Friday, September 30, 2011

Ban Skirts and Dresses? Maybe the Officer Was a Muslim

By John Noel
NBCNewYork.com
updated 1 hour 25 minutes ago 2011-09-30T18:45:16
Print Font: +-Women in a Brooklyn neighborhood on edge over a spate of sex attacks are being told by police that wearing skirts and dresses might not be a good idea.

The surprising message from the NYPD is not being taken well.

"I think that women should be able to wear whatever they want," said Theresa Troupson, a Park Slope resident. "I don't think that they should be held responsible in any way for the actions of criminals."

Lauren, who did not want her last name used, told the the Wall Street Journal that she was walking down the street in shorts and a t-shirt after leaving the gym on Monday when she was stopped by an officer who also stopped two other women in dresses.

Lauren said the officer asked them if they knew what was happening in the area, and asked them if they knew what the suspect looked for.

"He pointed at my outfit and said, 'Don't you think your shorts are a little short?'" she told the Journal. "He pointed at their dresses and said they were showing a lot of skin."

The officer also told them that "you're exactly the kind of girl this guy is targeting," according to Lauren.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said the officers "are simply pointing out that as part of the pattern involving one or more men that the assailant(s) have targeted women wearing skirts."

A group called Safe Slope says the NYPD effort is "completely inappropriate."

"There have been reports that the women attacked were all wearing skirts," said Jessica Silk, a Safe Slope founder. "Unfortunately this might be a common link between the women that were attacked but the message shouldn't be that you shouldn't wear a skirt. The message should be that, 'Here are ways that you can protect yourself.'"

1.

Christie Not Running for Republican President Because He is Too Much Like the Demagogue We Now Have in Office

The Wall Street Journal today reports, "As Christie Clamor Grows, His Positions Face Scrutiny."

Do they ever! Wise Republicans and Independents like myself, favor more natural gas and cleaner coal production. Christie sides with the Greens and last year passed offshore wind laws that will increase electricity costs by more than 2% while killing thousands of birds. (The radical enviros ignore wind turbines killing millions of birds while attacking oil and gas companies for killing 28 birds. (See "A Bird Brained Prosecution, Indicting oil and gas companies but giving wind turbines a pass," in today's WSJ.

He wants to phase out coal fired power plants. He opposes off shore drilling. While he criticized ObamaCare, his state of New Jersey, did not file a lawsuit against the current administration as a majority of other states did,

He favors giving the gangs more fire power while restricting the rights of citizens to protect themselves as the people in Bahrain now find themselves from their own government. If Obama is reelected that day may come sooner than some think in the U.S.

This administration even gave or sold assault weapons to use against our own law enforcement people and innocent border state citizens. (Obama wants to ban all citizen owned guns while Christie wants more control and the ban of assault weapons).

He imposed a one year ban on on natural gas extraction known as "fracking" now widely used by others.

He opposed the need of parental approval for underage daughters having abortions.

He pursued only a handful of illegal immigration cases during his nine years as U.S. attorney in New Jersey, and in 2008 he told a Latino group that "being in this country without proper documentation is NOT a crime."

It appears he is out of step with most conservatives and more in line with Obama. Plus he is hardly a poster candidate for the control of obesity, a disease that is proven to shorten peoples lives and cause ailments, mainly heart, back and knee problems, adding to the cost of taxpayer financed health care.

For me, that makes Cain and Romney as the pair that could win the election and stop our speed towards Socialism and worse

While Romney's actions have been pretty thoroughly scrutinized by the press, I still don't know that much about Cain.

Except that he is beginning to look like the person who I could support in this presidential race. Either as President of V-P.

JS and AP Criticizes Rutherford and Topinka For Salary Increases to Non-Union Staff

The headline in the JS on 9/27/11, stated, "While critical of the state's fiscal crisis, Rutherford and Topinka awarded raises to staffers." Elected governmental officials usually, but not always, give raises to non-union staff commensurate with raises given to the unionized employees.

These raises will cost taxpayers $305,000.00 this year.

Left out of the headlines and buried further from the headlines criticizing the two Republicans, was the mention that Democrat Jesse White handed out $936,000 to his non-union staffers this year.

It's the headlines most people read and get a fixed perception. The liberal press is schooled in conveying perceptions it if fits their agenda, and believe me, they have agendas.

Further into the article, it states that Rutherford gave the raises because more responsibilities were added, at the same time not increasing his budget.

As for Topinka, also deeper into the article, it states that the unions got a 4.5 pay increase while Topinka's staff received only 3% raises. Topinka's staff also took on more responsibilities.

Fair and balanced reporting? Sure.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Elected Officials Can't Say No

Several years ago, I posted results of a study of 73 issues involving public risk that were brought before elected boards. 70 passed.

On the Gary Mathews issue expect Turner to vote yes because of his Caterpillar connections (On 4/20/10, now Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman, wrote a LTE urging the council to vote yes on the hotel issue. He wrote, "Caterpillar supports major development that will drive the rejuvenation of Downtown. By boosting occupancy rates, the city will reap the benefits of increased commerce backing such as employment opportunities of about 4000?? hospitality-driven jobs, revenue from local tax receipts and offshoot development (like the off-shoot developments promised around the ballpark?) of small businesses to support the tourism industry, including restaurants, gas stations, dry cleaners and other attractions.

Should the Marriott Hotel go forward? We think the answer is yes."

Perhaps this type of "stick the taxpayer" thinking is partially responsible that Caterpillar stock is 40% off its recent high of $116. Caterpillar's "generosity" will soon stick taxpayers with a highly debated downtown museum and the stockholders with a $50 million Cat Visitors Center, plus approximately $2 million a year total costs. In the meantime Cat is asking for a large property tax decrease which may cause the citizenry to possibly pay higher fees while getting less city services such as infrastructure (think our lousy streets and curbs, safety issues, etc.

Now, if Cat would just guarantee these general obligation bonds, guarantee the County, that the PRM won't be asking for more money to support the new Riverfront museum, buy naming rights to the ballpark (O'Brien didn't renew 3 years ago) they so strongly supported.........??

I might note that the JSEB noted that the Pere currently is operating at 44% occupancy and appears to be in financial trouble, that the Civic Center is upping it's losses to $4,764,988.00 for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, yet can't keep the existing rooms at the Pere occupied, the tax-payer supported ballpark has yet to have a profitable season and the "projected to be" highly profitable RiverPlex overall budget still operates in the red (JS, 8/11/2011)

Then their is Pete's place, or so says the JS and it's sports page, losing money every year since the new stadium opened.

