Archive for Two Cents
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Posted by: | CommentsNew York City. The Pentagon, Washington D.C. A field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Everyday people went to work and boarded planes. After the horror’s of the events were realized countless others risked and sacrificed to aid and save. In those hours of devastation it was clear we were attacked and at war. Today, 8 years later our brave men and women of our armed forces, intelligent services and law enforcement continue to fight this war on terror. We must NEVER find comfort in complacency. As images of that day fade and rarely air on our televisions we must remember those we lost and have continued to lose. We must be vigilant when the topic of our nation’s security shifts to the semantics of enhanced interrogation techniques and Miranda rights of enemy combatants. We can not for one moment forget we are at war with terrorists, who despise us for simply being who we are…Americans.
After the memorials of this day pass and the 2,974 bell tolls silent for another year: Remember…Never forget.
AUGUST 12, 2009: Congressman Schiff Brings Health Care “Town Hall” To Alhambra
Posted by: | CommentsLast night in Alhambra, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank/Glendale) hosted a “town hall” meeting on health care. The event was originally supposed to take place in the Community Room inside the Alhambra Civic Center Public Library which would have reportedly held about 200-300. Due to the at least 2,000 in attendance the event was moved outside to the other side of the street.
The town hall was moderated by NBC4’s Dr. Bruce Hensel. On the discussion panel: Dr. Benjamin Chu from Kaiser, Dr. Richard Brown from the UCLA Center for Health Policy and Research, Leeba Lessin from CareMore Health Plan and Jerry Flanagan, a “Health Care Advocate”.
We’ve all watched on the daily rotation of news town hall’s from across the country where citizens address their lawmakers on the current health care bill. Last night in Alhambra was a different story. I went with 2 friends to see it first hand. To say it was an eye opener would be an understatement. In the 2 hours the panel spoke, maybe 2 questions were taken off cards from the audience. There were no microphones for those with questions. No open dialogue between elected official and constituents. This was not a “town hall” but a sales meeting. Schiff was not there to listen, he was their for you to listen if you are not in favor of national health care.
On July 27 the Glendale News-Press published an op-ed written by Schiff detailing his support for “comprehensive health care reform with a robust public option”, which as of yesterday was removed from the Congressman’s own website. Clearly Schiff is an avid supporter of H.R. 3200. Why the need for the dog and pony show?
It sure gave labor unions a chance to show up in full force, who just happened to congregate across the street in the exact spot where the town hall would take place. I guess they got the memo before hand.
Countless politicians and talking heads have said the anger at these town hall’s are manufactured by well organized Astro Turffed-right wing conspiracy-TEA baggers. Yet they fail to mention it is the side in favor of the bill that is well organized. Just look at the pictures from President Obama’s town hall yesterday in New Hampshire and pictures from last night in Alhambra. Supporters of the plan in both town hall’s in different states are wearing the SAME button’s distributed by the SEIU and holding the SAME signs given out by various union’s including the SEIU and the AFL-CIO. Where is the outrage and name calling with the union’s organizing their members? Does that make them raciest and un-american?
We asked one gentleman holding a AFL-CIO/CA School Employee union sign if he was with a union, he told us “yes” and that he was a union rep for the CA School Employee union. We asked if he was being paid to attend he told us he was “paid a salary”. We again asked if he was paid to be there, he said “it’s part of my job”. I am not posting this man’s picture. If you watch footage from the event you will see him with his union sign. This is information he seemed proud to share. This information could have been obtained by any member of the media willing to do their job instead of flinging Astro-Turf allegations at those opposed to the health care bill. Just ask anyone carrying the union/special interest signs or wearing the union/special interest button’s if their in a union, the majority we asked said yes and the one’s that weren’t said they were given them by someone passing them out.
Last night I heard from a lot of people who think health care is a “right” and if you don’t think so you must be “rich”. When challenged none admitted to reading the bill or even knowing what’s in it. They didn’t seem to care how much “free” health care would cost and weren’t concerned with the possibility that our current quality of care could deteriorate. On blogs and in news reports about last night in Alhambra both sides of the issue will tell you they “won” at the town hall. The real victory will come when the bill goes to the floor of the House and Senate for a vote. Which side will come out victorious? Only time will tell.
