Weak Tea

The tea party types... well, let's just say they must like it weak. Weak arguments + weak facts + weak reality = weak tea. For all their mindless rhetoric, Americans are actually paying less taxes this year. Cumulatively, some $173 billion less in federal taxes (state taxes went up by $28.6 billion). True, if the debt continues to increase we'll have to cut spending and/or raise taxes... probably some combination of the two. But, for these economic times the combination of tax cuts and spending in the stimulus was the right prescription... although more infrastructure spending putting people to work would have improved the dosage.

Tea party folks have only a weak grasp of reality - for example, they conveniently forget about the cost of Iraq and Afghanistan. To date the wars have cost $983,268,475,000 and counting as I type... up, up, and away. The teabaggers seemingly have no problem with that. That figure doesn't include the costs of keeping troops in Europe, or Japan, or Korea a half century after those conflicts ended. How long will we have troops in Iraq? Afghanistan? Beyond that, defense accounts for over 20% of the federal budget.

About 45% of the federal budget goes to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Now, a fair number of the teabaggers I saw on TV are probably collecting at least two of those three. Do they want to give up their benefits? Or have them reduced? Doubtful... after all, they paid in and expect what they were promised. We do have to make adjustments... for example raising the SS age and the amount of income on which the payroll tax is collected. Even so, their protests are hypocritical. Nothing more, nothing less. Like most Americans, they like government spending when it benefits them and hate it when it benefits you.

If the tea parties are nonpartisan, how come most speakers and many organizers are Republican (not to mention some being racist or threatening violence)? Me thinks they doth protest too much. If ya gotta keep saying you are nonpartisan or bipartisan... you probably aren't.

Well, I've been very busy in the yard and garden, with family things, and counting Americans. No time for tea parties. But, I do enjoy and must have my morning coffee.

Rites (Rights?) of Spring

After a long winter, the recent unseasonable warmth is a welcomed opportunity to repair damage of the past months and to clean up the yard and garden. First on my list were fixing damaged gutters and a leaking porch roof. Both problems showed up during the second snow storm - ice dams and heavy accumulation caused real problems and a mess. Over the past couple weeks the gutters (which were fairly new) have been straightened and reinforced. Snow breaks (snow birds) installed on the upper roof will hopefully prevent a repeat. Yeah, I know, we probably won't have another winter like this for years, but it is fairly cheap insurance. Have a few more breaks to install on a couple porch roofs... then that job is done.

Also repaired and sealed flashing that the sliding ice had peeled up allowing seepage into one wall. Some stains on an exterior wall, but the big damage was inside... again in a recently remodeled half bath. A few water stains, a bit of bubbled plaster, and a couple floor tiles were damaged. These warm days with little chance of rain allowed me to put waterproofing rubber-coat on a flat porch roof that had leaked under the heavy snow causing damage to the tongue and groove ceiling below. After curing, I'll put on a second coat... the five gallons would probably allow even a third.

Saturday was a day of plowing, cleaning up the yard, and readying all the equipment (toys?) of modern yard maintenance. Tiller, mower, and tractor all got oil changes and a general cleaning and lube job. Then my daughter got home with a request to change the oil in her car... glad to oblige as I was already a grease monkey. In between there was the first breaking of the garden soil, some mulching, and mowing of those high, lush areas that always get a jump start on the rest of the yard. I burned small limbs and sticks in our campfire ring, but as always, please be careful whenever burning. Remember state law forbids burning of brush piles, etc. before 4:00 PM. All this yard work is good stuff and good for you!

In between all that, I fixed eastern Carolina-style pulled pork BBQ since the kids would be home for dinner. I have a fine vinegar-based recipe and I've got the process down pat. Smoked on a plank on the grill and finished off in the crock pot so it has that smoke flavor but stays very moist... and doesn't need too much attention in between. With slaw, more sauce, all the sides it was some good eatin'. Only downer were the gnats that attacked at the picnic table. The winds had dropped, plus there are predictions that the wet weather of the past couple months will mean an abundance of mosquitos and other bugs. The little devils were certainly robust on Saturday night.

Sunday was a top down sort of day, so we headed out for a cruise on back roads and a bit of geocaching. Absolutely beautiful... blossoms, first hints of leaves popping out, and folks in their yards working on projects or hanging with friends.

Okay, all those activities aren't so unique... something similar was probably repeated in many Shenandoah Valley homes with weather this nice. But, among the rights of spring is a rebirth of political activity in the area. Staunton and some other cities have May elections. So far not much news coverage, but that should change over the next couple of weeks. I guess separating local elections from state/national elections makes some sense, but at the cost of less attention and low turnout.

At JMU and other colleges, April 5-9 will witness an empty holster protest to highlight their opposition to policies that ban concealed weapons on campuses. That is a singularly bad idea - a combustible mixture of youth, guns, and alcohol in a setting where weapons could more easily fall in the wrong hands. I admire your peaceful protest, but college policies banning guns on campus should not be changed. To do so would endanger more people than it would protect. All this at the same time that budget cuts mean longer waits for the background check required to buy a firearm.

And a thoughtful counterweight to the Tea Parties has emerged and seems to be gaining strength - The Coffee Party USA. With a motto of "Wake Up and Stand Up" the organization is pushing civil conversation and consensus building to address community and national problems. Annabel Park, a founder of the movement, is visiting UVA to assist students who are starting a chapter. Quite a contrast to the yelling, screaming, and racism of many tea party types. We'll have to see if calm and reason can trump shouting and fear.