Walker considers planting troublemakers

     Governor Scott Walker considered planting troublemakers in the crowds of Madison, Wisconsin.  It's real, it's true and he said it.  I don't care how you slice it, for an elected official to consider sending troublemakers into crowds that are made up of Union and Tea Party members shows a criminal win at all costs tendency that can not be ignored.  Just because he didn't actually go through with the planting of troublemakers or that this was brought out by having an underhanded prank pulled on him by the Buffalo Beast is of no consequence. 
     Union and Tea Party members have assembled peacefully and children in the crowds are getting a first look at American Democracy up close.  Meanwhile this idiot considers putting troublemakers into the crowds.  To rev up the controversy, agitate it and stir it up good.  You know what happens then America?  Americans get hurt.
     There is only one answer for him or any elected official that would consider putting Americans in harms way.  Show them the door.  This is not Jack Bauers fictional 24 series.  A place where there always seems to be an acceptable amount of collateral damage that elected officials will tolerate. 
     The governor of Wisconsin considered amping up the controversy.   Showing that it is in his makeup to put Americans in harms way if it serves his cause.   Individuals of Scott Walkers caliber will carry out underhanded tactics when they feel they can get away with them. 
     America we don't need these types of politicians running our country.  We need politicians with the moral courage to do whats right for America.  Scott Walker should be denounced by all elected officials.  We know the Democrats will but will the Republicans denounce him?   Non partisan Americans wait for the answer as we denounce him..

Outsourcing US Jobs

Ford credit closing local office

     In India or some other country a big sigh of relief was felt when the Ford Motor Credit company announced the closing of their Henderson, Nevada office.  That’s the real headline! 

     This community is again smacked in the face as two-hundred more of our family, friends and neighbors will now take their place in the unemployment line.  The response of the Nevada Development Authority is that the layoffs could benefit other companies in Las Vegas. 

     What?  Are you kidding me?  Tell that to the five-hundred that have already lost their jobs in Henderson at Ford Motor Credit since 2009.  How many of them are still on the unemployment line or worse have now used up all their benefits before they could regain employment?

     December 2010 New Dehli (Dow Jones) The pace in car sales growth has picked up this financial year in India, helped mainly by rising incomes for the country's estimated 300 million middle class. 

     You’d think the blaring problem that call centers that service America continue to be outsourced to other countries might have been something the Nevada Development Authority might have been inclined to mention.  But no, in Nevada this is now the administration of Governor Sunny where you always look at the bright side and ignore the dark side of what ails us hoping it will go away. 

     Bottom line Ford will probably end up outsourcing their call center in another country as a lot of American corporations are doing these days to protect the profit line of their stockholders and CEO’s.  Meanwhile, American workers are losing their jobs.

     So, don’t be surprised, when the next time you call Ford with a customer concern or billing complaint, that you’ll now be talking to someone that doesn’t understand what your saying due to their lack of knowledge of the language you speak, English.  How about corporations that do business in the US being required to have their call centers positioned by English speaking Americans instead of allowing them to outsource our legitimate claim to that work.  That, Nevada Development Authority, is something that Americans could get behind, you know, a positive solution that fixes a problem, not a sunny suggestion.

     But don’t worry, like the Sunny state government of Nevada, I can also look at the bright side of things.  I know that if I call to pay a bill that an American will answer because that part of their call center is important to corporate America!   Funny how that works isn’t it, take notice!    

Education Cuts

Letter to Nevada Governor Sandoval

Education Cuts

     Really?  Is that what our new Governor is proposing?  Reducing our public school spending which is currently ranked forty-sixth in the nation, one that has our students ranked last in chances for success! 

     Then play “chicken little” not recommending teacher salary cuts, instead opting to have the trustees and Board of Regents do the crossing of that proverbial street while he stands in the shadows.  Wow, new leader and new hope for a better Nevada.  Squashed within the first month!   

     You see Governor, what we have is a failure to communicate.  The people of Nevada want a balanced budget, oh yes we do.  However, it needs to be done smartly and no one gets any smarter cutting education. 

     Governor, what Nevadans would really like to see is a steady trend upward in the national education rankings producing new opportunities and new jobs in Nevada.  Do this and do it right Governor and you will lead Nevada into the future with its head held high.  Fail and you’ll continue the path of futility that has the Nevada economy, its future and our educational system in ruins. 

