Teleprompter please close the borders

This morning on the Today Show, Vice President Joe Biden responded to Matt Lauer question of “if a member of your family came to you said look I want to go on a commercial airliner to Mexico and back in the week, would that be a good idea?”, “I would tell members of my family and I have. I wouldn’t go anywhere in confine places now. It’s not that is going to Mexico. It you are in a confined aircraft when one person sneezes it goes through the entire aircraft. That’s me. I would not be at this point, if they have another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway. So, from my perspective what it relates to mitigation.”

Now Vice President Biden’s office has come back with a statement qualifying his statement as “if they were sick”. Really! The President last night said that closing the borders right now is not an option and equated to closing a barn door after the horse as already gotten out. WOW!!! No one knows how this Swine Flu will mutate or how we can combat it outside of staying out of confined places.

The Vice President needs to understand that his words carry weight. By telling the American public on the Today show that he’d tell his own family to not ride the subway or an airplane can have the same affect on the transportation industry as the label swine flu has had on pork futures. The airline industry is already struggling; the Vice President needs to choose his words more carefully.

Why not close the boarders. MSNBC just had a map of the United States up showing reported cases of the Swine Flu. Every state boarding Mexico had at least one confirmed case. Until the CDC, WHO, and Homeland Security office has a handle on the Swine Flu, doesn’t it make sense to ban all travel to and from Mexico and the United States?

I agree that the Swine Flu is already within our borders but it can still mutate. It is the mutation aspect that closing the borders will protect the citizens of the United States. Whispers online and in the media are hinting toward the notion that Universal HealthCare, had it been established, would have enabled the United States to be ahead of the Swine Flu. Really? Doesn’t Mexico have state run healthcare and look how well it has worked there.

It is time for the teleprompter to say, “We are banning all transportation between the United States and Mexico until we have a better understanding of strain of swine flu.” With the summer approaching and the annual plight of immigrant workers reaches further into the United States, the teleprompter needs to speak.

Hamburg City Council Agenda - April 28, 2009

To all

I understand this is a day late and not everyone lives in or near Hamburg, MN. I will be posting the City Council agenda and the minutes on the blog. I do encourage those that do not live or near Hamburg to see what is going on and comment as well. Some issues facing our small hamlet may be issues in your community as well.

7:00. Call City Council Meeting to Order @ 7:00 PM
· Pledge of Allegiance
· Miscellaneous Business (Public Comments)
· Agenda Review (Added Items) and Adoption
· Old City Business (Memo)

7:05. Fire Department Report
· 2009 FEMA Grant Application – Allow Chief Droege to Apply
· New Fire Department Members – Add Colton Kroells
· Joint Powers Agreements – Article in LMC Magazine

7:15. Abdo, Eick & Meyers
· 2008 Financial Report

7:30. To The Home Internet – Shawn Sprengeler
· Internet Service for City of Hamburg

7:40. City Resident Chris Lund
· Request to Advertise Blog Site on Cities Electronic Sign

7:50. Parkside Tavern
· Request for 3.2 Liquor License & Park Rental for May 2nd, 2009

8:00. Dennis’ Report (Public Works & Utilities)
· Project List (Added Items)
· Estimates for Sidewalk Replacement
o Railroad Street (Maria Ave to Sophia Ave)
· Estimates for Seal Coating
o CC/Fire Hall/WTP Parking Lot & Donald Avenue
· Lois Willemsen’s Water Meter Test Results
o Midwest Testing Bill for Test – $40.66
· NYA Water Tower
· Annual Preventive Maintenance – Emergency Generator
· General Maintenance Schedules

8:20. Deputy Clerk Report
· Deputy Clerk Block
o Delinquent Utility Bills Report
· Parking Requirements – Residential Property
· Request for Time-off (April 29th & 30th & May 1st)

