Friday, September 25, 2009

Foreign respect

Cornel Nistorescu

from outside the country

my buddy Capt. Cod sent this along…had to put it on the blog…i am only assuming it’s really an editorial…the paper is real, and the author works there.  regardless, it’s a sentiment worth enjoying.

From a Romanian Newspaper

We rarely get a chance to see another country’s editorial about the USA

Read this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper. The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title ‘C’ntarea Americii, meaning ‘Ode To America ‘) in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei ‘The Daily Event’ or ‘News of the Day’.

~ An Ode to America ~

Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs.

On 9/11, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart.  Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers.  Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts.  Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about.

Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand.

After the first moments of panic , they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing: ‘God Bless America !‘

I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.

How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy.  What on earth can unites the Americans in such way? Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money?  I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion… Only freedom can work such miracles.

Cornel Nistorescu

 

mandatory insurance

rappers

Should I pay for you or should you pay for you?

rappers answered my question this week about whether they support mandatory health insurance for everyone.  A large response in oiur survey, had 59% saying it’s a bad idea…the e-mails that follow are those who chose to explaintheir position.

IF EVERYONE GOT INSURENCE THEN THE DOCTORS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT WHERE EVERYONE PAYS THE SAME FOR THE SAME THING. NOT ONE PERSON PAYING $3.00   AND THE OTHER PAYING $600.  WE NEED TO HAVE A REGULAR PRICE FOR EVERYONE AND SO IT DOESN"T COST AN ARM AND A LEG FOR THE SAME THINGS   WE, AS THE PEOPLE OF THE US, NEED TO GET SMARTER AND TELL OUR HIGHER UPS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND MAKE THEM HELP THE LITTLE GUY OUT INSTEAD OF THE ONES WHO ALREADY HAVE EVERTHING  
NANCY,  HOPE VALLEY

If every U.S. Citizen had insurance:
It would keep insurances costs lower. (Co-pays, etc)
The hospitals would get their earned reimbursement from insurance payers and other federal programs.
But instead:
The free care (non-insured citizen) that enters each hospital is forced to take a loss and absorb within its financial structure.
This currently is bringing down many facilities in the country…
Bad economy? This is a large part of it…….
Justine M

we are privileged living in America. We have many freedoms other countries don’t have. It isn’t good to let the state or federal government dictate to its citizens what they have to do or not do. I served honorably in the military so as to protect and preserve our freedoms not to relinquish them.
Charlie, West Warwick

be forced to buy health insurance?  we shouldn’t be forced to buy anything.  i thought this was a free country.
rae ann

If I don’t have health coverage and I go to the hospital who pays the bill if i cant afford it?  Not me.  You shouldn’t have to force people to buy coverage but it may be the only way to solve this problem.
Danny,  Warwick Neck

Everybody must buy heath insurance or pay a fine. Brilliant.
Is that like everybody driving in RI has insurance? Ha!
Just make it a standard deduction from a paycheck, like social security,
and get over it.
Companies don’t want to pay to insure workers anyway.
And insurance companies run this country.
stuckinri

Friday, September 18, 2009

Buried ACORN

rappers

Can’t get the story

The left-wing community organizing group ACORN has been getting hammered recently because some of its employees were recorded while advising a purported pimp and his hooker how to get subsidized housing, and avoid paying taxes.  It’s classic tv…practically worthy of Saturday Night Live, if it wasn’t a taxpayer funded group.  The Congress voted this week to cut off funding to the group, but Rhode Island’s junior Senator, Sheldon Whitehouse, voted to continue funding the organization.  It’s made a few rappers unhappy..not just about the vote, but about the coverage, or lack thereof, in the local media.  Here are the comments:

Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) introduced an amendment to the HUD and Transportation appropriation bill to strip ACORN of all federal funding.  A week ago, Johanns wouldn’t have gotten the amendment to the floor.  Today, however, after three straight days of BigGovernment.com’s video exposés of ACORN offices in Washington DC, New York City, and Baltimore offering assistance to pimping, tax evasion, and trafficking in underage Salvadorean girls, Johanns not only got his vote — but he got an impressive bipartisan showing.  The Senate passed the Johanns amendment 83-7.

The nay votes?

Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Roland Burris (D-IL)
Robert Casey (D-PA)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Sheldon Whitehouse one of 7 Senators to side with ACORN whats his reasoning?
David D.

I’ve responded to several of your Rapp Questions, but now I feel the question should be directed at you (journalists). Do you feel the media has been accurately reporting on recent events?  Do you feel your political commentary is fair and balanced?  When I watch people like Lester Holt comment that Van Jones resigned “after pressure from the GOP” I have to ask myself - did he really listen to the comments that Van Jones made?  Is that acceptable behavior for a high-ranking government official?  What about ACORN and the blatant disregard for the law, or simple ethics for that matter?  I guess it’s okay that President Obama served as their attorney.  Do you think “60 Minutes” 
or another such show would even consider doing an expose on ACORN? I’m not holding my breath.  Fox News keeps getting bashed for reporting these items, but I don’t see the media refuting them.  The US Census Bureau has now severed ties with ACORN and their potential involvement with the census - sounds like big news to me, but not highly publicized.
Mary Beth
Swansea, MA

I’m very disheartened by the fact that most news stations and newspapers are not reporting on the Baltimore ACORN story. This is a radical group who has close ties with our President, was a major campaign contributer, and recieved federal stimulus money. Now they give advice to a couple posing as a Pimp and a Prostitue on how to evade taxes and start a brothel with underage girls from El Salvador. How are you not reporting this! -Kendra

I will by next week have people watching your news stations to see who the sponsors are and reporting to the tea party on what is, or most importantly is not reported on.  The public is deeply disappointed by what we now believe is a state controlled media.  Thank you for your attention to these paramount issues to us.
Ronald L.

