Bail me out to the ball game (or Free Market Fairy Tale)

Well I gotta say, I'm pretty conflicted about the whole government "rescue" package thing. I feel like a lot of people have these idealistic notions of the free market fairy tale, which are hindering them from thinking practically about the situation. However, I'm not idealistic one of those people. I'm not a huge free-market proponent. The words "free market," to me are synonymous to "laissez-faire" which conjures up images of tenements and sooty children, as well as the ringing four-star names like JP Morgan and Vanderbilt. I basically feel like the government should do its best to help get our economy on track and I have no qualms about how they do it.... as long as they do it intelligently and practically.

Now that we're talking about bailing out the auto industry, I'm starting to have more and more conflicted thoughts, though. Some arguments for helping them out that have resonated with me:
a) helping us will save thousands of jobs
b) America needs an auto industry to compete in the RISING car market, as more people are able to afford cars.
I heard those things and thought "yah ... yah, sounds about right."
But the more I think about it, the more I want to just let the bastards burn. Here's why:
a) I feel bad for the people who are losing their Detroit manufacturing jobs, I really do. But GM's been laying off people for years and no amount of gov't help is going to change that. Hell, Roger and Me came out when? 19fuckin89! Layoffs and outsourcing was already an issue 20 years ago, and somehow the taxpayers are supposed to see some value in this company?

I won't lie. I drive a large Chevy sedan. It was a hand-me-down, though, so don't blame me :P. What GM needs to do is start making cars that people will want to buy, build a better business model, NOT lay off people.

This brings me to point b:
b) I don't know how much allegiance I'm pledging to America and how much I care if it competes in the world car market... but assuming I care or simply taking the stance of "let America do what's in its best interest,".... THEN YES, America does need to have an edge on that market. But you know, I just don't think SUVs and Hummers are that competitive anymore. They did well in the US for a while, but I think people are looking for something more efficient and environmentally friendly. Does anyone have any statistics on that? I'm just assuming SUVs aren't doing so hot cuz... well cuz our car companies are going down!

So what I think is that American car companies need to rethink their business model and FAST, and start making more environmentally friendly and efficient cars. Either that or cheaper, smaller cars. Or both.

Or... we just let GM and the ilk die. If they're not willing to change their evil ways, you know they got to go. Since GM is doing the worst, perhaps they'll die and then the rest will come to their senses? You know, learn from others' mistakes.

But if none of them come to their senses, I think OTHER companies will step in an fill that void. And hopefully buy out the Detroit plants and adapt them for the car of the future. SolarWorld in Germany is attempting one such transaction with GM's German division, Opel Let Tesla Motors take over Detroit. I'm all for that. I hear they're trying to expand into family cars anyhow. Or what's that cheap-ass Indian car? Has anyone considered stealing THAT business model? Or something like it, but a little less horrifying?

Did I just make up my mind while writing this? I think I did!

Calling Motl Brody's Brain

Three years is too short a time for this to be brought up again. I was so ready to forget Terry Schiavo in 05.

Background: Motl Brady was a 12 year old boy who had a horrible brain tumor that ate through him in six months. Last week, he was pronounced dead due to a cessation of brain function. However, his Orthodox Jewish parents disagree with the hospital's definition of death, citing that the Jewish religion defines death as a cessation of ALL organ function, and since life support is making Motl's heart beat and lungs inflate/deflate, he's still alive. Since he is still alive, it is the hospital's duty to continue treating him.

This is tragic, really. No parents should have to live through their children's deaths, especially not a young kid like that, and in such a horrible way. Sigh. My sincerest condolences to the Brody family.

The legal issues here could be considered by the Terry Schiavo precedent, except that Terry wasn't COMPLETELY brain-dead like Motl is, but rather in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). She could perspire on her own and her heart was still beating, which is why it was her feeding tube that was the center of attention. A better legal precedent is that of little Jesse Koochin, who died in 2004: this article details that case. Aside from the parents' motivations, the two cases are very similar.

The Koochins were hoping for a miracle. The Brody family has no such delusions, yet they are at the center of a religious debate. In fact, it's not a tenet of the Jewish faith that death is defined by complete organ failure. Death is defined by the moment when the soul leaves the body, as far as I know. But of course, since the intricacies of the Jewish faith have always been the subject of vigorous debate, why should this be an exception? Why should we let the states decide? Details about the religious debate within Jewish law... It's a pretty interesting read.

Here's the main reason why Motl Brody and Terry Schiavo are different: the implications for the rest of us. The Brody family isn't looking to change any laws, they are just looking for an exception to be made for what they feel is their duty to their son and God. The Schiavo case had pro-life implications that were pretty terrifying. If the life of Terry (a person with a barely functioning brain that would never function properly again) was protected under the law, then what did that say about a fetus with a functioning brain and full potential?

