President Donald Trump and Draining the Swamp

Today we are meeting with Fred who has lived in the swamp for about 75 years and is rather large at about 750 pounds and is about 19 feet long. While he prefers to being left alone he has consented to this rare interview.

Fred it is very nice of you to stop by for this talk today, I was rather surprised when I heard you wanted to meet a member of the press. Usually your species like to stay hidden from view and people so what brings you out today?

“Well, I am very concerned about the new President after all I have heard that he wants to “drain the swamp” and it’s my home and I don’t want it drained. Look I have been here for 75 years and my family has been in this area for about 37 million years. If he drains the swamp where would I go. The only other place where gators live is in China and don’t if you know this but my Chinese cousins are much smaller and speak a funny language. Very strange bunch. From what I hear the President does not like the Chinese either”.

Fred I think you got the story wrong the President didn’t want to drain your swamp, he was using the concept of a swamp as a figure of speech.

“Then what is he talking about – a swamp is a swamp”.

Fred he was talking about the political people in Washington DC the nation’s capital that run the government.

“Now your confusing me even more, don’t forgot we gators have a very small brain and what a you said makes no sense. I didn’t even know there was a swamp in Washington, my swamp atlas doesn’t show any swamps above Georgia. You mean he wants to get rid of Congress.”

You have an atlas?

“Of course it is the Atlas of Swamps of the World – I have the new 6^th edition”.

Fred the DC swamp is not a true swamp it’s a figure of speech meaning like a swamp with people in it not doing their job. No not Congress, the people who run the various federal agencies. The President believed that the former government was not listening to the people and not doing their job. He had a lot of voters convinced of that. What do you think?

“Well, I am very concerned that President Trump is going to drain my actual swamp to drill for oil and not his make believe swamp. Just look at the people he is hiring to be in his government. All very rich people who did not get to be rich by being nice to people or the land. Those kind of people step on people and could care less about rules that get in their way. Did I hear right the other day he stated up two pipelines to move more oil? Do you realize what a pipeline would do to my home? I also understand he has said he is going to remove rules and regulations. That will hurt even more. And that Congress for years now they have done nothing but blame the other side”.

Why do you say that? “Well as I see it a rule or regulation was put in place when someone did something wrong. Just look at the acid levels in my water”.

Ok Fred what does acid levels have to do with regulations?

“OK I said I am not very smart but I do know the acid levels have gone up over the years and it plays havoc on my skin. My dermatologist has confirmed it to me. The reason is very simple as we see an increase in pollution, that is burning fuel, more cars, etc. that pollution sends sulfur into the air, when it rains, and it rains a lot over the swamp, the rain mixes with the sulfur forming sulfuric acid and the level of acid in the swamp goes up. If he removes more regulations I see more pollution and even more acid, not good. Now he has said he is does not believe in global warming. But I do, as you know I like it to be very hot since I am cold blooded. I have noticed the temps getting warmer each year also the water level has been going up. I know in the few years I have had to move my land base three times to higher ground”. “So if he removes regulation, the pollution will increase and that is not good”. “Now about that Congress, instead of getting anything done, they just sit around and blame each other for what the other side is not doing. I don’t understand how people can keep voting in the ones that want to stop everything. I wish I could vote but the voter id laws have ruled me out since I don’t have a real address”.

Fred you have a dermatologist?
“Of course Dr. Croc is great. For years I could not afford him but a few years ago a new insurance came into being and now I see him every six months.”

Insurance?

“Yes it is run by the National Park Service and DNR. But I fear that it may be going away. You see I don’t have steady income and without it I will lose the insurance. I would have to go back to the old barter system. By that I mean I would have to bring the Doc a couple of chickens or a dozen fish for my treatments. It not as easy to catch them at my age”. “Speaking of rangers a few have told me they may be losing their jobs, something about them being moved to the border with Mexico to act as police as the President build a wall to keep Mexicans out. How dumb. So instead of walking across the border they will fly over it or come by boat. They also told me the new President is not going to set aside more land for national parks. I see more and more factories popping up, more pipelines, highways and now we are talking about real draining of my swamp”. “Sad,sad,sad”. “Then without the DNR and Rangers who is going to protect the wildlife, no one, so the hunting will be like in the 1800’s that my grandfather used to talk about, just a war on wildlife so rich women could have nicer purses and shoes”.

“Say I am getting very hungry talking to you, I heard that Big Bird is being thrown off TV, do you know where he is going to be living, he would be a tasty meal, last a few days, I love leftovers. Well talking about this has made me even more hungry so I am going to take off and swim around looking for a wild turkey or some turtles to grab a snack”.

See you later Fred, thank you for the interview, hopefully we can do this again. Next time I will bring some extra chickens.

A few alternative facts!

