Cali Public Schools Ban Mom and Dad!

Well, don’t ya know I warned about this in previous postings, click here. Wake Up New Hampshire…this is where civil union legislation signed by Gov. Lynch is heading in our state and rather quickly if people don’t wake up out of their apathy and take a stand now! Personally, if I still had children in the public school … Read more

I hate when that happens… [UPDATED]

.. . Imagine our surprise when we checked our SiteMeter this morning and it was like it was a year ago all over again. In a mere 8 hours, we lost some 40% off our average daily visitor tally. Did this happen to anybody else out there? When going to bed, we had nearly 800 visit "hits" … Read more

Attention Wal-Mart shoppers…

Wal-Mart
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In recent years, I have come to appreciate and admire the marvel of American logistics and ingenuity that is Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, others don’t see it in the same light. In a number of posts stretching back over the past year and more, I have written quite a bit about the ongoing campaign against Wal-Mart by labor unions and their friends in the Democratic Party . In a posting from last November, I reported:
The Democratic war against Wal Mart moves on. With the socialist-leaning party in power, one wonders if the assault on the premier American retailer/ logistics giant will intensify and begin to cause the company real damage.
As I said in this one,
Wal-Mart represents the latest target in the left’s war on successful American businesses.
Last October, I discussed the vehicle chosen by those joining in the assault: the WakeUpWalMart campaign. At the time, I was writing about the NEA teacher’s union’s joining with that group as they attacked Wal-Mart. As found on their website, one sees the union roots of the effort:

Participation in the campaign, which is organized by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), the AFL-CIO union with primary jurisdiction for employees of retail stores, was approved by the NEA Executive Committee in May 2005 and endorsed by the 2005 Representative Assembly in July 2005.

Of course, just because those on the outside looking in say something is bad, it turns out, sometimes, when you consult people actually having firsthand information, the real story turns out to be quite different. In this post about a group comprised of Wal-Mart employees (Working Families for Wal-Mart), I pointed out:

I know several people that work for Wal Mart, and they genuinely like their jobs. Nobody forces anybody to work there.

Followed by this:

Nobody forces anyone to shop there. Imagine that- willing employees serving willing customers- What a concept!

Indeed. Did you know that Wal-Mart, under constant attack by those who always claim to be for "the little guy," saves the average American family who willingly patronizes them more than $2,500 per year? And now, for those willing customers, there’s a way to get involved and help defend the company that provides such a level of satisfaction: Wal-Mart New England’s Customer Action Network (CAN).

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The smartest man in America?

Former Ambassador Bolton . Back in January, I noted Of all the casualties of the past election, the loss of John Bolton as our UN ambassador is the one that I regret the most. To have had a plain spoken person advocating first for what’s best FOR AMERICA on the world stage during the last … Read more

The Chaz and Skip Debate – Round 1 – Point

Ok Thanks for your patience Skip et al. As you may have noticed, I endorsed Hillary Clinton for President this week. That has kept me occupied on the blogosphere. That plus building and preparing for winter is keeping me in "catch up" mode. I do think this is a great project though and one that I will commit to. So let me start with a short opening statement.

In my endorsement of Senator Clinton I called healthcare my number one domestic issue. No matter your vantage point, its a big one that isn’t going away. I think we all agree on that, correct me if I’m wrong. Health care is of course a huge economic issue. Industries in the western world have a capital advantage over us because of either universal or single payer systems. All you have to do is watch what is happening in our auto industry to see how crucial the difference is.

Our hodgepodge system began when I was born shortly after World War two. Employers at that time were able to sustain health care premiums for its steady workers. That system became outdated thirty years ago, but we still use it. Lose your job, lose your healthcare. If you don’t work for a major corporation chances are you won’t have ANY healthcare. Most self-employed people can’t afford it, or if they are paying it their operating costs become so thin that its hard to stay motivated. These are just a few of the problems, but from where most Americans sit, this is a broken antiquated system that needs fundamental change.

I also believe that the American people, through the American government should be able to use the most powerful capitalistic tools available to bring down the cost of health care. In other words I don’t see "buying in bulk to drive down costs" as anything remotely socialistic. I’m happy to go into any of this in detail when the time comes. End of intro.

Let’s start with the question of whether I am a socialist.

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The Skip and Chaz Debate – Round 1 – Counterpoint

Well, my turn!  Chaz has started the debate off with two points:

  • He’s not a socialist
  • Universal Healthcare is not socialistic

Well, I tend to be a "fisker", so let me go through his thesis and let the air gently out of his ballon.  So let’s dive in!

