Time For Action

     Friday, the last of the funerals were held in and around Newtown CT, and for those affected, the holiday season has been ruined, anticipation and joy cruelly being replaced by despair and horror. I suspect the rest of us are relieved to have them done so we can go about our preparations without having to dwell on those events, at least for now. Besides, our children are not going to be in school for the next week and a half, so in our minds, they are safe, for now. What about on January 2nd, when they return to school. Are they going to be any safer then? Without immediate action, the honest answer is no!
     By all accounts Sandy Hook Elementary is not much different than most of our schools. Unlike inner city schools, where violence led decades ago to not only a need for higher security, but an acceptance of it's implementation also, schools like Sandy Hook are perceived as safe. Many of the parents of the students there would probably have been horrified at the idea of having metal detectors and armed police officers on duty in their children's school. It is sort of like the idea there are places where doors do not need to be locked. Those are myths perpetuated by a distant memory of a time long past when communities were much more intertwined and where those who would do harm could not easily hide. Our society is no longer like that. Let's face it, most of us do not even know who our closest neighbors are so finding the rare crazed criminal is almost impossible to do.
     Events at Sandy Hook are sure to lead to a vigorous debate about a whole host of issues. Unfortunately, debates take time and policy implementation even longer. Except for one. Currently, school superintendents across the country are given the authority to allow any employee to carry firearms. Sadly, many operate under the dangerous assumption that by declaring schools "gun free zones" it somehow makes them safer places to be. This is a horrible miscalculation which can be blamed for much of the loss of lives in these situations.
     Some of you may be questioning how it is I can comment like this. Well, let me explain how. Between 2007 and 2010 I received extensive training in active shooter scenarios as a Special State Police Officer working on a local college campus. I was also certified as a patrol rifle instructor for the state of Massachusetts. In addition I received first responder training to critical incidents by Homeland Security. My 20 plus years of law enforcement experience as municipal police officer, private police officer and military police officer lead me to have strong opinions about these issues. In all of the training I received, one theme stood out. The quicker a firearm held by a good guy is brought to bear against a bad guy holding a firearm, the more lives saved. Simple, but true. This is the reason active shooter response training was changed after Columbine. Yet, even with this proper change, there is a problem. Most of the time, the good folks with guns are too far away to help.
     Given this, I would concur with the proposal brought forward by Wayne LaPierre of the NRA. I am not a member but he has a valid point. We should immediately demand there be a resource officer at every school. Our school budgets do have the funds for this. In addition, policies which declare our schools gun free zones should be abolished immediately and any employee duly licensed should be allowed to carry on their person a firearm if they choose. After all, if you believe those employees are not responsible, then why are they working in the schools in the first place?
     I personally spoke about this with a current firearms instructor who works full time as a police officer in a local town. He offered to train any school employee to the same level that he would train any police officer and he agrees they should be allowed to do it. We have armed security for money, politicians, special buildings, vehicles, yet our most cherished, most valued members of our lives, our children, are left at the mercy of these crazed criminals. It is not right and it should be fixed by January 2nd, 2013. Otherwise, our children are at the same risk as they were last Friday. Unless they attend one of those inner city schools.
    

