... that the NYS GOTea votes "NO" to this:
http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/122404/13/Cuomo-Assembly-Democrats-Reach-Tax-Cap-Deal
And, I'm sure they will, since there are exemptions for Unions workers, those stinkin' commies! If it helps keep unions strong, the GOTea will say no to it. They have to. The only way the GOTea can stay in power is to keep the working class (Read: You and me) divided. Even after the cries of "Cut Taxes", they'll conveniently forget about that when looking at this bill.
We need to stand against this attack on us. Keep you eyes peeled on this one, I bet I'm right (I say they'll vote NO to it). I hope I'm wrong, but not counting on it.
Friday, May 27, 2011
$150 ticket for tall grass?
Say it aint so!
http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/122338/13/Mayor-Responds-to-150-Tickets-for-Not-Mowing-the-Lawn--
Now, don't get me wrong. I like police out there enforcing quality of life issues. But, I do wonder, why do residents get tickets for tall grass; but not businesses? Well, connected businesses, at least.
How many ticket does Carl Paladino get for tall grass on his property? Or, for snow removal? Name any other connected business that gets cited for the same thing residents do?
In Carl's case, when asked about the very same thing during his failed gubernatorial run, he blamed it on the residents of the neighborhood, and accepted no blame for it. "Not my fault", he says. "It's all theblack bums doing it!"
I guess that's why Carl decided to try and turn jails into "Hygiene Dorms" for people on welfare. They wereblacking up dirtying his properties...
http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/122338/13/Mayor-Responds-to-150-Tickets-for-Not-Mowing-the-Lawn--
Now, don't get me wrong. I like police out there enforcing quality of life issues. But, I do wonder, why do residents get tickets for tall grass; but not businesses? Well, connected businesses, at least.
How many ticket does Carl Paladino get for tall grass on his property? Or, for snow removal? Name any other connected business that gets cited for the same thing residents do?
In Carl's case, when asked about the very same thing during his failed gubernatorial run, he blamed it on the residents of the neighborhood, and accepted no blame for it. "Not my fault", he says. "It's all the
I guess that's why Carl decided to try and turn jails into "Hygiene Dorms" for people on welfare. They were
Wait a minute! That's socialism!
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/southern_tier/Niagara-Allegany-Cos-look-for-FEMA
Both of these counties are largely conservative, with the GOTea Baggers calling for "SMALLER GOVERNMENT!!!"
Where, pray tell, does funding for FEMA come from if you cut taxes? Hm?
I guess I can give them a small break. After all, they did just vote Hochul in.
Both of these counties are largely conservative, with the GOTea Baggers calling for "SMALLER GOVERNMENT!!!"
Where, pray tell, does funding for FEMA come from if you cut taxes? Hm?
I guess I can give them a small break. After all, they did just vote Hochul in.
Redistricting? More like Gerrymandering...
Anyone else wonder how a district in Western New York could be historically GOP, in an otherwise (Short of one other district) Democratic Party state?
That's easy. Look at the district map for NYS. Seems, somehow, down the line, a district carved from only rural areas was drawn up. And, the 26th district contains only Rochester, which, while it is a major metro area; the population covered is far less than the rural areas.
So, a giant swath of rural area, with a smaller metro area tossed in for good measure, somehow got created, rather than a more sensible method of using major metro centers as the center of the districts, and the surrounding rural areas being included.
This is gerrymandering. From Wikipedia:
This is a perfect example of the above. The rural area carved out in such a way, that the metro area is engulfed by the rural constituents. The effect is that Rochester as a whole, gets ignored, while the true minority have an unusually large command of the legislative process. Which in turn causes things like the GOP controlling ANY seats in the US Senate and House for NYS.
This is a major reason I am opposed to the redistricting process put forth by Mark Grisanti. He proposes a "bipartisan" committee draw up the map. Why do we need a committee? Draw the map up with population centers being the biggest districts, which include the surrounding more rural areas. This is not rocket science people.
Of course, he neglects to mention who would APPOINT this committee. Wont be a vote by us. It will be by appointment. And, who controls the NYS legislature right now? The GOP.
Another example of gerrymandering going on is with Erie County: http://www.buffalonews.com/city/politics/article434405.ece
The only plans being talked about greatly are the ones put forth by the political parties; both of which are looking to secure their power. We need a logical, not a political method of creating districts. Not something that keeps politicians in power, but rather one that keeps the citizens in power.