So, along with Turner voting yes, will be Spain and Riggenback, neither of who has seldom seen tax money they don't want to spend; Gulley and Van Auken, who will talk about reasons not to vote yes, but will vote yes, Spears has union work to consider; and if Ardis votes yes, he will again contradict the platform he first promised when running for election to the council.

Dan Irving has encountered a rocky road so his vote is more likely to be yes, so I predict the vote will be in favor of "a better deal for the taxpayers?" 8-3 or 7-4.

In the meantime, the "vision" planned by the "power" structure has yet to come to light in the way intended.

At least, not to this taxpayer whose opinion is I for see a perhaps "rockier" road as more chickens come home to roost; the renovated sewer system projected by the mayor and Stanton Browning to cost $100-300 million, the deteriorating water underground system, Southtown, turn-a-bouts, warehouse district, deteriorating inner city with it's accompanying #150 problems, etc.

And the property tax increase of fees increases will kick in when we property tax payers start paying for all the money borrowed for Peoria Public School District $90 million plus interest for bonds, the Library bonds and BelWood bonds, the later, we are already paying over $3.2 million a year.

Just one man's studied opinion; a man not in the "good old boys and girls club", though.

Hopedale, Illinois - Chicken Dinner Fund Raiser - Public Service Announcement

For Immediate Release: 9/29/2011
Contact: Larry Noreuil
(309) 449-4415
107 Tremont St.
Hopedale, IL 61747
llnoreuil@hopedalemc.com
www.HopedaleMC.com


Just a reminder.

Merle


Hopedale Medical Complex Chicken Dinner to Benefit the Hopedale Fire Department & Rescue Squad



Hopedale, IL ­— Hopedale Medical Complex (HMC) is sponsoring a chicken dinner to benefit the Hopedale Fire Department & Rescue Squad. The dinner will be held Sunday, October 16, 2011 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in HMC’s Cafe. Ample parking is now available at the east entrance to the Cafe in a new lot at the Corner of Grove and Railroad Streets.

The dinner will include fried chicken, vegetable, rolls with butter, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and coffee or tea. The cost of the event is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children (ages 3-10). Carry-outs are available by calling (309) 449-4325.

For more information, or to inquire about a fundraiser for your non-profit organization, call Larry Noreuil at (309) 449-4415.





###

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Dave Chapman, President of the Local 974, Populist LTE to the JS

Chapman reiterated the old union saw that. "That when I represent young men and women paying higher tax rates than millionaires, it is class warfare.

Everyone should pay their fair share. If you think job makers do anything but use their extra money to invest overseas, I've got a bridge to sell you."

Dave, you are parroting the bull crap circulated by union bosses and their elected Democrat puppets. I know, you need to do that to hold your presidency of your local.

But, here are the real facts. IRS statistics show those earning over $1 million paid 28.9%in federal income taxes in 2009, compared with 24.6% for those earning from $200,000 to $500,000 and 11.6%for those earning from $50,000 to $75,000.

Corporations going overseas? Of course: one major reason is belligerent union bosses like you have forced these companies to go where they can compete against world producers and make a profit to hire union workers and others while paying higher wages and benefits than most every country in the world.

You've helped force companies like Caterpillar to expand outside of Peoria and Illinois. They have wisely expanded mainly in Right To Work States. As to expanding overseas? That's easy for even a populist to understand. Companies expand where they can make a profit. That's called capitalism.

Other countries have expanded into the U.S. I'm sure you are aware because your union is having a harder time unionizing these foreign companies that locate in the U.S. Your membership has fallen drastically in the U.S. private sector but you still are able to get your cronies elected to public office. That appears to be changing; a change that would be best for the staggering economy of this community, state and country.



You union bosses know better than to spread populist manure but I guess you have to to retain your jobs as union bosses.

So sad.

Perry is a Good Man For Texas

But not for president of the U.S. Romney, a good man also, has too much baggage to carry. Perhaps Christie with Herman Cain as VP?

In my opinion, none of the Republican candidates to date, can win the vote for president.

On local scene, I like Patrick Sullivan as a person. But the Republican Central Committe had better realize Sullivan can't win the vote. They should remember their poor choice of Montelongo.

Florida Governor Rick Scott for President?

Whether this is completely true I can't confirm but I do agree 110%. Maybe Scott for president in 2016 if not 2012.

Merle

>> Great going, Florida. You set the stage
>> for
>> the other 49 States to join! Kudos to Republican Governor Rick Scott for
>> having the correctness and guts to move forward on this critical issue !
>>

Hooray for Florida! !
>>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


>> I-95 will be jammed for the next month or
>> so........Druggies and deadbeats heading North out of Florida..
>> Hooray forFlorida!!!!

>> Florida is the first state requiring drug
>> testing to receive welfare! In signing the new law,
>>
>> Republican Gov. Rick Scott said, "If
>> Floridians want welfare, they better make sure they are drug-free.
>>
>> Applicants who test positive for illicit
>> substances won't be eligible for the funds for a year, or until they
>> undergo
>> treatment.
>>
>> Those who fail a second time would be
>> banned
>> from receiving funds for three years!
>>
>> Naturally, a few people are crying this is
>> unconstitutional.
>>
>> How is this unconstitutional ?
>>
>> It's completely legal that every other
>> working people have to pass drug tests in order to get a J-O-B which
>> supports those on welfare!
>> Forward if you agree!!
>>
>> Let's get Welfare back to the ones who
>> NEED
>> it, not those who WON'T get a JOB.....
>>
>> I AGREE 100%
>>
>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, September 23, 2011

Blame the Teacher?

No, blame the system, government interference with local public education, the public for putting up with a flawed system for the last 50-60 years and some of the non-caring or too-caring parents.

Today's headline and article in the Peoria Journal Star (JS) helps pin point the problem. If the actions of the kid are true, he should by now be in juvenile incarceration along with his parent. If I had continued in teaching I would have been jailed for spanking a grade school kid on the playground after he abused two girls. The principal told me to bring him to the office next time and let him render the disciplinary action.

In high school, I took off my coat, yes, we wore coats in those days, and wrestled a sophomore heading for later trouble, to the back of the room facing the wall for the duration of the class and had him expelled next day. Friends say he turned out to be a good worker and a good father.