“At the top of President Donald Trump's agenda for his discussion with congressional leaders Monday night: relitigating the campaign, including saying "illegals" voting deprived him of a victory in the popular vote.”

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/01/24/trump-to-lawmakers-illegals-cost-me-the-popular-vote/21661468/

"That was the largest audience to witness an inauguration, period."

 Sean Spicer on Saturday, January 21st, 2017 in a press conference

Donald Trump had biggest inaugural crowd ever? Metrics don't show it.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/jan/21/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/

TV ratings: Trump inauguration sinks 18 percent from Obama's in 2009

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/01/22/tv-ratings-trump-inauguration-sinks-18-percent-from-obamas-in/21660133/

In response to The White House petition, Donald J. Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway tells This Week that Donald Trump "is not going to release his tax returns"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/101563919997040/

And this is just the first few days, a lot more to come. 

REAL FACT- Only 51% of the voters in Carmel, IN voted for Trump. 

Another Failure by the Republicans

In 2005, newly elected Gov. Mitch Daniels needed a couple of billion dollars to help fund “Major Moves,” his 10-year plan for building and fixing roads throughout the state.  He started out by selling the Toll Road for $3.8 billion, which was about $1 billion more than expected. Then rounded this up to about $10 billion for both new roads and $5.8 billion to fix and maintain our existing roads.

I am sure you all remember "Major Moves" a ten year program. Maybe we should now rename this "Major Failures". What ever happened to the part about preservation and maintenance, of current roads. Based on the infrastructure failures it appears this was never accomplished. 

The state and Mitch’s program never lived up to his promises and now the legislators expect the citizens of the state to foot the bill for Mitch’s failed program with an increase in taxes to fix our roads.  

So here we are no longer getting revenue from the Toll Road, bridges that fail and you know when your back home in Indiana by the bumpy ride.  

Donald’s massive hidden tax is coming.

Get ready for a massive tax increase that will effect the middle and lower income class and you will never know it is coming. you will never know you are paying it, but it is coming.

Here is how he is doing to do it.

He is going to place tariffs on products made in China, Mexico and who knows where else. A tariff is a tax on imported goods and it is paid by the importer. It is used by government to protect various industries or business from completion by a source outside that country. Lets say you want to make sure you continue your steel capability so you tax cheap steel coming into your country so your steel companies can make money and stay alive. Now Donald is saying he is going to slap tariffs on goods form these countries not to protect business here but to punish them for having low wages and producing goods to be sold in the USA.

End result many of the items China now makes are no longer made in the USA so each of these items with a 35% tax on them means the stores are going to have to pay more and charge more.  Look at Wal-Mart a lot of their products they sell come form China; all of those will jump up in price. You are going to pay more and at the same time the government is going to collect that tariff money or better known as a hidden tax.

The price of a car is going to zoom up even those made in the USA. Why? Car manufacturing is no longer a made in one country but rather of parts made everywhere. So a part made in Mexico or China is going to have a 35% jump in cost and do you think Ford or GM are not going pass it on? They will and up goes the price. The US Government has just increased the cost of a new car and you are going to pay the tax. But your never going to know it, unless Ford or GM tells you what they pay in tariff taxes. They won’t, because if they did a twitter attack would be launch against them.

Get ready to pay this new tax after all he needs the money to build his wall. Mexico is not going to pay for it as he promised you they would, so the money will come from your pocket. Or maybe he will have tourist tours of the wall and charge for the tour just like China does for its Great Wall.  

Oh and by the way do you think China and Mexico are just going to sit back and do nothing. No they will raise tariffs on US products and our farmers and high tech manufacturers will take a big hit. 

Sorry but that is the way it is. 

Once again Fishers Pays off a Developer

OK Mayor Fadness said, “One of the things I hear the most from our Fishers residents is the desire for more local food and entertainment options.”

So here comes the “Yard” a private development by Thompson Thrift Retail group and low and behold a large chunk of money form the City of Fishers, much of it hidden of course from the citizens under various statements that most people don’t understand.

Here we go:

1.     The agreement includes waiver of Impact Fees.  Why?

2.     Economic Development Bonds to the tune of $7 million dollars. Why?

3.     TIF District – reduces tax collection over time and hurts the HSE School district.  Why?

4.     The city will lease two 1,500 sq ft buildings to be used as a culinary and / or restaurant accelerator. Why?

If this has such a great demand and is wanted by residents why is the City giving even one penny to the developer. If it were badly wanted wouldn’t the developers be happy to risk their own money to make a profit. Why is the City allowing any of this or is to insure that money flows into the re-election coffers of the city council members.  Give the developer money and expect payback later in donations to a campaign. By the way how many millions is this worth? Less government republicans seems to be in 100% and in lock step with this development. It seems that pay for play is at it again. The name Thompson appears on Mr. Fadness’s campaign contribution reports as well as many other contractors to the city.  I guess taxpayers don’t count.  Mr. Fadness you should return every penny from any one or business that has a contract with the city.  I know it is allowed in the State of Indiana but it is still not ethical.  By the way the same goes for many of the other City of Fishers Council members you should not accept any money from contractors or from the owners who are trying to hide they are paying you off. I know it does not in any way influence your vote on the council. Who are you kidding, not me.

