Interesting piece from Mr. Zeiss’ GIS and geospatial information blog:

In the past 8 years, the American Society of Civil Engineers has done a few report cards on the condition of the United States’ infrastructure:

As you can see, it passes, but only for community college.

In a presidential election year with talks of another economic stimulus plan and many making an allusion to FDR’s New Deal, a rebuilding of the infrastructure (at an estimated cost of almost $2 trillion) could create jobs, with projects that I predict will end up like the Blue Ridge Parkway and more national parks. 

That is a great idea in my opinion.  Former NYC transportation commissioner “Gridlock Sam” Schwartz and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid agree with me.  A project of this undertaking would could the American taxpayer a lot of money in the small scheme, but in the big picture, jobs are created, unemployment rates decline and more money is put back into our crumbling economy.  A plan of such magnitude with kill two birds with one stone, or at least knock them out of the nest for easier taking.

Senator Obama believes that a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank should be started to aid in these actions.  This is one of the only points I do not agree with.  An institution like the one described seems way to close to a nationalized bank.  It may work, but it seems like an ugly big-government socialist idea.

All in all, this is a good plan in the most normative way possible.

I have provided both of the candidates websites for you, my faithful readers, to peruse and decide:

Tim Moffitt for NC House

Jane for State House

Republican candidate Tim Moffitt has standard issue priorities that he vows to work on as Buncombe County’s new member of the General Assembly:

Economic stability and job growth-reducing gov’t bureaucracy, driving small business…

Health care reform-making it affordable for all

Education reform-more money, better schools, better parent-teacher-student relations, newer technology

Protecting the environment-especially natural resources

Standard issue republican.  He seems like a nice guy, very down to earth and a born and bred WNC mountain boy.

Democrat Jane Whilden’s biography describes her as a very family and community oriented politician, having managerial and administrative experience prior to her running for office.  She has been both president and vice president of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of WNC, involved in school functions and for the past seven years as the director of the Governor’s Western Office here in Asheville.  The issues she will work on are:

(the following are concurrent with Moffitt)

Education Reform

Environmental conservation

Cheaper health care and prescriptions

Better paying jobs and supporting small business

Also, Whilden mentions:

Immigration laws-making sure that all hires are legal and E-verified

More and better law enforcement

Gas tax cap-is that possible?

I want to mention here that the reason that I describe more aspects of Whilden’s life is because that is what is provided by here website.  I strive to look at both candidates in an unbiased manner and write about them equally in this case, going by the websites, Moffitt’s site is lacking.

The Revolutionary has decided that he will have to support Jane Whilden.  My reasonings are as follows:

Whilden has more experience as a leader, even if it was working for Easley, who I am not fond of.  She seems to be more involved in the community, working with schools in the Roberson district.  Another big plus for me personally is that she did work with local legislators to help those who were effected by the floods of 2003.

Moffitt, an entrepreneurial small business owner, comes across as being more worried about his business than his resposibilty as my county’s house rep.  Knowing that much of his business and it’s offices are based in New Jersey makes me believe that he will be back and forth between Raleigh and wherever he has to go.  Two things concern me about that: one-I want my house rep to be all about politics; two-the rigors of travel may effects his work.

Regradless of what party you support, I urge you to research both representative delegates.  Do your civic duty.

When I went to check my old AOL email account, the AOL News comes up automatically.  The first one I read is entitled “The Only Vote That Really Counts”.

Thank goodness that this race for the presidency is so heated, or I would blame AOL for bolstering feelings of voter apathy.

Things that make airbags deploy

Sunday morning on Meet the Press, Colin Powell gave his endorsement for Sen. Obama, which is very interesting considering how Powell is a staunch Republican.  Irregardless, this is not why I am writing.

Today the Washington Post had an article that was what consider a slap on the back of the head of the American people saying, “Hey, pay attention!” Mr. Powell said for us nor be afraid of Islamic believers in America. Wow. No kidding? They’re not the same as those Afghan extremists? So, brown people that go to a oh, what do you call it?….Mosque! Those who go to a mosque are not packing plastic explosives in the soles of their shoes, brandishing box cutters, causing chaos in the streets, a harbinger of the Apocalypse?!?!

Hey, what the hell, I get confused some times.

Now, if anyone has a problem with Colin Powell, I would like to see a show of hands. (Silence and stillness). No one? That’s right. Because Colin Powell is awesome. He is an ex-military man who came into office and became one of the greatest powers and most brilliant minds that has ever graced the steps of the White House. The poor guy has been surrounded by fools and idiots for years and he still remains composed and eloquent. Look, if the words of Colin Powell cannot convince you, then I don’t know what to tell you.

