REASONS ARKANSANS NEED TO GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV)

The vast majority of Arkansans (around 61 percent) are strongly dissatisfied with the direction of our nation and over 51 percent of Arkansans say their economic situation is fair or poor compared to 5 years ago.

Arkansas is ranked 10th worst place to retire . We have amazing people, a good climate and our cost of living is excellent but (and it is one big but) our tax loads are among the most burdensome in the nation. Arkansas’ State/Local Tax Burden is above national average estimated now at 10.0% of income; Arkansas’ state/local tax burden percentage stands at 14th nationally, above the national average of 9.7%. Arkansas taxpayers pay $3,351 per capita in state and local taxes.

Under our current Arkansas leadership- Congressman Mike Ross (D), who receives a 36% from the Conservative American Union and 26% from Club for Growth and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D), a 19% and 20% (respectively) along with Governor Mike Beebe (D), who consequently receives a “D” on his report card from the Cato Institute in their“Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors: 2010” , here are some facts:

• The State of Arkansas has 2,000 of more than 8,000 state vehicles that are being used for personal use. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has 658 cars for 613 employees to which the commissioner responded “It’s something awfully hard to get rid of. People get used to it.”

• Arkansas has lost 17,300 jobs since the $814 Billion Stimulus was passed , raising unemployment more from 6.8 to 7.5 percent. . It should be noted that 5 of the 6 Arkansas delegates voted for this bill. (Congressman John Boozman was the exception).

• Arkansas children rank third in the nation with 26.9 percent living in poverty in 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The percentage of Arkansas children living in poverty has risen steadily since 2006, when it was 23.8 percent.

• From 1998 to 2007 the state government grew by 17%, representing 28,800 new government positions over the past ten years, while population only grew by 8.9%.

• Although Arkansas has a balanced budget amendment our state is billions in debt. According to Sunshine Review~ Arkansas has a total state debt of $7,899,579,400 when calculated by adding the total of outstanding debt, pension, OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefit) UAAL’s (Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability), unemployment trust funds and the 2010 budget gap. As of June 30, 2008 Arkansas Public School Districts and Education Service Cooperatives had outstanding loans and bonded indebtedness totaling $2,842,716,298 — an increase of $230,838,355 over the previous year.

• Arkansas’ individual income tax has a top rate of 7% that kicks in at $32,600 income. The Tax Foundation lowered the state’s Business Tax Climate to 40th in the nation. The corporate tax rate has a top tier of 6.5% that applies when income levels reach $100,000 which placed Arkansas in 39th place among the 50 states. But Arkansas hits near the top of the charts as number 12 of states going into debt.

• While Arkansas families & businesses teeter on the precipice of uncertainty not knowing if our taxes will increase dramatically in January, Congressman Mike Ross (D) tours our state proclaiming his dedication to Arkansas citizens yet voted to keep us on the edge of economic strife & come home with no answer. As a result, the average middle class family in Arkansas will see a tax hike of $1,418. (“Affect of Expiration of Bush-Era Tax Cuts on Average Middle-Income Family, By State and Congressional District,” Tax Foundation, 8/1/10).

• Arkansas is the home of the Hogs but we don’t like PORK in our government. Mike Ross opposed the president’s pathetic half percent cut from $3.4 trillion in planned spending siding with the likes of Diane Feinstein, (D) from Ca. (a state that is beyond BANKRUPT). He also voted AGAINST 68 amendments in 2009 to strip outrageous pork projects from the 12 annual spending bills and voted against 49 of 50 in 2007. While Sen. Lincoln helped defeat an amendment, offered by U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), to the annual transportation appropriations bill that would end taxpayer subsidies for the John Murtha Airport, a little used 650-acre facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that has received at least $200 million in taxpayer funding.

• While Governor Beebe is in Arkansas working on a state his $86 million “comprehensive health-care program”, Congressman Ross cast a vital vote in committee to move Obama care forward and Senator Blanche Lincoln voted against the people of Arkansas when she cast the deciding vote to pass the government takeover of healthcare. Now Sixty-four percent (64%) of Arkansas voters favor repeal of the health care bill, including 51% who strongly favor it. Only 30% oppose repeal, with 20% who are Strongly Opposed.

• The Arkansas Legislature adjourned March 12, 2009 without passing HB 1053, titled the Open Checkbooks in Government Act, sponsored by Dan Greenberg (R-Little Rock). This bill calls for the creation of a searchable website cataloguing all state expenditures and bond proceeds. The website also will include electronic copies of all state grants, contracts, and subcontracts, as well as a listing of all public meetings.

Time, energy and sheer exhaustion are what prohibit me from going on and on and on… ARKANSAS WE CAN DO BETTER!

