History is as interesting as it is often tragic.
Once upon a time, in the name of "democracy", Germany, limited the access of a talented and successful minority of its population to a whole host of occupations and positions within society. Of course, we all now know that the Nazis had a lot worse in store for the Jews than ruining careers. German Jews were successful and that led to resentment, which was, of course, Hitler's political capital. Power and not democracy was the focus of the Nazis agenda and removing a "pesky" group of people seen to be blocking the road to power was the goal.
The Maoists during the "cultural revolution" promoted a leveling agenda that specifically excluding informed and articulate academics from their occupations. In the name of equality and "democracy", they were sent to fields to be worked to death. Again, these folks stood in the way of the communists and their dream of their "democratic" ideals and power.
America is a "kinder gentler nation" when promoting quotas and set asides. Here, "democratic" inclusion goes under the name of "affirmative action". However, a quota by any other name is still the same. FOR SOMEONE TO BE PUT FIRST IN LINE, SOMEONE ELSE HAS TO BE HELD BACK. Of course, voting blocks and political parties seeking good old fashion power are the engine that drives the "affirmative action" phenomenon.
What does this have to do with reality in small town America? Every type of foolishness eventually comes to town. And, there are small towns where town managers propose limiting how much citizen volunteers may serve their town. In the cases I'm familiar with, the criteria has nothing to do with righting old racial wrongs. Such proposals are promoted in order to "open up" more positions and bring more people "in" and make the system more "democratic". Plain and simple, it's a "set aside" or quota system. Such proposals are all the more amazing when NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM THE VOLUNTEER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT DETERMINE TOWN POLICIES. In fact, there are rarely enough people available to even fill the openings on most of the town boards and commissions. WHY WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS MOST TOWNS FACE WOULD SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM BEEN ADDED TO AN AGENDA? I submit that this smarmy move is a SET ASIDE for THOSE WHO WILL SAY "YES " to whatever an administration proposes. The INFORMED citizens who give of their time and serve on multiple boards and commissions or boards are simply in the way of those who would lead us in a direction only the UNINFORMED would follow.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Obamamania Or Bust
Barack Hussein Obama, if nominated, now has a chance of success in November. Supporters swooning and tearing up at his rallies is a phenomenon not seen in America since the sixties. This doesn't mean, however, that the Democrats are guaranteed the Presidency. As it has RECENTLY developed, this election is now ONLY a Democrat VICTORY WITH OBAMA.
First, the conservative opposition to John McCain is a major factor in the growing possibilty for a Democrat victory this November. Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh are right in depicting McCain as a chameleon. And, they have already done major damage to his candidacy that will lead many to third parties or on a proverbial fishing trip on election day.
From the right, however, it is Pat Buchanan who is in the position to deliver the knock out blow. There is no forgiving McCain on the Paleo-right. Despite the war, most of it grudgingly voted Republican in the close 2004 election, and, were paid back with a Supreme Court judge. However, McCain isn't trusted on the Supreme Court and he certainly is not trusted on Iraq (and Iran). Don't forget that Buchanan has opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. Buchanan takes McCain at his word when he says that we could be in Iraq for 100 years. Because of the war (and other issues such as "free" trade), Buchanan's magazine the "American Conservative", even flirted with the possibility of a Ralph Nader endorsement back in 2004. Now that Nader is once again considering a run for the presidency (if no anti-war candidate wins the Democratic nomination), he could be able to count much of the Buchanan anti-war right among his supporters.
Would the war be enough to transfer Paleo votes to Obama if he as the anti war canadidate wins the Democrat nomination and Nader doesn't run? Thinking about the war producing such an outcome is mind-boggling. He is the most liberal member of the Senate. The fact that he has gotten as close as he has to the presidency is, however, also mind boggling. Support from the Paleo right for him may come indirectly through the already mentioned election day fishing trips.
The next important ingrediant is the Clintons. Today, Hillary slipped behind in Texas polls. This leaves her Pennsylvannia, Ohio and the "super delegates" with which to pull out a victory. Pennsylvania is still very much in play. Despite the Osama Obama phemonenon that I referred to in Philly (January 4th post), the older voters from Philly's river wards and other older traditional Democrats in the coalfields from Shamokin to Scranton may not be enough to save her. Remember, vote rich Philly is three cities. In this case, the young and liberal mostly white Center City will unite with the black North and West to give Obama the edge in PA. What's Ohio going to do? It's similar to PA with Cleveland analogous to Philly. Ohio is no firewall for the Clintons either.
