It's About Time

When mortgages got into the hyper-crazy phase of the real estate market bubble, you could see powerful imprints of the HANDS OF TIME. Mortgage amortizations stretched out (will you still be alive when the loan is paid off?), "Teaser" interest rates with enough time to lull the buyer into false comfort showed up, and balloon payments became more prevalent.

Our politicians and public servants, not wanting to be left out, continue to demonstrate true mastery in manipulating TIME as a core political lever. The just-passed healthcare 'reform' legislation uses time to introduce costs and benefits that activate up to ten years from now. In San Francisco, a "windfall" of funds has postponed needed cost rationalization in the bloated MUNI transit system by a year - hey, people can forget a LOT in a year!

Oh, let's not forget the slickest TIME BOMB of all, the long-term forecast. I love to hear official forecasts involving $XXX bazillions... OVER TEN YEARS! Heck, over any ten year period, our official forecasters have missed every significant recession or depression, calling for monotonic, feel-good GDP growth rates and spending accordingly. Puh-leeze. Smart businesses aggregate as many products as possible into their base forecast... and that is over the short term. Going out much over a year invites "volatility" from unanticipated sources and directions. It's time for politicians and the public sector to join the private sector in dealing with WHAT IS instead of WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE. How about pulling the headphones and stopping the "Time is on My Side" charade at public expense?

The march of time definitely goes on, but we can do with less of it being over avoidable cliffs.

The NeoSpeak Chronicles - Using Language to GET YOUR WAY!

It's fun to share and trade Neospeak Snippets - Collect 'em All! Learn these POWER PHRASES and become master of your universe!!!

Using nuances of language to gain ends or at least buy time to come up with something better is as old as language itself.  But it's been on a powerful uptrend since the emergence of instantaneous mass communication, and the turbo-distribution and redistribution potential for content by the Internet has really kicked up the afterburners.

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“I wish to tell you that my Government will continue working every day to find and apply solutions for the issues that most worry you and your family. The goals of transforming Mexico require the effort and commitment of all. We have problems, yes; we are confronting them, and we are going to overcome them and move ahead.” (Mexico President Felipe Calderon, September 2008)

TRANSLATION: I may wish to, but I won't! "My Government is powerless to do anything about the issues that most worry you and your family. You got your troubles, I got mine."

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Asked on Sunday whether Israeli "intransigence" was putting US "troops' lives at risk", David Axelrod, a senior adviser to Mr Obama, said "that region and that issue is a flare point throughout the region so I'm not going to put it in those terms".  (March 14, 2010)

TRANSLATION: "We all know Jerusalem is a powderkeg and the Israelis are being assholes with these new settlements.  Glad you said it so that I wouldn't have to."

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President Obama on difficulty passing healthcare 'reform' in the Senate (March 15, 2010):  "I don't know about the politics, but I know what's the right thing to do," he said, nearly shouting as the crowd cheered.

TRANSLATION:  I just re-read Cliff Notes for the Prince.  Machiavelli was right; the ends do justify the means.

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SF Mayor Gavin Newsom on announced intention to run for Lt. Gubbner and leave Mayor's office early: ""Don't think for a second I'm walking away from San Francisco. Not for a second," Newsom said. "This is my city. I care deeply about it. I'd never walk away from this town."

TRANSLATION:  "Walk?  Man, I'm jettin' before this mess implodes! Besides, the City is going to let me keep that $58K hybrid SUV and all my friends have private jets.  See Ya!"

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...and some quickies:

"working tirelessly to..."   TRANSLATION - "got nothing. go away."

"doing the people's work..."  TRANSLATION - look at the contraction, and expand it -- "doing the people is work."

Answer to Higher Unemployment? Raise Sales Taxes!

Yesterday's news headlines neatly juxtaposed higher employment rates reported in 30 states with record highs in sales tax levels along with more talk of taxes on internet commerce.

The sales tax piece is courtesy of FORBES --

The highest sales tax rate is in a tiny hamlet in Alabama... a whopping 12.5%. Well, what is a poor local government to do when the residents can't support it properly with income and property taxes?

12.5% is also the reported unemployment figure for California. Maybe the nearly-10% sales taxes around the state need to be bumped up a couple percent to match? That should help. You know, patch some of those irritating "budget shortfalls" so that public headcount, salaries and benefits can remain largely untouched.

Maybe the Greeks have something to tell us if we'll listen. To wit, if you allow the public sector to become corrupt and fat, you will bankrupt your country. They are farther down the slippery slope than we are; we should pay heed to the warnings from their rear-view mirror. A bloated public sector is one of the surest ways to lose national competitiveness and increase total poverty. "Poverty doesn't cause corruption; corruption causes poverty."