Formatting note:  indented and bold is the person who has presented the Point (in this case, Chaz).  The person doing the Counterpoint will have the full width, regular text (me for now). 

As you may have noticed I endorsed Hillary Clinton for President this week.

Well, that doesn’t bode well for your argument!  But hey, given your earlier posts on Universal Healthcare, it is not unexpected.

That has kept me occupied on the blogosphere. That plus building and preparing for winter is keeping me in "catch up" mode. I do think this is a great project though and one that I will commit to. So let me start with a short opening statement:

In my endorsement of Senator Clinton I called healthcare my number one domestic issue. No matter your vantage point, its a big one that isn’t going away. I think we all agree on that, correct me if I’m wrong.

Oh no – on this point we do agree (uh-oh, does this bode well?).  I agree that healthcare is one of the biggest domestic issues, but I think that illegal immigration is the number one domestic issue.

Given that, healthcare is my third issue for the Presidential race.  In fact, a twofer:

  • Healthcare and how it should be managed
  • Government and its perceived role in society.

The combination of the two, and how they are handled, have tremendous ramifications on how our society undergoes its next metamorphasis. In fact, in a way, it may have a tremendous impact on personal choice and self-responsibilities.

Health care is of course a huge economic issue.

Indeed.  The economic make up of our GDP is 16% and will only grow, and grow faster, as the Boomers age and pass into retirement.  Costs will spiral as more advanced technologies come into vogue in keeping the most narcissistic generation ever.

Healthcare has always been rationed – no matter what road America chooses, this will remain constant.  The question is by "how".  We have two diametrically opposing models:

  • Free market capitalism
  • Government control 

Far be it for us to decide which will win out – but let us argue, rant, and rave as if we did. 

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John McCain rips the bark off of Romney!

Wow! As many of you might have figured out, I’m the kind of guy that LOVES the heat of political battle. I can’t get enough of those able to deliver the conservative message in such a way that it becomes for all intents and purposes indisputable to all those who hear it. Additionally, I appreciate … Read more

And suddenly, while on “the [toll] road to Damascus,” a NH Executive Councilor joins the rest of us…

lightbulb
Ray Wieczorek
The "Wiz": In favor of raising tolls
before he was against raising them.
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On the front page of today’s NH Union Leader, it is being reported that one of the Republicans on the Governor’s Executive Council has joined the rest of us and is now

Angry with himself

over the vote he made last week to help implement the Great Republican Toll Hike of 2007. Tom Fahey, the State House Bureau Chief writes
Executive Councilor Raymond Wieczorek wants to take another look at the turnpike toll hikes he helped vote into place.
This is, of course, good news indeed. The unfortunate part is that had he and his fellow Republican on the Council, Ray Burton, done what they should have and joined Democrat Deb Pignatelli in saying "NO", he wouldn’t be with the rest of us today in being angry with him(self). According to Fahey, Wieczorek said
"I thought about it, and then said, ‘What the heck am I doing in voting for something like this, when I give them $8 million more than they asked for?’ I’ve got a problem with it."
So what caused him to suddenly see the light? According to the UL,
Wieczorek said he was not under any political pressure to change his vote. "I hardly had any phone calls here at all, he said. "I’m just angry with myself."
Me too, Ray. And as far as phone calls go, has anybody ever tried to contact an Executive Councilor to lobby against something? I did. As I recounted in this previous post on October 1st:

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Monday Poll– NH DOT toll hikes. Are they necessary? Who’s to blame?

Is there ANY change to the wasteful ways? Party on, dudes! . In the comments section of the previous post about the elimination of machines at the toll booths and the replacement with MORE state workers mere days after the Great Republican Toll Hikes of 2007, a reader, "Frank", claims I’ve got it all wrong, … Read more

What the F#&K?!!! I thought the tolls were raised to FIX roads. Fooled again, suckers!

. I just dropped my coffee reading today’s New Hampshire Sunday News. I knew this would happen! After GraniteGrok fought a valiant but fruitless effort to shame the Republican (?) executive councilors into voting "NO" on raising to tolls, now comes this. Writing in the "State House Dome" column, Tom Fahey reports: Say goodbye to exact … Read more

Couldn’t Have Said It Better Myself!

Ever since politico.com did a profile on me, I started checking out their blog…albeit, somewhat infrequently. As a blogger, we love to read what other bloggers have to say since bloggers have a tendancy to tell it like it is. The old media is way too left-wing, looney toon most of the time. At any rate, here’s … Read more

Begging the Governor’s Executive Council…

I know it’s pointless, but I thought that I’d say it one last time before today’s vote : Please don’t raise the tolls! Ask yourselves these questions: Has the NH DOT saved as much money as they possibly can? Has every stone been turned, leading up to the point of taking MORE money from the people? You … Read more

Rudy– Defending his record on taxes.

