Letters: Public participation, debate make better government MLive.com
"Our county faces far too many challenges to continue the 'let's go along to get along' style of 'leadership' that has brought us a near $100 million dollar underfunding of county pension and health care funds."
Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Adult Baby | Tom Coburn
Adult Baby Tom Coburn Investigation The Daily Caller
"“You wanna test how damn serious I am about leaving this world, screw with my check that pays for this apartment and food,” he said.
“Try it.
See how serious I am.
I don’t care.
I have no problem killing myself.
Take away the last thing keeping me here, and see what happens.
Next time you see me on the news, it will be me in a body bag.”"
"“You wanna test how damn serious I am about leaving this world, screw with my check that pays for this apartment and food,” he said.
“Try it.
See how serious I am.
I don’t care.
I have no problem killing myself.
Take away the last thing keeping me here, and see what happens.
Next time you see me on the news, it will be me in a body bag.”"
Ban shopping bags says EU
Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express UK News :: Ban shopping bags says EU
"Shops in Britain could be outlawed from stocking them, or alternatively there might be a new tax to dramatically reduce their use."
"Shops in Britain could be outlawed from stocking them, or alternatively there might be a new tax to dramatically reduce their use."
The Euro Doom Scenario Starts With What's Happening In Spain Right Now
The Euro Doom Scenario Starts With What's Happening In Spain Right Now
"As you may recall, I've said forever that Spain will be the EU dealbreaker.
And as we saw, again, not that long ago, for an entire decade, from 1997-2006, Spain built more homes than England, France and Germany combined, of which far too many to count now stand empty.
Plus, much of the financing for all these superfluous homes was done through still seemingly healthy large Spanish banks like Santander and BBVA"
"As you may recall, I've said forever that Spain will be the EU dealbreaker.
And as we saw, again, not that long ago, for an entire decade, from 1997-2006, Spain built more homes than England, France and Germany combined, of which far too many to count now stand empty.
Plus, much of the financing for all these superfluous homes was done through still seemingly healthy large Spanish banks like Santander and BBVA"
Feds Moving EV Tax Credits To “Cash For Clunkers” Model
Feds Moving EV Tax Credits To “Cash For Clunkers” Model The Truth About Cars
"Speaking to Automotive News [sub], LaHood even went as far as to argue that the new direction for the tax credits, which were previously only claimable when filing taxes, would be successful for the reason that it would make the credits more like the Cash For Clunkers program.
Apparently LaHood has completely forgotten how riddled with waste, inefficiency, fraud, confusion, delays, unintended consequences and all-purpose madness that program was."
"Speaking to Automotive News [sub], LaHood even went as far as to argue that the new direction for the tax credits, which were previously only claimable when filing taxes, would be successful for the reason that it would make the credits more like the Cash For Clunkers program.
Apparently LaHood has completely forgotten how riddled with waste, inefficiency, fraud, confusion, delays, unintended consequences and all-purpose madness that program was."
Red Tape - IRS snafu leaves taxpayers, refunds in limbo for months
Red Tape - IRS snafu leaves taxpayers, refunds in limbo for months
"It's perhaps the very definition of Red Tape.
Four years ago, Congress decided that the IRS should get into the banking business, authorizing it to give out no-interest loans to first-time homebuyers.
That put the agency in the position of both collecting loan payments and issuing tax refunds to the roughly 1 million taxpayers who took advantage of the program."
The democrat controlled congress decided IRS agents would make great bankers....right.....
"It's perhaps the very definition of Red Tape.
Four years ago, Congress decided that the IRS should get into the banking business, authorizing it to give out no-interest loans to first-time homebuyers.
That put the agency in the position of both collecting loan payments and issuing tax refunds to the roughly 1 million taxpayers who took advantage of the program."
The democrat controlled congress decided IRS agents would make great bankers....right.....
Emotional school funding debate continues with parents, unions questioning legislators
Emotional school funding debate continues with parents, unions questioning legislators MLive.com
“The cuts are going to hurt East Grand Rapids but Grand Rapids is really going to be hurt,” said Dan Lorenz, an East Grand Rapids parent and Wyoming teacher.
“I am afraid of future cuts and I am angry money is being taken away to be used for other things.”"
By "taken away", I guess he means slowing the automatic teacher wage and health care and dental care and early retirement benefit increases they enjoy every year.
And "used for other things" like paying down our tsunami of debt and letting people keep some of their hard earned income.
