Friday, February 27, 2009

TO ERIC HOLDER ATTORNEY GENERAL:

Dear Mr. Holder,

Although the generations involved with slavery are gone, blacks such as Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson and others have decided to keep the hate alive instead of forgiving.

In doing so whites have been cowards all these years and accepted the blame for it, and the problems of black society in general, and having paid millions in taxes for welfare programs as a ransom.

Well, we're cowards NO more.

Get educated, get a career, or blame yourselves.

Contributor: Jackie Proctor

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

DO THE MATH...

Barack Obama's $275 billion Housing Handout is designed to help 9 million American homeowners.

The Obama Adminstration's summary of the plan says that it could offer a buffer of up to $6,000 against value declines on the average home.

Wait a minute.

$275,000,000,000 divided by 9,000,000 mortgages is about $30,555 per mortgage.

What happen to the rest?

Sounds JUST like England's fuzzy math...

Monday, February 23, 2009

SHOVEL READY AND MORE...

With all the pork flying around you would think Jimmy Dean was president.

The bailout package is 1/3 tax relief and the rest PORK.

Obama failed miserably with the Republican Congress and "new tone."

He failed in leadership letting the House leader give him 60 pounds of pork when he ask for 7 pounds of beef.

The stimulus package is a ticket for China and other countries to take over the USA without firing a shot.

They will own us.

We are also leaving our children and grandchildren with a legacy of debt.

He appointed 5 TAX CHEATS (with a straight face) to his cabinet and one of them actually made it through to become head of the IRS.

He should have never rescinded the welfare program, which was working very well, and made such thoughtless decisions on Gitmo and reducing the defense budget at a time when we are at an escalating was in Afghanistan, which will produce even more enemy combatants - lets put them in Pelosi's and Reid's backyards!

However. they'd rather push a bill like the Fairness Doctrine to stifle conservative talk shows, and diminish our constitutional right to free speech. If the socialist liberals want a voice on the radio airwaves all they need to do is invest in a license to broadcast with the FCC.

Flying all the way to Denver to sign the stimulus bill, after saying the sky is falling.

Promote the general welfare, doesn't mean bailouts, homes, food stamps, socialized medicine, and whatever makes you happy Mr. Obama!

President Obama needs to remember some of the Constitutional Law he once taught.

American people are riled and rightly so.

One way to stop this insanity is on April 15 everyone send in their tax forms with the words "You're fired!", no money, no check and self-proclaimed elite leaders and get some "real" people representing us that really works, really represent the masses, really understand the constitution, and most importantly, people who really love America and want her to prosper.

Would Holder like to come to our house and see if the America we live in "is a coward?"

We are white, christian. conservative and damn proud of it.

They are the cowards who have hide things on a bill that the people voting on couldn't even read, then only to have it SIT there for FOUR days until Obama gets around to signing it!

The "mayors" of the cities in the United States don't work for or answer to him. They answer to the citizens in which they work, to those who elected them.

Obama and his inner circle are just following through with their long thought out plan to bring this COUNTRY down...Talk about shock and awe.

Through his policies Mr. Obama has proven that he lacks the knowledge of what this great country was built on. Free market, hard HONEST work reaps innovation and financial gain. Some in our society forgot that a free market ONLY works with honest fundamentals as a base.

Apparently the government played a huge role in his life through financial entitlements.

Capping salaries, adjusting mortgage rates, preventing foreclosures, moving the Census, Obama has overstepped his bounds in his first month and likely insured he will be a single term...

Hillary Clinton warned us in 2007-2008 that Obama had no experience, we have to say Hillary was so right.

If expressing dissatisfaction at the current events in America can be misconstrued as "hatemongering or racist", so be it.

Many feel he has already failed by force feeding us this undefined, frivolous, pork-filled package.

CHANGE and HOPE is not a plan.

"Welcome to the old-new deal!"

Sunday, February 22, 2009

PSALM 2008-2012

Obama is our shepherd, we shall not want.

He leadeth us beside the still factories.

He restoreth our faith in the Republican Party.

He guideth us on the path of unemployment.