Today, we have little discipline in the public school system because of the fear of litigation, a lack of backup from some principals, some administrators and many weak school boards.

Merle

From The Los Angeles Times, Friday, September 16, 2011. See http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-adler-teachers-20110916,0,2592824.story . Thanks to several recipients for referring to this article.
****************************
Op-Ed

Moving beyond 'blame the teacher'


The problem with schools isn't teachers; it's a management system that pushes them aside.


By Saul Rubinstein, Charles Heckscher and Paul Adler

Most of the current efforts to improve public education begin with the flawed assumption that the basic problem is teacher performance. This "blame the teacher" attitude has led to an emphasis on standardized tests, narrow teacher evaluation criteria, merit pay, erosion of tenure, privatization, vouchers and charter schools. The primary goal of these measures has been greater teacher accountability - as if the weaknesses of public education were due to an invasion of our classrooms by uncaring and incompetent teachers. That is the premise of the documentary, "Waiting for Superman," and of the attacks on teachers and their unions by politicians across the country.

We see distressing parallels between this approach to quality in education and the approaches that failed so badly in U.S. manufacturing. Recall the reaction of domestic manufacturers in the 1970s as Japanese competitors began to take market share: Many managers and an army of experts blamed American workers. They denounced workers' "blue-collar blues," lackadaisical attitudes and union job protections as the chief impediments to higher quality, productivity and competitiveness.

It took nearly two decades for manufacturers to realize that this diagnosis was deeply flawed and that the recommendations that flowed from it were leading U.S. industry further into decline. Recall the success of Japanese-run auto transplants operating in this country during the 1980s: They reached world-class quality levels with a U.S. workforce, in some cases a unionized workforce, while domestic auto companies continued to blame American workers and saw their quality levels stagnate.

Noticing the discrepancy, a growing number of manufacturers turned to the teachings of the quality guru W. Edwards Deming. Deming argued that U.S. industry's failure was not in its workers but in the system they labored under. He taught that pushing workers to work harder in a poorly designed system cannot improve outcomes. U.S. firms were being outcompeted because they relied on an outdated management system in which decisions were all top-down, tasks were narrowly specialized and workers were told to leave their brains at the factory door. To fix quality, manufacturers needed to fix these systems, and to do that, they needed to involve workers in that effort. Do those two things, and American workers were willing and able to achieve world-class levels of performance.

Much of the current wave of school reform is informed by the same management myths that almost destroyed U.S. manufacturing. Instead of seeing teachers as key contributors to system improvement efforts, reformers are focused on making teachers more replaceable. Instead of involving teachers and their unions in collaborative reform, they are being pushed aside as impediments to top-down decision-making. Instead of bringing teachers together to help each other become more effective professionals, district administrators are resorting to simplistic quantified individual performance measures. In reality, schools are collaborative, not individual, enterprises, so teaching quality and school performance depend above all on whether the institutional systems support teachers' efforts.

There are, thankfully, some examples of education reform that have moved beyond the blame-the-teacher view. A 2010 study by researchers at Rutgers University unpacked the lessons of six cases - from across the country, urban and rural, large and small - in which teachers, unions and administrators have worked together in their school districts to improve student performance. One case, the ABC Unified School District, about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles, created a partnership between the administration and the ABC Federation of Teachers that goes back more than 10 years.

In this partnership, teachers, union representatives and administrators have developed rigorous peer assistance, mentoring and evaluation systems that have raised the level of teaching quality. They have worked together on recruiting, compensation and retaining high-quality teachers and administrators. The district has collaborated with teachers on planning, curriculum design and improving instructional practices. They have brought teachers together in teams to integrate student learning across disciplines and evaluate student progress. They have expanded opportunities for parent involvement.

Performance results have been outstanding. Although 25% of students are English-language learners and about 46% get free or reduced-price lunches, over the last decade the district has performed well above the state average on California's Academic Performance Index, with strong growth in these scores of about 10% per year. The district's graduation rate is 89.1%, while the statewide rate is 74.4%.

Another example is the Plattsburgh City School District in upstate New York, where the Plattsburgh Teachers' Assn. participates in, and sometimes leads, committees that oversee textbook selection, professional development, teacher evaluation, mentoring and peer coaching, curriculum development, long-range planning for the use of information technology and analysis of student test scores and performance. Since 1977, the union has been an integral part of the search and hiring process of teachers and administrators, including the superintendent. Here, 52% of students receive free or reduced-price lunches, yet student performance exceeds the averages for proficiency across the state in language arts, math and science. The Plattsburgh high school graduation rate improved from 72% in 2004 to 88% last year; the statewide average was 73.4%.

These cases and many others like them were highlighted in February at the U.S. Department of Education's conference on "Advancing Student Achievement Through Labor-Management Collaboration," and in October at the "National Conference on Collaborative School Reform," organized by the American Federation of Teachers working with Rutgers University, Cornell University and MIT. These districts offer proven models consistent with the best practices of U.S. industry.

As school begins, we would do well to remember Deming's lesson: In education as in industry, progress toward quality will require collaboration among administrators, teachers and their unions.
-------------------------
PHOTO SIDEBAR: The documentary "Waiting for "Superman" questioned this country's public education system. (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
-------------------------
Saul Rubinstein and Charles Heckscher are professors at Rutgers University and co-directors of the Center for Organizational Learning and Transformation; Paul Adler is a professor at the Marshall School of Business at USC. The Rutgers study referred to is available at http://smlr.rutgers.edu/collaborating-school-reform.
***************************************************
--

Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University

Global Warming Incontrovertible? Hardly

Passed to me by a friend. To see my stance on global warming just type in "Global Warming" on my search bar upper right hand corner.

Merle

In a message dated 9/17/2011 5:18:58 PM Central Daylight Time, philkoth@comcast.net writes:
Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Resigns Over Global Warming

Published September 14, 2011__FoxNews.com



NASA

The global warming theory left him out in the cold.

Dr. Ivar Giaever, a former professor with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the 1973 winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, abruptly announced his resignation Tuesday, Sept. 13, from the premier physics society in disgust over its officially stated policy that "global warming is occurring."

The official position of the American Physical Society (APS) supports the theory that man's actions have inexorably led to the warming of the planet, through increased emissions of carbon dioxide.

Giaever does not agree -- and put it bluntly and succinctly in the subject line of his email, reprinted at Climate Depot, a website devoted to debunking the theory of man-made climate change.

