Open Thread: Your Issues?
{This thread is closed. Use the new "Open Thread" posted on December 1 for your discussion topics.}
Bored with some of the topics—start a discussion thread on your topic.
How about a couple of items for your comments?
1. A Circuit Judge just threw out a lawsuit that challenged the legality of a write-in candidate to close a political party’s primary. He stated: “the language [of the Florida law] is clear; it leaves no ambiguity about what it means.” Though not a case directly involving the local write-in candidacy of Nancy Stacy, it seems to confirm the legality of what she did—which some had questioned.
2. One in ten U.S. high schools is a “dropout factory”, defined as no more than 60% of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year. Florida and South Carolina have the highest percentages. Almost half of the high schools in Florida classify as dropout factories.
That’s a start. You add some more discussion items.
posted by Blog Master @ 6:40 PM
90 Comments:
Nancy Stacy--A great Republican and a great American!
Cut out two billion dollars from the State education budget and give it back to the taxpayers. That's the way to reduce the number of dropout schools in Florida. I think not!!
(Write-In Alert: 2008)
Nancy Stacy's next target--Ray Strickland vs. Charlie Stone for County Commiss.
And who benefits?
What changes are coming in County government?
Utah has no dropout factories. Perhaps some of our education brainpower in Tallahassee should take a trip to Utah and find out what they are doing that Florida isn’t.
Bottom line; Nancy followed the law. She actually can read and comply with the statutes. Instead of hiring an attorney for Herring when there was an issue, he should have just called Nancy.
Night Owl is right on the money. Tally should see what they are doing that is working.
The "Dropout Schools" in Marion County:
North Marion
Forest
Vanguard
Lake Weir
Dunnellon
Belleview
9:28 PM
I have not heard of any changes in County government. Same old, same old.
The Sheriff’s race is not on most people’s radar as of yet but it needs to be. I’m no fan of the Sheriff and I’m not supporting him but I more than likely am going to vote for him. I will tell you why some people know Paul Truesdell some don’t. I have had the unfortunate task of working with him on a few different things we served on some boards together. Let me tell you this is not the type of man you want elected to any office he thinks he knows everything and can’t be told different. He claims to be more than he is, he may have the biggest ego in all of Marion County. I have on more than one occasion heard him bash everyone that is on the County Commotion except Barbra Fitos which is fine if you are running as a Dem but he is not. His web site is nothing more than him bloviating on every topic that passes though is mind. I asked him on one occasion what his planes are if he wins and the only real answer he gave was to eliminate the command staff. Well that’s fine if you have a group of people on the inside but according to Paul that is one thing he doesn’t have, help from the inside. So now he is going to fire the command staff and do what to fill their positions. From what I have heard Paul has very little police background less the 10 years and never as a supervisor. I would not begin to tell anyone who to vote for but Paul Truesdell is not the type of man we need elected in this county.
Hey, since Big Bad John Lund has had his radio show canceled on WOCA, maybe he could run Paul's campaign for him. John needs the work. Lund might even be able to get Paul's vote count up to 45%!
Problem is Lund is likely for Sheriff Dean. Ed Dean is closer to being a Republican than Paul.
Why are there dropout factories?
- Teacher unions
- Lack of a widespread voucher program
- Too few home-schooled students
- Too many administrators and too few teachers
- Teacher pay too low
- A governor and state legislature who have no clue about “good education”
- Too many parents who don’t value education—that’s the biggy!
I’ll stop there.
Who's John Lund?
Having just read anonymous statment about Paul Truesdell and must agree, he is right on target about Truesdell. I would say he will lose the race bigtime!I too am not a Dean fan.
An indication of what might be wrong with education. Eight out of ten people know the ingredients of a Big Mac and six of 10 know the Ten Commandments.
Stay tuned. Another republican player is about to enter the battle to bring down sheriff Dean. She/he might be what the doctor ordered.
Nancy Stacy is right!
This is a Republican primary race and we don’t need registered Democrats or Independents to help us elect the Republican candidate.
Ray Strickland (R)
For County Commissioner, District #5
OH NO!!!! John Lund is going off the air. What a bummer.