Does your elected official know where you stand on H.R. 3200?
JULY 14, 2009: Governor Schwarzenegger To “Stand For California”
Posted by: | CommentsGovernor Schwarzenegger’s California Dream Team is at it again launching a new website StandForCA.com. The site boasts the Governor’s “firm” stance on a balanced budget, not increasing taxes, saving jobs and getting rid of government waste, fraud and abuse. Sounds good but where has he been for the last 6 years of his term? These are serious issues our state has been plagued with even before his recall election. This epiphany has suddenly graced his conscience?
Take the issue of not increasing taxes; remember just a few short months ago to the campaign leading up to the May 19th special election. The Governor personally employed political tactics of fear to scare voters into approving the largest tax increase in history. The Governor’s “Dream Team” funneled MILLIONS into support for the propositions, which would have cost Californians BILLIONS in new taxes. But Schwarzenegger has suddenly seen the light on the tax issue….OK…let’s hope he sticks to that.
As for saving jobs, California has seen a mass exodus of businesses leaving the state for years. This has cost countless jobs and skyrocketed unemployment to a current rate of 11.5% statewide. The Governor has sat by while the Legislature created an anti business climate and done little to stop it. But now something must be done to save the jobs….OK.
Is this an attempt by the Governor to rehabilitate is legacy in his remaining months of office? A true change of heart as he looks back at what might have been if only he weren’t afraid of getting his hands dirty and taking a hit in opinion polls? Only time and whatever budget gets passed will tell if it’s convection or self-preservation.
JUNE 19, 2009: California’s Unemployment Rate increased in May
Posted by: | CommentsThe State of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) released the latest unemployment report today. The news is bleak but not unexpected. In May California’s unemployment rate jumped to 11.5, up from 11.1 in April. In total the state lost 68,900 non-farm jobs in May.
Some better news, the report did show growth in one category. Education and health services added 2,100 jobs over the month. Ten categories: natural resources and mining; construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government all posted total job losses of 71,000. Government jobs took the biggest hit, reporting a loss of 14,200.
The National unemployment rate also increased in May, rising to 9.4 percent. This current rate is higher than the doomsday scenario we were threatened with if the President’s stimulus plan didn’t pass into effect. So we spent all that money and we still lost that amount of jobs.
If you combine the current unemployment statistics with the EDD’s unemployment fund forecast that was released earlier in the month (that you also read about here) you have the perfect storm. Our unemployment fund is running in the red and if not corrected, will be short $17.8 BILLION dollars by the end of next year. Were losing jobs at record numbers as businesses make a mass exodus from our state. What is Sacramento doing about all this?…..nothing.
We don’t make “things” anymore and haven’t in a long time, so there goes our manufacturing industry. Our housing market is in the tank so there goes Real Estate and construction. Other states like New York, Louisiana, New Mexico and Michigan are offering incentives for film and TV production that California is not, so there goes a large part of our entertainment industry. And again, what is Sacramento doing about all this? As long as the fat cats in the Legislature see California business as a well to tap to fund their social programs we will continue to see our unemployment rate rise and our unemployment fund dwindle on empty.
Correct California’s anti-business climate and the jobs will follow.
JUNE 9, 2009: Just Another Day In Denial?
Posted by: | CommentsThe June 15th deadline for our legislature to pass a budget is looming. According to our California Constitution (article IV, section 12C), the budget is do by Monday at midnight, which is less than a week away. Where are the air-raid sirens and the red warning lights flashing throughout the state? California is ablaze and it’s business as usual.
Controller John Chiang tried to light a fire under the feet of the Legislature and the Governor by sending them what amounts to a doomsday letter on May 29th. Chiang warns of the of the states latest cash projections which show the state flat broke on July 29th and the need to sell “Revenue Anticipation Warrants” (RAW), which amount to IOU loans needed to keep the state running. If a budget is not passed by the June 15th deadline not only will we be just about out of cash but the Controllers ability to obtain the RAW loans becomes all but impossible.