The only thing at stake here is one hospital bed and the time of some nurses. I mean, that's important too, but it's not the end of the world. He won't be alive for five more years like Terry. Eventually his body will stop responding to the drugs. Explain to me why the Brodies can't take Motl back on life support like the Koochins did?

Streets of San Jose (personal outrage)

I was walking Cafe Pomegranate this morning and passed by some dude in the street. He was middle-aged, was wearing sweats and a backwards baseball cap, all of which was oddly offset by a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
He said, "Good morning."
"Good morning," I replied, to be polite.
"You sure are beautiful," he said, which threw me off. I mean, I get BS like that all the time, but somehow I didn't expect it from behind black-rimmed glasses.
"Thank you," I said, looking down.
"Want a ride?" Good god! This man was gaining creepiness points on an exponential scale.
"NO." I said emphatically.
"Are you sure..." he trailed after me, as I rounded the corner, quickening my step.

Good god. Does this ever work? Does any young, attractive female say to a middle-aged man in sweatpants, "Oh sure, I'd love a ride! I sure do hate walking, mister. My, aren't those sexy sweatpants!" Clearly, I've been waiting for him all my life.

*shudder*

A good thing

I just thought I'd mention a thing I'm *not* outraged about: the failure of Prop 4 in California. For those of you who don't know, Prop 4 would've instituted waiting periods and parental notification for minors' abortions.
Anything that increases the chances of self-induced abortions is terrifying to me. Beyond that, you can't legislate trust and good parenting. I mean seriously, if you could legislate good parenting, the issue of teenage pregnancy would be severely reduced anyway.

Anyways, thank you California for not passing Prop 4. Even if it was a slim margin.

Thank god Prop 8 passed

If it had failed, pretty soon all Christian marriages would be dissolved, and all the men and women of California would be forced at gunpoint to marry the newly freed chickens of Fresno County. Bawk bawk, baby!

*eye rolls*

~~~
Seriously, though. Now is the time to look forward to a brighter future. In 2000, Proposition 22 passed 62% to 38%, whereas Proposition 8 passed only 52% to 48%. That's a 20% difference!! In eight years, A LOT of people changed their minds. This is good.

I see what I want to see!!!

It was a beautiful thing when the campus kept erupting in cheers of elation all throughout last night. Strangers were hugging one another, high fiving each other as they passed on the street. "WE DID IT! WE GOT ONE!" I kept hearing. "OBAMMAAAAAAAA"

An image that sticks out in my head was that of one girl standing up on the third platform of our famous statue with her fist raised. Yeah, this one:

Black Power, girl... black power.

I'm not sure if my political affiliations are clear from my previous posts, but I'll just say it: I'm really happy Obama won. Bush has been in power since I was 14! I grew up under that guy. I haven't been happy about election results in 12 years and I don't even remember what that feels like!

But come on, people. Do you really think he'll change that much? I *know* we'll be a lot better off under Obama than we were under Bush. Bush isn't hard to beat! I just can't help but feel cynical that Obama will fix all our problems.

People see what they want to see in their candidate. Bill Maher said on the Daily Show that he doesn't believe Obama is all that religious, but only says he is to garner votes. Alright, Bill. Mr. Maher can't respect a religious person, so he assumes anyone he respects is not religious. I LOVE that kind of logic *eye roll.* My classmates believe that Obama secretly supports gay marriage, even though he says he doesn't. "He couldn't get elected if he says he supports it!" Yes, that's true. It's become even more painfully apparent what even the most liberal states think of gay marriage after last night (WHAT THE FUCK, CALIFORNIA!! GRRRRRR)... but just because you want him to, doesn't mean Obama actually ascribes to your philosophy! (P.S. All this can be said about McCain supporters too.)

And EVERYONE believes that Obama represents Hope with a capital H (capital H for Hussein? heh, ok sorry). That's great. I'm hopeful too. I would absolutely love to be proven wrong and have my cynicism dissipate.

Prop 8 Outrage

I was at a Halloween party the other day (duh, wasn't everyone?), and I overheard a drunken Prop 8 conversation. I always try to break up economics and/or other political discussions at drunken parties. They take up energy uselessly and don't get anything accomplished... oh and they are such a buzzkill.
This one was especially bad, cuz it basically went like this:
"I'm voting yes on prop 8"
"What? But nooo"
"Look, it's the word 'marriage'!"
"...but it's MEAN!"
"But it's the WORD"
"BUT IT'S MEAN!!"
"You're not going to change my mind"
"AAAAAGGHHH!"
Which is when I dragged him away from her and yelled, "FORGET HER!"

It was sad. Sad!
All I can really say is... I just don't see the point of denying people happiness over semantics.

The end.

-The Great Tiny