Saturday, January 1, 2011

2011 Predictions

From the Panhandle Blog Jobsanger:

This is the time of year when a lot of crazy people think they can predict what the future will bring. I must have lost my mind because I've decided to join them and make some political predictions of my own this year. I must have purchased a defective crystal ball though, because I'm not seeing too many good things happening this year. Here's what I see happening in 2011:

* The outsourcing of good American jobs to other countries will continue unabated this year. Any attempts by progressive Democrats to stop or slow it down will be killed by the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

* The lie that Social Security is in trouble will continue to grow (even though it is fully funded through 2027, and elimination of the tax cap would fund it for decades to come). Attempts will be made to cut benefits and raise the retirement age.

* Unemployment will remain high and no serious job stimulation effort will be passed by Congress (although the Republicans will try to further cut taxes using job creation as their excuse -- in spite of the fact that tax cuts do not create jobs).

* The housing market will not recover in 2011 (and can't recover until the jobless situation is fixed). Foreclosures will remain at all-time highs, and if Congress takes any action at all it will be to make it easier for banks to foreclose.

* The Republicans will not repeal the new health care reform law, but they will defund it (and that's pretty much the same thing).

* Private insurance companies will continue to raise the price of their premiums (and continue to refuse to pay for expensive treatments even for those with that high-priced insurance).

* Millions of Americans will continue to be unable to afford any health insurance coverage.

* Medicare and Medicaid will be cut by Republicans and Blue Dogs, causing even more doctors to refuse to treat elderly and poor patients.

* The huge gap in wealth and income between the richest 1-2% of Americans and the rest of America will grow even wider.

* America's transportation infrastructure will continue to crumble, because the Republican House would rather give the rich more money than put ordinary Americans to work fixing it.

* Global climate change will grow worse as Congress refuses to do anything about it. Taking their lead from America, other countries will also fail to find a solution.

* Toward the end of the year, Michele Bachmann will announce she's running for the senate seat currently held by Senator Amy Klobuchar.

* President Obama's approval ratings will remain in the upper 40's, setting him up for a possible re-election in 2012.

* Texas Republicans will raise taxes and then deny that they did it (claiming it was just an expansion of the "tax base" or the raise involved fees instead of taxes).

* Texas Republicans will pass a "voter ID" bill making voters present a picture ID to be allowed to vote (in addition to their voter registration card), claiming this will prevent voter fraud (although there is no evidence that fraud even exists).

* The Texas legislature will not approve casino-style gambling in the state (and the gambling money and taxes from it will continue to leave the state and go to Louisiana, Oklahoma and Nevada).

Actually, I would love to be wrong about most of the above predictions, but I don't think I am. 2011 is going to be a tough year for America. What do you think?

2011 Election Calendar

May 14, 2011 - Uniform Election Date
The more detailed May 14, 2011 Election Law Calendar is available on the Elections homepage and on the “Conducting Your Elections” pages.
**First Day to File for Place on Ballot (for cities and schools ONLY)(filing deadline for other political subdivisions may vary) Saturday, February 12, 2011 (first day to file does not move forward)
**Last Day to File for Place on Ballot, Local General Election Monday, March 14, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. (deadline is extended to next business day)

***Friday, March 18, 2011 (see note below relating to four-year terms)
Last Day to Order General Election Monday, March 14, 2011 (deadline is extended to next business day)
First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail Tuesday, March 15, 2011 (does not apply to FPCA)
Last Day to Register to Vote Thursday, April 14, 2011
First Day of Early Voting By Personal Appearance Monday, May 2, 2011
Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked) Friday, May 6, 2011 (May 7, 2011 is the seventh day, but deadline moves back to preceding business day, Friday)
Last Day of Early Voting By Personal Appearance Tuesday, May 10, 2011


Constitutional Amendment Election November 8, 2011
See Amendments on the Ballot
These dates are subject to changes from the 2011 legislative session.
**First Day to File for Place on General Election Ballot (for cities and schools ONLY) (filing deadline for other political subdivisions may vary) Monday, August 8, 2011
Last Day to Order General Election Wednesday, September 7, 2011
**Last Day to File for Place on General Election Ballot (for local political subdivisions ONLY) Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.
First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail Friday, September 9, 2011 (does not apply to FPCA)
Last Day to Register to Vote Tuesday, October 11, 2011 (deadline is extended to next business day after Columbus Day)
First Day of Early Voting Monday, October 24, 2011 (17th day before election day falls on a Saturday, first day moves to next business day)
Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
(Received, not Postmarked)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Last Day of Early Voting Friday, November 4, 2011

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Seasons Greetings With A Christmas Carol

As a holiday offering to all our readers, again, here are the 1938 and 1939 Campbell Playhouse radio broadcast productions of "A Christmas Carol" featuring Orson Welles and Lionel Barrymore. [Mercury Theatre Info]

1938 version featuring Orson Welles as Scrooge. Play starts at 5:30 minutes [MP3]


1939 version featuring Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge (My favorite) Play starts at 3:00 minutes [MP3]

Scrooge Gets A Tax Cut
Political Cartoon by Mike Luckovich in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.