Facts not previously know to the public.
After showing charts that the new $56. something million new BelWood (BW) would be supported by an average 3% increase in Assessed Property Evaluation now we are told by our administrator that it is more likely to be 1.5% annually. Also, that financing has been back-stopped with the same utility tax pot passed by a narrow referendum vote, that is supporting the major cost of the new museum, as the full amount cannot be covered by the 2003 property tax levy.
In effect, people buying in Peoria who don't use BW or wouldn't even though they can, (at least 10% of the residents at BW now come from OUTSIDE the county and who pay no tax to support BW) will LIKELY be paying sales tax supporting the $51 million bond and interest for BelWood, around $72 total depending on whether the bonds are for 20 or 30 years, not determined to date.
Interesting.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
IMAX - Probably not in the New Riverfront Museum
A friend of mine sent me this letter that didn't make it on the Editorial Page. This project was doomed to struggle when the "movers and shakers" didn't perform as they promised. What is new in Peoria? Now I'd say its just doomed to cost the taxpayer a lot more money over the next 5-----10-----20 years. Maybe 40 to 60 years.
Lakeview records show that over $40,000 has already been spent on IMAX???? Those trips, rooms, and dinners must be expensive.
Merle
Letter sent to PJ Star forum 11/22/10 at 11:43 a.m.:
Much has been said over the last few weeks over the inclusion--or not---of an IMAX-branded theater at the proposed Peoria Riverfront Museum. Yes, we were promised an IMAX theater there. No, it doesn't look like we're going to get one.
The problem is not that this is yet another taxpayer-funded bait and switch. The bigger problem is, if not an IMAX, will the desired outcome be the same?
The whole reason we were going to move what already exists at Lakeview Museum to the old Sears block was that, with the addition of the CAT Visitor's Center AND an IMAX-branded theater, paid attendance to the museum would increase dramatically over current Lakeview levels. Thousands of tourists from outside the county would come to Peoria and spend money here.
However, the new redevelopment plan clearly states that if the PRM must go with an “alternate vendor” to IMAX, it “will result in significantly lower attendance”.
The theater (IMAX or not) will have a separate admission fee from that of the main museum. Can someone please tell me what will be at the new main museum that would draw people from as far away as, say, Bloomington----that does NOT already exist in Peoria?
Without an IMAX-branded theater at this location, what would cause paid attendance to increase over current levels at the existing Lakeview Museum?
Are we going forward with this (mostly) taxpayer-funded project simply because a select few have put a lot of time into it? Because it's "too big to fail"? Or are we just throwing good money after bad?
-------------------------
P.S. Thanks to Merle for getting HIS letter published---Well done!
Lakeview records show that over $40,000 has already been spent on IMAX???? Those trips, rooms, and dinners must be expensive.
Merle
Letter sent to PJ Star forum 11/22/10 at 11:43 a.m.:
Much has been said over the last few weeks over the inclusion--or not---of an IMAX-branded theater at the proposed Peoria Riverfront Museum. Yes, we were promised an IMAX theater there. No, it doesn't look like we're going to get one.
The problem is not that this is yet another taxpayer-funded bait and switch. The bigger problem is, if not an IMAX, will the desired outcome be the same?
The whole reason we were going to move what already exists at Lakeview Museum to the old Sears block was that, with the addition of the CAT Visitor's Center AND an IMAX-branded theater, paid attendance to the museum would increase dramatically over current Lakeview levels. Thousands of tourists from outside the county would come to Peoria and spend money here.
However, the new redevelopment plan clearly states that if the PRM must go with an “alternate vendor” to IMAX, it “will result in significantly lower attendance”.
The theater (IMAX or not) will have a separate admission fee from that of the main museum. Can someone please tell me what will be at the new main museum that would draw people from as far away as, say, Bloomington----that does NOT already exist in Peoria?
Without an IMAX-branded theater at this location, what would cause paid attendance to increase over current levels at the existing Lakeview Museum?
Are we going forward with this (mostly) taxpayer-funded project simply because a select few have put a lot of time into it? Because it's "too big to fail"? Or are we just throwing good money after bad?
-------------------------
P.S. Thanks to Merle for getting HIS letter published---Well done!
Monday, August 23, 2010
"Museum has long history of IMAX promises"
Thanks to the Journal Star Editorial Board (JSEB) for running my editorial "In the Spotlight" Saturday. As usual, I write too many words so they edited it a bit but also added some comments such as my saying "it would be best to stop this project now than to see its funding cut back."
That statement comes from the contract with the county that says "if funding goals are not met, the museum will need to cut back on overhead and operating expenses." If that happens, there goes another "Amaze" as Richerson said we will differ from the financially strapped Wichita, Kansas museum as Peoria will keep changing exhibits.
Changing exhibits are quite costly.
Also left out were Koehler and Leitch touting an IMAX theater in the Peoria Riverfront Museum (PRM) in the Inter/Business (IB) local news magazine.
Look for my "letter to the editor" (LTE) in the September issue of the Community Word.
That statement comes from the contract with the county that says "if funding goals are not met, the museum will need to cut back on overhead and operating expenses." If that happens, there goes another "Amaze" as Richerson said we will differ from the financially strapped Wichita, Kansas museum as Peoria will keep changing exhibits.
Changing exhibits are quite costly.
Also left out were Koehler and Leitch touting an IMAX theater in the Peoria Riverfront Museum (PRM) in the Inter/Business (IB) local news magazine.
Look for my "letter to the editor" (LTE) in the September issue of the Community Word.
Twist the Ground Zero Story
Only story here that I can see is:
Use some decency, you promoters. After all, this mosque will only be two blocks from a terrorist Muslim attack killing thousands of innocent people.
Those who think this mosque will foster more jihads against the infidels, should definitely demand to know where the money is coming from and run a public background check.
