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A distraction from the major issues at stake (05/16/12) Presidential campaigns are a contact sport. There may be a phony facade of friendly rivalry, but beneath that veneer is deep disdain and distrust. And I'm not talking about the candidates. I'm talking about the American public. Every four years, it seems, we divide ourselves along purely political lines to choose the most powerful leader in the free world... President reframes popular election question (05/10/12) Every four years during the presidential election cycle, we're urged to ask the question, "Are you better off today than four years ago?" The catchy line made famous by President Ronald Reagan during a 1980 debate with President Jimmy Carter has already surfaced this year. You'll likely hear it often... The Occupy Wall Street dream for America (05/02/12) As May arrives, we are once again greeted by the ever-popular Occupy Wall Street crowd, which is little more than a union-financed political street theater designed to deflect attention away from a stalled economy. The theory behind the Occupy Wall Street gang is to highlight the disparity of income in America. But it takes little work to see the true purpose -- which is clearly to rally some odd support for the Obama administration especially in the wake of the tea party success... How a presidential election could shape statewide races (04/25/12) As the coffee shop conversations turn to politics these days, lost in that discussion too often is the race for governor and senator in Missouri. That's not to say that there is absolutely no dialogue on these important Missouri races. But facts are facts, and these key races in our home state are not on the minds of most Missourians... Lifestyle choices financed with our tax dollars (04/18/12) Yet another tax day has come and gone. It's not the most pleasant day of the year, but not all of us view tax day with hesitation. Some in fact, recognize that tax day is their financial bonanza of the year. When the final figures are compiled, it will show that nearly 60 million Americans were nonpayers on tax day. Most of those folk -- 96 percent in the most recent calculation -- made under $50,000 annually... Obama administration is dictating, not leading (04/11/12) With a Supreme Court decision on ObamaCare looming large in the background, this current administration is running full speed ahead to implement as much of the controversial law as possible, despite a host of political and legal objections. Just last week, the Obama administration -- with no fanfare -- quietly funneled $300 million to the Internal Revenue Service to hire new agents to help implement the new law. ... Why does someone choose not to vote? (04/04/12) Why would someone not vote? I can understand someone taking a powder on an unopposed local election. But I've had recent conversations with voting age adults who proudly proclaim they never vote. Never vote?! A road district commissioner vote might determine if your road gets repaired. A presidential election can determine your children's future... Overcoming divisions requires leadership (03/28/12) If somehow magically we could ignore the political jabber that dominates the news, I think we might find a more troubling trend just below the surface. If you don't pay close attention and connect all of the dots, you'll miss the single greatest challenge facing this nation... The $2 trillion question facing the Supreme Court (03/21/12) It was just two years ago that this current administration was able to push through ObamaCare -- the proposed national health insurance that was designed to solve the financial and access problem of health insurance. The questions that circled that ambitious program involved the forced mandate that will compel millions of uninsured to enter the market. One of the larger questions was the lack of available medical providers to cover this new emerging market... The wording of poll questions (03/14/12) Polling has become big business in the political arena. And perhaps, never as scrutinized as this election year. Political polls are a combination of art and science. There's always a mathematic component that gauges the depth of the outcome. But there's an equal issue with the wording of the poll questions... Indignation at only one end of spectrum (03/08/12) We have entered into the double-standard era of politics where righteous indignation is appropriate for one end of the political spectrum but clearly not the other. There's simply no other explanation. To fully implement a double standard, first and foremost you must have a compliant media. And no one can argue we lack a liberal-media bias unprecedented in our nation's history... Sitcom foul language is inappropriate (02/29/12) My television-viewing habits would best be described as eclectic. Sprinkled between the never-ending news cycles and the obligatory sports menu, I find welcome escape with sitcoms. Sitcoms are like popcorn -- light, non-filling and easily consumed... Bogus disability claims hurt those actually disabled (02/22/12) I'm not one to generally say "I told you so," but in this case, well, I told you