U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto.
The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush's administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better.
On Wednesday Obama Took the First Major Step in a Plan to Ban All Firearms in the United States . The Obama administration intends to force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. By signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress. Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms.
The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened. Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws. Does that mean Obama is telling the truth? What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment.
Forwarded to me by email by a friend.
Obama, Daley, Bloomberg and others fear an armed law-abiding citizenry. For the direction they are taking this country, they probably should, especially Obama.
To our politicians, don't let it happen.
Merle
This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary, so will gun control.
Please forward this message to others who may be concerned about the direction in which our country is headed.
We are being led like a lamb to the slaughter
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Peoria Crime Down or Less Arrests?
Peoria County Juvenile Detention Courts Stats show "intakes" for the months of January and February 2010 are down from 102 to 72 for the same period in 2009. African-American intakes, both male and female are down from 88 in 2009 to 55 for the same period in 2009. Child Care Days are down approximately 30%. Caucasion male and female are down from 30 in 2009 to 26 for January and February 2010.
Does this mean less crime by juveniles or less officers to maintain order? Does this mean all the prevention efforts are working? Does this mean we are going to need less space in our systems at less cost or is more crime going on un-detected because of the cutbacks in officers on the streets?
Does this mean less crime by juveniles or less officers to maintain order? Does this mean all the prevention efforts are working? Does this mean we are going to need less space in our systems at less cost or is more crime going on un-detected because of the cutbacks in officers on the streets?
Transportation Secretary LaHood Drinks More "Kool Aid"
LaHood says the government is going to give bicycling and walking the same importance as automobiles in transportation planning and the selection of projects for federal money. LaHood, a Republican or was, is proving monthly to be a misfit for this position. I suggest LaHood look more closely at the sorry condition of our highways. But of course, he doesn't drive them much; he flies. He should look at his own city who went to the expense of putting in bicycle lanes narrowing two lane streets like Howett and Lincoln into one lane with bicycle paths. As many times as I've driven these streets, I have yet to see a person riding a bicycle in these paths.
With LaHoods efforts to kill off competition to GM (now called Government Motors) now, with this hair-brained idea, I hope there is a complete change in 2012. But then, as many people believe, all politicians of any party have "first things first", in mind, take care of special interests and tax and spend.
If you recall, LaHood supported the $800,000,000++++ "highway to Chicago", then Rt. 29 to Chicago, then the ring road and the new bridge over the Illinois river to support Caterpillar, one of his major sponsors, (it takes CAT equipment to build bike paths and walking lanes) all, of course, in the best interests of the rest of us who no longer have jobs nor pensions.
Maybe he has us in mind believing that soon, we won't be able to afford vehicles. How about thinking of buggy paths? He also supports an Amtrack route from somewhere to Peoria to somewhere when Amtrack loses millions of taxpayer dollars yearly.
But I should remember that LaHood runs in an elite monied crowd that supported $27 million borrowed money for "high priority" libraries, the high priority unfunded Riverfront Musuem, the.......
I've always said there is no "glory" in repairing things so let more bridges collapse, more highways, sidewalks and curbs crumble.
But some folks really ought to cut down on what they are drinking.
With LaHoods efforts to kill off competition to GM (now called Government Motors) now, with this hair-brained idea, I hope there is a complete change in 2012. But then, as many people believe, all politicians of any party have "first things first", in mind, take care of special interests and tax and spend.
If you recall, LaHood supported the $800,000,000++++ "highway to Chicago", then Rt. 29 to Chicago, then the ring road and the new bridge over the Illinois river to support Caterpillar, one of his major sponsors, (it takes CAT equipment to build bike paths and walking lanes) all, of course, in the best interests of the rest of us who no longer have jobs nor pensions.
Maybe he has us in mind believing that soon, we won't be able to afford vehicles. How about thinking of buggy paths? He also supports an Amtrack route from somewhere to Peoria to somewhere when Amtrack loses millions of taxpayer dollars yearly.
But I should remember that LaHood runs in an elite monied crowd that supported $27 million borrowed money for "high priority" libraries, the high priority unfunded Riverfront Musuem, the.......
I've always said there is no "glory" in repairing things so let more bridges collapse, more highways, sidewalks and curbs crumble.
But some folks really ought to cut down on what they are drinking.
"The Future's So Bright"
Peoria County Adminstrator Patrick Urich is going to explain the County's vision for our community's future tonight at ICC North Campus on University. Time is 6:00 P.M. Call 999-4545 to register.
Citizens Against Government Waste
Forwarded to me by a friend.
Merle
From: Citizens Against Government Waste
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4:35 PM
To: sgtmac1@comcast.net
Subject: CAGW's 2010 Pig Book Unveiled!
Dear DAVID,
The 2010 Congressional Pig Book is here!
Earlier today, at a press conference at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) unveiled the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Pig Book and divulged publicly for the first time that after two decades of CAGW's pointing a finger at the corruptive influence of pork-barrel earmarks and stoking public ire, Congress is beginning to lose its appetite for pork. From 10,160 pork-barrel projects costing taxpayers $19.6 billion in fiscal 2009, the price tag for our politicians' self-serving spending decreased 15.5 percent to $16.5 billion in fiscal 2010, while the number of projects dropped 10.2 percent to 9,129.
CAGW President Tom Schatz has appeared today on ABC's "Good Morning America," CNBC's "Street Signs with Erin Burnett," and "MSNBC Live with Peter Alexander," while CAGW Media Director Leslie Paige has appeared on FOX News Channel's "It's All Your Money" and "Your World with Neil Cavuto." CNN.com has also featured the Pig Book prominently on its homepage.
