The editorial on April 3rd "Flirting with 'sexting' remedy" describes the controversy over teenage girls sending "racy photos of themselves" to classmates. It concludes "A legal remedy maybe required in some sexting cases. For that, prosecutors should look to the juvenile-court system, with punishment emphasizing counseling, not jail time. Any legal action, though, should be a last resort to address a trend among teens that is irresponsible and careless, but not necessarily criminal."
WATCHDOG: Getting upset about kids sending picture with themselves "in a bra" or "emerging from a shower, towel wrapped around her waist" reflects more on the warped mind set of the accuser than any wrong action by the kids. How does this differ from being at the beach?
The Watchdog awards the New Era a wag of the tail for addressing the matter and, if ever so gently, suggesting that we should let kids be kids.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
(Nothing)
WATCHDOG: Another sign that the "Fourth Floor" at the Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. controls content is the lack of any commentary in the Intelligencer Journal, New Era and the Sunday News on the defacto shutting down of the New Era.
The Sunday News notes the occurance in its column "Catching Up On The News" with about 60 words under "Papers Combine." A brief mention of job losses at the newspapers accompanies those at other firms in the lead article "Where we stand in shaky economy." But that's it.
No editor or journalist dares to comment upon, let alone criticize, the "Fourth Floor" when it comes to closing down the New Era or, for that matter, when it comes to misleading the public concerning the Convention Center Project and the witch hunt of the former commissioners.
WATCHDOG: Another sign that the "Fourth Floor" at the Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. controls content is the lack of any commentary in the Intelligencer Journal, New Era and the Sunday News on the defacto shutting down of the New Era.
The Sunday News notes the occurance in its column "Catching Up On The News" with about 60 words under "Papers Combine." A brief mention of job losses at the newspapers accompanies those at other firms in the lead article "Where we stand in shaky economy." But that's it.
No editor or journalist dares to comment upon, let alone criticize, the "Fourth Floor" when it comes to closing down the New Era or, for that matter, when it comes to misleading the public concerning the Convention Center Project and the witch hunt of the former commissioners.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
NEW ERA
"'By consolidating our news reporting efforts into one daily newspaper, we plan to significantly increase local news coverage and our reporting efforts throughout Lancaster County,' [Editor Ray] Shaw said. ....Regarding Lancaster Newspapers' Web initiatives, [Ernie] Schreiber said, 'We are preparing to launch major improvements to our Web sites, adding new features and information aimed at increasing our presence on the Internet.'"
WATCHDOG: Let's hope this is no April Fools joke. Three wags of the tail.
Monday, March 30, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
Associated Press dispatch headed "Sources: Obama to give GM two months to restructure" goes on to say "Under the plan, the government would provide up to $6 billion to forge the alliance between Chrysler and Fiat, but if the companies failed to reach an agreement or find an alternative plan for viability, Chrysler would not receive additional aid."
WATCHDOG: What madness! Is the federal government unaware that General Motors paid over a billion dollars to Fiat just a decade ago to disentangle itself from doing business with what a knowledgeable author described as the second Italian Mafia?
A fellow company of NewsLanc shut down its three Fiat auto dealerships in Hungary rather than go along with Fiat's violation of contracts and arguably laws.
At the same time, troubled Fiat gave all of the public signs of an impending profitable merger with an American auto maker while privately selling off a large portion of the stock of the founding family at a momentarily inflated price. The value of the stocked plunged to a new low when the merger did not materialize a few months later.
A deal with Fiat would create a direct pipe line for American taxes to this disreputable company.
Chapter 11 would be a far better arrangement for employees, dealers, customers and our country!
WATCHDOG: What madness! Is the federal government unaware that General Motors paid over a billion dollars to Fiat just a decade ago to disentangle itself from doing business with what a knowledgeable author described as the second Italian Mafia?
A fellow company of NewsLanc shut down its three Fiat auto dealerships in Hungary rather than go along with Fiat's violation of contracts and arguably laws.
At the same time, troubled Fiat gave all of the public signs of an impending profitable merger with an American auto maker while privately selling off a large portion of the stock of the founding family at a momentarily inflated price. The value of the stocked plunged to a new low when the merger did not materialize a few months later.
A deal with Fiat would create a direct pipe line for American taxes to this disreputable company.
Chapter 11 would be a far better arrangement for employees, dealers, customers and our country!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
A "Living" section front page article is titled "Circumcision: Nationwide, practice is declining; but Lancaster County keeps to tradition." It goes on to say "Circumcision was once believed to contribute to cleanliness and, therefore, reduce risk of urinary-tract infections and even sexually transmitted diseases. Then, a 1999 policy statement, made after a two-year investigation by the American Academy of Pediatrics, determined the procedure was not significantly effective in preventing infection or disease."
WATCHDOG: A quick search of "AIDS Circumcision Africa" on Google produced an April 27, 2006 New York Times article headlined "Circumcision Studied in Africa as AIDS Preventive."
It states: "The most striking studies suggest that men can lower their own risk of infection by roughly two-thirds, and that infected men can reduce the odds of transmitting the virus to their partners by about 30 percent, simply by undergoing circumcision. Research suggests that the cells on the underside of the foreskin are prime targets for the virus and that tears and abrasions in the foreskin can invite the infection."
The findings have been substantiated by further studies and are well accepted. Where circumcision has been combined with single partner sexual relationships and condoms, the ratio of HIV / AIDS in the population in African nations has dropped to Western levels, approximately 3%.
Circumcision is accepted in Muslim countries but it will take much education to successfully introduce it into other cultures. Practitioners of native medicine are often enlisted into the effort.
WATCHDOG: A quick search of "AIDS Circumcision Africa" on Google produced an April 27, 2006 New York Times article headlined "Circumcision Studied in Africa as AIDS Preventive."
It states: "The most striking studies suggest that men can lower their own risk of infection by roughly two-thirds, and that infected men can reduce the odds of transmitting the virus to their partners by about 30 percent, simply by undergoing circumcision. Research suggests that the cells on the underside of the foreskin are prime targets for the virus and that tears and abrasions in the foreskin can invite the infection."
The findings have been substantiated by further studies and are well accepted. Where circumcision has been combined with single partner sexual relationships and condoms, the ratio of HIV / AIDS in the population in African nations has dropped to Western levels, approximately 3%.
Circumcision is accepted in Muslim countries but it will take much education to successfully introduce it into other cultures. Practitioners of native medicine are often enlisted into the effort.
Friday, March 27, 2009
NEW ERA
A "special report" appeared on March 27 entitled: "The young & the homeless Students who live in motels, shelters or even cars are an ongoing nationwide and local problem. Lancaster and Hempfield, the county’s two biggest school districts, are coping with troubling increases."
WATCHDOG: Two wags of the tail for this timely, informative and compelling article. It demonstrates that when the New Era allows reporters enough time to investigate, it can turn out quality product.
WATCHDOG: Two wags of the tail for this timely, informative and compelling article. It demonstrates that when the New Era allows reporters enough time to investigate, it can turn out quality product.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In an article titled "Nuclear's comeback isn't cheered by all", the Intell reports "Currently, 17 companies have applied to the NRC for 26 licenses, and new plants may soon be built, creating as many as 100,000 new jobs."
WATCHDOG: Shh! Don't tell the New Era. They wrote nuclear energy's obituary a couple of weeks back.
WATCHDOG: Shh! Don't tell the New Era. They wrote nuclear energy's obituary a couple of weeks back.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
NEW ERA
An article appears with a frowning picture of State Representative Mike Sturla headed "Sturla's nonprofit may be scrutinized by AG." The opening sentences are: "The case of the once-powerful state lawmaker accused of misusing money from a nonprofit he founded is likely to shed light on a small number of similar foundations in Pennsylvania, including one started by Rep. Mike Sturla here. Investigators with the state Attorney General's Office are 'scrutinizing' the nonprofits created by legislators who serve on their boards and get almost all their money from the state, said Kevin Harley, a spokesman for the office."
WATCHDOG: Gee, we figure good old Mike is going to have to do time in the slammer!
But wait: Two thirds down the lengthly articles we discover: "But no one has alleged or even suggested that Sturla or LIVE has done anything wrong. In fact, the nonprofit's IRS filings show the group has funded dozens of projects in the community — playgrounds, book drives, free smoke detectors and the like —with money it received from the state Department of Community and Economic Development."
What a relief! What a con!
WATCHDOG: Gee, we figure good old Mike is going to have to do time in the slammer!
But wait: Two thirds down the lengthly articles we discover: "But no one has alleged or even suggested that Sturla or LIVE has done anything wrong. In fact, the nonprofit's IRS filings show the group has funded dozens of projects in the community — playgrounds, book drives, free smoke detectors and the like —with money it received from the state Department of Community and Economic Development."
What a relief! What a con!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
An article from the Associated Press reports: "Gov. Ed Rendell ousted the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's chairman Monday, citing 'overwhelming' evidence that Mitchell Rub accepted $150,000 in taxpayer-paid work that apparently was never done and makes it inappropriate for him to stay on the commission."
WATCHDOG: NewsLanc's investigation of over a million dollars in payments to Dan Logan raises a similar question of what work was performed. The State provided over $20 million in funding for the Convention Center Project. Does it take a conviction for Rendell and his attorney general to take notice?
WATCHDOG: NewsLanc's investigation of over a million dollars in payments to Dan Logan raises a similar question of what work was performed. The State provided over $20 million in funding for the Convention Center Project. Does it take a conviction for Rendell and his attorney general to take notice?
Monday, March 23, 2009
CNN.COM
"The chains that own large metropolitan dailies such as the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune are in bankruptcy. Other papers, large and small, are teetering on the brink.
"On Monday, the Ann Arbor (Michigan) News announced that it will publish its last edition in July. Taking its place will be a Web site called AnnArbor.com.
Three other Michigan newspapers announced Monday they are reducing their publications to three days a week...
"And the Charlotte Observer announced Monday it will cut its staff by 14.6 percent and reduce the pay of most of the employees it keeps."
WATCHDOG: Yet the Lancaster Newspapers continue to publish two dailies and the Sunday News. Hmm.
"On Monday, the Ann Arbor (Michigan) News announced that it will publish its last edition in July. Taking its place will be a Web site called AnnArbor.com.
Three other Michigan newspapers announced Monday they are reducing their publications to three days a week...
"And the Charlotte Observer announced Monday it will cut its staff by 14.6 percent and reduce the pay of most of the employees it keeps."
WATCHDOG: Yet the Lancaster Newspapers continue to publish two dailies and the Sunday News. Hmm.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In a March 23rd letter to the editor headed "Why I voted against a tax on bonuses", U. S. Rep. Joe Pitts states: "Bonuses are certainly not warranted. But I voted against the bill because I think it was unconstitutional. Retroactive taxes are not good public policy."
WATCHDOG: He's right. A wave of the tail!
WATCHDOG: He's right. A wave of the tail!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
On March 22, Gil Smart writes "Yet there was a time when elitism was clearly understood in the manner Black suggests- the economic elite who, the suspicion went, gamed to the system to their benefit."
WATCHDOG: Lancaster is a microcosm of how, over the past decade, a powerful economic elite has worked behind the scenes to manipulate the government and news media to enhance their wealth at the expense of the tax payers.
You don't belong to the economic elite by simply being rich. To qualify for club membership, you either have to be avariciously greedy... or a dupe.
Monday, March 16, 2009
NEWSMAX.COM
The March 16 article entitled "Dalies Dying, But News Business Is Thriving" goes on to say:
"While the business model of many news organizations appears to be fracturing, there's little indication that consumers are losing interest in news, says the Project for Excellence in Journalism....Newspapers have failed to figure out how to make their Web sites profitable, [Tom] Rosenstiel said. They're slow to realize that people aren't going to pay for content in the way they do for traditional newspapers."
"While the business model of many news organizations appears to be fracturing, there's little indication that consumers are losing interest in news, says the Project for Excellence in Journalism....Newspapers have failed to figure out how to make their Web sites profitable, [Tom] Rosenstiel said. They're slow to realize that people aren't going to pay for content in the way they do for traditional newspapers."
Sunday, March 15, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
In his weekly column, Editor Marv Adams asks "Where would ['web' aggregators] be without the newspapers that originate more than 90 percent of the news in this country?"
WATCHDOG: For most parts of the country, in ten to twenty years the news will come from local web sites that are the successors to the print media. The big issue is whether the web sites will evolve out of the newspapers or will they be founded by others. That's the reason for www.LancasterOnLine.com .
WATCHDOG: For most parts of the country, in ten to twenty years the news will come from local web sites that are the successors to the print media. The big issue is whether the web sites will evolve out of the newspapers or will they be founded by others. That's the reason for www.LancasterOnLine.com .
