It’s To US

            Lots of ink and political blood have been spilled over economic austerity.  The fact-based argument is over, but austerity still inflames passions that preclude political peace.  Not to worry—austerity has a place in the grand scheme of things.

            Energy austerity, the kind you and I can practice individually, is a way for people to get America going on responsible action to preserve our planet.  (As usual, congress is AWOL.)  Now, you can argue all night about who has the right to do what and with which and to whom (as the limerick goes) but it’s all dust-for-dinner if our country turns into a desert, the ocean rises up in Manhattan, and Key West goes forever swimming.  It really is up to each of us to be stingy with petroleum products and derivatives—a tall order in lives permeated by vehicles and petroleum intensive goods.  Conserving household energy is tough too.  So it’s up to us to extract results from industry and government.  The same old stuff won’t do.

            In all this, the glowing light is the growing cadre of people with the dedication and energy to organize movements around money issues.  These individuals could bring their passion to developing renewable energy and mitigating human impact on climate.  Sooner better than later!  First, because this too is a money issue.  But also, for everyone, it’s even more important than money.  This is where austerity belongs.  Around here, we think it’s time to suit up and show up. 

The It Ain't Perfect Gambit

            Here’s one that’s victimized every one of us—the ‘it ain’t perfect gambit.’  We can’t go to the movies because it’s raining. We can only go if everything is perfect—the day is clear and pleasant, dishes are done, your room is clean, and the lawn got mowed.  You can’t have an outstanding job rating unless you achieved the budget handed down to you, even if you tripled last year’s accomplishments.  Your idea can’t be implemented even though it is brilliant, because it would upset an important department.

            Some version of this has happened to you, and you learned from it.  Learned to avoid it, to overcome it, or to use it.  All of us did.  It is the origin of the ‘ask forgiveness not permission’ philosophy.  It is a common tactic of bad-faith management.  It is the mother of ‘domestic contracts’ and ‘golden parachutes.’  Sadly, the most common practitioners of this gambit are members of congress. 

          Why do you think a legislative bill needs to be so complex, or comprehensive that ANYBODY can find a flaw in it to hate? Remember the urgently needed Fiscal Cliff Bill?  It was full of pork.  Who could vote for a bill so flawed?  Bills designed this way provide cover for any member of congress to point and whine, “I just can’t tolerate this—it’s flawed!  Around here, we think the ‘It ain’t perfect’ (or ‘he ain’t perfect’) gambit used by legislators is just a cheap cop out.

Public Enemy

Wanted for international crimes against humanity and theft of future well being:

Austerity.  AKA Fiscal Parsimony; Butchered Government; The Sequester; Foolishness.

DESCRIPTION: Distinguishing Marks: Austerity is distinguishable from reasonable government fiscal policy, the latter being eschewed by congress, and the former being given free reign in the House of Representatives and parts of the U.S. Senate.

Characteristics: Self-righteous disregard for the welfare of people in need; Callous reduction of programs that benefit children and education; Short-sighted rejection of infrastructure and developmental requirements.

Considered dangerous to the health and safety of vast populations; known to have induced alcoholism, suicide, and clinical depression in many of its victims (Not a complete list of consequences).  If encountered, avoid at all costs and urge a change to responsible action by congressional legislators.

CAUTION:  Austerity is extremely dangerous and should not be approached, even for the purpose of embarrassing political enemies and/or America.  Austerity can be apprehended safely by legislators not undermined by money and power.  Austerity’s known companions include misguided reliance on demonstrably flawed economic treatises.  Also note, pseudo economists, leaders afraid to admit error, and compromised legislators may assist Austerity in damaging innocent people.  They will employ nefarious means such as filibuster, bluster, the ‘big lie technique’, and pure cussedness.

REWARD: For ending Austerity, the rewards are fair treatment and prosperity, and thriving future generations.

