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June 30 Your Money - Your FutureLOIT! (Lowering Our Income – Tax)Last night I had the opportunity to listen to a city councilperson, Brad Polk, speak about the LOIT and our local government. I can not stress enough how important it is to get informed. With all the information disseminating via the “net”, it is hard to separate fact from fiction. As much as I would like to believe I am 100% correct all the time, it is not possible. It is one of my heart’s desires to bring you the most accurate and current information possible. Of course, some is just my opinion, get your own. That being said, I will address later in the post a common misconception that I believed to be true. On to the important things. As you all know the Muncie City Council on July 6th, 2009 is planning on imposing yet another tax upon the citizens of Delaware County. You all know it is LOIT. Won’t rehash the ramifications of this tax, y’all know my feelings. A couple of things you need to remember when this tax is imposed is that Muncie has squandered tax money for nearly 3 decades. I doubt any new taxes will change bad habits. Did you know that the finance committee (Muncie City) has only met once or twice in 18 months? Yes, folks, 18 months. How can any government run efficiently when the people who control the purse strings never meet? The simple truth is, it can not. That is more than obvious, wouldn’t you say? When Muncie City Council submitted the 2009 budget, an objectioning petition by the Citizens of Delaware County for Property Tax Repeal was also submitted to the city. An objectioning petition is exactly what it says. The petition contained detailed line by line budget cuts, did not touch any of the bargaining units. I did not have the opportunity to read each and every dollar amount, yet, I feel confident that much thought and time was put into it. Last year Cary Malchow came before the Muncie City Council with a budget showing $3,000.000.00 decrease. Mr. Malchow offered to go over this with the council and readily admitted that perhaps some cuts would not be feasible. We will never know if these cuts were good or bad, nobody took him up on his offer. Allison Quirk, President of Muncie City Council never saw the petitions, and it appeared she was just as surprised about this revelation as the other 20+ attendees. Brad stated he had not seen it. Linda Gregory, At-Large Councilperson, said she received a synopsis. Only a synopsis. These are the facts, Muncie facing a deficit, the finance committee rarely meeting in 18 months! Citizens preparing a budget to present and not given an audience. Now, because of their inability to fulfill their duties as elected officials, we will pay the price. Not just Muncie, but all of Delaware County. I hope the city council does not delude themselves into thinking the public is supportive of this tax. They are not. Had the council did everything humanly possible, we would certainly be more receptive. They did nothing. Those against the LOIT, Brad Polk and Jerry Dishman, so far. We need to support these guys. They have and will take a beating for making a stand. For months many of us (myself included) have wondered why city council has not taken a cut in pay after promising to do so. The state has a law their pay can not be reduced from the year before. Dumb law, I know. Councilperson Gregory brought this to our attention last night, and I believe she is telling the truth Again, thank you to Bibi at www.munciepolitic.wordpress.com Someone ACTUALLY Gets It !Government must shrinkRICHARD STAHL • Muncie • June 30, 2009 I couldn't help but to get a little nauseated to my stomach when I read that the city council is considering another tax. Its kind of funny that when taxpayers get a break from property taxes, the government backdoors you with more income tax. A little over one percent initially doesn't seem so bad, but if you consider all of the other ways we're being taxed already, its a smack in the face. I don't know what it is going to take for Muncie government to realize the old days of spend and anything goes are gone. The city is smaller and government should follow likewise. I would suggest some kind of time study for all government positions, but that always goes in the trash anyway. Note to Mr. Stahl : Speaking of trash, remember this ???? Delaware County Poll Books Found In Dumpster Behind Democrat HQ in Muncie Posted on Sunday, November 09, 2008 10:38:05 PM by Sir Hailstone Official Voter Registration Poll Books were found in a dumpster behind the Democrat HQ in Muncie, Indiana. The spouse of an incoming judge was picking up and disposing of yard signs when he found the poll books in the dumpster. TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Indiana KEYWORDS: corruptdems; democrat; in2008; indiana; muncie; shady I just wonder what the poll books were doing in the dumpster behind Democrat HQ instead of at the County Clerk's office like they are supposed to be after an election.