I need to make this clear as possible: I am not thanking Mr. Powell for endorsing Obama. This is not about the campaign, the mud-slinging knife-fight for the presidency. This is about a brilliant ex-politician coming out and rebuking the ignorant masses about the animosity they hold towards Islamic believers or anyone of Middle Eastern decent. Unfortunately, Arabic people are the new people to hate, all because of lack of responsibility and civility of many Americans. Last time I checked, that is not what being and American is about. We are the “melting pot” nation. Come one, come all, but come legally.

In conclusion: Thank you Mr. Colin Powell for being just, valiant and righteous on live TV and clarifying that not all Muslims are terrorists. And also thank you to the Washington Post for taking the time to reiterate Powell’s message.

Washington Post: What Colin Powell Also Said

Good ol’ Joe Biden, who I do happen to like, made a pretty scary and “crazy” speech talking about how within the first 6 months of Obama being president, the whole country would be tried, put to the test by some “international crisis”.  Speculations of said crisis range anywhere from invading Pakistan to an Iranian strike to a Cold War situation (trust me, in my opinion, Putin is not above it). 

So, let me get this straight, Joe: you are telling me that by next summer some catastrophic event is going to happen that will test the will of America’s strongest patriots, that it will be devastating and life-altering, just like what happened to Kennedy in ’62?

Stop it.  Just stop.  Do not make Kennedy allusions.  That is so last week.

I like Obama and Biden.  I do.  But, Mr. Biden, by saying what you said, by relaying that message to the American people, you just gave a lot of Americans, you know, the ones that clutch their Bibles and their guns, another reason to fear Arabs.  You just fueled the fire.  I respect you, Mr. Biden, but if you know so much about foreign policy and diplomacy, then shame on you for bolstering the fear factor that so many countries use to oppress us.  As if the fact that our economy falling apart before our eyes isn’t bad enough.  These are trying times.  Do me a favor and be a real politician:  lie.  That’s what you guys usually do.  Or even just stretch the truth.  People like me will find out that you are lying, but I believe that the majority of the American populous will not.  They get their news from their local newscast of from that God-awful monstrosity of a robotic brainwash factory called FoxNews.

Mr. Biden, I am putting my trust in you and the man you stand behind.  Do not disappoint me.  And I do hope you are wrong.

The Russian government has released that it seems that their new GPS system and satellite, dubbed the Global Satellite Navigation Sytem (GLONASS), may not be “fully operational”, but ol’ Vladdy Poo says that he is having no problems keeping up with the whereabouts of his faithful dog, a black lab named Koni. 

This is a Soviet era project to compete with the US’s GPS systems.

Here is the point: the last thing that was put in space by totalitarian regime that was not “fully operational” destroyed Alderaan.  The other one was easily thwarted by one MI:6 spy.  So, GPS or Soviet cover-up?  You decide. Thank God he can find his beloved pet.

CNN: Tracking Putin’s Dog–I smell a cover-up

Why Putin is the Winner: NYTimes Op-Ed

In one of the recent issues of Vanity Fair, there is an extensive article recognizing the efforts of Vladimir Putin during his two-term presidency of the Russian Federation.  After reading said article, which is fantastic, I came to realize something that I already suspected: the Russian Federation is so far off democracy that it is mind-boggling.  I knew this would happen when I found out that Putin was ex-KGB.  And from what I understand, Yelstin, the Bill Clinton of Russia, helped set this up.  In fact to expound on that can of worms, relate this story of Yeltsin to the Clinton/FreddieMan/FannieMae ordeal that set us up to fall. 

Putin’s policies have restructured Russia mush how Lenin originally intended it to be.  More power is centralized, more rights are denied, more voices are silenced.  I thought Russia was a democracy.  I mean, they have free voting, right?  That right is still intact….

But the people voted for him unanimously in both elections (53% in 200, 71% in 2004).  Do the ideals and policies of Putin truly fit what the average Russian required?  Or is this two terms of Florida voting for the Ruskys?

It is hard for me to believe that an country would prefer the restraints that are provided  by a centralized government.  What’s scary is that we as Americans are coming closer and closer in proximity to that end.

Anyways, now Putin is Prime Minister.  That office is for life.  No two-term limit.  So he can still pull the strings that he tied while he was in office.  Medvedev is just a figurehead, the Queen Mum of Russia.  The true power still lies in the hands of Putin.

]]>