Hendry County BLOG

Campaign Contributors Lookup

2009-11-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

If these political contributors had just given their money to a worthy cause like helping to develop new businesses in Hendry County that would create more jobs for residents as well as offer more opportunity to residents for shopping at home.

How Long Do We Have?

2008-10-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

I have always heard about this democracy countdown. It is interesting to see it in print. God help us, not that we deserve it.
How Long Do We Have?
About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh , had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:
'A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.'
'A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.'

'>From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.'
'The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years'
'During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage'
Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:
Number of States won by: Democrats: 19 Republicans: 29
Square miles of land won by: Democrats: 580,000 Republicans: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by: Democrats: 127 million Republicans: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Democrats: 13.2 Republicans: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: 'In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country. Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare...' Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the 'complacency and apathy' phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the 'governmental dependency' phase.
If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years.
We need to realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

FAIR TAX BILL

2006-01-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

Short of taking a page out of history and recreating the "Boston Tea Party", all US Taxpayers have an opportunity to throw off the shackles of taxation slavery called the US Income Tax. A bill is in Congress under the title of the FAIR TAX BILL that will eliminate the IRS. and all Federal income taxes. and no more W 2 wage withholding.
The FAIR TAX BILL is in the US Senate as SR25 and in the US House as HR25, and you should be using all and any means at your disposal to force your Senators and Representatives to get the bill out of committee and up for vote and into law. Up to now, all proposed tax reform has been one ridiculous, convoluted ponzt scheme after another, only serving to further subjugate the working, middle class.
The FAIR TAX would eliminate the IRS and all of it's dysfunctional, discriminatory codes, and policies, with a national sales tax at the register. FAIR TAX would tax wealth not wages, earnings or profits. Other than the shock of not seeing any taxes withheld from paychecks, you keep ALL that you earn, and only pay taxes when you spend. The FAIR TAX currently has over 35 sponsors in Congrees with hundreds of economists, industry, labor and taxpayer groups rallying for it's passage and implementation. It's your money!! Take it BACK!!!
-T. W. Bill Neville

Guess Who? You'll be surprised

2005-06-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and who's employee's have the following statistics:

29 have been accused of spousal abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is? Give up yet?
It's the 535 members of the United States Congress. The same group of Idiots that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.

Social Security Reform

2005-06-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

What do you think about the privatization of the Social Security funding?

Some of the comments that I have gotten from local residents are:

Raise the upper contribution limits.
Make the politicians contribute to the fund and receive the same benefits.
Stop borrowing from the Social Security fund.
Invest the fund into high yield investments.

Nobody I have spoken with wants to have to worry about investing because they don't know how and feel that investors will steal their money.

One of Hendry County citizens wanted President Bush to know how she felt about his plan. The following is the link to a video made by KARE TV in Minneapolis MN where Suzanne Harper went to make her position known.

http://www.kare11.com/player.aspx?aid=15647&bw=

If you have a suggestion that you want to make known please post it on this blog.

What the Media doesn't tell you.

2005-02-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies inIraq?
Did you know that the Iraqi government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?
Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2004 for the re-established Fulbright program?
Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5- 100-footpatrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a navel infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operation squadrons,9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft which operate day andnight, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers?
Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?
Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.
Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?
Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq andphone use has gone up 158%?
Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?
Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?
Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a recent televised debate recently?
Did you know that the 80 Billion dollars that the US is spending for the democracy in Iraq is going back into the US economy creating new jobs?

Wasteful spending

2005-01-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

As the LaBelle Airport continues to operate at a loss and the Aviation economy is in a slump, Hendry County staff recommended and County Commissioners approved the expenditure of millions of tax dollars for the purchase of additional land to widen and extend the runway. If these expenditures are made it will remove taxable lands from our tax base.

The only justification given for this expenditure is that the State has grant monies available. Putting in the improvements at the airport is only the beginning. Will there be grant monies available to keep up with the necessary maintenance of the runway? So far the airport has not even been able to repair the facilities or cut the grass. Is there a plan to fund the operation of the airport over the next 10-20 years?

Many comments from professional aviators have noted that the LaBelle Airport is to close to residents and businesses, which in the future will cause safety and noise issues that could close the airport.

After 911 and the hurricanes many Aviation businesses have filed bankruptcy. The cost of a new or used Aircraft exceeds the majority of income levels in Hendry County. The major users (30) of the LaBelle Airport are ultralight and homebuilt aircraft. These aircraft do not buy aviation fuel, which is supposed to be the major source of income.