To: neverdem; Sir Hailstone
Nothing to see here ... Simply more fraud in democrat precincts. Bookmarked. To: Sir Hailstone
HOW DARE you Questing their Patriotism!! There will not be any investigation, no nothing! To: Sir Hailstone
"My question is what are election poll books doing at Dem HQ anyway and not turned into the County Election Board or County Clerk’s office? Something fishy about this scenario …."
Ya think. I hope the FBI was notified 4 posted on Sunday, November 09, 2008 10:42:41 PM by YellowRoseofTx (Evil is not the opposite of God; it's the absence of God)
To: YellowRoseofTx
Muncie was at one time a Democrat bastion. Though with the auto industry and Ball Glass Company leaving town they’ve lost their grip. Still a lot of corruption though. I’m awaiting to find out if the GOP county chairman there will grow a set and make an issue of it. POT, CDCPTR, MFD, MSD, MCS & FU ! That's Muncie Politics !For those of you who choose NOT to remember or simply weren't involved, I began with a gang of two - myself and Hallipena - when I wrote about The Pot Party. We met at the IHOP and hammered out what would become we wanted as far as POT was concerned. Hallie was contactd by Chris Hiatt and was asked if POT would like to come aboard. Not, however, as The POT Party. See the old website - http://thepotparty.spaces.live.com- Myself, I wasn't sure. I liked the idea of a people so angry they would stand up for themselves and everything they worked for, over many decades. As Hallie wrote, the ideas came fast and furious - Responsible and responsive government. An end to cronyism. More accountability. One thing I did know, the government has to have money to operate, but how much government do we want ? Peoppe scream and yell about Big Government and " how much they love this city. Yeah, look at the front page. There's some big love going on and I am not talking about the jail thing. Because I respect Carols' judgment and because I am more of a scorched earth personality and also because I was more interested in government reform, I gave it a thumbs up. Hallies' passion, dedication and determination was CDCPTR and me ? I was simply out to dismantle a local government gone horribly wrong. I should have known I would have needed a time machine, a few silver bullets and wooden stakes for that ambition. I was a Party of my own making and mission statement, although when CDCPTR started following the money, it was like watching a train wreck. You KNEW you shouldn't watch, but you couldn't help yourself. So, with what time I do have, because I do work and I also travel extensively, I became a volunteer whenever possible. CDCPTR tolerates me and my often over the top observations, but unlike some people who claim to have the answers for this town - I don't have to lie, nor resort to false advertising. CDCPTR was not a concern, initially, for The Big Boys - it was said CDCPTR would be gone by the 2007 election. Wrong. In raising the Big H about taxes, it became obvious there were bigger questions - where was the money going and who was " handling " it ? At that point, it became a problem for some people. Alot of people. You see, when you question corruption, waste, fraud and abuse - you threaten dynastic politics. CDCPTR will endure, no matter how many personal and physical attacks made on the members and volunteers - it will endure because we know what everyone else has always known - this city needs a good Clyster and, most important, because people are no longer afraid to stand. www.deborahkingeichholz.spaces.live.com
POT PARTY MISSION STATEMENT
News You Can Use ! Thanks, Bibi !LOIT and What It Means To You.July 6th, 2009 we will more then likely see a historical moment in Muncie’s history. Yes, kids, Muncie will enact a new tax. To be fair, we plan on including all of Delaware County. Certainly, it would be a travesty not to bring this shining moment to all. The county has lovingly bestowed us with the Wheel Tax, it is only fitting we should return the favor. We trumped them, though! Muncie City Council will surely pass a 1.25% income tax. One word of warning to the county, ya’ll play with the big kids, expect to get stomped. So, what can you expect to pay each year? I figured it out for you. $ 10,000.00 per year = $ 125.00 or $10.00 per month $ 20,000.00 per year = $ 250.00 or $20.00 per month $ 30,000.00 per year = $ 375.00 or $31.00 per month $ 40,000.00 per year = $ 500.00 or $41.00 per month $ 50,000.00 per year = $ 625.00 or $52.00 per month Considering the average income of Muncie residents is around $25,000.00, it will be an extra $26.00 more from the paycheck. If they own just one car, $28.00. two cars it will be $30.00 per month. All for the privilege to live in Delaware County. Why I think it is a bad idea to raise taxes during a recession. Believe it or not, many people are struggling to meet just the basic necessities of daily life. Where is the compassion we hear during election time for the working poor, the lower middle class? Believe it or not, many families do not qualify for public assistance, and asking them to yet make another sacrifice just so the local governments can maintain their spending quotas, is cruel and unreasonable. Yes, there are those who say, it is only $20.00 a month. Take into consideration the rise in food costs, gas, utilities, medical, sales tax and suddenly a much bigger picture appears. Have we forgotten that over 50% of our children qualify for free or reduced lunch? Or that the unemployment rate is at an all time high of 10%. I have had some come back at me with the unemployment saying if unemployed, then they are exempt from this tax. Not so. Think about the primary wage earner who has been laid-off. Suddenly, the income has dropped, yet I doubt if the family’s basic needs have changed all that much. 1.25% it ain’t all that much. Think about it, Muncie City Council and do the right thing. written by Bibi at www.munciepolitics.wordpress.com