Let Them Grieve First

     It has been four days since the shootings in Newtown CT and most of the victims are still not laid to rest. Families are devastated, a town is now ripped to shreds and our nation is joining in the mourning of those lost innocent souls. Yet, what are we hearing from our news sources? Stories about the community coming together? Some. Stories about the victims and their families? Some of those too. Stories about the human debris responsible? Lots of those. All of those combined do not add up to the stories about the gun control issue though. Not even close. So many so called objective reporters are using this tragedy to promote their own political views on this issue, they are actually starting to come out in the open with their opinions.
     I watched today as Andrea Mitchell gleefully predicted a whole new set of gun laws sure to come while she was interviewing Nancy Pelosi. It was Congresswoman Pelosi, arguably the most Liberal pol in Washington, who had to talk Mitchell down from the Liberal high she was experiencing. It was Nancy Pelosi, of all people, who had to say, while she hoped some new laws would be enacted, there was no guarantee it would happen. First off, shame on me for watching Andrea Mitchell, but I am always fascinated by Nancy Pelosi and her ability to ignore reality as she presents her views on issues. I was shocked to hear her sound so reasonable, but I guess even she could see how wrong Andrea Mitchell was in her reaction to the shooting. It was, in my opinion, as if Mitchell was rejoicing in the age of the victims as a way to get her desired policies enacted and maybe Pelosi felt sensed that too and instinctively backed off from it. Still, there was a glint in her eyes too and I don't think it was just from the studio lights.
     I read a pundit today who are said the tragedy only happened because there are not enough gun control laws yet in the US. I guess in his mind the 22,000 plus laws already on the books are not enough. No mention of the shooter or his responsibility though. No mention of the shooter's caretakers, if he was mentally ill, who allowed for him to have access to the weapons used either. As a matter of fact, there was not one mention of any of the recent shooters and all of their collective mental illness. Violent video games? Violence on TV or in the movies? No mention of those things. No mention of the dozens of laws broken by the shooter either. I mean, I'm pretty sure it is illegal to have a weapon on your person if you are not licensed, it is illegal to discharge a weapon in or near any building, especially a school. It is illegal to kill or hurt people. Well, you get the point. None of those things were mentioned. None at all. Just a simple statement that the shooting was directly as a result of a lack of more gun laws. These are just a couple of examples of the hundreds of commentaries on the incident.
     I believe this type of behavior by all media types, at this time, is wrong. Still, I must admit, I have myself written reactions to some of the comments made. I will refrain from doing so further for now. Most of the victims are not even laid to rest yet and a whole town has had its heart ripped out. I feel this is not the time to politicize this event. While I do believe an honest discussion should be had by people from all sides of the issues, I don't think it should be now. Knee jerk reactions will only lead to more resistance for real change and a kicking of the can down the road to the next horrible event.
     Unfortunately, I think this is just too great an opportunity for many in the media to pass up, even if it would be the right thing to do. Maybe their lack of empathy is simply a reflection of what is wrong with our society in general. Whatever the case, I believe it is wrong and would wish they would hold off on the political debates about the incident at least until after all of the funerals.

Back to the Future

     Between April 25th and November 6th of this year I did something most of us only dream about doing, when no one is looking, and only to ourselves. I ran for office. Yes, that's right. I publicly admitted what many of you suspected already. I am certifiably nuts! Ok, so maybe not, but hopefully you get the point. Although the result was very disappointing, the experience of running was well worth it. I will never forget the close knit team put together on such short notice or the gallant effort put forth. I stated many times the reasons I ran. They were all valid but none more so than the simple desire to serve and try something new instead of the same old tired approaches to the issues facing all of us. Unfortunately most of my fellow citizens disagreed and they went with the status quo. Too bad. Still, a large enough number of folks did vote for me which lends some hope for the future of our views, even here in moonbat heaven. So to all of you who worked on or otherwise supported the campaign, THANK YOU!
     Now that the election is behind us, it is time to turn a page which for me means blogging again. Sorry Libs, I am not going away. As a matter of fact, you may be hearing even more from me in the near future, stay tuned.
     In case you did not notice, I have changed the name of this blog to "The LeBeau Post" in the hopes that someday it will be as big as Drudge or Huffington. Hey, don't laugh. They started out the same way! Truth is, I'll be happy with however many of you read my blog and I encourage you all to participate. Yes, even you libs out there, who for some strange reason want this place to be like so many others in the world, while those living in those same places strive to come to this place. Confused? Me too as to why you are Liberal and why you insist on voting Democrat when it is they who are stealing your freedom and destroying your way of life. Sorry, a little rant got through there. Well, in any case, I am glad to be back to writing and look forward to the many battles ahead.
     Thank you for reading. :)

How Dare They?!

This morning I happened to be reading the Worcester Telegram when a bold headline on the local page caught my eye. For those who have not seen it, the headline of the article, which was written by Shaun Sutner, declared "ROTC flags raises issues" then asked directly underneath, "Was political event proper?" Well, after reading Shaun's article, I find myself once again dismayed by the glaring partisanship this paper continues to engage in. As it turns out, Shaun never once asked that question in the article. Nor does he ever explain how ROTC flags raised any issues. Instead, we learn a school committee member, Tracey O'Connell Novick and other critics of the event are the ones who raised any issues. I tried but I could not find any quotes from any flags. Novick is apparently very upset the North High Junior ROTC participated in what she believes was a political event held by a conservative group. (The reader is left to infer that by the article in which Shaun refers to critics who say it was a political event just before quoting Novick.) Her indignation is clearly focused on the participation by the JROTC at the event as an honor guard. Wait, didn't the headline read just ROTC? A seemingly small point but the Junior ROTC and the ROTC, which is generally made up of college students, are two separate entities. As far as I can tell, the ROTC was not at the event. It is not until the reader gets to the back page of the article that the proper JROTC title is used. Novick goes on to say in the article there should be rules against this practice if there are none already. Really MS Novick? Do you really want us to believe any students, including JROTC members, do not benefit from meeting a sitting US Senator? I cannot help but think if the Senator who attended was named Kerry we would not have heard from you at all. To Shaun Sutner's credit, he clearly stays neutral and allows Chris Pinto to give a separate point of view. Too bad the headline writer doesn't have the same principles. Maybe it's just me but I can almost hear Novick and others saying things like "How dare they have a get involved event!" They of course meaning Republicans and like minded people. Well MS Novick, here's something to think about. The silent majority is not staying silent anymore. I for one am thrilled you chose to overreact to this in this way because your true colors bleed all over the article! Thank you for that.

