Book Review: Jennifer Government by Max Barry

This is an older book, written in 2003, which I borrowed from the Washington County Public Library system. (Aloha branch to be specific).  I started it on the plane and finished it that evening in the hotel room.  It has a compelling promise, in that the government has been slashed back to nearly nothing due to the abolition of taxes.  A free-market paradise of a world, everything has a price and the world has broken down, largely, to tribal affiliations and rivalries all fighting for supremacy in rational unrestrained markets.  At one point, the characters want to obtain fake guns as part of a stunt, but find it easier to get real ones and just don't load them.
The story clearly shows how economic theories are largely irreconcilable with human emotions such as love and compassion.  There are passages which have some exposition on "capitalizm", as it is called in the book, as well as critiques of it from a socialist viewpoint and both are merely sound bites which ring hollow in the lives of the characters in the novel.
Love, hate, paranoia, altruism, ambition, service to others have no markets.  But these are the human impulses with which the characters wrestle against a backdrop of might makes right financial dealings.  Science does not appear, each character deals with the reality presented to them through a filter of marketing, highly polished ad copy which allows propaganda to masquerade as truth.  Every impulse can be acted on, if you have enough money and any scheme to make money can be tried, even if it kills your customers or destroys the world.  Most of the citizens portrayed have no moral compass left and the ends are what matter, regardless of the means.
I enjoyed the book immensely.  While the philosophical questions are interesting, the plot is character driven and, trying not to give too much away, it is a love story with jealousy, betrayal and infatuation where the main characters each have an arc that despite how much money any one of them might have, they all want to just be happy.  And the happiness never comes from the things they have around them, it is the people.

Executive Order 13767

On Jan 25th, the current president issued Executive Order (EO) 13767.  There have been a number of analyses on this, but I have taken to tracking to see what reports are issued as a result of the numerous orders and memos that have been written.  Just today, there are reports circulating that the Washington Post has obtained a copy of a report required by section 15 of the EO.  However, let's go through and look at all of the reports that are required.

Reports, reports, reports...

After having read through a number of the EO's that have been signed by the current president, it was pretty clear that often there were lots of words, the mandating of some reports that were to research some topic or aspect and then ultimately not a lot of action.  Truly, this EO did have some real action to it as we have seen how the DOJ has, over the last 2 months, taken very aggressive actions on immigrants who have overstayed their visas or who have unlawfully entered the country.
This EO requires several reports.  First in Section 4(d), there is a requirement to:

Produce a comprehensive study of the security of the southern border, to be completed within 180 days of this order, that shall include the current state of southern border security, all geophysical and topographical aspects of the southern border, the availability of Federal and State resources necessary to achieve complete operational control of the southern border, and a strategy to obtain and maintain complete operational control of the southern border.

This report is not yet due, I am sure it is being worked on.  The purpose is to have an understanding of what the border areas are like and determine what obstacles exist to build the wall.  Note the assumption at the end that currently we do not have complete operational control of the southern border.  What does "complete operational control" even mean?  So to stab at this in the dark, I would submit that this means that there is some kind of continuous monitoring as well as the ability to act to intercept anyone crossing the border.  I think I read somewhere that the southern border is about 2000 miles long.  I would suggest that one border agent per mile would assure complete operational control.  But you have to have the agents there 24/7 which means you need some 6000 agents standing guard on the border.  Really?
In Section 9, there is a requirement that:

The head of each executive department and agency shall identify and quantify all sources of direct and indirect Federal aid or assistance to the Government of Mexico on an annual basis over the past five years, including all bilateral and multilateral development aid, economic assistance, humanitarian aid, and military aid. Within 30 days of the date of this order, the head of each executive department and agency shall submit this information to the Secretary of State. Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall submit to the President a consolidated report reflecting the levels of such aid and assistance that has been provided annually, over each of the past five years.