Topping this year's list of outrageous special-interest projects featured in the Pig Book are:
$465,000,000 for the Joint Strike Fighter alternate engine;
$4,841,000 for wood utilization research;
$2,573,000 for potato research; and,
$693,000 for beef improvement research.
Search the Pork Database of all 9,129 projects; check out the recipients of CAGW's "Oinker" Awards, which recognize the worst of the worst in this year's Pig Book; and find out your state's ranking in our breakdown of pork per capita by state.
DAVID, you can also get your own hard copy of the 2010 Congressional Pig Book Summary by making a tax-deductible contribution of $25 or more to CAGW today.
And finally, please help us spread the word about the 2010 Pig Book to your friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can put a stop to this unconscionable waste of our tax dollars!
***
Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest taxpayer watchdog group with more than one million members and supporters nationwide. It is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Contributions to CAGW are tax-deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by law. For more information about CAGW, visit our website at www.cagw.org. To support CAGW's war on government waste and the 2010 Congressional Pig Book, make a tax-deductible contribution today.
Unsubscribe from receiving email, or change your email preferences.
Merle
From: Citizens Against Government Waste
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4:35 PM
To: sgtmac1@comcast.net
Subject: CAGW's 2010 Pig Book Unveiled!
Dear DAVID,
The 2010 Congressional Pig Book is here!
Earlier today, at a press conference at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) unveiled the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Pig Book and divulged publicly for the first time that after two decades of CAGW's pointing a finger at the corruptive influence of pork-barrel earmarks and stoking public ire, Congress is beginning to lose its appetite for pork. From 10,160 pork-barrel projects costing taxpayers $19.6 billion in fiscal 2009, the price tag for our politicians' self-serving spending decreased 15.5 percent to $16.5 billion in fiscal 2010, while the number of projects dropped 10.2 percent to 9,129.
CAGW President Tom Schatz has appeared today on ABC's "Good Morning America," CNBC's "Street Signs with Erin Burnett," and "MSNBC Live with Peter Alexander," while CAGW Media Director Leslie Paige has appeared on FOX News Channel's "It's All Your Money" and "Your World with Neil Cavuto." CNN.com has also featured the Pig Book prominently on its homepage.
Topping this year's list of outrageous special-interest projects featured in the Pig Book are:
$465,000,000 for the Joint Strike Fighter alternate engine;
$4,841,000 for wood utilization research;
$2,573,000 for potato research; and,
$693,000 for beef improvement research.
Search the Pork Database of all 9,129 projects; check out the recipients of CAGW's "Oinker" Awards, which recognize the worst of the worst in this year's Pig Book; and find out your state's ranking in our breakdown of pork per capita by state.
DAVID, you can also get your own hard copy of the 2010 Congressional Pig Book Summary by making a tax-deductible contribution of $25 or more to CAGW today.
And finally, please help us spread the word about the 2010 Pig Book to your friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can put a stop to this unconscionable waste of our tax dollars!
***
Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest taxpayer watchdog group with more than one million members and supporters nationwide. It is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Contributions to CAGW are tax-deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by law. For more information about CAGW, visit our website at www.cagw.org. To support CAGW's war on government waste and the 2010 Congressional Pig Book, make a tax-deductible contribution today.
Unsubscribe from receiving email, or change your email preferences.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Peoria Riverfront Museum Progress - PRM
Show the referendum "no" voters, the money. And now, also show a large number of the "yes" voters, the money. After all these years and all the promises, funds to start building an underground garage and museum is as much as $14+ million short.
Oh, there is apparently enough money to build the approximately $9 million garage. (Do you suspose that a lot of "yes" voters, the same ones who are now asking doctors to treat them free), realized they would have to pay to park, pay to see the IMAX Theatre (will there be one with FIRST run shows?? Or even one at all?) and pay to enter and pay to see certain gallery shows and exhibits?
And maybe pay to visit the Caterpillar Visitors Center?
On 12/23/09 a short 4 months ago, Mark Johnson, Peoria County Museum Project Manager was quoted in the Times newspaper, "Johnson said the group has about $4 million in cash. I don't have a breakdown of where the approximately $12 million in cash has gone."
Our County Administrator last week, said the group has about $2.2 million in cash.
Don't blame Peoria County for the delays; Museum supporters, show the public the money or drop this farce abetted by Bradley Professors and community dreamers who apparently won't part with the funds to fund the PRM.
Oh, you best and the brightest, you're still waiting on Durbin, Smith, Koehler, Leitch and Schock to fund it with more taxpayer dollars? I see. Maybe they should FIRST pay the bills they have been responsible for not paying.
My readers may oneday want to go back in my archives and read my blog of Monday, December 3, 2007, titled "Peoria Riverfront Museum Fund Raising Progress". Might be interesting.
Oh, there is apparently enough money to build the approximately $9 million garage. (Do you suspose that a lot of "yes" voters, the same ones who are now asking doctors to treat them free), realized they would have to pay to park, pay to see the IMAX Theatre (will there be one with FIRST run shows?? Or even one at all?) and pay to enter and pay to see certain gallery shows and exhibits?
And maybe pay to visit the Caterpillar Visitors Center?
On 12/23/09 a short 4 months ago, Mark Johnson, Peoria County Museum Project Manager was quoted in the Times newspaper, "Johnson said the group has about $4 million in cash. I don't have a breakdown of where the approximately $12 million in cash has gone."
Our County Administrator last week, said the group has about $2.2 million in cash.
Don't blame Peoria County for the delays; Museum supporters, show the public the money or drop this farce abetted by Bradley Professors and community dreamers who apparently won't part with the funds to fund the PRM.