IS HE NUTS!  Whitehouse will never get reelected if I can do anything to help his opponent.  One of seven Senators voted to continue funding for this bogus group of nitwits.  83 Senators voted NO. 
J.S.

who works for who?

Mark P

voters are the boss

To whom this may concern:

Its time that the politicians start working for the people of all the states in the country, the Democrats need to work with the Republicans and stop trying always being the big cheese. The Democrats always need control. well its not your control it is the people of this country , I hope that next time around the Republicans can build up the party and continue working for the people of America .

Mark P

Friday, August 28, 2009

Are They Listening?

rappers

Town Hall Meetings

Rappers responded to this week’s question which asked if the Congresspeople are hearing the comments at the Town Hall meetings.  And, once again, Rappers surprised me with a near unanimous voice-  No!  The pols need their campaign contriburtors more than they need the people who showed up at the meetings…say you all.  Add your two cents by commenting!——

These arrogant clowns immediately forget who they represent the minute they arrive in D.C. Everyone who is concerned about what happens in D.C., should rent ‘The Distinguished gentleman’ starring Eddie Murphy. That movie is so on point as to the goings on in our nation’s capitol, it’s scary!!!
Bill, Warwick

If people do not realize that these are all staged by anti -Obama groups then what is wrong with them.  It is so obvious what the Republicans are doing.  They are so made that they are not in power that they have to revert to this kind of behavior.  Anyone with an ounce of brains can read between the lines and knows exactly what is going on here.  They keep hopping on government controlled health care.  Hello!!! What do you think Medicare is?
It is government health care for the elderly.  Now the government wants you to have a choice on keeping what you have or going with a public option which may be cheaper for you especially for the self-employed who pay ridiculous premiums.  I know as I have a daughter, a son, and two son-in-laws who just cannot afford what is out there now for self-employed small business owners.
Gail

In a town hall meeting this past week in Dartmouth, with Congressman Barney Frank, the woman who stood at the microphone, holding a picture of Pres. Obama depicted as “Hitler”, accused a Jewish Congressman of supporting, a nazi health care policy.  We here in our home, all cheered Congressman Frank on as he lit into her.  With this level of intelligence out there, believing all the lies they are told, these people have no clue that this is how Hitler did come to power….with people believing the lies being told them.  In this case it’s the Republican Congressmen who are beholden to the medical-pharma industry.  These lies being told and passed on .......would rather see our President disgraced, then work for the good of the nation.  The Republican party is on record as saying as much.  “Let’s see if we can do to him what we did to Clinton.“  And people like this woman, instead of doing her homework, continue working for the medical-pharma industry….unbeknown to them.
Jean, Somerset

The tone of these scream fests cannot help but effect the Congressmen hosting them. Some will dig in , most will cave in. The radical playbook laid out by Saul Alinsky 40 years ago has been institutionalized by the right as a means to control the debate because it works. Weak politicians, a gullible public and a compliant media make it easy to make a minority look like a majority. Not enough questions are asked about who these people are and why they are commandeering public meetings. If you don’t think this is all programmed and controlled, come to Pawtuxet and bring a checkbook. I have a bridge I want you to look at.
Bill G, Cranston

Absolutely not. Lawmakers will do what the special interests want them to do. The little gets stomped on again.
Lee L. Woonsocket

It is apparent that the meetings are for promotional sales of the proposal and not for constituents feed back. I have a two option offer for Democratic Senators and Representatives.
  Option One: Only Senators and Representatives are participants of the program for the balance of their terms to test it.
  Option Two: We accept the ridiculous proposal, ONLY IF, the Senators and Representatives accept former Vice Pres. Dick Cheney as
“Healthcare CZAR for Democrats”.  Deal???  I didn’t think so….
Flexible + Agreeable
BMac, Cumberland
                                                           
These “meetings” are just a circus show for a slow news day.  The “lawmakers” are letting people blow off steam and trying to look like they’re really interested. They’re not.
They are working for their big campaign donors. Period.  These compassionate lawmakers give themselves the best medical plans and it costs them zero. Most are already wealthy too.  Meanwhile we wait for some crumbs to fall from the table.
Reality bites.
stuckinri

Anything Wrong With This Picture?

Paul M

Fat Chance

OBAMA’S HEALTHCARE PLAN will be written by a committee whose head says he dosen’t understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn’t read it, signed by a president that smokes, funded by a treasury secretary whose a tax cheat, overseen by a surgeon general whose obese, financed by a country that’s nearly broke.
What could possibly be wrong with that ??
—paul

12 Days Off

robin

why us?

I am responding to this because, I believe the state workers already gave up time this year?  They should not have to give up their time again.  Why doesn’t Caceri give twelve days of his pay to the defecit???  I am not a state worker but, I am a person that believes in being fair.  We never had such a big defecit til he came into off, that’s because he hired family and friends who line their pockets and his pockets, now we have to pay for it….We are the smallest state but the most corrupt.
You stay here keep commenting on political issues, we need that.

As far as the health insurance we don’t need Candian health ins. my husband has an uncle that needs surgery, he has to wait six months before he can have surgery.  That is why people from canada are moving her.  He is in his 70’s, I think their wanting to see if maybe he’ll croak before then…

My husband and I have been without health ins for three years and can’t get any help from the gov’t, but illegal aliens can get it, their not even from this country and their here illegally, what is wrong with that?  The gov’t needs to keep their hands out of health ins.  It is between the dr and pt.
Before healthcare was not suppose to make profit now every year they post their profits, what happened????

