Where are all the bloggers?

3 comments April 19th, 2008

It seems that there are only a few people offering their views in this blog. That’s really too bad. We used to have spirited but civil discourse in here. It’s too bad we can’t have that again. I miss interacting with those who have views different from mine.

Let’s get this thing going again.

Wanted…Conservative for “Why We Vote”

Add comment April 15th, 2008

There have been a couple of great tributes to Jeff Rushing…but now you conservatives on the panel need to step up to the plate and take Jeff’s place.  I probably won’t agree with you but you’re gonna make me think.  I mean, how else can I strengthen my arguments if you don’t give me material to work with.  We have a lot of great topics to work on…Iraq, environment, choice, spending, immigration, etc….you know what I mean - let’s mix things up a little with some of those hot button topics we like to talk about.

Jon Murray

Religion and the Race for the Presidency

1 comment April 13th, 2008

My understanding of the U.S. Constitution is thus: there is no real “separation of church and state,” but rather the United States of America shall have no established religion.

So the topic of religion bursting between the Democratic candidates this year is quite intriguing to me, yet it is also quite annoying. Unfortunately for John McCain, he cannot find a real religious group to embrace, as George W. Bush did as a Republican.

Though I am a Christian, I find that my ideals and morals come from common sense and looking at both sides of the picture rather than from my religion. Hence my irritation at the way the media portrays religion to be such a key element to presidential race.

I cannot find any politician to be truly religious — at least not believably religious, regardless of the denomination. All of them are simply after the various factions of the country to win the vote. That is why this November, I will not consider the candidate’s religion whatsoever when I vote for him/her. S/he could be like Jonathon “The Impaler” Sharkey, for all I care; as long as s/he would make a fantastic president, I would be content.

I don’t get it

1 comment April 10th, 2008

One of my favorite lines from the movie “Big” occurred when Tom Hanks’ character was working as a toy reviewer for his new employer.  When he didn’t understand the toy he simply said “I don’t get it”.  That’s how I’m feelin’ with the rules of the Illinois Senate.  How can the senate president, Emil Jones, have so much power that he’s able to prevent legislation from coming to the senate floor for a vote?  Does the senate have the power to override his power?  Is this what the writers of the constitution had in mind when the created those rules?  These questions have come about as a result of the senate possibly not being able to vote on the recall amendment.   It seems contrary to what the American style of government represents to allow one individual so much power.  Are there any Illinois Constitutional experts out there who can explain this?

Jon Murray

Immigration and the “I” word

20 comments April 7th, 2008

I’m having some problems with the “frenzy” about illegal immigration.  I also have a couple of ideas…

Concerns:   First and foremost…I think that what’s being left out of the immigration discussion is that we’re talking about People  - human beings, God’s children.  We dehumanize them by calling them “illegals” or worse.  Kind of reminds me of the tactics taken during the Vietnam War…If we give them a label that’s less than human it’s easier to be less than humane.

The argument that we’re protecting against terrorists ……I’m pretty sure many of the terrorists that have been identified in this country have included professors, students and professionals….not the folks who are crossing the Mexican / US border.

Bad ideas:  A fence is a bad idea!  If we start building fences our border is going to look like the old soviet era borders between eastern and Western Europe.  The fence poses major environmental issues and concerns as well.

I’m really suspicious of the “minutemen” and other volunteer citizen groups who claim to be protecting our border by patrolling in their pickups..  They say their cause isn’t based on prejudice…but they sure remind me of KKK or white supremist, separatist, paramilitary types.

Solutions:  There can and must be a reasonable response toward solving the issue.  A guest worker program should be created – sooner than later.    It doesn’t have to be complicated and it should be attainable (although my guess is if we allow bureaucrats or politicians or lawyers to write the rules it will be complicated and unattainable).  We’ve spent years discussing a solution and still no results.  Kind of makes me crazy. 

Actually I’m pleased that John McCain, Mike Huckabee and “W” have taken a more humane perspective on illegal immigration than a lot of those in the mix.  I may not agree with all their points but, at least they’re seeing this issue in shades of gray rather than the black and white that others see.  As I meet the candidates this year I’m going to share that I want and expect a humane and reasonable response to the immigration issue.

Jon Murray 

This is getting a little weird

6 comments April 5th, 2008

State rep. Jim Sacia cannot accept the action of the state legislature to ban horse slaughter in the state of Illinois.  So…in response he attempting to re-introduce a bill to permit the horse slaughter plant in Dekalb to reopen…and…he’s written a letter to Oprah hoping to get her on board!  Never mind that there are some extremely significant issues he had ought to be addressing as our state representative (i.e. school funding & quality of education in Illinois).  He is overly focused (no, not just overly focused - he’s gone off the deep end) on the horse slaughter issue.  In American culture we DON’T EAT HORSES.  Our sensibility is that horses are animals with which our relationship is on a higher plane and other than as a food source (as is our relationship with cats, dogs and other pets).    If Mr. Sacia is concerned about the export of horses to Mexico for inhumane slaughter, he should contact our U.S congressmen and senators and encourage them to ban export.   Then he can return to focus his energy and efforts toward our needs in northern Illinois.

Jon Murray

Earmarks

Add comment April 4th, 2008

I remember when earmarks were called by another, more appropriate name; pork.

Well, what are earmarks/pork? Its the process by which our members of Congress buy our votes with our money. What a wonderful situation for them. It’s a win/win situation. They get to buy our votes without risking anything of their own.

There was a crazy Republican who proposed a bill that earmarks be suspended for one year. Everyone knew it wouldn’t pass because, in Washington D.C., no one cares about the merit of a bill but only which party proposed it and will it help them get re-elected.

Being an independent thinker and a political Independent, I have decided that I will not, under any circumstance vote for Dick Durbin because he put himself and his party above the good of our country. Because of him and those like him, $17 billion of our tax dollars will be spent on mostly rediculous earmarks. So Durbin doesn’t get my vote nor does any incumbent. I will use my vote in an attempt to, “Throw the rascals out.” I hope enough of us do that that we can get a whole new set of fresh faces in Congress that will also ignore the will of the people.

Mega Farm or Family Farm?

Add comment April 3rd, 2008

I’ve been following the proposed development of the mega dairy farm in Jo Davies County for a while…mostly through the weekly article state rep Jim Sacia writes for some of the rural weekly papers.  I was really glad to see the RRSTAR  present a balanced perspective on the issue in this past Sunday’s paper.  That’s because representative Sacia seems to have taken on the role of cheerleader and “lobbyist” for the Bos family (owners of the proposed farm).  Is the future of farming in this country to become “mega farms”?  We’ve seen what mega super stores have done to the business economy of small communities (it’s not good).  What will our beautiful northern Illinois landscape turn into with the advent of mega farms…there are many unanswered questions…water quality,  noise, smell, traffic, etc.  This is not to mention the aesthetic  concern …there is beauty in a small farm across the landscape….I don’t think we’re going to see that in a mega farm.   I do believe rep. Sacia is sincere in his belief of the value, merit and safety of the proposed operation (although he really hasn’t addressed the concerns about groundwater pollution).  However… I don’t believe he is representing the concerns of his constituents in this matter.   We need legislators who are less concerned about promoting out of state businesses and more concerned about the quality of life in northern Illinois!

 Jon Muray