Just an update on the request for funds for a new roof on the Boys and Girls Club owned building at the Grinnell location. This building has been closed since May 1. 2007 yet was advertised as being open as late as May 2008 issue of IB, pages 42 and 43. The building is currently used by RiverCity Construction as they build Harrison School.
The Grinnell location was closed on May 1, 2007, according to then President Larry Dunn, "because the gangs had taken over the buildings activities and the club could not afford a security officer."
I sent this email to City Manager Scott Moore, Councilman Clyde Gulley and Mayor Ardis. Taxpayer dollars are being requested to re-roof the Grinnell Boys and Girls Club location, closed since May 1, 2007 and currently being used as a site for RiverCity Construction as they build the new Harrison School.
Before advising the City Council for more misguided use of taxpayer dollars, I recommend you read my blogs, "Boys and Girls Club" and "Boys and Girls Club Revisited", dated 6/4/07 and 6/7/07, easily found on my sidebar archives,. Plus my comments on C.J. Summers blog site last week, "The Peoria Chronicle". The Peoria Chronicle blogger is now covering City Council Meetings.
Mr. Moore, being new in town you will learn that local bloggers are very active in bringing debatable issues to the fore front.
To find by blog site just dial in Merle Widmer on your search bar and it will take you to Merle Widmer Peoria Watch.
Thank you.
Merle
Monday, November 30, 2009
Not Enough Things to do in the Community? You're Kidding!
A note to my good friends and supporters in Central Illinois:
Well, alright! We've all nearly made it to the end of 2009 and we have time to gather together once more before the calendar turns over. I hope you can join the fellows and me at one of our gigs this weekend (before the total madness of the holidays takes over!!!) and raise a glass to friendship, music, and happiness. We will be beating it 8 to the bar this Thursday, December 3rd at Basta O'Neill's Restaurant on Cummings Lane in Washington, IL from 6 - 9pm - and a hearty THANK YOU to Bill and Kathy Backes for having the Larry Harms Trio and myself all year at the restaurant. We can't help but feel welcomed and appreciated every time we play there...and we're looking forward to more. On Friday, December 4th, we'll be at the Rhythm Kitchen at 305 SW Water Street in Peoria from 8 - 11pm. The band will be Larry Harms (p), Cory Flanigan (d), and Mike Nellas (b) and of course, I'll be singing and swinging too. The lineup will be the same on Saturday, December 5th at Swinger's on Cross Creek Drive in the All Seasons Entertainment Center from 8 - 11pm - and if you are one of our peeps in Bloomington-Normal, we hope you can make that scene so we can toast our Twin City friends.
The group will be taking a break in January, but will return in February 2010 with a whole new season and more wonderful tunes from way back when. No matter what the calendar says, this music stays relevant and exciting and interesting and important - and we thank you, you, YOU for supporting it and us.
With warm wishes and hopes that the best of the season surrounds you,
Stephanie
www.stephanieaaron.com
Well, alright! We've all nearly made it to the end of 2009 and we have time to gather together once more before the calendar turns over. I hope you can join the fellows and me at one of our gigs this weekend (before the total madness of the holidays takes over!!!) and raise a glass to friendship, music, and happiness. We will be beating it 8 to the bar this Thursday, December 3rd at Basta O'Neill's Restaurant on Cummings Lane in Washington, IL from 6 - 9pm - and a hearty THANK YOU to Bill and Kathy Backes for having the Larry Harms Trio and myself all year at the restaurant. We can't help but feel welcomed and appreciated every time we play there...and we're looking forward to more. On Friday, December 4th, we'll be at the Rhythm Kitchen at 305 SW Water Street in Peoria from 8 - 11pm. The band will be Larry Harms (p), Cory Flanigan (d), and Mike Nellas (b) and of course, I'll be singing and swinging too. The lineup will be the same on Saturday, December 5th at Swinger's on Cross Creek Drive in the All Seasons Entertainment Center from 8 - 11pm - and if you are one of our peeps in Bloomington-Normal, we hope you can make that scene so we can toast our Twin City friends.
The group will be taking a break in January, but will return in February 2010 with a whole new season and more wonderful tunes from way back when. No matter what the calendar says, this music stays relevant and exciting and interesting and important - and we thank you, you, YOU for supporting it and us.
With warm wishes and hopes that the best of the season surrounds you,
Stephanie
www.stephanieaaron.com
A Good Democrat
Unfortunately, too many Republicans are trying to fit the role of a staunch Democrat. Bring on more Independents, Joe Lieberman's, Zell Miller's, moderate conservative Republicans and Tea Party people.
Merle
Subject: 21 Ways to Be a Good Democrat
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression, and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial, but being homosexual is natural. (Lesbians, too?)
7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists, who have never been outside of San Francisco , do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe that any criticism of Bush is fair & justified, but any criticism of Obama is racist.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton & Nancy Pelosi are women to be admired, but Condi Rice should be ignored as an example to young women.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe that conservatives who tell the truth belong in jail, but liars and sex offenders belong in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, while manger scenes and angels at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United States .
21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.
Merle
Subject: 21 Ways to Be a Good Democrat
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression, and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial, but being homosexual is natural. (Lesbians, too?)
7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th-graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists, who have never been outside of San Francisco , do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe that any criticism of Bush is fair & justified, but any criticism of Obama is racist.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton & Nancy Pelosi are women to be admired, but Condi Rice should be ignored as an example to young women.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe that conservatives who tell the truth belong in jail, but liars and sex offenders belong in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, while manger scenes and angels at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United States .
