Blocking Property of Certain Persons.... WTH is this?

Destabilizing Iraq, Broadly Defined

"President Bush issued an executive order last week titled "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq." In the extreme, it could be interpreted as targeting the financial assets of any American who directly or indirectly aids someone who has committed or "poses a significant risk of committing" violent acts "threatening the peace or stability of Iraq" or who undermines "efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform" in the war-torn country."

Admittedly, I've been out of the news loop lately and definitely out of the blogosphere but... what the hell is this exactly and who thinks it's in anyway a good idea? What is the real motivation of this? That's what I want to know.

My aunt sent me a link to St. Pete for Peace and I've been reading through it. So... what do you think?

Crappy Solutions: Mileage Tax is NOT the answer

The news tonight featured a bit on a new tax being considered by the state of Minnesota. There are concerns over declining revenues being collected from gas tax. You know, I think gas costing a small fortune per gallon may have actually had an impact. Yup, people did become more aware of their traveling and many folks stopped using their cars and instead used public transit - much cheaper than shilling out nearly $3.00 a gallon. But... uhoh, the government had a loss in their gas tax collection. Were they really surprised by that?

One solution is to implement a mileage tax. Oregon is already testing this tax. An odometer maid can't really come out to your house and check your count though. So how could they track your mileage to charge you? Ah yes, require every resident of the state to have a GPS unit inserted in the car - yes, it'll cost you... all new cars should also be sold already with the unit in place - yes, it will make the car more expensive to buy. Yup, the government can know where you go, at all times, AND they'll charge you for it.

Really, is this the best solution our government has? First of all, I DO not want the government tracking my every move. I do not want a device that could possibly be hacked or tapped into by criminals, terrorists or anyone for that matter. I don't want to be charged for driving my children to school. I don't want to have to pay for the miles I drive to the grocery store. I already pay property taxes, income taxes, gas taxes, federal taxes... Cars aren't cheap either. What about people who live in safer suburbs and deal with long commutes so they can give their families a better - safer place to live...

Does no one else see the multiple different layers of how freaking bad of an idea this is?

Now, some propose that a mileage tax would discourage people from traveling too much and would decrease pollutants in the air. I'm all for improving our world and protecting the planet. I don't think a mileage tax fits that need. If you want to help improve the environment - offer tax breaks for people who buy hybrids. Offer financial organizations tax incentives for loans offered on hybrid vehicles. Help make hybrid vehicles more available and cost effective for low-income and middle-income people... let's be honest, these are the folks that tend to have crappier, smoking cars... these are the folks that may have to live farther away to afford housing, but drive ridiculous distances to get to a job that barely pays enough to cover their bills. A mileage tax is not a conservation effort and don't even try to imply that it is. It's insulting to the people who genuinely care and are trying to make effective and stable changes. A mileage tax is all about the money... and who gets to pocket it.

Should your state be considering a mileage tax and you disagree - contact your congressman or office of the governor and let your voices be heard.

If you live in the state of Minnesota and do not agree with this law, contact the governor:

To contact Governor Tim Pawlenty and Lt. Governor Carol Molnau, please write, phone, fax or e-mail.

Mailing Address:
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
Other ways to reach our office:
Telephone: (651) 296-3391
Toll Free: (800) 657-3717
Facsimile: (651) 296-2089
E-mail: tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

Here are a couple of articles if you'd like to read more.

Will a mileage tax replace the gas tax?

Oregan's Mileage Tax: A Truly Bad Idea

Just insult the entire romance genre... brilliant strategy.

There happens to be a gentleman in the fine state of Texas who has decided to include some good 'ole mudslinging in his campaign to be an almighty comptroller. His opponent? A woman who wrote a romance novel nearly 20 years ago. Not only does he get into some good name calling, he proceeds to insult the entire romance genre and to me, all the readers of the romance story.

Meet Mr. Head (No, it's not a pun)

This is how he describes his opponent:

"Susan Combs claims to be a person of high moral standards. Her record of writing, having published and selling a pornographic book clearly shows that Susan Combs is a two faced, hypocrite who was obviously more concerned with her literary career and seeing her name in print than the morals of the young People of Texas who are exposed to her 222 page book, A Perfect Match, which has her name at the top of every other page - - - a clear testament to Susan Combs’ insatiable ego and desire to see her name in print. "

Here's the link to the page that talks about his opponent.

Well, I just couldn't keep my mouth shut after reading this. I don't live in Texas, but that doesn't stop me! It's not the best representation of my writing skills, but I was a little heated and just slapped it together.

My letter:

Dear Mr. Head,

Recently one of my friends pointed me to your website. On your website you launch into a rant about Susan Combs. You attack her morals and the basis of this attack is that she wrote pornography. Quite frankly, I am disgusted and insulted, and not only by the inflammatory remarks that you make. First of all, I do not read pornography, but I do read romance novels.

As an author, a reader, and most importantly, a woman - you have insulted me and insulted my fellow women. By claiming that Mrs. Combs wrote pornography, you are also claiming that every person who reads romance novels also reads pornography. You’ve insulted the entire romance genre! The dictionary defines pornography as obscene writing, writing with no artistic merit, and whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal. Romance novels are not obscene, they do have artistic merit, and the primary goal is NOT sexual arousal. They are stories that enrich lives, bring hope and for many women, bring some peace and simple enjoyment in their otherwise busy lives. By belittling the author of one of these pieces you are belittling the readers who enjoy the romance, love and life that these stories can bring.

You make a fallacy by claiming that she is immoral because she wrote a romance novel with sex scenes and is therefore a supporter of pornography. Well, if we make hip-shot judgments about everyone we can say that Stephen King must be a murderer or at the very least supporter of murderers because he writes about killers. Or that J.K. Rowlins is delusional and believes there are witches and magic schools... why? Well, because she wrote about them, of course.

As a writer, I sometimes write about things I do not personally believe in or even support... I do it because it's part of the story. I have no idea about Mrs. Combs’ morals; the fact that she wrote a romance novel does not make me question her morals at all. Actually, it makes me admire her; it's difficult to get work published. If I lived in Texas, I would oppose your appointment simply based upon your comments and attack of Mrs. Combs.