The 30 day deadline passed some time ago.  The 60 day deadline was fairly recently.  However, I have been looking and have not been able to find a copy of this report.  The purpose of this report was to see what money, if anything, could be diverted from existing programs that benefit Mexico to construction of the wall so as to be able to claim that Mexico paid for a portion of the wall.  I suspect that these reports end up being tiny amounts as well as programs that end up being problematic to cut such as humanitarian aid to nuns or something.
In Section 14 there are reporting requirements as follows:

The Secretary shall, on a monthly basis and in a publicly available way, report statistical data on aliens apprehended at or near the southern border using a uniform method of reporting by all Department of Homeland Security components, in a format that is easily understandable by the public.

This is a Public relations move.  Essentially they want to measure and issue numbers to convince people how bad the problem is.  From what I have read in the news, such as this story, the numbers have been compiled and released all along.  I think that this has been a problem for so long that people are no longer interested.
Finally in Section 15, there are reporting requirements as follows:

Except as otherwise provided in this order, the Secretary, within 90 days of the date of this order, and the Attorney General, within 180 days, shall each submit to the President a report on the progress of the directives contained in this order.

This is just a progress report.  However, the 90 day report is coming due soon (April 25), but it looks like the government got it issued out early (or it may be draft state).

2017 SJR 43: A statement on Budget cuts

What SJR 43 Does

Senate Joint Resolution No. 43 was introduced by Senator Thatcher.  This resolution does not propose to amend the constitution.  Instead, it urges the governor and heads of state agencies to try to implement the budget cuts in a manner that least affects the "customers", i.e. voters.

My View

The state budget is effectively bound to be balanced, meaning it is not supposed to run at a deficit.  There are mechanisms that are supposed to kick in for budget cut-backs to agencies to ensure that the State government cannot run deficits and thus accumulate a huge debt such as what is happening with the Federal Government.
This resolution is window dressing.  I appreciate the sentiment of it, but that is all it is.  There is a significant issue in that the State is going to have to address structural issues in the Budget.  As with everything, the devil is in the details and there will be trade-offs such that some people will lose.  Those kinds of issues need to be looked at.  There is a risk Federal funding assumed to be forthcoming will not come because of the deconstructionists currently in Washington.  There needs to be a request that the question of the State budget gets discussed in all party precincts of the course of the next year so that at the next cycle, this issue can be tackled head on with clear understanding of the priorities that constituents want.

2017 SJR 42: Adding rules on how to introduce bills and resolutions.

What SJR 42 Does

Senate Joint Resolution No. 42 was filed by a lot of people including Senator THATCHER, Representative NEARMAN; Senators BAERTSCHIGER JR, HANSELL, KRUSE,LINTHICUM, THOMSEN, Representatives POST, WHISNANT.  This resolution proposes to add to the Oregon State Constitution, a section 34 to Article IV entitled Legislative Branch.  The resolution proposes to add a rule such that when a piece of legislation is introduced, it has to bear the name of a Senator or Representative.  The current practice allows bills and resolutions to be introduced in the name of a committee.  This would no longer be allowed under the proposed amendment.

My View

This belongs in the rules document. (There is one for the House and one for the Senate.)  This is not something that should go into the Constitution.

2017 SJR 41: Oregon Rainy Day Fund

What SJR 41 Does

Senate Joint Resolution No. 41 is listed as being sponsored by the Committee on Finance and Revenue.  This proposes to amend the Oregon State Constitution, Article IX, entitled "Finance".  This changes Section 14 and adds a new sections 16 and 17.  I have previously written about Section 14 here.  This would create a fund, known as the Oregon Rainy Day fund which would be primarily funded by a new tax levied on businesses based on gross receipts.  That's a fancy way of saying it is basically a sales tax and while it would be charged to corporations, they would pass on the costs to consumers in the form of higher prices.

My View

This item has been in the news somewhat and I am providing some links: here, here, and here.  My view is that this is not the best way to do this.  I would hate to give up the fact that Oregon does not have a sales tax, but the level of income taxes is starting to get rather high.  If you will switch to a sales tax, then let's do that openly and with clarity of purpose to also eliminate the income tax entirely for at least individuals.

