Why We Vote
The Register Star has brought together a group of people from all over the Rock River Valley to serve on our Election 2008 Voters’ Panel. These men and women are Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Green party members. Some are high school students. Some are retired. And some fall in between those two age groups. They all share this: The upcoming election is important and voters do have voices. They’ll share them in this blog. |
1 comment 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
Add comment 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.”
1 comment 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.
Add comment 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.
Add comment April 22nd, 2008
Jon Murray
Add comment 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.
Add comment 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.
Add comment 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
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.
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
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