Saturday, April 24, 2010

Illegals/Payrolls/Fung Wah/SCOTUS

Interesting article in The Herald last week as 400 took the oath of allegiance to the United States. What a novel idea actually becoming a citizen instead of an illegal. The newly minted citizens represented quite a collection from Turkey, Albania, Gabon, Viet Nam, Mexico, assorted European and South American countries. Over thirty countries represented. A few were even dressed in their military fatigues since they now serve in the military so it can actually be done - coming into our country and playing by the rules.

Welcome back to CHB, Hal.

Americans are now giving higher marks to American cars rather than Asian and European.

Recent article showed - using Department of Labor statistics - that the public sector jobs are worth 39% more than the dreaded private sector. Big differences is in health care and pensions.

A federally funded institute to honor Ted Kennedy now has a price tag of $68,000,000. More waste. This is the type of government BS that just legitimizes the Tea Party.

Going to New York City this weekend but will avoid the Fung Wah bus in favor of Peter Pan. I really don’t care for NYC as I consider it too expensive and overrated. I’ll take Chicago, San Francisco or Seattle any day. However my wife - The Lovely Cynthia - loves the city and the theater so off I go.

I see some rugs lying out on my street that were victims of cellar flooding. Naturally our over price trash pick-up does not take them so folks will have to go to the landfill (AKA - Dump) and pay a premium price to get rid of them. According to the TM the logistics of such an endeavor would be difficult since many would take advantage of the opportunity to clean out their basements. I’d still like to see at least one pick-up a year dedicated to just that.

For you true baseball fans Jeffery Todd Bailey is now with Reno in the PCL.

Companies are now starting to take some losses thanks to heath care costs. Lockheed-Martin lowered its projections by 15 cents per share because of the elimination of a tax deduction for Medicare-related expenses.

A SCOTUS decision of about 5 years back allows eminent domain to be exercised for private development if it is for the greater good. This is happening in New York state where a town is in the process of confiscating four private businesses so that a developer can build a hotel and sundry attachments that would dramatically increase the tax rolls. I watched an interview with some of the victims in this farce and they were average folks who risked their capital and took a big chance. Now they are screwed. They’ll get a “fair price” but they don’t want that. This is why the second amendment has a purpose.

A mine disaster and a similar one on an oil rig has taken many lives as the search for fuels go on and on. I am wondering has anyone died in a U.S. nuclear facility? Aboard a nuclear powered ship?

7 comments:

Wally Glendye said...

I haven't posted much because of what's going on in my home but i want to go back to your thread alst week Bogo in regards to Gambling.
In the intergovernmental agreement there is a way out for the Tribe:

D. Independent Covenants; Severability.
The existence of any claim or cause of action of any party to this
Agreement (“First Party”) against the other party (“Second Party”), whether predicated
on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the
Second Party of the covenants and agreements of the First Party contained in this
Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, or
unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the term hereof, or by a
decision of the United States Secretary of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs or agency
charged with review of Agreements entered into with Indian Tribes, such provision shall
be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal,
invalid, or unenforceable provision never comprised a part of this Agreement; and the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not
be affected by the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision or by its severance
herefrom. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision, there
shall be added automatically as part of this Agreement, a provision as similar in its terms
to such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid,
and enforceable.

Wally Glendye said...

More info:

L. Effective Date and Term.
This Agreement shall become effective upon its execution by the Parties
hereto and shall continue during the period of time that business operations related to the
Project are conducted at the Project Site, provided that if the Tribe is informed by the
Secretary of the Interior that the United States will not take the land into trust for the
purposes of allowing the Tribe to conduct gaming activities thereon then this Agreement
shall terminate 30 days after all appeals related to such a decision have been exhausted.

M. Termination.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, this Agreement
shall terminate in the event the Project permanently ceases to offer all commercial
gaming (including Class II and Class III) to the public, provided however, that the
obligation to make payment of any payment pursuant to the final calendar quarter of
Gaming Facility operations survives, along with the dispute resolution and waiver of
sovereign immunity provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.

bogofree said...

Wally

Thank you for the detail. My head does a little spin when I read this stuff. I have no idea what the eventual outcome will be but I have a difficult time accepting the fact the current administration in Washington would be willing to accept the potential PR fallout that could be viewed as "anti-Indian." Our own local agreement just confuses me but that is an exceptionally easy thing to do.

I was in NYC for a few days and was talking to some folks who visit the Cape each year. They wanted to know when Massachusetts is getting a casino so they don't have to stop off at Foxwoods for a night of gaming and relaxation. They were under the assumption that one was to be built "right off I-495" and by "An Indian tribe." I filled them in on the details as much as I could. They had no interest in a Racino but wanted a facility like they would get in Atlantic City or Connecticut. They found it "silly" that we have such a burgeoning lottery and no casinos.

I saw the recent poll which is along my lines on gaming. Support it but also NIMBY it.

How is the home doing? Is it now a houseboat?

Wally Glendye said...

The House is a mess with mold growing everywhere.

Obama has surround himself with many Native Americans in key positions so all hope is not lost. I am a supporter of the Resort style Casino and the Restaurants and Entertainment they bring in. Slots at the Track is going to be nothing more than the same people who used to bet on the Dogs.

Family Guy said...

You certainly have my sympathy, Wally, on the mold situation. I had some on a wall due to an exterior leak and it required me to remove a section of the wall and supports to get at it. The cost was not that much since I provided the labor but I can't imagine the difficulties in removing it from several rooms.

I would love the idea of a resort casino either in Middleboro or elsewhere in the state. The issue is job creation and revenue. I can understand the negatives involved but a figure that I see tossed around constantly by anti's is that for every tax dollar we bring in we lose three on negative impacts. My assumption is this is another pull the numbers out of a hat or use a report they find comfort with.

Wally Glendye said...

It looks like a complete gut downstairs. I poked some holes in the drywall and the water wicked up to about four feet. The vapor barrier worked and the insulation behind it is dry except for where the water table was at the bottom of the wall. I'm calling for a Dumpster today. The saddest part is that all of my sports memorabilia has to be packed up.

bogofree said...

Sounds like a project. Maybe you can claim you are an illegal and Obama can pick up the tab?

Never collected and sports stuff except memories.