Yet more brilliance out of Jefferson City

There's an article in today's edition about what's called "novelty" helmets motorcycle riders are wearing and to their peril:

Motorcycle riders, beware 'novelty' helmets

From the article:

Even as more than 800,000 novelty helmets are sold in the U.S. every year, and as motorcycle crash deaths mount, federal regulators have never acted with urgency to crack down on the popular but flawed headgear. Proposals to limit sales of novelty helmets have been delayed over and over.
So here's an article pointing out the hazards of wearing these cheap, "pretend" helmets and the damage or death they can cause, yet what is the Missouri legislature considering lately?

Missouri motorcyclists could go helmet-free in August under proposal

Brilliant.

How Missouri Legislators wasted their time--and our money--this week

Every time some Right Wing, demagoguing, Republican looney comes up with some new anti-abortion or pro-prayer piece of legislation, I'm repeatedly surprised, to the point of stunned.

This week, Missouri, Republican legislators came up with a new way to do all this, all in one movement, with this week's use--waste--of their/our time:

Right-to-pray amendment slated for August ballot by Nixon

It seems Right Wing, "conservative" Republicans wanted to do their best to get their voters to the polls this November because, after all, they want to make sure the black guy isn't re-elected--so they came up with this bill.

Sure, it's not necessary and it may even be unconstitutional, since it brings more and more religion into our political lives but this was their goal. They wanted to make sure we Missourians vote on the right and ability to pray in public. Forget that no one really has any problem doing that now. Forget that it's already possible. Forget, by all means, that the state has real, actual, tangible issues that DO need our legislators attention, no, no, forget all that. Instead, let's propose this nearly completely pointless bill in an effort to both appease our staunch, core base and, at the same time, hopefully get more people voting on the first Tuesday in November.

The problem, at least for these people?

It didn't work.

Democratic Governor Jay Nixon instead called out that this goofy, pointless bill will, instead, be voted on come August, instead.

Sheesh.

Would that they would do the work we need to be done.

I-70, from St. Louis to Kansas City--all through the state--is a dangerous, slow mess but they spend their time on this kind of thing, instead.

Shameful.

Links: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/right-to-pray-amendment-slated-for-august-ballot-by-nixon/article_19a8f7ec-a51c-11e1-962b-001a4bcf6878.html;http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/rush-to-judgment-missouri-s-deceptive-right-to-pray-amendment-heads-for

Missouri gets a C- on accountability in state government

The Center for Public Integrity, Global Integrity and Public Radio International just released their state-by-state evaluation of each legislature and their possible accountability to their citizens and, conversely, likelihood of political corruption. The good news? We're not Georgia, ranked worst. Eight states, in total, failed utterly. Missouri, as said above, got a C-. Kansas was only a bit better, garnering a C. A bit of what they found on the "Show Me State": "While blatant corruption is relatively rare in this state of 6 million residents, questionable behavior abounds within state government – particularly among lawmakers – and an undermanned ethics agency struggles to investigate and punish offenders." Here's the biggest issue, to me: "...there is a near consensus that a largely unfettered flow of campaign money presents big ethical problems. Missouri is one of just four states to have no contribution limits, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures." Representative Jason Kander is quoted in it, naturally, since he's been pushing for ethics reform, especially as it applies to campaign contributions. You can read the entire, rather brief report at the links at bottom. The bottom line? We need to hold these people more accountable. With the internet, we can do that, too. It makes it far easier to watch what they're doing, what they're planning to do and to communicate with them via email, giving them our thoughts. We have to be involved. We have to demand accountability. It's got to come from us. Links: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=9198792767248747350; http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/03/19/8423/grading-nation-how-accountable-your-state; http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/political-corruption-8-states-earn-failing-grades/;

Fascinating stuff

I saw this, frankly, on Tony's (TKC) Facebook page today and thought a) I'll put it up and b) that I hadn't heard any legislator in Missouri had sponsored any "anti-Sharia Law" legislation and finally that, c) I doubt many Kansas Citians will show for it. We'll see. It's sad legislators spend time on things like this when there are so many other, more important and legitimate issues they should be addressing. One of those would be the widening of I-70, if they can have any input, so it's far safer and faster and smoother. That would be good for virtually every household and every business in the state, let alone for anyone from out of state, crossing from St. Louis to Kansas City or vice versa.

KCMO School District: How embarrassing

A headline and story yesterday from Scott Simon that went national and international on NPR radio: Kansas City's Failed Schools Leave Students Behind. I think I'll just roll up in a ball over here in a corner. Link: http://www.npr.org/2012/02/18/147067123/kansas-citys-failed-schools-leave-students-behind

Shame on Missouri state legislators

Well, the Missouri state legislators are at it again. This time they're hitting the news, big time, online and nationally, for real sleaze: Missouri Becomes Second State To Divert Foreclosure Funds Away From Homeowners To Balance Its Budget So you got fleeced by your local, friendly, neighborhood banker and that's the bad news. The good news? There was a cash settlement from the banks for it. It's not much but it's something. The new bad news? Your local legislators are going to pocket it, instead, and keep it away from you. Nice, huh? There is just no shame, no shame at all, for Missouri state legislators in Jefferson City. Link: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02/13/423677/missouri-foreclosure-settlement-budget/?mobile=nc

From Jefferson City, with love

Click on the two separate pictures for easier reading.