Bill's Monday Rant

On April 4th there was a fundraiser held at the Cherry Valley American Legion Post for the Leicester Library which is undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion. As a resident of Leicester, I received a flyer in the mail which notified me of the time of the event and a short list of people attending which included one of our selectman, Doug Belanger, State Rep. John Binienda, and our State Senator, Michael Moore. When I first saw the flyer a couple things immediately came to mind. First, while the library project is a noteworthy thing, it would seem to me replacing our out dated main fire station or the rehiring of the town's laid off police officers would be more of a priority for our elected officials. Maybe that is asking too much of the likes of Belanger who eagerly went along with a money laundering scheme set up by then Congressman Richard Neal involving funds from the Obama stimulus of 2009. That scheme resulted in Becker College receiving around $425,000 dollars of Federal Stimulus funds in the same month those officers were laid off in 2009. Secondly, I thought it strange the event was being held at the same time as a campaign kickoff for a local resident, Scott Francis, who is seeking a spot on the school committee. Scott also happens to be an active member of the Leicester Republican Town Committee and the local Tea Party. That event was held at Ellers restaurant, which is located almost directly across the street from the aforementioned Legion Post. I guess I should have thought of a third thing to be upset about. Apparently the library fund was just a pretense for a campaign event for the sitting politicians who were in attendance.
Last week I read an article about the event and some sort of dust up between one of Mike Moores people and Steve Simonian, an Auburn selectman who is challenging Moore for his seat. See the article here:


http://www.thedailyleicester.com/news/simonian-and-moore-dispute-fundraiser-incident


Whatever went down with the incident, it is not as problematic for me than the less than honest way the event was advertised. If it was in fact a campaign event, that should have been made clear on the flyer. I am also curious whether the politicians sponsored the event out of pocket or if they used campaign funds. If they did use campaign funds that should have been disclosed as well.

When will enough be enough?

On Wednesday yet another government board populated by political hacks will meet to discuss how to best put the taxpayers on the hook for their mismanagement, bad decions and subsequent shortfalls. Once again the MBTA, whose Board of Directors is tasked with balancing its own budget, is over budget. Since January, when the projected fiscal 2013 budget shortfall was 185+ million, the board has found a way to get it down to around 84 million. In this latest episode of doomsday politics the board and the Patrick administration are begging the state legislature to kick in 51 million dollars to try and avoid fare hikes of 23% to 45% and drastic service cuts, as if that money is theirs to spend indiscriminatley. Tim Murray, our beloved NASCAR Race car driver wanna be, goes as far as to tell us he thinks the MBTA is under funded by over 1 Billion dollars. If true, shouldn't that be enough incentive for our pols to discuss better ways of dealing with the long term problems in this agency? It seems to me the taxpayers would be much better off without such a money wasting enterprise as the MBTA, especially if the solutions proposed so far are truly the only ones available. Of course they are not.
Here are a couple of alternative ones I thought of in the few minutes it has taken to write this blog. First off, what about selling the whole thing to the highest bidder and privatizing it? If not that, Heaven forbid, then how about a freeze on all salary increases until the budget is balanced? What about ripping up the 29 union contracts and cutting the bloated salaries they create down to size. I mean do we really need to be paying bus drivers $70,000+ per year with all of the out of touch bennies to boot? Would it be too hard for the Transportation Secretary to take the $100,000+ dollars a year spent on individual parking attendants at Logan Airport and put that money towards the MBTA budget. Or how about making the same corrupt people who approved the out of touch outrageous union contracts get on the phone to the Obama Administration and secure a couple billion dollars from the stimulus package of 2009. After all a large portion of those funds have still not been spent.
Instead, predictably, we will hear the all too familiar Bacon Hill vitriol about riders needing to pay more due to increased fuel costs and the need for more revenue generating projects (Democrat double speak for higher taxes on everyone, whether they use the T or not.) They will publicly lament the "fixed" cost of the union contracts and insist there is nothing to be done about them. They will be lying of course but no one will question their arguments. What we won't hear are any discussions about cutting the budget in the drastic way it needs. Oh no, not that. After all lifestyles need to be maintained and besides, where would all the displaced politically connected workers go?

