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The G-Blog |
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THE POLITICAL SEASON 7/26/10-When the political campaign season begins in earnest after Labor Day, we will begin to hear about how much big money corrupts the process. We will hear that too much money is spent on political ads and people that run for office shouldn’t have to spend so much to get elected. I have always felt that getting the message out is the most important thing. And unfortunately, spending lots of money on political advertising is the only way to do it. But both sides of the political spectrum take advantage of it. Corporations certainly spend a lot but so do unions. In fact if it wasn’t for political advertising, unions would have no advantage at all. So what does it all mean? Nothing is going to change. Millions of dollars will still be spent. Critics will continue to complain, and elections will be held in November just as usual. Hopefully the messages that are being presented will help voters to decide what the future of the country will be. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com OBAMA AND BIG BUSINESS \7/9/10-Why has the Obama administration become so anti-big business? Do they think that growth in this country comes from the government? Apparently so because the only job growth that is going on in this country is in the public sector. New bureaucracies are being created and that means more public employees, large pensions, and higher taxes. Coming in 2011 will be huge tax increases. The Bush tax cuts, that helped to create a huge expansion in the earlier part of this decade, will be gone. Even though administration officials say only the rich will be paying more, the true is that everyone, including the middle class will be affected. Is this the way to get us out of a recession? Tax increases? I think not and increasingly more and more people are beginning to see the light as well. The November elections will show just how upset people really area. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
THE ECONOMY? 6/28/10- Is the economy getting better? I think it depends on where you are. I constantly hear businesspeople complain about the lack of business. But I go to some high-end dining establishments and things are booming. I also see a lot of people at the malls. It may be that they aren’t buying and only strolling but the volume of folks is there. I think that a lot of people have money that they have been saving. They are a little cautious than they once were, and are only spending when they want to. But the Obama Administration policies aren’t helping things. The thing that is needed is tax credits in order to spur growth. Continued government spending doesn’t do anything but burden the next generation with higher taxes. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
BOSTON VS. LOS ANGELES: LONG-TIME FEUD 6/21/10- The basketball season is finally over. And the Lakers won their 16th championship. I think what makes this one special is the win over the Celtics. Now you Boston fans will probably gasp at hearing this, but we Laker fans don’t have any love for any sports team in Boston. Much of it is not just basketball, but baseball is certainly included as well. Growing up an Angels fan I was continually disappointed when the Red Sox beat up on the halos. The frustration continued when the Celtics almost always beat the Lakers in the finals. So this victory by the Lakers is sweet. And if the Angels can once again take care of the Red Sox should they meet in the playoffs, the year will be complete. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
THIS IS GREAT SERVICE FOR DINERS? 6/7/10- How many times have you gone to a restaurant only to find you have a wait and there are a slew of open tables? Did you ever wonder why? If you ask they may tell you or they may not. But usually it involves a service problem. The restaurant is usually short-staffed. The theory is that they should leave waiting diners waiting so that the service people won’t be too busy. In some chain restaurants service people are only allowed to have 3 tables at a time. So if you have fewer service people, tables will remain empty. As a long-time restaurant reviewer, I absolutely hate this practice. Having people act like cattle while waiting for an open table is the worst kind of service you can find. Why not sit the people at the table, bring some bread, and offer them a drink? Oh that would be too easy. And unfortunately most people either don’t know what is going on or don’t care. Maybe it is me, but I always ask for a Manager when this nonsense is going on. I either demand to be seated or leave. I won’t put up with being treated like a sheep. By the way this only happens in chain restaurants. Most independent restaurant people know how to give good service. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
THE WEATHER SEEMS COOL 5/31/10- Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season. With that comes vacations, and more outdoor fun. We here in Southern California usually have the hot weather at an early date. But that is not the case this year. We have had one of the coolest Springs in history. Further north, ski resorts in Lake Tahoe, such as Donner, stayed open through the 3 day holiday. That hadn’t happened in quite some time. The snowpack is 167% of normal, partly because of El Nino conditions. The point that comes to mind is what ever happened to global warming? We certainly haven’t had any this year. In fact the average temperatures have been cooler? Those facts are beginning to change public opinion about the whole climate change issue. When people ask me about the issue, I always say wait 1000 years, then we might have some eviden e. Our records don’t go back too far, and the Earth is millions of years old. The only way to look at trends is to be patient. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com THE SCHOOL YEAR WENT FAST 5/14/10- Did you ever wonder why the school goes so fast as a parent and it never did as a student? I can remember sitting in class during those spring months, being bored from the first bell until the end. It didn’t seem to matter what the teacher was talking about or what day it was, a continual state of boredom was the order of the day. I was never one of those kids who just couldn’t wait to get to school. By the way I always hated those kids, and never wanted to hang around them. Of course they are the ones that turned out to be valectorians or doctors. Oh well, at least we had fun. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