so! Two weeks ago I said to start paying attention to the explosion in disability claims because for far too many, this lucrative federal program has become the new cash cow to supplement or replace other taxpayer-funded programs... The nonstop political news coverage (02/15/12) You have to wonder if our nonstop, 24-hour political coverage is truly beneficial. Or does this political obsession breed cynicism with both the process and the players? As a self-proclaimed political junkie, I absorb the daily details of the electoral process with unbridled glee. This nonstop vetting and instant analysis is fascinating to me. But much of this fascination is akin to watching a train wreck... President's definition of 'play by the same rules' (02/08/12) I had to review a text of President Obama's State of the Union address to verify that I actually heard what I thought I heard. But there it was in black and white. And with those few words, I have at long last found some point of agreement with our president... Compassion vs. government-forced charity (01/25/12) The word "compassion" seems to be a staple in this year's presidential campaign. But more often than not, the word is used as a sword against any and all Republicans -- as in those soulless, compassionless, fat-cat Republicans who have no empathy toward the downtrodden and oppressed... Congressional poll numbers and the Dems' election strategy (01/18/12) Well our friends in Congress have returned to work following their extended holiday recess. And they arrived just in time to take notice of yet another poll out this week that shows that 84 percent of Americans disapprove of the job they are doing. For starters, much of the poll result is pure bunk. If you are asked how your congressman is doing, the approval rating skyrockets. If you ask how the entire Congress is functioning, the numbers plummet... The presidential election and bluejeans (01/11/12) It's impossible to conduct our daily lives without some discussion on the political climate during this election year. And if you think we're experiencing political overkill now, just wait until this fall. As you would expect, with this avalanche of political coverage, there is both substance and silliness. I watched in amazement earlier this week when one respected left-wing commentator (that term may be an oxymoron) took time to comment on the bluejeans worn by one Republican hopeful... All GOP candidates are better than Obama (01/04/12) As elections go, this year's presidential election has the promise of being a true barnburner. But that is only stating the obvious. Iowa is now history with New Hampshire and South Carolina close behind. The focus, of course, is clearly on the GOP side of the ledger since the Democratic Party's candidate is a foregone conclusion... The economy election (12/07/11) Let me state the obvious: This is shaping up as an election based solely on the economy. Other usual presidential topics trend toward foreign policy and social issues. Obviously they will be an important part of the presidential dialogue. But nothing will frame the election nor the outcome more than the economic mess we're in... Election-year grandstanding (11/30/11) With the imminent failure of the Congressional supercommittee, it should trigger the automatic spending cuts in the Department of Defense and the Medicare program. These two spending giants were targeted because that's where a huge chunk of the federal spending is aimed... Spending money we don't have (11/09/11) While the American public is focused on the "Dancing With The Stars" outcome or the Kardashian drama or the NFL schedule, there's a small matter of the failing economy that should put the target on the Congressional supercommittee. The bipartisan group is supposed to be working feverishly toward proposals to save our sagging economy. And their critical deadline is just a week away... A ‘crisis of confidence' (10/26/11) With President Obama's latest round of stimulus spending gaining absolutely no traction, the President is now launching a series of executive orders to implement small portions of his latest jobs bill package. Despite massive lobbying and arm-twisting galore, the jobs bill drew bipartisan opposition last week. And in the current federal culture, if you can't get it one way, you get it another... Baseball and politics (10/19/11) To heck with politics, let's talk baseball! The action begins tonight when our beloved St. Louis Cardinals take on the Texas Rangers. Even if it does nothing other than to lift the spirits of the Cardinals fans, it's simply wonderful that Missouri's favorite team has made it to the big show... Wall Street protests do not represent our America (10/12/11) The Occupy Wall Street folk are getting their fair share of attention -- though most Americans must be confused with just exactly what these people are protesting. Despite their laundry list of grievances, the protesters are basically attempting to call attention to the "greedy" Wall Street bankers and other faceless corporate rascals... Administration sowing policy seeds that divide nation (10/05/11) "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." "Indivisible?" You