Arena Solution
07.11.2007
The City Council of Bloomington created a committee to study the problem of the US Cellular Coliseum and money flowing from the taxpayers into a building neither demanded nor desired. This will be a pivotal step that will lead in directions that have extremely different long-term consequences for city government and the arena.
Long-term consequences are indeed possible, but it might be prudent to first look at the members of this “oversight committee” in order to see where each stands in order to understand the people empowered to make decisions.
One member is Mayor Steve Stockton. He began his mayoral career when Judy Markowitz resigned rather than face the voters in another election. He won re-election in an unopposed race after his appointment. His most notable public remark regarding the arena prior to opening was a little blurb quoted in The Pantagraph on September 9, 2005 where he stated that the arena would need tax subsidy and cater to a niche market to separate itself from that of other arenas. He mentioned that the need for tax dollars were a result of lawsuits between the current management group and the former management group. He did not mention that it would need tax subsidies to operate on a daily, monthly, or annual basis. He joins an alderman representing the City Council on the committee.
Councilwoman Dr. Karen Schmidt volunteered to serve on the committee. She represents Ward 6 of which the arena resides. She won re-election to the City Council this year through an unopposed election. She voted against building the arena. As an opponent to construction, she might provide a voice to the disenfranchised voters that were against the project from the beginning.
City Manager Tom Hamilton serves at the request of the council. He was a proponent of the arena from the start. In an article published by the Peoria Journal Star, he noted that the arena would profit similar to the
Coliseum Managers Mike Nelson and John Butler are on the committee. They operate Central Illinois Arena Management that has responsibility for the Coliseum. Their involvement along with the City Manager raises a concern not noted to date.
The involvement of those that report Coliseum performance on the committee might tend to sway the committee to defend operation rather than have a true oversight. The current organization chart regarding Coliseum reporting and operation has the mangers reporting to the city manager who reports to the mayor and city council. The order shows that the oversight committee will produce less oversight and more reasoning for poor performance. Adding a citizen to the committee with a “confidentiality agreement” is sure to bring less sunlight to the ominous cloud over the arena. This equation is sure to equal continued pain upon the taxpayer.
The pain will come with increased taxes. Government in general raises taxes when a shortfall occurs. It looks not at performance, necessity, nor equity. It simply looks at revenue and expenses justifying the taxes raised to balance the two. Bureaucrats hold up public services such as police and fire for ransom without a tax increase. This reared its ugly heard earlier as the city abstained from hiring new police officers for the tax dollars diverted towards the Coliseum. Stated as a process cut, the police department forecasted the need for more cops to the tune of over 20 officers. The stage is set. The advocates for additional taxes are coming; it only is a matter of when.
That is unless the committee separates itself from those that have direct ownership of the arena. Those that control operate and report on the arena should only report information to the committee. The committee itself is not an agent of change for it would take an act of the council to attempt to change the course of the arena. This is similar to that of the human relations and planning commissions. They report to the City Council for action where they do not have ordinal power to execute. Ordinal power to execute change would only separate the council from responsibility and continue the path for additional taxes upon residents that clearly hold their own money higher on the “quality of life” scale than that of a building with an extremely thunderous appetite for cash.
This leaves the same question that dominated the voters’ minds in the recent election. Where does the City go from here? A comprehensive answer would be to abstain from the easy solution of raising taxes and move to an encompassing answer towards increasing events and ticket sales in the county and the region.
How does this happen? Perhaps the mindset needs to change from that of raising taxes and ticket prices to that of raising events and lowering ticket prices. Empty seats and unsold tickets contribute nothing to the problem. The recent cancellation of Clifford Live shows that the ticket prices, dates and times convinced the families in
Quality of Life in
04.22.2007
The Pantagraph published a very informative article demonstrating how the City of
The US Cellular Coliseum lost 1.8 million and the
Consider this, for ticketed events at the US Cellular Coliseum, the taxpayer of
At 5.82 per ticket subsidy, the City of
Hockey is not alone; the other benefactors of the subsidy were Extreme Football at $286,000, Jehovah’s Witness Convention at $113,000, Ringling Brother Circus at $87,000, and even ISHA Cheerleading at $58,000. If
People in
Is Hockey worth a ¾ million-dollar subsidy? Is arena football worth $286K? These questions will need answers. The City should know that we are watching. Until then, the next time you go to an event – thank a taxpayer. Perhaps the Coliseum should include an executive box for the taxpayer. They pay regardless of their “quality of life”.
