Thursday, March 31, 2011
Whaaaat???
Did I just hear that right? Two minutes ago on the Jordan Levy Show (WTAG 580) I could swear I heard Worcester Mayor Joe O'Brien say that we need to support Representative James O'Day's bill to raise the state income tax and the capital gains taxes. If you live in Millbury, Leicester, Sturbridge or even East Brookfield and you don't think what happens in Worcester is relevant you need to think again. If you think your protests over higher taxes are going to be heard in Boston, think again. If the city governments across the state buy into this idea and then promote it like Mayor O'Brien is doing right now it will happen. When I blogged about this issue last month I was told by so many liberals and, unfortunately, independents I was being alarmist and over reacting to something that not going to happen in this political environment. They were wrong and if we don't scream loud and long about this, our taxes will go up, a lot, and for no other reason than to prop up the status quo like $100,000 per year parking attendants and floor sweepers! If you are angry about how our governement is behaving, do something now before it's too late. Make phone calls, write letters, talk with your friends and neighbors! Don't put it off! It will be too late then.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Red Cross
Tonight I was watching the news when I heard about the great job the Red Cross is doing in Japan. I also saw some new video of the tsunami that was very sobering. I then remembered how the Red Cross had helped me and decided this was a good time to say thanks.
Seven years ago today I awoke at 5 am to the most horrible nightmare imaginable. Our house was on fire. Thankfully everyone survived without any injuries although we did lose one cat. Still, we lost everything we owned and did not even have any shoes on our feet. Soon our neighbors were there with shoes, hot coffee, warm kitchens and comforting ears. After awhile I went back to our front yard and I remember standing there looking at the black shell that had been a home and wondering what next. With the arrival of the American Red Cross disaster van some of those questions were answered.
A voucher was provided so that we could go and buy enough clothes to wear for a couple days. We were given information on agencies that were available to assist us. They made sure we had a place to stay (We did.) and were told if not they would arrange for some type of housing. I don't remember how long they were there but I know it was more than a couple hours.
So who were the Red Cross volunteers that day? Sadly I don't know their names but I do know this. They were local residents like you and me who were awoken early on a Sunday morning to come to someone else's aid. Not for money, not for public recognition, not for anything other than a deep sense of wanting to help people in need.
As an adult I have given to charities like the United Way and heard about some of the groups they help, like the Red Cross, but never really thought about what the money was used for. On that cold March morning I saw first hand where some of it went.
Although I cannot personally thank the volunteers from that day I can say thank you to the Red Cross for being there when I needed them. I have never worked for the Red Cross and I don't know anyone who does but I do know the sacrifices the volunteers make every time they are called out. If you can, I am asking that you support the Red Cross so they can continue to be there for people in need whether its on your own street or in Japan, thanks.
Seven years ago today I awoke at 5 am to the most horrible nightmare imaginable. Our house was on fire. Thankfully everyone survived without any injuries although we did lose one cat. Still, we lost everything we owned and did not even have any shoes on our feet. Soon our neighbors were there with shoes, hot coffee, warm kitchens and comforting ears. After awhile I went back to our front yard and I remember standing there looking at the black shell that had been a home and wondering what next. With the arrival of the American Red Cross disaster van some of those questions were answered.
A voucher was provided so that we could go and buy enough clothes to wear for a couple days. We were given information on agencies that were available to assist us. They made sure we had a place to stay (We did.) and were told if not they would arrange for some type of housing. I don't remember how long they were there but I know it was more than a couple hours.
So who were the Red Cross volunteers that day? Sadly I don't know their names but I do know this. They were local residents like you and me who were awoken early on a Sunday morning to come to someone else's aid. Not for money, not for public recognition, not for anything other than a deep sense of wanting to help people in need.
As an adult I have given to charities like the United Way and heard about some of the groups they help, like the Red Cross, but never really thought about what the money was used for. On that cold March morning I saw first hand where some of it went.
Although I cannot personally thank the volunteers from that day I can say thank you to the Red Cross for being there when I needed them. I have never worked for the Red Cross and I don't know anyone who does but I do know the sacrifices the volunteers make every time they are called out. If you can, I am asking that you support the Red Cross so they can continue to be there for people in need whether its on your own street or in Japan, thanks.
Thank you Donald Trump!
