8/22/08
"In my opinion, Fay did more good than harm in our area."
For several years the entire Southeast has been under a continuing drought. This situation led to national attention to the impact a shortage of water can have on intra-state relationships. Many termed the conflict the "Georgia – Florida Water Wars".
Caught in the middle of this conflict was the U.S. Corps of Engineers, who has the authority to determine how river waters are managed and distributed. Atlanta has apparently not prepared its infrastructure in anticipation of an extended drought period, and has relied heavily on the water coming from the Chattahoochee River system and its man made lakes along the path of the river.
Atlanta demanded the Corps to keep more water in Lake Lanier above Atlanta, while at the other end of the river system, Florida’s seafood industry in the Apalachicola Bay demanded more water be released. A political war ensued.
The primary reason for the severe shortage of water appears to be primarily due to the absence of a real good, trash floating hurricane or two that covers the entire Southeast with fresh water. Combine this with a couple of dry, hot summers and you have created the situation.
Then….along came Fay.
Fay was actually God sending us a water sprinkler. Fay behaved almost identically to one of those tractor shaped lawn sprinklers that slowly crawls across a lawn spewing our needed water while pulling the garden hose behind it.
This gentle storm seemed to enjoy staying over land, not wanting to become a roaring, roof ripping monster. Instead, Fay came across Puerto Rico, and then skipped across a little ocean to reach Dominican Republic and Haiti, then again crossed a small ocean span to cross Cuba. Then she skipped over the Keys and entered Florida near its southern tip. She then slowly sprinkled south and central Florida.
It almost appeared that when she felt herself losing too much strength to do a good sprinkling job, she would move over to a coastline to park off shore for a few hours to suck up more energy and life giving waters. Then she would move inland again and resume her lawn sprinkling chores.
The few areas where flooding was a problem appeared to be related to poorly designed or poorly maintained drainage systems. It was really not Fay’s fault.
I am sure she feels bad about any inconveniences she may have caused, such as being without cable for a few hours. She especially regrets any automobile wrecks she might have contributed to, or any folks that may have hurt themselves by running a generator in an enclosed space and suffering carbon monoxide poisoning….but in total she was doing more good than harm.
When Fay reached the North Florida area, she realized her job was not done, so she gracefully turned west in order to do her work over the Panhandle area. She slowly moved across our area, blowing gently as she filled our aquifers, lakes, and rivers. She reached as far as she could up into Georgia and Alabama in order to do as good a job as possible. She hoped to end the water wars for awhile while solutions were worked out by our astute politicians.
Good old Fay! Gal, you did great work for Florida. Send a small sister to see us next year.
Rudiments –
Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning:
- Well the three forums we sponsored are over, and it is time to vote our choices. Over seven hundred citizens attended the forums, with several thousand additional seeing it on Chipola Television CCTV 4. Our thanks to all that participated and helped.
- In answering questions posed at the last forum, candidates were asked if a state mandate must always be obeyed. Both candidates who answered this question stated that they felt mandates had to be obeyed at all times. I take exception to that approach. First, the source of the mandate should be investigated. Some are legislated mandates that have been passed by the legislature. These are law and can only be resisted through political pressure from our state representatives or by our local authorities creating a test case in the courts. Other mandates are merely rules or procedures sent forth by a bureaucrat in Tallahassee. These should always be carefully evaluated and can and should be opposed locally if necessary.
- We have received a media advisory from the State Insurance Commissioner reminding people that since Fay was not classified as a hurricane, the hurricane exemptions claimed by insurance providers no not apply. Don’t let them cheat you if you have a claim.
- Well, the national conventions have started. Prepare thyself for a full week of unfounded claims, empty promises, and political BS.
- All candidates who qualified and ran during our local election deserve our gratitude and respect. All were qualified and almost all ran a hard, clean campaign. We thank you for taking part in our American election process.
- If you voted…and voted wisely…you were "Getting It Right"
Note: The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hatcher Publishing.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Getting It Right- Don’t Be Lulled Into Complacency
8/21/08
"Boy! Gasoline is really cheap now…it is all the way down to $3.60 a gallon." I could hardly believe my ears as I heard someone say those words the other day. Did you ever think you would reach the point where you would feel that $3.60 per gallon was a bargain?
