XC skiing & Stimulus

Went out twice to xc ski around the lake as the weather is going to turn warm and rain is on the way – two days of 40’s with night mid 30’s – so there goes the snow.  SAM went the second time and it was a beautiful day of clear blue and 35 degrees.  When we got back an email was waiting describing the Stimulus and it is below.

Chicago Style Stimulus!

Three contractors are bidding to repair a broken fence at the White House. One is from Chicago, another is from Tennessee, and the third is from Minnesota.All three go with a White House official to examine the fence. The Minnesota contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring,then works some figures with a pencil.  “Well,” he says, “I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for  materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.” The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, “I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me.”  The Chicago contractor doesn’t measure or figure, but leans over to  the White House official and whispers, “$2,700.”  The official, incredulous, says, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such an inflated figure?” The Chicago contractor whispers back, “$1000 for me, $1000 for you,  and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence. “Done!” replies the government official.  And that is how the new stimulus plan will work.

Conservative vs Liberal: a definition

 The 6 definitions below sum up the argument pretty well for middle of the road liberals and conservatives.  Then there are those far right and far left personalities who try to define a profile that is the only profile to follow for fellow man.  I believe personality definitions are spherical in nature and can be defined by spherical equations (and a sinusoid).  The far fringes meet and touch on the other side of reality.  Once you get past + (conservative) & – (liberal) 90 degrees (reality) you slowly progress into non-reality until at 180 degrees the right and left non-realities meet and in essence are the same in actions and deeds.  I suppose psychologists have a term for this type of behavior.  Boy, I sure would like to rate some of those right wing radio personalities who so eloquently seduce their masses.  The same with left wingers too but then we never really hear from them except today in D.C.  Now what is the Sine of 45?

Conservative

1. Belief in natural law
2. Belief in established institutions
3. Preference for liberty over equality
4. Suspicion of power—and of human nature
5. Belief in exceptionalism
6. Belief in the individual

Liberal

1. Belief in positive law
2. Faith in progress
3. Preference for equality over liberty
4. Belief in the benevolence of government and individuals
5. Belief in the perfectibility of human beings
6. Belief in the community

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have

by Thomas Jefferson