Saturday, December 4, 2010

Rep Alan Grayson On Extension of Bush Tax Cuts for Millionaires... Robber Barons? Class Warfare? Unemployment Rates... Poverty in America... You Tube Videos


["Rep. Grayson on the Limbaugh/Beck/Palin Tax Cuts";  as submitted to You Tube by RepAlanGrayson; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-laQ0uvnl5M ]

["Rich [some...] Ask Obama To Raise Their Taxes"; MSNBC w/ Cenk; as submitted to You Tube by TYT; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1m2o2yn4FE ]


["Lifeline"; as submitted to You Tube by AFCIONow; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVOIhc2EHUY&feature=player_embedded ]

["Poverty In America"; as submitted to You Tube by yourstory08; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGM_QozRedo ]

Note:  I am White, American and Female and this last video strikes close to my heart.  The situations portrayed look a lot like the home that I grew up in --- and many of the homes around me - some belonging to extended family members.  This in Unpstate New York... 

Tell Me:  "When does Jesus Bring the Porkchops?" (George Carlin) to those that are truly in need????? 

Isn't it about [We are really in need of some activism on our own behalf!] time?

Pertinent Links: 

1. "Hinchey Votes for Middle Class Tax Cut Extension"; Dec 2, 2010:  http://hinchey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1525%3Ahinchey-votes-for-middle-class-tax-cut-extension&catid=56%3A2010-press-releases-new3.  AFL-CIO:  "Lifeline: Watch the Video and Write Congress": 

Quote from Above: "Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today released the following statement endorsing an extension of tax relief for middle class families while allowing tax cuts for millionaires to partially expire in order to pay down the national debt and strengthen the economy..."

2. "U.S. Unemployment Rate Jumps To 9.8 Percent"; NPR: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/03/131778880/unemployment-rate-jumps-to-9-8-percent?sc=nl&cc=brk-20101203-0836

http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1011
 
More On This Issue Pending...

Friday, December 3, 2010

Perspectives: Policing the Schools [Updated with New Link]

["Police In Schools"; as submitted to You Tube by fpontario; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWAOXJojTv0&feature=related]

As the Kingston City Finance Committee debates whether or not to cut three police officers (school based) from the budget in June 2011, it seems like it would be a good idea to find out how the Parents/Teachers Association feels about this issue; how the school staff and teachers feel about this issue; how parents and custodians feel about this issue; and how the students themselves feel about this issue. 

What does a school based police officer do during the course of his or her day?  In the time period during which police officers have been present at Kingston High School, what problems have required thier intervention and how often do such problems occur?''

Should the school and the police agency share the cost of such officers, as is reputedly going on in the current contract in the Kingston City School District?  Or should the school (or the police department) foot the whole bill?

I would vote for keeping at least two of the officers in the school (actually one as an indoor presense and one as an outdoor presense) --- because I think safety should come first.

My husband would vote for nixing all three --- because he thinks the cuts in the Mayor's proposed 2011 Kingston City Budget are necessary.

Usually?  Somewhere between the sometimes radical differences of opinion that he (my husband) and I have - is the truth.

Maybe the school should pay one-half for the officer inside the school and the City [full pop] for the officer outside the school?

Nix the third?  And/or put the third [I like this idea...] back out on regular duty?

This approach would leave the City responsible for all but half of the indoor officer's pay - but then; it is the City that would be called in should a serious incident occur - and I think that having an officer on site could and quite likely would - in such circumstances - save a lot of money, time and grief.

That said, how do school based police officers intermesh with truant officers, school monitors and such?  Who is responsible for paying the truant officers?

Budget.  Budget.  Budget.

Hub and I sat through a lot of these meetings last year; but have pretty much distanced ourselves this year...

"Our" trends remain the same.

He is a (He is sure to correct me if I have this wrong...) Fiscal Conservative with a liberal bent in regard to other matters.

I am a Liberal, pretty much across the board - with a (he would probably say "neurotic") concern for the safety of our children, our youth and (in general) our City's populus.

Can folks be "over-policed"?  Yes.  I believe they can. 

But I personally don't believe we are "there".

There were multiple concerns in regard to Kingston City High School that have been present at least since the 1980s, when my children were there.

Now I have grandchildren there and/or almost there - and I want someone watching [for whom this is thier exact job description] out for them! 

Budget.  Budget.  Budget.

Nasty time of year, this...

So let me just say, on this issue, that I think all of the folks (as noted above) aught to be consulted on the matter before any decision is made - and that we should know - what exactly have the "in place" police officers been doing (typical day) since they have been stationed at Kingston High...

Just thoughts.  Feel free to send me yours at wingedbirdinflight@live.com - and in the meantime - if you have youth attending KHS - why not ask them how safe "they" feel - and what thier thoughts are on this issue?  You could even attend (as could they) the next Finance Committee meeting on this matter; and have a voice...

Always and forever (having a voice...) - whatever one's opinion might be - a good thing!

For more information on this topic, please go to:  "Kingston may cut three cops (video)" - DailyFreeman.com : 
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/12/03/news/doc4cf885286380c693165430.txt [written by Paul Kirby]

For Mayor Sottile's perspective, please go to:
"Kingston mayor backs proposed police cuts" - DailyFreeman.com :
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/12/04/news/doc4cf9cf9cc61dc068181764.txt [written by Paul Kirby]

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Tax Cuts... Bush... Snooki... a Chimp... and Hugh Hefner... You Tube Video by bravenewfilms... Bonus Video from "Cats"

Serious Business:

["What do Snooki, Hugh Hefner and a Chimp Have In Common with the Bush Tax Cuts?"; as submitted to You Tube by bravenewfilms; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxLs9WI3QRs]

I Couldn't Resist:

["Macavity: The Mystery Cat" (from the musical "Cats"); as submitted to You Tube by cindyphantom; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFPKbg_dKyg&feature=related]

Sunday, November 28, 2010

NPR Link "Delay... Money-Laundering Conviction"... Video... "Human Trafficking in Buffalo, Part 2" WKBW Programming


Interesting Link / Read:  "DeLay Plans To Fight Money-Laundering Conviction"; NPR:  http://www.npr.org/2010/11/24/131578358/jury-convicts-tom-delay-in-money-laundering-trial&sc=nl&cc=ph-20101128

-----------------------------------------------------------

Part II of "Human Trafficking in Buffalo":

["Human Trafficking in Buffalo, Part 2"; By WKBW Programming; Nov 2010; http://www.wkbw.com/home/Human-Trafficking-in-Buffalo-Part-2-110121019.html]

Part I of this newscast can be found down below.