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Topics - Anmar

#1
The Coffee Shop / Area hotels
August 17, 2015, 11:14:28 PM
The wife and I are thinking about making a trip out to Elk County.  Are there any motels left out there?  We plan on splitting time between Grenola and Burden, so maybe Cowley county?
#2
The Coffee Shop / Polite request
July 21, 2015, 06:27:36 PM
Can we keep the political posts to the politics section?
#3
Politics / Kansas Republicans hate the constitution
June 08, 2015, 09:24:28 PM
The Kansas government is attempting to circumvent the system of checks and balances by cutting off funding to the state Supreme Court. 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/06/08/kansas_governor_sam_brownback_threatens_to_defund_judiciary_if_it_rules.html
#4
Politics / Rand Paul telling it like it is
May 27, 2015, 11:18:25 AM
Calls out republicans for their hypocrisy.



#5
Kansas decided to elect Brownback and a bunch of rich corporate welfare republicans to state government.  Hows that going for you?  Lower taxes for the rich, higher taxes for the poor, less government services.  Still happy with your republican party?
#6
QuoteTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas voters who re-elected a Republican governor known for aggressive tax cutting are learning that the state won't solve its serious budget problems without putting a normally sacrosanct asset in the crosshairs — its state-of-the-art highway system.

Gov. Sam Brownback and the GOP-dominated Legislature this past week worked out plans for closing a $344 million deficit and allowing the state to pay its bills on time into the summer. The plans included cuts to predictable targets, such as education spending and public pension contributions, but also diverted money from highway projects, which are especially prized by the governor's rural supporters.

The extent of the cutbacks brought home the impact of the income tax reductions that Brownback, an outspoken fiscal conservative, has pushed through since taking office in 2011.

Even a few of the Legislature's most austerity minded members were taken aback by the blow to the highway program, which comes as other states are considering new ways of ramping up infrastructure investment — some by raising taxes.

"When I send out surveys and say, 'What are the roles of government?' — and this is not just my district — roads are generally at the top of the list," said Sen. Forrest Knox, a southeast Kansas Republican who's among the Legislature's most conservative members.

Many of Brownback's allies have supported the cuts he's made to cover the revenue lost from his tax measures, which dropped the top rate for individuals by 29 percent and exempted 191,000 business owners altogether. Brownback has argued that lower taxes would attract more businesses to Kansas and benefit the economy.

But revenues have fallen short of expectations, and Kansas' credit ratings were downgraded last year.

Brownback this week proposed cutting spending on public schools and state universities by $45 million, prompting education supporters to warn about potential hikes in tuition and losses in summer school programs and classes for at-risk students.

"It is time to quit living in fantasyland," said state Rep. Don Hineman, a moderate Republican from a western Kansas county who said it's time for the governor to admit his tax cutting experiment hasn't worked.

Brownback, said state Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley, is "in a state of denial."

Critics worried about potential cutbacks to roads last year, when Brownback was seeking re-election. He argued throughout his campaign that Kansas could have low income taxes and high-quality services, including its highways, which are among the nation's best.

The idea of diverting $158 million for other uses touched a nerve in rural areas that are Brownback's political stronghold.

Residents of the area northwest of Topeka have been waiting for the upgrading of a 60-year-old bridge linking the small towns of Willard and Rossville, where school buses are being rerouted because of concerns about the structure's weight limit.

Some fear the antiquated steel-pin design bridge may become unusable.

"We can't stand by and lose our bridge," said Sarene McCrory, owner of the Grounded Coffee House in Rossville. "It's too vital for the community." She said she's gathering signatures on a letter to present to the Legislature.

The Department of Transportation says that big highway widening projects scheduled through 2019 will continue but that smaller jobs will be delayed.

Rep. J.R. Claeys, a conservative Republican from Salina who's chairman of a budget subcommittee on transportation, said managing the delays will be highly sensitive.

"We're going to be smart about this," he said.

