GOP WANTS TO CUT FEMA FUNDING, BUT HAS HANDS OUT

Disaster is no joke; lives, homes, everything can be lost in the snap of a finger.

Most disasters we often hear of are in the central part of the U.S., floods from Hurricanes, tornados seem to frequent the airways.

Along the east coast we face the threat of hurricanes. In all events government turns to FEMA the Federal Emergency Management team for INSTANT help, personnel and loans to get back on their feet. Government needs money for infrastructure and people need a place to live.

I found it disappointing last year when Republicans wanted to cut funding of FEMA, especially given the fact that a majority of the governors in those disaster zones being Republicans.

Interesting though is after each disaster since, the President has called the governors offersing assistance from FEMA. Would you believe not one of them turned down the President’s help of aid?

Governor Christie of New Jersey almost lost support of the GOP for saying kind words about the President and the response of FEMA after SANDY hit the Jersey Shores. Today Republican Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma thanked the President and FEMA for their support and quick response as did the Mayor.

Many don’t like government involvement; I too think at times their is too much. But to those who think control should go back to the states, I ask the question, where would these states be today if they had to fund the clean-ups?

FEMA does a good job using taxpayer money. I know of only one screw-up with FEMA; that was Bush’s “Brownie” who screwed up the operation after Katrina.

LAY-OFFS? FROM THE BOTTOM OF COURSE

Delaware schools facing budget cuts have or are in the process of laying off staff.

And of course the cuts are where students need staff the most; support staff, Para-professionals.

Of course none of the schools have announced lay-off for administrators. Really? Give me 5 seconds to act surprised. I guess if administrators are laid off the superintendents may have more responsibility; that’s scary.

I don’t understand why the governor won’t mandate for every 5 or 10 staffers laid off that a certain percentage of administrators should go as well. Might that take a little courage. Probably if the State Board of Education mandated administrator cuts they’d have to cut some from their little empire. That ain’t gonna happen.

Instead what happened is the superintendents told the budget people they would accept the budget cuts and they would be responsible for staff reduction.

What a shame! Delaware is among the highest in the nation with top heavy administrators.

TEA PARTY ENERGIZED

The American Tea Party down in the popularity it had during the Bush years claims to have received an infusion of CPR because of the recent IRS and Benghazi issues; they have been Born Again!

This could be good news for Democrats. Some of the candidates they came up with in the past election helped Democrats gain seats in both houses of Congress. Their outspoken views on women’s rights turned off and turned out enough women voters to make a difference in many close contests. Granted

George Romney with his frequent bloopers didn’t help the women’s causes and not of the working class.

I just can’t wait to see their new slate of candidates. Should make good fodder for late night shows.

WHERE WAS THE AMERICAN FLAG

At the 23rd annual Laurel Alumni Banquet Saturday evening, held at the newly remodeled banquet at the Laurel Fire Hall, president Cathy Parker asked the 350 attendees to stand and pledge allegiance to the flag.

Heads turned 360 degrees looking for an American flag; there was none. Apparently an oversight on the part of the fire department after the remodling.

Most conference/banquet halls carry a state and American flag. An oversight I am sure will not happen again.

The remodeled hall is beautiful, the food always delicious, and the service extra superb.

BETTER CHANCE OF BEING PRESIDENT

Although the odds say you have a better chance of being elected president than winning Powerball, millions purchased enough tickets hoping to win Saturday nights $600 million dollar prize.

Of all times, I forgot to buy mine, opting for the odds to become president I guess.
Knowing the odds, I like to play, but only when the jack pot is high and the odds are piled against me. But it gives me a few hours to dream what it would be like to win millions and the many things I would do with the money.

For some, winning has been a curse leaving them broke. Reminds you of some of the great athletes who earn mega bucks and finish their careers broke.

So, many Americans woke up this morning finding their dreams of wealth shattered again. Well, their is always next time. I think the Mega Million pot is still up there.

The winning ticket was sold at a FL grocery store I just returned from Fl. If the ticket was sold at the store I purchased mine last week….I’m gonna be ticked?

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR

Laurel’s mayor John Shwed has taken a stand most municipalities haven’t ad the courage to do; update the town’ voting laws which will open the door for more citizens to vote.

After some hanky panky moves by the Smyrna Town Council, an abuse of voting rights, As State Election Commissioner, to the dismay and opposition of many town in Sussex County introduces and had passed an election reform bill that made all municipalities adhere to the same standards as state elections.
As a compromise, as in most legislation, you have to give to get, the towns were allowed some flexibility, especially in the area of voter registration. The 2000 Help America Vote Act eliminated photo ID’s and instituted other forms of ID and you can not remove a person from the election rolls if they miss two general elections.

Almost every town opted to continue knocking people of the rolls thereby in most instances reducing the number of people eligible to vote, making it easier for an incumbent to be re-elected. When you have only a few hundred registered voters, and only 20% of them show up to vote, it doesn’t take a genius to figure the number of votes it will take to win; a handful.

People miss elections for various reasons and shouldn’t be punished.

Mayor Shwed has opted to change that by eliminating that section of the charter. He is also asking for background checks on all candidates; lack of a background check allowed a candidate to appear on the ballot; he later withdrew a day before the election.

The big question remains; will this proposal lie on the table and be forgotten or enacted. Councilman Don Phillips stated with the next election two years away their is no hurry to pass these charter changes.

This scares me.

JAIL TIME FOR IRS PROBE

GOP House speaker Boehner has proposed jail time for those responsible for the IRS’s investigations of Tea Party campaign finances. Really.

For years the IRS has investigated groups, those not in favor with the government; no one was investigated and followed more than Dr. Martin Luther King. What the IRS is guilty of is not investigating the tax exempt Super Pacs of both political parties, funded by millionaires to finance political campaigns.

These Pacs were formed under a tax structure to aid those in need, charitable organizations, not elections.

These groups were not targeted because of the powerful people in those groups.

If we want to send people to jail for crimes, let’s start with the infamous group that lied to the American public about ‘weapons of mass destruction’ a needless conflict killing, wounded, and caused mental conflict on thousands of Americans in Iraq.

Shall I name names?