All of these questions could be answered by the largely silent Muslim moderates. Am I prejudicial? No, Muslims should swear allegiance to this country just like my Dad and his parents did when soon after they arrived in America through Ellis Island. My Mom and her brothers and sisters were born here. I have a copy showing my Dad as a naturalized citizen of the U.S.
He and my Mother wanted no part of the countries they came from.
This became their home, not where they or their parents came from.
And Ron Paul is an intelligent idiot. He is a Republican? Another reason for me to be an independent.
Use some decency, you promoters. After all, this mosque will only be two blocks from a terrorist Muslim attack killing thousands of innocent people.
Those who think this mosque will foster more jihads against the infidels, should definitely demand to know where the money is coming from and run a public background check.
All of these questions could be answered by the largely silent Muslim moderates. Am I prejudicial? No, Muslims should swear allegiance to this country just like my Dad and his parents did when soon after they arrived in America through Ellis Island. My Mom and her brothers and sisters were born here. I have a copy showing my Dad as a naturalized citizen of the U.S.
He and my Mother wanted no part of the countries they came from.
This became their home, not where they or their parents came from.
And Ron Paul is an intelligent idiot. He is a Republican? Another reason for me to be an independent.
Caterpillar Restarts Its Growth Engine - In the South
So reads a headline in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) dated 8/12/10. The article is a little more detailed than the one on the same day in the Journal Star. (JS) The new plant in Victoria, Texas, a right to work state, will employ more than a 1000 new jobs. "It's a major shift in manufacturing strategy for Caterpillar. It's all driven by cost reduction. It is not just labor costs;#1,my comment)its the cost of exporting and attempting to shorten distance between the supplier base and production facilities" says a Chicago based forecaster for the construction machinery industry.
This shift of business is just a series of Caterpillar moves out of Illinois including shifts from Aurora,(Cat says displaced people in Aurora will move to other Cat jobs in Aurora) Morton, Decatur and Peoria announced so far. In the meantime of the approximately 25,000 Caterpillar employees laid of or fired, only a few of the approximately 5300 rehired are from the United States.
This country, and especially Illinois, under Obama, the Democrats and the unions, is basically dead when it comes to manufacturing growth. We are becoming a health and service industry country where the jobs do not pay as much and the lower end jobs taken by illegals; most illegals in this country whose major skills are "hard work".
While their has been some construction out at Mossville, insiders say it is mainly more office space. I believe if you took a "Facility Tax Referendum" just among non-union and non-management Cat workers right now, the referendum would fail. Many of these people think the $53 million Cat is spending on the museum and visitors center could have been better used by the within the company for its shrinking manufacturing employee base.
While manufacturing employment is up for by a couple hundred thousand, most of this employment has been in the subsidized part of the auto industry. Look for more consolidation in this country and no change in the unemployment figures as small businesses have little idea where this administration is taking them.
Probably for the ride of their lives. I would not want to be a small business owner today, even if I had a niche market. Too much paperwork and worry as starters.
And then again, what has all the hype over TranPort gotten us here in Peoria?
Hm.
This shift of business is just a series of Caterpillar moves out of Illinois including shifts from Aurora,(Cat says displaced people in Aurora will move to other Cat jobs in Aurora) Morton, Decatur and Peoria announced so far. In the meantime of the approximately 25,000 Caterpillar employees laid of or fired, only a few of the approximately 5300 rehired are from the United States.
This country, and especially Illinois, under Obama, the Democrats and the unions, is basically dead when it comes to manufacturing growth. We are becoming a health and service industry country where the jobs do not pay as much and the lower end jobs taken by illegals; most illegals in this country whose major skills are "hard work".
While their has been some construction out at Mossville, insiders say it is mainly more office space. I believe if you took a "Facility Tax Referendum" just among non-union and non-management Cat workers right now, the referendum would fail. Many of these people think the $53 million Cat is spending on the museum and visitors center could have been better used by the within the company for its shrinking manufacturing employee base.
While manufacturing employment is up for by a couple hundred thousand, most of this employment has been in the subsidized part of the auto industry. Look for more consolidation in this country and no change in the unemployment figures as small businesses have little idea where this administration is taking them.
Probably for the ride of their lives. I would not want to be a small business owner today, even if I had a niche market. Too much paperwork and worry as starters.
And then again, what has all the hype over TranPort gotten us here in Peoria?
Hm.
Our President; "The Community Organizer"
Worse than anyone ever. Also a union organizer. He wants the "Card" Bill, he wants in every way to unionize the private sector and use stealth to start unionizing the "right to work" states where Caterpillar is shifting production out of Peoria.
All the time, expanding the unions in the public sector and giving them more control of the country.
Merle Widmer
Worse Than Carter
By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. on 8.19.10
WASHINGTON -- It is becoming apparent for all to see, that a man who made his name as a community organizer does not have the skills to be President of these United States. Maybe he could develop the requisite skills as a governor. Possibly, he could develop such skills were he to sit in the Senate for a couple of terms. Yet there are delicate sensitivities, the ability to listen, to stick by your guns, occasionally to remain reticent. These are the fundamentals of a leader, and President Barack Obama has demonstrated that he lacks all of them, most notably reticence. I now think it is clear even to Official Washington that President Obama is the worst president of modern times. President Jimmy Carter is redeemed.
The other night at a White House dinner solemnizing the opening of Ramadan he leaped right in to endorse the building a mosque at Ground Zero. He -- a man who has shown no religious fervor during his time in the White House -- let out a ringing defense of religious liberty and tolerance. Of a sudden, he was at the center of a national controversy that was growing. It put me in mind of his inability to defuse the controversy over healthcare. Any sensible president would have relented, as opposition to healthcare grew to the majority position. He would have settled for some sort of compromise, but not the community-organizer-turned-president. He wanted it all. He lunged on and created among the electorate a row over national healthcare that divided the nation, and put some of us in mind of a civil war that continues to rage. What is more, he imperiled his party's margins in both houses.
