"To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change. I guess I would ask which human beings — where and when — are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take."

NASA administrator Michael Griffin

Racine County is doing a survey on Smart Growth...while the main survey numbers will be computed based on mailed surveys to random individuals on the voter roles there is an on-line survey. The numbers for the online survey will be reported with the results...but only as a foot note.

Please take the time to fill out the survey:

SMART GROWTH PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY

AP: Many Katrina evacuees are still jobless

You can read the story for yourself but I think the numbers speak for them selves:

“About 12,000 families are still getting federal aid for housing, the city said. Of that group, about 5,500 heads of households are unemployed, not counting those who are elderly and disabled, city officials said.”

“Houston's economy is hot because of the booming oil and gas industry. City officials say there are 2 million job openings, 59,000 of which require only a high school education.”

I would have to agree with Rep John Culberson (R-TX):

"We're a charitable nation and Houston in particular has a big heart, and we have already gone way above and beyond the call of duty to help our neighbors," Culberson said. "It's time for everyone who can work to get to work."

He further stated that “evacuees should have benefits cut off if they don't get a job.”

Politicians like Obama and Hilary are bantering about the “45 million uninsured” in America and they are misleading the American people down a road that will mean more government intervention.

Do you have a health plan or health insurance?

Do you know the difference?

Do you pay for your annual checkups or do you just pay the co-pay and “insurance” takes care of the rest?

Do you have auto insurance?

Does it pay for your oil change, fix your flat tire, or fill up your empty gas tank?


Health insurance is no longer what most Americans have we have health plans and that is why rates are going through the roof.

If you had the ability to purchase an auto plan which had an annual co-pay but paid for all of your maintenance and upkeep like oil changes, washer fluid, new tires, etc and included major issues such as accidents what would that be worth to you?

In an auto plan people would start to have their oil changed regularly. People would be sure to have their brakes and tires checked. All of this maintenance would begin to add up. The “insurer” would have to start charging more for two reasons: 1. just to cover the costs of all the maintenance and to have enough in case of a catastrophic accident. 2. so that the business could continue to make a profit.

Do we really want the government to take over our heath plans? Do you really think that they know how to run a business better than business owners? Will health care be simpler or will you have more red tape to deal with? For those black helicopter types out there…do you really want the government to have complete access to your medical records?

AP: New limbless lizard species discovered

Wouldn’t that be called a snake?

This holiday weekend people are hitting the road and news stories abound with segments discussing how much it will cost to travel due to the high price of gas.

But I noticed an interesting item through everyone of the segments…almost all of the people they feature are driving big “gas guzzling” vehicles.

So here is my question: are you traveling this weekend and if so what vehicle are you taking?

As was reported on Caledonia Unplugged today the Caledonia Village Board voted last night to appoint a member of the Caledonia Conservancy and an individual that was indorsed by the same special interest group as the majority!!

Ron Coutts – member of Caledonia Conservancy; endorsed by Save don’t Pave
Howard Stacey – member of Caledonia Conservancy; endorsed by Save don’t Pave
Wendy McCalvy – founder of Caledonia Conservancy; endorsed by Save don’t Pave
Bob Bradley – endorsed by Save don’t Pave
Kevin Wanggaard – no special interest affiliation known
Lee Wishau – endorsed by Save don’t Pave
Gayle Morgan – Treasurer of Caledonia Conservancy; endorsed by Save don’t Pave

more...

Mr. Morgan was elected by a vote of 4-2 (Coutts, Stacey, McCalvy, Bradley voting in favor.)

I wonder how much business Caledonia will see in the near future.

Doyle and 16 other Democrat Governors are calling for the President to pressure “big oil” to reinvest their “enormous profits” into lowering gas prices. (link)

Well here is some quick math for you:

$3.59 – Current price of Gallon of gas
$0.33 - Wisconsin MANDITORY Markup 9.18%
$0.32 - Wisconsin gas tax $0.32 (or 8.9%)
$0.14 - Federal gas tax $0.14 (or 3.9%)

$2.80 - Wholesale price of gas (Current price minus taxes and markup)

$0.26 – Exxon’s HUGE profit per gallon of gas (9.7%)


Doyle is proposing to raise the tax on gas an additional $0.07 per gallon (to $0.39) meaning that Wisconsin will make more money per gallon than ANYONE ELSE!!!!

