Another Good Opinion to Pass Along.

M. J. is my intelligent daugthter.

This is probably nothing new but the more time passes with the current players in government, the more I am leaning towards the below suggestions. I am hopeful though that voters will do a bit of homework and not simply vote against incumbents but vote for people based on where they stand on important issues as well as how they have comported themselves (character- values) and where applicable, how they have voted/sponsored legislation. It is important not to get hung up on single emotional issues rather than looking at the big picture. Political hot buttons target our emotions, both sides are guilty of using this methodology. I believe we tend to get worked up and hung up by single issue distortion making our ability to look at the overall big picture clearly difficult. When reason and logic are hijacked by vague implications, as a single motivational issue (healthcare etc.), it is urgent as voters we open our eyes and consider the wider viewpoint. A democratic republic working on majority rules stands still without reasonable compromise, as citizens we are responsible to vote wisely.



Just some thoughts,

mj




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From
Subject: FW: Suggestion for a peaceful purge - please forward





Subject: Suggestion for a peaceful purge - please forward

A friend sent this thoughtful piece and asks that you read it, and, if you agree, forward it widely - - -


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"All I ask is that you consider the suggestion here.

"The entire Congress of the United States is corrupt. And I mean both Houses, and I mean both major parties.

"I realize that a few Members of each House are trustworthy, but, as a group they are absolutely the most corrupt bunch to ever disgrace our Nation.

"In November of 2010 the entire House of Representatives will stand for re-election; all 435 of them. One third of the Senate, a total of 33 of them, will also stand for re-election. Vote every incumbent out.

"And I mean every one of them. No matter their Party affiliation. Let's start all over in the House of Representatives with 435 people who have absolutely no experience in running that body, with no political favors owed to anyone but their own constituents. Let's make them understand that they work for us. They are answerable to us and they simply have to run that body with some common sense.

"Two years later, in 2012, vote the next third of the incumbents in the Senate out.

"We can do the same thing in 2014 and, by that time we will have put all new people in that body as well.

"We, the People, have got to take this Country back and we HAVE to do it peacefully.

"That's what the Framers of our Constitution envisioned."

I am also suggesting term limits on the new bunch: 8 years for Representatives and 12 years for Senators; no exceptions. The longer they stay in office, the more power they get, and they love it and will do anything to get re-elected.

We have term-limited the President, now let's term-limit the Legislators.

Please, if you love this Country, send this (as I have done) to absolutely everyone whose email address appears in your address book.

This thing can permeate this Country in no time. Let's make it happen.

Don't just delete this - please pass it on and give our Country a fighting chance.

VOTE THE POWER ABUSERS OUT. LET'S TAKE AMERICA BACK!

IF YOU LIKE THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING IN OUR COUNTRY, THEN DO NOTHING.........




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To Good an Opinion to Pass Up

This is from an article in the St. Petersburg, FL Times Newspaper on Sunday.

The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?"

I think this guy nailed it!

Dear Mr. President:

Please find below my suggestion for fixing America's economy.

Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.

You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them $1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.

2) They MUST buy a new American car. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed.

It can't get any easier than that!

If more money is needed, have all members of Congress pay their taxes....

If you think this would work, please forward to everyone

Merle's Musings

The news media reported today that "GM Plans to Repay U.S. Loan". Good news, right? Well, not so fast, read on, "The carmaker plans to use other money (OPM) it received from the government to pay back the borrowing."

Sorry, GM, my daughter just bought a Ford product, I drive a Ford product and when my wife trades in her auto, it WILL NOT BE FOR A GM PRODUCT.

Ever.

In the JSEB critical editorial of the the city, the mention the not even underway new hotel while not even mentioning the well=underway, financially unfunded Peoria Riverfront Museum. Nor do they mention the "can't fail" U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington that has lost money 35 or the 36 months it has been open. Bloomington now faces a massive debt payable for years and years into the future and has a great possibility of putting their bond ratings in jeopardy.

Can you guess why the JSEB is not mentioning the Coliseum? Throw in the Peoria Baseball Club and their inability to turn a profit since 1994, at least, for this stockholder, look at the underfunded PRM with an endowment of only $1.5 million in the bank (JS - Nov. 7, 2009) out of a promised $5 million of an actual need of $7 to $14 million and the answer why not, is easy. 360,000 (Methodist CEO Michale Bryant said expect 400,000) yearly paying attendees to the area, $14 million in new business (per two Bradley professors) a discount of 15% on galleria visits promised to Peoria County residents, out of town visitors will pay the sales tax also so why the discrimination?, a parking garage (pay to park as opposed to free parking at Lakeview) as yet unfunded, an environmental impact study not yet completed, $80 some million borrowed money on "projected" sales tax revenue over a period of 20 years, no contract as yet worked out with the county and no news of any contract with the big promised IMAX. That one is easy to figure. The money has yet to be raised to build the $78 million museum building.