He was always good for a few laughs and sometimes even did some good around here. He is an excellent example of why we are such a great country. In many other places he would have already been off the air and most likely six feet under the ground.
ONLY IN AMERICA could the John Lunds exist.
God bless AMERICA and God bless John!
Mr. Crawford seems to be so concerned about numbers. Here are a few for him to ponder:
2005-2006 Marion County School District tied for 20th place out of the 67 school districts in the state.
2006-2007 Marion County falls 17 positions to 37th place out of 67. These numbers reflect a head to head comparison with the other school districts in the state. Subject to the same statutes, un-funded mandates, department of education rules, air, soil, sun, and any other excuses he wants to pull out of his hat.
“Leading the State in Raising Student Performance"? How about just a little less time on politics Mr. Crawford and more time on seeing that the job gets done.
Very good points. We get more and more behind the eight ball.
Did John Lund just get tired or is he contemplating running for a political seat? Or, was he dumped!
At the end of his last program, John said he had to go earn some money. I'll take that as his reason for leaving. He got nothing for doing his radio show. Like all of us, he has bills to pay.
What's the deal with Paul Truesdell can anyone tell me about him. I have heard of him and non of it was all that good.
check truesdales background in tampa. claims to have been in three gun battles with bad guys, but his own people say that aint so. most of his closest people say he is a bag of wind and nobody can get along with him. after last night's dean bash, truesdale better have a piss pot full of money.
I wouldn’t worry about Paul’s fund raising. He will have plenty to run a very strong campaign. I have seen and heard some negative comments about him. Probably because he tells it like it is and won’t be the typical politician trying to please everyone, like many others including Dean.
Paul along with Ray Strickland is going to restore the local conservative Republican values that we are losing every day. I may not agree with either of them on certain positions they take, but by God they are truthful and tell it like it is!
Vote for Dean if you want more of the same old irresponsible spending of our tax money. Vote for Paul Truesdell if you want someone who will cut out all that top heavy and good old boy structure that Dean has created.
Ray Strickland: YES
Paul Truesdell: NO
true r shows what idiots true r's can be. moreland was a conservative sheriff, followed by the true r ken ergle who had not only theft as a legacy but numerous sexual exploits. ergle took moreland's dept and filled it with his good old boys and built an emplire. ur budget would be $100 mill if he was still sheriff, tapping the till as he did. he was so consrvative with his spending that dean had no increase for 3 years using up his fat. truesdale was a joke as a cop and look at his website and you will see his ego trip. anybody who has to tell u he aint as crazy as they all say has a bigger problem.
Not so fast. Truesdell may still have a primary to go through before he faces off with the Sheriff. He's not the man yet.
What’s wrong with education? If the teacher union members were as good at educating our kids as they are at looking out for themselves, we would be raising a country of future Einsteins.
true r: go pull the blue cross letter that says strickland lied to commissioners over insurance this year and that is a fact!
Don’t blame our educators; they have to work with what they get. The old story of the Ant and the Grasshopper and the modern version tells much about what they are getting and may get more of in the future. Just ask Voice of Reason.
TRADITIONAL VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!
MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.
America is stunned by the sharp contrast.
How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'
Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.
Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.
Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer! The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
Hillary Clinton gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill Clinton appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients.
The ant loses the case.
The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.
The ant has disappeared in the snow.
The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be very careful how you vote in 2008!
The PC Police gonna git you!
Ray Strickland is a good man and a true conservative. He will give Stone a good run for Commissioner. There are many people who are backing Ray.
Gun nutt says...
Excellent post Proud Ant. I couldn't agree more.
Has anyone seen or heard anything from our local media giving some credit to those politicians who spoke out and voted against giving corporate welfare from taxpayers to a dying business—E-One? No, and you’re not likely to.
Local elected officials like Stan McClain, Charlie Stone, Kyle Kay, et al did their financial homework and realized that E-One did not have the long-range financial condition to justify taxpayer money being invested there. That is proving to be a valid assessment as indicated by Federal Signal’s own management, investors and customers of E-One.
These politicians did not let the emotion, subjectivity and political threats by those supporting a give away of taxpayer funds change their mind. However, it’s not likely you will ever hear them given any credit for their financial foresight. After all, they are all Republicans.
