Another common sense item has been signed into law in the state of Minnesota. This week the seat belt law gets more teeth. Police officers will now be able to pull anyone over for not wearing their seat belt. Why? It is common sense to wear your seat belt when driving your vehicle in the evident you end up in an accident. Just another example of government restricting your freedom and liberties. Granted wearing the seat belt will assist one to surviving a bad crash or mitigating injury in other fender benders.
Cars these days are safer than twenty years ago. Requiring people to wear a seat belt is an affront to one’s person liberty. Everyone should have the right to decide for themselves if they want to wear the seat belt or not. Government only passes the new law so it may increase revenue. The seat belt issue is not much different than people begging for a requirement for motorcyclists to wearing a helmet. Does it make sense to wear a helmet, sure.
It should be a personal choice. Besides if someone does not wear their seat belt and ends up dead, where it may have saved their life, only reduces the burden on our entitlement programs as they will not require the use of them. Sadistic way of thinking about it I admit. The main point is that government should not enact laws to protect stupid people. It makes sense to wear the seat belt but it should remain a personal choice.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Hamburg City Council Agenda - June 9, 2009
6:00. Special Meeting – 2030 Comprehensive Plan/City Zoning Ordinances
7:00. Call City Council Meeting to Order @ 7:00 PM
· Pledge of Allegiance
· Miscellaneous Business (Public Comments)
· Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption
· Approve Minutes for March & April 2009
· Old City Business (Memo)
7:10. Fire Department Report
· 2008/2009 FEMA Grants
· Policing for Zummerfest
· Donation (from Relief Association) for J-5 Grass Rig
7:20. Ann Perry – City Planning Consultant (Resource Strategies)
· 2030 Comprehensive Plan
o Resolution Number 2009-05
· City Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance
· Metropolitan Council Population & Household Estimates
7:35. Doug Parrott – City Engineer (S.E.H.)
· Sanitary Sewer and Storm Water Improvement Project
o Design Details
o Water Main Alignment
o Results of Force Main Excavation (Storm Sewer Pond Site)
o Storm Sewer Pond Design (Acreage)
o Sprinkler Systems
o Quality Control Testing
o Access to Sewer Lines
o Assessment Options
o PFA Funding Application
§ Resolution Number 2009-06
· Application to PFA Clean Water Revolving Fund
o Resolution Number 2009-07
§ Ordering Improvement and Preparation of Plans
8:35. Dennis’ Report (Public Works & Utilities)
· Project List (Added Items)
· Estimate for Sidewalk Replacement (Hard Stuff Masonry & Concrete)
o Railroad Street (Maria Ave to Sophia Ave)
· Proposal & Agreement for Seal Coating (Southwest Paving)
o CC/Fire Hall/WTP Parking Lot
· General Maintenance Schedules
8:45. Deputy Clerk Report
· Deputy Clerk Block
o Delinquent Utility Bills Report
8:55. City Clerk/Treasurer Report
· Liquor License Renewals (July 1st, 2008 to June 30th, 2009)
o Parkside Tavern (On-Sale, Special Sunday On-Sale, Off-Sale)
o Hamburg Lions Club (3.2 Malt Liquor)
o Hamburg Baseball Club (3.2 Malt Liquor)
· City Lease Agreements – Serving of Alcohol
o Letter/Recommendations from City Attorney
· Peddler/Solicitor/Transient Merchant Permit for Joshua Gross
· To The Home Internet – Wireless Internet Service
· Emerald Ash Borer (City Tree Ordinance)
9:15. City Council Reports
· Councilmember Mueller Report (Sewer & Water)
· Councilmember Cummiskey Report (Streets)
· Councilmember Trebesch Report (Buildings)
· Councilmember Barnes Report (Parks)
· Mayor Malz Report
9:25. Approve Claims List for June 2009
9:30. Adjourn Meeting
7:00. Call City Council Meeting to Order @ 7:00 PM
· Pledge of Allegiance
· Miscellaneous Business (Public Comments)
· Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption
· Approve Minutes for March & April 2009
· Old City Business (Memo)
7:10. Fire Department Report
· 2008/2009 FEMA Grants
· Policing for Zummerfest
· Donation (from Relief Association) for J-5 Grass Rig
7:20. Ann Perry – City Planning Consultant (Resource Strategies)
· 2030 Comprehensive Plan
o Resolution Number 2009-05
· City Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance
· Metropolitan Council Population & Household Estimates
7:35. Doug Parrott – City Engineer (S.E.H.)
