Stories and other stuff

I don't watch a lot of TV during the week.  When I get home from work, I'll usually flip on MSNBC for a few minutes while I eat my dinner and try and listen to what's happening in the country. So, here's the trend I've been noticing lately.  The Republican politicians are anxious to ram this "tax compromise" through congress.  Don't change it or you'll wreck the deal.  Don't debate it.  Don't nothing but vote yes because we got what we wanted and gave you what we would have been politically forced into giving you anyway (unemployment insurance extensions and a middle class tax cut).  That was the message earlier in the week. Now that the tax cut passed the Senate, here's the new thing.... don't pass a budget for 2011 until the new congress comes in.  HUH?  That budget should have been passed three months ago.  The Government's fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.  But now there is a move afoot to bring in the new...

Times are tough.  Want to know how tough?  The President is planning on preventing raises in pay for Federal employees of the US Government for two years. I mention this because it's part of a larger story.  Social Security hasn't had a cost-of-living adjustment for two years.  VA disability payments haven't increased either because the two are linked.  Interesting.  I remember President Clinton denying federal employees a raise one year in the early 1990's under authority he had.  If I remember the story right, it was because the country was in the red.  It was only a matter of time before this happened.  It affects me because I work for the Government. I haven't been talking about social issues lately.  I've been a little focused on the things happening in and around my life but I think this is important to discuss, and it may surprise you the position I'm going to take on this.  I agree. If we can't justify increasing fixed...