Middle Class Unite!!!!

Middle Class of the United States it is time to unite against the tyranny of the political elite. Right now Congress, the GOP led US House of Representatives and the Democratic led US Senate, are using us as a ping pong ball in their debate on  the fiscal cliff. The "rich" are being asked to "pay their fair share" as our debt that rises above $16 trillion while our yearly budget adds another $1 trillion a year. Increasing the tax rate on the "rich" brings in another $80 billion if the Democrats get their way. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that $80 billion in tax revenue from the "rich" each year doesn't make up for the $1 trillion in extra spending taking place today. Without a balanced budget we will continue to add to the deficit. Without a budget that spend's less then it revenues we will never reduce the $16 trillion debt that has been amassed thus far. 

Where do Americans think the difference will be made up? That's right, the difference will be made up on the backs of the Middle Class. The political elite view the Middle Class as mindless drones; well it is time for that to stop. It is time for the Middle Class to rise up and make their voice heard. Today it is the "rich" paying their fair share and tomorrow it will be the Middle Class "sharing" in the struggle or it will be our "patriotic duty". The GOP and the Democrats play us to score political points knowing that we will do little to threaten their status as the political elite. That time has come to an end. 

Middle Class it is time to shed ourselves of our GOP, Democrat, Tea Party, Coffee Party, Liberal, Conservative, Libertarian and Progressive labels for the label of Middle Class. Other Third Parties have attempted to make headway into the Two Party system but they have too far Right or too far Left. Well, Middle Class America it is our time. The biggest fear of the political elite is that the Middle Class will wake up, step away from the bar stool and think with a clear head about their role in America.

Join me in the formation of a new political party; the Middle Class Party. We need to organize now before the "rich" are no longer around to buffer us from the tax code and the spending glutton of the political elite is extended to the point of no return. The political elite talk about the fiscal cliff and Thelma and Louise. Let's make the fiscal cliff debacle and the debt ceiling debate the two party system Waterloo.

Violence in America

The tragic and senseless killing of 28 innocent lives yesterday in Newtown, Connecticut is a microcosm of the ills our society faces today. Unfortunately Americans and the world will talk more about the Second Amendment, Gun Control, and mental disorders than what is really at the heart of these senseless acts. Guns don't kill people; rather it is the person behind the gun that does. President Obama spoke on the shooting and expressed his concern as a parent which is commendable.  Yet, President Obama stated, "And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this; regardless of politics."

Mayor Bloomberg has come out and said, "President Obama rightly sent his heartfelt condolences to the families in Newtown. But the country needs him to send a bill to Congress to fix this problem. Calling for 'meaningful action' is not enough."

Rep. Jerold Nadler (D-NY) on the Ed Schultz show yesterday said, "These incidents, these horrible, horrible  incidents...are happening  more and more frequently. And they will continue to happen more and more frequently until someone with the bully pulpit, and that means the President, takes leadership and pushes Congress."

Really? So the answer to stem the tide of violence that has rocked our society - Newtown, Oregon Mall, Colorado movie Theater  the Temple in Wisconsin, Arizona Congresswoman - is to limit the ability to own guns? The trouble is not the method of choice - in these cases a gun - rather it is societies loss of core family values. The demands on the family unit has eroded the respect, understanding and nurturing of core family values.

Our educators will be the first to state the fact that over the past several decades students have become increasingly disrespectful to them, to each other and to authority figures. Part of this stems back to the family unit where it is no longer common place for a family to have a single bread winner. Instead most family units are fractured due to the need of two incomes to make ends meet. Items like internet, cell phone, computers, TV's, and Xbox are considered necessities  The concept of a family dinner is being eroded due to dual income households and the use of television as a baby sitter or a pacifier for out children.

Take a moment today and over the holiday season as you gather with family to evaluate the importance of the material objects in  your life and how they contribute to the erosion of core family values. It is very possible that one may understand that events like Newtown are not the guns fault but lies right inside the family unit.

Right to Work Legislation in Michigan

Today the Governor signed into law Right to Work legislation in Michigan amidst a lot of protest from Union workers. US Sen. Carl Levin (D) claims the Right to Work legislation in Michigan, “For millions of Michigan workers, this is no ordinary debate. It’s an assault on their right to have their elected bargaining agent negotiate their pay, benefits and working conditions, and to have all who benefit from such negotiations share in some way in the cost of obtaining them.”

I wonder if Sen. Levin read the bill passed and signed in Michigan. If you have not, please take a moment to do so: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(lsyxcd55bpr3vn2h1txdn1yw))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectname=2011-HB-4003

The Michigan bill, in a nutshell, states that under no condition of employment shall anyone be forced to join or not to join the Union or pay for the a representative to collectively bargain for them. I ask, How is this a bad thing for workers? It doesn't prevent people from being in a Union. Let's put the rhetoric aside and actually look at the bill and discuss the "right" one has to gain employment without being forced to join or not to join a Union. Interestingly enough the bill doesn't alter Police or Fire department Unions.

