Do city employees not feel the people's pain?

Gov't employees dominate C-Springs annual budget meeting, push for no reduced city funding

From the main chambers, to the overflow rooms below, Colorado Spring's City Hall was packed to the heal with concerned citizens and emergency response personnel during a lively and passionate annual budget meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 downtown.

Two issues that came to the forefront: ballot issues 2C and 300, a property tax increase initiative supported by police and fire department unions and Doug Bruc's latest anti-tax push to break down the city's controversial Stormwater Enterprise, respectively.

Starting out the night, the city's manager, Dr. Penny Culbreath-Graft, provided a quick brief synopsis the city's budget situation. She talked about the $388 million budget for the city, the $51 million budget gap between the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years and the $28.5 million decrease for the general services fund alone. The doctor pointed out in the beginning of her statements the city is providing more services than taxes can support.

Of course, the recession hitting the nation has hit Colorado Spring's pocket book as well, with lower sales tax revenue coming in. Dr. Culbreath-Graft then pointed out the main item of the night: through 2013 at least, the city could expect a $15-20 million budget shortfall.

With her comments over, city employee after city employee came forth, pleading their case not to cut budgets overall, or to cut more city positions altogether. Others came forward as well, pushing the council not to cut funding to city parks in the city, including Cheyenne Canyon. After them, advocates for public busing stepped forward, presenting their challenges to the council. You name it, the pleas for the government hand of money continued to go forth.

But do none of these citizens understand the situations put forth? In the worst recessions since the 1930's Great Depression, Colorado Springs has found itself into a hole that requires immediate action to get out of. So it's important to cut fat and remember: "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Why are we not cutting bus routes to far reaches of Colorado Springs to provide transportation to only a handful of people, while the bus route results in a major negative red mark on the budget. Perhaps this low ridership is the reason heavy tinting has been applied to the city's buses, shadowing the reality of government-subsidized public transportation.

But why stop there? The city's parks and recreational facilities are important to the morale of citizens, and provide at-risk children with positive venues outside the realm of gang and criminal activity. But, going back to the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few, without cutting into important emergency services of fire and police support. We can do without some of our parks for a year or two as the city nurses its wounds from an economic downturn affecting the entire nation, not just Colorado Springs.

Issue 2C is being pushed as the magical fix to our fiscal downturn. But why aren't these same people seeing it from a middle class standpoint. Raising taxes in the middle of one of the nation's worst recessions is a recipe for one thing: lower population numbers. When people start paying higher taxes for the same services, they simply look to their neighboring communities for other taxation rates. And then they make the move, leaving the city for other livelihoods, while still working in the city. The lower class of the Colorado Springs cannot support the city when these highly-technical skilled workers, many in aerospace and aviation industries, leave for Pueblo, Falcon and Front Range outer lying areas. In some cases, they will look to our big brother to the north, Denver, as well as Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch and Littleton.

Emotions have ran high in the debate for the Spring's budgetary future. Emotions must be purged from the public discourse, and clear-minded, fiscally-responsible leaders must take the lead and make the necessary cuts needed to keep Colorado Springs vibrant and thriving as we navigate the waters of this recession. And the we is the many, rather than the few.

Obamacare feels full-frontal Chuck Norris spin kick!

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

Just when you thought you knew what was going to be posted next here (if you guessed health care, you half way on the mark), that's the exact time I hit you with a sidewinder kick and blast you through the sky! That is, of course, if I were Chuck Norris.

Chuck, a guest columnist on the conservative-leaning site Townhall.com, wrote an interesting piece that I don't think ANYONE should miss. Obamacare has many, MANY areas of concern in it (referring to House Bill 3200). From perceived end-of-life "treatment" to rationing of health care (after all, if $1.3 Trillion dollars worth of care is needed, but only $1 Trillion is available, they aren't going to waste perfectly-good deficit spending on you and me), H.R. 3200 scares everyone of us. But if you aren't shaking in your boots yet, Chuck throws this at us.

