ISIS Posed As Refugees

It’s up to 27 states that have now declared that they won’t accept Syrian refugees due to concern that ISIS operatives will be hidden among them. ISIS Posed As Refugees

Pennsylvania is one of but four that has definitively said it will accept them.

Gov. Tom Wolf has said there is nothing to fear and is sneering at all who do.

Meanwhile, Turkey has just reported that it has arrested eight ISIS operatives posing as refugees.

Accepting refugees from that region is a remarkably stupid idea especially when we can be looking for ways to arm them and otherwise support them in defending their homes.

To let Gov. Wolf know how wrong he is, his Twitter account is  @governorTomWolf. The phone number for his chief of staff is 1-717-787-2531.

ISIS Posed As Refugees

Sad Dog Story

Sad Dog StoryHere is a sad dog story and a warning about not abandoning your best friend.

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was “bad, “you’d shake your finger at me and ask “How could you?” -but then you’d relent, and roll me over for a belly rub. My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be anymore perfect.

We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because “ice cream is bad for dogs,” you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate.

I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your home comings, and when you fell in love.

She, now your wife, is not a “dog person”- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared you excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a “prisoner of love.”

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves upon wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch-because your touch was now so infrequent-and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered “yes” and changed the subject. I had gone from being “your dog” to “just a dog,” and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your “family,” but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said “I know you will find a good home for her.

“They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with “papers.” You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar as he screamed “No, Daddy! Please don’t let them take my dog!” And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.

You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked….”How could you?” They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago.

At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you-that you had changed your mind-that this was all a bad dream … or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared,….. anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room.

A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured “How could you?”

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said “I’m so sorry. “She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself-a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my “How could you?” was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

The End

Sad Dog Story

Sales Tax Hike Problem For Pa.

By Nathan Benefield Sales Tax Hike Problem For Pa.

After nearly five months of gridlock, a new state budget framework has been announced. The plan would raise the sales tax rate to the second-highest in the nation while promising property tax relief for homeowners in return.

At this point, it’s tempting to call any progress on budget agreement a victory, but is this tentative framework truly a “win” for Pennsylvanians?

Let’s start with the good: It appears taxpayers will be spared a personal income tax hike. A spike in utility bills caused by a new severance tax is also off the table. Additionally, Governor Wolf’s plan to expand the sales tax to 45 items like nursing homes, day care, funerals, and college textbooks has reportedly been dropped.

That’s great news, given Pennsylvanians already face the 10th-highest tax burden in the nation, but not everything is so rosy.

Under this budget plan, Pennsylvania would see the first sales tax hike in nearly 50 years and would have the second-highest rate in America. At 7.25 percent, the new rate would be 21 percent higher than the state’s current 6 percent rate.

It gets even worse for Pittsburgh residents who would pay a crushing 8.25 percent, and Philadelphia’s sales tax would spike to 9.25 percent. Delaware retailers, which benefit from no sales tax, should cheer, but business in the Keystone State would suffer.

The sales tax hike would collect about $2.1 billion more from consumers, while providing only $1.5 billion in property tax relief.

What about the leftover money? It will be used to replace $600 million in gambling funds formerly allocated to property tax relief that would now be redirected to additional spending.

Most homeowners would benefit from this tax shift, but businesses—which pay an estimated 40 percent of all sales taxes—and renters would lose. They would pay the higher sales tax but see no reduction in property taxes or rents under the current proposal.

In one sense, progress has been made. Wolf’s initial budget proposal in March called for the largest tax increase in the nation, costing an astonishing $1,400 per Pennsylvania family of four. While this sales tax is far lower, taxpayers should be asking what they’ll get in return for any increase.

Much is still being worked out behind the scenes, and there’s still an opportunity to act on crucial issues like pension reform, liquor privatization, and corporate welfare reform.

First, true liquor privatization—allowing private retailers to sell wine and spirits and ending the government monopoly over distribution—must be part of any deal. This would give consumers greater selection and convenience, generate recurring revenue, and end the state’s conflict of interest as both alcohol salesman and liquor law enforcer.

Though Wolf vetoed privatization this summer, Pennsylvanians still strongly support the measure because it makes fiscal sense and common sense.

In any serious discussion of property tax relief, lawmakers must first address the primary cause of property tax increases: unsustainable public pension costs. Only by moving to a defined-contribution plan, like a 401(k), will we stop the bleeding and end the political manipulation that created a $53 billion unfunded pension debt.

Moreover, any property tax shift should include strict controls over future school tax increases. Pennsylvania ranks near the top on education spending, while residents face some of the highest property taxes. To give taxpayers more control, lawmakers should give voters the chance to approve any school tax increase—a right residents of other states, like our neighbors in Ohio, already have.