Yea, though we will walk thru the valley
of the bread lines, we shall not go hungry.

Obama has anointed our income with taxes.

Our expenses will runneth over our income.

Surely, poverty and hard times will follow
us all the days of his term.

From hence forth we will live all the
days of our lives in a rented home
with an OVERSEAS landlord.

Amen...

"God Save America!"

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

PROPERTY TAX CAPS: PUBLIC DEBATE CHALLENGE

Freedom Of Speech are advocates for good government that focuses on the state and local tax burden of Hoosier working families.

Governor Mitch Daniels did his part to support SJR 1 debate in his State of The State Address on January 13.

SRJ 1 opponents falsely claim they need more information before they can take a responsible SRJ 1 vote.

The 2010 property tax caps will have NO significant impact on essential service delivered by the great majority of Indiana's 566 cities and towns.

SRJ 1 opponents are afraid to debate their position outside the Statehouse shadows.

SRJ 1 opponents falsely claim they need more information before they can take a responsible SJR 1 vote. The state's non-partisan Legislative Service Agency issued on January 5, 2009 and updated report of the property tax revenue decline that every local government unit can expect as a result of the property tax caps in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Click on http://www.in.gov/legislative/pdf/CircuitBreaker

The false claims calling for SJR 1 information is nothing more than a delaying tactic based on a cynical belief that public interest will wane and the old ways of doing business can return - a burdensome property tax on working families no matter how much other taxes go up.

The real reasons to support the single-interest property tax spenders at the expense of the property tax payers are not discussed in public.

Governor Daniels dedicated more than 10 percent of his Address to beseeching the General Assembly to "show your faith in our fellow citizens" by passing SJR 1 now. Governor Daniels eloquently made the point that "procrastination will add nothing to what we know."

The Governor's complete Address can be found at http://www.in.gov/gov/09stateofstate.htm.

Freedom Of Speech provides information that is easy to understand about the revenues, spending, and long - term debt assumption of Indiana local and state government.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

CHIEF CRABTREE'S 2009 WISH LIST:

During the year of 2008 the New Albany Police Department was able to hire 6 full-time police officers bringing the manpower total to 62 at the close of 2008.

Thanks to taxpayers, Chief Crabtree was able to purchase ten new police cars in 2008!

Chief Crabtree's NEW Wish list for 2009:

* Increase manpower by at least four.
* Replace aged police cars over 100,000 miles.
* Replace aged lap top computers in police units that are failing.
* Starting the departments own towing service, to receive funds that now are going to private towing services.
* Increase report fees and start photographing crash scenes and charging for photographs.
* Add additional evidence technician unit, to ease overtime on the one we have.
* Improve the electronic crimes unit, which involves computer crimes, child porn and white collar crimes.

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

1. You have NO take home car policy.

2. Police cars are adding additional miles due to take home cars going outside the city. Why doesn't the chief agree to keep all police cars inside the city and reduce those miles?

3. Laptop Computers:

Do we provide laptops to each and every policeman? Costs of Internet service and software would be very expensive.

4. Towing:

How could we start our own towing company when we do not have the necessary equipment and trucks to do the towing?

What would the cost be to buy trucks and equipment to set up a towing service?

Would they use the garbage trucks to tow in cars?

5. Increase Report fees:

This is another joke!

Would this increase end up like the necessary fees required to open a sexual oriented business?

Remember:

When the sexual oriented business went to the Court House to file and pay the necessary fees, NO one in the city administration could find the necessary forms and know one knew who was to collect those fees.

6. How are you going to pay for this "Wish List" Chief Crabtree?

Yes--this city is now a JOKE!

7. White Collar crime:

Is there White Collar Crime in City Hall?

We were told white collar crime is a crime committed by an employee or employees which runs along the lines of fraud, embezzlement, bribery, forgery, and ghost employment. It is committed by a person or persons and often goes unnoticed and they generally don't get caught by police.

Why not focus on Public corruption?

Public corruption can take funding away from our children's schools and even prevents our streets from being re-paved. And guess who ultimately foots the bill for these crimes?

