Thoughts On A Sunday

Summer weather has arrived, with temps in the 90's and humidity to match. Deb is loving every minute of it. We spent a few hours out on the lake yesterday afternoon, keeping cool and enjoying the peace and quiet. And I do mean peace and quiet. For a hot Saturday afternoon there were very few boats out on the lake. Normally it would be crowded, with boats queued up to go through the Weirs Channel, there'd be quite a bit of wake-driven chop, and boats would be waiting to get gas at the marinas. None of that was evident yesterday. With gas on the lake anywhere from $4.20 to $4.96 per gallon, I'm not expecting to see a lot of boat traffic this summer. Yesterday proves to me that it's going to be pretty quiet out on the lake.

********

Now that Obama is the nominee-presumptive for the Democrats, I think we'll see that much of the luster of his is going to dull as he starts debating John McCain. Looking at Obama's speeches and debate performances, it quickly becomes apparent he speaks in generalities, never really giving specifics about what he'll do or how he'll do it should he be the one to occupy the White House come next January. McCain, on the other hand, gives specifics on his plans, telling those who will listen exactly how he'll do what he's promised to do, and why. From what little I have heard of Obama's plans, it appears he's going to borrow quite heavily from Lyndon Baines Johnson and his Great Society programs. What makes Obama think failed policies of the past will work any better 40-some years later mystifies me.

********

As much as many Democrats think that Hillary should be Obama's running mate, George Will says that all an Obama/Clinton ticket would do is ensure a McCain victory in November.

********

Thomas Sowell explains in three words why John McCain must become the next President of the United States - Iran's Nuclear Program.

********

It looks like the folks in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, NC have decided to go beyond No Child Left Behind and institute a No Slacker Left Behind policy.

[The] Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district...is considering making 61 the lowest possible grade students could receive -- even if they turn in a blank test.

So even if a slacker decides he/she doesn't want to do any school work they won't have to worry about graduating? I always thought failure was part of learning. Instead Chapel Hill-Carrsboro will make it a goal. Yeah, that will help America maintain its technological and scientific acumen. It sounds like yet another attempt to artificially boost students self-esteem. One thing I've learned about self-esteem is that it is vastly overrated. Education is about learning, succeeding and failing, not about feeling good about yourself. (H/T Maggie's Farm)

********

Yet another Democrat wants to do away with the electoral college. Of course the claim is that the popular vote is being subverted, that only the popular vote should count when it comes to electing a president. But the idea is wrong. The electoral college was the means the Founding Fathers set up to prevent large states from dominating smaller states, Without it, most of the smaller states would forfeit their voices in selecting the president. Only the states with large populations like California, Texas, Florida, and a few others would actually be electing the president. The rest of us might as well stay home because our votes would be drowned out by those from the large states. And that's just what many Democrats want. Their candidates would be able to skip campaigning in the smaller states because only the large states would matter. The small states could safely be ignored. It was for this reason the electoral college was created. Too many people still do not understand that it is not the individual voters that elect the president, but the states that do so. The voters in each state decide which candidate their electors will vote for. It is this that keeps the proverbial tyranny of the majority from holding sway in presidential elections.

********

And that's the news from Lake Winnipesaukee, where summer heat has arrived, as have Canadian tourists, and where we're loving every minute of it.