In his blog, which you can visit here, Chuck identifies Page 838 of the bill, under Sections 440 and 1908, which has the heading of "home visitation programs for families with young children and families expecting children." Chuck explains that "well-trained and competent staff" (See: 'government workers') provide "parents with knowledge of age-appropriate child development in cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor domains ... modeling, consulting, and coaching on parenting practices," and "skills to interact with their child to enhance age-appropriate development."

Did you get all that? It's a mouth full... a mouth full of horse hockey. The government is planning for when they will come into your home and "provide" you with all the information on how to "properly" raise your child. Assuming you're raising your child in a post-Obama America.

Now, a reasonable thinker would say "that's not mandatory... they can't just come in. Stop stoking fears you right-wing wharggggbldglglejgflg...." (You get the idea).

But, language in the bill might just allow the government to do that. Let's see page 840 now: "The state shall identify and prioritize serving communities that are in high need of such services, especially communities with a high proportion of low-income families." The government already has a target for it's Nationalized Child Care program.

Well, read the rest of Chuck's blog for all the juicy details. After all, he did the work. But I thought you should know as well.

Til next time...

Reporting "misinformation:" My e-mail to the White House

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

Well, it was time to do my civic duty and report some misinformation on the health care reform debate. Earlier today, I received an e-mail blast from David Axelrod, the President's political advisor for the 2012 election already going on through "Organizing for America." In this e-mail Mr. Axelrod places several links to doctors and politicians campaigning for nationalized health care. Of course, I am sure Mr. Axelrod knows very well that at this point, there are two dissenting doctors and politicians on the current health care reform being proposed to his one.

So, I copied and pasted my e-mail to the White House in this blog for all to see. Reporting disinformation from the White House's information office seems like some sick, twisted episode of the Twilight Zone. But it seems that's the world we live in today when slick-written talking points are supposed to mean more than actual facts on the subjects facing Americans today. Don't fall for the spin my friends... for that's EXACTLY what the White House wants.

And now, the letter:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBJECT: ATTN: Misinformation on health care

GREETING: Greetings White House officials,

BODY: I want to report some misinformation on health care. Recently, I received David Axelrod's e-mail blast from the White House which spells out some additional information on health care. He is wrong on several accounts, and I would like to report Mr. Axelrod to your "disinformation brigade:"

1.
In his letter, Mr. Axelrod says that "health insurance reform is a hot topic"
REPORT: Mr. Axelrod has used spin language in his letter, changing health care reform to health insurance reform. Did polling say that Americans might be more suspectible to supporting nationalized health care if the name was changed to something else? This misinformation can not stand!

2.
Later in his e-mail, Mr. Axelrod states that "Bob Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits
REPORT: Many economists say that cuts to Medicare/Medicaid WILL BE required to "balance the books" on health care costs delivered by the government. If H.R. 3200 passes in its current form, and lands on the President's desk, cuts are expected to made to Medicare Advantage which is rapidly growing. Even Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski wrote to the White House that 39 percent of those residents from Oregon are on the Advantage plan, and any cuts to the program would be detrimental to the citizens of that state. This while the President has said he was looking for $156 billion worth of cuts over the next decade to Advantage, forcing MANY seniors off the plan and back into traditional Medicare coverage.

3.
Toward to end of the e-mail, Mr. Axelrod writes that "You deserve a health care system that works as well for you as it does for the status quo; one you can depend on."
REPORT: America's health care system has NEVER turned away anyone that enters into an emergency room. America does have a health care system that does work for them, although the costs of that system are rising at an unsustainable rate. I want to report that Mr. Axelrod's disinformation on assuming there is a system that people can't depend on it needs to be made that way. This is disingenious.

4.
Lastly, Mr. Axelrod mentions the "Fact Check" Web site where you can report disinformation, like I am doing now.
REPORT: Sending information of this type so the White House can collect and categorize it is ILLEGAL and again the provisions of the 1974 Privacy Act enacted by Congress. The White House should CEASE AND DISSEST this collection IMMEDIATELY.

v/r

Steve Collier, Colorado Springs, CO

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fight the good fight Patriots... we all want health care reform, for sure. Regulation by the government to keep the industry "honest" is critical, as Teddy Roosevelt proved by busting monopolies in the early 20th Century. Government has a role to play... but that roll is NOT BEING A HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY!

