What if we aren't be Grouged?

Wouldn't that be a kick in the rubber parts, if the gas companies really aren't raising prices unrealistically and they aren't grouging us at the gas pumps?

Here's some more research -- Please note, the Barrel Prices comes from the Energy Information Administration and the prices for the gallons come from my own record (yes, I'm anal and I keep track of gas prices all the way back to 2002. I'm sure if I looked hard enough, I could find my notebook for before 2002).

Here's what I found:


I tried to use data from around the sametime -- I picked June because that's when gas prices start their rise. Also, this is for gas purchased at stations located between Milwaukee and Racine, WI. Also, I did not adjust any of these numbers for inflation. I don't figure that factors too much in since we're only talking about a four year span.

The PricePerGallon is what I paid on the dates listed. The Barrel amounts are what the price of a barrel was during the same week. Now, the bad part of this is that the gas I'm pumping on 6/3/2002 wasn't created from the barrel purchased at the same time, so the oil companies do make a little more off of the gas then they probably should, but I think it actually works out, as the prices at the pump drop when the price of a barrel drops -- admittedly not as much.

Now, the % raise gas and the % raise Barrel is how much the gallon or barrel went up in price between the dates. You'll notice that the Barrel raised at a higher % than the price of gas in each situation, if the oil companies "kept us even", we would be paying a lot more for gas than we are. That's the PriceRaised column. I took the price of gas and raised it using the % amount that the barrel was raised. According to my figures, on 6/1/2006, when I paid $2.99 a gallon -- I was paying the correct amount. I don't like it, but I think it was correct. (Of course, we could always argue that the price is off to begin with, but I still don't know how much refining costs on a barrel of oil.)

I mean, I would hate to think that their profits really do come from the fact that more gas is sold, but I think what the oil companies are telling us just might be true.

And, isn't that a kick in the rubber parts?

God Bless

Concealed Carry -- the fight is not over!

It comes as no surprise that the Wisconsin Senate voted to overturn the governor's veto on the Concealed Carry bill. Now, on Tuesday, the Assembly will hold their vote.

We need to stop this from being overturned.

First, there is no proof that concealed carry states are safer than non concealed carry states.

Second, I think the villilante shooting last week in Racine is proof that it is way too easy to get a weapon in this state.

Third, the bill still does not allow law enforcement officers, responding to domestic disputes to know that the home has a concealed carry permit holder inside. (If the Republicans want to make the state safer, maybe, they should start with making it safe for the men and women who on a daily basis put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of this state. It is fact that the majority of police killed in the line of duty are killed while responding to domestic disputes.)

Contact your representative, today.

God Bless

Governor Doyle's Letter to Tim Sheehy

I received a copy of a letter that Governor Doyle sent Tim Sheeley. I'm posting it here for you. Yes, I know I've done a lot of cut and paste reports the last couple of days, BUT I want you to be able to read this information for yourselves and not rely on my interpertation. We all get enough of that in the news.

Here's the link to the original letter (in PDF), because my copy below does not have the Governor's formatting:

January 20, 2006

Mr. Timothy R. Sheehy
President
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
756 North Milwaukee Street
Suite 400
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Dear Tim:

Since early last year, I and representatives from my office and my Administration have been discussing changes to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program with you. You personally know of my desire to reach a compromise on this issue because I and my staff have discussed it with you many times. It is unfortunate for the children of Milwaukee that you have decided that, rather than work with me on a solution and a compromise, you would rather engage in divisive tactics and push extreme positions that you know I cannot accept.

Let’s make a few things clear. First of all, I did not impose a participation cap on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. That cap was enacted into state law during the 1990s—under Governor Thompson.

Second, this potential crisis was intentionally precipitated by school voucher lobbyists and Republican legislators. Voucher proponents actively opposed and Republicans defeated a sensible rule put forth by DPI in 2004 that would have protected existing students from having to change schools and allowed currently participating schools to maintain their enrollments. Republicans and voucher supporters did so with the full knowledge that, without this rule, students could be displaced from schools if the enrollment cap was reached. They chose to politicize this issue rather than put the interests of the students first. If you and other voucher advocates had put your effort into honest discussions then we might possibly have solved this issue already.

Clearly, it doesn’t have to be this way.

I am deeply concerned about the potential impact upon children, families, and high-quality private schools that imposing a strict pro-ration of seats could have. I do not support the alternative recently proposed by the Department of Public Instruction, unlike what your dishonest ads imply. That’s why we must continue to work toward a solution that’s best for Milwaukee children and their families.

In November, I outlined a proposal which would lift the cap by 3,000 students—which, after numerous discussions with you, we believed would cover increased school choice enrollments for the next two years. The 3,000 figure is also nearly 1,000 more students than the last Republican-sponsored bill that was sent to my desk. As I have modified my position in the interest of compromise, you and Republican leaders have changed your positions to be more extreme. As you know, despite attempts by both Secretary Marotta and Secretary Bablitch, Speaker Gard has been unwilling to engage in productive discussions that would lead to compromise. Instead, the Republican Legislature has sent me bills that they knew I would veto. These bills lifted the cap but did not address the need for educational accountability or provide support for all Milwaukee students—by helping the remaining 96,000 students who are in Milwaukee Public Schools or reducing class sizes in kindergarten through third grade.

