After listening for two hours to the questions being read and the answers or responses being given by either the mayor, vice-mayor, either of the two aldermen present, and members of the Citizen’s Committee (…I say answers OR responses because in my opinion not all responses were answers to the specific questions being asked…as is often typical of politicians when being questioned!), I was actually listening for one important question and for its important answer. I never heard the question; therefore, I never heard the answer.
Following the closing of the meeting with prayer, I decided to bite the bullet and pose my question directly to the mayor, believing that given the proper answer to my question, I would be in a better position to make a more reasoned decision when I cast my ballot on Tuesday, September 27, 2011.
So I approached the mayor and when he acknowledged me, I stated that I had a question for him that I had not heard asked or answered. “Mr. Mayor, after listening carefully to all of the questions and responses and specifically to those responses to the questions regarding that which will come AFTER Phase I of the Master Plan, hearing phrases such as: ‘we are not discussing that yet as Phase I is what we are looking at first’; ‘we don’t want to talk about further plans until we get Phase I, the building of the Police Department’, my question is…assuming that the bond issue is passed… when the City is ready to proceed to the next level of this Master Plan, can you assure the citizens of Starkville that the remaining implementation of this Master Plan will come before the Starkville citizens for a vote and not just be implemented on the coattail of the Phase 1 vote?
I explained that I was not speaking for the Starkville Tea Party, but rather, as a Starkville citizen, and that I, for one, am of the opinion that the actions of our city officials remind me too much of what we hear and see coming out of DC...specifically: ‘We have to pass the bill so we can see what is in the bill.’)
The mayor’s response in my opinion was evasive, not at all convincing or satisfying to me. He skirted the issue, explaining that ‘we’ won’t know how we will fund the next phase until we ‘get’ to that point…after getting the Police Department and being ready to go further. The answer I was looking for and did not get was a simple, straightforward answer, such as, “Absolutely! Since Starkville citizens (property owners, in particular) will have to foot the bill for each phase of this Master Plan, OF COURSE, THEY will be given their proper voice!”
Following his response to my legitimate question of concern, the mayor then stated his assurance that there was no ‘trickery’ involved in the way this was being handled…to which I replied, “I wish I could believe that to be the truth.” ‘Trickery’ was his word…not mine! Now, I am even more concerned!
I agree with the majority of Starkville’s citizens that the housing of our SPD is a disgrace and needs to be addressed and remedied. I’m not convinced however that a vote for the Phase I bond issue will not be interpreted as a vote for the entire Master Plan. In view of Starkville Police Department’s need for adequate facilities, is it possible that Phase I of the Master Plan is being presented strongly and at great cost to an unidentified group so as to follow through with the remainder of the Master Plan more easily?
Saturday, September 24, 2011
IT'S NOT ABOUT 'WHAT' BUT 'WHO' NEEDS PROTECTING!
“Same-sex marriage should be protected,” writes Mr. Carl Smith, News Editor, in the Friday, July 1, 2011, edition of the Starkville Daily News.
Too bad that Mr. Smith doesn’t spend his time and ink in promoting the protection of the innocent unborn who are refused a voice and life by those who should be their protectors, their mothers and the states.
Or…perhaps his time and ink could be used more profitably in defending the rights of American citizens to be protected from potential terrorists and from other foreigners who enter our country illegally only to ‘rob’ those who arrive on this soil the right way…legally…with proper paperwork… ready to give back to this country that allowed them entrance by becoming and being loyal and productive American citizens!
Or…need I continue on? There are many more critical issues that need to be addressed by those whose livelihood is made possible by the expressing of their opinions through public media outlets.
It is apparent from his article that Mr. Smith himself is lacking in religious convictions though he sees himself as qualified to pass judgment on states that choose to believe that same-sex ‘marriage’ is not a legitimate ‘marriage’ – which it is not according to the Holy Bible or according to the convictions of our founding fathers and those who have come after them down through history.
Mr. Smith states that “when the state cannot guarantee equality, it is left up to the federal government to do so….” Again Mr. Smith sees himself as qualified to make such a statement that is not supported in the Constitution of the United States. Maybe he should have stated where in the Constitution the federal government is given authority to ‘make’ states defer to the federal government or to the opinions of the liberal/secular left who wish to subvert America’s Constitution!
Mr. Smith’s opinions represent his belief system, which I do not share and which, I might propose, are not shared by most people…especially Mississippians – Southerners – ‘Bible-believing’ Christians – Patriots!