After the election is over and the international "merchants of greed" resume their raping of the American economy, gasoline will undoubtedly soar to over $5.00 per gallon and then if it falls back to $4.50, someone else will say, "Boy, gasoline is really cheap now…it is only $4.50 per gallon."
Our Congress has done nothing to begin to resolve the bent over position which the Mid-eastern Sheiks have enjoyed placing our nation and our citizens. We are still helpless victims of thirty years of bad management in Washington. Our crooked, inept, fractionalized, self serving, over political, government must act now, or ten years from now our great nation will be on its knees.
I have previously outlined what I feel should be some of the measures our leaders need to enact in order to begin to restore self direction and control to our nation’s economy. In the vain hope that perhaps one copy of this writing might make it to someone in authority, I will reiterate my thoughts.
Conservation Measures:
Americans have already responded to the crisis in some measure through increased conservation. These actions have been partially the result of the exorbitant cost of gasoline, and partially the result of an increased national awareness of the dangers before us. Our national daily intake of gasoline has decreased significantly, but more can and should be done. These steps will have an immediate impact on gasoline pricing and the strain on our economy.
- When taking kids to school, going to work, or even going to the golf course, make an effort to car pool and only take one vehicle.
- As Obama suggested, keep your car’s motor well maintained and tires properly inflated.
- On cool days, or for short trips around town, drive with the window down and the air conditioner turned off.
- Don’t drive faster than necessary. Speed costs us more now, both at the pump and from feeding our thirsty law enforcement bureaucratic pocketbook.
- More businesses and organizations should explore the possibility of using 10 hour-four day work week schedules for all or a portion of their staff. This approach removes 20% of the cost for driving to and from work.
- And finally, it wouldn’t hurt most of us to consider walking or cycling when possible. This might include daily trips to the post office, corner market, or golf course.
- 78 degrees is a comfortable temperature after you get used to it, and it is not nearly as expensive as keeping the house at 75 or 76 degrees.
Conversion of American Auto Industry:
In my opinion, it is appropriate at this time for our government to provide assistance to our American Auto Industry in converting plants and retooling their industry to produce the types of automobiles we should all be driving in this time of crisis. The faster this conversion occurs, the sooner the positive impact on our national fuel consumption will be realized. This is to everyone’s benefit since these high fuel costs impact food costs and the cost of transporting everything we purchase. Federal assistance should be given to the Automotive Industry in the following areas:
- Assistance in financing the cost of design, retooling, conversion and start up of assembly lines for manufacture of a new breed of cars with fuel efficiencies of 40 MPG or more.
- Research and production of "flex cars" that can use a variety of fuels.
- Relaxation of engine emission requirements for motors with 40 MPG or better performance.
- Financing at retail level for installation of storage and pumping equipment required for new types of fuels.
- Awards and financial incentives for development of new technology in automotive design that significantly improve performance. This would include improvements in the technologies of hydrogen fuel cells, battery design, natural gas usage, solar applications, and other similar technologies.
5 Year Plan of Action:
Our political leadership should immediately embark on a package of programs to move our struggling nation towards energy independence over the next twenty years. The initial phase of accomplishing this goal should be directed at using existing available resources to reduce our vulneralility from Mid Eastern greed while new technologies are developed. These intermediate steps include Federal government involvement in:
- Construction of several new refineries. These should be designed in a manner to facilitate later conversion to other uses if emerging technologies later reduce the demand for gasoline.
- Construction of several nuclear power plants.
- Construction of hydroelectric dams in all locations where a reasonable ROI is present.
- Increased development and construction of wind farms at suitable locations.
- Permitting drilling in all available locations where oil reserves are known or suspected to exist.
- Promoting and allowing oil shale use and technology.
- Providing greater tax breaks and financing for home owners to improve energy efficiency of homes, including installation of solar panels.
20 Year Plan of Action:
Initiatives must be started immediately to enhance development of all emerging technologies that hold promise of improving our national fuel efficiency index over the next twenty years. Our goal must be to achieve total energy independence by the year 2025.
These long range directed programs that should be initiated immediately include:
- Beginning "Energy Technologies" as a field of study in our scientific and engineering universities. The solution to our national dilemma may rest in the future creations which will come from a middle school student now studying in a small town somewhere in our land.