8:25. City Clerk/Treasurer Report
· I/I Abatement Program
o PFA Funding Application - $2,500 Fee (S.E.H.)
o Neighborhood Meeting – Set Date
· Carver County Base Fiber Optic Ring
o Approve Fiber Optic Ring Route
o Submission of Additions to Ring via Laterals Based upon Funding from Stimulus Funds
· Tenant User Liability Insurance Program (TULIP) – LMCIT
· Close 125th Anniversary Checking Account
o Council Member to sit on Electronic Sign Committee
§ May 12th Meeting @ 6:30 PM
· Community Center Rentals – Alcohol Use
· City Savings for 2009 Payroll
· Brush Pile Site Dates – Sign Up Sheet
· Informational Items
o Liquor License Seminar – May 12th 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
o South St. Paul Steel Supply Company – State Contract

8:45. City Council Reports
· Councilmember Mueller Report (Sewer & Water)
· Councilmember Cummiskey Report (Streets)
· Councilmember Trebesch Report (Buildings)
· Councilmember Barnes Report (Parks)
· Mayor Malz Report

9:00. Approve Added Claims for April 2009

9:05. Adjourn Meeting

Sen. Specter defection shines light on the need for politcal parties

Sen. Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania has switched back to the Democrat Party yesterday. As a moderate Republican he often voted with the Democrat Party on several issues. In his press conference yesterday, Sen. Specter stated that after looking at polling numbers from the upcoming Republican primary for the Senate race and figured it was time to re-join the Democrat Party. Sen. Specter tried to make it sound, during his press conference, that he was making the switch because it is in the best interest of those he represents in Pennsylvania.

Are you kidding me? How is switching parties for political survival in the best interest of our constituents? The move by Arlen Specter is job security. When looking at the polls, Sen. Specter realized that he trailed Pat Toomey 20 points. In the 2004 primary, Specter held off Toomey by 2 points. Seeing the door, Specter did what every good politician does, run away from principles and toward political expediency.

If I lived in Pennsylvania I’d be upset had I voted for Specter or donated money to him. “I am not prepared to have my 29 year record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate,” said Sen. Specter during his press conference. Sen. Specter is admitting that making the switch is for personnel reasons and not because his constituents are looking for new leadership.

The Republican Party has lost their direction. The Democrats are courting Moderates in an effort to balance the run to the Left. Adams and Jefferson loathed political parties even though it was their hyped and gave birth when the two squared off for the Office of the Presidency. Americans need to take a moment today and examine what took place yesterday with Sen. Specter.

It is time to take an inventory of one’s belief and view on Government. The overriding question is to ask oneself is, “How big do I want Government to be?” As the answer to that question will drive the regulations, taxes, and spending that will be carried out by the Government one envisions. Then ask oneself, “Can my vision of Government guarantee everyone the rights and freedoms established by the U.S. Constitution and the principles of Democracy?”

Rep. Ellison: Be Respectful and Apologize to Minnesotans

No one disputes Rep. Ellison’s right to advocate and draw attention to issues of Darfur. Rep. Ellison’s arrest, after being repeatedly asked to disperse, is a slap in the face of every Minnesotan that is without a job. Rep. Ellison needs to spend more time ensuring that the Legislature is acting in the best interest of Minnesotans. Yes, it is unfortunate that Darfur is unstable and aid workers are being expelled but unemployment is reaching 10% in Minnesota.

Getting himself arrested over an issue that has very little to do with the welfare of Minnesotans is irresponsible. Rep. Ellison needs to apologize to Minnesotans as he was not elected to promote his own cause with Darfur; rather he was elected to promote Minnesota interest.

Rep. Ellison misses the tenor of his actions have and has fallen short on his obligation to the citizens of Fifth Congressional District of Minnesota as well as to Minnesotan’s in general. Just this past weekend Dinkytown saw a block party that got out of hand. If Rep. Ellison is not respecting police authority when asked to disperse, how can we expect others? I doubt we will see one, a sincere one, but Rep. Ellison needs to apologize to Minnesota for not respecting the law, setting a bad example, and forgetting why he was elected to Congress.

Torture: Moving Forward and not backwards

Pandora’s Box has been opened and now the political fallout is to begin. The box in question is torture. Opponents and proponents alike have their definition of torture and how best to be applied. The CIA memo’s released by the Obama Administration set the stage for conversation on torture. Liberals on the far left are screaming for heads while stark conservatives are looking for full disclosure on the success of torture methods used.

