User profile: conchsoup
Joined: Jan. 9, 2007
Comments posted: 155
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Comments by conchsoup
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Posted on November 1 at 11:10 a.m.
JohnyW-
If you are voting for Obama and then undermine his ability to get things done by voting for Diaz-Balart who has voted to support Bush policies 100% of the time, you are putting your personal animosity before the needs of the district. Here are excerpts from an article that put your concerns in a context that should help you realize that Garcia is the best person at this point in time.
“In 2006, Garcia became chairman of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party. An independent until 2001, Garcia said he joined the Democrats soon after George W. Bush's election.
Now 45, Garcia faces just as tight a contest against his latest opponent. One setback: The Diaz-Balart family is the closest thing to a political dynasty in Miami's exile community.
He's also a Democrat in a town where Cuban-American politicians are usually Republicans and U.S. relations with Cuba often frame a candidate's election bid.
Yet Garcia seldom mentions Cuba at his public appearances. ''I'm running for the 25th Congressional District in South Florida, where people are concerned about their jobs, the economy and taxes,'' Garcia said.
But Cuba caused a stir in Garcia's campaign in April, when Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., who has pushed for diplomatic relations with Cuba, was a ''special guest'' at a Garcia fundraiser.
Garcia, unbowed by criticism from some exile factions, kept Rangel on the guest list, saying he wants to cultivate relations with members of Congress from all sides of any issue.
Re: Enron-
” Garcia said Lay contacted him in 2001 for a possible spot on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission -- but nothing came of the discussion. Enron collapsed at the end of that year.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/front...
On District 25 U.S. Congress: A race between political insiders
Posted on October 25 at 10:35 a.m.
I have walked it. Have you? It is an interesting link between Bay Front and Tin City running alongside the Gorden River. Not only is the underpass really the only safe way for a pedestrian to cross 41, it is part of the pedestrian/bikeways system we have long cared to develop.
On First-of-its-kind underpass art gallery could come to Naples
Posted on October 25 at 9:07 a.m.
Many Naples residents have cosmopolitan tastes and they bring a sophistication which appreciates the enhanced value all forms of culture imbues in a thriving community.
Apparently it is too subtle for many who post here, but the design of the project, offered pro bono by an inspired local architectural firm, has already garnered national attention and recognition.
It is a tribute to the community that the art network is refusing to let a wonderful project be tossed aside. This one has life and is gaining momentum. I for one can’t wait to see the results.
On First-of-its-kind underpass art gallery could come to Naples
Posted on October 11 at 12:59 p.m.
“Cut the burdens on normal folk, when they want to build something: “Less regulation, less taxing, less litigation, greater accessibility to insurance, greater choice of insurance, choice of retirement opportunities,” said Grady, 50.”
This is precisely the prescription that led to the biggest financial crisis this nation has ever seen. "Less regulation" was the unsustainable ideology that shielded the shenanigans of subprime loans and the bundling of them into indecipherable packages resulting in hyper-risky funds. Regulations and oversight are exactly what was needed to protect investors.
“Less taxing” is what has undermined Florida’s public school system, leaving its students among the most vulnerable and least educated in the nation. “Less taxation” of those who can afford to pay proportionately the same as those in the working class is unfair and shows a lack of responsibility for the proper functioning of the nation that provided them the opportunities to be so successful.
“Greater accessibility to insurance, greater choice of insurance” is the method by which our Medicare dollars are siphoned off by middlemen in HMOs and greedy prescription drug providers by inserting themselves between the government program and the retirees. It means that fewer dollars are available for actual health care because they are diverted to for-profit companies whose only goal is to their “fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders” which means maximizing their profits through whatever means using your tax dollars.
“Choice of retirement opportunities” means privatizing social security. We need only regard what has transpired on Wall Street this week to see what would have happened to social security had it been invested there.
These are more of the same failed approaches that have wrecked havoc for millions of Americans recently. Tom Grady brings nothing to the table to actually move Naples forward.
I think I will consider running against this platform next time around.
Posted on October 5 at 12:05 p.m.
