Sometimes sucking half as hard can be good.

Ok, so get out a pen and paper.  You have an assigment.

Ready.

Ok.

List the first three things that come to your mind:

Sometimes sucking half as hard is good.

I guarantee, well, outside of about four or five persons in my world, you got it wrong.

Let me assure this is G rated.  (See, I bet you were wrong.)

First of all, to understand the concept, we need to discuss just a few concepts so you will be up to snuff on this thing, and will absolutely appreciate this thing all the way down to the last drop.


Concept No. 1.  Friction.
Friction fills our world with resistance.  Its everywhere.  Friction is present in all materials, whether rubbing up against materials of the same composition, or of different textures and surfaces than the first substrate.  Materials have a factor associated with it, called the friction coefficient, and using this factor, we can estimate  how much work or effort it takes to move the surfaces past one another.  There are two coefficients of friction:  static and dynamic.  There is a force required to break the static friction using the static friction factor, and a different factor that can be applied when the object is moving (dynamic).  The static force of friction is normally higher than the force required to keep the objects sliding while in motion.

There are also a wide variety of things that can help reduce this friction force, and most if not all of these items reduce the heat generated by friction.  These include oils, greases, and, of course, my friend, Finish Line  Teflon Lube.  I swear by it.

Concept No. 2:  Head.
Head, in this case, in the current discussion, is the difference in fluid levels between one elevation and another.  The difference between these two is sometimes refereed to as head.  There are a number of other applications where head is involved, and even with beer (the foamy part at the top of the glass sometimes found at the top right after pouring, or the permanent foam on the top of a fresh, cold Guiness.  There are other situations and items that are also referred to as head, but the one below is the one that is applicable in this particular application.

In this particular example, the head displayed here is approximately 100 feet.  The head is the difference in elevation between the highest water surface elevation to the lowest.  Gravity has a large effect on head.

Concept No. 3:  PSI.
Pressure is a term that can be used to explain a force behind something.  An easy example of this concept is the pressurized in car tires.  This pressure allows a heavy car to ride on a cushion of air, or resist the weight of the car and lift it off the ground.  A very common measurement for liquids or vapors is PSI, or pressure per square inch.  This term is used in many applications, and helps many of the systems we use today work.  For example, the water supply is under pressure, a certain PSI, and that is what makes the water come out of the tap when you turn the faucet.  PSI can also be thought of as a force in pounds over a certain area, in this case, square inches. 

In general terms, with water for example, pressure can be measured when the head, or elevation difference is known.  And not only can pressure be positive, as in a fire hose, but pressure can be negative also, as in a vacuum cleaner.  Vacuums suck, and they suck at a certain PSI, albeit negative pressure.

Concept No. 4:  Viscosity.
Consider pouring water down a smooth surface set at and angle.   Consider pouring ketchup of an equal amount on the same surface, set an equal angle to the first.   The water flows freely; the ketchup flows much more slowly.  Viscosity in simple terms is resistance to flow.   In the fluid materials (as in, materials that are not in a solid state) in which we will be dealing, temperature can have a very large effect on viscosity.

Ok, now that we have reviewed some important concepts for this discussion, we can now proceed with the theory and explanation.

Imagine that you have a beverage in front of you, in a glass size that is comfortable for you, and this beverage can be anything you choose it to be.  Consider if you will, the exact substance that I discovered this phenomenon would be a chocolate flavored shake, as it were, from this place.  This place makes a variety of beverages, and this particular beverage is not normally offered to the Consumer (that would be you or me, or anyone else making a transaction with the provider of product or service, a.k.a. known as the Vendor) but is offered to the Consumer along with a vessel (known as straw) of a certain diameter (a similar method of delivery as the mechanism above that allows the water to travel from the water tower above to the tank below.)  The fluid, in the water tower example is of course water, wherein this application contains the shake material, is somewhat less viscous at room temperature, which is indeed the entire problem.

Yes, friends, I'm talking about trying to suck a nice, cold, refreshing beverage through the conduit provided by the Vendor, that just about every time, is not even close to adequate for the rather simple task.  Or is it?

I hereby offer you, a fellow consumer, that the system is inadequate at best, and is not supplied by the Vendor in good confidence.

Failure Mode:  Unreasonably High Pressure Required.
This 'shake' fluid at rest (or static) contains unreasonably high pressure per unit area (PSI) to overcome the static friction.  Not only do we have friction between the conduit (straw) and fluid (shake), but we have friction between the internal particles of the shake.  I offer to you that the material of said beverage, in a cold and refreshing state, does not slide easily against one another, and therefore, increases the amount of pressure to move at frozen state versus the same mixture at a less refreshing state, say a given amount below room temperature, but above freezing.  Given the head required, which in this case can be at little as a few inches to almost a foot or more (when the fluid in the glass is very low, the head is the highest and pressure is most intense).


I do not condone sucking at such a high pressure that this method by itself requires, and my dentist doesn't either.  I was sternly advised of this one day when I was in his presence: "Don't suck on straws until your molar holes scab over."

That friends, is dangerous.  Don't do it.

High Pressure Subfailure Mode A: Conduit failure.
High pressure required can cause the conduit to fail.  This comes from the design of the conduit itself.  Some straws are not designed with shakes in mind.  Also, the diameter (or distance across from one side of the vessel to the other) for this straw that indeed did fail, on multiple occasions, I should add, was substandard.  In my professional opinion, the small diameter straw provided had high friction coefficients between the shake material  and that material of the straw, especially when the straw and the shake material were close in temperature.  This condition easily exists by simply inserting the conduit into the refreshing material and leaving it there.

In addition, this conduit failure (as in total collapse of the round conduit into a flat cross sectional profile) induces pressure point at a specific point, exceeding the material properties of the said conduit at that point, therefore, rendering a failure at this point in particular. The material weakens, and on the next time the conduit is utilized, air enters the system, which up until now, was adequately, although poorly, was working satisfactorily.  Now, when high pressure is applied, the point of the air entrance.  A third cycle of this failed system confirms: the vessel is no longer useful.  No matter how hard, or how much the Consumer sucks, the Consumer gets nothing but air.

High Pressure Subfailure Mode B: Pressure Source Failure.
Not only does the failure of the conduit induce this failure mode (after the Consumer realizes that sucking no longer achieved the desired result), but the total system fails when the material has 'plugged' the end of the conduit, which is placed deep in the refreshing material has reached the same conditions as the material that surrounds it, becoming one with the other.  In this case, the Consumer, from past experience, has some idea of what pressure, when induced in the conduit, causes failure mode A to occur;  therefore, when that limit approaches, pressure is released by the Consumer, and the conduit is allowed to fight another day.  Unfortunately, after the third or fourth attempt at producing pressures approaching the fail pressure, the Consumer loses motivation and another tactic or break is employed.

These subfailure modes described above aren't a big deal, and are easily remedied only if you're a Dine-In Consumer.  The energy required is worth every single calorie the Dine-In Customer put fourth in the effort to get out of one's chair or booth, and make haste to the fountain drink area, where, most times, another similarly designed conduit awaits!  Eureka!  The Dine-In Consumer has another chance to taste sweet refreshment.  However, if you are a drive-thru customer, the Consumer must request a replacement conduit , or spare, during the transaction, in the very event of Subfailure mode A or B.   In summary, you drive-thru, you are one screwed Consumer.

