I attended a meeting the other night hosted by a local radio talk show host which was loosely titled "What is a Conservative" now I deem myself somewhat of a REAL conservative with libertarian leanings.
I stand for what is RIGHT in government, lifestyle issues, and in the political realm. I'm not quite to the point of being an anarchist, not that it would be a bad thing if I was. I don't believe that police services and fire departments need to be generated at the behest of government, they are however to make those that can afford the services provided pay for those that can't or wouldn't.
I believe in the power of self responsibility and using that aspect to help myself and others by not committing fraud, abuse, or any other nefarious means to live my lifestyle. Sorry I got off track on the meeting.
In attendance at this meeting were many 35's and younger, which many of them seem to have attached themselves to the Republican Party. Although in the question and answering session many of them stated Libertarian Party ideas on what the meaning of a "conservative" is.
I believe the definition of a modern day conservative(circa 1860's until now) is the following: someone that believes in the tenants of smaller, fiscally responsible government, unless they find a liberty or freedom of which they disagree or take offense to, at this point the "conservative" has NO problem with using the force of government to force compliance amongst the people. This in turn creates a bureaucracy of which the "conservative" will complain about should it be used in any manner which might infringe upon a right or freedom of which they enjoy.
Unless someone is ACTUALLY doing harm to another why should government pass some sort of regulation or ordinance banning what ever it might be. Why should government force people to garner a business license so they can apply their skills in the professional world. Does government somehow know more than I ?
Why should doctors be licensed by some government board when the private sector could do the very same, or it could be accomplished on the state level.
Meeting of Young Conservatives Tonight
Are you a young conservative under the age of 40 who wants to
help shape what the future of the conservative party will look like?
If so, join KSGF's Vincent David Jericho tonight
at Kaldi's Coffee (900 E. Battlefield) at 7pm...
help us figure out what priorities will take precedence for
the next generation.
If you are over 40 you are more than welcome to attend.
However, do not come in anticipation of debating if
the change(s) will happen.
Log onto ksgf.com for driving directions to Kaldi's.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
City announces hiring freeze, budget cuts
In an interview with Jason Wert of lifeofjason.com our Mayor Pro Tem Gary Deaver decreed that the city has a balanced budget and is required to have one. In understanding how the budgeting process works the city based on the best criteria possible proposes a budget based upon ASSUMPTIONS of revenue that MIGHT be generated. This my dear friends isn't a balanced budget unless the revenue projected is ACTUALLY received
© 2008, Springfield News-Leader
Springfield city government has been placed under an immediate hiring freeze, and city departments are being asked to cut their budgets by 7 percent because of an unexpected drop in sales tax revenue.
Deputy City Manager Evelyn Honea said today that city department heads must have their proposed budget cuts in by next Friday. She confirmed a hiring freeze was in place and would remain until the budget shortfall was fixed.
“The hiring freeze is putting some departments in a bind,” Honea said. “The fire department had five firefighters they were ready to make offers to, but we’ve asked them not to make those offers until this is resolved.”
The city has four other open positions affected by the hiring freeze.
Honea said she and City Manager Bob Cumley will review the proposed cuts and deliver a report to the City Council in March.
It will be up to the council to decide how to proceed, but she said the city needs to cut at least $4 million, she said.
While gearing up for the 2009 budget, the city had projected sales tax revenue would increase 3 percent, but it actually decreased 1 percent.
Honea said the city also was facing a $3.5 million shortfall in its contribution to the police and fire pension fund. The only way to solve the combined shortfall is to reduce the city’s general fund budget by 7 percent, she said.
In 2008, the $41 million general fund made up slightly more than half of the city’s $70 million total budget. Fees and revenue from other sources make up the rest.
Honea said it’s too soon to know exactly how department heads will meet the 7 percent budget cut goal. But cutting employees is likely to occur.
“Seventy three percent of the general fund supports personnel,” she said. “You can’t raise $4 million without cutting personnel. We hope to do it through attrition. We don’t plan on any layoffs.”
© 2008, Springfield News-Leader
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Deputy City Manager Evelyn Honea said today that city department heads must have their proposed budget cuts in by next Friday. She confirmed a hiring freeze was in place and would remain until the budget shortfall was fixed.
“The hiring freeze is putting some departments in a bind,” Honea said. “The fire department had five firefighters they were ready to make offers to, but we’ve asked them not to make those offers until this is resolved.”
The city has four other open positions affected by the hiring freeze.
Honea said she and City Manager Bob Cumley will review the proposed cuts and deliver a report to the City Council in March.
It will be up to the council to decide how to proceed, but she said the city needs to cut at least $4 million, she said.