No matter what you think of Donald Trump, if you follow politics you've got to love him for his latest stand on President Obama's birth certificate, or lack there of. By raising this controversial issue to such a level that every network is commenting on it and taking the usual sides, Trump is accomplishing in two weeks what some lawyers and pundits have been unable to do in two plus years. He is forcing the political establishment to be held accountable and to come clean as to what this business is really all about.
First off let me say that I do not believe that President Obama is ineligible to be President but that statement is just as crazy as someone saying he is. Since he has refused to release his original birth certificate there is just no way to know which statement is true. On the left there is a frenzy of vitriole alleging that anyone who asks the question is either stupid or racist. There are irrational thoughts such as the one expressed by Whoopi Golderg in which she says "...if he's the President he is is a citizen, period." What? By that logic, if a foriegn born national is somehow elected President of the US then that person is automatically eligible. That is just plain dumb.
On the right some of the language is just as bad. Whenever I hear a right wing pundit swear that the only reason the birth certificate isn't being released is because Obama is absolutely not a citizen, I cringe. That type of rhetoric helps to cloud the issue, which to my mind is the release of the original birth certificate. I can think of several other reasons why the President would not want it released such as personal information or who his parents really are. I'm not saying I believe these things but the questions are out there.
So why should it be released? I thought it would be fun to first list just a few of the things that require a certified copy of an original birth certificate. This list is off the top of my head as I sit here writing this so here goes:
To play Little League baseball you need a certified birth certificate.
To get a driver's license you need a certified birth certificate.
To join the military you need a certified birth certificate.
To play Pop Warner football you need a certified birth certificate.
To get government benefits you need a certified birth certificate.
To get a social security card you need a certified birth certificate.
To run for many state offices, including state senate in Illinois, you need a certified birth certificate.
etc. etc.etc.
The one thing all of those things have in common? None of them legally require that you be a natural born citizen of the US! That requirement is reserved for being elected to the highest office of the land. Our forefathers were not stupid men. They simply wanted to ensure that the president was not susceptible to foreign influence. Pretty straightforward stuff. So why has this issue lingered? It is very simple. President Obama has not only refused to release his original birth certificate, he has spent over a million dollars to keep it hidden. It's not just his birth certificate either. Where are the college transcripts? Where are the high school documents? We know less about our president than we do about little league coaches who must pass a background check prior to coaching. Do any of you think you can get hired to any job without disclosing a ton of personal information about yourself ? Yet we blindly accept this man as the leader of the free world on his word and the word of loyalists around him that he is a absolutely eligible for the job and a good guy. But how do we really know that? These are some of the questions now being asked by Trump. Is he stupid? Uh, no! Is he racist? There is nothing in the record to indicate that but I guess it's possible. That wouldn't change the questions though, would it?
I know this blog will bring out the usual criticism about how he has released his original birth certificate, or how it's racist to ask questions about it, or it doesn't really matter because he got elected, etc. etc. To each of those there are very rational detailed answers. Unfortunately the so called mainstream media on both the left and the right refuse to properly investigate this story because it would expose their utter incompetence as news gatherers. Up until now they have been able to characterize anyone who asked the questions as being part of the fringe and not relevant. With Trump now asking the same questions, that is not going to work.
On one point the critics are correct. In the end none of this matter for the 2008 election. Even if he was not eligible, noone is going to impeach him over it. 2012 will be a different matter. Just because someone is already President, the rules for being elected do not change. He will have to once again prove that he is eligible to hold the office. If he refuses to produce a valid, original signed certified birth certificate this time around he may find himself left off many state ballots where the Tea Party has the power to demand it. That is the law of our land. If he doesn't release the original he will also have to rely on all the other candidates ignoring the issue and just letting it drop. With Trump as a candidate, that won't happen this time around either. So thank you Donald Trump for at least ensuring the upcoming election will be as interesting and entertaining as ever. Either Obama won't be able to produce the necessary proof or he will bring it forward in a dramatic event that will slam his critics and make them look like the crazies they are being made out to be.
One more thing. To those of you who think the pursuit of this story is crazy because a scandal like this could never happen, I would remind you the same things were said to Bernstien and Woodward about the Watergate story.
