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!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
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!
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