It is *really* fun to have Delaware music events — Firefly and the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival — at the forefront of what people are talking about this weekend. I’m off to the Jazz Festival later today.
Republicans are responsible for the majority of voter fraud in the US. Interesting, if true. And I’ll note that none of it would have been stopped by Voter ID, either:
This past Tuesday, Adam Ward of Bassett County Virginia pleaded guilty to 36 counts of voter fraud and perjury in connection with an attempt to help Newt Gingrich reach the number of signatures required to appear on last year’s Virginia presidential primary ballot. Ward collected over 11,000 signatures on behalf of Gingrich, over 4,000 of which, according to investigators, could not be verified. According to RawStory, the Virginia campaign of Texas governor Rick Perry faced a similar dilemma, with almost half the 11,900 signatures collected on his behalf failing verification. No Perry supporters are currently facing criminal charges.
The NYT takes a look at What Else Could a $30 Billion ‘Border Surge’ Buy?
Regardless of where it’s going, $30 billion is a staggering figure. But Republicans want to use the money to almost double the size of an already robust Border Patrol, to 40,000 agents from 21,000. They want to add 700 miles of fencing. And for good measure, they plan to throw in some infrared ground sensors and thermal imaging cameras, along with a fleet of drones.
Given that these are not exactly boom times, recent investment in other projects of major national consequence has been seriously inadequate. Infrastructure spending, for example, is now at its lowest point in 20 years. Excruciatingly expensive trains can barely make their way at anemic paces along the northeast corridor without breaking down, and we’ve all but abandoned talk of expanding to real high-speed trains. In the past month alone two bridges collapsed — in Washington State and Minnesota — and countless others desperately need repairs. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave this country’s bridges a C+ rating for 2013.
You can argue that the ASCE’s rating is self-serving, but there is no doubt that American infrastructure is deteriorating and not being upgraded to meet increased demands. This is largely about safety, and making sure that people and goods can get to where they need to go in an efficient manner. But we apparently have the funds to build the Berlin Wall on our southern border, but not to ensure the safety of families driving over our bridges.
Edward Snowden is charged with espionage. Espionage? That seems an odd charge for basic whistle-blowing.
What interests you today?