Hobson's Record

Since he's up for re-election this year, I decided to take a quick look at what my Congressman has voted on. And I'm not talking about silly lil resolutions, I mean things like defense spending.

So here's a list big bills that went down in 2007 and how Hobson voted on them.

Enhancing Intelligence Oversight, No.

Adding Stemcell Research to Public Health Service Act, No.

Ammending Medicare to Require Medicare to Negotiate Drug Prices, No.

Implementing the 9/11 Commission Reccomendations, Yes.

Fair Minimum Wage Act, No.

College Student Relief, Yes.

Alternative Energy Bill, No.

Advaced Fuels Infrascture Research and Development Act, Yes.

Before even 100 votes took place in 2007, Hobson had managed to vote against my values 5 times and vote for them only 3. There will be another edition of this...it's just too fun!

Right now, I need to focus on seeing who his challenger is...

...And Now for Some News...

Supreme Court Hears Appeal by Exxon on Valdez Damages, from NPR

Bowling HQ May Move to Texas, from NPR

$1.4 Billion in Fines for Microsoft, from BBC

German High Court Limits Cyber Spying, from BBC

Columbus Curbside Recycling Charge to Double, from WCBE

McCain Apologizes for Cunningham Remarks, from WVXU

Welfare State?

Taxes piss me off as much as the next person. At least income tax...taxing money before I can use it is just offensive to me. It sucks my income. Tax my property, my transactions...but let me USE my whole earnings, please.

And it does grate on me to think people are living off my tax dollars, when they could just go out and work.

But...I actually employed those people. The types who worked at a breakneck pace all day long serving ungrateful people, just to get $352.80 every two weeks. Do the math...that's $705.60 each month.

I pay about $400 for rent on my apartment, on the edge of the sketchy part of town. That'd leave $305 for car payments, gas, food, utilities, etc...

Try raising two or three kids on that.

And yeah, I know..."If you can't afford kids, DON'T HAVE THEM." I know. And it sounds great on paper.

But what about the family that got started when Mom and Dad were making $18/hr at the sock factory? Did they become bad people when the factory moved to Honduras, and the only open job was a closer at Wendy's for $7/hr?

Black and white arguments scare the hell out of me, and all the arguments against Welfare and other assistance are black and white.

I was reading this post and comment thread from the archives of Scalzi.com on what it means to be poor...and it reminded me that no matter how hard you try to prevent the lowest common factor from cheating a system, all you really do is screw the honest people. Cheaters will always find a way.

So...I support Welfare, within limits. I think some key policies can be used to protect our investments in those down on their luck, who deserve a chance to get over their troubles and without being screwed for life.

...And Now for Some News...

"No Country for Old Men" Wins Four Oscars, from NPR (it WAS a good flick)

Ruling to Shut Down Leak Website Called Censorship, from NPR

Russia Pledges Support to Serbia, from BBC (I Paraphrase Billy Joel: Haven't they Heard we Won the Cold War?)

Pakistan's Top Army Medic Killed in Bombing, from BBC

Bringing Back Streetcars Discussed in Cincinnati, from WVXU

Only Two Key Issues Being Worked in Columbus, from WVXU