First off let me say that I do not believe that President Obama is ineligible to be President but that statement is just as crazy as someone saying he is. Since he has refused to release his original birth certificate there is just no way to know which statement is true. On the left there is a frenzy of vitriole alleging that anyone who asks the question is either stupid or racist. There are irrational thoughts such as the one expressed by Whoopi Golderg in which she says "...if he's the President he is is a citizen, period." What? By that logic, if a foriegn born national is somehow elected President of the US then that person is automatically eligible. That is just plain dumb.
On the right some of the language is just as bad. Whenever I hear a right wing pundit swear that the only reason the birth certificate isn't being released is because Obama is absolutely not a citizen, I cringe. That type of rhetoric helps to cloud the issue, which to my mind is the release of the original birth certificate. I can think of several other reasons why the President would not want it released such as personal information or who his parents really are. I'm not saying I believe these things but the questions are out there.
So why should it be released? I thought it would be fun to first list just a few of the things that require a certified copy of an original birth certificate. This list is off the top of my head as I sit here writing this so here goes:
To play Little League baseball you need a certified birth certificate.
To get a driver's license you need a certified birth certificate.
To join the military you need a certified birth certificate.
To play Pop Warner football you need a certified birth certificate.
To get government benefits you need a certified birth certificate.
To get a social security card you need a certified birth certificate.
To run for many state offices, including state senate in Illinois, you need a certified birth certificate.
etc. etc.etc.
The one thing all of those things have in common? None of them legally require that you be a natural born citizen of the US! That requirement is reserved for being elected to the highest office of the land. Our forefathers were not stupid men. They simply wanted to ensure that the president was not susceptible to foreign influence. Pretty straightforward stuff. So why has this issue lingered? It is very simple. President Obama has not only refused to release his original birth certificate, he has spent over a million dollars to keep it hidden. It's not just his birth certificate either. Where are the college transcripts? Where are the high school documents? We know less about our president than we do about little league coaches who must pass a background check prior to coaching. Do any of you think you can get hired to any job without disclosing a ton of personal information about yourself ? Yet we blindly accept this man as the leader of the free world on his word and the word of loyalists around him that he is a absolutely eligible for the job and a good guy. But how do we really know that? These are some of the questions now being asked by Trump. Is he stupid? Uh, no! Is he racist? There is nothing in the record to indicate that but I guess it's possible. That wouldn't change the questions though, would it?
I know this blog will bring out the usual criticism about how he has released his original birth certificate, or how it's racist to ask questions about it, or it doesn't really matter because he got elected, etc. etc. To each of those there are very rational detailed answers. Unfortunately the so called mainstream media on both the left and the right refuse to properly investigate this story because it would expose their utter incompetence as news gatherers. Up until now they have been able to characterize anyone who asked the questions as being part of the fringe and not relevant. With Trump now asking the same questions, that is not going to work.
On one point the critics are correct. In the end none of this matter for the 2008 election. Even if he was not eligible, noone is going to impeach him over it. 2012 will be a different matter. Just because someone is already President, the rules for being elected do not change. He will have to once again prove that he is eligible to hold the office. If he refuses to produce a valid, original signed certified birth certificate this time around he may find himself left off many state ballots where the Tea Party has the power to demand it. That is the law of our land. If he doesn't release the original he will also have to rely on all the other candidates ignoring the issue and just letting it drop. With Trump as a candidate, that won't happen this time around either. So thank you Donald Trump for at least ensuring the upcoming election will be as interesting and entertaining as ever. Either Obama won't be able to produce the necessary proof or he will bring it forward in a dramatic event that will slam his critics and make them look like the crazies they are being made out to be.
One more thing. To those of you who think the pursuit of this story is crazy because a scandal like this could never happen, I would remind you the same things were said to Bernstien and Woodward about the Watergate story.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Spin, Spin, Spin
What has long been suspected became official this week when the census numbers for Massachusetts were released. Large numbers of middle class folks are leaving the cities and being replaced by folks who do not have the same income opportunities. Many of those middle class families are not stopping at the state line either, they are simply leaving this whole mess behind. As desirable as that solution may be I am more inclined to stay and fight the good fight against those who want to undermine our society, namely the progressive, socialist liberals masquerading as caring, responsible leaders.
So how are the Democrats responding? Gleefully! Cheerily! Their progressive policies are finally bearing fruit for their party.