Are you 'un-American?' Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer think so ... but that's not all

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

I'm referring to a USA Today op-ed article both the Democratic representatives wrote together, which can be seen here.

And just to give some fair perspective, I have placed in quotes the section of the op-ed where Pelosi and Hoyer say un-American:

"These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades."

And you know what? I TOTALLY agree with both of them. It IS un-American to drown out some one else's opposing views. That is, of course, until they start to spin political rhetoric into their argument. When this happens, you might as well be debating a broken record on its player.

But, if this is the case, where was Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer on Oct. 4, 2006, when students at Columbia University "drowned out" Jim Gilchrist, leader of the Minuteman Project when he was scheduled to give a presentation there? Wasn't THAT denying someone the right to free speech?

And, where were these representatives when Code Pink protested at numerous funerals of fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, drowning out the sermons of the priests, the rabbis and the pastors who were reading the final rights for those who gave so much to defend our nation.

Of course, the list can go on and on with organizations such as the Environmental Liberation Front, ACORN, Greenpeace, etc... The hypocrisy of Pelosi and Hoyer goes well beyond them wanting to bring attention to townhall protesters who are voicing their opposition to nationalized health care. Pelosi, especially, knows how much is riding on the passage of health care reform legislation drafted in the eyes of her, Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary for Health and Human Services and, of course, President Obama. The President has made it one of his top priorities after taking the White House, but the emphasis placed on health care reform has seemingly become "too big to fail," much like AIG or Government, er, General Motors and Chrysler.

If health care reform is so important, like TEA Party members feel it is, why are we trying to rush a bill through the House and Senate to fast to fix it? The legislation itself won't kick in until 2013 anyways, so why the impetus of passing H.R. 3200? It's simple: the President knows mainstream Americans are not on board with his ideas of how to "reshape" the country in his image. Rarely does the President address the American exceptionalism that makes our nation great. Think about it ... our nation has elected an African American to the highest office in the world. And yet, we are still flawed? We are the only country in the history of the world to rebuild her enemies after war, such as the Marshall Plan of post-World War II Europe. After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, a large portion of the war funding approved each year has been used to rebuild Iraqi infrastructure. The same goes for our time in Afghanistan as well as Africa.

Health care reform is needed in this country; no one doubts this. But for the government to have a complete take over of 1/6 of our economy is unacceptable to America. Many believe the government can and SHOULD play the part of the regulator in the arena of health care reform. But a public option to keep private insurance honest? Why couldn't regulating the industry more strictly solve the "honesty" question? And a single-payer system, which the President himself played up to SEIU in 2003 as the way to eventually go? This legislation is designed to alter the health care landscape for a more European model. And the talking points from the Democratic Party seem to change on a daily basis to stay in front of American's frustration with changing out medical system to something that, by many economists and practicing point of view, will be "second class."

America can not afford the new system being proposed. And during a recession, do we trust politicians who are pushing their agenda when job creation should be the number-one priority to begin with?

Colorado representative schedules public meeting under cloak of darkness

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

Was reading the PoliticsWest section of the Denver Post online today and something shocking was posted. Reporter Ross Putin posted an e-mail he received about Colorado Rep. Ed Perlmutter of the Brighton, CO area. Apparently, after numerous calls from media asking the Congressman and his office staff when he would be scheduling a town hall or public meeting to discuss issues during the August recess, no phone call was returned.

HOWEVER, an e-mail cropped up out of nowhere from President Obama's ongoing campaign, entitled "Organizing for America," where an out-of-nowhere "public meeting" had been scheduled at the King Soopers on 500 E. Bromley Lane in Brighton. The scheduled meeting was from 1-2 p.m., and the e-mail had been distributed not more than HOURS before the event! And more than that, the e-mail only went out to the "Organizing for America" distro list, versus the Congressman's office sending the information on the public meeting out to local media for them to report on it!!!!!!