The Drive-thru Consumer has gone up against the system and, once again, the system has failed the Drive-thru Customer.

Where does the Drive-Thru Customer have to go to find success over the failed system? How can this dire situation that the Drive-Thru Consumer be avoided?

May I present the solution:  Two Straws.

Yes, faithful followers, this is the theory of success.  A simple change of a dual conduit system can, and does, with some regularity, prove to be a reasonable, and somewhat regular solution to the failure modes described above.  Let me explain the theory behind such a simple, but useful, and somewhat unique solution to the application deficiencies of the single conduit system.

There is a technological improvement that must be noted, though, that does assist somewhat to the success of the two conduit system.  At some locations, and now I believe to be widely available, are the larger diameter conduits available these days.  With the invent of the Big Gulp and Route 44 type concepts, diameter of conduit was increased slightly, and has revolutionized the world of drinking from convenience stores and fast food joints, but still does not totally eliminate the problem at hand.  The increase of diameter does indeed help, but does not come close in my opinion of the total benefits enjoyed of the double conduit system.

The hypothesis is rooted in these simple concepts.

Corollary 1: Increased Factor of Safety Realized with Two Conduit System.
In the single straw system, PSI is applied by the Consumer on a single vessel.  There is a infinitesimally small window of learning in this arrangement; with the high increase in pressure required to overcome the static friction force of the refreshing beverage.  With two vessels,the pressure is divided in half to each straw, allowing an increase in time to observe the current condition of each vessel before the vessel approaches the Failure Modes in an attempt to break not only the head differential, but the static friction force itself.

Corollary 2: Increased Area of Application available for Power Source.
The single conduit system, the Consumer is forced to apply the entire force per unit area (PSI) over a single area. In our new arrangement, the Consumer applies the entire force to double the original area, therefore allowing somewhat greater control at the pressure coupling of the lips.

Side Corollary:  This is a great time to discount what you are thinking, as in three conduits are better than two.  Unfortunately, in this arrangement, the pressure coupling of the lips has to much with which to contend. I believe this is partly because, as we all know, that two is a party, but three is a crowd. (In other words, the mouth is having to think about three point pressure application, and it can't handle pressure in three separate places and still maintain efficiency.) Efficiency is also lost due to the fact that there are more gaps at the conduit-conduit-lip junction, not to mention the conduit-conduit-conduit arrangement (the commonly called 'triangle' relationship).  In the case that the 'triangle' method is not utilized and a single line of three is attempted, the conduit-lip junction is twofold over the simpler two conduit system, having only one such junction (not to mention that the in-line-three concept cannot support equilibrium without the use of a hand, and we all know that isn't kosher while sucking any beverage.)

Corollary 3: Increased Refreshment.
Although the main motivation for the two conduit system was originally to overcome static refreshment, the benefits are seemingly unbound in the two straw arrangement.  Not only do you get a greater fluid advantage over static cold refreshment, but seemingly, when the static friction force is indeed broken and flow begins, the quantity of refreshment surpasses the volume possible of sweet, cool refreshment for the Consumer within a single power point application cycle. 

And, probably more important than the cold and refreshing refreshment delivery is the less-than-cold, but still refreshing medium with a much lower coefficient of friction (approaching zero when considering even smaller diameter straws (not including stir sticks.)  In the scenario of the universal refreshing medium, water, I submit to you that static force is negligent; the only thing you need to overcome is the head.

Furthermore,

I have noticed, after many data points utilizing the two straw system, an increase in fluid volume through the system with less work.  Less pressure means less effort for the power system, which is to the benefit of the Consumer.  I present to you the following statements for your approval:

 1)  I have noticed that in the two straw arrangement, when applying the same amount of PSI as in a single straw system, after overcoming static pressure (from friction and head) the power to acquire the same volume appears to be less.   Therefore, sucking with the SAME PSI may acquire the SAME volume of sweet refreshment, with a reduction in pressure at the pressure coupling since the application area is doubled (i.e., 10 PSI over one square inch is the same as 5 PSI over two square inches).


and, 2) Sometimes sucking half as hard can be good.


Note:  It is smart to stockpile the second straw for the two straw arrangement in advance of the proposed experiment, as my experience shows that Sonic Roller Skater Waiters and Waitresses don't usually carry a second straw, even if you ask them at the time of order, and it's not nice to send the Roller Skater person back for a single additional straw.

And don't tell me that the last five minutes was a waste of your time, or a waste of your life, or a waste in any fashion;  This is good information.  Plus, you'll think of using two straws every time you use a straw until you try it, and then, when you do, you'll thank me.

And then, you can begin to reap the two straw system benefits just like I do on a regular basis.

Thank you for your support.  And Enjoy!

New things coming.

I'm headed on a trip right now. It involves a plane, and maybe its just coincidence.
Coincidence that I think of Dad. See, I bought my ticket two weeks ago, choosing a seat at the time, a window seat (I prefer those sometimes), the first open seat on the left side of the plane. Without a thought.
So today, I got to my seat, got settled in, ate a snack, and didn't open the closed window shade until we were moving from the gate.
I just took a glance at where we were, looked out a bit as we crossed over the road entrance to the airport, and then I realized I'm in the very seat that I used to sit in when I was a wee-tot. I can imagine like it was yesterday on trips when I'd get upset if I wasn't in a window seat, or how Dad could tell me again what was gonna happen to the wing before it happened.
"Why does the wing do that, Daddy?"
And then I can hear his voice again, explaining things with whatever-age-I-was-at-the-time words and phrases, and always amazed at how he knew every question was coming. And how I got older, and asked more questions, and him still knowing every answer. And me giddy watching the wing "come apart" just to "go back together" after we landed.
At a certain point, maybe high school age, we stopped flying for vacations. I learned later that since Dad flew airplanes for a living and stayed in hotels all the time, and really despised eating out. My parents bought their first motorhome, and we started driving on trips.
He still worked, now getting enough seniority to pick his own trips, and enjoying the flying part. I knew that the bullshit-of-life stuff happens everywhere, and it was really getting to him toward the end of his career. This year after he passed on, I learned a lot about what Dad accomplished in his career.
I didn't quite realize until he was gone, of course, just how much he worked to get there. How much he wanted it. How he studied. Over and over. How he got re-certified when it was due, and always seeming to pass with every question right.  Perfection.
When we cleaned out the storeroom, my sister and I found stacks and stacks of all kinds of crap from years and years back. One of the things on the shelf, been there for years, and I knew they had been there for as long as I can remember. But I didn't know that even training manual for every plane he flew was there. His old scores. His notes. Over and over. His old log books of the years he flew, including the fuel calculations and other figures that pilots had to make happen before flying.
My Dad was a worker, and he worked for everything he obtained. Growing up on a farm, and driving lime trucks across state lines at night at 14, with crap on the pedals so he could reach them. That was because he had to; he flew because he wanted to. And he did with pride.
I have his brainbag. This is the bag that pilots carry with them, usually rectangular in shape, with stickers or insignias or whatever in the side, containing flight maps, a mask, and other stuff. I actually haven't opened it in since I got it, and now am curious about what other crap is in his brainbag.
I wonder if his 'change' is in there. Dad carried change with him for the Stewardesses, and always told them he had change if they needed it. Back when you bought drinks on flights with cash (I say back then because the one I'm on just takes plastic) people would buy drinks with a $20 bill, hoping that the drink lady wouldn't have change, therefore scoring a free drink.'. So, Dad made change.
He told me of one time ran out of change. There was a guy buying drinks, and using twenties to get them. The stewardess would come get change for a twenty, twenty $1 bills. The stewardess would then go back to the guy, and promptly count out 17 $1 bills to him.
Now I don't know if it was just the one guy drinking six drinks on that one flight hellbent on receiving a free one, but he "lost" 102 $1 bills somewhere in his shirt. Or somewhere else. Who knows? But I know that's a pretty thick stack of bills when folded over.
Or the time when I was a wee-tot that he used a favor to get his son into the mechanics shop where they had the model plane he was flying at the time completely torn apart for overhaul. They had the floor panels torn out along with the seats so you could see through the floor into the baggage area, and the flight stick out of the floor followed by a rats nest of wires, and some panel boards off; that was really cool. And I know I had questions, and he had all the answers for me in how-ever-old-I-was-then words and phrases. He never seemed irritated. I know now it was his love. He love flying.
He knew all those answers partly because he was a mechanic in the Army, and worked his way up through Delta Air Lines. He was a mechanic for 12 years and then drove planes for 25 after that.
I am reminded of the day he flew last. On your last flight, before you reach the gate, the fire trucks and sprayers and emergency vehicles escort you, and then they 'wash' the plane. It is evidently a sight to see. I want to say there's a picture somewhere, framed, of his actual plane getting the bath, It was a day to behold evidently.
I guess all these emotions came out of me because I want to ask him just one more question. And then maybe a few more. I want to tell him about how proud I was. I want to tell him how much I love him. And I want to tell him about my plans, my dreams, about what I'm doing so he can be proud of me like I know he was.
I don't however, want to tell him that I, subconsciously, maybe, was taking advantage of being able to support him in the last year, or two, and delaying my life (in a small way, of course) from moving on like he encouraged me to do. But I do want to tell him what I'm doing now.
I miss you Dad. And I love you still.

