Posts filed under 'Uncategorized'
April 27th, 2008
The Three candidates still in the running for the presidency have correctly identified the fact that the American people are demanding change. Unfortunately for them and our fellow countrymen, they will not address the type of changes we are demanding. Again, we get lip service from those who are only interested in their self-serving interests and those of their financial and special interest backers.
They offer hours and hours of rhetoric and debate over which of them is best suited to effect change without addressing the wishes of our fellow citizens. In point of fact, not one of them is capable or willing to make the necessary changes to advance the best interests of our country and it’s people. Just what is it they want to change? Nothing more than either the face or the political party in control of the White House and the party that controls our Congress. That’s it. Nothing more. Do not for one moment believe that any of the candidates are dedicating their time, efforts and lives out of a brightly burning fervor of patriotism. They are not. Why are they running? There are three very simple and plain reasons. First, they want to massage their own egos. ” I must be a great person if the people of my country have elected me to the highest office in the land.” Secondly, they have to prove their allegiance to their party. This is necessary because they believe it is the party that effected their rise to power, not the citizens who voted for them. Lastly, they owe a debt of gratitude to those “friends” who have financed their campaign. The financing is not given out of a desire to put the most qualified person into the White House but rather they are buying the candidate’s ability to provide a return on their investment. What proof is there that such a sentiment exists? One needs to look no further than to determine those who are financing the campaigns. If one looks deeply enough, one will find that the same people and entities are contributing to the campaigns of all the candidates. It’s called, “hedging your bet.” No matter who is best able to dupe the voters into electing them to office, the winner will owe those who have supplied the money and other benefits to the campaign. Unfortunately for the country and the citizens, the needs and desires of the vast majority of our countrymen are not in the mix. No matter who wins, we lose.
What can we do about this untenable position in which we find ourselves? We have to speak up. We have to let all the candidates for all the offices that we will hold them accountable for their actions. We need to tell them what is important to us and therefore, important to them. There can be no political career without our votes. We have to speak loud and clear that they cannot take us for granted. We have to let them know that we are not the uneducated sheep that will blindly follow the dictates of any political party and will not be duped by the false and hollow promises made during a campaign. We cannot and must not change the system of government that has, until now, served us so well. But, we must change the attitudes of those who have been elected to serve us. We cannot and will not be denied the promises of our land, nor will we be ignored by those who we have chosen to represent us. We must insist that our government still be “Of the people, by the people and for the people” and not for the chosen few.
As you read this, let your anger develop toward those who choose not to represent us. Let that anger move you to the only action acceptable in this country. Contact those who wish to serve in our government know how you feel. Make them understand that the only change you want is for them to represent the will of all the people and not just the few. Do it today. Do it now.
April 23rd, 2008
The voting pattern of the populace in the Pennsylvania primary are another indicator of the division in this country. We must find a way to recognize and accept our differences, unify and move forward to reach solutions to the problems facing our people and the nation. Can we do it? I am confident that we can. There is not a problem that we can not handle with effective leadership and an informed populace. Let’s get started!
Dyanna Chandler
April 22nd, 2008
For awhile there winter wanted to hang on to spring as if to say “I need you, let me stay a little while longer, I want make any noise, I’ll ease my out.” Spring on the other hand wanted winter to go back to doing what it normally does this time of year - go into hibernation until its season arise again. It’s like breaking the barrier of a comfort zone, winter didn’t like that. When you have zones, especially if they are comforts they seem to feel right and no matter what is going on around you, you need that zone to feel good, to be content. Sometimes though you have to let go - step outside the box, but stay interdependent. That’s what winter didn’t understand. Although spring knew it could handle its season on its own, it still needed winter. Spring isn’t letting go entirely, it just preparing for all the things in between until winter season comes full circle again. You see the beauty of winter to spring is that you have all the stuff in the middle thereby, making what winter did is enough to sustain what spring will. Now that we see the lighter side of it all we can truly say that spring can manage on its own for a while-its the season, just like everything else- a season of changes. Winter begone, but stay interdependent. So, if you’ve watch the difference perhaps you would see that getting out of the box isn’t all that bad, in fact its a medicine. Hanging on can blind us to the true causes of problems and staying blind can actually make our matters worse. That’s sort of like self-deception. Winter was blind for a while and now that its season is over spring can finally step out of the box build on some solutions in and about our town. So we’re losing three Rockford principles, we’ve got gas prices on the rise, we have the education of our futures at an all time high, we have pharmaceuticals company selling synthetic medicine, we have world trades gone somewhere and yes, we have the great presidential race of all time and I want speak about crime and losses, at least not here. I just wanted to bring up the fact that there is nothing wrong with getting out of the box to reconstitute and reorganize only to surface (in due season) with a vivid understanding of building teamwork, reducing conflicts, check on learning and the desire to achieve results. Watch winter in its season in the meantime though let’s get spring results!
The Arbinger Institute says it this way “In organizations as varied as commercial ventures, neighborhoods, and families, what is needed most is people not just with influence but with influence for good.”
April 22nd, 2008
I am very disillusioned with the campaign tactics of the two remaining Democratic candidates. Why doesn’t anyone focus on the issues. We have a crisis in the economy and the focus is on Jeremiah Wright, Mrs. McCain plagarising from the Food Network and Hillary’s embellishment of her trip to Bosnia. Give me a break. I want a candidate who can formulate a plan to combat the food prices, gasoline dependency, the environment, infrastructure, the billions being spent in Iraq.
We need a man like Franklin Delano Roosevelt who could assess the situation, act accordingly and effectively. We, the voting populace, are to blame. We do not demand more effective leaders and accountability.
