Jason Monastra

My life and thoughts out on the web

In yet another wasteful tour down the legalistic lane of the US system, we see an alarming yet not too uncommon use of our tax payer dollars.  A Wisconsin inmate was forced to sleep on a mattress that had mold on it.  Following a prison riot, yes you read that correct, A RIOT.  In case anyone forgot, a riot is typically categorized in a prison setting as being a uprising of the prison population in attempt to disturb order or overthrow the guards in order.  Following this spat, our nice inmate was placed in a segregation unit.  Yet another unit meant to separate inmates that cause trouble from the general population and bring order back to the prison.  Yes, in that unit - this prisoner was forced to sleep on a moldy mattress.

Now with all of this being said, our inmate is allowed to turn around - hire a lawyer and then sue the system for what amounted to 60 days in these conditions.  Those 60 days were declared by the jury as not meeting ” the minimal civilized measure of life necessities”.  Placing a dollar amount on the suit, the inmate is awarded $295,000 for the 60 days that he spent in those conditions.

60 days is worth nearly 300k.  Wow, I need a job like that.  That is nearly 1.8 million for the year.  How does one arrive at that number?  Think of all the people that live in situations that are well below the standards that this inmate was exposed to.  People that live on the street or 20 people to home due to poverty.  None of these people are welcomed with a 300k check in their mailbox.  And most of them are innocent of the transgressions that landed this inmate in prison, much less the continued behavior that made this inmate the central part of a prison uprising. 

America is a great country but to protect the liberties that made this country strong, we need to maintain a sense of internal order and balance that does not allow those that break the law to benefit from the smallest of mistakes.  I am not saying what the prison did was right, but to award someone nearly 300k for the short term circumstances is ridiculous.  That money could be spent so much more wisely.  But then, this inmate needs the American Dream.  Looks like we just paid for it.

President Bush made his speech last week before the UN assembly.  Each and every time I hear of the time wasted in this endeavor, it never fails to amaze me how people in the world actually think something gets done there.  Lets look at the most recent meeting.  Bush speaks.  First and foremost, though Bush does hold the post of the most powerful country - should he be speaking there?  He has no international credibility and people frankly do not like him.  So what are we doing there?  All that said, Bush talks about international cooperation surrounding terrorism.  Let us be clear, the partnerships that are made and the deals behind the scenes are not conceived nor carried out from the UN.  The UN is for public approval only and that does not work.  We need a true united assembly that is dedicated to results, not talk to bring cooperation to the forefront and then hold those deals to oversight and accountability.

Right after Bush speaks, but our good friend from Iran gets up - Ahmadinejad.  Come on….this guy is under sanctions from the same assembly based on his lack of respect and direct defiance of the assembly’s demand for the ceasing of nuclear enrichment.  So instead of silencing a man known to not care for the international community, we give this man a forum into the hearts and minds of almost every household with a TV across the world.  Please.  He spends his time on the podium denouncing Bush and the US.  Lets finish this with some icing, shall we.  The one man show is met by a group consisting of left wing church members from the good ol US, asking him to take part in an interfaith dinner!  Only in America are such things tolerated.

In an unprecedented move by the US Congress, the House today actually did not pass a bill that spent money to bail out a flawed system.  The cries of people have been heard the world over and the shock-waves of the financial markets are being felt overseas as international trading is down the world over.  However, when looking at the situation in full scope, is this all bad?  The US has been the beacon for free trade for recent memory, at least in my life, and should continue to be so.  With that comes the responsibility of not only allowing the great times to be great but also to not rush in and save the falling markets when they are correcting themselves.  I am certain this will be met with differnet views, but I think the restraint showed by Congress, albeit more arguing and partisan bickering, did produce a striking blow to the socialist economics starting to take root in our country.

Conservatives previous to the vote were screaming of the socialist agenda being developed.  While democrats in their need for fairness, provided much debate over the compensation packages delivered to the executives within the financial firms effected.  Actually, I see into both of the parties complaints and agree.  I cannot see how purchasing the bad debt instruments of a failed system and then turning that system loose to its over agenda again make any sense.  The chairman has a made a fatal flaw, thinking that the people and Congress (yes those are two different agendas) have unlimited acceptance of the wasteful business practices that have crippled this country over the last 8 yrs. 

I agreed with the Washington Post, describing the need for not the purchase of the bad securities but rather the stock of the companies allowing the tax payers to benefit if the sector recovers from the bailout plans.  To simply strap the tax payer with bad debt, allow no benefit if the plan works, and to reward those that cause these issues yet again.  Come on, I am not a genius but let us be serious.  When is enough really enough.  This administration and most of Washington is covered with the business of money.  Who has it, who wants, and how to make more of it.  That is fine, this is business.   But when a bad call is made, let the people that make the decisions take the hit.  Do not throw it on to the common man, then tax him more to fund it.  That is garbage.

