Metro complaint

Here's what I've just submitted to Metro's customer comment form:

"The L2 bus headed southbound on Connecticut Avenue toward McPherson Square never showed up this morning. It was scheduled to depart Connecticut Avenue at Nebraska Avenue at or about 6:34 this morning. The next scheduled bus appeared to be late as well. Instead of waiting any longer, I just walked to the Van Ness Metro and boarded a southbound train to get to work. There was little traffic, as cars, trucks, and "Not in Service" Metro buses zoomed by.

It just seems to me that Metro employees need to be held accountable for poor job performance and Metro needs to better monitor whether buses depart on or close to schedule. Metro has made some improvements, however, Washington, DC deserves a world class public transit system, and we are a long way away from that."

I don't understand why, living near the beginning bus terminal, any bus is late or doesn't show up. It is not hard: show up for your job and work. If you don't like it, find a new one. If you can't, try to educate yourself and then find a new job. Why do you deserve to get paid if you don't do your job? Everyone can understand if there are exigent circumstances because stuff happens.
But it is Metro's fault, too. They don't have a system in place to allow for another bus to be quickly deployed. They don't hold employees accountable. How about this: set up a better customer complaint system, put GPS in all the buses, post 'next arrival' times at most stops (with real-time data), teach manners and better driving skills, and use on-time and other performance measures to hold drivers accountable. And if you need to raise fares to accomplish this, by all means do so. I think most people would welcome such change.

Save UDC

A small protest in front of UDC's campus in upper NW garnered support from passersby this evening. Though many of the signs held by those gathered did not explain the situation.

As I understand it, there is a plan to combine UDC and South Eastern University. This would alter the teaching structure and does represent significant change. However, I'm not convinced the plan is entirely bad. Hopefully, the students will get a voice in the matter as a result of this protest. We will have to see.

UPDATE: Apparently tuition will be nearly doubled to about $7,000/year. The additional money raised would probably offset cuts in the District's budget and will help the school improve its campus (buildings and staff). If you look at state schools across the country, many, if not most, have already crossed the $10,000/year mark, so if District residents can get a decent education for less than average, quit complaining. Besides, some of the students will qualify for financial aid (probably a mix of school grants and federal loans).

Van Ness protest (anti genocide)

I couldn't really figure out against whom they were protesting, but I do know genocide is bad and the children are being stolen.

UPDATE: This was a protest against the ongoing war in Sri Lanka. The war pits the Sri Lankan military against the violent group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Thousands have been displaced by the fighting and there have been countless deaths. Check out the latest Reuters story.

The 51st State

For years many have been debating whether the Constitution should be amended to allow for District of Columbia statehood. And the efforts are laudable. Let's face it, there should be no area of the country unrepresented. However, as George Will points out in his Washington Post column today, Congress today has an ulterior motive: beef up its majority without proper Constitutional consideration. In addition, it would appear unconstitutional to move forward with the current plan.

The Constitution was meant to be a living, breathing document and it clearly offers means of amending so as to conform to new social, political, and economic conditions and norms. If the case for statehood is great, why not put it up for an amendment again (see the 1978 amendment)? According to DC Vote Voice, a 2005 survey found that 78% of Americans didn't know that DC had less representation than the rest of the country. The case seems clear to me -- propose an amendment to the Constitution and put it up for a vote.

Plain and simple - we need to get away from these subversive tactics. Be open and straightforward and help people understand your objectives. Maybe it'll make you think twice before you ASSuME that no one will know the difference.

Terrorism on the rails

A man is arrested for taking photographs of "shiny" trains for Amtrak's photo contest.

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Colbert does a nice job telling the story. But how ridiculous? Oh, and a thanks to DCist sharing the video.

Tax problems

'Tis that time of year. And boy does the President have some tough decisions to make. The Senate has not made cabinet member confirmations easy. We've had tax scandals with Geithner, Killefer, and now Daschle. Never mind the pay-to-play scheme Bill Richardson set up in New Mexico.

Here's what the WSJ wrote about Daschle: "Daschle ended his bid to be Health secretary after failing to pay more than $100,000 in taxes, saying he 'will not be a distraction.'"

For Democrats, these guys sure don't like to pay taxes.

UPDATE: Sen. Gregg and Commerce

This morning the Wall Street Journal reported: "Sen. Gregg said in a statement Monday afternoon, 'I have made it clear to the Senate Leadership on both sides of the aisle and to the Governor that I would not leave the Senate if I felt my departure would cause a change in the makeup of the Senate. The Senate Leadership, both Democratic and Republican, and the Governor understand this concern and I appreciate their consideration of this position.'

Republican Bonnie Newman was expected to succeed Sen. Gregg in the Senate, according to an Associated Press report. Ms. Newman was Sen. Gregg's former chief of staff and has held prominent leadership positions in government, higher education and the private sector."

I'm quite proud of Sen. Gregg's negotiations and am feeling a little better about the President's nomination. One small victory for honesty and a more effective government.

A little math can't hurt ...

Try this out. (I got all the questions correct.)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/x-equals-why/2009/01/do_you_dream_of_factoring.html

Obama to tap Republican as commerce secretary

It is looking like New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg will be nominated as the next Secretary of Commerce. He is a Republican and will likely advise President Obama against protectionism. However, his vote in the Senate will be sorely missed.

You see, for all of the rhetoric, nothing has changed -- it is politics as usual. When Sen. Gregg is nominated and confirmed, the Democratic Governor of NH, John Lynch, will nominate a Democrat to fill the vacant seat.

What does that mean? This will effectively give the Democrats a filibuster proof margin. No filibuster=larger "stimulus"=larger welfare state=larger nanny state=larger deficits=you and I pay up the wazoo in taxes=inflation will skyrocket=BIG PROBLEM. We need debate before legislation gets passed and we need to protect the country from protectionism and anti-globalization sentiment. We are globalized. Face it. You know you love to go to Wal-Mart and buy cheap goods.

Instead of shutting ourselves in, lets work on a way to be the future -- innovation, education, and more. But lets instill confidence in the individual - that we can initiate change and work together. We don't need Big Brother breathing down our necks telling us what to do.

On the other hand, we do need to vote out the lot of 'em and one-by-one is better than nothing.

UPDATE: The WSJ reports: "Sen. Kyl said the balance-of-power issue has 'been thought through,' but he declined to say whether a deal had been struck to ensure that New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch would appoint a Republican to finish out the balance of Gregg's term, which is up next year, if Gregg were to become commerce secretary."
Certainly this was a concern on the Hill but the White House was willing to negotiate. However, I won't back down from my comments above until this is verified.