Tag: news

  • Understanding the Consequences of Voting Decisions in America

    Understanding the Consequences of Voting Decisions in America


    I wrote this in November. It was posted on Facebook. The feedback I received was positive. It was at the suggestions from those that appreciated the post that I started this blog.

    Read. Enjoy. Bare with it. I have not edited it from it’s first posting. state.


    It is truly amazing. Every day, more people realize they screwed themselves. They did not do even basic research before voting.

    So, lets help out the remaining few so that in the future (2026) some of these insane wrongs can be corrected).

    1) Tariffs are fees levied against imports, with the actual fee being paid by the consumer.

    Example: A TV from China costs $200.00. A tariff of 25% is added to the cost of the TV. The cost of the tv to the distributor is now $250.00. The distributor still needs to make money, so they charge the store $300.00, keeping their $50 of profit. The store needs their $50.00 profit, so they now sell the TV for $350.00. The consumer who was only going to have to pay $300.00 is now paying $350.

    End result – the US Consumer pays the 25% tariff that was placed on China.

    (FYI.. Based on the Tariff treaty of 1974, the president can only increase a tariff by a maximum of 15%. It can only be imposed for 150 days unless extended by Congress. Should not take 150 to see the crippling effect higher tariffs will have on the average American or the US economy)

    2) Immigrants account for 68% of the farm workers in the US.

    Immigrants account for 29% of the construction work force in the US.

    Immigrants account for 21% of the food supply work force in the US.

    Immigrants account for 19% of the total workforce in the US.

    Undocumented Immigrants account for $96.7 BILLION dollars are year in federal taxes collected.

    Immigrants average a year salary of $37,585.

    There are not enough “other” people to fill the gap. Current salary offerings do not offset the deportation of 11,000,000 immigrants.

    The cost of a onetime mass deportation of immigrants would cost the US over $350B.

    (Other people being American Citizens, especially white people. You cannot find a teenager working in fast food place now at $17 an hour, you will not find one in a filed shucking corn for $10)

    Add the deportation cost of $350B to the loss of $96.7 billion in collected taxes and the US would be out over $446.7 BILLION.

    That’s simple math. You would have to back out the savings of not providing services to undocumented immigrants to get the final number. The rough estimate would be a loss of well over $200 Billion.

    3) With 19% of the total work force eliminated, 68% of the farm workers, and not having people in line to replace them at what works out to be $10.74 cents an hour, production would go way down for consumer items such as eggs, dairy products, fruit, vegetables. Demand for those products would remain high, supply would be reduced, and the cost would then go WAY Up.

    Example: 10 people need a dozen eggs. There are only 3 dozen eggs available. The value of the eggs would increase up to 1,000%. Why? No reason to sell something for $2.00 when desperate people would pay $20 for the same thing.

    4) Projected tax breaks for corporations, the top 1% of earners, the elimination of over-time taxes, the elimination of taxes on tips, the tax cost by the removal of 19% of the work force and an additional reduction of 1,000,000 well-paying government jobs, the increase costs of food and other items due to supply and demand and the added consumer burden of paying a 25% tariff, the bottom 99% would see an out of pocket increase in yearly expenses of over 15K a year, minimum (The current international tariffs treaties, etc. save the average American $7,000 a year. That savings goes away, clearly)

    5) With a lack of workforce, more business close, adding to the unemployment line. With the number of workers out pacing the number of jobs, salaries and wages go down, while the cost of living goes up (everything from housing, food, clothes, entertainment, etc. will see substantial increases).

    Your total costs go up 30%, your salary goes down 30% you are now pretty well screwed. Say goodbye to your home, your car, our insurances. Say hello to Good Will, shelters, park benches and dumpster diving.

    6) When welfare programs are cut (Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment, food stamps, house subsidies, etc.) additional cost burdens fall on the heads of the consumer. These cost burden will lead to greater poverty, homelessness, and push current non-profits to the brink of closure. No one will be safe from being hungry or sleeping outside.

    Health care related costs are already the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the US. The number of people that end up bankruptcy will only increase.

    7) With more poor people, big ticket items will not be selling at current rates, if they sell at all. Fewer American made items being sold, means fewer American made items being made, means another reduction in America jobs. No company will keep on a workforce that cannot pay for itself through productivity and sales.

