Month: January 2011

Pub Follows In Pater’s Pork-Barrel Paw Prints

Pub Follows In Pater’s Pork-Barrel Paw Prints — The Republican congressman who is the scion of Pennsylvania’s legendary “prince of pork” is following in his father’s footsteps to the public trough.

Bill Shuster, who  represents the  9th District in the south central part of the state and chairs the House’s Railroad Subcommittee,  has announced that he is firmly behind President Obama’s plan to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail over the next 25 years which was announced in last week’s State of the Union Address.

“I believe it’s good for America to develop a high-speed rail corridor in the Northeast corridor,” Shuster told reporters from the Connecticut Post.

And what would this bong-hit dream cost? We really don’t know yet but it’s safe to quote Carl Sagan that it would be “billions and billions.”

Actually, it’s looking more like trillions and trillions.

Most of it, of course, would go into the pockets of the people who want to turn us into peasants.

Like Shuster.

Shuster was first elected in a special election in May 2001 to replace his dad, Bud, who resigned in February. Bud’s motivation to quit was a House Republican policy of term limiting committee chairmen. This meant he had to give up his chairmanship on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

But he had his son to bring home the bacon.

In other news of GOP hackdom, former Sen. Rick Santorum, who wants to be president, was in Des Moines last week telling the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association that U.S. vehicles should be required to burn ethanol and
other biofuels in addition to gasoline.

Rick, Bill smell the coffee. Telling people just want they want to hear doesn’t work anymore.

Pub Follows In Pater’s Pork-Barrel Paw Prints

Sidewalks Of Springfield And Govt. Privilege

Sidewalks Of Springfield And Govt. PrivilegeThe residents and business of Springfield, Pa. have shoveled themselves out of last week’s heavy snow and, for the most part, responsibly cleared their sidewalks.

For the most part.

There are exceptions.

To the left of that big snow pile blocking the path of pedestrians to force them into Brookside Road is a municipal lot owned by Springfield Township. To the right is the property of U.S. Post Office. It is nice to see how government agencies can cooperate.

Update: The path is clear as of tonight, Jan. 31.

Finally Safe from Sagging Pants

By Dr. John Gilmore

Other than being a bit annoying and aesthetically challenging to many people from my generation, it seems that sagging pants, i.e., pants hanging off someone’s butt, have become a crime in some local jurisdictions.  During these times when people are looking to local government for more support and sensible decisions, and the federal government for less, it is a bit frightening to see the focus of some of our jurisdictions.

In recent years, cities from Dallas to Rivera Beach, Fla. have launched efforts to make sagging pants punishable by fines and jail time. Some of the most vociferous supporters of these efforts claim the fashion was born in prison culture and, by implication glorifies criminal behavior.  Others just argue, like Townsend, that it offends community taste.

“It’s a horrible fad,” said City Councilman Anthony Davis of Paterson, New Jersey.  The 40-something legislator, who spearheaded an anti-sagging campaign in his city, traces the trend to correctional institutions, where belts are often banned, and says many in the African American community worry that young black men are embodying a “prison mentality” when they let their pants sag.

What better way to deal with this “embodying a prison mentality” then by fining them and putting them in prison?  In the study of Symbolic Logic there is a type of logic called “not logic.”  I would definitely say that this is a prime example of not logic, or perhaps logic–not!  I wonder if this is what happened to tube tops.

 

Website Overturns The Stone In D.C.


Tea Partyer Cathy Craddock has sent us a link to a great site itemizing the trips taken, foreign gifts received and earmarks sneaked into spending bills among other things about our Congress critters.

Did you know that Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi holds the earmark crown for the 2008-2010 legislative session with $2.5 billion? A billion bucks back in second place is Roger Wicker also of Mississippi.

And they are both Republicans.

The latest info for staff salaries is from Sept. 30. For Delco residents this means that while Congressman Joe Sestak and Sen. Arlen Specter are listed the Pats Meehan and Toomey are left out.

The site is LegisStorm.com and can be found here .

Pa. County Thumbs Nose At Big Labor



The Lancaster County Commissioners passed, yesterday, an ordinance forbidding the use of county funds for any construction project with a project labor agreement or PLA.