21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.
Monday, November 23, 2009
WSJ Caterpillar Update
"Caterpillar Inc. said sales continue to tumble in October, dimming optimism that demand for construction machinery is improving with the uptick in the economy.
The Peoria, Il., company said world-wide machinery sales for the three months ended in October fell 50% from a year ago earlier, compared with a 52% decline for the three months ended in September.
Three months sales in North America were down 58% through October, while sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, declined 53%.
Latin America sales fell 41%, while sales in the Asia-Pacific region slipped 36%, slightly better than the 40% decline reported in September."
Source WSJ, 11/20/09.
Did anyone see this information posted in the JS? If so, I missed it. If not, why not? Seems if this is Wall Street Journal news about our local Caterpillar Hdqrts., it should be .........
The Peoria, Il., company said world-wide machinery sales for the three months ended in October fell 50% from a year ago earlier, compared with a 52% decline for the three months ended in September.
Three months sales in North America were down 58% through October, while sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, declined 53%.
Latin America sales fell 41%, while sales in the Asia-Pacific region slipped 36%, slightly better than the 40% decline reported in September."
Source WSJ, 11/20/09.
Did anyone see this information posted in the JS? If so, I missed it. If not, why not? Seems if this is Wall Street Journal news about our local Caterpillar Hdqrts., it should be .........
Journal Editorial Board Cartoons
For a long time I have read the highly biased cartoons in the JS without commenting. The last two have really raised my ire. Despite the fact that we are giving civilian court trials to the the murderers of 9/11/09, the JSEB continues to doublespeak as they did under the Manz-Drake regime. "We were for it before we were against it before we supported it". They should show some shame by showing the last two cartoons appearing on the editorial page in a paper becoming so devoid of meaningful content. And so few meaningful local news that they may soon deliver the paper to subscribers with a single small rubber band even with the Observer included.
I had a conversation with the "person-in-charge" of a well-known public body recently who said "the only way she and her employees could find out what was going on was to follow the media and you know we don't know what we read and hear is the truth."
Well said.
The absurd cartoon of Representative Aaron Schock showing his efforts to learn more about the "would be president-for-life Zelaya" and Schock's seeking justification to support the apparently legitimate current Honduras government, shows the ignorance of the left-leaning newspaper editors and their "stong" support of Obama, their subtle support of Castro and Chavez and the "Obama can do no wrong" cartoonist. If the "cartoonists" crude grade school drawings can be called cartoons. The JSEB recent Editorial about the U.S. returning to "the rule of law" as a civilized country compares to the O.J. Simpson "rule of law" farce verdict. (I can't read the ignorant cartoonist's scribbled name but I do know he must come cheap. And I know the JSEB occasionally puts in a conservative cartoon and publishes a conservative LTR.)
Following the dictum of the JS, this country is rapidly "leaning" to becoming a pacifist, socialist, "civilized country", to later become part of a "one world government" led by perhaps the ilk of Chavez and possibly Obama; who knows exactly where he is heading. (Think the U.N.) Despite the false readings of the stock market, if we don't find a conservative, realistic leader we can elect to replace Obama by 2014, the country our service heroes fought for died for and were maimed for, will become a country many of then might not have "bravely or scared to death" sacrificed their lives and health to defend the freedoms for the mis-taken ideology "of why can't we all just lay down our weapons and just get along?"
Today's media reports that the 9/11 murderer wants to plead guilty so he and those who follow him to trial, can have a world side audience to brag and explain why they were only able to kill a minimum of 3000 innocent people and more if the actions of heroes who love our country hadn't destroyed the killers and themselves in a field in Pennsylvania. Holder and company says they won't be able to use his trial as a propaganda podium.
We will see. Why do you think Obama is going around the world apologizing to those who have used our country for their own gains? Sure, we realized many gains also. But this administration appears bent on destroying these gains.
The U.S must hold itself up as a beacon to the world as a civilized country? Sure we're civilized. We are the leading nation in incarecerated per capita. And still lead most countries in crimes committed. Obama and Holder must sleep with a smile on their faces. Smiling also, is Osama, Muhammad up in heaven with his millions of virgins, all the terrorists and soon to be terrorists and Khalid Mohammed.
Back to the cartoonist. He is a "cheap shot crude cartoonist". And left-leaning newspapers constantly print far-left leaning columnists; racists would be a better term for some, like Robinson, Pitts, and occasionally Dionne and locally, Adams. The paper tries to show it is fair and balanced by occasionally printing Goldberg and Krauthammer, two of the most realists conservative columnists widely published today and a few realistic cartoons. But most of the rest of the conservatives are gone from the JSEB.
Fortunately, someone writes a sensible letter to the editor such as Mike Bigger, of Wyoming to offset a barrage of sheer stupidity as written by the likes of Mark Haggis of Pekin who may or may not understand that Obama is left-leaning therefore decrying the ouster of Zelaya. Despite the fact that the Zelaya ouster was supported by "every institution of the Honduran civil society, his own party, the Catholic church, included Zelaya's revocation of the U.S. visas of the members of the Honduran Supreme Court and his threat not to recognize the constitution of his own country?"
Thanks to Howard F. Jaeckel, of New York and his LTE in the WSJ on 10/21/09.
