Today's infrastructure committee addressed at length two issues, resolved three, and had a comprehensive development wrap up. This was also the first meeting I have attended and my first reaction is I am going to love this job.
Now, to the two length topics: the removal of three trees at the Sea Dog due to debris from the trees seasonally, and the neon sign discussion ongoing for months so far.The trees ended up being voted to be removed by a vote of 4-1. However, only one alternative was proposed and it had been attempted already. However, I did not speak due to fear of, I don't know. However I was wondering if there was a way to perhaps tent the patio and preserve the 35 year old trees.
Then the neon sign discussion became hung up over the removal of signs when a business goes out. It continued for quite a while until I decided to make a proposed solution: the business could pay into a fund of some sort when they get the permit for a neon sign that would cover the cost of removal should the company go bankrupt. An insurance policy for the city so that the cost would not fall on Bangor's city budget.This was quickly deemed a possibility that had not been considered, and then the discussion of what could be advertised continued.
The time limitation for the other topics led to a thought I had about possible lewd advertising not being allowed not being presented: the city of Bangor does not have the resources to have its own neon sign morality police. The neon sign making companies are getting their signs legal, they should take their victory and come for the other battles another day.
The meeting went well, but I feel the neon sign discussion has lasted months due to the complexity of the codes and also the persistence for more changes by the neon company.Thats all for now, thank you for reading.
A little taste of political logic (with a side dose of insanity and humor to make things interesting.) My life will occassionally be brought in with some journalism.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Taxing Health Benefits
There has been a proposal to fund the government option healthcare with a tax on health benefits that people not on the government plan will have to pay. I oppose this. To tax either the company generous enough to provide health benefits to its workers or the worker who has earned the healthcare is not right. It either taxes charity of companies or the earnings of workers who already pay income taxes. The tax code has many flawed taxes, we don't need to add another one.
ACORN Part 1
ACORN is a political organization. It helped found the WFP (Working Families Party) in New York that has expanded to be present in several other states. In this blog: http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/2009/06/fox-news-vs-wfp/
You should watch the video, and read the response. The video never mentions the WFP. It mentions the ACORN protestors, but never WFP. However the WFP responds with: That’s my way of letting you know that the largest right wing echo chamber in the country has decided to pick on the Working Families Party because of our role in making sure that the Democrats don’t go back to being the minority in the NY State Senate.
Excerpt over. If you watch the video, the discussion is about the assaults of several Republican New York state senators being assaulted as they tried to go to a vote. The organization protesting and blocking the entrance to the senate chambers was ACORN. WFP sees the report on ACORN's protest as an attack on its work. It says it is making sure Democrats don't become a minority which makes me wonder why they are not simply the Democratic Party. Perhaps ACORN and the Democratic Party need a fall organization for more unconventional methods.
Now later in the post it says it did not organize the protest. So why did it just say that a report that didn't mention them was about their efforts? They mention news articles on the protest and point out the non-mention of the WFP. So why did they just say it was their efforts involved? When you read the blog they have, they also have many "adjective defenses." I personally see those as a sign of guilt because a substantial case can not be made in their defense, so they must go on the offensive and use racism charges.
What I conclude from this is simple: ACORN is a political entity.
You should watch the video, and read the response. The video never mentions the WFP. It mentions the ACORN protestors, but never WFP. However the WFP responds with: That’s my way of letting you know that the largest right wing echo chamber in the country has decided to pick on the Working Families Party because of our role in making sure that the Democrats don’t go back to being the minority in the NY State Senate.
Excerpt over. If you watch the video, the discussion is about the assaults of several Republican New York state senators being assaulted as they tried to go to a vote. The organization protesting and blocking the entrance to the senate chambers was ACORN. WFP sees the report on ACORN's protest as an attack on its work. It says it is making sure Democrats don't become a minority which makes me wonder why they are not simply the Democratic Party. Perhaps ACORN and the Democratic Party need a fall organization for more unconventional methods.
Now later in the post it says it did not organize the protest. So why did it just say that a report that didn't mention them was about their efforts? They mention news articles on the protest and point out the non-mention of the WFP. So why did they just say it was their efforts involved? When you read the blog they have, they also have many "adjective defenses." I personally see those as a sign of guilt because a substantial case can not be made in their defense, so they must go on the offensive and use racism charges.
What I conclude from this is simple: ACORN is a political entity.
The Websites Style
The recent accusations of plagarism against Les Otten has yet to yeild criminal charges. The logo was the big thing, the second part was the design. I've decided check the similarities, and the donate button is red, and the tiered system below the title gives access to the various pages with a side bar for other options. Very similar to this website: http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/
Yet, that website is not facing the same accusations. I wouldn't apply the same accusations because it is petty to do so, but the Otten website is no more plagarizing Obama's website than that one is. This is my final word on the issue: press charges or apologize. Plagarism is a crime, so let justice prevail.
Yet, that website is not facing the same accusations. I wouldn't apply the same accusations because it is petty to do so, but the Otten website is no more plagarizing Obama's website than that one is. This is my final word on the issue: press charges or apologize. Plagarism is a crime, so let justice prevail.