Oh, you best and the brightest, you're still waiting on Durbin, Smith, Koehler, Leitch and Schock to fund it with more taxpayer dollars? I see. Maybe they should FIRST pay the bills they have been responsible for not paying.
My readers may oneday want to go back in my archives and read my blog of Monday, December 3, 2007, titled "Peoria Riverfront Museum Fund Raising Progress". Might be interesting.
Caterpillar's Jim Owens
The Saturday JS reported Chairman Jim Owens took a sizable pay cut. Weep not for Chairman Owens as my computer shows he owns almost 400,000 shares of Cat stock worth approximately $26 million, most of his stock accumulation came through exercising options from $19 a share, maybe lower. Sure he has made money for a lot of people but not for those who say bought at $75 downward through, say, $34 and sold when they could no longer stand the downward spiral to it's low of around $19+ (I note it appears Owens exercised 108,000 share buy options at $19+).
The museum that Caterpillar has promoted and still stands behind, is as much $15 million short in funding if you believe City National Regional President Doug Stewart, who while Chairman of the Lakeview Museum fund raising committee claimed the PRM would need a $14 million dollar endowment. On 2/05/2005, the JSEB quoted Doug Stewart, a museum board member, and committee Chair at that time as saying, "I feel very comfortable that we've asked the hard questions," noting that part of the #65 million goal is a $14 million endowment.
Fact are, Mr. Owens, you had to lay off approximately 25,000 Caterpillar employees, saw naive stockholders take lose large amounts of money, many employees are still unemployed or working at jobs 2-3 times below their skill level, so whatever few millions you sacrificed in your total compensation package last year, you still earned far more than probably most people will earn in a lifetime and will probably be subsidized a golden parachute going away present when Oberhelmann takes over, have a lifetime of benefits including health and other insurances.
The museum, so weakly supported by referendum but so strongly supported by the promisers, has burned through $11+ in cash through 12/31/09 and has an endowment of less than $1.3 million, according to our museum enthusiast Administrator Patrick Urich, as through April 1, 2010.
Kudos top those who were able to ride Caterpillar stock down and bought more as it was going up. Let them now step forward and finish funding the probably $15 million doughnut hole that was promised to be filled by now by our politicians and their gofor's, the wealthy elite and the arrogant who promised to have it fully funded with construction at least a year underway.
Or should I say "pledged" to fund it with 67& PRIVATE dollars; 33% public dollars when right now, it is close to being the reverse????
Weep not for the wealthy nor for the poor who are able and could work but don't even though there are always enough low paying jobs available. Many of these openly apparent jobs are taken by the illegals who not only take jobs but a lot of middle or lower class subsidy dollars. Some dollars from the wealthy too, but they can evidently afford the losses and the subsidies. The dollars from the wealthy and the unions are mostly responsible for those who get elected and run the economy.
The museum that Caterpillar has promoted and still stands behind, is as much $15 million short in funding if you believe City National Regional President Doug Stewart, who while Chairman of the Lakeview Museum fund raising committee claimed the PRM would need a $14 million dollar endowment. On 2/05/2005, the JSEB quoted Doug Stewart, a museum board member, and committee Chair at that time as saying, "I feel very comfortable that we've asked the hard questions," noting that part of the #65 million goal is a $14 million endowment.
Fact are, Mr. Owens, you had to lay off approximately 25,000 Caterpillar employees, saw naive stockholders take lose large amounts of money, many employees are still unemployed or working at jobs 2-3 times below their skill level, so whatever few millions you sacrificed in your total compensation package last year, you still earned far more than probably most people will earn in a lifetime and will probably be subsidized a golden parachute going away present when Oberhelmann takes over, have a lifetime of benefits including health and other insurances.
The museum, so weakly supported by referendum but so strongly supported by the promisers, has burned through $11+ in cash through 12/31/09 and has an endowment of less than $1.3 million, according to our museum enthusiast Administrator Patrick Urich, as through April 1, 2010.
Kudos top those who were able to ride Caterpillar stock down and bought more as it was going up. Let them now step forward and finish funding the probably $15 million doughnut hole that was promised to be filled by now by our politicians and their gofor's, the wealthy elite and the arrogant who promised to have it fully funded with construction at least a year underway.
Or should I say "pledged" to fund it with 67& PRIVATE dollars; 33% public dollars when right now, it is close to being the reverse????
Weep not for the wealthy nor for the poor who are able and could work but don't even though there are always enough low paying jobs available. Many of these openly apparent jobs are taken by the illegals who not only take jobs but a lot of middle or lower class subsidy dollars. Some dollars from the wealthy too, but they can evidently afford the losses and the subsidies. The dollars from the wealthy and the unions are mostly responsible for those who get elected and run the economy.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Asphalt Ordinance & More
Most hard core union Democrats will tell workers anything to get all workers unionized and to support their causes. One major fault of unions is that they promote most usually by seniority or cronyism. Most union members work at the same pace so they don't show up any of the more senior members. Take time to watch highway workers this summer. Once members gain seniority, last in, is first out of a job in case of an economy downturn and emplyer forced cutback. Being the best worker has nothing to do with holding a job. Certain hard to find skills, eniority and cronyism is everything.
The County Board Meeting last night was attended by a large number of unionized owners and union members supporting a resolution that appears to basically put some non-unionized asphalt pavers, their workers, and their families; out of business. These union members have been regular attendees on this subject this year. In a conversation with some of the union members, they said the issue had nothing to do with possibly forcing the non-union pavers to become unionized.