- Awarding grants and financial assistance to universities, laboratories, and companies engaged in research in all areas of relevance to development of new sources of energy.
- In the current most promising areas of technology which would include the hydrogen cell, agro-industry development of ethanol efficient products, new battery technologies, wind and solar technologies, coal technology, oil shale technology, and others, focus programs of financial assistance from the federal level.
Strengthening the Dollar:
Another factor that is significantly impacting the prices we pay at the pump is the continuing weakness of the dollar. Although the dollar has strengthened slightly in the past few days, the trend of erosion of its value is certain unless we change our way of doing international business. In my opinion, the following philosophical changes should occur in our international trade policies:
- We will only engage in "free trade" with a nation who totally reciprocates with us. Unless American food products, automobiles, and all other items enter their market freely, we will not allow their products to enter our markets free of duty.
- If their industries enjoy advantages of government assistance, use of convict labor, or other political or cultural costs influences, appropriate subsidies and duties should be applied to create an "even playing field" for American products in both markets.
- State Department influences on trade policies should be removed. We should not use American jobs as a bartering tool for international friendships.
- We should never allow the erosion of our industrial base to create other future American dependencies on other nations for products that could cripple our economy if supplies are interrupted.
Conclusion:
I am sure money and time will be wasted along the path to energy independence. But to falter in our united national determination and resolve because of petty politics and desire for power is a foolish game we can not allow our elected Washington representatives to play. It is time for us all to get serious about impending disasters to our economy and way of life.
If you know someone of influence in Washington that needs to read and heed the content of this column, please forward it to them. Thanks!
Rudiments:
- It is election time. If you do not exercise that sacred privilege, you are not being a good citizen. Your forefathers fought and died so that you could go to the polls next Tuesday.
- Our State Troopers are on a rampage. They have begun giving tickets at lower speed levels on I-10, and are rigorously looking for trailers and boats without tags. They first got the fines greatly increased effective the first of the year, and then stepped up their enforcement levels. It is their solution to the state revenue shortfall problem.
- Also, I understand that the D.O.T. has begun aggressively giving tickets to regular traffic. They are taking business away from the Highway Patrol.
- While we are talking about our D.O.T., they will soon begin cutting away that beautiful canopy of overhanging trees on Highway 73 North.
- Go Vote on Tuesday…..and you will be "Getting It Right".
"Boy! Gasoline is really cheap now…it is all the way down to $3.60 a gallon." I could hardly believe my ears as I heard someone say those words the other day. Did you ever think you would reach the point where you would feel that $3.60 per gallon was a bargain?
After the election is over and the international "merchants of greed" resume their raping of the American economy, gasoline will undoubtedly soar to over $5.00 per gallon and then if it falls back to $4.50, someone else will say, "Boy, gasoline is really cheap now…it is only $4.50 per gallon."
Our Congress has done nothing to begin to resolve the bent over position which the Mid-eastern Sheiks have enjoyed placing our nation and our citizens. We are still helpless victims of thirty years of bad management in Washington. Our crooked, inept, fractionalized, self serving, over political, government must act now, or ten years from now our great nation will be on its knees.
I have previously outlined what I feel should be some of the measures our leaders need to enact in order to begin to restore self direction and control to our nation’s economy. In the vain hope that perhaps one copy of this writing might make it to someone in authority, I will reiterate my thoughts.
Conservation Measures:
Americans have already responded to the crisis in some measure through increased conservation. These actions have been partially the result of the exorbitant cost of gasoline, and partially the result of an increased national awareness of the dangers before us. Our national daily intake of gasoline has decreased significantly, but more can and should be done. These steps will have an immediate impact on gasoline pricing and the strain on our economy.
- When taking kids to school, going to work, or even going to the golf course, make an effort to car pool and only take one vehicle.
- As Obama suggested, keep your car’s motor well maintained and tires properly inflated.
- On cool days, or for short trips around town, drive with the window down and the air conditioner turned off.
- Don’t drive faster than necessary. Speed costs us more now, both at the pump and from feeding our thirsty law enforcement bureaucratic pocketbook.
- More businesses and organizations should explore the possibility of using 10 hour-four day work week schedules for all or a portion of their staff. This approach removes 20% of the cost for driving to and from work.
