Possibly 70% of the voters are not aware of the Davis-Bacon Act that requires any construction project receiving federal subsidies to pay "prevailing" wages-meaning union wages-to its workers. Economists have shown repeatedly that the artificial floor of the Davis-Bacon Act freezes low income laborers-primarily black and Hispanic-out of competition with their union counterparts. Small business contractors are especially hurt by compliance costs.
Davis-Bacon also dramatically increases the cost of government projects, amounting to a mandate for more spending-and all for the sole justification of the Unions. Since approximately 20% of construction workers are unionized, it is easily seen how the cost of government projects are drastically more costly.
Locally, in 2010, an unsuspecting group of Republican Peoria County Board members voted for a carefully conceived action by the Democrats, led by Board Chair Tom O'Neill, that in effect caused all the non-unionized pavers doing business in Peoria County to be unionized. The board minority Republicans were unsuccessful in getting the action repealed. I understand at least one of the larger pavers caved in and unionized while at least on of the local pavers went out of business.
Not too long ago, when the Peoria Riverfront Museum's weak board was approached by the local unions offering to donate approximately $500,000.00 to the museum in return for the museum to be built with all union labor, the museum board gladly agreed. Almost immediately, the cost of the museum building jumped around $10 million, this jump explained by the Caterpillar liaison as supposedly higher material costs, especially steel.
Whether the union has made good on this pledge, the JS, strongly in favor of this downtown project, has never been reported. As if the JS cares or has enough experienced investigative reporters.
The new Bel-Wood Nurisng Home rose dramatically in cost as this building is built by all union labor as sub-contractors must pay prevailing union wages.
If Obama, the Democrats and the Senate, control this country for the next 5 years, the cost of federal as well as all public projects will steadily rise, driving more businesses overseas at the same time there is a "patriotic" appeal to bring the jobs back from overseas. As if hundreds of thousands of Americans here in the U.S. are employed by foreign owned companies was not a fact.
The union push to buy American made goods will largely fail; it is a bad idea in the first place as other countries will retaliate. In Peoria, the effect of all the public building taking place, will continue to cause fees (the garbage tax, golf fees, Peoria Counties recent $350,000.00 rise in local fees, etc.) will eventually see this county as among one of the most highly taxed counties with not much "free" being offered by the taxing bodies.
Not to be overlooked are the rapidly rising public unfunded pension costs and the large amount of empty buildings in Peoria, a deteriorating infrastructure with flat population growth and more property tax appeals such as the money losing Peoria Chiefs Baseball investors.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Union Victory Adds to Ohio's Fiscal Problems
*****************************
From Education Week [American Education's Newspaper of Record], November 16, 2011, Volume 31, Issue 12, pp. 1,26-27. See http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/11/10/12election.h31.html?print=1
*****************************
Ohio Vote on Bargaining a Union Victory-For Now
Republicans chastened after attempt to restrict union rights, but issue far from settled
By Michele McNeil
Voters in Ohio sent an unequivocal message to that state's Republican governor and lawmakers last week that they went too far in reining in collective bargaining for teachers and other public employees. But analysts say the conflict between the GOP and teachers' unions in Ohio and elsewhere is not over.
By an overwhelming, 22-percentage-point margin, Ohioans-even in heavily Republican counties-repealed Senate Bill 5, enacted earlier this year. It was a resounding defeat of a law that stripped teachers and other public employees of most collective bargaining rights, and many predicted the vote could have ripple effects in other states that have engaged in high-profile battles with unions, such as Wisconsin.
The message from unions now is: "Mess with us, cross us, and we will come after you, and you will pay the political price," said Patrick McGuinn, an associate professor of political science and education at Drew University, in Madison, N.J.
Analysts predict the power struggle will continue, however, with Republicans likely to modify their strategy, including by taking smaller bites at collective bargaining by public employees.
The Ohio referendum, known as Issue 2, was perhaps the most closely watched ballot fight of the 2011 off-year election season nationally. But voters in other states made important decisions, too, as governors in Kentucky and Mississippi were elected, and Republicans took control of Virginia's legislative and executive branches for just the second time in more than a century. In addition, the state teachers' union in Michigan prevailed in a recall of a key state legislator.