In an effort to find out what happens if the deadline is not met, I called the Controllers office, where I was referred to the Governor’s office. Silly me, I thought the chief accountant would be able to answer my questions…. guess not. Megan, a Governor’s office staff member said, “the Governor is aiming for July 1st” when asked about the June 15th deadline. It’s nice to know Schwarzenegger is able to so easily disregard the supreme law of our state, it’s Constitution. Megan went on to say “the longer we go the more pressing our problems become and the deeper the cuts will be. Controller Chiang has said he will again delay payments”. She added, “We haven’t had a budget passed by the 15th in years. It’s really up to the Assembly and the Senate”. I asked about which payments would be delayed and is there an order for which payments will be cut as the budget impasse continues. I was referred back to Controller’s office, which told me I would need to email my question, as it could not be answered on the call. I will post their response.
If it has truly become so blasé to brush off the Constitutional deadline and fail to pass a budget before our state sinks into a deficit black hole, you’d think it would be easy to to find out what would happen and how it would happen. Guess not.
Our whole budget catastrophe is more frustration when you actually watch what’s going on in Sacramento. The California Channel is currently, as I type this, airing a live feed of the Budget Conference Committee, a dual house committee charged with helping to close our deficit. This committee is right now taking up budget issues involved with healthcare. Members are willy nilly about making any entitlement cuts and are entertaining creating various new positions and increasing funding to the state healthcare system. Big surprise, most of them just don’t get it. This is just another example of why our state is choking to death on debt while it’s Legislature continues to try and be all things to all people.
JUNE 6, 2009: We Remember
Posted by: | CommentsAs the years have passed, it may be easy for some to forget the significance of D-Day.
Today, on the 65th anniversary of D-Day, we must NEVER forget the sacrifice and courage of those 100,000+ soldiers who stormed the beach at Normandy and began the march across Europe to defeat the evil Reich of Hitler.
We salute you, the brave, the valiant and the fallen.
To learn more about D-Day visit the U.S. Army website.
MAY 27, 2009: Does He Really Get It?
Posted by: | CommentsLast night Governor Schwarzenegger went on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Every chance he gets he tells us he gets the message the voter’s sent on May 19th “loud and clear”. If his comments to Leno were any indication, “loud and clear” doesn’t quite get it right.
Here are some highlights:
“We are having a, you know, budget deficit because we have some additional problems with the initiative process with the two thirds vote that we have in order to get a budget passed”.
This is the “budget reform” we’ve heard so much about. Be prepared for another round of initiatives aimed at disposing of the California Constitutional two thirds majority requirement to pass a budget and enact new taxes. The voters of California have voted down any attempt to modify the two thirds rule time and time again. The most recent attempt was in 2004 with Prop 56 which was defeated with 65.7% of the vote. Prop 56 would have lowered the super majority of two thirds to only 55%.
“We asked the people to vote on certain changes to raise an extra $6 BILLION dollars so we can balance the budget and the people voted it down, overwhelmingly voted it down”
$6 BILLION dollars….Really? Maybe someone needs to get the Governor a calculator. The tax increases on the May 19th ballot would have amounted to the largest in history. Prop 1A alone would have cost $16 BILLION dollars. Prop 1B would have added another $9.3 BILLION dollars in spending. That doesn’t even count the spending and borrowing of 1C, 1D, 1E. Can somebody get the Governor a calculator?
“I think the people are just upset at Sacramento, they feel like the politician’s should take care of that. They have been sent to Sacramento to take care of the problems. ‘Don’t come to us all the time with those kinds of questions. We are not running the state, you run the state and do your job’. I think that I’ve definitely gotten the message loud and clear”.
Does he really get it? He is half right in word but not in theory. In the perfect world of the fantasyland that is Sacramento, they wouldn’t have to bother coming to the voters with something as trivial as tens of BILLIONS of dollars in taxes, spending and borrowing. The voters didn’t reject the ballot initiatives to send the message they are tired of hearing about budgets and deficits. They voted NO because the cycle of irresponsibility and incompetence had to stop now. Don’t ask the taxpayers for even more money when the spending is out of control. The legislatures refusal to address the real issues involved with California’s financial meltdown is the diseases that will lead to it’s demise.
