" the requirement! Seems Speaker of the House Boehner would only approve the measure provided candidates for higher office have a chance to seek a "permission slip" to ignore the rule. So what good is the rule then? About as good as the things coming out of Washington (not much)! Just another example of cynical politics from both sides of the political aisle and the American people still have no clue of such games being played.
On another note, the House passed a Bill (HR5682) this week approving the Keystone Pipeline (again) and the GOP has threatened to force a similar bill through the upcoming GOP controlled Senate. Seems those accepting campaign contributions from those that benefit from the construction of the pipeline simply won't give this project up - despite the fact that it has been shown than between 22-33 permanent jobs would be created by the project. Also despite the fact that none of the energy produced from the Canadian Tar Sands oil will be for the American market. To go one step further, the GOP-led House actually voted to exempt the pipeline from being required to pay into the Treasury Department's Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund in a measure sponsored by the Democrats with the Bill. Yes, you read that correctly. Not only does the GOP demand the Keystone Pipeline be built (even though the benefits to America are virtually non-existent) but they also want to keep it from providing funds in the event of a massive oil spill. Is THIS what the American public voted for? I doubt it.
And on a final note - President Obama came out in favor of FCC rules protecting consumers from telecommunication companies monopolizing the Internet. Seems the few companies controlling the Internet want to act like traffic cops, slowing down the Internet for companies not willing to pay higher and higher fees to the telecommunication providers - which in turn will require consumers to pay more for Internet access when those in control determine profits are just not high enough for them. Controlling the flow of information on the Internet is a form of regulating Free Speech and Obama should be commended for taking this position. In typical fashion, the Right Wing immediately opposed the idea - not because it is inappropriate, but because Obama says we need it. According to Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) - Net Neutrality is equal to ObamaCare. Huh? The guy who wants to be President actually has said Net Neutrality will stop cable companies from being "bold, innovative and fair." But the very folks that make bold programming, innovations and seek Internet fairness are NOT the cable companies. If AT&T and Comcast are allowed to merge, they will control over half of the cable and Internet systems in the United States. How could this lead to more competition? But to be fair, Ted Cruz says a lot of crazy things just to get attention. Unfortunately, many Americans cling to his words and will promote him to run for President of the United States.
So instead of spending time on a new budget that includes massive infrastructure spending which would lead to massive employment opportunities, politicians paying back their campaign supporters have made the Keystone Pipeline a priority instead. I mean, millions of jobs for Americans to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure certainly can't be as important as building a pipeline that benefits Canada's petroleum industry and creating 22-33 permanent jobs right? And who cares if the American public foots the bill for any oil spills the pipeline has over the years? And who cares if the Internet created with the support of American taxpayer money is diverted to become a pot of gold for a select few Internet and Cable providers, right? Who cares? I do and so should all Americans!
As President Dwight D. Eisenhower once wrote; "I have one yardstick by which I test every major problem - and that yardstick is: Is it good for America?" Now that's a stick We The People need to wield more and more upon our elected politicians. How long before We The People learn though? Have a great week!
Haven't we all been waiting for something like this to happen so we eliminate the use of existing political standing as a mere stepping stone to higher office? I mean, aren't the taxpayers being defrauded when elected politicians swiftly move into campaign mode for another office instead of completing the jobs already elected to? Does anyone else find it distasteful when Senators and Congressmen spend most of their time running for another office (presidential campaigning) instead of being in Washington doing their existing jobs? So the GOP rule change makes sense right? Except like all things truly political, the rule only passed the GOP with an allowance to "waive" the requirement! Seems Speaker of the House Boehner would only approve the measure provided candidates for higher office have a chance to seek a "permission slip" to ignore the rule. So what good is the rule then? About as good as the things coming out of Washington (not much)! Just another example of cynical politics from both sides of the political aisle and the American people still have no clue of such games being played.
On another note, the House passed a Bill (HR5682) this week approving the Keystone Pipeline (again) and the GOP has threatened to force a similar bill through the upcoming GOP controlled Senate. Seems those accepting campaign contributions from those that benefit from the construction of the pipeline simply won't give this project up - despite the fact that it has been shown than between 22-33 permanent jobs would be created by the project. Also despite the fact that none of the energy produced from the Canadian Tar Sands oil will be for the American market. To go one step further, the GOP-led House actually voted to exempt the pipeline from being required to pay into the Treasury Department's Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund in a measure sponsored by the Democrats with the Bill. Yes, you read that correctly. Not only does the GOP demand the Keystone Pipeline be built (even though the benefits to America are virtually non-existent) but they also want to keep it from providing funds in the event of a massive oil spill. Is THIS what the American public voted for? I doubt it.
And on a final note - President Obama came out in favor of FCC rules protecting consumers from telecommunication companies monopolizing the Internet. Seems the few companies controlling the Internet want to act like traffic cops, slowing down the Internet for companies not willing to pay higher and higher fees to the telecommunication providers - which in turn will require consumers to pay more for Internet access when those in control determine profits are just not high enough for them. Controlling the flow of information on the Internet is a form of regulating Free Speech and Obama should be commended for taking this position. In typical fashion, the Right Wing immediately opposed the idea - not because it is inappropriate, but because Obama says we need it. According to Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) - Net Neutrality is equal to ObamaCare. Huh? The guy who wants to be President actually has said Net Neutrality will stop cable companies from being "bold, innovative and fair." But the very folks that make bold programming, innovations and seek Internet fairness are NOT the cable companies. If AT&T and Comcast are allowed to merge, they will control over half of the cable and Internet systems in the United States. How could this lead to more competition? But to be fair, Ted Cruz says a lot of crazy things just to get attention. Unfortunately, many Americans cling to his words and will promote him to run for President of the United States.
So instead of spending time on a new budget that includes massive infrastructure spending which would lead to massive employment opportunities, politicians paying back their campaign supporters have made the Keystone Pipeline a priority instead. I mean, millions of jobs for Americans to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure certainly can't be as important as building a pipeline that benefits Canada's petroleum industry and creating 22-33 permanent jobs right? And who cares if the American public foots the bill for any oil spills the pipeline has over the years? And who cares if the Internet created with the support of American taxpayer money is diverted to become a pot of gold for a select few Internet and Cable providers, right? Who cares? I do and so should all Americans!
As President Dwight D. Eisenhower once wrote; "I have one yardstick by which I test every major problem - and that yardstick is: Is it good for America?" Now that's a stick We The People need to wield more and more upon our elected politicians. How long before We The People learn though? Have a great week!
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