Notwithstanding his apparent personal insouciance toward religion, he made it clear that the mosque should be built. Who cares about the sensibilities of the loved ones of the 3,000 victims? Or for that matter, of the 68% of the American people who according to a CNN poll oppose the mosque? It took him less than a day to make things worse. While on a swing through Florida, he claimed that he was not speaking "on the wisdom" of building the mosque. He was merely commenting on the Constitutional right to build the mosque and to practice one's religion. A right "that dates back," the prof allowed, "to our founding. That's what our country is about." Blah, blah, blah -- the community organizer turned-lecturer at the University of Chicago could not resist.
Now he has a red hot national controversy on his hands. It is somewhat like the controversy he created over Professor Henry Louis Gates when he pronounced the Cambridge police's reaction to Gates's truculence "stupid." Or when Mr. Obama barged into the Arizona immigration pother. He cannot resist showing the world how smart he is, but at what cost? Every Democrat battling a tight race will be called to answer questions about the mosque. It will become an issue even in remote places such as Nevada. There the Senate leader, Harry Reid, fighting for his seat against a Tea Partyer, Sharron Angle, has come out against the President. He announced that it is not a question of right but a question of prudence. He says the mosque should be built elsewhere. How many other Democrats will join him? This could develop into a major rebellion against President Obama's leadership. It could be the beginning of the end of his presidency.
President Obama represents the leadership of a sterile elite. His weird lectures play at the University of Chicago or in the communities he has organized in Chicago, but not among the mainstream of the American electorate. He has brought it together and it is against this idiocy. As I said in this space two weeks ago, he represents the leadership of the Ruling Class. It is not the leadership of the consensus of the American people. Only the most extreme voices in this debate are speaking intolerantly about Islam and its right to build a mosque. Most of the American people are siding with the dread Sarah Palin who was quick to say, "Mr. President, should they or should they not build a mosque steps away from where the radicals killed 3,000 people? Please tell us your position. We all know that they have a right to do it, but should they? And no, this isn't above your pay grade."
Yet it is. It is above the pay grade of a community organizer. That is what our president is. Increasingly, it is clear that the Democrats brought down on the country a community organizer as president. Maybe in the future they will consider experience a qualification for the presidency. Possibly the age of charisma is behind us. Possibly Mr. Obama even lacks that dubious quality.
All the time, expanding the unions in the public sector and giving them more control of the country.
Merle Widmer
Worse Than Carter
By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. on 8.19.10
WASHINGTON -- It is becoming apparent for all to see, that a man who made his name as a community organizer does not have the skills to be President of these United States. Maybe he could develop the requisite skills as a governor. Possibly, he could develop such skills were he to sit in the Senate for a couple of terms. Yet there are delicate sensitivities, the ability to listen, to stick by your guns, occasionally to remain reticent. These are the fundamentals of a leader, and President Barack Obama has demonstrated that he lacks all of them, most notably reticence. I now think it is clear even to Official Washington that President Obama is the worst president of modern times. President Jimmy Carter is redeemed.
The other night at a White House dinner solemnizing the opening of Ramadan he leaped right in to endorse the building a mosque at Ground Zero. He -- a man who has shown no religious fervor during his time in the White House -- let out a ringing defense of religious liberty and tolerance. Of a sudden, he was at the center of a national controversy that was growing. It put me in mind of his inability to defuse the controversy over healthcare. Any sensible president would have relented, as opposition to healthcare grew to the majority position. He would have settled for some sort of compromise, but not the community-organizer-turned-president. He wanted it all. He lunged on and created among the electorate a row over national healthcare that divided the nation, and put some of us in mind of a civil war that continues to rage. What is more, he imperiled his party's margins in both houses.
Notwithstanding his apparent personal insouciance toward religion, he made it clear that the mosque should be built. Who cares about the sensibilities of the loved ones of the 3,000 victims? Or for that matter, of the 68% of the American people who according to a CNN poll oppose the mosque? It took him less than a day to make things worse. While on a swing through Florida, he claimed that he was not speaking "on the wisdom" of building the mosque. He was merely commenting on the Constitutional right to build the mosque and to practice one's religion. A right "that dates back," the prof allowed, "to our founding. That's what our country is about." Blah, blah, blah -- the community organizer turned-lecturer at the University of Chicago could not resist.
Now he has a red hot national controversy on his hands. It is somewhat like the controversy he created over Professor Henry Louis Gates when he pronounced the Cambridge police's reaction to Gates's truculence "stupid." Or when Mr. Obama barged into the Arizona immigration pother. He cannot resist showing the world how smart he is, but at what cost? Every Democrat battling a tight race will be called to answer questions about the mosque. It will become an issue even in remote places such as Nevada. There the Senate leader, Harry Reid, fighting for his seat against a Tea Partyer, Sharron Angle, has come out against the President. He announced that it is not a question of right but a question of prudence. He says the mosque should be built elsewhere. How many other Democrats will join him? This could develop into a major rebellion against President Obama's leadership. It could be the beginning of the end of his presidency.
President Obama represents the leadership of a sterile elite. His weird lectures play at the University of Chicago or in the communities he has organized in Chicago, but not among the mainstream of the American electorate. He has brought it together and it is against this idiocy. As I said in this space two weeks ago, he represents the leadership of the Ruling Class. It is not the leadership of the consensus of the American people. Only the most extreme voices in this debate are speaking intolerantly about Islam and its right to build a mosque. Most of the American people are siding with the dread Sarah Palin who was quick to say, "Mr. President, should they or should they not build a mosque steps away from where the radicals killed 3,000 people? Please tell us your position. We all know that they have a right to do it, but should they? And no, this isn't above your pay grade."
Yet it is. It is above the pay grade of a community organizer. That is what our president is. Increasingly, it is clear that the Democrats brought down on the country a community organizer as president. Maybe in the future they will consider experience a qualification for the presidency. Possibly the age of charisma is behind us. Possibly Mr. Obama even lacks that dubious quality.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
She May Not Win an Award as America's Most Likeable Coumnist, But.........