Amazing. You tipped off this reader as to the motivations for what followed with your title. Basically, you followed a thread of this global financial meltdown and managed to pin the blame for corporate greed on Wall Street and a generation of unrestrained free market ideology benefiting only the wealthiest on a humble American dream of providing home ownership to the working class, a Democratic Party principle.
Your article was a trite and twisted view of this crisis and contributed nothing to moving us forward in discovering what we need to do next, rather you obfuscated the analysis by attempting to divert attention from focusing on the real issues of a massively failed economic ideology of the free-marketers’ blind faith in an invisible hand that welded a club to beat back those whose pockets were picked during this decade of privatization.
It is sad and pathetic that this paper has no contrasting voice to this dribble.
There is no such thing as a free market.
Posted on October 4 at 7:12 p.m.
Farmer-I think your fields need tending.
Your thesis that long termed Senators are responsible for the deregulation of the financial institutions is not supportable. Both Kennedy and Byrd supported oversight of the financial institutions.
The free-marketeers who believed the right-wing rhetoric of smaller governments and less regulation are closely aligned with the failed ideology that is directly responsible for the collapse of our nation’s financial system.
That sucking sound you hear is the black hole of greedy Wall Street brokers draining every cent of profit that could be squeezed out of the pockets of hard working Americans along with any confidence in Adam Smith’s invisible hand.
You’re just mad that the democratic ideology that places more trust in the people than in the marketplace is about to kick out those republicans from Congress who failed to protect our country from this unmitigated mess. Congress represents the people. We have at least learned from our mistakes and we will decide by our votes who has been in Congress too long, even if they have served only one term.
On Don Farmer: Financial mess proves it’s time to rein in Congress
Posted on September 21 at 1:58 p.m.
Here is a link to the minutes of the School Board Special Meeting under discussion;
http://www.collier.k12.fl.us/board/me...
From the minutes:
Ms. Hoadley [Esq.of Hinshaw and Culbertson, LLP],clarified the following with regard to misconduct:
l The firm was not asked to investigate misconduct on the part of staff members or
administrators. The firm didn't look for it, comment on it or give advice with regard to
misconduct.
l The firm was asked to determine if there was inappropriate favoritsm on the part of
counselors. The determination was, although there are improvements to be made, there was no
misconduct.
Based on this report the next act was (as if determined ahead of time since it made no sense at all based on the Hinshaw report):
"Mr. Calabrese addressed the Board with regard to his concerns that Superintendent Baker violated
Section 2 of his contract by not fulfilling his duties. Therefore, a motion was made to have
Superintendent Baker's contract declared void and that he be relieved of all duties as Superintendent
effective immediately. No vote was taken immediately."
The drama took a little while but we know how it ended.
Posted on September 21 at 1:25 p.m.
I recall that School Board Attorney Withers made some curious remarks at the school board meeting where Baker was fired/Thompson hired that revealed he was aware of the shenanigans and had proffered an opinion on the proceedings prior to the meeting.
This, as I recall, became evident when more than one of the schoolboard members referenced Withers having okayed the unusual proceedings beforehand.
Withers was aware of what was going to transpire at the meeting and had counseled board members.
Has anyone looked into what Withers knew? What his discussions with the board members entailed in regards to this? Are these conversations part of the public record?
Please keep digging.
Posted on September 21 at 9:58 a.m.
Moralists? Watchdogs? Thompson and the chicks rule with fear and loathing. The staff is petrified. The teachers and school administrators feel abused and morale is at an all-time low. Thompson has shown he is not afraid to manipulate the system and use backdoor deals. Rumors are that his wife is affiliated with the new janitorial service-and employees find it believable because of the underhanded way he weaseled into his CEO salary in a civil servant job. There is no sense that he cares about anything but his salary and protecting his turf.
He fired the janitors en masse without a blink. Moralists and watchdogs cannot stop this train wreck. We need the strength of the law and the fortitude to follow through.
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Posted on November 11 at 12:21 p.m.
Every high school in town should make posters of this article and request annonymous tips. Some of their friends have information and need to know the anquish the parents feel worrying sick over their beautiful children's whereabouts. It is probably a dumb prank and they are too young to understand the consequences.
There are so many abandoned houses around they could be here right in the neighborhood.
On UPDATE: Missing teenagers found