SUNDAY NEWS
In his Ides of March column "Specter should switch sides", Gil Smart opines "Were [Senator Arlen Specter] to switch parties and run as a Democrat, he would likely destroy Toomey, or anyone else, in the general election. One suspects Specter would get more than a little satisfaction from that."
WATCHDOG: Specter switched from Democrat to Republican in 1965 in order to run successfully for district attorney in Philadelphia. After publisher Robert Field, as Specter's state wide finance chair, accompanied an aide of Senator Howard Baker to meet with several prominent Philadelphia Republicans, Rob Mossbacher inquired rhetorically "Doesn't anybody like the son-of-a-bitch?" Specter was sold to the Republicans on the simple premise that "Howard Baker needs Arlen to have enough votes to organize the Senate." Their check books opened if not their hearts.
To say that Specter was an opportunist during the early decades of his Senate career would be no overstatement. As a young ssenator, he could seldom pass up an a chance to get in front of a television camera. He was not held in high esteem by many colleagues.
To gain attention, he sponsored Draconian laws concerning illicit drugs that have plagued the judiciary and the country, which he has come to regret.
But time changes us physically as well as our outlook. Specter matured and, except for an unsuccessful testing of the early presidential primaries in 2000 as a moderate, he focused on Senate business and important sub-committee and eventually committee chairmanships. And before and after George W. Bush's ascendency, he leaned to the middle.
Specter did shift to the right when W. was elected / selected in 2000. Specter was too driven by personal ambition to have risked defeat in the 2004 primary. Only with the earned blessing of the then president was he able to squeak through. Liberals might say that, to Specter, re-election was more important than beliefs.
Yet, it seems improbable that Specter would be willing to again suffer the scorn resulting from switching political parties. Better to be a retired five time senator (be it by choice or the will of your constituents) than be perceived as a traitor by Republicans who have supported you and being the new guy in a caucus of younger and more senior Democrat senators.
Yes switching is a possibility, and perhaps the implicit threat is a card to play in order to get Pat Toomey out of the Republican primary race. But we don't see a change in parties happening.
WATCHDOG: Specter switched from Democrat to Republican in 1965 in order to run successfully for district attorney in Philadelphia. After publisher Robert Field, as Specter's state wide finance chair, accompanied an aide of Senator Howard Baker to meet with several prominent Philadelphia Republicans, Rob Mossbacher inquired rhetorically "Doesn't anybody like the son-of-a-bitch?" Specter was sold to the Republicans on the simple premise that "Howard Baker needs Arlen to have enough votes to organize the Senate." Their check books opened if not their hearts.
To say that Specter was an opportunist during the early decades of his Senate career would be no overstatement. As a young ssenator, he could seldom pass up an a chance to get in front of a television camera. He was not held in high esteem by many colleagues.
To gain attention, he sponsored Draconian laws concerning illicit drugs that have plagued the judiciary and the country, which he has come to regret.
But time changes us physically as well as our outlook. Specter matured and, except for an unsuccessful testing of the early presidential primaries in 2000 as a moderate, he focused on Senate business and important sub-committee and eventually committee chairmanships. And before and after George W. Bush's ascendency, he leaned to the middle.
Specter did shift to the right when W. was elected / selected in 2000. Specter was too driven by personal ambition to have risked defeat in the 2004 primary. Only with the earned blessing of the then president was he able to squeak through. Liberals might say that, to Specter, re-election was more important than beliefs.
Yet, it seems improbable that Specter would be willing to again suffer the scorn resulting from switching political parties. Better to be a retired five time senator (be it by choice or the will of your constituents) than be perceived as a traitor by Republicans who have supported you and being the new guy in a caucus of younger and more senior Democrat senators.
Yes switching is a possibility, and perhaps the implicit threat is a card to play in order to get Pat Toomey out of the Republican primary race. But we don't see a change in parties happening.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
NEW ERA
The front Page March 12th article pronounces "The Curse of TMI: No nuke plants built in U. S. since 1979 accident. Experts say that won't change." It goes on to say "For Jerry Taylor, a senior fellow at the CATO Institute, a well-regarded conservative Washington think-tank, it's purely a matter of economics." Taylor contends that nuclear plants cost too much to build.
WATCHDOG: Too expensive? With the slightest awareness of current events, let alone a bit of research, the New Era would learn that there are currently 32 applications for new plants before the Nuclear Energy Commission. Government officials recently testified before a congressional committee that they are doing what ever is feasible to expedite approvals although the process by necessity takes about five years.
More over, nuclear plants are part of the Obama Administration energy plan and have long been supported by many Republicans.
Usually newspapers provide at least two corroborating sources for such an article. The other nay sayer cited only raised the issue of the storage of spent radio active fuel rods.
Lastly, while CATO is "well regarded" by many including NewsLanc, it is more a Libertarian than a Conservative think tank.
WATCHDOG: Too expensive? With the slightest awareness of current events, let alone a bit of research, the New Era would learn that there are currently 32 applications for new plants before the Nuclear Energy Commission. Government officials recently testified before a congressional committee that they are doing what ever is feasible to expedite approvals although the process by necessity takes about five years.
More over, nuclear plants are part of the Obama Administration energy plan and have long been supported by many Republicans.
Usually newspapers provide at least two corroborating sources for such an article. The other nay sayer cited only raised the issue of the storage of spent radio active fuel rods.
Lastly, while CATO is "well regarded" by many including NewsLanc, it is more a Libertarian than a Conservative think tank.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
BLOOMBERG.COM
March 12 (Bloomberg) -- "Sales at U.S. retailers in February fell less than forecast and January’s gain was almost double the previous estimate, indicating the biggest part of the economy may be starting to stabilize."
WATCHDOG: All this despite the crepe hanging by so called experts. Wild government spending (as opposed to targeted relief for credit markets and the unemployed) may prove to be a case where the so called "cure" does more damage than the sickness.
WATCHDOG: All this despite the crepe hanging by so called experts. Wild government spending (as opposed to targeted relief for credit markets and the unemployed) may prove to be a case where the so called "cure" does more damage than the sickness.
NEWSMAX.COM
"New [Rasmussen] survey results show Americans are far more pessimistic about the nation’s economy than most economists, with 53 percent saying another Great Depression is likely in the next few years."
WATCHDOG: Most Americans normally don't even think about the economic future of the country, let alone relate it to their lives. So how can there be such massive pessimism, despite 92% being employed and 94% of the economy humming along, if it were not for an unrelenting campaign by government officials to tell the public how bad things are going to get?
(We blame officials, not the media.)
People need and would like to go out and buy homes and cars. They have just been scared to death about spending a dollar. Note the leap in saving rates.
WATCHDOG: Most Americans normally don't even think about the economic future of the country, let alone relate it to their lives. So how can there be such massive pessimism, despite 92% being employed and 94% of the economy humming along, if it were not for an unrelenting campaign by government officials to tell the public how bad things are going to get?
(We blame officials, not the media.)
People need and would like to go out and buy homes and cars. They have just been scared to death about spending a dollar. Note the leap in saving rates.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
NEW ERA
The March 10 editorial "Fat paycheck for U. S. postmaster" exclaims "In 2008 alone, [Postmaster General John E.] Potter received a $264,000 annual salary and a compensation-and-retirement package (much of it deferred to later years) worth more than $800,000 according to the Washington Times....The head of FedEx, for example, was paid $11 million in total compensation in 2008...The current postmaster's pay package is a done deal, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be reduced in the future to a more realistic figure - realistic, at least, as far as the public is concerned...The government can't - nor should it - compete with the private sector, salary-wise."
WATCHDOG: Potter oversees one of the largest corporations in the world with 785,929 employees in 2007, according to Wikepedia. Not only is he being paid less than a tenth of the CEO at FedEx, but on the level of a upper-middle level vice president at a major bank or Fortune 300 corporation / company.
It is irrelevant that Fed Ex made $2 billion and the Postal Service lost $2.8 billion last year. Any CEO has to play the hand he is dealt. (As does President Obama.)
Apparently the Postal Service compensation board thinks he is doing a good job. And by comparison, the Postal Service isn't trying to compete salarly-wise. The editorial must have been written on a day when the New Era was desperate for something to write.
WATCHDOG: Potter oversees one of the largest corporations in the world with 785,929 employees in 2007, according to Wikepedia. Not only is he being paid less than a tenth of the CEO at FedEx, but on the level of a upper-middle level vice president at a major bank or Fortune 300 corporation / company.
It is irrelevant that Fed Ex made $2 billion and the Postal Service lost $2.8 billion last year. Any CEO has to play the hand he is dealt. (As does President Obama.)
Apparently the Postal Service compensation board thinks he is doing a good job. And by comparison, the Postal Service isn't trying to compete salarly-wise. The editorial must have been written on a day when the New Era was desperate for something to write.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
NEWSMAX.COM
According to the popular conservative web site, Senator Arlen Specter reiterated Monday that he felt passage of the legislation was more important than protecting his Senate seat.
"Had there been no stimulus, I think we'd have gone right off the edge," he said. "I think we're pretty close to the edge anyway, to be very brutally blunt about it."
WATCHDOG: The issue wasn't whether there would be a "stimulus" bill, but its nature.
As much as the Watchdog deplores cutting taxes for the richest 5% during good times, it recognizes the validity during a sharp recession of reducing taxes for the working classes as the speediest and most efficient way to bring immediate stimulus to the economy.
That was the heart of the Republican position and perhaps deserved another week of discussion and negotiation. Specter probably had good reasons for breaking with his party and supporting the bill. But he hasn't stated one yet. And to have a chance in the Republic primary, he may need to.
"Had there been no stimulus, I think we'd have gone right off the edge," he said. "I think we're pretty close to the edge anyway, to be very brutally blunt about it."
WATCHDOG: The issue wasn't whether there would be a "stimulus" bill, but its nature.
As much as the Watchdog deplores cutting taxes for the richest 5% during good times, it recognizes the validity during a sharp recession of reducing taxes for the working classes as the speediest and most efficient way to bring immediate stimulus to the economy.
That was the heart of the Republican position and perhaps deserved another week of discussion and negotiation. Specter probably had good reasons for breaking with his party and supporting the bill. But he hasn't stated one yet. And to have a chance in the Republic primary, he may need to.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
March 10th brought editorials concerning "Treatment plan" and "Best of times, worst of times."
The former dealt with the $1.1 billion appropriated in the Stimulus Bill "to compare how various drugs, medical devices and surgeries treat specific medical conditions." It concludes "Might this mean that some patients will have to give up the freedom to try treatments of their choice? Possibly. But the alternative may be even more bleak - a broken system that helps no one."
The latter is about all the money that the legalizing of slot machine gambling has brought to the state and local communities. It moralizes at the end "There is, of course, a downside to the February numbers. The $145.5 million earned by casinos in February came from gamblers, some of whom might not have been able to afford the losses."
WATCHDOG:
Two qualified wags of the tail!
Doctors and patients have reason to know and rely on "Best Practices" even if this reduces choice. Also limitations will need to be placed on the amount of extraordinary care available to the elderly. At a certain point in life (and our publisher is about there) and due to high cost of treatment, one has got to be willing to say thank you and good bye.
As for gambling, what has been good for Pennsylvania's revenue has been bad for New Jersey's. On the other hand, legalizing the lottery and slots displaces illegal activities such as the 'Numbers Game' that was a major illicit industry and the less prevalent back room gambling.
Taxing, regulating and controlling the use of marijuana would be consistent with legalizing lottery and slots. It would be far less harmful due to the benign characteristics of the drug (rated as comparable to coffee) as compared to the dangers of legal alcohol, comparable in addiction to heroin and cocaine. (Conclusions from a federal [NIDA] sponsored study.)
Not only would dealing with marijuana as we do alcohol bring great revenue to the state, it would likely reduce the fatalities from drunk driving and liver disease and certainly save billions of dollars in senseless law enforcement and prisons, not to mention preventing the destruction of family lives due to incarcerated parents.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
Rev. Louis A. Butcher, Jr.'s column on March 8th entitled "Honoring a life of public service" eulogizes former State Representative and long time Senator Gibson E. Armstrong.
"Having served in his last position as the powerful chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Gibson Armstrong recently retired from the Senate, leaving an admirable legacy of accomplishments for Lancaster. Among what he considers his greatest achievements was convincing the governor to redirect unused funds to Clipper Magazine Stadium development. He was also please to shepherd major funding for the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, the Lancaster County Convention Center, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology renovations, and restoration of the downtown Stevens & [Lydia Hamilton Smith] Historical Site."
WATCHDOG:
One person certainly can impact history and, for Lancaster, Armstrong is an example. He moved heaven and earth by hook and by possibly crook to enable the development of the Convention Center Project.