As someone stated on another subject today, a pig is a pig. A pig with a pink hat or a white hat is still a pig. E-One is what it is no matter how others tried to dress it up. Thanks to those who saw it for what it is!
Where was Strickland on the E-1 money?
anon, did you pull the blue cross letter that specifically says strickland lied when he told the commission he was in direct contact with blue cross and as a result we got better rates? pull the letter and tell me how good a man he be.
Srickland is the Chamber of Commerce darling so he had to be for the E-1 give-a-way.
Thanks, that makes sense based on some other things I've heard.
probably was not for e-one since he despises gov ernmment. funny he is running for office.
He is against government unless it's paying the way for business. Just like the rest of the them.
Like I posted, he's the C of C darling. Government is OK as long as it is paying his business.
If you want to know more about Ray Strickland than what you read here, go to:
www.runray2008.com
web site just nother bunch of crap., i will i will iwill do everything he claims govt shoukldnot be doing -- interfering in usiness. funny how he has changed his ideas now he wants to get on done. and when you gonna telk about his blue cross letter?
I really hope Nancy Stacy runs for something next year. I love the controversy she creates with the Star Blunder.
8:41 AM (yesterday):
Fortunately for us taxpayers, the E-One “incentives package” did not happen because financial knowledge and reality overcame financial idiocy. Anyone with a fundamental understanding of corporate financials would have looked at the Federal Signal/E-One situation and said: “hold on just a minute”.
E-One has two major and continuing problems: (1) too many employees and (2) a sales and marketing strategy that appears not to be customer friendly. Until these are addressed—it looks like the new CEO is doing that—why would anyone build a new plant facility or expand production capacity? That is what those with saner corporate financial minds seem to have concluded.
E-One is in for some trying times. To fix its problems will be a painful process, especially for some of its employees. That’s survival. It could very well be that a leaner and more focused E-One might be a good candidate in the future for some government financial help to expand and grow. However, the time wasn’t right several months ago and is not likely going to be right for some time to come.
E-1 said they would not layoff any employees if they got money from the state and local government. Now they will have to. Don't trust them!
Here we go again!!
Trustees of a school district in Bakersfield, Calif., will decide tonight whether to allow posters bearing the nation's motto — In God We Trust — and other historical documents to be displayed in district classrooms.
Among the documents to be voted on are the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Kern County High School District trustees initially proposed the measure as a way of promoting patriotism. But the proposal has sparked contentious debate.
Board President Bob Hampton, a former teacher in the district, told the L.A. Times that he'll vote against the posters because they reflect a "spiritual agenda."
"The spiritual side of students belongs at home and at church, not in the educational system," Hampton said.
Other Bakersfield residents said there's nothing wrong with posting the nation's motto on classroom walls — even if it does mention God.
Leave it to California.
Voice of Reason says . . . .
Thanks for the ant and grasshopper story - it is great to see such humorous creativity in the sea of "hurray for my candidate ________________" comments. Even though it was founded on the true state of our society, I'd much rather be entertained than informed.
What's going on with all of these candidates posting websites? As if we didn't think candidates are boring and incompetent enough, the candidates go online and prove it. What a waste of time. "Hi, my name is Joe Candidate and I'm running for _____________. You know me by my strong family values and my business ethics. I like golf and the Gators. If elected, I promise to be just as exciting as Randy Ewers and Charlie Ruse."
Voice of Reason
Mr. Strickland has never approached the Marion County government to provide group health insurance proposals, based on the politics with their current insurance agent. He was asked by Mr. David Ellspermann, (Clerk of the Court) to provide his office with alternative proposals of group health insurance. The risk management department denied Mr. Ellspermann the information needed to request a proposal through Mr. Strickland, for cost effective solutions.
As a concerned citizen of Marion County, how do you feel about the county spending millions of dollars without sealed bids, and refusing other competitive insurance agents the right to provide proposals?
If that's what happened I'd say that sucks. Typical of the county though in the way it handles purchasing especially if a favorite vendor is in the mix.
anonymous you need to go and review the tape of county commission meetings about insurance. it ansd the blue cross letter about stricjland to county now official records shows he did what you claim he didnt do and got caught lying.
