By Hail Hamilton

Eight weeks is not enough time to judge a new president. But it is time enough to make some observations. If I sound overly critical it’s because I am concerned about the nature, magnitude and urgency of the challenges facing the new administration. Here’s some advice I have for President Obama:

• I support the recent omnibus stimulus bill, but I don’t think it’s nearly enough to fill the more than $3 trillion hole in our economy. Even after its passage the economy continues its rapid decline. What is needed is more federal spending not less and that money should be directed at rebuilding our decaying infrastructure and to financially strapped states, cities and school districts. We should be stimulating consumer demand by creating new jobs for Main Street—not creating new wealth for Wall Street.

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By Hail Hamilton

When cars collide with pedestrians, there is high potential for serious injury or death. This fact is no less true for Sierra Madre than it is for anywhere else. As such, drivers should take appropriate care in crowded areas or school zones, for the potential that a pedestrian will enter the roadway. Pedestrians should also follow the advice that we attempt to ingrain into the youngest of children - look both ways before attempting to cross the street.

Pedestrian Error 

Pedestrians have a great capacity to avoid being struck by cars, as it is very rare for collisions to occur outside of the roadway. When pedestrians exercise due caution before entering a road, the chances of being struck by a car are very low. The chances of accident go up significantly in the following contexts:
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By Hail Hamilton

Recently the new unemployment numbers came out, revealing that the rate of unemployment in the United States rose from 7.6 to 8.1% in the February. That means a whopping 12.5 million Americans are currently out of work, the highest unemployment since 1948. But do you ever wonder exactly how the government arrives at these numbers?

According to popular opinion, these numbers would seem to be derived from the number of individuals who file claims for unemployment insurance benefits under either State or Federal programs. This actually, not quite accurate; however, due to the fact that these numbers ...<< MORE >>

Personal Safety Tips - Craigslist Help Forum
 
You can sidestep would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:

• DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on craigslist.

• NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.

• FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.

• CRAIGSLIST IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification"

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By Hail Hamilton

This would put a real nice blow to US economic history: Social Security, the retirement program conceived of during the Great Depression, coming to its demise during the current one.

Recently the conservative The Economist raised the prospect of possible US default, and suggested instead that the government may "default" instead on its retirees -- who expect a certain level of monthly support -- in order to pay its other debtors.
Meanwhile, liberal The Nation says that such a scheme is already under way and that Obama is playing right along:
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By Hail Hamilton

You think the war in Iraq is costing us too much?   

Read this:

Boy was I confused.  I have been hammered with the propaganda that it is the Iraq war and the global war on terror that is bankrupting us. I now find that to be RIDICULOUS.
The true cost of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the global war on terror since 9/11/01 is $848.5 billion. The total cost of illegal immigration during the same period is approximately $2.4 trillion.
 
I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many ...<< MORE >>

By Hail Hamilton

Hours after President Obama's speech to Congress in which he laid down a marker for achieving "comprehensive" healthcare reform, and getting it done this year, top administration aides have outlined the goals of what they want to achieve.

What they call "the 8 keys to his health plan,"  certainly reflect a bold determination for action and a grand vision.

There's only one problem. Virtually all the proposals being bandied about in various Congressional committees -- and the administration made it clear this week they will let Congress figure out the details -- fail to meet the test of those "8 keys."

There is one important exception -- single payer reform, or expanding and updating Medicare to cover everyone. So what are those lofty goals set by the administration?
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By Hail Hamilton

January 19, with Martin Luther King, Jr. day almost over and in anticipation of the inauguration the next day, I turned on MSNBC to watch “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”. It’s one of favorite news shows. Olbermann adds controversy and humor to the otherwise brain numbing nightly national news broadcasts. In a word he is entertaining.

Olbermann is also fearless. He’s taken on the Bush Administration, the War in Iraq and a variety of other touchy subjects. And he does so with his facts in order. Some may accuse of being biased and unfair, but no one can ...<< MORE >>

By Hail Hamilton

A federal shield law that would protect reporters from revealing confidential sources was recently re-introduced in Congress.

The Free Flow of Information Act of 2009 is identical to the shield law that passed the House in the 110th Congress by a vote of 398 to 21. A similar bill was also approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 15 – 4, but died when the congressional session ended last year.

Today’s bill was introduced into the House of Representatives by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. ...<< MORE >>

By Hail Hamilton

I’m sick and tired of these diehard conservatives complaining about all the money the Obama Administration is spending to stimulate the economy. Not only did the Bush Administration ram through a $700 billion bailout package for its buddies on Wall Street, it spent billions of dollars on the War against Terror—a war still with no end in sight.

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has initiated three military operations:

• Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) covering Afghanistan and other Global War on Terror (GWOT) operations ranging from the Philippines to Djibouti that ...<< MORE >>