Month: October 2014

Is the Second Amendment the Greatest of All Amendments?

Tom Knuppel Society
Is the Second Amendment the Greatest of All Amendments?

 

The title may be a bit misleading as the real premise here is the fact that the 2nd Amendment has trampled the 1st Amendment. Where and how you ask? In Utah.

I am not writing this to debate the merits of Anita Sarkeesian, who is a feminist that is challenging the stereotypes of women in video games. But that caught my attention was the fact she was going to give a speech at Utah State University until the police got an email telling them that if she gave her speech they would commit the largest mass murder ever seen.

When administrators told Sarkeesian that Utah law explicitly forbade them from having the campus police stop people with guns from attending her talk, Sarkeesian had little choice but to cancel.

Isn’t it a incomprehensibly idiotic Utah gun law that keeps police from barring gun-toters from attending events where a gun massacre has been threatened. As the state of Utah’s Department of Public Safety website makes clear, people (other than law enforcement) can’t carry firearms in courthouses, prisons, airports and “churches if posted.” But that completes the list of places where guns can’t be brought. Anyplace else, anyone can carry a firearm openly so long as a bullet is not in the firing chamber or, in a semi-automatic firearm, if the magazine is at least “one mechanical action” away from firing. Utah law expressly forbids public schools or universities from enforcing any rule pertaining to firearms.

She had no choice but to cancel her speaking engagement. This law now allows for people to “bully” their agenda but threatening harm with firearms until the other side submits. This is dumb.

The elevation of the Second Amendment into a super-right has now diminished others—including those that the founders quite deliberately put first.

Title IX- Gender Equity is Not Making Sense

Tom Knuppel Sports
Title IX- Gender Equity is Not Making Sense

 

Yes, we all know that the impetus of Title IX is that there needs to be the same number of sports for the men and women. That is fine and dandy but that is a poor business model.

 

If a college wants to have sport, then it should be self-sufficient or they shouldn’t have it. Forget the gender equity part of this.

 

The following represents spending and revenue as obtained by the Equity in Athletics for NCAA division I schools from 2003-2009. On average across all 135 universities only basketball and football make profit, and almost cover the loss in revenue from all other sports.

While greater than 80% of the schools have a team for baseball, basketball, track, football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball, the other sports are much more rare. Regardless, averages posted were taken only on teams that existed.

Investigating female vs male sports, there is a large discrepancy in spending and earnings, though much of this might be due to the large impact that college football has.

If you can’t pay for it on it own, then discontinue the sport. Doesn’t matter if it is mens or womens. Just cut it.

Crony Capitalism- How Did It Happen?

Tom Knuppel Society
Crony Capitalism- How Did It Happen?

 

There is no doubt that crony Capitalism exists. There is little doubt that it is a detriment to our economy and that if left to live it will cripple the American economy. How did this happen?

  1. First, the government has become a more dominant player in the economy, greatly expanding the potential for special interest groups to exert their influence over the economy to their advantage. The government has become more important both through its taxation and spending policy as well as through its increased regulatory reach. As recently as the mid-1960s, total US federal and local government spending amounted to less than 25 percent of GDP. Over the past three years, that ratio has been in excess of 35 percent. This large increase in public spending has been dwarfed by the explosion in government regulation. Whereas in 1950 there were fewer than 20,000 pages of federal regulations, today there are in excess of 165,000 pages, and the economic cost of these rules runs into the hundreds of billion dollars.
  2. A second factor contributing to the rise of crony capitalism has been the rapid rate of increase in the cost of election campaigns, which has made politicians particularly dependent on fundraising and forced them into a permanent campaign mode. In 2000, the total cost of the presidential and congressional campaigns was a little more than $3 billion; by 2012 the total cost had more than doubled to almost $7 billion. By 2012, the estimated average cost of winning an election to the House of Representatives had increased to $1.5 million, while the average cost of a successful Senate race had increased to almost $9 million.
  3. A third factor in crony capitalism’s rise has been a marked increase in lobbying activity as a channel by which large vested interests and deep pockets can legally influence the legislative process to their favor. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, over the past 15 years the amount of money spent on lobbying has more than doubled to its present level of around $3.2 billion. Equally disturbing has been the acceleration of the revolving-door between Congress and K Street. Prior to 1973, barely 3 percent of former members of Congress took up employment on K Street upon leaving the Hill; today around 40 percent of former US representatives and 50 percent of former senators lobby after stepping down from the Hill.

