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City of Gary Indiana Tries to Weasel Out of Property Tax Caps

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 5:19:52 PM
After many years the state of Indiana have finally achieved property tax reform.   It was not a fun process for many here in Lake County.     The lawsuit that started it all was filed here in Lake County by a homeowner in St. John.     I am not going to say his name because he has been demonized by  the many uninformed people for starting it all. 

He did all of the taxpayers in Indiana a big favor though.    Many don't believe it yet,  but he really did.     Starting in 2010 all property tax rates are capped at 1% of property value (2 or 3% in some areas,  business and income-producing etc).   Most property owners will be seeing big reductions in their property taxes.   

The idea is to prevent towns and cities from increasing spending too quickly (or to dial back overspending already happening).   It has been noted by virtually no one that this is a really overdue tax reform.    It gives back to the taxpayer for once.

Because the media is fixated on the spending that must be cut.  

Almost every community has to cut spending somewhere.   The income from the property tax is going to be lower everywhere.    Most towns officials are complaining,  but are cutting their budgets knowing that they will get no support for spending increases. 

Gary has to cut $30 million in spending to get under the cap.    Mayor Clay has claimed to have cut $30 million already (it would have been $60 million over).   Well Mayor you will have to do the whole job, not just half.   

However there is a loophole that he is trying to drive thru.     "Distressed"  communities can get the state to allow higher caps for them.   They are asking for "relief "  from this budget mess.   

I say the taxpayers are the ones that need relief, not the government of Gary Indiana.  

Tax caps are pointless if elected officials can weasel out of them.    

I hope that tax caps become more popular.    It should be VERY hard to increase any taxes and something like this goes in the correct direction.    Taxpayers are tapped out and elected politicians are not getting the message.  

It shouldn't be that taxes are always rising.    It kills peoples dreams and makes it harder to make a living. 

I hope the state tells Gary to cut spending instead of increasing taxes.    It would be better in the long run to have Gary spending far less money.  

Recent articles about Gary tax cap.

Gary to make tax cap pitch The Times Jan.5, 2009

Gary makes tax plea    Post Tribune Jan.5, 2009

Gary wants businesses to foot city bailout The Times Jan.6, 2009

Business cool to bailout for Gary Post Tribune Jan. 7, 2009

Gary buys new SUV for mayor The Times Jan. 7, 2009

As you can see,  Gary officials have a lot of things that could be cut (easy).    They don't seem able to see what is fat.   Thats why we need caps.

Daniels blasts Gary Tax Cap Plan The Times Jan. 11, 2009

Gary mayor makes financial plea The Times Jan. 15, 2009

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Open Mouth, Insert Foot: Kathy Griffin

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Sunday, January 04, 2009 7:53:40 PM
The first Open Mouth, Insert Foot "award"  of 2009 goes to Kathy Griffin.   The so called comedian,  who isn't very funny by the way,  said the d- word on national TV on New Years Eve.   Granted it was CNN (who watches that on NYE? or anytime for that matter) so not very many people saw and heard her.     She was being heckled (big surprise,,,not)  by the people in the crowd.    I guess they had hoped for real entertainers.    So like Babs she lost it. 

Ever since I first saw her on Seinfeld (never got how that got on TV either) I didn't think she was funny.   I still don't,   only now she babbles on about liberal politics as well.   yawn!     How do people like this keep getting back on TV?    
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Liberals Worst Nightmare: President Bush III, (That would be Jeb by the Way)

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Sunday, January 04, 2009 7:01:50 PM
In a interview with Fox News today,  that will give liberals heart attacks around the world.   George Bush Sr. (the first President Bush)  thinks Jeb Bush would be a good president.  Read it here.    Jeb Bush,   son of the first President Bush and younger brother of the present President Bush,  is the former governor of Florida.  


 "(Jeb) as qualified and as able as anyone I know in the political scene" to be president.  I'd like to see him run,   I'd like to see him be president some day." said the former president. 

This blogger can't image the amount of whining and complaining that would come from the left .     They would have hissy fits of enormous  proportions if something like that would come to pass.       I don't see it happening though.   Even though Jeb Bush would likely be a good president,  he would be stuck with the same "mainstream" media that hates his brother.    They would waste little time pining the same label on Jeb (not that they haven't already) that they have on the present President Bush. 

Even though the "mainstream" media is quickly declining, it can still pack a punch.   the recent election of Obama is proof of that.     They have painted President Bush as unpopular  even though he is more popular then the Democrat controlled Congress.  

