Globalization

In South Africa, violence has erupted against immigrant workers from Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. Villages, homes, and even individuals have been set on fire in protest against a high unemployment rate (23%) and high food costs. During the Apartheid regime, South Africans looked to their neighbors to shelter exiled leaders.

In Italy, Romanian gypsies were attacked after an alleged attempt by a Roma girl to steal a baby. Illegal Romanian immigrants are thought to be the cause of the majority of crime in Italy. During the period from 1920 to 1970, many Italians illegally sought work in neighboring countries of Austria, Belgium, France, West Germany, and Luxembourg.

In the U.S., Mexican migrant workers are being run out of homes and places of employment by unfriendly state and federal laws. The United States was founded by Europeans seeking religious and political freedom and a better way of life.

We've sure come a long way.

Cheese ball

I cried twice yesterday.

The first time was because my dog, Jeckyll is going through this weird thing. He will have sort of spasms of pain and cry and look sad--and then he'll be fine. He's old--like 13 years--and I made myself cry thinking of having to put him to sleep.

The second was when I was listening to NPR. Melissa Block was in China post-earthquake. She lost it at one point watching a mother look for her missing child.

I lost it too. Pretty cheesy. Then I felt guilty for crying about the dog. He's lived a good life--but it still makes me sad. I got the impression the woman's son had not lived long enough to say the same. I don't know them, but it still made me cry.

I tried to think of things that make me laugh.

My other dog, Rizo has a favorite toy. It's a ball with legs. No face, no hat, no funny smile--just a ball with legs. For some reason, it always makes me laugh.

Documentaries about wildlife always make me laugh--especially ones with birds. I guess I think things with 2 legs are funnier than those with 4 legs? I don't know.

Back Scratchin'

It's city election time in Flagstaff, AZ right now. In addition to choosing a new figurehead mayor and several marginally useful council members, the good citizens of Flagstaff are being asked to vote on several propositions concerning our city bus system, Mountain Line Transit. In exchange for more frequent buses, the addition of new routes, and the switch to hybrid buses, Flagstaff voters are being asked to increase sales taxes approximately 12 cents per hundred dollars spent. This is a paltry amount for such a beneficial service, but it got me to thinking.

Folks who can afford to buy certain hybrid vehicles are given a federal and, often, state tax credit to offset the high purchase cost. (Unfortunately, for the most commonly purchased hybrids, the credit has been phased out.) A tax credit is a nice perk for those trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Herein lies the irony. Public transportation is undoubtedly the best way for Americans to reduce carbon emissions. The purchase of a Ford Escape Hybrid will earn the buyer approximately an 11% tax credit on his federal taxes while bus service will cost each tax payer (in Flagstaff) a 12% increase in sales tax plus the cost of actually riding the bus. Shouldn't we be offering some kind of tax credit to those who ride the bus? Wouldn't it be a nice incentive for those who cannot afford the price of a new hybrid? The only conclusion I can possibly jump to after spending no time researching the topic is that the powers that be don't REALLY want to reduce the number of cars on the road. We have to keep the legacy of Henry Ford alive I guess.