    

 Fred Taylor

Partisan politics

     Zealous and militant politics that cater to one political party or another is slowly bleeding this country of its ability to make smart decisions for the majority.  Democrat or Republican, Congressman or Senator it just doesn’t matter.  Partisan politics is the agenda of Washington and the running of the government unfortunately comes in second.  Polarizing the American people Republicans and Democrats use partisan politics to herd us into their voting blocks, counting the numbers and watching the poles. 

     Meanwhile, corporate lobbyists on both sides sit back and drool as the numbers go up for their favorite flavored politician, who they just can’t wait to fatten up.  Lobbyists that gain favor for their corporations on the left, lobbyists that gain favor for their corporations on the right.  This is not government by the people, for the people.  This is government by corporations, for corporations, profits and record CEO salaries.  Is it no wonder that the net worth of the senate (nicknamed the millionaires club) jumped by $680 million dollars last year!

     The American people struggle with job loss, business failure, unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy and much more.  Meanwhile, our congressional leaders have given over $700 billion dollars in bailouts to corporations and extended tax cuts for two years, for the wealthiest of Americans.   Telling us this is good for middle America!  Really? if our goverment can find the money to toss around to corporations, we would also like our share, $2,000 per American citizen would amount to roughly $700 billion dollars and on the tax cuts if someone is profiting over 1 million dollars, good for them, however, they don’t need a tax break. 

     Its time we get back to government by the people, for the people and away from partisan politics that serve first and foremost Corporate America and only considers middle class American issues as an after thought.  My vote will no longer be a part of any block that politicians can use to serve they’re corporate interests.  I’m taking the first step.  I’m proudly changing my party registration block to Nonpartison.  

The Night before Fantasy Football Championships

Now Schaub, now Rodgers! Now, Cassell and Forte!
On, Tolbert! On Woodhead! On, Harvin and Jackson!
To the top of the end zone, to the Lambeau wall,
now, score today, score today, score TD's all!
As the players get loose before the wild passes fly, when they meet a linebacker, shoulders squared to their thigh, a fake to the left a spin to the right, they run to the end zone my Fantasy Football Championship full in sight.

Las Vegas Metro Police Department

     It's good to see that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is busy training the new recruits and to the new recruits I wish you well.  I have the upmost respect for police officers.  Day in and day out they put their lives on the line to protect and serve us.  Officers I applaud you!

     However, do we really need more officers?  Really, do we?   Now before I get started I want to let you know I've supported law enforcement at the polls at every opportunity, money for raises, more officers, etc.  My belief is that you support your police department and they support you, it's a two way street that works well. 

     Unfortunately, Metro has a disconnect with its community.  Here in Las Vegas we have a city that is leading or is at the top in many of the national recession categories unemployment, foreclosures, auto repossessions, bankruptcy and small business failures. 

     However, it's evident that Metro isn't feeling the pinch of the recession the way the rest of us are.  On a  busy Saturday morning, the Saturday before Christmas streets packed with shoppers you would think that Metro would have it's units out on the streets visible as a constant reminder to adhere to the driving rules of the road on a busy hectic day.  Instead Metro has it's officers parking on residential streets at 10:30am walking up and down giving tickets to each and every car on the street that parked in the wrong direction.  The take $190 per car roughly 6-10 cars per street, easy  $1200 - $2000 minimum taken out of a neighborhood that suffers as most Las Vegas neighborhoods do as a result of this Great Recession, all in a quick twenty minutes.  I was surprised to find many others who have told me that Metro has done this in their neighborhoods also.  This is one street, one day, 20 minutes.  That alone done daily would gross well over $500,000 annually taken from the budgets of Las Vegans, struggling to make ends meet and keep food on the table.  Metro I just want to be the first to thank you for your leadership in these tough economic times and for looking out for the best interests of our community.  You call that chi-ching.

     So I get it, sometimes it takes me awhile but I do eventually get it.  Metro makes money giving out parking tickets and that is what rules the day, making money.  As a citizen I would rather see officers on the streets giving tickets for moving violations that can advert injuries and/or death instead of giving tickets to parked cars.  However, I don't make those day to day decisions.  I just pay my taxes and vote.

     To those new recruits that are knocking down the obstacles in their path to become police officers.  All the best.  We know you'll do a great job protecting and serving us.  Just don't forget to dot those i's and cross those t's when your leaders send you out to be meter maids!