ISLAM: Burning a Quran does not justify killings...

Image by The U.S. Army via Flickr

We have all heard about the riots in Afghanistan that killed many U.N. personnel in Afghanistan there to help the Afghan people, all because some twit pastor with no real congregation decided to burn a Quran / Koran or however you spell it in Florida.

Some people in the U.S. including General Petraeus blamed the idiot pastor for the slaughter of innocent people in Afghanistan; how stupid is that.

I don’t care if he burnt thousands of Qurans or if Muslims burned thousands of Bibles, what the hell does it matter; they are only words printed on paper. How can you justify killing a human being because some nitwit burned a book or drew a unflattering cartoon of someone that you care about…so what!

For someone like General Petraeus to put the blame on the idiot in Florida instead of laying the blame at the feet of the idiots doing the rioting and the killing is totally absurd; the general was justifying the slaughter due to the actions of a deranged religious idiot in Florida?

As more news comes out of Afghanistan about the incident, it appears that specific people like members of the Taliban, enraged the mob by showing them YouTube videos of the burning and convincing the mob that only the killing of infidels would appease Allah.

We can equate that to a mob of vigilantes in a western movie getting liquored up and someone with a rope saying lets go and hang that varmint.

We have to start laying the blame for these despicable actions where it belongs, on the people that carry the actions out, the people that incite these riots and the religion(s) and religious leaders that condone those actions. One cannot respect a religious leader or a religion that espouses that kind of behavior.

Islamic leaders in the Detroit / Michigan area came out against the riot almost immediately, defending the religion of Islam which forbids the taking of innocent life and condemning the atrocities. Islamic leaders have been criticized in the past for not speaking out against the violence committed in the name of Islam and obviously, they have taken the criticism to heart and have acted on it.

I just hope our own leaders get the message and start reacting appropriately instead of trying to be too bloody diplomatic when no diplomacy is warranted…call it like it is, a bunch of loonies on a killing spree that need to be prosecuted as murderers and not some religious vigilantes.

Related articles

• Lindsey Graham Doubles Down On His Disdain For The First Amendment (outsidethebeltway.com)
• General Petraeus: Koran Burning Has Put War Effort At Risk (sayanythingblog.com)
• Why Afghanistan War Strategy Must Change (duanegraham.wordpress.com)
• -Afghanistan: Violence Continues Over Quran Burning, 5 More Dead (answersforthefaith.com)
• Afghan Riots (nationalspacestudiescenter.wordpress.com)
• Taliban uses burned Quran as weapon (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• -Quran is Burned in Florida 8 are Killed in Afghanistan (answersforthefaith.com)
• Qur'an burning free speech in America? (rt.com)

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: Beacause of abortion issue...bite my ass!

Image via Wikipedia

We have been hearing about the imminent government shutdown if the Congressmen don’t agree to a budget soon. Yes, it is all about politics and can drive you crazy especially if you have plans to be at Yellowstone National Park in May and a government shutdown would close all national parks.

I can understand playing political chicken to the last minute about how deep to cut the budget but when I am told that the only issue holding up a compromise on the budget is about ABORTION, I go absolutely nuts.

The issue is federal funding for PLANNED PARENTHOOD, an organization that does a lot, on a national basis, for women and teens and only a small portion of what they do concerns abortions but all these Republican ass-holes can see is that federally funded abortions must be stopped – why – so you can federally (taxpayers) support unwanted children for the rest of their lives?

In the Wall Street Journal (very conservative) a number of Republican conservatives paid for a full page ad in the journal defending the Planned Parenthood organization and all the good that it provides women in the whole country.

The ad outlined the reproductive education that they provide to teens, their parents and their teachers with the aim at preventing unwanted pregnancies. They also provide Pap tests, cancer screening, breast exams and birth control to women that cannot afford it.

Planned Parenthood’s mission is to wipe out or control STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) which usually occur in the ranks of poor women.

I have supported Planned Parenthood most of my adult life and will continue to do so because I believe in what they do.

I get down right livid when I see stupid politicians attack an organization that does so much good for political reasons and believe me, the abortion issue is all about politics.