I find the parallels between subjects and how they are judged here in the US vs. the rest of the world remarkable.  For example racism.  A sharp subject under any scope, I had the opportunity to read an article recently describing Europe’s apparent progress in the racism area when it comes to fans of their beloved soccer or football.  I read it, understanding the issues, and seeing the progress as they described it, but really finding it funny how easily they justified the subject in their own country.  After reading, I look back at countless articles from European nations reflecting negatively on the US due to its racist issues, finding the contradictions nearly impossible to read.

When something in the US happens, it is considered an alright venue for the world to comment.  Much more, they should be able to comment without any fear of response, and their words should be met with open ears as if they were the ones having it right for so long.  However, when the roles are switched, should we hear about the US commenting on their nasty acts.  Well of course not.  Anything such as that would be considered bullying a smaller power and the US should never be the heavy hand in offering any advice or correction to another country no matter the subject.

 Spain, to this day, still reaps some of the most horrific racist remarks of any country when a black professional athlete enters the stadium.  Mind you, not only those of their opposing teams, but members of their own national team are met with the same abuse.  It was described by the author that in Italy they had heard things that were scarcely believable when watching a match.  Does anyone here in the US even know about these events?  Are they broadcast in the national news or given any weight when considering stories to recount for the public?  Of course not….as they are a nation’s internal issues and should be dealt with internally.  Why then is the US not given such dramatic freedom but is within the cross hairs of constant begrudging world forces willing to discuss anything that will place the US in a negative outlook.

Hopefully there will be a day and a day soon that will allow for all countries to deal with their issues themselves vs. having to campaign on an international platform for a resolution.  Some things just need to handled in house.

So the New York Times reports that President Bush has signed an order allowing Special Forces to conduct missions inside Pakistan without the approval of the Pakistan government.  Maybe it is just me, but why does this not sound like real reporting to me.  Is this news?  Is anyone surprised at this development?  Better yet, why does the freedom of press some how allow for our military actions to be under a microscope by people that want nothing more than to see our own missions fail?  The liberal media has taken aim at our military action for the last 8 yrs.  Long wars and rising budgets are giving free way for media leaders to tee off on each and every bit of information they receive.  But how far should that be allowed to proceed?

Military action must be taken with the best interest of the US in mind.  Not that of Pakistan or any other government which plays willfully or passively with terrorist or rogue groups that jeopardize our national interests.  But to what is this bold step met with, but ridicule by our arm chair quarterbacks such as Robert Breyfuss of Thenation.com (www.thenation.com) saying that it will only inflame a bad situation and that is boosts religious parties.  Are you kidding me?  Do you really think that the anti-US sentiment is not going to be there should the US not embark on missions across Pakistani lines.  The bottom line here is a non-coherent front from a country under duress.  The people and the government, not sure whom to believe, act within their parties and sects - fighting themselves continually while all running scared of their intelligence agency.  By the way, the same agency that is known to have supporters of Al Qaeda, and has been providing intelligence against our armed forces during the war.  So let me ask, how does including these people make sense for our national security?  It does not.  But does the media care about national security.  NO.  All they care about is bringing down what they consider the Republican regime, and bringing into order a new world where everyone gets along and all people are equal.  Hate to tell you guys - that will never happen.  What will happen is that other countries will feed you that line until the US becomes less powerful and more in line with other worldwide powers.  When that occurs and a sphere of influence and military power are diminished, they will seize the opportunity to oppress us as they have felt they have been oppressed and destroy a beautiful country due to jealously and anti-Christian sentiment.  That is the truth.

It is finally nice to see someone like Dexter Jackson win the Mr O. After all of the years dominated by over sized mounds of men, the title has been given to someone with extreme attention to detail for his sport, symmetry across all lines, and a dominate figure that anyone would be proud to have. Nice job Dexter.

Somebody give me a break on this.  This is an accident and to have the guy flagged and then penalized for this.  Look at the angles and see where he was coming in, then at the last minute the angle is changed dramatically by an immediate hit from the backside thus forcing the reciever’s head down and causing the helmet impact.  Now I understand the rules, but let us use some common sense.  There are simply time where things are an accident and do not require someone to be punished.  This is one of those times.