The Other Side of "Share the Road"

Bikes are fun. Good exercise. Non-polluting transportation. And their riders deserve respect and care by motorists. Sharing the Road isn't a slogan, it's just common courtesy and decency.

But motorists are not the only offenders in this dialog. Every day I am amazed at how consistently bike riders blow through stop signs and stop lights as if graced with Divine Kevlar Bubbles. Do they not appreciate the fundamental physics of bicycle/automobile embraces? I worry every time I get behind the wheel that one of these "immortal" cyclists and I will meet under unfortunate circumstances. And over the years, I find I'm feeling less supportive of cyclists because of it.

Then there is the group blockade phenomenon. I get the social side of riding with friends, but when travelling in packs on busy roads with bike lanes, why are they not travelling IN THE BIKE LANES? How many times have you had to crawl or cross the center line to give berth to four- or five-abreast cyclists? Again, I wonder what they're thinking when they do this... does brightly colored spandex restrict bloodflow to the brain?

I hope they're not thinking "I AM CYCLIST, HEAR ME ROAR, WE OWN THE WHOLE ROAD BECAUSE WE ARE THE VIRTUOUS ONES!" Sharing the road means just that, sharing. And that road has to be a two-way street.

From the Break Room: Incredible New Fusion Music from the Fishtank Ensemble

It was a great privilege to catch a show in San Francisco recently featuring two great acts - George Cole Quintet, followed by the Fishtank Ensemble. Ostensibly honoring the 100th birthday of the late great Django Reinhardt, the Hot Gypsy Jazz Wizard.

George Cole is a gifted songwriter whose material sounds like it is a seamless extension of the Hot Jazz period. Catchy swingin' numbers with fun and wry lyrics. George is an inspiring hot jazz guitarist as well.

The members of The George Cole Quintet are: bandleader Cole on guitar and vocals, Julian Smedley on violin, Molly Mahoney on co-lead vocal, Jimmy Grant on rhythm guitar and Kenan O'Brien on standup bass. Molly exudes a wholesome persona very reminiscent of 30s/40s (nice matching of lipstick and shoes BTW!) and refreshingly fits in and supports the band instead of going over the Diva Waterfall. Julian's violin virtuosity is very reminiscent of Stephane Grapelli, you can just close your eyes and smile while he solos. Highly recommended.

NOW, for the SURPRISE. What do you get when you mash up Serbian Dance and Yodel music, Romanian and Roma Folk Music, Gypsy Jazz and Rockabilly? The FISHTANK ENSEMBLE! This high-voltage group is a LA/SF blend that has a high gear unlike anything I've ever heard before (in a good way!).
The band is: Fabrice Martinez (Violin and Violintromba)- you are not going to hear a hotter violin anywhere in this part of the universe, I promise. Worth the price of admission all by himself ; Ursula Knudson (Saw, Voice, and Violin) who can yodel in the highest register one minute and then completely GET Billie Holiday the next, and then do a quick change and scat sing ... WITH A SAW! ; Douglas Smolens (Guitar) who combines hot jazz and flamenco with a lot of sophistication ; and the FORCE of NATURE, Djordje Stijepovic (Bass) who all but flies his standup bass to the moon (spins, throws'n'catches, rockabilly postures and poses) as he both lays down incredible bass lines and plays drums with his slapping at the same time. If you can see this band, do it! It's going to take patience and time to build a sizable following, but their fans are totally rabid with great justification. The Fishtank Ensemble is something really exciting in today's largely featureless musical landscape. HOT HOT HOT!!!

BTW, the venue, the Noe Valley Ministry Music Series, is very cool. Where else can you get great acoustics, an intimate setting, and drink beer in a Church? Exactly. Well worth attending if you get a chance, an excellent lineup of acts in a Series that's been going almost 30 years.

Criminal Justice and the Sexual Predator

New horrors of suspected crimes by registered sex offender John Albert Gardner III are being revealed in northern San Diego County on an almost daily basis.

Having at one time lived in that peaceful, quiet area, home to retirees and working families, I got to wondering just how pervasive our problem of sexual predators on the loose is. I visited California's "Megan's Law" website to get an idea.



It turns out that small, quiet, peaceful San Luis Obispo County has 300 registered sex offenders. Figure this is the tip of the... whatever... since so many sex crimes go unreported. What happened in Escondido-Rancho Bernardo-Poway can happen anywhere.

