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Shame on the Senate for voting to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. To add insult to injury, a Florida senator cast the pivotal vote, after a promise from the Bush administration that it would hold off allowing oil drilling off Florida's coast for a few more years.
I hope someday we'll be able to get past that NIMBY attitude. Talk about special interests. Our officials want instant gratification for their problems, but their gluttony blinds them to what this world will be like for their great-grandchildren.
I must give some credit to the Bush administration. Its effectiveness in getting what it wants is due to its soulless, efficient, powerful machinations.
It reminds me somewhat of the other boat of eight women at my rowing club. Decisions and goals are not made by the group but rather sternly by two older women who have been members for years and who have zero tolerance for debate or group discussions. The other members of the boat don't hang out outside of the club but don't seem to mind the group's arrangement -- little effort other than to row well is required on their part, and all responsibilities are out of their hands. The tradeoff for having no freedom is that their equipment is always top-of-the-line and in tip-top shape; they never find themselves dawdling on the beach, waiting for a straggler running late, for she'd be kicked out of the boat for a repeat offense; they always have a coach; and any problems are efficiently dealt with.
My boat is considered the nicer and more considerate of the two groups ("Oh you go ahead..." "No, you go ahead..." "Oh please, I insist..." "No, please, really..."). There are few conflicts, we are all good friends and each of us wouldn't hesitate to drop everything to help another in need. But we are often stymied by inefficiency, tardiness and a lack of direction, mainly because we all want each other's opinion to weigh in on our own, and discussions over one topic or plan or goal can go on for weeks.
Sometimes I have a hard time deciding which is better.
Current mood: Hungry
Replies: 1 shoutout
The strike - the longest in atlantic city casino history, and one of the longest . the official numbers are not out yet, quieter-than-usual craps and blackjack
Posted by BLackjack History @ 04/10/2005 11:21 PM EST