www. munciepolitics.wordpress.comTick, tick, tick…the sound of a clockThe ticking sound you hear is the clock ticking down to July 6th, 2009. The day we all will see the 1.25% income tax levied on the last of our hard-earned dollars. LOIT will go down in history as one of the worse things to happen to an already struggling community. Woe to those who place burdens on the people, grevious to bear, and never lifting a finger to ease it from their shoulders. They stand before us with outstretched hands, pleading “We need more”. Yet they avoid their taxes, taint government agencies with corruption, use funds other then for its intended purposes, and continue these practices and others regardless of public or printed opinion. Beautiful on the outside, beguiling us with their power to save us. On the inside they are full of dead man’s bones. Who will speak on the people’s behalf? More important, who will listen? Oh, yea…Deborah King-Eichholz has been updated in the pages section of the blog Again, a grateful thank you to BiBi.
June 29 Stand Up And Be Counted Before They Count Your Money - Gone !It appears that the City Council is preparing to play all their markers and shove all their chips in with the institution of another Local Option Income Tax that will result in more that DOUBLING your current local income tax rate. Like taking an aspirin to treat a cancer, many of the local elected officials obviously don't have the stomach to confront the elephant in the room. Instead, they are willing to hang their political hats on the continued picking the pockets of the local taxpayers as opposed to confronting the real issues which involve making governing units (their captive political allies) operate within their means like all the rest of us. This is an absolute enabling abomination that will still fall far short of correcting the deficiencies and will result in Delaware County, and Muncie in particular of being the most expensive locality in the State of Indiana to live and do business in. An absolute disaster for any future economic development and the creation of business, industry and jobs that we so desperately need. Whether it be this gathering or more importantly, the City Council meeting of next Monday, July 6, 2009, it will be extremely important to make sure your elected representatives understand that the path of least resistance by and through your (taxpayer's) pocket will be an extremely contraproductive position on their part not to be soon forgotten by the voters.
Posted by Chris Hiatt on the MSP Forums, 29 June 2009
 For Paul SykesI miss you as MFD Union President. Never thought of you as sleazy. Wish I could say that of the new one. Not all of the MFD are bad folks. Mark Adams is exceptional and I think he would make his father proud. I also liked Mike Terry. I didn't always agree with him, but he's been a good friend and, in my opinion, he was a casualty of the very thing he loved most, next to his family. Eddie Bell is, without doubt, exceptional. Tonight, I've heard from a number of retired MFD - all of whom resent and are angry regarding the anonymous post. One was particularly hard to read and one I will not share in public. It concerns an MFD fatality many years ago and speaks to what those Old Dawgs suffered. Never had a problem with county MFD because I assumed City would help County and vice versa. I do have a problem with the orchestrated war between those who chose to ignore the warnings of the financial shortfall, which is anticipated to be worse next year. It will not affect just the MFD, but every tax funded entity. Close to two years ago, this was predicted and very little was done to come to grips with it. Now, we will pay - one way or another - like so many cities and towns across this state and country. I have known alot of firefighters over the years. Many of them had their sons spend the night, as time could be very short with the dads - due to the part-time jobs so many MFD people needed, just to make ends meet. They worked hard and some played hard, but wh___g and boozing on city time - I take exception to that, as do many of the Old Dawgs who rode the rear end of the trucks. Certainly, they were not angels, neither were they the debauched and lazy jerks someone cared to describe. They worked fires that today we will never see again, thanks to improved building and equipment standards. Men like Al Kerr, who was eulogized in the Muncie paper in an editorial. He was The Firemans' Firefighter. There were many of them, especially the Lutton family. They had a love for the job, even though it paid quite low. That family suffered for that love. The safety standards were minimal because that was the way it was at the time, but the interaction between the public, the MFD and the MPD was amazing. The demonstrations at The Fieldhouse of their skills...the fundraisers for local charities held with both the MFD and MPD were terrific and the city loved it. Those big strong men ( when you are under 3'5" tall anyone taller than that is huge ) playing donkey baseball games at McC Park for charity garnered huge crowds and there was all in fun. Money is the great leveler in so many ways. It is leveling cities you would never expect - like Carmel, Indiana. Orlando, Florida. The list goes on and on. It is also leveling friendships and a sense of community. Jobs, thousands of them, have been lost over the last 20 years in this town, even as the tax base shrinks and the tax exempt entities grow by leaps and bounds. Many which are questionable and indefensible. No one wants people to lose their jobs, but where do we go from here ? Do we rob what little assets we have for a temporary fix or do we find a better way to manage what seems to be almost impossible ? There is no vendetta, no matter what anyone may think. It's math and far too much head-butting. I thank you for your letter, even though I had to use my glasses. Sincerely, Deborah King - Eichholz June 28 The Brotherhood ?anonymousone08 wrote:
