The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[scaeagles]

I still have a WTF reaction, as as did Feinstein, from what I've read.

I am somewhat concerned about people with no experience in intelligence gathering being in charge of intelligence gathering.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I still have a WTF reaction, as as did Feinstein, from what I've read.

I am somewhat concerned about people with no experience in intelligence gathering being in charge of intelligence gathering.

Let's compare it to Donuts.....

Panetta does not know how to bake donuts or the steps to mix up the tasty jelly filling.

What Panetta does know is the catering business. He can tell you how many donuts he's going to need for a given client function and what percentage of each type (cake, jelly filled, etc...) they should be. Panetta then just needs to relate to the bakers what his needs are and let them get on with subverting baking.

[Morrigoon]

But it also means he's going to have to delegate the job of ordering supplies to someone who can predict how much sugar and flour will be needed to make that many doughnuts. And he lacks the skill to tell when that delegate is not doing his job properly. He may know that the doughnuts are coming out rather diminutive, or that the profit margin has shrunk, but may not be able to tell that it's from an overage or shortage of supplies.

[SacTown Chronic]

All part of Obama's plan to help the terrorists win.

[Ghoulish Delight]

This whole segment is funny, but the reason I'm posting starts at 2:40.

Taint

[scaeagles]

What? Anyone else hear Blago's post impeachment press conference? He has some kind of chutzpah, I'll tell you. He seems to think he was impeached because he wants to help sick people.

??????????????

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

What? Anyone else hear Blago's post impeachment press conference? He has some kind of chutzpah, I'll tell you. He seems to think he was impeached because he wants to help sick people.

??????????????

He's just taking on that powerful anti-sick people lobby

[Ghoulish Delight]

I see SCHIP is back in the news.

Somehow last time around I failed to notice that it was slated to be funded by another cigarette tax.

I have a real issue with that. With funding things with cigarette taxes in general. Doesn't that, you know, leave our government with a vested interest in keeping the number of smokers high?

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I have a real issue with that. With funding things with cigarette taxes in general. Doesn't that, you know, leave our government with a vested interest in keeping the number of smokers high?

I think it simultaneously encourages smokers to quit (because their habit is getting more expensive) and achieves some public good from those who don't. The problem comes when enough smokers do finally quit, or die, and then these programs wither because their funding has dried up.

Which is (one reason) why I think most recreational drugs should be legalized, regulated and taxed.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Andrew

I think it simultaneously encourages smokers to quit (because their habit is getting more expensive) and achieves some public good from those who don't. The problem comes when enough smokers do finally quit, or die, and then these programs wither because their funding has dried up.

Which is (one reason) why I think most recreational drugs should be legalized, regulated and taxed.

I don't get your logic here. "...their funding has dried up." That was my point. We're creating programs that rely on smokers, a system where every time someone quits smoking, a kid doesn't get health insurance (an exaggeration, obviously, but it makes my point). It doesn't sit well with me, and it makes me question how committed government is to discouraging regulating the dangerous business practices of the smoking industry.