· Sanitary Sewer and Storm Water Improvement Project
o Design Details
o Water Main Alignment
o Results of Force Main Excavation (Storm Sewer Pond Site)
o Storm Sewer Pond Design (Acreage)
o Sprinkler Systems
o Quality Control Testing
o Access to Sewer Lines
o Assessment Options
o PFA Funding Application
§ Resolution Number 2009-06
· Application to PFA Clean Water Revolving Fund
o Resolution Number 2009-07
§ Ordering Improvement and Preparation of Plans
8:35. Dennis’ Report (Public Works & Utilities)
· Project List (Added Items)
· Estimate for Sidewalk Replacement (Hard Stuff Masonry & Concrete)
o Railroad Street (Maria Ave to Sophia Ave)
· Proposal & Agreement for Seal Coating (Southwest Paving)
o CC/Fire Hall/WTP Parking Lot
· General Maintenance Schedules
8:45. Deputy Clerk Report
· Deputy Clerk Block
o Delinquent Utility Bills Report
8:55. City Clerk/Treasurer Report
· Liquor License Renewals (July 1st, 2008 to June 30th, 2009)
o Parkside Tavern (On-Sale, Special Sunday On-Sale, Off-Sale)
o Hamburg Lions Club (3.2 Malt Liquor)
o Hamburg Baseball Club (3.2 Malt Liquor)
· City Lease Agreements – Serving of Alcohol
o Letter/Recommendations from City Attorney
· Peddler/Solicitor/Transient Merchant Permit for Joshua Gross
· To The Home Internet – Wireless Internet Service
· Emerald Ash Borer (City Tree Ordinance)
9:15. City Council Reports
· Councilmember Mueller Report (Sewer & Water)
· Councilmember Cummiskey Report (Streets)
· Councilmember Trebesch Report (Buildings)
· Councilmember Barnes Report (Parks)
· Mayor Malz Report
9:25. Approve Claims List for June 2009
9:30. Adjourn Meeting
Friday, June 5, 2009
Greed: NFL Players Association
Greed is the only answer. In an article by Jenna Ross, Yahoo! Sues for fantasy football info, she reports that Yahoo is suing the NFL Players association to gain free access to statistics on players for fantasy football leagues run on the internet. Since Fantasy sports has become a billion dollar industry, it appears that NFL Players association was to charge a fee for the use of players’ names, pictures, and statistics.
Has the NFL Players association gone mad? According to the article, back in 2007 the “Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that CBC Distribution and Marketing Inc. could use Major League Baseball players’ names and statistics for its fantasy baseball products – without paying a fee.” Well no kidding. When did personal player stats become private domain of the player making them?
Fantasy sports can do a lot for your sport and perhaps the NFL players are missing that. As an owner of several fantasy football teams, I know that I watch a lot more football while tracking players on other teams more. If it were not for fantasy football I’d likely just watch the Vikqueens and the Raiders and not care much about the rest of the NFL.
Has the NFL Players association gone mad? According to the article, back in 2007 the “Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that CBC Distribution and Marketing Inc. could use Major League Baseball players’ names and statistics for its fantasy baseball products – without paying a fee.” Well no kidding. When did personal player stats become private domain of the player making them?
Fantasy sports can do a lot for your sport and perhaps the NFL players are missing that. As an owner of several fantasy football teams, I know that I watch a lot more football while tracking players on other teams more. If it were not for fantasy football I’d likely just watch the Vikqueens and the Raiders and not care much about the rest of the NFL.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Bernanke Fires Warning
Yesterday Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned, during his testimony before the House Budget Committee, that “unless we demonstrate a strong commitment to fiscal sustainability in the longer term, we will have neither financial stability nor healthy economic growth.” So, the $1.2T budget passed by Congress and signed by President Obama is not fiscally responsible? Imagine that. The notion that we can spend our way out of a recession is foolhardy.
The Washington Post reported that “Bernanke’s testimony to Congress reflected growing concern among economists and investors that the nation’s long-term fiscal imbalances could stand in the way of economic recovery by driving up the interest rates that the government, businesses and consumers pay to borrow money.” The age of 20% mortgage rate is near. Currently the Federal Reserve is printing money to pay off the debt to China and other countries lending America money. The continuation of this will lead to galloping inflation and send America into similar dire straits that Germany saw after WWI.
