Under the Oak

So in the past week or so. . .

The great state of Minnesota has selected an actual clown as its representative in the Senate chamber. While I worry that the interests of Minnesotans will be poorly represented, I seriously doubt that the addition of said clown to the Senate could negatively effect the stellar reputation of that body. *cough*

Speaking of clowns…you may not have heard: Michael Jackson died!!!!!!!1 I was sitting in Barnes & Noble when I was accosted by the couple behind me who were receiving constant texts and emails to tell them that Jackson he died. I know its a generational thing, but seriously, people. Get over it. The man was a freak show either by choice or as a product of the twisted environment in which he lived. I feel for his children, but I don’t see why this should be in the news almost a week later.

No clown flavored post would be complete without another cunning strike by the Cult of Green, right? The House this week passed what amounts to a massive tax increase on energy consumption. The chances of it ever passing the Senate are slim, but the very fact that it passed the House scares me – especially now that we have a one-party government. It will “only” cost $150 per year, we are told. Turns out, its more like $1800…and by 2030 $6300 per year for an average family of four (actually, if the CBO is as wrong in their predictions of the cost of this bill as they were about prescription drug coverage, then the cost will be more like $150,000 per year per family). But it is NECESSARY in order to SAVE THE PLANET from IMMINENT DESTRUCTION. I wonder how much a double-decker taco from Taco Bell (which uses energy to produce flour, tortillas, beans, hot water, corn, beef, beef grinding, cheese production, lettuce, paper, and ink on top of the energy cost of the actual retail of said product) would cost in this green future that our politicians dream up. $59.99 Value Meals!!

Meanwhile, President Obama has sided with Chavez and the United Nations against Honduras. From everything I’ve read, the ousted president of Honduras was in direct violation of the constitution of that country. No wonder they got rid of him. And no wonder our government would jump to his defense.

The blazing heat has zapped whatever spirited blog posts I might otherwise have been coming up with this week, but as much as I hate the heat, I wish I was leaving for Jamaica on Friday.

I have a special place in my heart for the nation and people of Jamaica. I have friends, brothers, and sisters down there. Pray for them. Things are going to be rough.

Police and soldiers were deployed at what the government called “strategic” locations across the Caribbean island to quell any violent protests.

Political parties in Jamaica are little more than gangs. As you drive around (away from the tourist areas) you can clearly see the spray painted territories of the main political parties. With the rise of more traditionally criminal gangs as well (e.g., Stonecrushers in St. James), this economic situation could blow up into something very bad very fast.

Meanwhile, the French who know a thing or two about bloodletting, are said to be on the brink as well. I’d heard an NPR report within the last week or so that talked about how high school students in France pretty much run the schools and stage lockdowns whenever they feel like making a political point. Now, it seems that the power company workers want a raise and are willing to risk starting a revolution to get it.

“The Government is losing control,” he said. “So now is the moment to push back the capitalist logic which has crept into the company.”

Heaven forbid some capitalism should creep in.

“There is a risk of revolution,” Dominique de Villepin, the former prime minister, said.

Of course, it is yet to be determined who the two sides will surrender to in a civil war.

And here is an interesting technique. Wouldn’t you all like to hold your boss hostage until he promised you a raise?

“Bossnapping” has become a popular technique in French labour disputes. Striking workers take their bosses hostage until they agree to demands

As messed up as our country is, I think we’ve still got a few years without a serious threat of revolution. I can’t say the same for many other countries.