    Higher taxes, higher costs, lower wages, reduction of services …

    The only thing that will trickle down is poverty.

    These are just a few of the painfully obvious concerns every American should have. Even the most obtuse can understand these simple facts.

    Does not mean any or all of these things will happen. It just means that there is a good probability that they may. Just means that far too many Americans voted with their hate, not their head and certainly not their heart.

    So what happened on election day due to the lack of individual education and people following their hate?

    * Legal immigrants voted to have their families and friends exported.

    * People in poor health voted to have their care reduced or eliminated.

    * Average Americans voted to increase their financial burden so that the top 1% could become the top .05%.

    * People with middle eastern roots voted to have Gaza leveled and a people eradicated.

    * People voted to have individuals in-charge of their wellbeing who they would not want as neighbors (known felons, sexual predators, con-men, racists)

    * Americans voted to have their mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces suffer neglect and prejudices not seen for over 150 years.

    All because the price of eggs was too high (They are not).

    All because the cost of gas was too high (it is not, especially on the world scale and the US does not set fuel prices so people voted for things other countries control)

    All because the LQBTQ communities were being treated with the barest minimum of respect, their contributions acknowledged and narrow-minded people could not accept pro-nouns.

    If you want to dispute this, do not. Showing your stupidity will not do you any favors. I will not waste my time trying to educate you about things you can easily learn yourself; even if it took you three times to pass the GED.

    I had a discussion with someone tonight. They let their hate and intolerance flag fly under the guise of “I know what prejudice I’ve faced, and I am sick of being called white”.

    Everyone has faced a degree of prejudice at one time or another, white, black, brown, straight, gay, trans, tall, short, fat, smart, stupid, fast, slow, wear glasses, don’t wear glasses, is in the band, not in the band, plays a sport, doesn’t play a sport, so on and on.

    The only way that ends if we all decide that we do not want others to feel as we were once made to feel because of something that made us appear to be different on the OUTSIDE.

    Life is not complicated. Just because you are unhappy or were once a “victim” of a bad break a time or two does not mean you heal by treating others worse than you think you were treated.

    Voting to destroy your own life and the lives of others was not the solution or the “gottcha” you think it was. In the end, you won’t be better off and you will be even more bitter. You will also be out of people to blame – well, except for putting blame where it belongs – yourself.

    Congratulations, America. You became the world’s lowest common denominator.

    You do not like it? Read a book (before they get banned)

  • Is Government Overhaul Possible? Lessons and Suggestions

    Is Government Overhaul Possible? Lessons and Suggestions

    For as long as I can remember I have voiced concerns about the bloat in our Federal Government. The unnecessary red tape. Duplication of efforts between departments. The inability for the right hand to make a decision without the left hand’s permission.

    The bloat does not exist at just the Federal Government levels. I am going to use the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles as an example.

    I moved to Florida directly after the height of Covid. Florida, a well-known non-believer state, still made changes to the way they did business.

    I needed obtain a Florida driver’s license and car registration. First, I went on line find the documents I needed and the process to follow .I found all the information I needed. Guessing it took someone all of three minutes to write the instructions.:
    1) Schedule an appointment.
    2)Arrive 5 minutes early.

    3) Sign in.
    4) Wait to be called upon.
    5) Bring proof of address and current driver’s license.
    6) Bring a method of payment.

    I made my appointment. Morning of, I gathered my paperwork and went to the DMA. I got there early. I signed in. I waited exactly five minutes before I was called. A young woman brought me into her office, following a specific path. We sat at her desk. She collected my information. Had me pick out a license plate style. Within 10 minutes I had my car registered. plates in hand.

    As memory serves, she then gave me an eye screening at her desk. We processed more paperwork. I wrote her a check and she escorted me out. I was out of the DMV in less than 20 minutes.

    Come to learn that they slimmed down the process to avoid unnecessary contact with other people. A Covid concession.

    I filled out the same paperwork. I paid the same amount of money. I saw 3 fewer people. Spent less time. I walked out with my car registration and a new drivers license.