In a story posted today on the campaign web site, Rudy Giuliani puts his record on cutting taxes front and center. In a piece entitled, "RUDY MAKES ¢ENTS DAY ONE: Mayor Giuliani Cut Taxes 23 Times,"  America’s Mayor offers proof of where he stands on taxation. "I believe that you collect more money from lower … Read more

Concord’s Priorities

We have all giggled about Concord’s more absurd initiatives (state-funding for adult diapers, fines for losing your helium balloons) and cringed at its devious ones (repealing the parental notification law, civil unions). But this latest legislative push—which occurs as state spending continues to climb out of control and with no solution to the school funding … Read more

NH DOT Funding Follies cont’d: Say NO to the Lynch/ GOP toll hike.

State Workers..EZ Pass.
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Regarding the ongoing NHDOT spending mess and proposed tax increases on the hapless citizenry, I was pleased to see that NH GOP chair Fergus Cullen had the gumption to put up a petition at the state party website saying that Governor
Lynch and the Democrats in Concord need to prove to taxpayers that they can be responsible custodians of the state’s finances before they can collect more of our hard-earned dollars.
Deciphered, because the petition is vaguely worded (which you’ll see why in a second), it means: Say NO to an increase in the tolls we pay on our highways. This is great news, because, as many regular readers know, I have been railing the Republican structure (such as it is) for its failure to take strong, public stands on the issues of the day. Finally– in the form of this petition– the Granite State GOP has taken a firm specific stand on something that will affect many regular folks, otherwise known as "the voters."
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There’s only one slight problem with Fergus’ NHGOP initiative—

He’s sending it to the wrong people!

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In case you didn’t know, the NH Executive Council will be voting on this Wednesday. From their posted agenda:
#96A      Authorize to increase the rate of toll at Hooksett, Bedford, Dover and Rochester Mainlines by 25 cents for single rear tire vehicles (classes 1-4) and by 50 cents for duel rear tire vehicles (classes 5-12).  (2)Further authorize the Commissioner to increase the rate of toll at Hampton State Toll by 50 cents for single rear tire vehicles (classes 1-4) and by $1.00 for dual rear tire vehicles (classes 5-12), in accordance with RSA 237:9 and RSA 237:40.  Effective at 12:01 a.m. on October 22, 2007
Why send a petition to the Governor– who already said he will support a toll hike, when it is now up to the Executive Council to make this decision?

Could it be because the two Republicans still left on the Governor’s Council are planning to vote in favor of the increase?

Is Fergus Cullen actually crazy enough to try to tar and feather the state’s Democratic governor on an issue when two major "leaders" of his very own party stand with Lynch in agreement? How can the party maintain the slightest shred of credibility with the average Joes and Janes of NH when they criticize a member of the opposing party for being wrong on an issue while remaining silent when it comes to their own? What will voters think when the two seniormost elected Republican officials in the state government stand pat with the Governor when he claims he’s done as much on the savings side of the revenue equation as he can, leaving nothing left but to take more money from the hapless people?

How about it, Fergus? Will you be sending the petitions to Mr. Burton and Mr. Wieczorek for their consideration?

GOPDOA
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While it’s doubtful that Ray Burton (who never met a taxpayer that couldn’t afford to pay more to continue funding the pet projects that have kept him safely ensconced in his seat) will vote against a hike in tolls, perhaps the Wiz will be more open minded? 

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Moral/Immoral: Who Decides?

I admire Gen. Pace for refusing to apologize for his own personal opinions, and here, regarding what he considers immoral behavior. The top dems try to please all of the people all of the time and apparently have no morals, adultery’s okay, civil unions are okay, etc., etc. and basically think just about everything and anything is okay. When … Read more

A union hack, apparently taking the “high road,”, decries American corporations and their “unmitigated exploitation” of workers. What, did they want them to actually work?

California union members assaulting Arnold supporter in 2005 . When it comes to pointing fingers at who’s to blame for the continuing exodus of manufacturing jobs to China and other such places, I have long believed that the hardcore union types should look in the mirror for a glimpse of at least one of the … Read more

A conversation with John Ratzenberger

. Following Tuesday’s "Keep it Made in America" town hall style meeting here in NH, I had an opportunity to spend a few minutes with John Ratzenberger. We discussed the value of children doing things with their hands, playing outside away from the computers and videos, getting up early, and nurturing a "work ethic." We … Read more

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