The Blaisdell Blog

Which of these activities best describes a good day for you? 1.       I need a job to do. 2.      I like roving around in the great outdoors. 3.      I’m a couch potato who needs congenial company. 4.      No matter what, I need to get my ducks in a row. 5.      Nothing makes me happier than digging in the dirt. 6.      Doing nothing special, just going with the flow. 7.      I like to nose around and find things out for myself. How would you describe your size? 1.       Small 2.      Medium 3.      Large How active are you? 1.       Always on the move 2.      I am busy, but know how to relax too. 3.      I live a sedentary life. What is your attitude about having people around? ...

Representative Alcee Hastings thinks the state of Texas is, “crazy.”   Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but to judge the worth of someone’s opinion it is good to know a little something about them.   Alcee Hastings is a Democrat who represents the 20 th Congressional district in Florida.   Hastings has served in the 20 th district since 1993.   But the interesting part is what happened prior to his election to the honored position as Representative to the United States Congress.   Our little Alcee served as a Judge to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida beginning in 1979.   He was appointed to the newly created position by Jimmy Carter, which explains a great deal.   He served as a Federal Judge until—wait for it—his impeachment and removal from that post in 1989!   Why was he impeached?   He was accused of accepting $150,000 in bribes in exchange for lenient sentences.   His bribe ta...

This is why Gov. Scott Walker deserves a close look in the Presidential Primaries: There are huge difference between public employee unions and a private union.   Modern private unions grew out of the market place imbalances of the industrial revolution.   People were looking for work in the rapidly expanding industries located in the cities.   They were competing for jobs that required few specialized skills, were quickly taught and needed strong bodies rather than quick minds (a commodity always in shorter supply).   Because laborers were easily replaced, the majority of the power was with the employers, not the employees.   Even employers like E. I. du Pont de Nemours, a leader in responsible and humane employee care, had limits to their largesse, lest their costs exceed the markets elasticity and everyone lose their job.   This imbalance of power led to excesses on the part of ownership, all at the employees’ expense.   However, God hates a ...