We must live with that project, whatever its outcome, but can only speculate how much better off Lancaster may have been if state funds were used for other, possibly worthier, purposes.
Had more funds been directed to the Pennsylvania Music Academy, rather than being saddled with heavy debt, it could be moving forward to become a leading high school music campus, using the likely to soon become moribund Brunswick Hotel as dormitories, cafeteria, practice areas, performance hall, fitness facilities, and lounges. Downtown Lancaster would have become both a local and a tourist destination and shops and cafes would have flourished.
Also, the Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street) would be moving ahead with its remodeling and expansion had not the promised $3.5 million in earmarked funds been diverted to offset cost overruns on the Convention Center Project. Improvements to the library would have benefited a likely two thousand Lancastrians each day.
Time will tell whether Armstrong capped his career with triumph or folly. We hope it will be the former. But we have our doubts.
"Having served in his last position as the powerful chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Gibson Armstrong recently retired from the Senate, leaving an admirable legacy of accomplishments for Lancaster. Among what he considers his greatest achievements was convincing the governor to redirect unused funds to Clipper Magazine Stadium development. He was also please to shepherd major funding for the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, the Lancaster County Convention Center, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology renovations, and restoration of the downtown Stevens & [Lydia Hamilton Smith] Historical Site."
WATCHDOG:
One person certainly can impact history and, for Lancaster, Armstrong is an example. He moved heaven and earth by hook and by possibly crook to enable the development of the Convention Center Project.
We must live with that project, whatever its outcome, but can only speculate how much better off Lancaster may have been if state funds were used for other, possibly worthier, purposes.
Had more funds been directed to the Pennsylvania Music Academy, rather than being saddled with heavy debt, it could be moving forward to become a leading high school music campus, using the likely to soon become moribund Brunswick Hotel as dormitories, cafeteria, practice areas, performance hall, fitness facilities, and lounges. Downtown Lancaster would have become both a local and a tourist destination and shops and cafes would have flourished.
Also, the Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street) would be moving ahead with its remodeling and expansion had not the promised $3.5 million in earmarked funds been diverted to offset cost overruns on the Convention Center Project. Improvements to the library would have benefited a likely two thousand Lancastrians each day.
Time will tell whether Armstrong capped his career with triumph or folly. We hope it will be the former. But we have our doubts.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
WGAL-TV
A well produced segment reported how attendance at the Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street) has grown from 1300 to 1500 a day during this difficult times and described the many free and diverse services provided.
www.wgal.com/video/18870177/index.html
WATCHDOG: A wag of the tail for WGAL-TV and the good work the library staff is performing. A lift of the leg for the board that cancelled the renovating and likely expansion at the last minute, thus forfeiting a million dollars in grant money and running up a $400,000 bill for plans.
www.wgal.com/video/18870177/index.html
WATCHDOG: A wag of the tail for WGAL-TV and the good work the library staff is performing. A lift of the leg for the board that cancelled the renovating and likely expansion at the last minute, thus forfeiting a million dollars in grant money and running up a $400,000 bill for plans.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
A March 7th editorial "For giving" implicitly criticizes Congressman Joe Pitts for publicizing a letter from a wealthy constituent who says she will reduce the amount of her charitable giving to compensate for any greater federal income taxes she may have to pay due to an Obama increase. After carefully calculating the consequences of a higher marginal income tax rate and the lower off set for charitable contributions against taxes, the Intell concludes:
"So if Gail and her family contribute $10,000 to charity, they would be able to subtract $2,800 from their taxes, instead of $3,500 - a difference of just $700....If God truly has abundantly blessed Gail and her family, then is $700 - or a comparable percentage - enough reason to scrimp on the 'hungy, homeless, orphaned and widowed'?
WATCHDOG: At times Intell editorials are so insightful, erudite and literate that we have wondered if they were the product of other newspapers. Today's editorial verifies their local origins. The Watchdog may not always agree, but it wags its tail in respect.
"So if Gail and her family contribute $10,000 to charity, they would be able to subtract $2,800 from their taxes, instead of $3,500 - a difference of just $700....If God truly has abundantly blessed Gail and her family, then is $700 - or a comparable percentage - enough reason to scrimp on the 'hungy, homeless, orphaned and widowed'?
WATCHDOG: At times Intell editorials are so insightful, erudite and literate that we have wondered if they were the product of other newspapers. Today's editorial verifies their local origins. The Watchdog may not always agree, but it wags its tail in respect.
Friday, March 6, 2009
NEW ERA
A March 6 article entitled "Lawmakers asking Millersville University: Why Ayers? County’s GOP delegation meeting with university, state officials" contains a fascinating tidbit:
"My concern all along was the issue of using public dollars for protection of Dr. Ayers," said [John ]Bear, a Republican from Lititz."
WATCHDOG: We are only to protect citizens deemed worthy by some criteria, but not others?
Take good look at these Republican representatives from the County. In another decade they likely will be mostly Democrats because of shifting demographics and this type of wanton display of ignorance about democracy.
NEW ERA
The editorial "Obama breaks vow to curb earmarks" goes on to say "Yes, that Barack Obama. The one who, during the campaign, promised to go over the federal budget 'line by line,' as president to make sure taxpayers' dollars are being spent wisely...An earmark free spending bill is possible."
WATCHDOG: The New Era editors are misguided in two ways:
(1) The appropriation bill before the president is a product of work over the past year of the Bush Administration. To try to change any of it now would be to start a process of changing much of it, which would delay work on the budget for 2010. President Obama promises careful scrutiny of budget preparation for 2010.
(2) Somehow "earmarks" have gotten a bad name. Would the New Era prefer that federal expenditures for local project be determined by a bureaucracy in Washington D. C. or be controlled by our own senators, congress persons and state representatives? It is an imperfect system, but the public's will is more likely to result when federal expenditure decisions that apply to our region are made at the local level.
The proper goal is to get rid of wasteful or corrupt earmarks, not to eliminate a legitimate earmark process for distributing federal aid.
WATCHDOG: The New Era editors are misguided in two ways:
(1) The appropriation bill before the president is a product of work over the past year of the Bush Administration. To try to change any of it now would be to start a process of changing much of it, which would delay work on the budget for 2010. President Obama promises careful scrutiny of budget preparation for 2010.
(2) Somehow "earmarks" have gotten a bad name. Would the New Era prefer that federal expenditures for local project be determined by a bureaucracy in Washington D. C. or be controlled by our own senators, congress persons and state representatives? It is an imperfect system, but the public's will is more likely to result when federal expenditure decisions that apply to our region are made at the local level.
The proper goal is to get rid of wasteful or corrupt earmarks, not to eliminate a legitimate earmark process for distributing federal aid.
MERCHANDISER
March 4th article "LCHS Mock Trial Team Advances To Regionals" starts "The case was contrived, and the plaintiffs and defendants were fabricated. But everything else about the 25th Mock Trial competition sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Associates was as authentic as possible."
The article goes on at length to describe the nature of the competition and how Lancaster Catholic High School, coached by a team of top lawyers, prevailed in a tie breaker against last year county champion McCaskey High School.
WATCHDOG: It is good to see local media publicizing Mock Trial which deserves as much attention as sports events. It is at mock trial that future professionals and leaders of our community and nation learn essential skills and first test their mettle.
The article goes on at length to describe the nature of the competition and how Lancaster Catholic High School, coached by a team of top lawyers, prevailed in a tie breaker against last year county champion McCaskey High School.
WATCHDOG: It is good to see local media publicizing Mock Trial which deserves as much attention as sports events. It is at mock trial that future professionals and leaders of our community and nation learn essential skills and first test their mettle.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
NEW ERA
The March 3rd editorial asserted that Ron Kirk, President Barack Obama's choice to be U. S. trade representative, "has admitted to the Senate Finacne Committee to ownig $10,00 in back taxes. Among other things, he improperly deducted the full cost of season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks pro-basketball teama."
WATCHDOG: Talk about only getting part of a story! The Los Angeles Times (and others) properly reported "...Kirk turned over to Austin College honorariums he received for speaking engagements about 16 times without reporting the fees as income or deducting them as charitable donations. In all, the fees totaled about $37,750, the committee said."
He's hardly a tax cheat. The mistake seems innocent enough. To us, he's a hero!
WATCHDOG: Talk about only getting part of a story! The Los Angeles Times (and others) properly reported "...Kirk turned over to Austin College honorariums he received for speaking engagements about 16 times without reporting the fees as income or deducting them as charitable donations. In all, the fees totaled about $37,750, the committee said."
He's hardly a tax cheat. The mistake seems innocent enough. To us, he's a hero!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
Obituaries were published as filler on half of the Op-Ed page of the March 4 edition.
WATCHDOG: This is a sign of diminished local news coverage and national columns. If the Lancaster Newspapers keep this up, it may be their own obituary that will follow in a few years.
WATCHDOG: This is a sign of diminished local news coverage and national columns. If the Lancaster Newspapers keep this up, it may be their own obituary that will follow in a few years.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
In a letter concerning the change of assignments of Daphna Ben-Chaim at the Lancaster Country Day School, the writer opines: "I find it incredibly disconcerting that there were so many anonymous opinions for this article...Anonymity lacks credibility."
WATCHDOG: We would agree that critics should be willing to be named in major metropolitan areas such as New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. But publicly speaking out in relatively tight knit Lancaster can be detrimental to someone's career, community activities and social network.
So here, we need to rely on the reporter and editor to judge whether views received when preparing an article are cogent or without substance, and to properly discern what is to be included.
At NewsLanc.com, greater latitude for anonymously "mouthing off" is provided in Letters to the Editors.
WATCHDOG: We would agree that critics should be willing to be named in major metropolitan areas such as New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. But publicly speaking out in relatively tight knit Lancaster can be detrimental to someone's career, community activities and social network.
So here, we need to rely on the reporter and editor to judge whether views received when preparing an article are cogent or without substance, and to properly discern what is to be included.
At NewsLanc.com, greater latitude for anonymously "mouthing off" is provided in Letters to the Editors.
SUNDAY NEWS
March 1st 'Perspective' lead article: "Hold the eulogies, Sen. Edward Kennedy battles brain cancer on one front, as he prepared to tack health care reform on another" by Mark Leibovich, New York Times News Service.
WATCHDOG: "Hold the eulogies, Sen. Edward Kennedy battles brain cancer on one front, as he prepared to tack health care reform on another" by Mark Leibovich, New York Times News Service.
In defense of Marv Adams, this is a worthy article even if old news to many of us.
WATCHDOG: "Hold the eulogies, Sen. Edward Kennedy battles brain cancer on one front, as he prepared to tack health care reform on another" by Mark Leibovich, New York Times News Service.
In defense of Marv Adams, this is a worthy article even if old news to many of us.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In a Feb. 26th column headed "Ayers gag bid unfunny - and un-American" Jeff Hawkes states "...there's no place for suppressing even the most repugnant speaker. Ignore him. Denounce him. But uphold his right to have his say."
He criticizes seven Lancaster County state legislators for a letter calling upon Millersville University's president to cancel William Ayers talk.
He asks "Since when does the possibility that people might be offended trump the right of a university to engage a speaker? Or an author to write a book? Or a blogger to speak his mind?..That happens as a direct consequence of something Americans say they value: freedom."
WATCHDOG: Two wags of the tail. The Intell can fill its front page with display ads so long as they publish columns like that!
He criticizes seven Lancaster County state legislators for a letter calling upon Millersville University's president to cancel William Ayers talk.
He asks "Since when does the possibility that people might be offended trump the right of a university to engage a speaker? Or an author to write a book? Or a blogger to speak his mind?..That happens as a direct consequence of something Americans say they value: freedom."
WATCHDOG: Two wags of the tail. The Intell can fill its front page with display ads so long as they publish columns like that!
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
A full color display ad for Chapman Ford appears at the bottom of the front page of the Feb. 26th Intelligencer Journal.
WATCHDOG: What ever it takes! We need at least one newspaper in this town.
The Internet is changing how we obtain information, advertisers are deserting the print media, and times are tough.
Radio stations are also in peril.
WATCHDOG: What ever it takes! We need at least one newspaper in this town.
The Internet is changing how we obtain information, advertisers are deserting the print media, and times are tough.
Radio stations are also in peril.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
NEW ERA
Feb. 24: "Volunteers found 734 people living in homeless shelters, transitional housing and on the streets. That number is 27 more than a year ago, and the highest number found in the annual count done in the last 15 years... [Kay Moshier] McDivitt believes the Jan. 26 survey likely would have found more people if it was done six months later, when homeless people are found living in tents in campgrounds and by the river in the summer months."
WATCHDOG: A wag of the tail for a good job of reporting.