It all comes down to a simple question...

     On the way home from PA today I listened to CSPAN's coverage of the Supreme Court in which the merits of Obamacare were argued. Afterwards I was struck by the simplicity of the question involved and what it means for all of us going forward. No matter how many hours of coverage are spent on this, no matter how many pundits chime in with their opinions, no matter how many articles are written for or against the law, it all boils down to this. Does the Federal Government of the United States have the right to make its citizens buy individual health insurance.
     In my opinion the Constitution strictly forbids our Federal Government from this type of heavy handedness. My opinion seems to have been bolstered by Justices on both sides of the aisle. Justice Kennedy opined for instance that the government was asking the court to fundamentally change the relationship with its citizens from what exists now. Justice Ginsburg was equally convincing when she attempted on several occasions to fit other types of mandates into this question. On all accounts she failed. For those who did not hear the arguments, one of her points was that the government regulates cars and makes us buy cars that are safe according to Federal standards. I thought the lawyers for the states were clear and succinct in their response to those examples. No one has to buy a car in the first place and that is the central point of the argument. This was the response given on all examples provided by her in one way or another. In asking those questions the justices showed a clear path of how the government would turn a favorable decision into a much broader power grab. It did not take much imagination to see how we could all be forced to eat certain foods, engage in certain behaviors or to have to buy other products all in the name of being healthier. On one point, all of the lawyers and Justices seemed to agree, most Americans will eventually need health care.
     I was struck by the simple truth in that statement. "Most" is not all and our constitution was uniquely created to protect the individual from the will of the masses when it comes to personal liberty. It is the fundamental difference between a true democracy and a republic, which is what the United States really is. For instance there was no mention of the millions of people who can pay their own way or of the millions of people here illegally who will not be mandated to pay yet still be eligible for care at the emergency room. I was surprised that point was not made during the arguments but I suspect it will surface soon.
     While it may seem reasonable to expect people to pay for their own care in one way or another, I think this law is an over reach of Federal Power and I believe the mandate will be struck down. Time will tell if I am right but God help us all if I'm not.....

Safety over Liberty?

     Recently it was disclosed that the New York City Police department has been electronically monitoring groups of Muslims residing in places like Newark, New Jersey and Yale University for over ten years. According to numerous reports, if the investigation uncovered suspicious activity, undercover officers were dispatched to conduct surveillance operations on those persons involved. All of this was done without any  warrants, probable cause of criminal activity and apparently without regard for the constitutional rights of the American Citizens who were the targets of these probes. When confronted with the public scrutiny these activities deserve, NYC Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly literally laughed off the questions and brazenly admitted his department's involvement. He rationalized the activities by stating the safety of New York City was paramount to any constitutional rights that may have been violated. Mayor Bloomberg then publicly praised Commissioner Kelly and vowed to continue the activities. Unbelievably, the source of the funding for these operations may have come from the Homeland Security Department and the White House. On his morning radio show on WABC in New York, Geraldo Rivera fielded several calls from listeners who voiced their opinions on the matter. Although it is not a scientific poll, anecdotal evidence suggests New Yorkers were very much in support of these actions by their police department.
     Frustrated with these views, I called in and pointed out the NYC Police do not have jurisdiction outside of the city and was laughed at. I then asked how New Yorkers would feel if the Mayor of Boston sent police officers to spy on Irish American neighborhoods in NYC. Geraldo's answer? "Well, how do you know he isn't already?" When I mentioned none of the current spying operations by the NYPD would have prevented 9-11 from happening, I was met with dubious skeptisism.
     So what about the surveillance operations? Well, like it or not, the NYC does not have a right to spy on fellow American Citizens without probable cause that a crime is involved, no matter what their intentions are. As reported by Fox News   http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/03/02/can-police-spy-on-us/ no police agency has the authority to do what the NYPD is doing. How this ends up is anybodys guess but I hope everyone who has been a victim of these operations takes legal action against the agencies involved. At the very least there should be a rigorous debate about the perception of safety versus the constitutional rights we all enjoy. Is there a point when civil rights violations in the pursuit of safety are unacceptable? If so have we reached that point yet with the ever intrusive TSA searches and now police covert spying operations all in the name of preventing another 9-11? I hope so because any further escalation of this philosophy will only lead to a complete destruction of our free society as we know it now. Think I'm being too dramatic? Think it can't happen here? If you do, I suggest you read up on some of your world history because there are plenty of examples of free societies who destroyed themselves from within with these same views and actions.