Waiting for more PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS? What do you think? Trust us, the PRM Committee said, the public will only need to put up one third of the cost of the museum. Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus. Santa's living at the North Pole was the myth.

Sure and trust most governments to "balance their budgets without raising taxes." But your property VALUES will rise. Maybe not your property but just trust us.

On November 10 the JSEB warned the city not to gamble with public safety and PERCEPTIONS.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Arne Duncan on Teacher Colleges

************************
I agree,

Merle

From the Chronicle of Higher Education, Friday, October 30, 2009, p. A18. http://chronicle.com/article/Duncan-Urges-Revolutionary/48896/
************************
Duncan Urges 'Revolutionary Change' in Nation's Teacher-Training Programs


By Kelly Field

The nation's colleges of education are doing a "mediocre job" of preparing teachers for "the realities of the 21st-century classroom" and need "revolutionary change-not evolutionary tinkering," Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will say in a speech on Thursday at Columbia University's Teachers College.

In a prepared text of his speech, the secretary accuses colleges of using their schools of education as "cash cows" and "profit centers" to finance "prestigious but under-enrolled graduate departments like physics-while doing little to invest in rigorous educational research and well-run clinical testing." He calls on colleges to make student outcomes "the overarching mission that propels all their efforts."

He also criticizes states and the federal government for approving weak teacher-training programs and licensing examinations for teachers, and for failing to provide enough support for programs that provide mentors for teachers.

Good teacher-training programs, according to the secretary, are "coherent, up-to-date," and "research-based." They should also provide students with subject mastery, prepare them to teach "diverse pupils in high-needs settings," and use data "to inform instruction."

More than half the nation's teachers graduate from a school of education. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 220,000 students graduate from a teachers college every year.

The secretary's remarks echo criticism leveled by a former president of Teachers College, Arthur Levine, in a series of reports produced by the Education Schools Project.

Mr. Duncan also emphasized improving teacher-training programs in comments he made two weeks ago at the University of Virginia. In that speech, he praised the teaching profession but criticized the nation's colleges of education, calling them the "neglected stepchild" of higher education.


***********************************************
--

Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL 62901-4610
Phone: (618) 453-4241 [O]
(618) 457-8903 [H]
Fax: (618) 453-4244
E-mail: jbecker@siu.edu

Merle's Musings

Financial Recovery? Why should we trust the Fed, which is enmeshed with the largest financial institutions in the country, with banks having some say in election to the boards of Regional Feds? Don't forget the the Federal Reserve is primarily responsible for the financial crisis and the subsequent recession. The Fed operates in a shroud of secrecy which conceals its internal machinations. It has little credibility with the public. No, I and the Tea Party people don't trust the Fed, either.

(AP) 10/16/09 "Think Tank Calls for Center for 'Deprogramming' Extremists". A British counter-extremism tank said that prison policies are failing to stop Muslim inmates from being radicalized, and urged the government to "deprogram' extremists." It said extremist radical Muslims take five to seven years to "graduate" to violence so jails become recruiting centers to breed a new generation of terrorists. And not all of Muslim birth.

One of my acquaintances feels I shouldn't be blogging this sort of thing when here in Peoria we are all "just trying to get along" and welcoming people from all ethnic group with different mores into our community. He appears to be a well read man but I will remind him again "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world." Unfortunately, many of these people will not be seen at American sporting events and viewing museums. No, while we play, they plot.

Dan Proft, Candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois said recently that Al Gore and other global warming activists are "kind of enviro-terrorists." Dan is my kind of leader. As my friend pointed out, we already have home grown terrorists among us so why should I discriminate against Muslim terrorists. Why, a very recent survey says that there are at least one Muslim Mosque in each state and 10 per cent of the leadership preach "death to the infidel."

Global warming? Of course, anyone who reads widely know that the world has gone through heat and cold. Approximately 10 thousand years ago, glaciers appeared as far south as directly north of Eureka, Il. Europe had an "ice age" in Medieval times.

