I finally took a peek at the Stop744 website because I do like to get both sides of an argument. Their argument is that this would be another unfunded mandate that will cause the state to cut budgets and/or raise taxes to pay for. While it is true SQ744 doesn’t provide a funding source, it shouldn’t be necessary.
First of all, the money was there, so education was funded at least to a manageable level. But when lawmakers saw the extra money the lottery was bringing in (although less than projected), they decided to raid the education budget instead of budgeting education at the same level and adding the lottery money to that. When federal stimulus dollars came to the state to add to the current education budget, it was raided again.
Because of the fiscal irresponsibility of our state government, education is in trouble in Oklahoma. SQ744 does not require a funding mechanism, it only requires the funds be put back into the budget. We wouldn’t need to worry about a state question such as this if our lawmakers had been responsible with education, the lottery and stimulus monies in the first place.
Of course, putting funds back into the budget is not quite as easy as I made it sound. It is always very difficult to increase a budget once it has been cut to the bones. I have to agree that SQ744 will place a burden on the state and possibly the taxpayers of Oklahoma. Even though SQ744 doesn’t raise taxes in and of itself, money has to come from somewhere. There will be cost associated with SQ744, there has to be.
So, my challenge to the opponents of SQ744 is this: come up with something better to fund our schools; come up with something better to force Oklahoma to fix the lottery; come up with something better to force lawmakers to be responsible with our money.
The real cost if SQ744 fails is our children, our future, our teachers, and our education system.
From the proposed mosque and Islamic cultural center at ground zero to the Koran-burning pastor in Florida, America is questioning rights versus what’s right.
The ground-zero mosque supporters say they have the right to build their mosque anywhere that’s legal. That is true. If it is legal for American citizens to build a mosque at that location, then they have the right to do just that. But, is it right? I know Islamic extremist make up a small percentage of Muslims and most do not condone what their more extreme counterparts are doing, but they should be sensitive to the pain America is still feeling.
To build this center so close to the site terrorists crashed jets full of passengers into the World Trade Center is a slap in the face to America. To me, it seems to say, “Hey, look, we brought down your two tallest buildings and now we’ve got a mosque there.” That is most likely not what is on the mind of those who want to build this mosque and cultural center, but it is certainly what it says to me and, I’m sure, millions of other Americans who watched as the planes hit the buildings. Do they have the right? Yes. Is it right? No.
On the other hand, we have a Christian extremist, pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, who wants to burn the Koran on 9/11. That doesn’t sound much like world outreach to me. I don’t know enough about the Koran to either support or condemn it, but burning it does seem to me to be extreme. What’s the difference between Christian extremism and Islamic extremism? Remember the crusades?
The federal government has apparently gotten in on this action, but they can’t do anything about it as it is a First Amendment issue. The military are concerned about the fallout and increased risk to Americans who are still in the Middle East if this Koran-burning occurs, a valid concern to be sure. This church has the First Amendment right to burn the Koran, but should they do it? They have the right, but it is not right.
Americans enjoy certain rights (for now) and the most revered is the first one:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Maybe we need to not only enjoy our rights, but focus more on what is right.
President Obama’s stimulus plan doesn’t seem to be working, so, of course, he wants to throw another 50 billion dollars at it. I’ve got a better idea, he can throw some MY way. Okay, that’s not going to happen, but it did get me to thinking: would it have been better to give money to taxpayers than throwing money at all these banks and corporations?
I’m not talking $600 or $1200, I’m talking taking the approximately 1 trillion dollars (1,000,000,000,000) that’s already been blown and if, instead of sending it to banks and corporations, divided it up between the approximately 138 million taxpayers (2007 figures) tax-free. If my math is correct, that would have been approximately $7246 per taxpayer.
With $7246 per taxpayer, I imagine quite a few mortgages could have been caught up. In my case, since I never got behind on my mortgage, I would have paid off all my credit cards. By reducing my debt load, it would allow more disposable income at my fingers every month, which would help the local economy. Sure, I would save some of it, but most likely I would save up for something I want, instead of putting it back on the credit cards, and purchase it when I had enough saved up… again, helping the local economy.
Sure, some people would just go out and blow it without reducing their debt load, but the couldn’t say we didn’t try to help them. And, it would have been the quick, short-term boost the economy needs.
I know it’s a bit too late now, but I think maybe my plan would have worked.
When I was a child, I remember going to the Oklahoma (Muskogee) Free State Fair. People all over the state would flock to Muskogee each Fall for the corn dogs, funnel cakes, rides, all that other fair stuff. At some point, this moved to Tulsa and became known as the Tulsa State Fair.