    If the DMV can figure out how to streamline their processes, any government entity can. The DMV had no choice but to make a system. It had to accomplish their goals. It also needed to meet the requirements of their customers without negatively impacting the outcomes.

    Now let us look at what has happened thus far with the Elon Musk led effort to trim the government.

    He did not know the role each department plays. He did not know who works in each division of each department. He did not know the roles and responsibilities of the workers. He just cut. He knew department names, knew which departments he or Trump did not like. He cut.

    In his willy-nilly manner, he has terminated people that were needed, and they had to rehire. He terminated people in critical positions that, when vacated, problems started to occur. Live has been lost.

    Am I okay with a thinning of the Government payroll? Yes. Is there redundancies that are not needed. 100%.

    You do not let a blindman with a machete perform open heart
    surgery.

    The approach Musk is using to dismantle the government bloat is blindman with a machete. He isn’t removing bloat. He is removing what he wants to. The goal of his actions should be a leaner, more effective, more efficient government.

    What needs to happen for DOGE to be effective is clear. First off DOGE needs to become an official department. As it is now, everything being done is illegal.

    Once an official department, Musk must be properly vetted, as required by law.

    If DOGE is just a government contacting job, Musk or one of his businesses can bid to get the job. Just like any other company wanting a government contact.


    Trump has given Musk carte blanche to do what he wants, awarding him with new contracts. Trump is basing many of these cutback decisions and information provided by Musk. Information that is consistently being proven as overreaches and blatant lies. A clearer case of conflict of interest has never been seen in any government process.

    What should happen?
    1) DOGE becomes a department
    2) Musk is vetted and approved
    3) Each Department given 3 months two create a reduction plan. These plans include the following:
    a) A detailed description of every single function they carry out.
    b) A detailed list of all job descriptions, down to the specific roles and responsibilities of the workers.
    c) A list of all employees, with their job GS level, job descriptions and latest performance review. (Instead of using names, each employee file is coded with only a department name, job title and code).

    Each department is given 3 months to create detailed instructions on how each of their tasks are performed. If someone does something, that something gets documented in a detailed process document.

    We now have detailed departmental information. We have detailed job descriptions. We have a list of everyone doing each job. We have a list of all the processes being followed. The next 3 months are used to identify redundant work efforts, tagging those jobs (NOT PEOPLE JOBS) that overlap.

    Each job is rated on a critical scale of 1 to 10. 10 being he pushes the button on the nukes to 1 being the person that cleans the Congressional snuff room.

    Job are then ranked. Aassessments done to determine how many people are needed to maintain a proper service and safety standard.

    Within the next month, knowing how many positions for each job are needed, a review of the employees is done. Based on job performance only, the top performers are maintained.

    The last month, everyone not on the maintained employee status list, is terminated. The termination date will be based on:
    1) How long it will take to reposition the role.
    2) The value of the position .
    3) The quality of the detailed process documents.

    ONE YEAR to properly prepare, organize and execute a fully functioning plan. A plan that identifies government work force reduction by anywhere from 10 to 40%.

    Also, during this year, put in a hiring freeze. No replacement employees at ANY LEVEL. Someone is are fired, quits, retires, or otherwise no longer remains on government payroll, no replacement.

    There should be no savings goal. There should be no workforce reduction goal. The only goal should be:

    “Create a government work force structure that effectively, efficiently serves the needs of the United States of America.”

    When making cuts and changes, prioritize jobs that serve people, not paperwork.


    Accuracy can not surfer. Accountability must increase. Standards must be improved.

    Cutting government spending should not start at the citizen’s needed program level. Cuts should begin at the highest levels and trickle top down. How many undersecretaries are really needed for any one Department? How many Congressional aides are really needed?

    Once government redundancies are eliminated, costs are contained. As things are right sized, there will be sufficient funds. This will avert the extensive program reductions being discussed.

    Think about a government serving its people. It should aim to give each person the MOST. This needs to be done while spending the least.

    There exists a need to make cuts. But there is a way to go about it.

    Where there is vision there is success.

    Where there is a blind man with a machete, there is only blood.

    We are awash in the blood being drawn by a blind man.

  • How A Cult Gave Away A Country

    How A Cult Gave Away A Country


    Thanks to a block of the most narrow minded voters, the United States is no longer a free nation. Ignorant and unaware voters have contributed to this state.