- And finally, it wouldn’t hurt most of us to consider walking or cycling when possible. This might include daily trips to the post office, corner market, or golf course.
- 78 degrees is a comfortable temperature after you get used to it, and it is not nearly as expensive as keeping the house at 75 or 76 degrees.
Conversion of American Auto Industry:
In my opinion, it is appropriate at this time for our government to provide assistance to our American Auto Industry in converting plants and retooling their industry to produce the types of automobiles we should all be driving in this time of crisis. The faster this conversion occurs, the sooner the positive impact on our national fuel consumption will be realized. This is to everyone’s benefit since these high fuel costs impact food costs and the cost of transporting everything we purchase. Federal assistance should be given to the Automotive Industry in the following areas:
- Assistance in financing the cost of design, retooling, conversion and start up of assembly lines for manufacture of a new breed of cars with fuel efficiencies of 40 MPG or more.
- Research and production of "flex cars" that can use a variety of fuels.
- Relaxation of engine emission requirements for motors with 40 MPG or better performance.
- Financing at retail level for installation of storage and pumping equipment required for new types of fuels.
- Awards and financial incentives for development of new technology in automotive design that significantly improve performance. This would include improvements in the technologies of hydrogen fuel cells, battery design, natural gas usage, solar applications, and other similar technologies.
5 Year Plan of Action:
Our political leadership should immediately embark on a package of programs to move our struggling nation towards energy independence over the next twenty years. The initial phase of accomplishing this goal should be directed at using existing available resources to reduce our vulneralility from Mid Eastern greed while new technologies are developed. These intermediate steps include Federal government involvement in:
- Construction of several new refineries. These should be designed in a manner to facilitate later conversion to other uses if emerging technologies later reduce the demand for gasoline.
- Construction of several nuclear power plants.
- Construction of hydroelectric dams in all locations where a reasonable ROI is present.
- Increased development and construction of wind farms at suitable locations.
- Permitting drilling in all available locations where oil reserves are known or suspected to exist.
- Promoting and allowing oil shale use and technology.
- Providing greater tax breaks and financing for home owners to improve energy efficiency of homes, including installation of solar panels.
20 Year Plan of Action:
Initiatives must be started immediately to enhance development of all emerging technologies that hold promise of improving our national fuel efficiency index over the next twenty years. Our goal must be to achieve total energy independence by the year 2025.
These long range directed programs that should be initiated immediately include:
- Beginning "Energy Technologies" as a field of study in our scientific and engineering universities. The solution to our national dilemma may rest in the future creations which will come from a middle school student now studying in a small town somewhere in our land.
- Awarding grants and financial assistance to universities, laboratories, and companies engaged in research in all areas of relevance to development of new sources of energy.
- In the current most promising areas of technology which would include the hydrogen cell, agro-industry development of ethanol efficient products, new battery technologies, wind and solar technologies, coal technology, oil shale technology, and others, focus programs of financial assistance from the federal level.
Strengthening the Dollar:
Another factor that is significantly impacting the prices we pay at the pump is the continuing weakness of the dollar. Although the dollar has strengthened slightly in the past few days, the trend of erosion of its value is certain unless we change our way of doing international business. In my opinion, the following philosophical changes should occur in our international trade policies:
- We will only engage in "free trade" with a nation who totally reciprocates with us. Unless American food products, automobiles, and all other items enter their market freely, we will not allow their products to enter our markets free of duty.
- If their industries enjoy advantages of government assistance, use of convict labor, or other political or cultural costs influences, appropriate subsidies and duties should be applied to create an "even playing field" for American products in both markets.
- State Department influences on trade policies should be removed. We should not use American jobs as a bartering tool for international friendships.
- We should never allow the erosion of our industrial base to create other future American dependencies on other nations for products that could cripple our economy if supplies are interrupted.
Conclusion:
I am sure money and time will be wasted along the path to energy independence. But to falter in our united national determination and resolve because of petty politics and desire for power is a foolish game we can not allow our elected Washington representatives to play. It is time for us all to get serious about impending disasters to our economy and way of life.
If you know someone of influence in Washington that needs to read and heed the content of this column, please forward it to them. Thanks!
Rudiments:
- It is election time. If you do not exercise that sacred privilege, you are not being a good citizen. Your forefathers fought and died so that you could go to the polls next Tuesday.
