Twisted Musings

T-Splost: It’s not about transporation??

twistedmuser — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 02:08:21 +0000

I copied this From the Rob and Dave show Monday, July 16, 2012. I hope they don’t mind.

http://www.640wgst.com/pages/RobJohnson.html?article=10269891

T-SPLOST Expert Reveals It’s Not About Transportation

Land-use planner Chris Leinberger, with the Washington, D.C.,-based Brookings Institution, is a go-to guy for T-SPLOST planning and marketing.

During a talk with the Cumberland Community Improvement District on Thursday, Leinberger called bus rapid transit — which county chairman Tim Lee has asked Cobb voters to spend $689 million on by voting for the TSPLOST — “an experiment.”

And he said the goal of having a rail system is not for traffic relief, but for economic development.

Leinberger and William Fulton, a former mayor of Ventura, Calif., now with Smart Growth America, spoke at length about the need for metro Atlanta to have more “walkable urban” places such as Atlantic Station and Midtown instead of “drivable suburban” communities that require the use of cars. (Agenda 21?)

Leinberger said the No. 1 thing that needed to be done for Cumberland is to heavily invest in rail transit.

Leinberger asked the CID board to keep in mind why rail is built. “You do not build it to move people,” he said. “That is not your goal. That may sound counterintuitive, but that’s not why you build transportation systems, and again, particularly rail transit. For 6,000 years we’ve been doing this. You build transportation systems for economic development.” -Marietta Daily Journal

This is why Mike Alexander, Chief of Research for the Atlanta Regional Commission, said, “The average commute time really doesn’t change that much.”

From Rob – “They’re selling us on T-SPLOST as an $8.5 billion transportation improvement bill. In fact, as these two T-SPLOST experts reveal, it is not.

The are lying about its true purpose. That’s enough to make me vote NO.

You want $8.5 billion dollars of our money, tell us what it’s really for!

“Money in Georgian’s Pockets”

twistedmuser — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:53:31 +0000

Following is a quote from an AJC article concerning T-Splost. “The ARC also projects the transportation improvements will put more money in people’s pockets.” My question is whose pockets, because last I heard a tax takes money from my pockets. It seems to me like there is a lot of hyperbole and fluff regarding this tax, but are the results going to be worth it?

If it truly is so important and so self evident that we need this, then why is the referendum worded as follows “Provides for local transportation projects to create jobs and reduce traffic congestion with citizen oversight.” The wording is obviously intended to make you think you would be foolish to not vote for it because who doesn’t want new jobs and less traffic, especially if citizens are going to provide oversight. Well friends let me know if any of you are asked to provide oversight. I sincerly doubt if I will be asked. Seems like three years ago we were told something similar on a federal level and how has that worked out for us? Well at least unemployment is almost down to what we were told it wouldn’t exceed. But I digress.

I certainly think that traffic and congestion is an issue in Atlanta and statewide, but is approving a tax with an iffy list of projects and which doesn’t return to most counties the money they put in it, the way to go? I think not. Let’s vote No on this and rethink the issue.

Georgia T-Splost: Boom or Doom?

twistedmuser — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 02:22:09 +0000

I know that this is only going to apply to Georgia residents but I feel it needs to be discussed. On July 31, 2012 Georgia voters will decide on whether to implement a 10 year one percent sales tax which will be used to fund transportation related projects. I cannot remember the last time, if ever, that I voted for a new tax, and so far, I haven’t seen any reason to do so at this time.

Many things are being said about it, with a lot of it focused on making us think we are doomed if we dont pass it. Yes there are issues getting around Atlanta, and other areas in Georgia, but is a new tax the way to fix it? Furthermore, we are talking about billions of additional funds being funneled to the state, with no clear idea of where these funds are being used, and how they will be controlled. We are already at a disadvantage with other nearby states because of our high income tax rates, and now the state wishes to increase the burden with additional sales tax. Maybe I would be more appreciative of the effort if our legislature would make some serious efforts regarding our income taxes, but that doesn’t appear to be in the cards.

Even their own website doesn’t provide a lot of comfort for those who would like a reason to vote for the tax. T Splost Fact Sheet

Bottom line, I don’t see any reason to change my stance on not voting for new taxes. I welcome your input.

Pelosi, the reptile!

twistedmuser — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:33:38 +0000

“Pelosi is a reptile – watch their eyes,” Guess who said that. The same person that said this. “Pelosi is a criminal too – insider trader with Visa,”

No it’s not some old, white Republican declaring war on women, or some right wing fanatical Tea Party member. It is however, someone running for office. Check it out!

http://www.wnd.com/2012/06/who-said-this-pelosi-is-a-reptile/

This person is equal opportunity though, having slammed Palin in the past as well. Isn’t it amazing how hard you have to dig for something like this, but let Rush Limbaugh say the slightest thing, and it’s everywhere!

Audacity of dopes!

twistedmuser — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 01:23:32 +0000

Isn’t it easy to slam “fat paychecks” and “corporate jobs” when you are the recipient of a fat paycheck yourself?

