2012 U.S. Presidential Election Results

 “A government policy to rob Peter to pay Paul can be assured of the support of Paul.” -George Bernard Shaw

Well, the election did not go as center-right pundits, including myself, predicted; frankly, it was a repudiation of common sense. Indicative of the country's entrenched ideological divide, 26 states (plus the District of Columbia) went Obama and 24 states went Romney. Consequently, the electorate chose dependency over individualism, while expecting different results from the same failed policies of the past four years. What it means is more debt, more unemployment and more entitlements over the next four years that will permanently toss the nation over the fiscal cliff a generation from now, if not sooner.

(Source:  270ToWin)

Not since President Franklin Roosevelt has an incumbent been re-elected with such a dismal economic outlook; only with the onset of World War Two that re-energized the might of free-market capitalism – rather than any prior fiscal policies enacted by Roosevelt’s administration – did the nation recover. If the United States continues on a similar path today, it is the end of American exceptionalism in favor of European collectivism – from the Greatest Generation that stoically fought against socialism to the Welfare Generation blindly embracing it.

(Source:  ThePeoplesCube)

English historian, Edward Gibbon, wrote of the fall of the Roman Empire, that “the decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight.” Let us pray that history is not ripe to repeat.

 

©Steve Sagarra 2012

2012 U.S. Presidential Election Prediction

The polls open in twenty-four hours, and it's time for a little prognostication. As many pundits see it, there are nine states - Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia and Florida - and 125 electoral votes in play to decide the election. My prediction is Republican-nominee Mitt Romney wins Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and Florida, while President Barack Obama wins Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. As they say, the election is more Obama's to lose than it is Romney's to win.

In Wisconsin, Republicans withstood a bitterly contested recall election, and the vice-presidential nominee, Paul Ryan, is poised to deliver the state for his party. In Michigan, where Romney's late father, George Romney, was a respected auto industry executive and former governor, millions of auto workers, though unionized, look to re-ignite an American auto industry still in decline. Although traditionally Democratic strongholds, Pennsylvania's coal industry has seen reductions in production thanks to the current administration's energy policies, while a Romney-governed Massachusetts implemented a healthcare system - however one cares to consider it good or bad - without burdening taxpayers or the state. As governor, he also was able to pass a budget that curtailed the state's deficit, and voters could favor him as president given that record.

In my opinion, this is how the electoral map will shape up:

(Source:  270ToWin) 

©Steve Sagarra 2012

What's The Number For 911?

A week ago, I had an “incident” with my truck as I headed out to watch the St. Louis Cardinals try to clinch Game 5 of the National League Championship Series – which in itself became a disaster. Chiefly, the engine caught fire. In most situations, I am typically calm and collected when it comes to assessing a situation and implementing a plan of action. While I feel I maintained that nature this time as well, it still scared the ever livin’ out of me. Anxiously stunned as I quickly exited my truck to a safe distance, I also had a momentary lapse for the number to dial – ingrained since childhood – in case of emergency.

Once I managed to recall it, this is how it basically went down:

911 Operator:  911. What’s the emergency?
Me:  MY TRUCK IS ON FIRE!!!
911 Operator:  Okay sir, what is the address?
Me:  UM…UM…OLIVE AND MASON. BY THE WALGREENS. DAMN, MY TRUCK IS ON FIRE!!!
911 Operator [barely audible, speaking to another person]: Let’s see, that’s this district. Isn’t it?
911 Operator:  Okay sir, I’m going to connect you.
Me:  OKAY. HURRY. MY TRUCK IS ON FIRE!!!

Okay, so maybe not completely calm. Don’t know why I was screaming into my phone. I’m certain the emergency operator could hear me fine, and there was very little background noise around me. Other than its initial and unremitting declaration, the fire – likely electrical in nature – otherwise was silent on the matter.

Photo Credit:  "Bystander" with camera phone

First on the scene were two Creve Coeur police officers, who promptly blocked off the street. Fortunately, I was still on a side street of the intersection rather then the main one, thus mitigating traffic problems. There were still the occasional idiots who failed to comprehend two police cars, a fire truck – all with their lights flashing – and a truck on fire.

Police Officer:  You’re the owner?
Me:  Yes, yes I am.
Police Officer:  And what happened?
Me:  Was just pulling up to the intersection, truck stalled and then flames and smoke started billowing out from under the hood. I immediately jumped out, called 911.
Police Officer:  And was anyone else in the vehicle?
Me:  No, just me.
Police Officer [noting my Bob Gibson jersey]:  You weren’t headed to the game, were you?
Me:  No, just headed out to watch it.

As we waited and watched the Creve Coeur firefighters arrive, calmly setup and extinguish the fire, all I could do was laugh. I thought about getting some marshmallows from Walgreens, perhaps toast s’mores or something over the impromptu bonfire. Though most items in the passenger compartment were expendable, my thoughts turned to my music CDs. Five years earlier, they had survived a car accident; given the flames, I was less confident they would survive intact this time. They did. (Good luck charm, perhaps?)

Photo Credit:  "Me"

Then came the $143 tow…that went half-a-mile back to my residence. Yep, $143 for half-a-mile. This included the initial tow fee, plus scene cleanup labor – which, in most cases, typically is charged to the municipality – and fuel surcharge totaling $40. No longer laughing, I, like my truck, was now angrily on fire. I considered calling 911 again, this time to report highway robbery. Though the police had kindly called the tow company, I could have called one of my two usual – either D&L Towing or Doc’s Towing – for half or lesser than the price McNamara Towing extorted from me on the spot.

Government entities commonly favor and contract with certain companies, largely thanks to “charitable” (i.e. political) donations to the municipality from them. Yet, it immediately brought to mind the towing and impound scandal involving S&H/Metropolitan Towing and the St. Louis City Police Department a few years ago. Accordingly, I immediately contacted the towing company, the city’s public relations manager and the police chief on the matter. As I figured, none so far have responded to my inquiries.

Guess it’s not that big of an emergency.

©2012 Steve Sagarra