SUMMER PLANS FOR THE KIDS 5/17/10- This is time of year when parents start thinking about what their kids will be doing this summer. Moms, who are used to quiet during the summer months, will be contemplating plans with their kids. As a youngster I always enjoyed the time off from school, but toward the end of summer things usually got a little dull, and I actually was ready to go back to school. I think most kids won’t ever admit it, but they usually do enjoy school, at least most of it. That’s why I think it is important to have academic tasks for them to do every summer. There was one summer when I was forced to go to summer school. But the class was one about the Canterbury Tales, and even though I didn’t think about it at the time, I still remember that session very well..with fond memories. So I have always thought that it is a good idea to keep the kids busy, at least part of the summer, with some scholastic tasks. It will get them ready for the fall. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
UNEMPLOYMENT AND SPIN 5/10/10-When is unemployment good? It seems as though the Obana administration thinks that a rise in unemployment is OK when new jobs are being developed. But one has to ask how can that happen? How can it be that jobs are being developed by the unemployment rate rises to 9/9%. That sounds like pure ‘spin’ to me. The fact of the matter is that most corporations are afraid to hire. They don’t know what healthcare is going cost. They don’t know how high taxes are going up. And consumers aren’t spending enough to justify it. One can hope that the administration can stop the spin and start telling the truth. That just might get the job market going. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com TUNING OUT 4/26/10-Every once in awhile I get tired of watching and talking politics. From Monday through Friday I’m always tuned to the net keeping informed with the most up-to-date news items. But on the weekends I like to tune it all out. And when it gets tuned out I get a chance to smell the roses so to speak. After all it is Spring and even though Southern California has been very cool in the last few days, it is still the time when things do green up. You can actually smell some of the blooms in the air, and people seem to be a little more friendly because they can be outdoors more. Wouldn’t it be great if that feeling could be the norm and not just happen in the Spring? Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com FREE SPEECH UNDER ASSAULT -Free speech is a fundamental right in the country. At least it is supposed to be. And yet as Americans participate in non-violent demonstrations to denounce the policies of the federal government, they are abused by those who are like to champion such free speech rights. In particular Ex-President Clinton has been discussing the parallels between supposed violence and conservative free speech. I ask the question, “Just where is this violence?” Having visited a tea party function, I can happily say that this group is one of the most gentle population there is. And it is not just aged old men. In fact the group that I visited were ethnically diverse. There were all races there and not only Republicans. Many Democrats are not happy with the tax and spend policies of the Obama administration either. This grass roots movement is effective. That is why those on the left are getting so upset. They really don’t like to have their policies questioned. It seems as though they can’t justify them. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com GOVERNMENT INTRUSION AND PRIVACY 4/5/10- The debate over big government is raging on in this country. Just how much should government for for us? I maintain that just about every government act is an intrusion in a private citizen’s life. In the guise of being “Good for You”, each law takes a little more freedom away. Many federal mandates may start out in a benign fashion, but fast become intrusive as laws to fix measures and unintended consequences make more mandates. For instance, anti-smoking laws were intended to be used for public places. I’m not a smoker and appreciate no smoke in public areas, but I draw the line when some cities are beginning to ban smoking in private homes. Talk about an intrusion. Environmental laws also infringe on private property rights. When a creature is supposedly endangered, that can directly affect what a property owner can do. Is that fair? I think not. I just have one simple statement for any and all government programs, Just leave me alone! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
THE HEALTHCARE HARDLY ANYONE WANTS 3/29/10-The country has instantly been changed by the events of the past weekend. A huge government healthcare program has been passed. Even the nation opposes it in growing numbers, the democrats forced it upon the American people. What does it mean? Rationed healthcare, higher prices, and still not universal care. It puts another 12% of the population under some form of healthcare, but the costs will be staggering. Government mandates will eventually put private insurers out of business. I did some research into other national programs and it seems as South Korea might be a good parallel situation. It was about 20 years ago when they adopted a similiar program to what the democrats just passed. Regional insurance pools were set up, but in the past few years they have all gone out of business. There is now a single payer situation. The same will take place here. The world’s greatest healthcare system in this country is under assault. Thank you democrats! This is your debacle but everyone will have to live with it! Bob Gourley comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