This past weekend, speaking at Oregon State University, Michelle Obama spoke to the graduating class about giving up her fat paychecks and corner office.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/washington-secrets/2012/06/michelle-obama-slaps-%E2%80%98corporate%E2%80%99-work-%E2%80%98fat-paychecks%E2%80%99/744261

I noticed she didn’t discuss giving up her law license though. I have a professional license that hasnt been job required for more than 15 years, but there is no way I would give it up…..voluntarily.

Time to get back in the saddle!

twistedmuser — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:57:59 +0000

I’ts been awhile since I posted and it’s time to quit sitting around thinking about it. I know I will probably piss off some people but this years election is too important to stay on the sidelines and just hope something happens. There is so much to write about I don’t know where to begin.

Should I talke about how it’s okay to bring up how Romney maybe bullied someone in high school, but you are considered evil if you talk about Obama’s high school years, which he in his own words, said he spent in a marijuana and alcohol daze?

Another fun item would be to discuss how Obama has apparently decided to add himself to other presidents biographies. He has actually become a part of Reagan, Johnson, and others bios. Pretty incredible, you have to admit.

Maybe we can talk about his disdain for Romney and his Bain Capital days as a vampire sucking jobs dry. Meanwhile Obama is raising money from Wall Street, extolling the virtues of J P Morgan.

Oh so much to talk about. Where shall we begin?

ROLL TIDE ROLL

twistedmuser — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:08:54 +0000

Let me preface this by stating that I am a Tide fan and extremely happy about it! I was watching the countdown tonight and was thrilled when Bama was selected number two! Should they be? Maybe yes, Maybe no…but guess what, they are!!

You can complain all you want to about there shouldn’t be rematches, or there shouldn’t be teams playing that didnt play in their conference championship, but their are no rules against that. The system worked like it was supposed to work. Winners were rewarded, losers were punished, and Bama is playing for the National Championship!!!

Oh and OK State talking about you only have one loss as well. Well if you beat an unranked Iowa State then this is a moot point!

But you didn’t!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

Shut that brat up please!

twistedmuser — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:04:39 +0000

I loved the way the following article starts out. “At McDain’s Restaurant, in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, kids don’t eat free. And starting next week, they don’t get to eat at all. Mike Vuick, owner of the Pittsburgh area eatery has just announced a ban on children under 6 at his casual dining establishment.”

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/restaurant-bans-kids-under-6-discrimination-or-smart-move-2509487/

Well Mr. Vuick, I only have one thing to say to you…”Kudos to you, sir” I applaud your decision. Many times I have gone to a restaurant and had to listen to whiny kids. If the parents dared say anything to them, they simply scream and argue back. It’s the most unbelieveable thing. I hope more establishments will follow suit.

What do you think?

“I DON’T CARE!”

twistedmuser — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:17:06 +0000

Leave it to the media to ruin this moment. No one will ever confuse me for a Obama supporter. I don’t agree with his tax, health, or fiscal policies. His handling of foreign affairs is atrocious and seems to worry about appeasing others more than supporting our own country. So I was finally happy when I found out he had ordered a special forces team in to where Osama Bin Laden was purported to be hiding. The special forces, in the dark of night, crossed into Pakistan, breached the walls of Bin Ladens hideout, broke into his house, and shot him dead. Initially it was reported that they ran into resistance before they shot Bin Laden. Now the story has evolved that he was unarmed when he was shot. The media seems to be relishing picking the story apart. So here’s where the title of my post comes in.

If Osama Bin Laden was sound asleep, and the special forces shot him then and there, I DON’T CARE! I don’t care, if he was dreaming his little Islamic terrorists dreams when the bullet entered his brain. They did a great thing, ridding this planet of his evil and it matters not to me one bit, if there was not a gun in the house. If anyone else got killed as they made their way to his bedroom…I DON’T CARE. It has even been reported that the forces captured him, then killed him. Since that is coming from his daughter, it’s somewhat doubtful, but even if true….I DON’T CARE! Obama did a good thing ordering this and he needs to quit defending his actions.

Should we raise the debt ceiling?

twistedmuser — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:06:17 +0000

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies.”

I wish I could say I had written that, but alas I cannot take credit for that statement. No that was said by someone a lot smarter than me. Someone with great credentials. Someone high on the national scene. Nope, I’m not talking about Jim Demint, I’m talking about our President, Barack Obama. This was in 2006 and he was explaining his vote against raising the debt ceiling. Now we flash forward 4 years, and the same person who voted against doing so then, is criticizing those who would vote against raising the debt ceiling today.

Personally I think it is time to take a stand on this issue, draw a line in the sand, and see where it goes. As Jim DeMint said a government shutdown isn’t something anyone wants, but “it’s not something we should be so afraid of that we’re willing to cave in to more debt.” He thinks Americans “expect us to fight more spending and more debt.” I could not agree more.