If they can't win with the voters, this only leaves them with the "super delegates". The Clintons have a lot of IOUs out there and many of the "super delegates" are recipients of the Clinton largess. Winning enough of them is still a very big question. However, WINNING the nomination WITH the "SUPERS" would be an absolutely WORTHLESS Phyrric victory. With Obama having made it so far, the sense of BETRAYAL that would overwhelm the black base of the Democrat party would sink any chance of victory in November.
To my Democrat friends, it's Obama or bust!
First, the conservative opposition to John McCain is a major factor in the growing possibilty for a Democrat victory this November. Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh are right in depicting McCain as a chameleon. And, they have already done major damage to his candidacy that will lead many to third parties or on a proverbial fishing trip on election day.
From the right, however, it is Pat Buchanan who is in the position to deliver the knock out blow. There is no forgiving McCain on the Paleo-right. Despite the war, most of it grudgingly voted Republican in the close 2004 election, and, were paid back with a Supreme Court judge. However, McCain isn't trusted on the Supreme Court and he certainly is not trusted on Iraq (and Iran). Don't forget that Buchanan has opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. Buchanan takes McCain at his word when he says that we could be in Iraq for 100 years. Because of the war (and other issues such as "free" trade), Buchanan's magazine the "American Conservative", even flirted with the possibility of a Ralph Nader endorsement back in 2004. Now that Nader is once again considering a run for the presidency (if no anti-war candidate wins the Democratic nomination), he could be able to count much of the Buchanan anti-war right among his supporters.
Would the war be enough to transfer Paleo votes to Obama if he as the anti war canadidate wins the Democrat nomination and Nader doesn't run? Thinking about the war producing such an outcome is mind-boggling. He is the most liberal member of the Senate. The fact that he has gotten as close as he has to the presidency is, however, also mind boggling. Support from the Paleo right for him may come indirectly through the already mentioned election day fishing trips.
The next important ingrediant is the Clintons. Today, Hillary slipped behind in Texas polls. This leaves her Pennsylvannia, Ohio and the "super delegates" with which to pull out a victory. Pennsylvania is still very much in play. Despite the Osama Obama phemonenon that I referred to in Philly (January 4th post), the older voters from Philly's river wards and other older traditional Democrats in the coalfields from Shamokin to Scranton may not be enough to save her. Remember, vote rich Philly is three cities. In this case, the young and liberal mostly white Center City will unite with the black North and West to give Obama the edge in PA. What's Ohio going to do? It's similar to PA with Cleveland analogous to Philly. Ohio is no firewall for the Clintons either.
If they can't win with the voters, this only leaves them with the "super delegates". The Clintons have a lot of IOUs out there and many of the "super delegates" are recipients of the Clinton largess. Winning enough of them is still a very big question. However, WINNING the nomination WITH the "SUPERS" would be an absolutely WORTHLESS Phyrric victory. With Obama having made it so far, the sense of BETRAYAL that would overwhelm the black base of the Democrat party would sink any chance of victory in November.
To my Democrat friends, it's Obama or bust!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Development Dependency Complex
Development is like a drug addiction for some small towns. This town needs to be careful not to yield to the temptation to use the fees to be generated by development as the cornerstone of its budget. It's a deal with the Devil and the temptation is right here on our doorstep. WE MUST NOT GO INTO DEBT IN ORDER TO ATTRACT DEVELOPERS AND THEIR FEES. Ridgely must be careful to continue with the policy that DEVELOPMENT MUST PAY ITS OWN WAY.
Many of you have heard about the problems that Ridgely faces with getting its development plans approved by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Many of you also know that our town is way off budget. Sadly, spending has gone on as if everything was already approved and the money needed has been taken from the water/sewer fund. If(and it's still a big "if")the Ridgely Park development falls through because of the delays, we must NOT go ahead and borrow money (about $5 million) to build a wastewater treatment plant. If Ridgely Park is not OK, Ridgely and its plans to build a wastewater treatment plant are not OK. Ridgely Park is to pay for the plant. This fact can't be more plain and simple.
THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR DEVELOPERS TO MAKE HUGE PROFITS. The town has correctly made sure developers cover their costs to the citizens of Ridgely. We've increased our impact fees from $3,000.00 (at the time of Lister Estates) to $12,000.oo (by the time Ridgely Park was proposed). Ridgely Park is a carefully planned development that RESPECTS our community traditions AND IT WOULD PAY ITS OWN WAY. WE SHOULD SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS. Without it, we are back to the drawing board. And, we should certainly not put ourselves as a community over a financial barrel. WE MUST NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE MUST DEVELOP IN ORDER TO PAY FOR DEFICIT SPENDING.