I believe it is realistic that illegals can sneak into this country and have a baby so that baby automatically becomes a citizen. The law should have been changed a century or more ago. Worry not, you liberal Democrats; Obama and you know that every illegal will eventually be a Democrat vote. Obama is working to legalize as many illegals in this country or still coming BEFORE his bid for reelection in 2012.
His minions are frantically working behind the scenes while he is practicing his demagoguery as he skitters around the world and country, while taking vacation #6 already this year.
Merle
LOOK WHO'S 'NATIVIST' NOW!
by Ann Coulter
August 18, 2010
"Nativism in American politics has become so rampant that it is considered scandalous in Republican circles for a judge to acknowledge paying any attention to foreign courts and their legal rulings." -- New York Times editorial, Aug. 3, 2010
The New York Times runs this same smug editorial every few months -- at least I think it's the same editorial -- to vent its spleen at conservatives who object to American judges relying on foreign law to interpret the U.S. Constitution.
But when it comes to anchor babies, The New York Times and the entire Democratic establishment plug their ears and hum rather than consider foreign laws on citizenship. (For more on this, see "Mexican immigration law versus U.S. immigration law.")
Needless to say, America is the only developed nation that allows illegal aliens to gain full citizenship for their children merely by dropping them on U.S. soil.
Take Sweden -- one of the left's favorite countries. Not only is there no birthright citizenship, but even the children of legal immigrants cannot become Swedish citizens simply by being born there. At least one parent must be a citizen for birth on Swedish soil to confer citizenship.
(Applicants also have to know the lyrics to at least one ABBA song, which explains why you don't see groups of Mexicans congregating outside Ikea stores.)
Liberals are constantly hectoring Americans to adopt Sweden's generous welfare policies without considering that one reason Sweden's welfare policies haven't bankrupted the country (yet) is that the Swedes don't grant citizenship to the children of any deadbeat who manages the spectacular feat of giving birth on Swedish soil.
In Britain, only birth to at least one British citizen or the highest class of legal immigrant, a "settled" resident with the right to remain, such as Irish citizens, confers citizenship on a child born in England. And if the British birthright is through the father, he must be married to the mother (probably a relic from Victorian times when marriage was considered an important institution).
Even Canada, the country most similar to the United States, grants citizenship upon birth -- but excludes the noncitizen parents of anchor babies from receiving benefits, such as medical care, schooling and other free stuff given to Canadian citizens.
After MSNBC'S favorite half-black guest, professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell, made the dazzling point last week that "all babies are anchor babies" because "I certainly know my 8-year-old has anchored the heck out of my life," thereby winning this week's witty wordplay contest, she claimed to be stumped on how citizenship could possibly be determined if not by location of birth.
"I want Americans to pause for a moment and ask themselves," Harris-Lacewell said portentously, "on what basis would you determine citizenship, if not based on where a child is born?" (Luckily for Harris-Lacewell, U.S. citizenship is not granted on problem-solving abilities.)
Harris was off and running, babbling: "Do you have to have two parents who are citizens? How about grandparents? How about great-grandparents?"
I don't know -- how does Sweden do it? How about Denmark? Maybe we should check the laws of every other country in the universe -- especially the ones liberals are relentlessly demanding we emulate!
Or is Ms. Lacewell one of those chest-thumping, nationalistic nativists who becomes hysterical when anyone brings up foreign law? Where is The New York Times when we need it?
The Times' editorial denouncing "nativist" conservatives ended with this little homily: "(Republicans) might want to re-read James Madison's description in the Federalist Papers of the ideal legislator: 'He ought not to be altogether ignorant of the law of nations.'"
Of course, conservatives' objection to judges looking to foreign law is that they're judges, not legislators -- least of all "ideal legislators."
Judges are supposed to be interpreting a constitution and laws written by legislators, not legislating from the bench. Hey, whose turn is it to remind The New York Times that the legislative branch of our government is different from the judicial branch?
As the Times' own august quote from James Madison indicates, he was referring to "the ideal legislator," not "the ideal Supreme Court justice."
In its haste to call conservatives names, the Times not only gave away that they think judges are supposed to be "legislators" -- a point they've been denying for decades -- but also provided a ringing endorsement for ending birthright citizenship.
Not being an easily frightened nativist like Harris-Lacewell, I think we should look at other countries' laws, then adopt the good ones and pass on the bad ones.
For example, let's skip clitorectomies, arranged marriages, dropping walls on homosexuals, honor killings and the rest of the gorgeous tapestry of multiculturalism.
Instead, how about we adopt foreign concepts such as disallowing frivolous lawsuits, having loser-pays tort laws, and requiring that both parents be in the U.S. legally and at least one parent be a citizen, for a child born here to get automatic citizenship?
Or (to paraphrase my favorite newspaper) has nativism in American politics become so rampant that it is considered scandalous in Democratic circles for a legislator to acknowledge paying any attention to foreign countries and their laws? If so, then Democrats might want to re-read James Madison's description in the Federalist Papers of the ideal legislator: "He ought not to be altogether ignorant of the law of nations."
COPYRIGHT 2010 ANN COULTER
His minions are frantically working behind the scenes while he is practicing his demagoguery as he skitters around the world and country, while taking vacation #6 already this year.
Merle
LOOK WHO'S 'NATIVIST' NOW!
by Ann Coulter
August 18, 2010
"Nativism in American politics has become so rampant that it is considered scandalous in Republican circles for a judge to acknowledge paying any attention to foreign courts and their legal rulings." -- New York Times editorial, Aug. 3, 2010
The New York Times runs this same smug editorial every few months -- at least I think it's the same editorial -- to vent its spleen at conservatives who object to American judges relying on foreign law to interpret the U.S. Constitution.
But when it comes to anchor babies, The New York Times and the entire Democratic establishment plug their ears and hum rather than consider foreign laws on citizenship. (For more on this, see "Mexican immigration law versus U.S. immigration law.")
Needless to say, America is the only developed nation that allows illegal aliens to gain full citizenship for their children merely by dropping them on U.S. soil.
