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Welcome, You Are Visitor:
FPL Rate Increase - Public Service Committee
Meeting
America the Nation of
Entitlements
Single Payer Health Plan
Pro-Life DOES
NOT Equal Anti-Abortion
When is Our Apology Tour Coming?
Brevard Republican
Executive Committee
in Turmoil
Thank You Veterans
The Numbers Game Or How To Lie With Statistics
FPL Rate
Increase
- Public
Service
Committee
Meeting
This morning, June 24th, the Public Service Commission held a meeting on the proposed basic rate increase requested by Florida Power and Light. The attendance, in my opinion, was disappointing. It was held in the County Commission Meeting Room and it was not a full house.
What was heard was about a 3 hour pro-FPL commercial. No less then 15 corporate entities were on hand to tell us how wonderful FPL was and how great it was to work with them. Five consecutive corporate speakers told us of FPL's "corporate citizenship". We heard how FPL help provide funding for Fire Works in Cocoa, assisted in funding holiday parades, their support for the Brevard Zoo and heard much more about their generosity.
Gee, I thought we were there to hear about why they needed a basic rate increase? Instead we heard about the great returns to their investors. We heard how this will only add $12 to the average bill of $100 per household. We heard about all the programs that can help the consumer lower their bills.
I had so many questions I didn't know where to start.
-
Who has an average basic bill of $100 a month?
-
Why are they asking for an increase when they are paying their stockholders millions of dollars a year?
-
Why do they need to increase their storm reserve when if a storm does come through they add a "storm surcharge" on to your bill?
-
Why, when people are loosing their jobs, some are loosing their homes, retirement funds are disappearing is FPL coming hat in hand for an increase?
-
Why was this meeting held on a weekday during working hours?
I have a problem having having people who work for places like the EDC, The Brevard Zoo, Hubb/Seaworld, Holiday Inn, Indian River State College, and other corporate entities taking time from their jobs to support FPL's "corporate citizenship".
Here are some real issues to consider:
FPL has removed some of their expenses from your basic rate and made them separate line items then claim to not have had a basic rate increase in years. That, to me, is a rate increase. Since this increase is based on kilowatt hours the supermarket you shop in, the restaurant you dine in, all the places you frequent will be facing large increases in their power costs. Those costs will be passed on to YOU!
The County, School District, and Cities will all face increased costs at a time when they are trying to cut their expenses and have to operate with less income. Again, these costs will be passed onto YOU either through increased taxes or less services.
On top of all that if Congress passes a Cap and Trade bill, your bills will continue to increase.
Isn't it wonderful that FPL has services to educate the consumer as to how to lower their bill. What they don't have is grants to help you with those programs. It's easy to say more efficient appliances will help lower bill. A new, more efficient A/C will help lower your bill. Better insulation will help lower your bill.
Folks, I don't know about you but I don't have the money on hand to make those corrections to help lower my bill.
My unofficial count was 28 for the increase (which includes the 15 corporate entities), 18 against and 2 neutral. If you couldn't be there today and would like to make your feelings known to the Public Service Commission, their emails and phone numbers can be found at their website, Florida PSC.
America - the
Entitlement Nation
Once upon a time if
you wanted something
you paid for it.
Once upon a time it
was
embarrassing
to ask the
government for
anything. That was
once upon a time.
I heard a new
version of the
biblical
reference to
"Give a man a fish,
he eats for the day,
teach him to fish
and he eats for a
lifetime." Now it is
"Give a man a fish,
he eats for the day,
teach him to fish
and he'll vote for
the one who gave him
the fish".
We are a great
Nation that is
quickly devolving
into a "what can I
get" Nation. I
firmly believe that
everyone at sometime
in their lives needs
a hand up.
Apparently a hand up
is not good enough
anymore, now nothing
less then a
hand out is
acceptable.
We have free
pre-K
education, a small
class amendment, we
are promised "health
care reform", we're
going to cure
"global warming".
What's missing from
all these promises
and benefits is the
ability to pay for
them.
Now we are going to
have Cap and Trade
forced on us. Then
Candidate Obama
state in his
position paper:
"The emissions
allowed under the
cap are divided up
into individual
allowances that
represent the
permission to emit
that amount. Because
the emissions cap
restricts the amount
of pollution
allowed, allowances
that give a company
the ability to
pollute take on
financial value."
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/EnvironmentFactSheet.pdf
Translation -
the government will
tell the power
companies how much
power they can
produce.
From the same Fact
Sheet:
"A 100 percent
auction
ensures that
all large corporate
polluters pay for
every ton of
emissions they
release, rather then
giving these
emissions rights
away for free to
coal and oil
companies."