The cost of Aviation fuel, which is $3.00-4.00 per gallon has grounded may weekend flyers. Income and unemployment levels in Hendry County reduce the number of student pilots due to the escalating costs of learning to fly.

Hendry County only has thirty thousand people and it has two airports. The other airport is Air Glades, which consists of 2500 revenue-generating acres. The Air Glades Airport serves both Glades and Hendry County residents. From an economic standing it is centrally located in the County and a maximum of 30 minutes from the farthest boundaries of the County and is located near major arterial roads.

There are two other major Airports within 30 minutes from LaBelle and that is Immokalee and South West Regional.

Thousands of tourist and locals ride on roads in Hendry County that are substandard, dangerous and need improvements. The commissioners and staff continually argue that the County does not have enough money to make the improvements.

The statistics speak for themselves. If this was your business do you think your advisors or the bank would let you invest this amount of money without a visible return on your money or a plan?

Voice your concerns about this waste of tax dollars, make a point of attending the County Commission meetings this year and learn more about how your tax dollars are being wasted.

To Impact or Not!

2004-11-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

There is much talk about impact fees for future development in Hendry County. Some of the issues that must be considered are:

Impact fees raise the cost of building an ordinary home and will limit those who will be able to afford building which in turn will increase the possibility of more manufactured homes.
Impact fees raise the value of a home and inturn causes double taxation by increasing the taxable property value.
Impact fees creates more jobs for the City or County which in turn gives the City Manager or County Administrator higher paychecks which must be paid with these fees.
How will we be assured that an impact fee will be spent on infrastructure improvement?

How do you feel about impact fees for development in Hendry County?

Something to consider

2004-10-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Most of us haven't thought about this no matter how much we like or dislike John Kerry. WOW! Those figures have to be staggering. Subject: You will pay upkeep/Secret Service for 5 Kerry mansions. It is good to be John F. Kerry....... The F stands for Forbes in case you ever wondered. (I didn't know that either) He is one of the richest Senators in Government. When someone is elected president, it means the Secret Service has to protect the President andhis family as well as his property. The Kerry's have five US properties not counting the several foreign properties they own too. The cost to run these homes are more than whatthe average American could afford, even if the rent was free, and all you had to pay was the water, gas & electric. Including ground keepers, maintenance, pool, and house keepers. To be President would require thetaxpayers to pay for all that now if elected. Including a complete staffed Secret Service security 24 hours a day. In addition to that wewill have to pay for each of their homes for security improvements even if they never go to them all, that is, that just in case. Who do you think will pay for all this? We Pay! This takes all the expense off Kerry and puts it on us. Nevertheless, factor another major cost to Americans that Kerry does not want you to know about. Becoming president would automatically include taking care of all their properties with Secret Service Agents that includes 5 agents per 6hour shift 4 times a day 365 days of the year for the rest of their lives so long as they own those properties. It comes with being President, once you are elected. It requires us the taxpayers, to pay for this as well as his annual salary, as well as his retirements including the cost of living adjustments to boot, plus salaries and protection for alltheir real estate property, plus Secret Service Agents, and pay the bills for the rest of his life. In addition, feed the Secret Service Agents and rotate new ones every 6 hours for the rest of his life. Do the math. Five properties need to be protected. This requires five Secret Service Agents per shift, daily every six hours, per property That is 20 Secret Service Agents per day per property every day including Holidays. Wow, what does that cost? Lets say an average of 20 agents per property, each earning a about $60Kper agent to survey the perimeters and protect. Now times that by five properties so far. That is if the Kerrys do not buy any more properties afterwards. This also includes the Agents vehicles and repairs, gas, meals, days off, paid vacation, and medical plan visits etc per agent. Who pays? YOU pay, the whole time they are alive after becoming President! Is this the best use of our tax money electing Kerry to takecare of all their properties, both foreign and domestic? On the other hand, shouldn't he pay for his own? Yet, the Presidential salary could not afford it. The more I think about paying for Kerrys properties everyday, just makes me happy keeping President Bush all the more merrier. Without raising taxes to boot. How on earth would Kerry pay for everyone to have Healthcare, increase our military, and have us pay to protect his investments, all without raising our taxes? Tax and spend Kerry is his party motto. Which really has to make you wonder why anyone with his wealth, would take a salary of that of a U.S. Senator, never mind wanna bePresident? Do you believe now why he needs to be the Prez? To serve the people?On the other hand, the people serve Him and his wife!

