This column presents conservative viewpoint about items of interest in our community and our lives. Focus is on items impacting your pocket book, your personal freedoms, and your rights. I hope you will read the column regularly and it occasionally influences your opinions and actions.
Comments on State and National Issues:
♦ Well, our carefully selected and elected national representatives have now returned to Washington…or “Disney World North” as some would call it. I hope we scared our legislators bad enough during town hall meetings and personal encounters while they were home to make them toe the line during this next session of Pelosi’s Congress. Let’s all watch very carefully.
♦ The court proceedings start soon on those terrible coaches and teachers over at Pace High who dared say a blessing before an off campus school function meal. Don’t they realize that in today’s politically correct world you no longer have the right to pray in public. The ACLU is filing charges against these terrible school officials……By the way, a sizable amount has already been collected in Jackson County for the “Freedom to Pray Defense Fund” and will be delivered to them to help with lawyer fees.
♦ A few weeks ago I made a remark about how clever our current administration in Washington was because they were finally solving our national dependency on the Mid-East for oil and gas. By creating a society where everyone is on welfare, no jobs are available, industry is shut down, and everyone is living on a third world standard of living…..no one will be able to afford a car. Thus, we would no longer need the Mid-East oil, and will be energy independent! Also, we will be well below the desired emission levels for pollutants. We can breathe beautiful, clean air while we ride our bicycles around.
♦ Well, I now realize that this novel economic approach simultaneously solves another serious national problem with which previous administrations have had to struggle. By cleverly destroying the economy in the United States through foolish economic decisions based on over regulation, over taxation, programs replete with extra costs caused by the “green” movement, and dogmatic adherence to an unfair global trade concept, we will finally move our standard of living downward to the point where we are on par with Mexico.
When our lifestyle is as miserable as theirs is….they will no longer want to come here. Thus, we will have solved our Illegal Immigration Problem!
♦ Well, our carefully selected and elected national representatives have now returned to Washington…or “Disney World North” as some would call it. I hope we scared our legislators bad enough during town hall meetings and personal encounters while they were home to make them toe the line during this next session of Pelosi’s Congress. Let’s all watch very carefully.
♦ The court proceedings start soon on those terrible coaches and teachers over at Pace High who dared say a blessing before an off campus school function meal. Don’t they realize that in today’s politically correct world you no longer have the right to pray in public. The ACLU is filing charges against these terrible school officials……By the way, a sizable amount has already been collected in Jackson County for the “Freedom to Pray Defense Fund” and will be delivered to them to help with lawyer fees.
♦ A few weeks ago I made a remark about how clever our current administration in Washington was because they were finally solving our national dependency on the Mid-East for oil and gas. By creating a society where everyone is on welfare, no jobs are available, industry is shut down, and everyone is living on a third world standard of living…..no one will be able to afford a car. Thus, we would no longer need the Mid-East oil, and will be energy independent! Also, we will be well below the desired emission levels for pollutants. We can breathe beautiful, clean air while we ride our bicycles around.
♦ Well, I now realize that this novel economic approach simultaneously solves another serious national problem with which previous administrations have had to struggle. By cleverly destroying the economy in the United States through foolish economic decisions based on over regulation, over taxation, programs replete with extra costs caused by the “green” movement, and dogmatic adherence to an unfair global trade concept, we will finally move our standard of living downward to the point where we are on par with Mexico.
When our lifestyle is as miserable as theirs is….they will no longer want to come here. Thus, we will have solved our Illegal Immigration Problem!
Comments on Local Issues:
♦ While the nation seems to be focused on medical costs, it seems to me that the problem which most local citizens are really struggling with each month is the cost of utility service. I hear many citizens talking about record breaking, budget busting utility bills even after they have taken extreme measures to cut consumption. The cost of medical coverage, medicines, and treatment are ridiculous…but the people are struggling even more to keep a light on. I even know of one family which had its cable service discontinued……now that is sacrificing!