God Bless Richard, Jason and Kalin Hunter
03.22.2007
Imagine the excitement that Mr. Richard Hunter might have experienced when he bought his boat. Merely the thought of being on the water in a new craft, fishing for that trophy anglers dream about might be a way to keep at bay the dismal, dreary emotions that this cold snap and snow brought to the area. Perhaps calling his son to tell him of his purchase was a point of pride. Maybe this was a dream of theirs to have a boat; a boat and share some more father son times on the water talking, fishing, – just enjoying the time together.
Throw in the excitement of his eight-year old grandson and this was turning out to be an amazing spring. The times they would have would be good quality time as father and son, grandfather and grandson would enjoy the days of the spring and summer floating, fishing, and laughing.
It is not difficult to figure that they were eager to get that new boat on the water the first chance they had. It was probably easy to call his son, get his grandson, and drive 45 minutes to the largest lake in the area. Anyone may have made the same decisions.
Then trouble became them as reports show they ran out of gas, made a phone call, floated, and then plunged to their deaths over a spillway at
The thoughts and prayers of Shade Tree Pundit and all associated are with the family of Mr. Richard Hunter, Jason Hunter (US Navy), and Kalin Hunter. God bless your families.
This is Shade Tree Pundit
03/20/2007
Today begins a new day or perhaps a new journey into full time web publishing. Prior to today, this was part time or maybe some time; but now is the time it starts into a web page that I envisioned from the start.
This page started after a conversation I had with my father a few years ago. I wrote a letter to the editor now and then in the Pantagraph, and he asked me when I would write my next letter. I told him I did not know, but asked him if he would like to read my writings any time he wanted. He said yes; therefore, Shade Tree Pundit became reality.
It became real for the theme of the site is Free Speech + Free Markets = Free People. I believe this with my heart and soul for without the freedom to speak; thoughts, ideas, and movements would not begin. Without the market or arena of ideas; those thoughts would merely die in the one that has them.
People have ideas, ideologies, and senses of direction. My direction is one of many right turns. I think right, bat right and throw right. I could not be a NASCAR driver for the thought of all those left turns makes me nauseous. Regardless or your leanings, I hope that you will find this a good read every now and then. Tomorrow, Thursday, March 21 will be the first of many pieces that were rumbling in my head or reactions to current events.
If you have some items you believe should be discussed or perhaps have something that you believe is newsworthy – please send it to me. If I use it I will properly cite you as the source, if you want anonymity, I will protect it too.
This is a dream about to turn into reality. Thanks for taking the time to stop here today. I hope you will find the need to be here more often.
Shade Tree Pundit
Endorsement Ward 4 –
02/19/2006
Shade Tree Pundit
On February 27, the residents of Ward 4 in
This is a crucial vote for the Bloomington City Council as the five candidates have drastically different ideas as the role and scope of government on the lives of residents of the City of
There are many issues in the future for
He led the council by voting NO to all Arena development and construction issues. He maintained his position for he listened to the people of his ward and of the city. The people rejected the Arena project, but half the City Council and the Mayor pressed forward to build it despite the public will and lack of support. Since then, the Mayor did not petition for re-election and two members lost elections a year later. Councilman Crawford maintained his position and did not waver throughout the process. This expression of the people’s will makes
The Central Illinois Organizing Project is sure to amass another attempt to pass a “living wage” ordinance upon the City of
It is great that the people of Ward 4 have many choices for their alderman. Skip served the ward well in the past and will continue to do so in the future. A vote for
Smoking? We know you are in there.
01/08/2007
On a report heard on WJBC this morning, 2:30 AM to be exact; I heard that the smoking ordinance passed in
The Town of
Police are sworn to enforce the laws of the state as well as the ordinances of a municipality. There are many laws in the state that pertains only to businesses; should the town selectively drop in on businesses to check on the progress of those laws too?
Imagine a
Take another example, a recent controversy seems to be when the National Security Agency monitors phone calls initiated from a foreign country that enter the
I would think that common sense would be in order since businesses are more likely to comply than not comply. Maybe it is time to change the enforcement policies that correspond to ordinances. Maybe it is time to include enforcement policies in the creation of ordinances. This way the Town follows the “spirit” rather than use it to usurp rights of individuals and those that own businesses.