My question is, "were they all good citizens just out to make sure no unsuspecting citizen gets ripped of by non-union, shoddy workmanship type, pavers?" Or ripped off by fly-by-nighters" with false addresses and phone numbers? Tell me how you stop or proseucte FBN's who are in Peoria today doing a shoddy rip-off job and in Missouri or Kentucky tomorrow? Most of the people who get suckered in signing thes phony contracts are more interestedin the money saved than looking up the number of the BBB. I have seldom seen any of them at a County Board meeting in my more than 9 years on the board (except for heavy union support and possible (obvious?) pressure on the Democrat controlled County Board for the un-funded museum project) until these Democrat proposed code resolutions suddenly appeared in 2010 as a surprise dumped on the non-union pavers. Did our County Admistrator or our Planning and Zoning officer have anything to do with the untimely (timely?) HIGH PRIORITY of these resolutions?
Hmmmm.
The Democrat controlled board voted 10-7; a vote that would appear to put the non-union pavers out of business for this paving season. One Democrat, Bill Prather, voted with the 6 Republicans to oppose the resolution.
Would I believe everything a union person tells me? Or some of the non-union elite? (Think the "Regional" PRM) Do pigs fly?? I have a massive file with stories of how radical unions have hindered organizations all the way from educational institutions to being a major cause for GM's failure and the later massive taxpayer bailout of GM now known as "Government Motors". This taxpayer funded entity should be called Obama GM or OGM.
Why do you think local resident, I think, Transportation Chief Ray LaHood, and his new buddy, Barack Hussein Obama, is cracking down so very hard on Toyota? You think all those unionized so-called "American" motor companies haven't had massive recalls for dozens of failures and resulting lawsuits in the past decades? LaHood learned very well from Illinoisan Rahm Emanuels's realistic statement that "a crisis is a terrible thing to waste." Ask my wife and I who drive "American" made vehicles.
Hmm.
Read "Union Baggage Claims" in the December 30, 2009 issue of the WSJ detailing the unions efforts to unionize all airport baggage handlers. The reason being their union people would be "better prepared" to stop shoe bombers, etc.
Hmm.
And then our president is strongly pushing for the EFCA, called the Free Choice Act; the only thing free about it is your money. Fortunately their are enough moderate Democrats who have helped the Republicans stop this bill from going forward. So far. This bell would stop "secret balloting" and make voting to unionize or not, open balloting so every radical union member would know how his co-worker voted. See any problem in that?
Hmmmmmmmmm.
Big unions represent 85+% of all organized labor, but total union membership accounts for less than 5% of the workforce.
Interesting.
How may union bosses do you know that are registered Republicans, the last beacon of hope along with the majority of Tea Party people, for stopping the further spread of Socialism and perhaps stopping the government from spending a lot more than they collect? But then there is "Republican" City Councilman who is a strong supporter of more government spending. The JS this week reported Riggenback made 5 trips to Washington, D.C,, at taxpayer expense, to generate more government tax dollars for things like museums, minority opportunity centers, etc., all funded by tax-payers, of course.
Why do people like Riggnback, Koehler, Leitch, and Gordon never talk about DC and Springfield taking "less" taxes from our communities and let us determine spending priorities in our communities. of course these politicians would have to cut back on their taxpayer funded junkets to luxury resorts, their taxpayer funded airplanes (think Pelosi) and their frequent trips to foreign countries in taxpayer funded airplanes.
Many unions are corrupt just like some in the public and private sector. Read the WSJ issue of June 10, 2009, "Unions in Debt".
In 2008, the California Teachers Association (a union)spent the most money to defeat Proposition 8; an initiative on the November 4 ballot that would define marriage as between a man and a woman in California. (Marriage had better remain between a man and a woman or before long in the U.S., marriage will be possibly between a woman and a horse??? Or a man and a sheep????)
Who is stopping free trade between Columbia, South Korea, etc? Pelosi, her Democrat ilk and of course; the unions.
Re-read my blogs of February 10, 2010, March 23, 2010, October 24, 2008, February 4, 2008, etc. I am not anti-union; my company was unionized in 1972 and the company bearing my name still is unionized. Difference was that I ran the company the union didn't. The union bosses; the Gauwitz father and son were really good hard-nosed men.
Not true in the public sector today where union and Democrat bosses make every effort to make sure their candidate is in a mostly registered Democrat voting District. I note that the Republicans are making an effort to create districts (redistricting) with even numbers of Dems and Reps.
To the Republicans, lot's of luck; the Demos remember 2000.
Peoria and the State of Illinois, especially Mayor Daley's Chicago, are Democrat controlled but abetted by a lot of free spending Republicans like Leitch and Riggenback. Schock too. Doesn't he support extending the farmers subsidies, didn't he support the $180 million (with interest on the loans) new schools and renovations, the un-need $55 million library projects (with interest on the loans)and %500,000+ to dig up graves that any thinking person new were in the Lincoln Library expansion area, the un-funded downtown museum and the agrarian public school system (Think of the still ongoing failures of #150 School District)? Think new building will solve the problems? If you guess yes, you probably guessed wrong.
Our problems in the nation, Illinois and Peoria are certainly not all the unions fault or the passions of the elite. Voters, that's us, who are allowing this accelerating slide to Socialism where a growing minority is mainly interested in government services, environmental virtue and "free" medical care. Tip - invest in companies that provide ambulance service and the companies that make these vehicles.
The County Board Meeting last night was attended by a large number of unionized owners and union members supporting a resolution that appears to basically put some non-unionized asphalt pavers, their workers, and their families; out of business. These union members have been regular attendees on this subject this year. In a conversation with some of the union members, they said the issue had nothing to do with possibly forcing the non-union pavers to become unionized.