On 10/09/09, one of my most favorite columnists, Mary Anastasia O'Grady, wrote in the WSJ about the Zelaya government and it's supporters, "Revolutionary Anti-Semitism", quoting a leading Honduran radio station broadcaster on 9/25/09, the following, "Sometimes I ask myself if Hitler wasn't right when he wanted to finish with that race, through the famous Holocaust, because if there are people that are harmful in this country, they are the Jew, the Israelites."
Zelaya and his ilk are hungry for power and are supported by the dangerous nut-case in Iran, Chavez, Castro and with the subtle support of our Democrat President and his administration and many members of his party.
We are living in the most dangerous times of this nation and one of the far most dangerous is the ilk of the little guy Gitmo detainee posed between the two "big" American terrorists, one probably an illegal criminal we taxpayers support, in the absurd cartoon.
The cartoon today showing the terrorist as the 'little' Muslim killer alongside big imprisoned brutes, many of them illegal immigrants, with the citizens described as fear mongers.
The JSEB should know that their paper, often called the 'urinal" Star creates about as much terror as to their position on local and world events as some of the terror caused by prisoners incarcerated in our jail and prison systems. Years ago the JS was accused by a local family of causing one family member to commit suicide because of the daily hammering of this person by this newspaper. How many more have been driven out of their minds and out of the community because of vicious attacks by this near bankrupt (Gateway, who owns them) and shrinking in meaningful content, news media?
Never once has the JSEB praised any of my accomplishments without adding the word "but".
I know the JS can and do, bury me in barrels of ink; they buy a lot less these days, but they will never silence me. Even though they tried to stop my being elected to public office; I ran for an office or position 9 times and was elected 7 times; four of the campaigns in which I spent no money. My name still appears on a prominent home office based company, a company I founded with 2 employees, in 1964.
See my next blog on a subject the JS evidently found not worthy to print.
Thank you, my readers, and I only wish I had the health and energy to write more than I do. "We find comfort in those who agree with us-growth among those who don't."
I had a conversation with the "person-in-charge" of a well-known public body recently who said "the only way she and her employees could find out what was going on was to follow the media and you know we don't know what we read and hear is the truth."
Well said.
The absurd cartoon of Representative Aaron Schock showing his efforts to learn more about the "would be president-for-life Zelaya" and Schock's seeking justification to support the apparently legitimate current Honduras government, shows the ignorance of the left-leaning newspaper editors and their "stong" support of Obama, their subtle support of Castro and Chavez and the "Obama can do no wrong" cartoonist. If the "cartoonists" crude grade school drawings can be called cartoons. The JSEB recent Editorial about the U.S. returning to "the rule of law" as a civilized country compares to the O.J. Simpson "rule of law" farce verdict. (I can't read the ignorant cartoonist's scribbled name but I do know he must come cheap. And I know the JSEB occasionally puts in a conservative cartoon and publishes a conservative LTR.)
Following the dictum of the JS, this country is rapidly "leaning" to becoming a pacifist, socialist, "civilized country", to later become part of a "one world government" led by perhaps the ilk of Chavez and possibly Obama; who knows exactly where he is heading. (Think the U.N.) Despite the false readings of the stock market, if we don't find a conservative, realistic leader we can elect to replace Obama by 2014, the country our service heroes fought for died for and were maimed for, will become a country many of then might not have "bravely or scared to death" sacrificed their lives and health to defend the freedoms for the mis-taken ideology "of why can't we all just lay down our weapons and just get along?"
Today's media reports that the 9/11 murderer wants to plead guilty so he and those who follow him to trial, can have a world side audience to brag and explain why they were only able to kill a minimum of 3000 innocent people and more if the actions of heroes who love our country hadn't destroyed the killers and themselves in a field in Pennsylvania. Holder and company says they won't be able to use his trial as a propaganda podium.
We will see. Why do you think Obama is going around the world apologizing to those who have used our country for their own gains? Sure, we realized many gains also. But this administration appears bent on destroying these gains.
The U.S must hold itself up as a beacon to the world as a civilized country? Sure we're civilized. We are the leading nation in incarecerated per capita. And still lead most countries in crimes committed. Obama and Holder must sleep with a smile on their faces. Smiling also, is Osama, Muhammad up in heaven with his millions of virgins, all the terrorists and soon to be terrorists and Khalid Mohammed.
Back to the cartoonist. He is a "cheap shot crude cartoonist". And left-leaning newspapers constantly print far-left leaning columnists; racists would be a better term for some, like Robinson, Pitts, and occasionally Dionne and locally, Adams. The paper tries to show it is fair and balanced by occasionally printing Goldberg and Krauthammer, two of the most realists conservative columnists widely published today and a few realistic cartoons. But most of the rest of the conservatives are gone from the JSEB.
Fortunately, someone writes a sensible letter to the editor such as Mike Bigger, of Wyoming to offset a barrage of sheer stupidity as written by the likes of Mark Haggis of Pekin who may or may not understand that Obama is left-leaning therefore decrying the ouster of Zelaya. Despite the fact that the Zelaya ouster was supported by "every institution of the Honduran civil society, his own party, the Catholic church, included Zelaya's revocation of the U.S. visas of the members of the Honduran Supreme Court and his threat not to recognize the constitution of his own country?"
Thanks to Howard F. Jaeckel, of New York and his LTE in the WSJ on 10/21/09.