Kudos to The Star

Once again, the area's "fourth estate"--our newspaper media, in this case--did what it should do and so well. The Kansas City Star reported today that our legislators down in Jefferson City have been accepting trips--some to foreign countries--without reporting them.

And this is against the law, folks. They should know that.

"Lawmaker trips that lobbyists paid for included such destinations as New York City, Boston, Seattle, San Diego, Montreal and Saskatchewan, Canada, and even Japan."

One of the trips was for two representatives to go to the Masters tournament.

Yeah, like they're doing our work there and then.

If you're with a corporate representative of any kind, and they're taking you on one of these trips, isn't it just assumed there's a quid pro quo, once you're back in the office, especially since you're a legistor.

And don't tell me the answer is no.

These people should be summarily thrown out of office. The article names several of the representatives who took the trips and where they went. And that's just some of them.

So cheers to The Kansas City Star for the reporting.

Jeers to our legislators who've done this.

Cheers also to Jason Kander for helping to push for ethics reform out of the Capital City.

Let's make sure we get it.

Unconscionable taxation

There is a terrific article in The Star today, showing what our representatives passed this week for legislation regarding taxes on pleasure crafts--boats--in Missouri:

"Cash-strapped legislators have recommended spending cuts for Missouri schools and shelters for battered women, but so far the yachting class can enjoy another season of clear sailing."

Read: paying no taxes on their large boat purchases.

No taxes.

It's so obviously hypocritical it's difficult to believe.

The article points out that the people who enjoy these large boats--yachts, truly, as the paper refers to them--are the people who are closest to the representatives. They are the lobbyists and corporate
wealhty who can no doubt purchase the tax cuts from the friends, these same representatives.

But what is most telling to me was The Star'schart, showing what the taxes would be for these watercraft, should this proposal pass.

Want to buy a 55 foot yacht?

Zero taxes.

45 foot boat?

Same--zero tax paid.

32 foot?

you're clear.

But buy a 22 foot pontoon? (Which, mind you, I'm not saying is "cheap" but it truly can't be compared in cost to the huge ships above).

$2315.00 in taxes.

That is stunning.

How about a 17 foot boat?

$1390.00

Then there's a 12 foot rowboat?

You'll pay $115.00 in taxes, sucker.

The poor schlub who pays $1500.00 for a rowboat pays $115.00 more in taxes that the guy who can and does pay nearly a million dollars for his yacht.

This is revolting. Disgusting. Shameful. Really unscionable.

Let there be no doubt, NOT STEVE WONDER said it best when he said, "Them that has, gets."

Apparently these fatcats and their representative friends are completely unfamiliar with the term "noblesse oblige."

Federal or State, there's too much ugly money in government

Thank you, Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee, for your audit of Missouri government, recently released.

Ms. Montee found that "The Missouri House and Senate regularly solicit donations from lobbyists to pay for office parties, gifts and meals..."

Further: "The audits suggest the practice raises conflict-of-interest questions and notes some instances appear to violate state law."

Ya' think?

The more you hear about our Federal and State governments, the more difficult it is to not be cynical.

But this is my favorite revelation from the audit and article in The Kansas City Star today: "The audit found that in the Senate, lawmakers and staffers have solicited donations and banked them in a private account outside the state accounting system since 2003."

Can you say "slush fund"?

"More than 100 lobbyists donated more than $76.000.00 to the account through December2008. Of that, nearly $61,000.00 was spent on Christmas parties, retirement receptions, gifts for senators and staffers and meals for evening work sessions."

And think about this--not only are the legislators and bureaucrats getting "money on the side", so to speak--which is bad enough--but then, like a street cat to a saucer of milk, they get to keep going back to the source--the lobbyists--to get more and more money, again and again.

You don't think that wouldn't make for some relationships you'd want to keep happy?

This way, the government employees of all levels have a vested interest in giving these lobbyists and their organizations--mostly corporations, no doubt--just what they want, legislatively, so they can keep their money pot full.

This is wrong on so many levels it's hard to fathom.

And, of course, it gets continually better, too.

Check this out--"The audit...called the Senate's bank account illegal, because the Missouri Constitution requires all state funds to be 'held and disbursed' by the state treasurer."

This is where it gets good: "The Senate, however, maintains that the money received from lobbyists does not constitute 'state funds' and isn't subject to oversight from the treasurer."

So, basically, folks, what the Senate is saying is 1) "Yeah, sure we've got this money--so what?" and b) "Law or no law, this money is ours and don't mess with us."

Talk about thumbing your nose at Missouri citizens---and our laws.

Sheesh.