A PLA is a binding contract with one or more labor unions that establishes terms of employment for a specific construction contract. It is applies to all contractors and subcontractors bidding on the project — including non-union firms. They also supersede any existing collective bargaining agreement.

The act, Ordinance 99, also prohibits PLAs for municipal projects using county grants.

Commissioner Chairman Scott Martin has pledged never to support a PLA while in office. He said the ordinance would prevent a future board from agreeing to a PLA without a public airing as would now be required to overturn the law.

About 84 percent of the private construction workforce is non-union.

Educating Liberal Woman How to

Educating Liberal Woman How To — A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very Liberal  Democrat, and among  other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of  higher taxes to  support more government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth.

She  was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch  Republican, a feeling  she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that  she had participated  in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she  felt that her father  had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to  keep what he thought  should be his.

One day she was  challenging her father on his opposition to higher  taxes on the rich and  the need for more government programs. The  self-professed  objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the  truth and she  indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how  she was doing in  school.

Taken  aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and  let him know that it  was tough to maintain, insisting that she was  taking a very  difficult course load and was constantly studying, which  left her no time to go  out and party like other people she knew. She  didn’t even have time  for a boyfriend, and didn’t really have many  college  friends, because she spent all her time studying.

Her father  listened and then asked , ‘How is your friend Audrey  doing?’ She replied, ‘  Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are  easy classes, she  never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She Is  so popular on campus;  college for her is a blast. She’s always invited  to all the parties and  lots of times she doesn’t even show up for  classes because she’s  too hung over.’

Her wise father  asked his daughter, ‘Why don’t you go to the Dean’s  office and ask him to  deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your  friend who only has a  2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA,  and  certainly that would  be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.’ The  daughter, visibly  shocked by her father’s suggestion, angrily fired  back, ‘That’s a crazy  idea, how would that be fair! I’ve worked really  hard for my grades!  I’ve invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard  work! Audrey has done  next to nothing toward her degree. She played  while I worked my tail  off!’

The  father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, ‘Welcome to The  Republican party.’ If  anyone has a better explanation of the difference  between Republican and Democrat  I’m all ears.

If you ever  wondered what side of the fence you sit on, this is a great  test! Educating Liberal Woman

If a conservative  doesn’t like guns, he doesn’t buy one.  If a liberal doesn’t  like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative  is a vegetarian, he doesn’t eat meat..  If a liberal is a  vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for  everyone.

If a conservative  is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.  If a liberal is  homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative  is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his  situation.  A liberal wonders who  is going to take care of him.

If a conservative  doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.  Liberals demand that  those they don’t like be shut down.

If a conservative  is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.  A liberal non-believer  wants any mention of God and religion silenced.  (Unless it’s a foreign  Islamic religion, of course!)

If a conservative  reads this, he’ll forward it so his friends can have  a good laugh.  A  liberal will delete it because he’s “offended”.

Educating Liberal Woman

Union Vote For F Troop


The Transportation Security Administration, the 21st century’s answer to F Troop, may get even more efficient, responsive and diligent about ignoring concerns about matters of security and complaints from travelers.

 A vote to unionize the 40,000 person workforce is scheduled for March 9.

The election will be the largest in the history of the federal government. To be decided will be whether to unionize, and if so, whether to join the 
National Treasury Employees Union or the American
Federation of Government Employees

If the to vote to unionize is yes, as expected, expect dramatic changes. It will be like Gilligan being able to file a grievance if the Skipper should smack him with his hat.

Congressmen, Haircuts And Community Service

Congressmen, Haircuts And Community Service Courtesy of Judy McGrane

One day a florist went to a barber for a hair cut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.’ The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you , I’m doing community service this week.’ The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, ‘I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this  week.’ The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON!

If you don’t forward this you have no sense of humor. Nothing bad will happen, however, you must live with yourself knowing that laughter is not in your future. Now send it to everyone you know.

Congressmen, Haircuts And Community Service

Fat Kids, Food Stamps And Michelle

Fat Kids, Food Stamps And Michelle — The lame-stream propagandists who prefer writing press releases of fluff to pressing for release of facts were effusive in their praise yesterday of Michelle Obama for twisting the arm of Wal*Mart and forcing it to make “healthy food” more available and less expensive.

