Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my regular rant about politics and religion with
a dash of gossip to ad flavor. My name is Michael Libbie and if you would like to post a comment here, feel free. And/Or let's connect on my personal Twitter Stream @MichaelLibbie and my personal Facebook Page is right here. I welcome most visitors...but play nice OK?
Syria
I thought it was interesting that when the United States says we are going to do a "strategic strike" against Syria because they have used chemical weapons on their citizens killing over 1,400 of them Syria responds with, "If you attack us we will join with Iraq, Iran and Egypt and attack Israel!" Whoa...Israel? So, that is how you want to play this? Maybe you should have a second thought on that...it would not end well for you.
It's Labor Day Weekend
Time to sit back and be grateful for stuff like the 40-hour work week (anybody do that anymore?), weekends off, minimum wage, holidays off, vacations...you know, the stuff everybody takes for granted. It's all stuff that was paid for with broken bones and bloody heads as unions fought for the rights of workers against the "job creators" of yesterday. What is confounding to me is that today union membership is at an all time low while the middle-class continues to sink lower and lower on the economic scale. Think there is a coincidence there? No me. And, I know some of you have horror stories about unions. OK...so? Nothing is perfect however, I'm thinking we'll see a rise in union membership in the coming years because...you can fill in the blank. Going to the Labor Day Parade in your city? (Click on the photo to enlarge...and read.)
Immigration Reform and Business
Last week The Center for American Progress released a state-by-state estimate of the economic benefits associated with comprehensive immigration reform. The report says that Iowa would see 867 additional jobs annually, a $3.3 billion cumulative increase in the earnings of all Iowa residents and $2.8 billion cumulative additional earnings for immigrants who live in Iowa and who will pay an additional $283 million in state and local taxes over the same period. Yeah..but...they "look funny". Weary my friends.
Speaking of Labor Day...
I understand that Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) will be the grand marshall of the Des Moines Labor Day Parade that kicks off tomorrow at 11AM from the State Capitol. Just so you know.
The Grocery Store Story
Last week I met Satpal Singh who owns Namaste India Supermarket in Clive, Iowa. Satpal tells me it is the largest in the state. When talking with him I noticed some cloth under his baseball cap and I asked him if he was Sikh. He looked a little surprised, smiled and said, "How did you know?" I told him I pay attention to minority faith groups a bit because I am Jewish. He said, "Then you know too?" He was talking about how others talk about minorities and told me the story about his liquor store and the time when some new military people come into his store and say, "We're headed over to your county to blow the crap out of your people. You should give us that bottle for free!" Maybe along with marching we should inform new recruits about...the world?
Governor Kim Reynolds?
Two years ago I heard that Gov. Terry Branstad (R-IA) would not run for re-election because of several factors. It was repeated often in hushed tones. I don't think that is the case but what has been interesting is how he and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds have been "joined at the hip" at nearly every event and clearly in every message coming out of the governor's office. They have been busy branding the "Branstad/Reynolds Team" for...years. That, along with the governor continuing to drag his feet regarding a formal announcement of his candidacy fuels the rumor that Lt. Governor Reynolds will be a "last minute replacement" in the spring. I do know my friends at Bleeding Heartland have written about it more than...once.
The ROI of Football in Iowa
Well now...yesterday was interesting as the highest paid state employee took the Iowa Hawkeyes to the field and lost...badly...to Northern Illinois. Whoops. Then in Ames the second highest paid state employee saw his team go down in defeat to Northern Iowa. Hmmmm... Maybe there is some truth to the Chamber of Commerce claim that raising the minimum wage isn't a good idea because it will ruin productivity...
Partly Personal
Short cup of Coffee today. I am bushed. We've been putting in 16 hour days all week as we launched the News Hour. Then it was a trip to Mason City on Friday to do services at Adas Israel and stay for Shabbat and our Midrash Group and visit some hospital patients, back to Des Moines to see Mom and finally home around eight last night. Yikes...sorry for the short cup.
If you want to check out the new Mom & Me story about Danish Kringle...here you go.
Have a fantastic Labor Day Weekend! Thanks for coming by! - Michael
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