    Thanks to some of the richest people in the World, the United States is no longer a free nation.

    The United States is now at the mercy of Elon Musk.

    Fools and morons elected Donald Trump to be President. What happened?
    * The GOP become the American Schutzstaffel.
    * Through his firing of top military leaders and replacing them with * Trump loyalists, the  American Gestapo is being created.
    * Elon Musk purchased Donald Trump, making Trump nothing more than a mouthpiece for Musk’s propaganda.
    * Elon Musk turned Trump into a Putin puppet.
    * Elon Musk is not so slowly breaking down the United States into Russia’s 22 Second Republic.

    For all the talk of Trump trying to make Canada the U.S. 51st, Musk is already turning the U.S into Russia’s 22 Republic.

    Trump lacks original ideas. He shares a bed with Musk and owes Elon his get-out-of-jail-free card. Trump has become exactly what the U.S. was never intended to be; a second class country owned by another, managed by a despot.

    Trump and his loyalists engage in subterfuge and lies. They resort to cheating, stealing, and shenanigans of all types. Their goal is to bully and coerce anyone that dares stand in the way of Elon’s vision.

    Musk’s Starlink is used by people, businesses, and governments in 118 countries, territories, and markets. This includes all seven continents and oceans worldwide.

    Starlink is a privately held company. The US is paying Musk $8,000,000 a day for access to his tools and companies. Why?

    For Military use  

    • The US Department of Defense has contracted with Starlink for use by the Air Force, Army, and Special Operations Command 
    • The US Navy has used Starlink to improve internet connectivity for deployed service members. 
    • The US government has also contracted with SpaceX to build Starshield, a military version of Starlink. 


    Government operations 

    • Starlink is used by US embassies and other government agencies.
    • Starlink provides reliable internet connectivity for government operations, allowing for seamless communication and access to critical information.


    Other uses 

    • Starlink has been used extensively in the Russo-Ukrainian War


    Which brings us to the latest issue. Trump is demanding that Ukraine give the U.S. 50% of it is natural mineral resources. Trump and his minions has said that if Ukraine does not sign this agreement, Starlink will be shut down.

    Since the U.S. does not own or control Starlink, the U.S. cannot make that threat and have it have any depth.

    However, Musk using the Trump Puppet can make that threat.

    The U.S. is being leveraged to benefit Musk, Putin, dismantle the EU while weaking the U.S.

    The U.S under Musk and Trump, with careful input and direction from Putin is nothing more than mouth piece of evil, world destruction and setting the pace for the end of Democracies all over the world.


    If you really think that Musk and Putin will stop at taking minerals and land from Ukraine, you are insane. They won’t stop after seeing how easy it is when you take a country’s leadership. It becomes even easier when you control the world’s communication.

    There are 118 countries that are now beholden to one man, one company.

    The United States is the country that could have properly stood up to Musk. Instead, the country elected a small, cowardly, selfish, moron. All Trump has done is goosesteeped the United States into being a total non-factor as a peace maker and world leader.

    Musk has already been given unfettered access to the accounting information for the entire U.S, from Government departments to mom and pop’s social security numbers. Musk will soon be given access to Fort Knox. If you do not think Musk is already creating his bribery peace accord with the U.S., targeting our resources, you are exactly as stupid as the rest of the world thinks you are.

    Congratulations MAGA cultists. You have helped bring the world to its knees, bowing to one man. And it is not the one you voted for.

    Your reward? You will find out now that you have fucked around.

    Congratulations, comrades. The shit stew you are about to eat was made with the ingredients you supplied.

  • Understanding Restaurant Hours: When Is It Too Late?

    Understanding Restaurant Hours: When Is It Too Late?

    Every now and again you may hear people talking about an experience they have at a restaurant.

    Here is a sample scenario.

    The restaurant has posted hours of 10:00 AM to 10 PM. The restaurant hours are posted on their website, their Yelp page and on their front window.

    A person, couple or group walk in at 9:55 PM expecting to be served.

    Here is the typical battle.

    Some people think the person, couple or group are out of line expecting the restaurant to serve them so close to closing time.

    Some people think that since the restaurant is open, a person, couple, or group walking in a few minutes before they close is fine.