- Our State Troopers are on a rampage. They have begun giving tickets at lower speed levels on I-10, and are rigorously looking for trailers and boats without tags. They first got the fines greatly increased effective the first of the year, and then stepped up their enforcement levels. It is their solution to the state revenue shortfall problem.
- Also, I understand that the D.O.T. has begun aggressively giving tickets to regular traffic. They are taking business away from the Highway Patrol.
- While we are talking about our D.O.T., they will soon begin cutting away that beautiful canopy of overhanging trees on Highway 73 North.
- Go Vote on Tuesday…..and you will be "Getting It Right".
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Getting It Right- The Process Still Works….A Little Bit
8/14/08
"The Joys Of The Democratic Political Process…..When It Works Properly".
Although abused, beaten, violated, infiltrated, adulterated, twisted, and often misinterpreted, the American democratic processes still work as was intended at the onset of our nation….at least at the local level in small communities. I am proud to say the system is working in Jackson County Florida.
As I have taken part in the assortment of political forums around the county during the past month I could not help but become appreciative of the opportunities given to us by our unique Democratic system. We are all about to be given the privilege of selecting who will be our chief law enforcement officer for the next four years, who will be in charge of educating our children, and who will represent us in our local government’s administrative and legislative processes. Each one of our votes will certainly count in making these important choices.
As I watched the various candidates who are competing for these positions being asked probing questions in a public forum filled with the voters that will ultimately make the choices for the open positions, I was proud of our nation and grateful for having this privilege of choice. In many nations we would instead be subjected to the decisions of a single ruler or group of powerful individuals. We would then have our next Sheriff decided by our Dictator announcing that he was appointing his nephew as Sheriff of Jackson County, and his son-in-law as School Superintendent. That is how it works for many.
So I feel strongly that it is very poor citizenship combined with negligence and apathy, that leads many to not vote on election day. Surly we can all afford to miss one day of golf, fishing, or shopping in order to utilize this precious privilege.
I feel that the selection processes are essentially pure and reflective of the public’s choices here in our county. There are a few who attempt to create voting blocks and thus accumulate the ability to enjoy extra influence within the processes, but they are generally minor and ineffective. The ultimate result in our elections here truly reflects the people’s choice.
Sadly, as one moves to more populated counties, cities …or to the state and national level, this level of virgin-like purity in the election processes is quickly eroded and lost. The presence of large blocks of votes accumulated through inappropriate use of money as in the case of political lobby organizations that take money from special interest groups and then use these funds to buy public influence or to bribe for political favors, quickly removes any pretense of virginity from the political scene. In other instances coercion and fear of reprisals is used to create large blocks of votes for a special cause. In my opinion, this is the case with the union political machines that operate within the political parties. In other instances huge voting blocks are created by social causes with the leaders of those causes using emotional issues to invoke unity at the polls. Examples of this would be the Religious Right, African-American, and Hispanic voting blocks, each with their special issues and evolved leadership.
Add to this the presence of huge political machines created by political parties and the power hungry individuals that thrive within these organizations, surviving for years and amassing tremendous influence. Examples of this influence would be the Daily Machine that has dominated and controlled the politics of Chicago for over fifty years, the Tammany Hall Political Machine in New York, and even the power of our national Democratic and Republican Party organizations.
Then there is the impact of illegal actions on the processes we hold so dear. Examples of this would be those people and organizations that pay people for their votes, those who pick up underprivileged and needy on voting day and drive them in busses to vote, and then slip them a $10 bill on the way back to their neighborhood. Even worse are those who use false identification, often that of deceased voters, to vote multiple times as they move from voting site to voting site on election day. Those who resist efforts for requiring proper, verified identification systems encourage this type of activity. Meanwhile our weak judicial system does not rigorously prosecute these activities.
I feel that our Democratic voting processes have evolved into a sad, sad situation at the State and National levels. The existence of these vote distorting elements within the political processes has assisted in the diminishing of our Democracy and encouraged and fostered destructive, wasteful, and amoral movements in our society……and uses our tax dollars to support them.
So, I take joy that here in Jackson County the political processes are pure and the results of our election truly reflect our desires and opinions. I only wish there was some way to restore political purity at all levels. Anyway, please vote and do your part…then you will be "Getting It Right!"