Brownback continues to defend his tax cuts and contends that diverting money from highway projects was helped solve immediate budget problems.

"If you've got a better idea, great. Let's hear it," he said this week. "Criticism, fine, but come up with your ideas."

Kansas has stayed ahead of most other states on roads thanks to 25 years' worth of investments in large programs.

Many rural communities see good roads and bridges as essential to their economic survival.

In Russell County, farmer Morris Krug said he's worried about a planned $38 million upgrade of a 16-mile stretch of highway in the area.

Highway funds, he said, "should not be tampered with. They were put there to build roads in this state and no governor has the right to draw on those to balance his budget."


How are those tax cuts working for Elk County?
#7
http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/the-rnc-wants-to-avoid-a-herman-cain-situation-in-2016-will-limit-debates/361995/

Also means less information for voters.  All you ever get to see is the scripted moments.  You know what happens if EVERYTHING is clean and packaged?  You get the same old people who have been running the federal government into the ground.
#8
Politics / How about them apples
May 07, 2014, 10:52:22 PM
So awhile back, I posted about our "greatest ally" spying on us.  Several people here on this forum dismissed it as normal behavior.  "Whats a little spying among friends?" they said.  So when I saw this article, I thought of you guys.  Keep in mind, this is a country that has driven us to two wars, and is attempting to put us in another.  This is a foreign country that has been the top recipient of U.S. foreign aid every year for the last 50 years.  This country is a dark spot on our international reputation.  For decades, this foreign country has had the biggest lobby in Washington, they've gotten away with bribing our elected officials.  And now, this.....

http://www.newsweek.com/israel-wont-stop-spying-us-249757

http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-spying-us-alarming-level-133658376.html



"Newsweek said a congressional staffer familiar with a briefing last January called the testimony "very sobering ... alarming ... even terrifying", and quoted another as saying the behavior was "damaging."

"No other country close to the United States continues to cross the line on espionage like the Israelis do," said a former congressional staffer who attended another classified briefing in late 2013, according to Newsweek."

"After denying for over a decade that Pollard was its paid agent, Israel apologized and promised not to spy on U.S. soil again. Since then, more Israeli spies have been arrested and convicted by U.S. courts. "
#9
Politics / Bought and Paid for
February 18, 2014, 11:55:03 AM
So, reading the thread about this whole newspaper thing.  And trying to keep up with the Elk Konnected mess, it seems like there are a number of people who have some issue with private "NGO's" attempting to exert undue influence on politicians. 

My question is this:  Why are you stopping at your county commissioners?  This sort of undue influence has been going on for a long long time, especially at the national level.  About the time I stopped posting here, Elk County helped elect Mike Pompeo.  He was in a crowded field of conservatives, but Pompeo was the big business candidate and raised the most money.

Pompeo is a Californian who's mother is from Kansas, went to Harvard Law, served in the military, and then joined a Kansas think tank.  Hopefully we all know what think tanks are.

Half of Pompeo's money comes from rich people.  The other half comes from big business and PACs.  Almost all of his campaign funds comes from outside the district. 

Will you hold your congressman to the same standard you hold your county government?

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00030744
#10
The Coffee Shop / Greetings from California
February 10, 2014, 02:53:03 PM
Hope everyone is doing well.  I'm missing Elk county and just wanted to stop and say hi...
#11
Politics / Tea Party Funders up to their old tricks!
October 03, 2011, 06:54:25 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/bloomberg-investigation-alleges-koch-subsidiaries-paid-bribes-sold-190408559.html

For those of you who still don't know the connection, Tea Party was created and is funded by Americans for Prosperity, which itself is a group that was created and funded by the Koch brothers, who happen to own Koch Industries.  Here's the short short version.