Replying to agedoldbeaver, who wrote :
Like I said, they weren't angels, but the day you call those guys whore - mongering drunks, basically, while hiding behind the veil of an anonymous log on, you have zero right to question my credibility of how I feel about Dad, Al, George, Rex, Smalley or any of those old dawgs.
I don't have any " Daddy Issues " ( now, who else has on the boards said this ??? - it WILL come to me ) - but, I do have an issue with a load of people too darned lazy to clean up after themselves and those also involved in an attempted hit and run, which was witnessed by a number of people. It's a convenient way to obscure the facts and the truths - an old and often successful tactic. I look after my family and that is NOT an issue. It is a given and something I consider to be something anyone who cares for their loved ones will do, without question.
You have issues, Mr. Too Chicken Shit To Post Under Your Own Name....your days are coming to an end. You are losing control and it was all so simple. Thug mentality has ruled a number of you for decades. Now, people are saying NO ! How does it feel...you may well yet become the people you have sworn to protect, but somehow despise and scorn.
This is NOT over. Not by a long shot.
June 27 Mr. Beans Has His Moment - Sing Out ! First and far most I'm not going to take one more dime away from my family and give it to this city government period . Got that city council ? Not one more dime!!! No more taxes!! And you F.F. who the He#$ do you think you are? You tried to put pressure on the mayor and failed. So I guess now you are putting pressure on the city council to raise the taxes on me and my family and the people in this town. Just to keep what you have that you should'nt of had in the first place. you try and get support from the public with your scare tactics. That people will die cause you don't have enough manpower. It's B. S. and you know it. You guys could learn alot from the F.F. of yesteryear. Talk about some great men. See guy's they took care of the same things you guy's take care of today. Ball Hospital, Ball State same old buildings down town. the same old neighborhoods. But the F.F. from yesteryear also took care of Chevy, Owen's Illionis, Brodricks, Indiana steel & Wire, Ball Brothers, Ontario, Warner Gear Plants 1, 2, 3, and 4, Werts Novelty, Colonial Bakery, Swartz paper co, Acme, Goddard Wholesale,Westinghouse, Foundry at 10th and liberty,Muncie Gear, Muncie star and press, Kirby Wood lumber, Werts Lumber Co on 8th st.,Container Co.on butterfield rd. It's called graphic packaging now. And it's closing the door's on Aug.31 They did all of this with less manpower and less stations. So please someone please justify to me why in the He## would we put another dime in the Fire Department? When everything has gone away. Justify to me that the mayor makes 70,000 a year and takes care of 65,000 people. And the fire chief makes 65,000 a year and takes care of now 78 F.F. was 110 F.F. Justify this please.The fire department has 5 more toop paying job's besides the fire chief. The mayor has only 4. The D.M. and and they both have a secretary. That's 4 people taking care of 65,000 people, and 6 taking care of 78 now F.F. Justify that one for me. Now on to the police department . This is where me and the mayor parts ways . I think we need more police on the streets. Time's have changed more crimes, more drug's more gang's more gun's on the streets. It's not anything like yesteryear sure wish it was. But as more and more people lose their jobs the crime is going to go up and up. People are going to handle these things on their own. If we don't have more policeman. Now back to the City Council. Just who in the He## are you going to raise the taxes on? Out of 65,000 peoplr how many are new borns and kids up to the age of say 21 who pay no taxes. And all the people on welfare that pay no taxes. And our poor elderly people who pays alittle bit of taxes. But do you really want to tax their S.S.checks? Some can hardly make it now. and do you really want to tax the one's who draw unemployment checks? There's alot of us out there. Or how about the one's that their unemployment check's has already ran out and still no job in sight. There's alot of them to out there. Are how about the one's that make minimum wage. Do you really want to tax them? I know let's tax the one's who still have a business here so they can pick up and move out of here. The only words you people know is taxes and more money please. How is it that most people in this town know the town is broke. And not one department of the city government has came out and said, hey I'll take a pay cut. Or hey I'll pay more on my insurance. Hey you can cut my hour's alittle. Not one department. In stead you want to take from my family to help pay for the things you want. You guy's need to cut your pay cause Im sick of you cutting mine all time. My family don't have insururance anymore and you want me to pay 100% of your's. See Im done I will not pay one more dime of taxes to this city until you get your Sh## together. And when it's time to vote again you are gone. All of you!!!!!! Can't hardly wait. In Response to Mr. Beans In the early 1970's, when Muncie was flush with manufacturing jobs and the Detroit machine was rolling along, we rolled along with it, for the most part. Several people saw the writing on the wall and prepared for what was almost certain to come our way. However, in our arrogance and ignorance, we were blinded by great wages and benefits - certain these would never end.