Rudiments- Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning:
- I hope our U.S. Senators and Congressmen are enjoying their tax paid vacation while our nation slides into recession and nothing but political rhetoric comes from them in response to our national energy situation.
- The county commissioners are apparently going to hold the line against raising our millage rate. I commend them if they accomplish this in a time of diminishing revenues.
- However, our overall millage rate will be increased this year because the State has mandated that the School Boards in the state increase their tax rates. At the same time, the Wizards of Tallahassee continue to dish out unnecessary pork project grants in order to buy your favor. (Don’t miss the photo opportunities pictures of them giving our local authorities those grant checks.) Tax and Spend as usual…..Also, several municipalities (including Marianna) are planning to increase their millage rates. What will they do when our pockets are completely empty?
- Be careful when driving. All law enforcement agencies have stepped up their levels of citations….they are also worried about declining revenues as high gasoline costs causes people to reduce their amount of time on the roads.
"The Joys Of The Democratic Political Process…..When It Works Properly".
Although abused, beaten, violated, infiltrated, adulterated, twisted, and often misinterpreted, the American democratic processes still work as was intended at the onset of our nation….at least at the local level in small communities. I am proud to say the system is working in Jackson County Florida.
As I have taken part in the assortment of political forums around the county during the past month I could not help but become appreciative of the opportunities given to us by our unique Democratic system. We are all about to be given the privilege of selecting who will be our chief law enforcement officer for the next four years, who will be in charge of educating our children, and who will represent us in our local government’s administrative and legislative processes. Each one of our votes will certainly count in making these important choices.
As I watched the various candidates who are competing for these positions being asked probing questions in a public forum filled with the voters that will ultimately make the choices for the open positions, I was proud of our nation and grateful for having this privilege of choice. In many nations we would instead be subjected to the decisions of a single ruler or group of powerful individuals. We would then have our next Sheriff decided by our Dictator announcing that he was appointing his nephew as Sheriff of Jackson County, and his son-in-law as School Superintendent. That is how it works for many.
So I feel strongly that it is very poor citizenship combined with negligence and apathy, that leads many to not vote on election day. Surly we can all afford to miss one day of golf, fishing, or shopping in order to utilize this precious privilege.
I feel that the selection processes are essentially pure and reflective of the public’s choices here in our county. There are a few who attempt to create voting blocks and thus accumulate the ability to enjoy extra influence within the processes, but they are generally minor and ineffective. The ultimate result in our elections here truly reflects the people’s choice.
Sadly, as one moves to more populated counties, cities …or to the state and national level, this level of virgin-like purity in the election processes is quickly eroded and lost. The presence of large blocks of votes accumulated through inappropriate use of money as in the case of political lobby organizations that take money from special interest groups and then use these funds to buy public influence or to bribe for political favors, quickly removes any pretense of virginity from the political scene. In other instances coercion and fear of reprisals is used to create large blocks of votes for a special cause. In my opinion, this is the case with the union political machines that operate within the political parties. In other instances huge voting blocks are created by social causes with the leaders of those causes using emotional issues to invoke unity at the polls. Examples of this would be the Religious Right, African-American, and Hispanic voting blocks, each with their special issues and evolved leadership.
Add to this the presence of huge political machines created by political parties and the power hungry individuals that thrive within these organizations, surviving for years and amassing tremendous influence. Examples of this influence would be the Daily Machine that has dominated and controlled the politics of Chicago for over fifty years, the Tammany Hall Political Machine in New York, and even the power of our national Democratic and Republican Party organizations.
Then there is the impact of illegal actions on the processes we hold so dear. Examples of this would be those people and organizations that pay people for their votes, those who pick up underprivileged and needy on voting day and drive them in busses to vote, and then slip them a $10 bill on the way back to their neighborhood. Even worse are those who use false identification, often that of deceased voters, to vote multiple times as they move from voting site to voting site on election day. Those who resist efforts for requiring proper, verified identification systems encourage this type of activity. Meanwhile our weak judicial system does not rigorously prosecute these activities.
I feel that our Democratic voting processes have evolved into a sad, sad situation at the State and National levels. The existence of these vote distorting elements within the political processes has assisted in the diminishing of our Democracy and encouraged and fostered destructive, wasteful, and amoral movements in our society……and uses our tax dollars to support them.