We are not alone in facing such a problem. Below is a link to a town that is still fighting to regain control of its destiny after making mistakes. >http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=13844
Many of you have heard about the problems that Ridgely faces with getting its development plans approved by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Many of you also know that our town is way off budget. Sadly, spending has gone on as if everything was already approved and the money needed has been taken from the water/sewer fund. If(and it's still a big "if")the Ridgely Park development falls through because of the delays, we must NOT go ahead and borrow money (about $5 million) to build a wastewater treatment plant. If Ridgely Park is not OK, Ridgely and its plans to build a wastewater treatment plant are not OK. Ridgely Park is to pay for the plant. This fact can't be more plain and simple.
THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR DEVELOPERS TO MAKE HUGE PROFITS. The town has correctly made sure developers cover their costs to the citizens of Ridgely. We've increased our impact fees from $3,000.00 (at the time of Lister Estates) to $12,000.oo (by the time Ridgely Park was proposed). Ridgely Park is a carefully planned development that RESPECTS our community traditions AND IT WOULD PAY ITS OWN WAY. WE SHOULD SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS. Without it, we are back to the drawing board. And, we should certainly not put ourselves as a community over a financial barrel. WE MUST NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE MUST DEVELOP IN ORDER TO PAY FOR DEFICIT SPENDING.
We are not alone in facing such a problem. Below is a link to a town that is still fighting to regain control of its destiny after making mistakes. >http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=13844
Monday, January 14, 2008
Religious Freedom And Obama's Conversion To Christianity
Whether he is elected President or not, Barack Hussein Obama 's candidacy could do much to promote religious freedom world-wide. The simple fact is that Obama is a apostate Muslim. His father and stepfather were Muslims. He attended Muslim religious schools early in life. He is, therefore, according to Sharia law a Muslim. Today, he is under that same law, as an apostate, living under a "death sentence". How Obama deals with questions of his conversion to Christianity will provide his greatest legacy.
Most Westerners are not aware of the fact that conversion from Islam carries such a threat. Only the few brave Christian missionaries who dare to venture forth into Muslim lands have run up against this harsh reality. In his case, it's unlikely that anyone could penetrate through his Secret Service bubble to carry out the "sentence". The threat of harm isn't the big question here. How the Muslim world will react to it's most famous apostate is the question. When the inevitable press conference occurs, and a reporter asks him about conversion, he will have no choice but to defend religious freedom -- a type of freedom that is not allowed in much of the Muslim world. For instance, what will the rulers of Saudi Arabia tell their people? What would they do if somehow Obama is elected and comes a calling? Would the American President be turned away or would they admit and honor an apostate?
Obama's conversion may may not have been as dramatic as a certain Paul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. However, like St. Paul, his actions are about to effect the lives of millions looking for the truth.
We live in interesting times.
Most Westerners are not aware of the fact that conversion from Islam carries such a threat. Only the few brave Christian missionaries who dare to venture forth into Muslim lands have run up against this harsh reality. In his case, it's unlikely that anyone could penetrate through his Secret Service bubble to carry out the "sentence". The threat of harm isn't the big question here. How the Muslim world will react to it's most famous apostate is the question. When the inevitable press conference occurs, and a reporter asks him about conversion, he will have no choice but to defend religious freedom -- a type of freedom that is not allowed in much of the Muslim world. For instance, what will the rulers of Saudi Arabia tell their people? What would they do if somehow Obama is elected and comes a calling? Would the American President be turned away or would they admit and honor an apostate?
Obama's conversion may may not have been as dramatic as a certain Paul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. However, like St. Paul, his actions are about to effect the lives of millions looking for the truth.
We live in interesting times.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Osama Obama
Iowa or not, Obama has a name recognition problem. A close friend of mine formerly from the 33rd Ward of Philly told me an interesting story recently.
His 84 year old devout Democrat mother was really worried about her party. As she put it to him, "I sure hope that that OSAMA doesn't get it". Therein is a name recognition problem that can't be overcome for hundreds of thousands of elderly Democrat voters. It simply can't be done and these are the voters that he really needs to win.
His 84 year old devout Democrat mother was really worried about her party. As she put it to him, "I sure hope that that OSAMA doesn't get it". Therein is a name recognition problem that can't be overcome for hundreds of thousands of elderly Democrat voters. It simply can't be done and these are the voters that he really needs to win.