April 22nd, 2008
Six weeks of campaigning in a state that normally would have no bearing on a primary campaign. In normal years everything would have been decided by this time. Yet, after 15 months of a primary campaign, nothing is decided. All the plans for this country as espoused by the candidates have been offered. Economic plans, Iraq war plans, plans to deal with free (not fair) trade have been put before us, amnesty and open borders are barely addressed and when they are, they are carbon copies of one another. Actually, all the substantive issues are basically the same between Clinton and Obama. So what’s left? Personal attacks on each other. They’re getting so mean that they’re starting to make McCain look good. I’m sorry, fellow citizens, if this is the best the Democratic Party has to offer, it’s in worse shape than even I could imagine. I would look forward to ending all the campaigning in November except that’s when each of us will have a decision to make. Which of the three candidates is the lesser of two evils? Who knows. Pennsylvania won’t tell us. It won’t even settle who will be the candidate for the Democratic party.
April 22nd, 2008
- I’ve lost some respect for Bill Clinton as he’s delved into recent negative campaigning. Negative campaigning is really distasteful. I hold a former president to a higher standard.
- The long running primary season has almost made me a little numb. I hardly even watch Anderson Cooper anymore. Maybe I will tonight.
- Do I know more about the candidates now than I did three months ago? I’m not sure that I do.
- It will be interesting to see if the long, acrimonious primary campaign will play in favor of or work against the democrats in the general election.
- It is kind of historic that the primary campaign is still alive and we’re almost into May. A far cry from previous years when by the time the Illinois primary rolled around in March and the race has been all but resolved.
- It’s interesting to watch the race in Pennsylvania in so far as the state is demographically somewhat similar to Illinois but the polls show the Obama/Clinton race to a much closer finish than happened here.
- Who’s gonna win? I’m going out on a limb and predict an Obama come from behind victory.
Jon Murray
April 22nd, 2008
There’s an old saying in politics, if you don’t want to tackle a problem, create a committee to deal with it. The larger the committee the less chance there is that anything will get done. That kind of describes our county board. There are 28 members to that club. They spend more time squabbling amongst themselves and playing petty party politics than they do dealing with pressing problems. I have never been a big fan of Doug Aurand. I think he is a nice guy but I also think he represents the old school politician that we do not want anymore. However, I do applaud his never ending effort to reduce the county board to 14 people. I believe there may be a political motive behind this effort but it’s something that should be and needs to be done.
A 28 member board is just too big and unweildy. I remember as an only child I envied those who had siblings. They could hide behind and accuse each other when they did something wrong. I couldn’t do that. With 28 members, the county board can point fingers, rat each other out and hide behind one another. Let’s help Doug in his effort to reduce the number of members. And, while we’re at it, let’s reduce the number of elected positions in other areas such as eliminating the Township Board of Trustees and reducing and eliminating some taxing districts. It’s time to remove places for elected officials and party hacks to enjoy the largesse of the local taxpayer.
April 21st, 2008
Our economy is in sorry shape. We have record breaking budget deficits, record breaking trade deficits, oil prices at an all time high, the wealthy getting richer and the middle class getting poorer. How did we get this way? Lack of control.
We cut taxes but never cut spending. Lack of fiscal control. We jumped into free trade agreements that were free but not fair. As a consequence our manufacturing jobs have been sent overseas so that products that used to be made here are made elsewhere and imported here. Part of the record breaking oil prices is due to removing regulation of the major players in the oil market. Another part is the falling value of our dollar (see deficit spending and trade imbalance). And it has been estimated that 20% of the cost of oil per barrell has been caused by speculators and the hedge funds that are no longer regulated. While our Congress has been unable to identify price gouging, I find it very curious that Belvedere, only 12 miles east of Rockford has gas prices ranging from 5 to 10 cents per gallon cheaper than Rockford. With Rockford being the bigger market, how can this be possible? It’s not. Not even if you factor in the slight difference in city sales taxes. If we’re not being gouged in Rockford, I don’t know what is being done to us.
So, the economic predicument we’re in now is a result of failed policies of a Democrat President, Bill Clinton, a Republican President, George Bush and a Congress controlled by either party at various times.
April 21st, 2008
The issue of gun control is back in the news. It’s pretty clear that there are distinct sides to this issue …of course the pro gun advocates…led by the NRA… are clearly in one camp. The pro gun groups have taken a religious if not paranoid fervor with their position, summed by Charleton Heston’s words..”From my cold, dead hands”. On the other hand are those who wish the government to exercise some control over gun ownership. The control side is seeking a response to violence and killing – a reasonable goal. What’s missing from this debate, however, is the fine art of compromise. You know…that ability to see the merits on both side of the issue and to resolve the matter in a meaningful and long lasting way.
Somehow those who believe compromise is possible have not been heard during much of the debate. It’s safe to say I fit into this category …I recognize the rights of those who enjoy guns…sportsmen, collectors, and for personal protection. What I don’t agree with is the right to obtain the biggest and meanest guns and as many as can be obtained in the shortest period of time. And… I believe there are people who should not own guns and there are communities where guns simply add fuel to the already violent culture.
We have legislators who belong to the NRA and it’s pretty safe to say their vision is clouded by the NRA propaganda machine. It’s unlikely they’re going to have an objective perspective or the ability to understand compromise on the issue. There are also legislators who see no merit to gun ownership and who come up with legislation that’s kind of ridiculous.
This debate really hasn’t changed in over 30+ years. I’d say it’s time for reasonable heads to prevail. We need to learn to compromise. We need legislators who are not so connected to a cause that they lose the ability to lead with intelligence and independence.
Jon Murray
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.
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