So, I take joy that here in Jackson County the political processes are pure and the results of our election truly reflect our desires and opinions. I only wish there was some way to restore political purity at all levels. Anyway, please vote and do your part…then you will be "Getting It Right!"
Rudiments- Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning:
- I hope our U.S. Senators and Congressmen are enjoying their tax paid vacation while our nation slides into recession and nothing but political rhetoric comes from them in response to our national energy situation.
- The county commissioners are apparently going to hold the line against raising our millage rate. I commend them if they accomplish this in a time of diminishing revenues.
- However, our overall millage rate will be increased this year because the State has mandated that the School Boards in the state increase their tax rates. At the same time, the Wizards of Tallahassee continue to dish out unnecessary pork project grants in order to buy your favor. (Don’t miss the photo opportunities pictures of them giving our local authorities those grant checks.) Tax and Spend as usual…..Also, several municipalities (including Marianna) are planning to increase their millage rates. What will they do when our pockets are completely empty?
- Be careful when driving. All law enforcement agencies have stepped up their levels of citations….they are also worried about declining revenues as high gasoline costs causes people to reduce their amount of time on the roads.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Getting It Right- “I Don’t Care If The School Is Burning…It Is Time For Recess And I’m Going To Go Play!!”
8/8/08
Congress has closed for a five week paid vacation while decisions that may save our struggling economy remain un-debated, un-voted, and un-enacted. Personally, I think most of them should be "un-elected" at first opportunity.
Tens of thousands of families can no longer afford to take vacations because of the mushrooming effects of soaring energy costs, while those entrusted with the responsibility of managing our nation decide they should take a vacation at taxpayer’s expense. Our present condition is the result of some thirty years of combined mismanagement of our nation, and now all they seem capable of accomplishing is passing the political football of blame back and forth as they point accusing fingers at each other. I could simultaneously point a finger at them but, it would be a different digit than they are using.
For decades they have responded to every radical social, economic, and environmental cause that they thought might gain them a few votes. In the process they have legislated our nation into a corner of despair and hopelessness. Massive overspending, flowing entitlements, uncontrolled immigration, free global trade, restrictive and often foolish environmental legislation, years of inaction on a national energy plan, and a constantly ballooning wasteful bureaucracy have finally caused our wonderful, massive economy to falter and stumble. I pray it does not fall.
In the face of this national dilemma….they have decided to take a vacation!
As I have stated in previous columns, our energy crisis must be addressed on all fronts. The overall plan to achieve energy independence from the thieves and hate mongers that roam and rule the oil rich deserts of the Mid East, must involve a short range strategy, a mid range strategy, and a long range strategy. All should be created and initiated now….at this moment.
The short range strategies should focus on conservation, use of reserves, tax incentives for energy saving investments in industries, homes and autos, and assistance to the auto industries for retooling into a new generation of high mileage vehicles.
The mid-range strategies should focus on relaxing restrictions on drilling off shore, in Alaska, use of Rocky Mountain oil shale, increasing refinery capacities, increased use of solar and wind for power generation, and allowing nuclear energy plants to be built.
The long-range strategies should involve investments in research by our best resources in universities and private industry to get our most brilliant minds working on hydrogen cells, battery technology, solar applications, bio fuels, and all other emerging technologies that hold promise of easing our need for petroleum.
Our leaders must put aside petty and foolish political opinions and vendettas for the national good. It is time for them all to become Americans and demonstrate some leadership abilities. At present I consider most of them to be pompous hypocrites working as leaches for personal and special interests.
Some wise person once noted, "When you discover you’re in a deep hole, it is time to quit digging!"
Rudiments- Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning:
- A few weeks ago I commended the Marianna Commissioners and Staff for being prepared to turn back the approximate $1,000,000 in unused grant funding they received for the construction of the new $30,000,000 waste water treatment plant located in a remote area some 20 miles south of Marianna. Well, now they have remembered the old bureaucratic law of funding which states "Thou shalt never, never return any grant monies to anyone. Instead, thou shalt always find a reason for spending those funds." At Tuesdays meeting they approved the contractors suggestion for enhancing the plant and spending another $663,000 on the project.
