Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.
Concerning an addition of 1% to the sales tax in my local community
Well the dust has settled in Linn County Iowa and the forces of Let's Raise Taxes, someone else will pay for it, have won,
Here is an exchange I had on facebook, The names are absent, because at the present time I prefer to speak about Principles rather than Personalities.
It all started when I read the following
"congratulations Marionites. We passed the LOST penny and will receive $20 million over next 5 years for sewer, streets & parks. Also our sewer bills will remain static rather than double as projected. Good for Marion!!"
My immediate reaction was, "this person sounds like they really think someone just GAVE them -$20 Million. Don't they realise that $20 Million just left the wallets of taxpayers and went into the hot little hands of politicians???
I responded with
I see if they don't get the vote they want just keep doing it over and over until they get the vote they want?
sounds like some recent Congressional Races to me.
and
"Also our sewer bills will remain static rather than double as projected. "
But your TAXES are going up $20 Million dollars or do you really think folks are going to drive to Marion to give them that money?
Guess who gets to pay for the bulk of your $20 million dollar windfall, guess who gets hurt worst by a tax lke this?
Now I WAS mistaken about the $20 Million cost to Marion Taxpayers for which I was promptly corrected.
Do you guys even do any research before you take a position? Marion pays out 13 million and receives 20 million. My sewer bill was projected to double in 4 years and now won't. It would have been monumentally STUPID to vote NO if you live in Marion. Sometimes you can be so married to ideology that you will cut off your nose to spite your face. That is what the vote NO crowd was NOT able to accomplish tonight. Sorry some of you can't see that.
My responce was
I see the fact that taxpayers other than those in Marion get to foot $7 million of the Bill makes a difference
Wait a minute I don't live in Marion, Oh well I will console myself in the words of Joe Biden that I do my patriotic duty ensuring lower sewer bills in Marion ;-)
Just call me monumentally STUPID, and maybe meanspirited and greedy but what they refer to as "married to ideology" I think of as "standing on principle"
Not everyone can get more tax money back than they pay in. SOMEONE has to have that extra bit lifted from their wallet,
It would seem this person does not care about that factor as long as THEY are not the one who has to come up with the extra largess.
How valid are your principles on Holding the Line on Taxation if you are
going to fold your hand the first time Des Moines decides to "buy you off"
At present nationally
the bottom 60% of income earners pay less than 1% of federal income taxes on net.
When "tax credits" primarily go to this group in the form of checks from the government (rather than a reduction in their tax burden) it is simply an abuse of the language to call the spending a tax cut.
What it really should be called is "Redistribution of Wealth" and isn't that what this article started with someone crowing about?
They are happy they will be getting back more than they pay in.
Of course Obama's plan will end up with folks who did not PAY income tax at all getting checks cut from money taken out of the pockets of those who DO pay taxes.
In the words of our good friend they would be monumentally STUPID not to vote for someone who would do that for them
As for the rest of us, we would be equally STUPID not to resist it,
But if we have those among us that don't mind this process as long as THEY are on the receiving end of the handouts we have a problem, particularly if the person is someone we voted for and helped elect,
There has been a lot of controversy about Miss California's answer to Perez Hilton, I want you to watch these two video clips and then answer a few questions.
If Miss Prejean's answer makes her an outright Bigot, Doesn't that implication hold true therefore for President Obama?
Also how can it be claimed her opinion is extreme or fringe
If that is the same opinion as the majority vote of the State of California,
The majority of the country and the President?
Unless there is a NewSpeak definition of extreme or frnge?
While Harry Truman did say, "The Buck Stops Here" in some cases the Buch never makes it to the Oval Office.
There has been a lot of excitement over the buzzing of high rise buildings in New York City recently by one of the Air Force 1 aircraft for a "photo-op"??
This might have been in mere bad taste were it not for the decision NOT to disclose this event to the Public.
NEW YORK (WABC) -- A photo shoot involving an Air Force aircraft and two fighter jets led to hundreds of frightened calls from residents and workers in Lower Manhattan Monday
How did we come to a day when a Russian TV network would appear to be acting in a professional manner, and CNN would be acting like Socialist Attack Dogs?
