To establish, develop, and recognize the capacity to know the responsibilities and duties of American citizens.

Please visit http://www.woodybiomass.com (it is a site hosted by John Deere) and if you feel so inclined, email your congressional delegation with something similar to what I sent mine:

“Please seek legislation to help improve the capability of woody biomass to be classified as a “renewable energy source”. By utilizing dead, down, diseased trees and shrubs, we can reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources, as well as, help to reduce the risk of structure losses due to wildfires. This is a win, win, win, situation if you also include the fact that rural communities would also benefit from an additional revenue stream to their local economies. Currently, the Department of Energy has a facility in South Dakota that is an experiment in BioFuel production. We should have 1 or 2 of these facilities in Northern Minnesota to help speed the process to a better BioFuel production capability.

I appreciate any time and legislative support, in advance, that you will give to this issue.”

The more people that hold our elected officials to the fire, the better we can make our government.

And Klobuchar’s response (I’m guessing it is canned or a staffer wrote it, but I could be wrong).

June 30, 2010

Dear Mr. Glesener:

Thank you for contacting me about climate change. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and concerns on this important issue.

Environmental conservation and stewardship is an important part of Minnesota’s heritage – and it’s part of my own family heritage, too. Like most Minnesotans, I grew up in a family that values the outdoors. I believe that we must protect our country’s natural resources for the enjoyment of generations to come. Setting up the right long-term policies – such as encouraging recycling, developing renewable energy sources, and promoting innovation – will protect our environment and our economy and preserve our country’s leadership in the world.

As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am working to pass legislation to protect our environment, including legislation to address the threats from global climate change. In 2007, I cosponsored America’s Climate Security Act, and authored the first title of the bill – a provision that I call the “carbon counter.” This provision creates the first national greenhouse gas registry to monitor, verify, and report greenhouse gas emissions. I am happy to report that the new Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency recently unveiled new rules that include my greenhouse gas provision.

Creating a stable market for renewable energy is the key to unleashing innovation, the defining strength of the American economy.  That is why, along with Republican Senator Olympia Snowe, I introduced the bipartisan American Renewable Energy Act (S. 826), which would create a national renewable electricity standard similar to the current standard in Minnesota, where utility companies are required to produce at least 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.  This legislation will create a national and predictable domestic market for renewable energy, provide the long-term stability businesses need when deciding how to invest their resources, and drive economic growth and technological innovation.

As you know, we are already working toward a new energy and climate change bill in the United States Senate. With your support, I am confident that our efforts to tackle this historic challenge will finally prevail.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. One of the most important parts of my job is listening to what the people of Minnesota have to say to me. I am here in our nation’s capital to do the public’s business and to serve the people of our state. I hope you will contact me again about matters of concern to you.

Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar

United States Senator

The Failing U.S. Government–The Crisis of Public Management [Extended version]

I think every voting person knows the fallacy of the lobby system. To bad there is no one to fix it. Chicken, egg, or dinosaur?! You pick. To bad we can’t stuff that chicken in side that dinosaur, coat it with the egg, batter it up (I think Widmere Hefewiezen would make a good batter) and have it for lunch, dinner, and…

By
Jeffrey D. Sachs

Nothing less than an overhaul of the systems that implement federal policies will suffice

The Failing U.S. Government–The Crisis of Public Management.

© 1996-2009 Scientific American, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

I was angry at the Bailout in the first place.  Why should I as a taxpayer pay for the Vegas-like gambling that occurred by Hedge-funds and others in the realestate industry?   FYI, the 700 Billion that is being given to the rich, would be about $9,100 in every taxpayers pocket.  Hmm…

So now McCain wants to allow anyone in forclosure, even if the equity in their home is greater than their mortgage, to have thier mortgage re-written (i.e. the debt forgiven).  That’s bull.  You as a responsible person, who has paid your mortgage on time and didn’t buy into what you could afford don’t qualify.

There are 3 groups that are responsible and need to be held accountable:

1. The homeowner that over-bought;
2. The Lender (or current owner of the mortgage) that allowed the individual to be over leveraged;
3. And the regulators (Government) that allowed all of this to happen.

It doesn’t make sense to not allow anyone to be accountable.  I agree something has to be done.  The best way to help the homeowner is to work with them, but not without consequences.  A better plan, that holds all 3 parties accountable would be:

1. Allow re-negotiating on mortgages, but the difference gets taxed as income to the homeowner.  This can be amoritized over 3, 10, 30 years; whatever is deemed responsible.
2. The Lender or paper holder must assume a loss on 50% of the difference in the re-negotiated value.  Sorry, you made a bad choice and over extended.  Besides, they’ve gotten so many breaks already.  I mean AIG gets a 85 billion dollar loan and then ask for and receive another 37 billion dollar loan and then spends $400,000 on a resort retreat.  That is a blatant lack of ethics and morals.  Can anyone say: “Sense of entitlement?”  Hmm…  worse than Welfare!
3. Finally, the government takes their 50% and puts a lien on the property (adjusted with inflation) for the next 20-50 years.  This would be no different than another assessment on your property tax.  One difference would be that the lien would be transferable with the property.  The market will vet these properties out.  Selling prices my be lower on some properties, but they also will be somewhat more stable.  Since the property has a mortgage, the taxes can be tied to an escrow account that would better help to budget those dollars.

The net result would be a zero cost to the taxpayer over time.  If you think this is a good idea, please inform your elected officials and make sure they put it into action.  You can find out who they are by going to http://www.veteranreportcard.org/ and entering your address or zip code.

I recommend that you cut and paste this message or use the email link to share it.