Honor Should Be Reserved for Real Heroes

     Last week New Jersey Governor Chris Cristie announced his state would honor the recently deceased Whitney Houston by lowering all the American Flags in that state to half mast. With all due respect to Gov. Cristie, I think that decision was a mistake. Although I thoroughly enjoyed Houston's music, I do not believe she did anything in her life which could warrant such a gesture. Traditionally the lowering of the US flag to half staff is done to honor fallen service men and women, police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty. It is also done to honor a deceased President or Governor and on Memorial day to honor all those who have died in battle.
     Ms. Houston was born with a God given talent which she shared with the rest of us through her songs and for which she was handsomely compensated. She also struggled with drug and alcohol abuse and some people, including me, believe she wasted her talent by engaging in the activities associated with those  issues. How does her life compare to that of police officer, soldier or firefighter who makes the ultimate sacrifice while performing his or her duty? In my opinion it doesn't. In too many instances our society worships celebrity instead of service and real sacrifice and I think this decision is an example of that.
     Governor Cristie explained he wanted to recognize Ms. Houston's status as a cultural figure from New Jersey and her accomplishments as a musician. He also said he hoped his gesture would lead to an awareness of the substance abuse problems this country is facing. Those reasons are not good enough to honor anyone by lowering the US flag to half mast, a gesture which should only be used for real fallen heroes.
    

Fundraising...Liberal Style

     Last week our 7 year old came home from school with a letter and a little plastic piggy bank telling us, the parents, she would need to fill the bank up with change and return it no later than December 16th. School fundraising is nothing new, heck it seems like not a week goes by we don't hear about some need for books, field trips, sports equipment etc. This one was different. On the side of the plastic piggy bank, which was in the shape of a building, was the name, in bright red lettering, of our town's library! Yes, the money collected is to go towards the Library Renovation and Expansion Project. Now before you sigh and say it's no big deal I want to point out a few things.
For starters, less than a year ago our town held a special meeting at which extra funds for the library were appropiated to replace an aging oil tank or furnace. I do not recall any discussion about the renovations or requests for funding which I am sure would have been appropiated within reason. Secondly, the letter explained to us an anonymous donor had given the library 2 million dollars towards the project. With that kind of funding, why would there be any need for a couple hundred elementary school kids to collect a few dollars each? Certainly just a few months of interest on those funds would generate many times the amount collected. This is when my conservative mind quickly figured out the real culprit here.
     It seems the liberals among us believe projects like this should involve the whole community. They felt the kids would feel like they were part of the project if they helped raise money for it, no matter the amount. This point was made in the letter we received. Yes,the same thinking which gives us the occupy mess is hard at work creating communal thinking children in our schools. This is the same type of thinking put forth in the original Communist Manifesto! Don't believe me? Read the following which is taken right out of it!

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5.Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State
capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a
common plan.
8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equitable distribution of the population over the country.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labour
in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.

     In other words, everything is owned by everybody as long as you participate in the community. So what about the kids who, for whatever reason, cannot fill their little banks? Are they supposed to now feel guilty about using the library? Are they supposed to feel like they are less a part of the community for failing to contribute? Of course there was no mention of the taxes already paid by the parents which actually do fund the library. In typical liberal fashion there was no thought of the parent's views on the issue either. Who were they to decide for me this was a more worthy cause than replacing laid off police officers or aging fire stations? Who were they to think I for one would go along with one town department collecting money from my child who is sitting in a classroom in another town department also fully funded by my taxes? Yes, this is a small matter on the surface but I would argue it is a very big issue in our society when thinking like this becomes the working normal.

It's time for an apology Jim!