The roots of crony capitalism are undoubtedly deep. Any real solution must reduce the size of government. The smaller the government and the less involved it is in the functioning of the economy, the less leverage there is for crony capitalism to undermine the proper functioning of the free market. In addition, basic electoral campaign finance reform should be undertaken to free elected officials from their dependence on fundraising. Finally, the lobbying system itself might be reformed to reduce the excessive influence lobbyists presently exercise over the legislative process.

If left unchecked, crony capitalism will continue to sap vitality out of the US economy and to undermine public support for the American model of capitalism. In an increasingly competitive global economy, that is something that America can ill afford. This adds urgency to the task of finding ways to combat cronyism if America’s special brand of capitalism, which has made it the most prosperous and free nation on earth, is to endure.

Elections Have Consequences

Tom Knuppel Other
Elections Have Consequences

 

In a democracy, there’s no such thing as an election without consequences. We are not satisfied with today’s Democratic Party; we wish it was more populist and more progressive. But it is absurd to argue that little will change if Republicans take the Senate. A lot will change—and it will be for the worse. A Republican Senate, working with a Republican House, will be a wrecking crew.

GOP control of the House and Senate could be catastrophic for the environment, for workers, for women and for minorities.

Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, has already promised the Koch brothers that “we’re not going to be debating all these gosh-darn proposals…like raising the minimum wage…extending unemployment…the student loan package.” And it won’t just be progressive proposals that are stymied. Consider the judges who will never make it to the bench, including the highest, if Chuck Grassley, not Pat Leahy, is in charge of the Judiciary Committee. Consider the destabilizing political circus Republicans will create if Darrell Issa’s hyperpartisan investigations into fake scandals spread from the House to the Senate.

GOP control of key Senate committees will reorder the debate. What happens, for example, if Senator Pat Toomey, former president of the right-wing Club for Growth, takes over Sherrod Brown’s subcommittee overseeing financial institutions and consumer protection? What happens to nuclear negotiations with Iran if McConnell, Lindsey Graham and John McCain are deciding when to bring up a sanctions bill?

But a GOP takeover is not a threat just because of what Republicans will do. Progressives should also worry about the many areas of potential agreement between Obama and a GOP-controlled Senate. It is Harry Reid, for example, not Republicans, who is denying the president fast-track authority on corporate trade deals. Without Reid in the way, pacts like the Trans-Pacific Partnership—which labor leaders describe as “NAFTA on steroids”—are likely to become the law of the land. Likewise, Obama and Republicans could agree to pursue lower corporate tax rates—as opposed to infrastructure investments and job creation—as their primary economic-development initiative. And let’s not forget that Obama has repeatedly floated Social Security cuts as a bargaining chip in negotiations with GOP leaders.

Perhaps the most worrying consequence of a GOP-controlled Senate will be the extension of the damaging austerity agenda. Think, for example, about the next debt-ceiling fight. Republicans have repeatedly used the debt ceiling to hold the economy hostage, but they have relented each time because they knew that they would be blamed for the consequences—not the president. But if Republicans take control of the Senate, that calculus will change. What happens when they send Obama a bill to prevent default on our debt at the eleventh hour, attached to a bill that ravages Social Security? The Republicans will be able to force the president to choose between impossible options.

They will also be able to advance the Keystone XL pipeline, ban abortions after twenty weeks, decimate an already-weak Dodd-Frank Act and shred the torn social safety net.

 

Remember to Vote.

NHL Standings Predictions for 2014-15

Tom Knuppel Sports
NHL Standings Predictions for 2014-15

Hockey starts tomorrow. Let’s get to it!