I searched the internet to try to find exactly when this happened, but so far am unable to. But, I do know that for many years, Muskogee had nothing. However, for several years, Muskogee has been trying to revive our fall festivities with Muskogee Regional Fair. It’s not easy competing with the Tulsa State Fair.
Even though the Muskogee Fair has tried different dates around Tulsa’s fair, for a while it seemed as if attendance wasn’t quite enough. However, I have noticed that attendance has increased over the last couple of years, which I find heartening.
The Muskogee Regional Fair runs from September 29 – October 2 while the Tulsa Fair is September 30 – October 10. Muskogee’s fair may not be as large as Tulsa’s, but it does offer good family fun. If you can only attend one fair this year, you should consider making it Muskogee. Otherwise, there is no reason not to attend both Muskogee and Tulsa’s fairs.
Muskogee was once the thriving center of trade and commerce. There is no reason we can’t be again. We have a major North-South highway, the only one in Eastern Oklahoma. We are only 20 minutes north of a major East-West interstate. We are a port on the busy Kerr-McClellan Navigation System and at the intersection of 3 rivers. We are close to several lakes: Ft. Gibson, Eufaula and Tenkiller.
Citizens of Muskogee, this is our city. It is a great place to raise a family, a great place to shop, a great place to live. It takes us to keep it great and make it greater.
Invest in our community and it will return that investment to you.
It seems as if parents nowadays want to be their child’s friend. They want to treat their children as equals instead of children. Children already have plenty of friends, what they need are parents. The need parents who guide, teach, and discipline, not a friend who will back them up no matter what. A good parent will support their child when that child has been wronged, but will also discipline their child when he or she has done wrong. The police don’t just make up reasons to harass your child, there was a valid reason for that contact. Teachers don’t just pick your child to harass, there’s a reason your child has gained that teacher’s attention. Children are NOT innocent little snowflakes most of the time, remember how you were when you were a child.
Be the parent, be in charge, teach your children limits, teach your children how to behave in public, don’t make idle threats and follow through on punishment.
Racism – Can’t we all just grow up?
Okay, people, this is 2010. It’s time to grow up and realize that it is NOT the color of someone’s skin and it is NOT their heritage that counts, but what is inside that individual that counts. People who vote based on race are wrong. It doesn’t matter the color of our president’s skin, but what he does or does not do that should be judged. It is wrong to look at a person and immediately judge them because their skin is white, brown, black, or purple.
A middle school in Mississippi segregated class officers as to which race could run for what office. The president of all grades had to be white. Vice President in 8th grade could be black, but in 6th and 7th had to be white. This was in AUGUST OF 2010. Even though that policy was changed very quickly once it was exposed, why did they even think that policy could be considered correct and how did it stand for so long? Even Mississippi should realize racism is completely wrong.
It’s 2010 – grow up and treat all people like you want to be treated.
You being offended offends me
I’m also tired of everyone being ‘offended’ way too easily. It seems as if every time I turn on the news, or walk down the street, someone is offended by something. If you are offended, let’s make sure it is something to be offended about (see Racism above). We need to learn to let things roll off, ignore the ignorant and watch our stress level decrease.
If you aren’t a Christian and my Christmas (it is Christmas, not X-Mas, not Winter holidays, or anything else) decorations which are in MY yard of the house I own offend you, don’t look at them. I will not remove them simply because you are offended. In exchange, I will not demand you celebrate Christmas the same way I do.
Some people are just plain mean and try to get a rise out of others and pick a fight. Some people are ignorant and don’t know any better and don’t want to. If most of us would just ignore the mean and ignorant when they try to offend, the world will be a much better place.
Here comes West Nile Virus and it’s going to wipe out humanity. Oh, well, that didn’t quite happen, but look out for the Bird Flu, it’s going to wipe out humanity – don’t touch any dead birds! Oh, okay, so we were wrong about that one, too. Swine Flu, yes, swine flu is going to wipe out humanity if we don’t do something. Oops, ok, now what do we do with all that vaccine we produced ?
Look out, we are going to be in a greater depression since the Great Depression, it’s going to wipe out humanity. Ok, so it was a recession not a depression. Not good by any means, but not as dire as the media made it out to be. Now, we are being told to watch out for a double-dip recession. These fears may be realized, but not only because of the status of the economy. No, this is mostly because of media fear-mongering. When bad times are reported in the news, it makes investors nervous, so they react, which causes the market to react.