Every time you fill your tank, repeat this until your tank is full:

Wisconsin is making more money per gallon than the oil company!
Wisconsin is making more money per gallon than the oil company!
Wisconsin is making more money per gallon than the oil company!
Wisconsin is making more money per gallon than the oil company!

A piece in today’s JT and JS states that Milwaukee wants the choo-choo to go even further.

Caledonia Unplugged blogged it today and does a great job with it…I don’t think I need to add anymore at this point:

Caledonia Unplugged: Milwaukee Wants KRM Extended to County Line

I’m not referring to what the future holds for the Presidential hopefuls, I’m talking about ‘investing’ futures.

I found this article on Slate: Why Vote When You Can Bet?

This is both intreguing and disturbing at the same time. It would be cool to back up my presidential predictions with cold hard cash but what does this do to us as a society? Are we sullying the office and the election by doing this? I mean this really isn’t investing in a ‘future’ it is placing a bet with the ability to trade that same bet.

Here is how things are stacked at this point for an Individual Winner Contract:

Real Debate Wisconsin: Breaking News: Stick $200,000 to the taxpayers, they won't mind.

I don't even know where to begin.

I think our school board has to do what they can to ensure that Mr. Hicks NEVER does this to another school district.

Mr. Hicks will be getting walking papers real soon!

First I have to tip my hat to Fred at RealDebateWisconsin…he has done a great job investigating Hicks and this latest blow is enough to call for termination of his contract for misuse of his expense account:

From RDW:

One thing is certain, Tom Hicks does not skimp at the taxpayers expense in exercising his duties as Superintendent.

In no particular order:

Greystone San Diego - $130.14 ($75 for the Mrs)
Commander's Palace - $160.65 ($81.00 for the Mrs)
The Waves - $133.56.
Figs Cucina - San Diego - $100.25
Ray's in the City - Atlanta - $276.79
Mia Bella Bistro - Lake Geneva - $155.31
The Red Snapper - Atlanta - $196.45
Houlihan's - $62.44
Bentley's - $98.76

These are just a few of the example I have. One thing is certain, Dr. Tom Hicks eats very well on the taxpayer dime, and he clearly does not feel he needs to follow district policy.

More: Breaking News: Hicks is Apparently Imune to District Policy

Keep up the great work Fred!!!

What has become of our society?!?

We have come so far yet we allow social programs to hold us and an entire population back. Civil rights leaders are coveting their careers and not the goals their organizations are set up to achieve. Black “leaders” are nothing but the slave owners of old and are working to keep a new generation of blacks in shackles so that the “leaders” can get a few minutes of fame by forming coalitions or filing law suits while ignoring the true ills of those that they “lead.”

This article ran in today’s Washington Post On-line: Who Exiled New Orleans' Poor?

I do not know Ms. Judith Browne-Dianis but based on this article I would have to put her in the category of those that are willing to keep their jobs at all costs.

Why would any person want to return people to a welfare system that only encourages further welfare? Why would we call public housing someone’s home? Shouldn’t the purpose of public housing be to allow people to get on their feet and establish a life for themselves and not become their permanent home? Why would anyone equate public housing and being black as being one in the same? Is there some underpinning of society that says that blacks can do no better than public housing in New Orleans? Is Judith Browne-Dianis only trying to maintain her position at the Advancement Project by keeping people, primarily black people, in public housing and under the hand of government?

I believe that there is a time and place for welfare programs but we have gone too far. We have spent the better part of a generation showing them that government control of your housing, your money, and your healthcare are good things when in reality they are more damaging than anything this country has ever seen. We are indoctrinating many of our black citizens that government support is the best that they can expect in this country and this attitude is deplorable!

The aftermath of hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans but at the end of every dark day comes a new day. We have seen a remarkable recovery in an area that many, including myself, talked about completely abandoning. It proves that hard work pays for itself.

Look at the areas that have seen the largest comeback and you will see people that rely on themselves not the government as their primary means of support. Why would anyone be surprised that those that are dependant on the government would be the last to receive help? Those that do for themselves and others are the ones we want to reward. Dependence only breeds ignorance and does little to sustain our society.

