Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Happy Birthday, Simpson Family!
The longest running American sitcom and cartoon turns 19 today. The Simpsons entered syndication on December 17, 1989 after appearing on the Tracy Ullman Show. There have been over 400 episodes and the animated sitcom has served as inspiration for numerous other shows. As a kid who wasn't allowed to watch early episodes of The Simpsons, I appreciated it more than others as a teenager. As an adult, I still laugh at the wit displayed in this cartoon. So take 30 minutes, kick back and watch an episode of the Simpsons today.
Sorry Jill, Sorry Phil, These Seats are Taken.
Last week I wrote a post about the three Hoosiers who were being considered for cabinet-level posts in the Obama Administration. Since then, two of those people were moved off the list.
Former Congressman Phil Sharp was passed over for Energy Secretary when President-elect Barack Obama chose Dr. Steven Chu to be his Secretary of Energy. From Reuters:
Likewise, former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson missed out on becoming the next leader of the USDA, with Obama picking former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for that role. Vilsack is something of a surprise considering he told the media he wasn't being considered for "any position" in an Obama government. Sustainable and Organic Agriculture groups oppose the Vilsack nomination because they believe he is too close to the biotech industry and Big Agra. From Reuters:
Just to share some interesting trivia, Henry Wallace was not only Roosevelt's USDA chief, but also his Vice President from 1941-1945. Wallace didn't play well with other members of the Roosevelt cabinet, and in the 1944 campaign he was removed from the ticket and replaced by Harry Truman, whom Wallace would run against as the Progressive Party's candidate for president in 1948. I doubt Tom Vilsack will repeat that history.
Long Thompson and Sharp may still find positions within USDA and Energy, but former Congressman Tim Roemer is now the only Hoosier likely to get a cabinet-level post. My money is still on the Director of National Intelligence spot. What say you?
Former Congressman Phil Sharp was passed over for Energy Secretary when President-elect Barack Obama chose Dr. Steven Chu to be his Secretary of Energy. From Reuters:
(Dr.) Chu is director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and shared the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics. He was an early advocate for scientific solutions to climate change.
Likewise, former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson missed out on becoming the next leader of the USDA, with Obama picking former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for that role. Vilsack is something of a surprise considering he told the media he wasn't being considered for "any position" in an Obama government. Sustainable and Organic Agriculture groups oppose the Vilsack nomination because they believe he is too close to the biotech industry and Big Agra. From Reuters:
If confirmed by the Senate, Vilsack, 58, would be the first Iowan to lead the Agriculture Department since Henry Wallace during the Depression era. Wallace, an editor, economist and developer of hybrid corn, had a seminal role in the creation of the U.S. farm support system still in use.
Just to share some interesting trivia, Henry Wallace was not only Roosevelt's USDA chief, but also his Vice President from 1941-1945. Wallace didn't play well with other members of the Roosevelt cabinet, and in the 1944 campaign he was removed from the ticket and replaced by Harry Truman, whom Wallace would run against as the Progressive Party's candidate for president in 1948. I doubt Tom Vilsack will repeat that history.
Long Thompson and Sharp may still find positions within USDA and Energy, but former Congressman Tim Roemer is now the only Hoosier likely to get a cabinet-level post. My money is still on the Director of National Intelligence spot. What say you?
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Indianapolis Buys Japanese Car Fleet
Most of us have heard by now of Mayor Ballard's decision to buy a fleet of vehicles from a Japanese company instead of an American one.
Penske Chevrolet is clearly upset with the decision because they lost the sale. Andy Mohr's Toyota dealership is very happy with the decision. Labor leaders like Bill Matthews are siding with Penske.
The purchase couldn't have come at a worse time for the American car industry. The Big 3 are in Washington begging for a bailout and there are millions of jobs on the line. GM and Chrysler have warned that they don't have enough cash to operate through the end of the year. Ford isn't in much better shape.
Indiana is particularly vulnerable to a collapse of the domestic auto industry. Too many people think of the industry in terms of where the car is assembled, which is mostly in Michigan. But Indiana has the 5th highest number of workers of workers dedicated to car/parts manufacturing. People like John Lancaster and his employees:
And if taxpayers don't provide that infusion, it is likely that GM will go under, and all the jobs associated with it will disappear. Tens of thousands more Hoosiers will join the unemployment lines, and Mitch Daniels will regret getting reelected.
Which brings us back to Ballard's folly. Parts for the Chevy Malibu are built in Indianapolis and in surrounding cities. Ballard had an obligation not just to save a few theoretical pennies on fuel economy, but to support local jobs.
I know there can be a realistic discussion of what constitutes "American" these days. Under NAFTA, we have GM cars whose parts are made in Mexico and assembled in Canada, and they classify as an American car. Toyotas parts are made in the US and assembled in the US for the most part (Ballard's Camrys are built in Kentucky), and they are still called foreign.