know the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. Despite the efforts of some progressives who seek to remove "under God," it's the word "indivisible" that should be the focus... Time to finalize the GOP starting lineup (09/28/11) The ongoing Republican presidential debates are doing little other than to provide campaign fodder for the Democrats. Texas Gov. Rick Perry -- once a front-runner -- has stumbled himself to the middle of the pack while Herman Cain has proved himself a force with which to be reckoned... A divisive message in a political environment (09/21/11) Given the current state of this great nation, I am beginning to wonder how anyone in their right mind could vote to re-elect this president. I can understand perhaps why some would vote for his re-election because they believe the current crop of GOP candidates would be no better... A level of honesty currently lacking (09/14/11) As I watched what seemed like hours of the endless observances on the 9/11 anniversary, I was struck by the role political correctness played in the disaster. During interviews, two airport ticket boarding agents both said they had "reservations" about the future terrorists as they were at their ticket counters. But both said they did nothing for fear of being labeled as profiling Middle Eastern men... Confidence is a product of leadership, not a speech (09/07/11) Got a problem? Give a speech. Problem solved. The president will address a joint session of Congress this week with his latest jobs plan. He'll undoubtedly tell us that the current unemployment crisis is not his fault and that, but for his superb leadership, we'd be in a much worse mess... Actions should have consequences (08/31/11) Two news items crossed my desk recently. Both seemed to make perfect sense to me -- and since both were universally panned by liberals -- I find even greater benefit. Let's start in Michigan. The fine state of Michigan has a unique program that allows nearly all college students, regardless of their financial status, to qualify for food stamps... Tiger Woods' Mudville (08/17/11) There's a lesson to be learned in the Tiger Woods story. And the lesson is even bigger than the legend. This past week, Woods came close to embarrassing himself in the final major golf tournament of the year. Not only did Woods fail once again to win a golf tournament, he played so poorly he was eliminated from the final two rounds of the tournament... The problem is spending (08/10/11) I fully admit I don't know exactly what to make of the credit rating downgrade for our great nation. I know just enough to understand that it hurts our image around the world and that it has the potential for impacting interest rates for consumers. Beyond that, I know very little... The 'grand bargain' not much of a bargain for taxpayers (08/03/11) You can learn a great deal by listening carefully to your opponents. As the "grand bargain" makes its way into the law of the land, the debt ceiling compromise offers something for everyone to oppose. I have listened carefully to the progressive caucus members of Congress. And with their outspoken disdain of this credit deal, I tend to think it may be something I could embrace... Discussions more about politics than economy (07/27/11) I would suspect that this time next week, Congress will have raised the debt ceiling with some hybrid plan that reduces spending. But the much larger question centers on whether this last-minute plan will actually address the spending problem that threatens this country... What part of 'cut spending' do they not understand? (07/20/11) It's not the GOP that is acting childish in the debt ceiling debate The American budget-sucking population's political weight (07/13/11) There are but two guarantees locked into the "grand bargain" deal proposed by President Obama to end the debt ceiling stalemate. First, the taxes he proposes will be with the American people for all eternity; second, the cuts he proposes will most likely be undone by future members of Congress... Voting blindly a cause for concern (06/29/11) Unless something of biblical proportions occurs, the 2012 elections will clearly revolve around the crumbling economy that now faces this nation. Granted, the discussions will also touch on foreign wars, immigration, education, etc. But at the end of that proverbial day, it will surely be the economy that dominates all debate... A hybrid approach to solving our economic troubles (06/22/11) I am becoming increasingly convinced that the nation's economic troubles are beyond our ability to solve. The two sides of this financial issue both pose radically different solutions. Unfortunately, both approaches lack the substance to affect long-term improvements... Thugs are serious matter (06/15/11) Last week I penned this column on the topic of "flash mobs" that were wreaking their unique brand of violence on a number of urban areas over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. It was the sheer volume of these incidents that caught my eye. Several reports of violence, vandalism and general mayhem were reported from Miami to Chicago and all fell under the same description -- gangs of