My question is, "were they all good citizens just out to make sure no unsuspecting citizen gets ripped of by non-union, shoddy workmanship type, pavers?" Or ripped off by fly-by-nighters" with false addresses and phone numbers? Tell me how you stop or proseucte FBN's who are in Peoria today doing a shoddy rip-off job and in Missouri or Kentucky tomorrow? Most of the people who get suckered in signing thes phony contracts are more interestedin the money saved than looking up the number of the BBB. I have seldom seen any of them at a County Board meeting in my more than 9 years on the board (except for heavy union support and possible (obvious?) pressure on the Democrat controlled County Board for the un-funded museum project) until these Democrat proposed code resolutions suddenly appeared in 2010 as a surprise dumped on the non-union pavers. Did our County Admistrator or our Planning and Zoning officer have anything to do with the untimely (timely?) HIGH PRIORITY of these resolutions?
Hmmmm.
The Democrat controlled board voted 10-7; a vote that would appear to put the non-union pavers out of business for this paving season. One Democrat, Bill Prather, voted with the 6 Republicans to oppose the resolution.
Would I believe everything a union person tells me? Or some of the non-union elite? (Think the "Regional" PRM) Do pigs fly?? I have a massive file with stories of how radical unions have hindered organizations all the way from educational institutions to being a major cause for GM's failure and the later massive taxpayer bailout of GM now known as "Government Motors". This taxpayer funded entity should be called Obama GM or OGM.
Why do you think local resident, I think, Transportation Chief Ray LaHood, and his new buddy, Barack Hussein Obama, is cracking down so very hard on Toyota? You think all those unionized so-called "American" motor companies haven't had massive recalls for dozens of failures and resulting lawsuits in the past decades? LaHood learned very well from Illinoisan Rahm Emanuels's realistic statement that "a crisis is a terrible thing to waste." Ask my wife and I who drive "American" made vehicles.
Hmm.
Read "Union Baggage Claims" in the December 30, 2009 issue of the WSJ detailing the unions efforts to unionize all airport baggage handlers. The reason being their union people would be "better prepared" to stop shoe bombers, etc.
Hmm.
And then our president is strongly pushing for the EFCA, called the Free Choice Act; the only thing free about it is your money. Fortunately their are enough moderate Democrats who have helped the Republicans stop this bill from going forward. So far. This bell would stop "secret balloting" and make voting to unionize or not, open balloting so every radical union member would know how his co-worker voted. See any problem in that?
Hmmmmmmmmm.
Big unions represent 85+% of all organized labor, but total union membership accounts for less than 5% of the workforce.
Interesting.
How may union bosses do you know that are registered Republicans, the last beacon of hope along with the majority of Tea Party people, for stopping the further spread of Socialism and perhaps stopping the government from spending a lot more than they collect? But then there is "Republican" City Councilman who is a strong supporter of more government spending. The JS this week reported Riggenback made 5 trips to Washington, D.C,, at taxpayer expense, to generate more government tax dollars for things like museums, minority opportunity centers, etc., all funded by tax-payers, of course.
Why do people like Riggnback, Koehler, Leitch, and Gordon never talk about DC and Springfield taking "less" taxes from our communities and let us determine spending priorities in our communities. of course these politicians would have to cut back on their taxpayer funded junkets to luxury resorts, their taxpayer funded airplanes (think Pelosi) and their frequent trips to foreign countries in taxpayer funded airplanes.
Many unions are corrupt just like some in the public and private sector. Read the WSJ issue of June 10, 2009, "Unions in Debt".
In 2008, the California Teachers Association (a union)spent the most money to defeat Proposition 8; an initiative on the November 4 ballot that would define marriage as between a man and a woman in California. (Marriage had better remain between a man and a woman or before long in the U.S., marriage will be possibly between a woman and a horse??? Or a man and a sheep????)
Who is stopping free trade between Columbia, South Korea, etc? Pelosi, her Democrat ilk and of course; the unions.
Re-read my blogs of February 10, 2010, March 23, 2010, October 24, 2008, February 4, 2008, etc. I am not anti-union; my company was unionized in 1972 and the company bearing my name still is unionized. Difference was that I ran the company the union didn't. The union bosses; the Gauwitz father and son were really good hard-nosed men.
Not true in the public sector today where union and Democrat bosses make every effort to make sure their candidate is in a mostly registered Democrat voting District. I note that the Republicans are making an effort to create districts (redistricting) with even numbers of Dems and Reps.
To the Republicans, lot's of luck; the Demos remember 2000.
Peoria and the State of Illinois, especially Mayor Daley's Chicago, are Democrat controlled but abetted by a lot of free spending Republicans like Leitch and Riggenback. Schock too. Doesn't he support extending the farmers subsidies, didn't he support the $180 million (with interest on the loans) new schools and renovations, the un-need $55 million library projects (with interest on the loans)and %500,000+ to dig up graves that any thinking person new were in the Lincoln Library expansion area, the un-funded downtown museum and the agrarian public school system (Think of the still ongoing failures of #150 School District)? Think new building will solve the problems? If you guess yes, you probably guessed wrong.
Our problems in the nation, Illinois and Peoria are certainly not all the unions fault or the passions of the elite. Voters, that's us, who are allowing this accelerating slide to Socialism where a growing minority is mainly interested in government services, environmental virtue and "free" medical care. Tip - invest in companies that provide ambulance service and the companies that make these vehicles.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Unions and Mayor Daley Continue to Drive Conventions From McCormick Place
It was bad enough 18 years ago when I was in business. I understand it is getting more costly at McCormick Place. I agree 100% with this article from the Chicago Tribune. Why do the unions and their Democrat minions think we are losing more business to 46 other states?