The Ohio law was pushed through the state's GOP-controlled legislature in March with strong Republican support, including from Gov. John Kasich, who was elected in 2010. That's the same year Republicans took control of both chambers of the legislature.
In school districts, the measure would have blocked bargaining over class sizes, school assignments, and provisions that restrict principals from assigning workloads and job responsibilities. It would have forbidden districts to give preference in layoff decisions to teachers with more seniority, a provision similar to those approved in a number of other states this year, such as Florida and Idaho. The law also would have created a merit-pay system for teachers, though it was unclear how educators' performance would be judged.
After years of being virtually untouched because of their formidable political force, public employees' unions this year were on the receiving end of a flood of far-reaching policy fights to restrict their power, in states including Wisconsin, Idaho, Indiana, and New Jersey.
Labor Pushback
But the unions have responded fiercely.
Randi Weingarten, the president of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of Teachers, billed the Ohio statute as an assault on the middle class-a common theme that's been playing out in campaigns at all levels, including in the 2012 presidential race.
"Ohio voters made it clear to them that there is a price to pay for turning your back on the middle class," Ms. Weingarten said in a statement after the vote.
In Wisconsin, after pushing through legislation earlier this year that effectively ended collective bargaining in that state for most public employees, including teachers, Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who was elected in 2010, is now the subject of a recall effort. If a petition drive is successful-and many predict the Ohio vote will help buoy that effort-his job could be at stake in next year's election.
Also in last week's elections, in Michigan, the Republican chairman of the House education committee, Paul Scott, was recalled after being targeted by the Michigan Education Association for weakening teacher tenure and cutting education funding.
But those efforts don't mean the collective bargaining issues are going away, education and political experts say.
Elements of Ohio's SB 5 likely will be re-envisioned and packaged differently there and even in other states, said Frederick M. Hess, the director of education policy studies for the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank.
"Americans have never been radicals," said Mr. Hess in an postelection seminar in Ohio sponsored by KnowledgeWorks. SB 5 was a "smart, thoughtful, and well-considered" way to empower state and local officials to solve budget problems, argued Mr. Hess, who writes an opinion blog for Education Week's website. But, he added, people don't want to be "pushed too fast and too far."
Mr. McGuinn of Drew University agreed in part, saying that Republicans are likely to tackle smaller pieces that attack specific problems, such as rising health-care costs among public employees.
"There will probably be less of a frontal assault," Mr. McGuinn said.
What's Next
Gov. Kasich hasn't signaled his next steps in Ohio.
"I've heard their voices," he said in a press conference after the referendum, speaking of the voters. "As a result of that, it requires me to take a deep breath."
For the governor, part of SB 5 was a money-saving initiative. Gov. Kasich had argued that the law would drive down costs for taxpayers by phasing out expensive concessions made to unions during the negotiating process. His administration had estimated that the law would save local governments, including school districts, more than $1 billion per year by reducing health-care costs, requiring employees to contribute more to their pensions in some cases, and doing away with automatic salary increases.
Without it, Gov. Kasich said, state officials will try to work with local governments to deal with budget crunches. But, he said, "there's no bailout coming, because frankly there's no money. It's going to be very important for local communities to continue to deal with their cost challenges."
The unions acknowledge there are legitimate issues that need to be addressed, and that state and local governments are still struggling.
"There are other ways to raise revenue than to take a potshot at the unions," said Lily Eskelsen, the vice president of the 3.2-million member National Education Association, during the Ohio seminar, without getting specific. "We have a financial crisis. What a wonderful opportunity to blame people like teachers for causing a crisis that, of course, Wall Street greed caused."
Despite the overwhelming rejection of the collective bargaining law, last week's election in Ohio wasn't a slam dunk for Democrats. Ohio voters, by an even bigger margin, approved a constitutional amendment requiring the state to opt out of certain parts of President Barack Obama's health-care program, dealing a blow to Mr. Obama in a swing state as he faces a tough re-election battle.
Mixed Messages
In addition, Ohio can't be compared with a lot of other states because of its deep history of labor activism and heavily blue-collar workforce, both of which helped defeat the collective bargaining law, Mr. McGuinn pointed out.
Two other states had more-predictable election-night finishes.
In the two governors' races decided Nov. 8, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who had been running far ahead in the polls all along, was re-elected in Kentucky, and Mississippi voters elected Republican Phil Bryant after fellow Republican Haley Barbour was barred from running because of term limits.