Just imagine if the founding fathers would have included spirit language in the constitution to provide guidance for public domain, search and seizure, first amendment rights and the right to keep and bear arms. Oh wait they did in letters and correspondence between each other, the Federalist papers, and written records of congressional, senatorial and presidential deliberation. That did not stop the councils then, I do not think it will stop them now.
In His Shoes
01.31.2006
A few years back, my father gave me a pair of shoes he found in his closet. He was still working at the time and purchased the shoes for work. They are Red Wing boots with a plastic steel toe. He wore the size 11.5 shoes and found they wore uncomfortable. Rather than keep them to collect dust, he gave them to me. I did not realize how my life would change after stepping into his shoes.
The change was not very profound at first. I merely wore them to work. They were the most comfortable shoe I ever owned. Boots worn in the past were an experience for breaking them in brought pain, blisters, and a need to shed them as soon as work ended. Not these shoes, for they fit better than any other shoe I ever owned. Then my life started to change.
It began to change for the choices before me were great and the rewards were greater. Since wearing my father’s shoes, I became a father twice over. Since wearing my father’s shoes, I became a homeowner. Since wearing my father’s shoes, I became a businessperson, candidate, and candidate again. Since wearing my father’s shoes, I realized the wisdom, fruition, and value of those that walk through life before you.
I did not know these things in my youth. In my youth, my father had his patience tested every day. Despite the daily tribulations brought upon him by his son in his teenage years, he never stopped believing in me. He never stopped to understand me. In addition, he never stopped reminding me that when I walk through life, I was his representative.
He showed through work and play what being his representative was all about. Through work, he showed me that easy was not necessarily the best way to complete a job. A truckload of dirt and a wheelbarrow was a lesson in persistence more than grading low spots on the land. Leaf removal was a lesson in learning how to do it better each year learning from our mistakes and successes from years past. Not driving me around my paper route, but telling me to do your job was a lesson in responsibility. I hope he believes those efforts were successful. This is not to say he is all work, there are very few that could play with his son as well as him.
Playing was fishing and baseball. We went fishing frequently. Sometimes, within an hour of his arrival home, we would be off to a favorite fishing hole. I think it was to liberate my mother and sisters from a hyperactive boy. I remember one late November day when we were the only people on the bank of the
Baseball did not come as natural to him as fishing. In his youth, he spent his little spare time fishing and hunting. That was not possible in my neighborhood, but through my friends close to home, I grew a love of baseball. He did too. When I was 10 my folks enrolled me in organized baseball. It was all over from that point. For the next six years, they spent their summers traveling across cornfields watching their boy play baseball. I was never very good, but they were there for my little victories over the pitcher that had my number, bad hops that I would sometimes catch, and perhaps throwing out that thief at second base. It was not just watching his son play baseball. He joined me in my adoration for the Chicago Cubs too.
I remember him taking my sister and me to
Looking at my son and daughter, I sometimes wonder if I have the same look to them, he had to me. I wonder what I will learn to like through my children as he learned through me. I wonder what lessons I will teach them as he taught me.
Walking in his shoes today at work, I realized that his patience, persistence, and ability to love me through hard times made me who I am today. I called him the other night to thank him for his belief in me. I told him I love him. It was probably a shock to hear it from me for those words we feel, but rarely express. His life then and now was an expression of his love for me. Now wearing his shoes, it is a necessary reminder to him that I understand his hard work and devotion raising a son. It is with great pride and adoration that I have the honor of wearing his shoes while being his representative. I love you Pop :*)
Alito, Alito
01.10.2006
My wife gave me an XM Radio for Christmas. XM Radio is a pay to listen satellite service with about 200 channels. I found that the radio receives CSPAN, and listened to the hearings today.
Some observations:
The questions Senators ask a potential justice are fewer questions and more statements to badger a certain issue or corner the candidate. For example, Honorable Charles Schumer from
Alito would answer questions regarding his thought process, use of past precedent (they used some Latin word that sounds like ARI STYSUS), or other judicial procedures; but he would not reveal his personal philosophy regarding the hot topics of today. While not revealing, he did give some insight into the mind of a judge. I always wondered what made them tick, and through this day, I learned more from Justice Alito.
The Honorable Senator from
I wonder if Edward Kennedy thought the assault on the Branch Davidian Compound in
There were some funny happenings, but I cannot remember them. I did chuckle a few times and laughed aloud once. The major thought is that Democrats will vote against him, and Republicans will vote for him. His demonstrated judicial activism or restraint seems to be less an issue than each senator taking 30 minutes to make statements and ask 30 questions of Alito.