When our boys were younger we had to go on rite care, that was a very good program, we pad 96.00 a MONTH, no copays, could see the drs we wanted to, dentist…..  I sent letters twice to Obama and got no response, he’s a loser. 

That house he is staying in at the marthas vineyard 28 acers, 38,000.00 for a wk, thats not including, food, golf, security, etc.  Can you find out who is paying for that?  He hasn’t even been in office for a year and he needs a vacation, I don’t think so…... 

My husband and I haven’t taken a vacation since1999 because we can’t afford it,  WEEEEEEEEE need a vacation….  Don’t you think??????
Robin

bill rap says…I will defend Carcieri, who will also lose 12 days pay under his proposal.  Though it’s a lot different for a six fugure salaried guy with an additional six figure pension from his private life…12 extra days off is probably a relief to him.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Sheriff Joe

John S

County Prisoners Become Dog Walkers

Periodically I get updates onthe latest initiatives of Joe Arpaio, Sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona.  He’s a bit of a folk hero for the treatment he doles out to his charges in the County Jail.  Now it looks likehe’s using them to cut costs in the stray pet department.  Check out this message i received.  Bill

SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT AGAIN!
You all remember Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona , who painted the jail cells pink and made the inmates wear pink prison garb. Well…..... .

SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT AGAIN!

Oh, there’s MUCH more to know about Sheriff Joe!

Maricopa County was spending approx. $18 million dollars a year on stray animals, like cats and dogs.  Sheriff Joe offered to take the department over, and the County Supervisors said okay.

The animal shelters are now all staffed and operated by prisoners.  They feed and care for the strays.  Every animal in his care is taken out and walked twice daily.  He now has prisoners who are experts in animal nutrition and behavior. They give great classes for anyone who’d like to adopt an animal.  He has literally taken stray dog s off the street, given them to the care of prisoners, and had them place in dog shows. 

The best part?  His budget for the entire department is now under $3 million.  Teresa and I adopted a Weimaraner from a Maricopa County shelter two years ago.  He was neutered and current on all shots, in great health, and even had a microchip inserted the day we got him.  Cost us $78.

The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but most would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day.  Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc.  He pays the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals.

I have long wondered when the rest of the country would take a look at the way he runs the jail system and copy some of his ideas.  He has a huge farm, donated to the county years ago, where inmates can work, and they grow most of their own fresh vegetables and food, doing all the work and harvesting by hand.

He has a pretty good sized hog farm, which provides meat and fertilizer.  It fertilizes the Christmas tree nursery, where prisoners work, and you can buy a living Christmas tree for $6 - $8 for the holidays and plant it later.  We have six trees in our yard from the prison.

Yup, he was re-elected last year with 83% of the vote.
Now he’s in trouble with the ACLU again.  He painted all his buses and vehicles with a mural that has a special hotline phone number painted on it, where you can call and report suspected illegal aliens.  Immigrations and Customs Enforcement wasn’t doing enough in his eyes, so he had 40 deputies trained specifically for enforcing immigration laws, started up his hotline, and bought 4 new buses just for hauling folks back to the border.  He’s kind of a ‘Git-R Dun’ kind of Sheriff.

TO THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH JOE ARPAIO..

HE IS THE MARICOPA ARIZONA COUNTY SHERIFF

AND HE KEEPS GETTING ELECTED OVER AND OVER.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY:

Sheriff Joe Arpaio (in Arizona ) who created the ‘Tent City Jail’:
**He has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them.
**He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails.  **Took away their weights.
**Cut off all but ‘G’ movies.
**He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects.
**Then he started chain gangs for women so he wouldn’t get sued for discrimination.

**He took away cable TV until he found out there was a federal court order that required cable TV for jails, so he hooked up the cable TV again….BUT only let in the Disney channel and the Weather channel.
**When asked why the weather channel, he replied, “So they will know how hot it’s gonna be while they are working
on my chain gangs.“

**He cut off coffee since it has zero nutr itional value.

**When the inmates complained, he told them, “This isn’t The Ritz/Carlton. .... If you don’t like it, don’t come back.“

More On The Arizona Sheriff:

With temperatures being even hotter than usual in Phoenix (116 degrees just set a new record), the Associated Press reports:
About 2,000 inmates living in a barbed-wire- surrounded tent encampment at the Maricopa County jail have been given permission to strip down to their government-issued
pink boxer shorts.

On Wednesday, hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled up on their bunk beds or chatted in the tents, which reached 138 degrees inside the week before.

Many were also swathed in wet, pink towels as sweat collected on their chests and dripped down to their PINK SOCKS.

“It feels like we are in a furnace,“ said James Zanzot, an inmate who has lived in the TENTS for 1 year.  “It’s inhumane.“

Joe Arpaio, the tough-guy sheriff who created the tent city and long ago started making his prisoners wear pink and eat bologna sandwiches, is not one bit sympathetic.  He said Wednesday that he told all of the inmates, “It’s 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they have to wear full battle gear, but they didn’t commit any crimes, so shut your mouths!“

Way to go, Sheriff!

Maybe if all prisons were like this one there would be a lot less crime and/or repeat offenders.  Criminals should be punished for their crimes - not live in luxury until it’s time for their parole, only to go out and commit another crime so they can get back in to live on taxpayers’ money and enjoy things taxpayers can’t afford to have for themselves.

If you agree, pass this on.
If not, just delete it.

Urine or You’re Out

ladynotalways

Job Requirement

i’ve seen different versions of this over the years…a simple concept, based on a kind of commonsense that is lacking from most government programs.  feel free to comment on this message from LadyNotAlways.