Translation -
the government will
tell the power
companies how much
power they can
produce AND how to
produce it.
And, by the way, the
credits that are
being discussed can
be sold to
FOREIGN
interests!
Meaning - get ready
for large increases
in your power bill.
This TAX could cost
an estimated $3100
per household
according to House
Republican Leader
John
Boehner.
The Congressional
Budget Office, a non
partisan federal
agency within the
legislative branch,
recently estimated
that the "resulting
increase in consumer
prices needed to
achieve a 15%
CO2 reduction --
slightly less than
the
Waxman-Markey
target -- would
raise the cost of
living of a typical
household by $1600 a
year"
(Washington
Post).
Free health care?
Curing global
warming?
Cap and Trade if
passed as the
President wants will
be the largest tax
increase in American
history. And don't
for one second think
it's not a tax -
call it a fee if it
makes you feel good
but a tax
is a better
definition.
The question is are
you willing to pay
that much in
increased taxes for
all these free
services. If passed
the choice is NOT
yours.
ABC the Obama Network
June 24th the ABC Network
will air its President Obama Health Care
fest and they tout it as the truth about the
tough questions on health care.
The "Truth". When a network doesn't allow
opposing views, has fawning reporters drool
over every word spoken by only one side of
the issue then the truth suffers.
According to ABC NEWS Senior Vice President
Kerry Smith on Tuesday state:
"ABC NEWS alone will select those who will
be in the audience asking questions of the
president. Like any programs we broadcast,
ABC News will have complete editorial
control." See ABC News' Press Room.
This isn't reporting news this is an
infomercial. ABC News is also refusing any
paid advertising from Conservatives for
Patients Rights claiming that it's in line
with a "long standing policy" according to
Cathie Levine, ABC spokeswoman.
Google the story and all I found was
criticism of Fox News from the Bush era.
I should have known - it's George's fault.
He's no longer the president so it's time to
take blame when blame is due. It's no longer
George Bush's administration so get over it.
The real news is that with pressure being
put on elected officials in Washington and
polls showing dissatisfaction with the
Presidents policies it's time to put on a
full court press by the main stream media. A
Wall Street Journal/NBC poll
released Tuesday showed that while the
President's popularity is still high it
slipped 5 points. More importantly, his
policies are slipping greatly and, in fact 7
of 10 respondents are not happy with his
handling of the economy
(New
York Daily News)
Back to June 24th, to any intelligent
follower of the news this rough shod
handling of one of the most important issues
is nothing short of pandering. It's heavy
handed and leads me to think that the
administration is fighting for it's "health
care life". Why are the so concerned about
allowing opposing views?
I posted an earlier blog outlining my views
on the President's assertions that you can
keep your current plan if you like it.
Basically that is nothing more then
dreaming. The move to a one payer system is
coming down the track fast. Once employers
know that the Federal Government will insure
there employees if they don't why should
they offer insurance at all.
If you feel the same contact the House
Office at 202-456-1414 and tell Ted Kennedy
in the Senate and Representative Michael
Burgess, Chair of the Congressional Health
Care Caucus what you think.
Single Payer Health Plan
I'm over 60 and can
never remember a President that has had
more TV time then
President Obama. Over the past
week I've heard him speak about his
Health Care Reform numerous times. I
notice that he has changed some of his
rhetoric but has yet to answer the
serious question - how to pay for this
boondoggle.
Today, June 15th,
he admitted that this plan would cost
more then $1 Trillion. He laid out many
savings that will come about from some
"reforms". The problem was that after
adding all the savings up we still come
up short of the $1 Trillion cost.
I live on a fixed income from the
disability retirement benefits I receive
from serving 19 years on the Nassau
County Police Department. I receive my
health benefits from them. There are a
few things that are conveniently
overlooked in all these press
conferences.
John McCain was broadly criticized when
he said he may tax benefits such as paid
health care. I guess if it comes from a
McCain presidency it would be an awful
proposal. Now the Obama team is talking
about just that as part of his
"reforms". Another "reform" would be to
eliminate the cost of health care as a
business deduction for companies that
offer these benefits. Another "reform"
would be to require all companies with
employees to offer some sort of health
care or face hefty fines.
Question - why
would any company, county, city, or any
type of employer continue to offer
health care when there is no benefit to
them and the employees could go to the
Federal government for their care?
Health Care providers may go out of
business because they
can't compete with low cost Federal
insurance. And by the way - they have
employees too.