And the most tragic part is that prosecutors and judges don't seem to understand or resonate with the fact that sex offenders have one of the highest rates of recidivism of all crimes (averaging 4x other crime categories). Why in the world, when the State Psychoanalyst says "uh, this guy is one of the real bad ones... you oughtta go for the maximum sentence (only 10 years)" would a Prosecutor go for just six and then the Judge agrees? John Albert Gardner III served only five years and then was free to go out and stalk, torture and kill more innocent girls.

How many of you feel that the innocents are being senselessly slaughtered out of consideration for sex offenders' rights? It would seem at the very least if a sex offender does time, gets out, and commits another sex crime and is convicted, he (overwhelmingly male population) should never see the free side of civil society again. You can take it from there, I don't mind.

In the meantime, we can track the records of elected officials including DAs and Judges and see which ones fail to understand how dangerous sexual predators are. Come election time, they can go, thank you.

Even USA Today Agrees - Federal Workers Make More than Private Sector

READ THIS  http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-04-federal-pay_N.htm

Is this a surprise?  It shouldn't be.

While taxpayers have been sleeping, the public sector has been accumulating.   Where else in the economy is hiring, pay and promotion predicated so much on internal arcana that normal market labor forces only really apply at entry level positions?

Where else in the economy do functions get to compare their pay to their "peers" (only other government agencies) and then apply a "we get to keep up with the average" pay and benefits ratchet?

Where else in the economy do workers retire so early with the same compensation they were receiving while employed?

All of this at taxpayer expense, because taxpayers HAVE NO OVERSIGHT over THEIR EMPLOYEES because their elected 'representatives' are not representing the taxpayers.

In the current climate, the public sector is howling over "budget shortfalls".  Budgets in the public sector don't seem to work like in the private sector.  The public sector decides how much it wants and then either takes it from the taxpayers (DON'T LET THEM!) or, if powerful enough as in the Federal Government, creates funny-money and swells the deficit that will saddle our children and their children and even their children.

Taxpaying voters need to take control of this agenda.  Our ongoing economic malaise could be the kindling that helps start the fire of public sector wage and benefit acccountability and control.

Another Case of "Capitolism"

LINK>  Sen. Roy Ashburn arrested on suspicion of drunk driving

What did I just say? We need to do away with State Capitols (don't forget the biggest big house, DC).  What do FULL-TIME POLITICIANS (this wrong-headed idea is worthy of examination) do while they're away from home and family?  YES, they run around all night in STATE VEHICLES (thanks taxpayers) with FAT-CHECKBOOKED LOBBYISTS.  Roy Ashburn doing his best to 'represent' Bakersfield in good ol' Sacramento, "Home of the Gold Rush" (not to be confused with mineral extraction).

Let me repeat, Capitols are historical artifacts we can't afford anymore.

The article in the LA Times is linked above.  The comments aren't bad... pol strong on crime sets bad example, we need part-time legislature in CA, etc.  Worth a quick read.

To Protect and Serve

Themselves, not the public.

I've been a longtime resident of San Luis Obispo County, a very quiet place on California's central coast.  Light traffic, low crime.  Despite this, our Sherriff's Department has consistently grown especially in salaries and pension benefits.  There are desk pushers making, yes, hundreds of thousands a year.  A strong union sleeping with and pushing feckless politicians around is a cool feature in this discourse.

Now confronted with "budget shortfall" (hey how about rolling back last year's double-digit pay increase and losing some top-heavy admin?) the suggested solution is to reluctantly consider letting 11 employees go and, most importantly, letting inmates out of jail!

Similar self-serving twaddle is emanating from municipalities all over the country.  The private sector has pulled in its collective belt mightily in this Depression (yes, I will call it that because of all the spin and BS being used to obscure the true states of joblessness, credit risks, and even threats to sovereignty around the world) but the public sector is largely responding by cutting services.  There was an NPR report on Colorado Springs where instead of laying off more employees or cutting pay and benefits, public management closed all the parks and no longer performs road maintenance.  I wonder what all those remaining employees actually do all day now that they no longer need to either provide services or appear to?  In San Jose, public employees have the gall to talk to Ms TV microphone and say that people can't jog or walk in a park because they can't afford to provide services there on certain days of the week, making it unsafe.  Where are the cost savings for these reduced services?!  Maybe there is a deeper meaning of 'unsafe'.

When Arnold the Governator suggested that illegal immigrants imprisoned in California be relocated to incarceration south of the border, a real political firestorm broke out... by the Prison Guards union.  Great going guys (and gals), way to protect and serve... your own interests.