GET THE FACTS OUT AND VOTE! NOVEMBER 2^ND YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR OUR STATE, OUR NATION AND OUR FUTURES~

A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage – Herbert Hoover

The state of Arkansas is taking this a little too literally, well not every garage just those that work for the government.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette Reported Last Week:

Vehicles exceed workers at agency

Score: 658 to 613 at Game and Fish

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissionhas more vehicles than employees, and one commissioner said this week that he sees no sentiment toward changing that.

“It’s a touchy, touchy deal,” Commissioner Ronald Pierce of Mountain Home said. “It’s been something that’s [been] done for ages and ages. It gets accepted. It’s taxpayer dollars. It’s not [the employees’] right. It’s something awfully hard to get rid of. People get used to it.”

Pierce said he doesn’t see a problem with the number of vehicles - 658 for 613 employees - but figures that “probably 10 to 15” employees could do without the privilege of commuting in vehicles provided by state dollars…

I find it interesting to the types of vehicles that our “public servants” are driving:

According to a list of Game and Fish Commission vehicles and their drivers provided by the commission in July, Goodhart drives a 2009 Chevrolet Impala; Ledbetter, a 2005 Honda Civic hybrid; acting Director Loren Hitchcock, a 2008 Dodge Charger; and former Director Scott Henderson, now assistant director for special projects, a 2010 Dodge Nitro.

Hey but not only do we pay for the vehicles we pay to insure, maintain and fuel them:

The finance department has said that from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010, it cost $17.3 million to maintain, repair, fuel and insure state vehicles, not counting those at the Game and Fish Commission or the Highway and Transportation Department.

State agencies pay employees 42 cents a mile for using personal vehicles on state business. For fiscal 2010, that amounted to $16.3 million for agencies that report to the governor.

During the past five years, the Department of Finance and Administration says, agencies under the governor’s control and higher-education institutions averaged $17 million a year in mileage reimbursements.

Wonder what would happen if private businesses operated this way? Just sayin~

So, Politics is just not your thing? ~ Part One

Growing up in the 80’s one of the mantra’s I’ve heard most of my life is:“Don’t discuss politics and religion.” in polite company.

(As an aside I found this “starter piece” on The Etiquette of Talking Politics, I don’t agree fully but she makes some excellent points, especially for newbies)

I always wondered why that was especially since those pretty much define the belief system of every living person on this spinning planet. Even if a person is an atheist and apolitical, those beliefs still define what they do and how they engage in everyday life. So in effect, what we have done is perpetuate the ignorance of millions of Americans, justifying why they don’t need to be informed and engaged citizens, in the name of politeness or more accurately political correctness.

Politics

Politics defined is the science and art of running a government. Most
of us, however, tend to think of politics as people who are
opportunistic or scheming. It is my belief that this is why most
Folks want nothing to do with it, perhaps for fear of being tarnished. So
why bother? Especially given today’s climate of partisanship and
vitriol, who needs the additional stress?

Well, I would contend that, by default, each and every one of us is

political by our very existence. Our homes are political, our jobs,
our churches even our friendships are political.
Think not? If you are married and you want to purchase something that perhaps your spouse wouldn’t be overly elated about do you think of how to frame the item so it seems more appealing? Have ever embellished a story to impress another? Ever told a friend that you were doing something else because you didn’t want to hurt their feelings? The examples of politics in everyday life are endless.

So why is it when it comes to what affects our lives on a daily
basis - with regard to the laws that regulate our lives and those of our children - do we shy away? It’s been said that people may think they can ignore politics, but politics will not ignore you. Taxes and regulations invade our lives whether we vote or not.

The laws that govern our cities, state and nation dictate things as
simple as where we live, what and where we drive, where our
children go to school, what they learn in school. Our churches are restricted by what they can say. There are laws awaiting approval as I type this that will determine what we eat, how much gas we can use, how much rain run-off we can have and even the size of our lawn mowers and even the types of light bulbs we use.

I’ve also heard it said that no answer is an answer in itself. I guess this is the stance of those who choose not to get involved in politics.

If this is your choice, my question is why? Do you not care about the future of your children (an ADOST (attention deficit Oh Shiney Thing) moment~ little Whitney just for fun), your community your faith? As you “stand idly by” and allow laws and regulations to be passed without your input? After all, your life is being altered and you are choosing to be a victim through your chosen inaction.

So if you are a political junkie like me, a teacher in the Bronx or just ahousewife in Minnesota you are needed by your community to get informed and engaged. I’ll repeat from posts of yonder days: If not you, who? If not now, when?

Who's Watching the Store?

While city officials in Fayetteville, Arkansas are constantly striving to
“Keep Fayetteville Funky”, I believe they are keeping it more flunky than funky.
In recent months our officials have revamped Block Street, the connector street between the historic square and the entertainment district along Dickson Street with back-in, angled parking spots (no, seriously), odd, jutting concrete islands and a maze of other fun and sundry driving obstacles only to discover mid-project that there might be a serious issue with the clearance of some emergency vehicles.