That was the other point of the first President Bush.   The unfair treatment of the current President Bush.     I can't agree more.   There has been very unprofessional  and bad "reporting" in the last eight years.


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Happy New Year!! A Little of This and That

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Friday, January 02, 2009 4:19:09 AM
Happy New Year to everybody!  

Time for a little of this and that.

Al Franken's stealing of Norm Coleman's Minnesota Senate seat is almost complete.    Harry Reid seems willing to seat Franken if the "recounting" is not finished.   Never mind that he wasn't willing to seat Coleman when he was still "ahead".    The Democrats don't care that the voters rejected this scary nitwit Franken and reelected Coleman,  their super-majority is in danger.

Meanwhile in New York,  Democrats  want to hand a Senate seat to Caroline Kennedy.   Never mind that she really hasn't done anything on her own to get there.  Her last name is Kennedy so I guess that's the reason why she would be prefect for the Senate.   I for one was looking forward to a Senate free of a member with the last name of Kennedy.    Now there will be two.  Oh, goody!   Once she is there she will be there forever!  Good luck to any smuck that would have to actually run to earn that office. 

In Illinois the arrogant indicted Governor Rod Blagojevich goes ahead and names the replacement for the vacated Obama Senate seat.  Roland Burris comes out of nowhere and ends his retirement.    (I had honestly thought he had passed away, since I hadn't seen him in the news lately).     Of course there is talk about the Democrats not seating him, that's as likely as Franken conceding his election loss. 

AND THIS IS THE CHANGE PEOPLE "VOTED"  FOR!!     YIKES!!!

They aren't  even in office yet and its a huge mess already.    I think I miss George Bush already.     I will have plenty to write and complain about for at least the next two years.     If the Republicans aren't returned to power in Congress in two years this country needs its head examined.  

In International News,  the delusional leader of Cuba,  Raul Castro thinks the Communist Revolution will last another 50 years there.   He will be lucky to get another 5 years out of it.    We can only hope that the end of Communism in Cuba doesn't lead to a bloodbath,  in the island nation that has suffered greatly under its communist dictatorship.    Cuba future could be great if they could turn into a Democracy soon. 

The election of Obama doesn't help the nations that hope for a better future.    Obama will be a weak president,  that the dictators of the world will take advantage of.     With many Clinton staffers back for a "third Clinton" term,  the foreign policy will likely be alot like Clintons.   One that goes in many mixed up directions.    If you are a foreign person reading this,  the U.S. is out to lunch for the next four years at least.   Help for you will have to wait for the next Republican president to clean up after.    Sorry!  

Why the global elites  of the world  prefer a  president like Obama?   I sure don't know why.     I understand that many people don't like a powerhouse like the U.S. with so much strength.    But the world is a vacuum,  do you really want former or current communists or muslim terrorists running the world?   I think not.    Cause you elites types will be the first ones lined up and gotten rid of.

The political world is so strange,  isn't it?   Logic or reason has no place there.    The more stupid the better!

Its going to be a fun years isn't it?!?!?!?

 

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Merry Christmas

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Thursday, December 25, 2008 2:38:31 PM
Have a great and Merry Christmas!
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What Ignorance of History (and Economics) Gets You: Obama's New New Deal

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Saturday, December 20, 2008 4:05:56 AM
The media is getting all giddy about the return of the "New Deal".   They all look warmly back to the days of the new deal.  They think about all the money the government is going to spend on projects.   They talk about all the things FDR and the government did during the dark days of the depression.  

One small little problem with the New Deal.   It was an enormous failure. 

Yes, Virginia,   what you thought you learned in social studies is dead wrong.   The new deal did nothing to end the depression.   In fact it most likely made it longer and much worse.     Had WWII not happened it would have extended it into the 1940's.   

You sure wouldn't think so if you listen to the "mainstream" media.    Economics don't change that much.   The fundamentals don't change.   Government spending never "helps" the economy.    The worst time is when the economy is bad,  which is the time that most want more government spending.   A bad combination if you ask me.  

When the government spend money it has to come from somewhere.    That somewhere is you,  the dumb smuck taxpayer.    So that dollar you would have spent somewhere  (or saved for later) is now in the governments grabby hands.   And since it didn't earn it,  it thinks nothing on how to spend it.  Even if the government spends it the same way you would have,  it will manage to pay more for it and will be far less efficient  while spending it. 