We seem to be back in the days when sensationalism was more important than fact. How many times have you seen a teaser on television, “Will the City of Muskogee survive the next flood? Story at 10.” So you stay up to watch it and you hear this, usually from some “expert”, “Yes, if it rains for 200 days straight at the rate of 2 inches per day and the Corp of Engineers can’t keep the river flowing and it backs up and overflows it’s banks and the storm sewers back up and the animals start lining up at a large boat and if… and if… and if.” That’s a lot of ifs for such a sensationalistic headline.
It’s gotten so bad, I don’t like watching or reading the news anymore. When I do, I dismiss most of it. The media has cried “wolf” so much, I don’t pay attention to it any more. We need to get the message to the media to stop the fear-mongering and cry “wolf” only when there is a wolf.
Any civilized society has rules. Whether it is the law of the land, or the rules at school, we are expected to follow them, or live with the consequences. It seems more and more, parents aren’t teaching their children the responsibility to follow the rules and the fact they must live with the consequences if they don’t.
I saw a story on KTUL this morning where a student was suspended right after school started for wearing his hair way too long. This same student was suspended last April for the same reason. Apparently, it is against the rules for boys to wear their hair like this. Mom said that he should be able to stand up for what he believes in, so she’s taught him that much. But, she didn’t think he should suffer the consequences. There’s the fail. This country is full of examples of people standing up for what they believe in and affecting change, mostly positive, but they also suffered the consequences of their actions.
When this country was breaking away from England, many people stood against England and were imprisoned, or most likely killed. They knew this would be a consequence if they were captured, but they stood firm anyway. They were willing to accept the consequences of their actions.
The civil rights movement in this country was a great positive. Many people stood up for what they believed in; many people went to jail or were killed. They weren’t trying to avoid the consequences of their civil disobedience, but were willing to accept it. Without people willing to accept the consequences, we would never have made progress.
Parents should teach their children the responsibility to follow the rules. They should also teach their children how to affect change in rules or laws they don’t believe are just. Yes, stand up for what you believe in. If disobedience is the choice they make to get their point across, so be it. But, parents also need to teach their children there are consequences for their actions and they should decide if they can live with them before they act.
Most major change in this country was affected by those willing to take the responsibility to stand up for what they believe in and accept the consequences of their actions.
Obama’s cross-country fund-raising spree for the Democrats is apparently costing taxpayers millions. Not to mention all that jetting around is not very green. He had Los Angeles hopping mad as his entourage caused new traffic problems amidst all their existing traffic problems.
So, after spending millions of our money and expending untold gallons of jet fuel and snarling ground and air traffic just to tell everyone how good the Democrats are and how evil the Republicans are, we should just say, “oh, well.”
But, we really should be more open, I mean, after all, Barack Obama’s father served in World War II – even though he was apparently a 10-year-old Kenyan (according to Gateway Pundit) at the end of the war…
Oh, well…
Goodbye and thanks for all the sand
So, Obama is pulling out all the combat troops from Iraq. But, the job isn’t finished. According to GMA, some Iraquis are afraid the violence will increase – DUH! We will be leaving troops there, but they won’t be called combat troops. I agree we need to pull out at some time and leave them to their own devices, but history has proven time and time again, if there is no strong leadership, usually a tyrant will step up and we will be right back in the same situation we were before, probably worse.
So, here we go again leaving the job unfinished.
OOoo my God! What a stupid idea!
We have been hammered in the last few years with the idea that there are no stupid ideas. Well, I have to disagree. The OOoo Chairis a stupid idea. Not only is it stupid, but it is moronic. Anyone who uses this idea deserves the damage they do to their house.
Basically, you figure out where you want to sit and cut 2 leg-sized holes in your floor. Yes, your floor. You put your legs through the holes and sit on the floor. What do you do when you’re not sitting and don’t want to fall through your chair? Easy, you cover the holes with recycled plastic disks.
I’m guessing the guy in the downstairs apartment won’t be amused and re-arranging the living room won’t be easy.
I’ve got a great idea! The OOoo toilet! Cut three holes in your bathroom floor!
I’m not advocating for or against a mosque and Islamic center only two and a half blocks from ground zero, I’m just tossing out my thoughts on the whole deal. Do American citizens have the right to build a worship and cultural center anywhere it is otherwise legal, no matter what the religion? Should we lump every Muslim together and call them evil?
We live in a wonderful nation founded partly because a small group of people decided they didn’t want to worship God the way someone else told them they had to, but in their own way. Freedom of religion is a key piece of our constitution, as is freedom from religion.