But in Virginia, Republicans-who already control the governor's office and the House of Delegates-seized effective control of the Senate with a 20-20 split, in which the Republican lieutenant governor would break any ties. It represents only the second time in more than a century that the GOP had so much power in that state, local media reports say.
------------------------------
PHOTO SIDEBAR: Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich wipes his brow during a news conference at the Ohio Statehouse on Nov. 8 in Columbus. The state's new collective bargaining law championed by Kasich was defeated after a campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers, and teachers against the state's Republican establishment. -Eric Albrecht/Columbus Dispatch/AP
-------------------------------
PHOTO SIDEBAR: Patricia Frost-Brooks, left, president of the Ohio Education Association, hugs Courtney Johnson, an 11th grade teacher from Ironton, Ohio, at a victory party in Columbus, Ohio, after Senate Bill 5 was defeated on Nov. 8. -Tony Dejak/AP
------------------------------
Assistant Editor Sean Cavanagh contributed to this story.
*****************************************
--
Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL 62901-4610
Phone: (618) 453-4241 [O]
(618) 457-8903 [H]
Fax: (618) 453-4244
E-mail: jbecker@siu.edu
From Education Week [American Education's Newspaper of Record], November 16, 2011, Volume 31, Issue 12, pp. 1,26-27. See http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/11/10/12election.h31.html?print=1
*****************************
Ohio Vote on Bargaining a Union Victory-For Now
Republicans chastened after attempt to restrict union rights, but issue far from settled
By Michele McNeil
Voters in Ohio sent an unequivocal message to that state's Republican governor and lawmakers last week that they went too far in reining in collective bargaining for teachers and other public employees. But analysts say the conflict between the GOP and teachers' unions in Ohio and elsewhere is not over.
By an overwhelming, 22-percentage-point margin, Ohioans-even in heavily Republican counties-repealed Senate Bill 5, enacted earlier this year. It was a resounding defeat of a law that stripped teachers and other public employees of most collective bargaining rights, and many predicted the vote could have ripple effects in other states that have engaged in high-profile battles with unions, such as Wisconsin.
The message from unions now is: "Mess with us, cross us, and we will come after you, and you will pay the political price," said Patrick McGuinn, an associate professor of political science and education at Drew University, in Madison, N.J.
Analysts predict the power struggle will continue, however, with Republicans likely to modify their strategy, including by taking smaller bites at collective bargaining by public employees.
The Ohio referendum, known as Issue 2, was perhaps the most closely watched ballot fight of the 2011 off-year election season nationally. But voters in other states made important decisions, too, as governors in Kentucky and Mississippi were elected, and Republicans took control of Virginia's legislative and executive branches for just the second time in more than a century. In addition, the state teachers' union in Michigan prevailed in a recall of a key state legislator.
The Ohio law was pushed through the state's GOP-controlled legislature in March with strong Republican support, including from Gov. John Kasich, who was elected in 2010. That's the same year Republicans took control of both chambers of the legislature.
In school districts, the measure would have blocked bargaining over class sizes, school assignments, and provisions that restrict principals from assigning workloads and job responsibilities. It would have forbidden districts to give preference in layoff decisions to teachers with more seniority, a provision similar to those approved in a number of other states this year, such as Florida and Idaho. The law also would have created a merit-pay system for teachers, though it was unclear how educators' performance would be judged.
After years of being virtually untouched because of their formidable political force, public employees' unions this year were on the receiving end of a flood of far-reaching policy fights to restrict their power, in states including Wisconsin, Idaho, Indiana, and New Jersey.
Labor Pushback
But the unions have responded fiercely.
Randi Weingarten, the president of the 1.5 million-member American Federation of Teachers, billed the Ohio statute as an assault on the middle class-a common theme that's been playing out in campaigns at all levels, including in the 2012 presidential race.
"Ohio voters made it clear to them that there is a price to pay for turning your back on the middle class," Ms. Weingarten said in a statement after the vote.
In Wisconsin, after pushing through legislation earlier this year that effectively ended collective bargaining in that state for most public employees, including teachers, Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who was elected in 2010, is now the subject of a recall effort. If a petition drive is successful-and many predict the Ohio vote will help buoy that effort-his job could be at stake in next year's election.