A Strange Thing Happened on the Way to the Epicycles
I use the term "epicycles" as an example of an extremely complex convoluted method to force reality into conformance with a desired outcome.
This is a not uncommon occurrence in human endeavors and if the initial starting point of the paradigm is invalid the results can be bizarre and paradoxical.
I met recently with the Leadership of the Linn County Central Committee,
Our dialog was civilized and the basic outcome was that, we agreed to disagree
.
They do not agree with my analysis of the situation the Committee finds itself in, but that they did not have any desire to silence me.
To which I agreed.
It is not my habit to merely dispute an issue with someone and then not think about the matter further. I spent a fair amount of time later that day mulling over the implications of what we discussed.
To recap the situation as it appears to me.
At the February Central Committee meeting David Chung, and quite correctly I might add, brought up a point of procedure, on Iowa State Election Code and the various Constitutions of the Republican Party at the State and County level
.
The result was that we were in fact not in compliance with the above as far as membership and more importantly eligibility to vote and it has come to my attention after investigation, that this situation may be back 10 years or so.
The practice of asking if anyone wished to join the committee and then voting them in is not even close to compliance with State Law and our Constitutions and By-Laws.
A serious problem since at the time we were looking at Officer's Elections at the March meeting.
It was decided to form a committee to examine the Form As from the Precinct Caucuses in order to compile a list of Credentialed Voters.
Now that method was IMO quite correct.
The State Election Code states.
43.99 Party committee persons.
Two members of the county central committee for each political party shall, at the precinct caucuses, be elected from each precinct
The State and County Party Constitutions state
<
IV. MEMBERSHIP OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE
The County Central Committee shall consist of two precinct committee members elected from each precinct at the precinct caucuses
So it appears to me that the only persons who couldhave been listed for the March Election as Central Committee members were those elected to those positions at the Precinct Caucuses.
It would seem that everything should have been simple. Look at the Form A records from the Caucuses and list those persons elected to those posts.
However the list that was derived included not solely persons listed as elected to be County Central Committee Members, but Chairs, Co-Chairs, Secretaries and a category called Alternates.
Now let me be clear on one thing there is no position as Alternate County Committee Member, there is something called an Assistant Central Committee Member, but those are appointed by a majority vote of the Central Committee which does not happen at the Caucus.
In my opinion, our list contained not just elected Central Committee Members who were eligible to vote but others who were not eligible.
At least not in compliance with the State Election Code and the Constitutions and By-Laws.
In fact I am informed that one elected Central Committee member's name did not appear on his Precinct Caucuses Form A and therefore they did not vote someone who Chaired the Caucus voted instead.
When I presented my conclusions, which are the Election may not be valid, the response seems to have been we should let it stand because we voted on it.
I may be doing the two gentlemen a disservice but to me the logic seems to be.
Upon discovery that a large portion of those who thought they were Committee Members, were in fact not,
We examined the Form As and compiled a list of persons many of whom were not eligible to vote either,
and we should let the results stand because
The original group comprised of many people who were not eligible to vote, voted to do so.
This sort of circular argument, gives me a headache.
In a latter article I will present my own ideas on how to remedy this situation in a Post I plan to title
The following is an exchange between me and David Chung who sits on the Subcommittee for Caucuses and Rules of the Iowa Republican Central Committee.
I requested, and recieved Mr Chung's permission to post the contents of his email.
My words to prevent any confusion, will be in bold red font.
I will take your points in a biblical manner the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
Dan,
I appreciate your thoughtful inquiry. I have a couple of comments about your notes.
4) Mark Hudson. I do not know whether Mark is a member of the Central Committee or an alternate. Regardless, the bylaws allow officers to be selected from outside the membership. This is a common practice. According to Roberts Rules chairmen who are not members may not vote or break ties. In the RPI Constitution, the Chair is not a member but is allowed to break ties. The RNC Constitution also allows non-members to serve as chair (I don't know whether non-member chairs are given voting rights). Current RNC chair, Michael Steele was elected from outside the RNC membership.