Notwithstanding one’s religious, moral, and political convictions though, the recognizing and making legal the joint union of two of the same gender goes against simple logic as civilizations cannot be perpetuated except through the union of two of the opposite genders. Such has been the custom even in pagan societies since time began.
I am left to wonder about the political and moral attitude and stance of the Starkville Daily News and its owner and editors in allowing the publication of the article in question by one of its news editors, and I also wonder if Starkville Daily News will give an account to its subscribers!
(added post script: SDN did post its position on this one day prior to publishing this article; however, it came after this article had been submitted for publication.)
Too bad that Mr. Smith doesn’t spend his time and ink in promoting the protection of the innocent unborn who are refused a voice and life by those who should be their protectors, their mothers and the states.
Or…perhaps his time and ink could be used more profitably in defending the rights of American citizens to be protected from potential terrorists and from other foreigners who enter our country illegally only to ‘rob’ those who arrive on this soil the right way…legally…with proper paperwork… ready to give back to this country that allowed them entrance by becoming and being loyal and productive American citizens!
Or…need I continue on? There are many more critical issues that need to be addressed by those whose livelihood is made possible by the expressing of their opinions through public media outlets.
It is apparent from his article that Mr. Smith himself is lacking in religious convictions though he sees himself as qualified to pass judgment on states that choose to believe that same-sex ‘marriage’ is not a legitimate ‘marriage’ – which it is not according to the Holy Bible or according to the convictions of our founding fathers and those who have come after them down through history.
Mr. Smith states that “when the state cannot guarantee equality, it is left up to the federal government to do so….” Again Mr. Smith sees himself as qualified to make such a statement that is not supported in the Constitution of the United States. Maybe he should have stated where in the Constitution the federal government is given authority to ‘make’ states defer to the federal government or to the opinions of the liberal/secular left who wish to subvert America’s Constitution!
Mr. Smith’s opinions represent his belief system, which I do not share and which, I might propose, are not shared by most people…especially Mississippians – Southerners – ‘Bible-believing’ Christians – Patriots!
Notwithstanding one’s religious, moral, and political convictions though, the recognizing and making legal the joint union of two of the same gender goes against simple logic as civilizations cannot be perpetuated except through the union of two of the opposite genders. Such has been the custom even in pagan societies since time began.
I am left to wonder about the political and moral attitude and stance of the Starkville Daily News and its owner and editors in allowing the publication of the article in question by one of its news editors, and I also wonder if Starkville Daily News will give an account to its subscribers!
(added post script: SDN did post its position on this one day prior to publishing this article; however, it came after this article had been submitted for publication.)
Friday, October 29, 2010
EXAMINING PROGRESS VS PROGRESSIVE and PROGESSIVISM VS CONSTITUTIONALISM
(...as published on 11/28/10 in a Letter to the Editor, Starkville Daily News...)
Words in the English language are tricky! One word may mean one thing to me and something entirely different to someone else. Often such words may be used together in a document or speech and the two different meanings are taken to mean the same thing or at least to lend support to the other. This is what seems to be occurring in the use of the words “progress” and “progressive.” Let’s first consider the word “progress.” Now who would ever be against progress?
After all, most everyone wants to be a better person, parent, neighbor, citizen today than in the past. Do we not all want to improve our homes, farms, cities and country—to see progress taking place, our city streets and sidewalks being improved and new ones added where needed, and neighborhood parks and play areas built for our children and grandchildren? Are we not all made proud to drive throughout our city and be able to admire the beautiful landscaping and the new faces with which so many of our stores and other businesses now greet us? Is there anyone of us who is not desirous of making available to all citizens, our seniors and especially our citizens who require special assistance that which is needed for them to have the same conveniences others of us enjoy?
Surely, we are for these improvements and wish we could see these kinds of changes on every street throughout our city—right now! This is called “progress!” We are for progress! Unfortunately, progress does not come free of charge; it costs, and it takes time: time to do the planning, time to obtain funding, and time to do the working. In the Bible (Luke 14:28), we are given a proper order for progress: “before you begin a project…count the cost…” (Author’s paraphrase) Do these wise words reference only the financial cost…or might they also reference the actual planning process as well? Simply stated, what will be the overall cost of this project?
Who of us would not choose for our city to move forward and show progress in these and other similar ways—providing the funds are in the bank or are available without causing unwarranted burdens on our citizens, our young couples with growing families and beginning salaries, our senior citizens on fixed incomes with increasing medical expenses, and especially our business owners who provide for the livelihood of their employees? Yes, progress is good when proper conditions are met!