Take Sweden -- one of the left's favorite countries. Not only is there no birthright citizenship, but even the children of legal immigrants cannot become Swedish citizens simply by being born there. At least one parent must be a citizen for birth on Swedish soil to confer citizenship.
(Applicants also have to know the lyrics to at least one ABBA song, which explains why you don't see groups of Mexicans congregating outside Ikea stores.)
Liberals are constantly hectoring Americans to adopt Sweden's generous welfare policies without considering that one reason Sweden's welfare policies haven't bankrupted the country (yet) is that the Swedes don't grant citizenship to the children of any deadbeat who manages the spectacular feat of giving birth on Swedish soil.
In Britain, only birth to at least one British citizen or the highest class of legal immigrant, a "settled" resident with the right to remain, such as Irish citizens, confers citizenship on a child born in England. And if the British birthright is through the father, he must be married to the mother (probably a relic from Victorian times when marriage was considered an important institution).
Even Canada, the country most similar to the United States, grants citizenship upon birth -- but excludes the noncitizen parents of anchor babies from receiving benefits, such as medical care, schooling and other free stuff given to Canadian citizens.
After MSNBC'S favorite half-black guest, professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell, made the dazzling point last week that "all babies are anchor babies" because "I certainly know my 8-year-old has anchored the heck out of my life," thereby winning this week's witty wordplay contest, she claimed to be stumped on how citizenship could possibly be determined if not by location of birth.
"I want Americans to pause for a moment and ask themselves," Harris-Lacewell said portentously, "on what basis would you determine citizenship, if not based on where a child is born?" (Luckily for Harris-Lacewell, U.S. citizenship is not granted on problem-solving abilities.)
Harris was off and running, babbling: "Do you have to have two parents who are citizens? How about grandparents? How about great-grandparents?"
I don't know -- how does Sweden do it? How about Denmark? Maybe we should check the laws of every other country in the universe -- especially the ones liberals are relentlessly demanding we emulate!
Or is Ms. Lacewell one of those chest-thumping, nationalistic nativists who becomes hysterical when anyone brings up foreign law? Where is The New York Times when we need it?
The Times' editorial denouncing "nativist" conservatives ended with this little homily: "(Republicans) might want to re-read James Madison's description in the Federalist Papers of the ideal legislator: 'He ought not to be altogether ignorant of the law of nations.'"
Of course, conservatives' objection to judges looking to foreign law is that they're judges, not legislators -- least of all "ideal legislators."
Judges are supposed to be interpreting a constitution and laws written by legislators, not legislating from the bench. Hey, whose turn is it to remind The New York Times that the legislative branch of our government is different from the judicial branch?
As the Times' own august quote from James Madison indicates, he was referring to "the ideal legislator," not "the ideal Supreme Court justice."
In its haste to call conservatives names, the Times not only gave away that they think judges are supposed to be "legislators" -- a point they've been denying for decades -- but also provided a ringing endorsement for ending birthright citizenship.
Not being an easily frightened nativist like Harris-Lacewell, I think we should look at other countries' laws, then adopt the good ones and pass on the bad ones.
For example, let's skip clitorectomies, arranged marriages, dropping walls on homosexuals, honor killings and the rest of the gorgeous tapestry of multiculturalism.
Instead, how about we adopt foreign concepts such as disallowing frivolous lawsuits, having loser-pays tort laws, and requiring that both parents be in the U.S. legally and at least one parent be a citizen, for a child born here to get automatic citizenship?
Or (to paraphrase my favorite newspaper) has nativism in American politics become so rampant that it is considered scandalous in Democratic circles for a legislator to acknowledge paying any attention to foreign countries and their laws? If so, then Democrats might want to re-read James Madison's description in the Federalist Papers of the ideal legislator: "He ought not to be altogether ignorant of the law of nations."
COPYRIGHT 2010 ANN COULTER
Friday, August 20, 2010
Billions for Teachers Unions - Nothing for Students
By Kyle Olson
Here’s a story problem to get kids ready for the new school year:
If Congress borrows $10 billion to bail out the public schools, and if toilet paper costs fifty cents a roll, how many rolls of toilet paper will each of the nation’s 132,000 K-12 public schools receive?
The answer: Zero. Zip. Zilch.
The average American can be forgiven for thinking that the $10 billion “edujobs” bill signed into law last week by President Obama would directly benefit the nation’s school children. That’s certainly how the National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel spun it: “As a result of this vote, we expect to see less crowded classrooms, reinstated bus routes and restored education programs and services,” Van Roekel said.
What a windfall for the kids, right? But how to make sense of this headline in The New York Times: “Back to School? Bring Your Own Toilet Paper.” Just five days after the $10 billion bailout became law, the Times reports that schools all across the country are sending out shopping lists to parents and students, requiring them to help stock the janitorial closets that have been stripped bare by shrinking school budgets. Wasn’t that money supposed to prevent this kind of thing?
It’s a fact that school districts all across the country have smaller budgets to work with, due to the aftermath of “The Great Recession.” It’s also a fact that unlike most American workers who have had to take less pay and fewer benefits to keep their jobs, many teacher unions all across the country have refused to make any concessions (i.e. accepting a freeze in pay or contributing to their health insurance costs). Left with no other options to balance their budgets, school districts were forced to cut teaching jobs. This resulted in a “crisis” and led to Congress’ $10 billion bailout.
With Congress pumping all this new money into the education system, the teacher unions can forego any unpleasant concessions and can protect the status quo. Meanwhile, parents and students are forced to stretch their back-to-school budgets to help stock the restrooms with toilet paper and Kleenex.
Despite all the spin, it is clear that the “edujobs” bill was simply a bailout for the intractable teacher unions dressed up as being “for the children.” Once again, the nation’s school kids are asked to do with less so the teacher unions can do with more.
Welcome back to school.