John Dietzen, whoever he is recently wrote a LTE to the JS that the passage of a concealed-carry law would "dump tens of thousands, or millions more guns into our streets and neighborhoods." Jay Zentro of Bartonville, my kind of guy, wrote back that these guns are already out there in tens of thousands, if not millions, and are already in the hands of criminals and that tens of thousands, if not millions, are already in the hands of responsible citizens who would not dream of committing a violent crime.

With the City of Peoria cutting its police force for libraries and possibly arts programs, expect gun sales to responsible, qualified citizens to rise. My wife just bought stock in a gun company and her stock is up 10% in a week.

Sherry Cannon also wrote to the JSEB that "Peoria's Kids Deserve Educational Choices." Ms Cannon writes, "I am deeply concerned with the level of learning in our inner city schools." She wants to learn more about charter schools. Charter teachers talk about how their job is more rewarding because they are given the freedom to teach, how invested they were in the success of their students and that administration does not keep bad teachers." Right, on Ms. Cannon.

Charter or private school kids are in a learning environment, not distracted by disciplinary problems, drastic adherence to inclusion, and not restricted to hours in teaching and learning situation. Parent conferences are usually held on Saturdays or at times when employed parents can attend.

I am not sold on the Charter School being discussed for the Peoria #150 area because the union, the school board and current administration would be too much involved. We have people with lots of money to spend on enhancements in Peoria, surely they could get the state to grant a private charter to Peoria. They can't, you say. Why not, Oh, just like Chicago, the unions don't want THAT type of competition and by staying in the #150 district, they can get the state to largely fund the charter school. Oh, I see.

Hmmmmmmmmm.

Government Insanity? Get Used to it.

Didn't think so!

Bottom line. We've spent several hundreds of billions of dollars in support of an agency ... the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!

Ready?? It was very simple ... and, at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.

The Department of Energy was instituted on 8-04-1977. TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.

Hey, pretty efficient, huh???

AND, NOW, ITS 2009 -- 32 YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. THEY HAVE 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND, LOOK AT THE JOB THEY HAVE DONE!

THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WAS I THINKING?"

Ah, yes -- good ole bureaucracy.

And, NOW, we are turning the banking system, HEALTH CARE, maybe the insurance industry and the auto industry over to the same Government?

Is this insanity or what?

What do you think ?

All Politicians Are Socially Liberal?

Mark Steyn writes in the National Review, "The reality is that almost every 'socially liberal, fiscally conservative' politician turns out to be fiscally liberal--in the same way that, if you mix a half pint of ice cream with half pint of horse manure, it's not hard to figure which taste will predominate."

A lot of voters want it both ways which is why "fiscal" is not a usual word in this context. Big government is not primarily a "fiscal" issue as so many of these "socially liberal" programs are unaffordable; they are unaffordable because they are wrong---they are not the proper role of government, and if you pretend they are you unbalance the relationship between the citizen and the state.

No government can guarantee universal homownership, or absurd returns on mediocre assets as a permanent feature of life. And to attempt to do so is to strip language of meaning. You're debauching the currency--not in the "fiscal" exchange-rate nickel-'n-dime sense but something more profound: the very currency of liberty--property, contract, citizenship, responsibility.

These excerpts are taken from a synopsis by Mr. Steyn from an the article in the Times of London, "Arnie Schwarzenegger Joins the Ranks of Girlie Men" and the "Antacus" effort Arnie has made by evolving into such a social-liberal that he has involved the State of California in so many programs that government should not be involved in, that now the state is a foldin' state-going out of business state.

Even Antacus, though he could slay all comers--as long as his feet were planted firmly on the ground but as Hercules figured out, get him up in the air, unmoored, unrooted and he turned into a big sack of nothing. Pretty much where the State of California and Arnie are right now.

Sound like our socially overextended and semi-corrupt state of Illinois? Sure does to me. How about a another 10 million from the state for our MUSEUM? Maybe the state will bail out the Coliseum, some officials in Bloomington hope so.

Hey, elected officials, everything is important to some one so let's fund all requests. Just turn the country into one big commune. Appears that's where the whole country is heading.

U.S. Government Money Pits

How much can the federal government throw down the housing money-pit in one day? Around $26 billion as Congress approved more tax breaks for home buyers last Thursday as the governments love affair with Fannie Mae continues. This mistress asked her lovers for another $15 billion to stay solvent. But take heart, Fannie promises them that one of its objectives is "protecting the interests of taxpayers." (Source WSJ)

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Tax payer ignorance is bliss. But Congress had better learn that most of America is not in the traditional blissful mood these days. All politicians lie when making promises they know they cannot keep. Maybe the traditional "blissful" taxpayer is taking notes and names.