Sometimes things just wear out.

I was just reading my last post, and this one kinda starts out the same as the last.  The last day and a half has been very interesting indeed.

Friday I decided that the side of the house nearest my bedroom looks horrible.  When my outside salesman told me to get the hell out of the office on Friday, I jumped.  And had some of the siding torn off the house by the time my roommate made it home.

I've been looking at that corner of the house since I bought it four years ago, and just kinda let it go until something drastic came up.  Well, the corner trim separated from the brick on the adjoining wall, and when I took off the trim to look under, it did not look good.  At all.

So I decided that I would take on the project myself, replacing the siding on the house on three sides to start.  It's actually about six hundred square feet of surface area or so, and encompasses some 14 foot high siding, some on roofline, five windows and a door.

So by Saturday afternoon, we had all the siding peeled off the house, less some areas heavily nailed and screwed (and whoever thought screwing siding to get it to lay down and painting over it can go to hell).  Discoveries included totally rotted through window trim, an electrical outlet literally stapled to the old siding (no electrical box to speak of anywhere) a totally rotten inside wall corner (with the splices funneling water into the wall), absolutely no drip edge, and covered in disintegrating tar paper.

The siding in the front part of the house (that you can see from the street) looks in really good shape in comparison.  I don't plan to touch that siding in its current configuration.

I'm replacing wood siding with Hardie plank.  I'm having to do some things to take care of the extra 3/4 inch of surface to match the windows, which I probably would replace if I was going to stay here, but with my current plans that probably isn't worth it.  The siding probably wasn't worth it either, but it needed to be done.

One thing that I didn't plan on was my computer motherboard giving up the ghost on the same day that I decided to rip off the siding of the house.  But, I do now own a processor that was approximately 8 times faster than before, have four times as much ram as I had before, and my computer stays running for more than five minutes now because I replaced the outdated capacitors that were blowing up.

Those are just two of the things that are wearing out on me this week.  It seems I've been upgrading, replacing, and just generally bringing things up to current conditions since I've started working again.  I'm actually getting my dental situation up to date, with a crown and two cavities since the first of November.  I get my permanent crown installed Tuesday, and I should be good for awhile.

So, for anyone in the area that feels like you're wearing out, or at least all your stuff is, I'm right there with ya. Sometimes things just wear out.  And what can you do?

Drive on.  Next week will be better.  At least that's what I'm planning for me!

Getting back to it.

The last day and a half has been pretty weird.  Well, not weird, but kind of unexpected.  Or at least I thought I was done with some things for awhile.  Like grief.

Surprise!

For the last few months, I've been working toward getting my professional engineer license back active. A few years ago, I was granted inactive status, as I was going through some personal issues, family issues, lots of issues.  I didn't really know if I 'wanted' to be an engineer anymore.

So, anyway, the short is that I finally got enough hours to meet the continuing education requirement for inactive engineers, and submitted it to the board yesterday.

I took it to the post office, got one of those tracking things applied, came back to the car, and cried.

Lost it right there in the parking lot. 

Then came home, after a mind full of jumps and jukes and jibes, to stand in my kitchen and think of how the goolash my Mother used to make tasted.  And I wanted some.  And then lost it again.  Glad I was home alone at that moment.  Letting it out and hearing yourself echo through the house does one good.

Yesterday, I think I know what set me off.  Parental grief is weird; some things come out of nowhere.  When I put my PE license on inactive, it was one of the last things Dad and I really argued about.  Dad was from the old skool, where you worked or you didn't eat.  I know that he was proud of me for making it through the Corps at Texas A&M; I know that he was proud of me for graduating; I know that he was proud of me obtaining that PE license, and putting it on inactive really disappointed him.

I know I broke down becuase I knew he'd be proud of me for moving forward.
And I wanted to call him and tell him and then......I remembered. 

Sometimes it just kicks you square in the face, knocks you down, and chokes you. 

One of the sales guys I support questioned me today.  Thought I wasn't myself.  And I wasn't.  It carried through to today.  I went for 26 miles today on my bike with my friend Rick; he's motivating me to ride this week because he has a fairly long ride this weekend.  Getting a few stretch rides in.  It was good to blow off some steam on about a 5 minute stretch at 180 bpm, and all together a good thing.

Maybe tomorrow I'll be back to normal.  I know it is possible.
And I know Dad knows; no phone call required.

Miss ya Dad.

Let the Jobs Flow!

I have to be honest, I really didn't have any interest in the President's latest speech on jobs, but found myself reading it this afternoon at work. As I continued to read, I found myself talking to myself. So, I thought I would try something new. It might take awhile, especially after I add Jose's comments. This will probably tell a lot about my politics, and some of you might not care for that spin.

And now since it has been awhile since this speech, and it's already been voted down once, I find this even more interesting. What did the President say that night?
But, you don't get if you don't ask, and you don't have to read it. If you don't want my politics, then you can read some of America's Finest News Source. The President's remarks are in Blue, and my comments, of course, look like this.

(I've been fighting the blogger to get the format right, and it looks like my comments aren't all the same color.  However, the speech text appears to be blue no matter.)

Let's begin,shall we?

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, and fellow Americans:


Tonight we meet at an urgent time for our country. We continue to face an economic crisis that has left millions of our neighbors jobless, and a political crisis that has made things worse.


I have to agree here. This is an urgent time. We continue to face an economic crisis that rivals the 1980's I've heard a number of times, when jobs were thin. And absolutely, we have a political crisis. Politics has invaded every single facet of life as we know it, and in my opinion, is out of control.

