A Few Headlines of Interest

A few headlines I've observed and some comments on them...

 

Questions linger over secrets on laptops

By BRIAN BERGSTEIN, AP Technology Writer
Sat Jul 8, 11:25 PM ET

 

BOSTON - Every month seems to bring another episode of sensitive personal information escaping into the wild because a corporate or government laptop computer is lost or stolen. A common response is a lot of hand-wringing over how the data should have been encrypted.

 

Have you ever thought that we'd be far better off without their help? How many times do we need to be subjected to their blatant incompetence before we tell them enough? At some point, we may even be led to think they're doing it intentionally so we'll demand those spy-chip things to protect us from our government's constant mishandling of our personal information. (Tin-foil-hat time!)

 

Lawmaker questions Bush intel programs

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
Sun Jul 9, 10:46 AM ET

 

WASHINGTON - The White House possibly broke the law by keeping intelligence activities a secret from the lawmakers responsible for overseeing them, the House Intelligence Committee chairman said Sunday.

 

The chairman may question it, but that's as far as it will go. Americans need to wake up to the fact that the Congress has been castrated by party loyalties. The rule of law and accountability have been relegated to the dustbin. Every once in awhile, a congressman may spout off about the corruption, but other party-goers are quick to re-sedate him into submission. People, the system is broken.

Congress faces long list of unfinished tasks

By Donna Smith
Sun Jul 9, 10:22 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers returning from a weeklong break on Monday will take up a long list of unfinished -- and possibly insurmountable -- tasks that could help decide whether voters will re-elect them in November.

 

Of the stated list of tasks, it would be nice of lawmakers would actually stick to tasks that are within their constitutional responsibilities. Unfortunately for taxpayers, this is simply impossible for congress-critters to do--especially in an election year.

Airlines pressure Congress over pension bill

By John Crawley
Sun Jul 9, 10:55 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bankrupt U.S. carriers Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines have stepped up pressure on Congress to finish pension legislation that would give them more time to fund plans that are billions of dollars in the red and in danger of termination.

 

Don't be surprised if the airlines ask the government to relieve them of their pension responsibilities. In other words, the U.S. taxpayer will be forced to cover the retirement obligations of the airlines to it's retirees. Why not add this sum to the social security obligations we now face--and can't pay for? Hell, we're so far in debt, what's another few billion dollars?

 

Oh, in case you're keeping score, if our elected officials would just follow the rules set down in the Constitution, none of these headlines would be necessary...

 

But where's the fun in that?