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Here’s a story problem to get kids ready for the new school year:
If Congress borrows $10 billion to bail out the public schools, and if toilet paper costs fifty cents a roll, how many rolls of toilet paper will each of the nation’s 132,000 K-12 public schools receive?
The answer: Zero. Zip. Zilch.
The average American can be forgiven for thinking that the $10 billion “edujobs” bill signed into law last week by President Obama would directly benefit the nation’s school children. That’s certainly how the National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel spun it: “As a result of this vote, we expect to see less crowded classrooms, reinstated bus routes and restored education programs and services,” Van Roekel said.
What a windfall for the kids, right? But how to make sense of this headline in The New York Times: “Back to School? Bring Your Own Toilet Paper.” Just five days after the $10 billion bailout became law, the Times reports that schools all across the country are sending out shopping lists to parents and students, requiring them to help stock the janitorial closets that have been stripped bare by shrinking school budgets. Wasn’t that money supposed to prevent this kind of thing?
It’s a fact that school districts all across the country have smaller budgets to work with, due to the aftermath of “The Great Recession.” It’s also a fact that unlike most American workers who have had to take less pay and fewer benefits to keep their jobs, many teacher unions all across the country have refused to make any concessions (i.e. accepting a freeze in pay or contributing to their health insurance costs). Left with no other options to balance their budgets, school districts were forced to cut teaching jobs. This resulted in a “crisis” and led to Congress’ $10 billion bailout.
With Congress pumping all this new money into the education system, the teacher unions can forego any unpleasant concessions and can protect the status quo. Meanwhile, parents and students are forced to stretch their back-to-school budgets to help stock the restrooms with toilet paper and Kleenex.
Despite all the spin, it is clear that the “edujobs” bill was simply a bailout for the intractable teacher unions dressed up as being “for the children.” Once again, the nation’s school kids are asked to do with less so the teacher unions can do with more.
Welcome back to school.
Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |
Billions for Teachers Unions - Nothing for Students
By Kyle Olson
Here’s a story problem to get kids ready for the new school year:
If Congress borrows $10 billion to bail out the public schools, and if toilet paper costs fifty cents a roll, how many rolls of toilet paper will each of the nation’s 132,000 K-12 public schools receive?
The answer: Zero. Zip. Zilch.
The average American can be forgiven for thinking that the $10 billion “edujobs” bill signed into law last week by President Obama would directly benefit the nation’s school children. That’s certainly how the National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel spun it: “As a result of this vote, we expect to see less crowded classrooms, reinstated bus routes and restored education programs and services,” Van Roekel said.
What a windfall for the kids, right? But how to make sense of this headline in The New York Times: “Back to School? Bring Your Own Toilet Paper.” Just five days after the $10 billion bailout became law, the Times reports that schools all across the country are sending out shopping lists to parents and students, requiring them to help stock the janitorial closets that have been stripped bare by shrinking school budgets. Wasn’t that money supposed to prevent this kind of thing?
It’s a fact that school districts all across the country have smaller budgets to work with, due to the aftermath of “The Great Recession.” It’s also a fact that unlike most American workers who have had to take less pay and fewer benefits to keep their jobs, many teacher unions all across the country have refused to make any concessions (i.e. accepting a freeze in pay or contributing to their health insurance costs). Left with no other options to balance their budgets, school districts were forced to cut teaching jobs. This resulted in a “crisis” and led to Congress’ $10 billion bailout.
With Congress pumping all this new money into the education system, the teacher unions can forego any unpleasant concessions and can protect the status quo. Meanwhile, parents and students are forced to stretch their back-to-school budgets to help stock the restrooms with toilet paper and Kleenex.
Despite all the spin, it is clear that the “edujobs” bill was simply a bailout for the intractable teacher unions dressed up as being “for the children.” Once again, the nation’s school kids are asked to do with less so the teacher unions can do with more.
Welcome back to school.
Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |
Tags: Congress, National Education Association, nea, New York Times, public school bailout, teachers union
Posted Aug 19th 2010 at 11:29 am in Big Labor, Congress, Education, Federal Spendi inappropriate.
Here’s a story problem to get kids ready for the new school year:
If Congress borrows $10 billion to bail out the public schools, and if toilet paper costs fifty cents a roll, how many rolls of toilet paper will each of the nation’s 132,000 K-12 public schools receive?
The answer: Zero. Zip. Zilch.
The average American can be forgiven for thinking that the $10 billion “edujobs” bill signed into law last week by President Obama would directly benefit the nation’s school children. That’s certainly how the National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel spun it: “As a result of this vote, we expect to see less crowded classrooms, reinstated bus routes and restored education programs and services,” Van Roekel said.
What a windfall for the kids, right? But how to make sense of this headline in The New York Times: “Back to School? Bring Your Own Toilet Paper.” Just five days after the $10 billion bailout became law, the Times reports that schools all across the country are sending out shopping lists to parents and students, requiring them to help stock the janitorial closets that have been stripped bare by shrinking school budgets. Wasn’t that money supposed to prevent this kind of thing?
It’s a fact that school districts all across the country have smaller budgets to work with, due to the aftermath of “The Great Recession.” It’s also a fact that unlike most American workers who have had to take less pay and fewer benefits to keep their jobs, many teacher unions all across the country have refused to make any concessions (i.e. accepting a freeze in pay or contributing to their health insurance costs). Left with no other options to balance their budgets, school districts were forced to cut teaching jobs. This resulted in a “crisis” and led to Congress’ $10 billion bailout.
With Congress pumping all this new money into the education system, the teacher unions can forego any unpleasant concessions and can protect the status quo. Meanwhile, parents and students are forced to stretch their back-to-school budgets to help stock the restrooms with toilet paper and Kleenex.
Despite all the spin, it is clear that the “edujobs” bill was simply a bailout for the intractable teacher unions dressed up as being “for the children.” Once again, the nation’s school kids are asked to do with less so the teacher unions can do with more.
Welcome back to school.
Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |
Tags: Congress, National Education Association, nea, New York Times, public school bailout, teachers union
Posted Aug 19th 2010 at 11:29 am in Big Labor, Congress, Education, Federal Spendi inappropriate.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Democrats Played and are Playing Major Roles in the Freddie-Fannie Disaster
Foremost among the Democrats was, as usual, Barney Franks as he said on Sept 10, 2003, that there was no and had been no problems with these two corrupt taxpayer supported financial firms. Joining in the chorus was Democrat Charles Schumer. They are still in the same chorus but now that so many Democrat seats are up for election, I see and hear a small change in support by the Democrats for this corrupt massive financial missile.
Voices of reason George Bush, John McCain and most all Republicans, could not make reform progress as the Democrats in Congress voted as a block against badly needed reforms.
Bush's major problem was that he didn't wield the veto pen often enough and the Republicans could not reach the independent voter.
The Republicans with the help from most of the Tea Party people may be able to oust a number of Democrats in November if they can keep from shooting themselves in their mouths.
I am an independent thinker and voter but I have yet to see a Democrat on any level who is running for office for whom I would cast a vote. Unfortunately, there are still a few entitlement and special interest mentality Republicans that I would prefer not to continue representing this country at any level of government.If you are paying attention, you surely see that this country citizenry and it's governmental bodies are far from being out of the woods. In fact, the "woods" are getting more dense.
I am an independent thinker and voter but I have yet to see a Democrat on any level who is running for office for whom I would cast a vote. Unfortunately, there are still a few entitlement and special interest mentality Republicans that I would prefer not to continue representing this country at any level of government.If you are paying attention, you surely see that this country citizenry and it's governmental bodies are far from being out of the woods. In fact, the "woods" are getting more dense.
Community Gardens
With some fanfare PEECO announced "Planting a Community Garden" has begun. Volunteers will tend the garden and provide community gardeners the opportunity to create some thing beautiful."
The "garden" is located 100 feet south of Harrison Home Offices at 2634 W. Meidroth.
Beautiful? How about unattended, very small and partly vandalized. Go see for yourself. I did. It takes "work" to create a beautiful garden.
Hm.
Community Gardens have never worked in Peoria to my knowledge. Years ago, there was a large garden out north on Galena Road. Closed shortly after it opened, I'm told, because people who don't like work thought community meant "it's mine too". Since the County now owns the abandoned former 43 acre Hanna City Correctional Center building and grounds, I suggested a work re-lease program with low risk jail residents becoming involved with learning a trade and creating a community garden carpentry shops, in this totally fenced area. The U of I Extension showed some interest in December 2009 but overall the community is more interested in building museums to themselves, shooting ranges, professional ball parks for themselves but partly funded by taxpayer dollars, zoos, recreations parks with no water or toilet facilities, (think PPD and the $230,000 they allegedly received from the state to put in a small basic shelter, a small playground, two basketball hoops, all seldom used, plus a rather large parking lot on the north end of Peoria Stadium).
Vandalism a growing problem in undisciplined youth who the JSEB calls 16 year olds, just kids growing up. Like 13 year old rapist, murderers and burglars. No, even 8-9 year old doing the same thing.
The "bleeding" liberals think building self-esteem for partly doing what they should be learning to do or doing, handing out trophies for showing up, excuses such as "but they are just boys (and now girls) and ignorance of the "broken window" theory, is the way to build youth leadership.
Sure it is. By the way what ever happened to the highly touted CeaseFire program? Still in existence in Peoria and who runs it out of where? School people I thought should know, do not. I know Carl Cannon runs a successful program out of the RiverPlex for mainly, if not totally, for the southside, but over the years, many other groups have been organized and faded away.
Ask me what I've done, I've mentored, organized an at risk programs, served 3 plus years on the PPD Advisory Board and nearing 10 years on the County Board, served 5 years on a Homeless Shelter Committee, served on the B & G Club Board, Harrison Youth Center Board, worked for years to help clean up the abandoned or dilapidated buildings in the community, talked and instructed and advised kids, visited school, etc.
Not bragging, I didn't do nearly enough.
The "garden" is located 100 feet south of Harrison Home Offices at 2634 W. Meidroth.
Beautiful? How about unattended, very small and partly vandalized. Go see for yourself. I did. It takes "work" to create a beautiful garden.
Hm.
Community Gardens have never worked in Peoria to my knowledge. Years ago, there was a large garden out north on Galena Road. Closed shortly after it opened, I'm told, because people who don't like work thought community meant "it's mine too". Since the County now owns the abandoned former 43 acre Hanna City Correctional Center building and grounds, I suggested a work re-lease program with low risk jail residents becoming involved with learning a trade and creating a community garden carpentry shops, in this totally fenced area. The U of I Extension showed some interest in December 2009 but overall the community is more interested in building museums to themselves, shooting ranges, professional ball parks for themselves but partly funded by taxpayer dollars, zoos, recreations parks with no water or toilet facilities, (think PPD and the $230,000 they allegedly received from the state to put in a small basic shelter, a small playground, two basketball hoops, all seldom used, plus a rather large parking lot on the north end of Peoria Stadium).
Vandalism a growing problem in undisciplined youth who the JSEB calls 16 year olds, just kids growing up. Like 13 year old rapist, murderers and burglars. No, even 8-9 year old doing the same thing.
The "bleeding" liberals think building self-esteem for partly doing what they should be learning to do or doing, handing out trophies for showing up, excuses such as "but they are just boys (and now girls) and ignorance of the "broken window" theory, is the way to build youth leadership.
Sure it is. By the way what ever happened to the highly touted CeaseFire program? Still in existence in Peoria and who runs it out of where? School people I thought should know, do not. I know Carl Cannon runs a successful program out of the RiverPlex for mainly, if not totally, for the southside, but over the years, many other groups have been organized and faded away.