Like most folks in this country, I have a job. I work, they pay me.  I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck in my case, I am required to pass a random urine test (with which I have no problem). What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test. So, here is my Question:  Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their ass - doing drugs, while I work. . . .

Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? I guess we could title that program, ‘Urine or You’re Out’.

Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don’t. Hope you all will pass it along, though. 

Something has to change in this country—and soon!

Friday, August 14, 2009

something Fishy?

bill rap

Please snitch

rappers-  what do you think about the Obama Administration asking us to forward any e-mail letters or website claims about the healthcare overhaul that appear to be ‘fishy’?  Do you think it’s a tactic to intimidate opponents?  Or is it a legitimate method to find out about falsehoods spread by special interests trying to keep the system profitable for themselves?
e-mail so i can put your ideas out for Southern New England to hear in the Rapp Session, Fridays at 5:30.
bill

Something fun

Bill Rappleye

Dog for sale

Sometimes I get funny stuff from the rappers…I’m going to start putting them on the blog.  Here’s a dog-for-sale item.

The seller’s pitch goes something like this:

Free to good home. Excellent guard dog.
Owner cannot afford to feed him anymore, as there are no more drug pushers, thieves, murderers, or molesters left in the neighborhood for him to eat.
Most of them knew him as ‘Holy (expletive)!‘

Monday, July 27, 2009

Legal Hooking

rappers

Stop underage strippers, why not hookers?

hey rappers, here’s the beginning of our discussion this week on prostitution…we’ve all heard how indoor prostitution is legal in Rhode Island…then we heard that minors can dance in ‘gentlemen’s clubs’.  Almost immediately, the Providence City Council came up with an ordinance to ban minor strippers…but will they ban adult hookers?  Here’s your take:

Regulate and tax as so there’s a profit for city/State….that in turn,  will directly lower the taxpayers’ burden.
Paul

What in the world is this State thinking allowing teens to be strippers?  This the first I’ve heard of this and I think it is appalling that this is really happening, no wonder teens are out of control.  This is telling them that whatever they do including such a disgusting thing is fine this is certainly sending the wrong message.
P. Cranston

There is nothing wrong with prostitution! Two consenting adults should be able to do whatever they want! Most of this country’s laws where formed by puritan religious wacko’s. when will we learn that making things illegal doesn’t stop the crime, it only over burdens the court and prison system wasting even more money. legalize all these things, prostitution, marijuana, (I don’t even smoke or like pot and i think it should be legal) and regulate and tax them, make money on these things instead of wasting money on them, DUH!
getting back to prostitution, your always going to have different levels of the service. there will always be the street walking crack whore, selling herself for her next fix. then you will always have the classy concubine, courtisan woman for the upscale clientele. It’s time to put these ridiculous puritan laws where they belong…...The past.
RW

Yes.  It’s a no brainer.  This almost seems like a trick question on an exam.
  This issue has once again caused Rhode Island has become a joke on national news stations.
Kerri, Warren

The age old practice will go on why make it illegal. Are we really back to the age of chastity belts where chastity is extolled as a virtue?

No. They should tax the service that enflames the psychic, emotional, instinctual, and biological drives and also levy it on to the gifts the Representative gives to their trophied significant/s.
zuke

That’s by Monday…feel free to comment, and we’ll get on the air with the best on Friday.  I am quite surprised at how many people are in favor of keeping prostitution legal…maybe there is suppport for the General Assembly’s lack of action on this.  Comment right here, or e-mail me at .
see you in the rapp session.

7/30/09
here’s a few more comments…it doesn’t seem like a lot of rappers are worried about the exploitation of women here..
This debate starts off with the much larger & more serious issue of human trafficing/slavery, which unfortunately gets pushed to the margins soon after the debate starts. Aren’t there international laws against this activity? If so & if the women in these spas are victims of human trafficing/slavery & are being forced into prostitution because of that then where are the law enforcement people that investigate & enforces those laws? I would think that those laws would trump any “loophole” that allows indoor prostitution, otherwise this is just your basic run of the mill anti prostitution debate.
Hound Dog,  Bristol

Why is it not a crime behind closed doors? Commit murder behind closed doors and it is still a crime. I guess this shows the intelligence of some of our lawmakers. A crime is a crime is a crime. To quote Walter Cronkite….That’s the way it is.
Lee L. Woonsocket

Given how stupid it would be for Providence to outlaw prostitution, they surely will. It is already legal in this state, so we should do as Nevada does and regulate and tax it. I understand the moral issue but that didn’t stop the state from making money off gambling. The worlds oldest profession is not going away, no matter what the law. Better to make money from it than waste money trying to eliminate it.
  Bill G, Cranston

Wait a minute, I thought prostitution was already illegal?
Is it a don’t ask, don’t tell thing?
The state is so broke they should make the state the new Mustang Ranch
and tax it. Make up for all the money they don’t collect from massage parlors.
stuckinri

hey you tv viewers…had to kill the rapp session on air this week…tell your friends to check online here for your comments, and i’ll try to get them on next week.  thanks.  bill

Friday, July 24, 2009

Plantation Schmantation

rappers

Stick with History

boy oh boy…you rappers are all over the move to drop Plantation from the name of the Ocean State.  don’t think a one of you like the proposal.  so here are your responses…all but one i thought a little too racist…though some of these others i’m a bit uncomfortable with as well…it’s what’s out there.