“In reality one should know that our revenues have dropped 27%. So we had revenues of $104 BILLION dollars, now there’s $76 BILLION dollars and all with in a few months. So you budget education and the schools that you have and you budget health care and the prisons and law enforcement and all the various different programs and you expect $104 BILlION dollars to come in and all of a sudden you only have $76 BILLION dollars you have a real challenge on your hands”.
If the voters passed every prop on the ballot we would still be at least $15.4 BILLION dollars in the hole. As long as we spend more money than we take in and refuse to take an honest look at where the tax dollars are being spent we will always find our state drowning in a rising sea of red ink.
MAY 26, 2009: Just Say No TO A Bailout for California
Posted by: | CommentsI was asked a popular question today from someone outside of California. “What’s your Governor going to do now that the voters didn’t pass all those props? I answered by explaining Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed laundry list of budget cuts. You remember…cuts of thousands of state employee positions, cuts in billions of dollars to education spending, cuts to children’s healthcare, off loading criminal illegal aliens to the federal government, the taking of BILLIONS of dollars from local governments, the list goes on and on.
With an estimated $21.3 BILLION dollar budget shortfall, it’s going to take more than cursory cuts by a lame duck governor to get us out of out of our deficit hole. On our current course the state will be out of money in weeks, not months (if you read this blog you know that would actually be a good thing for California). The ink wasn’t even dry on the special election ballots before we heard how California is too big to fail. This is much of the same rhetoric we heard with AIG and the auto industry. Speculation on federal assistance for California is rampant. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner and the White House lacks the power to throw money our way but Congress can. The President, in an interview with C-SPAN last week, said “NO” when asked about a bailout for California. This doesn’t mean it’s a dead issue. The term “bailout” is vastly unpopular with the American people. To get around this, state officials are asking for “emergency federal loans” and “federal loan guarantees”. Whatever they call it, it’s a bailout.
The American taxpayer’s should not have to pay for the costly mistakes of our incompetent state government. The citizens of California do not deserve to be shackled with the inevitable strings that come attached with federal bailout money. Federal financial assistance is not a solution and it shouldn’t even be an option for Sacramento. It’s bad for America and it’s bad for California.
MAY 25, 2009: Memorial Day
Posted by: | CommentsToday is more than just a day off from work and a reason to fire up the grill.
Memorial Day is a day to remember and respect the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
In California we have a unique way of expressing our gratitude. In November 2008, Arcata voters passed ballot Measure F (No Military Recruitment Initiative) with 72.59% approval. Measure F makes it unlawful for military recruiters to initiate contact with anyone under the age of 18. A similar initiative, Measure J, was also passed in Eureka on the November 2008 ballot, with 56.16% of the vote. Both measures were put on the ballot by citizen initiative. We’ll see if these measures will stand up over time.
Earlier in May, The San Francisco School board voted 4-3 to restore JROTC (Junior Officer’s Training Corps) recruiting efforts in district schools before its scheduled phase out in the next few weeks. This is a battle that has been on going since 2006 when the school board voted to ban the JROTC in city high schools.
In January, the Berkeley City Council passed a motion directing a city clerk to send a letter to the Berkeley Marine Corps Recruiting Center notifying them that they are considered “unwelcome intruders”. In the same City Council meeting, they also voted to approve a noise and parking permit for Code Pink to aid in their anti-military protest of the recruiting center. In February the City Council did backtrack on some of the more controversial wording in the letter.
On a positive note, Congressmen Howard “Buck” Mckeon (R-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced the Veterans Educational Equity Act (H.R. 2474), which insures veterans in states like California are able to use their full G.I. Bill benefits to which they are entitled. Currently, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
California is home to some of the most active anti-military radicals. The agenda of a small disillusioned few will sometimes win out over the majority of us who honor and respect our military. It’s up to us to fight and stand up for them as they have for us. For those in the minority who think it’s vile to recruit for the armed forces, who will protect your freedom of speech when it’s down to an army of none? It’s easy to ridicule and mock their bravery and sacrifice from the comfort of a soapbox firmly planted on American soil.
Today and everyday, if you enjoy the many freedom’s we are blessed with in our country, thank a veteran. Take a moment and remember those who have sacrificed more than we can ever imagine. Without the brave men and women who serve our country, I for one would find it a lot harder to sleep at night.