Partly as an excuse to fiddle with the technology, I’ve recorded an MP3 reading of some musings about being a carpenter on the Bellevue/Ocean Drive beat (available as a stream or a download).
[Open full post]For those who might have missed it (whether by accident or by design), I’ve got a piece in today’s Providence Journal that considers some of the discussion that Bishop Tobin’s reflections on Rudy Giuliani inspired.
[Open full post]Having watched Michael Moore’s latest bit of propaganda — Sicko, about the evil of American healthcare in comparison to saintly socialism — a bit more closely than is probably healthy, David Gratzer felt compelled to offer another view:
Consider, for instance, Mr. Moore’s claim that ERs don’t overcrowd in Canada. A Canadian government study recently found that only about half of patients are treated in a timely manner, as defined by local medical and hospital associations. “The research merely confirms anecdotal reports of interminable waits,” reported a national newspaper. While people in rural areas seem to fare better, Toronto patients receive care in four hours on average; one in 10 patients waits more than a dozen hours.
This problem hit close to home last year: A relative, living in Winnipeg, nearly died of a strangulated bowel while lying on a stretcher for five hours, writhing in pain. To get the needed ultrasound, he was sent by ambulance to another hospital.
In Britain, the Department of Health recently acknowledged that one in eight patients wait more than a year for surgery. Around the time Mr. Moore was putting the finishing touches on his documentary, a hospital in Sutton Coldfield announced its new money-saving linen policy: Housekeeping will no longer change the bed sheets between patients, just turn them over. France’s system failed so spectacularly in the summer heat of 2003 that 13,000 people died, largely of dehydration. Hospitals stopped answering the phones and ambulance attendants told people to fend for themselves.
No wonder, Gratzer observes, single-payer systems worldwide are beginning to make way for private healthcare, even as Western dead-enders push for the only fair system — one in which the wealthy can travel great distances and pay high prices for rapid service while the average shmoe is forced into compliance with Darwin’s prescription.
Sheesh! What do we plebs think “privilege” means?
There can’t be any serious dispute that this is, well, odd:
Before beginning the [twelve-hour] drive, Mitt Romney put Seamus, the family’s hulking Irish setter, in a dog carrier and attached it to the station wagon’s roof rack. He’d built a windshield for the carrier, to make the ride more comfortable for the dog.
Then Romney put his boys on notice: He would be making predetermined stops for gas, and that was it.
The ride was largely what you’d expect with five brothers, ages 13 and under, packed into a wagon they called the ”white whale.”
As the oldest son, Tagg Romney commandeered the way-back of the wagon, keeping his eyes fixed out the rear window, where he glimpsed the first sign of trouble. ”Dad!” he yelled. ”Gross!” A brown liquid was dripping down the back window, payback from an Irish setter who’d been riding on the roof in the wind for hours.
As the rest of the boys joined in the howls of disgust, Romney coolly pulled off the highway and into a service station. There, he borrowed a hose, washed down Seamus and the car, then hopped back onto the highway. It was a tiny preview of a trait he would grow famous for in business: emotion-free crisis management.
However, although one shouldn’t presume to hold Ana Marie Cox to standards of fairness or, really, journalism, it’s conspicuous that her mention of the incident fails to note for Time readers the custom-built doggy windshield or to clarify that the excrement release appears to have occurred only once during the entire trip. Whatever the case, any dog-owner with presidential ambitions would probably do well to ensure that his or her pet has prime seating on long car trips, preferably with access to a window through which to stick its head.
[Open full post]Will Ricci, East Providence Republican City Committee Treasurer, National Federation of Republican Assemblies Regional Vice-President, and most importantly, frequent Anchor Rising commenter was able to attend today’s Presidential visit to the Naval War College in Newport. Will sends along his impressions, observations, and a photograph from the event…
Will Ricci: I had the opportunity to attend the President’s address at the Naval War College earlier today as a guest of the Governor, with a handful of other local Republicans. The audience was heavily populated with Navy officers, with a great many guests from other countries. I was seated less than 50 feet away (about ten rows) directly in front of the President’s podium. The program began a little late at about 11:15 am.