"I resign from APS," Giaever wrote.

Giaever was cooled to the statement on warming theory by a line claiming that "the evidence is incontrovertible."

"In the APS it is ok to discuss whether the mass of the proton changes over time and how a multi-universe behaves, but the evidence of global warming is incontrovertible?" he wrote in an email to Kate Kirby, executive officer of the physics society.

"The claim … is that the temperature has changed from ~288.0 to ~288.8 degree Kelvin in about 150 years, which (if true) means to me is that the temperature has been amazingly stable, and both human health and happiness have definitely improved in this 'warming' period," his email message said.

A spokesman for the APS confirmed to FoxNews.com that the Nobel Laureate had declined to pay his annual dues in the society and had resigned. He also noted that the society had no plans to revise its statement.

The use of the word "incontrovertible" had already caused debate within the group, so much so that an addendum was added to the statement discussing its use in April, 2010.

"The word 'incontrovertible' ... is rarely used in science because by its very nature, science questions prevailing ideas. The observational data indicate a global surface warming of 0.74 °C (+/- 0.18 °C) since the late 19th century."

Giaever earned his Nobel for his experimental discoveries regarding tunneling phenomena in superconductors. He has since become a vocal dissenter from the alleged “consensus” regarding man-made climate fears, Climate Depot reported, noting that he was one of more than 100 co-signers of a 2009 letter to President Obama critical of his position on climate change.

Public perception of climate change has steadily fallen since late 2009. A Rasmussen Reports public opinion poll from August noted that 57 percent of adults believe there is significant disagreement within the scientific community on global warming, up five points from late 2009.

The same study showed that 69 percent of those polled believe it’s at least somewhat likely that some scientists have falsified research data in order to support their own theories and beliefs. Just 6 percent felt confident enough to report that such falsification was "not at all likely."



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/09/14/nobel-prize-winning-physicist-resigns-from-top-physics-group-over-global/#ixzz1YFb2AoJx

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Letter to The Editors of the JS

Kevin J. Williams from Cuba, Illinois needs to be better informed before he attacks our Peoria Police Chief for high crime rates and suggesting he put out more foot patrols. At the time our City Council voted to fund new and remodeled libraries at the tune of $32+ million plus interest for 20 years or more, I asked the Chief what he could do with that money. His answer, hire 25 more officers and put them in the high crime areas. Instead, the council made of of "good old boys and Girls" who never saw any pressure they could stand up to, voted to spend these millions on all things; libraries.

So here is what we someday will have. A lot of libraries that 75% of the citizens of Peoria will never use more than once a decade, 50 % will never use, and high crime rates, bad streets and curbs, high pensions and a deficit that can only grow with out more hidden or outright higher fees, fines or taxes.

As to Mr. Williams comment about PPS District #150, he should read my blogs what The Peoria Chronic, the Peoria Pundit and myself (http://widmer-peoria-watch.blogspot.com) have been bloggng about for years. The whole public education system system stinks. It is a hold over system from 50 years ago and totally outdated, run by people who don't get paid, have no competition to be elected and know less than an ordinary business person. And business people they aren't. Look at their employment records.

A preacher, a union stalwart, a stock broker, a parent. a..., running a $170,000,000.00 businaes.

Good grief.

Bass Pro Outdoor World Discrimination??

I tried to hire those best suited for the job and who I thought would help grow the company. I hope Bass Pro follows the same philosophy.

I never believed in quotas, the fact of fulfilling quotas never really entered my mind. The charges against Bass Pro are alleged.

It is unfortunate that private businesses, who know their needs better than the EEOC, the ACLU and other radical minority organizations, whose employees and attorneys make a lot of money filing lawsuits, can't hire who they want to hire. It's bad enough having school and public bodies using a quota system.

Maybe the NFL and the NBA will be required to use the quota system. At the rate this country is accelerating into Socialism, don't be surprised. Maybe everything on the field and floor is getting too "dark".

Obama, 99% of Stocks, Including Cat, Continues Plunge

And if I haven't added Democrats like Barney Frank, then add him to the list of "know_nothings who think Socialism is best for the U.S." and tar and feather him and ride him out of town on an used railraod tie. Did I leave out Maxine Waters?

These news items you need to read between the lines. One is "sold existing homes". Yes, sold, but nowhere near asking price in 85% of the sales; unemployment figures are actually much higher than published and will get higher when Obama pulls the troops from foreign countries; new homes are being built mostly by those in the public sector, especially those new hires for ObamaCare enforcement and the wealthy and some wealthy, arrogant elite and inflation is here and will grow. Many fees being charged by governments and public places, have risen in lieu of taxes. (think the City of Peoria's garbage tax)

Here's onother disturbing fact; over 6 million homes are owned by people who owe more than the home is worth. Note also, the the JS quit publishing bankruptcies of any kind in the Peoria Area and the County Board has forgotten the bad loans made to FireFly, Globe Energy, RiverStation, InPlay, etc. 90% would have made it without government loans or should or would have gone broke anyway. Credit me for trying to stop some of these loans in committe but was pooh-poohed by the likes of my friend , Bill Prather, Allen Mayer and Tripp O'Conner. I was able to help stop three potential loans to people whose personal wealth was in the millions.

In reviewing my loan file for the 28 years I was in business, I received one small SBA loan that was paid and not renewed. I paid an average of 12 1/2% on borrowed money (a low of 5% and a high of 22%) while I started and sold the business. At the time of sale, neither I nor the company owed anybody any money except in the normal course of monthly business blls. My D and B rating was 3A1 on March 1. 1992, the day I sold my business, the highest rating available for a $10 million dollar company.

It seems most everybody going into business today has their hand out for taxpayer dollars or other types of financial assistance. And we wonder why almost all government bodies are in financial trouble.

Didn't King (oops) Obama lend a California Company called Solyndra $535 million of taxpayers money; our "president" thought the name was "Pandoradra". Cost to everybody concerned, inccluding unpaid vendors, roughly $1,000,000,000.00 and counting.

Note also the number of high school and college graduates who never learned to work, but expect high paying jobs. Especially for those who did study and work during their school years, and those who can't read and compose. For the ones who worked and studied but still can't find a job, I have compassion, except for those who studied Golf or Journalism.

Unfortuantely, while I saw this mess building for many years, I stuck with the market and am paying dearly. Not to worry, my wife and I owe no one.