WATCHDOG: A wag of the tail for a good job of reporting.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
A Feb. 24th article discusses Senator Arlen Specter comments on the recently passed "Stimulus Bill" as follows: "Going back to the economic stimulus bill, Specter said he believed the final bill should have included more tax cuts than spending. Specter said the inefficiency of the government has been shown during the economic crisis, especially with former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's action to buy 'toxic debt,' which still hasn't broken the freeze on credit...'The government is so ineffective at carrying out these plans that if people have the money themselves, it has a better chance of getting into the economy' Specter said."
WATCHDOG: When the Senate vote was in balance, Specter was given fifteen minutes in which he articulated the Republican position about the shortcomings of the bill. Then he announced he was braking ranks and voting for it due to the urgency of the moment.
Assuming the Republicans were correct (which Specter reiterates in part above), would a delay of a week or two to achieve useful modifications have been too high a price? Specter will have to answer that question in the 2010 Republican primary and, if he wins, again in the general election.
WATCHDOG: When the Senate vote was in balance, Specter was given fifteen minutes in which he articulated the Republican position about the shortcomings of the bill. Then he announced he was braking ranks and voting for it due to the urgency of the moment.
Assuming the Republicans were correct (which Specter reiterates in part above), would a delay of a week or two to achieve useful modifications have been too high a price? Specter will have to answer that question in the 2010 Republican primary and, if he wins, again in the general election.
Monday, February 23, 2009
NEW ERA
It's Feb. 21 editorial harumphs:
(1)"Democrats in the U.S. Senate made a mistake when they bowed to racial power politics and voted to confirm Roland Burris to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama...
(2) Burris, who clearly wanted the Senate seat, should have turned his back on Blagojevich — as all honorable people should do. ..
(3) ... Burris now acknowledges he had conversations with key aides and even offered — unsuccessfully, it turns out — to raise money for Blagojevich...
(4) Burris faces the possibility of perjury charges in Illinois and the Senate has begun its own ethics investigation.
5) Burris should protect what remains of his reputation and resign."
WATCHDOG: (For clarity, we added the numbers.) (1) Did they "bow to racial power politics" or did they approve the appointment because he was legally appointed and had as good or better record than most other senators? Is the New Era suggesting a white appointee would have been rejected?
(2) Turning down a legal and well earned appointment as U. S. Senator is doing the "honorable" thing? Other candidates were envious for not understanding that they also would have been seated.
(3) Since when is it unusual for politicians of the same party to offer to campaign and to help raise funds for each others campaign?
(4) The "possibility of perjury charges" - not even yet being charged, let alone found guilty - is reason for senators to resign?
(5) Resigning when you believe you did nothing wrong is the way to protect a reputation?
Politics is not a tea party. NewsLanc will await the outcome of an investigation before rendering its verdict.
(1)"Democrats in the U.S. Senate made a mistake when they bowed to racial power politics and voted to confirm Roland Burris to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama...
(2) Burris, who clearly wanted the Senate seat, should have turned his back on Blagojevich — as all honorable people should do. ..
(3) ... Burris now acknowledges he had conversations with key aides and even offered — unsuccessfully, it turns out — to raise money for Blagojevich...
(4) Burris faces the possibility of perjury charges in Illinois and the Senate has begun its own ethics investigation.
5) Burris should protect what remains of his reputation and resign."
WATCHDOG: (For clarity, we added the numbers.) (1) Did they "bow to racial power politics" or did they approve the appointment because he was legally appointed and had as good or better record than most other senators? Is the New Era suggesting a white appointee would have been rejected?
(2) Turning down a legal and well earned appointment as U. S. Senator is doing the "honorable" thing? Other candidates were envious for not understanding that they also would have been seated.
(3) Since when is it unusual for politicians of the same party to offer to campaign and to help raise funds for each others campaign?
(4) The "possibility of perjury charges" - not even yet being charged, let alone found guilty - is reason for senators to resign?
(5) Resigning when you believe you did nothing wrong is the way to protect a reputation?
Politics is not a tea party. NewsLanc will await the outcome of an investigation before rendering its verdict.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In the Feb. 23rd edition, David Bauder, AP Television Writer, states: "Of the 681 people who appeared as guests on a dozen cable news and four network Sunday morning talk shows in the three weeks the ended last Sunday, only 41, or 6 percent, were economists...That count alone indicates a lack of effort in tracking down what was most important about the story...."
WATCHDOG: Not necessarily. Few economists took issue with the need for hundreds of billions that will provide economic stimulus over the next two years. The big issues had more to do with political science than economics. The Stimulus Bill, like the Patriot Act of 2001, resulted from scare tactics and unnecessarily included numerous items requiring in depth study.
Thus commentary focused on the faulty process of approving important new initiatives without time for individual consideration, if indeed even reading!
WATCHDOG: Not necessarily. Few economists took issue with the need for hundreds of billions that will provide economic stimulus over the next two years. The big issues had more to do with political science than economics. The Stimulus Bill, like the Patriot Act of 2001, resulted from scare tactics and unnecessarily included numerous items requiring in depth study.
Thus commentary focused on the faulty process of approving important new initiatives without time for individual consideration, if indeed even reading!
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
The Feb. 23rd editorial states "Those who oppose [Williaml Ayers] visit have the right to protest, write letters to the editor or simply not attend. But they don't have the right to force the university to cancel his visit."
WATCHDOG: A wag of the tail in salute!
WATCHDOG: A wag of the tail in salute!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
A Feb. 22 article "Empty store fronts a sign of the times" paints a relatively optimistic future for "anchored malls" despite momentary vacancies generated by bankruptcies of the parent companies of Circuit City and Linen N Things.
WATCHDOG: Not mentioned in the article is the gigantic Park City that forty years ago replaced downtown Lancaster as the central shopping area for our region. Shoppers report there is little sign of a growth of vacancies. But at least two additional regional shopping centers are in the approval stage.
Because of the size and scope of Park City, too much new competition over the next years could create a tipping point where suddenly an exodus of stores begins. A wounded Park City would present as great an urban redevelopment problem for the City and County as has downtown Lancaster over past decades.
The Watchdog recommends that municipalities think of the consequences to the region when they contemplate re-zoning large tracts to commercial. Sooner or later too many small wounds will prove lethal.
WATCHDOG: Not mentioned in the article is the gigantic Park City that forty years ago replaced downtown Lancaster as the central shopping area for our region. Shoppers report there is little sign of a growth of vacancies. But at least two additional regional shopping centers are in the approval stage.
Because of the size and scope of Park City, too much new competition over the next years could create a tipping point where suddenly an exodus of stores begins. A wounded Park City would present as great an urban redevelopment problem for the City and County as has downtown Lancaster over past decades.
The Watchdog recommends that municipalities think of the consequences to the region when they contemplate re-zoning large tracts to commercial. Sooner or later too many small wounds will prove lethal.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
NEWSMAX.COM
A report headed "Bill Clinton to Obama: Speak Hopefully" goes on to say "...President Clinton says he thinks President Barack Obama should talk more optimistically about the prospects that the nation will recover from its current deep economic woes."
WATCHDOG: Our oft repeated point. It is one thing to inform. It is another to terrify for political purposes in order to ram through a promising legislative agenda in the guise of a "Stimulus Package."
WATCHDOG: Our oft repeated point. It is one thing to inform. It is another to terrify for political purposes in order to ram through a promising legislative agenda in the guise of a "Stimulus Package."
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
Headlined "Reduced to rubble, Square collapse nearly complete", the Feb. 21 article goes on to state:
"In the 1960s, it was called 'urban renewal.' In more recent years, it was called a 'concrete monstrosity.' In a few weeks, it will just be a memory."
WATCHDOG: In the past, city leaders ignored warnings that there would not be sufficient downtown business to support the Hilton Hotel and that the Hess Department Store would fail from lack of an urban market, which it did in less than two years.
What will the local Internet news report in twenty years when the wrecking ball is used on the idle convention center and the Marriott is converted into condominiums? (The newspapers will have long ceased publication)
Will they remember that S. Dale High, Sen. Gibson Armstrong, and publisher Jack Buckwalter ignored warnings from two marketing studies and the forebodings of the thorough feasibility report; one for profit, another for legacy, and the third for lack of competence?
"In the 1960s, it was called 'urban renewal.' In more recent years, it was called a 'concrete monstrosity.' In a few weeks, it will just be a memory."
WATCHDOG: In the past, city leaders ignored warnings that there would not be sufficient downtown business to support the Hilton Hotel and that the Hess Department Store would fail from lack of an urban market, which it did in less than two years.
What will the local Internet news report in twenty years when the wrecking ball is used on the idle convention center and the Marriott is converted into condominiums? (The newspapers will have long ceased publication)
Will they remember that S. Dale High, Sen. Gibson Armstrong, and publisher Jack Buckwalter ignored warnings from two marketing studies and the forebodings of the thorough feasibility report; one for profit, another for legacy, and the third for lack of competence?
Friday, February 20, 2009
NEW ERA
An article on Feb. 20th reports "Lancaster County's Republican state House delegation is putting pressure on leaders of the higher-education system and Millersville University to cancel an upcoming lecture by radical-turned-professor William Ayers."
WATCHDOG: We protect every American's right of free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution by allowing problematic situations.
If the ACLU, then headed by a Holocaust survivor, was willing to lose half of its membership in the 1950's to support the right of the Nazi Party to march down the street in Skokie, Illinois, then we in Lancaster should support Millersville University allowing William Ayers to speak, despite his alleged engaging in illegal and violent protests against the Viet Nam War.
WATCHDOG: We protect every American's right of free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution by allowing problematic situations.
If the ACLU, then headed by a Holocaust survivor, was willing to lose half of its membership in the 1950's to support the right of the Nazi Party to march down the street in Skokie, Illinois, then we in Lancaster should support Millersville University allowing William Ayers to speak, despite his alleged engaging in illegal and violent protests against the Viet Nam War.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
NEWSMAX.COM
On Feb. 19, NewsMax.com reports: "Under the new projections, the unemployment rate will rise to between 8.5 and 8.8 percent this year. The old forecasts, issued in mid-November, predicted the jobless rate would rise to between 7.1 and 7.6 percent.
"The Fed also believes the economy will contract this year between 0.5 and 1.3 percent. The old forecast said the economy could shrink by 0.2 percent or expand by 1.1 percent."
WATCHDOG: Given the above worse case scenario, the Federal Reserve is predicting that 98.7% of the economy of the nation will continue to function throughout the year despite the current sharp recession. Stated that way, does that sound so terrible?
All recessions are corrections. The economy needs time to digest financial excesses by businesses and consumers and the over-production of homes, cars, capital goods and other items. Consumers and firms put off purchases. Factories reduce production. Workers are laid off.
But over time vehicles wear out, appliances need replacement, businesses need to improve technology and equipment to compete. With the inventory glut worked off and business restructured at a level of profitability, money is being made again.
So buying picks up, factories go back to work, and employment climbs.
The Watchdog perceives two things that appear unique to this recession: The break down of the financial system due to historically improvident lending which required government intervention through injection of capital in exchange for restricted stock. And the continuous jaw boning by government officials about what terrible times lay ahead. When is the last time anyone said an encouraging word?
FDR famously said in 1933 "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Our current leaders, including the past and current president, tell us what amounts to "The sky is falling" and this has been going on for six months!
The Watchdog does not mean to minimize the sharpness of this recession and the unusual aspects of the banking crisis. Yet let us hope that hysterical warnings aren't a self fulfilling prophesy.
We have already been told that $80 billion of the initial Bush "bail out" program was wasted by paying above market price for securities. (What that was all about deserves investigation.) Let's pray that a large portion of the just signed and forthcoming Obama "rescue" or "stimulant" plans are not careless and wasteful spending that will hobble our economy for decades to come.
"The Fed also believes the economy will contract this year between 0.5 and 1.3 percent. The old forecast said the economy could shrink by 0.2 percent or expand by 1.1 percent."
WATCHDOG: Given the above worse case scenario, the Federal Reserve is predicting that 98.7% of the economy of the nation will continue to function throughout the year despite the current sharp recession. Stated that way, does that sound so terrible?
All recessions are corrections. The economy needs time to digest financial excesses by businesses and consumers and the over-production of homes, cars, capital goods and other items. Consumers and firms put off purchases. Factories reduce production. Workers are laid off.
But over time vehicles wear out, appliances need replacement, businesses need to improve technology and equipment to compete. With the inventory glut worked off and business restructured at a level of profitability, money is being made again.
So buying picks up, factories go back to work, and employment climbs.
The Watchdog perceives two things that appear unique to this recession: The break down of the financial system due to historically improvident lending which required government intervention through injection of capital in exchange for restricted stock. And the continuous jaw boning by government officials about what terrible times lay ahead. When is the last time anyone said an encouraging word?
