Another Modest Proposal: Charge Extra to Live in Disaster-Prone Areas of California

The California Legislature has a modest proposal under consideration. California spent $412 million fighting wildfires last fiscal year – a record. Just two weeks into the new budget year, the state has already burned through a third of that total. So the Legislature contends that if the State of California is to continue to protect homes in burn areas, owners must pay more fees for the priviledge of burning up.

Insurance companies love the idea. It's always in their best interest for us to pay more, and get less. Fire season in the West, Hurricane season in the East, Tornado season in the Midwest - it's always something. We should be expected to bear the brunt of it, right?

AA Exec Assesses Impact Of Fuel "Tidal Wave"

You're not the only one in pain at the pump. American Airlines is losing $3 million per day under the current fuel prices. Fuel costs have become the airline industry's greatest expense.

Speaking to the Association of Corporate Travel Executives Global Education Conference and Corporate Travel World, American Airlines senior vice president of government affairs William Ris said

"For every $100 dollars of revenue that an airline takes, right off the top $20 or $25 go to taxes and fees. Now with the fuel prices, $40 goes just to fill up the tank. That leaves just 40 more dollars to buy airplanes, maintain the fleet, pay our people, fund pensions and healthcare, pay rent and a variety of other expenses. That is not a sustainable business model."

Ris says that the solution is not in raising fares or reducing operating costs. He feels that a reduction in capacity (fewer planes, fewer routes) is the direction to go. Since deregulation, airlines have lost about $1.76 per passenger. This year, 2008, they are losing $10.89 per passenger. The price of fuel has gone from 10% of American Airline's costs to more than 40%. Deregulation has created more problems than it solved, and this, along with the obscene prices for fuel, may bring the airline industry to its knees.

For Sale: Just Listed!

The Beverly Hills Mansion once belonging to William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies can be yours! The 1920's-era, 29-bedroom, pink stucco spread is for sale for an asking price of a mere $165,000,000.00 - which, by the way, is the nation's single most expensive piece of real estate. Now, the estate boasts six separate residences: four houses, an apartment and a cottage for staff; three pools; a disco; and a state-of-the-art movie theater. After all, this is Los Angeles.

The compound is part of the "Platinum Triangle" which includes Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, and Holmby Hills. New residents include Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, David Beckham and Victoria Spice Girl, and a few others. Hearst bought the place in 1947 for the paltry sum of $120,000.00, so clearly it has increased in value, proving once again that real estate is the way to make your money.

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Oh, wait. Not anymore. Not anymore. No, now we want to send them all back. Or dump them in front of homeless shelters. Or deny them health care. Or deny them education. Or housing. Or food. We can spend close to $450,000,000,000.00 on a disaster of a war in Iraq, but we cannot care for our needy. But we sure as hell can list a house for $165 million dollars. And you know what? Some self-centered yahoo with more money than heart is going to cough it up.

I'm deeply saddened by what this nation has become.