Kellar Trail, Unfinished and Impeding Traffic

Every day, buses stop at railroad crossing signs warning of railroads on which there has been no rail traffic for years. Vehicles are forced to stop when school buses put out their "stop" signs wasting time and burning fuel for everyone.

Three of the most traveled streets, Knoxville, Pioneer Parkway and Sheridan Road and other streets, not only still have the stop signs that buses must obey but also the crossing on Pioneer Parkway is extremely rough. The Peoria Park District claimed for less than $10,000 a year they could maintain and keep the weeds down.

Have you noted the condition of the "trail" from Knoxville to Pioneer Parkway? Totally covered in weeds and litter and beyond.

Bonnie Noble, Park Superintendent was quoted in the JS on August 15, "Noble said the district has the money to finish all parts of the trail except one, the underpass beneath Knoxville Avenue. We're looking for funding for that project." If the Kellar advocates claim to have your tax dollars to accommodate a few vocal bikers and hikers, then Please put your money where your collective mouths are and correct these messes.

I'm anxious to see new businesses in Junction City sprout up because of this trail and trailhead building; this building to be built by more taxpayer dollars unless Alex opens his pockebook and builds it with private dollars.

Maybe he is. I'll find out when I see a financial breakdown which I doubt will ever be made public.

Why doesn't Alex buy the Mud House builing that is located on the "trail" and vacant for 2-3 years using his money instead of tax dollars?

I know where you are trying to get the rest of the money, Mrs. Noble. And people wonder why our governments are broke.

What is the reason these signs are still up costing unnecessary thousands of dollars? Why has the JS been silent on this unfinished yet supposedly critical economic driver?

Exactly how many tax dollars from local, state and federal governments have gone into this very questionable expenditure during a depression and how many dollars are still needed?

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Double-Dip is Here Now

The day traders are having a ball and making a fortune. Low volume helps them run the stock up a couple of points and then sell off. When the market drops a hundred or so points, they buy boosting the market for another sell-off. Investors who buy and hold are in for a long slough. The market is up mainly because of gold and gold stock, some technology firms like Apple and a number of firms the average investor knows nothing about.

Even dividend paying companies like Caterpillar, who received a bullish write up in Forbes Magazine this month, (wonder why the JS failed to pick up the story??) continues to range in the the mid 80's down from it's high of $116 this year. Cat has added many new jobs and they may be a good buy before long IF the economy ever picks up again.

Caterpillar allegedly received some sweet news from Governor Quinn and a boost in federal stimulus money of some type that allowed it to modernize an East Peoria that specializes in undercarriage component for its track-type tractor. It is notable that the JS did not mention that when showing Aaron Schock in the photo on 9/17/11.

Despite the fact of a poor home building and homes selling at far lower prices than asked, most of you will note that the value of your home went up. I hear sellers are not coming close to selling their homes at the value assessed. My own home is assessed at $25-30,000 more than I could get if I tried to sell.

Don't be fooled by the stock market unless you are invested in favored stock now. Judge by the number of people without jobs, estimated to be a 16 million, many of them not counted because they are either not working or working for pittances on the jobs "black market". Judge by creeping inflation and lack of home building, vacant buildings, our run down streets and rising taxes. Haven't noticed yet?

You will.

With Obama pulling large number of service people back to the U.S., expect that the job market search, even in Peoria, will become pretty tough in 2012. Seniors, except those with comfortable pensions and those who have a small voice, will be harder hit as inflation hits harder and will continue as time moves on.

The construction industry in Peoria will see a lot of so-so skilled people looking for work as the local major construction projects wind down. Union bosses may be between a rock and a hard spot on the Pere project. If it goes, some of the slack of employment will be picked up while at the same time creating a most likely long term large risk for local property tax payers.

As to the unskilled workers, hand a lot of blame on the District #150 Peoria Public School Boards for its graduating thousands of unskilled, can't read or compose, never learned how to work, job seekers.

At least the unemployed will have new libraries, new zoos, a new Museum and perhaps a children's playhouse, Caterpillar Visitors Center and perhaps a new Big Al's to while away the hours. Unfortunately these places all cost money including the libraries that sooner or later, will need to either charge more for some services or property tax payers will increasingly support the "homeless" people hanging out there when its too hot or too cold.

Hey, libraries are mostly paper which is becoming more obsolete, but paper will burn and give warmth in cold times. I blogged that one private bookseller held a public book burning as he could no longer sell used books and make a profit to stay in business.

It was alleged that Lakeview Library and the Downtown Library dumped large quantities of "used" books in dumpsters while at the same time spending millions to remodel and expand the existing library now closed till next fall. (I did make my one and only ever visit to the the new strangely located Northside Library and noted the empty book shelves).

And bookseller Borders went broke and will soon leave Peoria. It's hard to make money selling books when a majority of property taxpayers are supporting all the books you want at no charge.

Me, I now use Peoria Heights Library and will continue to do so.

Oh well. (To read and of my dozens of blogs on the Peoria Library System and some past history on its current CEO and administrator, just type in same on my upper right had search bar).

Monday, September 19, 2011

Harley Davidson Auction Going On Right Now

Just click on www.auctiongroove.com Approximately 1000 items. For more info you can call or email me.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Unions Lead in Lobbying in Wisconsin

Wouldn't we have expected this? Expect the trend to continue nationwide. It shows the desperation of the unions in their pursuit to unionize all public workers and become another Venezuela.

Expect Obama to figure a way to get the illegals qualified to vote. The Republicans had best not to become too smug. It's a long, hard row to hoe to oust this disaster to our country.

Merle

The top four spenders on lobbying the Legislature during the first half of 2011 were labor unions fighting against Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to curb collective bargaining rights, a report released today showed.

The four unions spent $6.3 million in the first six months of the year, the Government Accountability Board reported. Walker introduced his plan in February and the Republican-controlled Legislature passed it in March.

I'm Forwarding as Received Believing it is Basically True

Yes, he told us in advance what he planned to do. Few were listening.




The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised "Meet The Press."




From Sunday's 07 Sept. 2008, 11:48:04 EST, Televised "Meet the Press" THE THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.




General Bill Ginn, USAF (ret.), asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.




The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...




During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention, facing the flag, with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, "Stand and Face It".




NOW GET THIS !!




'Senator' Obama replied:




"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides....." "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression...." "The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air, and all that sort of thing."





(ARE YOU READY FOR THIS???)