I hope so.

Exuberance - Maybe It's All Irrational

Maybe Alan Greenspan didn't take it far enough. A salesman looking to close a deal should do his of her best to induce a warm wave of good feelings. Remember, a happy customer is a rather less critical customer. Still, there is argument that sadness is always the right mood for the task at hand. "Positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, cooperation and reliance on mental shortcuts. But when attention is to detail and gimlet-eyed appraisals are critical, the grumps have it."

Bliss, you could say, is ignorance. These gems of wisdom were taken from Eric Felten, WSJ

I 'Wished' I Wasn't in Bloomington, Bloomington, Tonight!

Old Memories. Many memories we would all like to forget.

Some one posted a comment on one of my blogs on impending financial problems incurred by 4, "we know more than you dummies", Bloomington City Council members and one really smart Mayor who cast the 5th and deciding vote to build a Coliseum the public really did not want. I'm going to quote you some headlines and timelines from the Bloomington Pantagraph that a few of you may want to pass on to the ruling class of Peoria:

December, 9, 2001 - "Bloomington Approves Downtown Arena, Mayor Markowitz casts the deciding vote". Mayor Markovitz: "I am proud to vote yes. I don't think there is any good reason why we should not build this. We looked it over and over." Said Alderman Rich Veitengruber, "I spend a lot of time with my kids going to Peoria. I'd rather spend the time in Bloomington.

August 10, 2004 - "Bloomington OK's price for new arena. The city council approved a locked-in price of $30.2 million which does not include parking. The price is up $1.8million projected by city officials a year ago."

February 2, 2005 _ "The City Council learned Monday that $528,650 is all that is left of a $1 million state grant to help pay for for infrastructure in down-town Bloomington related to the arena.

March 26, 2006 - "Building a Coliseum". "People said , we don't need it. We don't want it and people won't come or the citizens of Bloomington. Once they get in the Coliseum, I think the attitudes will change. It is a beautiful facility," said Mayor Judy Markovitz. "It's more than people expected. We're living up to the commitment we made about a variety of entertainment", said City Manager Tom Hamilton. (Is he still City Manager?)

"The coliseum is being paid for by city-issued bonds, not by raising taxes", said Mayor Markovitz. (Is she still Mayor? No, she is gone.)

April 2, 2006 - "Coliseum debut a dream come true". "It was incredible to see all the people", facility security guard Tom Selberg said. "The Coliseum is a good shot in the arm. We definitely need it." The contractor said he was thrilled, "I can't tell you how thrilled". (If he has been paid, I'll bet he's thrilled?)

April 13, 2007 - "Coliseum lost $1.8 million its first year."

May 7, 2007 - "Bloomington Looks to Cover Arena (Coliseum) Losses." (Markovitz is gone) "Mayor Steve Stockson and the council agreed that a tax increase would be a last resort", the Coliseum had a loss of $2.5 million last year and predicts a $1.6 million deficit this year." Stockton said initial estimates projected the museum would generate a $765,000 profit this year.

July 8, 2007 - Pantagraph com/articles: "Nobody listened." "Blame the past administration". "Tear it down and build a racetrack." Let those who profit from the Coliseum, pay for it: those who use it pay for it." Raise the ticket prices." 'It's never going to work, so how much longer is this going to go on before it's admitted." "I'm glad I live in Normal and won't be bailing out this "white elephant." "What would it cost to lock the doors." This two I like. "By the way... how is the culture center doing?" "What part of blatant lies to the entire city do you not understand?"

And out of the 50 or so comments to the Pantagraph web site, this is best: "I don't care how much the arena has lost. I want entertained."

On August 8, 2004, the Pantagraph Editorial Board Wrote. " No one held accountable for added costs of arena. We are now told that the price will be $37 million. The additional cost was sprung on the City Council during a Monday night work session." Other comments in the editorial like "poor planning, underestimated costs, holes in the project, once financing costs are added the actual cost will be around $74 million."

Now we have learned that the arena lost money 35 months out of the 36 months it has been open. We learn the taxpayers are on the hook and the City manager doesn't have much of a clue as to what to do. The cities bond rating is being affected negatively because the arena deficits are being paid out of the General Fund.

Former Caterpillar Manager Mark Johnson, now an employee of Peoria County and liaison between all the groups, city, county, the original museum committee and Caterpillar, said in a talk to the Noon Optimist Club that the $78 million plus many millions in interest on the bonds, Peoria museum project was a "mess". A very reliable source told me that one of the major museum pushers "never attended a committee meeting."