Voters and taxpayers of the City of Fishers please remember this when the City elections come around in a few years if you don’t I will remind you.

Its time Kathy Richardson resign as Election Administrator or State Rep.

State Rep Kathy Richardson continues to run her own election and this may be the biggest case of potential election fraud in the State of Indiana. She is the “Election Administrator” of the Hamilton County and at the same time elected to the office of State Representative.  Isn’t it time she be made to pick one job and not run her own election.  Of course in Hamilton (one party) County no one see’s anything wrong with this. Then again in the one party state they will not find anything wrong with this.

Then she continues to have early voting in the courthouse so people can see her walking around from her office right across the hall from the voting.

Now lets take a look at early voting. Why did people have to stand in line for hours at the Carmel Library and Fishers City Hall? In some cases up to five hours. Why is the main early voting held in the Courthouse with the very limited parking and all kinds of security checks to get into he building?

Here are some easy solutions to the mess we had in early voting. First of all add extra voting machines at both the Library and City Hall. The machines were available, as they were not needed until election day for other locations. Easy to double or triple the number of machines at each location.  Or was the five-hour wait on purpose? Ms. Richardson can claim what a great job she did having early voting and ignore the lack of thinking on her part.  Or the time the machines failed at the Carmel Library and then turning away those people at Fishers when they arrived a few minutes late after being told to go to Fishers from Carmel.

The Courthouse had 18 machines and the other two only five.  Now my other question is why the Courthouse? Oh I know because it has always been done at the Courthouse and Ms. Richardson needs people to see her.  The County owns just blocks away Fairgrounds with big buildings and lots of parking. So way not use these facilities to hold early voting. It would reduce the amount of Sherriff Deputies needed to inspect every person entering the Courthouse, reduce the need to try and find a parking spot and just make life easier for the voters. Can’t make life easier for voters. Just make it look like your making it easier for voters. But then again it would reduce Ms. Richardson’s visibility to voters and she can’t have that.

Now back to Ms. Richardson. It is time she be forced to either resign from one of the two jobs that are in conflict. How can she be responsible for counting votes that determine if she wins or loses an election? How can she be responsible for the voting machines and to top it off machines that do not have any paper trail? She can’t and it is time the County Clerk and Commissioners step up to their responsibility to the voters and remove this out and out conflict of interest and potential for voter fraud.

"A candidate for elected office or a member of a candidate’s campaign finance committee may not serve as an appointed member of the board, a proxy for an appointed member of the board, or be employed by a county election board. The circuit court clerk may not serve as a member of a candidate’s campaign finance committee other than the clerk’s own candidate’s campaign finance committee."

(IC 3-6-5-3; IC 3-6-5.2-4.5; IC 3-6-5.4-4.5)

Hamilton County Republicans as a Group Refused to Debate

If you live and vote in Hamilton County you have to read this:

Pivotal local elections to determine the future of public safety projects

http://blogs.butler.edu/multimedia-journalism/2016/10/31/pivotal-local-elections-determine-future-public-safety-projects/

What’s worst it shows that the County Republican’s holding elected office have lied to the League of Women Voters about the debate. We heard the Republicans couldn’t come because there was a meeting and they had to go to it.  In this article “Dillinger said the republican candidates made a group decision not to attend the debate because they did not want to give the democrats the media attention that their participation in the event would have brought.” 

So here we have it an out and out lie by Mr. Dillinger and all the Republican candidates. Are these the people you want in office?

If you take the time to read the article you come away with a very bad impression of Mr. Dillinger and the rest of his crew. One of an ego that is beyond belief, one of we know best, one we have done this so long and so well no one else can do better.

So no one can do better, no new ideas, only arrogance and a one party system that can be run without any checks and balances. Well lately they are having some fights even within their ranks, but not for the benefit of the people of the county but rather for themselves. 

Its is time to vote in a few if not all Democrats to cause a change in the good old boy network at the county level. What a shock to the system if they had to answer questions at a Council or Commissioner meeting in front of the public instead making all those deals in private.  Go to one of the meetings and watch and then try and tell anyone what happened. You can’t. Ask for complete copies of what they are going to vote for in advance, guess what they expect you to pay ten cents a page for the copies. Talk about a closed system to keep the public out. Its time to shut this down and the way to do it is with electing new people to the County Offices.

I am running for County Surveyor, the current surveyor has been in office since 1977. Its time for a change and a new look.

Joe Weingarten

Weingarten for Surveyor