 

EAST

Metropolitan

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

2. Columbus Blue Jackets

3. New York Rangers

4. Washington Capitals

5. Philadelphia Flyers

6. New York Islanders

7. New Jersey Devils

8. Carolina Hurricanes

Atlantic

1. Boston Bruins

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

3. Montreal Canadiens

4. Florida Panthers

5. Detroit Red Wings

6. Toronto Maple Leafs

7. Ottawa Senators

8. Buffalo Sabres

WEST

Pacific

1. Los Angeles Kings

2. Anaheim Ducks

3. San Jose Sharks

4. Vancouver Canucks

5. Arizona Coyotes

6. Edmonton Oilers

7. Calgary Flames

Central

1. Chicago Blackhawks

2. St. Louis Blues

3. Dallas Stars

4. Minnesota Wild

5. Colorado Avalanche

6. Nashville Predators

7. Winnipeg Jets

Liking me some hockey….

Tom Knuppel Sports
Liking me some hockey….

It’s gonna be a great year for college hockey. Here are the Top 50 College Hockey Prospects.

1. Jack Eichel, Boston University – Dynamic center will challenge for first overall in 2015 draft and lead the U.S. world junior team’s offense.

2. Noah Hanifin, Boston College – Big, poised blueliner a near lock to go third in 2015 after Connor McDavid and Eichel. And he’ll start the year as a 17-year-old.

3. Mike Reilly, Minnesota – Columbus pick is a great mobile defenseman who will take a shot at the Hobey Baker Award.

4. Dylan Larkin, Michigan – Talented freshman center is a Detroit first-rounder who will bring speed and character to Wolverines.

5. Jon Gillies, Providence College – Towering junior goaltender is a Calgary pick who will determine how far a great-looking Friars team will go.

6. Zach Werenski, Michigan – Freshman defenseman has great offensive ability and is up for the 2015 draft – like Hanifin, he’s still only 17.

7. Alex Tuch, Boston College – Freshman Minnesota first-rounder has a power forward’s build, great hands and a blistering shot.

8. Riley Barber, Miami – Incredible offensive prowess has boosted the Washington pick’s stock since he came to RedHawks; look for more of the same from the junior.

9. Jordan Schmaltz, North Dakota – St. Louis first-rounder is a maturing, mobile defenseman who doubled his points as a sophomore last season.

10. A.J. Greer, Boston University – Big prep school power forward jumps up to Hockey East for his NHL draft year.

11. Kyle Rau, Minnesota – Small but ultra-talented, the Florida prospect led the Gophers in scoring as a junior last year and will likely do so again.

12. Nick Schmaltz, North Dakota – Jordan’s younger bro joins him in Grand Forks. The Chicago first-rounder is blessed with a number of sick offensive moves.

13. C.J. Motte, Ferris State – Senior goaltender is a rare free agent on the list, but NHL scouts have been circling him for a couple years now.

14. Thatcher Demko, Boston College – Can the Vancouver pick replicate his incredible freshman season with Eagles? World juniors also on the checklist.

15. J.T. Compher, Michigan – Gritty, annoying and talented, Compher is a Buffalo prospect who will be key to Team USA’s forward corps at the world juniors.

16. Hudson Fasching, Minnesota – Tank-sized power forward was brilliant at 2014 world juniors. Rights strangely traded from Los Angeles to Buffalo last season.

17. Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State – Gifted goal-scorer will once again light the lamp large for the Huskies; he’s a Los Angeles selection.

18. Josh Jacobs, Michigan State – New Jersey second-rounder will bring a good dose of skating and athletic ability to the Spartan blueline.

19. Jack Dougherty, Wisconsin – The Nashville second-rounder has a knack for offense and getting the puck through from the blueline, plus he has good size.

20. Kevin Roy, Northeastern – The Anaheim pick is one of the most dangerous goal-scorers in the land and will propel the Huskies attack again.

21. Evan Cowley, Denver – With Sam Brittain gone, Cowley can put his stamp on the crease with the Pios. The big netminder is a Florida pick.