Also in last week's elections, in Michigan, the Republican chairman of the House education committee, Paul Scott, was recalled after being targeted by the Michigan Education Association for weakening teacher tenure and cutting education funding.
But those efforts don't mean the collective bargaining issues are going away, education and political experts say.
Elements of Ohio's SB 5 likely will be re-envisioned and packaged differently there and even in other states, said Frederick M. Hess, the director of education policy studies for the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington think tank.
"Americans have never been radicals," said Mr. Hess in an postelection seminar in Ohio sponsored by KnowledgeWorks. SB 5 was a "smart, thoughtful, and well-considered" way to empower state and local officials to solve budget problems, argued Mr. Hess, who writes an opinion blog for Education Week's website. But, he added, people don't want to be "pushed too fast and too far."
Mr. McGuinn of Drew University agreed in part, saying that Republicans are likely to tackle smaller pieces that attack specific problems, such as rising health-care costs among public employees.
"There will probably be less of a frontal assault," Mr. McGuinn said.
What's Next
Gov. Kasich hasn't signaled his next steps in Ohio.
"I've heard their voices," he said in a press conference after the referendum, speaking of the voters. "As a result of that, it requires me to take a deep breath."
For the governor, part of SB 5 was a money-saving initiative. Gov. Kasich had argued that the law would drive down costs for taxpayers by phasing out expensive concessions made to unions during the negotiating process. His administration had estimated that the law would save local governments, including school districts, more than $1 billion per year by reducing health-care costs, requiring employees to contribute more to their pensions in some cases, and doing away with automatic salary increases.
Without it, Gov. Kasich said, state officials will try to work with local governments to deal with budget crunches. But, he said, "there's no bailout coming, because frankly there's no money. It's going to be very important for local communities to continue to deal with their cost challenges."
The unions acknowledge there are legitimate issues that need to be addressed, and that state and local governments are still struggling.
"There are other ways to raise revenue than to take a potshot at the unions," said Lily Eskelsen, the vice president of the 3.2-million member National Education Association, during the Ohio seminar, without getting specific. "We have a financial crisis. What a wonderful opportunity to blame people like teachers for causing a crisis that, of course, Wall Street greed caused."
Despite the overwhelming rejection of the collective bargaining law, last week's election in Ohio wasn't a slam dunk for Democrats. Ohio voters, by an even bigger margin, approved a constitutional amendment requiring the state to opt out of certain parts of President Barack Obama's health-care program, dealing a blow to Mr. Obama in a swing state as he faces a tough re-election battle.
Mixed Messages
In addition, Ohio can't be compared with a lot of other states because of its deep history of labor activism and heavily blue-collar workforce, both of which helped defeat the collective bargaining law, Mr. McGuinn pointed out.
Two other states had more-predictable election-night finishes.
In the two governors' races decided Nov. 8, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who had been running far ahead in the polls all along, was re-elected in Kentucky, and Mississippi voters elected Republican Phil Bryant after fellow Republican Haley Barbour was barred from running because of term limits.
But in Virginia, Republicans-who already control the governor's office and the House of Delegates-seized effective control of the Senate with a 20-20 split, in which the Republican lieutenant governor would break any ties. It represents only the second time in more than a century that the GOP had so much power in that state, local media reports say.
------------------------------
PHOTO SIDEBAR: Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich wipes his brow during a news conference at the Ohio Statehouse on Nov. 8 in Columbus. The state's new collective bargaining law championed by Kasich was defeated after a campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers, and teachers against the state's Republican establishment. -Eric Albrecht/Columbus Dispatch/AP
-------------------------------
PHOTO SIDEBAR: Patricia Frost-Brooks, left, president of the Ohio Education Association, hugs Courtney Johnson, an 11th grade teacher from Ironton, Ohio, at a victory party in Columbus, Ohio, after Senate Bill 5 was defeated on Nov. 8. -Tony Dejak/AP
------------------------------
Assistant Editor Sean Cavanagh contributed to this story.