Moron the IRS

            Let’s talk about quality control.  If you’ve been anywhere near it, you know that quality auditors use a combination of random samples (that cannot be predicted and therefore thwarted) or scheduled samples, such as a part that passes a certain point in the process of its manufacture, or is sampled for correctness at a particular time.  It may be every so-many items using a random interval.  In some quality or accuracy testing, a double blind selection is used to prevent compromise.       

           All sampling involves targeting.  When it’s a quality sample, the word ‘target’ rarely has the connotation of ‘singled out for unfair punishment.’  But that is the meaning that news media are nailing to the IRS’s sampling of 501c(4) applicants.  You and I cannot yet know if that meaning is accurate.  Around here, we start from a position of doubt, simply because it’s so inflammatory.  Who knows what selection methods are used at the IRS? Do you?  So far, we can be reasonably certain something stupid happened, and that the news media are sensationalizing it.

            So, TARGET is meant to get emotional attention in the context of news reporting.  Whereas, in quality control, it is innocuous.  This alone should get your lie detector humming.  Hearings will produce a parade of information and mis-information, calculated to attract more emotional attention.  This is a good time for consumers of news to park their emotions and ferret out the facts.  The unspun, un-fooled-around-with facts.  When the whole story is out and the facts have been heard, there will be emotion enough.  In the meantime, be emotional about not getting jerked around.

Same Problem Same People

            Once again the national news media have whipped us into a frenzy with half-truths and innuendo—sensationalism that used to be called ‘yellow journalism.’  Now it’s just…what they do.

            Amid cries of IRS misdeeds, the background story got lost.  Starting with the underfunding of the agency by congress, leaving the IRS understaffed.  Without enough people to properly pursue its mandate, the IRS resorted to shortcuts.  They have always had some signals they watch in order to curtail tax evasion.  Reportedly, they ‘targeted’ (an emotionally loaded word) conservative groups in the 501c(4) category.  Perhaps because the number of 501c(4) tax exempt applications exploded after the Supreme Court defecated on us with its Citizens United ruling.  The IRS was trying to uncover Super Pacs seeking to criminally evade taxes, and disclosure of donors, by posing as Social Welfare groups under 501c(4).

            None of this excuses any prejudicial or discriminatory IRS activity that may have occurred.  Around here, we think anyone convicted of participating in illegal activity should be fired, and banned from future federal employment.  And we’ll say the same thing if it happens during a Republican administration.  (Well actually it IS a Republican administration if you’re talking about getting the money to operate properly.)

            Meanwhile, the national news media whip us around, stirring up hate and discontent.  They might as well—they are good at yellow journalism.  They don’t do the other kind much any more.  So, hate not, pay attention, and doubt mightily the national news pundits.

A Political Dictionary

            Congress: an entity that underfunds important things and then blames the negative consequences on others.

            Conspiracy:  an accusatory fiction created (for their own benefit) by manipulative people with the purpose of spreading hatred.

            Despot:  a cruel foreign leader, supported by United States foreign policy for decades, and then abandoned when the embarrassment becomes too great.

Elections:  events whose outcomes mean little if you know the right obstructionist tactics to use in congress.

            Foreign Policy:  a mistake that costs thousands of lives.

            Government:  what we accomplish together that we would be unable or unwilling to do separately.

Hatred:  the result of emotional abuse by zealots and bigots, encouraged in impressionable people.

            Headwaters:  the insensate brain sweat that passes for rational thought in some interest groups seeking to benefit by imposing their agenda(s) on others.

Hearing:  a public gathering held by a member of congress or other prosecutor, that parades like-minded witnesses to promote a conspiracy.

            Legislation:  a bill passed by congress (containing unrelated stuff that shouldn’t be there) whose negative consequences are known in advance, and later decried as unforeseeable.

            Majority:  a source of political power in America until the late twentieth century.

            Political Party:  a source of obstinance.

Politician:  an obstinate person who spends millions to get elected, disappoints voters and is less popular than cock roaches.

            Syria:  people given to headwaters believe the world is flat there, despite its complexities.

            War:  a violent act whose negative consequences almost always outweigh its stated objectives.