Worcester Mayor Joe O'Brien is a prime example of one of these politicians. His campaign to bring all of the world's refugees to Worcester is enjoying great success. He is also advocating for more low income housing and for more benefits for those in need who live in the city, or anywhere else. That is where the problem really lies. Unfortunately he is not advocating for helping those same people to assimilate into our society. I know it sounds cynical but I cannot help but think he is instead just looking at each of those people as a vote for him and his party going forward. I don't blame the recipients either. If I were poor and lived someplace else, I would look to go where the most benefits can be had for my family. That is human nature. Politicians like Joe O'Brien denegrate those of us who raise these issues as racists and mean. I contend that his approach to governing is worse for those involved.
When my ancestors came here from Canada and Italy they had to fit in to the American Society, not the other way around. English needed to be learned quickly and well. Dems continually enact laws to get in the way of that process. While Democrats like to throw out words like racist and mean they ignore another human trait. We like to be able to communicate with each other. It is not racist, it's life. They never talk about how hard it is for small businesses to hire people who don't know English, but it is a real concern. This is not a racist view. There are laws on our books that require we be able to read English to get a driver's license. By not encouraging full immersion into English and our culture, it makes it harder for the newcomers to find jobs and succeed. That not mean, it's realistic.
So what about the middle class? Why are they leaving? Well, the city and state has raised fees and taxes continually for decades. School systems across the state are suffering under the weight of more students with less resources. Police, Fire, DPW, and all other departments suffer too. Bring more people in who cannot conribute as much as those leaving and you have a recipe for disaster. Thousands of restrictive laws and regulations make it difficult for businesses to succeed too, especially small businesses. If we do not stop these progressive policies, our cities will be doomed and our state will continue to lose its voice in Washington. Working class families know these things instinctively and that is why they are so afraid of the future. Right now, at this time, there is just not enough hope for a better Massachusetts anytime soon. Heck, even our Governor can't stand to be here for more than a few days at a time. No matter how the Democrats spin this news, it is not good and needs to be addressed at the ballot box. Their approach for the past fifty years has not worked. It's time to change course.
So how are the Democrats responding? Gleefully! Cheerily! Their progressive policies are finally bearing fruit for their party.
Worcester Mayor Joe O'Brien is a prime example of one of these politicians. His campaign to bring all of the world's refugees to Worcester is enjoying great success. He is also advocating for more low income housing and for more benefits for those in need who live in the city, or anywhere else. That is where the problem really lies. Unfortunately he is not advocating for helping those same people to assimilate into our society. I know it sounds cynical but I cannot help but think he is instead just looking at each of those people as a vote for him and his party going forward. I don't blame the recipients either. If I were poor and lived someplace else, I would look to go where the most benefits can be had for my family. That is human nature. Politicians like Joe O'Brien denegrate those of us who raise these issues as racists and mean. I contend that his approach to governing is worse for those involved.
When my ancestors came here from Canada and Italy they had to fit in to the American Society, not the other way around. English needed to be learned quickly and well. Dems continually enact laws to get in the way of that process. While Democrats like to throw out words like racist and mean they ignore another human trait. We like to be able to communicate with each other. It is not racist, it's life. They never talk about how hard it is for small businesses to hire people who don't know English, but it is a real concern. This is not a racist view. There are laws on our books that require we be able to read English to get a driver's license. By not encouraging full immersion into English and our culture, it makes it harder for the newcomers to find jobs and succeed. That not mean, it's realistic.
So what about the middle class? Why are they leaving? Well, the city and state has raised fees and taxes continually for decades. School systems across the state are suffering under the weight of more students with less resources. Police, Fire, DPW, and all other departments suffer too. Bring more people in who cannot conribute as much as those leaving and you have a recipe for disaster. Thousands of restrictive laws and regulations make it difficult for businesses to succeed too, especially small businesses. If we do not stop these progressive policies, our cities will be doomed and our state will continue to lose its voice in Washington. Working class families know these things instinctively and that is why they are so afraid of the future. Right now, at this time, there is just not enough hope for a better Massachusetts anytime soon. Heck, even our Governor can't stand to be here for more than a few days at a time. No matter how the Democrats spin this news, it is not good and needs to be addressed at the ballot box. Their approach for the past fifty years has not worked. It's time to change course.