    Before taking sides, lets restate the obvious.

    According to the restaurant’s published information, they are open from 10 AM – 10 PM. The restaurant is open, preparing food and ready to accommodate customers.

    A person, couple or group walking into an open business has a legitimate expectation of being served.

    The arguments made by those who believe “customers are out of line for walking in so late ” make several points. First, the kitchen is already in the process of cleaning up. Second, the staff wants to get home when their shift is over. Third, how fresh can the food actually be just a few minutes before closing? Finally, just because a place is open, doesn’t mean that they are cooking.

    The argument being made by the “restaurant is open, a person or couple or group walking in at any time is fine” is simple:
    * If you say you’re open, you’re open.

    Of course a restaurant has the right to refuse any business. If they really do not want to serve people at 9:55 PM, they just need to inform the customers. They can simply say that the kitchen is closed. It is fair. It is understandable. It just does not make them right.

    The person that greets the customers first can simply say “since it’s so late there is just a very limited menu available.”  That limited menu could be true. However, because the hours do not state the limited menu with its later hours, it is not being advertised correctly.

    What’s the most reasonable way to handle these late night feasters?

    A simple change to the restaurant signage, an update to it’s website and it’s Yelp page.

    “Open at 10 AM – 10 PM. LAST SEATING AT 9:30PM”

    This simple change makes it clear. The restaurant opens its doors at 10 AM. It closes its doors at 10 PM. No customers will be seated after 9:30 PM.

    Believe it or not, I have been vilified for making that suggestion on other threads. No one can tell me why that is a bad idea. By simply adding LAST SEATING AT offers clear communication. It gives the staff a proper reason for rejecting the 9:55 PM customer. It also educates potential customers to avoid false expectations.

    Another alternative would be a sign that says:
    Open from 10 AM – 10 PM, Limited Menu after 9:00 PM.

    Like the previous suggestion, this wording sets accurate expectations for staff and customers alike.

    Until things change, a restaurant should expect to serve customers during their posted hours. If seating someone at 9:59PM is something you do, serve them.

    It would be nice for people not to walk into a restaurant 3 minutes before closing. Can you blame a hungry customer for wanting to give a business money during their posted hours of operation? Especially if you let them in, seat them and hand them menus?

    What do you think?

  • Trump’s First Day: A Groundbreaking Administration or a Failed Promise?

    Trump’s First Day: A Groundbreaking Administration or a Failed Promise?



    On Monday, January 20th, 2025, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. The event takes place inside the warmth of the Capital Rotunda.

    If Trump does what he says he is going to do, his first day in office will be groundbreaking. The day promises to be the most successful first day of any President’s Administration.

    By 11:59 PM, January 20, 2025, Trump claims a massive deportation program will be instituted. People will start heading back “home.”
    “On Day One, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out,” Trump said at his Madison Square Garden rally on Oct. 28

    Mind you, if he were to do this, it would be impossible to do in one day. Even if done over time, prices would spike. Supplies of foods, other goods, and services would diminish. The U.S. Economy, now the strongest in the world, would collapse.

    “On Day One of the Trump administration, I will terminate Kamala’s insane electric vehicle mandate, and we will end the new green scam once and for all. The green new scam will end,” Trump said at a rally in October.

    With Elon Musk telling Trump what do to, this will not happen. Musk will not allow Trump to crash his financial wealth and security. Plus, there are already hundreds of permits held for oil and natural resources. These permits are not being used; it helps keep costs up, supply in check. Trump could open the entire US for drilling. Wouldn’t matter. No one is going to be drilling unless it is to sell found resources on the open, international market. The benefit to the US consumer? None.

    Trump said at a rally in September, “The moment we win, we will rapidly review the cases of every political prisoner unjustly victimized by the Harris regime. And I will sign their pardons on Day One.”

    More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the attack on the Capitol. For the party of law and order”, allowing 1,500 convicts free does not seem to be a very just decision. Just because a Convict is President, does not mean every other convict should be walking the streets.

    Trump said he would end the War in Ukraine, AKA the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Trump has no power or authority to end the invasion. He would just hand everything Russia wanted to his friend Putin. That is not happening because the rest of the world would not allow it.

