Questions...

I took a survey this morning and I thought some of the questions were quite strange. For example, Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree that people who miss three straight elections should be prohibited from voting? I mean, is some legal body actually considering banning people from voting because they miss three straight elections?

Or, how about this one: Do you believe certain words that denigrate a person's race, gender, or sexual orientation should be banned in America? I don't think people should say the words, but are we really going to take political correctness so far that we ban them? Doesn't that go against free speech?

There's more... Do you believe the U.S. Government should regulate content on the Internet? Please, again, against free speech and what a crazy idea! I can't imagine anyone on either side of the aisle agreeing to that one.

There was also a question about changing the Constitution in regards to natural citizenship. If you are born here, you're an American no matter what the legal status of your parents. Legal status of your parents wasn't a consideration when our founding fathers wrote the Constitution and it shouldn't be now. Can you imagine the mess of having to prove you're a citizen, so your child will be one too?

If these questions are being asked in a survey by a well known company, that means someone is actually thinking we should change our country in these ways. I really hope these things do not get discussed on a national level. It would be a waste of time.

God Bless

Home Sale Fee...

On my way to work, I'm listening to 95.7 and I hear this ad from the Wisconsin Homeowners Alliance. (I didn't even know there was such a group.) Apparently in the new budget, they want to raise the home sale transfer fee -- something else I didn't know existed.

Currently, the home sale transfer fee is 3%. That comes to 3.00 for every $1,000. Governor Doyle wants to double it to 6% or $6.00 for every $1,000.

What's the big deal?

First, only 7% of homes sell in Wisconsin every year (According to the JSOnline.) So, we're discussing something that only affects 7% of the people and I don't think the home sale transfer fee is stopping anyone from selling their home.

Second, the home sale transfer fee hasn't been raised since 1982. Raising it now, when the money will be used for things like police officers is not a bad thing.

Third, has anyone noticed that our state is in financial trouble? (Along with almost every other state in the union.) The Republicans (according to the JSOnline article) are against this. Really? They had control of both the senate and the assembly for years, I didn't see them come up with any great ideas to help fund the state. (But, they did bring us the anti-gay amendment and concealed carry, so let's all applaud their efforts.)

Finally, the average person is not going to even notice this. The homeowners alliance group's ad on the radio sounds like we're all doomed if this passes. But, in reality, on a home that sells for $95,000, the fee is only $570.00. Since the last time I checked my house was valued at $95,000, I don't think I'll even notice the $570.00 fee. We're not talking about a huge amount of money. I pay half of that every year in state taxes on the gas I buy.

I read one blog entry that liken this rise in a state fee to the same tax raise that caused the Boston Tea Party. Things were a lot different 200 years ago. We didn't need as many police officers and fire fighters. We didn't have teachers. (Women couldn't vote.) I don't like paying taxes anymore than the next guy, but I like knowing that underprivileged children have access to Badger Care. I like knowing that we don't have to cut state funding to police offices and fire fighters. If that means I have to pay a little more when I sell my home, well that's just the way it goes.

God Bless

White House Visitor Logs -- Can't see them!

Well, excuse me, but if the President thinks it is okay to spy on American citizens by tapping their phones and reading their mail, why can't I -- as a citizen view the Visitor log for the White House (read story here).  How can this be possible?

And, since when are Presidential records off limits?  Didn't see to be that way during Clinton -- when the court ordered him to give up some documents.

And, those records really belong to the secret service -- NOT THE PRESIDENT.

Now, I want him impeached.  This is bullshit.  I want to know just who visited the White House, who did they see and anything else I can find out.  I PAY THAT MAN'S SALARY and just like my employer has the RIGHT to view a list of visitors visiting me, I as the EMPLOYER (as we all are) should have the right to know who is visiting the PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT and ANYONE ELSE WHO'S SALARIES COME FROM OUT TAXES.

If you think I'm mad -- you're right.

God Bless.

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Hello, it's the Government, we're reading your mail...

When I was a kid, my father had a rule that no one in the house was allowed to open anyone else's mail.  I couldn't open his and my mom's and they couldn't open mine and my brothers'.  Dad always said that opening another person's mail was a federal offense.  I don't think he made that big of a deal out of it, but enough of a big deal that it stuck with me.

Now, the President of the United States (see article here) has decided that yes, Virginia, there is a spy reading your mail.

And, that's just wrong.

Period.

Somehow, President Bush seems to think that he is a King and can order just any damn thing he wants.  If the line item veto was considered unconstitutional, just how are Bush's signing statements legal?

He is circumventing the justice system and is spitting on the very consitution thousands of Americans have died to protect.

And, this is okay?

We're not at war -- only Congress can declare a war and they haven't.  So, why is Bush allowed to do these things?

Our founding fathers put together three branches of government to make sure that there were checks and balances.  However; we've lost our way in this country and we're letting the King get his way.

We need to put a stop to Bush's power grab now -- not later -- before unrepairable damage is done to our rights.

Finally, if you disagree, stop and think a moment -- would you want a democrat president reading your mail?

God Bless

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Soldier's Remains...

Did you know this, because I didn't. If a soldier -- who served their country with honor -- is "convicted of capital crimes and sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole from being interred at military cemeteries" (Read CNN article here). after being discharged, they cannot be buried in the national cemeteries.

I don't really think that's fair, do you?

Being buried in a national cemetery is a honor because you served your country, not for anything you did prior to serving your country or after. Apparently, the original bill was signed into law by President Clinton in 1997. However; due to the loophole that stated sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole, Russell Wayne Wagner's remains were allowed to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

He was convicted of murdering two elderly people whether he was appealing this, I don't know. He would've been eligible for parole in 2017, but he died in prison of a heroin overdose. Back in January, President Bush removed the loophole that allowed Wagner to be buried in Arlington. Now, the law reads any capital crime. On Friday, President Bush signed the "veterans' health care and benefits bill" and attached to that bill was the order to remove Wagner's remains from Arlington. (I should note that Wagner did appeal his conviction -- Read that story here.)

Why?

Did the man serve his country well? Yes, he did. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1969 after serving in Vietnam.

Did he have troubles after Vietnam? Yeah, apparently, he did.

Should we make his family remove his cremated remains because of those problems? No, we shouldn't.

I feel sorry for Vernon G. Davis (the son of the couple Wagner murdered). I can't imagine what kind of Hell he must be going through. But, I feel sorry for Wagner as well. A lot of Vietnam Vets fell through the cracks and ended up on the wrong side of the law. It doesn't negate the good they did while in the military.

But, I guess in today's world, it does and that's a shame.

God Bless

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