How Kerry Would Change Your Tax Bill

2004-09-04T17:04:00.000-07:00

This should open some eyes

Capital Gains Tax
Bush-15%
Kerry- 20%

Dividend Tax
Bush- 15%
Kerry- 40%

Income Tax Rate (Highest)
Bush- 35%
Kerry- 40%

Income Tax Rate (Middle)
Bush-25%
Kerry- 28%

Income Tax Rate (Lowest)
Bush- 10%
Kerry- 15%

Per Child Credit
Bush- $1,000
Kerry- $500

Marriage Penalty Tax
Bush- Eliminated
Kerry- Reinstated

Death Tax in 2010
Bush- 0%
Kerry- 55%

Why listen to Kerry's tax promises, when you can do a Google search and find Kerry's actual tax record? He has voted to raise taxes on the middle-class dozens of times in the Senate. He voted against all of President Bush's tax cuts. That isn't a very taxpayer friendly voting record.

In fact, let's be very specific. Kerry had a chance to cut taxes for people who make less than $200,000 just last year. By choosing not to, Kerry voted to deny meaningful tax relief for the voters he is pursuing. Using Department of Treasury data from the IRS, I recently found that the average middle class family would be paying $1,933 more in federal income taxes this year if Kerry had carried the day and the Bush tax cut had been voted down. There would be no child credit; no reduction in the income tax rates; and no elimination of the marriage penalty tax.

If you own stocks, Kerry really plans to sock it to you. Here he does not even bother to camouflage his plans. The Kerry tax scheme openly promises to raise the death tax rate, the capital gains tax rate, and the dividend tax rate. He would raise the capital gains tax from 15% to 20% and the dividend tax from 15% to 35%. When President Bush cut these taxes on stock ownership, the stock market immediately soared by 15%. Repealing this tax cut will necessarily mean that stock values will fall as the after-tax return falls. This alone could reduce household wealth of the half of all American families who own stocks by $1.5 trillion. So the Kerry plan reduces Americans' incomes and their wealth holdings.

Does the County have a Credit and Collections Dept?

2004-08-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

At last nights commission meeting the commissioner of Dist 2 brought up an issue about a business who rents from the County without notifying the Company that the issue would be discussed. This issue has to do with the collection of rent due. Why wasn't this issue taken care of by County Staff? Since the County is in the rental business does it have a credit and collections dept, that a staff member is in charge of? Does the commissioners realize that everytime these kind of events take place at a County Commission meeting it defeats any possibility of Economic Development? Marketing is everything and if you read the last blog you will see that the County Administrator knows that. Please stop public humiliation of the businesses in Hendry County by having the County Administration implement Policy and procedures for Credit and collections.

Politics as usual

2004-08-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

At tonights County Commission meeting in Clewiston. Part time planner Jim LaRue showed up to play politics just to secure his gravy part time job. He made sure he told just how wonderful Lester Baird was and how much money he had gotten for the County and how smart the Commissioners were for employing Baird. This was his only reason for being paid to attend this meeting. When are the commissioners going to wake up an smell the roses. I hope the commissioners are as smart as the audience and realize what is going on with Baird and LaRue.

Jim LaRue who lives in North Fort Myers has been on the payroll for at least 12 years as a part time planner for our County. Why do we have people planning the future for the tax payers of Hendry County who don't even live or Vote in Hendry County?

Commissioners Use County Tax dollars for Personal Campaigns

2004-07-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

Last week seating County Commissioner Janet Taylor sent out invitations using County Employees, County Stationary and envelopes, County Postage and her County position to invite candidates for the upcoming primary elections to a Meet the Candidate Forum in Clewiston. I wonder if this expenditure was approved by the other County Commissioners?
Is this how you want your County Commissioners to spend your hard earned tax dollars?
Should County Commissioners be held accountable? Please post your comments.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

2004-05-31T00:11:00.000-07:00

The County Commissioners gave $5000 of your tax dollars to a private organization to put together a Festival for Bikers at the LaBelle Airport on May 29th. WHY?
How much returned tourism dollars did the County receive from this event?
What is the justification and accountablity for giving this money to this organization?
Why is this being done at the Airport?
Who is benefitting the most from this event?

If you think you have the answers to these questions please post on this BLOG.