     Recently Jordan Levy interviewd Congressman Jim McGovern (a.k.a. McGivern) and former Marine Captain Matthew Hoh about our involvement in Afghanistan about the need to end that war. I was looking forward to hearing the Congressman since it appears likely he will be my Rep after the re-districting, (A.k.a. The Democrat Party Gerrymandering Project), takes place here in MA. From a distance, in a political sense, I had heard of Jim McGivern and his liberal leanings but to actually hear the vitriol live on the radio was something else.
     Jim McGivern wants us out of Afghanistan which is something I agree with him on. It is his rationale and premises for doing so I have big problems with. He told the listening audience over two thousand American soldiers had been killed and over fourteen thousand have been wounded in the ten years of war there. Harsh numbers, no doubt, and reason enough to pay attention. Then, incredibly, Congressman McGivern asked rhetorically how the families of those soldiers feel about their loved ones being sacrificed for nothing. He explained Al-Qaeda is no longer in Afghanistan and he said all wars can now be fought with small units without the need for major deployments. Really? Does the Congressman not understand how the Taliban and Al-Qaeda were brought to their knees? Where does he think the intelligence used by such units to go after the leadership of those groups comes from? Does he not understand how our presence there, on the ground, has leddirectly to those successes? I think the Congressman owes all of the Afghan Veterans and their families an apology for trivializing the sacrifices they made over there or here on the homefront.
     Congressman McGivern also complained about the cost of the war which is about one hundred and ten billion dollars a year. While that is a lot of money, McGivern failed to bring up the roughly two and a half trillion dollars the Obama Administration has spent, with McGivern's approval, in the past three plus years. We would have to stay in Afghanistan another twenty six years to even come close to that number! Although I agree with the idea of examining our role in Afghanistan and welcome an honest debate, my fear is the continued rhetoric from McGivern and orhers like him will only get in the way. Congressman McGivern needs to stop using the talking points provided by the DNC, recognize the job well done by the military, and work to bring this war to a satsfying end. He may find a lot of support from his constituents on both sides of the aisle if he does.

National Grid

11 Nov 2011, 0931 hrs.

Since I saw the first snowflakes in Leicester MA on Saturday October 29, 2011, 117 hours and 29 minutes have passed. Just shy of 5 full days and still there are tens of thousands of National Grid customers here in Central MA are without power. As bad as that is, the real story must include the well over 1 million customers in 7 different states who are still praying today will be the day their power is restored. This situation is unnacceptable on any level and I welcome the news leaders like Martha Coakley and Senator Brown are going to investigate the poor preperation and response to what amounted to be a severe snowstorm. Nothing more, nothing less. As far as storms go it was much less intense as forecast due to the lack of high winds expected. So why the tremendous headaches?
There seems to be a common theme in disaster response since Hurricane Katrina whereas the agencies and companies responsible for reacting fail to prepare properly or adequately to deal with the situations which arise. In the case of New Orleans it was simple. Money earmarked for levy improvements was spent elsewhere. In the case of this latest Northeast snowstorm, utlities like National Grid failed to maintain clearances between power lines and trees. They have failed miserably to update equipment and also made the poor decision to wait for the
storm to pass before calling in more resources.
To those who wish to defend the actions of those in charge, I want to point out there are people dying now due to the prolonged outages. It cannot be denied and no amount of spin will bring those victims back. This pattern is not new. We saw it with the ice storm of 2008, the tornados of this past Spring, Hurricane Irene and other weather related episodes in the past few years. Something has got to be done to change this culture of not being prepared in the
hopes things won't get too bad. It has not worked!
As for some suggestions, maybe we should hold the executives in charge more accountable for their decisions. Maybe we should also make the utilities pay for the shelters, lost food, overtime public safety pay, gas for the generators, and funeral costs of the victims too. At the least we need to pressure our Pols To hold hearings and not let this matter drop without getting some answers and changes.

We've heard this before.....

Occupy Wall Street! Occupy Boston! Occupy Worcester! Occupy everywhere! That is the battle cry of the useful idiots who have decided to camp outside in city parks to protest. You dare to ask what they are protesting against? Shame on you for asking! Young idealistic naive college students lament the unfairness of low wages and student loan debt while older people decry the Bush Administration and pine for more government regulations. Finally, one month into this debacle, a common theme is starting to emerge as organized labor and radical leftist groups start to take hold of the movement. Basically they want the wealth of those in the private sector taken away by the government and redistributed to those who need it more.
If that sounds familiar to you it should. Marx and Engel were saying the same thing when they published the Communist Manefesto in 1848. You don't believe me? Well here is a copy of the n points as written in that book:


1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5.Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State
capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a
common plan.
8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equitable distribution of the population over the country.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labour
in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.