I think “Plantations” should stay as part of our state’s name as it represents a part of our history and gives R.I. the unique distinction of being the smallest state with the longest name.
Aside from trivial facts such as that, I am sick and tired of people feeling the need to re-write history to somehow make it “politically correct”.  Look at Brown wanting to celebrate the Fall Holiday rather than Columbus Day because of his treatment of Native Americans.
History, good, bad, or indifferent, is just that - HISTORY - and should not be manipulated so that someone can feel more comfortable, in my opinion.
Mary Beth
Swansea
I dont think the state should have its name changed, it gives us the honor of having the smallest state with the longest name.
*~Kirby ~*
no no no!
john
i think my location says it all

angry, from lincoln, rhode island and providence plantations.
Absolutely not.
What next? Eliminate the word ‘ship’, since they were used to transport slaves to America?

BT
Warwick
Why after all these years are people now getting sensitive about a phrase that could have multiple meanings. I say leave the way it is.
Lee L. Woonsocket
Everyone needs to get over themselves already!!! The legislature actually has a bill to change the name of the state when the state is in such disarray??? We don’t have a balanced budget, cities and towns are losing funding, and unemployment in the state is the 3rd highest in the country. Why are we doing anything to create more jobs in the state? That’s what we all need to be worried about not changing the name so we can appease all the politically correct people. Give me a break. I have never connected slavery with our name and have never given it a second thought. Let’s deal with the real problems this state is facing and move on.

Carreg25
To drop “and Providence Plantations” from the official state name is silly, and creates an issue around the naming of our state not based on fact. Fictionalizing an issue regarding our state’s name and slavery diminishes the real history of our state’s involvement in the slave trade and is a cheap attempt at public relations that should be rebuked. Anyone who wants to pat themselves on the back around such a intellectually lame proposition should choose to pick their battles more thoughtfully.  What’s next? We’re not an island.  Maybe we should call ourselves Rhode…or simply Bob.
Nila
ABSOLUTELY NOT, Rhode Island should NOT change it’s name.
We have alway’s been the smallest State with the Largest or Longest Name and it has been the OFFICIAL name of Rhode Island since Rhode Island became a state.
I for one am proud of our Name.
As you can see, I have mentioned the name 3 times and never once mentioned “And Providence Plantations”  however I do know that is OUR OFFICIAL NAME.
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Do NOT change it.
Thank You.
Don from Johnston.
What in heaven’s name is wrong with the IDIOTS in the General Assembly?? Unemployment, bankruptcies, foreclosures, unrealistically high taxes, and our elected MORONS are more worried about changing the State’s name?  How about “The State of Rhode Island and Clueless General Assembly”?  Sounds better to me!

Bill
Cranston
Our state’s name has been in place from the beginning. If you don’t like the name…........ move !!!  I don’t like Alabama.. That’s why I live here !!
Shill, Pawtucket,State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

If legislators vote to drop the word “Plantations” from the state’s official name because for some people it conjurs up visions of slavery, how about changing the name of Brown University which is named after a documented slave trader, John Brown.
Maria, Cranston, RI.

If the people concerned about the word Plantations being part of the State’s offical name, they should look up the diffenition of the word !  With the financial state of the State, what would be the cost to the tax payers. Are those complaining, tax payer’s?
Proud to live in THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATION

Absolutely ridiculous!!!!  We have legal indoor prostitution,  the Carulo Act,  Unfair Blue Cross rates for the uninsured , but lets not correct the sins of the pass - lets spend time on something dumb
John

Change our State name? Are you kidding me? This state is in such a mess, both financially and managerially, and THIS is what our legislators are spending their time on! This explains it now. We are being run by morons! This state does have very many farms, maybe one day they were Plantations, SO WHAT!!!
Move on to better things please and earn your money!!!!!
Larry S, Cumberland

It’s obvious that the legislature is a total waste if this is what they spend their last days debating. Plantations originally meant “colony” and had nothing to do with slavery in this region. Why not eliminate “Rhode Island” entirely while we’re at it, since no one seems to know which island it refers to.
Barry N, Warwick

Absolutely, NOT—-all these years we’ve been State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and all of a sudden
they don’t like the name and want to change it. How about we change Rhode Island because we’re not really an island.
It is what it is. With all the turmoil this state is in and they are worried about a name. They should put their energy into bigger and better things.
Karen

As a long time Rhode islander I am greatly opposed to any change in the name of the state.  Leave alone those things that are part of our history.  Let us learn from the name what R I is all about. We had plantations. Some were in what is now downcity Providence. They were the source of the food for the neighborhood.  Leave the name alone!
Len

The caucus of state legislators and citizens who annually introduce legislation to change the name of our beloved state by dropping the words Providence Plantations from its official name, exhibit their extreme ignorance of the origins of the name.
In 1636, long before a slave-worked plantation existed in North America, Roger Williams founded the Colony of Providence Plantation. He so named his colony on the basis of agriculture being its principle source of livelihood.  In Williams’ time, the only meaning of the word plantation was an area of land on which trees or crops are planted.
In 1637, Anne Hutchinson and her husband William Coddington purchased land on Aquidneck Island (Rhode Island) from the Narragansetts. Hutchinson and her followers settled in Pocasset, now known as Portsmouth. Shortly after, other refugees from Plymouth Colony settled what is now Middletown and Newport. These three villages formed a loose alliance; however, in 1643 they tightened ranks seeking recognition from the English Crown to become a full fledged English colony.
England’s King Charles II, acting on Williams’ and Coddington’s promise of religious freedom within the province of the colony, granted the request in 1663, granting the conjoined settlements the title, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and an elected governor and legislature.
Bristol Rep. Doug Gablinske says he supports the name change legislation. He says he is proud to represent the Town of Bristol, but not proud of Bristol’s roll in the slave trade.
Salem had its witch trials, and Rhode Island was involved in the triangle trade. Our history, the good and the nefarious is part of the colorful fabric that makes Rhode Island the unique place that it is.
Clearly, from her rhetoric, it is obvious that Rep. Diaz is not a RhodeIsland native and does not know, understand, or care aboutthe state’s history.Changing the state’s name will not change its history. I suggest that residents, like Rep Diaz and her ilk who are offended by the name of this state, move to a state whose name they approve.
  DRDIX, Bristol