This past week, reporters have been asking "What will this speech mean for the President? What will it mean for Congress? How will it affect their polls, and the next election?"

And I personally think they were balls on.

But the millions of Americans who are watching right now: they don't care about politics. They have real life concerns. Many have spent months looking for work. Others are doing their best just to scrape by - giving up nights out with the family to save on gas or make the mortgage; postponing retirement to send a kid to college.

I agree. Millions of Americans haven't really cared about politics. I believe now, since things are so uncertain, people are paying attention. The trust is gone, if there was any trust to begin with.
These men and women grew up with faith in an America where hard work and responsibility paid off. They believed in a country where everyone gets a fair shake and does their fair share - where if you stepped up, did your job, and were loyal to your company, that loyalty would be rewarded with a decent salary and good benefits; maybe a raise once in awhile. If you did the right thing, you could make it in America.

I can't help but pick out all the political terms in there already. Like fair share. Makes me think of taxes right off the bat.

But for decades now, Americans have watched that compact erode. They have seen the deck too often stacked against them. And they know that Washington hasn't always put their interests first.


More than ever, Washington. I think he might have rolled over in his grave.


The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities. The question tonight is whether we'll meet ours. The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy; whether we can restore some of the fairness and security that has defined this nation since our beginning.

I would love for Congress to grow some responsibility, in my opinion, of course. The political circus will never stop; just do something meaningful.

Those of us here tonight can't solve all of our nation's woes. Ultimately, our recovery will be driven not by Washington, but by our businesses and our workers.   If you get out of the way. But we can help. We can make a difference. There are steps we can take right now to improve people's lives.

I disagree. The recovery can be driven by Washington.

I am sending this Congress a plan that you should pass right away (1). It's called the American Jobs Act. There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation.

Nothing controversial. Yep.

Everything in here is the kind of proposal that's been supported by both Democrats and Republicans - including many who sit here tonight. And everything in this bill will be paid for. Everything. 

I don't think that 'paid for' has the same meaning in Washington than everywhere else. 


The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of those who are working. This sounds like a...I thought we couldn't afford...

It will create more jobs for construction workers, more jobs for teachers, more jobs for veterans, and more jobs for the long-term unemployed. What's 'It?' The Bill, the part we can't afford to do, like....

It will provide a tax break for companies who hire new workers, and it will cut payroll taxes in half for every working American and every small business. He said it. Tax Breaks. And, in 2008, payroll taxes were over a third of Government Income, or approximately $800 BILLION. This link, even though it has figures from 2008, has some good history on what tax revenues have come into the government. A graph from that same website:

"People don't hire people to give them money, they hire people to provide a service or make a product based on the rules of supply and demand." -M. Tucker.

Now, I realize there are some in my party who don't think we should make any changes at all to Medicare and Medicaid, and I understand their concerns. But here's the truth. Millions of Americans rely on Medicare in their retirement. And millions more will do so in the future. Until 2026, or somewhere around there.  And I'll be 52.  They pay for this benefit during their working years. They earn it. For those that work.  But with an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program. Agreed.  And if we don't gradually reform the system while protecting current beneficiaries, it won't be there when future retirees need it. We have to reform Medicare to strengthen it. How about we set it up where you don't get benefits if you don't pay in? You don't work, you don't get? Now, I know some of us out there can't work. I'm talking about the ones that can work but don't. I'm talking about those on perpetual government support.  Those that are lazy?  I mean, why not just sit and get a check?


I'm also well aware that there are many Republicans who don't believe we should raise taxes on those who are most fortunate and can best afford it. But here is what every American knows. While most people in this country struggle to make ends meet, a few of the most affluent citizens and corporations enjoy tax breaks and loopholes that nobody else gets. Like GE? Or what about Buffett?  I guess since he owes a Billion in back taxes, must not be a problem. A discussion with my girlfriend got into this. Some can't afford it because they don't have enough to pay bills. Some have to pay more because they can afford it. Loopholes and tax breaks. The system is so complicated the ones that can afford to skirt the laws and create loopholes. Like Warren Buffet? Right now, Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than his secretary - an outrage he has asked us to fix. I don't believe it's the government's problem to fix things that aren't the government's business. How about a list of those 'things that aren't the government's business?' Oh wait, I guess this government doesn't count.  Governmnent is into everything.  And anyone that knows me knows I believe Government is too big.  But really, the Federal Government is worse.   We need a tax code where everyone gets a fair shake, and everybody pays their fair share. You can't have both.  And I believe the vast majority of wealthy Americans and CEOs are willing to do just that, if it helps the economy grow and gets our fiscal house in order. You are asking for $400 BILLION. After charging $400 Billion on the US Credit Card on August 3. Why didn't we use that $400 Billion to do this Jobs thingy here?

We have to stop spending.   Forget everything else.  We have to stop spending.

I'll also offer ideas to reform a corporate tax code that stands as a monument to special interest influence in Washington. By eliminating pages of loopholes and deductions, we can lower one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Our tax code shouldn't give an advantage to companies that can afford the best-connected lobbyists. But it does. Every day. And it shows here in this plan. Right here. It should give an advantage to companies that invest and create jobs here in America. It should. Absolutely.

So we can reduce this deficit, pay down our debt, and pay for this jobs plan in the process. I thought this was a jobs bill? Where did this "pay down our debt"come from? But in order to do this, we have to decide what our priorities are. We have to ask ourselves, "What's the best way to grow the economy and create jobs?" How about reducing government restrictions, let business decide for itself? How about getting out of the way? How about not playing politics like you guys do? That will start to fix the problems. A huge part of the speculation that keeps uncertainty out there is the threat of Government changing the game again. It's already expensive to hire someone, but you probably wouldn't know that's the case.

Should we keep tax loopholes for oil companies? Yep. You mean the profit for doing business?  What kind of tax rate do they pay?  I know they make biliions, but what ROI?  Oh, right.  Fair share. Forgot.  Sorry.  Or should we use that money to give small business owners a tax credit when they hire new workers? Because we can't afford to do both. Yes we can. It's called less spending. Why don't we just cut the spending by $400 Billion? Check this out. Let's play a game. Click on that link, and then take note of the debt. Take note of the amount (you might concentrate on the hundred thousand column). Take minute,then compare. Should we keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Yep. Or should we put teachers back to work so our kids can graduate ready for college and good jobs? Right now, we can't afford to do both. Yes we can. And we should. But we can't get there by spending like we're spending.

On the right side of that website, there's a vertical bar with numbers.  The top two:  Citizens, Taxpayers.  I've never understood the fair share argument. 

This isn't political grandstanding. Yes it is. This isn't class warfare. Yes it is. This is simple math. Yes it is. These are real choices that we have to make. Yes they are. And I'm pretty sure I know what most Americans would choose. It's not even close. And it's time for us to do what's right for our future. Yep. It's time.

The American Jobs Act answers the urgent need to create jobs right away. It doesn't address anything. $4000 credit for employers isn't enough initiative. But we can't stop there. No, you really should. As I've argued since I ran for this office, we have to look beyond the immediate crisis and start building an economy that lasts into the future - an economy that creates good, middle-class jobs that pay well and offer security. Then how about something about educating the unemployed and underemployed? How about credits for going back to college? How about credits for finishing a new degree? We now live in a world where technology has made it possible for companies to take their business anywhere. And they absolutely do because we make the decision for them. It's way cheaper to move overseas then do business here. If we want them to start here and stay here and hire here, we have to be able to out-build, out-educate, and out-innovate every other country on Earth. And look at how we're driving companies elsewhere. How about a study about why that is?