Can there really be any doubt what this movement is all about. I thought it was especially interesting to read #2 only to find we already have that type of tax system. We even call it
by the same name! Substitute healthcare in #10 and you have Obamacare. Some of these ideas
like abolishing child labor and providing free public education are good but the underlying
idea is flawed. By giving the government all of the power you give up all liberty. That is
against our American tenants. Accuse any of the protesters of being Communist and they go
ballistic in their denials but isn't that what they are? I think the evidence is clear.

Do we need another elitist representing us? I say no!

Obama economist and highly paid Harvard Professor Elizabeth Warren, who is running against Scott Brown for the Senate, released information showing she has raised over 3 and a half million dollars during the third quarter of 2011. Amazing how she was so quick to release that tidbit but failed to make the deadline for releasing her own personal information. According to Boston Herald columnist Holly Robichaud, who appeared on the Jim Polito show on WTAG this morning, Professor Warren has yet to submit her required financial disclosure and has applied for an extension to do so until January 2012. Apparently Warren not only makes over $347,000 from Harvard, she also collects tens of thousands of dollars every year from being a consultant and for special projects. Hardly the type of income most of us live with every day. Given that, I simply ask this. Do you really think Warren could possibly know what it's like to worry about heating costs, gasoline cost, food costs or the impact the higher taxes she is calling for would have on our personal budgets? Warren is just another hypocrite, liberal, elitist, socialist Democrat and I for one think we have enough of them in our government already.

Occupy Wall Street...er Elm Park Worcester?

This coming weekend Elm Park will be invaded by a group of protesters in support of the occupy Wall Street group in NYC. If the model stays true to form, the demonstrators will consist of group of spoiled college students, thug union types, college professors, Communist Party USA representatives, homeless people, gypsies and of course a smattering of liberal Democrat politicians shamelessly looking for some media attention. If you are wondering what they are demonstrating for, I'm sorry but so far none of those interviewed at other locations have been able to answer. Those behind the scenes, like George Soros and others, are not so ignorant. Those types want to collapse our banking system and replace our capitalist economy with a communist one. Think I'm exaggerating? Just listen to "Queen" Elizabeth Warren railing against business owners and Rosanne Barr calling for re-education camps and the return of the guillotine for non compliers. Yes the college kids are naive and harmless. That cannot be said about the folks behind the scene stirring it all up!

Solyndra

It has already been two weeks since the general public became aware of the Solyndra scandal. In that time two of the top executives of the now bankrupt company have invoked the 5th in Congressional hearings, links to high roller political donors and the Obama Campaign have been found and it was learned the $535 Million dollars loans were re-worked so the private investors would be paid first ahead of the taxpayers, illegally I may add since Federal Law is very clear on that issue. Yesterday it was reported the California Democrat Party is listed as one of the creditors. How is that legally possible? Short answer; it's not. Party officials claim they have no idea why the party was listed. My guess is they are shocked no one took the organization off the list before it went public!
So here we have a President handing out half a billion dollars to campaign fundraisers through bogus loans, then his people protect those folks ahead of the taxpayers whose money it is, then some of those funds are diverted to the California Democrat Party to be used to no doubt campaign for more taxpayer funded projects. Not true you say? No proof you say? Well here's what I say to you. Prove my theory is wrong! You see, right now my theory is as plausible as any other, including the one given by the players involved so far, which is "we don't know" or "we're not talking!" Stay tuned, this should be a hoot going forward.

Worcester County Armed Forces Committee Supper

     Many thanks to Congressman McGovern as well as Councilors Joseph Petty and Konnie Lukes for attending the supper held at Holy Cross tonight in honor of the area's Military Members, families and Veterans. As for State Senator Michael Moore and State Representative James O'Day, your presence was also appreciated but by leaving early from an event which ended at a little after 9 pm anyway, it made it appear as if you were there only for the photo opp the event provided. As a veteran, I would rather you just stay home next time if your heart isn't in it.

The Birth Certificate; a final word...