Obama continued:, "The National Anthem should be 'swapped' for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as 'redesign' our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of waring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails - - - perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments ....."


"When I become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts . We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice, which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag, and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past."




"Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First black Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America."





WHAAAAAAAT, is that???




Yes, you read it right.




I, for one, am speechless!!!


Dale Lindsborg , Washington Post









EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NEEDS TO READ THIS, KEEP IT GOING ! ! SAVE AMERICA BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE ! !













Yes, he told us in advance what he planned to do. Few were listening.




The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised "Meet The Press."




From Sunday's 07 Sept. 2008, 11:48:04 EST, Televised "Meet the Press" THE THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.




General Bill Ginn, USAF (ret.), asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.




The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...




During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention, facing the flag, with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, "Stand and Face It".




NOW GET THIS !!




'Senator' Obama replied:




"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides....." "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression...." "The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air, and all that sort of thing."





(ARE YOU READY FOR THIS???)




Obama continued:, "The National Anthem should be 'swapped' for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as 'redesign' our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of waring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails - - - perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments ....."


"When I become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts . We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice, which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag, and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past."




"Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First black Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America."





WHAAAAAAAT, is that???




Yes, you read it right.




I, for one, am speechless!!!


Dale Lindsborg , Washington Post









EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NEEDS TO READ THIS, KEEP IT GOING ! ! SAVE AMERICA BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE ! !

















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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com





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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

FireFly Energy Debacle Not Forgotten

A few of my readers would like me to forget about this major boondoogle committed by the most elite in Peoria, the State and Federal government and led by no less a business "authority" than Republican Dave Leitch. The total cost of this "no brainer" to the taxpayers is estimated to be in the $50 million area. Here is what the elite had to say about FireFly: Ex Peoria mayor, Dick Carver, who once tried to sell me a "bridge to nowhere; he settled out of court, said "the Firefly deal was "the most exciting thing that happened to Peoria since the building of the Civic Center", Democrat and big spender Dick Durbin lined more millions for FireFly, Republican Ray LaHood, now a RepDem bureaucrat lined up millions of dollars in military contracts for FireFly while stating that "the icing on the cake would be KEEPING FireFly in Peoria, National City Bank regional president Doug Stewart called it the "poster child of Peoria Next", Peoria Republican "Tripp" O'Connor is quoted as seeing "I do not forsee a risk". O'Connor, a homebuilder by "trade" (in addition to the $70,000+ he gets paid as County Treasurer), told me later he was divesting most of his homes because of the financial squeeze caused by the depression. Hm.

And the supporting list of this FireFly "no-brainer" goes on and on.

How come I was the only elected official who saw through this boondoogle from the first time it was presented to the Peoria County Board?? After all, it was no less than the soon to be Manager of the JS Editorial Board who wrote, after I ousted their anointed incumbent, "but who will be watching Merle Widmer?"

Maybe because I (almost) always do my homework. In fact, at the age of 86 I still do and still find time to play tennis competitively.

Interesting, after the company I founded at the age 39 by this former farm boy, had a 3A1 D B rating when I sold the company 28 years later and is the only office equipment company in the area that still bears the founders name 48 years later. And the County recently had their bond rating upgraded.

Anyway, just go to the right hand top of this "blog" where it says "search,etc" and enter "FireFly", if you wish, you can read in my numerous blogs of FireFly, almost the whole story on this probably $50 million or more reasons why governmental bodies of all types, are or are going to be in deep doo-doo affecting the welfare of all of us.

The financial condition of this country is the result of people elected or appointed to governmental offices who may be nice folks, but incompetent and often dangerous with OPM and your welfare.

ICC Leaving Downtown

Not so fast, ICC President John Erwin. Back on 11/20/2007, you wrote to the Peoria County Board the following: "As a educator, I am especially pleased at the prospect of having a learning center such as the museum, in the CENTER of our community. I will help in any way possible." Now, John, you are pulling your Downtown Peoria teaching facilities from Downtown out to North Peoria (closer to the soon to be vacated "old" Lakeview Museum.)

Hmmmmm.

Hollywood Set an Example Obama Should Follow

By: Glenn Harlan Reynolds - Columnist Washington Examiner | 08/06/11 8:05 PM

Well, the debt deal is behind us, but it's clear that the White House wants more taxes. Instead of fighting this head-on, the GOP might want to think about future ways of giving President Obama what he says he wants. Done properly, it just might be what academics like Obama call a "teachable moment."
One of the things that's been floating around the Web over the past week is a video clip from 1953. It's a short film produced by the motion picture industry, seeking the end of a 20 percent excise tax on movie theaters' gross revenues that had been imposed at the end of World War II as a deficit-cutting measure. (Yes, gross, not net).

In the film, figures ranging from industry big shots to humble ticket collectors talk about how the tax is hurting their industry and killing jobs, and ask Congress to repeal the tax.

They even explain, in a sort of pre-Art Laffer supply-side way, that a cut in theater taxes might actually produce an increase in federal revenues as the result of greater economic growth.

The effort -- which includes a call aimed at "Congressman John Dingell," father of the current Rep. John Dingell, who took over from his father a mere two years later in 1955 -- ultimately succeeded.

But while I'm usually for tax cuts, in this case I think that's too bad. Because with this battle over, Hollywood stopped talking loudly about the damage done by high taxes, pretty much for good.

When, since, have we seen such a firmly expressed appreciation of the harm that excessive taxation can do to the economy, voiced by representatives of the entertainment industries?

Today, those industries are a major source of Democratic contributions and spread-the-wealth rhetoric, even as they prosper based on this tax cut, and numerous other bits of favorable treatment scattered throughout the Internal Revenue Code. It's time for a change.

Were I a Republican senator or representative, I would be agitating to repeal the "Eisenhower tax cut" on the movie industry and restore the excise tax. I think I would also look at imposing similar taxes on sales of DVDs, pay-per-view movies, CDs, downloadable music, and related products.

I'd also look at the tax and accounting treatment of these industries to see if they were taking advantage of any special "loopholes" that could be closed as a means of reducing "tax expenditures." (Answer: Yes, they are.)

America, after all, is facing the largest national debt in relation to GDP that it has faced since the end of World War II, so a return to the measures deemed necessary then is surely justifiable now.

The president's own rhetoric about revenues certainly suggests so. Perhaps the bill could be named the "Greatest Generation Tax Fairness Act" in recognition of its history.