This task, of making America more competitive for the long haul, is a job for all of us. For government and for private companies. For states and for local communities - and for every American citizen. All of us will have to up our game. All of us will have to change the way we do business. I'm assuming you are still talking to Congress. You just have to change how you do business. That would have far more effect than anything this jobs bill could do, can do, or might do.

My administration can and will take some steps to improve our competitiveness on our own. For example, if you're a small business owner who has a contract with the federal government, we're going to make sure you get paid a lot faster than you do now. We're also planning to cut away the red tape that prevents too many rapidly-growing start-up companies from raising capital and going public. And to help responsible homeowners, (and what about the irresponsible ones?) we're going to work with Federal housing agencies to help more people refinance their mortgages at interest rates that are now near 4% -- a step that can put more than $2,000 a year in a family's pocket, and give a lift to an economy still burdened by the drop in housing prices. This is a great idea. Let's go ahead and sign that program up today. It won't cost a thing, and it would help quite a bit. It would help me, for sure. I've not worked in two years, and have made every payment without fail. I can't refinance because I haven't had employment for long enough.

Good point.  If we just gave people money, well, that's called an entitlement.  And we're talking about jobs, right? 

It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled (and why is that?), and give companies confidence that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services. You should pass this jobs plan right away (2). Fortunately, I drank Jolt in high school, and it had "twice the caffeine" and it gave a jolt. Then you lose your high after a brief stint of energy. I'd rather the feds don't jolt anything of mine. I don't believe a jolt will do much. To make this thing better, something has to be sustained for the duration. Something significant and meaningful.

Everyone here knows that small businesses are where most new jobs begin. Um, no. Everyone here, well that would be Congress, wouldn't it? This statement is directed to Congress quite obviously. This is a cool graphic based on a report done by J.P. Morgan:

Now, let's be somewhat skeptical of the graph. There's probably 3-5% error. This administration isn't heavy on the appointed cabinet members with private sector experience.

And you know that while corporate profits have come roaring back (really? roaring back?), smaller companies haven't. So for everyone who speaks so passionately about making life easier for "job creators," this plan is for you. I'm not really all ears.
Pass this jobs bill (3), and starting tomorrow, small businesses will get a tax cut if they hire new workers or raise workers' wages. Pass this jobs bill (4), and all small business owners will also see their payroll taxes cut in half next year. So, cutting the payroll taxes above didn't include small business owners? I guess they aren't workers. But I seem to remember that businesses pay half the payroll tax, right? So I guess a portion of the $800B above wasn't really accurate. But this brings it up to snuff, I guess.

If you have 50 employees making an average salary, that's an $80,000 tax cut. And all businesses will be able to continue writing off the investments they make in 2012. It's not just Democrats who have supported this kind of proposal. Wow. Democrats supported cutting the payroll tax in half? That's a 18% cut! And when did this happen? Congress supported a cut?

Fifty House Republicans have proposed the same payroll tax cut that's in this plan. You should pass it right away. (5)

Pass this jobs bill (6), and we can put people to work rebuilding America. Everyone here knows that we have badly decaying roads and bridges all over this country. Congress knows this? Our highways are clogged with traffic. Our skies are the most congested in the world. I think a great way to take care of this is to just let the individual states keep the 38 cents a gallon tax to use as each sees fit. That would be kick ass. Then the State governments could decide. We don't need a big bill to do this. Actually, each thing up to this point could be done individually.

This is inexcusable. Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us an economic superpower. And now we're going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America? Well, since we sent all our manufacturing over there, why not? They can build all the bridges over there, ship 'em over, and we can install them. They have fewer governmental restrictions, no child labor laws, and can probably build it cheaper. That federal government red tape is a lot less plentiful over there! 

There are private construction companies all across America just waiting to get to work. Yep. But they won't hire becuase they don't know what it will cost to hire the workers they need.  It's called Risk.

There's a bridge that needs repair between Ohio and Kentucky that's on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America.  Yep. and it has ten more years of life left in it.
A public transit project in Houston that will help clear up one of the worst areas of traffic in the country. Um, I'm not sure it will help that much, since we like our freeways down here. I'm not sure you could get any more concrete out on the ground.  We're concrete hogs!  Just look at our new stretch of I-10!  A few shovels used on or 26 lanes wide!  Whoop!

And there are schools throughout this country that desperately need renovating. How can we expect our kids to do their best in places that are literally falling apart? I know.  Horrible.  This is America. Every child deserves a great school - and we can give it to them, if we act now (7). This is America. Every child does deserve a great school. And a great education. I can't disagree.

The American Jobs Act will repair and modernize at least 35,000 schools. It will put people to work right now fixing roofs and windows; installing science labs and high-speed Internet in classrooms all across this country. I'd be interested in learning how you plan on micromanaging. I'm a big fan of micromanagers.

It will rehabilitate homes and businesses in communities hit hardest by foreclosures. Did you mean to say that foreclosures are caused by condition of property? I think there's a few other reasons that foreclosures are an issue. Banks come to mind.  Some of those that we bailed out for breaking laws. 

It will jumpstart thousands of transportation projects across the country. I'm for that. Let's get the shovels out!  Oh yeah. We alerady tried that approach.

And to make sure the money is properly spent and for good purposes, we're building on reforms we've already put in place.

No more earmarks. I'd take that right there by itself. Executive order, baby! Don't forget it contains nothing contriversial!  Nothing at all! Use that pen and sign that order!

No more boondoggles. No more bridges to nowhere. We're cutting the red tape that prevents some of these projects from getting started as quickly as possible. And we'll set up an independent fund to attract private dollars and issue loans based on two criteria: how badly a construction project is needed and how much good it would do for the economy. Like this company? It was good for the economy. And the Feds did such a good job managing it.


This idea came from a bill written by a Texas Republican and a Massachusetts Democrat. The idea for a big boost in construction is supported by America's largest business organization and America's largest labor organization. It's the kind of proposal that's been supported in the past by Democrats and Republicans alike. You should pass it right away (8). Sounds like Texas and Massachusetts knows what they need! Let 'em keep their own money!

Pass this jobs bill (9), and thousands of teachers in every state will go back to work. These are the men and women charged with preparing our children for a world where the competition has never been tougher. But while they're adding teachers in places like South Korea, we're laying them off in droves. Why are we laying them off in droves? It can't be because the districts are doing the same thing the government does...just spends more than it takes in. It's unfair to our kids. It undermines their future and ours. And it has to stop. Pass this jobs bill (10), and put our teachers back in the classroom where they belong. That's why you need to let us keep the money we give you. Take out the middleman.  Take out his take.

Pass this jobs bill (11), and companies will get extra tax credits if they hire America's veterans. How about just tax cuts, then they can hire all kinds of people, not just Veterans? That sounds, well, discriminatory. We ask these men and women to leave their careers, leave their families, and risk their lives to fight for our country. The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they come home. Or fight to have their vote heard.  So, let's pay them more while they're gone, and Support them while they're gone. Support our Troops.

