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| Politcs by Random not Rant |
| 07.28.04 (1:26 pm) [edit] |
There has got to be a better way to do politics. Carl Strock in Monday’s Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) listed some pretty compelling reasons as to why the New York state legislature is the worst in the nation (hah... California thinks THEY have budget problems NY was 45 days late and the 20th year late in a row take THAT you girly men ((sorry)) ]http://www.cbcny.org/staterep... ).
How about this as an experiment. First hang all the lawyers… wups wrong experiment. First fire the entire legislature (not a bad idea on its own). Then hold elections for half the current districts at ‘random’ ((lets say there are 200 seats now... 90 republican, 90 democratic, 10 independent, 5 green, and 5 libertarians.)) Each party tosses their districts into a hat and draws half the number (round down but at least one).
Now... the OTHER 100+ seats... are where we get to experiment. Make a list of requirements starting with the requirements for getting elected. Then add a few things to insure reasonable competence (High School Diploma, No felony record, lived in the state X number of years, financially independent, whatever...). Then add a requirement for service to the state (Military service x numbers of years, volunteering) or a cash fee, perhaps require collecting X number of signatures... things of this nature. Take all the successful entries and have the Department of the Lottery choose 100 winners. They get the Job for a term.
Benefits? Well special interests are going to have trouble getting their hooks into the random folks. The Random folk have no need to be loyal to the people currently running the show which cuts down on the cronyism.
As an alternate idea. Pick 200 folks by the method above. If they can come up with a workable, COMPLETE, budget before the elected folk, they take over for them. Let’s face it if 200 people chosen pretty much at random can do better then the professionals they have to go.
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| FreedomFries, Size, and multiple posts.... |
| 07.08.04 (12:31 pm) [edit] |
Ever accidentally posted something more than once?
It’s the fault of the fast food industry.
Small: Good for kids but not QUITE enough for an adult (some of your message gets chopped off).
Regular: Almost perfect... eat everything but the 3 fries that fell out into the bottom of the bag (one post...but Dang what is that extra chara@cter doing in my post)
Super size: Too much for ordinary mortals (unless it’s all you’re eating). Good for two people to share. (Double posting)
Mooresize: Pour entire bag of potatoes directly into the grease and fry. Reduce heat and allow to soak in the grease for 5 minutes while adding one pound of salt. Send someone over to KFC for one of their commemorative buckets and spoon the fries from the grease to the bucket... do NOT drain. Serve with a 10 foot pole and call the paramedics. (3 or Moore times)
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| Fun and suprisingly accurate quiz :) |
| 07.07.04 (2:14 pm) [edit] |
Wackiness: 20/100
Rationality: 10/100
Constructiveness: 20/100
Leadership: 20/100
You are an SEDF--Sober Emotional Destructive Follower. This makes you an evil genius. You are extremely focused and difficult to distract from your tasks. With luck, you have learned to channel your energies into improving your intellect, rather than destroying the weak and unsuspecting.
Your friends may find you remote and a hard nut to crack. Few of your peers know you very well--even those you have known a long time--because you have expert control of the face you put forth to the world. You prefer to observe, calculate, discern and decide. Your decisions are final, and your desire to be right is impenetrable.
You are not to be messed with. You may explode.
From here: ]http://hokev.brinkster.net/qu...+Personality&page=1
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| 4th of July |
| 07.02.04 (3:30 pm) [edit] |
Just before I head out for the weekend I thought I'd say something. As you prepair for your celebrations do something for the Troops in Iraq and in our millitary hospitals. Click on the Soldiers' Angels link over there on the left and send a little something to a soldier on active duty or recovering in a hospital.
And remember.. once you light the fuse Mr. Firework is no longer your friend.
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| Prostitution and Disease |
| 07.02.04 (3:27 pm) [edit] |
Have suggested an idea for dealing with pimps.. next I'll look at disease.
One of the biggest problems with prostitution is the spreading of STDs. I have a solution but I believe it would require a medical breakthrough (I'm not an expert on blood tests).
Presume that an on demand test for STDs was availible (Ideally taking less then 15 minutes for results).
Make this service availible at a nominal fee (say $5) and with it you receive a card with you picture on it, the date, and what (if any) STDs you carry. No names.
A smart John (ok something of an Oxymoron) will insist on seeing the card. Hopefully a smart worker would also insist on seeing a card. (and use a condom but)
This would hopefully have the effect of reducing the spread of STDs and reduce the numbers of diseased people in the field through market force as opposed to law enforcement. To encourage people to get said cards judges would greatly reduce sentences for those people arrested for solicitation as opposed to those who can't be bothered to get them. i.e. judge reduces the crime to a violation (no criminal record) if you have a card that is less then a week old. The only bad part about this is that it would probably increase the numbers of prostitutes (though they would be 'safer').
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| Prostitution: Factsheet on Human Rights Violations (Continued) |
| 07.01.04 (2:07 pm) [edit] |
This started out a week or so ago over on Red Tigress’ site and since she is off to Florida (lucky Tigress) I’ll see if there is any more interest.
Now... to begin with I am going to concentrate on the problems involved with Prostitution in the United States, mostly because I am most familiar with the customs and laws of my own country.
Firstly I do not believe that prostitution can be totally eliminated. There will always be people desperate enough to sell themselves for money, no matter what the punishment. Your opinion may be different... and that’s fine too, it’s just how I see human nature.
That being said I see no reason that a violent drug laden culture existing only to exploit men, women, and children should be permitted to exist.
The first problem I see is that women are forced by threat of violence to enter and remain in the trade. The sub-human creature known as the Pimp.
The problem with pimps is that they have appeal. They are rich in places where most have little money; they have women, drugs, flashy clothes, and are respected. (They also probably die pretty young but to someone whose only career option is bagging groceries it’s appealing.
Solution (well my suggestion for one): Change the way that Pimps are treated by the law. Charge them with violating the 13th amendment rights of their 'girls', income tax evasion, the RICO act, anything that will stick. At the same time the Federal Government files a CIVIL case against them. If found guilty by both they a) go to prison for a LONG time b) Lose every time, piece of jewelry, car, house, pair of shoes.. Everything. That money then is used to put the pimp’s girls into drug rehab, get them job training, and (hopefully) relocate them so they can start their lives over again.
A girl or girls finger their pimp they get rehab (if needed), treatment and counseling (if needed), some job training, relocation and help getting a job and place to stay ((hopefully mostly funded by the pimp :)). Then they walk... no criminal charges [this is to encourage them to turn in the pimps].
One of the Key points is to brand the pimps as slave owners.... to destroy the glamorous image of the pimp.
Will this solve the problem? No. I do think it would be a pretty good step in the right direction.
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