    He is already starting to reverse the promises he made to his voters. Eggs will not be free. Groceries will not be cheaper. Gas prices are up based on the market knowing he is taking over. His own history shows he won’t close boarders. Mexico will fund nothing.

    Besides, how could he get all those goals accomplished? He is going to be busy waging war against Panama, Greenland, Canada, American Democracy, the Middle and Lower classes and the US Constitution?

    The people voted a clown to office. Now we get to welcome the entire circus.

  • California Wildfires: Politics vs. Aid in Crisis

    California Wildfires: Politics vs. Aid in Crisis


    Speaker of the House Mike Jackson said today that there should be conditions on aid to California. “I think there should be conditions on that aid.” Cal Fire said in an update Monday that a total of 40,300 acres have burned across multiple blazes. 12,000 homes, businesses, schools, and other structures have been lost. Over 150,000 have been evacuated. There are 24 confirmed dead.


    Palisades Fire (14 percent contained): The blaze has burned through more than 23,700 acres. It is in and around Pacific Palisades. The fire has killed at least eight people. Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said the fire has destroyed more than 5,300 structures since Tuesday. The fire is now spreading toward Brentwood, where the Getty Center is located, and is threatening to reach Interstate 405.

    Eaton Fire (33 percent contained): On the city’s east side, near Pasadena, the fire has killed at least 16 people. This makes it one of the deadliest fires in California’s history. The fire has burned through 14,117 acres. More than 7,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed by this fire, officials said.

    Hurst Fire (95 percent contained):In the north, near San Fernando, the fire has covered 799 acres.

    Is now the right time for the GOP to begin playing politics with natural disasters?

    Johnson wants to bribe California to get aid (Vote our way or don’t get paid.)

    Maggie Taylor Green claims that the Democrats control the weather.

    Elon Musk blames “Wokeness” for the wildfires.

    Trump is trashing the politicians and the firefighters.

    That folks is your America First GOP. They say anything. Know nothing. Do less. Trash America GOP.

    MAGA Trump target Canada. The country is now under US threats from the incoming President. Canada has been providing aid via water drops.

    MAGA hated Mexicans have been deployed by Mexico to LA to help fight fires.

    People from all over the US have been sending aid and money. Your MAGA American’s are sending hate, conspiracy theories and stupidity.

    When other natural disasters have hit the US both parties do not treat them equally. One party tends to address the needs of the citizens.

    The other party rather point fingers, spread lies and leverage people’s hardship for party gain.

    I do not care about whom you voted. I do not care where you live. I just know that when natural disasters strike we all want and need the same thing. A government for the people.

    The MAGA GOP has lost sight of what is important to ALL of its citizens.

    Fire, Flood, Wind does not check the voting of records of the people that live where they hit. They just hit.

    Our government should not check either. They should just help.



  • Examining the January 6 Insurrection: A Threat to Democracy

    Examining the January 6 Insurrection: A Threat to Democracy


    A sitting President lost his reelection bid by 74 Electoral College Votes.

    The same sitting President lost his reelection by 7,059,526 popular votes.

    The same sitting President, his party and his supporters lost over 62 court cases. These cases claimed voter fraud or election tampering without evidence.

    With no other recourse to remain in power, the same sitting President rallied his cult-like following to the nation’s capital.

    The same sitting President worked this crowd into a frenzy. He promised to lead them on a march on the Capital building. Instead, the President went back to the White House. His mob marched onto the Capital.

    Yet this no now angry, frenzied mob, high on lies and intoxicated with hate, stormed the Capital. Police were brutalized, beaten, and killed. Building windows and doors broken. Entry was forced, the halls of the Capital, its offices trashed. Elected representatives from all parties were running, hiding, and pleading for their lives.

    All the while, the same sitting President snuck away from his mob. He wanted to keep his hand clean. Instead, he chose to sit in a room and watch the violence unfold on TV.

    And for hours, he ignored the calls and pleas to end the madness. He gleefully did nothing.

    Why? Why did thousands of Americans rally in DC? Why did these people try to overthrow the government? It was a very misguided attempt to prevent the certification of the election results.

    These people wanted their guy to remain in charge. Their guy wanted to remain out of jail.

