If They Want To Wear Discrimination on Their Shoulder...Let Them

Last week the Governor of Indiana signed a new law that allows businesses with a religious objection to deny service to anyone that causes their religious objection.

Immediately following the signing of this state bill into law, there was a fast and furious response...pretty much all negative. So much negative response that the governor of Indiana, Mike Pence has said that a 'fix' is needed, but only because of how the law is being perceived...because of "the smear that's been leveled against this law."

Personally, I think everyone should let the law stand. Let Indiana, what was once what everyone would consider Midwestern Hospitality central become the exclusionary, possibly discriminatory state the lawmakers who drafted this bill want.

Frankly, any business owner that has any business sense whatsoever would be crazy to deny service to a customer, no matter what religious objections they may hold. Because what's going to happen when they do? More media firestorm? So much negative publicity you're forced out of business? What business owner wants or needs that? It's insane.

Of course, I don't think the bill was really meant for business owners or to really protect their rights. In fact, it seemed that most businesses in the state do not support the law in any way.

The only groups that are supporting the law (that I have found) are religious groups and small family businesses that have been around basically forever. The same folks who have an outsize strangle hold on the Republican party.

I've never really understood how someone who is gay or trans-sexual or whatever threatens someone else's religious morality. What happens if you serve that person...? Are you going to Hell? Do you not get the condo with the beachside view in Heaven? What is it exactly?

If two guys want to get married, is God going to blame you because you provided the flowers? Isn't everyone God's children?

"The Bible states that marriage can only be between one man and one woman" states the religious objector. What if one of the guys thinks he's a woman? In his heart-of-hearts, he knows he is a she. Can't that be close enough?

Why would God create all these gay people, just so businesses in Indiana can deny them service? What if it's against my religion to serve black people? Am I protected too? That's right! My religion states I'm going to Hell if I serve any black people!

Could someone actually do that? I hope not, but this law and others like it seem to make it at least plausible.

Personally, I think Indianans should let the law stand. Then, when any business objects to serving someone on religious grounds, publicize it. Take it to social media and let the court of public opinion be the judge. It could put them out of business. Or not.

The bottom line is that the law was made and written to get religious votes...Not to protect business owners. The politicians in the republican party understand all too well that without the religious votes, they would be losing a lot more elections. So the politicians currently in power throw them a bone. In the case of Indiana, it looks like the Governor as well as the legislature just really underestimated the national response to this law.

China is Sick...And Wants to Make the Rest of Us Sick Too

Once again, toxic Chinese products are in the news. This time its laminate flooring sold through Lumber Liquidators. To boost their bottom line, this company appears to have imported many millions of square feet of flooring with high levels of formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen, a cancer causing agent.

Of course, this isn't the first time that toxic Chinese building products have made the news. During the housing boom, many builders tried to save money by importing drywall made in China. As it turned out, the drywall would emit a whole potpourri of dangerous and hazardous chemicals.

Welcome Home!

This news really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. In their rush to modernize, industrialize and keep the masses employed, China has practically destroyed their own environment. Beijing as well as pretty much every other city in that country has polluted their air, earth and water to such a degree that many future generations will feel the impact.

Cancer, illness, birth defects, shorter lifespans, lower quality of life are in the cards for practically all Chinese citizens. If their industry and government don't care about their own citizens, why on earth should they care about their customers?

Anyone who purchases goods made in China needs to think twice. The clothes that you wear rests against your skin all day. Were they made in China? If so, toxic chemicals could be seeping into your pores. Do you buy furnishings made in China? Just like the laminate flooring and drywall, these too could be leaching dangerous chemicals into your household.

I wonder, do they use Chinese drywall and laminate flooring in the houses and buildings built in China?

Self-Driving Technology May Create Mass Unemployment

Self-driving cars will soon be a reality, and frankly the prospect is quite exciting. To me the idea of being chauffeured around by my vehicle, freeing me to do other tasks and get work done whilst in my car is simply fantastic.

For all of those folks who are stuck in their cars for 2 hours a day, commuting back and forth to work. What if this time could be put towards actually getting work done? Getting your phone calls and morning meetings out of the way. Instead of leaving my job at 5, I could leave at 3...and work on my way home.

So how soon could self-driving cars become the new normal? Well, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, confirmed that by Summer of 2015, The Tesla Model S would be able to drive itself on highways. Mr. Musk had mentioned this fab new feature during his announcement in October of 2014 regarding Tesla and the introduction of the Dual Motor Model S sedan.

A car that can drive itself on the highway? That is pretty cool. But how much longer until cars can completely drive themselves? Well, no one truly knows the answer to that, but I bet it's a lot closer than anyone realizes.

In 20 years...? Absolutely. There is no question in my mind that in 20 years, virtually every vehicle on the road will be self-driving. There are simply too many benefits and the technology is progressing at a feverish pace. But could it happen sooner?

It could. In fact, in ten short years we could be well on the way to self-driving cars. But whether its 10 or 20 years, the impact will be felt most acutely by those who earn a living in the transportation and delivery sector.

According the the US Department of Transportation, 1 out of every 7 jobs in the US is related to transportation. More than just drivers, there are mechanics and people who build vehicles, etc. How many truck drivers will lose their jobs, or have their income seriously reduced when trucks can drive themselves back and forth across the country? Especially if they can do it safer and more efficiently.

It's only a matter of time before this happens. And, once cars can drive themselves...most people probably won't need to own one. There will be car sharing services. I predict that once self-driving cars become mainstream, auto sales will drop significantly. There's more manufacturing jobs lost.

This technology will be incredibly disruptive. This is because it's going to happen very quickly. There won't be time for the benefits of self-driving cars to create enough new jobs to absorb all of the jobs that will be lost due to self-driving technology.

Most people who drive for a living earn a decent income. They're not getting rich, but its not bad. Some do quite well. When you're out on the road driving...how many commercial vehicles do you see? I see quite a few.

So, while I'm hopeful for a self-driving future, I'm also wary for all those folks who are going to end up losing their livelihood to this emerging technology.