#GasPrices, #VoterID and #Afganistan: Three Questions to Ponder

Spring is here, more or less. The House of Representatives is in recess with the Senate muddling through on a transportation bill. That means it is time to ask a few questions:

Will high gasoline prices impact the election? The price of gasoline for unleaded regular hit $3.99 per gallon where I live. I do not drive much-about 250 miles a week, most of it commuting. It costs about $50 to $60 a week up from $40 a week not long ago. Since the summer driving season is coming up, gas prices are going to continue to escalate.

I have a discussion on gas prices frequently with friends as I contend high gas prices do have an impact economically and psychologically. For those who drive much more than I do, it has an impact on the family budget. It is also a highly visible “must have item” which consumes disposable income. Forget going to Red Lobster, the Cineplex, or buying that new lawnmower when budgets get squeezed.

The Administration has made fossil fuels the enemy since day one. Complicating drilling permits process, excessive EPA regulation, demagogue about tax policies, CAFE mileage standards, rejection of the Keystone Pipeline, and cap and trade are just a few policies aim at killing oil and gas production and consumption. The President says there is no quick solution to rising gas prices, and he is probably right, particularly since the edicts of the Federal government have been directed at everything possible to thwart further oil and gas development.

The Obama re-election machinery is worried about the price of gasoline. The useless attempt earlier in releasing crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is an illustration of a political move rather than an economic one. So, as the price of gas goes higher, so does the anxiety level, the economic impact intensifies and the polls go lower. 

What is the Department of Justice afraid about on voter ID? The U. S. Justice Department is objecting to a new ID law in Texas requiring, in general, voters to show valid identification prior to voting.  According the DOJ, the State of Texas has failed to demonstrate the law is not discriminatory by design against Hispanic voters. The Justice Department has already blocked a similar law from taking effect in South Carolina -- the first time a voter ID law was rejected by the Department in nearly 20 years.

The right to vote, and the free exercise thereof, are essential to a republican form of government. Past, unreasonable interference to voting such as poll taxes, literary tests, and Election Day harassment were wrong, unconstitutional and frankly evil. However, I do no not think showing who you say you are falls into the past discriminatory pattern. The action by the DOJ is merely a continuation of a long string of political interference in the legitimate role of a State's government and an advancement of transparent and bias agenda 

 I have to show a photo ID for lots of things. In many cases I do not like it: Among them are:

• Cashing a check
• Getting on an airplane
• Driving a car
• Opening a bank account
• Acquiring a firearm
• Getting past security at many office buildings right here in Washington
• Picking up theater tickets at will call

 Opponents of the ID laws, say that there is no voting fraud so this type of provision is unnecessary but I say it was reported some weeks ago there are tons of dead people who collect government benefits. The point being that, of course, there is voter fraud, misidentify and goodness knows what else. If you are a citizen, want to vote, then get an appropriate ID (they are easy to get) and vote away. Small price to pay for the integrity of the voting system.

 What is the deal with Afghanistan; why are we there and how will it end? The latest incident of a soldier wantonly killing Afghan civilians is hard to believe, must less digest. If the reports are true, I can only guess the man went crazy, wacked out, off his rocker, lost all conscience. It will be a real dilemma on how our Government handles the aftermath. How about a show trial in Afghan court? How will justice be served? What about his civil right and due process? It is an unfortunate and tragic mess.

The event follows the mistake of burning the Koran, which precipitated civil unrest, protest and a few more useless deaths. All of this begs the question, what purpose is being served for this country by having a costly and large contingent of our military in Afghanistan and how do we ever extradite ourselves. What indeed is victory if that is the goal?

 The Obama policy on Afghanistan has been checkered from the beginning. The President wants to leave, has set a schedule to pull out but also put in more troops and then initiated tight and probably counter-productive restrictive rules of engagement. The United States has provided tons (literally) of money to a corrupt regime and has been training Afghan police and soldiers for the last 10 years. When is it enough?  The boots on the ground have largely become impotent against the Taliban, who are playing a waiting game.

Who knows? Clearly we are not winning the hearts and minds of the populace and probably never will even if we maintain our presence for the next 50 years. It is similar to watching a movie and knowing it is not going to turn out good.  Time to make a real assessment of the situation.