FDR famously said in 1933 "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Our current leaders, including the past and current president, tell us what amounts to "The sky is falling" and this has been going on for six months!
The Watchdog does not mean to minimize the sharpness of this recession and the unusual aspects of the banking crisis. Yet let us hope that hysterical warnings aren't a self fulfilling prophesy.
We have already been told that $80 billion of the initial Bush "bail out" program was wasted by paying above market price for securities. (What that was all about deserves investigation.) Let's pray that a large portion of the just signed and forthcoming Obama "rescue" or "stimulant" plans are not careless and wasteful spending that will hobble our economy for decades to come.
Monday, February 16, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
A startling heading over a Feb. 16th Letter to the Editor: "Time to honor George W. with holiday."
WATCHDOG: We thought it was from someone on the right wing fringe until we discovered the subject was George Washington, not George W. Bush! Appears it was a 'gotcha' by an editor. If intentional, a wag of the tail in tribute!
WATCHDOG: We thought it was from someone on the right wing fringe until we discovered the subject was George Washington, not George W. Bush! Appears it was a 'gotcha' by an editor. If intentional, a wag of the tail in tribute!
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
A Presidents Day headline reads "Lincoln top president in rankings by historians" and publishes an Associated Press report on a study performed by a group of historians on behalf of C-SPAN.
WATCHDOG: What is not mentioned is the study by the London Times which was reported yesterday over AOL.
C-SPAN ranks the top eleven in this order: Lincoln, Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Jefferson, Eisenhower, Wilson, Reagan and Lyndon Johnson.
London Times ranks the top eleven as: Lincoln, Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Truman, Reagan, Polk, Wilson and Kennedy.
As for the worse three in descending order: C-SPAN lists Pierce, Andrew Johnson and Jams Buchanan. The London Times lists Van Buren, Pierce and Buchanan.
As for George W. Bush, our most recent president, C-SPAN shows him as 36 out of the 42. The London Times has him as 37th, just ahead of Richard Nixon.
Bill Clinton? C-SPAN: 15th. London Times: 23rd.
Later in the article, the Intell inserts "Buchanan lived in Lancaster during his presidency." It must have been a heck of a commute!
WATCHDOG: What is not mentioned is the study by the London Times which was reported yesterday over AOL.
C-SPAN ranks the top eleven in this order: Lincoln, Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Jefferson, Eisenhower, Wilson, Reagan and Lyndon Johnson.
London Times ranks the top eleven as: Lincoln, Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Truman, Reagan, Polk, Wilson and Kennedy.
As for the worse three in descending order: C-SPAN lists Pierce, Andrew Johnson and Jams Buchanan. The London Times lists Van Buren, Pierce and Buchanan.
As for George W. Bush, our most recent president, C-SPAN shows him as 36 out of the 42. The London Times has him as 37th, just ahead of Richard Nixon.
Bill Clinton? C-SPAN: 15th. London Times: 23rd.
Later in the article, the Intell inserts "Buchanan lived in Lancaster during his presidency." It must have been a heck of a commute!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
"As Rendell talks of consolidations, there are lessons to be learned from the Columbia-Hempfield debacle in 1960s" is the sub-heading for a thoughtful, well researched and written Feb. 15 front page story.
WATCHDOG: We learn of the pragmatic accommodation arrived at between the Hempfield and Columbia communities to abort a merger initially sought by Columbia and sanctioned by the state. Also referenced but not expanded upon was the simultaneous more logical and ultimately successful merger of the Lancaster City and Lancaster Township schools.
Hopefully the Sunday News will soon relate the story behind the unlikely (given the times) and perhaps most important step for democracy ever taken in our region: The determination by the School District of Lancaster not to build a second high school on the land it owns and is now occupied by Lancaster Township Park across from the Manor Shopping Center. After considerable controversy, the enlightened decision was made for all students to attend the McCaskey campus, thus creating a "melting pot" and chipping away at social stratification and racial segregation.
WATCHDOG: We learn of the pragmatic accommodation arrived at between the Hempfield and Columbia communities to abort a merger initially sought by Columbia and sanctioned by the state. Also referenced but not expanded upon was the simultaneous more logical and ultimately successful merger of the Lancaster City and Lancaster Township schools.
Hopefully the Sunday News will soon relate the story behind the unlikely (given the times) and perhaps most important step for democracy ever taken in our region: The determination by the School District of Lancaster not to build a second high school on the land it owns and is now occupied by Lancaster Township Park across from the Manor Shopping Center. After considerable controversy, the enlightened decision was made for all students to attend the McCaskey campus, thus creating a "melting pot" and chipping away at social stratification and racial segregation.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
The Feb. 11 political cartoon "On the origin of Republicans by means of natural selection" shows them throughout evolution reciting the mantra "Tax cuts!" and then falling off a cliff.
WATCHDOG: This is funny but eight years late and, in our present situation, the wrong message!
According to Keynesian economics, the time to tax more was during the early part of this decade. Instead the Republicans along with some Democrats rewarded contributors by enacting huge and unwarranted tax reductions for the wealthy at the very time when the rich were growing much richer and the middle class was standing still.
Now during this dreadful recession (if not worse!) Keynes dictates tax reductions for the middle and lower classes. Along with funding relief and current levels of government programs, it is the fastest and most effective way to stimulate the economy.
What is so difficult about understanding that government needs to tax more during times of relative prosperity and reduce taxes during recessions?
WATCHDOG: This is funny but eight years late and, in our present situation, the wrong message!
According to Keynesian economics, the time to tax more was during the early part of this decade. Instead the Republicans along with some Democrats rewarded contributors by enacting huge and unwarranted tax reductions for the wealthy at the very time when the rich were growing much richer and the middle class was standing still.
Now during this dreadful recession (if not worse!) Keynes dictates tax reductions for the middle and lower classes. Along with funding relief and current levels of government programs, it is the fastest and most effective way to stimulate the economy.
What is so difficult about understanding that government needs to tax more during times of relative prosperity and reduce taxes during recessions?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
The Feb. 10 editorial is headed "Capping executive pay for business that receive bailout money is but a start." It goes on to say "The $500,000 figure is the cap President Barack Obama has set for executive compensation at firms that accept 'extraordinary assistance' from the government. It's a good move, both to calm populist anger at corporate greed, and to level the playing field a bit when it comes to executive compensation."
WATCHDOG: Actually it would be a stupid move if indeed the administration is really serious about it. Failing companies couldn't even keep the dummies who have got them into trouble, let alone attract more competent executives to take their places.
The lesson learned from the Convention Center Project experience is: Put inept executives in charge, and they waste millions to pay more competent individuals to do their jobs! (Of course if the project only benefits special interests, "inept executives" enables them to be in control. Who ever heard of an over paid, mediocre consultants suggesting a project be canceled! But we digress.)
The Intell is more on mark when it concludes "A move that might have a bigger impact would be to require publicly owned companies to submit executive compensation plans for shareholder approval."
Over compensation and wasteful perks will always exist because the executives and board members tend to scratch each others' backs. Only vigilance by major stock holders can distinguish fair compensation from rip offs. Alas, even investors as powerful as Warren Buffett have at times failed to achieve reform, and for no lack of trying.
WATCHDOG: Actually it would be a stupid move if indeed the administration is really serious about it. Failing companies couldn't even keep the dummies who have got them into trouble, let alone attract more competent executives to take their places.
The lesson learned from the Convention Center Project experience is: Put inept executives in charge, and they waste millions to pay more competent individuals to do their jobs! (Of course if the project only benefits special interests, "inept executives" enables them to be in control. Who ever heard of an over paid, mediocre consultants suggesting a project be canceled! But we digress.)
The Intell is more on mark when it concludes "A move that might have a bigger impact would be to require publicly owned companies to submit executive compensation plans for shareholder approval."
Over compensation and wasteful perks will always exist because the executives and board members tend to scratch each others' backs. Only vigilance by major stock holders can distinguish fair compensation from rip offs. Alas, even investors as powerful as Warren Buffett have at times failed to achieve reform, and for no lack of trying.
Monday, February 9, 2009
NEW ERA
A Feb. 6 relatively small front page article "Bush overpaid banks in bailout" reports that "The Congressional Oversight Panel, in a report released today, said the overpayments amounted to a taxpayer-financed $78 billion subsidy of the firms...The American International Group, which the Treasury Department deemed to be too big to be allowed to fail, received $40 billion from the Treasury for assets valued at $14.8 billion, the oversight panel found."
WATCHDOG:The story was available on the Internet a full day earlier. The Intell missed it completely, perhaps because of a failure on the part of the Associated Press since the
later New Era account comes from New Era wire services.
NewsLanc thinks the story deserved a lot more attention than it received here in Lancaster and elsewhere. The $78 billion purposefully given away is almost three times as great as Pennsylvania's 2008/2009 projected budget of $28.3 billion.
WATCHDOG:The story was available on the Internet a full day earlier. The Intell missed it completely, perhaps because of a failure on the part of the Associated Press since the
later New Era account comes from New Era wire services.
NewsLanc thinks the story deserved a lot more attention than it received here in Lancaster and elsewhere. The $78 billion purposefully given away is almost three times as great as Pennsylvania's 2008/2009 projected budget of $28.3 billion.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
COMPUTER VET.COM (Seattle Blog)
A Jan. 31 post "The Future of Placeblogging" responds to concerns about Seattle.WA losing one of its two newspapers:
"One of the first questions in the article is 'how will we save newspapers?' And the answer given, which is the correct one, is don’t worry about saving newspapers, worry about saving news. Saving journalism. This is a topic that has kept coming up in the last few years, where we look at the word newspaper, and split it into its component parts. News and Paper. Which of those is more important? News, of course, and paper is just the way to deliver it. Well, now people are deciding that they don’t want paper anymore, they just want news. And the newspaper companies are freaking out, because they think they’re in the business of selling paper. We need to keep drilling into their heads that it’s the news we’re interested in, and we’d rather get it on the screen than on a piece of paper. They also need to realize that they’re facing real competition from online-only sources now, and just because they’ve been around for a hundred years doesn’t mean they get to keep coasting on their past success forever."
WATCHDOG: Nothing to add!
"One of the first questions in the article is 'how will we save newspapers?' And the answer given, which is the correct one, is don’t worry about saving newspapers, worry about saving news. Saving journalism. This is a topic that has kept coming up in the last few years, where we look at the word newspaper, and split it into its component parts. News and Paper. Which of those is more important? News, of course, and paper is just the way to deliver it. Well, now people are deciding that they don’t want paper anymore, they just want news. And the newspaper companies are freaking out, because they think they’re in the business of selling paper. We need to keep drilling into their heads that it’s the news we’re interested in, and we’d rather get it on the screen than on a piece of paper. They also need to realize that they’re facing real competition from online-only sources now, and just because they’ve been around for a hundred years doesn’t mean they get to keep coasting on their past success forever."
WATCHDOG: Nothing to add!
SUNDAY NEWS
Gil Smart’s Feb. 8th column headed "Medals, bongs and little lies" discusses how the Steelers' Santonio Holmes and eight Olympic medal winner Michael Phelps have fun afoul of the law and their advertising sponsors for use of the 'devil weed' marijuana.
He asks (1) "So should society continue to treat marijuana as more dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes, which are perfectly legal, though addictive and potentially deadly?"
He points out (2) "A lot of parents are mad at Phelps for putting them in this situation. But why? Because it reveals this inaccuracy – this lie – that we tell our kids: You smoke dope, you’re done."
And he opines (3) "Understand,as a parent, I could never argue for full-scale legalization. I don’t want packs of blunts on Turkey Hill shelves."
WATCHDOG: Let’s take the statements above in order:
(1) A 1994 study for the NIDA agency of the federal government ranked the comparative dangers of alcohol, heroine, cocaine, nicotine, caffeine and marijuana, weighing "dependence, withdrawal, tolerance, reinforcement and intoxication." Alcohol, heroine, cocaine and nicotine fell in the highly dangerous areas on most counts. Marijuana and caffeine were classified as relatively benign and had similar characteristics. (If you fear marijuana but drink coffee, think again!)
(2) When parents demonize marijuana as a hard drug, teenagers come to learn otherwise from their surroundings and experimentation. This leads them to question what they have been told about the dangers of 'hard drugs' and makes them vulnerable to dangerous experimentation and use. The point: Parents who are truthful are more likely to have influence.
(3) Marijuana could be sold at State Stores and thus taxed, regulated and controlled as we do with alcohol. This is what Common Sense for Drug Policy - www.csdp.org - advocates. NewsLanc's publisher is co-founder and co-chair.