As a long time Rhode islander I am greatly opposed to any change in the name of the state.  Leave alone those things that are part of our history.  Let us learn from the name what R I is all about. We had plantations. Some were in what is now downcity Providence. They were the source of the food for the neighborhood.  Leave the name alone!
Len, Cumberland

and may I also add——The state is in such debt, we have no money, could you just imagine the cost to take Plantation out——they would have to have all the state’s stationary reprinted what a waste of taxpayers money. All this because they don’t like the name Plantation.When I hear the word Plantation—-I think of farming, land—you know like Plymouth Plantation. Just because some people interpret it differently, what we should change it. NO—NOT NOW, NOT EVER!
Karen

When are you people who juxtapositions every single word and turn it upside down or misinterpret the original meaning going to WAKE UP?!  Just because some Representative “thinks” that the meaning of Plantations has “negative connotations” on this state does NOT mean that it is so!  As you did say, it does have 2 meanings – one as a ‘large farm”, the other about “trade”….so who’s to determine its meaning?  Why argue the point in the first place?  Why spend Taxpayer money in the second place?  Why take unneeded Taxpayer TIME making this an issue on State House floor votes in the third place?!!  Look at what the State House would have to “change” the markings on the floor, the State House Seal, all the other letterings, official State House mailings and, the State Flag?!  How much is THAT going to cost US taxpayers now?  Is this State INSANE?  Gees!  Leave it alone!  The only people who are upset about it are the ones who have not lived in this state long enough and they’re only deriving that issue because of who’s in the White House!  Leave it alone!  Go ask an outsider, let’s say, from California, if we should change the name of our state?  You know what they would be saying right now?  “Who the hell cares and where did ‘Plantations’ come from?”  Does it make any more sense to you now?  Get a life!
C-Ann-C, Coventry

Our founding fathers saw fit to name this State and the name should remain untouched forever. Why is it that these people find the word plantation offensive. Will the next move be to remove the word plantation from the dictionary or from the English language altogether. This state helped more slaves than it hurt and that should be enough. The name should remain The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation and the people who agree with me should take the time to lobby for it like those who oppose the name as it is. We need to start standing up for what we believe and work for it because others who do get what they want, and it usually ends up costing the rest of us. Lets stand up and fight for what we believe.
Al From Johnston

Dropping Plantation from the official title would only cost money we don’t have to spend; clealy there are more pressing issues to address.
The only name that should be dropped from the state is/are the names of whom got us into this economic mess.
Frank C., Pawtucket

I’m tired of people who worry about things that happened over a hundred years ago. Try to make some ction on things that really matter. LIke the dog racing, they preserve 225 jobs but could cost the state millions of dollars.People lose jobs get over it .
Twinmakers
NO. 
With all the issues and REAL problems in this state the idiots on the Hill are really pushing it.
When this State was named as a Colony, Plantation meant FARM,  I do not believe the slave trade had even started in this state.
Mr Almedia and his buddies on the hill really have to start paying attention to the Unemployment figures, foreclosures, jump in crime rates, the fact that their smoke and mirrors budget is gonna come back to bite them OH I mean we the people in the A#$ because they are using money we do not have to close the black hole.  Look what just happened in mass with the powerball money being included when the state had been turned down for membership in that little club.
So, NO, and for pete’s sake spend out money in a better way.
But, what do you expect look what happened in DC yesterday that was way over the top the Dems and white house ought to be real proud of themshelves.
Judith, Coventry

Absolutely not!!  Who in the world dreams up these idiotic ideas?  And can you imagine the cost (to the taxpayer) for changing all the official state seals that bear the words “Providence Plantations”.  I want that job.
Enjoy your commentaries.
Bob A, East Providence

If we’re going to change the state name, why not “Massachusetts and Providence Plantations”?  In one stroke of the pen we’d eliminate the corrupt and inefficient RI state government and its high costs.  Joining MA would allow lower taxes and would make us attractive to companies that pay high wages and salaries.
Mark P, Westerly

If we are to change our state’s name because of slavery’s connotation, then we must also change the name of Brown University because its founder, John Brown, amassed much of his fortune dealing in the slave trade.
Tony D, Coventry

Twelve percent unemployment, businesses closing, local taxes rising, and the politicians waste their time and eventually our money to vote on a name change. I’m sure up until this hit the airwaves a majority of Rhode Islanders didn’t even know the full name of the state.
There are more important things to worry about than this.
Steve, East Greenwich

As a descendant of Roger Williams I’m outraged at the craziness of this bill.  The word plantations has nothing to do with slavery in this case, as a matter of fact Roger Williams was against slavery.  Who’s the politian that authored this?, maybe he/she should study history and learn something.  If he/she are that ignorant about the history of the state, then it’s time to retire of leave.
Steve M, Warwick

This is More than ridiculous!
It is an uninformed emotional response to a historical term that no one left alive in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations ever inhabited.
It is geared to keep a population from becoming educated by a few (Almedia) unjustly offended individuals.
These individuals place themselves above all else as arbiters of history elevating their personally uninformed cretinous values above the illiterate masses (their opinion of those they presume to protect) they would purport to speak for.
Warren from Foster.

