Questionable Action.

I find it astounding that in an economic situation like this we can have our leader seriously considering action like this. It’s like whining about your basement being flooded when you refused to help plug the holes in the levee down the street. This is not a partisan attack, this is literal fact: higher regulation costs buisnesses money. Some regulation is neccessary in order to acheive a system that benefits its participants, but in a global economic environment that is three steps and a cough away from outright collapse, this just seems foolhearty.

There is also the issue about this legislation coming down on auto companies. As if Detroit wasn’t having enough troubles–they can’t even capitalize their own companies. So who thinks they have the capital to start the R&D and retro-fitting neccessary to produce automobiles that meet these requirements?

I have to point out how much this makes me feel like as a nation we haven’t learned a single thing about the past.

Before this ends I have to point out I am not an isolated idealouge.  It is here I sit and share with you the wisdom of Paul Krugman, a brilliant economist, progressive New Dealer and Nobel Prize winner. No one set of policies can single-handedly solve the problems in our system–no one system is right or wrong. There is a reason why very intelligent people can be on two sides of an argument.

Here I am. 75 feet and a battalion of armed guards away from the convention floor (8/31)

12:00–Bed is sounding good right about now.

11:14–The Xcel is mostly dead now, not many reporters remain. News is slow to come from the higher-ups as to the change in the convention schedlue for the next few days. Now I have to figure out how to get back home. I’ll be sure to provide pictures and perhaps a few interviews tommorow.

9:47–Almost to spite my last update, a photographer with a very foreign accent just noted to me as he passed by how beautful Minneapolis was. Luckily for all parties involved he passed by before I could respond.

9:44–If I read one more article saying the Republican National Convention is being held in Minneapolis, I am going to completely loose control of my temper.

8:11–Security is a little bit oppressive, obviously due to the threat of protesters. There are multiple layers to get to any one point through any of the three entrances. Most of it is similar to airport security, but with little platoons of soldiers manning each gate. I’m tempted to say it is a bit comical, but we live in a very unusual age where the margin of error is measured in lives. So we have soldiers.

8:09–Things are still very slow. Most of the basement of the RiverCenter where I am located is empty. The few remaining reporters are busy trading company pins (more on my collection later). I plan to bring my camera tommorow to share a more comprehensive view of the event from my perspective. Unfortunately, my credentials only let me in the first ring of security–I won’t be seeing the convention floor unless something very unusual happens.

6:57–No Bush or Cheney for the convention. The convention hasn’t started and it is already loosing steam. Most of the reporters won’t stick around tonight, and the entire photography department has left.

6:54–Gas masks are delivered to the AP workspace near the AP workspace. I have no idea why or who they are for. Evidently they have items like this staged around the entire convention, for no purpose other than to be prepared.

5:12–Our duties as office assistants for the AP will range from taking out the garbage to stocking supplies to tracking down individuals and answering the phones. Should be an interesting night.

4:37–I finally got my credentials. It is now time to pass through the iron gates, metal detector, armed guards, secret service, attack dogs, and soldiers. I am no longer considered a threat to national security.

4:13–The bus schedule has been turned completely upside down. The 16, which should all but drop me off in front of the Xcel, no longer serves an entire half of downtown St. Paul. So I arrive late. Luckily for me, EVERYONE is showing up late.