Smart and the Sunday News deserve much credit for the column. The column will infuriate many. (So what else is new about Smart's columns!) We hope it stimulates debate both at www.LancasterOnLine.com and here at NewsLanc.
He asks (1) "So should society continue to treat marijuana as more dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes, which are perfectly legal, though addictive and potentially deadly?"
He points out (2) "A lot of parents are mad at Phelps for putting them in this situation. But why? Because it reveals this inaccuracy – this lie – that we tell our kids: You smoke dope, you’re done."
And he opines (3) "Understand,as a parent, I could never argue for full-scale legalization. I don’t want packs of blunts on Turkey Hill shelves."
WATCHDOG: Let’s take the statements above in order:
(1) A 1994 study for the NIDA agency of the federal government ranked the comparative dangers of alcohol, heroine, cocaine, nicotine, caffeine and marijuana, weighing "dependence, withdrawal, tolerance, reinforcement and intoxication." Alcohol, heroine, cocaine and nicotine fell in the highly dangerous areas on most counts. Marijuana and caffeine were classified as relatively benign and had similar characteristics. (If you fear marijuana but drink coffee, think again!)
(2) When parents demonize marijuana as a hard drug, teenagers come to learn otherwise from their surroundings and experimentation. This leads them to question what they have been told about the dangers of 'hard drugs' and makes them vulnerable to dangerous experimentation and use. The point: Parents who are truthful are more likely to have influence.
(3) Marijuana could be sold at State Stores and thus taxed, regulated and controlled as we do with alcohol. This is what Common Sense for Drug Policy - www.csdp.org - advocates. NewsLanc's publisher is co-founder and co-chair.
Smart and the Sunday News deserve much credit for the column. The column will infuriate many. (So what else is new about Smart's columns!) We hope it stimulates debate both at www.LancasterOnLine.com and here at NewsLanc.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
A column long article by an Intell reports that a member of the board of the School District of Lancaster is applying to have her record expunged under the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.
WATCHDOG: The extensive coverage at the time of the event was bad form, since the charge was highly questionable (the accused picked up a $100 bill found lying on the casino floor) and the coverage was way out of proportion and unsympathetic.
The current article is an example arm chair journalism whereby a reporter reads a government report and then rewrites an article from a year earlier, not because it is particularly news worthy but because it is convenient.
In defense, one could assert that the desire was to publicize the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. But if that were the case, the article would be far shorter and contain more examples.
Are the reporter and editor to be blame? Or is this a manifestation of the decline of the news media due to financial adversity and resulting cut backs in reporting not just in Lancaster, but everywhere?
But cut backs are no excuse to twice vilify a school board volunteer. Better they report last year's weather
WATCHDOG: The extensive coverage at the time of the event was bad form, since the charge was highly questionable (the accused picked up a $100 bill found lying on the casino floor) and the coverage was way out of proportion and unsympathetic.
The current article is an example arm chair journalism whereby a reporter reads a government report and then rewrites an article from a year earlier, not because it is particularly news worthy but because it is convenient.
In defense, one could assert that the desire was to publicize the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. But if that were the case, the article would be far shorter and contain more examples.
Are the reporter and editor to be blame? Or is this a manifestation of the decline of the news media due to financial adversity and resulting cut backs in reporting not just in Lancaster, but everywhere?
But cut backs are no excuse to twice vilify a school board volunteer. Better they report last year's weather
Friday, February 6, 2009
NEWSMAX.COM
Feb.5th article headlined Overpaid $78B for Bank Stocks and goes on to report:
"Elizabeth Warren, chairwoman of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the bailout funds, told the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday that Treasury in 2008 paid $254 billion and received assets worth about $176 billion." A similar reports appeared yesterday afternoon at AOL.com and Bloomberg.com.
WATCHDOG: We could not find a word about this extraordinary revelation in the Feb. 6th Intelligencer Journal. And, in its defense, we found no prominent mention in the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. Especially with another financial 'bail out' about to be enacted by Congress, this is hard to understand other than as another sign of news coverage slippage by the print medium.
"Elizabeth Warren, chairwoman of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the bailout funds, told the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday that Treasury in 2008 paid $254 billion and received assets worth about $176 billion." A similar reports appeared yesterday afternoon at AOL.com and Bloomberg.com.
WATCHDOG: We could not find a word about this extraordinary revelation in the Feb. 6th Intelligencer Journal. And, in its defense, we found no prominent mention in the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. Especially with another financial 'bail out' about to be enacted by Congress, this is hard to understand other than as another sign of news coverage slippage by the print medium.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
Feb. 6th lead local article "[Tom] Armstrong efforts will continue, Discusses arrest of former resident of home" describes the observations by Armstrong that, "..whatever the future holds for [Richard D. ] Owen, he would benefit most from a shared living arrangement - not prison."
WATCHDOG: The Intell deserves praise and gratitude for allowing Armstrong to further educate the public on how to treat sex offenders after they have served their sentences, even those like Owen who had been convicted of rape.
It is not easy to control addictions. How often do people give up smoking before they succeed... or possibly fail again? Then there are alcoholics in recovery, sustained by weekly visits to Alcohol Anonymous and other organizations. And of course there are those hooked on illegal drugs, although nicotine and alcohol are as addictive as cocaine and heroin. In most cases, remission requires continuous effort and discipline.
Armstrong's crusade is for society to stop harassing those who have committed sex offenses (we add some of which would not have been considered crimes a half century) and provide ex-cons with a supportive environment and opportunity to transition back to normal, productive lives in a state of recovery.
Will it always work? No. Is it better than any other civilized alternative? Yes.
WATCHDOG: The Intell deserves praise and gratitude for allowing Armstrong to further educate the public on how to treat sex offenders after they have served their sentences, even those like Owen who had been convicted of rape.
It is not easy to control addictions. How often do people give up smoking before they succeed... or possibly fail again? Then there are alcoholics in recovery, sustained by weekly visits to Alcohol Anonymous and other organizations. And of course there are those hooked on illegal drugs, although nicotine and alcohol are as addictive as cocaine and heroin. In most cases, remission requires continuous effort and discipline.
Armstrong's crusade is for society to stop harassing those who have committed sex offenses (we add some of which would not have been considered crimes a half century) and provide ex-cons with a supportive environment and opportunity to transition back to normal, productive lives in a state of recovery.
Will it always work? No. Is it better than any other civilized alternative? Yes.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
NEW ERA
Four big Feb. 5th stories: A critique of "Merging schools? Not so fast". Good news "Entire Solanco rail line will open to public." Analysis: "Local lawmakers critique Rendell's budget." And "Per-pupil costs up this year" with an informative chart.
WATCHDOG: Four wags of the tail. The public got its money's worth today!
WATCHDOG: Four wags of the tail. The public got its money's worth today!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
"Obama admits, 'I screwed up.'" (Feb. 4th)
WATCHDOG: The President took too long to wake up to what the New Era, NewsLanc and much of the media were saying for the past couple of weeks: We should not elevate to high office those who purposefully or through a 'blind eye' fail to pay their share of taxes.
The loss of Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services is a tragedy, because he uniquely had the specific knowledge concerning health care reform and the respect of legislators to bring about a restructuring of the failed health care system.
But it would be even a worse tragedy to send a message to tax payers throughout the country that only fools bear their proper share of the tax burden.
That you must 'pay to play' may be the most important civics lesson we can send the younger generations.
WATCHDOG: The President took too long to wake up to what the New Era, NewsLanc and much of the media were saying for the past couple of weeks: We should not elevate to high office those who purposefully or through a 'blind eye' fail to pay their share of taxes.
The loss of Tom Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services is a tragedy, because he uniquely had the specific knowledge concerning health care reform and the respect of legislators to bring about a restructuring of the failed health care system.
But it would be even a worse tragedy to send a message to tax payers throughout the country that only fools bear their proper share of the tax burden.
That you must 'pay to play' may be the most important civics lesson we can send the younger generations.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
"A frivolous proposal" is the title of the Feb. 3 editorial about a proposal for the state to provide a college dedicated totally to academic matters as do community colleges in order to keep costs down.
The article concludes "A whole new tier of colleges isn't necessary, if we can find a way to make what we already have affordable."
WATCHDOG: Perhaps the proposal isn't so "frivolous," taking into consideration the needs of post college age student as well as those in their late teens who may need to work their way through school or, perhaps due to other obligations, simply don't seek the social aspect of higher education.
Many students are now taking Internet college courses which do provide occasions for students and instructors to get together. By learning from these successful educational efforts (they make money!)and marrying Internet study with small local schools (as opposed to campuses), the State may find ways to provide economical education to students who simply are not in a position to go off to State College or Temple and to even afford the local campuses.
The article concludes "A whole new tier of colleges isn't necessary, if we can find a way to make what we already have affordable."
WATCHDOG: Perhaps the proposal isn't so "frivolous," taking into consideration the needs of post college age student as well as those in their late teens who may need to work their way through school or, perhaps due to other obligations, simply don't seek the social aspect of higher education.
Many students are now taking Internet college courses which do provide occasions for students and instructors to get together. By learning from these successful educational efforts (they make money!)and marrying Internet study with small local schools (as opposed to campuses), the State may find ways to provide economical education to students who simply are not in a position to go off to State College or Temple and to even afford the local campuses.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
"Second chance is hard to come by", is the lead to Jeff Hawkes' Feb. 3rd column dealing with the housing plight of 'sex offenders.'
After describing how a social "pariah" froze to death in Michigan because he was refused accommodation at a homeless shelter and mentioning former state Rep. Tom Armstrong's efforts to provide housing locally, Hawkes addressed the more general problem:
"'We don't want (sex offenders) on our welfare rolls,' [sex-crime researcher Professor Chrysanthi Leon] told me. 'We want them to support themselves...
"'The problem is that out of fear, we're creating unhelpful policies," Leon said, "and we're not improving public safety as a result.'"
WATCHDOG: Whatever their other shortcomings, the Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. (New Era Editor Ernie Schreiber at times excepted) have long been the voice of enlightenment. The work of Tom Armstrong, Justice & Mercy, and the public forum provided Armstrong by the Rotary Club last week have legitimized civil, rational discussion.
Let's continue the process!
After describing how a social "pariah" froze to death in Michigan because he was refused accommodation at a homeless shelter and mentioning former state Rep. Tom Armstrong's efforts to provide housing locally, Hawkes addressed the more general problem:
"'We don't want (sex offenders) on our welfare rolls,' [sex-crime researcher Professor Chrysanthi Leon] told me. 'We want them to support themselves...
"'The problem is that out of fear, we're creating unhelpful policies," Leon said, "and we're not improving public safety as a result.'"
WATCHDOG: Whatever their other shortcomings, the Lancaster Newspapers, Inc. (New Era Editor Ernie Schreiber at times excepted) have long been the voice of enlightenment. The work of Tom Armstrong, Justice & Mercy, and the public forum provided Armstrong by the Rotary Club last week have legitimized civil, rational discussion.
Let's continue the process!
Monday, February 2, 2009
USA TODAY
"Borowed time? Libraries stung as funding shrinks" is a front page article on Feb. 2nd. It opens "Dwindling tax dollars are forcing libraries to close branches, cut hours and end programs just as more people are turning to them for services."
It continues "...more adults are using free Internet services to search for jobs or apply for unemployment benefits, and more people are economizing by borrowing books, DVDs and CDs."
WATCHDOG: How well Lancastrians know! Despite continued growth in library trafafic, municipalities have not been willing to pay their fair share and the county has been stingy.
It continues "...more adults are using free Internet services to search for jobs or apply for unemployment benefits, and more people are economizing by borrowing books, DVDs and CDs."
WATCHDOG: How well Lancastrians know! Despite continued growth in library trafafic, municipalities have not been willing to pay their fair share and the county has been stingy.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In his op-ed titled "Why I opposed the 'stimulus'", Rep. Joe Pitts states the following: ""So the bill we voted on this week was not a bipartisan product, but rather a trillion-dollar pork-barrel spending spree, written by Nancy Pelosi, without input from Republicans, that expands government and rewards special interests."
WATCHDOG: For a brief moment we thought we were going to agree with Pitts which would be a rarity. But the above is typical of the tone of the column as he points to several items which the administration has already consented to have removed before the Bill goes to the Senate.
The real problem is similar to what happened with the so called Patriot Bill rushed through congress before its variety of issues could be even read, let alone studied and debated!
During the first 90 days of the Franklin D. Roosevelt presidency (The New Deal) and during the civil rights reforms under Lyndon Johnson (The Great Society), there were a number of separate bills dealing with separate issues, thus allowing matters to properly explored in committees, understood, amended and eventually passed.
The real concern that NewsLanc and astute Republicans and Democrats have about the current stimulus bill is it appears to be an opportunistic attempt to bundle together in a single law a good portion of the administrations diverse agenda. This will lead to poor legislation and much harm.
