Rooney Rule Nonsense

I am absolutely in favor of equality of opportunity in this world. One of the great things about this nation is that anyone can come from anywhere, and accomplish almost anything. It wasn't always so, but we have come a long way.

The NFL has, along with many other organizations, fallen into a pattern of silliness derived from good intentions. The Rams recently fired their head coach, and Jim Haslett, one of the coordinators, took over the reins. The team is playing well under him, and they wanted to reward him with a contract, assuring him of the spot as head coach for a job well done.

But, they can't. The Rooney Rule, put in place in 2003, requires that at least one minority candidate be interviewed for the job. In a case like this, when the preferred candidate is clear, it is a waste of everyone's time to interview anyone else, let alone screen applicants who don't have a chance on the basis of race.

Content of character and ability should be our collective focus. Either discrimination is wrong, or it is not. I believe that it is. Doing the wrong thing, even for the right reason, is still doing the wrong thing.

10 Year Plan?

Just so I'm clear on this, I want to see it typed out. We should not drill for oil here because it could take 5 to 10 years for the results to make a difference in the marketplace. I'll put aside the fact that people have been screaming to increase domestic production for over a decade, rendering the first objection laughable.

If Obama is elected, he has a 10 year plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Hmm. Assuming he is elected, and then re-elected, he can steer policy for 8 years, if my recollection of civics holds up. Oh, wait, click on the link to go to his page, and...yep, his policies will guide us to 2050.

Sooo, if we dispense with the bullshit, and look at the short term things he wants to do vis-a-vis energy policy, we see 3 items. Windfall profit tax, cut speculation, and release some oil from the Strategic Reserve.

1. Ok, put a windfall tax in place on oil companies. Like any smart business, they will pass the cost on to their customers. Thanks!
2. Speculation drives markets to their final price quickly, they don't determine price. See Econ 101. Sounds good and populist, though, full style points, but none for substance.
3. A release from the reserve would be a small tick up in supply, but as it would have to be replaced, it's a zero sum game. Well, that's not quite right. The oil that would refill the reserve would be bought at a substantially higher price than the oil it replaced. Net financial loss, but we get to feel like someone cares.

My wife and I both work for nonprofit social service entities, so on a personal level, these policies would enhance our job security. What will they do for you?

Barackenomics

I do my best to keep my political rants above the belt, and to provide "whys" when I say something. I'm also a big fan of people making up their own damn minds. To that end, the above link goes to Barack's tax cut site.

Does anything strike anyone as odd? Plug in your own numbers.

• If McCain is not offering middle class tax relief, and you are offering 3x as much, how much is that?
• Why do I have to click on a link to the FAQ to learn that Obama wants to extend the Bush tax cut? Apparently, that tax cut was not only for the rich. Damn if I don't feel lied to. I guess saying Bush was right won't get ya many votes.
• Yes, yes, the richest 2% will not keep that tax cut. But they will, at worst, go back to the 1990's rates. So, by raising taxes by 4.6% on 2% of wage earners, everything will be fixed.
• Almost 40% of taxpayers in this country do not pay income taxes. The only way to give then a tax break would be to cut their payroll taxes, which means defunding Social Security and Medicare.
• The tax cut offered to companies that create jobs here is a pittance. When pressed on high corporate tax rates, Obama has said that with the loopholes in place, some companies pay too little. Instead of addressing the causes of outsourcing, his stated policy seems to be content to hasten it.

On the plus side, he is from Chicago, the home of Milton Friedman. God willing, he will ignore his campaign staff if he is elected, and get some sound advice to base policy on.

Not Ready for Primetime.

Wow. I don't think I could have said this any better myself.