The Future from Fernald.

Former Senator and failed candidate for Governor Mark Fernald penned an anti S.B. 489 editorial to this week’s Laconia newspaper. I think pathetic would be a correct statement if politics weren’t involved. But politics are involved so after reading this garbage I'm now left with the feeling that the meaning of this editorial is that the former senator wants to do something in politics again.

The stupidity that appears in this editorial deserves either a response or a clarification and I hope that the Laconia newspaper does this in the name of responsible journalism. I think Senator Fernald should be embarrassed to have words like this attached to his name. It’s clear to me his research probably consisted of a Google search about casinos before he stated writing:

“Eighty percent of the projected revenue from S.B. 489 would come from slot machines.”

Its clear Mr. Fernald has not considered either the revenue from table games likes Texas Holdem or more recently, Baccarat (all versions). Why is it that in every major destination casino the poker room is equal or greater in size than the slot machine area? Also, Fernald doesn’t define any of the revenue. New Hampshire will gain revenue from numerous cashflow sources if casino gaming is passed not just the games themselves.

“Crime tripled in the three years after the first AC casinos were built, taking the crime rate from 50^th to number one.”

And where exactly did you get this statistic Fernald? It’s now 2010 and I think the real statistics will show AC has a crime rate at par or below a city of its demographic size. I think a better comparison would be Atlantic City with casinos and tourism revenue vs. Asbury Park with nothing, section 8 housing and lots of crime. But this isn’t why you wrote the editorial is it Mr. Fernald.

“Suicides more than doubled in Gulfport, Miss. In the two years after the casinos arrived.”

I spent some time in the Biloxi, Gulfport and Tunica areas in the late 1990s right after the casinos arrived. I think this quote is quite wrong. There was poverty, deprivation and blight in these areas. By any analysis of civilization the taxbase, jobs and society have improved in these impoverished areas of Mississippi after the development of casinos instead of the other way around.

It’s my impression from this editorial that former Senator Fernald doesn’t seem to have a problem in letting poor people remain poor.

To Be Continued…

Stickerage.

During the 1990s or at least when Charlie Bass was running for Congress I remember seeing a lot of political bumper stickers on cars. The Bass stickers were very distinctive with the orange they are hard to miss. I’m sure the orange is ground out there somewhere in consumer behavior analysis. It all comes down to product marketing and getting the votes and in this case the orange strategy worked.

I’m not seeing a lot of political stickers these days, or at least in my recent trips across the second congressional district. I’ve tried to make a mental note of what I’ve seen on the backs of vehicles and there has not been a lot of politics or at least campaigns displayed. Instead I’ve mainly seen:

Words and symbols for the United States Marine Corps. (mainly on trucks).

Words and symbols for Harley Davidson Motorcycles. (mainly on trucks).

Actually, the only real statement or political stickers I’m finding is on vehicles like the Toyota Prius and other environmentally sustainable green vehicles and these are thoughtful and are ranging from organic farming to small logos for the U.S. Ski Team.

Is the day for political stickerage over?

Stickerage now there’s a word!

Not an in-depth reasoning or analysis here but could the reason be that the demographics and profiles of voters have changed and as a political medium just isn’t viable to get these needed votes. The way things are going maybe the votes don’t even matter, whatever candidate can raise the most money in the shortest period of time wins the nomination.

I think the demographics is a better idea though. In a previous post I’ve made some arguments about female based demographics and their use of vocabulary with the more common examples: exactly, really, absolutely and OMG! Well, I just happened to trip over this video I found on UTUBE which I think proves my point. Just substitute in an expletive for the exactly and the rest remains the same. It would be neat to find out what is meant by candy cane and why does she hate Oklahoma? Now imagine her response.

These are the voters. The real demographics.

And I’ll bet there’s no political stickerage on this car. No way!

Source: UTUBE.

College Textbooks.

As a part of the recently passed healthcare legislation, the federal government now has control of the content found in college textbooks. NH Insider blogger Steve MacDonald decries this as yet another example of socialism via the administration.

Guess with my own experience in the background I’d have to be an optimist here and suggest that perhaps this is a good move in the name of its intended purpose, education.

Back when I was an accounting student there was no such thing as Microsoft Windows. The clunky Lotus operating system was the only software on the market and even then it wasn’t that frequently used. Instead, to learn accounting I had to understand both the theory and its practical application(s) in areas ranging from income statements to calculating retained earnings and then using these numbers to complete a full set of financial statements. This is also during the time when the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and Generally Acceptable Principals of Accounting (GAAP) still had teeth and could discipline accountants that didn’t follow the rules.

Not today.