Voice of Reason says . . . .
The best news today is the upcoming US Senate hearings and investigation of at least 6 televangelist "ministries." Included in the investigation are two Oprah-type broads Joyce Meyer and Paula White. Paula even has her own magazine that looks exactly like Oprah's. The girls are alleged to have learned how to be just as rotten as the guys.
The usual male suspects are on the Senate list too like Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland and some others. And these are just the biggest fish. Even the "legitimate" televangelists are all multi-gazzilionaires while there flock of good, honest and hardworking people struggle with real life.
Think of the local pastors too. How many of these megalomaniacs running these new media type, one-man-show, billboard flashing, collection plate passing, one-verse-Charlies are living high on the hog while fleecing their flock? It's happening right under everyone's noses here locally.
Did you know that some local pastor's have a golf allowance? Did you know that some pastors of big name churches in Ocala are bringing-in an annual salary of over $300,000? Some many more? What about trips that your pastor is taking? Are they necessary?
I was on a beach cookout trip and I started talking with a "staff person" on a nationally known ministry organization. He said that he was preparing to go to Hawaii for two weeks and that he had done fund raising to pay for the trip. I asked him why he was going. He said that he needed the time there to get alone with God.
Christians need to reign-in this huge problem of a run-away leadership. Our faith has been redefined into a business model.
Voice of Reason
Voice of Reason---Maybe the Star Banner should do a story on the commercialization of religion and possible abuse of their non-profit status. That might be a better article than farting around with front page coverage of where the new head of E-1 lives. Then again it’s probably easier to criticize E-1 than to confront/expose some of our religious institutions for what they have become.
Common sense prevails! A follow up to my post from yesterday.
Trustees of the Kern County High School District voted 4-1 last night to mandate displays bearing the nation's motto — "In God We Trust" — and other historical documents in over 2,300 district classrooms and offices. The one vote against was a former teacher.
The display of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights will be included in the posters approved by district trustees in Bakersfield, Calif. In addition to placing the displays in the classrooms, the posters will also be hung in district boardrooms, libraries, administrative offices and other rooms.
It does not surprise me that a teacher would cast a vote against it. Any wonder about why education is in a mess?
It does not surprise me that a teacher would cast a vote against it. Any wonder about why education is in a mess?
Who says write-in candidates can't win?
Auburn, Maine Mayor John Jenkins is getting another term in office even though he wasn't on the ballot.
Jenkins says he decided not to run for another term because the post was taking too much time from his day job. But he won the three-way race with 2,166 votes, followed by 1,305 for Eric Samson and 514 for Fred Sanborn. Jenkins has relented to pressure and plans to serve.
voice sez "Did you know that some local pastor's have a golf allowance? Did you know that some pastors of big name churches in Ocala are bringing-in an annual salary of over $300,000? Some many more? What about trips that your pastor is taking? Are they necessary?"
name names cause it aint so at big churches i know.
HOW TO START EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK
1. Open a new file in your computer.
2. Name it "Hillary Rodham Clinton".
3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5. Your PC will ask you. "Do you really want to get rid of
"Hillary Rodham Clinton ?"
6. Firmly Click "Yes."
7. Feel better.
A few days ago when opposing Michael Mukasey as attorney general on the floor of the Senate, Ted Kennedy described the physiological effects of drowning.
So let me get this right Teddy. It is not okay to make someone THINK that they are drowning to get information. But it is okay to ACTUALLY drown a secretary. Remember Mary Jo Kopechne?
8:11
I use the words "George Bush" in my daily delete exercise.
If you want to pick on a Democrat, how about deleting Nancy Pelosi to start your day with a positive outlook.
Old Jimbo Payton really brought Charlie Crist up short today. He identified the Gov. as the pandering phony he is. Good job Jimbo!!!
Pandering? Payton out-pandered even Charlie Crist! He told a roomful of mostly bleeding heart liberals exactly what they wanted to hear. I was there and heard it. What you won't read/hear reported is that there were several people in the audience who were not at all in agreement or comfortable with Payton's performance. You would think all needy kids in the State have been kicked to the curb by Crist and the Legislature. Nothing is further from the truth. You can have tax cuts and not ignore the needs of children. And that is being done. Check the state budget and you will see that. Payton did a great job of biting the hand that feeds him. Payton’s theatrics were the best example of pandering I’ve seen in a long time. Crist could take some lessons from him.
