Innovative Approaches to Stimulating the Economy

Innovative Approaches to Stimulating the Economy
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

February 7, 2009

Desperate situations require desperate actions — that’s obvious when an economic stimulus package like the one being discussed has been seriously considered. Will it help? Maybe. Is it a lot of money? For sure. But before passing the buck (so to speak, and in gross violation of Harry Truman’s definition of passing the buck), I strongly feel that innovative and creative alternatives should be considered.

I’m not an economist and get very confused and frustrated when confronted by money, but I think my creativity makes up for my lack of practical and real knowledge. At my educational level, as a typist and as a person qualified to sit in a chair in front of a computer,

Obama Wants to Digitalize My Health Records? I Say Umm I’m Not So Sure Yet

By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

January 18, 2009

Susan was quoted in the article Obama Wants to Digitalize My Health Records? I Say Go For It! by Merely Me (Fri January 16, 2009) and she asked me to make some of my words about it. I’ve therefore created some based solely on the alphabet, and my monotonous words follow this boring preface.

Having a record of what groceries I buy or if I smoke is quite a bit different than my medical history. I smoke in public, and when I buy groceries in public there are usually people nearby (who I never force to sign confidentiality forms when they see me pulling an item from the shelf), and strange, unknown cashiers ring up my purchases.

President Bush’s post traumatic stress and my perceptions during President Obama’s Inauguration

President Bush’s post traumatic stress and my perceptions during President Obama’s Inauguration
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

January 21, 2009

Last night I started thinking about how it must feel for George W. Bush to be President for 8 years and then return home to Texas, and what his first few weeks as a civilian would be like. Being President (even a bad one) must be extremely stressful.

Because President Bush was Commander-in-Chief (albeit a poor one), that means he’s a veteran. If President Bush develops problems and is later plagued by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), will he be surprised to find out that it’s very difficult for people who served their country to get help for mental stress caused by that service? (For other news about President Bush, see President Bush Outraged at E. Coli, Promises Revenge)

Municipal Pornography and Fantasy Gifts Store against Liquor Store | Non Humor

Municipal Pornography and Fantasy Gifts Store against Liquor Store
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

[I originally posted this as an opinion at Northfield News Letters to the Editor 8/30]

Aug 30, 2008 – Mister F. has written that Northfield needs a new Liquor Store. He very handily stated several supporting reasons why it would be a good idea.

Does a liquor store pose more of a threat than a pornography and fantasy gifts store? In Minnesota, one must be 21 to purchase liquor; you must be only 18 to purchase an “adult” movie, 17 to see an Rated “R” movie (unless you are accompanied by an adult, whereas you only need be six years old).

So the reason no one is screaming for a porno shop is because less people talk about porno than liquor. Liquor is much more socially acceptable. Anyone can verify that there is a healthy market for pornography. Logically, if pornography was made more available by retailers to consumers, there would be a substantial increase in sales and profit from X-rated material. Talk about reaching new heights!

Electing Naughty People in 2008 | Non Humor

Electing Naughty People in 2008
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

Aug 27, 2008 – We know Senator McCain lies, Senator Obama lies, and Senator Clinton lies. In 2008, McCain or Obama will be elected President. Roughly 60% – 75% of Americans will vote — roughly 200 million people will elect a naughty person to lead the United States. Being naughty and lying is something we discourage our kids (nephews and nieces in my case) from doing.

Instant Run-Off Voting and a Plurality Needed to Win Elections | Non Humor

Instant Run-Off Voting and a Plurality Needed to Win Elections
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

Aug 20, 2008 – I don’t mean to shock anybody, but there is one other related issue that’s been bothering me for a while: the commonly-held belief that Ralph Nader siphoned votes in 2000 and cost Vice-President Al Gore the election. The only reason I have trouble with that view is the fact that there were over 2,000,000 people that voted for him. Ralph Nader had, and has, the right to run for President. And anyone who votes had the right to vote for him. Let us not allow politicians, the media, our neighbors, and ourselves to create any more animosity, or perpetuate the brainwashing and conditioning that perpetuates the acceptance a two-party system as the sole form of Democracy. That’s not what our country is based on, and that is not the idea for which people have fought and died.

Democratically Disappointed with Senator Barack Obama | Non Humor

Democratically Disappointed with Senator Barack Obama
By Andy Alt / Political Dimensions

Aug 20, 2008 – If I believe that data in the polls are accurate about Minnesota voters, it appears I’m not the only one who’s accumulated some disappointment with Senator Barack Obama. No, I’m not disappointed about the color of his skin — that’s never bothered me, and it’s never surprised or shocked me (not even in 2004, the first time I saw him on television).

The first disappointment came when he called for Democrats to help Senator Hillary Clinton with her campaign debt. I understood it was an attempt to help unify the party, but didn’t understand why it was his business to make this request. I was also perplexed at the request itself. There are many working people, single mothers, single fathers, tax-payers, grunts,

Commentary One: Climate Change and Affordable Public Transportation

Commentary One: Climate Change and Affordable Public Transportation
By Matthew
Aug 9, 2008

[The following commentary was written in response to Climate Change and Affordable Public Transportation]

I like the majority of your entry, but do have a few quibbles.The main reason cars are demonised is because they are, by and large, insane. They have terrible fuel efficiency and are often used when walking is a very real option. I gnash my teeth when I watch people in my street jump in their car, drive past me to the shops and back again. Sure, it took them about 1/4 of the time it takes me, but the shop is two streets away, not car distance at all. If those people were made to drag a ton of metal to the shops and back for a week they might consider their actions as being insanely wasteful.