    Not since the Civil War had such a violent effort to overthrow the US Government had taken place. Never before was the leader of an insurrection the President of the United States.

    Since the failed coup attempt Democracy has been slowly dying. The same sitting President, never accepted defeat. He led the clamor that he was robbed, that he was a victim. His party maintained that if “They” could “come after” him “They” could “come after you”.

    Truth as we all know it. If you break the law through rape, sexual assault, fraud, or extortion, the justice system could come after you. Even if you cheat on your taxes, you could still face consequences.

    Why? Because you would be a criminal.

    Obey the law and no one will “come after you”.

    Yet thousands of people decided it was in their best interest to break the law to keep their guy free.

    In the end, their guy was found guilty of 34 felonies. He was labeled a criminal rapist. He surrounded himself with the most unqualified people the world has to offer. He lined his pockets with the support of many of the richest billionaires in the US and the world. He openly lies about his future actions. He lays false claims about his capabilities. He denies guilt for past actions.

    All the while many of the people that attended his rally and rode on the Capital have been jailed. Only they have been held accountable for his call to action while their guy roams free.

    The same sitting President is now the same sitting President elect.

    He promises to make life harder on the middle and lower classes. He alienates and antagonizes our allies. He plays into the hands of the most despicable world leaders. He proves to be exactly what the majority of voters always knew he was – an unqualified man child. He lacks even the simplest understanding of taxes, tariffs, economics, US and World history, science, the environment, and globalization.


    The same sitting President elect has been fortunate that the rich see him as a puppet. They manipulate him to grow their own riches and power. He enables them to take from the poor and give to themselves.

    The same sitting President elect has been even more fortunate. The worst among us are easily deceived. The dumbest of the dumb believe what he sells. The weakest of the weak cannot resist his allure. The lamest of the lame follow him blindly. They buy not just gold tennis shoes and autographed China manufactured bibles. They continue to sell their souls, their futures and their own freedom. They sell out America just so their guy can stay out of jail.

    Why? Just so they can help end Democracy. So they destroy the America that has been in development for hundreds of years. So that a professional con-man and life time criminal can steal from them, make their life harder.

    January 6, 2021, was the first day that American Democracy was put on life support.

    Now the world watches to see if the real America can perform CPR for the next four years.

    The ability of the majority to outlast the minority is the only hope America has left.

    We and the world are on notice.


  • Understanding Rule Enforcement in Common Ownership Communities

    Understanding Rule Enforcement in Common Ownership Communities

    Enforcement:
    The act of compelling observance or or compliance with a law, rule or obligation.

    Common Ownership Communities are flush with rules and regulations. Community governing documents should clearly outline the rules that owners and residents must adhere to.

    Before buying a home in a Common Ownership Community, the community gives the new owner a copy of their bylaws. The new owner also receives all other governing documents.

    The new owner, as part of their buying agreement, commits to following the rules established for the community. Everyone in a community lives under the same regulations. Yet in every community there are those owners that elect not to live by the rules.

    For whatever reason, some think the rules do not apply to them. Well, they do.

    The challenge in a Common Ownership Community and its rules is enforcement. Are the rules upheld consistently, fairly, and timely?

    The answer in most cases is no. It is that inconsistency that creates community discord.

    Why don’t communities do a better job of consistently enforcing their rules and regulations? There are several reasons.
    1. No dedicated volunteer staff
    2. No 24 x 7 monitoring, especially important for parking issues
    3. Lack of community awareness of the rules and regulations
    4. No enforcement process
    5. Bylaws, rules, and regulations that are outdated, no longer reflecting the realities of the community
    6. Bylaws, rules, and regulations that are not clear with the rule
    7. Owner apathy
    8. Board of Director frustration with consistently non-compliant owners

    Roads have speed limits. We see drivers speeding. Only 1% of drivers get pulled over each year. Why? Because enforcement officers cannot see every infraction, every day.

    Common Ownership Communities are the same. We all have rules that are being broken almost daily in our communities. Enforcement does not or cannot seem all. Enforcement may not even know about rules being broken. Without seeing something or knowing something, enforcement becomes a catch as catch can situation.