I know that the museum pushers are going to say "but we are different than what is happening in Bloomington". Somewhat true, the arena debt is financed by bonds and the PRM building will be financed by a 20 year sales tax. However, bonds will need to be sold to build the structure. The sales tax will cover principal and interest on the bonds. From that point on, it is my studied opinion, there is little difference. Peoria County so far has had to make up deficits from the General Fund. Peoria City is far deeper in debt than Peoria County and has a less bright future especially if the tax payer supported bonded, General Obligation, ($39+ million) hotel deal goes through and doesn't perform as PROJECTED.

I have said wake up Peoria, so many times that it bores me. Maybe reading this will bore you too.

I hope not. I part with a well known quote. "The first thing you do when you find yourself in a deep hole is to stop digging. You also need to stop denying just how deep the hole is."

Peoria leadership has yet to acknowledge any mistakes they made. Past leaders like Ex-Mayor Grieves, Riverplex pusher, museum pusher, ball park pusher, Gateway building pusher, One Technology Center, and maybe Cubs Food pusher. Bud's restaurant attempt in Banner failed as per the JS today.

We would hear of a lot more failures if it weren't for government subsidies and entitlements with taxpayer dollars. All this government giving must be paid back someday by guess who, the taxpayers, many of them willing to pay. Most are not.

PRM Correction

The article in the JS I attributed to Karen McDonald, "Fund Raising Not Over Yet" (for the museum) was written by Scott Hillyard and Andy Kravetz, not Ms. McDonald. My boo-boo, Karen and I deeply apologize to Ms. McDonald.

As to funds lurking in the stimulus bill for the garage, it is my belief that these tax dollars are just waiting for the City of Peoria to turn over the land where the underground garage will be built to the County. The County of Peoria is waiting for the PRM Committee to raise the money promised to the County Board.

Let me count. They have been trying to raise this money for years turning to Peoria County in desperation, yes desperation because the state and feds didn't have the money to contribute and the "big hitters" wallets suddenly closed up.

One source of raising the missing money is to ask the 14,000 plus people who voted for the sales tax to build the museum, to contribute only $500 each one time, and presto, $7,000,000 would be raised, stimulus money (taxpayer dollars) could be released, construction on the garage, counting $3.6 million of taxpayer dollars set aside from the 2006 or 2007 Highway Bill, could begin.

After all, the museum building was only going to cost $17 per person or $85 for a family of five each year for 20 years or $1,700. So what's an extra one time contribution of $500 for the yes voters?

So simple.

Or combined with one local persons money; one who owns 1,000,000 shares of his companies $50 a share stock; current value $50+ million, could part with just $5 million of his money, the sooner construction of anything could begin. Or of course, the CEO Roundtable, who promised a bunch of money and so far has reneged on $6 million of the promise, who may be waiting until government tax credits to become available, stop waiting and kick in the missing 6 mil...

Meanwhile, I drove some roads in the City today that will need to be closed if we have a winter of hard freezes and thaws. I drove by a huge pile of dirt where an under-utilized library expansion is going to cost half a million more because some board members didn't have the common sense to see if there were any dead bodies buried where they were going to build and I drove by a new library under construction in an UNUSUAL location out along Rt. 6, and yes, Rt. 6 in places will be a mess if repairs work doesn't start soon, with the good news the library tax hasn't yet shown up on your property tax bills.

Priorities, you know.

And, would it surprise some of my readers, to know that the PRM Committee failed to do a proper environmental study where the proposed museum is to be built??

I'll close with a quotation "If you are not invited to the table, you are probably on the menu" and one by Cicero, " It is true that one falsehood leads easily to another".

Peoria Riverfront Museum - Big Lies, Etc.?

In a conversation with my County Administrator, Patrick Urich, this evening I was informed by Mr. Urich that JS Reporter McDonald wrote "The county has the legal authority to raise as much as $40 million in sales taxes, and the $5.5 million difference would go a long way toward helping out with the museum's endowment." Mr. Urich said he told the reporter that $5.5 million would go toward "construction' of the museum building, not the endowment.

This is what I have always interpreted what Mr. Urich was saying when he said the county board had voted to cap the sales tax money at $40 million for the museum building.


The PRM Committee has promised to raise a sufficient endowment anywhere from $14 million as a Committee Chairman publicized, to the $7-11 million as Peoria County Financial Officer Erik Bush told the County Board the museum would need. This money was to come from the private sector, not from more tax dollars.

