Clipmarks | akarra's clips

Raise the Gas Tax!

Fri, 02 May 2008 22:47:14 GMT

clipped by: akarra
clipper's remarks: A blogger argues that the gas tax needs to be higher to pay for transportation improvements that are long overdue.

Clip Source: orderdisorder.blogspot.com

I don't know how else to say it, no other way to make it clearer, other than just saying it. So, here it goes: Raise the gas tax stupid! Why this one amazingly simple and effective policy has found such resistance is honestly beyond me. I realize that Republicans, as a whole, are adverse to raising taxes, which I know makes me a bad Republican, but I cannot see any other way out of the transportation nightmare that we are just now entering. What really surprises me is the resistance of the Democrats to raising this tax.

Tags: gasoline, gas, oil, tax, transportation, politics

W.H. Auden, "The More Loving One"

Fri, 02 May 2008 22:45:18 GMT

clipped by: akarra
clipper's remarks: Poem clipped - commentary if you follow the URL.

Clip Source: inrethinking.blogspot.com

The More Loving One

W.H. Auden

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least

We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,

Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say

I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,

Though this might take me a little time

Tags: auden, poetry, love

How Can Conservatives Use The Internet Better?

Fri, 02 May 2008 05:04:52 GMT

clipped by: akarra
clipper's remarks: The clip is just the conclusion, the article is rather long. There are links in the article, moreover, which provide sources for the article.

Clip Source: zardozz.com

We have a virtue as conservatives and centrists - we listen. We react instead of pushing our agenda first. And this means we have blogs that do an excellent job of critiquing media bias and stupid policies.

But it’s obvious we need something more: the floodgates are open. Bush bashing is just the tip of the iceberg: Does anyone seriously think the next President is going to be treated any more kindly? Does anyone seriously think that we, who are very mature in the conduct of our private lives, are showing anything like grace and decorum when it comes to our conduct politically?

4. We need the Internet to be educative, not merely a diversion for bored teenagers or angry Leftists and libertarians. In education, listening is an activity, and a type of faction arises which not only tolerates disagreement but creates an environment where more thoughtful disagreement can occur. We need to set things up so we always make each other better, and not tear each other down.

Tags: conservative, dailykos, politics, internet, education