2010. I believe all of this is gone. Recently, I looked at a college level financial accounting textbook and I was shocked. First it was almost $300.00 in price not including the add-on software and workbook. And it was apparent that this textbook did some theory but the emphasis was getting the student to understand computer software applications used in accounting and how this process worked, basically as if computers are the backbone of accounting instead of the other way around. I’m imagining zombie like technicians sitting at a keyboard in a cubicle entering numbers without any type of understanding of why they are using these numbers or what is ultimately derived from them.  As a part of this statement I realize that progress in any field is a constant, the accounting field included.  Of course computers would be a natural in accounting just like the advent of electric tools for crafts like carpentry and plumbing. But even with progress carpenters, plumbers still know their fields: the tools make their jobs more efficient and cost effective. I don’t believe the same thing is happening in accounting.

And the financial accounting textbook showed me this.  As a result I think the student is paying too much money for a textbook to get less education. So the federal government is now in control of college textbooks, perhaps this is a good thing. With accounting as an example, I think the content should be returned to the historical and generally accepted practice of accounting that has existed for hundreds of years. First year accounting students or at least students enrolled in financial accounting shouldn’t be playing with video games or software at this level. I'm confident that textbook arguements like this can be made for other college level fields: english, psychology and whatever.

My last point it the price of college textbooks themselves. $300.00 for a textbook is obscene by any method of valuation. The price needs to come down.

If this socialism then we need socialism.   

Responsible Journalism.

The Senate Bill 489 Legislation has moved over to the House.

By any political analysis it faces a challenge. But the larger question here and a question that I think speaks of objectivity is the reporting of WMUR and more specifically of the first hearing for S.B. 489.

It appeared on the nightly news.

Of course the emphasis of the project economy piece has to be upon the hearing itself and sponsor of S.B. 489, Sen. Lou Dellasandro and his statement that “fifty five thousand people in New Hampshire need a job.” Actually I think the number is higher than this but this reality in New Hampshire is neither here nor there. What is here is what happens next. After the Sen. Dellasandro explanation showing the hearing which was clearly numbered by proponents of S.B. 489, the broadcast turns to my favorite anti-gaming spokesman, former Sen. Rubens who quickly stated to the effect that the casino interests are making “wildly exhortations” about what the passage of S.B. 489 could mean for New Hampshire.

Really.

And then the news 9 story closed out that was it.

No response from any of the gaming interests or their spokespersons or for that matter any of the supporters that appeared at the hearing. The former Senator and failed candidate for Governor never stated what these promises were and thanks to the gatekeeper role of the media the general public is probably thinking something negative has happened which has never been defined or even confirmed.   

Is this responsible journalism? Why did WMUR do it this way?  

I’m surprised that WMUR did this. Last summer the Manchester based station took the time and resources to travel to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and report on the passage of gaming in that state. I think they should have visited Bethlehem and Chester, Pa. instead on the one location they covered but their reporting was still quality and that they took the time to consider the depth of this issue by going to Pennsylvania. So now I can think of only one reason why WMUR truncated information or at least a response about this important issue and legislation. And this reason is politics.

And politics isn't responsible journalism.   

Port Authority Politics.

Well I’m here in central New Hampshire it’s been raining off and on all day. I’m just imagining what all of this is going to do for spring skiing.

NH ski areas won’t have to worry about the impact of the recently passed healthcare bill and its related costs the weather will take care of everything.

Okay.

I was thinking today about politics and what some of my interest(s) have been in this field. Today I found this video on UTUBE about the Port of Oakland, California and instantly stated thinking about why I like port authority politics. I was looking at the UTUBE video which is also happening in LA and Long Beach and this immediately sent my analysis into solutions ranging from clearing these container loads manually to some of the geostrategic issues that appear in the Journal of Commerce magazine about steamship companies and the movement of containers globally. Included in this is the development of alternate ports instead of California, places like Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico and more recently as I understand it, Jacksonville, Florida. The effective use of rail transportation is an important part of this idea.

So why do I like port authority politics, as if this means anything…

I think this version of politics encompasses so much that is so valuable and needed. Commerce, transportation, logistics, trade, strategy and ultimately making money! And like this video shows, in this case RFID tags and delays; I think this type of politics is tactical with issues like this. This is unlike some of the traditional politics like here in New Hampshire where you have lengthy floor debates in the New Hampshire House about issues and legislation like the official state drink. The official state drink.

Is it milk or apple cider? I don’t know if these are the two choices for the official state drink. That’s how important I think this issue is for New Hampshire. I like the idea of politics being about problem solving.

And creating opportunity. Drink to that. Along with a motion to limit debate.

Source: January 19, 2010 Port of Oakland Nightmare Caused by RFID.