4) The correct term for the secondary class of Central Commitee Members as per the By-Laws is ASSISTANT COMMITTEE PERSONS and while can be heard, have no voting rights but as you point out if they are Chairing they can break a tie since Robert's Rules of Order take precedence unless the By-Laws preclude them
IX. RULES OF ORDER
Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall prevail unless modified by these by-laws.
So an Officer does not have to be a Central Committee member since the By-Laws also state.
The
Central Committee shall elect either from its’ membership or otherwise a chair, co-chair,
secretary, treasurer and other officers as it may determine
I interpret Otherwise as they don't have to be a member, however anyone who is an officer but not a voting member would have no voting rights unless they were chairing and a tie had been called
3) Our (Linn County's) Constitution and By-laws do allow for alternate members who do not have voting privileges except in the absence of their elected committee people. It has been many years, but we used to keep ordered lists of alternates per precinct. People who came to meetings to join were informed whether they could join as members (to fill vacancies) or alternates if there were no vacancies.
3) Again the accurate term is Assistant Central Committee Persons and it is correct as you state that in the absence of an Elected Committee Member one or two from a Precinct maybe given temporay voting rights. But since the By=Laws are mute on the mechanism I would assume it would be by a vote of a Quorum. Present.
@
2) The question of who are the two elected members is a more difficult one to answer. I proposed the first two names from form A because it is the only record we have of what happened on caucus night. In the two precincts that I moderated, we did have elections and we did elect two CC members. They were reported on form A. In my opinion form A was the only reasonable way to attempt to re-construct the results of caucus night. As I mentioned, I am on the State Central Committee's organization sub-committee. Issues like rules and the caucus (and form A) fall under my committees purview. This situation will not happen again
@
1) It was not improper for the county central committee to add new members. However, only those added to fill 'vacancies' are actually full-fledged CC members. Since Linn Courty (and RPI) by-laws allow the committee to fill vacancies and this power is granted explicitly in the Iowa code. What the committee cannot do, is add more members than two per precinct without taking the special steps defined in the code of allocating new seats proportionate to the precinct's voting in the last election.
@
2 & 1) Yes that is indeed much more difficult. You recall I missed my Caucus? It being the first I would have attended I have no experience with how these things should run, but looking at the Paul handout I would say that would be a good way to do it.
So I asked my next door neighbors what they remembered. They recall there was an Acting Chairman who was elected to be Permanent Chair and they do not recall ANY other ELECTIONS that night for Permanent Secretary, County Convention Delegates, County Convention Alternate Delegates Nor for Central Committee Members,
With respect we cannot allow individuals to simply fill in who they wish for these positions and in the absence of any documentary evidence, Form A for instance that clearly indicates that a person was elected to the positon of The Precinct County Central Committee Member, or witnesses to the same, then that position is Vacant.
Now IF we can find 20 people who were elected in the correct manner as happened in your Caucus? The situation is simple,. They consitute a Legal Quorum of the County Central Committee and as stated
Vacancies in the County Central Committee may be filled by a majority of those members of
the Committee present and voting.
and yes this situation does not need to happen again, we shoud wipe the slate clean and restart in the correct maner, even if what is required is the process stated in Article VI Secion 7 of the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA
7. Vacancies on the County Central Committee may be
filled by majority vote of the County Central Committee, or
at a special precinct caucus called by the County Central
Committee.
The following is an extentsion of my (Dan Kauffman's) remarks after gathering more information
I have recieved reports to date on the actions of 8 precincts in 4 there were elections for Central Committe
Members. In 3 the person I have been in contact with have no recollection of special elections for
Central Committe Members. In the last and 8th Caucus, there were two nominations from the floor
for Central Committee Members, being unopposed it was the consensus of the Precinct Caucus that
their positons were afirmed BUT their names did not appear on Form A.
