Common Compass

A new Direction !

2009-08-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

New direction is uncomfortable, many of us are settled in our niche and have made our personal lives as we believe comfortable.Only those with vision for the benefit for all are willing to move out of the mainstream and begin the movement in that new direction.

So many have made statements for change but are unwilling to suffer the pain of the work and sometimes the criticism of those opposed to that reform.It has become common knowledge that West Virginia needs to abandon the government of the past, you only need to listen to the voices from all directions.

Where are those that will brave the voices of opposition and criticism to begin the labor for that new direction? I hear those that lend their voice of opposition with out offering the required effort to move past the vocal.Step forward, speak out, volunteer, contribute, and offer your assets for the required transformation to take West Virginia in that New Direction!

Happy Birthday America

2009-07-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

We must always strive to protect that which was given to us by the many that sacrificed beyond what so few would offer.

“God Bless America”

Progress in West Virginia???

2009-04-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

As the crowd gathered to watch to implosion of the Union Carbide Building 82 on Saturday morning I wondered if they were there to celebrate the beginning or the end of a time remembered in the Kanawha Valley.
I looked on and saw the end of a better time in the Kanawha Valley and West Virginia.
We must realize that chemicals are to this day being manufactured in greater quantities than in any time in history. What was once the chemical center of the world was witnessing the end of an integral part of that past making its exit in a most depressing way? We were not witnessing the beginning of an expansion of the industry but the end of that industry for the Kanawha Valley.
The question is why that industry has decided that the Kanawha Valley, West Virginia is not the location for the continued production of necessary chemicals.
I believe the answer can be found in the government of our state. I believe it is the results of over taxation, over regulation, over litigation and the general attitude that the citizens made no effort to change those conditions.
We may have another opportunity some day to witness the construction instead of the destruction of an industry, I wonder if the citizens have the desire to make the necessary changes??

Outrageous !!!

2008-06-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

Outrageous !

I would like to express my thoughts about the recent Governors Special Session, about the UNBELIEVABLE seriocomic session that just occurred. How important was the Legislation relating to greyhound racing generally and the West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund. Should I mention that the special session addressed Legislation relating to the terms of office for members of library boards of directors?
I believe the sole motive for the Governors special session was to pass Legislation relating generally to the control of elections; denying the West Virginia citizens a free and open election.
If the people of West Virginia do not recognize the blatant disrespect for the citizens of this state then we deserve the results of our stupidity.
The total disrespect and disregard for the citizens of WV by the Legislature and the ??? Governor should be of grave concern to all voters.
If we truly care, the outrage will be shown at the ballot box in November.
All of the jeremiad will be a waste should we not make a change from the top to the bottom of our state government.

Tax Rebate Program

2008-03-28T06:33:00.000-07:00

This is a great explanation of a tax rebate program recently debated in the West Virginia legislature.

If you don't understand the Democrats' version of tax refunds, maybe this will help explain it: 20,000 people went to a baseball game, but the game was rained out. A refund was then due. The baseball club's front office was about to mail refunds when a group of Democrats stopped them and suggested they send out the ticket refunds based on the Democrat interpretation of fairness. Originally the refunds were to be paid based on the price each person had actually paid for their tickets. Unfortunately that meant most of the refund money would be going to those ticket holders who had purchased the most expensive tickets. This was considered totally unfair. A decision was then made to pay out the refunds in this manner: People in the $10 seats will get back $15. After all, they have less money to spend on tickets to begin with. Call it an "Earned Income Ticket Credit." Persons "earn" it by having few skills, poor work habits, and low ambition, thus keeping them at entry-level wages. People in the $25 seats will get back $25, because it "seems fair." People in the $50 seats will get back $1, because they already make a lot of money and don't need a refund. After all, if they can afford a $50 ticket, they must not be paying enough taxes. People in the $75 luxury box seats will each have to pay an additional $25 because it's the "right thing to do". People walking past the stadium who couldn't afford to buy a ticket for the game each will get a $10 refund, even though they didn't pay anything for the tickets in the first place. They need the most help. Sometimes this is known as Affirmative Action. Now do you understand? If not, contact your local Legislative delegate for assistance.

Sub-Prime Market!

2008-02-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

I wondered how the problem with the sub-prime market developed.
An old geezer friend in Florida finally explained it to me.

Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each. The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10 and as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort. He further announced that he would now buy at $20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer increased to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, l et alone catch it! The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50 ! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of him. In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers. "Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at $35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each." The villagers rounded up with all their savings and bought all the monkeys. Then they never saw the man nor his assistant, only monkeys everywhere! Now you have a better understanding of how the market works

Following the action!

2008-01-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

With great fanfare the legislature has begun the session for the year of 2008. We have heard the State of the State speech of the Governor and now we wait, holding our breath for the resulting actions.
I have noted that just a few days into the session and our legislators have introduced over 900 Bills for consideration, with many more to follow for sure. Never to be considered a group without imagination, they have introduced such bills as unemployment compensation benefits when a person misses work due to domestic violence, (H.B. 2809).
Here is a link to the most interesting reading you will find, the link to all the bills noted above.