That's easy. Look at the district map for NYS. Seems, somehow, down the line, a district carved from only rural areas was drawn up. And, the 26th district contains only Rochester, which, while it is a major metro area; the population covered is far less than the rural areas.
So, a giant swath of rural area, with a smaller metro area tossed in for good measure, somehow got created, rather than a more sensible method of using major metro centers as the center of the districts, and the surrounding rural areas being included.
This is gerrymandering. From Wikipedia:
"In the process of setting electoral districts, rather than using uniform geographic standards, Gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts. The resulting district is known as a gerrymander; however, that word can also refer to the process." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering
This is a perfect example of the above. The rural area carved out in such a way, that the metro area is engulfed by the rural constituents. The effect is that Rochester as a whole, gets ignored, while the true minority have an unusually large command of the legislative process. Which in turn causes things like the GOP controlling ANY seats in the US Senate and House for NYS.
This is a major reason I am opposed to the redistricting process put forth by Mark Grisanti. He proposes a "bipartisan" committee draw up the map. Why do we need a committee? Draw the map up with population centers being the biggest districts, which include the surrounding more rural areas. This is not rocket science people.
Of course, he neglects to mention who would APPOINT this committee. Wont be a vote by us. It will be by appointment. And, who controls the NYS legislature right now? The GOP.
Another example of gerrymandering going on is with Erie County: http://www.buffalonews.com/city/politics/article434405.ece
The only plans being talked about greatly are the ones put forth by the political parties; both of which are looking to secure their power. We need a logical, not a political method of creating districts. Not something that keeps politicians in power, but rather one that keeps the citizens in power.
What's the Democrat Plan to "Save" Medicare?
So, the rallying cry among the neo-nut right-wing folks is,"Well, what's the Dem's plan to save Medicare? Huh? Huh?"
Laughable question, especially coming from a group that was just battling over destroying that program. Where does the sudden concern come from? Most certainly not from their care about taking care of citizens. The GOTeabaggers demonstrated that very clearly over the past 3 years: Fighting against the Affordable Care Act (Which extends the solvency of Medicare - http://www.ohanet.org/Newsletter-Issue/newsletterissueHealthENews051611); proposing a budget which destroys Medicare (Paul Ryan's plan - http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-paul-ryans-budget-plan-screws-old-people-2011-4), which interestingly enough pays for more corporate handouts by cutting spending on the elderly; and the desire to cut every social program in the federal budget, while cutting taxes for the wealthy.
Right now, the "plan" to save Medicare is first and foremost, prevent the GOTeabaggers from destroying Medicare. Phase one is accomplished, when the Senate voted down the Ryan plan.
The poor economy caused a regression of the projected solvency of both Medicare and Social Security. So, the first action is to continue to promote economic growth. We need to kill the $50 billion annually we hand to the oil companies, and turn it over to companies like J.B.I of Niagara Falls, who is doing phenomenal work to extend our world's oil reserves (http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/niagara/Falls-business-turns-plastic-into-fuel). Imagine if firms such as J.B.I. had $50 billion annually to do R&D? J.B.I. alone created a new industry, and adds 20 green jobs to our local economy, without any R&D funding from the government.
Laughable question, especially coming from a group that was just battling over destroying that program. Where does the sudden concern come from? Most certainly not from their care about taking care of citizens. The GOTeabaggers demonstrated that very clearly over the past 3 years: Fighting against the Affordable Care Act (Which extends the solvency of Medicare - http://www.ohanet.org/Newsletter-Issue/newsletterissueHealthENews051611); proposing a budget which destroys Medicare (Paul Ryan's plan - http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-paul-ryans-budget-plan-screws-old-people-2011-4), which interestingly enough pays for more corporate handouts by cutting spending on the elderly; and the desire to cut every social program in the federal budget, while cutting taxes for the wealthy.
Right now, the "plan" to save Medicare is first and foremost, prevent the GOTeabaggers from destroying Medicare. Phase one is accomplished, when the Senate voted down the Ryan plan.