I have stated many a time that I don’t know anyone that is pro-abortion including myself but to be anti-choice is to deny a person(s) the freedom to be in charge of their own bodies and to tell a married couple that they cannot plan their lives themselves without interference from strangers is to me, abominable.

Please also remember that abortion is legal and the law of the land so quit trying to circumnavigate it.

If you want to bring faith and God into the issue I can only remind you that no one and I do mean not one person, knows or has known what God thinks or wants. The only reason some Christians and Catholics think they know what God wants is because they invented Him (made Him up) according to how they think he should be and so of course THEIR God is going to think like they do.

My God (Mother Earth) cares about the humankind that inhabits Her and allows it the freedom to grow, prosper and be happy; something some religious kooks can’t seems to agree with.

I am all about FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY but how can I vote for Republicans when they are such despicable morons when it comes to social issues…I NEED A POLITICAL PARTY OF MY OWN!

Related articles

• What's The Proper Framing? (talkingpointsmemo.com)
• Should Abortion Be Part of the Budget Discussion? - ABC News (blog) (news.google.com)
• GOP Should Stop Bashing Planned Parenthood (dekerivers.wordpress.com)
• Hugh Hewitt: The Effort To Defund Planned Parenthood Is A Spending Issue (hughhewitt.com)

UNIONS: Bob King, UAW Pres., needs to face painful reality...

Image by cliff1066™ via Flickr

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

        The Detroit News

        “Unions, middle class under attack by GOP”, Bob King

Bob King in his article “Unions, middle class under attack by GOP”, 4/6/11 would prefer to live in the past, even if by force, than face the economic realities of the present and the future.

Yes, the 50s, 60s and 70s were great. That era, with the help of union power, enabled uneducated and unskilled workers in the UAW to demand wages and benefits far above those of workers with the same skill level but not in the UAW. That was possible then but it is not possible now since the advent of the global economy; now we have to compete with the world to survive.

In that past era, public union workers could also demand wages and benefits and get them automatically. Well, times have changed for them also because workers in the private sector, as taxpayers, can no longer afford to support the excessive demands of public unions.

Bob King turns a blind eye to the situation in formerly strict socialist countries like the UK where they can no longer afford their socialistic largesse and now have to face fiscal reality and responsibility even in the face of a protesting public.

There will always be a middle class in our economy. It may not look like the middle class of the 50s, 60s and 70s but it will be a middle class made up of those who have earned their place in the middle class through hard work and dedication and not through intimidation and coercion. The old days are gone because they have to be gone and Bob King needs to accept that and move on.

DETROIT: many have left...will new people come?

Image via Wikipedia

I have been amazed at all the articles that have surfaced after the Detroit census came out and I am talking articles in the new York Times, Wall Street Journal and other “national” media.

Most of the articles by columnists and various academics, discuss all the whys causing the precipitous drop in the city’s population through the years to end up today at a mere 713,000 residents.

Many are saying that the city did it to itself and in many ways that is true but what about looking forward?

I grew up in the city but hung around the suburbs where many of my friends lived. After marriage, I bought a house in my old neighborhood but after the birth of my daughter I could see the writing on the wall. Crime was rampant and educating my children in Detroit was not an option even then; my daughter’s kindergarten teacher advised us to leave as soon as possible. That was then (70s) but things today are even worst.

There are many ideas floating around as to how to bring the city back and many are just pipe dreams but some, those that are brutally realistic, may have some potential.

I admire Mayor Bing for not giving up and just calling it quits. His de-sizing the city has some merit but he is being opposed by those who don’t want to change or to move (remember Einstein’s definition of insanity).

There are actually people out there, mainly young professional people, who like city life and want to move into the city; they don’t like suburban life and my daughter is one of them. She bought a condo in the Wayne State area (Midtown near Avalon Bakery) and lived there for a while. Now that whole area is booming with people that work in the area (Medical Center, Veteran’s Hospital, Wayne State, etc.) while others are being encouraged and even subsidized to relocate to the area by local employers and businesses.

To attract people, the city must become attractive and right now it is not. The services are crap, taxes are high, crime is still rampant, schools are shit and many in city government are corrupt or just plain incompetent; the culture of entitlement is still strong and unionism is entrenched.