ENTITLEMENTS? 3/22/10- The word ‘entitlement’ is one we hear a lot of about these days. It is a word that generations before us never even considered. They paid for their healthcare, bills, and other obligations. They would have been embarrassed to even consider having somebody else do it for them. And yet now it seems as though many in our society think they should have many of their obligations paid for by the government. I think in most cases these same people think that everything is free. The question I always have is just who do you think pays for these free programs? The answer of course is taxpayers like me and you. As the deficit grows, the generations to follow will have to pay for all of the entitlements. Rights? Whatever happened to the constitution? Sadly it looks as though we may be getting close to European countries. And that is not a good thing at all! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com HEALTH CARE SHOWDOWN 3/15/10-This could be the week that changes America? If the healthcare program passes, a era will begin, and not a very good one. The government will control a great part of the economy. Could unionized doctors be far behind? Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
PUBLIC SERVICE TODAY 3/8/10- How important is public service in everyone’s lives? Dan Thurmon will discuss that when he guests this week on “Issues Today”. He will give some tips on finding the right public service job. Dr. Hana Solomon will talk about nose health. Who knew it was so important? Lots on this week’s shows. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
URBAN SURVIVAL 3/1/10- Sean Brodrick talks to people about how to survive natural disasters in urban areas. He will give listeners some tips on this week’s Issues Today. Childhold obesity will also be discussed. Zoe Harcombe will talk about her diet concept that emphasizes natural ingredients like meat, butter, and dairy products. Listen now. Push the Podcast button to the left. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT GROWING 2/22/10- Georgia State legislator Sharon Cooper has some ideas on how people can take back their government. She will discuss it this week on Issues Today. There seems to be a growing grass roots movement of citizens, many who have never been politically active before. They are having meetings and talking about ideas, not specific candidates. It will be interesting to see just how effective they are in getting conservative candidates elected in November. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com HOW TO LIVE RENT FREE! 2/15/10- A lot of people have been trying to figure out how to live in this recession economy. Real estate guru Jim Anderson has some ideas that he will discuss this week on Issues Today. He will talk about how to live rent-free. Dr. Stephanie Bien will also discuss an important topic, male menopause. What is it? Who gets it ? And how can it be treated? All this week on the program. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com IS ISRAEL DOOMED? 2/8/10- Dr. Constance Hilliard will discuss the future of Israel this week on Issues Today. Her book deals with what she feels is failed U.S. policy toward the mideast. Morey Long will also talk about proposed legislation that would pit Fedex against UPS. Todd Wilbur will give some tips on cooking restaurant recipes at home. Go to www.issuestodayradio.com to listen and download. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
CANCER AND DIVORCE RANCHES THIS WEEK 2/1/10-Dr. Dan Kenner will talk about alternative health measures this week on Issues Today. He will discuss why natural products, along with traditional options, can pack a big punch in treating cancer. Also this week Marilu Norden will discuss divorce ranches, which were popular in the 50’s. She will shed some light on an era when there was no no fault divorce. People actually had to move to divorce ranches in order to be granted divorces. To listen check out your local affiliate or go to www.issuestodayradio.com. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com A GREAT WEEK FOR AMERICA 1/25/10- It was a great week for America! First of all the national healthcare plan, that was hated by most Americans, will be dramatically changed in order to get it passed. Second, the Supreme Court ruled that free speech applies to corporations and unions. Even though a lot of folks on the left are upset, it shouldn’t be an issue at all. The constitution protects free speech for everyone. Some are calling the 5 to 4 by the Supreme Court ‘activism’, but it is just the opposite. No new laws were passed, just an affirmation of the constitution. How refreshing! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com THE LATE NIGHT TV DEBACLE 1/18/10-The late night going on at NBC is tragic for a lot of reasons. People seem to taking sides but I see only one bad guy. No it isn’t Jay Leno. He has done everything he was asked to do. He was graceful in accepting Conan’s emergence at the Tonight Show time. Conan came out from the east and took over last year. He should have been given at least 2 years to work things out. I have heard outrageous comments from people criticizing Leno and Conan. Let’s put the blame exactly where it should be, on the suits at NBC. They terribly miscalculated ratings for their affiliates. Why didn’t anybody see that lower ratings at the 10PM hour would equate to lower affiliates ratings? The fix on this, having Leno do a half hour lead-in show to Conan, is a disaster for both. The only person really having fun with this is David Letterman. What a shame that is! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
WHAT TO DO ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS? 1/11/10- Two views on the state of education will be heard on this week’s Issues Today. Verna Gray will discuss the burgeoning charter school movement. Dr. Jeffrey Jones will talk about the growing dropout rate and the reasons why. ANOTHER VIEW ON MARIJUANA 1/4/10-Another viewpoint on the legalization of marijuana. This time researcher Michael Hartman will discuss his views that include decriminalization. Michael Hartman will help you find your lost life insurance policies through his website. Both guests are on Issues Today this week. Happy New Year! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA? - It seems as though the old adage that you can tax anything is being applied to illegal drugs, at least they are illegal at the present time. Dr. Kay Wachuku will comment on efforts by many states to legalize or decriminalize marijuana and tax it. He will comment on the social and ethical aspects. He is a guest on “Issues Today” this week as well as attorney Teresa Burell who will comment on the increase in child abuse throughout the country. Go to www.issuestodayradio.com to download the program. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR GUESTS 12/21/09-Holocaust survivor Lydia Reich will guest on “Issues Today” this week. She will give her story and discuss her relationship with Anne Frank. She will also talk about her disgust with some middle east leaders who are holocaust deniers. There are fewer and fewer survivors each. DIrector Steven Spielberg has been chronicling their stories on video. A humbling holocaust museum is housed at the main library at Chapman University in Orange, California. With the deniers around, it is always good to keep in mind the atrocities that were committed by the Nazis. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com HEALTHCARE DEBATE ON ISSUES TODAY 12/14- Another voice on the national healthcare debate will be heard this week on Issues Today. Terry Mix, who has worked in the medical industry for a long while, will comment. He sees a large government bureaucracy as harmful. He also thinks a single payer system is not going to help either. The senate, which is still debating the bill, had better look at the polls. As the weeks go along, more and more Americans are finding out just what is in this bill. And they don’t like it. From being forced to buy healthcare to the many aspects of rationing, they would rather keep what they have. Polls from a few months ago were very much in favor of the status quo, to the tune of 70%. There are some ideas that should be debated, such as people being able to keep their insurance, and covering more people. But that should be addressed on free market principles not bigger government. Why is it that just a few weeks ago Medicare was broke, but now the senate is considering putting many people on it. Where did the money come from? We will see in the next few weeks who Congress listens to, radicals within the Democrat party.. or the people who elected them. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com The Muslim Mindset on “Issues Today” 12/7-Author Nader Pourhassen is an interesting guest. He will be discussing his book “The Corruption of the Muslim Mind” this week on “Issues Today”. He raises some interesting questions about the zealots who are running the jahid around the world. He also compares Christian and Muslim views. Don McCabe will also be a guest. He will questioning the drug therapy that is given to many kids who have ADHD. He says that new, alternative approaches are needed. You can download the program or listen by going to the Podcast/Listen On-Line page on the website. I welcome your comments on these intriguing guests. Bob Gourley Comments at: issuestoday@yahoo.com
Is Global Warming a Hoax? 11/28/09- Is global warming a hoax? After hacked E-mails were discovered, the question certainly must be raised. At the least a thorough investigation of these E-mails needs to be done. Every one of these scientists needs to scrutinized, and if there was criminal intent there needs to be prosecution. Policy all over the world is being formed, based on this research. If it is wrong and a political agenda was put in front of science, it needs to be stopped now. The economic hardships that will take place by the poor as a result of these policies is going to be astronomical. Let’s get to the bottom of it now! Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Some Thoughts on the Flu 11/15/09-Thoughts on the swine flu. As those of you who listen to this program know, I have taken a hands off approach to innoculations for swine flu. I have always felt that the whole thing is overblown. However I have just gotten over a bout with some kind of flu. It seems as though there are so many cultures going to the lab that they can only guess as to what kind of flu people have. All that I know is that it was Type A. I usually don’t get sick at all and haven’t had the flu for about 15 years. I figure I got it when I had to go to the doctor’s office for kidney stones. Germs are everywhere. I can say that whatever kind of flu it was the symptoms were not as wild as past cases. In fact three different doctors didn’t even know I had the flu until they tested for it. I did have a persistent temperature that wouldn’t go away. After being whisked to the hospital for a couple of days they discovered I didn’t have a kidney infection but did have the flu. After almost 2 weeks of it I still feel weak. I don;t fit into the group that is supposed to get it. I figure I was weakened with kidney stones. Anyway the flu is there. The entire 5th floor where I was located at the hospital was taken up with flu patients of all ages. The problem now is that the epidemic is winding on and there isn’t enough vaccine anyway so by the time the stuff gets out the worst will probably be over anyway. The best advice, get rest and eat lots of chicken soup. That is good medicine anytime! Bob Gourley. Comments to: issuestoday@yahoo.com
Two Broadcasters on Issues Today This Week 11/2/09- Two veteran broadcasters join us on Issues Today this week. Former Today Show host Deborah Norville discuss her new web program on rheumatoid arthritis. Also, former ABC Radio news anchor Mary Ellen Geist details her story about her decision to leave broadcasting to take care of her father with Alzheimers.
What Happened to the U.S. Auto Industry 10/26,09-What happened to the U.S. auto industry? Insider Robert Dewar will discuss what happened on this week’s Issues Today. He says that, particularly with General Motors, there was blame on both sides, management and unions. It really makes you wonder about government bailouts. Is that the answer? Or is failure just being delayed? I was once one of the greatest fans of General Motors, particularly Saturn. I have owned Saturns since the first model came out in 1991. I still own three of them but it will be a cold day in you know where before I ever buy another General Motors car. That goes for Chrysler too. Why reward bad management? Ford is the only American company that is viable. And foreign manufacturers are credible as well. They know how to build cars, with cooperative efforts from both management and workers. That is the right recipe for me.