The poor economy caused a regression of the projected solvency of both Medicare and Social Security. So, the first action is to continue to promote economic growth. We need to kill the $50 billion annually we hand to the oil companies, and turn it over to companies like J.B.I of Niagara Falls, who is doing phenomenal work to extend our world's oil reserves (http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/niagara/Falls-business-turns-plastic-into-fuel). Imagine if firms such as J.B.I. had $50 billion annually to do R&D? J.B.I. alone created a new industry, and adds 20 green jobs to our local economy, without any R&D funding from the government.
Now, the Democratic party needs to figure out how to do another round of amendments to the Affordable Care Act to tweak (Not destroy) Medicare.
So, the Democratic plan is not 100% complete, but we can't assume that a complete, and total fix will ever happen. The only thing we can do is keep pushing it out, through minor tweaks to the system. And, by improving the economy, solvency gets pushed even further out.
So, yes, the Democratic Party does have a plan. The problem is: The GOP is trying to stop it at all costs. The GOP is trying to destroy the economy by bringing us to a halt (See the debt ceiling issue); trying to cut all of the social safety net programs needed by people who have lost their jobs; and by cutting all revenue into the US, while putting even more war machine dollars on the credit card.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
NY's 26th District Race
So, the GOP is quaking...
The Tea Party is in shambles...
"Why do you think this?" you may ask. Because Kathy Hochul, at last polling, was leading the race for NY's 26th District; a predominantly, and historically bastion of red in an otherwise blue state.
Davis is being laughed at right now. Tea Party? Tea Parties are for little girls. This is federal level politics. With 30 people showing up at a "huge" Tea Party rally last week; the Tea Party is all but dead. The people saw what it really was: GOP 2.0 Beta
Corwin, who is 47, said she's been a successful business woman for 36 years. So, at the age of 8, she purportedly was a business woman. Damn woman can't even keep her age right! Adding to this, her support of a plan that would destroy Medicare, and most assuredly create the "Death Panels" the GOP has been yelling about for the past 3 years.
Corwin, the only "serious" contender to Hochul, is so terrified she will lose, she convinced a judge to seal the ballots for court hearing. Really? We need a judge to count ballots now? Yep, you heard it: She doesn't want ballots counted until May 26th. Trying to either stave off defeat, or trying to pull another 2004 Florida maneuver.
The GOP spent about $4 million dollars in campaign dollars in THIS DISTRICT ALONE, for this singular election. They know they signed their own death certificate when every GOP member, except 4, endorsed Ryan's plan to destroy Medicare.
Now, we're just waiting on the Doctor to call the death: May 26th, 9AM; when the court goes into session.
UPDATE
Corwin finally conceded. She realized there was ZERO chance of her winning.
The Tea Party is in shambles...
"Why do you think this?" you may ask. Because Kathy Hochul, at last polling, was leading the race for NY's 26th District; a predominantly, and historically bastion of red in an otherwise blue state.
Davis is being laughed at right now. Tea Party? Tea Parties are for little girls. This is federal level politics. With 30 people showing up at a "huge" Tea Party rally last week; the Tea Party is all but dead. The people saw what it really was: GOP 2.0 Beta
Corwin, who is 47, said she's been a successful business woman for 36 years. So, at the age of 8, she purportedly was a business woman. Damn woman can't even keep her age right! Adding to this, her support of a plan that would destroy Medicare, and most assuredly create the "Death Panels" the GOP has been yelling about for the past 3 years.
Corwin, the only "serious" contender to Hochul, is so terrified she will lose, she convinced a judge to seal the ballots for court hearing. Really? We need a judge to count ballots now? Yep, you heard it: She doesn't want ballots counted until May 26th. Trying to either stave off defeat, or trying to pull another 2004 Florida maneuver.
The GOP spent about $4 million dollars in campaign dollars in THIS DISTRICT ALONE, for this singular election. They know they signed their own death certificate when every GOP member, except 4, endorsed Ryan's plan to destroy Medicare.
Now, we're just waiting on the Doctor to call the death: May 26th, 9AM; when the court goes into session.
UPDATE
Corwin finally conceded. She realized there was ZERO chance of her winning.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Is it time for community radio?
Right now, if you tune the radio dials here in WNY, on the FM band, you get some music stations, one NPR, a conservative talk radio station, and 5-6 Christian talk stations (Conservative talk, really) and that's it. Only two stations carries anything remotely resembling local programming: 103.3 WEDG, and 107.7 WBEN.