Pass this bill (12), and hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young people will have the hope and dignity of a summer job next year. They will have hope whether or not this bill happens. And their parents, low-income Americans who desperately want to work, will have more ladders out of poverty. They have to have motivation. Throwing money at people who can create jobs doesn't mean that they will create jobs. Didn't we just have a big bill last year that was supposed to create jobs? Oh,that was stimulus money, not jobs money.

Pass this jobs bill (13), and companies will get a $4,000 tax credit if they hire anyone who has spent more than six months looking for a job. How about a $4000 tax credit for hiring anyone? And I'd like to know how you plan to verify it's been six months they've been looking. We have to do more to help the long-term unemployed in their search for work. This jobs plan builds on a program in Georgia that several Republican leaders have highlighted, where people who collect unemployment insurance participate in temporary work as a way to build their skills while they look for a permanent job. I saw a report that says that plan is horrible. Yes, there are a few dozen people that worked more than a day, and after that we don't know. But the guy actually running the program wasn't a fan and doesn't support it.

The plan also extends unemployment insurance for another year. Aren't we doing that anyway?

If the millions of unemployed Americans stopped getting this insurance, and stopped using that money for basic necessities, it would be a devastating blow to this economy.

Think about that for a moment.  If millions of unemployed Americans stopped getting this insurance, it would be a devistating blow to the economy. I heard a few theories lately. One says that unemployment is good for the economy because nemployment gives money to people, then those people go and spend that money at the businesses that paid the insurance. I'm not sure how that works. Well, I guess it works as long as businesses have money.


And I believe those people receiving benefits, when their benefits stop coming, they are going to become, well, less than happy. Just like those people in Houston that are still living in apartments paid for by the County since Hurricane Ike, that demonstrated and fought for their utility bills to continue to be paid when the County was going to turn them off. Let's just extend those benefits forever.

Democrats and Republicans in this Chamber have supported unemployment insurance plenty of times in the past. At this time of prolonged hardship, you should pass it again (14) - right away. Unemployment wasn't intended to be permanent...or maybe it was.  Just like the Texas Lottery was going to Education.  That went well.

Pass this jobs bill, (15) and the typical working family will get a fifteen hundred dollar tax cut next year. Fifteen hundred dollars that would have been taken out of your paycheck will go right into your pocket. This expands on the tax cut that Democrats and Republicans already passed for this year. If we allow that tax cut to expire - if we refuse to act - middle-class families will get hit with a tax increase at the worst possible time. Isn't this a jobs bill? This is not about creating jobs. We cannot let that happen. I know some of you have sworn oaths to never raise any taxes on anyone for as long as you live. Now is not the time to carve out an exception and raise middle-class taxes, which is why you should pass this bill (16) right away. But it is okay to lower the cutoff for the 'rich' from $250,000 to $200,000 right?  Yay jobs bill! 

This is the American Jobs Act. It will lead to new jobs for construction workers, teachers, veterans, first responders, young people and the long-term unemployed. It will provide tax credits to companies that hire new workers, tax relief for small business owners, and tax cuts for the middle-class. And here's the other thing I want the American people to know: the American Jobs Act will not add to the deficit. It will be paid for. And here's how: So wait. Now we're talking tax cuts? How does that work?  Wouldn't it raise the deficit if you take in less money (tax credits, right) if we just keep spending the same amount?

The agreement we passed in July will cut government spending by about $1 trillion over the next ten years. Isn't that the one that you guys raised the credit limit? Don't you have to still come to an agreement to cut like a trillion from spending by the end of the year? Oh, its to have a plan to save 120 Billion a year for the next ten years. I wonder if we forgot we had to do that. And we're supposed to figure that out by the end of November. That's ten weeks. Well, now it's six weeks. It also charges this Congress to come up with an additional $1.5 trillion in savings by Christmas. Tonight, I'm asking you to increase that amount so that it covers the full cost of the American Jobs Act. And a week from Monday, I'll be releasing a more ambitious deficit plan - a plan that will not only cover the cost of this jobs bill, but stabilize our debt in the long run. Hm.  Where's that ambitious deficit plan?

This approach is basically the one I've been advocating for months. In addition to the trillion dollars of spending cuts I've already signed into law, it's a balanced plan that would reduce the deficit by making additional spending cuts; by making modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid (um, didn't you already try the health care adjustment thing?); and by reforming our tax code in a way that asks the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share. I'm still unclear on what that means. What's more, the spending cuts wouldn't happen so abruptly that they'd be a drag on our economy, or prevent us from helping small business and middle-class families get back on their feet right away.  Well, the first half of this thought sounds Conservative.  The second half doesn't.  So I guess this one is even steven.  The spending cuts won't happen so abruptly?  I think that would do wonders.  I don't know how spending cuts would be a drag on the economy.

This approach is basically the one I've been advocating for months. In addition to the trillion dollars of spending cuts I've already signed into law, it's a balanced plan that would reduce the deficit by making additional spending cuts; by making modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid (um, didn't you already try the health care adjustment thing?); and by reforming our tax code in a way that asks the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share. I'm still unclear on what that means. What's more, the spending cuts wouldn't happen so abruptly that they'd be a drag on our economy, or prevent us from helping small business and middle-class families get back on their feet right away. I have a different opinion.  I think abrubt spending cuts is a requirement.  We can't spend our way out of this. 


Now, I realize there are some in my party who don't think we should make any changes at all to Medicare and Medicaid, and I understand their concerns. But here's the truth. Millions of Americans rely on Medicare in their retirement. And millions more will do so in the future. They pay for this benefit during their working years. They earn it. But with an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program. And if we don't gradually reform the system while protecting current beneficiaries, it won't be there when future retirees need it. We have to reform Medicare to strengthen it. How about we set it up where you don't get benefits if you don't pay in? You don't work, you don't get? Now, I know some of us out there can't work. I'm talking about the ones that can work but don't.

I'm also well aware that there are many Republicans who don't believe we should raise taxes on those who are most fortunate and can best afford it. But here is what every American knows. While most people in this country struggle to make ends meet, a few of the most affluent citizens and corporations enjoy tax breaks and loopholes that nobody else gets. Like GE? A discussion with my girlfriend got into this. Some can't afford it because they don't have enough to pay bills. Some have to pay more because they can afford it. Loopholes and tax breaks. The system is so complicated the ones that can afford to skirt the laws and create loopholes. Like Warren Buffet? Right now, Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than his secretary - an outrage he has asked us to fix. I don't believe it's the government's problem to fix things that aren't the government's business. I don't think that list exists.  What is out there that the Government doesn't have a hand in? We need a tax code where everyone gets a fair shake, and everybody pays their fair share.  And I believe the vast majority of wealthy Americans and CEOs are willing to do just that, if it helps the economy grow and gets our fiscal house in order. You are asking for $400 BILLION. Again. After charging $400 Billion on the US Credit Card on August 3. Why didn't we use that $400 Billion to do this Jobs thingy here?

I'll also offer ideas to reform a corporate tax code that stands as a monument to special interest influence in Washington. By eliminating pages of loopholes and deductions, we can lower one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Our tax code shouldn't give an advantage to companies that can afford the best-connected lobbyists. But it does. Every day. And it shows here in this plan. Right here. It should give an advantage to companies that invest and create jobs here in America. It should. Absolutely.