The national economy is starting to recover but individual states are cash strapped and unable to afford handouts to municipalities. Detroit has lost residents and its tax base and yet still has an outlandish budget that has risen as the population has decreased.

Many are saying that the city should be put under an emergency financial manager’s control. The new powers given to these managers could easily dissolve union contracts, privatize services and dissolve locally elected boards. Many think that this dictatorial approach is the only way to really change things and who is to realistically argue against that proposition.

The only arguments being voiced against a take-over are those of the entitlement culture who want to remain in power and in control as the Titanic sinks. These are the very people who are responsible for the mess the city finds itself in today.

One possible solution to some of Detroit’s problems is IMMIGRATION.

Detroit was at its highest point when you had Polish, Italian, German neighborhoods. You could eat off the sidewalks in those days. There was a work ethic then and crime was not tolerated.

We recently sold my mother’s house in Detroit to a family from Guatemala. The father is a talented carpenter and remodeler and speaks good English. His wife and three children do not speak English…yet. They bought my mother’s house because it was very close to an elementary school (Priest School).

They have been living in the house only a short time but you can already see improvements to the house and grounds. BUT if the crime around them is not controlled and the schools made viable, they too will move because they will have to.

So if Detroit controls crime in its boundaries and improves the school system, will people come?

Related articles

• Detroit Population Plunges to Century Low (businessweek.com)
• Detroiters attribute population decline to crime, poor schools, few jobs - Detroit Free Press (news.google.com)
• White Detroit Homesteaders Lead First Influx Into Inner City in a Century - Bloomberg (news.google.com)
• Detroit: The Ultimate Ruins (theundergroundconservative.wordpress.com)
• Mayor hopes police take offer to return to Detroit (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Police Or Schools: Detroit Mayor Makes Tough Choices (plastic.com)
• Mayor hopes police take offer to return to Detroit (sfgate.com)

DEFINITION OF INSANITY: By Albert Einstein...

Image via Wikipedia

There is an old quote that came to mind recently maybe because it has so much relevance when discussing many of our issues today. The quote is by Albert Einstein and it is known as his definition of insanity:

INSANITY: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

The definition become quite apropos when many are trying to change things for the better but are being opposed by people who want the same change but are unwilling to change the way things are done…think about it…

UNIONS: Michigan teachers ready to strike?

Image via Wikipedia

In my varied ramblings about unions and especially “public” unions, I have not addressed a specific union that has been in the news lately, namely the Teacher’s Union or the Michigan Education Association.

I count a number of teachers as friends and family and know what a great job they are doing amidst day to day struggles not only with unruly students but with school administrators that can be a pain in the ass and make the job harder than it already is.

Some teachers were very instrumental in people’s later successes and/or failures. We all remember the “bad” teachers; in my case the teachers were nuns who did not take kindly to my rebellious nature (I asked questions I should not have asked) but also “good” teachers that made learning an adventure and inspired us to aim higher and higher.

My concern is not individual teachers or the teaching profession, no it is teacher unionism and as in unionism in general, there are the pros and the cons.

The newspapers are reporting that here in Michigan, the Michigan Education Association (MEA) is preparing for a strike vote just in case our Governor Snyder and our state legislature does something the MEA does not like.

It is illegal for teachers to strike in Michigan but teacher strikes are quite common here. Sometimes the courts will issue warnings and sometimes fines against the union for breaking the law and the contract it signed promising not to strike but all in all, the law is unenforceable and students suffer.

Some legislators are proposing adding some teeth to the existing law namely allowing the state or school district to decertify striking teachers…now that’s some teeth!

Some teachers will argue that without the strike option, they have no bargaining power and they are correct in that.

But the law is the law and it was written specifically in the case of certain public union contracts when the safety and/or well being of the public could be compromised during a strike.

Many cite the Traffic Controller Strike under President Reagan where obviously the public was put in danger when the union struck, plus the union was acting illegally and so President Reagan fired all 11,000 traffic controllers.

I am not addressing whether teachers deserve their pay and benefits, my concern today is about finding another way where teachers can state their demands and have them seriously heard without resorting to an illegal and damaging strike.

I am also concerned with the MEA influencing elections by supporting Democratic candidates who when elected, are obliged to give the MEA what it wants since they helped elect the individual.