FOOD SUPPLY AND TERRORISM 10/19/09- Is our food supply safe from terrorism? We will explore that questions on this week’s show. Tim Downs will talk about a scenario where a food supply cutoff would cripple our safety and economy. It makes you wonder just how safe we are. The Obama administration seems to be apologizing to everybody about everything U.S. Does that weaken our position? Some people think so. Many feel that we should be dealing from a position of strength, not say “Sorry” for our past policies.
SWINE FLU-PANDEMIC OR OVER-HYPE? 10/12/09-Should you get a swine flu shot? Believe it or not, that question is becoming more controversial as the peak flu season gets closer. Dr. Leonard Horowitz guests on Issues Today this week. He feels the whole panic is overblown. A question like this always comes down to individual choice, or in the case of kids, the decision of the parents. Recent studies have indicated that 60% of parents aren’t being swayed by all of the hype and are not going to immunize their children. Even experts say that the symptoms are not as dramatic as some other flu strains, but that it does come on very quickly. Time will tell if a big pandemic is coming, or over-hype is the order of the day. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com 10/5/09- Are teens really depressed? That is one of the questions we will answer as Terry Debold guests this week. She will detail some signs that tell about depression. It brings up an age old question that I think just about every generation asks? Are kids really flooded with more stressful things in their lives or do they have too much time on their hands? I suppose it is a little of both. For some reason a lot of parents have coddled their kids so much that they don’t want them to suffer any stress at all. And that contributes to stress. Some parents keep their kids so busy that they literally don’t have any time for mellowing out. This class and that sports activity take up a lot of time. There isn’t any time for kids to play with the neighborhood kids. We used to spend a lot of time with the neighbors, playing baseball, terrorizing kids on the next block, all kinds of things. Even though a lot of kids have stress I think they will turn out just fine. They will be the leaders of the next generation and will learn to make the tough decisions that we have had to make. All the best to them. Bob Gourley Comments to : issuestoday@yahoo.com TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL? 9/21/09- One of the guests on our show this week is Amy Webb, who is an expert on training seniors on computers. I was talking to someone yesterday about a cooking competition that has been going on for a long time. They have a lot of older people who enter. But a few years ago they switched on-line registration only. For the past couple of years the number of people entering has continued to go down. It occurs to me that some of that crowd doesn’t know how to enter on line. In fact there is still a generation of people who either don’t know how to run a computer or don’t want to. Are we as a society nosing out these people? Hopefully with people like Amy Webb around we will be able to get training to that population that is technology-challenged. It would be a shame to have a segment of society that can’t participate. Bob Gourley Comment at : issuestoday@yahoo.com
College Football 9/8/09-There is something special about the fall and it is much more than just cooling weather. It is college football. We here in Los Angeles don’t have a pro football team and haven’t since 1994. But what we do have is a semi-pro team, USC. A lot of NFL fans have been converted from the pro ranks to college. I have always had an affinity for college ball. It seems as though the players are more emotional, the fans have very loyal roots, and the product itself is just more exciting. Even though a developer is planning to put a new football stadium in Fontana, I really don’t care. It has been too long since pro ball was here and the only team I was really hooked on, the Los Angeles Rams, left a long time ago. I remember the days when I had season tickets to their games. They cost a whopping $35 for the whole season. Now you can’t even buy one ticket for that It will be interesting to see just how full these stadiums are this year. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has already warned fans that there might be a lot of blackouts this year, if games don’t sell out. Considering the prices that are charged, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if games don’t sell out. But one product that is thriving is college football. The prices are cheaper, and more fun. Southern California will have it’s own Super Bowl so to speak this season, the BCS Championship game at the Rose Bowl. And the traditional Rose Bowl game will be held a week earlier as usual. I’ll set my sights on those. Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com
Dogs Days of Summer? 8/24/09-The dog days of summer are here. I don’t remember who coined the phrase but it seems to describe those “in-limbo” times between mid-summer and Labor Day. After visiting some spots that are usually very busy during the summer and seeing smaller crowds, I was struck with a few thoughts. First of all Labor Day isn’t the barrier between Summer and Fall anymore. Schools are starting their sessions so early now, many in mid August, that the traditional holiday time is growing shorter every year. I think parents are confused as to just when vacation time is. Some schools are even scheduling a week off in October. That is actually a good time to travel. Crowds are down and prices are too. But why is it that school administrators can’t leave things the way they used to be? Why all of the changes? It was always comforting to me to have Memorial Day start the holiday season and Labor Day end it. There was an order to that that just doesn’t happen now!