QuoteSubsidiaries of the global business empire headed by the Koch Brothers, who have helped bankroll an array of conservative, anti-regulatory causes, made illegal payments to win foreign contracts,

QuoteIn September 2008, a team of researchers sent by Koch Industries to its subsidiary in Arles, France, "found evidence of improper payments to secure contracts in six countries dating back to 2002, authorized by the business director of the company's Koch-Glitsch affiliate in France," ... the ethics compliance officer who first brought the alleged bribes from the French subsidiary to the company's attention--the company took Egorova-Farines off the case. Koch management then fired her a year later,

Quote"Internal company records show that Koch Industries used its foreign subsidiary to sidestep a U.S. trade ban barring American companies from selling materials to Iran," Loder and Evans write. "Koch-Glitsch offices in Germany and Italy continued selling to Iran until as recently as 2007, the records show. The company's products helped build a methanol plant for Zagros Petrochemical Co., a unit of Iran's state-owned National Iranian Petrochemical Co., the documents show."

Could it be possible that they stopped selling in 2007 because they wouldn't have a republican in the white house to cover for them anymore?  Do they want to help elect another "conservative" so they can resume selling technology and energy to Iran?
#12
Politics / Interesting old speech
October 01, 2011, 07:33:28 PM
So we've all heard that history tends to repeat itself.  Its a shame we don't look to the past to find solutions for our current problems.  Enjoy.

#13
Politics / Are we missing a thread?
September 02, 2011, 11:21:56 AM
Did a thread get deleted for some reason?
#14
Politics / Where are the jobs?
August 19, 2011, 12:55:31 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/foreign-students-walk-off-hershey-factory-job-protest-214310205.html

Just a part of the problem.  Government program that allows corporations to bring in cheap labor from other countries.  These Eastern Europeans are here only because they can be exploited for cheaper labor.
#16
Politics / Big Surprise
May 16, 2011, 12:56:05 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110516/ts_yblog_theticket/trump-announces-he-will-not-run-for-president


I'm pretty sure a number of us knew this was going to happen.  He does the same thing every 4 years.  Why do people still fall for this BS?
#17
Politics / Interesting statement from Patriot
April 21, 2011, 10:36:41 PM
In the coffee shop, Patriot has started a number of threads with regards to local politics.  I'm happy to see people getting involved at the local level, but I feel like there's some kind of strange disconnect between whats going on at the local level, and the national level.

For example, I saw this

Quote.  Government should (even at the local level) set about to protect (not provide) the ability of private citizens to enjoy life & pursue individual aspirations. 

This is pretty much the democrat view on regulation.  I happen to agree with it.  The government should be protecting the people, not just from foreign threats, but large corporations, who do a whole lot more to infringe on private citizens than some guys in some caves around the world ever did.  So why is it that the far right is so eager to embrace the big corporations, billionaires, and to work in their favor?  And lets face it,  the left does to, but more covertly. 

Also, how does a weak puny, and poor federal government fight multinational corporations?

Quote. My problem is with any private group that uses such programs to befriend the public while also advancing a political agenda of the few. 

Tea Party?

QuoteWhen a select few elitists both influence the government and are the government, there is a conflict.

Both parties flagrantly are guilty of this one.  but you attack one and support the other,  interesting.
#19
Politics / The Holy Land
September 04, 2010, 01:05:19 AM
We always hear the right wing extremists spinning their tales of the untruths in the palestinian-israeli conflict.  This video shows the reality of the situation, and expresses the common viewpoints on both sides.  The biggest problem is that situations in both sides have allowed extremist elements to have too much political power.


http://www.hulu.com/watch/175761/the-shape-of-the-future-the-shape-of-the-future-part-1
#20
Politics / RIP Senator Robert C Byrd
August 03, 2010, 09:33:35 PM
I know its been a few weeks, but I just wanted to post a tribute to someone whom I admired as a dying breed of honorable men dedicated to public service.  Whether you agreed with his viewpoints or not, he always had the public interest in mind and was an honest man.  Most importantly, he was a man who knew that he wasn't perfect, and he could stand up in front of the world and admit it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTL4lec5H50
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