*****************************************
--
Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL 62901-4610
Phone: (618) 453-4241 [O]
(618) 457-8903 [H]
Fax: (618) 453-4244
E-mail: jbecker@siu.edu
United States Downhill Slide
Christopher P. Lucia from Vancouver, Washington couldn't have said it better. He is quoted, "We will never cut our way to prosperity," (quoting Jeb Bush)yet immediately contradict themselves, stating that we should reform (cut) Social Security and other entitlements programs. Calling it reform gives the politicians cover, but everyone (??, my question marks) knows what must be done.
We also need to cut restrictions on free trade, cut regulations on businesses, cut control of the public sector labor unions over municipalities and teachers labor unions over our education system.
S pro-growth strategy of cutting will ion fact lead to prosperity and it is easy to distinguish from Obama's administration laggard strategy of spend, regulate and spend more."
No governmental body can tax, raise fees, over-regulate, enforce the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage act, make tax reporting more difficult, give public unions more poser, etc., and while spending more than they take in.
We also need to cut restrictions on free trade, cut regulations on businesses, cut control of the public sector labor unions over municipalities and teachers labor unions over our education system.
S pro-growth strategy of cutting will ion fact lead to prosperity and it is easy to distinguish from Obama's administration laggard strategy of spend, regulate and spend more."
No governmental body can tax, raise fees, over-regulate, enforce the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage act, make tax reporting more difficult, give public unions more poser, etc., and while spending more than they take in.
Declining Nations - Under Current leadership, the United States of America is Rapidly Declining
This email has been floating around the internet for some time. Since I agree, I'm putting it in this blog.
Merle
In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of
Edinborough, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some
2,000 years prior:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a
permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until
the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts
from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for
the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with
the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal
policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."
"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of
history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations
always progressed through the following sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
>From dependence back into bondage."
The Obituary follows:
Born 1776, Died 2008
It won’t hurt to read this several times.
Here are some interesting facts concerning the last
Presidential election:
Number of States won by: Obama: 19 McCain: 29
Square miles of land won by: Obama: 580,000 McCain: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by: Obama: 127 million McCain: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Obama: 13.2 McCain: 2.1
Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory McCain won was
mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country.
Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income
tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."
Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the
"complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy,
with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached
the "governmental dependency" phase.
If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal
invaders called illegal's - and they vote - then we can say goodbye to the
USA in fewer than five years.
If you are in favor of this, then by all means, delete this message.
If you are not, then pass this along to help everyone realize just how much
is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.
This is truly scary! Of course we are not a democracy, we are a
Constitutional Republic. Someone should point this out to Obama. Of
course we know he and too many others pay little attention to The
Constitution.
There couldn't be more at stake than on Nov 2012. If you as concerned as I am please pass this along.
Merle
In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of
Edinborough, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some
2,000 years prior:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a
permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until
the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts
from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for
the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with
the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal
policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."
"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of
history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations
always progressed through the following sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
>From dependence back into bondage."
The Obituary follows:
Born 1776, Died 2008
It won’t hurt to read this several times.
Here are some interesting facts concerning the last
Presidential election:
Number of States won by: Obama: 19 McCain: 29
Square miles of land won by: Obama: 580,000 McCain: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by: Obama: 127 million McCain: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Obama: 13.2 McCain: 2.1
Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory McCain won was
mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country.
Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income
tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."
Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the
"complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy,
with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached
the "governmental dependency" phase.
If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal
invaders called illegal's - and they vote - then we can say goodbye to the
USA in fewer than five years.
If you are in favor of this, then by all means, delete this message.
If you are not, then pass this along to help everyone realize just how much
is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.
This is truly scary! Of course we are not a democracy, we are a
Constitutional Republic. Someone should point this out to Obama. Of
course we know he and too many others pay little attention to The
Constitution.
There couldn't be more at stake than on Nov 2012. If you as concerned as I am please pass this along.
Why Obama Will Win In November - The Main Reason
Sent to me by a friend. This may not be a true story but this is the point I've blogged on many times.
Merle
THE COW AND THE ICE CREAM
ONE OF THE BEST EXPLANATIONS
OF WHY OBAMA WON THE ELECTION
--From a teacher in the Nashville area - -
"We are worried about 'the cow' when it is all about the 'Ice Cream.'
The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching 3rd grade this year.
The Presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.
I decided we would have an election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
We got many nominations and from those,
Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.
The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
I had never seen Olivia's mother.
The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place.
He ended by promising to do his very best.
