More housing stuff

There's an interesting article in the Boston Globe about the stimulus bill and the rising anger by those who are not behind on their mortgages (ie the 93%) who are now going to be paying for those who are. Let's start with that, if you listened to the news, you'd think that it was 7% who are up to date and 93% who are not. Seeing the actual numbers is really interesting. There was also a study that showed that the default problem is pretty much concentrated in five states.

There's some fascinating discussions in the column, including a point blank admission by a supporter of the bailout that it's not fair but that something still needs to be done.  That's a position that I don't think is the best, but, hey, bonus points for copping that it sucks for those who are stuck with the bill.

For further discussion, including my being the heartless bitch y'all know and don't actually hate, below. 
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Posted by: alexthechick at 01:52 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Feingold and McCain want to play around with the Constitution again

Hmmm, lemme think about that...

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 03:25 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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DC looks to track your web browsing

Bipartisan FAIL because the Democrats proposed pretty much the same thing a few years ago.  I know what you're thinking, you're thinking, who evokes the Think of The ChildrenTM argument, that'd be Senator Cornyn,

"While the Internet has generated many positive changes in the way we communicate and do business, its limitless nature offers anonymity that has opened the door to criminals looking to harm innocent children," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said at a press conference on Thursday. "Keeping our children safe requires cooperation on the local, state, federal, and family level."

Yeah, and what about privacy?  What safeguards will be put in place to keep individuals with access to that information from abusing it for political or personal ends?  Our medical records are already compromised, will our web browsing be too? 

Undoubtedly, we need to do what we can to keep predators away from kids online, but these sorts of blanket regulations end up doing very little to advance security for those it's meant to provide security for, the potential for abuse of the information gathered is is too great, and the cost is immense.  The money that would be used for the new bureaucracies and databanks for this plan would be better spent on traditional police work and stings. 

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 02:11 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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Gang of Douchbags

Looks like a few Vichy Republicans are getting ready to sell us out again, Specter apparently told Fox News that they're trying to sellout work out a compromise.

Posted by: doubleplusundead at 10:23 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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