But I think that debate is one for another day, when a large and important employer in our state is not on the brink of disaster.
Mayor Greg Ballard's administration bought 85 hybrid Camry sedans for $25,770 each to use as unmarked nonpursuit police cars for detectives and administrators, The Star reported Thursday, noting Penske Chevrolet protested when the city refused lower-priced Chevrolet Malibu hybrids.
Penske Chevrolet is clearly upset with the decision because they lost the sale. Andy Mohr's Toyota dealership is very happy with the decision. Labor leaders like Bill Matthews are siding with Penske.
"We're going to have layoffs before Christmas because sales of the Malibu have gone down," said Bill Matthews, bargaining chairman of United Auto Workers Local 23. "The mayor overpaid for the Camrys and should have bought Malibus to support workers in Indianapolis, but he chose not to do it.''
The purchase couldn't have come at a worse time for the American car industry. The Big 3 are in Washington begging for a bailout and there are millions of jobs on the line. GM and Chrysler have warned that they don't have enough cash to operate through the end of the year. Ford isn't in much better shape.
Indiana is particularly vulnerable to a collapse of the domestic auto industry. Too many people think of the industry in terms of where the car is assembled, which is mostly in Michigan. But Indiana has the 5th highest number of workers of workers dedicated to car/parts manufacturing. People like John Lancaster and his employees:
"People don't realize the importance of our industry," said Lancaster, a metallurgical engineer who heads the General Motors aluminum foundry in Bedford, about 25 miles south of Bloomington.
Lancaster said GM Bedford employed about 1,500 workers two decades ago. Today, the 517 workers in the Southern Indiana plant pour 700,000 pounds of aluminum a day, creating 11,000 transmission casings for almost every GM vehicle made in North America.
Reforms over the years have streamlined operations in the 1 million-square-foot plant.
What GM Bedford now needs is what GM needs, Lancaster said -- cash.
His plant is completing the first year of a $114 million, multi-year modernization that is part of GM's move to fuel-efficient six-speed transmissions.
"We've had to slow down all that spending," Lancaster said.
If taxpayers provide an infusion, he counts on getting the cash for the next round of equipment.
And if taxpayers don't provide that infusion, it is likely that GM will go under, and all the jobs associated with it will disappear. Tens of thousands more Hoosiers will join the unemployment lines, and Mitch Daniels will regret getting reelected.
Which brings us back to Ballard's folly. Parts for the Chevy Malibu are built in Indianapolis and in surrounding cities. Ballard had an obligation not just to save a few theoretical pennies on fuel economy, but to support local jobs.
I know there can be a realistic discussion of what constitutes "American" these days. Under NAFTA, we have GM cars whose parts are made in Mexico and assembled in Canada, and they classify as an American car. Toyotas parts are made in the US and assembled in the US for the most part (Ballard's Camrys are built in Kentucky), and they are still called foreign.
But I think that debate is one for another day, when a large and important employer in our state is not on the brink of disaster.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Three Hoosiers on Obama's Cabinet Short-List
According to multiple sources, there are three former members of Congress from Indiana still under consideration for cabinet-level jobs in the Obama Administration. One of them is very likely to get a post, while the other two are longer shots.
Of the three, I think Roemer is the most likely appointment. He was a strong surrogate for Obama in the primaries and was even mentioned as a possible running mate. He served on the 9/11 Commission and essentially helped create today's intelligence infrastructure. I think it's much more likely that he would get the DNI job over CIA, as the latter will likely be filled by a career spy.
Phil Sharp is a brilliant guy, pro-science and an expert on energy matters. I don't think it will be him, but at the same time I wouldn't be to surprised.
I think Jill Long Thompson would do a fine job, but I think she is least likely among the three to get an appointment. It is very possible that she will be the number 2 or 3 in the department.
What say you?
Jill Long Thompson, the former Congresswoman from Northeastern Indiana and 2008 Indiana gubernatorial candidate. She has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Agriculture Secretary.
Phil Sharp, the former 10-term Congressman from the Muncie area. Sharp made energy a focus during his years and has since worked on energy issues at Resources for the Future.
Former Congressman Tim Roemer from northern Indiana has been mentioned as potential CIA chief or Director of National Intelligence. He was one of Obama's national security advisers throughout the campaign.
Of the three, I think Roemer is the most likely appointment. He was a strong surrogate for Obama in the primaries and was even mentioned as a possible running mate. He served on the 9/11 Commission and essentially helped create today's intelligence infrastructure. I think it's much more likely that he would get the DNI job over CIA, as the latter will likely be filled by a career spy.
Phil Sharp is a brilliant guy, pro-science and an expert on energy matters. I don't think it will be him, but at the same time I wouldn't be to surprised.
I think Jill Long Thompson would do a fine job, but I think she is least likely among the three to get an appointment. It is very possible that she will be the number 2 or 3 in the department.
What say you?
Message to Pat and Mitch: (Finally) End Prohibition!