At last report, the PRM had set aside less than $2 million for the required endowment.

Republican Wins on the East Coast

"If Republicans, in their exuberance, think that they can just stand on the side and yell "over here" to Independents, Independent Republicans and to an angry herd (think Tea Party Patriots) and 'We've had enough of over-taxing and over-spending and our concerns being ignored by much of our elected bodies': active groups like (Peoria 9/12 Project), (Campaign for Liberty) and dozens of other angry groups looking for a leader, the Republican party will be trampled in the stampede", so wrote citizen Peter Phelan of Charlottesville, Va on 10/20/09 in the WSJ.

"Gloom Spreads on Economy, but GOP Doesn't Gain", wrote Jonathan Wiseman of a poll results that can be found online at WSJ.com/Politics. The poll reflects increasing pessimism, with a majority saying U.S. is on the 'wrong track' for he first time in Obama presidency. The survey was of 1009 Americans was conducted from Oct. 22-25. The survey found the country in a decidedly negative mood. 58% say the slide still has a way to go back to the level expressed in July.

But a dark national view of how everybody in Washington is conducting the public business appears to be preventing Republicans from benefiting from concerns about the direction of the country or the Democrat-led government handling of the economy. The minority party generally benefits from actions not acceptable to a disappointed, angry or a dissatisfied populace.

It is a sad joke on the country that so many left leaning liberals think that the country "just won't accept a black man as president". It is the policies being set daily by most members of the present administration who seem to overt desire to take from the rich and give to the poor making the poor and somewhat poor dependent on a governmental communal type of society, that are making a usually silent group, angry. Or setting socialistic policies that cloud the issues of what is good for the general populace.

While color may still cloud some people's mind they come from the ignorant class to be found in all colors. shapes and sizes. And some prejudice exuded toward certain ethnic groups. Ignorant people or apathetic people abound in this both poor, middle class and "affluent" society. And forget victimization. It gets to be a lamer and lamer excuse. It happens to all at some points in their lives. Give each other a break.

The new Peoria City Manager who I met yesterday is an example of a man hired for his potential capabilities to bring fiscal responsibility to the cities fathers.

I will end this blog on the subject. The Republican Party had many years of power where they too could have made better policy positions. Locally, some Republicans are running on the same old theme. Let's blame everything on the Democrats.

Sorry, these are not the words the "angry people" want to hear. Given time, these angry people will be heard. Maybe the party of which I am a "Conservative" member like Johan Goldberg (see his column in the JS today, "Conservatives just want a turn", and Conservative Republican candidate for Governor, Dan Proft, will find out a way to reach these angry people.

ObamaCare Confession

"The U.S. is making a costly and open-ended commitment. Let's not pretend that it isn't a big deal, or that it will be self-financing, or that it will work out exactly as planned. It won't. What is really unfolding, I suspect, is the scenario that many conservatives feared. The Obama Administration....is creating a new entitlement program, which, once established, will be virtually impossible to rescind", so wrote John Cassidy, part of the left-wing stable at the New Yorker. (Source WSJ)

In other words to redistribute income by putting health-care further under government control, in the process making the middle class more dependent on bigger government. Democrats up for election would be the major beneficiaries over the long run.

No wonder so many of those who call ourselves an older breed of conservatives are upset. We know that we are being lied to about ObamaCare, and we know we are going to be stuck with the bill.

On the other hand indications are that 30% of the United States of America population is on a Socialistic bent. Maybe the sane people in our federal government can either make drastic changes to this massive bill or kill it before foisting it on a largely confused citizenry.

Very few members of the citizenry including myself, have read the bill from page 1 to the end. In many cases, it would take a bevy of lawyers to interpret it. Isn't that one of the main reasons for its mass of words? After passage, to be interpreted by lawyers who seem to dominate Congress?

Social Empathy DOMINATING the U.S.?

Forwarded to me by a friend. Please forward.

This should make a LOT of people really mad.

Subj: FW: FW: Makes no sense


an YOU understand this???


IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS OF HARD LABOR.

IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.

IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.

IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.

IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.

IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO A POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.

IF YOU CROSS THE U.S. BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET A JOB, A DRIVERS LICENSE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, WELFARE, FOOD STAMPS, CREDIT CARDS, SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE, FREE EDUCATION, FREE HEALTH CARE, A LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON AND IN MANY INSTANCES THEY'LL LET YOU VOTE...