Published: June 29, 2009 07:23 pm      

CONFER: A few random thoughts on the world today

Here are a few things that have been on my mind ...

A few weeks ago President Obama visited Nellis Air Force Base, where he applauded the 140-acre solar array. He said we need more solar energy systems just like that one. Don’t the green energy and environmentalist crowds realize that every gigantic solar array, whether it’s as large as Nellis’ or one-10th that size, will destroy and replace that many acres of the environment, be it forest, grassland, field or desert?

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How many of the hundreds of Wheatfield residents who vehemently opposed housing for low-income earners in 2006 and 2007 have now become, as a direct result of the recession, the very kind of individual they did not welcome to their neighborhood?

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Am I the only one who finds humor in the hypocrisy of the two-party system when it comes to human life? The Republicans like war and the death penalty while bemoaning abortion. The Democrats hate war and the death penalty yet like abortion.

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In the past 100-plus years, not a single president or member of Congress has followed the Constitution. Federal organizations like the Department of Education and the EPA are totally unconstitutional, as are activities like surveillance of innocent civilians, pork barrel spending and the bailing out of banks and auto companies. That said, why don’t we charge federal elected officials with treason for failure to uphold their oath of office, one which asks them to support and defend the Constitution?

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Is reality TV so successful because Americans enjoy watching people fail?

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If the government can force employers to collect income taxes and garnishments, why can’t the employer charge a fee to the government for the services of that debt collection?

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Why is Americorps considered “service” or “volunteerism” if people are getting paid to do it?

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Some veterans have recently become ill with blood-borne diseases like hepatitis and HIV because VA hospitals and clinics did not properly clean their colonoscopy equipment. That begs two questions. One, is this the best care that we can offer our vets? And, two, does government-run health care (which is what the VAs are) still look attractive to you?

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When businesses expand or come to the area, people go out of their way to thank the elected officials for all the new jobs. Last I knew, politicians don’t create jobs, the private sector does. As a matter of fact, many will argue that politicians stifle job growth. That said, has anyone ever gone out of their way to thank the entrepreneurs for the new jobs?

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If my company had a known carcinogen in the workplace’s air, we’d have to outfit all of our coworkers with masks and respirators. My question is: Prior to the smoking ban, why weren’t bars required to outfit their bartenders and wait staff with masks and respirators since there were extremely high levels of a known carcinogen (cigarette smoke) in their air?

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If China’s currency manipulation is so evil, why is it OK for the United States and the Federal Reserve to manipulate our money supply?

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We know that people have been leaving Western New York in droves, so why does it seem that new complexes and developments are always being built?

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Why don’t taxpayers get an interest payment from the government when they receive their tax refund? Shouldn’t Uncle Sam pay for borrowing your money, just like a bank or debtor would?

Bob Confer is a Gasport resident and vice president of Confer Plastics Inc. in North Tonawanda. E-mail him at bobconfer@juno.com.