So, the choices seem to me are that the
employers do not not provide health care
for their employees, lower their
employees salaries to make up the
difference in the cost of the "reforms"
or downsize to comply with the new
"reforms" in order to provide health
care for those remaining. There's always
the Federal Government's plans to fall
back on.
So when I hear President Obama say he is
against "single payer" health care and
hear all of the above it just makes my
head hurt. Isn't what he is calling
"reforms" just leading to universal
health care?
I can go on about the "wonderful" health
care provided in other countries, the
long waiting lists, the rationing of
medication but that will wait for
another day.
The Health Care Battle Is On
President Obama, with a strong assist from
Congress's budget watchdog, is moving healthcare
reform to the fast track on Capitol Hill -- with
or without Republican support according to ABC
News. He has begun a “neighborhood organizing”
style program, “Organizing for America”. He is
demanding a plan on his desk by the end of
August. On Saturday, June 6th his
organizers around the nation began their work
What
have we done so far to fight this?
NOTHING!
Read
the Brevard Republican Men's Club Newsletter
About the Battle!
On June 8, 2009 Florida Today launched a new Blog Site, Opinion Matters.
Editor John Glisch has asked me to be a
contributor. In the meantime those who are
going to be contributors were invited to post
blogs prior to launch as a "test" to get used to
and be familiar with the process. The
following are blogs I have submitted and can be
viewed at
http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/opinion/index.shtml
Friday, June 5, 2009
Pro-Life DOES
NOT Equal Anti-Abortion
The pro-choice advocates think they
have found a hook to hang their hat
on with the murder of Dr. George
Tillman. They can't be more wrong.
Notice I used the term pro-choice
rather then pro-abortion. It may
seem a simple matter of semantics,
and it may be, but one is
descriptive of their feelings and
the other is derogatory. The same
courtesy is never extended to
pro-life advocates.
The columnist Debra Saunders had no
problem with fanning the flames by
using just such inflammatory
language in her column published in
Florida Today on June 5th. It seems
to be acceptable to quote Dr. Warren
Hern as saying the killing was "a
political assassination in a historic
pattern of anti-abortion political
violence." and in the very next
paragraph where the National Right
to Life Committee is quoted with a
statement clearly condemning the
murder isn't enough for her.
She then goes on to quote Randall
Terry, identifying him not as a
pro-life advocate but an
"anti-abortion activist" and quoting
him as saying that "I am more
concerned about the Obama
administration will use Tiller's
killing to intimidate pro-lifers
into surrendering our most effective
rhetoric and actions." She relates
the killing to pro-life actions.
How disingenuous can one be? The
pro-life movement has been around
since Roe v Wade was instituted in
1973. To call a handful of violent
acts, which are roundly condemned by
both sides, historic pattern is
ludicrous. To say that the
statements made by the Right to Life
Committee "lacked Dr. Hern's
clarity" show that what Mr. Terry's
fears are not unfounded. Ms.
Saunders is doing the work of the
Administration and, apparently, will
accept nothing short of capitulation
of the right to life advocates.
No, Ms.
Saunders, no one accepts killing as
a means to make a point. The
pro-life advocates actions do not
include murder, but prayer vigils,
peaceful demonstrations, pressuring
elected officials throughout the
nation to correct the wrongs done to
innocent children. These are the
actions we advocate.
You see, the
pro-choice people refuse to see
"fetuses" as human life even when
they are sustainable outside the
womb. They refuse to expand and
accept the pro-life stand that all
life is valuable, and that the
pro-life movement is not all about
abortion but about the death penalty
and the senseless taking of innocent
life, all innocent human life.
To be lumped
in with a handful of criminals is
unjustified. The pro-life movement
made many inroads since 1973 and
many have been dismantled in the
short time the pro-choice side has
been in control of the House, Senate
and White House. However, we do not
and never will condone the actions
of the criminals she and many of the
pro-choice people would like you to
think make up the opposition.
We will pray
for you and all those we think are
misguided, and prayer is our most
potent weapon.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
When is Our Apology Tour Coming?
Let's
see, The President of the United States has
traveled to South America to spend some quality
time with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. The tour
didn't end there but proceeded to dinner with
Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega where he spent 50
minutes listening to Ortega accuse the United
States of every atrocity that ever happened in
South America. His world apology tour took him
to France where he apologized for our "dismissiveness"
and our arrogance (I do find some irony linking
'arrogance' to France).
In the meantime, when newly elected Israeli
Prime Minister
Benjamin
Netanyahu
visited the United States he didn't have the
time to sit down and have even a glass of tea
with him. In fact, according to CNN, Obama
intends to give
Netanyahu
6 to 8 weeks to change his
attitude
towards construction in the West Bank "of
settlements and Palestinian sovereignty as part
of the so-called two-state solution". Talk about
arrogance!