I have lived most of my life in R.I. and never once thought “Plantations” had a negative connotation. If we were to change our name ,then let it be solely for the logistics of it’s long name. If not ,then we can be opening up a whole new can of worms. Should New York and New Hampshire change their names because it brings back memories of our colonial days? That could be offensive to some. Or how do our Native Americans?  We killed them,stole their land and then stole their tribal names to name our states.Maybe we should start with the Dakotas’.In the end lets just leave things as they are.
Lois, Wakefield

We don’t have a whole lot to be proud of, and we are the smallest state. But we are famous for having the longest name. Let’s keep it! I grew up in the West Indies with fruit plantations all about. Everyone called them plantations and we did not associate that name with slavery.
James

We really need to understand and remember our history and why our state was named The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.  I have never once in my lifetime associated our state name with slavery!  I think of farming, not slaves!!!  In our attempts to be politically correct and not offend anyone, we are erasing our heritage and changing our history to please others.  Perhaps this is once again an attempt to erase God and religion from our culture.  Roger Williams named our state because Providence means “the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth”.  He believed that God was responsible for providing this safe new land for him and his followers to settle and the land would provide the means to live by farming the land. The name was not intended to have anything to do with slavery.  I am proud to live in our little state with the biggest name and I am totally against changing our state name to please the few who take offense. Get over it people, you were not even around when the plantations had slaves, how can it offend you?  It didn’t offend the slaves who were free to live in our state for all the years after slavery was abolished!
~Deb

In response to this “burning issue” I would like to ask if this is the worst thing going on in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations that the public and General Assembly should concern themselves with?  If this is the worst thing you have to complain about…then I would say you have a pretty decent life and you are wasting precious time looking for the next problem as opposed to doing the real hard work of solving today’s problems.  If people are getting so fired up out there over this then apparently I have been asleep while the problems of school funding & quality, unemployment, and homelesslness have been solved. 
It’s a shame that the folks who think this is such a crime don’t hold their Senators, Representatives, School Committees, and Town Councils accountable for the horrible educations our children are “offered”.  Recently a study annoucnced that over 75% of teachers taking the certification exam in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts failed the math portion.  Officials were shocked!  Some demanded an investigation!  We must get to the bottom of this!  I can remember hearing from the mid 1980’s on (and I am only 33 years-old) that this country is lagging behind the rest of the developed world in the fields of math and science.  Why was this such a surprise?  If the word “plantation” will really change the world for the better for all of us, then by all means, remove it.  However I fail to see how the addition and/or removal of a single word that most people never knew was there in the first place, will immediately improve the quality of my children’s education.  I realize that such mundane things like education and jobs might not get the weekend activist all the press and attention that the purposefully driven racial one will, but won’t we all be better off in a world where we might not get our 15 minutes of fame, but where our children will always be assured of receiving the best education available to them?  How about that…I have solved racial inequality with the promise of a good education.  Too bad I won’t get any press or my 15 minutes of fame for it.  You’re welcome.
Sincerely,
Wake up In R.I.

NO !!!!!  The word plantation is an olde time word meaning FARM and this relates Rhode Island’s roots as a farming state.  To the special interests advocating the removal of the word “PLANTATIONS”
may I suggest that they pick up some history books and learn a little about the country and state they are so fond of finding fault with.
Joe T East Providence

I think “Plantations” should stay as part of our state’s name as it represents a part of our history and gives R.I. the unique distinction of being the smallest state with the longest name.
Aside from trivial facts such as that, I am sick and tired of people feeling the need to re-write history to somehow make it “politically correct”.  Look at Brown wanting to celebrate the Fall Holiday rather than Columbus Day because of his treatment of Native Americans.
History, good, bad, or indifferent, is just that - HISTORY - and should not be manipulated so that someone can feel more comfortable, in my opinion.
Mary Beth, Swansea

Here are my comments on whether or not Rhode Island should change its name:
“It’s been the states name for 219 years, suck it up and deal with it”
-Matt

I’m a new “rapper”, my hand forced by such a silly question.  Who really cares!  Honestly have you seen anyone wandering aimlessly on Rt. 95 or heard of any airport ticket agent baffled for lack of the official RI state name?  Let’s move on to the good stuff like noise pollution from motorcycles or the lack of common sense in our youth today.  Now that’s something to be concerned about.
Sandy

We’ll change our name for being insensitive when Indiana changes their name.
Bill in Portsmouth

The title of Plantation in the RI State name is totally appropriate.

It fits the definition of a Plantation. The “big house” is where the Master

and his friends benefit from the work of others that don’t make a living wage.

Any attempt to change the system, or bring in any new business to the Plantation
is shot down and called “no good” by the Master and his friends.

The people are kept in the dark, meetings at the big house are not open to the public.

People can’t leave the Plantation since they can’t afford a car. All money goes to rent.

People accept this system as a “way of life” in RI. Just like a Plantation.
Stuckinri

As lawmakers protect the oligarchy; the inflators of bubbles and profiteers in busts, and pass laws that allow the passing of risk on to the working poor, and their savings and retirements; does it matter what name we give to the parasitic nature of the kleptocracy ?
Zuke

With all the serious problems this state has, one has to wonder why the General Assembly is floating this foolish red herring. Is it because they’re trying to hide the fact that they are incompetent, orbecause they’re hoping this will make voters forget that they are ones who got us into this mess? Either way, the name change is ridiculous,for historical reasons. Besides, if Rhode Islanders are silly enough to vote for the name change, it will probably require an amendment to the Constitution to make it legal. Good luck finding 36 states that think this is worth their time.
Bill G, Cranston

Friday, June 26, 2009

Mayor versus Union

rappers

who comes out ahead?

Rappers opine on who wins in the stand-off between Mayor David Cicilline and the Providence firefighters.  Remember, the firefighters’ protest at the US Conference of Mayors kept federal officials away from the conference.  So does the Mayor’s stand make him look strong?  Or does the impasse elevate the firefighters’ issue?  Here’s what you had to say.