On 10/09/09, one of my most favorite columnists, Mary Anastasia O'Grady, wrote in the WSJ about the Zelaya government and it's supporters, "Revolutionary Anti-Semitism", quoting a leading Honduran radio station broadcaster on 9/25/09, the following, "Sometimes I ask myself if Hitler wasn't right when he wanted to finish with that race, through the famous Holocaust, because if there are people that are harmful in this country, they are the Jew, the Israelites."
Zelaya and his ilk are hungry for power and are supported by the dangerous nut-case in Iran, Chavez, Castro and with the subtle support of our Democrat President and his administration and many members of his party.
We are living in the most dangerous times of this nation and one of the far most dangerous is the ilk of the little guy Gitmo detainee posed between the two "big" American terrorists, one probably an illegal criminal we taxpayers support, in the absurd cartoon.
The cartoon today showing the terrorist as the 'little' Muslim killer alongside big imprisoned brutes, many of them illegal immigrants, with the citizens described as fear mongers.
The JSEB should know that their paper, often called the 'urinal" Star creates about as much terror as to their position on local and world events as some of the terror caused by prisoners incarcerated in our jail and prison systems. Years ago the JS was accused by a local family of causing one family member to commit suicide because of the daily hammering of this person by this newspaper. How many more have been driven out of their minds and out of the community because of vicious attacks by this near bankrupt (Gateway, who owns them) and shrinking in meaningful content, news media?
Never once has the JSEB praised any of my accomplishments without adding the word "but".
I know the JS can and do, bury me in barrels of ink; they buy a lot less these days, but they will never silence me. Even though they tried to stop my being elected to public office; I ran for an office or position 9 times and was elected 7 times; four of the campaigns in which I spent no money. My name still appears on a prominent home office based company, a company I founded with 2 employees, in 1964.
See my next blog on a subject the JS evidently found not worthy to print.
Thank you, my readers, and I only wish I had the health and energy to write more than I do. "We find comfort in those who agree with us-growth among those who don't."
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Another Good Opinion to Pass Along.
M. J. is my intelligent daugthter.
This is probably nothing new but the more time passes with the current players in government, the more I am leaning towards the below suggestions. I am hopeful though that voters will do a bit of homework and not simply vote against incumbents but vote for people based on where they stand on important issues as well as how they have comported themselves (character- values) and where applicable, how they have voted/sponsored legislation. It is important not to get hung up on single emotional issues rather than looking at the big picture. Political hot buttons target our emotions, both sides are guilty of using this methodology. I believe we tend to get worked up and hung up by single issue distortion making our ability to look at the overall big picture clearly difficult. When reason and logic are hijacked by vague implications, as a single motivational issue (healthcare etc.), it is urgent as voters we open our eyes and consider the wider viewpoint. A democratic republic working on majority rules stands still without reasonable compromise, as citizens we are responsible to vote wisely.
Just some thoughts,
mj
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From
Subject: FW: Suggestion for a peaceful purge - please forward
Subject: Suggestion for a peaceful purge - please forward
A friend sent this thoughtful piece and asks that you read it, and, if you agree, forward it widely - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All I ask is that you consider the suggestion here.
"The entire Congress of the United States is corrupt. And I mean both Houses, and I mean both major parties.
"I realize that a few Members of each House are trustworthy, but, as a group they are absolutely the most corrupt bunch to ever disgrace our Nation.
"In November of 2010 the entire House of Representatives will stand for re-election; all 435 of them. One third of the Senate, a total of 33 of them, will also stand for re-election. Vote every incumbent out.
"And I mean every one of them. No matter their Party affiliation. Let's start all over in the House of Representatives with 435 people who have absolutely no experience in running that body, with no political favors owed to anyone but their own constituents. Let's make them understand that they work for us. They are answerable to us and they simply have to run that body with some common sense.
"Two years later, in 2012, vote the next third of the incumbents in the Senate out.
"We can do the same thing in 2014 and, by that time we will have put all new people in that body as well.
"We, the People, have got to take this Country back and we HAVE to do it peacefully.
"That's what the Framers of our Constitution envisioned."
I am also suggesting term limits on the new bunch: 8 years for Representatives and 12 years for Senators; no exceptions. The longer they stay in office, the more power they get, and they love it and will do anything to get re-elected.
We have term-limited the President, now let's term-limit the Legislators.
Please, if you love this Country, send this (as I have done) to absolutely everyone whose email address appears in your address book.
This thing can permeate this Country in no time. Let's make it happen.
Don't just delete this - please pass it on and give our Country a fighting chance.
VOTE THE POWER ABUSERS OUT. LET'S TAKE AMERICA BACK!
IF YOU LIKE THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING IN OUR COUNTRY, THEN DO NOTHING.........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.
This is probably nothing new but the more time passes with the current players in government, the more I am leaning towards the below suggestions. I am hopeful though that voters will do a bit of homework and not simply vote against incumbents but vote for people based on where they stand on important issues as well as how they have comported themselves (character- values) and where applicable, how they have voted/sponsored legislation. It is important not to get hung up on single emotional issues rather than looking at the big picture. Political hot buttons target our emotions, both sides are guilty of using this methodology. I believe we tend to get worked up and hung up by single issue distortion making our ability to look at the overall big picture clearly difficult. When reason and logic are hijacked by vague implications, as a single motivational issue (healthcare etc.), it is urgent as voters we open our eyes and consider the wider viewpoint. A democratic republic working on majority rules stands still without reasonable compromise, as citizens we are responsible to vote wisely.