2017 SJR 40: Section 18, Article II, Recall

What SJR 40 Does

Senate Joint Resolution No. 40 was filed by Senator Roblan.  This resolution proposes to change the Oregon State Constitution, Article II, entitled Elections, section 18.  I have previously written about  section 18 here.  The purpose of this amendment is to correct the situation where an incumbent is re-elected to an office such as Governor.  Under one interpretation, officers are exempt from petitions to recall for the first six months of their tenure.  The point of the resolution is to eliminate that grace period when incumbents are re-elected.

My View

I don't see this as an issue.  I don't think that there is a possibility to get a recall petition organized within 6 months in any case.  I get the point if what is being asked, but alternately I think a judicial opinion where the current text is interpreted in a way that the text of subsection (6) can correctly consider consecutive terms in the way that the resolution suggests would be an adequate solution.

2017 SJR 39: Days of the Legislature, Article IV, Section 10

What SJR 39 Does

Senate Joint Resolution No. 39 was introduced by Senator Devlin.  This resolution proposes to amend the Oregon State Constitution, Article IV, entitled "Legislative Branch", Section 10.  I have previously written about this section here.  The amendment simply move 10 of the days from the odd-numbered year into the even numbered year.  The odd numbered years would be allowed a maximum of 150 rather than 160 calendar days and the even numbered years would be allowed a maximum of 45 rather than 35 calendar days.

My View

The principle here I think is valid.  I do think that sitting for such a short time in the even numbered years is a problem.  My dilemma is weighing the cost of running a vote to change the days vs. how much actual extra value you will get out of it.  There is an allowance that the Legislature can vote to extend the session.  They can convene emergency sessions to take up a specific topic.  There are options other than a constitutional amendment.

2017 SJR 38: 2/3 vote - Section 25, Article IV

What SJR 38 Does

Senate Joint Resolution No. 38 is proposed by Senator Kruse.  This resolution proposes to amend the Oregon State Constitution, Article IV, entitled "Legislative Branch", Section 25 which defines how to pass resolutions.  I have previously written about this section here.  The proposed amendment would require that 2/3 majorities in both houses are required to pass a law declaring an emergency (see Article IV, section 28).

My View

I do not think this is necessary.  I do not think that there is valid reason to distrust that Legislators will declare emergency when it is truly not necessary and thus circumvent the initiative power of the people.  I would think that even emergency laws can be revoked using the initiative power of the people, although the law would likely have been in force for some time.  That would probably strongly reinforce the validity of the initiative to revoke the law.

2017 SJR 37: to create a Board of Education, Article VIII

What SJR 37 Does

Senate Joint Resolution No. 37 was filed by Senator Kruse.  This proposal amends Article VIII (Education and School Lands) of the Oregon State Constitution.  The proposal is to create a Board of Education which is headed by a Superintendent of Schools.  The Governor shall act as Superintendent of Schools until one is appointed.  It should be noted that this amendment does not actually define the composition of the Board of Education nor does it define how the Board members are chosen.  The point of the Board is to have the final say on how education is run in the State.

My View

I do not support this bill.  I do not see what the point of a separate Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools.  The executive branch already has the function of K-12 education and the Oregon State post-secondary system runs itself.  The lack of details as to the composition and selection of Board members is disturbing.

2017 SJR 36: Guaranteed funding of education and public safety.

Wow!  A hundred posts already!  This is a short one today.

What SJR 36 Does

Senate Joint Resolution No. 36 was filed by Senator Knopp.  This bill proposes to add new sections 16 and 16a to Article IX, entitled "Finance" of the Oregon State Constitution.  See here for discussion on a similar proposal previously.  The proposal defines education and public safety and then mandates that spending on these are to be at a minimum 33% of the budget.  There is a ramp up from where we are currently to 33% over the next 6 years.  This is similar to a previously discussed proposal, see here.

My View

As with the previous proposal, I do not support this bill.