We as Americans, black, white, red, yellow, green, and orange, can not stand by while people like Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, and Judith Browne-Dianis tell our children that the government knows best. We can not allow them to taint the minds of our children by telling them that this country only cares what color their skin is. We can not allow these people to destroy our children’s minds with continued hatred of this country and all that it has to offer. We can not allow them to brainwash our children into thinking that this country somehow owes them something.

We must make it clear that our country was founded on principles that include hard work, sacrifice, and the kindness of strangers. We must teach our children that this country is a melting pot of people all who yearn to be free from the control of any government. We must stress that there are always tough times. We will all need a hand once in while but government “hand-outs” are not the way to a better society. Look to your neighbor when they are in need and you will be rewarded when you are in need.

We must not cling to the socialistic mentality of the current generation. We must look to the future and see a society that does not rely on the government as our way out. We must show that we can hold on to our cultural identities while not wearing it on our sleeve. We must endeavor to do better than those that came before and prove to the world and ourselves that we are all Americans and that we have left no one behind.

A free society is built by those that are independent not those that are dependant.

The Assault on Reason by Al Gore

Now I’m not the biggest Al Gore fan in the world and even in this excerpt I found a few things a little out of whack but overall I’d have to say…I’ll probably read this one.

Excerpts:

In practice, what television's dominance has come to mean is that the inherent value of political propositions put forward by candidates is now largely irrelevant compared with the image-based ad campaigns they use to shape the perceptions of voters. The high cost of these commercials has radically increased the role of money in politics—and the influence of those who contribute it. That is why campaign finance reform, however well drafted, often misses the main point: so long as the dominant means of engaging in political dialogue is through purchasing expensive television advertising, money will continue in one way or another to dominate American politics. And as a result, ideas will continue to play a diminished role. That is also why the House and Senate campaign committees in both parties now search for candidates who are multimillionaires and can buy the ads with their own personal resources.

As a result, our democracy is in danger of being hollowed out. In order to reclaim our birthright, we Americans must resolve to repair the systemic decay of the public forum. We must create new ways to engage in a genuine and not manipulative conversation about our future. We must stop tolerating the rejection and distortion of science. We must insist on an end to the cynical use of pseudo-studies known to be false for the purpose of intentionally clouding the public's ability to discern the truth. Americans in both parties should insist on the re-establishment of respect for the rule of reason.

I found it funny that Algore would talk about the distortion of science since he has become the number one distorter of science in the world…he replaced those cold fusion guys right about the time he won an Oscar for “An Inconvenient Truth”…but he does make a great point. Carl Sagan warned about the road we were heading down pointing out that we are focused more on pseudo-science instead of science.

The words Al Gore writes here are true but my question is does he truly believe them or is this just another way to manipulate society into seeing his way?

Under the law and as a common practice people who have been convicted of a crime and have paid for their wrongful action have a right to work with out being discriminated because of their criminal background.

However the level of discrimination is subject to what field the person wishes to work: for instance a convicted felon convicted of embezzling as a CFO or accountant for a company can be subject to discrimination if he/she applies for an accounting or CFO Job.

In the school districts we run into a problem…under the law if a convicted pedophile were to apply to be a janitor…well you can not discriminate based on his/her prior conviction since it may not be in the same background. What are we to do?

AB 30 addresses this issue and allows the “educational agency to refuse to employ or to terminate from employment an individual who has been convicted of a felony and who has not been pardoned for that felony, whether or not the circumstances of the felony substantially relate to the circumstances of the particular job.”

I think that Turner and Mason should have to explain why it would be okay for criminals to work closely with our children.

Representative Robert Turner
Rep.turner@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0731 Capitol 212 North

Representative Cory Mason
Rep.Mason@legis.wisconsin.gov
(608) 266-0634 Capitol 8 North

This quote has been haunting me for the past week.

“I would spend $1.3 million any day to get $78 million and to right the financial ship of the district so we could be talking about real improvements. So I don’t regret it for one moment,” Hicks said.

As I read more and more about the RUSD and the consultants I just keep wondering why Hicks would have thrown out that number and why the JT has not followed up on it? Every article since then has said $20 million…why the different numbers?

Remember this on June 12th and vote NO on the referendum!!