Monique Chartier

Images from the 9/12RI and RI Tea Party Rally Today

By Monique Chartier | September 12, 2009 |

The Gaspee [correction] The Brig Beaver (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) The Crowd The Theme Flagage A name that’s been in the news lately … Right to assemble, right of free speech, right to wear a Spiderman hat: new Americans exercising some of their new rights

Health Care Reform – Onto a Tabula Not So Rasa

By Monique Chartier | September 9, 2009 |

Under “Liveblogging the President’s Healthcare Speech”, Justin comments It’s almost nauseating to hear politicians argue for a “public option” on the basis that competition is so limited, when the reason is clearly government regulation and mandates. This is an excellent point also raised recently by Andrew. Health care reform is being designed not upon the…

Fiscal Non-Feasibility: Let’s Focus on the Real Problem with the Green Jobs Czar (the Mission)

By Monique Chartier | September 7, 2009 |

Stephen Spruiell over at The Corner on National Review brings up something that has troubled me for a while: green jobs cannot exist outside of the vacuum of government subsidies and mandates. In fact, he points out that their survival is dubious even with such props and cudgels. To buy into the “green jobs” scam,…

Some Questions about the Nature and Constitutionality of the Position of Czar

By Monique Chartier | September 7, 2009 |

In explaining why former Green Jobs Czar Van Jones was not vetted for the position, an exercise that might have prevented the brouhaha that arose out of revelations of certain of his extreme political positions and his eventual resignation, the White House downplayed the power and importance of the position of the Green Jobs Czar.…

ProJo’s Portrait of State Worker Plight Strikes Questionable Tone

By Monique Chartier | September 6, 2009 |

In a state with 13% unemployment and high taxes that go, in part, to fund the not ungenerous compensation of public employees such as Ms. Esposito, do you suppose the Providence Journal thinks they’re doing public employees a favor with stories such as this in yesterday’s paper? Linda Esposito, a keeper of vital records for…

Health News You Can Abuse

By Monique Chartier | September 6, 2009 |

Buy blueberry futures. (… or do we sell short now that the news has hit the headlines?) Feeling lazy and stupid? (Hey! Put down the remote, come to the computer and pay attention.) Possibly you’ve been indulging at the State Fair of Texas. Not such Smart Choices? Looks like the new food labeling campaign has…

Public Sector Pay vs Private Sector Pay

By Monique Chartier | September 3, 2009 |

Would it be an awkward moment to mention this? State and local government workers are enjoying major gains in compensation, pushing the value of their average wages and benefits far ahead of private workers, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data shows. The gap is widening every year, rising by an average $1.02 an hour…

Langevin’s Town Hall Tomorrow: A Preemptive Invitation

By Monique Chartier | September 2, 2009 |

Below is the text of an e-mail invitation to Congressman Langevin’s health care town hall in Westerly tomorrow. [Thanks to Scott Bill Hirst, a registered Republican in Hopkinton, for forwarding. I’m sure rumors that the RNC has now launched a full-blown investigation into the question of your party status, Scott, are completely exaggerated.] I wanted…

Practicing the Healthcare Reform Preach: House Resolution 615 and a Suggested Amendment

By Monique Chartier | August 31, 2009 |

Last night, a friend forwarded me House Resolution 615. Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Members who vote in favor of the establishment of a public, Federal Government run health insurance option are urged to forgo their right to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and agree to enroll…

Bringing Transparent Excuses and Modern Technology to Good Old Fashioned Censorship

By Monique Chartier | August 29, 2009 |

In 2007, President Hugo Chavez shut down a television station that was critical of him. Less than a month ago, he ordered the shut down of thirty four radio stations for the “crime” of belonging to the “bourgeoisie”. (Golf enthusiasts, check out what else is “bourgeoisie” and had to be shut down in Venezuela a…