Reflections On 2007
With the new year, it's time to think back on what has happened last year. There is a lot on Toblog to review. From Political Correctness, to town planning, to who will have the power to govern in our small towns, Toblog has covered it all. The October 3rd piece titled "Politically Correct Beyond Words" and the October 31st "The Whole Story About the Planning Commission" are worth second readings. With elections coming, the question of how our town government should work ought to be a concern to everyone. This vital and unresolved issue is covered in September's "Save Our Small Town Democracy" and most completely in the October 16h post titled "Preserving The Republic One Town At A Time".
Happy reading and commenting. I'll be back soon.
Happy reading and commenting. I'll be back soon.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Keep Those Christmas Decorations Up!
Toblog is going to jump into the fray over when to put up and when to take down Christmas decorations. Already the day after Christmas some citizens in our fair town were taking down their decorations. Of course, these same people had put them up by Halloween. Naturally, everyone is free to do whatever they want but what is the tradition here? Why have some put up decorations earlier and earlier? What is the reason many of us still put up decorations later and keep them up through the middle of January? All the "non-controversial" questions of commercialism versus Christian traditions come into play on this one.
The Christmas tradition that many of us grew up with had outside decorations going up in early December. And, the tree went up a week before Christmas or even on Christmas eve. Our schedule followed the traditional calender which celebrates Christmas through Epiphany (the 12th day after Christmas when the three kings arrived in Bethlehem). Using the even older Julian calender, we could keep our decorations up even longer to celebrate with our Russian Orthodox and Egyptian Coptic coreligionists. Their calender doesn't celebrate Christmas until January 7th . Of course, you need to add on the 12 days of Christmas to get to the Julian calender Epiphany. This gives you a perfect excuse to keep the holiday going until January 19th. This is a celebration with its focus on the reason for the season.
Of course, commercial interests have pushed the holiday earlier and earlier each year. Commercial Christmas once began on or right after Thanksgiving when many city and town parades ushered in the season with parades featuring Santa's arrival. Now, it's right after Halloween and many of our neighbors have jumped on the bandwagon. By Christmas itself, they are thoroughly tired of their decorations and down they come the day after. What a shame .
We as a people ought to hold on to traditions that help define our life. We shouldn't be so quick to give up centuries old celebrations in order to fatten the corporate bottom line.
It's still Christmas as far as I'm concerned. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The Christmas tradition that many of us grew up with had outside decorations going up in early December. And, the tree went up a week before Christmas or even on Christmas eve. Our schedule followed the traditional calender which celebrates Christmas through Epiphany (the 12th day after Christmas when the three kings arrived in Bethlehem). Using the even older Julian calender, we could keep our decorations up even longer to celebrate with our Russian Orthodox and Egyptian Coptic coreligionists. Their calender doesn't celebrate Christmas until January 7th . Of course, you need to add on the 12 days of Christmas to get to the Julian calender Epiphany. This gives you a perfect excuse to keep the holiday going until January 19th. This is a celebration with its focus on the reason for the season.
Of course, commercial interests have pushed the holiday earlier and earlier each year. Commercial Christmas once began on or right after Thanksgiving when many city and town parades ushered in the season with parades featuring Santa's arrival. Now, it's right after Halloween and many of our neighbors have jumped on the bandwagon. By Christmas itself, they are thoroughly tired of their decorations and down they come the day after. What a shame .
We as a people ought to hold on to traditions that help define our life. We shouldn't be so quick to give up centuries old celebrations in order to fatten the corporate bottom line.
It's still Christmas as far as I'm concerned. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
No Kent Island Blues For Ridgely
Last night, the shopping center development plan for Route 480 was resubmitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Substantial changes were made to the plan and what is to be built will complement Ridgely's rich architectural heritage. The new proposal was approved and fits into the same footprint for the shopping center which was approved last spring. It has a porch and cupolas and will be one of the best buildings on this entrance into Ridgely. For those of you who are wondering, it won't have dormers. The dormer issue was much misrepresented by some, and, dormers were only one of many architectural devices that could be used to bring new Rt. 480 buildings into harmony with the rest of our town.
How many of you have passed through Kent Island and asked yourselves, how did this overdeveloped commercial eyesore come to exist? To the Planning Commission, the state of the Kent Island Rt. 50 commercial strip is a cautionary tale. It is why we are working hard to make our highway commercial strip(Rt. 480)an integral part of town instead of the type of chaotic commercial sprawl that blights too many of our American communities.
The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Ed McMahon have provided us with much information and inspiration in our efforts to keep Ridgely the beautiful community that it is. Their work is a much needed antidote for those communities struggling to hold the line against place destroying sprawl. As the late Commissioner Jare Wallace used to frequently say (while attending our Planning and Zoning meetings), "either you design your community or the developers coming here will". Words of wisdom which we have taken to heart over the last 10 years.