Never before in our American history has the current administration gone after the previous administration. FDR put Japanese Americans in internment camps and Abraham Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus but neither administration following went back to persecute anyone. Why now? President Obama needs to put the topic back on point and follow Gerald Ford’s handling of President Nixon.

The topic of conversation is torture. There is no use arguing the facts as in some cases water boarding worked and other cases it did not. The question is when that fine line of harsh interrogation becomes torture. As the topic drags on, it will continue to weaken the United States and strengthen the resolve of those that wish us harm.

The CIA and other intelligence agencies is now gun shy when it comes to harsh tactics of getting the critical data needed to keep Americans safe. In his book, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, James Rachels ponders the question of Moral Theory. Although the conversation in James Rachels book does not touch on torture, much of what is discussed can be applied.

It is through justice and fairness that our society must step forward on the issue of torture. To accomplish a compromise on torture pro and con debate must take place without emotional ties and with rational thought. Using the post 9-11 rhetoric and policies as an example, emotional reaction to torture needs to be divorced from the conversation. I understand that it can be difficult to do but it needs to be done.

America cannot remain safe if a coherent and acceptable level of torture, in war and peace time, is not established. Now, I do not want to see the President or the Director of the CIA standing in front of the podium and lay out the torture levels. Americans need to have faith that methods going forward are “humane”.

Flatten the tax

Across the United States many state governments are dealing with fiscal shortfalls. In a knee jerk reaction the decision is overwhelming a raise in taxes. In Minnesota the Senate is looking to create a 4th tax tier while increasing the tax rates of the other three. When people are struggling to make ends meet, housing prices plummeting, unemployment rates raising, and runaway inflation just around the corner, why then are so many governments looking to raise taxes?

The cigarette tax just went up more than $0.50 a pack and discussion at the Minnesota State Capital is to increase it again. Really? We all understand that smoking is not a healthy vice. The purpose of the original tax, which just went into effect, was to raise tax while making it less economical for the youth. The proponents of tax increases, especially on cigarettes, will have diminishing returns. Sure, the state will reap a short term gain. Is the short term gain really the type of tax system we want?

NO!!! The trouble with Congress, both state and nationally, is the focus on short term goals. I agree we need a change and increasing taxes is not the change required. It is time to scrap the current tax code and replace with a flat tax. The reason why more taxes are being sought is due to Government becoming too large.

Minnesota Legislature is going to drive business from the state and discourage the wealthy from staying in Minnesota by implementing a 4th tier tax rate. The focus of the debate will be on partisan politics as Gov. Pawlenty has warned the state legislature that any tax hike would be met with a veto. When will the DFL party wake up and realize that taxing Minnesotans more will only make Minnesota less attractive to future investment while driving our young to other states where they can keep more of their money.

Representatives and Senators of Minnesota do something brave and implement a flat tax that encourages business development and puts Minnesota in the lead of attracting top talent – business and personnel – for years to come.

Draft Day in the NFL

What better way to wake up this morning then to a chilly morning as the NFL draft is set to take place. Unfortunately the draft does not start until 3 pm today. That didn’t stop the Detroit Lions to solidify their number one draft pick. Surprise, surprise, surprise the Detroit Lions did not take a wide receiver. Instead they signed Matt Stafford to a 6-year deal worth $78M. As long as Detroit doesn’t pull a Mike Tice, the St. Louis Rams are on the clock.

The Raiders will be taken 7th and the Vikqueens will be drafting 22nd in the first round this year. According to mock drafts on cbssportlines.com the consensus pick for the Raiders is Darrius Heyward-Bey while the Vikqueens consensus pick is all over the board but many feel Percy Harvin will be the pick.

The Vikqueens like the Raiders will benefit greatly this year with a playmaker wider receiver. I am just sure how the Raiders can pass on Michael Crabtree and go with Darrius Heyward-Bey. Yes, Darrius Heyward-Bey had speed but he lacks the intangible that Crabtree brings; football savvy.

As they say, the season is not made in the first day but it can be broken.