These are serious issues that I think need to be addressed in a civil manner and calling for a strike vote, to me, is just plain inflammatory and may bias some normally reasonable people.

Related articles

• Michigan: Teachers Trying to Hide Union Activism in School Email Accounts (chicagonow.com)
• Teachers Unions be Gone! (socyberty.com)
• Respecting Teachers in the Sunshine State by Marcus A. Winters - City Journal (gloucestercitynews.net)
• No April Fools' joke. IEA circulates anti-MEA faux news. (preaprez.wordpress.com)
• Civility (fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com)
• Michigan's Crazy Drunk Uncle - Kyle Olson - Townhall Conservative (gds44.wordpress.com)

PAPACY: Alexander VI on SHOWTIME...

I had to call COMCAST today and add the SHOWTIME channel because THE BORGIAS (9 episode feature) will start tomorrow.

For you that really don’t know about Catholic history and especially about Papal history, this will be a revelation.

The Borgia family (Spanish) was a notorious family with huge power and wealth. In 1455 Pope Callixtus III was the first Borgia pope and in 1492 Roderigo Borgia became Pope Alexander VI and he is the one that the series is about.

Alexander was actually a pretty plump guy but he will be portrayed by a skinny actor, so much for keeping close to historical fact but maybe they could not find a fat actor that looked like a pope.

Yes there are many stories about this papacy and the fact that he had children, liked women a lot and loved to party are all documented BUT you know how people can get carried away especially those making movies or elaborate cable movies; makes for a bigger audience.

Alexander was not a bad pope he just liked a certain life style and why not but if you want to know the historical truth, you need to actually read some serious books about him and the Borgias…you will be fascinated.

For now, enjoy the series, the previews are fantastic…

Don’t forget CAMELOT started yesterday on STARZ.

Related articles

• Showtime Soap Opera Features History's Bad-boy Pope (huffingtonpost.com)
• Jeremy Irons Stars in Showtime's 'The Borgias' (abcnews.go.com)
• "Borgias" doesn't let facts get in way of sexy story (reuters.com)
• Jeremy Irons On Playing Pope for 'The Borgias' & the Trouble With Wearing Pants (VIDEO) (tvsquad.com)
• Sex, violence and the Church: On set with The Borgias (canada.com)
• Murder, orgies all in a day's work for "The Borgias" (reuters.com)

AIRLINE UNION BILL: Unfair...

Image via Wikipedia

With my mother in and out of the hospital lately, not much time for blogging. Hopefully, we can get her stabilized and return to some semblance of normality in our daily lives.

Here is a quick union note: a bill passing through Congress wants to change the language as to how airline unionization can occur.

Right now, a clear majority of airline employees are needed to establish a union or to not establish a union. The new language calls for all airline employees to be counted in the vote with the ones that did not vote counted as a no vote.

In the U.S. people can vote or not vote; it’s their option. If we counted the people that chose not to vote as “NO” votes, would that be fair and/or democratic?

I will have to say NO, that would not be fair. Elections to me are counting the votes cast with the majority winning the vote…period.

The president has threatened to veto the bill as it is presented and I can see why.

I would consider the language in THIS bill as definitely anti-union and unfair and therefore I am against it…see?

Related articles

• White House threatens veto of anti-union FAA bill (dailykos.com)
• Anti-union push in FAA reauthorization gets help from Delta (dailykos.com)
• Anti-union amendment added to FAA reauthorization bill; will Obama veto? (shortformblog.tumblr.com)
• Union-busting provision in FAA bill prevails in House (dailykos.com)
• W.H.: Obama may veto FAA bill (politico.com)

UNIONS: UAW's last stand...

Image via Wikipedia

I hate to be talking this much about unions but I think it is the sign of the times; we have to.

The public unions came into focus for many of us because the economic recession made state and local governments look at their dramatically diminishing revenues and realize that public unions were huge and unnecessary drains on those revenues.

Private unions on the other hand, went into a tail spin with the recession and as in Detroit, saw clearly their potential demise in the very near future. Since the economy is starting to get a little bit better and here in Detroit, the auto companies are posting profits; the unions are getting ready to demand back all they sacrificed and more…

The UAW just had a small gathering (1,200) here in Detroit to plan for their contract talks with the Big 3 automakers this summer. It was more of a “pump us up” session with speakers screaming how the UAW will get back its concessions, now that the auto industry is doing so well.