Impressions of Europe 8/7/09-My impressions of Europe. After travelling in Europe the last two summers, a few things have come to mind. There are people whom I have talked to who say that we as Americans should take lessons from the Europeans and conserve more. I say to them that what they want to do is fine with me but the makeup of the American people is different. This country was born with individual liberty and freedom in mind. Also, the individual was, because of hard-fought wars, able to do what he or she wants to. In Europe the history goes back thousands of years. And yet in less than 300 years the United States has been able to do more to help other countries than any other entity in the history of the world. When wars are fought and won we don’t conquer, we built back up. Germany, Japan, Kuwait, and now Iraq were all transformed because of our generosity. I believe that Europeans have a diminished expectation, probably because governments tell them so. Unions and regulations are so rigid that individuals find it very hard to thrive. There are so many government jobs around that most folks just decide to accept one and be happy. All I can say is thank goodness the United States is there to prop up the rest of the world. If we weren’t can you imagine how bad things would be? Bob Gourley Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com London: A Must Stop 7/27/09- London was a great stop for us on our recent visit. The bustling city is full of history and contemporary sights and sounds. The London Eye is a must stop. The huge 31 story ferris wheel features 25 passenger cars that take you on a 30 minute panoramic ride. Each passenger gets a chart that tells you just what you are looking at as you face make the circle. The picture-taking is great! Another place to have some fun is Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. I was amazed at the size of this one. It is huge and even includes a dark ride called “The Spirit of London”. Contemporary, sports, and historic figures are all painstakingly recreated. They are so real that they almost jump out at you. Visitors can also pose with everyone of them. The mews at Buckingham Palace have the royal coaches there. A large staff keeps they looking great and one of the most spectacular is the Gold Coach that is gold-plated indeed. Royalty never had it so good. The London theater scene is also bustling. I like it more than New York and certainly more than Los Angeles. (L.A. really doesn’t have a theater district)It is more like a series of streets with theaters spread out over a 40 mile area. We enjoyed “Jersey Boys”, “39 Steps”, and “Avenue Q”. After the shows, particularly on the west end, there are lots of pubs and restaurants open for after-show refreshments. Take your time when in London. We were there 4 days and reallyl could have spent much more time. Comments: issuestoday@yahoo.com Visiting Ireland-A Great Experience 7/13/09- Just back from a great trip to Ireland London. First Ireland. It is no doubt the most green country I have ever seen. By green I mean countryside not necessarily green as in the environment, although I suspect it is that too. There are literally hundreds of miles of roads that have not been widened since the horse and buggy days. Unspoiled countryside is everywhere, no fences, billboards, or other things to detract the eyes from the natural beauty. If you are planning a trip to Ireland Dublin is a great place to start. It is a very cosmopolitan city without being too crowded. If you want to orient yourself to the area buy the Dublin Pass and go on the on and off bus. You will get a great perspective of the city from the live guides and find out what makes the city tick. Visits to the Guinness brewery, Jameson Distillery, various cathedrals, and even the statue of Molly Malone will keep you entertained. Molly is kind of a national symbol in Ireland. She was best known for selling fish during the day and as our guide said, “Selling other things at night”. A place that not everyone visits but they should is Northern Ireland and Belast. Contrary to popular belief, tensions are still very high there. I was under the impression that all was quiet when the IRA put their weapons down, but apparently there are new groups that have sprung up and skirmishes still exist. There is a “peace wall” in place that was put there some 40 years ago. British authorities wanted it to be there only 10 years but it not only still starkly sits, but gates separating the Protestant and Catholic communities are still slammed shut every night. It is a great educational experience for everyone. Further west is the Antrim coast, with astounding views of the ocean and just 12 miles across Scotland. It rivals anything in Northern California, which I thought would never be duplicated Donegal is another great stop. The newly minted Eske Lough Castle 5 star resort is situated in the forest about 10 kilometers from town. We were there on a misty night and the quietness and serenity was great. I will have more our trip in the next few days. Bob Gourley To comment: issuestoday@yahoo.com Issues Today Goes to Europe 6/15/09- This is the travel season and Issues Today is going on the road to Europe for the next couple of weeks. We will be taping some travel segments for the program that will be airing at the beginning of August. The two main destinations are Ireland and London. It seems as though this year Ireland is favored destination for many, particularly for those on the west coast. I know of three other people who are on their way or have already gotten back. Prices have dropped a lot, particularly on hotel rates. It will be my family’s first visit to the Irish countryside and I’m looking forward to not only the sights but the people as well. Exchange rates for the Euro are much better than a year ago and that is part of the reason for more Americans travelling there. Part of our time will be spent in London, where we had a brief visit last year. There are many attractions we will be visiting including the London Eye, British museum, and many more. I look forward to sharing our experiences with you when we get back! Bob Gourley The Graduating