As starters, Congress should concentrate on the stimulus portion with emphasis on what can be accomplished in the next two years. Then they should move on to longer term issues.
Our children and grand children will have to repay up to two trillion dollars from so called "recovery" legislation being rushed through, much of it of dubious early effect. They deserve better.
WATCHDOG: For a brief moment we thought we were going to agree with Pitts which would be a rarity. But the above is typical of the tone of the column as he points to several items which the administration has already consented to have removed before the Bill goes to the Senate.
The real problem is similar to what happened with the so called Patriot Bill rushed through congress before its variety of issues could be even read, let alone studied and debated!
During the first 90 days of the Franklin D. Roosevelt presidency (The New Deal) and during the civil rights reforms under Lyndon Johnson (The Great Society), there were a number of separate bills dealing with separate issues, thus allowing matters to properly explored in committees, understood, amended and eventually passed.
The real concern that NewsLanc and astute Republicans and Democrats have about the current stimulus bill is it appears to be an opportunistic attempt to bundle together in a single law a good portion of the administrations diverse agenda. This will lead to poor legislation and much harm.
As starters, Congress should concentrate on the stimulus portion with emphasis on what can be accomplished in the next two years. Then they should move on to longer term issues.
Our children and grand children will have to repay up to two trillion dollars from so called "recovery" legislation being rushed through, much of it of dubious early effect. They deserve better.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
In his Feb. 1st column "Getting our history right", Gil Smart starts off "The letter to the editor was about American history, something I know something about." He then goes on to say "George Washington owned slaves. Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, though he felt badly about it and ultimately freed them."
WATCHDOG: Smart got the presidents reversed. The wealthy Washington freed the slaves he owned outright upon his death; Jefferson died with huge debts and his slaves were sold off, including his mixed race children.
There was a disconnect between what Jefferson philosophically stood for and how he lived his life, sometimes to his disgrace and at another time what made possible the Louisanna purchase!
Smart is right: Unless he made an editing mistake, he knows "something" about history, but apparently not much!
WATCHDOG: Smart got the presidents reversed. The wealthy Washington freed the slaves he owned outright upon his death; Jefferson died with huge debts and his slaves were sold off, including his mixed race children.
There was a disconnect between what Jefferson philosophically stood for and how he lived his life, sometimes to his disgrace and at another time what made possible the Louisanna purchase!
Smart is right: Unless he made an editing mistake, he knows "something" about history, but apparently not much!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
NEW ERA
In its Jan. 31 editorial "How to keep a happy home", the difficulty in seeking an accommodation from a mortgage service organization is described and persons at risk of losing their houses through foreclosure are encouraged to contact Tabor Community Services. "Tabor helps distressed homeowners navigate the myriad of state and federal programs that are designed to help them avoid foreclosure."
WATCHDOG: Good advice. However, a large portion of home mortgages have been "securitized", that is they have been packaged as part of bonds and sold to passive investors, and thus are beyond the discretion of the loan originator. To make things worse, the very mortgages have often been divided up according to levels of risk and the parts bundled in separate offerings. (For a $100,000 mortgage, the amount between $90,000 and $100,000 is at greatest risk.)
In such cases, the service organizations are only empowered to collect the money, not to negotiate any variation in terms. Thus they seem unresponsive.
As part of efforts to stem foreclosures, one of the considerations is for the federal government to authorize service organizations to negotiate and approve modifications in terms and settlements. Bond holders and debtors both benefit from a "work out" or "cram down."
WATCHDOG: Good advice. However, a large portion of home mortgages have been "securitized", that is they have been packaged as part of bonds and sold to passive investors, and thus are beyond the discretion of the loan originator. To make things worse, the very mortgages have often been divided up according to levels of risk and the parts bundled in separate offerings. (For a $100,000 mortgage, the amount between $90,000 and $100,000 is at greatest risk.)
In such cases, the service organizations are only empowered to collect the money, not to negotiate any variation in terms. Thus they seem unresponsive.
As part of efforts to stem foreclosures, one of the considerations is for the federal government to authorize service organizations to negotiate and approve modifications in terms and settlements. Bond holders and debtors both benefit from a "work out" or "cram down."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
The Jan. 29 article "An unpopular message; Speaker: Sex offenders should get 2nd chance" quotes former state representative Tom Armstrong as telling the Rotary Club:
"...a lot of these sex offenders will never get out of prison" for lack of a place to reside when allowed to leave prison. "It's destroyed their lives."
According to the article, "Armstrong said recidivism rates for most types of sex offenders is (sic) about 3 percent or lower. By comparison, he said, half of those convicted of drug and alcohol offenses fail to rehabilitate and then they commit more crimes, and yet they have plenty of housing choices when they emerge from prison."
WATCHDOG: Kudos to Armstrong for persevering in his educational mission, to Rotary for providing a forum, and to the Intell for prominently publishing the article. Sometimes the editors of the Lancaster Newspapers don't immediately understand social issues but, once edified, they tend to do the right thing. There is even hope for the New Era!
(NewsLanc has emphasized that the scope of the term "sex offender" is far too broad, bundling those committing relatively minor sexual infractions and indiscretions with serial rapists and pedophiles.)
"...a lot of these sex offenders will never get out of prison" for lack of a place to reside when allowed to leave prison. "It's destroyed their lives."
According to the article, "Armstrong said recidivism rates for most types of sex offenders is (sic) about 3 percent or lower. By comparison, he said, half of those convicted of drug and alcohol offenses fail to rehabilitate and then they commit more crimes, and yet they have plenty of housing choices when they emerge from prison."
WATCHDOG: Kudos to Armstrong for persevering in his educational mission, to Rotary for providing a forum, and to the Intell for prominently publishing the article. Sometimes the editors of the Lancaster Newspapers don't immediately understand social issues but, once edified, they tend to do the right thing. There is even hope for the New Era!
(NewsLanc has emphasized that the scope of the term "sex offender" is far too broad, bundling those committing relatively minor sexual infractions and indiscretions with serial rapists and pedophiles.)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
In an article titled "FBI: No evidence Fumo consultants did any work", the Inquirer reported:
"An FBI agent testified yesterday in former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo's corruption trial that the state Senate was unable to turn up a single example of work done by three consultants paid a total of $637,000 by taxpayers at Fumo's command.
"The agent, Vicki Humphreys, said federal investigators subpoenaed records for consultants Michael Palermo and Mitchell Rubin, two longtime friends of Fumo's, and for a younger consultant, Philip Press, and found no evidence that they had produced any written work."
WATCHDOG: Is this an omen of things to come for Lancaster? Sounds like the bi-weekly investigative series by Jim Sneddon on the Convention Center Authority that NewsLanc will continue to publish bi-weekly over the next few months.
"An FBI agent testified yesterday in former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo's corruption trial that the state Senate was unable to turn up a single example of work done by three consultants paid a total of $637,000 by taxpayers at Fumo's command.
"The agent, Vicki Humphreys, said federal investigators subpoenaed records for consultants Michael Palermo and Mitchell Rubin, two longtime friends of Fumo's, and for a younger consultant, Philip Press, and found no evidence that they had produced any written work."
WATCHDOG: Is this an omen of things to come for Lancaster? Sounds like the bi-weekly investigative series by Jim Sneddon on the Convention Center Authority that NewsLanc will continue to publish bi-weekly over the next few months.
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
Headlined on Jan. 27 "Humble hero saves boy, 3; Pulls child from burning Solanco home." Said Jamie Sheetz: "I'm just a hillbilly...I did what a man's supposed to do."
WATCHDOG: Sheetz, although only 40, is a throwback to an earlier time before the confusion of gender roles. There were things that women were expected to do and things that were expected of men. He wouldn't even accept hospital care for his minor injuries.
A wag of the tail to Brett Hambright who wrote the story. Given the angle and the quote, we expect it to be picked up by the national press.
WATCHDOG: Sheetz, although only 40, is a throwback to an earlier time before the confusion of gender roles. There were things that women were expected to do and things that were expected of men. He wouldn't even accept hospital care for his minor injuries.
A wag of the tail to Brett Hambright who wrote the story. Given the angle and the quote, we expect it to be picked up by the national press.
Monday, January 26, 2009
NEW ERA
The Jan. 21st editorial is headed "Table games not good bet for Pa."
WATCHDOG: Let's remember this and see what they have to say two years from now if the convention center comes a cropper and Dale High and the Lancaster Newspapers make use of the casino license that many think that then Sen. Gibson Armstrong has had set aside for such a contingency, if not likelihood.
WATCHDOG: Let's remember this and see what they have to say two years from now if the convention center comes a cropper and Dale High and the Lancaster Newspapers make use of the casino license that many think that then Sen. Gibson Armstrong has had set aside for such a contingency, if not likelihood.
NEW ERA
The Jan. 22nd editorial "A way to simplify federal tax code" advocates a federal income flat tax of 20% for everyone. "If all or most of the tax deductions were eliminated - including the one for home mortgages (although, we don't see that happening) - virtually the entire federal tax code could be pitched, according to [Sen. Arlen] Specter."
WATCHDOG: Talk about "Alms for the rich!"
This would replace a "progressive" income tax, one in which the more a person earns the more on each added dollar is paid, with a "regressive" tax, whereby the poor and the rich pay the same amount out of each dollar earned.
How lovely that would be for those earning in the seven figures who now have to pay 33% on most of their income. (Sixty years ago they would have paid over 80%!)
A large portion of our population who are subsisting on minimal wages, who currently don't have to pay income tax, would have to fork over 20% of their meager income.
We can tell Specter is wooing conservative Republicans to support him in the 2010 primary election when he wheels out that proposal!
WATCHDOG: Talk about "Alms for the rich!"
This would replace a "progressive" income tax, one in which the more a person earns the more on each added dollar is paid, with a "regressive" tax, whereby the poor and the rich pay the same amount out of each dollar earned.
How lovely that would be for those earning in the seven figures who now have to pay 33% on most of their income. (Sixty years ago they would have paid over 80%!)
A large portion of our population who are subsisting on minimal wages, who currently don't have to pay income tax, would have to fork over 20% of their meager income.
We can tell Specter is wooing conservative Republicans to support him in the 2010 primary election when he wheels out that proposal!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In his Jan. 23 column "Sen. Brubaker busy doing your business", Jeff Hawkes reports: "Brubaker expressed a particular interest in wanting to know if prison reform could result in savings without jeopardizing public safety."
WATCHDOG: That is for sure. As NewsLanc's recent article on the Justice & Mercy organization described, some prisoners who are eligible for probation cannot leave prison because they have no acceptable place to reside. And if they don't have a place to go to at the end of their sentence, they are re-arrested as they leave prison. Talk about Catch 22!
Considering that the USA has well over two million people incarcerated, the highest proportion per thousand of any nation in the world, and many for crimes as innocuous as smoking marijuana, there seems to be room for releasing hundreds of thousands of harmless individuals.
Except for the luck of the draw, Barrack Obama and George W. Bush would likely be two of them, as well as at least 20% of the U. S. adult population.
WATCHDOG: That is for sure. As NewsLanc's recent article on the Justice & Mercy organization described, some prisoners who are eligible for probation cannot leave prison because they have no acceptable place to reside. And if they don't have a place to go to at the end of their sentence, they are re-arrested as they leave prison. Talk about Catch 22!
Considering that the USA has well over two million people incarcerated, the highest proportion per thousand of any nation in the world, and many for crimes as innocuous as smoking marijuana, there seems to be room for releasing hundreds of thousands of harmless individuals.
Except for the luck of the draw, Barrack Obama and George W. Bush would likely be two of them, as well as at least 20% of the U. S. adult population.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In a Jan. 22 article "SDL names Jon Mitchell athletics director ", it quotes Mitchell: "It's ridiculous that we don't have more students out for athletics than we do. I'd like to increase participation in all sports...It can't be only the coaches' job to recruit (athletes)."
WATCHDOG: If Mitchell is serious rather than engaging in public relations pap, he is ignorant to the real problem: Under trained coaches who lack knowledge on how to teach skills and run proper practices and instead have students engage in countless intra squad scrimmages which reinforce bad habits.
Don't blame the students for the failure of the School District of Lancaster over past years to pay attention to its athletic program. If Mitchell improves the coaching, the players will come.
WATCHDOG: If Mitchell is serious rather than engaging in public relations pap, he is ignorant to the real problem: Under trained coaches who lack knowledge on how to teach skills and run proper practices and instead have students engage in countless intra squad scrimmages which reinforce bad habits.