There was a funny moment right at the beginning, when the unseen announcer said, “Please welcome the President… of the Naval War College, Rear Adm. Jacob Shuford”. Everyone broke out in laughter. The admiral made some brief remarks and then quickly introduced the President, who then appeared on stage with Gov. Carcieri to the sounds of Hail to the Chief. After a long standing ovation, everyone was seated. Gov. Carcieri then delivered some welcoming remarks behind the Presidential podium (he looked comfortable there), and then the President dove right into his speech.
The speech was heavily focused on terrorism, with an emphasis on what’s going on in Iraq right now. Much of it had to do with sharing information that the mainstream media doesn’t like to cover, such as that we’re winning! I won’t go heavily into the substance of the speech, as I assume the local media will cover that ad infinitum. The President showed some very interesting maps and diagrams on the monitors behind him demonstrating the progress that we’ve made, both before and during the surge. All I can tell you is that he had the audience at his full attention for the entire speech, which lasted about an hour, and that he covered a considerable amount of detail. He was not using a teleprompter, and used his notes only sparingly. It made me feel pretty good that he had such a clear understanding of what is at stake in Iraq and elsewhere. He didn’t make any gaffes or other “Bushisms.” He came off as human, genuine, and very engaged.
After the speech ended, I think he surprised everyone by asking the audience for questions. They weren’t planted questions. He stayed for about another 15 minutes or so and answered all sorts of questions ranging from relations with Great Britain and Columbia, to ongoing diplomatic efforts with North Korea, and the use of naval forces around the world in the future. He made an effort to single out Venezuela and Cuba as places of interest in this hemisphere, and made a comment which I think the media might pick up on regarding Fidel Castro. I believe it started with “when the Lord calls Fidel … away” (not home). It got a few approving nods.
PS As for protestors, unless they were hiding, there were virtually none. We saw ONE protestor at the main gate coming in, and I believe three outside when we left. It was paltry in any case. [Open full post]
Well, with the budget passed, let’s look at the damage. First, here’s how much we held the line, broken out by major department (all % are rounded):
Department | 2007 | 2008 | Change($) | Change(%) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Government | $1,409,253,153 | $1,421,934,563 | $12,681,410 | 1% | |||||
Human Services | $2,567,110,918 | $2,715,812,422 | $148,701,504 | 6% | |||||
Education | $1,848,828,527 | $1,909,134,809 | $60,306,282 | 3% | |||||
Public Safety | $401,107,978 | $428,636,150 | $27,528,172 | 7% | |||||
Natural Resources | $99,809,385 | $92,311,600 | -$7,497,785 | -8% | |||||
Transportation | $338,839,441 | $374,140,874 | $35,301,433 | 10%TOTAL
| $6,664,949,402 |
$6,941,970,418 |
$277,021,016 |
4%
|
|
That’s an increase of 4% over last year. Still higher than inflation, but under 5% growth: a minor miracle in Rhode Island, right? Overall, the Human Services component contains the largest growth in actual dollars while Transportation has the highest growth as a percentage. Meanwhile, we’re cutting state payroll…a little:
Department | 2007 | 2008 | Change | Change(%) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Government | 2,668.90 | 2,638.20 | -30.70 | -1% | |||||
Human Services | 4274 | 4219.6 | -54.40 | -1% | |||||
Education | 3981.1 | 3986.8 | 5.70 | <1% | |||||
Public Safety | 3008.8 | 3054.6 | 45.80 | 2% | |||||
Natural Resources | 540.5 | 530.4 | -10.10 | -2% | |||||
Transportation | $338,839,441 | $374,140,874 | $35,301,433 | 10%TOTAL
| 779.7 |
773.7 |
-6.00 |
-1%
|
|
Um, maybe 6 jobs isn’t really enough to consider a cut…
OK, enough of the B.S. Let’s go back and see what the real deal is regarding the growth of the RI State government. (To foreshadow, it’s freakin’ unbelievable!)