Just some thoughts,
mj
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From
Subject: FW: Suggestion for a peaceful purge - please forward
Subject: Suggestion for a peaceful purge - please forward
A friend sent this thoughtful piece and asks that you read it, and, if you agree, forward it widely - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All I ask is that you consider the suggestion here.
"The entire Congress of the United States is corrupt. And I mean both Houses, and I mean both major parties.
"I realize that a few Members of each House are trustworthy, but, as a group they are absolutely the most corrupt bunch to ever disgrace our Nation.
"In November of 2010 the entire House of Representatives will stand for re-election; all 435 of them. One third of the Senate, a total of 33 of them, will also stand for re-election. Vote every incumbent out.
"And I mean every one of them. No matter their Party affiliation. Let's start all over in the House of Representatives with 435 people who have absolutely no experience in running that body, with no political favors owed to anyone but their own constituents. Let's make them understand that they work for us. They are answerable to us and they simply have to run that body with some common sense.
"Two years later, in 2012, vote the next third of the incumbents in the Senate out.
"We can do the same thing in 2014 and, by that time we will have put all new people in that body as well.
"We, the People, have got to take this Country back and we HAVE to do it peacefully.
"That's what the Framers of our Constitution envisioned."
I am also suggesting term limits on the new bunch: 8 years for Representatives and 12 years for Senators; no exceptions. The longer they stay in office, the more power they get, and they love it and will do anything to get re-elected.
We have term-limited the President, now let's term-limit the Legislators.
Please, if you love this Country, send this (as I have done) to absolutely everyone whose email address appears in your address book.
This thing can permeate this Country in no time. Let's make it happen.
Don't just delete this - please pass it on and give our Country a fighting chance.
VOTE THE POWER ABUSERS OUT. LET'S TAKE AMERICA BACK!
IF YOU LIKE THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING IN OUR COUNTRY, THEN DO NOTHING.........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.
To Good an Opinion to Pass Up
This is from an article in the St. Petersburg, FL Times Newspaper on Sunday.
The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?"
I think this guy nailed it!
Dear Mr. President:
Please find below my suggestion for fixing America's economy.
Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.
You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:
There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force.
Pay them $1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:
1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They MUST buy a new American car. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed.
It can't get any easier than that!
If more money is needed, have all members of Congress pay their taxes....
If you think this would work, please forward to everyone
The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?"
I think this guy nailed it!
Dear Mr. President:
Please find below my suggestion for fixing America's economy.
Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.
You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:
There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force.
Pay them $1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:
1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They MUST buy a new American car. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed.
It can't get any easier than that!
If more money is needed, have all members of Congress pay their taxes....
If you think this would work, please forward to everyone
Monday, November 16, 2009
Merle's Musings
The news media reported today that "GM Plans to Repay U.S. Loan". Good news, right? Well, not so fast, read on, "The carmaker plans to use other money (OPM) it received from the government to pay back the borrowing."
Sorry, GM, my daughter just bought a Ford product, I drive a Ford product and when my wife trades in her auto, it WILL NOT BE FOR A GM PRODUCT.
Ever.
In the JSEB critical editorial of the the city, the mention the not even underway new hotel while not even mentioning the well=underway, financially unfunded Peoria Riverfront Museum. Nor do they mention the "can't fail" U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington that has lost money 35 or the 36 months it has been open. Bloomington now faces a massive debt payable for years and years into the future and has a great possibility of putting their bond ratings in jeopardy.
Can you guess why the JSEB is not mentioning the Coliseum? Throw in the Peoria Baseball Club and their inability to turn a profit since 1994, at least, for this stockholder, look at the underfunded PRM with an endowment of only $1.5 million in the bank (JS - Nov. 7, 2009) out of a promised $5 million of an actual need of $7 to $14 million and the answer why not, is easy. 360,000 (Methodist CEO Michale Bryant said expect 400,000) yearly paying attendees to the area, $14 million in new business (per two Bradley professors) a discount of 15% on galleria visits promised to Peoria County residents, out of town visitors will pay the sales tax also so why the discrimination?, a parking garage (pay to park as opposed to free parking at Lakeview) as yet unfunded, an environmental impact study not yet completed, $80 some million borrowed money on "projected" sales tax revenue over a period of 20 years, no contract as yet worked out with the county and no news of any contract with the big promised IMAX. That one is easy to figure. The money has yet to be raised to build the $78 million museum building.
Waiting for more PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS? What do you think? Trust us, the PRM Committee said, the public will only need to put up one third of the cost of the museum. Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus. Santa's living at the North Pole was the myth.
Sure and trust most governments to "balance their budgets without raising taxes." But your property VALUES will rise. Maybe not your property but just trust us.
On November 10 the JSEB warned the city not to gamble with public safety and PERCEPTIONS.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Sorry, GM, my daughter just bought a Ford product, I drive a Ford product and when my wife trades in her auto, it WILL NOT BE FOR A GM PRODUCT.
Ever.
In the JSEB critical editorial of the the city, the mention the not even underway new hotel while not even mentioning the well=underway, financially unfunded Peoria Riverfront Museum. Nor do they mention the "can't fail" U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington that has lost money 35 or the 36 months it has been open. Bloomington now faces a massive debt payable for years and years into the future and has a great possibility of putting their bond ratings in jeopardy.