Hamburg City Council Agenda - December 11, 2012

HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
DECEMBER 11, 2012
1. Call City Council Meeting to Order
 Pledge of Allegiance
2. Public Comment (Individuals may address the City Council about any non-agenda item(s) of concern.
Speakers must state their name, address, and limit their remarks to three minutes. The City Council may not
take official action on these items and may refer the matter to staff for a future report or direct that the matter be
scheduled for a future meeting agenda.)
3. Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption
4. Consent Agenda (NOTICE TO PUBLIC: All those items listed as part of the Consent Agenda will be
approved by a single motion, unless a request to discuss one of those items is made prior to that time. Anyone
present at the meeting may request an item to be removed from the consent agenda. Please inform the Council
when they approve the agenda for this meeting.)
 Approve Cigarette License for Parkside Tavern (2012)
 Approve MN Lawful Gambling Permit for Pheasants Forever
o January 19, 2013
 Approve Contract for Policing Services for 2013 with Carver County
 Approve NYA Chamber of Commerce 2013 Membership
 City Offices Closed December 24th& 25th for Christmas Holiday
 Water Wells Usage/Water Consumption Reports for November 2012
 Delinquent Utility Bills Report
 December MNSPECT Minute (Informational)
5. Fire Department Report – Chief Brad Droege
 DNR Grant
 Toy Drive Breakfast (December 9, 2012)
o Holiday Toy Drive
 Fire Department Banquet/Dance (January 12, 2013)
 HFDRA Lucky 10 Gun Raffle (December 8, 2012)
 Hamburg Fire Department Sign Quote
 Old Christmas Lights (Sell)
 New Stove for Community Center
6. 2013 Final Tax Levy and Final Budget (Set & Adopt)
 City Employee Reviews
o 2013 Wages and Benefits
 City Fee Schedule for 2013
o Set Public Hearing to Adopt City Fee Schedule
 January 8, 2013 @ 6:45 PM
 2012 General Fund Transfers (Approve)
 Public Comments on 2013 Final Budget & Tax Levy
HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
DECEMBER 11, 2012
o Adopt/Approve 2013 Final Tax Levy Certification to Carver County
o Adopt/Approve 2013 Final Budget
7. Old City Business (Memo)
 City Clean Up Day (Spring 2013)
 2010 Census Count/Met Council Population Estimates (April 1, 2011)
 Signs for City Hall/Township/Fire Department
 Revised NIMS Training Program (Requirements)
 Tax Forfeited Lot on Brad Street
o Assessments on Parcel 45.2000010
8. Public Works & Utilities Department Report
 Dialer for Liftstation
 Easement for 12” Sewer Line (Lois Droege Property)
 Community Center (Paint)
9. City Clerk/Treasurer Report
10. Approve Payment of Added November 2012 Claims ($)
Approve Payment of December Claims ($)
11. City Council Reports
 Councilmember Mueller Report (Sewer & Water)
 Councilmember Lund Report (Streets)
 Councilmember Trebesch Report (Buildings)
 Councilmember Barnes Report (Parks)
 Mayor Malz Report
12. Adjourn City Council Meeting
HAMBURG CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
DECEMBER 11, 2012
COMMUNITY HALL & PARK ACTIVITIES
DECEMBER 8 – Hamburg Lions Club Lunch with Santa
31 – Wedding Reception (Schultz)
COMMUNITY CENTER (FIRE HALL) ACTIVITIES
NOVEMBER 5 – Lions Club/HFD Training
6 – General Election 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
12 – Veterans Day Holiday Observed (City Offices Closed)
13 – City Council Meeting – 7:00 PM
14 – Postal Service Meeting – 5:30 PM
19 – Hamburg Lions Club Meeting
22 – Thanksgiving Holiday – City Offices Closed
23 – Thanksgiving Holiday – City Offices Closed
24 – Community Center Rental (Wroge)
26 – Hamburg Fire Department (HFDRA) – 7:00 PM
27 – City Council Meeting – 7:00 PM
DECEMBER 1 – Community Center Rental (Venske)
3 – Lions Club/HFD Training
4 – Budget Workshop Meeting – 7:00 PM
7 – Hamburg Lions Club Christmas Party
11 – City Council Meeting – 7:00 PM
16 – Community Center Rental (Feltmann)
17 – Hamburg Lions Club Meeting – 7:00 PM
17 – Hamburg Fire Department (HFDRA) – 7:00 PM
23 – Community Center Rental (Hasse)
24 – Christmas Eve Holiday (City Offices Closed)
25 – Christmas Day Holiday (City Offices Closed)
25 – Community Center Rental (Panning)

Suicide is never the Answer!

Yesterday a tragic event took place in the NFL. A linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs took the life of his girlfriend then Jovan Belcher went to the practice facility and took his own life. Now, as I watch the pregame programming on ESPN, CBS and Fox a lot has been said about how tragic it is that former Chiefs linebacker took his own life. The only person that I have heard to this point that actually got the story into perspective was on ESPN when former Denver Bronco Tom Jackson articulated that former Chiefs linebacker killed someone and that due to his murder and death that there will be a little girl without her mom and dad.

Tom Jackson hit the nail on the head of where my frustration has been with the coverage of this event. Apparently, the NFL gave the Chiefs until 9:30 pm last night to decide if they wanted to play this game in light of recent events. Coach Romeo and the Chiefs GM were eye witnesses to the former Chiefs linebacker's cowardly act as he walked away from them and shot himself as the police were rolling up on the scene. The focus of this story shouldn't be on the former Chiefs linebacker; rather it should be focused on Kasandra Perkins, 22 year old, that had her life ended prematurely.

The two, the former Chiefs linebacker and Perkins, had a three month old girl. THREE months old. Imagine the questions this little girl is going to have as she grows up without her parents. I am sure more information will come out in the coming days to soften the suicide of the former Chiefs linebacker as that is the nature of our society. The focus should be on the fact that suicide is never the answer. Take a moment today to do a person inventory and realize that life is short enough. Talk to your kids, your family and your friends today about the importance of life and that suicide doesn't impact the coward that takes their own life as it does those that are left to deal with it. My prayers go out to Perkins family and to Kasandra's three month old daughter.

In full disclosure on why I view suicide in the nature that I do. I once was in Romeo's shoes.