young people roaming the streets and stores in search of victims... Sickening fad of violent flash mobs (06/08/11) They're called "flash mobs" or "unruly crowds." Let's just call them what they are -- thugs! Roving gangs of young thugs have made headlines lately with random attacks and general chaos as the summer season gets underway. Fights in fast-food restaurants are a daily staple of You Tube videos as these summer slugs take their special brand of "fun" to the streets... Obama's 2012 strategy (06/01/11) The political season is in full swing as the Republicans one by one start to plunge their names into the presidential campaign. The early runners must now make way for the more prominent names, and there remains a host of lesser-known hopefuls who are starting to make waves... Retiring 'outside the box' (05/25/11) Isn't it funny how some minor issues simply bug the heck out of you? OK, so granted I get irritated and bugged by stupid political reasoning. I get bugged by cultural changes that are so blatantly ridiculous that it leaves you scratching your head. Heck, I could go endlessly into those everyday items that leave you rolling your eyes and saying, "Seriously?"... A purely American moment (05/18/11) Like millions of others, I watched the Monday morning shuttle Endeavour launch with an ample level of both pride and awe. With understandable amazement, I marveled at the enormous skills and intellect required to accomplish this feat in front of the entire world... Strong leadership is needed to address the country's finances (05/04/11) specifics to address economy should be given in 2012 election Get out your 2012 election scorecards (04/27/11) For the next 18 months, the national political debate will swirl with a discussion on scorecards -- as if a presidential election has some sports comparison. The first scorecard comparison came a few months back during a discussion on unemployment. The buzz centered on an unemployment rate above 9 percent come next November. If the scorecard hit that magic number, then the odds for an Obama re-election would suffer, according to conventional wisdom... Producers provide for nonproducers (04/20/11) As I quietly sat down and wrote a check to the Internal Revenue Service this week, I wondered about the 45 percent of Americans who pay no taxes. And I wondered about General Electric who paid no taxes on their $38 billion profits this past year. Sadly, I am not among the super-rich who get blamed for hoarding their riches and who, according to the Democrats, shelter way too much and unfairly avoid their "fair share" of taxes... The benefits of an upcoming election (04/13/11) A combination of election-year politics and the realization of what message voters sent last November has forced President Obama to become a late-blooming, last-minute convert to the concept of reduced federal spending. That's what I call leadership!... 2012 election drama kicks off (04/06/11) Obama's first term provides an open-door opportunity for others Photo ID requirement a reasonable request (03/30/11) Coming on the heels of a massively successful November election by the GOP, nearly half the states -- including Missouri -- are offering legislation to mandate some form of photo ID for voting. This has long been an agenda item for conservatives... How to waste taxpayer dollars (03/23/11) The greatest way to waste taxpayer money is to call it a stimulus and allow a federal bureaucrat or nanny-state politician to spend it. But then again, you could write an entire book on ways to waste taxpayer money. An appropriate title might just be "The Obama Years."... Voting out of our discontent (03/16/11) Polls now track a candidate's unfavorable ratings Political divide is stronger than ever (03/09/11) I'm just a little confused. I was under the impression that our President was the one at long last to usher in a new era of postpartisan, postracial America. That was the gamble when we elected the most inexperienced person in history to the highest office in the land... Look at the home environment (03/02/11) You've heard of the teacher who is in hot water over blogging about her students -- though she named neither the students nor the school district. In essence, the young teacher was alarmed at the cavalier attitude of many students, their lack of effort and their abundant lack of respect... Blame game (02/23/11) What seems to be playing out on the national stage is some odd blame game with virtually everyone anxious to point an accusing finger of blame at someone -- anyone -- for the faltering economy. Blame union pension funds. Blame corporate sweet deals and tax greed. ... U.S. lacks financial leadership, courage (02/16/11) If we can take our limited focus away from the ever-changing face of the Mideast long enough, we have some economic issues at home that urgently need our attention. Unfortunately, the Obama administration this week announced its budget proposals which fail to address our issues in any meaningful manner... Washington's financial hot potato (02/09/11) The Missouri Legislature is struggling with an interesting problem on just how, when or if to spend $189 million in federal funds to help