I have been following this subject matter of oil and gas now as it has become the ever so present screen saver on each and every TV and newscast I turn to.  The economy, the faltering market, the ups and downs of oil/gas, and of course our good ole currency.  I wrote previously about the foundation of an energy policy that would allow for offshore drilling to compliment an expansion within the alternative fuel markets thus producing a long term plan in which we could free ourselves from imported oil.  As I continue to read, I find mounting facts that the reason for our oil dependence is far more our own fault than we would like to believe.  With increasing technologies and long term benefits already being leveraged by other companies….why are we not leading the way with this?

Lets take a look at some of the other countries out there, shall we:

Denmark:  The country has invested in wind technology thus producing more than 18% of their domestic energy supply from wind.  Here in the US, we produce less than 1%.

France:  Nuclear is their claim to fame.  I am surprised that that liberals keep bottle-necking this process when their great friends across the pond produce 78% of their energy from nuclear. 

Norway:  Now these guys have it together and I like their energy policy.  Norway has some of the largest reserves in the world.  Rather than wasting the precious money maker on themselves, they sit back and sell it to the world while producing nearly all of their country’s electricity from hydro. 

Alright, are you going to tell me that with all of the resources and talent here in the US, we cannot figure out how to make use of other energy sources.  I think that is bunch of garbage.  The fact remains that companies continue to push the oil agenda to keep the cost high and therefore squeeze additional profits.  Instead of innovation, we are fast becoming the lack luster pioneers of NOTHING, relying on crude and coal.  We are falling behind people and this is not an opinion but a fact in which all countries are steadily passing us by one by one while encouraging us to remain in the past.  The leaders are not stupid but rather are feeding the gluttony of the US machine, lulling us to sleep with the fat and satisfied.  When that comes to an end, and it will - someone will wake up and realize that we are so far behind that we cannot catch up.  Our universal influence has already left us and we are fast becoming less influential than other countries in overall policy development.  Energy is simply one pillar to that foundation which has been steadily chipped away at.  If we do not do something soon, things will be lost that are a lot more tangible than the words we throw around.

As we age, we tend to end up seeing more of the medical establishment.  For example, my internist referred me to a female urologist. I saw her yesterday and she is gorgeous.
She’s beautiful; big boobs, great figure and unbelievably sexy.

She told me that I have to stop masturbating. I asked her why and she said, ‘Because I’m trying to examine you.’

So in the one of the more anticipated Fed meetings recently, there was a decision to keep the key lending rate the same.  The article from www.cnn.com read the following:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The central bank left its fed funds rate at 2% despite increased hopes for a rate cut. Wall Street wanted a cut in order to help ease the pain in the financial sector and restore investor confidence.

The Fed’s policymakers acknowledged the deepening problems facing the nation’s financial markets in a statement. But the Fed added that it believes rates are already low enough to spur future economic growth and that despite recent declines in commodity prices, such as oil, the outlook for inflation remains uncertain.

I was in a general discussion yesterday concerning the Fed’s purpose and direction in their decision making.  It appears to me that the focus of the Fed has moved and somehow gotten off course.  The purpose of the Central Bank is simple, to head off and curb inflation.  With that being the case, how is it that the credit market has somehow become the Fed’s new baby?  Markets have a tendency to correct themselves as the basic fundamentals of business eventually balance causing the return of fair pricing and stability.  However with the movement of the Fed as a policy maker in the credit market, this causes a whole new ripple in the market. 

Government in the US has become far too reaching, and this is just an added piece to the building of the government intervention arm that will continue for years to come.  Fast forwarded if Obama is President.  When did “bail outs” and government funded acquisitions become part of our economic policy?  The model in which most financial companies used to evaluate their risk was wrong.  The weight and impact of an implosion on the credit market was undervalued and we are seeing, and reaping, the great effects that can be shown when solid business fundamentals are thrown out for the purposes of a short term buck.  It has, and will always, come back to cost more than the short term gain.  Our relief efforts to curb the implosion only go to show the errors of our ways.  Simply allowing for poor decisions to be masked in an attempt to keep things status quo.  Where are the ramifications?  Tighter credit markets?  Please.  The credit markets are too tight and frankly have been in certain areas for some time.  Lending in the housing sector was tilted, giving money to anyone and everyone with a hand out.  But lets look at small business?  Where are they in the mist of this?  Small business loans and growth in that sector are the life-blood of the US economy.   With the credit issues, the effect has tighted even the most successful of businesses.  And for what?  So our govenment can bail out the people that made the decisions that placed us here and punish those still trying to innovate.

Regulation is needed…more importantly risk management.  The ability to forsee issues is not a science but their are risk models that work and allow for a sobering picture of what could be should reckless behavior be allowed to penetrate all areas of our financial system.  However overall government intervention and the idea that Wall Street thinks someone should just bail them out is ridiculous.  Have a bite of that cake you guys have been serving for the last 7 yrs….