If only I were a real blogger

I have a better understanding now of just how hard being a real blogger can be. I work full time and do this whenever I’m not too tired and the mood strikes me. In between those times so much happens. I intended to write about oil because last weekend I saw several oil reps on Meet the Press. I also watched Addicted to Oil and a segment on NOW about the death of the electric car. Our use of oil is a national security issue (as first mentioned by Pres. Carter), it’s a health care issue, it’s a human survival issue. I feel pretty strongly about it.

Then other issues came up. The House delayed the renewal the 1965 Voting Rights Act. As far as I can tell, from the AP article I read, the objections of the House Republicans were that the act allowed too many American citizens the right to vote. I’m only half kidding.

Also, the Senate defeated the Democrats’ proposed minimum wage increase. In what can only be described as a complete logical disconnect the Senate voted NO to raising the minimum wage while the house said YES to giving themselves a raise. So let me get this straight: The poorest Americans don’t deserve a cost of living increase, but the House does. In fact, lawmakers have seen a pay increase of over $30,000 since 1997, the last time minimum wage was increased. We sometimes forget that the salaries of all our governmental officials come from us. We should remember that EVERY November come election time.

But there was also good news. Warren Buffett donated $30.7 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with another $6.4 BILLION going to other charitable foundations. BILLION PEOPLE! The two richest men in the world doing what they can to make the world a better place.

Buffett went even further to say that the estate tax shouldn’t be repealed. "It's a very equitable tax," Buffett said. "It's in keeping with the idea of equality of opportunity in this country, not giving incredible head starts to certain people who were very selective about the womb from which they emerged." I couldn’t have said it better myself.

So much happened. So many opinions to share. I don’t know where to start. And now it’s time to end. I didn’t even get to mention that the government is now spying on your bank records. You real bloggers are a hardworking lot.

j.r.