So we can reduce this deficit, pay down our debt, and pay for this jobs plan in the process. I thought this was a jobs bill? Where did this "pay down our debt" come in?   But in order to do this, we have to decide what our priorities are. We have to ask ourselves, "What's the best way to grow the economy and create jobs?" How about reducing government restrictions, let business decide for itself? How about getting out of the way? How about not playing politics like you guys do? That will start to fix the problems. A huge part of the speculation that keeps uncertainty out there is the threat of Government changing the game again. It's already expensive to hire someone, but you probably wouldn't know that's the case.

Should we keep tax loopholes for oil companies? Yep. If you believe that being in business for a profit is a good thing. Or should we use that money to give small business owners a tax credit when they hire new workers? Because we can't afford to do both. Yes we can. It's called less spending. Why don't we just cut the spending by $400 Billion? Check this out. Let's play a game. Click on that link, and then take note of the debt. Take note of the amount (you might concentrate on the hundred thousand column). Take minute,then compare. Should we keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Yep. Reward them for what they have accomplished. Or should we put teachers back to work so our kids can graduate ready for college and good jobs? Right now, we can't afford to do both. Yes we can. And we should. But we can't get there by spending like we're spending.

And if you look on the right side of the page, there's a number of American Citizens, and a number of Taxpayers.  They aren't even close. I'd like to know how the fair share argument applies there.

This isn't political grandstanding. Yes it is. This isn't class warfare. Yes it is. This is simple math. Yes it is. These are real choices that we have to make. Yes they are. And I'm pretty sure I know what most Americans would choose. It's not even close. And it's time for us to do what's right for our future. Yep. It's time. I couldn't agree more.

The American Jobs Act answers the urgent need to create jobs right away. It doesn't address anything. If it actually did, maybe the Senate would have scheduled your bill for a vote.  Actually, I wouldn't mind it a bit.  Let's vote today.   $4000 credit for employers isn't enough initiative. But we can't stop there. No, you really should. As I've argued since I ran for this office, we have to look beyond the immediate crisis and start building an economy that lasts into the future - an economy that creates good, middle-class jobs that pay well and offer security. Then how about something about educating the unemployed and underemployed? How about credits for going back to college? How about credits for finishing a new degree? We now live in a world where technology has made it possible for companies to take their business anywhere. And they absolutely do because we make the decision for them. It's way cheaper to move overseas then do business here. If we want them to start here and stay here and hire here, we have to be able to out-build, out-educate, and out-innovate every other country on Earth. And look at how we're driving companies elsewhere. How about a study about why that is?

This task, of making America more competitive for the long haul, is a job for all of us. For government and for private companies. For states and for local communities - and for every American citizen. All of us will have to up our game. All of us will have to change the way we do business. I'm assuming you are still talking to Congress. You just have to change how you do business. That would have far more effect than anything this jobs bill could do, can do, or might do.

My administration can and will take some steps to improve our competitiveness on our own. For example, if you're a small business owner who has a contract with the federal government, we're going to make sure you get paid a lot faster than you do now. So fast, indeed, that you don't even track it. We're also planning to cut away the red tape that prevents too many rapidly-growing start-up companies from raising capital and going public. And to help responsible homeowners, (and what about the irresponsible ones?) we're going to work with Federal housing agencies to help more people refinance their mortgages at interest rates that are now near 4% -- a step that can put more than $2,000 a year in a family's pocket, and give a lift to an economy still burdened by the drop in housing prices. This is a great idea. Let's go ahead and sign that program up today. It won't cost a thing, and it would help quite a bit. It would help me, for sure. I've not worked in two years, and have made every payment without fail. I can't refinance because I haven't had employment for long enough. They don't trust me evidently. 

Other steps will require Congressional action. Today you passed reform that will speed up the outdated patent process, so that entrepreneurs can turn a new idea into a new business as quickly as possible. That's the kind of action we need. Now it's time to clear the way for a series of trade agreements that would make it easier for American companies to sell their products in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea - while also helping the workers whose jobs have been affected by global competition. If Americans can buy Kias and Hyundais, I want to see folks in South Korea driving Fords and Chevys and Chryslers. I want to see more products sold around the world stamped with three proud words: "Made in America." I'm all for this. That patent process is really important. Why don't we speed up the Nationalization process? Let's get these guys registered and on the tax rolls! I mean, those immigrants sure do some work!

And on all of our efforts to strengthen competitiveness, we need to look for ways to work side-by-side with America's businesses. That's why I've brought together a Jobs Council of leaders from different industries who are developing a wide range of new ideas to help companies grow and create jobs. Like getting out of the way and letting industry find a way? Nature does. I personally like the story about some frogs that were getting squashed crossing the road. They were special frogs. They needed saving. So, we built a culvert for the frogs to hop through, effectively saving the frog squashing. Now, the snakes don't have as much area to hunt frogs. They just wait at the end of the pipe.

And Government finds a way, too. Here in Houston, on the west side on Beltway 8, the frontage road was built by the State of Texas. There was a special species of bird or bug or something nesting in the trees, so the southbound frontage road goes under the beltway, joins the northbound frontage road for a bit over the bayou, then comes back underneath to continue south. The frontage lanes were built before the toll lanes of the Beltway.

What's cool is that when the Toll Authority came in to build the main toll lanes with Federal money, they didn't have the same rules as a County entity as the State of Texas had to abide by. There's a exit ramp that goes right over that damn tree that had whatever was in it. It's awesome. it's the Briar Forest exit going southbound from I-10.


Already, we've mobilized business leaders to train 10,000 American engineers a year, by providing company internships and training. Other businesses are covering tuition for workers who learn new skills at community colleges. And we're going to make sure the next generation of manufacturing takes root not in China or Europe, but right here, in the United States of America. That is what I'm talking about. Training. But we're already doing that. That's not in the jobs bill? If we provide the right incentives and support - and if we make sure our trading partners play by the rules - we can be the ones to build everything from fuel-efficient cars to advanced biofuels to semiconductors that are sold all over the world. That's how America can be number one again. That's how America will be number one again. Other countries won't be able to afford our fuel efficient cars. We can't even afford them here. Plus, those efficient cars don't make a carbon footprint in production do they? I mean, I bet those batteries and all that aluminum must be straight out of the ground.  And I bet disposal is a piece of cake.

Now, I realize that some of you have a different theory on how to grow the economy. Some of you sincerely believe that the only solution to our economic challenges is to simply cut most government spending and eliminate most government regulations. You caught me.

Well, I agree that we can't afford wasteful spending, and I will continue to work with Congress to get rid of it. And I agree that there are some rules and regulations that put an unnecessary burden on businesses at a time when they can least afford it. That's why I ordered a review of all government regulations. So far, we've identified over 500 reforms, which will save billions of dollars over the next few years. That's great news. Where is that list? That should be front page news. Saving Billions!  We should have no more regulation than the health, safety, and security of the American people require. No more regulation on health? You mean after your regulations? Or before them? Every rule should meet that common sense test. Does that mean the common sense that isn't that common? Maybe we should check these rules, too.

But what we can't do - what I won't do - is let this economic crisis be used as an excuse to wipe out the basic protections that Americans have counted on for decades. I reject the idea that we need to ask people to choose between their jobs and their safety. I reject the argument that says for the economy to grow, we have to roll back protections that ban hidden fees by credit card companies (or make new ones), or rules that keep our kids from being exposed to mercury (breaking news in 2009), or laws that prevent the health insurance industry from shortchanging patients (like this report.) I reject the idea that we have to strip away collective bargaining rights to compete in a global economy. We shouldn't be in a race to the bottom, where we try to offer the cheapest labor and the worst pollution standards (like these). America should be in a race to the top. And I believe that's a race we can win.

