***********************************************************************

COMMENTARY
By G T Baker
(www.linksandtoons.com)

SOME GOOD IDEAs AND SOME THOUGHTS

Here's an idea that would immeditely help solve some of our economic and employment problems. Workers could volunteer to work an extra two hours a day on Mondays through Thursdays without any additional compensation. This isnt applicable in every situation, but in those businesses where people are paid a salary it would immediately increase productivity by about 5% (assuming labor costs of about 30% and an increase of 20% in hours worked and perhaps 1% more for additional electricity costs). These numbers will, of course, vary from place to place. The point is that if this were to be done the increase in the productivity index would result in lower retail prices and an attendent increase in business activity, and THAT would mean higher demand for labor's services, not less. The real problem I see with this idea is that unions would probably scream to high heaven about the exploitation of their workers. Hopefully some unions would see the long term benefit of this proposal and would go along with it. I have mentioned this idea to several dozen people and without exception they all said it was something they would be willing to do.

With the degree to which Congress regularly ignores the provisions of our Constitution maybe it is time to amend it to require the Supreme Court to certify that any proposed legislation meets the standards of Constitutionality before it is passed into law. This is an absolutely great idea and I wish I could take credit for it but I can't. I picked up the idea at: http://bobandabeshow.blogspot.com/2010/02/abe-v-thomas-jefferson-et-al_23.html This is one idea that merits your passing it along to other people you know.

The current version of the universal healthcare bill that is going to be voted on just keeps getting larger and larger. It is now up to about 2700 pages. That is a stack of 20Lb typewriter paper about 7 1/2 inches high. Someone please explain to me how anyone could possibly know what all the provisions are in a bill that large. Worse still is the estimate that the bill contains some 2000 "earmarks" (read pork.... read political payoffs.... read nothing good). Isn't it time that "earmarks' and all forms of attachments and riders to bills be outlawed? Why should legislative particulars having absolutely nothing to do with the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines be hidden within the pages of a defense appropriations bill? Perhaps all laws and legislation except the Constitution and Bill of Rights should automatically expire every five or ten years unless renewed by Congress. At least that would keep Congress busy just keeping up with the expirations. Isn't it time we require all appropriation bills to stand on their own, exposed to public view, and either pass or fail on their merits (or lack thereof), instead of hiding pork within bills of true importance?

**********************************************************************
LINKS

A victory for Conservatives: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=934728

Dems continue to ignore the public: http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/02/health-care-summit-democrats-popularity-opinions-columnists-dan-gerstein.html?boxes=opinionschannellighttop

As long as Obama is in office the recession will not go away.... in fact it will continue to get worse. Her's why? http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/20912

State of Ohio tells ACORN to "go away and don't come back:" http://biggovernment.com/kolson/2010/03/12/acorn-cracked-run-out-of-state-under-rico-act-in-ohio/

Predator UAVs in Afghanistan: http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/predators-over-pakistan

The TEA PARTY vs the new COFFEE PARTY. One is truly grass roots, the other isn't:
>>> http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/20918
>>> http://clancop.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/coffee-party-nonsense-those-who-dont-understand-the-tea-parties/

Surprised??? Why?: http://hotair.com/archives/2010/02/26/cnn-poll-majority-of-americans-agree-with-founders/

Tom Hanks' anti-Americanism: http://frontpage.americandaughter.com/?p=3370

Pampering children and protecting them from lifes scrapes and bumps only makes them unable to compete later in life: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/03/04/self-esteem_self-destruction_104644.html

CPUSA (Communist Party USA) and Unions protest outside hotel where insurance company execs were conferencing: http://sweetness-light.com/archive/cpusaunions-arrest-insurance-execs?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sweetness-light%2FsURR+%28Sweetness+%26+Light+-+Articles%29

Getting back on track and a real world example of why it works:
>>> http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/nj_gov_chris_christie_to_annou.html
>>> http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2004&month=04

Proof that politicians (well, most of them) have absolutely no economic savvy: http://biggovernment.com/lmeyers/2010/03/11/raising-tobacco-taxes-is-dumb/

Fewer doctors: http://sweetness-light.com/archive/obama-care-to-mean-13rd-fewer-doctors?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sweetness-light%2FsURR+%28Sweetness+%26+Light+-+Articles%29

The only answer is reduced government spending: http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/10/news/economy/inflation_debt/index.htm

Obama Administration proposes high speed access for everyone paid for by taxpayers: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/62644

Obama Justice Department quashed an FBI investigation of ACORN: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obama-Justice-Dept-shut-down-ACORN-investigation-87360097.html
Can you hear me now?: http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/03/12/friday-free-for-all-can-you-hear-me-now-edition/
Is Sarah Palin a true conservative?: http://www.thelandofthefree.net/conservativeopinion/2010/03/12/where-does-palin-stand/

***********************************************************************

Seems like the Obama Administration doesn't agree with Lincoln.
Rather, they seem to have adopted the philosophy of:

OF THE GOVERNMENT
BY THE GOVERNMENT
FOR THE GOVERNMENT

RIGHT?

---

Are you unhappy with the way many things are going in the USA?  If you are then let your elected representatives hear from you.  Our nation is a "representative republic."  In other words a nation where our legislators are supposed to represent your wishes, but, if you don't let them hear from you how are they supposed to know what things concern you?  Generally liberals are more group oriented than are conservatives, and tend to be more activist in nature. That's why things in our country have been becoming more and more liberal in nature, even though conservatives outnumber the liberals.  Remember, our nation only works as our founders designed it to work if the citizens participate in its operation.

Contact your elected officials (enter your zip code in the upper right corner):  http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

---

You can leave a message for your Congressman by calling  the Congressional Switchboard toll free at: 1-866-340-9281

---

Want to send Links and Toons to someone else?  Please do.  Just forward them a copy, or have them ask to be added to or mailing list.

---

Why "Come and Take It" ?:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_and_take_it