Have the scholars that run our country not learned anything from history? Our population is aging and the baby boomer generation is nearing the point of entitlement. Congress does need to take drastic measures, unfortunately too many of them feel it is bigger government. Government has bankrupt Social Security, Medicare, Medicade, and now the Highway fund. It is time to give Government back to the people and return to the core beliefs of our Founding Fathers.
Because if we do not, there will come a time within the Obama administration that we see tax brackets of Jimmy Carter returning. That will only hurt our economy and finally bankrupt America.
The Washington Post reported that “Bernanke’s testimony to Congress reflected growing concern among economists and investors that the nation’s long-term fiscal imbalances could stand in the way of economic recovery by driving up the interest rates that the government, businesses and consumers pay to borrow money.” The age of 20% mortgage rate is near. Currently the Federal Reserve is printing money to pay off the debt to China and other countries lending America money. The continuation of this will lead to galloping inflation and send America into similar dire straits that Germany saw after WWI.
Have the scholars that run our country not learned anything from history? Our population is aging and the baby boomer generation is nearing the point of entitlement. Congress does need to take drastic measures, unfortunately too many of them feel it is bigger government. Government has bankrupt Social Security, Medicare, Medicade, and now the Highway fund. It is time to give Government back to the people and return to the core beliefs of our Founding Fathers.
Because if we do not, there will come a time within the Obama administration that we see tax brackets of Jimmy Carter returning. That will only hurt our economy and finally bankrupt America.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
World View on US Nationalization of GM
The world understands the move made by President Obama’s administration with General Motors is a gamble and a shift from Capitalism to Nationalism. Below are a few quotes run in Die Spiegel. Die Spiegel warns, in their June 2nd article titled GM Insolvency ‘Proves America’s Global Power is Waning’, “the insolvency of General Motors shows America’s weakening industrial clout and poses major risks not just for the economy but for Barack Obama.”
Although President Obama promised a “hands-off” approach to assisting GM emergence from bankruptcy, many see conflict between business and political aspirations cropping up. The Financial Times Deutschland reports, “The restructuring of the group will turn into a political drama. That creates considerable risk for the entire US economy, but also for international competitors operating in the American auto market. The restructuring of GM will be extremely expensive for the American taxpayer; $50 billion could disappear into a black hole. But in the long run, the fact that it will be impossible to run this company in line with market principles will weight far more heavily than the financial burden. It’s already clear that job cuts and plant closures will soon be discussed in a similar way as the closure of military bases: regional politics will be at least as important as productivity figures.”
Even the Center-left Suddeutsche Zeitung writes, “If Obama fails in his attempt to save America’s automobile industry, his economic policy will lie in ruins. But politicians make poor business managers and the economic crisis hasn’t altered this fundamental truth. This isn’t because elected politicians aren’t as competent as private sector managers, but because they have other interests. This has to be so – politicians are committed to the common good and have to organize electoral majorities to achieve their goals. In the nationalized General Motors, serious conflicts of interest are unavoidable.”
A prime example of politicians making bad business managers is the notion of GM to sell the Hummer product line to a Chinese automaker. One of our primary on the ground military vehicle is the Hummer. President Obama has touted that we need to become energy independent but now we will rely on a foreign power for one of our critical on the ground military vehicle. The domestic front is not much better.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung warns, “The insolvency of General Motors is a historic moment for America. June 1 also marks the day on which Barack Obama rewrote the rules of American capitalism. It’s an alarming development.” The alarming development is the passive role that President Obama will take with GM but, as the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung observes, “In fact Barack Obama has shown in the case of General Motors and Chrysler that he’s prepared to play a very active role. He dictated very unattractive debt reduction terms for creditors and then labeled them as speculators.”
The nationalization of GM and Chrysler are rewards President Obama is giving to the Labor Unions that helped get him elected. As Ford continues to lead the way, it will be interesting to see how the Government leads the way to assist GM and Chrysler. With $50B of taxpayer money being poured rewarded to the Union led GM, how can free market principles exist without the temptation of anti-trust actions on behalf of the Government under the guise of “in the best interest of the taxpayers”. Face it American’s, GM will never be a public company again. To payback the $50B plus interest, GM will need to be worth $69B and that has happened only once; 2000.
Although President Obama promised a “hands-off” approach to assisting GM emergence from bankruptcy, many see conflict between business and political aspirations cropping up. The Financial Times Deutschland reports, “The restructuring of the group will turn into a political drama. That creates considerable risk for the entire US economy, but also for international competitors operating in the American auto market. The restructuring of GM will be extremely expensive for the American taxpayer; $50 billion could disappear into a black hole. But in the long run, the fact that it will be impossible to run this company in line with market principles will weight far more heavily than the financial burden. It’s already clear that job cuts and plant closures will soon be discussed in a similar way as the closure of military bases: regional politics will be at least as important as productivity figures.”