Check out CSPAN.org to see some of the Senate Judiciary Committee dog and pony show. On the other hand, just wait until next week as I pontificate a little more on his eventual confirmation.
Confession of a Cubs Fan
10.19.2005
Playoffs and World Series games are fascinating to me. As a Cubs Fan, I usually adopt a team or just watch the games for my love of baseball prevents me from leaving the television. I enjoyed moments such as the Mets Championship, Twins comeback from the Cardinals, a home run by Kirk Gibson, the destruction of Mitch Williams, and my favorite baseball player – Mark Grace – keeping the Diamondbacks alive to beat the Yankees. I enjoyed all these moment, but my Cubs have produced more bad memories than good. So again, I sit in front of the television watching playoff baseball, but a particular quandary exists.
The quandary is that the major rivals of the Cubs could each advance to the World Series. The
Although the Sox and Cards are rivals of the Cubs; they are different rivals that require different reasons for support. The Cardinals and Cubs rivalry existed since baseball came to
With me bleeding and convulsing philosophically, they usually win the arguments. White Sox fans though, are another story.
The Cubs and Sox rivalry is a different for the Cubs receive most of the
Inter-league turned debates of which team was superior to the field where fans would learn who owned whom. The games viewed from television are a typical baseball game with the crowd noise more prevalent throughout the contest. From the stands, the game is a drinking, cussing, not for the faint of heart battle of fans passionate for their team. It matters not if the game is in Wrigley Field or US Cellular Field; it is place less appropriate for children and more appropriate for striking hockey players wanting to blow off a little steam. That said, I found that I would root for the White Sox.
Despite the games between the rivals require a rating of “R”. Despite the fact that knuckle dragging White Sox fans seem to spend more time grunting than actually speaking. Despite the fact that wearing Sox clothes would repulse me almost as much as raw liver for dinner. I will support the White Sox.
I will cheer the White Sox for they are the stepbrother of my team. Similar to family members that I might not care for; I can point out his or her faults and make light of them; but no one else should. I will root for them against the Astros or the Cardinals. I hope they face the Cardinals. I have found great joy in seeing the Cardinals disappoint fans against the Dodgers, Twins, Red Sox, and a personal favorite – losing a playoff series with a 3-2 lead against the Braves. I am truly a fan of the Cubs and whoever plays the Cardinals. I will watch them play, and hope they win the next two games for I would have more baseball to watch this week. Then I can see them play the White Sox and lose – disappointing their fans once again. We can keep it in the family – Go White Sox.
Progressive….How About Regressive
03/22/2005
A progressive individual according to Merriam-Webster Online is “one believing in moderate political change and especially social improvement by governmental action. The party in American politics that professes itself as an agent of change is the Democrat party; however, current events through a critical eye should prove that the former party of change transformed into a party of regression. They have regressed over the past quarter century to a party that cares not for the individual, they care not for the masses, but care only to hold on to the foundations of the past as they crumble all around them.
If one were to judge the Democrat party on rights of the individual, it would be easy to conclude that the rights of the individual merely constituted of speech, expression, and a women’s right to choose. These are absolute as far as the extreme left is concerned. The more moderate left is less likely to agree with all extremes, but politically silent regarding their problems because the hard leftists control their party. The highest example is the case of Terri Schiavo.
Over more than a decade, progressives have supported the will of her husband to kill her. From a plea to a jury that she wanted to live and thus win substantial malpractice award to a plea to another judge for the implied right to die of his wife; progressives supported and enabled him to win money on her behalf only to win the right to kill her on her behalf. How can anyone look at this situation and conclude that she would want to die? It is simple. If a judge decides something that falls within the political thought of “progressives” then it is final, absolute, and thus justice. Justice to kill innocence without a living will, without a definite statement, and without the will of the family is not justice but a perpetuation of an extreme disdain for innocence regarding matters of law.
Disdain for innocence is nothing new to progressives. Innocent people and justice have never been further apart. Progressives spare no expense or effort to fight against the innocent and for the rights of criminals. Arguments to prevent execution of the death penalty rarely include the victim. Right - wrong and whether the government should be in the business of killing take center stage. The difference is the innocent victim is dead while a criminal convicted of the crime by a jury of his or her peers, appealed a dozen times, and reviewed by the Supreme Court over decades prior to execution lives. The criminal did not give the victim same rights. The victim had no appeal to the criminal’s verdict. Loss of property, pain and even death became the victim without anyone defending their rights, but the criminal is declared innocent until proven guilty. The victim is absolute innocence and as such is not a thought for the progressive party.