This Congressman is scared to bring his plan for voting on healthcare to his constituents! His voters know the truth about nationalized health care, and he is too afraid to face them one-on-one. Is this the kind of "change we can believe in …scared politicians running from the very people THEY WORK FOR? What the hell kind of country is this when guys like Ed Perlmutter get away from "running away" from their constituents? Are there no representatives with backbone?

Here's the blog on the information. GOOD GRIEF... throw Perlmutter out!! This is the kind of representative we DON'T need in Washington? Perlmutter should schedule a public town hall meeting NOW, instead of using the cloak of darkness and Obama's ongoing campaign to get the word out? WHERE IS THE REPRESENTATION PERLMUTTER? You say you represent... PROVE IT TO ADAMS COUNTY!

The blog.

Denouncing violent protesters

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

What I fear may happen during August's month-long recess is taking place. Some of the protests against nationalized health care are starting to get violent, which gives groups like the TEA Parties and the 9.12 Project a bad image, as, and I quote Sen. Harry Reid, can make us look like "the lunatic fringe."

I can understand people's frustration, I really do. I'm seething mad that our country would even concoct anything remotely resembling a socialistic program to implement on all of us (it's bad enough we have Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid). Cooler heads must prevail, and the hot, August summer doesn't help much either.

Case in point, we have some situations brewing (pardon the pun) in St. Louis and Tampa and where protesters have been arrested and some have been injured in altercations. While this is concerning, people should be reminded of this point: the far-left has been protesting anything from environmental policies to wars since the late 1960s, many times, those protests turned violent. Fast forwarding to today, organizations like the Earth Liberation Front and Code Pink are notorious for violent-laded approaches to getting their word out. So why is it that conservative-leaning protests, like those of 9.12 and TEA Parties, are scrutinized even more than the far-left protests?

From Tampa Bay

From St. Louis

The answer I think is simple: conservatives are held to higher standards and, might I add, it is those conservative values which launched us into a Revolutionary War in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence. The far left and their radical protests are to be expected, and many average, every day people just write them off as "crazies." However, if conservatives protest, that tends to be more "mainstream," and people take a closer look at WHY they are protesting because the majority of Americans, party affiliation aside, are conservative in nature. We enjoy lower taxation, we enjoy clean and safe neighborhoods for our children and we believe in God and go to church. These are the "silent majority;" the ones never portrayed on television because we are the mainstream... the cogs of our economic might. Because I have never seen our country rely on far-left hippies to ensure industry hums along.

So, we should protest and have our voices heard. But is it worth anyone getting hurt in the process? If violence happens, it should have but just one outcome: an American Revolution. But violence is being used for intimidation, our organizations are no better than that of Chicago politicians.

THE GOOD POST: Connecting ObamaCare and the Beverly Hillbillies

By Steve Collier, Colorado Springs

Not only is the headline possible, it's TRUE! The following melody comes to us from Jody Davis, a local TEA Party member who is creative in her own right. When "humming" the below lines, remember to sing to the tune of the popular show "The Beverly Hillbillies."

Come'n listen to my story 'bout a man named Fred
A poor, jobless man tryin' to keep his family fed
Then one day, he went fishin' in the sea
and up from the deep came some slimy algae
Pond scum, that is, kinda like green tea?

Well, the first thing ya know, old Fred's a millionaire
Kin folk said, Fred, move away from there
Said, California's NOT the place you wanna be
So they packed up the hybrid and moved to D.C.
Washington, that is, Capitol Hill,
Where Health Care is FREE!

Well, now it's time to say goodbye to Fred and all his kin
They've gone to save the planet, you might say they
were suckered in -
You're all invited to the White House & all its pleasantries
To have a heapin' helpin' of Barrack's amenities

Flim Flam man, that is, set a spell, have a beer

Ya'll come back now - if there is a next year!