     I have purposefully let a few weeks go by before commenting on the release of the President's Official Birth certificate. You know, the one that ABC news and all of the other lame stream media claimed was already released by his campaign over two years ago. They were wrong, and knew it as they reported as fact, over and over again, the certificate of live birth was the same as an official birth certificate. Donald Trump knew the truth and he wasn't going to let the issue drop. When the President did finally release the original birth certificate, he at once validated Trump's assertions and proved the media had been lying to us all along. Well most of the media anyway. So President Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961. Ok, so? Many of the so-called birthers believed that anyway. It was simply the principle of it. As Americans we just hate it when people believe they are above us and entitled to different rules. In reality it may be true, but we cannot stand it just the same.
     Now what? Well, if you are a liberal sycophant you just exhaled a huge sigh of relief because deep down you were afraid he really wasn't born in the US. Then you started to denigrate and ridicule anew all of those who asked the President to produce his original birth certificate as kooks and crazies. Establishment Republicans also welcomed the release so that a real debate about Obama's failed policies could begin, or so they said. Truth is most of them were afraid they would be called upon to take action against Obama as an illegal President if he wasn't eligible and none of them would have had the courage to do so. It seems like all of those beltway folks, pols and media alike, could not wait for this issue to just go away, and fast.
     So why did the President take so long to release his real birth certificate? Aren't any of you curious, like me, as to that answer? Why take so long to do something the rest of us have to do just to play Little League Baseball? Well, according to some, it took this long to "create" an original official Birth Certificate.    http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=295109    Others believe he just didn't want to be forced to release it. How did that work out?
     Whatever the reason behind the decision not to release the document sooner, I think it demonstrates once again how inept the administration is. Think about it. For over two years this controversy has festered in and out of the headlines until it finally boiled over and had to be dealt with directly. How could the so-called leader of the free world be played so badly? How could he have been manipulated so easily into back flipping on such a trivial issue? Then again, what if it wasn't such a trivial issue after all? Anyone ever hear of Barry Soetoro?

Thank You Mr. President

     If you've been reading this blog since I started writing it last year, you know I have been very critical of President Obama and his policies. His handling of our economic situation has been nothing if not inept. His tour around the world apologizing for our country and our way of life was embarrassing and uncalled for. His reliance on the UN to authorize our involvement in Lybia instead of going through congress was unconstitutional and may yet prove to be his un-doing. I will continue to be critical of those issues but not today.
     Today I want to say "Thank you Mr. President for a job well done."
     By getting rid of ubl up close and personal with a seal team instead of by air attack, he allowed us to rejoice in a hard fought victory over evil while at the same time leaving no doubt of his death. To all of those who are finding fault with the President on this issue I beg you to stop and put your ideology aside. Of all the options he had on Sunday morning, the one he chose was not the easiest. No, he did not fly there. No, he did not shoot ubl or come under any fire. None of that matters. In this instance he was the only person who could have allowed this operation to take place. Period. He didn't blow it by worrying about the Pakastanis, who it turns out may have been harboring ubl for years, or by sharing the plan with any of our so called allies. Did he take too much credit when he announced the victory? Probably, but who could blame him for a little gloating. After all, he's been getting beat up a ton lately. Has the decision to show the photographs or not show them dragged on too long. Yes, but that doesn't change the outcome of ubl being dead.
     Thank you Mr. President, once again, on the behalf of all Americans, especially those killed on 9-11 like Brian Sweeney from Spencer and all the others, for allowing justice to be brought upon the one man who was most responsible for the deaths of so many innocent people on that fateful day.   

Yes, a rant.....

     My appointment this morning on Front Street was for 9:00 am. I left my house in Leicester at 8:20 which allowed for any traffic I might encounter. Surprisingly the ride in was smooth and without the usual backups. At 8:47 I turned from Mechanic Street to head into the parking garage there and was met with the dreaded "Garage Full" signs. No problem, continued on and turned right onto Foster Street. There I discovered the old garage being dismantled and limited parking spaces on the right side of the road, all metered. I went around to Franklin Street, turned right and then went onto Front Street. I went around City Hall, back down Franklin Street and then went to the Library parking lot. There I found plenty of spaces but once again they were all metered. After walking back to Front Street I made it to my appointment ten minutes late. So the net time to get to Front Street from Leicester Center was 37 minutes and the net time finding a place to park was 23 minutes.
     After finishing up on Front Street I needed to go to City Hall. Because I was late for my appointment, it ended up going over. I was now close to the two hour limit I had put on the parking meter but did not have time to add to it. At City Hall my business ended up being close to 3 hours. When I finally made it back to the Library Lot I had a nice $20.00 present on my windshield. Ok, so that happens when you let it run over.
     My complaint is not with the parking ticket enforcement, it is instead with the city for failing to provide enough signs so that people who have business downtown can know where to park. Didn't anyone think the elimination of the parking garage would cause parking issues? I also wonder why city council meetings are filled with trivial issues like banning cigarettes while real issues, like downtown parking, are ignored?