Safe State vs. Swing State

Sometimes I’m annoyed that I live in a safe state, because my vote counts for less and politicians don’t pander to me. And as much as I dislike pandering in general, you know I’d love to be pandered to as much as the next guy.

And then I see really horrible ads like this one, about how liberals take godless money:

What a reminder how lucky I am to be in a place where everyone pretty much agrees on most of the basics, and it’s a matter of policy and extent and whether someone has actually taken cash bribes or not.

I’m Surprised the Dollar is Regarded as Safe

Currencies Fall as Fears Spread and Stocks Slip, says the Times. “Cash flowed into the dollar and the Japanese yen, the two most sought-after safe havens in a storm-tossed world, as it fled from emerging markets.” Really? The dollar? The US dollar? Isn’t that where this whole mess started? Wouldn’t the panicky money go to the Euro and the Swiss Franc?

The Official Aaron Weber Voting Guide

I know you care deeply about how I plan to vote, so here’s my guide to voting in the Somerville area:

Elected officials: I am on the record as being in favor of elected officials. I’m voting a straight Democratic ticket, despite the fact that Bob Underwood, the Quixotic Party candidate to unseat John Kerry, has a cute walrusy mustache and is a member of a Jewish gun club.

Ballot measures:

Question 1: Abolish the income tax?
Probably a bad idea, but I doubt it makes much difference. If we ditch the income tax, we’ll have an increase in sales and property taxes, and it’ll come out about the same.

Question 2: Decriminalize marijuana?
You know, if we legalized and taxed it, instead of just leaving it in a gray area, we really could cut the income tax.

Question 3: Abolish dog tracks?
Just think of them as little horses!

What Your BMW Says About You

The automobile is the American technological sublime. The car you drive – especially if you’re wealthy enough to have a significant choice in the matter – lets you tell the world something about yourself.

Here is my handy field-guide to recognizing what BMW drivers are saying about themselves:

  • 318i convertible with Red Sox bumper sticker, stuck in traffic on Storrow: I’m fun and probably available, but mostly interested in myself.
  • M3: I love sports cars and money.
  • 5 series: I am very successful.
  • 745li parked in a no stopping zone in front of a fire house on Cambridge St. during rush hour: I’m an ass.

Wall Street Journal Watch: Civil Rights Warning

The Wall Street Journal once again takes a brave stance on the possibility of a Democratic-party majority in Congress. They warn that the last time we had such a majority, we got horrible disasters like social security, civil rights, freedom of speech, and other liberal threats to the fabric of America as Rupert Murdoch has come to love it.

What ever shall we do?