Wouldn't it be nice if he can actually get some
facts straight before making these apologise. In
an interview with France's Laura
Heim on
Canal Plus President Obama said that the United
States can be considered "one of the largest
Muslim nations in the world".
Sorry, Mr. President, but there are more Muslims
in Mauritania then there are in the U.S. If you
took the estimated number of Muslims in America
we would rank 35th
out of 150 nations world wide (Washington Times
6-3-09).
As far as Jews in the United States are
concerned we have the largest Jewish population
in the world, exceeding even Israel (The
Atlantic, 6-3-09).
He hasn't convinced
Osama
Bin Laden who said he (President Obama) "is
walking the same road of his predecessors to
build enmity against Muslims and increasing the
number of fighters and establishing more lasting
wars".
So here are my questions:
When do we receive an
apology for socializing the auto industry? Don't
fool yourself, the American people through this
administration is now the major stock holder in
Chrysler and G.M.
When do we receive an
apology for the proposed health care reform that
will cost us more then $1.5 TRILLION over the
next 10 years (Miami Herald, 5-31-09)?
When do we receive an
apology for proposing a budget that would force
the nation to borrow more than $9.3 TRILLION
over the next decade (Congressional Budget
Office, 3-31-09) and that's before the latest
round of bailouts?
When is the apology
coming for pressuring Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geitner
into supporting a European Union style of a
Value Added Tax?
I suspect that any
apology to the American people will come only
after Nancy
Pelosi
Admits that her comments about the CIA were
misstated and Janet
Napolitano
offers a real apology to the Veterans for
listing them on a leaked report as potential
terrorists.
I guess if all this
happened then the theory of Alternate Universes
could be true and we'd be living in it.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Brevard Republican
Executive Committee
in Turmoil
In recent weeks
we have seen in the press and heard
on radio much about the unhappiness
of the base of the Republican Party
with Jim Greer and the Republican
Party of Florida. The premature
crowning of certain candidates in
statewide races long before the
qualifying period is over and the
primary is held harkens back to
2008's endorsements of local
candidates by the Governor and the
RPOF. It was looked upon then as
undue influence of the State into
local politics. The anointing of
Charlie Crist was the last straw for
the Brevard Republican Executive
Committee. The Committee then asked
for a Resolution or a letter from
the Chairman of the BREC be sent to
the appropriate authorities voicing
their strong discontent with the
State and National Party Committees.
The infighting within the BREC has
resulted in charges being filed
against the Committee Chair by the
BREC Secretary and subsequent calls
for the Secretary's removal. The
charges show the immaturity of the
Secretary and the feeling that the
State Party is the over seer of
local decisions.
The charge, basically, is that the
Chair of the local party, Jason
Steele, challenged a sitting
Representative "in good standing"
and personally paid for a poll
against Representative Tobia thereby
violating the Loyalty Oath.
No where in any story I've seen has
the Loyalty Oath been quoted. Well
here it is:
Rule 9 from
the RPOF Rules of Procedure
"A. Members of all political
party committees, and the National
Committeeman and Committeewoman,
shall before taking office,
establish by written oath or
affirmation that during their term
of office they will not actively,
publicly, or financially support the
election of any candidate other than
the Republican candidate in a
partisan unitary, general or special
election, or a Registered Republican
in non-partisan elections, other
than Judicial races governed under
Florida Statute 105, if there is a
registered Republican running for
the same office, unless the county
executive committee has taken an
affirmative vote to endorse one
Republican over another per Rule
8(B). The written oath or
affirmation will also state that
they will not engage in activities
or conduct deemed by the Grievance
Committee and affirmed by the RPOF
Chairman as likely to injure the
name of the Republican Party or
interfere with the activities of
Republican Party "
Funny, I don't see anywhere in this
oath that precludes anyone, even the
Chair of the Party, from challenging
a sitting incumbent. What I do see
is an immature response by an 18
year old who is in a position that
is beyond his capabilities to handle
because he was threatened with
removal over his overstepping his
authority by speaking for the
Chairman without first consulting
with Chairman Steele, thereby
engaging in "activities or conduct
deemed by the Grievance
Committee...likely to injure the
name of the Republican Party..."
I see an individual who is more
interested in his own personal goals
then with the rebuilding of a party
that is in disarray and trying to
find their footing. All I see is a
dysfunctional Committee Board that
is in desperate need of direction.