So now they go back to the drawing board to “re-revamp” the street project.
Even with remarkable Googling skills I have yet to locate a finite
number of what this has - and will - cost we the taxpayers.

Then we turn to the dreaded paid parking issue in the entertainment district. The powers that be decided in their wisdom to install parking kiosks downtown to increase city revenues. Or, in the words of Alderman Matthew Petty who
represents Ward 2, “We need to do this; it’s the only way to keep Dickson Street growing.” Oh really?? Take an already tax laden community and further tax the down time where folks go to relax.

However, many residents of the majestic town have said “Good bye Dickson Street” because they don’t feel it is worth the extra money and hassle to deal with these new parking restrictions, especially when there are so many other choices with free parking.

In an effort to raise revenues, the City Fathers have actually helped curb potential commerce for local business owners, in effect lowering tax revenues. They have spent taxpayer money implementing a plan to take more of that money from said taxpayers. Then, as a kicker, a few days ago we learn Fayettevillians will be hit yet again with an additional $15,000 in repair bills to the parking machines from vandalism in the initial weeks. Arggggg!


It is important to note before we proceed that Fayetteville is
running in a budget deficit situation of an estimated $1.2 million in the General Fund. In light of that Mayor Jordan and his crew developed a plan “to reduce target expenditures, freeze wages, forego the
replacement of certain open positions, and extend the replacement plan
for General Fund vehicles,” all of which I applaud. But to re-revamp a road that actually did not need revamping in the first place then further tax citizens with the hassle of parking fees so that potential customers may head elsewhere with free parking and easy access doesn’t seem like good city planning to me.

Now the Coup de grace; the $93 million high school I continue to shudder over. That’s NINTY THREE MILLION DOLLARS! The rapidly growing Springdale School District is seeking less than $70 million to build a new junior high and a middle school holding 2,000 students, new athletic fields and stadium for Har-ber High School and refurbish the existing Springdale High School stadium. The interesting fact of this matter is not only has Fayetteville school not grown, but according to a former school board member, the population at FHS continues to dwindle.

Now I understand the city management does not make decisions for the school district, which might even play more into one of my points, that the
right hand and the left hand of the public’s business never know what the other is doing.

Beware friends. Government on every level is spending and taxing to the point of non-recognition, in my opinion, to get all they can before
the heavy hand of the federal government comes down and lands a mighty and crippling final blow to families across the nation.

Has anyone else noticed how many unemployed there are in our corner of the state? How many foreclosures are published in the paper each day? How many empty storefronts have appeared?

So one little town (less than 70 thousand residents) in one little state is spending millions of dollars on superfluous stuff and we just keep going along living our clearly unsustainable “Life of Riley.”

TEA Parties in Arkansas Strike Again

The TEA Parties in Arkansas have struck another blow for independence and freedom from endlessly increasing taxation! Last night in Saline County a resounding 75 percent of voters showed up and said NO! They voted down a $55 million dollar bond proposal and a one cent sales tax that would “sunset” once the bond was paid off. The bond would have been used for a new Fairplex site.

Members of the Benton TEA Party and engaged citizens rallied to get the word out about the special election for months. The Tolbert Report reported County Clerk Freddy Burton said “he could not remember a higher turnout for a special election in recent Saline County history.” A job well done on behalf of the people.

Through the tireless and dedicated labors of those willing to “get the message out”, the families in Saline County were saved a tax increase in perhaps the most financially stressed period in any of their lifetimes.

Citizens across Arkansas are now feeling the empowerment of what happens when voters become informed with the facts and engaged in their communities.

In recent months TEA Parties across our state have held tax increases at bay. In fall of 2009 Washington County TEA Party defeated a millage increase for an exorbitant high school. Earlier this year those in Searcy defeated an A & P Tax both of these elections had record voter turnouts. The Faulkner County and Northeast Arkansas TEA Parties are consistently engaged with their local officials in an effort to help representatives actually represent.

Lest you think Arkansans are not generating positive change please remember we still today remain a government of, by and for the people.

TOGETHER WE ARE WINNING~

American Apologetics

The answer to our dilemma really seems fairly simple, at least it does to me on its face. If we are going to make a real difference as conservative voices in this nation, a lot of us are going to have to change our approach and significantly elevate the level of conversations we have to include facts and reason.

More and more on facebook and other social media outlets, I see people who engage in heated emotional arguments sometimes degrading dialogue filled with name- calling, swearing and outright hostility.