    How can community rule enforcement be improved?
    1. Review and update all governing documents on a regular basis
    2. Have clear enforcement processes and procedures, including who will be responsible for enforcement and when
    3. Impose fines for each rule infraction
    4. Revoke rights or privileges
    5. Take legal action

    If you see a rule violation, report it.
    If you are sited for a rules violation, review your community documents and deal with the issue.
    Try to be more understanding. The rules apply to everyone, but not everyone will always be caught when there is a violation.

    You live in a Common Ownership Community. You owe it to your neighbors and yourself to be a good steward.

  • The Evolution of Planned Communities in America

    The Evolution of Planned Communities in America

    The first planned community was Levittown, a community built in Long Island in the late 1940’s. The purpose of Levittown was to intend to offer low-interest homes to veterans. Though there was no formal association, community rules and regulations did exist.

    Communities like Levittown continued to pop up throughout the mid-nineteenth century. The 1960’s saw great growth in HOA communities. The HOA growth was a result of the federal government’s encouragement of more residential developments. Along with government encouragement, the resulting mass exodus to the suburbs from the cities was also a great contributor.

    The popularity of these communities increased the cost of land. As a result, developers began increasing the volume of homes on each parcel of land. They also varied the types of homes built.

    Shared, common recreational space allowed for smaller personal lot sizes. The smaller plot size allowed for more homes. More homes were needed to meet the swelling demand.

    Clusters of homes were built around a communal, often amenity-rich space. Association Boards of Directors were elected or appointed to manage that common space. The association acted as the community government for their neighborhoods. They managed responsibilities that were traditionally handled by local government authorities, for example road repair, landscaping and building maintenance. As more communities became established the HOA model began to shift. It molded according to the wants and needs of residents. Eventually, this morphed into what we know today as the modern HOA industry. As HOA communities become more common state governments have begun to establish regulations and laws. In Florida HOA rules can be found in Chapters 718 and 720 of the state code.

    There are over 370,000 homeowner associations in the United States. These 370,000 represents over 40 million households (over 53% of the owner-occupied households in America). An estimated 45% of Florida residents live in an HOA community representing 49,000 HOAs.

  • The Benefits of Living in a Community Association

    The Benefits of Living in a Community Association

    How many people would like to read about the history of home owner associations?

    None?

    That’s what I thought.

    Just know that the concept of home owner associations popped up in the 1940s.

    In 1963 the FHA approved mortgage insurance exclusively for condo associations and sub-divisions that had an HOA.

    In 1972 the Community Associations Institute worked with real estate experts. They created a plan that would balance developer needs and consumer protections.

    Today, about 30% of the U.S. population lives in some form of community association. The expectation is that this number will continue to grow.

    Why do I bring this up? The thinking about COA / HOA needs to change.

    There are people that hate owner associations, People that vow to never live in or buy into an owner association. Of course there are the people that move into one, but decide that the rules don’t apply to them.

    I have talked about the value of owner associations on other blogs. I have also addressed the necessity of owner associations at many meetings.

    If you hate them, I can’t change your mind. I can just tell you that you are being shortsighted.

    Sure, you buy a home and you a certain level of freedom to do what you want with and around your home. Your owners association can actually protect you from yourself. At least in theory.

    By-laws, rules and regulations are written for these communities. The governing documents are structured to best guarantee owner freedom and community integrity. They also balance shared costs and property value protection.

    When you buy into an owner association, you take on a responsibility to follow the rules. You must do your part to be part of a thriving community. It is no different a commitment than you make when moving into any community.

    Owner communities have a unique structure. Because of their shared costs, they allow more homeowners to enjoy amenities. These amenities are ones that standard communities may not have. Parks, club houses, and tennis courts are just a few. Swimming pools and dog runs are also perks that can be found in many communities.

    Owners gain private access to these perks by living in the community and paying their dues; an equal fair share of the elements cost.

    Owners are also protected from neighbors that might not live up to a standard that enhances property values. COA / HOA communities set a standard. They ensure your home value doesn’t decrease due to a neighbor’s tacky nature.

    No, not everything is perfect in a COA / HOA community. Yet if everyone followed the rules, acted in good fellowship and lived as a proper neighbor, a COA / HOA can be the one protection you have to maintain your properties value.