They are thinking but looking for way to increase a voting base at the expense of innocent victims. A bill for passage exists in the Senate that would restore national voting rights to convicted felons. They would rather work to allow felons to vote than empower the victim the individual right to absolute protection. Protecting self and property is not an absolute right, but protecting the criminal is. A device for protecting self becomes the problem thus providing insurance to the criminal there are more potential victims than potential defenders. If a defender acts, then guilt by default follows the innocent while the criminal becomes the victim. Innocence becomes criminal – only through the eyes of progressives.
It was not always this way. There was a day when progressives were more concerned for the innocent. They were more concerned with the rights of victims, but no more. They were concerned with politically safe human rights, but now they have regressed to a state of protection – only for the criminal.
Social Security – Tricky Dick
03.08.2005
On ‘Meet the Press” Sunday, Senator Richard (Dick) Durbin of Illinois was a guest of Tim Russert. The minority whip of the senate joined the majority whip, Senator Mitch McConnell for a discussion of Social Security. Dick Durbin communicated the Democratic position of no changes to social security, and in particular not to discuss establishment of private accounts.
As second in command for the obstructionist party; he frequently stated that Democrats will not “come to the table” to discuss Social Security reform unless the president removes private accounts from his proposal. A position that leaves little room to back down, he places himself and his party where any discussion will show weakness. He believes that “The privatization proposal of the president is going to destroy Social Security as we know it”. To be clearer, it would actually change social security so people create assets that can transfer from one generation to the next, eliminate the need for future taxpayers to pay for part of social security, and liberate individuals from the will of congress with ownership of the fundamental retirement building block.
The other position taken by Senator Durbin and the Democrat party is there is no problem. He and others speak frequently putting their head in the sand of constituency ignorance. Hear no problem, see no problem, speak no problem is no way to demonstrate leadership in the Senate. Just a few years ago, 1998, during the great years of President Clinton, he stated: “…due to the increasing number of ‘baby boomers’ reaching retirement age, Social Security will be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2032, but the sooner congress gets to avert this crisis the easier and less painful it will be.” He did nothing when his party was willing, and he will do nothing while his party is in a minority. The time is now for Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist to take the football from his minority leader and set off the “nuclear option”.
The nuclear option is simple. The Democrat party lost their bid for the White House, lack a majority of representatives, and lost any hope of gaining a majority in the Senate; but hold a virtual filibuster over all proceedings in the Senate. Similar to most action from the left, the filibuster is all the constricting benefits of a filibuster without the work, incessant speeches, or reason for filibuster. They call a simple rule change in the Senate that would stop such action the “nuclear option.” It would obliterate their power over bills in the Senate, but the American people already spoke and eliminated them from any power last November. Just like their fundamental disdain for all devices military, they have disdain and lack respect for the winning party. It is time to nuke the table they refuse to attend and make the changes the American people voted for.
Give Her Back
03.02.2005
The second trip to innocence is not as wonderful as the first. Absolute innocence is a child with no way to feed, clothe or defend. Dependant only on a mother for sustenance and comfort the child’s life depends on the caregiver. No rational human being would consider placing a defenseless child in a corner to die of dehydration and starvation. The action, conspiracy, or public expression desiring such is criminal. The state would intervene on behalf of the child to separate him or her from the individual; prosecute the individual; and administer justice to the offender for the child. Most people would agree that this post birth protection of innocence is necessary in our society. Unfortunately, a second trip to innocence produces different results.
Terri Schiavo is an example born again innocence. Suffering from an accident in 1990 at age 25, Terri cannot walk, talk, or swallow. She is innocent again because she requires the help of a caregiver to survive. With only a feeding tube her brain functions to maintain her vital functions while her husbands lobbies for her to die.
Speaking as if it were her will, Michael Schiavo spares no resource to convince a court to remove the feeding tube. For the three years after her accident, Michael attempted to rehabilitate Terri. After winning a malpractice lawsuit, he stopped working for his wife and began to work to kill his wife. Six months after winning the lawsuit, Michael orders medical facility to add “do not resuscitate” to Terri’s medical chart. Then he moved on with his own life at the expense of Terri.
