“For me, you don’t ever want to be defined by the color of your skin. You want to be defined by your work ethic, the person that you are, your character, your personality. That’s what I’ve tried to go out and do. I am an African-American in America. That will never change. But I don’t have to be defined by that.’’
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
Health insurer Blue Shield of California wants to raise rates as much as 20% for some individual policyholders, prompting calls for the nonprofit to use some of its record-high reserve of $3.9 billion to hold down premiums.
In filings with state regulators, Blue Shield is seeking an average rate increase of 12% for more than 300,000 customers, effective in March, with a maximum increase of 20%.
Some consumer advocates and healthcare economists say Blue Shield shouldn’t be raising rates that high when it has stockpiled so much cash. The company’s surplus is nearly three times as much as the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Assn. requires its member insurers to hold to cover future claims.
At first blush, it would appear that these tough times are not quite so tough for Blue Shield.
But for those living in Fornicalia, this comes as no shock. Not only are the bulk of its denizens illegal, Leftist and parasitic by nature, they are also insane, having voted this past November to tax themselves via Proposition 30, in order to provide more state Free Cheese.
If I wasn’t locked into property and job, I would so leave Fornicalia behind.
I’m trapped behind enemy lines in occupied territory.
Michigan has, historically, been a very heavily unionized state because — naturally — of the Big Three automakers’ presence in Detroit.
On Tuesday, Michigan became the 24th state to declare itself a “right to work” locale. Right to work means: you don’t have to join a union to get a job.
Oddly enough, Michigan simultaneously possesses the highest unionization and unemployment rates in the entire Midwest. I think even the worst of my trolls can grok that math.
Demorats in Illinois have already promised: “there will be blood.”
[Demorat Doug Geiss mentions the “battle of the overpass.” You can see that reference here.]
Let’s also view how lovingly and responsibly Leftist and Progressive union people respond to a vote that doesn’t quite go their way:
Steven Crowder set up a tent. He merely asked questions. His tent was torn down and he was punched. Thugs. Union thugs. One very interesting comment on the video below:
They complain about a Republican controlled legislature and Governor passing legislation that they are vehemently opposed to but don’t have the votes to stop it! These THUG, MORON, HATER, HYPOCRITES never once voiced concern when the LIBERALS in DC, RAMMED, illegally, Obama care down our throats with ZERO Conservative votes!
LIBERALS = HATE, LIES, and HYPOCRISY to the 100th degree!
·11
Call me wacky, but there seems to be very little understanding and acceptance with the Demorat union people involved here. And correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t Demorats and Leftists and Progressives portray themselves as “sensitive” and “non-violent” and “accepting of all viewpoints” — ?
I seem to find myself confused. Do I detect just a hint of hypocrisy involved?
Controversial “right-to-work” legislation covering public-sector employees passed the Michigan House of Representatives on Tuesday, bringing it one step closer to being signed into law.
The House passed the bill, 58 to 51, as union opponents of the measure booed inside the Capitol and an estimated 12,000 people rallied outside. The state’s Senate approved the bill last week.
The House is now scheduled to vote on a right-to-work bill for private-sector employees, which would cover Michigan’s auto industry. If that measure passes, Michigan would become the 24th right-to-work state, meaning unions cannot require members to pay dues as a condition of employment.
WASHINGTON — Deaths of bicyclists and occupants of large trucks rose sharply last year even as total traffic fatalities dropped to their lowest level since 1949, federal safety officials said Monday.
Overall traffic fatalities dropped 1.9 percent, to 32,367. The decline came as the number of miles driven by motorists dropped by 1.2 percent.
The question posed is this: whilst national traffic death stats decline as miles driven decline, why have bicycle and big rig deaths increased?
And I have easy, simple and logical answers to that. Predicated, I submit, but upon personal expertise involving three + decades of EVOC driver training. That is, teaching cops to drive since the late 1970s/early 80s in federal, state and county venues. I’ve been certificated in sedans, authority motors and large commercial vehicles. I have testified in open court and in depositions involving various law enforcement accidents. I have also held a seat on various government accident review boards.
First, take a look at this video which occurred on Interstate 80 in Fornicalia, a freeway I’ve been driving daily since 1993:
This crash involved a trainee driver, and his instructor who was located back in the sleeper. Both persons perished in this crash. What few know is that the tractor ended up hundreds of feet down and over the side because, across this barrier, the terrain falls precipitously. The passenger in the sleeper was not located for two days.
A few more stills provided in this video, by an individual who drives for the company whose commercial vehicle recorded the incident on his dash-cam:
The above driver was rolling westbound from Donner Pass, past Secret Town, towards Sacramento, and a substantial distance from Donner Pass itself.
Personally, I have to hand it to the driver of the big rig whose dash-cam caught the crash. He applied proper brakes, drove in the #1 through the debris field, and didn’t stop until he was safely off to the right a distance from the crash site itself. He didn’t make his big rig a problem for those responding.
This driver, an experienced trucker, is rolling eastbound down from Donner Summit towards Truckee and Nevada. He has some salient comments for those who wish to actually listen. He is one smart man.
Driving uphill in a commercial vehicle, single or double-trailered in Fornicalia, is not so terribly difficult. You may simply back up traffic. After finding the proper hole. Oh well. At worst, if you stall, you can apply fresh and cool brakes and pull to the side in order to start over into deep first. Transmission-dependent.
Here I am, driving a Kenworth, eastbound up Highway 50 at the legal limit:
The transmission:
It is, however, a horse of a different color when driving downhill. It’s, then, all about the gearing and the RPM. If you’re not in the right hole, then God help you. And even He might not if you’re beyond help — as was the trainee in the first video who — ALLEGEDLY — was in neutral attempting to locate said proper gear. Sooner or later your brakes won’t pull you out of an improper combination of speed and gearing. And further: do you know your terrain? Your road?
Somehow, bicyclists think they are different. And I have little if any sympathy for them.
What is the common factor that I alluded to above?
Arrogance.
With bicyclists: arrogance that they deserve consideration above and beyond anyone else.
With truckers: arrogance in terms of relying upon their powerful engines and air brakes. I have seen truckers, year after year, exceed the 55 mph speed limit because they can.
Conversely, I have seen their ruined and burned carcasses from lighting up their brakes. There are car-B-ques. And there are also TRUCK-B-ques.
That’s a fool’s dream.
BZ
P.S.
Bicyclists ignore the Lug Nut Law:
– Four lug nuts = compact car
– Five lug nuts = average sedan
– Six lug nuts = an SUV
– TEN lug nuts = a Big Rig
– Tracks beat all lug nuts
– Rails beat all tracks
– NO lug nuts = death
A new poll conducted by Politico/GWU/Battleground finds that 76 percent of Americans favor “Cutting government spending across the board.”
Fifty-nine percent of Americans registered to vote strongly favor the “across the board” cuts and 17 percent “somewhat” favor the cuts. Only 13 percent strongly oppose “across the board” spending cuts, and 10 percent “somewhat” oppose the cuts. Two percent are unsure.
Ladies and gentlemen, imagine that. 76% of Americans actually want a smaller government.
Why?
