Sunday, September 15, 2013

Local Government Response to Violent Weather.


We had a serious weather incident a couple of months ago when unusually heavy rains flooded basements and some neighborhoods and washed out roads and bridges.  That now appears minor compared to the weather incidents now affecting the central part of Colorado.  One thing is becoming increasingly clearer and that is that our weather  patterns are changing.  Another is that the effects of these new patterns are overwhelming parts of our infrastructure that was not designed for this.
It appears obvious that we can expect to see violent weather striking close to home more and more often in the future.  How can we prepare for the next incident?

I think government has an important role that it can play here.  Not just the national  and regional services but we really need help from people close to the action.  Local governmental officials who can come out, put boots on the ground, be where it is happening and provide needed services.  Some of those services are listed here: 

Monitor area weather
Provide warnings that include local area layout
establish a command post for coordinating data 
from weather services
from other governmental agencies
from affected people
from affected businesses
from businesses who might have response functions
Develop a basic response plan
coordinate rescue operations and evacuations 
begin to develop a rebuilding plan tailored to actual situation

Of course, this is only a sketch.  Other people who have more experience with this type of action would have other ideas.   But I think that this area is an important one for our community.  And I believe it is a proper role for government to play. We are now hearing reports that as many as 1,000 people may now be missing in this rain now hitting Colorado.  Our recent flooding may be only a warning of what is coming.  

Friday, September 13, 2013

Hickory Mayoral Candidates at League of Women Voters. 2013.0913



The League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley hosted a meeting of the mayoral candidates at the Highland Recreation Center at 7 p.m. on Friday the Thirteenth, in October, 2013.  

The candidates are, from left to right, Jeff Brittain, Ernie Masche, Candice Harold, Terry Revels and Rudy Wright.  Jody Inglefield is also a candidate, and was present before the meeting but did not take part.

Topics were 1) why are you running?  2) What can you (and Hickory) do?  3)  Why should people vote for you?  4) Not really clear.  5) What about imposing a fast food tax?  and 6) How can you help all four quads of Hickory develop?  

My personal rating of the candidates was as follows:  Harold 25, Masche 22, Brittany 21, Revels 9, and Wright – well, I rated him a 16 BUT disqualified him for a flagrant disregard of the ground rules by disparaging a competitor. Wright backed down, but his charge had already been made and of course the other individual was prohibited from responding.  


Harold clearly had an impassioned presentation and showed clear concern for the city.  Brittain made probably the most convincing case for development.  Masche was very professional in his presentation, but kept calling for less government, fewer codes and rules.  Revels was his own worst enemy, talked about himself and did not present a positive case.  Wright did not look real. His hair seemed
fake”?  He had a piece of cardboard about three feet by two feet that was marked up in some way that could not be seen by most of the audience, yet Wright presented it and talked about it as if it secured his position.  Much of the audience looked puzzled.  And Wright looked bored throughout much of the evening.


Candice Harold
Jeff Brittain
Ernie Masche
Rudy Wright
Terry Revels


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Made in China?

On 9/11/2001, 15 men from Saudi Arabia with four others from Lebanon, Egypt and UAE attacked the  United States.

The world rushed to America's side with support and offers of help which were cast aside by our president.

We then began a 10+ year war with Iraq and Afghanistan.

That war may cost $6 trillion.  Taxes were not raised.  The war was paid for by debt.  Made in China?


Sunday, September 01, 2013

Response to Gas Attack in Syria.


I agree that there must be a response to the use of poison gas in Syria.

But –  that response MUST be made by the world, or at least by a significant number of people and nations who are representative of all human beings.  Certainly not by just one nation and not by just one person. 

The UN is paralyzed because we Americans have neglected and ignored it for too many years.  We need then to have support from major developed nations in Europe and Asia.  Certainly, we must have unified support from the United States if we are to be the ones to initiate action.

The speed of response is not as important as is the statement made by that response. We need a presentation of the facts of the attack and discussions about the nature of it.  England has responded and France has responded.  America can’t yet because its congress is still on vacation.  

But.  We need to get the information of the gas attack presented to the world.  We need to discuss the facts involved. And we need to vote on whether or not to respond militarily.  AND we need to have nations and people vote, have their names recorded and listen to their reasons why they think we should respond or why not to respond.

This gas attack – if really it was – is the first in almost 100 years.  If it goes unchallenged, there will be more.  If we don’t respond to this one we need to get ready for the next one.  

There is no such thing as a “Limited Incursion”.  Any act of war is a creative act which creates more war.  There are many forces in this world – many of them American – that NEED war and need MORE war.   We need to talk, ask questions, and question those answers.  

Strike America First


Don’t ever strike another nation unless we are willing to “Strike America First” with a 50% tax increase on ALL Americans  and also impose a mandatory draft on ALL Americans between the ages of 18 and 30.  No deferment from that draft except for physical disabilities.  

Our "limited Incursions" USUALLY turn into major wars.