Armed with famous euthanasia advocate and attorney, George J Felos, he spent the last 12 years fighting for Terri’s presumed right to die. He believes the will of his wife is to die by starvation and dehydration rather than attempt to rehabilitate. He and his attorney convinced the courts she wanted to die while calling her a vegetable. A vegetable implies no brain activity or ability to live. She has the ability with only an artificial means for sustenance. A more famous case of a similar situation is Christopher Reeve. He was paralyzed from the neck down. Only he could communicate after years of rehabilitation. Over more than a decade, Terri received no rehabilitation. She only received the minimum care at the will of her guardian husband while he works to kill her. He might succeed. A recent decision ruled the tube removed in three weeks.
Just as his assertion she wanted no part of a life as such, suppose she could communicate. Suppose she could tell her guardian she wanted to live. Perhaps she wanted a divorce so that those that want her to live could care for her. Maybe she wants to tell him to move on and leave her be. She can’t express those words, but it does not mean she is not thinking them.
Now her husband imposed death penalty is near final. People that commit terrible crimes receive more appeals than she as well as far more humane end to life; but she will be afforded no luxury. Her husband will remove the tube and she will die a slow painful death over a period of weeks due to starvation and dehydration. She is innocent. She did nothing wrong. She deserves better.
She deserves the comfort and care she received at birth from her parents. Just as they did during her infancy, they refuse to give up on her future. He did. He changed from her husband to executioner some time ago. He should give her back to her parents just as they gave her to him.
Wal-Mart Bad?
02.23.2005
Again the usual suspects are on their soapbox trying to discredit Wal-Mart as a store that uses cheap labor and cheap goods for profit at the expense of the unfortunate and downtrodden. This is evident in the key players in the anti-Wal-Mart movement. Those players include AFL-CIO, Senator Edward Kennedy and the Chicago City Council. The three have much in common and why they continue to rail on Wal-Mart shows they are out of step with contemporary consumers.
The contemporary consumer wants goods and services at a fair price. Wal-Mart maintains some of the lowest prices across the country. Is the price always the lowest? Probably not, but is it lowest on average for a cart of groceries or comparable goods? Probably so, but despite the best efforts of the big three, they continue to succeed despite the clear public agenda constantly ranted.
The common denominator with the AFL-CIO, Senator Edward Kennedy, and the City of
I love customer service. If a business can make me smile, provide a selection of products I desire, then I am likely to spend my hard earned dollars. Wal-Mart exceeds my expectations. If I ever a have a problem with products purchased, I can return it to any Wal-Mart store.
Wal-Mart is convenient. In almost every medium to large city, a Wal-Mart exists. In my neck of the woods, in an hour’s time, I could drive by five Wal-Marts after driving 55 miles. If I need anything there are five potential places to purchase my desires.
Wal-Mart cares for its employees, community, and shareholders. This is paramount to business success. Despite the usual suspects’ mantra regarding low wages and benefits offered by Wal-Mart, people continue to apply for jobs, customers fill the parking lots and the stock continues to grow. Perhaps those are the reasons for Wal-Mart’s success and the declining status of the detractors.
For example, Wal-Mart meets the needs of customers’ everyday. Senator Kennedy cannot meet the need of any constituent because he creates nothing. He makes nothing. The only thing he can create is more regulation attempting to separate the consumer from Wal-Mart. With the AFL-CIO, he creates a fictional mass hysteria about Wal-Mart erroneously citing the ill will of the leadership of AFL-CIO despite membership acting contrary. This was evident with the City of
Spend money at Wal-Mart, buy stock at Wal-Mart, and encourage those in need of a job to go to Wal-Mart. They earned our business!
Public versus Private
02.16.2005
A headline in the sports section on February 14 of The Pantagraph stated “IHSA Considering Enrollment Multiplier”. The headline alone seems docile, but the reasons for the headlines should be quite alarming.
The Illinois High Schools Association or IHSA governs high school sports competition statewide. It organizes schedules and tournaments for most competitive sports in
Illinois High Schools break down into classes where similar schools of similar population compete against each other. Through an A, AA or even up to six classes for certain sports such as football, the playing field seems even except for the performance and subsequent success of private schools.
Private schools compete under IHSA rules. They compete with other schools of similar population size. Even though they represent less than 20 percent of the schools, they won 33 percent of all statewide championships over the past five years. The answer to remedy the situation according to IHSA appears to be multiplying the enrollment data and moving private schools in competition with much larger schools. To some this might be a fair attempt at equalization, but the message is problematic.