struggling school systems pay their staffs. The funds are part of the Obama administration's attempt to infuse tax dollars into the struggling economy. But as with so many other issues in Washington, the funds come with little direction... Mideast turmoil a reason to solve our energy woes (02/02/11) It would be a massive understatement to say the United States was caught off-guard by the unrest in Egypt. Just last week, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Clinton both gave some level of assurance that all was well within the Middle Eastern country... Looking ahead to 2012 election (01/26/11) The Presidency depends on more than unemployment Political rhetoric (01/19/11) One man's lack of civility is another's defense. Battling government on the health care front (01/12/11) Julie Heppe is a warrior. The rural Sikeston, Mo., woman has fought cancer since 1993. The diagnosis started with breast cancer back then but now has reached Stage 4 cancer including moving to the linings of her lungs. She's already experienced a health crisis greater than anyone deserves, and now her essential medical decisions are squarely outside of her control... Obama supporters are like sports fans (01/05/11) Pres. Obama's supporters see a hope even in a dismal defeat The man who campaigned on a slogan of "Hope and Change" has delivered on half of that promise. To be certain, we've experienced our fair share of change over the past two years. To paraphrase an old commercial, "Where's the hope?"... Oil spill not the top story in '10 (12/29/10) Last week the Associated Press released their Top 10 stories list for 2010. This annual tradition -- as you would expect -- is a slam dunk in some years and not-so-clear cut in others. This year those media types across the nation selected the Gulf oil spill by a narrow margin as the most important news story for 2010. To my way of thinking, they got it all wrong... Redistribution on steroids (12/15/10) Rep. Cleaver has proposed a $48 billion earmark When absurdity gives way to hilarity, you must be talking about politics. In the midst of a colossal global concern for the economic stability of our great nation, Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri's 5th Congressional District representative, has one small earmark on his wish list that deserves some attention... The great debate (12/08/10) Tax Rates will remain unchanged for all Americans. When no one gets their way, does anyone win? That's the position Congress finds itself in this week as a compromise is announced that will extend the current tax rate while also extending unemployment benefits... Depression study (12/01/10) One in five Americans suffers from a mental illness. Or at least that's the finding from a recently-released report from government researchers. Now over the years, I have grown increasingly wary of "government studies" because I suspect that too often the studies simply reflect the thinking of the researchers. But that's an opinion, not necessarily a fact... Legislative agenda (11/24/10) The upcoming session of the Missouri General Assembly has a full agenda of issues that will test the strength of the GOP and measure the strength of the Democrats on some key agenda items. Incoming House Speaker Steve Tilley of Perryville outlined the prospects last week in a round of discussions with area business leaders. ... Deficit report should not be scorned (11/17/10) I'm both disappointed and surprised that the deficit reduction committee's preliminary report has received such universal scorn. Perhaps I was overly optimistic, but I thought this select committee could provide some political cover and still advance ways to seriously address our growing financial crisis... Election wrap up (11/10/10) This was not a banner election for the Carnahans Well, by golly, we had ourselves an election. And in my hyperpartisan, ultra-conservative, anti-socialist, small-government opinion, it went fairly well. But then again, you probably assumed that much already... Truth lost in the shuffle (10/27/10) But one outcome is certain in next week's elections. The ultra-liberal media will undoubtedly claim a Democratic victory regardless of the outcome. I assure you the scripts are already written. Unless the GOP wins every single House and Senate seat, our state-run media will somehow spin the outcome to portray it as an astounding victory for the Democrats and the Obama administration... Gridlock desperately needed (10/20/10) Mixed government could moderate President's policies It appears the best argument the Democrats have against a Republican takeover of Congress is that it will lead to massive "gridlock" for the foreseeable future. Well folks, given the "progress" handed down by Washington over the past two years, gridlock looks warm and inviting... Crisis looming (10/13/10) The federal government will have make tough choices to sustain Social Security Last week's announcement that Social Security payments will not be increased next year should come as no surprise. The cost of living adjustments were set in a formula back in the 1970s. When that formula -- based on the Consumer Price Index -- is negative for inflation, payments