WEDG has some local DJ's; but they just play the satellite feed given to them by their corporate honchos. Drive-home time has Shredd and Ragan. They do a pretty good job covering local stuff. WBEN has a drive-home conservative talking head (Sandy Beech), but the rest of the time is fed programming that has naugh to do with local events.
How does the current state of affairs serve the public interests? It doesn't. All the stations are owned 2 corporations, and the Christian talk is owned by 2 different corporations *cough cough* I mean non-profits, who spout anti-progressive rhetoric as much as the conservative yokels do. The 5-6 Christian talk stations are generally just simulcasts of each other.
One example stands out in the dark for local programming: WTF Radio: 94.9 FM. It's a "pirate" radio station, but serves up plenty of local music, obviously the DJ's are local, and if you listen to it, they play everything on there. Even some Democracy Now! feeds occasionally.
So, is WNY really 75% conservative, and 20% "easy listening", and 10% wants some state and federal level news (With a smidgeon of science, car chat, and brain food programming)? I don't think so.
So, since I hate people who spout off problems, but offer no solutions, what is the solution? Pirate Radio? I don't advocate illegal actions. LPFM (Low power FM)? Nope, LPFM licenses are closed, and the few channels available for it are occupied for Christian Talk simulcasts. Buy a full-power station? Good luck. Corporations don't want the small guy having any of the bands, so their use their full might to make sure the FCC wont grant you a license.
Well, I've been through all the options, right?
Nuh-uh. There's another licensing portion: Part 15. Bah! Right off the bat, people who know what Part 15 is will balk: "It only gets like, 50ft!". Yes, it does. However, what it does allow is a legal way for citizens to use what is ours. And, if we coordinate, we can cover a whole city on Part 15 FM. Part 15 AM is easier to do it, but FM is where most listeners are.
One part 15 transmitter per block can usually cover a good portion of that stretch. One on each side of the block will cover the entire block, with programming WE feel is important, not what some corporate master decides we should listen to.
It's something I'm taking a serious look into, provided a selection of audio feeds for community organizers to use. Not everyone is a content creator. But, people submitting content, and the community electing to use that content on their "Broadcast Station" would be a huge leap forward!
WEDG has some local DJ's; but they just play the satellite feed given to them by their corporate honchos. Drive-home time has Shredd and Ragan. They do a pretty good job covering local stuff. WBEN has a drive-home conservative talking head (Sandy Beech), but the rest of the time is fed programming that has naugh to do with local events.
How does the current state of affairs serve the public interests? It doesn't. All the stations are owned 2 corporations, and the Christian talk is owned by 2 different corporations *cough cough* I mean non-profits, who spout anti-progressive rhetoric as much as the conservative yokels do. The 5-6 Christian talk stations are generally just simulcasts of each other.
One example stands out in the dark for local programming: WTF Radio: 94.9 FM. It's a "pirate" radio station, but serves up plenty of local music, obviously the DJ's are local, and if you listen to it, they play everything on there. Even some Democracy Now! feeds occasionally.
So, is WNY really 75% conservative, and 20% "easy listening", and 10% wants some state and federal level news (With a smidgeon of science, car chat, and brain food programming)? I don't think so.
So, since I hate people who spout off problems, but offer no solutions, what is the solution? Pirate Radio? I don't advocate illegal actions. LPFM (Low power FM)? Nope, LPFM licenses are closed, and the few channels available for it are occupied for Christian Talk simulcasts. Buy a full-power station? Good luck. Corporations don't want the small guy having any of the bands, so their use their full might to make sure the FCC wont grant you a license.
Well, I've been through all the options, right?
Nuh-uh. There's another licensing portion: Part 15. Bah! Right off the bat, people who know what Part 15 is will balk: "It only gets like, 50ft!". Yes, it does. However, what it does allow is a legal way for citizens to use what is ours. And, if we coordinate, we can cover a whole city on Part 15 FM. Part 15 AM is easier to do it, but FM is where most listeners are.
One part 15 transmitter per block can usually cover a good portion of that stretch. One on each side of the block will cover the entire block, with programming WE feel is important, not what some corporate master decides we should listen to.
It's something I'm taking a serious look into, provided a selection of audio feeds for community organizers to use. Not everyone is a content creator. But, people submitting content, and the community electing to use that content on their "Broadcast Station" would be a huge leap forward!
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