That the mid 70's brought petroleum issues and cars that fell apart soon after the warranty ran out ( does the Chevrolet Vega ring a bell ? ), we still did not see, would not see, what might be coming. The much hyped and flawed NAFTA agreement certainly didn't help, but it is not to blame for excessive salaries and bonuses paid to GM and union leaders. It also did not help that we neglected to heed what we had long been told - as far back as the late 1950's - that computerization was the wave of the future. Isolated by our lack of vision, entrenched in backroom politics and hampered by a populace unwilling to face the reality - we are now reaping and weeping. The only solace many of us have is to avoid future mistakes and to look ahead - to become better educated and our horizons widened. Considering the now empty parking lots in what were once bustling business concerns, we have alot of physical room for potential, but emotionally and intellectually, where do we stand ? Can we envision the possibilities and what it might entail to make these changes, not only in ourselves, but in our government. Men and women who worked decades and who now face uncertain futures for themselves and their families are reacting - not just here, but all over the state, all over the country. We look back to The Great Depression and ask..." Is this our future ? " Looking back, to a editorial in a Muncie newspaper during those dark days of poverty and uncertainty, an editorialist asked " Who is the forgotten man in Muncie ? " He went on to answer his own question this way - " I know him him as intimately as I know my own undershirt. He is the fellow that is trying to get along without public relief...In the meantime the taxpayers go on supporting many that would not work if they had jobs. " I strongly suggest you read Amity Shales book - " The Forgotten Man : A New History of the Great Depression. " Her insight to the problems faced by Roosevelt and now somewhat mirrored in the world today is outstanding. Mr. Beans, your voice will not go unheard. Believe me. Sincerely, Deborah King - Eichholz For Max and Those Who Need A Shot Of TruthFor those of you who choose NOT to remember or simply weren't involved, I began with a gang of two - myself and Hallipena - when I wrote about The Pot Party. We met at the IHOP and hammered out what would become we wanted as far as POT was concerned. Hallie was contactd by Chris Hiatt and was asked if POT would like to come aboard. Not, however, as The POT Party. See the old website - http://thepotparty.spaces.live.com - Myself, I wasn't sure. I liked the idea of a people so angry they would stand up for themselves and everything they worked for, over many decades. As Hallie wrote, the ideas came fast and furious - Responsible and responsive government. An end to cronyism. More accountability. One thing I did know, the government has to have money to operate, but how much government do we want ? Peoppe scream and yell about Big Government and " how much they love this city. Yeah, look at the front page. There's some big love going on and I am not talking about the jail thing. Because I respect Carols' judgment and because I am more of a scorched earth personality and also because I was more interested in government reform, I gave it a thumbs up. Hallies' passion, dedication and determination was CDCPTR and me ? I was simply out to dismantle a local government gone horribly wrong. I should have known I would have needed a time machine, a few silver bullets and wooden stakes for that ambition. I was a Party of my own making and mission statement, although when CDCPTR started following the money, it was like watching a train wreck. You KNEW you shouldn't watch, but you couldn't help yourself. So, with what time I do have, because I do work and I also travel extensively, I became a volunteer whenever possible. CDCPTR tolerates me and my often over the top observations, but unlike some people who claim to have the answers for this town - I don't have to lie, nor resort to false advertising. CDCPTR was not a concern, initially, for The Big Boys - it was said CDCPTR would be gone by the 2007 election. Wrong. In raising the Big H about taxes, it became obvious there were bigger questions - where was the money going and who was " handling " it ? At that point, it became a problem for some people. Alot of people. You see, when you question corruption, waste, fraud and abuse - you threaten dynastic politics. CDCPTR will endure, no matter how many personal and physical attacks made on the members and volunteers - it will endure because we know what everyone else has always known - this city needs a good Clyster and, most important, because people are no longer afraid to stand.