Even the Center-left Suddeutsche Zeitung writes, “If Obama fails in his attempt to save America’s automobile industry, his economic policy will lie in ruins. But politicians make poor business managers and the economic crisis hasn’t altered this fundamental truth. This isn’t because elected politicians aren’t as competent as private sector managers, but because they have other interests. This has to be so – politicians are committed to the common good and have to organize electoral majorities to achieve their goals. In the nationalized General Motors, serious conflicts of interest are unavoidable.”
A prime example of politicians making bad business managers is the notion of GM to sell the Hummer product line to a Chinese automaker. One of our primary on the ground military vehicle is the Hummer. President Obama has touted that we need to become energy independent but now we will rely on a foreign power for one of our critical on the ground military vehicle. The domestic front is not much better.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung warns, “The insolvency of General Motors is a historic moment for America. June 1 also marks the day on which Barack Obama rewrote the rules of American capitalism. It’s an alarming development.” The alarming development is the passive role that President Obama will take with GM but, as the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung observes, “In fact Barack Obama has shown in the case of General Motors and Chrysler that he’s prepared to play a very active role. He dictated very unattractive debt reduction terms for creditors and then labeled them as speculators.”
The nationalization of GM and Chrysler are rewards President Obama is giving to the Labor Unions that helped get him elected. As Ford continues to lead the way, it will be interesting to see how the Government leads the way to assist GM and Chrysler. With $50B of taxpayer money being poured rewarded to the Union led GM, how can free market principles exist without the temptation of anti-trust actions on behalf of the Government under the guise of “in the best interest of the taxpayers”. Face it American’s, GM will never be a public company again. To payback the $50B plus interest, GM will need to be worth $69B and that has happened only once; 2000.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Californians: LGBT issues do not belong in the K-5 curriculum
According to KCBS News in San Francisco, elementary school teachers in Alameda, CA, plan to add lesson plans that will address gay and lesbian issues. The goal of the plan is to introduce students to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual (LGBT) issues in hopes to mitigate bullying and teasing of LGBT children. The classes will be offered to K-5 students. Parents who oppose the addition complain their children are too young to be exposed to the material.
Elementary school is not the proper place to discuss the complex topic of LGBT issues. Since the Alameda school district’s legal team deemed the curriculum not health or sex education prevents parents from allowing their children to opt-out which is something California schools require for all health or sex educational classes. Requiring all students to participate in LGBT issues is not core to the elementary curriculum.
The LGBT issues, at least at this age, ought to be left to the parents. Understandably there will be a set of parents, for various reasons, oppose the LGBT lifestyle and will not educate their children as others may. American schools already see their budgets stretched thin and face new threats as budget cuts loom. The public school system needs to get back to the basics and re-think the system.
Public schools, especially K-5, need to focus on math, reading, writing, and science in order to create a solid foundation. Once the foundation is established complex classes, like LGBT issues, can be understood. For K-5 a shift away from the tradition classroom setting needs to take place. Too many kids are restless in class then ultimately get labeled. Part of the reason for the restlessness is boredom.
Bring back the one room school house. Having a single teacher responsible for K-5 studies that concentrate on the basics will allow students to progress at their own pace. For instance, a 6 year old entering Kindergarten may already be at a 2nd grade reading level. Why not allow that child to learn what the 2nd graders are learning while participating with in math, writing, and science at the Kindergarten level? It is time for teachers to become educators.
Classes dealing with LGBT issues have no business being taught to K-5 students; rather the proper place is during normal sex/health education classes. Educators are required for our K-5 students that have the ability to move the child along based on their abilities.
Elementary school is not the proper place to discuss the complex topic of LGBT issues. Since the Alameda school district’s legal team deemed the curriculum not health or sex education prevents parents from allowing their children to opt-out which is something California schools require for all health or sex educational classes. Requiring all students to participate in LGBT issues is not core to the elementary curriculum.
The LGBT issues, at least at this age, ought to be left to the parents. Understandably there will be a set of parents, for various reasons, oppose the LGBT lifestyle and will not educate their children as others may. American schools already see their budgets stretched thin and face new threats as budget cuts loom. The public school system needs to get back to the basics and re-think the system.