No it does not help him.  It has gone on way too long and any political capital he may have once had with it has long since dried up.  He now appears to be just another in a long line of platitude spouting R.I. politicos who have no managerial or negotiating skills.  While many people are upset with the fire-fighters picket line at the Conference of Mayors: they don’t seem to realize (or maybe do not care) that the union has been working without a contract for a long, long time and are dealing with a “stone wall”.  They are well within their rights to picket.  The Cicilline administration had plenty of time to realize that maybe - just maybe - the new White House would “HONOR” picket lines - unlike the former Administration - who had no honor!  What if Cicilline personally needed the fire Dept.?  Do you think his attitude would change?  Or would the arrogant, self important little man just think that it was his God given right to expect help from the very people who he has failed to negotiate with, in good faith, for so long?  You can bet that they would respond in spite of who it was who needed their help, contract or no contract!  There are many financial problems and the Fire Contract is just another in a long series of issues that should be worked out.  The thing is you have to address issues before you can reach a resolution!  You cannot let matters fester like a boil without the situation getting worse! 
Mike T, Coventry

I support him. When the unions resort to disrupting things that have no relations to their contract (before the Mayor’s Conference, they picketed the presidential candidates), then they make themselves look petty. I’m tired of the sate being held hostage by the unions.
Bill, Portsmouth

Mayor Cicilline is looking like an incompetent fool by letting the situation
with the firemen go on for so long. He should bring in an arbitrator and
have binding arbitration to settle it. If it goes against the city, then make up
any shortage of money by layoffs. End of story. Face the music.
The only thing more stupid than this stalemate, is the circus that goes on
year after year with teachers. In the end the taxpayer pays. As usual.
stuckinRI

I think both parties are in a no win situation. What really matters is the whether or not the taxpayer is going to be hurt in the aftermath.
Lee L,Woonsocket

Friday, June 19, 2009

Tax Everything

rappers

Nowhere to Hide

When you buy something over the internet…most states have a compact whereby the merchant will charge the local sales tax if it has a physical presence in the state where the order is from.  So an online purchase will result in revenue for the state.  Fair enough.  But all those online stores that do not have a bricks and mortar store int he state…like Rhode Island…will sell the product, and charge no sales tax.  Rhode Island lawmakers have proposed that the delivery service that brings the package to your home, notify the tax department, so the tax man can get his sales tax out of you.  Local merchants say it’s only fair and equal competition to make out of state vendors charges the 7% in Rhody…6 and a quarter (if the current budget passes) in Massachusetts.  So you all say…

Enough already. Put a casino at Quonset. Cruise ships coming and going. It has to be better than what we’re doing now.
Mr. Ed

ABSOLUTELY NOT ! The State gets enough of our money now and they have proven that they cannot manage that properly.Why should we give more? In these tough economic times?Are they crazy?! Learn how to control Government spending and there would be plenty of money to go around.
Larry S, Cumberland

Taxing internet sales might sound good to some. I am concerned at the way they will track the sales. I am afraid they will be able to get more than tax information. I would definitely curtail my internet buying.
Lee L, Woonsocket

We’ve had enough rigging the game
for the privileged by our policymakers.
If they create loopholes for corporate profit They will have to prey on the consumer and the working poor.
vote those that oversaw
the budget problem out.
Zuke

Just another sneaky tax like the one states put on your cell phone. I think we all need to find that “smokey back room” where these things are thought up, blow it up, then plow it under.
Hound Dog, Bristol

The “Green shoots” of unemployment is soaring. Debt is soaring. The money supply is soaring. Our foreign policy is a wreck – we have more enemies than we can count. Bills to snoop, bills to spy, bills to control.  Policy makers that oversaw a collapsed economy not because the market is “frozen” or because investors are in a state of panic after Lehman, but because derivatives and securitization have been exposed as a fraud built on insufficient capital and propped up by the taxpayer; continue to pass the risk on the working poor. They have not changed the policies of “dodgy financial innovation tools” that games the system and inflates massive speculative debt-leveraging bubbles sold in the secondary market at overly valued, overly rated assets not to mention the use of off-balance sheet operations; but turbo-charged profits by passing risk and skimming hefty salaries and bonuses. There are simply more claims on wealth than there is money in the system they set up. They have set the stage for hyper inflation on necessities and deflation of luxuries. Don’t Tax the consumer, Axe the Policy maker vote them out, better yet hold them liable.
Zuke

Under normal circumstances, this would be a reasonable way to raise revenue. However, no one in state government has shown that they can responsibly use taxpayer monies. It would just be mis-appropriated like all the rest. Throw all the bums out!
Bill G, Cranston

Excuse me while I choke.
Let’s think of more reasons for businesses and people to leave the State.
The “Big Business” Governor, Carcieri, should be working to get more
businesses to come into the State. He seems to be waiting for Twin River
to go under so he can take it over and get 100% instead of the mere 60%

of revenue that caused the place to go out of business. Clever!
Stuckinri

Many companies are charging sales taxes online already.
If you live in the same state as the company resides in, they may be required to collect taxes.
Perhaps the simple answer is to help drive increases in local online businesses so that purchases made online and by Rhode Islanders would be subjected to the same taxes.
I, like many, want spending reform, pension reform and better contracts with our state employees in all areas. Many residents cannot simply afford the increases in local property taxes that are a direct result of loss of state revenue. Having said that,  I don’t want to pay more taxes. I think we need better utilization of the taxes we already collect.
We need legislators who understand the plight we all face. They need to remember they work for us and not the self-serving lobbyists and special interest groups.
We elected them, we can un-elect them!
Tracey P