Why didn't Payton dump on his three fellow Rs on the Commission who voted against putting his social service referendum on the ballot? Because that would have been real courage which he doesn't have. Much easier to beat on those who he has no relationship to. As, you say that's also known as pandering.
Speaking of Governor Crist. He has some big time plans on global warming. Crist and California's Governor seem to be in bed on the issue. Whoops!!! I didn’t mean that literally, or did I?
W. David Montgomery, vice president of CRA International, who has studied the economic impact of California's global warming initiatives, said Crist's proposals mirror those of California and “the technology doesn't exist to get there.”
The result in California has been a 14 percent increase in energy costs, an 8 percent reduction in carbon emissions and a $10 billion to $30 billion loss to the economy.
Florida, another California???? Damn, let’s hope not!!!
I saw this comment on the SB blog from someone who also comments on this blog.
Google the name Ezra Taft Benson and read his view of the "Proper Role of Government" Here is a small piece of that article:
"Once government steps over this clear line between the protective or negative role into the aggressive role of redistributing the wealth through taxation and providing so called "benefits" for some of its citizens, it becomes a means for legalized plunder. It becomes a lever of unlimited power that is the sought after prize of unscrupulous individuals and pressure groups, each seeking to control the machine to fatten his own pockets or to benefit his favorite charity, all with the other fellows money, of course. Each class or special interest group competes with the others to throw the lever of governmental power in its favor, or at least to immunize itself against the effects of a previous thrust. Labor gets a minimum wage, agriculture gets a price support, some consumers demand price support. In the end, no one is much further ahead, and everyone suffers the burdens of a gigantic bureaucracy and loss of personal freedom. With each group out to get its share of the spoils, such governments historically have mushroomed into total welfare states. Once the process begins, on the principles of the protective function of government give way to the aggressive or redistributive function, then forces are set in motion that drive the nation toward totalitarianism".....
Star Banner Editor Brad Rogers has declared Jim Payton as a great ‘statesman' for attacking the Governor and Legislature for passing tax reform. Notably missing from Rogers’ partisan criticism is any mention of the fact that all the asshole Democrats of his own political party, save two, were also in favor of the legislation. Payton is far from a statesman. He will tell you one thing this week and something different next week. Rogers is a gullible fool! Fortunately, most people already know that.
To commemorate Veterans Day, here is something sent to us by a very good friend. It’s called: “A Marine Working for God”:
A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the courses had a professor who was an avowed atheist and a member of the ACLU.
One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes.”
The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm still waiting."
It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his Chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold.
The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence.
The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, "What’s the matter with you? Why did you do that?"
The Marine calmly replied, "God was too busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like a fool. So, He sent me instead."
I like that Marine. Give him a well deserved honorable discharge.
10:24 AM--Dr. Montgomery was among several scientific experts who were on a panel that spoke to the Florida legislature about global warming. Consensus of the group was that Governor Crist’s plan is grossly deficient, unrealistic and extremely expensive. What else is new?
Anon of 11/5: I'm still waiting for you to post the letter showing Strickland's connection to Blue ross and county insurance proposals. You seemed to know a lot about the proposals in an earlier post, so if you don't post the letter, I will post it. It sure doesn't put the chamber's fair haired child in good stead. Could it be that you are pissed that Charlie Stone made motion to eliminate a job, eh?
Again, thank God we have Marines who will defend our country in whatever theater, be it in the war front or the classroom.
I never had the nerve to slug my professor who was an atheist in college 50 years ago, but I hope the story about this Marine is just half true.
God Bless America and the Marines. --pwf
If you haven’t visited the “Star-Banner: Editorials & Opinions” online in awhile, click on the link on the Home Page of this blog and check it out. I don’t usually throw compliments to the Star-Banner, but it is pretty good and gives you a way to comment on editorials and other related columns.
Stan:
I agree, it's not bad.