“The cuts are going to hurt East Grand Rapids but Grand Rapids is really going to be hurt,” said Dan Lorenz, an East Grand Rapids parent and Wyoming teacher.
“I am afraid of future cuts and I am angry money is being taken away to be used for other things.”"
By "taken away", I guess he means slowing the automatic teacher wage and health care and dental care and early retirement benefit increases they enjoy every year.
And "used for other things" like paying down our tsunami of debt and letting people keep some of their hard earned income.
NHS budget squeeze to blame for longer waiting times, say doctors
NHS budget squeeze to blame for longer waiting times, say doctors Society The Guardian
"Latest performance data reveal number of English patients waiting more than 18 weeks has risen by 26% in last year"
"Latest performance data reveal number of English patients waiting more than 18 weeks has risen by 26% in last year"
Friday, May 20, 2011
Fighting for the Right to Tell Lies
Fighting for the Right to Tell Lies - NYTimes.com
"But though he admitted conjuring the entire tale, Mr. Strandlof has been fighting the case against him, arguing that the law violates his right to free speech.
Simply telling a lie, his lawyers assert, does not always constitute a crime.
Now, a federal appeals court in Denver is weighing whether the act is indeed unconstitutional.
Last July, a judge dismissed the case against Mr. Strandlof on First Amendment grounds, but prosecutors appealed."
"But though he admitted conjuring the entire tale, Mr. Strandlof has been fighting the case against him, arguing that the law violates his right to free speech.
Simply telling a lie, his lawyers assert, does not always constitute a crime.
Now, a federal appeals court in Denver is weighing whether the act is indeed unconstitutional.
Last July, a judge dismissed the case against Mr. Strandlof on First Amendment grounds, but prosecutors appealed."
An historic first?
Muskegon Taxpayers Alliance
"This is a first for me.
And maybe a first for the Muskegon County commissioners.
They voted 'No' on two spending bills!"
"This is a first for me.
And maybe a first for the Muskegon County commissioners.
They voted 'No' on two spending bills!"
Muskegon County board pulls its annual contribution to Muskegon Heights festival
Muskegon County board pulls its annual contribution to Muskegon Heights festival MLive.com
"“When you see Miss Michigan means more than an entire community, I want to say racial,” Rankin said."
"“When you see Miss Michigan means more than an entire community, I want to say racial,” Rankin said."
Senate rejects GOP bill to expand, speed up offshore drilling
Senate rejects GOP bill to expand, speed up offshore drilling - The Hill's E2-Wire
"The Senate on Wednesday rejected Republican-backed legislation intended to speed up and expand offshore oil and gas drilling"
Yes, there is a difference between GOPers and democrats.
"The Senate on Wednesday rejected Republican-backed legislation intended to speed up and expand offshore oil and gas drilling"
Yes, there is a difference between GOPers and democrats.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
THE KEY TO IMPROVING SOCIETY: Economic freedom.
Instapundit » Blog Archive » THE KEY TO IMPROVING SOCIETY: Economic freedom.
"You don’t say.
Funny, it’s easy for some people to accept that artistic freedom is good for art, but they still have trouble accepting that economic freedom is good for the economy."
"You don’t say.
Funny, it’s easy for some people to accept that artistic freedom is good for art, but they still have trouble accepting that economic freedom is good for the economy."
Aide’s Defense of Gingrich Has D.C. Howling
Aide’s Defense of Gingrich Has D.C. Howling - Washington Wire - WSJ
"Walt Whitman or Allen Ginsberg it isn’t.
But the 2012 campaign has found its early, free-form poet.
He is Rick Tyler, Newt Gingrich’s long-time spokesman, who has penned a defense of his beleaguered boss that is so purple, so mixed in its metaphors, that all of Washington is eating it up – tweeting it, emailing it and otherwise bouncing it around the Internet."
He gone!
"Walt Whitman or Allen Ginsberg it isn’t.
But the 2012 campaign has found its early, free-form poet.
He is Rick Tyler, Newt Gingrich’s long-time spokesman, who has penned a defense of his beleaguered boss that is so purple, so mixed in its metaphors, that all of Washington is eating it up – tweeting it, emailing it and otherwise bouncing it around the Internet."
He gone!
A defining moment for Chuck Reed
Herhold: A defining moment for Chuck Reed - San Jose Mercury News
"Make no mistake: The proposal that San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed unveiled Friday to curtail retirement and health benefits for city employees will define his mayoral career."
