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FRIDAY FACTS

It’s Friday!

- “When President Bush landed in Indonesia, tens of thousands of people lined the streets screaming anti-American slogans and attacking his presidency. Bush said he felt like he was at the Academy Awards.” – Jay Leno

- The first undersea LNG terminal is to be built 10 miles offshore from Port Levante, Italy. Hyundai has shipped two “ultra-huge” tanks for Adriatic LNG Terminal that can each hold nearly 9 million cubic feet of liquefied natural gas. Source: Hyundai

- The Cato Institute is conducting the first comprehensive survey of U.S. independent schools. If you have any connections with private schools in your area, please encourage your schools to participate in this anonymous online survey. The information will be used only to draw general conclusions about independent schools as a whole. Go to http://www.cato.org/survey

- We’re giving too much credibility to Census Bureau estimates that 47 million people are uninsured, says John Goodman of the National Center for Policy Analysis in “Myths Pump up Ranks of Uninsured.” Other government reports suggest the true number is as little as half that size. Of those uninsured at any point in time, 75 percent will become insured within 12 months. Goodman says what we should do is enact baby-step reforms encouraging people to get insurance; give people who purchase their own insurance the same tax relief we give to group insurance; encourage portability, and end the practice of pouring money into government programs that discourage people from obtaining their own insurance. Source: Detroit News

- Former Sen. John Edwards recently promoted his new book at the Manchester, N.H., Barnes & Noble, in front of the local Wal-Mart. Edwards campaigns against Wal-Mart, saying it pays its workers too little. The Barnes & Noble where Edwards will hawk his book pays $7 an hour to start. The Wal-Mart next door pays $7.50 an hour. Source: New Hampshire Union Leader

- Solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy contribute 2 percent of U.S. electricity generation, despite decades of federal and state government support, Investor’s Business Daily notes in an editorial, “Dems' Energy Answer: Snake Oil.” Since 1978, the federal government alone has kicked in more than $11 billion to support renewable fuels. By 2020, these sources will supply only 2.8 percent of the nation's electricity needs. That could be increased, but only at a substantial cost to taxpayers, since these sources of energy are so much more expensive than coal, natural gas or nuclear power plants. Source: Investor’s Business Daily

- Commuters on two New York commuter railroads can expect delays for the next few weeks after more than 360 rail cars were damaged by “slippery rail,” which causes flat wheels. Autumn foliage is to blame: Wet leaves falling on the rails are crushed by the wheels, creating a slippery film. The wheels spin rapidly on the film, signaling that the train is moving too fast. Automatic brakes lock on, and the wheels skid, grinding flat on one side. Source: Bloomberg News                    

- With Democrats in control, the ethanol lobby is likely to push legislation that, among other things, would commit the federal government to spending $500 million over 10 years on alternative fuels and vehicle technologies; reimburse the private sector for investing in biofuels infrastructure; invest in a freight rail system to transport biofuels and ramp up the federal fleet’s use of alternative fuels. “With the Iraq War and entitlements busting the budget, it seems far-fetched that such a windfall would go to an industry that has already gotten so much,” writes Jessica Hotzer in “Big Boost For Ethanol.” “But, as any ethanol booster will tell you, Wall Street’s support of ethanol would dry up in a flash without all the government support.” Source: Forbes.com

- Visit http://www.gppf.org to read the Friday Idea, “Learn from the ‘Father of School Vouchers’,” by Eric Wearne.

Have a great weekend.

Rogers Wade  

FRIDAY FACTS is made possible by the generous contributions of supporters of The Georgia Public Policy Foundation. If you enjoy the FRIDAY FACTS, please consider supporting the Foundation. For more information, visit our Web site at www.gppf.org.

Friday, December 1, 2006