Fiasco underway with Libya
After weeks of imitating John Kerry by waffling on the Libya situation President Obama finally gets tough and acts. Well sort of. Apparently he has ordered those in his administration to not use the word war when describing the military operation now under way. He also failed to tell us, the American People, what the objectives of the military campaign are and what our role will be as part of a loosely held international coalition. Since the attacks on Libya began there have been public squabbles among the so called allies about what the goals are or even who is in charge. Obama insists that NATO will be taking over the operation but in fine liberal academia fashion, there will be a steering committee set up to make operational decisions. Even the lowest private in the Army can see how disastrous that approach will be in any situation like this. Can you imagine how that might go for the troops involved? Think about it. Just a couple of days ago one of our planes went down and both of the pilots had to eject. Our Navy and Marines quickly reacted and both crew members were safely brought back. Now fast forward a couple of weeks and the same situation arises. Before any rescue is launched permission would have to be granted by the NATO steering committee. By the time members are assembled and a consensus is agreed upon as to what assets to use, how to do it, and which member countries would be involved, those same crew members would most likely become casualties.
When Obama was campaigning to become President these are the situations his opponents pointed to. They worried he just did not have the experience or world view needed to lead our country. Kenya? No problem. The US, no way! When we do not lead in this world, there is no leadership. I hope the President learns this at some point before it is too late for all our sakes.
When Obama was campaigning to become President these are the situations his opponents pointed to. They worried he just did not have the experience or world view needed to lead our country. Kenya? No problem. The US, no way! When we do not lead in this world, there is no leadership. I hope the President learns this at some point before it is too late for all our sakes.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Dem Lobbies for Higher Taxes
Yesterday, I was listening to the Jordan Levy Show, when he announced Representative James O'Day, D-West Boylston, would be a guest in the five o'clock hour to respond to the harsh criticism he has been receiving for his recent tax hike proposals. I immediately made a mental note to make sure I was able to hear the interview in anticipation of hearing him explain how he was taken out of context, misunderstood or at the least respond to legitimate questions raised by opponents of his approach to solving the state's budget crisis.
Instead Rep. O'Day opined about the need for discussions about finding new revenue for the state so the neediest among us would not suffer. I really could not believe I was hearing him say the same things I had blogged about a few days ago. There was no backing down, no shame, and there were no other solutions presented by him. He could not think of one single thing other than raising taxes by 20% on most of us, that could help to solve the fiscal crisis. Rep. O'Day said a few other things like telling the audience he has heard people tell him directly that our taxes are too low. What? If I had been watching TV I would have hit the rewind button on that one just to make sure I heard him right. After the interview Jordan brought it up with Mike Mussina so I know I did. I may be just one person but I have never heard anyone in this state complain about the low taxes.
Rep. O'Day also explained how people making over $32,000 per year would be the ones with tax decreases. Really? Apparently Rep. O'Day doesn't understand that most of the people in that category are already exempted from most state taxes anyway. He also failed to point out how married folks would be paying an even higher price. Rep. O'Day explained how people making $60,000 to $70,000 per year could afford the new hikes. Well, if you have two married people each making $30,000 per year and combine their income, voila! You get to the magical $60,000. If that same couple has children can you imagine the econmic effect his proposals will really have? Apparently Rep. O'Day cannot.
Since Rep. O'Day cannot think of any ideas beyond raising taxes to help the state budget, I thought I would offer a few suggestions here. How about eliminating state pensions and have all the state workers go into Social Security like the rest of us. How about doing what Wisconsin has done and take away the ability of unions like the Teamsters to hold our legislature hostage and then turn around and pay parking attendants and floor sweepers over $100,000 per year at places like Logan Airport and the Hynes Convention Center. How about cutting taxes for businesses like then Governor Dukakis did in the early eighties. Those cuts brought such businesses as Digital and Wang to our state which ignited one of the biggest econmic growth periods in our history. How about going through each state agency and eliminating redundant positions or services? How about eliminating the Mass Turnpike authority? How about getting more of our fair share from the federal government stimulus funds, 70% of which have not been spent. Currently Massachusetts has received less than 1% of the total of those funds. These are just a few ideas that should be discussed long before we hear about new higher taxes.