While gearing up for the 2009 budget, the city had projected sales tax revenue would increase 3 percent, but it actually decreased 1 percent.
Honea said the city also was facing a $3.5 million shortfall in its contribution to the police and fire pension fund. The only way to solve the combined shortfall is to reduce the city’s general fund budget by 7 percent, she said.
In 2008, the $41 million general fund made up slightly more than half of the city’s $70 million total budget. Fees and revenue from other sources make up the rest.
Honea said it’s too soon to know exactly how department heads will meet the 7 percent budget cut goal. But cutting employees is likely to occur.
“Seventy three percent of the general fund supports personnel,” she said. “You can’t raise $4 million without cutting personnel. We hope to do it through attrition. We don’t plan on any layoffs.”
Springfield City Center
I was going to write a blog on the historic aspects of our town square, however most of my work has already been published by Dan Chiles and the Springfield News Leader. I will only add that during this period of transition of the square the city is going to spend a fortune on the lawsuits which will be filed to keep this historic square intact as much as possible
Meet with square's original architect to get consensus
The Springfield city square is an early work by Lawrence Halprin, America's most famous landscape architect. Halprin designed the visitor's attractions at Yosemite National Park, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, Sea Ranch in California and the new FDR Presidential Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The short barricades that surround much of the square and account for many complaints by our citizens were apparently added later along with the street that circles the plaza. For decades, Springfield's square has enjoyed no major capital improvements or upgrades. Lighting, programming and access need attention.
Dan Chiles is a member of the Springfield City Council.
VOICE OF THE DAY »
Meet with square's original architect to get consensus
The Springfield city square is an early work by Lawrence Halprin, America's most famous landscape architect. Halprin designed the visitor's attractions at Yosemite National Park, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, Sea Ranch in California and the new FDR Presidential Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The Springfield city square has the most distinguished pedigree of any building or project in our town. It came from a lengthy design process that included (I'm told) nine design revisions which are archived at the University of Pennsylvania.
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People in Springfield want a square that is bright, well lit, accessible and programmed with cool events. We can spend our $800,000 (plus change) federal dollars for a new square or we can upgrade the Halprin design.
In the past year of public meetings, none of our design team bothered to call Halprin and ask his opinion, but I did. He is 91 years old, alert and interested in our square, just as he was 38 years ago. He is extremely kind and supportive. He said our square needed enhancements and he is willing to spend time with a Springfield delegation to "reach a consensus." He wants to meet with four people.
The city has applied for federal money to demolish our square, but that money comes with strings. In brief, permitting cannot legally begin until a Section 106 review has been completed, which results in a determination of "no historic resources," "no adverse effect" upon historic resources or "adverse effect" upon historic resources.
I predict Springfield is in for a long and bitter fight if we try to spend federal tax dollars to demolish Halprin's work.
If we are smart enough to accept Mr. Halprin's offer, we can win four ways: preserve the Halprin landmark, honor the citizen request for improvements, stretch our tax dollars and do everything faster.
My City Council job pays nothing and drags me away from work and family, but I am willing to put a thousand bucks toward Halprin's fee of $10,000. We are talking about a meeting the first week of March at his office. I'm looking for three other volunteers.
Dan Chiles is a member of the Springfield City Council.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Council Passes Resolution on New Square Designs
Mr. Dan Chiles on this issue you have my utmost respect as you stood by your principles and you stood up for the people of Springfield.
I'm a little suspect of the input of 750 people since I attended the meetings on the "jordan valley gateway" project of which only 23 people attended. I was only counting the people not associated with the city, a city department, or the organization hired for the project.
I'm a little suspect of the input of 750 people since I attended the meetings on the "jordan valley gateway" project of which only 23 people attended. I was only counting the people not associated with the city, a city department, or the organization hired for the project.
12FEB2008
Council Passes Resolution on New Square Designs
In a special session held today, City Council passed a resolution to move ahead with the first phase of the proposed redesign of Park Central Square. (Download a PDF explaining the design. 6.5 mb) The new design was created by local architectural firm Butler, Rosenbury & Partners after a public input process.
Architect Tim Rosenbury was on hand to answer Council members’ questions about the design. He said during the input phase, more than 750 members of the public identified six key qualities a new Park Central Square should have. They said it should recognize downtown as an emerging entertainment district, it should be able to be enjoyed all types of people, it should have easy access for all, it should be an active and lively space, it should recognize downtown as an emerging residential district, and it should recognize Springfield’s history in some way.
