Society Archives - Where Is The Outrage?

Michael Moore talks about the Aurora shootings and gun violence with Piers Morgan

Michael Moore (director of Bowling for Columbine) admits that gun violence is worse today than it was 10 years ago when his movie came out. He also points out that there was another mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado when four people were killed at a Chuck E Cheese.

The gun control debate is an excellent example of gridlock in this country. We’ve been arguing over guns and the role of guns in our society for over 50 years. We will continue to argue until we decide to do something. We have to admit that conservatives are correct when they point out that people kill people. We also have to admit that liberals are correct when they say that some restriction on gun ownership is reasonable. Finally, there must be another piece to the puzzle. Although people get shot in other countries, it is not like it is here in the United States. People in Canada, Great Britain, Australia and other Western countries watched Dirty Harry, The Wild Bunch (criticized for being too violent in its day), Scarface, Pulp Fiction and other movies known for gratuitous violence. Yet, they don’t have the constant mass killings that we have here.

By ecthompsonmd|2012-07-27T00:24:14-04:00July 26th, 2012|Mass Shooting|2 Comments

Ohio Republican Wants A Lot Of Federal Money

What does Republican Governor-elect John Kasich of Ohio want?

Federal money for Ohio is what Republican Governor-elect John Kasich of Ohio wants.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer—

“Gov.-elect John Kasich said Thursday after a meeting at the White House that he’s not optimistic that the Obama administration will let Ohio use the money intended for passenger rail to upgrade freight lines…Kasich has said the $400 million federally subsidized 3-C corridor project, which would provide passenger rail service among Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, would be too costly for the state. He wants flexibility to use the money for other transportation needs. He’d also like flexibility in how the state spends federal money designated for job training, Title I (education) and Medicaid….Kasich said he was confident that the state would get the $400 million Race to the Top grant that the state won under outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland. Kasich has said he wants to make changes to the state’s education system, and some have voiced concern that his changes would jeopardize the money. “I have no reason to believe that we’re not going to get that,” Kasich said.”

Mr. Kasich wants money for freight rail instead of for passenger lines.

Where is his call for free enterprise for freight rail?

Must Ohio’s freight rail industry be burdened by socialism? Where are the freight rail executives in opposing this socialism?

Mr. Kasich wants job training, Title I, and Medicaid money.

Where is all the Tea Party/Republican talk about the federal government staying away?

Mr. Kasich says the federal government denies him flexibility in how federal money will be spent.

Yet Ohio will still get the Race To The Top money despite the change in Ohio from a Democratic Governor to a Republican Governor.

What a bunch of hypocrisy is so many respects from Mr. Kasich and from the Republican Party in Ohio. (more…)

By ecthompsonmd|2010-12-07T23:41:46-04:00December 7th, 2010|Economy, Other Political Thoughts|Comments Off

Socialism Is Plenty American

Here is a park in Houston called Our Park.

Our Park is a great and an apt name for a city park.

The parks are ours. Just as are the schools, the police department, the waterworks, the public streets, the libraries and so on.

All this going on about socialism.

Yet the common ownership of public assets is an American as Social Security and the U.S. military.

Photo copyright Neil Aquino.

By ecthompsonmd|2010-12-07T23:37:34-04:00December 7th, 2010|General|Comments Off