Everyone applauded and he sat down.
Now is was Olivia's turn to speak.
Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream." She sat down.
The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."
She surely would say more. She did not have to.
A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She wasn't sure. But no one pursued that question. They took her at her word.
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it...She didn't know.
The class really didn't care. All they were thinking about was ice cream...
Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 51.4 % of the people reacted like nine year olds.
They want ice cream.
The other 48.6% percent know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess."
This is the ice cream Obama promised us!
Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone that they have not first taken away from someone else.
Did you vote for the ice cream?
THAT, MY FRIEND, IS HOW OBAMA GOT ELECTED
Merle
THE COW AND THE ICE CREAM
ONE OF THE BEST EXPLANATIONS
OF WHY OBAMA WON THE ELECTION
--From a teacher in the Nashville area - -
"We are worried about 'the cow' when it is all about the 'Ice Cream.'
The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching 3rd grade this year.
The Presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.
I decided we would have an election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.
We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have.
We got many nominations and from those,
Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.
The class had done a great job in their selections. Both candidates were good kids.
I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support.
I had never seen Olivia's mother.
The day arrived when they were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place.
He ended by promising to do his very best.
Everyone applauded and he sat down.
Now is was Olivia's turn to speak.
Her speech was concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream." She sat down.
The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream."
She surely would say more. She did not have to.
A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She wasn't sure. But no one pursued that question. They took her at her word.
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it...She didn't know.
The class really didn't care. All they were thinking about was ice cream...
Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and 51.4 % of the people reacted like nine year olds.
They want ice cream.
The other 48.6% percent know they're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess."
This is the ice cream Obama promised us!
Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone that they have not first taken away from someone else.
Did you vote for the ice cream?
THAT, MY FRIEND, IS HOW OBAMA GOT ELECTED
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Peoria Public School District #150 is Selling School Buildings
On 1/6/12, JS reporter Chris Kaegard reported that Peoria Public School District #150was in negotiations to sell their Loucks' School building and their Columbia School building to PSCI (Quest).
That Harrison and Blaine-Sumner are also on the market was reported on 1/10/12 by JS reporter Pam Adams, under the heading "District #150 to sell two of its buildings", Blaine-Sumner and Kellar East.
If good business judgment had been used, Kellar East should have been put on the market as soon as Kellar West was expanded. Also, Blaine-Sumner should have been put on the market years ago.
Also, the old Harrison School building was sold for $10 a few months ago. Was the request to sell put out to bid? Also, I'm surprised that Peoria Landmark members didn't claim the distinctly unique old Harrison School as a public landmark. It will also be interesting to see what eventually happens to the old Harrison; whether it be demolished as reported, used, or abandoned.
Good questions. Hopefully some of the unused #150 buildings of land should appear on property tax rolls as the district reports it has other empty buildings that could be sold.
That Harrison and Blaine-Sumner are also on the market was reported on 1/10/12 by JS reporter Pam Adams, under the heading "District #150 to sell two of its buildings", Blaine-Sumner and Kellar East.
If good business judgment had been used, Kellar East should have been put on the market as soon as Kellar West was expanded. Also, Blaine-Sumner should have been put on the market years ago.
Also, the old Harrison School building was sold for $10 a few months ago. Was the request to sell put out to bid? Also, I'm surprised that Peoria Landmark members didn't claim the distinctly unique old Harrison School as a public landmark. It will also be interesting to see what eventually happens to the old Harrison; whether it be demolished as reported, used, or abandoned.
Good questions. Hopefully some of the unused #150 buildings of land should appear on property tax rolls as the district reports it has other empty buildings that could be sold.
Bradley University - Some History
This local university has many outstanding leaders and has graduated many an outstanding citizen and is a large asset to this community. My decision to no longer donate to this university started back in the days of the firing of head men's basketball coach Joe Stowell, Sr., and and the subsequent removal of Coach Joe Stowell, Sr. as head women's basketball coach in favor of a female coach.
At one time I was Vice-President of the Chiefs club in charge of fundraising. Upon the hiring a "person of interest" to succeed Stowell as head men's BB coach I stepped off the board.
Later on the hiring of Jim Les as head basketball coach, a player with NO coaching experience added to my concerns about the BB program. Some of you may not be aware of the NCAA investigation of Bradley and the resignation of Coach Dick Versace. As to Les, the disaster I predicted happened with his dismissal after last season.