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/bill_status.cfm

Dreams

2007-11-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

Nameless legislators;
Each day citizens of Kanawha County face the results of decisions made by our state legislators! Have you heard a comment on the many issues that have arisen in the community in the past year form the current legislators in the 30th District? The gambling expansion issue was sent from our legislators to the citizens, not a single comment from the 30th district legislators, the effect on the 30th district is undeniable.
Doing the will of the people should be the consideration of those that represent us in the state government. It has been suggested that a conversation with the constituents might be a good place to start, why hurry the elections are a year away!
The good news in all of this, re-election of these legislators is around the corner. You will see the signs appearing soon and the commercials will begin, out of their house into your house will come the message about all that they have accomplished. Rest assured they will not mention that their control of the legislature for the past 80 years has resulted in the existing malaise of our County and State.
Change is a dream for those that wish better days for Kanawha County and West Virginia. Dreams can become a reality if we bring action to those dreams; Change is a requirement for change.

Reform!!!

2007-11-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

Change is uncomfortable, many of us are settled in our niche and have made our personal lives as we believe comfortable.
Only those with vision for the benefit for all are willing to move out of the mainstream and begin the movement for necessary change. So many have made statements for change but are unwilling to suffer the pain of the work and sometimes the criticism of those opposed to that reform.
It has become common knowledge that West Virginia needs to abandon the government of the past, you only need to listen to the voices from all directions. Where are those that will brave the voices of opposition and criticism to begin the labor for that change? I hear those that lend their voice of opposition with out offering the required effort to move past the vocal.
Step forward, speak out, volunteer, contribute, and offer your assets for the required transformation to make our West Virginia Almost Heaven.

Oxymoronic

2007-10-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

“Unfortunately, governments often enact policies that interfere with capitalism without understanding their economic consequences” (Why Capitalism Works, Russell S. Sobel and Peter T. Leeson)

I then find this statement posted on a web site of a currently serving legislator.
“Free market disciples tell us that free markets work best. But they fail to finish the sentence. The economists’ those free marketers are so fond of misquoting more accurately said, “Free markets work best when government regulates them to prevent excess”.

We ask why West Virginia is constantly ranked as most unfavorable to business development and the answers are advertised by our legislators with these statements.
If we have identified the problem, our legislators, the solution is evident the citizens must vote for change!
We talk of change but have shown the lack of courage to venture into the future, recall your wishes for your children and grandchildren. Make the necessary changes to leave our state a better place for them. Change from the thinking of the past 80 eighty years, will free you and I.

Will the surge work??

2007-09-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

You may have thought this to be about the surge in Iraq, think again! The recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, that told of the request for a surge of 10,000 men, to help control the killing in that city made me wonder what we can expect next from or out of control youth.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The city's embattled police chief, acknowledging that police alone cannot quell a run of deadly violence, has called on 10,000 black men to patrol the streets to reduce crime.Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city, has nearly 1.5 million residents, 44 percent of them black. It has notched 294 homicides this year. More than 80 percent of the slayings involve handguns, and most involve young black males.

While I dislike looking to the government for the discipline needed to begin the process of bringing our youth under control, something must be done. I believe parents have abdicated their responsibility to control their children. We must now require the parents to accept that responsibility. The necessary penalties must be put in place to enforce this requirement.

This will require many hard decisions, the efforts of our current law makers has not been adequate.

September 11, 2001 the beginning of the First World War

2007-09-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

I have been one of the most fortunate people on earth, to have been born and lived in the United States of America. Son of immigrant parents who suffered the estrangement (by choice) from their homeland, parents, brothers and sisters, and extended families. This has taught me to appreciate the freedoms I have experienced.
Today there is a group that would destroy that freedom for there fanatical beliefs. Where do we find those that would destroy the greatest nation on the planet today? They reside in all nations, small and large, in all cities and towns of all countries, in other words they are to be found world wide. I believe the largest concentration of those that I refer to as the fanatical enemy reside in the Middle Eastern countries.
Our President, when confronted on September 11, 2001 by this fanatical movement made the correct decision. Our President determined we must finally address the enemy and to make certain they never again attacked the United States. I believe our military presence in the Middle East, regardless of the name of the country, was essential to make certain this was accomplished.
We must now put aside our political differences and support what has been successful.
Remember when you lay your love ones down to sleep each night that there are fanatical zealots that would rather you and your families never awoke again. Our president has endured the wrath of his enemies’ both foreign and domestic to make certain that we do awake each morning in the greatest and the safest nation in the world.
I would like to say Thank You!!

Thought for the day

2007-09-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

I must wonder if the Governor made special efforts during the Marshall/WVU game to NOT have his named over the Public address system.It would have been interesting to witness the reaction of the faithful Blue and Gold fans, many still feel the Thundering Herd program is the sole benefactor of the scheduled games.
The Governors presence was very evident; however there was neither mention nor introduction of the Governor.Do you suppose the negative crowd reaction might have been a concern?

Welcome

2007-09-05T12:02:00.000-07:00

I will attempt to bring common sense issues to the light of day.

“There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth.”
Agnes RepplierUS essayist (1855 - 1950)