Class of 2009 6/1/09- It is graduation time for many students. Some are leaving college to begin their careers. Other are getting out of high school. And all over the map we hear of horror stories about jobs and careers. But it seems as though we hear this every year, “It is the worse time to graduate in decades. But I wonder how that makes graduates feel? Does everyone want them to go into complete depression because they happened to graduate in a year where job growth is slow? Maybe the message should be a little more positive. Why not talk to them about individual incentive and that they are fortunate to be graduating in the great country in the world, a place where they can achieve their dreams? This is the country where you are free to do what you want. I’m always amazed at the young people who are involved in starting companies, many while they attend school. Why don’t we hear more about these kids? So I have a message for the media out there. Quit depressing people and let’s recognize these young people for what they have achieved and what they will achieve. This generation is going to be one of the best in history. Let’s tell everyone about them! Bob Gourley issuestoday@yahoo.com
The Torture Argument 5/22/09- I have been a little amused at the Dick Cheney/President Obama talkfest on terror. It seems as though two positions are being totally aired in public. And that is a good thing. There are very good points on both sides. The president feels that we have must eliminate all torture as he sees it. Yet the means that he suggests are terror I disagree with. The psychological techniques that we used did have a big effect. We here in Los Angeles are very glad they did. A major terrorist attack was thwarted. Nobody was personally killed or maimed for life in those interrogations. I guess the real question here is just how far do we need to go to protect innocent people? If there is an imminent attack and you knew that someone knew about the details, what methods would you use to save people? That is a question that will always be foremost when we are interrogating people. And in these tough terrorist times it is one that we must weigh to protect the masses. Bob Gourley Reply at issuestodayradio.com The Real Solution for Public Education 5/14/09-When will there be real reform in public education? It seems as though we have been hearing about the improvement of test scores for the past 20 years. And yet things are getting worse. Some recent graduation figures for students in California are shocking. There is a 30% non-graduation rate across the boards, more in some areas and less in others. Yet whenever we hear about reform it is always the same mantra..give them more money. We need more money. And yet as spending increases, graduation rates go down. Certainly one of the problems is the labor movement. Because of their structure, unions protect incompetent teachers. In fact school districts may even continue to pay them as they await competency hearings,sometimes for years. The sad part in all of this is students themselves. These are kids who will are being short changed because of politics. The school districts need to become more streamlined. Less administration, better teachers, and a commitment from the unions, school boards, and politicians should be the way of the future. That’s the only way real reform will take place. Bob Gourley Reply at issuestoday@yahoo.com THE FUNDING MESS IN CALIFORNIA 5/11/09-You may be following the disaster that is about to befall California. Because of budget woes and an ineffective legislature, the state is in serious trouble. Some estimate that the state may be 40 billion dollars in debt in the next few years. One might ask how did this happen? You would have to follow a series of budgets that have been passed over the last decade. There were budget surpluses, lots of tax revenue coming in, and a feeling that no matter what happened the state would always have plenty of money. But the economy tanked, generous union contracts were already passed, and now the state is really hurting. There are ballot measures on May 19 that would to some degree alleviate the problem. But it wouldn’t solve it. Voters are not convinced. Governor Arnold and the legislature are so unpopular that a new anti-tax movement made up of Democrats and Republicans is taking place. It reminds me of the Prop. 13 days when pundits said the state would go bankrupt if we had Prop. 13. Not only did the state not go bankrupt, but it thrived. Real estate values soared and people came to the state in droves. This time the same arguments are being waged. If these measures are not passed armageddon will once again befall the state. Another alarm was sounded by the budget office saying that the state will be out of money by July. I say.Good! This might be the only way for legislators to understand that enough is enough. Taxpayers are sick of higher taxes and an increasingly bigger deficit If state bankruptcy is necessary so be it. A good cleansing is good for the soul. Bob Gourley Reply at issuestoday@yahoo.com
The First 100 Days 4/30/09- It seems as though the everybody has an opinion on the first 100 days of the Obama Administration. So OK here is my take, not that anybody asked. I have problems with his foreign policy in that I think he has apologized too much for America’s alleged misdeeds. He should be touting America’s greatness, because without our economic strength, much of the economies of the world will not recover. I don’t care too much for his domestic policies. His lurch to the left and his willingness to let government get involved in everyday policies of business is troubling. Yes they took taxpayer money but no they shouldn’t be led by government. Vice President Joe Biden says things that are outrageous, like that nobody should get on trains and planes. Oh please, if a conservative said something like that he would be “Palinized” immediately. I do agree with the Obama administration on one thing, his stanch on schools. He is in favor of merit pay for teachers and for an expansion of charter schools. I doubt, though, that anything will become of it. The very-strong teacher unions and the NEA will not allow the tenure system to be changed. What does the tenure system do? It penalizes younger teachers in favor of older ones who may or may not be competent. It was just reported that in the Los Angeles Unified School District, less than 100 teachers had been let go in a couple of decades. Wow? With all of those great teachers, the schools must be great right? Wrong, the graduation rate continues to go down and less-qualified teachers are shuffled off to schools that other teachers don’t want to go to. There really won’t be any reform of the public schools until something is done about the tenure and merit pay system. Reply at issuestoday@yahoo.com Bob Gourley