Can you guess why the JSEB is not mentioning the Coliseum? Throw in the Peoria Baseball Club and their inability to turn a profit since 1994, at least, for this stockholder, look at the underfunded PRM with an endowment of only $1.5 million in the bank (JS - Nov. 7, 2009) out of a promised $5 million of an actual need of $7 to $14 million and the answer why not, is easy. 360,000 (Methodist CEO Michale Bryant said expect 400,000) yearly paying attendees to the area, $14 million in new business (per two Bradley professors) a discount of 15% on galleria visits promised to Peoria County residents, out of town visitors will pay the sales tax also so why the discrimination?, a parking garage (pay to park as opposed to free parking at Lakeview) as yet unfunded, an environmental impact study not yet completed, $80 some million borrowed money on "projected" sales tax revenue over a period of 20 years, no contract as yet worked out with the county and no news of any contract with the big promised IMAX. That one is easy to figure. The money has yet to be raised to build the $78 million museum building.
Waiting for more PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS? What do you think? Trust us, the PRM Committee said, the public will only need to put up one third of the cost of the museum. Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus. Santa's living at the North Pole was the myth.
Sure and trust most governments to "balance their budgets without raising taxes." But your property VALUES will rise. Maybe not your property but just trust us.
On November 10 the JSEB warned the city not to gamble with public safety and PERCEPTIONS.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Arne Duncan on Teacher Colleges
************************
I agree,
Merle
From the Chronicle of Higher Education, Friday, October 30, 2009, p. A18. http://chronicle.com/article/Duncan-Urges-Revolutionary/48896/
************************
Duncan Urges 'Revolutionary Change' in Nation's Teacher-Training Programs
By Kelly Field
The nation's colleges of education are doing a "mediocre job" of preparing teachers for "the realities of the 21st-century classroom" and need "revolutionary change-not evolutionary tinkering," Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will say in a speech on Thursday at Columbia University's Teachers College.
In a prepared text of his speech, the secretary accuses colleges of using their schools of education as "cash cows" and "profit centers" to finance "prestigious but under-enrolled graduate departments like physics-while doing little to invest in rigorous educational research and well-run clinical testing." He calls on colleges to make student outcomes "the overarching mission that propels all their efforts."
He also criticizes states and the federal government for approving weak teacher-training programs and licensing examinations for teachers, and for failing to provide enough support for programs that provide mentors for teachers.
Good teacher-training programs, according to the secretary, are "coherent, up-to-date," and "research-based." They should also provide students with subject mastery, prepare them to teach "diverse pupils in high-needs settings," and use data "to inform instruction."
More than half the nation's teachers graduate from a school of education. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 220,000 students graduate from a teachers college every year.
The secretary's remarks echo criticism leveled by a former president of Teachers College, Arthur Levine, in a series of reports produced by the Education Schools Project.
Mr. Duncan also emphasized improving teacher-training programs in comments he made two weeks ago at the University of Virginia. In that speech, he praised the teaching profession but criticized the nation's colleges of education, calling them the "neglected stepchild" of higher education.
***********************************************
--
Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL 62901-4610
Phone: (618) 453-4241 [O]
(618) 457-8903 [H]
Fax: (618) 453-4244
E-mail: jbecker@siu.edu
I agree,
Merle
From the Chronicle of Higher Education, Friday, October 30, 2009, p. A18. http://chronicle.com/article/Duncan-Urges-Revolutionary/48896/
************************
Duncan Urges 'Revolutionary Change' in Nation's Teacher-Training Programs
By Kelly Field
The nation's colleges of education are doing a "mediocre job" of preparing teachers for "the realities of the 21st-century classroom" and need "revolutionary change-not evolutionary tinkering," Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will say in a speech on Thursday at Columbia University's Teachers College.
In a prepared text of his speech, the secretary accuses colleges of using their schools of education as "cash cows" and "profit centers" to finance "prestigious but under-enrolled graduate departments like physics-while doing little to invest in rigorous educational research and well-run clinical testing." He calls on colleges to make student outcomes "the overarching mission that propels all their efforts."
He also criticizes states and the federal government for approving weak teacher-training programs and licensing examinations for teachers, and for failing to provide enough support for programs that provide mentors for teachers.
Good teacher-training programs, according to the secretary, are "coherent, up-to-date," and "research-based." They should also provide students with subject mastery, prepare them to teach "diverse pupils in high-needs settings," and use data "to inform instruction."
More than half the nation's teachers graduate from a school of education. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 220,000 students graduate from a teachers college every year.
The secretary's remarks echo criticism leveled by a former president of Teachers College, Arthur Levine, in a series of reports produced by the Education Schools Project.
Mr. Duncan also emphasized improving teacher-training programs in comments he made two weeks ago at the University of Virginia. In that speech, he praised the teaching profession but criticized the nation's colleges of education, calling them the "neglected stepchild" of higher education.
***********************************************
--
Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL 62901-4610
Phone: (618) 453-4241 [O]
(618) 457-8903 [H]
Fax: (618) 453-4244
E-mail: jbecker@siu.edu
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Merle's Musings
Financial Recovery? Why should we trust the Fed, which is enmeshed with the largest financial institutions in the country, with banks having some say in election to the boards of Regional Feds? Don't forget the the Federal Reserve is primarily responsible for the financial crisis and the subsequent recession. The Fed operates in a shroud of secrecy which conceals its internal machinations. It has little credibility with the public. No, I and the Tea Party people don't trust the Fed, either.