Should legislation of this sort be passed -- or even credibly threatened -- I think we can expect to see Hollywood rediscover the dangers posed by "job killing tax increases," just as pro-tax-increase Warren Buffet changed his tune once his own corporate-jet business was threatened.

And, given the entertainment industries' role as the Democrats' campaign finance ATM, it seems likely that the president might soon reconsider his rhetoric as well.

And that's not the only "revenue enhancement" we might employ. I note that FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker, who approved the Comcast merger, left the commission to take a lucrative job at Comcast, just as many members of the not-so-successful Obama economic team have left their government positions for lucrative jobs in private industry.

Obamacare drafters went to work for the health care industry at inflated salaries. And drafters of the Dodd-Frank financial bill have gone on to big-shot lobbying and consulting jobs at high salaries.

Because much of their value to their employers comes from their prior government service, I think that the taxpayers deserve a share of the return, say in the form of a 50 percent surtax on any earnings by political appointees in excess of their prior government salaries for the first five years after they leave office.

Some would say that a 75 percent tax on "revolving-door profiteers" would be more appropriate, and I'm certainly willing to entertain arguments to that effect; I'd also like to extend this to members of Congress, but I don't think Congress would ever pass that bill.

Democrats already understand this approach. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., plans on attaching a "poison pill" to the Balanced Budget Amendment that would forbid tax cuts for people making over $1 million a year.

But why should Democrats be the only ones to enjoy the fun of taxing people they dislike?

Businesses that support Democrats have had a good deal up to now. When Democrats are in power, they get the kind of special deals that Democrats dole out to their supporters.

When Republicans are in power, their taxes don't go up because Republicans don't like tax increases. Well, perhaps Republicans should take Democrats seriously in their call for "shared sacrifice."

Such an action would, of course, run counter to the Republicans' no-new-taxes pledges, the importance of which was recently reaffirmed by Grover Norquist in the New York Times.

But even Norquist has allowed that in some cases loophole-closing may not be quite the same thing as a general tax increase, and perhaps he could be persuaded to make an exception, just this once, in favor of higher taxes -- for the educational value, if nothing else.

Because apparently Hollywood and the Democrats have a lot to learn.

Examiner Sunday Reflection contributor Glenn Harlan Reynolds, a law professor at the University of Tennessee, hosts "InstaVision" on PJTV.com.

Country Diversity Like This? I Agree

Forwarded to me by a friend. Doesn't matter whether John Wall wrote this. At least 30% of Americans would agree to most of the context.

Merle

THIS IS SO INCREDIBLY WELL PUT AND I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT'S BY A YOUNG PERSON, A STUDENT!!! WHATEVER HE RUNS FOR, I'LL VOTE FOR HIM

The person that wrote this is a college student. Perhaps there is hope for us after all.



DIVORCE AGREEMENT

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.

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's for the sake of the kids, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has clearly run its course.

Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right for us all, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.
Here is a model separation agreement:
--Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a similar portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.
--We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them.
--You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.
--Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military.
--We'll take the nasty, smelly oil industry and you can go with wind, solar and biodiesel.
--You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell. You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them.

--We'll keep capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street.
--You can have your beloved lifelong welfare dwellers, food stamps, homeless, homeboys, hippies, druggies and illegal aliens.
--We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks.
--We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood .

--You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us.
--You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.

--We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values.
--You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, political correctness and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N. but we will no longer be paying the bill.
--We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Volt and Leaf you can find.
--You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors.
--We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right.
--We'll keep "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "The National Anthem."
--I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute "Imagine", "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", "Kum Ba Ya" or "We Are the World".

--We'll practice trickle down economics and you can continue to give trickle up poverty your best shot.
--Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.
Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like-minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you answer which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.

Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P.S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Barbara Streisand, & Jane Fonda with you..

P.S.S. And you won't have to press 1 for English, Spanish or Arabic when you call our country.

Forward This Every Time You Get It ! Let's Keep This Going, Maybe Some Of It Will Start Sinking In.


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English and Spanish. And Now Arabic - NO!!

Forwarded to me by a friend. Plan to make the U.S. your home? Then learn the language. Yet these people who do not want to learn the language can vote. Can we Tea Party people change this?

Can the part about Muslim wives in America be ACCEPTED practice or this like the radical polygamists??

Merle

I actually called the Michigan Dept. of Human Services, but got a busy signal. However, I went to the web site for them in the link below and sure enough, on the right side of the page, there is an application for food assistance PDF file in English, Spanish and Arabic! I opened the file to see for myself and it's there alright.
Have we gone completely nuts!!?

Muslim men are allowed to have as many as 4 wives. Many Muslims have immigrated into the U.S. and brought their 2-3-or 4 wives with them, but the U.S. does not allow multi marriages, so the man lists one wife as his, and signs the other 2 or 3 up as extended family on welfare and other free Government programs!

Michigan has the highest population of Muslims in the Unites States. When President Obama took office the United States paid several millions of dollars to have a large number of Palestinians, (All Muslim), immigrated here from Palestine. Why? I have no idea, do you! We don't pay for other persons to immigrate here, and I'm sure that some of those Muslims moved into Michigan with the large current number of Muslims already established there.

So now in Michigan when you call the Public Assistance office you are told to Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Spanish, or Press 3 for Arabic! Here is the number 1-888-678-8914
Every time you add a new language to an American program it requires an additional number of persons fluent in that language to process those persons who refuse to learn English in order to live here at an additional cost to the taxpayer! Why are we even allowing persons to immigrate here who cannot provide for themselves, and putting them in our welfare system?

Press 3 for Arabic .
This is quite alarming!!! This seems to have happened clandestinely, for, as far as I know, no public announcement, or opportunity to vote on this was offered to the American people. They're just adopting an official stance, and very likely using tax-payer money for it, in various capacities, without public knowledge or approval.

The following link takes you into the State of Michigan Public Assistance page, (as in Food Stamps etc). You won't have to scroll far before you see the assistance-letters options for...(get this).....English, Spanish, and ARABIC !!!

When did the ARABIC option sneak into our culture? Will we soon have to listen to our governmental offices, stores, and other venues offer us the option of "pressing 3 for ARABIC?"