One man, standing tall!
It CAN happen in Muskegon.
"Make no mistake: The proposal that San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed unveiled Friday to curtail retirement and health benefits for city employees will define his mayoral career."
One man, standing tall!
It CAN happen in Muskegon.
If public pension checks bounce, blame union leaders and politicians, not taxpayers
If public pension checks bounce, blame union leaders and politicians, not taxpayers
"Prichard simply stopped writing pension checks almost two years ago, leaving retirees without promised income even as the town forces current employees and taxpayers to keep paying into the fund.
Sure, Prichard is only a municipality, and states are states.
But that might not make much difference when the money runs out.
In fact, as sovereigns, states can pretty much pay — or not pay — whom they choose."
It's the union members who will be hurt most if this house of cards collapses.
Why do their leaders lie to the membership?
"Prichard simply stopped writing pension checks almost two years ago, leaving retirees without promised income even as the town forces current employees and taxpayers to keep paying into the fund.
Sure, Prichard is only a municipality, and states are states.
But that might not make much difference when the money runs out.
In fact, as sovereigns, states can pretty much pay — or not pay — whom they choose."
It's the union members who will be hurt most if this house of cards collapses.
Why do their leaders lie to the membership?
Michigan Senate passes bill requiring public workers to pay 20 percent of health insurance premiums
Michigan Senate passes bill requiring public workers to pay 20 percent of health insurance premiums MLive.com
"Public employers in Michigan at the state, local, school and university levels could pay no more than 80 percent of employees' health insurance premiums under legislation that cleared the Senate today.
The measure was approved on a near party line 25-13 vote."
My gosh!
We may yet get out of this mess!
"Public employers in Michigan at the state, local, school and university levels could pay no more than 80 percent of employees' health insurance premiums under legislation that cleared the Senate today.
The measure was approved on a near party line 25-13 vote."
My gosh!
We may yet get out of this mess!
Teacher 'step increases,' retroactive wages curtailed in bill headed for Gov. Snyder
Teacher 'step increases,' retroactive wages curtailed in bill headed for Gov. Snyder MLive.com
"Teachers will no longer get automatic “step increases” under terms of expired labor agreements, and will no longer be able to bargain retroactive pay increases under a bill headed for Gov. Rick Snyder's signature."
A small step for a governor.
A giant leap for the taxpayer.
"Teachers will no longer get automatic “step increases” under terms of expired labor agreements, and will no longer be able to bargain retroactive pay increases under a bill headed for Gov. Rick Snyder's signature."
A small step for a governor.
A giant leap for the taxpayer.
How about a National Obamacare Waiver?
How about a National Obamacare Waiver? The Foundry
"On Monday, the Las Vegas Sun reported that Nevada—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s home state—received a partial statewide Obamacare waiver, too.
If you’re keeping score, Reid was Pelosi’s counterpart in the Senate fighting to get Obamacare passed into law.
Now his state will be one of three to get a waiver from the law’s requirements, while the rest of America suffers."
The ENTIRE state of Nevada?
"On Monday, the Las Vegas Sun reported that Nevada—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s home state—received a partial statewide Obamacare waiver, too.
If you’re keeping score, Reid was Pelosi’s counterpart in the Senate fighting to get Obamacare passed into law.
Now his state will be one of three to get a waiver from the law’s requirements, while the rest of America suffers."
The ENTIRE state of Nevada?
GM Asks for More Tax Incentives
GM Asks for More Tax Incentives [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"The company has been the recipient of at least 10 other deals from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, with estimated incentives valued at the time of passage at more than $1.5 billion, including its massive special 2009 award.
That’s not even including assistance in these deals from federal or local government incentives, let alone its $50 billion federal government bailout."
"The company has been the recipient of at least 10 other deals from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, with estimated incentives valued at the time of passage at more than $1.5 billion, including its massive special 2009 award.
That’s not even including assistance in these deals from federal or local government incentives, let alone its $50 billion federal government bailout."
The Differences Between Public and Private Sector Unions
The Differences Between Public and Private Sector Unions « Union Watch
"Many supporters of public sector unions suggest there are no meaningful differences between public and private sector unions when it comes to collective bargaining.
As I explain below, however, there are in fact several fundamental differences,"
"Many supporters of public sector unions suggest there are no meaningful differences between public and private sector unions when it comes to collective bargaining.