Yes, it is true that 19 Islamic extremists were cowardly enough to fly planes into buildings killing thousands of innocent people. But, is it fair to condemn the entire group because of the actions of a few? What about Baptists? Should all Baptists be lumped in together with those who practice hatred and calling themselves Westboro Baptist Church? The short answer is no.
So, back to this mosque and cultural center being planned just two and a half blocks away from Ground Zero that so many prominent people have spoken against. What is the reason they are against it? Is it because it is Muslim and not Christian? Would they be any less opposed if a group like Westboro wanted to open up a ‘church’ in the same place to preach “America Deserved 9/11″? I would certainly like to hear the answer to that one.
The people planning this center, I’m told, are American citizens. Just like any other American citizen, they have the right to legally build their center wherever it is legal to do so. Why is the opposition building? There is already a mosque within 2 blocks of Ground Zero, so why all the ruckus? It would appear to me to be either fear or they feel it is in colossal bad taste. Either way, it is perception.
Do they, as American citizens, have the right to construct their center? Yes. Do I feel it is in bad taste to locate it there when there is already a mosque so close? Maybe. Now that several politicians are weighing in on this, should we treat this as a slap in the face, or freedom of religion.
Feel free to comment with your thoughts, but please, no hate or vulgarity.
Most of us have friends, but few of us have true friends. A friend is someone you invite to your house for dinner, or go out with for an evening of diversion, or an acquaintance you speak to every now and then. But, what makes a friend a true friend?
True friends are always ready to help you build a fence, even if it is 105 degrees outside. True friends will share whatever they have with you, be it food, tools … or an extension cord. True friends will go out of their way to do something for you so you don’t have to go out of your way to do it. True friends will never keep an accounting of what they do for you and what you do for them.
So, what is the best way to have such true friends? Easy – be one yourself.
Here in Northeast Oklahoma, we have been in the midst of a nasty heat wave. With temperatures over 100 degrees every day and heat indices 10-20 degrees above that, it’s safe to say it’s freaking HOT! So, that brings be to wondering just how many ways you can get the idea across just how hot it is, so I came up with this list:
It’s so hot that I saw two trees fighting over a dog.
It’s so hot that I saw a chicken lay a fried egg.
It’s so hot that cows are giving evaporated milk.
It’s so hot that you learn a seat belt makes a good branding iron.
It’s so hot that when the temperature drops to 95, you feel chilly.
It’s so hot that hot water now comes out of both taps.
It’s so hot that all the corn on the stalks started popping and flying through the air. The cows thought it was snowing and they froze to death.
It’s so hot that Satan took the day off.
It’s so hot that even the sun was looking for some shade.
It’s so hot that I saw a dog chasing a cat … and they were both walking.
It’s so hot that Dennis Rodman went out without a bra.
It’s so hot that my thermometer says “Are you kidding?”
It’s so hot that you discover asphalt has a liquid state.
Those are the one’s I’ve come up with or found on the internet. If you have more, please leave a comment.
Apparently, some larger broadband providers want to be able to block or slow different types of internet traffic, allow websites to pay more to deliver their content faster to customers (the more they pay, the faster their content will be delivered), or otherwise tier services based upon payment. Net neutrality means that if I pay for 10meg, I should get 10meg no matter what I’m downloading or looking at.
Google and Verizon agree on a couple of things. The first is that landline connections to the internet should be net neutral. The second is that mobile connections should not be. Of course, Facebook is not real happy with this since, according to this article, most of their traffic is now from mobile devices. Mobile access to the internet is growing daily. Since Google already controls much of the searching and advertising on the internet, it appears as if they want to control mobile access as well.
The Federal Communications Commission is also currently an advocate of an open internet:
In 2005, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its Broadband Policy Statement (also known as the Internet Policy Statement), which lists four principles of open Internet,“To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to:”
access the lawful Internet content of their choice.
run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement.
connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network.
competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers.
Get a life, PETA
I don’t believe in abusing animals or killing an animal just to kill it. However, I have no problems with keeping pets, using service animals or even eating meat. I don’t have any problems using animals in movies or commercials, either. But, apparently PETA wants us to bow down before the animal kingdom and pledge our undying loyalty to them. PETA was upset because Dodge used a chimpanzee in a commercial. The chimp wasn’t hurt or even portrayed as being hurt, but PETA whined to Dodge, so they erased the monkey and made it invisible.
I say there is room for all of God’s creatures – right next to the mashed potatoes.
Would you like a f***ing pillow, b*****?