Here is the difference this time around; the UAW cannot strike GM or Chrysler because of the bankruptcy agreements it signed. They can strike FORD because Ford took no bailout money and survived the auto industry collapse on its own.

Bob King, president of the UAW, complained mightily about the bonus Alan Mulally received from Ford which was something like 50+ million in “stock”.

Now I understand that King has to speak in a certain way when he speaks to his members. All they want to hear is how the union is going to get everything it can from the auto industry; no matter what. But King is not stupid and has to use some common sense if he wants to maintain the union’s relevance.

Yes, Mr. Mulally got a big bonus but it was in stock and not cash so if the company goes down, he gets nothing. King also knows that Mulally came to Ford when the company was going down and took no compensation until he could get the company profitable again…and he did what he said he would do and he needs to be compensated for that and King understands that if Mulally didn’t fix Ford, the UAW would be dust, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Let me just say one thing before I get into details; if the UAW strikes Ford, the nation will rise up against the UAW and make sure it dies a miserable death, why? The UAW (to many) is a huge factor why the auto industry collapsed in the first place (partly true). GM and Chrysler took tax payer money in the form of a bailout but not Ford. Ford persevered and now is a success because of good planning, management and hard work and not through tax payer welfare and if the UAW dares strike this all-American company that pulled itself up by the bootstraps, not only shame on them but bye, bye UAW.

The union wants all its concessions back. It also wants the two (2) tiered pay system (older workers make their exorbitant wages but new workers come in at 50% less) into a one (1) tier again where all workers make the same as the old workers…DREAM ON.

The auto company plan is for the older workers to retire or take an early buyout so ALL workers will make the lower, more realistic wage that will keep the auto companies competitive in the global market…get it?

The auto companies want to pay their workers bonuses when the company does well whereas the union does not care to only get bonuses when the company does well (capitalism), they want steady raises no matter what financial shape the company is in (communism). And the union does not want merit based pay raises (for doing a good job), they want raises based on seniority (bad worker but been doing a bad job for a long time and so deserves a raise?).

The UAW cannot demand the same old benefits that brought the industry down in the first place and Ford cannot allow itself to bend to those union demands which will eradicate all the progress the company has attained so far.

This summer will be a huge historic moment for the UAW and the auto companies and the outcome will decide the future history of the auto industry, at least, the US auto industry here in Detroit.

There is no Wisconsin legislature to attack this time, this is a private union and their only weapon is a strike but they must remember that private unionized workers like the UAW are only 6% of the American working force today and sliding fast and all the non-unionized workers in America are getting more and more sick and tired of union cry-babies; grow up and face reality.

Related articles

• Report: UAW boss calls Mulally's salary "morally wrong" (autoblog.com)
• UAW Gears Up For Contract Talks With Detroit's Big-3 (wnyc.org)
• "UAW Head Bob King Slams Ford CEOs $56.5 Million Compensation" and related posts (autoguide.com)
• UAW chief says Ford CEO's pay excessive (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

UNIONS: Plymouth Firefighter's union at it again...

Image via Wikipedia

Some time ago, I talked about the firefighters in Plymouth Township, Michigan and how, because of the dwindling resources of the township due to lower property taxes and lower or absent grants from the state and especially the one $1 million loss from the town of Plymouth which shared the fire department with the township, the town trustees tried to work with the firefighters to reduce costs.

When the firefighters union did not want to talk about any reductions, the trustees proposed a number of plans and one of them was to eliminate the fire department and use the services of the nearby community; Northville.

Faced with loosing their jobs, the firefighter’s union took out a full page ad in the local paper warning the residence of dire consequences if the fire department is eliminated. They urged the townsfolk to gather at the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees meeting.

Their intent was quite obvious, pull a Wisconsin on the trustees; make a lot of noise hollering and threatening to fire all the trustees and force the trustees to rescind their plan to eliminate the fire department.

That is exactly what these public unions do well, they don’t compromise but they inflame the locals with bullshit statements and their bullshit did the job and brought in a bunch of people to the meeting.