As I explain below, however, there are in fact several fundamental differences,"
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Michigan first to act as states weigh reductions in unemployment benefits
Michigan first to act as states weigh reductions in unemployment benefits - CFED News Clips
"When state unemployment funds are depleted, they borrow from the federal government.
Michigan owes the federal government $3.9 billion for the program.
By comparison, the state's proposed budget for next year is $45.9 billion."
$3.9 BILLION!!!!!!!!!
And it's growing EVERY day!
"When state unemployment funds are depleted, they borrow from the federal government.
Michigan owes the federal government $3.9 billion for the program.
By comparison, the state's proposed budget for next year is $45.9 billion."
$3.9 BILLION!!!!!!!!!
And it's growing EVERY day!
Passenger jets nearly collide after Biden plane lands in Chicago
Passenger jets nearly collide after Biden plane lands in Chicago - The Washington Post
"The near-collision involved a pair of 50-seat, twin-engine commuter jets, one inbound from Muskegon, Mich.,"
"The near-collision involved a pair of 50-seat, twin-engine commuter jets, one inbound from Muskegon, Mich.,"
Hey teachers unions – how about some pay cuts?
Hey teachers unions – how about some pay cuts? - Orange Punch - The Orange County Register
"Wouldn’t people who work only nine months a year have enough of a compassionate heart for their compatriots to effectively work two or three weeks a year without pay in order to save enough money to prevent some of their ranks from being laid off?
Nah."
Why are we so afraid of teachers, for gosh sakes?
"Wouldn’t people who work only nine months a year have enough of a compassionate heart for their compatriots to effectively work two or three weeks a year without pay in order to save enough money to prevent some of their ranks from being laid off?
Nah."
Why are we so afraid of teachers, for gosh sakes?
Social Security deficits now 'permanent'
Social Security deficits now 'permanent' - Washington Times
"Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund is now slated to run out of money in 2024, or five years earlier than last year’s projection, while Social Security’s trust fund will be exhausted by 2036, a year earlier than the prior projection."
"Last year's" projection is wrong this quickly?
Maybe we could save some tax money by getting a new "projector"?
"Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund is now slated to run out of money in 2024, or five years earlier than last year’s projection, while Social Security’s trust fund will be exhausted by 2036, a year earlier than the prior projection."
"Last year's" projection is wrong this quickly?
Maybe we could save some tax money by getting a new "projector"?
Former Mona Shores chief, ousted following Ponzi scheme, interviews at Kenowa Hills
Former Mona Shores chief, ousted following Ponzi scheme, interviews at Kenowa Hills MLive.com
This guy is the public employee version of the captain of the Titanic.
He let his "ship" sink.
Why is he still being considered to captain another ship?
This guy is the public employee version of the captain of the Titanic.
He let his "ship" sink.
Why is he still being considered to captain another ship?
Several Passengers Injured When Elevator Drops Three Floors In Chelsea
Several Passengers Injured When Elevator Drops Three Floors In Chelsea « CBS New York
Not really a big story but check out the comments...harsh!
Not really a big story but check out the comments...harsh!
White House shuts out Herald scribe
White House shuts out Herald scribe - BostonHerald.com
"The White House Press Office has refused to give the Boston Herald full access to President Obama’s Boston fund-raiser today, in e-mails objecting to the newspaper’s front page placement of a Mitt Romney op-ed, saying pool reporters are chosen based on whether they cover the news “fairly.”"
Gangster government tells da media who's boss!
"The White House Press Office has refused to give the Boston Herald full access to President Obama’s Boston fund-raiser today, in e-mails objecting to the newspaper’s front page placement of a Mitt Romney op-ed, saying pool reporters are chosen based on whether they cover the news “fairly.”"
Gangster government tells da media who's boss!
USPS warns of default on retiree benefits
Federal News Radio 1500 AM: USPS warns of default on retiree benefits
"The Postal Service will begin to default on its financial obligations just over four months from now unless Congress takes action to relieve it of its obligation to pre-fund retiree health care accounts, its leader told lawmakers Tuesday."
In other words, "everything will be just fine if only you'll allow us to borrow more money from your grandchildren".
"The Postal Service will begin to default on its financial obligations just over four months from now unless Congress takes action to relieve it of its obligation to pre-fund retiree health care accounts, its leader told lawmakers Tuesday."
In other words, "everything will be just fine if only you'll allow us to borrow more money from your grandchildren".
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