If you go to my profile you will note a "Search Bar" in the upper right hand corner. If you type in "Bradley" you will find approximately 25 blogs I have written on Bradley University. One I should have blogged on was alleged insider information that was alleged to have been given to at least one real estate investor prior to start of construction of the new $100 million+ renovating and construction near culmination on campus.
Also some distrust of what some of the liberal "educators" were teaching young people as one Professor told a social gathering that he teaches his students that "there are no truths", my interest in being head tennis coach when my tennis competitor friend and former Bradley tennis coach, suddenly passed away. I apparently lost the job when I indicated I could raise $10,000 for tennis. The AD must have been afraid that the money I raised would have detracted from the men's BB program that has been "king of the hill", moreso, since the days of Bradley football star and later head football coach, Billy Stone.
My decision not to donate to Bradley is personal but I still watch with great interest the "goings on" on the hilltop.
You may find my pst blogs on Bradley interesting.
At one time I was Vice-President of the Chiefs club in charge of fundraising. Upon the hiring a "person of interest" to succeed Stowell as head men's BB coach I stepped off the board.
Later on the hiring of Jim Les as head basketball coach, a player with NO coaching experience added to my concerns about the BB program. Some of you may not be aware of the NCAA investigation of Bradley and the resignation of Coach Dick Versace. As to Les, the disaster I predicted happened with his dismissal after last season.
If you go to my profile you will note a "Search Bar" in the upper right hand corner. If you type in "Bradley" you will find approximately 25 blogs I have written on Bradley University. One I should have blogged on was alleged insider information that was alleged to have been given to at least one real estate investor prior to start of construction of the new $100 million+ renovating and construction near culmination on campus.
Also some distrust of what some of the liberal "educators" were teaching young people as one Professor told a social gathering that he teaches his students that "there are no truths", my interest in being head tennis coach when my tennis competitor friend and former Bradley tennis coach, suddenly passed away. I apparently lost the job when I indicated I could raise $10,000 for tennis. The AD must have been afraid that the money I raised would have detracted from the men's BB program that has been "king of the hill", moreso, since the days of Bradley football star and later head football coach, Billy Stone.
My decision not to donate to Bradley is personal but I still watch with great interest the "goings on" on the hilltop.
You may find my pst blogs on Bradley interesting.
Stephanie Aaron Has Good News
Say all you terrific downstate Illinoisans,
Are you intrigued by the subject line? Well, those of you who know me will know how shocking this news truly is: you can now find me on Facebook. Yes, it's true! I just published a musician page about 45 minutes ago, and you are invited and welcome to check it out and see the beginnings of my foray into the 21st century. I still don't know what any of it means or how to do very much besides post pictures, but hopefully others will be contributing to my - wall? is that what the kids call it? Anyway, check it out if you are more internet-savvy than I am and see how I'm doing.
The OTHER news (less shocking and much more fun as far as I'm concerned) is that I am going to be performing at the Contemporary Art Center in Peoria this Friday, January 13th from 5:30 to 7:30 with my faithful friend Larry Harms. Many of you know the drill: it's Live at the Five Spot; you get your ticket at the door (10 bucks for nonmembers and 7 for members) with a little bit of a price break for students and seniors. Bring your favorite bottle, bring a little nosh (cheese and crackers is always my favorite) and relax with us before the frenzy of the weekend begins. I would love to see a room chock-full of good people!
As always, you should feel free to email me (especially those of you who don't do Facebook). My new CD is going to be out this spring, and the nice folks at the CAC are scheming with me to have a CD release event in April. I can't wait!!
Hope to see you Friday,
Stephanie
Are you intrigued by the subject line? Well, those of you who know me will know how shocking this news truly is: you can now find me on Facebook. Yes, it's true! I just published a musician page about 45 minutes ago, and you are invited and welcome to check it out and see the beginnings of my foray into the 21st century. I still don't know what any of it means or how to do very much besides post pictures, but hopefully others will be contributing to my - wall? is that what the kids call it? Anyway, check it out if you are more internet-savvy than I am and see how I'm doing.