- In order to promote the upcoming political forums the sponsors arranged to have banners made to help inform the public of the events. When we asked the DOT for permission to string the banner over the roadway for three to four days before the event, they informed us we would need to obtain a permit from them, and before a permit could be granted an engineering study would be required in order to determine the load the banner would create on the poles involved. Isn’t bureaucracy wonderful?
- By the way, the DOT is proceeding full steam ahead with their plans to chop down the canopy of trees over highway #73 north, on the way to Dothan from Marianna. It will take direct intervention from Tallahassee legislators to stop them.
- The Wal-Mart building is still empty.
- Please come to some of the forums before you vote. Take part in the election processes this year and you will be "Getting It Right".
Congress has closed for a five week paid vacation while decisions that may save our struggling economy remain un-debated, un-voted, and un-enacted. Personally, I think most of them should be "un-elected" at first opportunity.
Tens of thousands of families can no longer afford to take vacations because of the mushrooming effects of soaring energy costs, while those entrusted with the responsibility of managing our nation decide they should take a vacation at taxpayer’s expense. Our present condition is the result of some thirty years of combined mismanagement of our nation, and now all they seem capable of accomplishing is passing the political football of blame back and forth as they point accusing fingers at each other. I could simultaneously point a finger at them but, it would be a different digit than they are using.
For decades they have responded to every radical social, economic, and environmental cause that they thought might gain them a few votes. In the process they have legislated our nation into a corner of despair and hopelessness. Massive overspending, flowing entitlements, uncontrolled immigration, free global trade, restrictive and often foolish environmental legislation, years of inaction on a national energy plan, and a constantly ballooning wasteful bureaucracy have finally caused our wonderful, massive economy to falter and stumble. I pray it does not fall.
In the face of this national dilemma….they have decided to take a vacation!
As I have stated in previous columns, our energy crisis must be addressed on all fronts. The overall plan to achieve energy independence from the thieves and hate mongers that roam and rule the oil rich deserts of the Mid East, must involve a short range strategy, a mid range strategy, and a long range strategy. All should be created and initiated now….at this moment.
The short range strategies should focus on conservation, use of reserves, tax incentives for energy saving investments in industries, homes and autos, and assistance to the auto industries for retooling into a new generation of high mileage vehicles.
The mid-range strategies should focus on relaxing restrictions on drilling off shore, in Alaska, use of Rocky Mountain oil shale, increasing refinery capacities, increased use of solar and wind for power generation, and allowing nuclear energy plants to be built.
The long-range strategies should involve investments in research by our best resources in universities and private industry to get our most brilliant minds working on hydrogen cells, battery technology, solar applications, bio fuels, and all other emerging technologies that hold promise of easing our need for petroleum.
Our leaders must put aside petty and foolish political opinions and vendettas for the national good. It is time for them all to become Americans and demonstrate some leadership abilities. At present I consider most of them to be pompous hypocrites working as leaches for personal and special interests.
Some wise person once noted, "When you discover you’re in a deep hole, it is time to quit digging!"
Rudiments- Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning:
- A few weeks ago I commended the Marianna Commissioners and Staff for being prepared to turn back the approximate $1,000,000 in unused grant funding they received for the construction of the new $30,000,000 waste water treatment plant located in a remote area some 20 miles south of Marianna. Well, now they have remembered the old bureaucratic law of funding which states "Thou shalt never, never return any grant monies to anyone. Instead, thou shalt always find a reason for spending those funds." At Tuesdays meeting they approved the contractors suggestion for enhancing the plant and spending another $663,000 on the project.
- In order to promote the upcoming political forums the sponsors arranged to have banners made to help inform the public of the events. When we asked the DOT for permission to string the banner over the roadway for three to four days before the event, they informed us we would need to obtain a permit from them, and before a permit could be granted an engineering study would be required in order to determine the load the banner would create on the poles involved. Isn’t bureaucracy wonderful?
- By the way, the DOT is proceeding full steam ahead with their plans to chop down the canopy of trees over highway #73 north, on the way to Dothan from Marianna. It will take direct intervention from Tallahassee legislators to stop them.
- The Wal-Mart building is still empty.
- Please come to some of the forums before you vote. Take part in the election processes this year and you will be "Getting It Right".
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