What you don't read about :
According to foreclusure.com, there are 1083 homes in foreclosure [42] or preforeclosure in Marion County.
ARMS are just starting to reset. Many more on the horizon in 2008.
As this situation developes, values of property will come down substantially. Guarenteed is the fact that county appraisals will not retreat from the 2006 appraisals made at the top of the market.
This fact is the travesty of any reform products that have been proposed. Real reform won't come untill this inequity is addressed, the chances of which are slim to none.
Summary : Taxpayers get screwed again.
Clayton Ellsworth
Clayton: Our Florida economy is getting worse and worse. Check out this snipet from the St. Pete Times.
State economists met today and, taking into account a worsening housing market, reduced the general revenue outlook by $2.5-billion for the current and upcoming fiscal year. The revenue loss this year will be about $1-billion, on top of $1.1-billion the Legislature already cut in a special session. Next year brings an additional $1.4-billion shortfall.
According to a report, revisions are attributable to an worsening housing market caused by the subprime loan fallout and resulting tightening credit and lending practices; a slowdown in Florida's population growth; and higher energy prices.
Voice of Reason says . . .
First and foremost, every church member should carefully review the church budget. Demand that the pastor itemize the expenditures that come under the pastor's "administrative expenses" and other vague broad categories under the pastor's budget.
Remember too that my criticism focused on the "flashier" personality-driven churches. Many new or heavily advertised churches are vulnerable to becoming cash-cow fiefdoms for unscrupulous men (and now some women) of the cloth. Beware of terms such as "this is your destiny," "prophetess," "anointing," and "blessings." One person I know was invited to such a church and, during the service, the pastoress was praying for the congregation to be "blessed" with lottery winnings, found money, and lawsuit settlements.
You want names of these churches? No way. I'm not asking anyone to believe me but to demand that their own church leaders are honest and accountable. If you can see all of the books, consider going to a different church.
On a different note, isn't it a little strange that as a feature indication of his qualifications for office, Strickland puts on his website that he was an Eagle Scout? I'm not sure how old Strickland is but he must be in his mid 50s. That would make him an Eagle Scout 40 years ago. Is it really relevant to his character today? We see how guys like Murtha were Marines 30 years ago and now stabs his ex-brother Marines in the back. Not saying Strickland is anything like that but the point is, are we supposed to consider him qualified today because of an adolescent achievement?
Vor
Murtha is a good example of how not to go back to far on these social accomplishments.
Paul Truesdell’s political web site probably tells us a lot about his thinking: cluttered and unfocused.
Ebo Elder, Alias: “Extreme Machine”, the 5th ranked pro in the world, and boxer extraordinaire, will be speaking at “His House” (1753 NE 14th Street, Ocala) on Sunday November 18 at 6:00 PM. For more information call 351-1827. Come hear him speak.
Voice of Reason,
So what are the qualifications for elected office?
"The Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA)"
WASHINGTON , DC - Congress is considering sweeping legislation which will provide new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA) is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.
"Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said California Senator Barbara Boxer. "We can no longer stand by and allow People of
Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will
no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing."
In a Capitol Hill press conference, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal
Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S employer of Persons of
Inability.
Private-sector industries with good records of nondiscrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%), the airline industry (68%), and home improvement "warehouse" stores (65%). At the state government level, the Department of Motor Vehicles also has a great record of hiring Persons of Inability (63%).
Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million "middle man" positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real
responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.
Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given, to guarantee upward mobility for even the most unremarkable employees. The
legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations that promote a significant number of Persons of Inability into middle-management positions, and
gives a tax credit to small and medium-sized businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.
Finally, the AWNA Act contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Non-abled--banning, for
example, discriminatory
interview questions such as "Do you have any skills or experience which relate to this job?"
"As a Non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them," said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, Michigan, due to her lack of any
discernible job skills. "This new law should really help people like me." With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Said Senator Ted Kennedy: "As a Senator With No Abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American
with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her adequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation."
