(Actually, the photo is an example of Mountaintop Removal process of coal mining, in which the top is blown off of a mountain, the rubble is thrown over the hill - polluting streams and watersheds below - the coal is removed and grass replanted in place of the former mountain top. We don't actually have flat-topped mesas in this part of the world - or at least we didn't used to.)
WASHINGTON (CNN) — White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joe
Hagin will be leaving his job this month, according to White House spokesperson Dana Perino.
Perino says Hagin's last day will be July 20th.
"The President said that he thanks Joe for his service to the White House, that Joe's been a loyal friend, and that he is excited about the next chapter in Joe's life," said Perino.
Hagin sent an email to friends this morning, announcing he is leaving to take a private sector job.
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Aaahhh, the infamous "Leaving politics to take a private sector job" tack.
I'm starting a pool. Who wants to bet that the job is in:
A. The Oil Industry
B. The Coal Industry
C. The Military Industry (as in making weaponry, not actually serving in the military)
D. Working to protect the Environment?
(HA! That last one was a trick question!)
Any takers?
Look how beautiful that is!
ReplyDeleteThat would be a great place for a house, or a school, or a church building!
And just think of all the old people who did not have to sleep cold because of the electricity generated through the burning of that coal...
Think of the children who read and did schoolwork by the light of that burning coal, the meals that were prepared...
Think of the people who were able to work and provide food and shelter for their families by removing that coal...
And the environmental damage was the photo you just posted?
Seems like a good deal to me...
And one other thing...
If Joe Hagin goes to work for the Oil Industry or the Coal Industry, he will be working for people who do more to protect and preserve the environment than anywhere else he could go.
I'll tell that to the people whose tap water runs orange thanks to the coal companies.
ReplyDeleteI'll tell that to the people whose land and water have been poisoned by the coal companies.
I'll tell that to the asthmatic child who is not able to go out and safely breathe the air thanks to auto and factory air pollution.
Whatever happened to conservatives who are PRO-responsible behavior and truly conservative?
More to the point, Tug, does it not trouble you the revolving door between so many political groups and corporations?
ReplyDeleteDoes it not bother you that, for instance, Bush hired his staff largely from the oil, gas and military industries, who gave Bush lots of money, who crafted policies that favored those industries making them lots of money, who then hire his people when they leave, also making THEM lots of money?
Does that not smack of corruption to you? Are you that trusting of Big Gov't and Big Corporations?
I thought "conservatives" were supposed to be wary of such corruption and exploitation and graft?
I think that helps explain why the neo-con-type of "conservative" (which is no conservative at all, in the classic sense) is quickly becoming an extinct species, and none too soon! We, the people, are tired of this sort of gov't foolishness and corruption.
More to the point, Tug, does it not trouble you the revolving door between so many political groups and corporations?
ReplyDeleteIt sure bothers me. And until the federal government is stripped of most of its power, this culture of corruption will continue.
Yes, as a matter of fact it, it troubles me very deeply that groups like The Sierra Club have managed to get enough of a stranglehold on the Government that they have managed to screw up Energy policy to the point that the United States has removed itself from the world petroleum market, and placed the American Public at the mercy of countries who wish us harm.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Conservative position is that "We The People" should never have given the Federal Government the power to make policy which enables politicians to promote or punish "Big Business".
Without that power, the corruption you complain about would not be possible, no matter who the President is.
You, however, would put even bigger government in control of even more and even bigger industries, give them ever more power over the daily lives of the people, and pave the way for ever expanding corruption.
Oh, and if the environmental damage from that coal mining was a severe as you claim, lawyers would descend, and when they got through, the name of that mining company would be "The Orangewater Family Mining Co."
ReplyDeleteAnd the lawyers would be rich enough to run for president.
it troubles me very deeply that groups like The Sierra Club have managed to get enough of a stranglehold on the Government
ReplyDelete? Oh really? And how exactly has the Sierra Club managed to do this? Who have they bought and paid for in gov't? Who has left Gov't and gone to work for a more lucrative salary for the Sierra Club?
A name? Some figures? Follow the money, show me a news story documenting this serious offense.
Here's a list of names documenting this sort of corruption on behalf of the Bush administration and the oil/military machine. It IS a demonstrable problem with at least the coal, oil and military industry. I am not as familiar with it, but I believe there are similar problems with the insurance industry.
If you have an allegation you can support, Tug, about the Sierra Club and how they are corrupting the Bush administration by an abuse of political bribery and compensation when they leave office, by all means, show me the evidence.
If you're just making an empty allegation, well, then it's just an empty allegation, isn't it?
Tug said:
ReplyDeleteOh, and if the environmental damage from that coal mining was a severe as you claim, lawyers would descend, and when they got through, the name of that mining company would be "The Orangewater Family Mining Co."
Do you know anything about the topic or are you just automatically assuming that big corporations wouldn't possibly use dangerous, unhealthy procedures?
If it's the former, shouldn't you really study a bit before forming an opinion, and, if the latter, are you really that naive?