Don't blame the students for the failure of the School District of Lancaster over past years to pay attention to its athletic program. If Mitchell improves the coaching, the players will come.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
NEW ERA
A Jan. 19 editorial headlines "Radon: danger lurking beneath" and goes on to warn "It's a life-threatening problem that's largely being ignored. It's radon, a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that can collect in basements of homes or on the first floor of homes built on cement slabs."
WATCHDOG: It is a good idea to test your basement. There is a good likelihood in this part of the country is you will show a radon reading a bit above the level that the Environmental Protection Agency suggests warrants remediation. But don't panic. Unless it is much higher, you should do some research before enriching the industry that has grown up around and helps perpetuate radon scare.
The Environmental Protection Agency reports: "Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked." In a country of over 300 million, that is a very tiny figure, for non-smokers not much different than the chances of being hit by lightening. (1 in 700,000.) And it is reasonable to assume that those who contract cancer are in locations of radon levels far above the level that triggers concern.
A study in 1996, the latest we could find on Google, as reported by the Associated Press in the New York Times states:
"A major study has failed to connect indoor radon exposure with lung cancer, raising new uncertainty about public health warnings that the colorless, odorless gas is responsible for as much as 10 percent of the United States' lung cancer.
"Americans have spent about $400 million testing for radon and renovating homes with high levels. But experts said today that several studies now suggest the minimum residential level of the gas that poses a significant cancer risk is not known."
Our point, test but take into consideration the level found and the risk involved compared to other risks we all run and don't spend thousands of dollars to prevent.
Caveat: If basement are being used for bedrooms or family rooms, testing and, where recommended, remediation becomes more important.
WATCHDOG: It is a good idea to test your basement. There is a good likelihood in this part of the country is you will show a radon reading a bit above the level that the Environmental Protection Agency suggests warrants remediation. But don't panic. Unless it is much higher, you should do some research before enriching the industry that has grown up around and helps perpetuate radon scare.
The Environmental Protection Agency reports: "Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked." In a country of over 300 million, that is a very tiny figure, for non-smokers not much different than the chances of being hit by lightening. (1 in 700,000.) And it is reasonable to assume that those who contract cancer are in locations of radon levels far above the level that triggers concern.
A study in 1996, the latest we could find on Google, as reported by the Associated Press in the New York Times states:
"A major study has failed to connect indoor radon exposure with lung cancer, raising new uncertainty about public health warnings that the colorless, odorless gas is responsible for as much as 10 percent of the United States' lung cancer.
"Americans have spent about $400 million testing for radon and renovating homes with high levels. But experts said today that several studies now suggest the minimum residential level of the gas that poses a significant cancer risk is not known."
Our point, test but take into consideration the level found and the risk involved compared to other risks we all run and don't spend thousands of dollars to prevent.
Caveat: If basement are being used for bedrooms or family rooms, testing and, where recommended, remediation becomes more important.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
SUNDAY NEWS
In his Jan.18th column "Readers can't picture this," Editor Marv Adams describes the difficult decision concerning printing shocking and disturbing pictures, one today of the facial expression of a Moslem girl undergoing ritual circumcision. In contrast, the photo of a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza was restricted to their web site.
"When it's delivered in print to your home, you have almost no choice but to look at a photo. By choice, you log on to the Internet...Maybe if we did print photos of children, and others, killed in war, people wouldn't be so quick to push for war or to choose sides."
WATCHDOG: Well said. Well done.
Journalism should be truthful and edify. It should appeal to our better nature, not our prejudices.
"When it's delivered in print to your home, you have almost no choice but to look at a photo. By choice, you log on to the Internet...Maybe if we did print photos of children, and others, killed in war, people wouldn't be so quick to push for war or to choose sides."
WATCHDOG: Well said. Well done.
Journalism should be truthful and edify. It should appeal to our better nature, not our prejudices.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
NEW ERA
It's Jan. 17 editorial is headed "Obama nominees off on wrong foot." It goes on two address two cabinet level appointments:
Of Secretary of Treasury nominee Timothy Geithner it states: "...there is a terrible irony in having a tax scofflaw run a federal department that oversees the Internal Revenue Service."
Of Attorney General nominee Eric Holder, it says "...Holder did not do his homework in the pardon of fugitive financier Mark Rich, whose [former] wife happened to be a big financial supporter of the Democratic Party."
WATCHDOG: President-elect Obama not only is "off on the wrong foot" but he is shooting himself in the foot, ramming through appointments of two individuals that, no matter how great their talent, have knowingly acted reprehensibly and thus forfeited their right to high offices.
According to NewsMax.com: "Geithner failed to pay $34,000 in self-employment taxes from 2001 to 2004 for money he earned while he worked at the International Monetary Fund. He paid some of the taxes in 2006 after an Internal Revenue Service audit discovered the discrepancy for the years 2003 and 2004. But it wasn't until two years later, days before President Obama tapped him to head Treasury last November, that Geithner paid back taxes he owed for the years 2001and 2002."
How can this be justified, for any prospective cabinet official, let alone one in charge of the Internal Revenue Service?
Even worse, in our opinion, then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder took his order from above at Bill Clinton's worse moment as president. Holder rammed through a pardon for Public Enemy and indeed World Enemy #1, Marc Rich. A fugitive from U. S. law, Rich earned billions by channeling goods around embargoes established by the U. S. and other nations. He even traded in selling uranium to dubious states against the law!
When queried about this sordid act by Senator Arlen Specter and others, Holder could give no feasible explanation for his failure to follow normal due dilligence and simply continued to say "I made a mistake." But it wasn't a mistake; it was purposeful. Accidents, oversights and well meaning wrong decisions can be forgiven; not wilful dereliction of duty.
Barrack Obama would be wise to withdraw these nominees. Otherwise the appointments will seriously undermine the image of probity and decency with which he has sought to cloak his leadership and which induced many of us to vote for him.
Of Secretary of Treasury nominee Timothy Geithner it states: "...there is a terrible irony in having a tax scofflaw run a federal department that oversees the Internal Revenue Service."
Of Attorney General nominee Eric Holder, it says "...Holder did not do his homework in the pardon of fugitive financier Mark Rich, whose [former] wife happened to be a big financial supporter of the Democratic Party."
WATCHDOG: President-elect Obama not only is "off on the wrong foot" but he is shooting himself in the foot, ramming through appointments of two individuals that, no matter how great their talent, have knowingly acted reprehensibly and thus forfeited their right to high offices.
According to NewsMax.com: "Geithner failed to pay $34,000 in self-employment taxes from 2001 to 2004 for money he earned while he worked at the International Monetary Fund. He paid some of the taxes in 2006 after an Internal Revenue Service audit discovered the discrepancy for the years 2003 and 2004. But it wasn't until two years later, days before President Obama tapped him to head Treasury last November, that Geithner paid back taxes he owed for the years 2001and 2002."
How can this be justified, for any prospective cabinet official, let alone one in charge of the Internal Revenue Service?
Even worse, in our opinion, then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder took his order from above at Bill Clinton's worse moment as president. Holder rammed through a pardon for Public Enemy and indeed World Enemy #1, Marc Rich. A fugitive from U. S. law, Rich earned billions by channeling goods around embargoes established by the U. S. and other nations. He even traded in selling uranium to dubious states against the law!
When queried about this sordid act by Senator Arlen Specter and others, Holder could give no feasible explanation for his failure to follow normal due dilligence and simply continued to say "I made a mistake." But it wasn't a mistake; it was purposeful. Accidents, oversights and well meaning wrong decisions can be forgiven; not wilful dereliction of duty.
Barrack Obama would be wise to withdraw these nominees. Otherwise the appointments will seriously undermine the image of probity and decency with which he has sought to cloak his leadership and which induced many of us to vote for him.
Friday, January 16, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
On Jan. 15, Jeff Hawkes in his column "What Donegal needs to build is a better case" reverses course at the end and states "The best answer is a shift from property taxes to a broader, fairer revenue source, such as the income tax."
WATCHDOG: We second that. Every youngster deserves a good education, no matter where he or she happens to live.
This isn't just morality, it's self preservation. Education is key to our economic well being in the international economy.
WATCHDOG: We second that. Every youngster deserves a good education, no matter where he or she happens to live.
This isn't just morality, it's self preservation. Education is key to our economic well being in the international economy.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
NEW ERA
The editorial on Jan. 5 states: "The Employee Free Choice Act would allow employees to indicate their desire for a union simply by signing authorization cards." (Currently, collecting cards from a majority of employees triggers a period of discussion followed by a secret ballot.)
WATCHDOG: We agree. When approached by two or three co-workers, the typical worker is likely to sign a card without being well informed and considering the full consequences. That's not the the way for such an important change to be brought about.
The problem today isn't the law, it is its lax enforcement that has permitted employers get around good faith electioneering and, if they lose, good faith contract negotiations. The new administration can put an end to such abuses.
WATCHDOG: We agree. When approached by two or three co-workers, the typical worker is likely to sign a card without being well informed and considering the full consequences. That's not the the way for such an important change to be brought about.
The problem today isn't the law, it is its lax enforcement that has permitted employers get around good faith electioneering and, if they lose, good faith contract negotiations. The new administration can put an end to such abuses.
Monday, January 5, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In an article concerning the demolition of the Queen Street pedestrian bridge, the Intell quotes Rep. Mike Stura as follows: "I don't know that tearing it down first just so we can have a vacant hole there makes a whole lot of sense." He further indicated that any developer "worth his salt" could evaluate the sites potential with the bridge in place.
WATCHDOG:
If we tear it down, they will come!
WATCHDOG:
If we tear it down, they will come!
Friday, January 2, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
On Jan.1st in what read like a press release, the Intell headlined "Weis to lower; freeze food prices. 2,400 items affected; will last 90days."
WATCHDOG: On Jan. 2nd, the Intell contains a ten page Weis insert with the front page message: "Price Freeze. Weis has lowered and frozen the price on thousands of items you purchase the most for the next 90 days."
Will we soon read about Giant and Stauffer insert specials in front page news articles?
WATCHDOG: On Jan. 2nd, the Intell contains a ten page Weis insert with the front page message: "Price Freeze. Weis has lowered and frozen the price on thousands of items you purchase the most for the next 90 days."
Will we soon read about Giant and Stauffer insert specials in front page news articles?
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
The Jan. 2nd editorial "Won't work" pontificates "By accepting [Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's appointment, [former Illinois attorney general Roland] Burris has sadly allowed himself to be used by an unscrupulous politician who is trying to stay out of jail, let along (sic) trying to keep his office." It also accuses the governor of "cynicism" in appointing Burris who is Black.
WATCHDOG: Since the article starts out by invoking "chutzpah", let us note that religions recognize that all sacraments, even by a corrupt clergy person, are valid.
Also, our legal system operates on the theory that a person is innocent until proven guilty. In addition, the federal prosecutor has just asked for a three months extension for filing full charges. Talk is not necessarily guilt or we would have 50 million rather than 2 million in prison.
And what is "cynical" about appointing an African-American to replace the only African-American in the Senate? It was expected.
As governor, Burris is required under law to make an appointment, otherwise the people of Illinois would be underrepresented in the Senate.
Lastly, shouldn't the issue be Burris' qualifications to be senator, rather than Blagojevich's to be governor?
We get into trouble when we ignore the law out of emotion. If Blagojevich is guilty, impeach him and / or send him to jail. But if Burris isn't more tainted than most of the other politicians who made it to the Senate, seat him and let's get on with dealing with far more serious problems.
WATCHDOG: Since the article starts out by invoking "chutzpah", let us note that religions recognize that all sacraments, even by a corrupt clergy person, are valid.
Also, our legal system operates on the theory that a person is innocent until proven guilty. In addition, the federal prosecutor has just asked for a three months extension for filing full charges. Talk is not necessarily guilt or we would have 50 million rather than 2 million in prison.
And what is "cynical" about appointing an African-American to replace the only African-American in the Senate? It was expected.
As governor, Burris is required under law to make an appointment, otherwise the people of Illinois would be underrepresented in the Senate.
Lastly, shouldn't the issue be Burris' qualifications to be senator, rather than Blagojevich's to be governor?
We get into trouble when we ignore the law out of emotion. If Blagojevich is guilty, impeach him and / or send him to jail. But if Burris isn't more tainted than most of the other politicians who made it to the Senate, seat him and let's get on with dealing with far more serious problems.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL:
In a New Years column, Noble laureate economist Paul Krugman's writes: "But even as Washington tries to rescue the economy, the nation will be reeling from the actions of 50 Herbert Hoovers - state governors who are slashing spending in a time of recession, often at the expense both of their most vulnerable constituents and the nation's economic future."
WATCHDOG: Commissioners take note! This applies as much on the county as the state and federal levels.
WATCHDOG: Commissioners take note! This applies as much on the county as the state and federal levels.
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