Unfortunatley Rep.O'Day is typical of the tax and spend liberals who populate the halls and offices of our statehouse. Although most of the legislators are publicly saying they are not in favor of Rep. O'Day's proposals, there is no doubt in my mind they would like nothing better than to continue the status quo by raising taxes and fees. There is also no doubt that at some point in the near future we are going to hear about modest increases from other Represenatives which compared to Rep. O'Day's proposal will look much better. They will still be tax increases but the politicians like Rep. O'Day will couch them as something else. There is only one way to change this horrible tax and spend game. Change the players!
Instead Rep. O'Day opined about the need for discussions about finding new revenue for the state so the neediest among us would not suffer. I really could not believe I was hearing him say the same things I had blogged about a few days ago. There was no backing down, no shame, and there were no other solutions presented by him. He could not think of one single thing other than raising taxes by 20% on most of us, that could help to solve the fiscal crisis. Rep. O'Day said a few other things like telling the audience he has heard people tell him directly that our taxes are too low. What? If I had been watching TV I would have hit the rewind button on that one just to make sure I heard him right. After the interview Jordan brought it up with Mike Mussina so I know I did. I may be just one person but I have never heard anyone in this state complain about the low taxes.
Rep. O'Day also explained how people making over $32,000 per year would be the ones with tax decreases. Really? Apparently Rep. O'Day doesn't understand that most of the people in that category are already exempted from most state taxes anyway. He also failed to point out how married folks would be paying an even higher price. Rep. O'Day explained how people making $60,000 to $70,000 per year could afford the new hikes. Well, if you have two married people each making $30,000 per year and combine their income, voila! You get to the magical $60,000. If that same couple has children can you imagine the econmic effect his proposals will really have? Apparently Rep. O'Day cannot.
Since Rep. O'Day cannot think of any ideas beyond raising taxes to help the state budget, I thought I would offer a few suggestions here. How about eliminating state pensions and have all the state workers go into Social Security like the rest of us. How about doing what Wisconsin has done and take away the ability of unions like the Teamsters to hold our legislature hostage and then turn around and pay parking attendants and floor sweepers over $100,000 per year at places like Logan Airport and the Hynes Convention Center. How about cutting taxes for businesses like then Governor Dukakis did in the early eighties. Those cuts brought such businesses as Digital and Wang to our state which ignited one of the biggest econmic growth periods in our history. How about going through each state agency and eliminating redundant positions or services? How about eliminating the Mass Turnpike authority? How about getting more of our fair share from the federal government stimulus funds, 70% of which have not been spent. Currently Massachusetts has received less than 1% of the total of those funds. These are just a few ideas that should be discussed long before we hear about new higher taxes.
Unfortunatley Rep.O'Day is typical of the tax and spend liberals who populate the halls and offices of our statehouse. Although most of the legislators are publicly saying they are not in favor of Rep. O'Day's proposals, there is no doubt in my mind they would like nothing better than to continue the status quo by raising taxes and fees. There is also no doubt that at some point in the near future we are going to hear about modest increases from other Represenatives which compared to Rep. O'Day's proposal will look much better. They will still be tax increases but the politicians like Rep. O'Day will couch them as something else. There is only one way to change this horrible tax and spend game. Change the players!
Monday, March 7, 2011
No More Tax Bailouts for State Dems! Make them work instead!
I don't know Representative James O'Day, D-West Boylston, and until today I didn't know anything about his politics. Unfortunately he was unnopposed in the last election so we will never know if he would have admitted to being a typical Massachusetts tax and spend liberal. After reading an article in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, (http://www.telegram.com/article/20110305/NEWS/110309765) , in which he proposed to increase both state income taxes and capital gains taxes on an electorate already strained by some of the highest taxes in the country, he doesn't have to. He just is one!
Still, this outrageous response to our fiscal crisis raises so many questions. Is Rep. O'Day so out of touch with reality that he can't even read a gas station sign as he commutes back and forth to Boston? Or does he just not care since he is reimbursed so much by the per diems our state reps get? Didn't he hear about our state losing a congressional seat because people are fleeing in droves. Isn't there one aide on his staff who could have mentioned to him that many companies are relocating out of Massachusetts because of the anti-business tax environment already in place. Is he so arrogant that he ignores stories about $100,000 per year union parking attendants at Logan Airport while he continues to file legislation on behalf of those same unions? (The same unions, by the way, who are desperately trying to stop Governor Walker in Wisconsin from bringing some sanity into that state's budget process.) Or is his proposal instead led by the leadership of the house in an attempt to placate the unions and special interest groups who donated so much money into the Democratic Party and their respective campaigns? It doesn't matter what the reasons are for these proposals. This behavior, in these times, is simply put, outrageous!