@
As a result when it came time for the Election in March one of these two, who had been attending
Central Commitees all year under the impression that they were one of the two credebtialed Central
Committee Member, was not able to vote and instead someone whose name did appear on Form
A and who this person had never seen in a meeting since the Caucus voted instead,
The Chinese have a curse, "May you live in interesting times."
Well times certainly have been interesting in the Linn County GOP Central Committee of late.
Like quite a few others and perhaps some of you for quite some time I thought I was a member of that organization. It appears I was in error.
Now it is true like so many others over the years since I started attending, when the Floor asked if there were anyone present who wished to join, I spoke up, introduced myself and there was a motion made and seconded to admit me and after those present had voted in the affirmative, I considered myself a member.
In fact one of the newly elected officers joined the Central Committee in the very same manner during the monthly meeting before the Election.
The truth however is that neither of us are members.
The issue was raised in the February meeting as to confusion about the official list of Central Committee members.
David Chung spoke, quite correctly and to his credit I might add, to the issue that the Linn County Central Committee was not in accordance with the Legal Code of the State of Iowa in such matters.
Now while I have only spoken with Mr Chung on a few occasions during meetings, he has always struck me as a person with what I would deem
personal integrity of the highest order, so I did not doubt his words, but determined to at least investigate them.
So it was that I and quite a few others found that we were not in fact able to vote during the recent elections, but instead there was compiled a list of names from Form A of the last Precinct Caucuses.
This List included the names of the persons who were listed as Permanent Chair, Co-Chair and Alternates.
Two of the above were declared the Linn County Central Committee representative for their Precinct and the Election Results were tallied after they delivered their votes.
Upon investigation, the Truth is indeed that the only valid members of the Linn County Central Committee are those elected during Precinct Caucuses.
I don't know what the opinion of others was at the time but IMO the Paul Campaign was extremely well organized. ;-)
The above links are to PDF files, if you do not have a PDF viewer a simple Freeware PDF viewer can be obtained HERE
Now I must caution the reader the Iowa State Election Code file is about 13 megs rather lengthy
But the pertinent sections are
43.99 Party committee persons.
Two members of the county central committee for each political party shall, at the precinct caucuses, be elected from each precinct. The term of office of a member shall begin at the time specified by the party’s state constitution or bylaws and shall continue for two years and until a successor is elected and qualified, unless sooner removed by the county central committee for inattention to duty or incompetency. The party’s state constitution or bylaws may permit the election of additional central committee members from each precinct in a number proportionate to the vote cast for the party’s candidates for office in the respective precincts at preceding general elections.
Delegates to county conventions of political parties and party committee members shall be elected at precinct caucuses held not later than the fourth Monday in February of each even-numbered year. The date shall be at least eight days earlier than the scheduled date for any meeting, caucus or primary which constitutes the first determining stage of the presidential nominating process in any other state, territory or any other group which has the authority to select delegates in the presidential nomination. The state central committees of the political parties shall set the date for their caucuses. The county chairperson of each political party shall issue the call for the caucuses. The county chairperson shall file with the commissioner the meeting place of each precinct caucus at least seven days prior to the date of holding the caucus.
There shall be selected among those present at a precinct caucus a chairperson and a secretary who shall within seven days certify to the county central committee the names of those elected as party committee members and delegates to the county convention
From the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA
ARTICLE VI
COUNTY COMMITTEES
1. County Central Committees shall consist of two
precinct committee members elected from each precinct. Every
County Central Committee shall adopt a Constitution and
Bylaws which shall govern the operation of the Committee, and
which may contain a provision for the election of additional
Central Committee members from each precinct in a number
proportionate to the Republican vote cast in that precinct at
the last preceding general election for President of the
United States or for Governor of Iowa, as the case may
7. Vacancies on the County Central Committee may be
filled by majority vote of the County Central Committee, or
at a special precinct caucus called by the County Central
Committee
From the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
LINN COUNTY
IV. MEMBERSHIP OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE
The County Central Committee shall consist of two precinct committee members elected from
each precinct at the precinct caucuses. The Constitution of the Republican Party of Iowa
permits a provision to be adopted in the County by-laws for the election of additional Central
Committee members from each precinct in a number proportionate to the Republican vote
cast in the precinct at the last preceding general election for President of the United States or
for the Governor of Iowa, as the case may be.