The OTHER news (less shocking and much more fun as far as I'm concerned) is that I am going to be performing at the Contemporary Art Center in Peoria this Friday, January 13th from 5:30 to 7:30 with my faithful friend Larry Harms. Many of you know the drill: it's Live at the Five Spot; you get your ticket at the door (10 bucks for nonmembers and 7 for members) with a little bit of a price break for students and seniors. Bring your favorite bottle, bring a little nosh (cheese and crackers is always my favorite) and relax with us before the frenzy of the weekend begins. I would love to see a room chock-full of good people!
As always, you should feel free to email me (especially those of you who don't do Facebook). My new CD is going to be out this spring, and the nice folks at the CAC are scheming with me to have a CD release event in April. I can't wait!!
Hope to see you Friday,
Stephanie
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Fact is, Obama Has Succeeded
So says Democrat commentator Donna Brazile in a column in today's JS. Among the many accomplishments Obama has accomplished all by himself is "Making Israel Safer" and "Creating more jobs in three years than Bush did in eight". What she leaves out is that the overwhelming majority of jobs Obama has created have been in the public sector while running up the National Debt to $16+ trillion and growing daily.
The list of things Obama has done in three years that are proving to be detrimental to this country would fill up half the JS editorial page.
That the demagogue will be reelected, I have little doubt. Surveys indicate that as many as 57% of our populace has some connection to those employed in the public sector. As I warned years ago in a LTE to the JSEB, 2/26/98, "Our Dependence on Government is Increasing" in which I stated, "Unfortunately our local (State and national) politicians have a history of not seeing a federal grant they didn't like".
We have been sliding down the "slippery slope" to Socialism for a long time as I pointed out in one of my other LTE"s to the JS in the 1990's. We have been building an attitude of "if we don't take it someone else will".
What does one expect that many of the last two generations have been doing. It's called "taking" and running the risk of not being caught.
Where is it taking us??
The list of things Obama has done in three years that are proving to be detrimental to this country would fill up half the JS editorial page.
That the demagogue will be reelected, I have little doubt. Surveys indicate that as many as 57% of our populace has some connection to those employed in the public sector. As I warned years ago in a LTE to the JSEB, 2/26/98, "Our Dependence on Government is Increasing" in which I stated, "Unfortunately our local (State and national) politicians have a history of not seeing a federal grant they didn't like".
We have been sliding down the "slippery slope" to Socialism for a long time as I pointed out in one of my other LTE"s to the JS in the 1990's. We have been building an attitude of "if we don't take it someone else will".
What does one expect that many of the last two generations have been doing. It's called "taking" and running the risk of not being caught.
Where is it taking us??
Bradley University - Another Reason I've Stopped Supporting This Institution
To know that retired Bradley Professor Barbara Penelton has been spewing racially divisive half-truths to hundreds of black and "bleeding heart" students for all these years, makes me a little ill.
I suggest the MLK Committee bring back Bill Cosby. I bought a ticket just to hear him. He told the black elite why so many blacks are unemployed and in prison. But the black elite, sometimes similar to some of the Republican elite, believe they know what the problem is. They don't realize that "the enemy is them".
I suggest the MLK Committee bring back Bill Cosby. I bought a ticket just to hear him. He told the black elite why so many blacks are unemployed and in prison. But the black elite, sometimes similar to some of the Republican elite, believe they know what the problem is. They don't realize that "the enemy is them".
Obama's Hairdo
I know it's hard to notice his haircut because his mouth is always open. But he has a new "do". It appears to be a cross between a do-rag and and Islamic cut.
Interesting but then maybe he just has a new barber.
Interesting but then maybe he just has a new barber.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Obama - The Shifty Charismatic Demagogue
Never forget that Obama was mentored by his pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright for many years. A careful study of his actions and statements indicate that Obama clearly plans to bring this country down to an egalitarian status so that someday he will be elected as president of "one World".
Merle
The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised "Meet The Press'.
From Sunday's 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, Televised "Meet the Press" THE THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.
General Bill Gann' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...
During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, "Stand and Face It".
NOW GET THIS !!
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides". "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression.." "The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing."
Merle
The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised "Meet The Press'.
From Sunday's 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, Televised "Meet the Press" THE THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag.
General Bill Gann' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...
During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, "Stand and Face It".
NOW GET THIS !!
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides". "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression.." "The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing."
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