San Francisco Municipal transit employees (contractually GUARANTEED of being at least the 2nd highest paid in the USA, who negotiated THAT? and which contract has the cojones to actually demand to be the Highest-Paid?) are very grumbly about "budget shortfalls"... let's see, we have bus drivers making $140K... you don't suppose they could have a temporary pay rollback until better times emerge?  NO!!! The plan is to.... REDUCE SERVICE and in case you haven't noticed, SF buses and trains are quite full almost all of the time.  The public, as usual, is likely to get the shaft from THEIR EMPLOYEES.

Voters and taxpayers are still 99.9% asleep when it comes to holding public employees accountable.  Instead, we've let public employment count, salaries and pensions go through the roof.  Politicians love public employees, an easy voting block to buy.  It's just like elementary school, except that in public service, they really do put Coke in the drinking fountains.

A Modest Proposal To Do Away With Capitols

Handwringing and lamentations on the sorry state of the cluster that is our political world find numerous causes and blamespots.  Greed, corruption, lobbyists, lawyers, special interests, pork... sure, everyday flatulence in the human collective.  Do we enjoy the art of the complaint so much that we would blind ourselves to root causes of dysfunction, misdemeanors and graver offenses? Why, indeed, are we so complacent about the single greatest contributor to this seemingly complex malaise?

Think about your elected "representatives".  How many days a year do they spend in their consituents district?  How many days a year to they spend in the capitol?  Sadly many of the people we elect to steward the public interest spend a preponderance of their time out of district, hobnobbing with their career-peers.

If a person spends most a lot of time in jail, he or she learns how to be a better criminal and feel ever less empathy for the victimate (should be a word if it isn't yet).

If a person spends most of his or her time in a casino, the product is a more confirmed gambler.

If a person spends most of his or her time in the confines of a cloister, greater enlightenment may occur but getting its value to outside adherents becomes less likely.

Help me here... let's build a list of things that naturally happen when politicians spend most of their time in Capitols.  For starters --

• They get to know Capitol nightlife and have a real good time away from family and community while in their home-away-from-home.  And of course powerful figures attract a lot of temptations... and it's so much easier for the Temptations (sorry, not musical) if they can converge on a convenient location, like a Capitol.  Capitols foment Scandals.
• They hang with lobbyists with fat checkbooks.  One of the many Temptations.
• They hang with other politicians who help develop best practices in having fun beyond scrutiny and getting money from fat checkbooks.  Just like time in the yard at the big house.
• They don't have to spend tedious time interacting personally with constituents, one of the few duties that make a political career a drag
• They can spend most of their actual working time creating legislation which creates new opportunities for fat checkbooks to appear.

Why on Earth do we still have a system that fosters and promotes a lack of accountability to consituents and encourages the development of a robust market in bad behaviors?  Capitols were invented when people had to travel on foot or horseback to meet with distant peers.  If you wanted to convene a decision-making group you didn't have a lot of choices.   But that was, uh, like the last century or two, who's counting?


Come on now, why can't lawmakers GoToMeeting and GoogleDoc?  How long will it be before the inventors of the Internet start to use it to be more productive and accountable?  JK.  It boils down to addictions to a power-trippin' alternate life with all the attendant perks and pleasures.  As long as we the taxpayers and voters permit it, our elected reps and their large retinues will continue to rack up big travel and second-living-arrangement expenses and avoid spending quality time with us.  If we want the pols to spend more time in their constituents' communities, listening to and involving constituents, we will have to force the issue.  We need to bust up the Capitol paradigm and put it out to pasture with the mail pouch on horseback.  Dispersing politicians would make it a lot harder for influence and vice peddlers to develop a thriving full-service community around them.

As taxpayers and voters, we should exercise our right to demand that lawmakers spend most of their time in the home district... like 2/3 or 3/4 for starters, and increasing over time.  When the reps are in town, we have a better chance of holding them accountable to US.  "Voting the bums out" only replaces one group of foibled humans with another.  It would be better to fundamentally change the rules of the game.  A change of venue would be a good start.  Maybe we can wind down the cost of carrying Capitols and their dysfunctional games, and put those resources back in taxpayers' pockets or into service of real public interest.

Are We Not Fat Heads?

NPR offered a commentary on advances in neuroscience that offers middle-agers a good/bad sandwich.  As we age, our memories fade both in ability to store and access.  Of course reaction times slow down as well. Then this bit - adults continue accreting myelin sheath, a form of fatty tissue analogous to electrical insulation on the nerves well into middle age.  This allows for faster transmission of complex signals - permitting the more mature to excel at complex reasoning and judgment. Is gaining acuity in this world an unmixed blessing?  Regardless, next time someone calls you a fathead, it could actually be a compliment.