These guys have some major cajone's.

This needs to be stopped and it needs to be stopped now.

They should either turn it over to the State Treasurer immediately or give it to a worthy charity right away, be done with it and not repeat it.

We have to get the ugly, corrupting money out of our legislatures and as soon as possible.

It won't happen in Washington anytime soon--until we really raise cane, anyway--but we can push for it.

Oh, and please note---this is why we need metropolitan newspapers of some sort. If we don't have them in some form, we can't keep an eye on our government and keep them "straighter", if not "straight".

Link to article: http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/1446445.html

Okay, this is stupid

Did you hear about this law that goes into effect today here in Missouri?

As of today, people 21 years of age and younger can't text on their phones while driving.


I can hardly believe the stupidity of this, for at least three reasons.

To begin, why should it be okay for a 30 or 40 or any-year-old to be able to "text while driving" which, apparently, with this law, it is?

Does that make sense?

It seems the lawmakers are saying that, if you're older, you have the capacity to text on your phone, but not those young kids.

Was this a giveaway to the phone companies or an attempt to not trample on First Amendment rights or what?

Whatever it was, it makes no sense.

Secondly, the blatant discrimination of this seems like it would doom the law right out of the gate.

Finally, The Kansas City Star poses a good question:

"But just how anyone is going to stop you has police scratching their heads. How will anyone know your age, let alone know for sure whether you are texting or calling?"

I mean really, how do you police a thing like this?

I hope no one down in Jefferson City thinks they did good work on this one.

Someone explain this to me.

I don't think it's explicable.

Link to story:
http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1409899.html

Stunning proposal out of Jeff City today

This afternoon, on Missouri Representative Jolie Justice's Facebook page, she reported that "Senate debating gun bill. Would force businesses to allow concealed weapons in parking lots. Changes conceal-n-carry from 23 to 21-yr-olds."

OHMYGOD.

I was stunned.

Read that again.

The Senate was actually debating a gun bill that would require businesses to allow concealed weapons in parking lots.

Yougottabekiddingme.

It's just as Dr. Bob Minor wrote in the comments: "Let's just get rid of all the gun laws so we can shoot anywhere, anytime, anyone just for the heck of it. I say we change the state name to the OK Coral."

That seems to be what they're going for here.

While the right-wingers, gun-nuts and NRA scream that we're trying to ultimately take away all the guns in the entire country when we even hint at curbing virtually any facet of gun laws, here, this time, they're going for a rather wild and unexpected opening of more access to guns.

Whatever happened to conservative government from these people, anyway?

What is conservative about forcing "businesses to allow concealed weapons in parking lots"?

What about that "less government", "less interference", type government idea? But here they go, pushing more government, when it's for more guns--or whatever it is they want at that moment.

The thing is, the bill died, sure, but it's just, to repeat, stunning that it even came up.

The answer, for these people, to the problem of too many guns is--wait for it--more guns!

All I can say is 1) I hope this idea is permanently dead (but I fear it won't be) and 2) I hope these people don't come up with another wacky, insane, "out of left field" idea for spreading more guns as the solution to our problems.

May the stars help us.

The very racist United States of America

Let there be no mistake.

We can't pat ourselves on our collective backs any longer.

First, there was Douglas Blackmon's book, "Slavery by Another Name," out last year, that received a Pulitzer Prize last week, about the United States true and until now, ignored and really, unknown history of a second kind of slavery for African-Americans after the Civil War.

There was untold cruelty, punishment, unfounded incarceration, what could easily be described as torture, rampant, sanctioned discrimination and even murders, all passing under the eye of local and Federal government. And it lasted from after the Civil War until deep into the middle of the 1900s.

Now, the country's Supreme Court is considering throwing out the Voting Rights Act of 1964 because parts of it only apply to what we understood was always known as the more racist "Deep South."

What a travesty.

And in Missouri?

Our Republican representatives are trying to push through a constitutional amendment that would require a government-supplied photo identification in order to vote.

Gee whiz, to use a phrase.

Could we get more "Jim Crow" about voting and disenfranchisement?

Clearly, this is an attempt to make it more difficult for the poor, minorities and the elderly (read: Democrats) to vote, let there be no doubt.

So on both the national and local/regional level, the conservative, clearly Republican groups are trying there hardest to make discrimination and disenfranchisement the law of the land.

It's pitiful.

It's pathetic.

It's sad.

It's tragic.

It's brutally unfair and should be made clear this is what's going on.

Ask yourself--why don't we vote on Saturdays?

Wouldn't that make sense? Wouldn't it be a great deal easier to get large groups of people in polling booths than how we do it now?

And the answer is, unequivocally, resoundingly, yes.

We don't vote on Saturday because the powers that be don't want us all voting.

These national and state attempts to change these laws are at least partially, if not completely, for one of them, racist in their attempt, let there be no doubt.

We are the racist United States of America and we should be far better than this.

Links to stories:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103610184
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kbia/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1499514§ionID=1
http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/