1. Government officials have NO OBLIGATION (absolutely zero obligation) to deliver anything they give away to public sector labor unions in the bargaining process, including but not limited to: wages, benefits, working conditions, hours of work, overtime, seniority rights, job descriptions, representation, special memorandums of agreement, incentives, waivers, pension plans, perks, special privileges, retirement benefits, management’s rights, etc. etc. Instead, 100% of the obligation to deliver what government officials give away to public sector (government) unions falls on the shoulders of American taxpayers, even though taxpayers are not present during negotiations, they have no knowledge of what is transpiring and have no say or input into the bargaining process. There is no difference between union-government bargaining and a scenario where two hungry vultures (one union business agent, plus one government bargaining representative) and a hamster (uninformed taxpayer) are voting on what to have for dinner.

“At this point, it’s almost certainly too late to manage a transition to sustainability on a global or national scale, even if the political will to attempt it existed, which it clearly does not. Our civilization is in the early stages of the same curve of decline and fall as so many others have followed before it. What likely lies in wait for us is a long, uneven decline into a new Dark Age from which, centuries from now, the civilizations of the future will gradually emerge.”

“Corn can’t expect justice from a court composed of chickens.” ~ African Proverb

We attended a meeting of property rights folks last night, where a discussion ensued about why property owners facing land use code violations, can’t get a jury trial. Three land use attorneys had been invited to the meeting to give their perspective on the issue. It was a lively meeting where debates went back on forth about the meaning of a “jury of your peers”, state law, federal law, criminal versus civil violations, etc., etc., etc. They talked about changing the law in certain areas to help landowners get a fairer shake in the legal process.

Skyrocketing oil prices are creating new political risks for President Obama, who is considering tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to relieve drivers suffering at the pump.

Republicans, sensing a winning issue, pounced Monday by announcing new hearings on gas prices and warning that tapping the reserves would provide only temporary help to consumers struggling with high gas prices.

Churchville, VA — Forty thousand researchers and clinicians have just written to the journal Science —through their professional societies—asking for broader and quicker testing of “new chemicals in our environment.” Eight societies, including the geneticists, endocrinologists, developmental biologists and others say that 12,000 new substances are being registered with the America Chemical Society every day. They admit that not many of these “new substances” will ever make it into the environment.