Public schools, especially K-5, need to focus on math, reading, writing, and science in order to create a solid foundation. Once the foundation is established complex classes, like LGBT issues, can be understood. For K-5 a shift away from the tradition classroom setting needs to take place. Too many kids are restless in class then ultimately get labeled. Part of the reason for the restlessness is boredom.
Bring back the one room school house. Having a single teacher responsible for K-5 studies that concentrate on the basics will allow students to progress at their own pace. For instance, a 6 year old entering Kindergarten may already be at a 2nd grade reading level. Why not allow that child to learn what the 2nd graders are learning while participating with in math, writing, and science at the Kindergarten level? It is time for teachers to become educators.
Classes dealing with LGBT issues have no business being taught to K-5 students; rather the proper place is during normal sex/health education classes. Educators are required for our K-5 students that have the ability to move the child along based on their abilities.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Who's Next to be Nationalized
Today President Obama announced that GM will be entering into bankruptcy. 25,000 plus jobs will be cut and numerous plants will either be closed or moth-balled. The Government will own 60% of GM, not much different then the bank plan, while only 10% will be owned by the bondholders that staked GM.
President Obama says he does not want "run GM" but it is necessary that Government intervene. Nothing that I ever read in books about Capitalism or Civic duties of government included national government ownership; temporary or not. Why hasn't President Obama presented a plan to exactly what the Government will do to ensure GM's socialistic regime is short lived?
The lack of the plan indicates that President Obama is looking to socialize all aspects of our economy. Banks were the first and now Automotive. With Chrysler and GM under the thumb of the Federal Government, where does it leave Ford? How can the American Government not play favorites and balance their competing interests? With the taxpayer on the hook for the success of Chrysler and GM, how does President Obama plan to devise incentives to repay to taxpayer while not violating anti-trust laws. The simple answer is he cannot.
So the next move will be to force Ford into the same railroad job and spin it to the American public that its in the best interest of the American economy. A lot of rhetoric coming from President Obama eerily parallels speeches given by Adolf Hitler on the importance of rebuilding Germany. Post WWI left Germany in a deep recession with galloping inflation. Soon we will be experiencing the same inflation as the Federal Reserve Bank prints more and more money to pay off the Trillion of dollar debt that President Obama and Democrats in Congress has saddled us with. All in the name of "It's best for our Economy".
The Free Market and Capitalism are phoenix's. If one company fails, no matter the size, another will spring up to pick up the slack. Now where the Government can assist the Economic models that has given many Americans their wealth is to ensure, through limited regulation, that greed, deception, and corruption is kept in check. The role of government in a free society is not to own business or commerce; ownership of business is only seen in Socialistic societies where liberties and freedoms are restricted.
If Americans do not wake up soon and vote in a more fiscally responsible Congress our free society will be no longer.
President Obama says he does not want "run GM" but it is necessary that Government intervene. Nothing that I ever read in books about Capitalism or Civic duties of government included national government ownership; temporary or not. Why hasn't President Obama presented a plan to exactly what the Government will do to ensure GM's socialistic regime is short lived?
The lack of the plan indicates that President Obama is looking to socialize all aspects of our economy. Banks were the first and now Automotive. With Chrysler and GM under the thumb of the Federal Government, where does it leave Ford? How can the American Government not play favorites and balance their competing interests? With the taxpayer on the hook for the success of Chrysler and GM, how does President Obama plan to devise incentives to repay to taxpayer while not violating anti-trust laws. The simple answer is he cannot.
So the next move will be to force Ford into the same railroad job and spin it to the American public that its in the best interest of the American economy. A lot of rhetoric coming from President Obama eerily parallels speeches given by Adolf Hitler on the importance of rebuilding Germany. Post WWI left Germany in a deep recession with galloping inflation. Soon we will be experiencing the same inflation as the Federal Reserve Bank prints more and more money to pay off the Trillion of dollar debt that President Obama and Democrats in Congress has saddled us with. All in the name of "It's best for our Economy".
The Free Market and Capitalism are phoenix's. If one company fails, no matter the size, another will spring up to pick up the slack. Now where the Government can assist the Economic models that has given many Americans their wealth is to ensure, through limited regulation, that greed, deception, and corruption is kept in check. The role of government in a free society is not to own business or commerce; ownership of business is only seen in Socialistic societies where liberties and freedoms are restricted.
If Americans do not wake up soon and vote in a more fiscally responsible Congress our free society will be no longer.
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