Check it out for yourself.

http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5453_5527---,00.html

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Obama: My way or the Highway

Pass "my" bill right away or I'll blame the Republicans for not fueling the economy by creating union jobs and and big spenders. Also, tax the rich like Warren Buffett. Buffett pays more taxes then half the people in Peoria. Plus, it is a known fact that 42% of all adults do not pay any federal income taxes but Obama by magic is going to cut those "phantom" taxes by 50%. He said so again tonight.

He is going to pay small business people to hire new workers. What a joke. I owned my own business and met a payroll but I didn't hire people if I didn't believe they would add to bottom line profits. And what's to stop shrewd business people from firing some marginal people and then get paid for hiring replacements. Oh, the law prevents that. Fine,then who enforces the law? Easy answer. Hire more bureaucrats and create for federal jobs. These bureaucrats will need new office building and will hire a lot of help.

All this will create more jobs and stimulate the economy. Who will pay for all this? He will let us know soon but not tonight.

Obama talked about selling American made products to countries like South Korea. At the same time he halts every effort to have free trade with South Korea, Columbia, Panama, ect., as he placates the unions bosses who are in opposition to free trade.

He says make more things in the U.S. instead of foreign countries, while his puppets foist more regulations on almost all U.S. businesses with perhaps the exception of General Electric, GM and other companies that finance his election runs.

Oh, and he will fund new school, we have $90 million already here in Peoria that property tax payers will be paying for starting next year or 2013 and extended for 30years because the district had to borrow all the money.

He's going to hire a lot of new teachers, averages say 30% are not qualified to teach kids. Kids whose parents have not sacrificed to send them to private schools where they have a much better chance of getting an education.

This man and his ilk look more like Chavez and his ilk. Union bosses like Hoffa and Trunka were smiling like folks eating bumblebees. They secretly and some openly oppose the private sector making profits; profits that support the public sector including schools, parks and infrastructure. Without profits, capitalism fails which would please probably 30% of the registered voters.

What a phony our president is. But I don't believe the Republicans have yet found a candidate for 2012 who can retire him, permanently, I would hope. A big task as right now more than 40% of registered voters would vote for Obama if an election were held this November. No matter who the Republicans pick, many Republicans will stay at home and not vote just like they didn't vote for the McCain-Palin ticket.

Maybe we Tea Party and Independents can get out enough votes for an independent Republican candidate to win. If anyone tries to heavily promote a third party, Obama is a shoo-in for reelection. And accelerate our slide to Socialism or worse.

Tennis- Peoria Central Girls

In a match played this week between Richwoods and Central, the total games won by Central was 5. Total games won by Richwoods: 106.

The matches were played at Peoria Park District's Bradley Park, Central's home field where they also "practice".

The Central coach gets paid for "coaching" this team?? This pay adds to their retirement fund. A driver, using a taxpayer paid vehicle gets paid to haul these kids to Bradley Park and of course, paid while this driver or drivers wait.

Central is a large school made of mostly of black kids. Blacks don't play tennis, of course, because tennis is a "white" sport. Most blacks have never heard of the black Williams sisters who make large millions of dollars playing tennis and posing for advertisements.

What a shame. Part of the blame lays with the parents, principal and the coach for failing to try to arouse interest in playing minor sports. A great deal of the blame lays with the Superintendent for not paying any attention to what is going on in minor sports at Manual and Central.

Some will say it keeps these Central girls off the streets and out of trouble. Hmmm. If that what administration believes, they should bring back intermural or intramural competition in minor sport activities.

Participants wouldn't be on the streets, then would they? And the school wouldn't embarrass themselves and the district would save money while involving more kids to play and have fun.

Not much fun in losing 106 games while winning 5? But then maybe the coach or coaches should hold practices, right?

Hopedale, Illinois. - Public Service Announcement

www.hopedalemc.com







Hopedale Medical Complex Chicken Dinner to Benefit CLA



Hopedale, IL ­— Hopedale Medical Complex (HMC) is sponsoring a chicken dinner to benefit the Christian Life Academy of Hopedale. The dinner will be held Sunday, September 18, 2011 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in HMC’s Cafe. Ample parking is now available at the east entrance to the Cafe in a new lot at the Corner of Grove and Railroad Streets.



The dinner will include fried chicken, vegetable, rolls with butter, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and coffee or tea. The cost of the event is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children (ages 3-10). Carry-outs are available by calling (309) 449-4325.



For more information, or to inquire about a fundraiser for your non-profit organization, call Larry Noreuil at (309) 449-4415.

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Peoria Journal Star - Another Left Leaning Headline

The Headline in the JS: "Bachmann: Environmentalists block energy", reprinted from an article from the left leaning AP this week. For those who read more than the headlines, the story actually quoted "Presidential candidate Michell Bachmann "claimed Saturday that the United States of America has more fuel sources than any other country but blamed what she termed 'RADICAL' environmentalists for bottling up American energy policy".

As is often the case, the AP, the Journal Star and most liberal media alter of leave out a key word. In this case "radical" and, boy. is she ever right. I have a one inch folder on radical environmentalists and actions supported by Obama and his ilk, (think Lisa Jackson, a lot of Federal and state EPA"s), that has stymied advances in fossil fuel; fossil fuel on which this country will be dependent up for many more decades.

The Peoria area has it's fair share as see the JS Editorial Tuesday. Here is what this Editorial Board, (think Mike Bailey of Washington, Illinois had to say, "Few local issues in the last decade or so have been more controversial, and rarely in this page's experience has the public been more one sided in it's position. Ultimately, overwhelming citizen input prevailed on the Count Board, which voted with local sentiment, for better or for worse, to reject the expansion. Given that experience, no one should think their OPINION doesn't matter".

The JS ED's do not mention that they strongly supported PDC's position as did I. (I was up for election the following year. So I decided to put up no yard signs and spent no money on the campaign and not only was I reelected. at the age of 81, to a third term, but the County Board, by a vote of 15-3 elected me as Vice-Chairman over a Democrat.

Most thinking people realized that the RADICAL environmentalists and the not so well-informed, made up a small portion of the voting population in Peoria County but as I quoted before of this site "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change world". (Margaret Mead).

As the JS admitted, "for better or for worse", this vote against PDC was one of the largest errors this Board has ever made. Not only did the taxpayers of this community lose a billion dollar cleanup guarantee but they will eventually cost local business much more money to dispose of their hazard waste. Hazardous waste which the local radicals insisted on calling toxic waste.

The landfill is approximately 30 years old and if were ever to cause a problems the opponents were about 30 years too late in their outrage.