Rosenbury also explained the four phases of the project. The first phase is the inner portion — the square itself. This would be paid for by a federal grant of that has already been secured. The second phase is the outer “corners” of the space, which is essentially the sidewalk area that extends to the buildings on the Square. The third phase is the “spokes” of roadway extending from the Square for one block east and west and a half block north and south. The fourth possible phase includes a pavilion in the center of the Square. The Urban Districts Alliance is taking the lead to look for possible private funding sources for the outer corners and the pavilion/canopy, while the “spokes” are already identified for eventual funding through the City’s ongoing streetscape improvements.
Councilman Dan Chiles raised concerns about changing a space that was designed by Lawrence Halprin, a famed landscape architect. He suggested waiting to approve a design until Halprin could be consulted. Other Council members expressed a desire to move ahead, as the City’s agreement with Heer’s Tower developer Kevin McGowan states that the City must begin construction on a new Park Central Square by Aug. 1. McGowan sent a letter via e-mail (72k PDF) to Council today urging them to pass the resolution. Architect and downtown property owner Allen Casey also send a letter to City manager Bob Cumley (71k PDF) in support of the design. Downtown developer Scott Tillman (College Station) and Urban Districts Alliance board president Nancy Dornan spoke to express support for the new design.
The resolution was approved 7-1, with Councilman Chiles voting against. Mayor Tom Carlson was not present. You can watch the meeting in its entirety on our Web site via TV23.
posted by Mike Brothers, Public Information
Mother convicted of raping daughter, 8
The 41-year-old woman, who cannot be named, was accused of raping her eight-year-old daughter at her home at Donnybrook, north of Brisbane, between November 2005 and February 2006.
The mother pleaded not guilty this week in the Brisbane District Court to one count of rape.
During the trial the court was told the child allegedly saw her mother standing in the doorway of her room holding a sex toy, or what the child called a "fake boy thing".
The woman entered the room, pulled down the young girl's pants and inserted something into her vagina, the court heard.
The court was told the girl has been medically examined, but that the examination was inconclusive.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty this afternoon after retiring yesterday.
The woman will be sentenced tomorrow.
symbolism
I was listening to a sports talk radio program, can't remember the host but it might have been Steve Czaban, and he has a segment known as I'm so done with. I'm so done with the PINK ribbons and every other form of PINK awareness that has over taken our society.
I got to thinking about this the other day while shopping. As I walked up and down the isles I noticed a trend starting to occur and it was PINK. I have nothing against breast cancer, or a supple womens breast, nor the companies which try to entice me to purchase something from them so they will make a contribution to the cause. I'm fed up with breast cancer being the only form of cancer that gets news worthy coverage. The amount of cancers in our society is quite extensive and yet somehow breast cancer has become the poster child for the movement.
Breast cancer can occur in children and men, something not widely known because the womens movement has dwarfed the other areas of cancer research.
I got to thinking about this the other day while shopping. As I walked up and down the isles I noticed a trend starting to occur and it was PINK. I have nothing against breast cancer, or a supple womens breast, nor the companies which try to entice me to purchase something from them so they will make a contribution to the cause. I'm fed up with breast cancer being the only form of cancer that gets news worthy coverage. The amount of cancers in our society is quite extensive and yet somehow breast cancer has become the poster child for the movement.
Breast cancer can occur in children and men, something not widely known because the womens movement has dwarfed the other areas of cancer research.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
LIBERTY
LIBERTY
"A substantial number of Americans, perhaps a majority, believe that
government should dictate where people live, what their housing
structures should look like, and how they should be constructed.
They believe it is right for government to dictate what curriculum children
should study in school.
They believe it is right for government to dictate which land should be cultivated, and which land should not be touched by humans.
They believe it is right for government to dictate the kind of automobiles that are available for people to purchase.
Simply put, a substantial number of Americans believe it is right for
government to dictate how people should live.
They believe that government should 'engineer' society. How different is this modern
attitude from the belief system that led Americans into war to defeat
the Nazis' efforts to engineer society.
How different is this modern attitude from the belief system that led our founders to declare that the Creator, not government, endowed people with equal rights to
'...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'
How different is this modern attitude from the notion that legitimate government is
empowered only by the consent of the governed.
Society has been successfully engineered to believe that the goal is no longer freedom, but the control of government, which means the control of society, to
fit the agenda of the controlling party.
The idea of entering public service as an elected official in order to limit the power of government, and maximize the freedom of individual citizens, is an
obsolete concept." —Henry Lamb
Mr Lamb is quite right except that it is a MAJORITY that believe in
the above instead of 'perhaps a majority' those of us that do believe
in the above are made out to be "moonbats" or "terrorist" or some
other unpatriotic name because we define FREEDOM as it SHOULD be.
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