Downturns require that the government spends LESS money not more.   But nobody from the government learns anything do they?   Economic growth is always from the people not the government.  
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What Ignorance of History Gets You: Che Guevara T-shirts

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Friday, December 19, 2008 5:54:49 PM
The Bolivian government did the world a huge favor when it executed Che Guevara in 1967.    If you don't know who Che Guevara is,  just look for the Andy Warhol like image on things.   You see that image mostly on T-shirts worn by college students and those at left wing rallies and protests.   Its very  clear they don't know who he is either.    

Let me be as clear as I can about Che Guevara.    HE IS A MURDERER,  PURE AND SIMPLE!!!

He is not a revolutionary, man of the people, political thinker etc,  that many make him out to be.   The death toll due to this man is huge,   considering he only lived to age 39.    He should only be compared with Hilter, Mao,  Stalin,  Pol Pot,  Castro and the like.    He only shows the world the evil and misery  that Communism has  brought  to the world.   He is not a hero.   He is a monster that we are lucky that we didn't have any longer then we did.  

But most don't know the story of Che Guevara.   A major movie isn't going to help that  either.   Since most in Hollywood think the "commonly held" story of him is true.   Just look at the "history" of him on Wikipedia.   There is a good article by Mark Goldblatt at NRO that you should read about it.   

We do a great dishonor to his many victims by celebrating the life of this murderer.   We will be doomed to repeat history if we continue the ignorance of  the truth about Cuevara.   

If you are wearing one of those stupid t-shirts,  due us a favor and throw it out.  
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Special Election Unlikely for Open Illinois Senate Seat

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 11:02:53 PM
The Democrats have a major problem with what to do with the open Senate seat left by Barack "I am going to finish my term before running for President" Obama.     Now that the recently indicted  Governor Blagojevich isn't  going to be able to make the selection,  who will?      There is talk of a special election,  but I don't see that happening, Democrats will not risk that. 

If there is an election,  the seat could be lost to a Republican.     The seat was Republican before Obama,  so it is possible.    There is no longer a possibility of a super majority   for the Dems in the Senate,  even if their cheating in Minnesota  works due to the second election in Georgia going Republican.   But I am sure they don't relish the idea of losing the seat back to the Republicans. 

Some of my predictions of an Obama presidency are coming true already.  A scandal has arrived before Obama has even taken office.   The far left is also unhappy with Obama already too.   The federal government will be like the Illinois government has been since Blagojevich became governor.    Infighting and scandal will prevent the "change" that the left wants to force on this nation. 
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Don't Pardon and Release the American Taliban!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 10:40:31 PM
The parents of American born Taliban terrorist John Walker Lindh are asking President Bush to pardon him before he leaves office.   Read about it here. 

I for one,  think that President Bush should NOT pardon John Lindh.   He is a traitor  of the worst kind.   He took up arms against his own country.   He is undeserving of a pardon.    He is serving a twenty year sentence.   He should serve it all.  
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The Media's Foot Fetish

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 12:49:03 AM
I don't know if you all have noticed this,  but does the media have a foot fetish?   A "reporter" in Iraq throws a shoe at President Bush the other day.     Of course no reporter from the mainstream media would think of throwing a shoe at  Prez-elect Obama.    That's only because they are kissing his feet.  

The fourth estate sure has some weird problems these days!  
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Unions Slowly Killing American Auto Industry

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Saturday, December 13, 2008 3:41:25 AM
I wonder about the logic that union leaders use.   It sure doesn't have any basis in reality.    The U.S. auto industry is in big trouble and unions are one of the parties responsible.     Today they killed the bailout.   And they are the ones that want the bailout. 

Most Americans oppose the bailout, including this blogger.   So outside of their own members that don't know any better and the mainstream media,  they aren't going to get much support from the general public.    

They should be pushing to get this done as soon as possible with this logic.    But they aren't.   Why do that,  because they get pushed to the back in bankruptcy court, and that makes less sense.    So they have even less leverage then they do now.    No they jump to their standard answer of the last thirty years, blame the evil Republicans for all their trouble. 

Not very helpful and useful.    The unions do a great disservice to their members by this stupid behavior.     Being useless is the reason for the lowest percentage of union membership in decades.      

If there aren't any American auto companies in the future,  unions will one of the reasons why.   Then they will have no members to represent.    How that helps them and the current union members,  I sure don't know. 
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Obama seen untouched by Illinois Governor Charges, says R euters

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Tuesday, December 09, 2008 6:37:36 PM
Obama untouched by Blagojevich scandal.   Do you think a Republican would get an article like this one from Reuters.   Not likely.  

