• Today is Chinese New Year... welcome to the the Year of the Ox (President Obama born during the year of the Ox).


• Guest: Carrie Lukas, Vice President for Policy and Economics, Independent Women's Forum. The Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA).


• Guest: Philip K. Howard, author, "Life without Lawyers".


• Guest: "Labor Segment": Bob Baugh, Exec. Director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council.

Topics, guests, upcoming events, quotes, links to articles, audio clips, books & bumper music.

Monday 26 January '09 show

• Today is Chinese New Year... welcome to the the Year of the Ox (President Obama born during the year of the Ox).
  
• The prime minister of Iceland resigned. Iceland did what Phil Gramm recommended we do, and we did, but they did it more aggressively. The Greens could win; it could be transformational.
  
• Article: Two Santa Clauses or How The Republican Party Has Conned America for Thirty Years, Thom Hartmann.
  
• Thom riffed on the theme of his two Santa Clauses article. Supply side economics brought down the government of Iceland.
  
• Bumper Music: Trying to Matter, Gary Allan.
  
• History of Democrats and Republicans.
  
• Quote:
  "Now it is true that I believe this country is following a dangerous trend when it permits too great a degree of centralization of governmental functions. I oppose this--in some instances the fight is a rather desperate one. But to attain any success it is quite clear that the Federal government cannot avoid or escape responsibilities which the mass of the people firmly believe should be undertaken by it. The political processes of our country are such that if a rule of reason is not applied in this effort, we will lose everything--even to a possible and drastic change in the Constitution. This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon "moderation" in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
  President Dwight D. Eisenhower, November 8, 1954 letter to his brother Edgar. He was considered a moderate in his day.
  
• Bumper Music: Give a Little Bit, Supertramp.
  
• The phones were down for a while, listeners were asked to call via KPOJ instead.
  
• Matthew 25:31-46:
  

  When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
  
  Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
  
  Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
  
  The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
  
  Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
  
  They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
  
  He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
  
  Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

  
  
• Bumper Music: Mona Lisa (When The World Comes Down), All American Rejects (video).
  
• Book: "Cracking the Code: The Fascinating Truth About Taxation In America", Peter Eric Hendrickson (not to be confused with Thom's book).
  
• Quote: "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." -- Thomas Jefferson.
  
• Article: Rule Freezes Bush Move on Chemical Safety, Can