Merle Widmer
High costs at McCormick Place are driving conventions and trade shows out of Chicago. We can fix that, or we can watch the jobs and dollars keep marching to other cities.
The people who run the shows and attend the shows love this city. They love the convention facilities. But the onerous costs and other hassles — starting and ending with McCormick Place work rules — are chasing them away.
Goodbye, Chicago. We'll send a postcard from Orlando.
That was the blunt message the managers of some of the biggest trade shows delivered to Illinois legislators on Thursday. The venue was a Thompson Center hearing before a 16-member Senate-House committee that's desperately looking for a way to stop the exodus of shows and conventions.
It's not news that the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state- and city-run organization known as McPier that operates the city's convention venues, needs an overhaul. Its dysfunction has been apparent for years. What was different and refreshing Thursday was a sense of urgency that punctuated testimony over three hours at the packed-to-capacity hearing run by Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago.
Five organizations testified: the National Restaurant Association, American College of Surgeons, International Housewares Association, Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Graphics Arts Show Co. Their shows brought nearly $300 million worth of economic activity to Chicago last year. They all might leave because of the high costs fueled by special handling fees, surcharges, overtime and general level of difficulty that come from dealing with the various jurisdictions connected to McCormick Place.
Some nuggets:
• Contracting for electrical service at Orlando's convention facilities costs 40 percent less than in Chicago, said Mary Pat Heftman of the restaurant association: "I can't explain that 40 percent differential to my exhibitors. Exhibitors in other cities can drive up to the dock and unload equipment themselves. Not in Chicago."
• Setting up a stage for an opening ceremony (with black drape, logos, flags, lighting, etc.) costs $46,000 in Chicago — and $32,000 in San Francisco, said Felix Niespodziewanski of the College of Surgeons. Organizers have to deal with a bewildering array of unions with different minimum rates, overtime rules, break times, etc.
• Chris Price of the Graphic Arts Show Co. said the quality of work at McCormick Place is top-notch, but the work rules make it uncompetitive. Example: 100 Chicago laborers are being flown to Orlando to help set up the plastics show there. "They will be put up in hotels, fed, and all the rest, and it's still cheaper to do business there than here," he said.
• Setting up an ice machine in Orlando costs $720. Setting one up in Chicago costs $1,700, said Eric Holm of Manitowoc Foodservice. Ordering power for the company's booth in Orlando costs $9,200. Chicago? $12,800, plus $5,000 for labor. The cost for 24-hour service for one refrigerator is $48 in Orlando, $400 in Chicago.
You get the idea. Everybody's tired of getting fleeced here. They're leaving. That's going to put a lot of Chicagoans out of work.
Legislators will hear Wednesday from McPier's managers and unions. It won't help if they use that opportunity to point fingers elsewhere. They need to propose radical changes in the structure of management and labor. The reconstituted McPier board has some old faces, but it also has some new, no-nonsense members whose instinct will be to force changes now. We're counting on them to rise to the crisis.
Other cities are watching what's happening here. They're banking on our lethargy.
"Most are convinced nothing will change," Deborah Sexton, president of the Professional Convention Management Association, told the lawmakers. "They hope nothing will change."
Get more stories like this. Sign up for home delivery today.
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
Merle Widmer
High costs at McCormick Place are driving conventions and trade shows out of Chicago. We can fix that, or we can watch the jobs and dollars keep marching to other cities.
The people who run the shows and attend the shows love this city. They love the convention facilities. But the onerous costs and other hassles — starting and ending with McCormick Place work rules — are chasing them away.
Goodbye, Chicago. We'll send a postcard from Orlando.
That was the blunt message the managers of some of the biggest trade shows delivered to Illinois legislators on Thursday. The venue was a Thompson Center hearing before a 16-member Senate-House committee that's desperately looking for a way to stop the exodus of shows and conventions.
It's not news that the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state- and city-run organization known as McPier that operates the city's convention venues, needs an overhaul. Its dysfunction has been apparent for years. What was different and refreshing Thursday was a sense of urgency that punctuated testimony over three hours at the packed-to-capacity hearing run by Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago.
Five organizations testified: the National Restaurant Association, American College of Surgeons, International Housewares Association, Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Graphics Arts Show Co. Their shows brought nearly $300 million worth of economic activity to Chicago last year. They all might leave because of the high costs fueled by special handling fees, surcharges, overtime and general level of difficulty that come from dealing with the various jurisdictions connected to McCormick Place.
Some nuggets:
• Contracting for electrical service at Orlando's convention facilities costs 40 percent less than in Chicago, said Mary Pat Heftman of the restaurant association: "I can't explain that 40 percent differential to my exhibitors. Exhibitors in other cities can drive up to the dock and unload equipment themselves. Not in Chicago."
• Setting up a stage for an opening ceremony (with black drape, logos, flags, lighting, etc.) costs $46,000 in Chicago — and $32,000 in San Francisco, said Felix Niespodziewanski of the College of Surgeons. Organizers have to deal with a bewildering array of unions with different minimum rates, overtime rules, break times, etc.
• Chris Price of the Graphic Arts Show Co. said the quality of work at McCormick Place is top-notch, but the work rules make it uncompetitive. Example: 100 Chicago laborers are being flown to Orlando to help set up the plastics show there. "They will be put up in hotels, fed, and all the rest, and it's still cheaper to do business there than here," he said.