Obviously, this firefighter’s union does not understand what - WE DON’T HAVE THE FUCKING MONEY TO PAY FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT ANYMORE means.

As I mentioned before, these public unions want and expect the trustees to raise property taxes or raise other taxes to get the money to keep them in their jobs…fuck you!

The trustees need to do what they know they have to do and that is eliminate the department and sign a contract with the Northville fire department to pay them per fire run and contract with the ambulance service and pay them a per run rate.

That way the citizens will be served and protected, just like they always have been, without supporting a greedy-ass union.

Related articles

• UNIONS: Do not wish to face reality... (jmszyszko.blogspot.com)

FAMILY: Nieces and nephews getting old(er)...

Our family has been growing quite nicely through the years but I like to celebrate where it started for me and my sisters; with our kids. My nieces and nephews are in their 30s and 40s now…boy how time flies.

Yesterday, we took time to celebrate my nephew Adam’s 35th birthday at Mr. Gs on Warren, East of Middlebelt. It was the type of bar I remember going to quite often when I was younger; drinks, pizza and dancing.

A great time was had by one and all.

MICHIGAN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL: Its all about politics and not the law...

There was an article in the paper recently that caught my eye but just briefly and I moved on until reading a column by Brian Dickerson in the Friday Free Press (3/18).

The original news item was about Michigan’s Attorney General Bill Schuette. I usually don’t like attorney generals because they are above all, politicians first and attorney generals second or at all.

It appears that a graduate student in counseling at Eastern University (close by) was suing the school because when she refused to counsel gay students, the school told her to find another course or another school. The student claimed her religious beliefs precluded her from ministering to gays.

I find this subject interesting because I actually know a councilor who received her degree from a religious school who also does not council gays among others she finds distasteful. I find this not only very hypocritical with regards to the Christian faith but I also find it quite unprofessional if you do call yourself a professional.

I find the same problem with pharmacists who will not honor doctor’s prescriptions for the morning after pill or any other medication that they think conflicts with their Christian faith. To me you are a pharmacist first and foremost and obligated to do your duty to dispense medications when asked to by a physician; if you don’t want to, get the hell out of that job.

To me the case was simple; a school has a curriculum and a set of requirements for graduation. If you can’t complete the requirements, you do not get a degree. The student’s case rests on her religious liberty which to me has nothing to do with the school’s requirements that are applied to everyone.

Bill Schuette’s name come up in Brian Dickerson’s article because he (as Michigan’s attorney general) files a friend of the court brief with the U.S. 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Normally this is never done by a sitting attorney general but as Dickerson puts it, it is all done in the name of politics as I have maintained throughout. Schuette doesn’t give a shit about the student’s religious liberty, he just wants to be viewed as a man who religious Republican hardliners can count on.

Our last attorney general ran for governor and this one will also, just watch and see.

Related articles

• Michigan AG Bill Schuette Won't Let Devout Students Get Kicked Out For Thinking Gays Are Immoral (queerty.com)
• Michigan State Rep Calls For Removal of Civil Service Commission Members Who Voted For Same-Sex Partner Benefits (pinkbananaworld.com)
• Attorney General supports outsed EMU student (pinkbananaworld.com)

PUBLIC UNIONS: Example how union / politician deal works...

I know many of you do not share my view of unions and especially public unions but I believe that is true because of a lack of information and maybe examples, which I will provide.

I mentioned before that many politicians elected with union money, give unions what they want as a payback for getting elected.

Now the payback is made with our (taxpayer) money and obviously not with the politician’s money. Usually, these paybacks are not made too public and are done without us being the wiser.

That was then and now is now. We are now painfully aware, with money so darn tight, just how this union / politician arrangement works.

Republican Carlos Alvarez was mayor of Miami – Dade.  Re-elected in 2008, he was re-called recently by voters for…

Well, Mayor Alvarez increased the pay for public union employees and also unfroze some benefits for the public union employees.

And how was he going to pay for his largesse? Well, he raised property taxes for 2/5ths of county homeowners by 13%.

Do you now see how this works?

The voters said bye-bye and threw his ass out on the street.

We need to start paying attention to where our tax dollars are heading, who is getting them and do they deserve to get them.