Though these two words often are used interchangeably, there is a great difference in “progress” and “progressive!” So what is it about the words, “progressive” and “progressivism” that might be bad or wrong for America? Progressivism is not good—not for Starkville, not for Mississippi, not for America! Progressivism is merely veiled socialism, a minute step from communism! There are no socialistic or communistic countries that have come close to being the country America has been and is! The reason America has been and is a great nation is because of the foresight and wisdom of our Founding Fathers in framing the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. America is a Republic, and the Constitution is the “supreme Law of the land” to which “virtually every elected and public official in America takes an oath to uphold” and the President promises to “preserve, protect and defend.” The organization chart of the United States Government shows Congress, the President and the Supreme Court underneath the Constitution.1
In our government at every level —city, county, state, and nation— there are politicians who are bent on taking America down the same road that other nations have traveled…the road toward socialism and communism. These politicians are enamored with power to the extent that they are determined to reach their goals even if America is destroyed in the process. Considering themselves intellectual elites, they disregard the Constitution of the United States except in those instances in which it serves their purpose. These politicians in most cases are proud to call themselves and allow others to refer to them as progressives, even elite progressives.
America has too long been asleep! In our slumber and apathy, we have allowed this country to be taken over by politicians promoting Saul Alinsky’s agenda. A good source for learning about Alinsky’s model for government is David Horowitz’ publication, Barack Obama’s Rules for Revolution The Alinsky Model.2 This little book truly gave clarity to my thinking about the state of our nation and the downward spiral this once great nation is descending. Having now been awakened, I am no longer willing to allow the progressives to exercise their freedom of speech without also exercising the same right by taking a stand and speaking out against their socialist agenda: big government or government takeover, Fabian socialism and communism, eliminating the radicals—those referred to as ‘the Haves’ by taking from the ‘Haves’ and giving to the ‘Have-Nots’—distribution of wealth!
This is why I have chosen to be more involved in politics. No longer content to be a robotic citizen couch potato, I am reading for myself and actively learning in order to become better informed and educated in our American government and its political processes.
I am proud to be a member of Starkville T.E.A. Party and thankful for this outlet where an average citizen can become involved in the political process that may make a difference in the health and life of America and the livelihood of its citizenry. For me to do otherwise is for me to become part of the process that is bent on destroying the American way of life. To do nothing is to let the progressives continue in their quest of absolute political takeover and the death of capitalism! Winston Churchill says it best, “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”
There are those people who are skeptical and even very critical of the T.E.A. Party movement. That’s okay; they have every right to question. But I also have one question for those who are skeptical and even critical: Have you even looked at the mission, purposes, and core values of the Starkville T.E.A. Party?
What is it about its mission, “…a non-partisan grassroots organization of individuals united by our core values derived from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights as explained in the Federalist Papers...” that arouses such criticism?
What is it about its purposes, “to uphold and to defend the Constitution of the United States of America and to attract, inform, educate, organize, and mobilize our citizens, locally and throughout the state” that arouses such criticism?
What is it about its core values, “fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets” that arouses such criticism?
It is my prayer that America will awaken and realize how dangerously close we are to losing the freedoms and liberties our forefathers fought so hard to preserve, and that ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ will be true to our conviction that the Constitution of the United States of America is “the supreme law of the land.” It is not a living document that is subject to change as situations and circumstances and people change; rather, it is a hard document which is to be interpreted solely by what it says regardless of situations and circumstances and people!
1Holler, Michael. The Constitution Made Easy. Woodland Park, CO: The Friends of Freedom, Inc. 2008, 2009.
2Horowitz, David. Barack Obama’s Rules for Revolution The Alinsky Model. Sherman Oaks, CA: David Horowitz Freedom Center. 2009.
Words in the English language are tricky! One word may mean one thing to me and something entirely different to someone else. Often such words may be used together in a document or speech and the two different meanings are taken to mean the same thing or at least to lend support to the other. This is what seems to be occurring in the use of the words “progress” and “progressive.” Let’s first consider the word “progress.” Now who would ever be against progress?
After all, most everyone wants to be a better person, parent, neighbor, citizen today than in the past. Do we not all want to improve our homes, farms, cities and country—to see progress taking place, our city streets and sidewalks being improved and new ones added where needed, and neighborhood parks and play areas built for our children and grandchildren? Are we not all made proud to drive throughout our city and be able to admire the beautiful landscaping and the new faces with which so many of our stores and other businesses now greet us? Is there anyone of us who is not desirous of making available to all citizens, our seniors and especially our citizens who require special assistance that which is needed for them to have the same conveniences others of us enjoy?