Taxpayers do...through higher taxes.

Plummeting revenue, and wasteful spending prevents the city from fully staffing the NAPD. It is our opinion: If the NAFD had to make cuts and concessions so should the NAPD.

New Albany has the most generous take-home car policy in the area. Be glad you 62 officer's and city officials don't work for Louisville.

Our thoughts are: "if you work for the city, you should live in the city!"

Mayor England has been VERY reluctant to take on Police Department take home car issue, but us taxpayers consider it an obligation for council members to question: why is there "NO" policy!

New Albany needs a "common sense" approach to help clean up the financial mess the city is in now and the mess that is yet to come.

As our economy is sinking into a deeper recession!

Friday, February 13, 2009

VODKA...WHO WOULDA THUNK IT?!?!

* To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a trigger spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean. The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.

* Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.

* Spray vodka on wine stains, scrub with a brush, and then blot dry.

* Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.

* Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-oz bottle of shampoo, the alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.

* Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger spray bottle with vodka and spray bees and wasps to kill them.

* Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.

* To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka.

* Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the urushiol oil from your skin.

* To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka, the vodka dissolves adhesive.

See, we DO read your emails...

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

A HOT TIP FOR: WALL STREET

The reason you are such a big story is that you've stolen our money!

Or that's how most of the country sees it.

First you broke just about everything you touched: mortgages, 401(k)s, the kids college accounts, and even the employers who provide paychecks-the chump change that middle-class American counts on while you live high on the hog.

Then we had to bail you out!

You think those auto executives looked bad when they appeared shocked, shocked to find that Congress didn't really appreciate their traveling in corporate jets to come and beg for their bailout?

Well no one hates Detroit as much as they hate Wall Street.

At least the Big Three makes something people need to get to work and take their kids to school and pick up the groceries.

What, exactly, do they do with a derivative?

We know that Wall Street is to New York what automakers are to Detroit and tourism is to Florida. We know that when your eye-popping paychecks plummet, the deli guy who rides the subway in from Queens to make your takeout gets hurt, and so do the waiters and bartenders and the owners of those black limos that idle at the curb and who have to make loan payments on the cars even when you cut down on your trips-or cut out the car service altogether.

Now President Barack Obama wants to cap some of your executives pay at $500,000, but strictly require such a limit only if you're doing as badly as, say, Citigroup and AIG, which would fall into the category of institutions that got "exceptional assistance" from us taxpayers (about $450 billion between them).

The limit applies only to companies that seek this much largesse in the future. And the "claw back" provisions require the return of excessive compensation only from top executives engaged in "deceptive practices" not extraordinarily stupid ones!

Your golden goose so far isn't cooked. It's only seared.

And there are hearings scheduled for this week where you WILL have to DEFEND yourselves.

Our advice to you is this:

There is really nothing to be done except try not to do anything else that is incredibly stupid. Like get photographed at a glittery charity ball, thinking that this shows commitment to public service.

Or try to justify bonuses as just compensation for long days and nights navigating through this crisis.

Crisis is when you lose your job, your health insurance and your house Mr./Mrs. Wall Street!

And unless you're planning to pilot a plane yourself and stage a miraculous landing in the Potomac, don't even think about taking a private jet to Washington.

Try Amtrak!

Source & Contributor: Marie Cocco

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

CONTACT STATE SENATOR CONNIE SIPES:

The State Senate will vote any day now on the constitutional property tax caps in Senate Joint Resolution 1.

State Senator Connie Sipes voted for SJR 1 last year.

Contact Senator Sipes today (812-948-9445,
S46@ai.org) and ask her to cast another Taxpayer Friendly YES vote for SJR1.

The General Assembly must pass SJR 1 this year so "We The People" can vote next year to make the property tax caps a permanent part of the Indiana Constitution.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

DON'T BLAME US, WE SUPPORTED HILLARY & McCAIN...

Inauguration is over, party favors cleaned up, bands have gone home, campaign climax has ended and reality has begun!

Time to get on with the country's business and stop pushing the Affirmative Action button with your ego of "I won".