stay the same... Socialism defended (10/06/10) Socialism is openly being defended by some individuals The highly-promoted One Nation rally Saturday in Washington, D.C., was a bit of a flop. Organized by Progressives and labor unions, despite the rhetoric, the rally was a reaction to the recent Glen Beck rally. Primary organizers on MSNBC had all but promised the rally would far exceed the Beck rally in attendance... Parental reform (09/29/10) There's a lot of buzz about education this week. Most of it coinciding with a new documentary that explores the failures of the American public education system. But as a classic cynic, I also suspect the education discussion is a well-timed diversion from the economy -- just before the November elections... Caffeine defense (09/22/10) I like my coffee. I like my Pepsi. And as a result, I apparently have a mental disorder. Well, perhaps some background is appropriate. A Kentucky man goes on trial this week for strangling his wife. His defense strategy is that he suffered temporary insanity because of excessive consumption of caffeine... Obama's button (09/08/10) To cap off the highly successful Recovery Summer, the president this week embarks on yet another tour to help jump-start our faltering economy. His first shot: Let's spend more money (which we clearly don't actually have). Most of us are ill-equipped to discuss the intricate details of our massive economy and any potential solutions that will bring some balance to our budget. But beware of common sense... Tax, stop spending (09/01/10) How about a compromise? The Republican leadership needs to come out in favor of a tax increase for all Americans if the Democrats will agree to halt any spending increases. Every single dime of the new taxes generated would be directed to deficit reduction. When the deficit becomes a surplus, then the arguments over high taxes can resume at the same time that runaway spending returns... Election strategy (08/25/10) With the midterm elections closing quickly, there's ample room for optimism among conservatives and Republicans. Unless something drastic happens soon, the likelihood of a strong GOP showing is growing stronger each day. But the reality is that a change in power in the House or more remotely in the House and Senate can only slow the administration's push toward a growing central government... Splitting votes (08/11/10) As a self-confessed, dyed-in-the-wool conservative, I'm always exploring ways for our government to spend less and save more. Given the current political climate, I fear I may be in the extreme minority. But the "spend like there's no tomorrow" political approach does not deter me from trying to chisel a few bucks off the deficit -- or at least so in my mind... Breaking the law (08/04/10) When all else fails, there's always the race card. With ethics probes under way on Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters, some members of the Congressional Black Caucus floated the notion over the weekend that the investigations were race-based. Unfortunately for the anonymous members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the facts simply don't support the charge. But since playing the race card is the bastard child of hypocrisy and arrogance, facts matter little... Base taxes on need (07/28/10) The Obama administration's relentless pursuit of bigger government, higher taxes and the now-famous "redistribution of wealth" is the most divisive approach to governing in my memory. Those in power want to turn the focus to race or partisan politics or whatever excuse du jour. But the reality is that a growing segment of Americans -- some would argue a clear majority -- simply resent and oppose the expansion of Mother Government on the backs of working Americans... The fat tax (07/21/10) If some in Illinois have their way, your favorite two-liter soft drink may soon cost you another buck or more. And it's all about obesity. Actually, it all about modifying behavior with more taxes. But who am I to quibble about facts? Illinois may soon join a growing number of states that want to fight obesity with higher taxes. ... Border violence threat keeps escalating (07/07/10) Last week I addressed the apparent disconnect between the current administration in Washington, D.C., and the issue of illegal immigration. Either this administration knows something we don't know, or it turns a blind eye to illegal immigration for other motives... Byrd's pork (06/30/10) Robert Byrd of West Virginia -- the self-proclaimed "Big Daddy" King of Pork -- never found it difficult to spend other people's money. The longest serving senator in United States history, Byrd died this week at age 92. It's never proper to speak ill of the deceased, but Byrd held such a powerful position in Senate history that it's difficult not to mention his passing. For those of us who have long questioned Byrd's approach to federal spending, there are ample questions... Southern similarities (06/23/10) We watch with great concern each day as our country faces a toxic assault on our southern border. The daily flow is clearly devastating, yet a solution seems as distant today as when the problem first