Department | 2001 | 2008 | Change($) | Change(%) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Government | $859,682,533 | $1,421,934,563 | $562,252,030 | 65% | |||||
Human Services | $1,804,551,076 | $2,715,812,422 | $911,261,346 | 50% | |||||
Education | $1,292,681,816 | $1,616,452,993 | $600,306,282 | 48% | |||||
Public Safety | $270,414,341 | $428,636,150 | $158,221,809 | 59% | |||||
Natural Resources | $72,256,449 | $92,311,600 | $20,055,151 | 28% | |||||
Transportation | $350,524,446 | $374,140,874 | $23,616,428 | 7%TOTAL
| $4,650,110,661 |
$6,941,970,418 |
$2,291,859,757 |
49%
|
|
Department | 2001 | 2008 | Change | Change(%) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Government | 2,352.50 | 2,638.20 | 285.70 | -1% | |||||
Human Services | 4734.4 | 4219.6 | -514.80 | -11% | |||||
Education | 4292 | 3986.8 | -305.20 | -7% | |||||
Public Safety | 3193.6 | 3054.6 | -139.00 | -4% | |||||
Natural Resources | 621.5 | 530.4 | -91.10 | -15% | |||||
Transportation | 864.3 | 773.7 | -90.60 | -11%TOTAL
| 16,058.30 |
15,203.30 |
-855.00 |
-5%
|
|
So, over the last 7 years, we’ve reduced the State work force by 5% but the overall budget has increased by 49%. Now how did that happen? [Open full post]
Another week, another pro-Port development editorial from the ProJo:
Port jobs pay exceptionally well and tend to be outsourcing-proof, since businesses must move goods to population centers, wherever they are produced. Further, the ports spin off other business, for which there is plenty of room at a place like Quonset Point, in manufacturing and services.
Rhode Island has an opportunity to develop a thriving port at Quonset Point, but Governor Carcieri and some other leaders have squelched it so far. The yacht-club set around Narragansett Bay did not want to share the water with a couple of big ships a week in the summer, even though this occurs without conflict in other parts of the country, where politicians better understand that new jobs are essential to a healthy state, providing the tax revenues to balance the budget and provide public services without, for instance, big budget deficits. And for that matter, the yachting season around here is not exactly year round.
It seems the height of foolishness that Rhode Island refuses to exploit its tremendous natural advantages as a strong site for a thriving port in the midst of the Northeastern megalopolis, but there you have it.
Though I wish otherwise, I don’t think it’s ever gonna happen. {Rank self-interest Alert! I work in the maritime industry.} I know a lot of people don’t want a port for all of the known reasons–bay traffic, potential pollution, truck traffic, etc.–but they are countered by the economic arguments laid forth (often) by the ProJo. Keep in mind, it doesn’t have to be a container port. It can be multi-cargo (cars, bulk and containers). There is a way to compromise.
For example, it looks like the current favorite plan for expanding T.F. Greene is an example of the sort of “90% solution” that may work (he said, holding his breath). A similar hashing out process could work when looking into a potential port in Quonset. It’s time for some real cost-benefit analysis. Is their a way to have an economically successful port (ie; kinda big) that won’t damage the “quality of life” of both the communities surrounding the port and the rest of Rhode Island?
This bit in Jay Nordlinger’s latest Impromptus brought to mind Marc’s recent comment that liberals do better at comedy:
And I am reminded of one of the reasons I fled the Left, many years ago: Personally, they were so mean — so nasty, so indecent. So full of mockery, ridicule, and scorn. I had to ask, “If the Left is the party of love and compassion, how come so many of them are such a**holes?”
We’re talking generalities, here, of course. For one disclaimer, I’m not suggesting that I don’t have my (ahem) liberal moments. It’s at least arguable, however, that “mockery, ridicule, and scorn” are key spices in the comedic recipe and that Nordlinger’s observation is not entirely without basis.
Since we’re also talking impressions, rather than evidence, it occurs to me that perhaps the most unmean comedian of the last fifty years, Bill Cosby, has been making news for the past few of those years for his conservative-esque racial statements. Of course, Dennis Miller comes to mind as contrary evidence, although he’s more of a libertarian (and for that, I need another “ahem”).
Oddly, regarding the President’s visit to Newport tomorrow, I find myself scowling not unlike a Democrat (Bushitler-types excluded). I’m relieved that I’ll likely be working on the other side of town, but except for that consideration, I’ll be just as happy to have him come and go, and I find that I mean from the White House as much as from Newport.
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