• Setting up an ice machine in Orlando costs $720. Setting one up in Chicago costs $1,700, said Eric Holm of Manitowoc Foodservice. Ordering power for the company's booth in Orlando costs $9,200. Chicago? $12,800, plus $5,000 for labor. The cost for 24-hour service for one refrigerator is $48 in Orlando, $400 in Chicago.
You get the idea. Everybody's tired of getting fleeced here. They're leaving. That's going to put a lot of Chicagoans out of work.
Legislators will hear Wednesday from McPier's managers and unions. It won't help if they use that opportunity to point fingers elsewhere. They need to propose radical changes in the structure of management and labor. The reconstituted McPier board has some old faces, but it also has some new, no-nonsense members whose instinct will be to force changes now. We're counting on them to rise to the crisis.
Other cities are watching what's happening here. They're banking on our lethargy.
"Most are convinced nothing will change," Deborah Sexton, president of the Professional Convention Management Association, told the lawmakers. "They hope nothing will change."
Get more stories like this. Sign up for home delivery today.
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
The Peoria Chronicle Museum Facts
Reprinted from The Peoria Chronicle blog by C.J. Summers.
County ready to build without counting the cost
The Journal Star reports that members of the newly-formed Peoria Riverfront Museum board of directors were chosen. But that’s not the really newsworthy part of the story. The real news is contained in these two paragraphs:
Once convened, [board appointees] will work to finish the redevelopment agreement for the museum block, assist in closing the remaining private funding gap [emphasis added] and in various aspects of the construction phase and develop an operating agreement….
[Peoria County Board Chairman Tom] O’Neill said he expects to break ground on the parking deck in June. [emphasis added] The total cost of the parking lot project, including design work, is estimated at $8.5 million.
Jesus said, “‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”‘”
Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Find out how much the project will cost, and then figure out how much money you have, before you start building the foundation. You’d do that if you were building a home for yourself, right? But what is Peoria County doing?
They don’t know how much the project will cost. The first design (the one with the big sphere) was rolled out to the public in January 2006. In July 2007, just 18 months later, they rolled out the current, smaller design. The reason given for the change at that time was “construction costs [had] risen at a much quicker rate than could have been anticipated based on historical data.” It’s now April 2010, 33 months after that design was presented. Even if construction costs rose consistent with historical data, it’s still going to be more expensive to build the project now than it was in 2007. What is that cost? Nobody knows.
They don’t have enough money raised to complete the project even at 2007 costs. Despite years of fundraising efforts, federal grants and earmarks, a successful sales tax referendum, IDOT funding, and the promise of state funding, they still do not have all the money raised that they needed three years ago. What makes anyone think they can raise the remaining funds now? Much of the private funding that has been raised is still in pledge form, not cash in hand, so there is even a question as to whether that money will really materialize.
The parking deck is the foundation. The parking deck is the first stage of constructing the museum. It is, of course, completely unnecessary since there is a glut of parking downtown as numerous studies have shown. Regardless of that, the parking deck is not designed or sited to be a stand-alone deck. Its design is specifically tailored to the 2007 museum plan. It’s an underground deck over which the museum building and grounds will be built.
The County doesn’t own the Sears block. Seemingly forgotten in all of this talk of construction is the fact that the City still owns the Sears block, and the County can’t construct anything on it using federal funds unless they own it or at least have some agreement with the City. So far, there is no such sale or agreement.
And so, the question is, why would the county even think about starting the foundation when they don’t know how much the whole project will cost and they know they don’t have all the money raised to finish it, and they know the prospects of getting the rest of the money is slim? Isn’t this foolish use of taxpayer funds, regardless of their source (federal, state, local)? Why this push to start construction by June? Are they hopeful that they’ll have final costs and all money in hand by then? I doubt it.
And then there are those assurances the County gave to voters before the referendum passed last year. Remember those? The County told us they wouldn’t start construction until all the money was raised. If they start construction in June, they will be going back on their word.
The only explanation I can see is that it’s a capitulation to Caterpillar. You may recall that Cat threatened to pull out of the project if the County didn’t start construction this year. They don’t want to “lose another construction season,” they explained.
Rather than capitulating and beginning this building project, the County should stick to a fiscally-responsible course. Here’s how to kill the museum project in three easy steps:
Bid out the project and find out how much it will cost in real numbers to build the museum, and compare that number to the amount of cash in hand raised by the museum folks.
If there’s not enough money to cover the project (and there won’t be), the County should insist that construction not start until the money is raised.
Since that will entail losing another construction season, Caterpillar will pull out of the project, at which point the project dies.
To make up for the loss of construction jobs, the county could then reallocate the money from the sales tax to other public facilities that need constructing/rebuilding, thus giving the trades just as much work as they would have gotten from the museum boondoggle, but less long-term loss to the taxpayers.
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April 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Peoria County, Peoria Riverfront Museum | Category: Museum Block, Peoria County | 14 comments
County ready to build without counting the cost
The Journal Star reports that members of the newly-formed Peoria Riverfront Museum board of directors were chosen. But that’s not the really newsworthy part of the story. The real news is contained in these two paragraphs:
Once convened, [board appointees] will work to finish the redevelopment agreement for the museum block, assist in closing the remaining private funding gap [emphasis added] and in various aspects of the construction phase and develop an operating agreement….
[Peoria County Board Chairman Tom] O’Neill said he expects to break ground on the parking deck in June. [emphasis added] The total cost of the parking lot project, including design work, is estimated at $8.5 million.
Jesus said, “‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”‘”
Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Find out how much the project will cost, and then figure out how much money you have, before you start building the foundation. You’d do that if you were building a home for yourself, right? But what is Peoria County doing?
