Could Be Better...

...But, definitely could be worse (i.e., the sixteen presidents before him).

At least he implies, in very guarded language, the need to shift away from the incarceration mindset.

Feds Threaten Californians

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The Obama administration has denounced Proposition 19, which would legalize personal use of marijuana in California, and promises to 'vigorously enforce' the federal ban on possessing, growing or selling the drug if voters approve the ballot measure Nov. 2.

Please Select Oppression Type Here

Peter Schiff mentioned this on his video blog, so I decided to seek out the exact words of our president. They are:

"I think that America has a noble tradition of being healthily skeptical about government. That's in our DNA, right? (Applause.) I mean, we came in because the folks over on the other side of the Atlantic had been oppressing folks without giving them representation. And so we’ve always had a healthy skepticism about government. And I think that's a good thing."

(Emphasis added.)

False Choice

Obama's (health care) proposals vs. "doing nothing."

Again.

The Motor Law

Seems like an appropriate video considering recent news.

Fine Point

Clever, brief post over at FEE's blog. What can you do with individual effort? Who should do the things you can't do? Read it.

Comments on tonight's Obama speech

- "We will" translates pretty reliably to "you must." ("we will double this nation’s supply of renewable energy in the next three years...We will soon lay down thousands of miles of power lines...we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power...we will expand our commitment to charter schools...we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college...we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan...")

- Has Obama not seen the commercials? There is no (and can never be?) such a thing as "clean coal," according to them.

- "...the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it." Why not? And how do we know that Tesla and/or some other startups wouldn't create a better future American auto industry? Instead, we tax them to subsidize the Not-So-Big Three.

- "...we must have quality, affordable health care for every American." Saying "we must" have something does not change its affordability. When somebody comes up with a new drug or diagnostic technology, there is no automatic increase in national wealth that pays for every citizen to obtain that new drug or technology. Simple words can't change economic realities. They can persuade people to act in counterproductive and aggressive ways, however.

- The G.I. Bill: After Obama mentioned it I was interested to find that it is not an unquestioned success (which it sometimes seems to be). Here's proof.

- "...we know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow." I'm not worried about a foreign worker/company out-competing an American worker/company. I'm not worried about a Louisiana worker/company out-competing a Texas worker/company. Etc. I've got bigger fish to fry.

Helping Obama

Obama orated:

"I don't know anyone who benefits when...an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers."

Three suggestions:
1. the illegal workers: go from zero income to non-zero income
2. the employer: saves money on wages
3. consumers: pay lower prices
(For outsourcing, replace "illegal workers" with "foreign workers.")
(For automation, replace "hiring illegal workers" with "installing robots" and omit #1 since robots don't care about wages.)

Current Candidate Grades

McCain-
economy: C
foreign policy: D
civil liberties: D

Obama-
economy: D
foreign policy: C+
civil liberties: C

Disclaimer: these grades are based on Vox Politico's current assessment only.