According to a Union of Concerned Scientists report:
More than 7 percent of Appalachian forests have been cut down and more than 1,200 miles of streams across the region have been buried or polluted between 1985 and 2001. According to the federal government’s scientific analysis, mountaintop removal mining, if it continues unabated, will cause a projected loss of more than 1.4 million acres by the end of the next decade—an area the size of Delaware—with a severe impact on fish, wildlife, and bird species, not to mention a devastating effect on many neighboring communities.
The report is well-documented based on hard evidence. Inform yourself.
And, more to the point, there is an observable, measurable problem in our gov't - especially obvious with this current administration, but by no means limited to it or to the Republican party alone - with politicians hiring staff from Big Corporations, getting donations from big corporations, drafting policy that makes money for big corporations and then the employees leaving the gov't for big paying jobs within those same corporations.
It is a parliament of whores and we, the people, should be outraged by it. We need to demand gov't for and by the people, not for and by the corporations.
Absolutely!
ReplyDeleteOne more time...
The Federal Government should not have the power to reward or punish business in America. To give such power to a central authority such as the Federal Government paves the way for corruption, and undermines the freedom of the people.
And corruption in Government does not begin and end with the Bush Administration.
America does a better job of cleaning up our messes than any country in the World.
And when someone leaves the Bush Administration and goes to work in the Energy Industry, that is not necessarily proof of corruption of some type.
Oh, by the way...
How much Federal money did your "Union of Concerned Scientists" recieve to fund their study? (You're informed, apparently... you should know this...)
If they recieved any, would that constitute corruption?
I have never seen any evidence any where provided by any one to suggest that the Union of Concerned Scientists have acted in any inappropriate ways. If you have evidence, again, feel free to provide it.
ReplyDeleteIf not, it is yet another empty allegation offered in an attempt to defend big corporations and empty allegations - bearing of false witness, slander - is not something Christians should be engaged in.
The Federal Government should not have the power to reward or punish business in America.
Ummm, yes, they should. If those businesses have committed crimes, broken laws, not abided by regulations, the absolutely should.
The federal gov't has the responsibility to create responsible ground rules for how businesses should operate. The federal gov't has the responsibility to create responsible ground rules about how businesses interact with politicians and vice versa.
There should not be this revolving door of gov't>corporation>gov't>corporation etc, it smacks of corruption.
Dan, will you cite for me the clause, article, WORD, from the U.S. Constitution which gives the Federal Government the power to reward/punish business?
ReplyDelete(And "promote the general welfare" doesn't count.)
And people commit crimes, Dan, not businesses. (You know, just like with paying taxes.)
I guess that you think Barack Obama's Secretary of the Energy Department is being grow in a lab somewhere...
ReplyDeleteDan, isn't "people from the private sector working in the Government and then going back into the private sector at the end of their tenure" the very definition of "Government of the people, by the people?"
And "There should not be this revolving door of gov't>corporation>gov't>corporation etc, it smacks of corruption."
Umn, no. It doesn't. Not all by itself.
When large amounts of money are involved, and the corporations are benefiting from it, yes, it does. At least to many of us.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'll note that you have missed some questions/points...
ReplyDeleteI asked:
"Oh really? And how exactly has the Sierra Club managed to do this? Who have they bought and paid for in gov't? Who has left Gov't and gone to work for a more lucrative salary for the Sierra Club?"
"Do you know anything about the topic or are you just automatically assuming that big corporations wouldn't possibly use dangerous, unhealthy procedures?"
"If it's the former, shouldn't you really study a bit before forming an opinion, and, if the latter, are you really that naive?"
No more empty allegations and false charges/lies. Just honest real answers with substance and evidence.
"And "There should not be this revolving door of gov't>corporation>gov't>corporation etc, it smacks of corruption."
ReplyDeletePerhaps the government needs to implement a policy that their employees cannot work in an industry related field for six months after leaving.
My daughter used to teach piano/voice at a local music studio while in college. When she resigned her position, she had to sign a paper that stated she would not go to work elsewhere (locally)in that same compacity for six months. This was an effort to prevent the "stealing" of students.
It is the same with her present position as a property manager. Should she leave her present employer, she cannot work in the industry locally for six months. This is an effort to prevent her from taking her clients with her.
Dan, what evidence of someone taking a "more lucrative job" in industry upon leaving government being the result of some sort of corrupt backroom policy deal?
ReplyDeleteDo you believe that the Environmental Lobby is as pure as the wind driven snow? (Pardon the pun...)
Empty allegations/lies indeed.
I thought that's what we do here.
Again, if your panel of scientists took any federal money, does that constitute corruption?
And where in the Constitution are the words/phrases which give the Federal Government the power to punish/reward business in America, which is the source of Governmental corruption, where any is found?
ReplyDeleteDoes Article 1, Section 8 suffice?
ReplyDelete"To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes;"
And once again, I asked:
ReplyDelete"Oh really? And how exactly has the Sierra Club managed to do this? Who have they bought and paid for in gov't? Who has left Gov't and gone to work for a more lucrative salary for the Sierra Club?"
"Do you know anything about the topic or are you just automatically assuming that big corporations wouldn't possibly use dangerous, unhealthy procedures?"
"If it's the former, shouldn't you really study a bit before forming an opinion, and, if the latter, are you really that naive?"
I'm looking for answers from you Brother Tug, not obfuscation.