If his media people were experts in what they were writing about, and talking about, they would be in the investment business making tons of money.

The Federal government already dictates how much water can be used to flush our toilets; where the loading port has to be located on our washing machines and what kind of light bulbs we must use to illuminate our homes.

We can't decide if Obama is more like:

1. Eddie Haskell on Leave It to Beaver

2. The Little Boy Who cried Wolf

Or,

3. My little sister who uses emotional terrorism to get her way.

If economic catastrophe is as imminent as our President warns, perhaps he and his friends in the media should stop blaming Republicans and Rush Limbaugh for the failure of the agenda-driven entitlement legislation drafted by partisan liberals in his own party.

He fooled the American people once, but he's not likely to get a second chance thanks to Nancy Pelosi's "candor."

Obama should do his job and draft a clean bill himself that stimulates the economy rather than creates new and more expensive entitlement programs and distributes taxpayer dollars to special interest groups.

The campaign is over and it's time for Obama to get to work and do the things he promised he would do.

You all elected Barack Obama to be President, not Nancy Pelosi, or us and if he continues to defer to her and her liberal agenda at the expense of the American people, then he's not the person he represented himself to be.

He obviously thinks he can convince us to swallow the pork his party is trying to shove down our throats with cleverly scripted television ads and op-eds.

Good luck with that, Mr. Obama!

"Hurry up and pass this bill before your constituents figure out how insidious and useless this stimulus bill is." Boy, does that sound familiar?

Now Obama tells us if he doesn't get what he wants, the next Great Depression is coming.

If this bill passes unemployment will go up and we will go into a depression, and you democrats will cast blame on republicans for being obstructionists and not passing it fast enough.

Just how outrageous is this shameful $819 + billion stimulus?

More than $4.3 billion is earmarked for ACORN, which worked closely with the Obama campaign, the same group accused of massive voter fraud.

* $600 million goes for new cars for top government bureaucrats.

* $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.

* $90 million for new golf courses

* $60 million for new Frisbee parks

* $75 million to fund anti-smoking programs.

* $335 million to help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases

* $600 million for "climate change" research programs.

* $90 million for "flu" research

* $87 billion Medicaid

* $ 70 billion break for the Alternative Minimum Tax

* $1 billion for climate satellite and habitat restoration programs

* $200 million for "condom" research

How can our government spend hundreds of millions of dollars on research of condom's?

How does that stimulate the economy?

Good grief!

But it's not really a stimulus bill. It's a big government, big corruption, and big pork bill.

Anyone who has been paying attention knows that for every problem, there is a solution that involves reducing corporate or capital gains taxes, or lowering the top rate, or instituting a regressive flat tax or consumption tax.

Even the Congressional Budget Office have noted in recent studies this so called "stimulus bill" will NOT work!

Among the $110 billion in spending cuts:

* $98 million for school nutrition

* $3.5 billion for school construction

* $100 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Freedom Of Speech was informed by our Washington friends, that funding to computerize health records is all but gone, as is a national study on the comparative effectiveness of health treatment, and an expansion of the child tax credit for the working poor was also trimmed.

At least half the funds to subsidize state education spending were eliminated.

Also trimmed were dozens of other programs, including Superfund, Head Start and Early Start, energy loan guarantees and historic preservation.

Only 5% of this package goes for infrastructure.

It is true that we need to make real investments in transportation, energy, education and technology for the future and that our future fiscal difficulties will be eased if we make those investments now. Yet the most immediate need is to promote demand, which will restore confidence and encourage investment.

The Gallup Poll found that 80% of Americans either want to see major changes to this current plan, or they outright reject it. Politicians can call it stimulus and they can call it change, but it's just more of the same -Democrat Tax and Spend!

That's why the time to act is now. With so much at stake, our elected officials need to hear from us.

Here is what you can do - pick up your phone and call: Senator Evan Bayh right now at 202-224-3121. Let him know exactly what you think about how they intend to spend your hard-earned money!

Or,

(copy and paste or write your own letter.)