(AP) 10/16/09 "Think Tank Calls for Center for 'Deprogramming' Extremists". A British counter-extremism tank said that prison policies are failing to stop Muslim inmates from being radicalized, and urged the government to "deprogram' extremists." It said extremist radical Muslims take five to seven years to "graduate" to violence so jails become recruiting centers to breed a new generation of terrorists. And not all of Muslim birth.
One of my acquaintances feels I shouldn't be blogging this sort of thing when here in Peoria we are all "just trying to get along" and welcoming people from all ethnic group with different mores into our community. He appears to be a well read man but I will remind him again "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world." Unfortunately, many of these people will not be seen at American sporting events and viewing museums. No, while we play, they plot.
Dan Proft, Candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois said recently that Al Gore and other global warming activists are "kind of enviro-terrorists." Dan is my kind of leader. As my friend pointed out, we already have home grown terrorists among us so why should I discriminate against Muslim terrorists. Why, a very recent survey says that there are at least one Muslim Mosque in each state and 10 per cent of the leadership preach "death to the infidel."
Global warming? Of course, anyone who reads widely know that the world has gone through heat and cold. Approximately 10 thousand years ago, glaciers appeared as far south as directly north of Eureka, Il. Europe had an "ice age" in Medieval times.
John Dietzen, whoever he is recently wrote a LTE to the JS that the passage of a concealed-carry law would "dump tens of thousands, or millions more guns into our streets and neighborhoods." Jay Zentro of Bartonville, my kind of guy, wrote back that these guns are already out there in tens of thousands, if not millions, and are already in the hands of criminals and that tens of thousands, if not millions, are already in the hands of responsible citizens who would not dream of committing a violent crime.
With the City of Peoria cutting its police force for libraries and possibly arts programs, expect gun sales to responsible, qualified citizens to rise. My wife just bought stock in a gun company and her stock is up 10% in a week.
Sherry Cannon also wrote to the JSEB that "Peoria's Kids Deserve Educational Choices." Ms Cannon writes, "I am deeply concerned with the level of learning in our inner city schools." She wants to learn more about charter schools. Charter teachers talk about how their job is more rewarding because they are given the freedom to teach, how invested they were in the success of their students and that administration does not keep bad teachers." Right, on Ms. Cannon.
Charter or private school kids are in a learning environment, not distracted by disciplinary problems, drastic adherence to inclusion, and not restricted to hours in teaching and learning situation. Parent conferences are usually held on Saturdays or at times when employed parents can attend.
I am not sold on the Charter School being discussed for the Peoria #150 area because the union, the school board and current administration would be too much involved. We have people with lots of money to spend on enhancements in Peoria, surely they could get the state to grant a private charter to Peoria. They can't, you say. Why not, Oh, just like Chicago, the unions don't want THAT type of competition and by staying in the #150 district, they can get the state to largely fund the charter school. Oh, I see.
Hmmmmmmmmm.
(AP) 10/16/09 "Think Tank Calls for Center for 'Deprogramming' Extremists". A British counter-extremism tank said that prison policies are failing to stop Muslim inmates from being radicalized, and urged the government to "deprogram' extremists." It said extremist radical Muslims take five to seven years to "graduate" to violence so jails become recruiting centers to breed a new generation of terrorists. And not all of Muslim birth.
One of my acquaintances feels I shouldn't be blogging this sort of thing when here in Peoria we are all "just trying to get along" and welcoming people from all ethnic group with different mores into our community. He appears to be a well read man but I will remind him again "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world." Unfortunately, many of these people will not be seen at American sporting events and viewing museums. No, while we play, they plot.
Dan Proft, Candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois said recently that Al Gore and other global warming activists are "kind of enviro-terrorists." Dan is my kind of leader. As my friend pointed out, we already have home grown terrorists among us so why should I discriminate against Muslim terrorists. Why, a very recent survey says that there are at least one Muslim Mosque in each state and 10 per cent of the leadership preach "death to the infidel."
Global warming? Of course, anyone who reads widely know that the world has gone through heat and cold. Approximately 10 thousand years ago, glaciers appeared as far south as directly north of Eureka, Il. Europe had an "ice age" in Medieval times.
John Dietzen, whoever he is recently wrote a LTE to the JS that the passage of a concealed-carry law would "dump tens of thousands, or millions more guns into our streets and neighborhoods." Jay Zentro of Bartonville, my kind of guy, wrote back that these guns are already out there in tens of thousands, if not millions, and are already in the hands of criminals and that tens of thousands, if not millions, are already in the hands of responsible citizens who would not dream of committing a violent crime.
With the City of Peoria cutting its police force for libraries and possibly arts programs, expect gun sales to responsible, qualified citizens to rise. My wife just bought stock in a gun company and her stock is up 10% in a week.
Sherry Cannon also wrote to the JSEB that "Peoria's Kids Deserve Educational Choices." Ms Cannon writes, "I am deeply concerned with the level of learning in our inner city schools." She wants to learn more about charter schools. Charter teachers talk about how their job is more rewarding because they are given the freedom to teach, how invested they were in the success of their students and that administration does not keep bad teachers." Right, on Ms. Cannon.
Charter or private school kids are in a learning environment, not distracted by disciplinary problems, drastic adherence to inclusion, and not restricted to hours in teaching and learning situation. Parent conferences are usually held on Saturdays or at times when employed parents can attend.