Why all the animosity and smearing toward others? Why does anyone believe harsh language and deep resentments aimed at anyone else can change anything about the way they believe? Hasn’t anyone ever heard of the children’s story of the wind and the sun arguing about getting who could get the trench coat off the man first? The cold wind blows hard and the man only tightens his coat. The sun heats up just a bit and the man takes the coat off willingly. Lotsa truth in that folks.

I’ve observed that most people have loosely formed ideas of why they believe as they do. Yet what is it that causes anyone to believe - or disbelieve – anything in their life? Seems to me it all boils down to the way we’ve been taught by others since birth, blended with our personal experiences. In short, most of us are simply products of our surroundings, what we’ve been told, and the environments that continually envelope our lives. If we are told falsehoods, then chances are we will come to believe falsehoods, right?

The ole adage; birds of a feather flocking together, has proven itself true time and time again. As a parent this Truth has some very real personal meaning and potential consequences. If my teenage daughters were allowed to hang out with drug-addicted gang members what do you think the chances would be they would soon become drug users? And worse.

Many groups have realized this piece of reality and taken advantage of it. For instance, Moveon.org. since 1998 has been “reaching out” to people who like-mindedly consider themselves “disenfranchised,” offering to “help” and get them involved in the system so they can take advantage of all their rights.

Statistics show that liberal messaging beats conservative message by a whopping 85 to 15. Although I do believe we are gaining ground, I can’t help but
wonder what is our message?

Our message should be focused solely on: Limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets related to our communities as opposed to national stories inflated to draw our attention away from where our true power and influence lie.

So how do we change the all-critical message? For once, GET THE FACTS on any issue or debate. If we are going to unite to keep our country free and filled with opportunity for all, there naturally will be work involved. We can’t only send continuous e-mails and post rantings and unformed opinions about the BP Oil spill on facebook, call President Obama a Marxist, and believe with any intellectual honesty that we are doing any real good and our work is done. I wish that preserving our precious Republic were that easy. Unfortunately, it’s not anywhere near what is needed.

Those of us, who truly believe our nation finds itself at a tipping point, will have to do pretty much the same things our Founders did. What say we agree to educate ourselves on historical FACTS. How, you might ask? We can begin by reading and understanding theConstitution (yep the whole thing), and the Declaration of Independence written a decade beforehand. Next, let’s all read and understand The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen; Why America is Great. Now we need to visit David Barton’s site at Wall Buildersfor a plethora of resources.

Then learn the names and biographies of our local representatives. Discover the pattern of their votes and how they relate to the issues facing our communities. Then let’s encourage others to come along side us, not by making our present situation about Barack Obama or Democrats or Republicans or those dratted incumbents, but rather about making our own community a more prosperous, community-minded place to live.

If you’d like to learn more about how to do this and how to utilize the social media to your best advantage contact us at American Majority. We will gladly come to your community and work alongside you toward our common goals of preserving American freedoms on every level.

BARBIE SHATTERS THE GLASS CEILING

I just returned from Toy Story 3 and I have to tell you that in our day to day battle of politics, spin and outright manipulation of facts and truth it was a refreshing story.

As a mom who’s first born is college bound this fall the story hit close to home as well. As I sat there in the movie with my family I was happily entertained. Isn’t that why we go to the movies, to be entertained?

The story follows along the live toy theme of the previous two episodes but now the toys are facing Andy, their boy, leaving for college. Andy’s mom, evidently a conservative parent, let’s Andy know that he has until Friday (his departure day) to store, pack or trash all the belongings in his room. Given that he has to decide the fate of the Toys.

**Spoiler Alert**

Andy decides to take Woody, his favorite childhood toy, along with him to college while storing the rest of his toys in the attic. Through a series of mishaps the toys for storage end up in a “Stalag 13” type day care that has been commandeered by a dictatorial stuffed bear, who had an rough childhood and is destined to take it out on the rest of toy humanity.

As Andy’s toys are remanded to custody and forced to do time in a room full of abusive toddlers, they plan their escape. As fate would have it they are caught by the Hitler Bear and his army who threaten them with an awaiting trash pick-up if they don’t return to their appointed duty.

The best line in the whole movie comes from Barbie at this point who sternly pronounces “Leadership comes from the consent of the governed not from the threat of force!” BAM! I have never loved Barbie so much in my life~ how exciting that a children’s movie is not full of anthropomorphic rhetoric on top of tree hugging liberal drivel. FINALLY a new family flick that I don’t leave with the need to deprogram.

The entire story was filled with great life lessons of personal responsibility, charity, friendship and loyalty. Not to mention the unwavering pursuit of one’s own happiness derived from the journey of life through heartache, tribulation and overcoming.

Who knew all these years Barbie was a closet conservative and just needed to suffer under the oppression of an overstuffed tyrant to take a stand. Watch out Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman and Ann Coulter; Barbie has shattered the glass ceiling!!