For anyone looking to cut budget waste, this one’s hard to miss: Pennsylvania hands out nearly $700 million in corporate welfare subsidies through grant and loan programs. These subsidies provide businesses an unfair advantage at taxpayer expense and should be eliminated.

Finally, any budget agreement should include a long-term pledge that government will not recklessly overspend our hard-earned dollars. The Taxpayer Protection Act, supported by 64 percent of Pennsylvania voters according to a recent poll, would limit spending growth to the rate of inflation plus population growth.

Pennsylvanians need a state budget, but they don’t want promises of relief that hide higher taxes.  Before we ask taxpayers for more, the governor and lawmakers should ensure tax dollars are spent well. True reforms that will set our state—and our families—on the path toward lasting prosperity should be part of any budget deal.

Nathan A. Benefield is vice president of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation

Sales Tax Hike Problem For Pa.

Holy Myrrh-Bearers Open Saturday For Prayer

Holy Myrrh-Bearers Open Saturday For Prayer -- Holy Myrrh-Bearers Eastern Catholic Church, will be open for prayer for peace in the world, 3 -8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21. All are welcome. The church is at 900 Fairview Road, Swarthmore, Pa. (Ridley Township) 19081. Holy Myrrh-Bearers Eastern Catholic Church, will be open for prayer for peace in the world, 3 -8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21. All are welcome.Holy Myrrh-Bearers Eastern Catholic Church, will be open for prayer for peace in the world, 3 -8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21.

All are welcome.

The church is at 900 Fairview Road, Swarthmore, Pa. (Ridley Township) 19081.

 Holy Myrrh-Bearers Open Saturday For Prayer

ISIS Refugees Pennsylvania Bound

ISIS Refugees Pennsylvania Bound
There is no danger you narrow-minded bigots. At least to me anyway, I live in Harrisburg. Who wants to attack Harrisburg?

Fifteen states — including some of the largest like Texas and Michigan, and the most liberal like Massachusetts and Illinois —have announced that they will refuse to allow the Syrian refugees President Obama is insisting on importing.

Do you know what that means? That’s right MORE FOR PENNSYLVANIA as  Tom “I Don’t Care What You Think, I’m The Governor” Wolf has just declared that the Keystone State won’t turn them away.

Hey they don’t pose any security risk. Really.  LOL. Gov. Wolf fully understands that when it comes to priorities your safety just has to take a back seat to being patted on the head at a wine and cheese fundraiser.

ISIS Refugees Pennsylvania Bound

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 11-16-15

William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 11-16-15 After the Nazis took power in Germany, but before World War II started the British heard rumors that they had a "death ray" capable of destroying whole towns. They felt it imperative to make their own. They sent radio waves at solid objects. They soon learned a death ray was a pretty stupid concept. The radio waves, however, were just peachy at detecting things and determining their range. Hence R(adio)A(nd)D(etection)A(nd)R(anging) came about. The Nazis, ironically, never matched the Allies with regard to radar.

After the Nazis took power in Germany, but before World War II started the British heard rumors that they had a “death ray” capable of destroying whole towns. They felt it imperative to make their own. They sent radio waves at solid objects. They soon learned a death ray was a pretty stupid concept. The radio waves, however, were just peachy at detecting things and determining their range. Hence R(adio)A(nd)D(etection)A(nd)R(anging) came about. The Nazis, ironically, never matched the Allies with regard to radar.

Nazi death ray report led to radar

Delco Debates Forum Meeting

Delco Debates will meet 7 tonight,  Nov. 16 in the basement meeting room of the Marple Public Library, 2599 Sproul Road, 19008 to discuss its 2016  schedule. Delco Debates Forum Meeting Delco Debates will meet 7 tonight, Nov. 16 in the basement meeting room of the Marple Public Library, 2599 Sproul Road, 19008 to discuss its 2016 schedule.

Delco Debates is a group dedicated to providing a space for all viewpoints, including alternative and independent candidates from all sides of the political spectrum, and  has developed a reputation for reason and fairness.

For information e-mail delcodebates@gmail.com or call 610-543-8427.

Its website is newdelcodebates.wordpress.com

Delco Debates Forum Meeting

Cop Stops Driverless Car

History was made Nov. 12. Cop Stops Driverless Car

Police stopped a  driverless car.

There was no driver to ticket, of course, albeit the offense actually wouldn’t have garnered one anyway.

The car was a Google model and the site of the stop was Mountain View, CA., where the tech giant is headquartered.

The violation was impeding traffic. The car was traveling at 25 mph — it’s top speed — in a 35 mph zone.

The cop talked to a passenger. In the end, he decided the law hadn’t been broken.

Hat tip Bob Small

Cop Stops Driverless Car