The good folks at WISH TV remind us that today marks the 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. They also remind us that the remnants of Prohibition are still alive and well in Indiana:
If you asked any Hoosier who supported the ban on Sunday sales in the 1960's why they supported it, the reason would likely be because of religious reasons. Today, though, it has a lot more to do with profit and politics. Case in point, the response from the package liquor store lobby.
My hunch is that the IABR probably opposes allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell alcohol in any form on any day, preferring a monopoly on liquor sales. A few weeks ago one of the package liquor store owners from Indianapolis said repealing the ban on Sunday sales would give grocery and convenience chains an "unfair advantage" because it wouldn't be financially worth it for package stores to be open on Sundays.
I would like to point out that an unfair advantage would be lawmakers saying grocery and convenience chains can sell alcohol on Sundays but package stores can't. Allowing everyone to sell the same products on the same days simply levels the playing field. If the package stores don't want to open their doors on Sunday, they are free to stay closed. It is highly unlikely they will lose money by staying closed on a day they never did business on anyway.
A big reason for lifting the ban on Sunday sales is consistency. I know, politicians are terrible with consistency. I simply can't comprehend how it's okay for me to go to a bar, restaurant or sporting event and get trashed in public but not okay to buy a bottle of wine to have with Sunday dinner. Not only is it more consistent to not restrict store sales on Sunday, it may help with public safety. There would potentially be fewer drunk drivers who went to the bars instead of drinking at home, fewer public intoxication arrests, etc.
There is a group out there fighting for a repeal on the ban. Hoosiers for Beverage Choices also provides some interesting facts on their website. Among those:
The last point I think is a strong one, especially in tough economic times as tax revenues fall below projections. Almost everyone I know who has lived near one of our neighboring states has participated in a 'Sunday Beer Run.' That's money leaving our state.
I strongly encourage anyone interested in consumer choice to contact your state legislative leaders and express your position. Also, send an email to Governor Daniels. While you're at it, join the Hoosiers for Beverage Choices email list for updates and sign their online petition.
From 1920 until 1933, prohibition kept Hoosiers and others throughout the nation from making or buying most alcohol. When prohibition ended states were allowed to enact their own alcohol laws.
"We're talking about, frankly, ancient history," said Grant Monahan, Indiana Retail Council.
Monahan and the Indiana Retail Council don't like the fact that Indiana law now prohibits drug, grocery and convenience stores from selling alcohol on Sundays.
If you asked any Hoosier who supported the ban on Sunday sales in the 1960's why they supported it, the reason would likely be because of religious reasons. Today, though, it has a lot more to do with profit and politics. Case in point, the response from the package liquor store lobby.
"This is just the latest proposal from the grocery, drug and gas station lobby to deregulate the sale of alcohol in our state to increase their profits. That's what it's all about," said John Livengood, Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers.
My hunch is that the IABR probably opposes allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell alcohol in any form on any day, preferring a monopoly on liquor sales. A few weeks ago one of the package liquor store owners from Indianapolis said repealing the ban on Sunday sales would give grocery and convenience chains an "unfair advantage" because it wouldn't be financially worth it for package stores to be open on Sundays.
I would like to point out that an unfair advantage would be lawmakers saying grocery and convenience chains can sell alcohol on Sundays but package stores can't. Allowing everyone to sell the same products on the same days simply levels the playing field. If the package stores don't want to open their doors on Sunday, they are free to stay closed. It is highly unlikely they will lose money by staying closed on a day they never did business on anyway.
A big reason for lifting the ban on Sunday sales is consistency. I know, politicians are terrible with consistency. I simply can't comprehend how it's okay for me to go to a bar, restaurant or sporting event and get trashed in public but not okay to buy a bottle of wine to have with Sunday dinner. Not only is it more consistent to not restrict store sales on Sunday, it may help with public safety. There would potentially be fewer drunk drivers who went to the bars instead of drinking at home, fewer public intoxication arrests, etc.
There is a group out there fighting for a repeal on the ban. Hoosiers for Beverage Choices also provides some interesting facts on their website. Among those:
- Indiana is one of only three states that prohibits retailers from selling alcohol on Sunday yet allows restaurants, taverns and numerous sports and community events to sell alcohol by the drink on Sunday.
- Indiana is one of only fifteen states that completely prohibits the carry-out sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays.
- Indiana loses tax revenue when Hoosiers that live in bordering communities travel to our neighboring states to purchase alcohol on Sunday.
The last point I think is a strong one, especially in tough economic times as tax revenues fall below projections. Almost everyone I know who has lived near one of our neighboring states has participated in a 'Sunday Beer Run.' That's money leaving our state.
I strongly encourage anyone interested in consumer choice to contact your state legislative leaders and express your position. Also, send an email to Governor Daniels. While you're at it, join the Hoosiers for Beverage Choices email list for updates and sign their online petition.
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