Thoughts on the NAB and Vegas 4/23/09- Just back from the National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas. The show attracted about 84,000 people this year, certainly a lot but about 20,000 less than last year. The aisles were noticeably less crowded which is to be expected. The main issue was whether radio and television will be more regulated. The general opinion was that it will. Localism is again being discussed. Station advisory boards are being proposed as well as a possible return to logging of public affairs and news. Nothing is going to happen until the FCC is fully manned. But after that look for things to really get cranked up. Meanwhile I saw two great shows that you should know about. Even though O has been at the Bellagio for about 10 years, I had not seen it until this week. The use of water and what people can do it in it was a sight to behold. What has always been amazing about Cirque du Soleil has been their ability to take ordinary circus acts and make them look spectacular. That is certainly the case at O. Another show that is a must when you visit is Le Reve at the Wynn. Produced by Dragone, this theatrical presentation again uses water to the extreme. Smoke, fire, and water coming from all directions will keep your attention. Also the dancers, swimmers, etc. are extraordinary. The theater in the round concept keeps you right on top of the action, and the live music is enchanting as well. Even though the downturn in Vegas is going on, it is a good time for hotel and food prices. There are some pretty good specials going on at the hotels with multi-course meals for about $30. Room rates during off convention times are down as well. If you haven’t been there lately, this might be a good time to visit. Bob Gourley Comment at: issuestoday@yahoo.com
The Tea Party Movement Begins 4/16/09- Yesterday was an historic day. You won’t hear it described that way by most of the media. But for many Americans who are fed up with high government spending and too many taxes, they will consider it the start of something that could be very pivotal. The over 2000 tea parties that took place across the U.S. were populated with people from all walks of life. I attended the Tea Party at Dockweiler Beach just west of the Los Angeles International Airport. The parking lot was jammed. In fact cars kept coming in all afternoon. People from all walks of life were there. And no they weren’t just Republicans as the media would like you to believe. These were people who are very angry about their present and their future, and particularly the future of their kids and grand kids who are going to be saddled with high taxes to pay off a deficit that will increasingly take more of our GDP away from private investment and into government coffers. The problem here in California particularly bad because of bad spending decisions made by leaders who just couldn’t keep their hands off of the spigot of government spending. I remember when voters authorized 15 billion dollars in bonds to pay off the deficit. Well guess what?.. the deficit has gotten much worse than that. Many in attendance at the tea party that I attended were first timers to protests. They were hard working people who just want to go about their lives without government telling them what to do. But now they are energized! This was also the first time I had ever attended a rally as a participant. I had covered many demonstrations as a radio news reporter but that was different. I just hope that the momentum continues. There is a talk of a Fourth of July rally next. Great! Political activism has always been lauded on the liberal side of things. It is about time conservatives and those who oppose oppressive government had a say too. Reply at issuestoday@yahoo.com Bob Gourley
4/14/09- National healthcare is a topic that is getting a lot of mileage these days. But what does it really mean? And do people really want it? Recent surverys have said that 70% of people like their current private health insurance.And yet we keep hearing that there is a crisis. I know there are many that don’t have have health insurance. But in most if not all parts of the country people can get treated. There are free clinics and emergency rooms where acute care can take place. A government-run system would limit our options. Steps are already being taken to limit care with a new national registry that will soon digitize everybody’s records. At some point a national, unelected czar will look at your options to see if you are young enough or fit enough to get care. Is this what we really want? The much-touted Canadian system is showing signs of strain. Recently national courts there okayed some private clinics to pick up some of the slack. It seems that some people died as a result of being on waiting lists. Is this what we really want? What we really need is private enterprise healthcare. The only segment that is in that category right now is plastic surgery. Costs for care there have actually gone down. Proponents of healthcare say that we need more regulation. But insurance companies are so burdened with federal and state regulations that costs have risen enormously. Let insurance companies do what they do with real competition. As government insurance grows, more people will opt out of private plans. And that will leave us with one size fits all. Is that what we really want? Comment on the G-Blog at issuestoday@yahoo.com Bob Gourley |
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