surfaced. I'm not talking about the oil spill in the Gulf but rather the assault of illegal immigration from Mexico... No middle ground (06/16/10) Over the past two weeks -- following a self-imposed sabbatical -- I have had the time to more fully view the political landscape as presented by the mass media. Granted, it's impossible to get any honest assessment from watching the talking heads on television, but I tried nonetheless... Parental neglect (05/26/10) Lack of parental responsibility is a recurring theme of mine. I have long argued the obvious: Many of the pressing issues in this country can be traced back to parents, more often than not a single mother, abandoning responsibilities that ultimately cost taxpayers more precious dollars... Keeping up (05/19/10) I suspect the key to economic survival is to live within your means. That basic premise of economics applies to your household budget, but it also applies to state and federal budgets. The federal government -- citing extraordinary times -- has clearly abandoned the principle of living within its means. And here in Missouri, the legislature adjourned Friday while leaving much of the heavy lifting to Gov. Jay Nixon in terms of cutting state spending to balance our delicate state budget... Food stamps (05/12/10) Food stamps will go to a record 40 million Americans this year. That translates into one in every eight Americans now rely on the federal anti-hunger program to supplement or provide for their meals. Of course the headline in this story deals with the record number. But the real story concerns why this massive segment of our population cannot provide for their own food needs... The dreams of graduates (05/05/10) For many in this area -- and around the country -- May is graduation month. It's a special time when high school and college students end their formal education and enter the "real world." And right now, it's a truly scary time. We all want to be optimistic about the prospects for graduating classes. ... Firing line (04/28/10) In April 1985, Ronnie Lee Gardner shot and killed a lawyer during a court appearance at the Metropolitan Hall of Justice in Salt Lake City. Though handcuffed, a female acquaintance slipped him a small-caliber weapon, and he fatally shot a lawyer in court that day for a completely different case. Gardner was in the courtroom to discuss evidence in an earlier murder case against him... Out of poverty (04/14/10) For many of us, this week brings that special day when we pay our federal and state income tax. Notice I didn't say for most of us, because the reality is that nearly half of all Americans pay no income taxes. Either these wage earners make too little or they receive enough credits and deductions to nullify their taxes and bring them a refund. Most of those refunds are triggered by the earned income credit, which has become a substantial source of income for many in this region... News nuggets (03/31/10) The past week's headlines were dominated by the ongoing debate over the health care overhaul and the upheaval that followed. President Obama and his posse hit the stump to play cheerleader for the health care bill and denounce the fiery rhetoric that followed its passage. A dozen or more lawmakers reported threats directed toward them for their health care vote... Down for the count: Census 2010 (03/24/10) It can be assumed by now that you have received your 2010 census forms. Just over 120 million households should have received the forms in the mail sometime last week. And by now a substantial portion of American households have already filled out the simple, 10-question survey and returned it in the postage-paid envelope... Pork projects (03/17/10) Federal budget earmarks -- those well-hidden local pork projects -- generate as much negative public reaction as just about any antic undertaken by our lawmakers. When the public hears horror stories about million-dollar fruit-fly projects or equally expensive swine-odor projects, there is virtually universal opposition... The immigrants (03/10/10) And now comes immigration "reform"! For a federal government that is stalled on health care, financial reform and creative ways to boost jobs, it seems an odd time to be talking about something as complex and incendiary as immigration reform. Yet in the middle of the chaos comes talks this week on ways to reform the crucial problem of illegal immigration in this country... Finding solutions (03/03/10) Though the concept is certainly not original, our federal government needs only to look at the private sector to find the answer to our fiscal crisis. Two dozen major national retailers last week reported financial data, and guess how they turned around their lagging business?... Rural, urban (02/17/10) As I watched one of the dozens of "political" talk shows on television this week, the host jokingly said that the record snowfall and wintry weather was not a news story until it struck New York City. His point was that the media center of the universe was not interested in the winter storm story or anything else until it hit its own backdoor. And though he said it in a somewhat humorous tone, he clearly made his point...

Mike Jensen