The Jet Blue flight attendant who quit his job in a very public way when he supposedly announced, “To the passenger who just called me a motherf—–: f— you. I’ve been in this business 20 years, and I’ve had it.” Then, he allegedly scuffled with fellow crew members before arming the emergency slide, grabbing some beer, deploying the slide and jumping. Then he supposedly walked to his car and went home where he was arrested on several complaints including: reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and criminal trespass.
According to this CNN article, he now wants his job back. At the very least, he was unprofessional. At the very most, he is a loose cannon who, thankfully, didn’t lose it in flight. As his attorney indicated in the article, the flight attendant job is probably more stressful than anyone who hasn’t done would think. Unfortunately, flying in today’s world isn’t any less stressful on the passengers. But, when you have a plane full of stressed-out passengers ready to take it out on a handful of stressed-out flight attendants, it’s easy to understand how they can be a bit overwhelmed.
However, flight attendants are trained in de-escalating problems and that’s what I would expect. Nobody deserves to be cussed at, and that includes the passengers. But a professional flight attendant as he was should have been able to handle that situation a bit better. If Jet Blue does give him his job back, they could be opening themselves up to a tremendous lawsuit if he ever does anything like this again.
I wonder how many of his 191,000 Facebook fans would want to be on the same flight he is on knowing that he could go off at any time, even in the air.
Most of us have received emails from someone in Nigeria claiming they have millions of dollars in the bank and need our help transferring it. For our troubles, we will be able to retain a hefty chunk of it. We know it’s a scam, but now, it appears the Martians have become involved.
This article from EnglishRussia.com, there is a new Martian scam you need to be careful of. Apparently, the South African Air Force has an astronaut program.
“My name is Major Greg Boner Moyo, a direct and only remaining member of the wealthy Moyo family. I am an astronaut with the South African Air Force and on loan to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).”
“In 2003 I left earth aboard the Mars Rover, Spirit. Seven months later I arrived on Mars.Prior to departing earth, I deposited the amount of US$ 11,600,000 (Eleven million, six hundred thousand United States dollars) in four safety galvanized boxes in a European financial institution which will be disclosed to you upon your acceptance of my proposal.”
In Quincy, IL, a man decided to operate a courtesy ride service for people too intoxicated to drive. This decision came after his friend was killed by a drunk driver. However, local cab companies didn’t like it and lobbied the city to change the wording on the ordinance to remove ‘for hire’, which made it a requirement for him to get a taxi license. However, when he applied, he was refused. But, we need to draw the line somewhere. Soon folks will be wanting to feed the homeless or provide clothing for children. It will be ANARCHY! Story here.
Obam(a) I am!
This was sent to me on email and I thought I’d share. It sums up a few of my rants without any ranting at all.
Updated Dr. Seuss Book:
I do not like this Uncle Sam,
I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker, Nan,
I do not like this ‘YES WE CAN.’
I do not like this spending spree,
I’m smart, I know that nothing’s free.
I do not like your smug replies,
when I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it, nope, nope, nope!
This morning’s news was so full of stuff that just hacked me off that I just had to write about them and get it off my chest so I could have a great day! So, welcome to Friday Rants!
Royal wedding for a royal …? First thing is GMA’s George Stephanopoulos was talking about Chelsea Clinton’s wedding and how we just couldn’t get enough of it. Hmm, I’ve already heard more than I ever cared to about someone getting married? Why should I even get excited about all the wasted money being spent when, I believe, mommy still owes millions for her campaign?
Hikers and campers and bears, oh my! It seems a bear in Montana did what bears do when they feel they, or their cubs, are threatened – they stop the threat. Okay, maybe the three people mauled by the bear were not a direct threat, but apparently Momma bear thought so. We humans do what we do so well and that is go into another creatures habitat and make ourselves at home and expect the native residents to just back off. The bear fought back, so what are we gonna do? Yep, kill the bear. Why not? I mean she attacked people and we can’t have that. Of course, relocation is completely out of the question.
Just leave me alone! Tony Hayward, CEO of BP, after wishing people would just leave him alone, apparently has said he has been made the victim for trying to do what’s right. Hmm, what’s right would have been to do the inspections and replace faulty equipment before spoiling our waters with raw crude. The good news, however, according to GMA, the reports are the oil is not spoiling as much coastline and marshes as first expected and the cleanup is reducing the oil slick significantly.
Well, I think I’ve gotten that off my chest, and I feel much better.
This article from 
Updated Dr. Seuss Book:
This morning’s news was so full of stuff that just hacked me off that I just had to write about them and get it off my chest so I could have a great day! So, welcome to Friday Rants!
Loading ...
Twitter
RSS