The message is the system is wrong, success of the individual teams unfair, and punishes the successful to make the other schools more competitive. Similar to removing class rank, addition of social promotion and pass-fail classes; the IHSA wants to punish the success of private schools. It was tried before, but the concept did not work.
Southwest of
The root to the problem is the overall philosophy of public school officials and private school institutions. At the public level, bureaucrats run the organizations without accountability for outcome. Pass, fail, win, or lose is of no consequence since the jobs are safe while they hold a massive population free from choice to spend their education tax dollars. In contrast, private schools must compete with public schools in cost and students in order to provide an outstanding education and experience for their students. If they fail, the students move on to other schools. If public schools fail, elected officials claim it is the taxpayers fault for keeping taxes in moderation. Private schools cannot survive unless they compete in every educational aspect. Competition is the core to a private school and thus the reason for sports and academic success.
It is time for public schools to change operating philosophy. Are ACT score next on the list? Should the scores of private school students mean less than scores of public school students? Would they like to whittle down a private school students ACT score of 27 to 20? Of course, that would not happen, but it is within the mindset of academia to do such. They need to improve defenses, complete shooting drills, and work hard to compete in sports and life.
IHSA should do nothing to the private schools except congratulate them for their success and encourage public schools to work harder in the classroom and the sports arena. As nice as it may sound, even the representative from MSHSAA maintains the show up fail and be happy dilemma:
“The overall effect has been minimal, but the membership is generally happy because the problems were addressed," said Rick Kindhart, spokesman for the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
Case and Multiplier Dismissed!
Don’t be Lucy
02.09.2005
The voter must feel like Charlie Brown. Positioned a few yards behind Lucy, he wonders if she will pull the ball again just to watch him fall on his back. Charlie with a desire to make the goal keeps hoping she will finally leave the ball on the ground so he can kick it. That is how Congress treats voters regarding social security. The desire not for an individual to achieve personal goals regarding retirement, but feel the need to strip the ball away only watch us fall and ask for a hand off the ground.
This can change. The proposal to privatize Social Security will allow Congress to hold the ball of retirement while the voter kicks it through the uprights. Today, Congress taxes the future Social Security recipient 12.4 percent. This represents 6.2 percent directly from the individual and an additional 6.2 percent paid by an employer. The tax stops when an individual exceeds income of 90,000. Surprisingly, with a veritable flat tax of 12.4 percent, Congress will take in 819 billion dollars this fiscal year in the name of Social Security. Even more of a surprise, the budget before Congress spends only 540 billion to beneficiaries of Social Security. The remainder goes to general spending replaced with “I owe You’s” in the form of government bonds. Either Congress does not spend all it can for Social Security, or commits fraud regarding the tax structure for social security.
Fraud in terms of collecting money for a defined benefit without responsibility to fully fund the benefit today and maintain assets for liabilities in the future. Most or all private corporate, union, state and municipal pension or retirement funds work under regulations Congress dictates without Congress following their own rules. If any taxpayer started a scheme where he or she would collect money from every person possible, promise a defined benefit in the future and then wasted all the money received; then federal government would have them prosecuted for fraud. Local news stations would film the “perp walk” live and proper public vilification would ensue. This gross misconduct regarding the funds of current and future retirees is nothing short of criminal.
It is criminal today, but could be liberating in the future. It is time for Congress to leave the ball on the ground while the voter kicks it through the uprights. The voter earns the money and should be able to invest part of his or her Social Security taxes into a private account. This account would be hands off to the politicians. The account will grow and compound tax free. It becomes an asset of the individual. These are all ideas foreign to Congress. Congress learned how bad Social Security was years ago. All employees elected or not, to the Federal Government are exempt from Social Security and invest their retirement monies in a thrift or stock and bond plan. They control their retirement, they control their elderly future, and they control their destiny. It is not enough to control their own retirement bliss, but control the retirement of every current and future Social Security beneficiary. A few hundred people control the future of millions. Seems like tyrannical rule of a few over the retirement of the masses.
The tyranny can end. Any transfer of funds from Congress to spend on individual accounts is beneficial. Considering there are 34 percent more receipts this year than obligations for the plan a third would be a great start. This scares elected officials all over the country. When the plans begin to grow EVERY American will demand more to invest in their accounts. True economic retirement liberty will become a possibility. An asset for some that would have none untouchable from the greedy hands of Congress. It would be liberation worthy of fireworks and celebration. Probably just as much excitement as Charlie Brown would have kicking the field goal. If only Congress would keep the ball on the ground.