22. Devin Shore, Maine – Vision, playmaking and production are all hallmarks of Shore’s game. The Black Bears center is a Dallas selection.

23. Cameron Hughes, Wisconsin – Last of the first-time draft-eligibles, Hughes is a gifted skater who will use his college time to bulk up.

24. Mark Friedman, Bowling Green – A slick offensive defenseman, the Philadelphia pick is one of the more high-profile Falcons commits in recent years.

25. Warren Foegele, New Hampshire – Carolina grabbed the raw winger in the third round this summer; Foegele has great size and skates like the wind.

26. Tyler Bird, Brown – The Columbus prospect is a power forward who played on a line with Greer (No. 10) and Devils pick J.D. Dudek at Kimball Union prep last year.

27. Jake Guentzel, Nebraska-Omaha – Smaller Pittsburgh pick had an outstanding freshman season with the Mavs and they’ll need his playmaking prowess again.

28. Andy Welinski, Minnesota-Duluth – Mobile Anaheim pick with great size led the Bulldogs in points from the blueline as a sophomore.

29. Adam Wilcox, Minnesota – The Tampa Bay pick was a rock in net for the Gophers and no doubt has a national title on his mind as a junior.

30. Brandon Hickey, Boston University – Calgary’s third-rounder this summer brings size and speed to the Terriers blueline.

31. Brett Pesce, New Hampshire – Big Carolina third-rounder experienced a huge jump in offense from the blueline as a sophomore.

32. Connor Hurley, Notre Dame – Buffalo pick set for his freshman season with Irish, where he’ll bring speed and vision up front.

33. Zane McIntyre, North Dakota – Boston prospect formerly named “Gothberg,” will hold down the fort in net for UND as the team eyes a national title.

34. Jaccob Slavin, Colorado College – The Carolina prospect is much bigger than he was when the Canes drafted him and he plays all situations on the back end.

35. Quentin Shore, Denver – The third of four hockey brothers, Shore is an Ottawa prospect who brings some nice scoring punch back to the lineup.

36. Anthony Florentino, Providence College – Buffalo pick looked great as a freshman on defense. He hits hard and can contribute in all areas of the game.

37. Michael Matheson, Boston College – Entering his junior campaign, the Florida prospect will once again bring skating and smarts to the blueline.

38. Paul LaDue, North Dakota – A late-blooming defenseman snagged by Los Angeles as a depth pick, LaDue was great as a freshman, grabbing all-conference rookie honors.

39. Colton Parayko, Alaska-Fairbanks – The St. Louis prospect has a huge frame and plays a great two-way game for the Nanooks.

40. Teemu Kivihalme, Colorado College – Incoming freshman boasts a crazy set of wheels from the blueline; he’s a Nashville pick.

41. Cliff Watson, Michigan Tech – The San Jose prospect is a huge shot-blocker and Tech’s reigning defensive player of the year, winning as a freshman.

42. James De Haas, Clarkson – Mobile defenseman with great size is a Detroit selection who is also steady in his own zone.

43. Jimmy Vesey, Harvard – Nashville prospect was Harvard’s leading scorer as a sophomore and returns with an eye on rounding out his game.

44. John Hayden, Yale – Chicago pick is a big center with puck protection skills who can handle himself in the defensive zone as well.

45. Aidan Muir, Western Michigan – Raw Edmonton project kicks off his college career in Kalamazoo; he boasts size, speed and skill.

46. Michael Downing, Michigan – Defensive defenseman is a Florida selection who can bring the pain when opponents encroach on his turf and add some offense.

47. Sean Kuraly, Miami – San Jose prospect was known for his responsible side early on, but now the big forward has added offense, too.

48. Ryan Collins, Minnesota – Incoming freshman boasts great size and all-around ability; he a Columbus prospect.

49. Michael Prapavessis, R.P.I. – A smart defenseman who is valuable on the power play, the incoming freshman is a Dallas pick.

50. Joey LaLeggia, Denver – The skilled offensive blueliner is an Edmonton pick primed to put up big numbers as a senior.

(reprinted from The Hockey News)