KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY TOILET: The Feds Are Coming After Your Porcelain Bowl
by Les Weaver
Clash Daily Contributor
Early in the morning after arising, I followed my typical routine. To be discrete, that routine includes a cup of coffee and some reading astride my chosen “morning chair/appliance”. The reading this morning was about the rise of resistance to the Government for wanting to enact more laws under the guise of tweaking the laws concerning gun control. Then it struck me that I was astride the right appliance while reading about this issue. The article was short so my mind then drifted to just a few of the many other issues that this government has “tweaked” over the past few decades. I will not venture deep into them but rather just list a few that are in fact fiscal failures and arguably failures in every other way other than to launder money back to campaign coffers.
To name a few; [1] Wind Turbines to replace Hydro-electric and Nuclear-electric power generation; [2] Federal takeover of the Automobile industry and electric powered vehicles larger than golf carts; [3] ; Solar power [4]; $500M budgeted to train Syrian fighters, [5]; immigration, [6]; toilet tanks, [7]; and guns, [8]; The list goes on.
[1]. Wind power turbines were promoted to supplement electric power generation. Yes, this may be effective and economical in the North Sea. But our government has contracted to install them even where Hydro power is king and where nuclear energy has proven both safe and economical. After awarding contracts for wind generators and the subsequent political kickbacks, many of these generators continue to be government subsidized to camouflage their true value received (or in reality, not received).
[2]. Learned advisors in the government came to the conclusion that if electric power worked for golf carts, why not for larger vehicles so they mandated that a portion of all motor vehicles be electric powered. Recall that the Chrysler Corp. was virtually given to Fiat, and the largest automobile parts maker Delphi virtually destroyed. Then came the G.M. bailout and the order from the District of Corruption that government subsidized electric cars be on the peoples menu of preferred purchases. The combination of electric cars, union over-demand and poor trade agreements has virtually destroyed the American automobile industry.
[3]. The failure of the many solar related programs are exponential. It started with millions spent to train solar panel installers that never found employment. It extended to the failure of Solyndra, and other government sponsored panel and parts manufacturers. That further extended to the pending bankruptcy of the largest CA system for lack of water to the questionable cost and kickbacks of the large Nevada, (Harry Reid?) system. Much money was spent to subsidize solar power generation on the roofs of homes and commercial buildings. Those relatively few that complied with this idea from the EPA have received a taxpayer subsidy and a pat on the head but have yet to experience true return on investment. Failures go on.
[4]. Recently the government approved a budget of $500M, (yes, ½ Billion) to train Syrian rebels to fight the Assad government and ISIS. After 10%, ($50M) is reported to be spent on that training, even the government has concluded that the result of five trained persons leaves question of money well spent, ($10M+ per person). However, those in charge are now reviewing how to re-direct the remaining $450M so that the American people get a better value for the remaining 90%. Are we all excited to review those plans?
[5]. For decades, immigration has been promoted as a failing. The problem has grown because first one and then other immigration laws have been ignored. If we go back to the terms of Truman, (Democrat) followed by Eisenhower, (Republican), combined they are reported to have deported many more than twelve million illegals without fanfare and did so under the law. Among the laws on the books that are no longer enforced include health and criminal background checks. Immigrants were required to be sponsored or able to support themselves so as NOT to be a public burden for housing, food, medical, etc. To become a citizen they are no longer required; to read, write and speak English; to pass a test on our founding and government; to assimilate into our Judeo-Christian society and laws. And finally, government turns a blind eye to non-citizens voting and even holding some political offices. Politicians preach that we need “Immigration Reform”. My question is: if they won’t enforce or abide by the existing laws why should we expect that they will abide by other laws?
[6]. Now I particularly key on my morning chair that stimulated this writing, the toilet. In 1988 Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S.A. to mandate the use of low-flush toilets in new construction and remodeling. In 1992 U.S. President George H. W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act. This law made 1.6 gallons per flush a mandatory federal maximum for new toilets. (Note: a federal law on toilet tanks). This law went into effect in January 1, 1994 for residential buildings and January 1, 1997 for commercial buildings.
A low-flow toilet or high-efficiency toilet is a flush toilet that uses significantly less water than a full-flush toilet. Low-flush toilets use 6 liters (1.6 US gal; 1.3 imp gal) or less per flush as opposed to 13.2 liters (3.5 US gal; 2.9 imp gal) as was the norm in the 1980s and prior. They came into use in the United States in the 1990s, in response to water conservation concerns. Low-flush toilets include single-flush models and dual-flush toilets, which typically use 1.6 US gpf for the full flush and 1.1 US gpf for a reduced flush.
But then came years of growing pains and arguments, still unsettled, about savings vs. problems and cost. And problems there were, but once our government has established itself as an expert on any subject, it assures us that setbacks and growing pains can be solved by spending more money on studies and reports where the outcome is pre-determined. My experience is that the savings is not as great as the government reports for when solids are flushed, too often more than one flush is required. Maybe the government should study the need for a toilet that can self-determine the water required for the “load” within. Oops, gave them another idea on how to issue million dollar study grants to friends.
[7]. Now about gun control. This morning, I read that last month, gun purchases increased to new levels. It would seem that “We the People” suspect that this administration wants to ultimately repeal the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. And while politicians push for more gun control, more of the citizens are not buying the Kool-Aid from most levels of government. No, they are buying more guns and the ammunition to go with them. September 2015 is reported to be the fifth month in a row to set a record for background checks for gun purchases. May, June, July, and August all produced record numbers. The summer of 2015 has seen the most gun sales on record.
Of course the government is presently preaching that they only want to register all guns to assure that only those that qualify have guns. Who determines who qualifies? Be assured that the government will first set an acceptable set of qualifications and then continue to modify, (tighten) their subjective rules. But more importantly, the covertly intended next step by the government will have been streamlined. That step is having a registration list of who has guns and where they are kept for swift, streamlined confiscation.
But we should not overlook that the “bad guys” won’t register their guns. I suspect that like illegal immigration, this administration supported by the “old guard” Senators and Representatives will just turn a blind eye to their most loyal voting constituents. The bad guys will only see benefit in tighter gun control because it will make gun supported crime less hazardous for them.
(A side observance was that this morning, I watched as my two Senators and OR 4th Representative deplaned with Obama on AF One. It was interesting that these three advocates of more gun control did not have the guts to continue Obama’s journey to Roseburg, OR. I challenge that they are too cowardly to stand before their constituents, (Roseburg is one Senator’s present home town), and preach more gun control. Yep, cowards all even while protected by the mighty guns of the Secret Service. The fact is that they are afraid of representing the people ahead of Obama and his neo-Marxist agenda)
[8]. I leave this space to my peers. If you believe that the seven things I began with are the complete list and are acceptable, then enjoy your journey. That attitude will certainly flush us down the crapper.
Les Weaver: Born into abject poverty in 1934, he spent his teen years on farms as a foster child and was classified as a farm laborer when he joined the Navy in 1952. After that service, he had a short stint at a University but moved on to 35 years associated with the engineering and technical sciences in Aero-Space, retiring from two Aerospace giants in senior positions and a small business. Until retirement, his writing experience was limited to technical occupational reports. His wife is a German immigrant, now a proud American and together they enjoy gardening. Les takes breaks from gardening to express himself to the politicians by phone, email and now thru ClashDaily/DougGiles.