Dear Senator Bayh,

We are writing you to urge you to vote against the so-called American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

We should not enact an expensive spending bill under the pretense of stimulus or recovery. Not matter which amendments pass, the fundamental approach of dramatically increasing federal debt and spending is a mistake.

We therefore urge you to vote NO!

We cannot spend our way to prosperity, and such an expansion of the federal government will put a crushing burden on taxpayers in the long-term.

Central planning and bigger government cannot solve our problems. Excessive borrowing to fund consumption was a major cause of our economic crisis.

The first rule of holes is to stop digging, and more than $1 trillion of additional borrow-and-spend big government will only throw more good money after bad instead of trying to pick winners and losers from Washington. Congress and the Senate should cut spending, strip down burdensome regulations and allow individuals and free enterprise to flourish.

How can any reasonable person believe that our country needs another pile of consumption spending and debt that will have to be repaid out of future income?

And truth be told, there's barely any stimulus in this bill. Only about 5 percent of the expenditures in the current (680 page) package would actually go to highways and bridges, the real physical infrastructure of our country.

We therefore urge you to vote NO on this so-called stimulus bill.

Sincerely,

We The People

Our final thought is this:

Obama's promise of CHANGE to you who voted for him is not spend, spend, and spend.

We certainly all know that are country is in trouble, but his way of fixing things seems like no change to us.

What we want Obama to do is:

* the man or woman that does not have a job to have one.

* older person that lives on a fix income to be able to have medication when needed.

* young person that has been putting into savings for his/her future to have something when that time comes.

* President, Congress and the Senate to first be Americans and then Democrats or Republicans.

If we ever needed our government to be Americans, now is the time.

Now that's a real mandate of CHANGE...Mr. Obama!

NO wonder Hillary wanted out of the Senate, she knew what was coming down the pike.

Have a safe trip to China, Madam Secretary!

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

READER CALLS ENGLAND HYPOCRITE

Freedom Of Speech has received a lot of emails from New Albany taxpayers. They are upset because they feel that the whole story is not being reported. Deals being cut, political favors given, and public needs being ignored.

Are local officials giving favors to their pals?

Recently, Mayor Doug England removed Steve LaDuke as president of the New Albany Building Commission, stating that it wasn't personal but wanted a local resident on the board instead.

Perhaps the mayor could explain then why his sewer board and stormwater board president, Ron Carroll - a Corydon resident - remains in the capacity, particularly in light of Mr. Carroll's stated intention to seek rate increases for both utilities that he won't have to pay.

Could it be that Mr. LaDuke would not bow to any political pressures from the mayor's office and enforced the building codes diligently?

This really should come as no surprise, since the mayor apparently puts politics and previous business ties first over what's really best for the city he claims to want to lead.

Case in point: Mr. Carroll's "affiliation with the Hughes Group", Mr. England's employer before becoming mayor again.

Sorry, Mr. Mayor, but your credibility has reached an all-time low, three years and counting!

Tim Deatrick

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Why count Mr. Deatrick? Taxpayers should be tarring and feathering England and riding him out of town on a rail!

Sunday, February 01, 2009

AN INTERVIEW WITH COUNCILMAN STEVE PRICE - 3RD DISTRICT

Freedom of Speech contacted 3rd District Councilman Steve Price to comment on several issues facing our city.

The following are Mr. Price's response in writing:

Mr. Price, we have heard it said that you are out of touch with citizens of the 3rd District, how do you respond?

* I am always accessible. I receive on an average of 20 to 25 calls a day from my constituents. I will be more than happy to meet with any group or individual and listen to any suggestion, ideas or complaints to make New Albany a better place to live.

Our city is in a financial crisis. What do you suggest to help with these problems?

* New Albany needs to focus on budget cuts early. Stop the wasteful spending. I consider this to be one of our main concerns. The city should be run like a business. Freeze hiring and wages, or start laying off city employees.
Police, EMT's and Fire Department employees are pricing themselves out of a job.

These employees need to be cross trained, or we will have to go to a Volunteer Fire Department like Clarksville.