Yeah....Mayhem, Madness ansd Attempted Murder. Where's The Change ?STRAIGHT TICKET TOMMY AND PARTISAN POLLY IN “Spat with the Mayor". BY J.R.R. TOKEN You could cut the air with a knife. All of the usual characters were seated around the room for a special session of Partisans Anonymous. The crowd was clamoring to get the scoop about the recent “Spat with the Mayor” held at the Conundrum Public Library. A long faced Logical Larry strode to the front of the room and stared down the crowd of Partisans. Ladies and gentlemen, today’s’ session of Partisan’s Anonymous and the corresponding episode of Straight Ticket Tommy and Partisan Polly has been cancelled. Dang shouted Nibby Nelly, enquiring minds need to know! Aw Jeepers chimed Corny Kenny. Silence said Logical Larry as he froze the two offenders with a cold stare. We pride ourselves on offering a light heartened rendition of the mayhem that is Muncie Politics and of educating the public of current happenings in the process, but this episode of Straight Ticket Tommy and Partisan Polly parodying the recent “Spat with the Mayor” has been cancelled because there is absolutely NOTHING funny about the event that transpired at the “Spat with the Mayor” on Thursday 06/25/2009.
· T There is ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, NOTHING REMOTELY funny about 32 people losing their jobs. · There is nothing funny about the financial crisis that faces the citizens of Muncie and Delaware County. · Nothing witty can be said about the way the Mayor, and hence ALL citizens of Muncie were disrespected by an angry mob EVEN considering the loss of jobs referenced above. · There is nothing humorous about people blaming the current mayor or other citizens, for problems allowed to occur due to many years of neglect and mismanagement by previous mayors and city council members, the leadership of the Fire Fighters, and the very union which represents those firefighters. · There is nothing funny about political hacks (you know who you are) who would exploit the current crisis to further their own political aspirations. · There is nothing funny about a thug playing chicken with his car and the body of an outspoken citizen advocate in the parking lot after the spat. That’s all for now said Logical Larry. Everyone, please calm down and try to enjoy the many blessings we have been given. Go for a long walk, hug a loved one, take your young ones to the park, or do something else that calms your soul. Gee wiz sighed Korny Kenny, that makes me all tingly inside. DISCLAIMER: The views presented in this parody are solely my own. They are not representative of any for-profit, non-profit, political, non-political organizations or any organized or unorganized group in Delaware County or Indiana or any of the 50 States. All resemblances to characters real or fictional are purely coincidental. If you think one of these characters is you, please step away from the computer and have a good laugh at yourself. Consider it free therapy from Straight Ticket Tommy and Partisan Polly.