Inept Edward Kennedy
02.02.2005
When does free speech turn into traitorous propaganda? When does speaking provide comfort to our enemies? When does politics turn into coercion? When does a political loser embolden through an outright loss? It happens every time Senator Edward Kennedy opens his mouth.
Senator Kennedy spares no words when speaking of the President or policies from subordinates. He continues to speak about the losses in the war against terrorism without mentioning the successes. He rails against political appointees through the “advice and consent” process. He cares not for who he berates nor has any respect for those that clearly voted last November with a voice decimating his party and the positions for which he stands.
He emboldens our enemies in a simple fashion. He suggests prisoners in the war on terror should have Geneva Convention rights as well as rights under our Constitution. He waits with baited breath as the news accounts for more blood shed in
Domestically, he opposes everything the elected administration desires. Weather it is social security reform, political appointments, or budgets; he will vote and speak no regardless of the defeat last November. If the voter desired the same as him then there would be a change in the White House. The change did not occur, so now he looks for every camera and every microphone to display his lack of class and integrity as the administration moves forward. He cannot move forward because his philosophy is in the past.
He speaks of the war as it is Bush’s
It must be easy to be so blind. The economy is terrible yet social security has no problems. Coupled with other leaders in his party, he fails to remember the lock box needed just 5 years ago to maintain social security solvency. Even the bill with his name for education is a boondoggle even though he was a main sponsor. He sees nothing but negativity for the future. There are no new ideas from this fossil of the sixties.
Even if he is a fixture in the Senate, there is no reason to worry. Defeat of this great country is what he banks upon. He would rather have a decimated country looking to the government to feed and clothe constituents than a growing country optimistically executing their own vision of the future. He wants
Dream Hard, Work Harder
01.17.2005
This day marks the birthday of a great leader in American history. The historical significance regards a man that dreamt of an
It would have been easy for Dr. King to sit on a porch, discuss the times with his friends and share a dream of an
Working for a dream is hard. It can even seem impossible, because people tend not to dream small. Dreams are grand in nature. If they were simple, then they would not be dreams. A dream shared can bring drastic consequences. If the dream challenges conventional wisdom of the time, it can be brutal. Ridicule, threats, condemnation followed Dr. King everywhere he went to share his dream. He did not back down to his adversaries. He stood tall, rose above and stayed the course of his dream. The setbacks he suffered were such that maintained his resolve to continue. He continued to work for his dream until his premature death. His work, his legacy, his results are worthy a national holiday of remembrance for his sacrifice to guide the winds of change through the great land of liberty.
A lesson to learn from his life is to not chase a dream, but work for the dream. When a roadblock comes across the path, keep walking. The fire hoses of oppression and negativity cannot stop a motivated individual from accomplishment. No jail can house the free spirit in the mind of a dreamer.
In This Corner…..Lets Get Ready to Donate!
01.05.2005
In This Corner…..Lets Get Ready to Donate!
Perhaps it would be fun to envision Michael Buffer introducing the two factions. “For Team United Nations, wearing purple trunks with white flags, Kofi ‘American Hater’ Annan and ‘Stingy’ Jan Egeland”. Then the lights dim, Hail to the Chief starts, American flags flying from all the fans – “In the other corner, for team UUUUUUUUUnited States of Amerrrrrrricaaaaa, wearing red, white and blue trunks with stars, Presidents William ‘FEEL MY PAIN’ Jefferson Clinton and George Herbert ‘Light you up a 1000 ways’ Walker Bush.
It might not be that dramatic of a match, but President Bush arranged the perfect team to place the most capitalist country against the rest of the world. Pitting his father and predecessor against the United Nations shows a united front with the goal to send the hard earned American Dollar to the people in need without the sticky fingers of the United Nations “Philanthrocrats”.
The philanthrocrats act similar to the bureaucrats in
It is also an opportunity to show the generosity of the American people. Most of the socialist-capitalist countries in the European Union provide all to their citizens while taxing them to poverty. In
Charity is important to American culture. With only 290 million people, the American society will give more than all nations and billions of people combined. There are American ships off the coasts of the affected countries providing vehicles to navigate the rough terrain infrastructure restoration, security, floating hospitals, as well as rations to help feed the hungry. The ships were there in a matter of days. In addition the