They don’t know how much the project will cost. The first design (the one with the big sphere) was rolled out to the public in January 2006. In July 2007, just 18 months later, they rolled out the current, smaller design. The reason given for the change at that time was “construction costs [had] risen at a much quicker rate than could have been anticipated based on historical data.” It’s now April 2010, 33 months after that design was presented. Even if construction costs rose consistent with historical data, it’s still going to be more expensive to build the project now than it was in 2007. What is that cost? Nobody knows.
They don’t have enough money raised to complete the project even at 2007 costs. Despite years of fundraising efforts, federal grants and earmarks, a successful sales tax referendum, IDOT funding, and the promise of state funding, they still do not have all the money raised that they needed three years ago. What makes anyone think they can raise the remaining funds now? Much of the private funding that has been raised is still in pledge form, not cash in hand, so there is even a question as to whether that money will really materialize.
The parking deck is the foundation. The parking deck is the first stage of constructing the museum. It is, of course, completely unnecessary since there is a glut of parking downtown as numerous studies have shown. Regardless of that, the parking deck is not designed or sited to be a stand-alone deck. Its design is specifically tailored to the 2007 museum plan. It’s an underground deck over which the museum building and grounds will be built.
The County doesn’t own the Sears block. Seemingly forgotten in all of this talk of construction is the fact that the City still owns the Sears block, and the County can’t construct anything on it using federal funds unless they own it or at least have some agreement with the City. So far, there is no such sale or agreement.
And so, the question is, why would the county even think about starting the foundation when they don’t know how much the whole project will cost and they know they don’t have all the money raised to finish it, and they know the prospects of getting the rest of the money is slim? Isn’t this foolish use of taxpayer funds, regardless of their source (federal, state, local)? Why this push to start construction by June? Are they hopeful that they’ll have final costs and all money in hand by then? I doubt it.
And then there are those assurances the County gave to voters before the referendum passed last year. Remember those? The County told us they wouldn’t start construction until all the money was raised. If they start construction in June, they will be going back on their word.
The only explanation I can see is that it’s a capitulation to Caterpillar. You may recall that Cat threatened to pull out of the project if the County didn’t start construction this year. They don’t want to “lose another construction season,” they explained.
Rather than capitulating and beginning this building project, the County should stick to a fiscally-responsible course. Here’s how to kill the museum project in three easy steps:
Bid out the project and find out how much it will cost in real numbers to build the museum, and compare that number to the amount of cash in hand raised by the museum folks.
If there’s not enough money to cover the project (and there won’t be), the County should insist that construction not start until the money is raised.
Since that will entail losing another construction season, Caterpillar will pull out of the project, at which point the project dies.
To make up for the loss of construction jobs, the county could then reallocate the money from the sales tax to other public facilities that need constructing/rebuilding, thus giving the trades just as much work as they would have gotten from the museum boondoggle, but less long-term loss to the taxpayers.
ShareThis
April 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Peoria County, Peoria Riverfront Museum | Category: Museum Block, Peoria County | 14 comments
Monday, April 05, 2010
"Walking With Dinosaurs"
This event is May 7 at Lakeview and May 11 at the Civic Center. If you mention Lakeview when purchasing tickets for the show you receive a 5% discount and Lakeview receives 5% of the sale.
More info? Contact Anne Marie Rosen at annemarie@lakeview-museum.org
More info? Contact Anne Marie Rosen at annemarie@lakeview-museum.org
Tea Party Groups - Get Organized, Select Leaders We Can BELIEVE in and WHO CAN GET ELECTED
An email received from a friend.
Stufflebeam and Proft types have or had good messages. Proft proved he couldn't get elected and Stufflebeam cannot get elected to a high position. Palin is HIGHLY questionable as being electable though I do like most of her positions. Support candidates that can win with as message that they won't take as many tax and fee money OUT OF COMMUNITIES and then they will have less to give back to SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, some of who are as bad as perpetual welfare people.
Merle Widmer
Thought this is important. Please read it through. Thanks
Subject: 545 vs. 300,000,000
This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be - read it!!
The article below is completely neutral, not anti republican or democrat.
Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel has hit the nail
directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must
assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day.
It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!
545 vs. 300,000,000
EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS SCRIPTED IN THIS MESSAGE. READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE.
Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
545 PEOPLE--By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq , it's because they want them in Iraq .
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Whatever you do, next election, DO NOT RE-ELECT ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OR LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ELECT THEM!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
And the gas that's in it,
Tax him til he says
He's finished.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom.
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It's time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Other taxes that We Pay (to feed the politicians):
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the world happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!
Stufflebeam and Proft types have or had good messages. Proft proved he couldn't get elected and Stufflebeam cannot get elected to a high position. Palin is HIGHLY questionable as being electable though I do like most of her positions. Support candidates that can win with as message that they won't take as many tax and fee money OUT OF COMMUNITIES and then they will have less to give back to SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, some of who are as bad as perpetual welfare people.
Merle Widmer
Thought this is important. Please read it through. Thanks
Subject: 545 vs. 300,000,000
This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be - read it!!
The article below is completely neutral, not anti republican or democrat.
Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel has hit the nail
directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must
assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day.
It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!
545 vs. 300,000,000
EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS SCRIPTED IN THIS MESSAGE. READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE.
Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
545 PEOPLE--By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq , it's because they want them in Iraq .
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Whatever you do, next election, DO NOT RE-ELECT ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OR LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ELECT THEM!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
And the gas that's in it,
Tax him til he says
He's finished.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom.
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It's time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Other taxes that We Pay (to feed the politicians):
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the world happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!
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