♦ At Tuesday’s meeting of the County Commission they finally resolved the issue of the Sneads Stump. This problem arose last March, when a home owner on Lake Seminole Road requested county help in removing a stump which was partially diverting water in a drainage area coming from a county road. The Commission requested FDEP approval, since drainage into the lake was possibly influenced by the stump. This led to also getting clearance from the U.S. Corps of Engineers who control the shoreline, and finally the North Florida Water Management District.
So this one stump in a ditch took over six months of decision making and bureaucratic paper shuffling as well as the actions of One Federal Agency, Two State Agencies, and One County Agency….before someone had the right to pull it out of the ground and unclog the ditch. A great example of bureaucratic efficiency in this wonderful world we have created.
♦ Also at Tuesday’s meeting they awarded the bids for the new “sidewalks to everywhere” construction projects which are being funded with stimulus monies. One is on River Forest Drive, and the other is to run from Citizens Lodge Park to the Marianna High School. Soon hundreds of new jobs will be created as these needed projects get underway…..huh! (I hope you enjoy this week’s cartoon about this sidewalk to everywhere.)
♦ While the nation seems to be focused on medical costs, it seems to me that the problem which most local citizens are really struggling with each month is the cost of utility service. I hear many citizens talking about record breaking, budget busting utility bills even after they have taken extreme measures to cut consumption. The cost of medical coverage, medicines, and treatment are ridiculous…but the people are struggling even more to keep a light on. I even know of one family which had its cable service discontinued……now that is sacrificing!
♦ At Tuesday’s meeting of the County Commission they finally resolved the issue of the Sneads Stump. This problem arose last March, when a home owner on Lake Seminole Road requested county help in removing a stump which was partially diverting water in a drainage area coming from a county road. The Commission requested FDEP approval, since drainage into the lake was possibly influenced by the stump. This led to also getting clearance from the U.S. Corps of Engineers who control the shoreline, and finally the North Florida Water Management District.
So this one stump in a ditch took over six months of decision making and bureaucratic paper shuffling as well as the actions of One Federal Agency, Two State Agencies, and One County Agency….before someone had the right to pull it out of the ground and unclog the ditch. A great example of bureaucratic efficiency in this wonderful world we have created.
♦ Also at Tuesday’s meeting they awarded the bids for the new “sidewalks to everywhere” construction projects which are being funded with stimulus monies. One is on River Forest Drive, and the other is to run from Citizens Lodge Park to the Marianna High School. Soon hundreds of new jobs will be created as these needed projects get underway…..huh! (I hope you enjoy this week’s cartoon about this sidewalk to everywhere.)
For Your Information:
Florida House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands (D-Weston) issued the following statement today:
“Because of high unemployment, record levels of home foreclosures, and unemployment compensation drying up for many out-of-work Floridians, this is a horribly bad time for families and small businesses to contend with even more exorbitant utility costs.
Meanwhile, I am aware that news reports suggest that a questionably cozy relationship exists between the Public Service commission and regulated utilities. I have stated publicly on several occasions that state legislators deserve a full and public explanation of how rate hikes are reviewed and approved. Similarly, the public deserves a high level of confidence that any increases in their utility costs are legally justified and well deserved.”
♦ There are two ceremonies observing 9-11 next weekend…you might consider taking time to go to one. If you do…you will be “Getting It Right!”
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
Florida House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands (D-Weston) issued the following statement today:
“Because of high unemployment, record levels of home foreclosures, and unemployment compensation drying up for many out-of-work Floridians, this is a horribly bad time for families and small businesses to contend with even more exorbitant utility costs.
Meanwhile, I am aware that news reports suggest that a questionably cozy relationship exists between the Public Service commission and regulated utilities. I have stated publicly on several occasions that state legislators deserve a full and public explanation of how rate hikes are reviewed and approved. Similarly, the public deserves a high level of confidence that any increases in their utility costs are legally justified and well deserved.”
♦ There are two ceremonies observing 9-11 next weekend…you might consider taking time to go to one. If you do…you will be “Getting It Right!”
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
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