How many of you have passed through Kent Island and asked yourselves, how did this overdeveloped commercial eyesore come to exist? To the Planning Commission, the state of the Kent Island Rt. 50 commercial strip is a cautionary tale. It is why we are working hard to make our highway commercial strip(Rt. 480)an integral part of town instead of the type of chaotic commercial sprawl that blights too many of our American communities.
The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Ed McMahon have provided us with much information and inspiration in our efforts to keep Ridgely the beautiful community that it is. Their work is a much needed antidote for those communities struggling to hold the line against place destroying sprawl. As the late Commissioner Jare Wallace used to frequently say (while attending our Planning and Zoning meetings), "either you design your community or the developers coming here will". Words of wisdom which we have taken to heart over the last 10 years.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Contract Controversy Concluding
The controversy that erupted over the Town Manager's contract in September is now drawing to a conclusion. The more radical and dangerous proposals which would have reversed the role of the Town Manager with regard to the Commissioners are now history.
While not perfect, the document can be lived with. It is, however, only as strong as the will of the Commissioners to enforce its provisions. The Town Manager is being given a second chance to establish residency here. The requirement takes effect in six months which is, of course, after the Commissioner election. It will be up to this group to follow-up on this and other provisions (and, living here, certainly doesn't simply mean giving the Commissioners a new drivers license with a 21660 zip -- it means really living here -- the understanding of which has has been stated by the TM at many public meetings). Remember to vote for some backbone when the time comes.
Monday the 19th at 7:00 is the Commissioner's workshop. This will be the last chance for public comment on the issue before the formal vote in December. You can also comment on this blog below.
Thanks to the many who made their voices heard about the contract. The old America is still alive and well in Ridgely. People still stand up for their rights and we still have a free press (in the form of this blog) to shine the light of reason and publicity on what was a pretty awful proposal.
Finally, wouldn't be great to again have a town paper or blog? "Town Talk" as it used to exist couldn't be a forum that contained editorial content because it was the "official" town paper. Something which is independent is needed to air citizen concerns. My blog, as you have seen, isn't only about Ridgely. Although I'm happy to have been of assistance to the town's concerned citizens, we need something exclusively dedicated to this need. To accomplish this, it needs to be private or independent (in other words, not town financed). All blogs are public, of course, but all blogs aren't open to the type of criticism I've posted and hosted. We need to be free of the likelyhood of censorship that comes with being funded by town hall.
We don't need funding anyhow because setting up a blog is simple and free. However, maintaining it and filling it with stories can be time consuming. Many people contributed to "Town Talk" but two (Arlene Hege and Nancy Gearhart) did a huge amount of the work. We need to establish an independent and free press in this town but it does require a dedicated team to produce a quality blog. "Town Talk" can rise again on the blogosphere. Are there any volunteers out there?
While not perfect, the document can be lived with. It is, however, only as strong as the will of the Commissioners to enforce its provisions. The Town Manager is being given a second chance to establish residency here. The requirement takes effect in six months which is, of course, after the Commissioner election. It will be up to this group to follow-up on this and other provisions (and, living here, certainly doesn't simply mean giving the Commissioners a new drivers license with a 21660 zip -- it means really living here -- the understanding of which has has been stated by the TM at many public meetings). Remember to vote for some backbone when the time comes.
Monday the 19th at 7:00 is the Commissioner's workshop. This will be the last chance for public comment on the issue before the formal vote in December. You can also comment on this blog below.
Thanks to the many who made their voices heard about the contract. The old America is still alive and well in Ridgely. People still stand up for their rights and we still have a free press (in the form of this blog) to shine the light of reason and publicity on what was a pretty awful proposal.
Finally, wouldn't be great to again have a town paper or blog? "Town Talk" as it used to exist couldn't be a forum that contained editorial content because it was the "official" town paper. Something which is independent is needed to air citizen concerns. My blog, as you have seen, isn't only about Ridgely. Although I'm happy to have been of assistance to the town's concerned citizens, we need something exclusively dedicated to this need. To accomplish this, it needs to be private or independent (in other words, not town financed). All blogs are public, of course, but all blogs aren't open to the type of criticism I've posted and hosted. We need to be free of the likelyhood of censorship that comes with being funded by town hall.
We don't need funding anyhow because setting up a blog is simple and free. However, maintaining it and filling it with stories can be time consuming. Many people contributed to "Town Talk" but two (Arlene Hege and Nancy Gearhart) did a huge amount of the work. We need to establish an independent and free press in this town but it does require a dedicated team to produce a quality blog. "Town Talk" can rise again on the blogosphere. Are there any volunteers out there?
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