Hi all.....the LOVING "Tee-hee the write-in" came to say hi to you folks who don't have a life. Haven't checked in here for a couple of months and didn't "have a life" this AM so decided to see what others who NEVER "have a life" are up to. TEE-HEE. I read back to the beginning on this thread and have to say the Ant/grasshopper MODERN VERSION has more truth in it than I have ever seen in the Ocala Star Blunder for one example. So, what's this about Ray Strickland running for office??? Honestly, don't read the newspaper so didn't have a clue. I spoke to Ray years ago about politics and honestly he WAS right on with his tax relief views at that time and almost the Gingrich type. I LOVED his views AT THAT TIME! I assume his ideas are the same and if they are he would be a great public official!
Haven't spoken to Charlie Stone on the issues EVER so can't say how they compare politically. Will do that soon since they are apparently opposing one another. Regarding education???? Hopeless, hopeless and hopeless. Public schools are HOPELESS!!!!!!! If I were in office?? I would go to the floor working to get parents a tax break who flee public schools opting for private ones. Those poor families are paying TWICE. Bet you 10 bucks that THREAT alone would jack the public schools up. LOL!!! Right now the have no consequence for the child abuse they are doing to children by CHEATING them of an education taxpayers are paying them DEARLY for. Whew.....I would be assasinated if I were a politician!!!! Teacher's Union would hit me first......in my opinion what they are doing to children is purely CRIMINAL. Public education is nothing but a "jobs program" for INCOMPENTENCE and has no interest in educating a child. I have 3 siblings who are teachers and they would all three agree with me 100%!!!! Their hearts break for the stunts against students that occur in the very schools they teach in. Whos to blame????? PARENTS>>>PARENTS!!!!!!!!! My children were fine in public school but I had the best the schools had to offer......I ask those of you who know me..."Would YOU give MY child a bad teacher???" LOL!!! My kids had some great teachers but my cowardly friends kids had some terrible ones. Parents....you get what you deserve and THAT'S A FACT!!!
Nancy Stacy
Nancy,
Take a look at this website and tell us what you think about the effort.
www.ReinventK-12.com
Dear Anonym 5:09
I visited that site you suggested and posted my thoughts there. I know we must start somewhere but honestly I think the only hope is to shut the doors and open the bd of education under a new name with ALL new administrators. Won't ever happen though because everyone knows it would work!!!!!! I have decided many like education incompetent because look how many jobs it generates with "consultants" who charge the school system to fix it!! Ugh....
Education consultants are simply smart business people who discover the Nation's largest public troughs (school bds) make GREAT clients FOREVER. They just keep changing the name of their group but all the same people at the end of the day. Thats a fact!
Nancy Stacy
Nancy...Are you a member of the new Taxpayer Action Group for Marion county?
Voice of Reason says . . .
Nancy Stacy is starting to make a little sense but she can't be serious in giving credit to ANY of the school board members. What a completely mentally flaccid collection of seat-warmers. If Marion county people want Social Security checks and don't want to speaking Chinese in ten years, they better sweep every one out.
I don't think that any of the current boardmembers can win next election. The voters definitely are embarrassed with that group and want new blood. Nancy, please consider a real run for school board against one of those seat warmers.
VoR
VOR,
I don't run I chase in politics.
I honestly don't give anyone on the school bd credit but simply stated that I THOUGHT Judy was the best on the bd but apparently if she is then she is the "best of the worse"?? I haven't been watching bd meetings. By the way....I didn't even know we had a Tax Watch group here???? Who all is on it??? The ONLY ONLY ONLY way to improve our schools is to have UNpaid schoolbd members ANDNO State retirement dollars attached to that elected position. If we could come up with a slate of folks willing to SERVE and accept NO money we could UNseat the money grubbers and get the schools straightened out. BUT as long as EVEN the Schoolbd is a "jobs program" there is not one penny's worth of hope for public education. Areas where schoolboards are VOLUNTEER the schools perform better as a whole. I still say "if one woman...Ms O'Hare (sp?) took prayer from schools NATIONWIDE then a handful of people in a Marion County could shake politics up here. Can you imagine if we had a total UNpaid schoolbd in Marion County how BAD the rest of the State would look if those folks took money??? I have been a trendsetter my entire life in many ways and I sure would like to see that trend started here with public education.
Nancy Stacy
Nancy Stacy
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