I am not sold on the Charter School being discussed for the Peoria #150 area because the union, the school board and current administration would be too much involved. We have people with lots of money to spend on enhancements in Peoria, surely they could get the state to grant a private charter to Peoria. They can't, you say. Why not, Oh, just like Chicago, the unions don't want THAT type of competition and by staying in the #150 district, they can get the state to largely fund the charter school. Oh, I see.
Hmmmmmmmmm.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Government Insanity? Get Used to it.
Didn't think so!
Bottom line. We've spent several hundreds of billions of dollars in support of an agency ... the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!
Ready?? It was very simple ... and, at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.
The Department of Energy was instituted on 8-04-1977. TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
Hey, pretty efficient, huh???
AND, NOW, ITS 2009 -- 32 YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. THEY HAVE 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND, LOOK AT THE JOB THEY HAVE DONE!
THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WAS I THINKING?"
Ah, yes -- good ole bureaucracy.
And, NOW, we are turning the banking system, HEALTH CARE, maybe the insurance industry and the auto industry over to the same Government?
Is this insanity or what?
What do you think ?
Bottom line. We've spent several hundreds of billions of dollars in support of an agency ... the reason for which not one person who reads this can remember!
Ready?? It was very simple ... and, at the time, everybody thought it very appropriate.
The Department of Energy was instituted on 8-04-1977. TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
Hey, pretty efficient, huh???
AND, NOW, ITS 2009 -- 32 YEARS LATER -- AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS "NECESSARY" DEPARTMENT IS AT $24.2 BILLION A YEAR. THEY HAVE 16,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES; AND, LOOK AT THE JOB THEY HAVE DONE!
THIS IS WHERE YOU SLAP YOUR FOREHEAD AND SAY, "WHAT WAS I THINKING?"
Ah, yes -- good ole bureaucracy.
And, NOW, we are turning the banking system, HEALTH CARE, maybe the insurance industry and the auto industry over to the same Government?
Is this insanity or what?
What do you think ?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
All Politicians Are Socially Liberal?
Mark Steyn writes in the National Review, "The reality is that almost every 'socially liberal, fiscally conservative' politician turns out to be fiscally liberal--in the same way that, if you mix a half pint of ice cream with half pint of horse manure, it's not hard to figure which taste will predominate."
A lot of voters want it both ways which is why "fiscal" is not a usual word in this context. Big government is not primarily a "fiscal" issue as so many of these "socially liberal" programs are unaffordable; they are unaffordable because they are wrong---they are not the proper role of government, and if you pretend they are you unbalance the relationship between the citizen and the state.
No government can guarantee universal homownership, or absurd returns on mediocre assets as a permanent feature of life. And to attempt to do so is to strip language of meaning. You're debauching the currency--not in the "fiscal" exchange-rate nickel-'n-dime sense but something more profound: the very currency of liberty--property, contract, citizenship, responsibility.
These excerpts are taken from a synopsis by Mr. Steyn from an the article in the Times of London, "Arnie Schwarzenegger Joins the Ranks of Girlie Men" and the "Antacus" effort Arnie has made by evolving into such a social-liberal that he has involved the State of California in so many programs that government should not be involved in, that now the state is a foldin' state-going out of business state.
Even Antacus, though he could slay all comers--as long as his feet were planted firmly on the ground but as Hercules figured out, get him up in the air, unmoored, unrooted and he turned into a big sack of nothing. Pretty much where the State of California and Arnie are right now.
Sound like our socially overextended and semi-corrupt state of Illinois? Sure does to me. How about a another 10 million from the state for our MUSEUM? Maybe the state will bail out the Coliseum, some officials in Bloomington hope so.
Hey, elected officials, everything is important to some one so let's fund all requests. Just turn the country into one big commune. Appears that's where the whole country is heading.
A lot of voters want it both ways which is why "fiscal" is not a usual word in this context. Big government is not primarily a "fiscal" issue as so many of these "socially liberal" programs are unaffordable; they are unaffordable because they are wrong---they are not the proper role of government, and if you pretend they are you unbalance the relationship between the citizen and the state.
No government can guarantee universal homownership, or absurd returns on mediocre assets as a permanent feature of life. And to attempt to do so is to strip language of meaning. You're debauching the currency--not in the "fiscal" exchange-rate nickel-'n-dime sense but something more profound: the very currency of liberty--property, contract, citizenship, responsibility.
These excerpts are taken from a synopsis by Mr. Steyn from an the article in the Times of London, "Arnie Schwarzenegger Joins the Ranks of Girlie Men" and the "Antacus" effort Arnie has made by evolving into such a social-liberal that he has involved the State of California in so many programs that government should not be involved in, that now the state is a foldin' state-going out of business state.
Even Antacus, though he could slay all comers--as long as his feet were planted firmly on the ground but as Hercules figured out, get him up in the air, unmoored, unrooted and he turned into a big sack of nothing. Pretty much where the State of California and Arnie are right now.
Sound like our socially overextended and semi-corrupt state of Illinois? Sure does to me. How about a another 10 million from the state for our MUSEUM? Maybe the state will bail out the Coliseum, some officials in Bloomington hope so.
Hey, elected officials, everything is important to some one so let's fund all requests. Just turn the country into one big commune. Appears that's where the whole country is heading.
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