I am not saying Obama is involved.   But if these politicians were Republicans,  do you think the media would be so easy on him.    They would dig and dig,  and even if they didn't find anything it would still be a big story. 

So even if Obama was involved,  the press sure wouldn't look.   And they aren't going to either.    The only thing that Obama did was to mostly stay away from Blagojevich.    Good for his career,  not so good for the residents and taxpayers of Illinois.    Not once did Obama take a stand against corruption in Illinois.  Never.    Even when he had the opportunity he didn't. 

That why I have never bought the idea that Obama is a reformer.   Because he isn't.   He may not be as corrupt like most Illinois Democrats,  but he never did anything to stop it either.  
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Blagojevich Busted!!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Tuesday, December 09, 2008 2:01:21 PM
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested this morning at his Chicago home.    He has been under a cloud of corruption for quite a while now.    So you think he would keep a low profile and dial it back a little.

In spite of that fact,  the feds contend that he was trying to sell Obama's now vacant (not that Obama actually sat in it much) Senate seat.     This in addition to all the other things that the feds had been looking at already.     Obama seems to have nothing to do with this new scandal.    But it shows wheres he is from.  

So was Blagojevich stupid or so arrogate he thought he could get away with it?   I sure don't know.   It would seem to lean to stupid with the other part of scandal involving trying to shake down the Chicago Tribune for state aid.   You wonder if yesterdays bankruptcy has something to do with it.    

More as this develops.  
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Tribune Companies to File for Bankruptcy, Why Does GM Refuse to Do So Too?

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Monday, December 08, 2008 2:35:39 PM
The Tribune company today declared it is bankrupt.    The publisher of the Chicago Tribune has $13 billion in debt.     It isn't going to end operations however.   There is no reason to do so.   That what Chapter 11 bankruptcy is for. 

Which begs the question.   Why can't GM file for chapter 11 bankruptcy?    It would actually solve many of its various problems.    The bailout only prolongs the misery.    It will go broke again in the future.   Remember we taxpayers bailed out Chrysler in the early 1980's and here we are again once again ready to do so again. 

Taxpayers should demand that we not give the automakers any money.   They need to declare bankruptcy and reorganize.    The bailout has already failed because it will not address fundamental problems with the American auto business. 

It will not address:   the dealers that they need to rid themselves of,  the brands they need to retire,  union contracts that don't make business sense,  the management that agreed to the bad contracts to begin with, the retirees that need to be funded somehow. 

Also bankruptcy would allow  a lot of bad debt to go away,   makes it easier to end unneeded dealer contracts,  opens old labor contracts to fix bad deals.     They want the bailout so they don't have to do the hard work that has to be done at some time.    This things MUST happen at some point.  

The bailout will only help bring an end to American automaking.    In thirty years or less,  there will be no GM, Chrysler or Ford to kick around anymore.   They will be history,  because we taxpayers can't bail them out every twenty or so years.    At some point the government will not be able to waste our money any more.

Can the American auto industry save itself.   Yes,  if it doesn't go to Washington for "help".     Will it,  at this point, thats a big fat NO!
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Eric Zorn, your hypocrisy is showing!

Posted by Rich from NW Indiana on Sunday, December 07, 2008 5:35:26 PM
Eric Zorn,  your hypocrisy is showing!

Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn is complaining  today that the Obama haters aren't going away since the election is over.    Guess what Eric,  they ain't going anywhere.  

Since the Bush haters haven't let up a second since 2000,  why would Obama be free from those that oppose him?   I say bring it on!   No politician should be protected by the press like Obama is today.    

I know that the media doesn't think that criticizing Obama is something we should do.   Here in the real world,  it is something that we will have to do a lot of for the next four years.   We will have to,  because people like Eric Zorn will not.  Many have grave concerns for what Obama is going to do.   For very good reasons.  

Its because he has very little of a track record.   It doesn't help that what is known about him isn't very good.   A good sense of style and image matter very little to the job of president.  Thats about all he has. 

Yes, the people Zorn writes about are not going to prevail.   But HE is the one that are pointing these people out.   He  never bothered to point out the real wacko's that have even less to stand on when they complain about things about President Bush,  that aren't even true.    

I would point this out to Eric Zorn on his blog,  but he isn't taking comments on this post!  I wonder why?  Not really. 


On another note,  is it just me,  or is the quality (of the writing and editing) of  the Trib just not as good as it once was?


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