Matt’s Blog

You know you’ve been travelling too much if it takes you more than 20 seconds to figure out what state you are currently in…

No one talks about curbing population growth anymore. Yet in my opinion, more than any other single issue, population growth has the potential to curb global warming, help the environment, reduce poverty, and increase wealth per person.
So why is it a taboo subject ???

Once the government starts a program, it never stops it. No matter how stupid or ineffective the program is. Worse case situation, the program gets renamed. That’s not a Democratic or Republican thing by the way, it’s bipartisan !

Take the Space Shuttle, or the Space Station. Both massive wastes of money. The Space Shuttle has cost billions, and so has the Space Station. Both of them have no apparent purpose. And yet the government continues to fund them, year after year.

Or take the Osprey aircraft, VTOL. Ridiculous aircraft, it has maintenance problems, and unsuitable for use in the desert or anywhere else. But yet the government continues to fund it.

And why? Because they funded it last year !!!

Here is a pretty good video- I actually managed to tie the tie !

Just saw District 9. Pretty good movie! Aliens were not treated well. They also have a very good website…

Reading the morning paper. On page 2, a guy kills someone. On page 3, a guy saves someone’s life.

Why do we support corrupt politicians in Iraq and Afghanistan with American blood/treasure?
At least they should have fair elections. Maybe the US should run the elections.
The corruption of these leaders is giving them billions in US money to line their pockets.

All those Republicans railing against government spending? Guess what. They are VERY CONCERNED about cuts in NASA’s manned space program. I guess they really support science. Either that or…NASA provides tens of thousands of high-paying jobs.
As usual, we are very opposed to pork, except when it is in our district.

Seems like Eliot Spitzer is everywhere. He is happy to criticize everyone. He can criticize Obama, or Andrew Cuomo. He likes to get quoted in the New York Times, or on Charlie Rose, or on Bill Maher show.
I guess you could look at Spitzer as the crusading NY Attorney, and the great Governor, who got brought down by a tawdry sex scandal. But if you look at the Spitzer record, I think he was not a great politician. He has such an abrasive personality that no one could deal with him. As Governor, he used his resources to go after political opponents.
So I’m happy that Spitzer has a second career as a commentator. But I am not taking his critiques too seriously.

I’ve been something of a fan of Pennsylvania state Senator Jane Orie. Although she is a Republican (not my cup of tea), I think she has been pretty fair and independent.
I was disappointed when she was recently indicted for using state workers for campaigning. I looked at the charges and to me they seemed quite inflated. The Attorney hit her with 10 felony charges. Imagine that- 10 felony charges ! You can commit pretty serious crimes and not get 10 felony charges. So I thought that it seemed vastly excessive. The allegations against her are that she used state workers, but if you read it carefully, it is not that bad. Others in PA have done much worse.

Furthermore, the Attorney, Zappala, was accused by Orie previously of being corrupt. He has ruled on gaming issues in PA when his family is heavily involved in the gaming business. So this case against Orie appears like payback for her accusations of corruption against him. So who is investigating Zappala for corruption. That’s right, nobody.

So I am leaning towards supporting Senator Orie in this matter. It really makes me mad when prosecutors overreach because basically they can destroy someone’s entire life, without any repercussions.