Ask me what I've done, I've mentored, organized an at risk programs, served 3 plus years on the PPD Advisory Board and nearing 10 years on the County Board, served 5 years on a Homeless Shelter Committee, served on the B & G Club Board, Harrison Youth Center Board, worked for years to help clean up the abandoned or dilapidated buildings in the community, talked and instructed and advised kids, visited school, etc.
Not bragging, I didn't do nearly enough.
People With Good "Intentions" Should Not Let Facts Get In Their Way
Community meetings after community meetings and now a new law titled "Illinois Youth Development" making Illinois the first state in the nation to make after-school programming official.
Sounds again like lot's of taxpayer dollars with lots of new administrative jobs, new offices and secretaries and very little leadership.
That is what has been proven in Peoria. The JS announced on May 23, 2008, in an article titled, "Community school will debut". "Kids programs such as book clubs, sports instruction, cooking classes, will be available, along with adult programs like basketball, fitness classes, a walking club and weight lifting. The resource center will be run by the the Workforce Development Board.
Problem is, none of this "resource center" ever existed unless you call the 19 computers free to anyone including business people a "community resource center". I've dropped in at this location at least 5 times and have yet to see more than one kid and no parents with kids after school hours.
Then there is the Boys and Girls Club who still FALSELY advertise a phone # and address on Grinnell when that location has been closed for 3 years, 3 1/2 months. The B & G Club also sometimes puts on programs at Trewyn which I have visited several times. Kids come and go when they please, talk whenever they please which is often among themselves, chaos to the point of having an ex-police officer on hand occasionally to blow a whistle and tell the kids to settle down.
Of course, there is a larger attendance when the food is served, the gym is open with the "instructor" shooting hoops with a couple of the boys, girls aren't present, and the rest of the kid horsing around.
Some say this is better than having them on the street. Good, but face the facts, the people in charge have no idea where these kids are either outside of the building or in the building. I have never seen a roll call.
There was supposed to be an after school program at Manual. Fact, no never was one according to the Ass't Principal and the janitors. Janitors are always the best source of knowing what is going on inside a school.
And now today's JS reports on another "what is available for our kids after 5:30"? meeting at Friendship House. What about the period from 3 til 5:30? Sports, in the high schools with maybe 3-4 kids out for tennis, again coming and going, 12 maybe out for baseball and the same in track, a few for volleyball and a select few for basketball and football. I've recommended intramural or inter city intramural competiton or just play with supervison.
Or work like gardens, etc. (see my nex blog on community gardens)
In the grade schools, not much of anything after hours that I've see. Maybe some one will enlighten me.
It is interesting to note that Community Builders who started out with $75,000 taxpayer dollars, added another $10,000 for programs at Trewyn, Garfield and Manual??, has a phone number for a Bradley University person who now refers calls to Jim Bateman who doesn't return calls. Mr. Bateman is no dummy, he knows I will ask the hard questions and go and observe these "community programs".. If you recall Joyce Banks was originally paid to run Community Builders out of an office on Sheridan Road, who told me when I called on her, "I needed to make an appointment".
She is long gone but I suspect she still has a government or taxpayer funded position,
I quit throwing money at these programs and many other people would do the same IF they looked in once in while. Wouldn't hurt to visit a few classrooms "unannounced", that way you could see what goes on and why we our public schools threatened to be taken over by the City.
The cities who have there own problems by the bundles?
Sounds again like lot's of taxpayer dollars with lots of new administrative jobs, new offices and secretaries and very little leadership.
That is what has been proven in Peoria. The JS announced on May 23, 2008, in an article titled, "Community school will debut". "Kids programs such as book clubs, sports instruction, cooking classes, will be available, along with adult programs like basketball, fitness classes, a walking club and weight lifting. The resource center will be run by the the Workforce Development Board.
Problem is, none of this "resource center" ever existed unless you call the 19 computers free to anyone including business people a "community resource center". I've dropped in at this location at least 5 times and have yet to see more than one kid and no parents with kids after school hours.
Then there is the Boys and Girls Club who still FALSELY advertise a phone # and address on Grinnell when that location has been closed for 3 years, 3 1/2 months. The B & G Club also sometimes puts on programs at Trewyn which I have visited several times. Kids come and go when they please, talk whenever they please which is often among themselves, chaos to the point of having an ex-police officer on hand occasionally to blow a whistle and tell the kids to settle down.
Of course, there is a larger attendance when the food is served, the gym is open with the "instructor" shooting hoops with a couple of the boys, girls aren't present, and the rest of the kid horsing around.
Some say this is better than having them on the street. Good, but face the facts, the people in charge have no idea where these kids are either outside of the building or in the building. I have never seen a roll call.
There was supposed to be an after school program at Manual. Fact, no never was one according to the Ass't Principal and the janitors. Janitors are always the best source of knowing what is going on inside a school.
And now today's JS reports on another "what is available for our kids after 5:30"? meeting at Friendship House. What about the period from 3 til 5:30? Sports, in the high schools with maybe 3-4 kids out for tennis, again coming and going, 12 maybe out for baseball and the same in track, a few for volleyball and a select few for basketball and football. I've recommended intramural or inter city intramural competiton or just play with supervison.
Or work like gardens, etc. (see my nex blog on community gardens)
In the grade schools, not much of anything after hours that I've see. Maybe some one will enlighten me.
It is interesting to note that Community Builders who started out with $75,000 taxpayer dollars, added another $10,000 for programs at Trewyn, Garfield and Manual??, has a phone number for a Bradley University person who now refers calls to Jim Bateman who doesn't return calls. Mr. Bateman is no dummy, he knows I will ask the hard questions and go and observe these "community programs".. If you recall Joyce Banks was originally paid to run Community Builders out of an office on Sheridan Road, who told me when I called on her, "I needed to make an appointment".
She is long gone but I suspect she still has a government or taxpayer funded position,
I quit throwing money at these programs and many other people would do the same IF they looked in once in while. Wouldn't hurt to visit a few classrooms "unannounced", that way you could see what goes on and why we our public schools threatened to be taken over by the City.
The cities who have there own problems by the bundles?
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