Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Do Not Expand Wild Card

For starters the wild card is just a way to make more money for baseball.  There was no need for it and lessens the regular season.  There was no excitement in the Yankees and Red Sox this year because both teams were going to make the post season.  A similar scenario was taking place in the National League as the Braves were a lock for the wild card.

However, as the regular season comes to an end tonight "excitement" is back in baseball.  The Red Sox and Braves have played horribly for the month of September and allowed the Rays and Cardinals to catch them in the wild card race.  After 161 games the Red Sox and Rays and the Braves and Cards are where they were the morning of opening day, sitting with identical records.

Baseball is now thinking of adding one extra team to the mix in each league.  All the excitement that exists because the Red Sox and Braves have collapsed would be gone.  If the fifth team in each league was in effect this year the games on the final day of the regular season would have no meaning because everyone would be back the next day for the play in games.  Just as the Yankees and Red Sox were boring from April through August, so too would tonight.  Regardless of winning and losing combinations the teams would be back at it tomorrow for the play in game.  The only good thing that would hve come from this is that the Red Sox game could be called without a wait until midnight to resume the game.

No more teams should be added to wild cards so that there will be some type of a pennant race possible.  Also while they consider adding the extra wild card teams (which should be rejected) they should enter inter-league play.  It makes scheduling impossible as teams only visit cities once a year if there are any rain outs.  Outside of New York and Chicago and may be the Bay Area does it really create more excitement and draw extra fans anymore?  People I am sure just cannot wait for a Houston Seattle series.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Troy Davis RIP

Another horrible day for America as the Machinery of Death marches forward, probably killing another innocent man.  Even if Mr. Davis was not innocent of the murder he was convicted of does the United States want to be in a group of nations like the People's Republic of China, Iraq and North Korea in using such a vile form of punishment.  Even Russia has abolished the death penalty.

Twenty three words was all the Supreme Court thought this case was worth.  They did not want to even see what was going to be in the appeal.  The nine Justices did no Justice tonight.

This is just another example of why the death penalty should be abolished in the United States.  Even if the United States Supreme Court will not reconsider Gregg v. Georgia, Congress and the states should abolish this repugnant type of punishment.

DADT Finished - America Still Safe

Don't Ask - Don't Tell has been repealed and gays can openly serve, just like heterosexuals, in the military.  America is still safe and the military is not in a shambles.

Next up should be the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and federal recognition of gay marriage for tax and all other purposes.  I think the country will survive.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Rick Perry and Economics

So Rick Perry is criticizing the economic policies of the Obama Administration.  He is also standing by his statements and his book Fed Up that the Social Security system is a Ponzi scheme.  I am not exactly sure where Gov. Perry learned his economics.  In college at Texas A&M he received a "D" in basic economics.  It was the only class in economics that he took.  He also only managed to get a "B" in US History and in American National Government.

Nobel Laureates have clearly indicated that Social Security is not a Ponzi Scheme.  Even the Social Security Administration explains the difference between a Ponzi Scheme and the pay as you go system that is Social Security.

Gov. Perry's obvious deficiencies in economics are nothing compared to his lack of understanding of the hideousness of the death penalty.  More on that later.