Undoubtedly there are high-quality private schools that participate in the voucher program, but repeated scandals and unexpected school closings have afflicted the program and the students it serves. As you know, individuals need no credentials or expertise to open a voucher school. These schools may employ teachers with no training and only a GED and administrators without a high school or college degree. In 2004, one voucher school was closed because a school principal purchased two Mercedes Benz with tax dollars. This year, DPI has stopped payments to voucher schools because they don’t provide a minimal level of instruction. And a recent Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel investigation uncovered one school serving just two pupils where the education program included field trips to McDonald’s, and another where an administrator described the teaching approach as just “a lot of baby-sitting.”

The needed solution is not as simple as just lifting the cap. That approach does a disservice to Milwaukee students and parents—and to Wisconsin taxpayers.

For the $93 million in state tax dollars that will be spent on private school vouchers this year, taxpayers deserve assurance that students receive at least a minimal level of quality instruction from these voucher schools. If you and your members are confident of the quality of all voucher schools, you should not be afraid of some minimal accountability requirements.

In addition, let’s not lose sight of the fact that lifting the cap carries a price tag for state and Milwaukee taxpayers. For example, adding 3,000 students to the program this school year would cost an additional $19 million—for a total cost of $112 million.

As your members wrote in their letter, “Our businesses depend on local schools for an educated work force.” I couldn’t agree more. That’s one of the many reasons that as Governor I have strongly supported investments in education. That’s also why I am asking for additional help for the children in MPS, not just choice schools. I simply cannot allow the choice program to be expanded at the expense of other public school children in Milwaukee, who under your latest proposal, will see further cuts to their schools. We must help both private and public school children. But that is obviously not the interest of Republican leaders who care more about having a political issue, not helping all the children in Milwaukee.

It is up to us and to your members to nurture a broad vision of high-quality education for every single student in Milwaukee. That is what I am committed to.

I hope we can work to resolve this issue without resorting to further dishonest attacks and high-pressure tactics that are divisive and unproductive.

Sincerely,

Jim Doyle
Governor
cc: MMAC Board Members

The Book of Daniel...

I wasn't sure if I was going to watch "The Book of Daniel". Cheryl and I record so many shows during the week and try to watch them on weekends, so I didn't want to add another show to the mix.

Then, I heard the right-wing Christians are all up in arms about this show. They are very upset that this religious family is protrayed with all their issues showing. (Where have these people been? Most of the right-wing Christians I know are just like everyone else. Meaning that they have their own problems.) Anyway, I figured if the show is getting people this upset, I need to watch it.

So, we recorded it and watched it. It was actually pretty good. A little stretching with the issues, I mean, a closeted gay son, a pot dealing daughter, a drunk wife, a promiscous son and a pill popping priest. No one has this many issues!!!!

Anyway, I like the discussions with Jesus. What's wrong with the American Family Association? They haven't even watched the show. What a bunch of hypocrites! I'll bet if I dug into their backgrounds, I'd find some gay sons, dope dealing daughters and a womanizer for a son.

In fact, I'd stake my life on it.

God Bless.

Economy...

So, the other day, Cheryl and I were discussing the ability to save for retirement. With us getting older everyday, (her more than me-- just kidding) we worry about whether or not we'll have enough to see us through from retirement to death.

Anyway, I mentioned that with savings accounts only getting less than 1% interest, how can a person save? Yeah, I know there's mutual funds and the stockmarket, but how much do you really gain there? And, you only -- with few exceptions -- only make money on them when you sell them. What happens if people slowdown their investing? Or, since she's a baby boomer, which I'm not, if everyone is selling their stock close to the sametime in order to retire, won't stocks drop?

And, have you noticed that since interest rates drop and people invest more into the stock market that the gap between the haves and the have nots is getting bigger?

Anyway, when I was mentioning to Cheryl that I wish interest rates would go up, she nearly jumped my throat. It seems that she remembers the 70's and 80's when interest rates were high and a lot of Americans were out of work. "Let's not go back to that," she said. "You don't know what it was like."

Guess not, but I wish I could get a little better rate for my buck.

God Bless.

Christian Nation

We’re supposed to be a Christian nation and I know I harp on this, but I’m really getting upset.  The Republicans reduce funding for anything that might help a down-on-their-luck citizen and they have passed 2000 pork filled bills in the past four years that benefit the rich and richer.

I want my Christian nation back.


George W. Bush authorized illegal wiretaps on American citizens under the guise of security.  The argument further goes that since the calls were international calls, the wire taps were legal.  

How can it ever be legal to spy on American citizens?

How can it be okay to NOT have to obtain a warrant?

Why is it okay to give up civil rights in order to be “secure”?

And, back to the subject of Christianity, what part of spying on US Citizens is Christian?  

When did Jesus spy on his disciples?  

(Yeah, yeah, on the road to Emmaus where He didn’t allow them to know that He was Him, but that was sneaky, but does not constitute spying in my book (Luke 24:13-32))

Furthermore, where is the Christianity in the latest corruption of our government?

Show me where Jesus accepted trips and golf outings from the Jewish people in order to further their causes, like our leaders who accepted money, donations and gifts from Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist.

Where is the Christianity in that?

Why in the public forum is Christianity reduced to Pro-life (but only in the case of abortion, not in the death penalty) and sex (as in gay sex and gay marriage, which obviously leads to more sex)?  

Jesus was so much more than that.  He was for clothing the naked, feeding the hungry and visiting the imprisoned.  Show me a nation that does just that and I’ll show you a true Christian nation.

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