In fact, this larger notion that the only thing we can do to restore prosperity is just dismantle government, refund everyone's money, let everyone write their own rules, and tell everyone they're on their own - that's not who we are. That's not the story of America. Government to a point is necessary. Government in every facet of life, employment, and control over everything to the point of stifling growth is not good. It's not about letting everyone write their own rules; it's about letting the people that know what they are doing write the rules. It's called Self-Governance. State government more effectively takes care of a lot of the issues that are done poorly at the federal level.

Yes, we are rugged individualists. Yes, we are strong and self-reliant. And it has been the drive and initiative of our workers and entrepreneurs that has made this economy the engine and envy of the world. And the economy in this rugged, self-reliant, driving entrepreneurs sucks because of a number of things. A big one is spending more than you make, or in the government's case, take in. At some point, when you overspend over and over, and lose your credit rating, for example, you should evaluate things. Or they just get worse. Or continue down the same road.

Does the US Government have a budget? That's great. I guess you need one of those before you can see how much you spend versus how much you make. Might start there.

Remember this?  Budget Control Act of 2011.  August 3, 2011.

From Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget

 (Under CBO (Congressional Budget Office) scenarios:)


Continuing,

CBO estimated in August 2011 that if laws currently "on the books" were enforced without changes, meaning the "extended baseline scenario" described above is implemented along with deficit reductions from the Budget Control Act of 2011, the deficit would decline from 8.5% GDP in 2011 to around 1% GDP by 2021.[57]

The "alternative fiscal scenario" more closely assumes the continuation of present trends, such as permanently extending the Bush tax cuts, restricting the reach of the AMT, and keeping Medicare reimbursement rates at the current level (the so-called "doc fix", versus declining by one-third as mandated under current law). Revenues are assumed to remain around the historical average 18% GDP. Under this scenario, public debt rises from 69% GDP in 2011 to 100% by 2021 and approaches 190% by 2035.[56]
 The CBO reported in June 2011: "Many budget analysts believe that the alternative fiscal scenario presents a more realistic picture of the nation’s underlying fiscal policies than the extended-baseline scenario does. The explosive path of federal debt under the alternative fiscal scenario underscores the need for large and rapid policy changes to put the nation on a sustainable fiscal course."[56]

CBO reported in September 2011: "The nation cannot continue to sustain the spending programs and policies of the past with the tax revenues it has been accustomed to paying. Citizens will either have to pay more for their government, accept less in government services and benefits, or both."[58]

But there has always been another thread running throughout our history - a belief that we are all connected; and that there are some things we can only do together, as a nation. Your actions don't give that impression too much weight. You haven't done much to show that at all. Just my opinion, of course.

We all remember Abraham Lincoln as the leader who saved our Union. But in the middle of a Civil War, he was also a leader who looked to the future - a Republican president who mobilized government to build the transcontinental railroad; launch the National Academy of Sciences; and set up the first land grant colleges. And leaders of both parties have followed the example he set. Agreed.

Ask yourselves - where would we be right now if the people who sat here before us decided not to build our highways and our bridges; our dams and our airports? What would this country be like if we had chosen not to spend money on public high schools, or research universities, or community colleges? Millions of returning heroes, including my grandfather, had the opportunity to go to school because of the GI Bill. Where would we be if they hadn't had that chance? Agreed.  But I don't think they wasted near as much money as we do now.  Especially since we don't even track where it goes.  That's embarassing. 

How many jobs would it have cost us if past Congresses decided not to support the basic research that led to the Internet and the computer chip? What kind of country would this be if this Chamber had voted down Social Security or Medicare just because it violated some rigid idea about what government could or could not do? How many Americans would have suffered as a result? Agreed. But we can't continue what we're doing now. 

No single individual built America on their own. We built it together. We have been, and always will be, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all; (I don't believe you there, President Obama. You don't see it that way by your daily actions)  a nation with responsibilities to ourselves and with responsibilities to one another. Members of Congress, it is time for us to meet our responsibilities. And those are? Are they changing? Are you guys gonna be responsible now? I doubt it. But let's see it.


Every proposal I've laid out tonight is the kind that's been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past. Every proposal I've laid out tonight will be paid for. And every proposal is designed to meet the urgent needs of our people and our communities. But most of them will have no effect. Didn't we have the same stuff in the Stimulus last year? I don't think that worked. And I don't think this will work, either. Giving incentives for job creation in an uncertain environment like the one we have isn't affecting the real source of the problem.

I know there's been a lot of skepticism about whether the politics of the moment will allow us to pass this jobs plan - or any jobs plan. Already, we're seeing the same old press releases and tweets flying back and forth. Already, the media has proclaimed that it's impossible to bridge our differences. And maybe some of you have decided that those differences are so great that we can only resolve them at the ballot box. It's about the only recourse. And if the latest NY senate seat election is any indication, this might be telling next November. We'll see.

But know this: the next election is fourteen months away. And the people who sent us here - the people who hired us to work for them - they don't have the luxury of waiting fourteen months. Some of them are living week to week; paycheck to paycheck; even day to day. They need help, and they need it now. And you've tried to help a few times now... try to do something different than asking for $400 Billion more. And paying for this plan by 'fixing tax loopholes' while continuing to outspend income isn't really helping anything. We're still digging the hole deeper.

My Uncle told me the secret to life:

Don't Dig the Hole so Deep You Can't Get Out.

I don't pretend that this plan will solve all our problems. It shouldn't be, nor will it be, the last plan of action we propose. That is kind of a scary thought. What's guided us from the start of this crisis hasn't been the search for a silver bullet. It's been a commitment to stay at it - to be persistent - to keep trying every new idea that works, and listen to every good proposal, no matter which party comes up with it. I know this is a crazy idea, but let's start filling in the hole. How about saying no to stupid stuff? Wasn't there a test or something you mentioned about common sense or something? Or did you just say that to say it?

Regardless of the arguments we've had in the past, regardless of the arguments we'll have in the future, this plan is the right thing to do right now. Disagree. You should pass it. (17) And I intend to take that message to every corner of this country. When are you coming to Texas? We're the bottom corner, with all the fires and drought conditions, and oh thanks for the localized help down here from Fema. I also ask every American who agrees to lift your voice and tell the people who are gathered here tonight that you want action now. Tell Washington that doing nothing is not an option. Remind us that if we act as one nation, and one people, we have it within our power to meet this challenge. I'd rather ask for us to spend less than we take in. That's called savings. Let's change our attitude and save something. A penny saved is not a penny spent.

President Kennedy once said, "Our problems are man-made - therefore they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants." And as hardheaded as he wants. And act as stupid as he wants. And be as compassionate as he wants. And as overbearing and controlling as he wants.

These are difficult years for our country. But we are Americans. We are tougher than the times that we live in, and we are bigger than our politics have been. So let's meet the moment. Let's get to work, and show the world once again why the United States of America remains the greatest nation on Earth. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Yes. God bless us, and watch over the greatest Nation on this planet.

At some point, you have to be humble. You have to put pride aside, take a different perspective, see a different view.

And, I'm not really sure what asking the same thing 17 times does for you, but I'm pretty sure it didn't work. Any of the 17 times. But, once again just my opinion.

Happy Job Searching folks!! There's jobs coming!!