Mr. Price responded:

"Let me ask FOS a question. Would the taxpayers rather spend $1-2 million to make Spring Street a two-way street or would they rather spend $1-2 million to provide needed city services?"

Please elaborate on other issues of importance to our city:

* We need hands on leadership through example, starting with Mayor England. Code Enforcement needs to enforce the laws on the books and not create more new laws that won't be enforced. City Attorney should go after these violations.


I've researched property owners through our Assessors office, and have never had a problem identifying the owner.

Why did you refuse to sign President John Gonder's Rental Inspection Committee report?

* If used, it could set our city up for a discrimination lawsuit. It should be an equal playing field for all.

Communication:

* All city departments should follow ''FOIA and OPEN DOOR LAW", and provide financial information to the council and the taxpayers. We need a real hands on Mayor. You don't hire someone else to do the job that we elected the mayor to do.


A town of 36,000 citizens, should not have to hire a Deputy Mayor at a cost of $92,000 to taxpayers.

Service is your best product.

City Finances:

* Clean up the financial mess of the city of New Albany. We are drowning in city debt. We should take politics out of all decision making. There is a lot of waste in local government with no accountability. Our current administration keeps spending and spending. Our city is in a big financial crisis just like our country.

Employee's Attitude:

* There needs to be more of a "we" attitude rather than a "me" attitude. Many times department heads are more concerned with their own issues than the city as a whole. There needs to be more interest for the citizens then the departments. Citizens are on a budget, why shouldn't local government?

Employee's Benefits:

* We need to shop for the best deals on insurance, even a higher deductible if necessary. I gave up my insurance, why don't other council members? Our council should lead by example and repeal their own insurance benefits.


About 82.3% of our General Fund goes to Police, Fire and 14% goes for Employee's Insurance. These issues needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Employee's Cellphones:

* We should do like Clarksville, let employees pay their own cell phone bill, since NO one wants to follow State law, by keeping required logs.

Take home cars:

* First, we need a take home car policy. When off duty, office holders and employees need to maintain a mileage log and pay mileage on off duty use, and/or just park them.


I pay for my gas, don't taxpayers?

What's your thoughts on raises:

* I voted against raises for Mayor England, Deputy Mayor, City Clerk and others. Now two billing employees want raises. Have other council members forgotten we froze the 2009 budget? I will NOT support ANY raises until we fix city finances.


How can we give raises and then ask rate payers to pay higher taxes and higher fees. That's NOT right or fair.

This administration and council needs to stop the tax and spend mentality.

Street Department:

* The street department needs a route system similar to the previous sanitation department instead of "ping ponging" to answer selective telephone calls. Even rotating routes every two or three weeks would be better than the current system.


I am in favor of bring sanitation back, but the only problem I see, is our city does not have the money to buy new sanitation trucks.

Councilman Price, how do you feel being one of two left of the so called "Gang of Four?"

* In my personal opinion, as I cannot speak for Mr. Coffey, everyone needs a "watch dog" and that is what I focus on, what is best for our city and all citizens not a selective group.

As of yet, not one of my critics have admitted that Jethro has been right yet. But look at the mess our city is in. "I can now say, I told you so!"

What about all of the attacks against you on the other blogs, Councilman Price?

* It means I am doing the job I was elected to, and the job the taxpayers are paying me to do. I am not a "rubber stamp" for this administration or any group. I have always believed in checks and
balances.

Is there anything you wish to share with the citizens of New Albany?

* Yes, my grandmother's philosophy is,
"If you don't have it, don't spend it, and our city doesn't have it!"

We also asked Mr. Price why he ran for City Council again:


* He saw the unfairness in the previous administration and all of the wasteful spending and felt taxpayers were being abused. As of today, I still feel the same way.


One final question Councilman Price, who is your pick to win Super Bowl XLlll?

* Arizona Cardinals, even though the Steelers are favorite to win.

Steve Price, Councilman Third District


Freedom of Speech wishes to thank Councilman Price for taking the time to answer our questions. We are sure many of our reader's appreciate his honest answers.

Contact: Councilman Steve Price at (812) 941-9032 or 112 Butler Street, New Albany, Indiana 47150