Yes On 2A...Because (No Debt) College Matters

YES ON 2A...BECAUSE (no debt) COLLEGE MATTERS.  THAT'S IT. (link below)

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=jm#inbox/14ff0b40798b12ec?projector=1

Winter Olympics In Sochi Get An Avalanche From Colorado

The Avalanche have sent four players to the Olympics in Sochi

If Vladimir Putin needs any help with security he might be on his own.  If he runs short of snow, Colorado sent an Avalanche to Sochi. Actually, we have sent four Avalanche players to the winter Olympics this year, and it begs a few important questions.

First of all, why would the NHL risk injury to their most valuable players by sending them to the Olympics in the middle of a season?  The mere privilege of playing for your own country is incentive enough to risk a lot. I realize that this has been the Olympic standard forever, but my team hasn't had such a likelihood of littering Olympic lineups in a while.

This year we have 4 players that did make it.  Matt Duchene, Semyon Varlamov, Gabriel Landiskog and Paul Stasny.  If you are watching the Avs, it should be clear that the rookie, Nathan McKinnon could  soon become an Olympian as well as Ryan O'Reilly. But what about P.A. Parenteau, or Jan Hejda?  What about Erik Johnson.  These guys could help any team win games, and when America gets to know all of these Av's, we will lose a few to free agency.  Those that remain will join this years group of Olympians four years from now.  It is possible that the Av's will bum rush the league with a deep run in the playoffs this year. They will certainly do it before the next winter Olympics return.

That is good from the standpoint of prestige, but bad when you consider the physical demand a long run in the Olympics will require, and the physical risk that you incur while doing it.  The most difficult part of being or having young players is the adjustment to such a long season.  Those who make the adjustment with lots of rest and proper diet can overcome the mental walls that challenge young players. Typically, you won't know what you don't know.

I am excited and concerned for all of our Olympians.  They are deserving of the honor they've received.  A couple of them have teams that could win the whole thing, so Av's fans might have a rooting stake late into this tournament.  I will also find myself watching to see if they make it through safely, and if they return to the team with the inspiration of an Olympian, or the legs of a noodle.

Is Colorado's New Pot Law Seeding The Future of American Politics?

Will pot laws represent a growth in ballot initiative politics?

I am happy to take on the debate over the marijuana law in Colorado (later) but I am way too excited about the reality that it ever happened in the first place.


I understand that California was the blueprint for Colorado moving to the front of the line with this matter, but I feel that the message from the passing of these marijuana laws is much more powerful than any other aspect of why this is good for America.

Colorado's new law began with one.

Pot laws are almost the social equivalent of electing a black president.  It speaks to the power of the proletariat (sorry, I like to use that word from time to time to ignite my conservative homies).  The ballot initiative has awakened the masses to see an avenue for implementation that returns the power of this nation back into the hands of WE THE PEOPLE.

The power of the fillibuster was a cornerstone of our oligarchy/ representative republic/ democracy lite.  It gave voice to the minority party and opportunity to slow down ram rod legislative bodies.  All members of Congress who have been there long enough to have seen both sides of the coin in regards to being a majority or minority party respected the necessity of the filibuster.  Harry Reid has been that long timer, so he hesitated to push the nuclear button and destroy the power of the filibuster.  But he had no choice.

Or did he?

The filibuster is designed to buy time, not destroy the power of the vote which is the singular action that defines  the democratic pursuit.  A super majority of 60 senators is the right answer to maintaining the checks and balances that keep this nation from falling victim to itself. However, if the filibuster and a speaker who seconds the notion can hijack democracy, than they have to be reminded that we sent them to make agreements that improve America.  If we do not need to pass any more bills or appoint any new judges to make America better, than what do we need congress for? For all of those in congress who keep complaining about the cost of a website that isn't working well,  we need to remind them  that we continue to pay for them and they do nothing at all.

We need to unclog legislative blockages like immigration or the living wage and other matters of national concern,  in which  there is tactical inaction from congress. Shutting down government should eventually free states to begin the ballot initiative process.  If we have access to enact federal laws with a one person, one vote process, congress has to be wary.   I am certain that my head is simplifying this process much more than it probably will be on a federal level, but I am confident that it works at the state level.  The fear of a ballot initiative would probably inspire congress to do their jobs and not force America to do it for them.

Who would have imagined that we would have to go to pot before we reclaim our federal government.