Shove more shovels toward S. Carolina

Have the hard core republicans no decency? Almost to a man/woman the Republicans in the U.S. Senate have done nothing but excoriate the ideals of the stimulus package. The constant refrain of "spend, spend, spend" were all over the airwaves by the Republicans saying that the program was just plain "stupid". Isn't it funny that this same group ran as fast as they could to approve Prez. Bush's recovery program before he exited the White House; it didn't matter that they simply approved a "giveaway" to the A.I.G. and a host of other elite companies with no oversight and no regulations.
Now some the Repubs (Senators, Governors, and Mayors) are playing hard ball with the lives of common workers by saying they will not accept the stimulus monies. Others from the same party say they will only accept some of the monies, while others are on-board the spending plan because they sense the tension of Damocles sword and just hope they are right.
The only real problem with all this lofty and sanctimonious attitude is that it is wasting precious time for both business and labor. It accomplishes nothing.
If the party's goal is to play "gotcha" with the prez and the rapid number of Americans who are out of work, then the reality is that they are not the compassionate persons they say they are; if the party's goal is to hope and pray that the prez's plan fails, then in truth, they hope America fails; and, if the party's goal is to reach out to the nation and say "We disapprove the stimulus package because it lacks fiscal soundness" then they hit a sour note with the citizens in the fact that they without doubt or gumption went merrily along with President Bush in approval of a war that lacked merit, cause, or fiscal responsibility.
Which brings us to S. Carolina. Can this state and others like it really place the lives of hundreds of thousands in jeapordy, who desperately need work, by taking a position that only speaks to the rarified and wealthy?

Where are the shovels?

The governors and mayors have shown up at the capitol just waiting to find out just how much their receptive states and cities will receive from the stimulation program. Can't you just see them wringing their hands in glee?
The whole problem is simple: Anyone even remotely familiar with government at any level will relate the time factor...a slow time factor. Which is my whole point. It's all about speed. We must find a way to get shovels into the hands of citizens who want a job. They want a job NOW. If we wait under the same old stupid 2-4 year bid process-bond-awarding system, it will be too late. Far too late.
We must tell the leaders to "super speed" the process. Get the damned shovels to the people willing to work and not the banks willing to set on their collective hands and do nothing even though they are receiving money by the dumpsterfuls.

I await your response.

Lighter carbon footprint

I have a new toy that certainly makes me feel as though I am doing something to make a dent in the ecology issues that has most of us deeply concerned. It's called a Kindle, or Amazon's Kindle. It is a new electronic format that allows me to receive newspapers, magazines, and lots of books without the hassle of postage, stacks of newsprint, and the endless search for recycle bins.
Previous to this new technology my local newspaper charged me $20.00 per month for delivery. I now receive it every morning for half that price.
Books normally costing $20.00 to $30.00 can be sent to me instantly for $9.00; more often than not I can buy books for as little as 90 cents and many sometimes I get them free.

No, I do not make product endorsements, I am suggesting that you, too, can make a smaller carbon footprint with a like-type gizmo. Just check it out. You'll love the convenience of it in that you can take everywhere, and yes, read it just like a book.