Basically the corporation agreed to reduce sodium and sugar in some foods, cut prices on produce and make a logo so customers can more identify healthful items.

What a spunky dynamo our First Lady is!!!

So will Michelle make the next logical step and begin demanding that the food products that one can buy via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program i.e. SNAP i.e.Food Stamps be restricted?

Actually, if one’s true motive was concern for the diet of the needy, one would think that would be the first logical step, but never mind.

Right now with Food Stamps bags of M&Ms, boxes of Captain Crunch, cartons of TastyKakes and bottles of Mountain Dew are all just fine and dandy to snap up at the Aldi market.

So Michelle, how about we launch a crusade to limit what you can buy with SNAP to bulk grains, cooking oils, fruit and veggies (fresh, canned or frozen), milk, eggs, butter and domestic cheese? Note that we are leaving sugar off the list. That would certainly give Mr. Obesity the what-for!

Of course you do realize that if such a proposal was made the first ones to send out their Ninja lobbyists to slit its throat would be Wal*Mart, and PepsiCo and Nabisco and every other soulless corporate producer or distributor of SNAP subsidized junk food.

It doesn’t matter though cause you are not going to do it. Style trumps substance every time in your crowd.

 

 Fat Kids, Food Stamps And Michelle

 

Fat Kids, Food Stamps And Michelle

I want a Tax and Spend Government for The People

By Dr. John Gilmore

 

When Bill Meyer was about to retire he
gave an excellent speech on the idea of the Commonwealth. He said he
was born in a very poor neighborhood, but didn’t even really knew it
because we all shared in the commonwealth when he was growing up.
There were parks, free summer recreational programs, free after
school programs, free music programs in the schools and art programs.
Sometimes they even had free summer camps sponsored by the counties
or cities. Anyone could be involved in a sports program for just the
cost of a two dollar insurance policy each year and the school
provided buses that would take the children to the away games on the
weekend.

 

We don’t have many of these programs
because of the movement led by rich people to disassemble the
commonwealth and do away with taxes. As a result of this people end
up paying for all of these programs as if they are a privilege. Many
people spend hours of time driving miles to carry their children to
soccer games and other sports activities, thus spending the money
they thought they had saved in taxes on time and for gas. Now only
the ones who can afford it send their children to music programs and
to art classes. Just think of all of the great musicians from poor
families who started playing their instrument in school. This won’t
happen now in most school districts.

 

Now people who can afford it have to
pay for day care, pay to go to parks, pay to go to the beaches, and
the many other things that add to the quality of life for all
citizens, allowing us to share in the riches of the nation as a whole
group instead of as individuals working and struggling to buy what is
necessary to enjoy the fruit of American life.

 

As we cut taxes the savings are now
being funneled into overseas investments that put us out jobs and
foreign wars—especially to defense contractors. The states and
local governments are broke, so they need to raise state a local
taxes while cutting the services we so desperately need. In the long
run the average person ends up paying more for services than he paid
for taxes, while the rich person has an opportunity to invest in
China and send their children to the best schools, concerts, music
programs and so on so they can make us look like failures when we try
to compete against them. As a result of this the rich communities get
good resources while the average and poor ones decline until they
begin to look like the slums in most Latin American countries. We
end up with beautiful homes in one block and torn up ghettos right in
the next block, except for the most rich areas—all because we don’t
want to support each other by paying taxes.

 

The sad thing is that the amount of
taxes never go down, they only get transferred from the federal
government to state and local governments, utility fees, park fees,
higher car registration costs and licensing fees. We end up paying
the same amount of taxes for no service. That is why I like the idea
of a tax and spend government as long as the money is being spent on
the people who are being taxed instead of on foreign wars and foreign
investments. It is strange that anytime we hear the words tax and
spend government from the corporate media we are hearing it from a
person who’s income is highly invested in stocks in foreign countries
that are taking our jobs. They tell us we can’t depend on the
government to take care of us, but we can depend on private
corporations. That doesn’t even make sense, when you really think
about it. We can pressure the elected government to make changes in
its spending patterns; we cannot do anything to corporations.