Related articles

• As recall wave builds, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez first to go - Christian Science Monitor (news.google.com)
• Let your Voices Be Heard America! (wdednh.wordpress.com)
• Miami-Dade voters recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez (cbsnews.com)
• Miami Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez Recalled (abcnews.go.com)
• Voter revolt in South Florida tosses Miami mayor and Dade commissioner (minx.cc)
• Miami Voters Fire Lousy Mayor (reason.com)
• The First Casualty of the Recall Wave (swampland.blogs.time.com)

LIBYA: French jets first over Libya...

The United Nations sure took its sweet time in coming up with a plan to protest the people of Libya from their nutcase dictator Khadafy. In fact it may be a little too late since his forces have nearly eliminated the rebels as a threat.

I must admit that I was surprised to see that the French had planes over Libya almost immediately. The French president Sarkozy seems to be a man of action, dispatching French Mirage fighters to patrol the skies.

It appears that other nations are also willing to put up some military assets in the effort; I just hope this is coordinated well so they don’t shoot each other’s planes down.

As I mentioned before, just establishing a no-fly zone over Libya will not deter the tanks and artillery from moving forward and decimating the rebels. No we need a plane like the WART HOG (my favorite military plane) A-10. It would make mince meat out of the tanks and artillery.

Do I get exited when it comes to battle…well I think all guys do but really I am a peace lover unless someone needs an ass whooping like Khadafy.

Related articles

• LIBYA: What to do now... (jmszyszko.blogspot.com)
• French President Nicolas Sarkozy Takes Action Against Libya (alan.com)
• French jets open fire on Libyan military vehicle (vatopaidi.wordpress.com)
• French planes enter Libya to enforce no-fly zone (guardian.co.uk)
• French jets sweep over Libya (thestar.com)
• Benghazi under assault from Khadafy's planes (sfgate.com)

UNIONS: Gangster Empires...

Image via Wikipedia

I just heard that public unions in Wisconsin (Police, Firefighters, etc.) are sending businesses letters in which the unions say you are either for us or against us and you need to show your support publicly or we will boycott your business.

I have always maintained that union power has come through intimidation and coercion; if they don’t get what they want they will strike your business and make sure that you are damaged into submission.

Unions will tell you that the only weapon they have to compel businesses to agree to their demands is the threat of financial damage or even ruin; they would be willing to kill the company and their jobs to prove a point?

I remember when I used to get phone calls from either the police department or fire department asking me to donate to their fund (which does what?). I always equated that type of phone call as an implied threat if you don’t cough up some bucks like we will let your house burn or will not show up if you call 911. Obviously that is not absolutely true but the implied threat is real if you perceive it to be real and that is why I always tell them that I do not appreciate those kind of phone calls and will NOT donate ever so get me off the call list and onto the “do not respond if called” list.

For public unions, especially those involved in public safety, to threaten people and businesses if they don’t support their demands is not only unconscionable but should be made a crime.

In fact, I hope everyone sees why public unions were illegal for so many years and why they should be made illegal again. The unions have turned into gangster empires and we need Eliot Ness to take them out again.

Related articles

• PUBLIC UNIONS: The difference from private sector unions... (jmszyszko.blogspot.com)
• Wolf Packs: Wisconsin's Public-Sector Unions Turn Into Neighborhood Thugs (redstate.com)
• JAMES TARANTO ON PUBLIC-EMPLOYEE UNION THUGGERY: In the letter to Wisconsin businessmen, however,... (pajamasmedia.com)
• UNION SUPPORTERS TO ANN ALTHOUSE: "WE WILL FUCK YOU UP." This is why public employee unions should... (pajamasmedia.com)
• Wisconsin Police & Firefighter Unions Try Their Hand At Protection Racket (minx.cc)
• Union Thugs Assault Petition Circulators (theundergroundconservative.wordpress.com)
• Wisconsin Republicans Know They Have A Fight On Their Hands With Recall Efforts (dekerivers.wordpress.com)
• "Union Thugs Rip Up Recall Petitions Against Wisconsin Democrats" and related posts (holycoast.blogspot.com)
• Bad Work - If You Can Get It (gadabout-blogalot.com)