In typical liberal fashion he frets about the inevitable cuts to public safety, programs for the poor and neediest among us, not to mention housing and services for disabled residents if we don't pass his proposals. Rep.O'Day, are you serious? Really? If we don't increase the state income tax by almost 20% you would let disabled wheelchair bound folks get tossed out of their homes, or not get homes in the first place? Is that what you just said? It sure reads that way and unless the quotation marks put in by the reporter, John Monahan, are somehow misplaced, it is what you implied.
Rep.O'Day, like other Democrat politicians from this state, pointed out there are no more Federal Stimulus funds coming to replace lost tax revenue. Well Rep.O'Day, maybe you should have done more to secure a bigger chunk of the $780,000,000,000 Obama stimulus package of 2009. In an earlier blog, Where Is Our Money?, I pointed out the $7,000,000,000 our state received was less than 1% of the total. That was disgraceful and all the members of the Democrat Party from this state who hold elected office should be absolutely ashamed of those figures. Instead, we hear from the likes of Rep.O'Day that we need to pay more to the state just so we can keep disabled folks from being homeless and so we can get fires put out when they happen. Unbelievable dribble. I wonder what just a few billion dollars more from the 787 Billion Obama package would have done for our state?
I also found it interesting there was no mention in the referenced piece about how much money Rep. O'Day's proposals would raise or how long they would be in effect. This is another tactic used by the tax and spend liberals who infest our statehouse. They would most likely raise hundreds of millions of dollars and would never end, but we will never hear that from slick politicians like Rep. O'Day, will we? Just like we never hear about them being tax and spend liberals until after we elect them.
Still, this outrageous response to our fiscal crisis raises so many questions. Is Rep. O'Day so out of touch with reality that he can't even read a gas station sign as he commutes back and forth to Boston? Or does he just not care since he is reimbursed so much by the per diems our state reps get? Didn't he hear about our state losing a congressional seat because people are fleeing in droves. Isn't there one aide on his staff who could have mentioned to him that many companies are relocating out of Massachusetts because of the anti-business tax environment already in place. Is he so arrogant that he ignores stories about $100,000 per year union parking attendants at Logan Airport while he continues to file legislation on behalf of those same unions? (The same unions, by the way, who are desperately trying to stop Governor Walker in Wisconsin from bringing some sanity into that state's budget process.) Or is his proposal instead led by the leadership of the house in an attempt to placate the unions and special interest groups who donated so much money into the Democratic Party and their respective campaigns? It doesn't matter what the reasons are for these proposals. This behavior, in these times, is simply put, outrageous!
In typical liberal fashion he frets about the inevitable cuts to public safety, programs for the poor and neediest among us, not to mention housing and services for disabled residents if we don't pass his proposals. Rep.O'Day, are you serious? Really? If we don't increase the state income tax by almost 20% you would let disabled wheelchair bound folks get tossed out of their homes, or not get homes in the first place? Is that what you just said? It sure reads that way and unless the quotation marks put in by the reporter, John Monahan, are somehow misplaced, it is what you implied.
Rep.O'Day, like other Democrat politicians from this state, pointed out there are no more Federal Stimulus funds coming to replace lost tax revenue. Well Rep.O'Day, maybe you should have done more to secure a bigger chunk of the $780,000,000,000 Obama stimulus package of 2009. In an earlier blog, Where Is Our Money?, I pointed out the $7,000,000,000 our state received was less than 1% of the total. That was disgraceful and all the members of the Democrat Party from this state who hold elected office should be absolutely ashamed of those figures. Instead, we hear from the likes of Rep.O'Day that we need to pay more to the state just so we can keep disabled folks from being homeless and so we can get fires put out when they happen. Unbelievable dribble. I wonder what just a few billion dollars more from the 787 Billion Obama package would have done for our state?
I also found it interesting there was no mention in the referenced piece about how much money Rep. O'Day's proposals would raise or how long they would be in effect. This is another tactic used by the tax and spend liberals who infest our statehouse. They would most likely raise hundreds of millions of dollars and would never end, but we will never hear that from slick politicians like Rep. O'Day, will we? Just like we never hear about them being tax and spend liberals until after we elect them.
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