Remember, this is not a club, it is
the defining committee of the
Republicans in Brevard County. What
the mission of the Committee should
be is to find qualified candidates
for office, bring those candidates
to a point where they are viable
then work to get them elected during
a primary. Only then should the
State Party become involved in local
politics.
The true leadership of the local
party may not even be found within
the committee ranks. They need to
find that leader and give him or her
the authority to put this committee
back on track.
Thank You Veterans
As a Cub Master and Scout Master of Scout Packs and Troops on Long Island, Memorial Day became a very important day for our boys. It was up early, drive the boys to the nearest National Cemetery to place American Flags at the grave sites of our Veterans.
Then it was back to town to participate in the village's memorial Day Parade sponsored by the local American Legion. At the end of the Parade, hot dogs and hamburgers were served to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer.
We would build up to Memorial Day by focusing meetings in the month of May around our Veterans. We felt it important to instill in our boys the need to honor those who served their country.
Originally and officially Memorial Day was set aside to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation and was officially declared a National Holiday in 1971. By then almost every state memorialized their veterans on May 30th, Armistice Day.
It seems to me that Memorial Day has become just another three day weekend. Our Veterans may be the only group that actually recognizes Memorial Day for what it was meant to be.
What a shame. We take our freedoms and those who help preserve them for granted. One of the most touching moments of my life occurred on a New Years Eve we spent with my in-laws in Vegas where we attended a Tony Orlando performance (yes, he's still around). At the end of the evening he sang Neil Diamond's Classic "Coming to America". He brought the band down and asked the World War II Veterans to stand to be recognized. He did the same for Korea, Iraq 1 and 2 and Afghanistan, skipping the Viet Nam Vets. then he had the band play quietly while he asked the Viet Nam Vets to stand. When we did, he asked the audience to say to us something that we never heard when we returned - "Welcome Home!"
I've been to the City of Melbourne's Memorial Day Service and as I looked around what I observed was the attendees, by and large, were Veterans.
We, as a society, forgot what the real purpose of the day was meant to be. Although it was meant to be for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, we don't even honor those Veterans that are alive and living in our communities. When was the last time you saw a service man or woman and said "Thank You for your service"? Have you ever asked your relatives or friends who are veterans to relate their stories to you? Our Greatest Generation, the World War II Veterans, are aging and passing on. Do you know any? Have you spoken to them and listened to the history of our Nation related through their eyes?
Let me say now from my family to all Veterans, Thank You. Thank you for the sacrifices you and your families have made for my safety and security. Thank you for protecting the freedoms we enjoy today.
Thank You For Your Service!
The Numbers Game
Or
How To Lie With Statistics
It almost seems like an eternity ago when I came home from the Navy and entered Junior College. One of the courses I took was "Numbers and Statistics" and one of the required readings was "How to Lie With Statistics". It occurred to me that it must have been mandatory reading for anyone who decides to get involved with politics.
Recently, I received an email stating that Republicans still hold the lead in registered voters in the County. A true Statement. But, and here's where I get in trouble with my fellow Republicans, just as true of a statement is that looking at the latest newly registered voters statistics will show the Democrats have out registered the Republicans last month as they have for the past three months.
So how can both statements be true?
Reciting numbers to me is boring and soon loses the readers interest. Suffice it to say that the Republicans have a substantial lead in registered voters. The difference in the numbers of new Democrats as opposed to new Republicans is small. With almost 1,000 newly registered voters last month about 1/3 of those newly registered voters registered Democrat, Republican or No Party Affiliation with a small minority registering "other" party affiliation. There was a difference of of about 25 more registering Democrat. It will take time for the Democrats to reach and surpass the Republicans if this trend holds.
The question is how do we Republicans reverse this trend? Make no mistake, I am a conservative Republican but reality is what it is. Lying with statistics gives the mistaken impression that the current condition of the Republican Executive Committee is healthy and building. The mantra of "Change" was heard not just in November's national elections but also in the County's elections. those who were in power generally find themselves on the unemployment lines. the leadership of the party has "Changed" to what some thought would be new and innovative ideas with new blood taking the reigns of a new Republican Party.
Be careful for what you wish for, you might just get it. There has been much touting of new ideas, new methods, new life, new...new...new... What is the reality? The Committee is smaller then it has been in 10 years, the finances are dwindling fast, the orgainzation that was promised has not materialized. What is new is that the institutional knowledge that grew this party are gone - the "baby with the bathwater" syndrome.
We will return conservatism to our party when our leaders throw out the aforementioned book and return to honesty regardless of how that truth looks. The mirror is the first place to look and the light in the room needs to be bright. No shadows, no excuses, just honesty.
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