When elected, a member of the County Central Committee must be a resident of the precinct
from which elected. The term of office of a member of the County Central Committee shall
begin on the day following the precinct caucus and shall continue until the next precinct
caucus and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. A member may be removed
by the County Central Committee for inattention to duty, incompetence, or active support of
an opponent of a Republican nominee. Vacancies on the County Central Committee shall be
filled by the County Central Committee.
VI. MEETINGS
The Chair or Co-Chair or twenty (20) members of the Linn County Central Committee may
call a meeting of said Committee and there shall be no less than six (6) meetings per year.
From the
BY-LAWS OF THE LINN COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL
COMMITTEE
I. VACANCIES
Vacancies in the County Central Committee may be filled by a majority of those members of
the Committee present and voting.
II. ASSISTANT COMMITTEE PERSONS
The County Central Committee shall have the power to designate and select additional
members from each precinct to assist the Committee persons. They shall have the right to
attend meetings and to be heard. They shall not have the right to vote, except in the
absence of a Committee person form their own precinct.
III. REMOVAL OF COMMITTEE PERSONS
Any member of the County Central Committee who, without good cause, misses two (2)
consecutive meetings of the County Central Committee, whether they are regular, specially
scheduled or instructional meetings, or who fails to promptly carry out his or her assigned
duties within the time specified under the organization's program which the Committee has
adopted may be removed by action of the county Central committee and a replacement
selected to fill the vacancy caused by his removal. No removal shall be effected until the
member is given an opportunity to be heard at the next meeting after which his or her
removal is introduced.
IV. EXCUSED ABSENCE
In the event a member is unable to attend a meeting for a good cause, he or she shall notify
the secretary in advance that he or she is unable to attend.
X. AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended by majority vote of those present at any called meeting of
the Central Committee. Written notice of the proposed amendment must be forwarded to the
members of the Committee with a notice calling the meeting, and be postmarked at least ten
(10) days prior to the meeting at which said amendment is to be presented for consideration
and vote.
XI. QUORUM
Twenty (20) members of the County Central Committee shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of transacting any business which shall be presented for consideration and vote.
Well I think all can agree that the Iowas State Election Code, the Constitution of the Republican Party of the State of Iowa and the Constitution of the Linn County GOP Central Committee and it's By-Laws are clear.
Unless you were Elected to be one of the Precinct delegates to the County Central Committee at the Precinct Caucus then you are NOT a member of the County Central Committee,
So if you stood up in a Central Committee meeting in the past were recognized and accepted by voice vote to be a Member of the Linn County Central Committee?
Sorry but you aren't
However it is equally true that if your name appeared on a Caucus Form A as a Chair, Co-Chair, Alternate or Secretary?
You are no more a Member of the County Central Committee than the above,
Chair Co-Chair and Secretary elections are only for the purpose of running the Caucus. County Delegates and County Delegate Alternates are for the purposes of the Function of the County Convention,.
Precinct delegates to act as County Central Committee Members for the two years between elections are a separate election, Assuming the Chair Co-Chair Alternate, or Secretary, can be a Central Committee Member has no more validity than assuming a Voice Vote at a meeting makes you a Country Central Committee Member.
What does this mean?
A royal mess, Unless there can be found at a minimum 20 persons who were elected at their Precinct Caucuses to be County Central Committee Members this body does not have a quorum. It also means that if there were not 20 persons who were so elected at the last Officer Elections?
That Election has No standing under the Election Laws of the State of Iowa, nor under the Constitutions of the Republican Party of the State of Iowa, nor under the Constitution and By-Laws of the Linn County Central Committee.
The Election is Invalid and we must first ascertain we can assemble a quorum of Central Committee Members that fits the definition under the present Law.
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight.. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.
Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and
filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to
start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time..
As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base '
His friend agreed.
I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. &nb sp; She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'
Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!
Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.
It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'
That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'
May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your email buddy list....