Surely, we are for these improvements and wish we could see these kinds of changes on every street throughout our city—right now! This is called “progress!” We are for progress! Unfortunately, progress does not come free of charge; it costs, and it takes time: time to do the planning, time to obtain funding, and time to do the working. In the Bible (Luke 14:28), we are given a proper order for progress: “before you begin a project…count the cost…” (Author’s paraphrase) Do these wise words reference only the financial cost…or might they also reference the actual planning process as well? Simply stated, what will be the overall cost of this project?
Who of us would not choose for our city to move forward and show progress in these and other similar ways—providing the funds are in the bank or are available without causing unwarranted burdens on our citizens, our young couples with growing families and beginning salaries, our senior citizens on fixed incomes with increasing medical expenses, and especially our business owners who provide for the livelihood of their employees? Yes, progress is good when proper conditions are met!
Though these two words often are used interchangeably, there is a great difference in “progress” and “progressive!” So what is it about the words, “progressive” and “progressivism” that might be bad or wrong for America? Progressivism is not good—not for Starkville, not for Mississippi, not for America! Progressivism is merely veiled socialism, a minute step from communism! There are no socialistic or communistic countries that have come close to being the country America has been and is! The reason America has been and is a great nation is because of the foresight and wisdom of our Founding Fathers in framing the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. America is a Republic, and the Constitution is the “supreme Law of the land” to which “virtually every elected and public official in America takes an oath to uphold” and the President promises to “preserve, protect and defend.” The organization chart of the United States Government shows Congress, the President and the Supreme Court underneath the Constitution.1
In our government at every level —city, county, state, and nation— there are politicians who are bent on taking America down the same road that other nations have traveled…the road toward socialism and communism. These politicians are enamored with power to the extent that they are determined to reach their goals even if America is destroyed in the process. Considering themselves intellectual elites, they disregard the Constitution of the United States except in those instances in which it serves their purpose. These politicians in most cases are proud to call themselves and allow others to refer to them as progressives, even elite progressives.
America has too long been asleep! In our slumber and apathy, we have allowed this country to be taken over by politicians promoting Saul Alinsky’s agenda. A good source for learning about Alinsky’s model for government is David Horowitz’ publication, Barack Obama’s Rules for Revolution The Alinsky Model.2 This little book truly gave clarity to my thinking about the state of our nation and the downward spiral this once great nation is descending. Having now been awakened, I am no longer willing to allow the progressives to exercise their freedom of speech without also exercising the same right by taking a stand and speaking out against their socialist agenda: big government or government takeover, Fabian socialism and communism, eliminating the radicals—those referred to as ‘the Haves’ by taking from the ‘Haves’ and giving to the ‘Have-Nots’—distribution of wealth!
This is why I have chosen to be more involved in politics. No longer content to be a robotic citizen couch potato, I am reading for myself and actively learning in order to become better informed and educated in our American government and its political processes.
I am proud to be a member of Starkville T.E.A. Party and thankful for this outlet where an average citizen can become involved in the political process that may make a difference in the health and life of America and the livelihood of its citizenry. For me to do otherwise is for me to become part of the process that is bent on destroying the American way of life. To do nothing is to let the progressives continue in their quest of absolute political takeover and the death of capitalism! Winston Churchill says it best, “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”
There are those people who are skeptical and even very critical of the T.E.A. Party movement. That’s okay; they have every right to question. But I also have one question for those who are skeptical and even critical: Have you even looked at the mission, purposes, and core values of the Starkville T.E.A. Party?
What is it about its mission, “…a non-partisan grassroots organization of individuals united by our core values derived from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights as explained in the Federalist Papers...” that arouses such criticism?
What is it about its purposes, “to uphold and to defend the Constitution of the United States of America and to attract, inform, educate, organize, and mobilize our citizens, locally and throughout the state” that arouses such criticism?
What is it about its core values, “fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets” that arouses such criticism?
It is my prayer that America will awaken and realize how dangerously close we are to losing the freedoms and liberties our forefathers fought so hard to preserve, and that ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ will be true to our conviction that the Constitution of the United States of America is “the supreme law of the land.” It is not a living document that is subject to change as situations and circumstances and people change; rather, it is a hard document which is to be interpreted solely by what it says regardless of situations and circumstances and people!
1Holler, Michael. The Constitution Made Easy. Woodland Park, CO: The Friends of Freedom, Inc. 2008, 2009.
2Horowitz, David. Barack Obama’s Rules for Revolution The Alinsky Model. Sherman Oaks, CA: David Horowitz Freedom Center. 2009.
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