June 26 Talking about Talking about Fire (vinyl)Rule One In The Big Red Book of " We Have Changed " is, of course, CHANGE ! Rule Two In The Big Red Book of " We HaVe Changed " is NO WITNESSES ! EVER ! Rule Three In The Big Red Book of " We Have Changed " is we still lie, cheat and steal' Rule One In The Big Book of Deborah King's " People Who Need To Go " - first and always, you need to be afraid. Jim's a nice man. I am not. I can be a bitch and even better - I am armed to the teeth and have a total lack of conscience when it comes to my looking after the people I know who love Muncie and work to make it better. You're days are numbered and you know it. You cannot keep on lying without people standing up and saying " you need to go ! " Quote Talking about Fire (vinyl) June 23 What HAS Happened To Muncie ? Muncie, Indiana is Americas' Hometown. Well, that's the media has said over many decades. In many ways, that is very true, especially now. Like many cities and towns across the state and the rest of the country, the people of the United States are suffering and, until someone pulls a bunny from his or her hat, it may well get worse. The devil is in the details and there are alot of details - fuzzy, but not at all warm. When did The Big Slide really begin ? That's a matter for economists to debate for years to come - economists and historians. It's all intermingled, convoluted and growing more and more confusing as time passes. In retrospect, our national slide began a long time ago, when trust and faith in our elected leadership was dwindling even as our elected officials were running amok. Now, however, it's under a very fine microscope and we've began asking questions and demanding answers. Specifically, however, Muncie is an island to itself, but very much with the eyes of the nation trained on us, as has been ever since the Lynds' selected this city as The Typical American Town. In that respect, we were and we are, with few exceptions - a town also known as Little Chicago. If you are looking for a city whose reputation for corrupt politics and those who grease the wheels still at the helm, you have come to the right place.
Perhaps 40 years ago, when Muncie could have, and should have, paid more attention to the changes happening in the world and, even more important, in the manufacturing sector, we closed our eyes and refused to believe anyone but Detroit could ever build a better mousetrap. What we forgot, what we chose to forget, was that we sent our best minds to post - war Japan and Germany. They taught Total Quality Management and our former enemies kicked our butts. Just as in the pre-war days, we had arrogance and ignorance working for us. Who ever would have, could have, thought those little yellow skinned guys with buck teeth and bad eyesight could make a car to compete with Detroit ? They did it, but we didn't want to see it - as long as we still had contracts and bustling factories. Never mind the writing was on the wall in the early 1970's. Detroit and the good unions would save the day. Detroit got caught up in ego, greed and ignorance and the unions - well...they lost their way and the pension funds of many loyal workers.
The huge gas guzzlers, arrogance and ignorance would prevail. NAFTA, while flawed, is hardly our only downfall, as one can easily note when locating former Muncie manufacturing concerns. They simply left this state. Why ? They crossed the river - not the Rio Grande, but the Ohio.
We avoided the technology advancements and failed to court them to the area. Why ? We have a terrific university and Ivy Tech, which has been cranking out tech engineers and designers for decades. They slipped through our fingers and I have to wonder why ? Hell, in 1957, My Weekly Reader was writing about the advent of the computer age. We did have time to absorb it and prepare, but we didn't. Now, we cannot fail and we have to look forward and leave the past where it belongs.
The fact that we had already seen gas lines forming meant nothing, but a mere and temporary blip on our mental landscape. It was denial. Now, we have enormous debt to nations who would see us crumble in the dirt. We have local politicians who care only about what they can take from us, rather than work for us. We didn't see the future, because the future would be a threat to the status quo. We have lost our security and sense of community.
Now, there are empty lots where factories once stood and huge brick shells of memories and better days. Houses abandoned and businesses failing. Can we be strong enough to withstand these problems and the political back alley ambushes ?
People have lost their homes to taxes and to eminent domain - a public law, in its widest sense, the right or power to take private property for public use. More precisely, it is the right of the nation, or those to whom the power has been lawfully delegated, such as railroads and public utility companies, to appropriate, by due process of law, the ownership and possession of private property, and to pay the owner of the property a just compensation. A declining tax base and the loss of property taxes as tax exempt entities gobble up our city, our hopes and dreams and everything we worked a lifetime to acquire. In short - our security. Our future, our hopes and dreams for our families. Progress might have meant prosperity and promise for this city, but it could also have spelled the end of Bad Politics and Bad Business.
Now, horror of horrors - a local citizen based and staffed community advocacy group had blossomed and has shown no sign, much to the annoyance of those who preferred to keep the average citizen " down and dumb, " of going away anytime soon. There is too much to do here. The gut reaction was to hurt the sitting Mayor, regardless of the fact that it might hurt and destroy the people who choose to live here, via lies, rumors and a campaign of fear. To attack the citizen activists ( not to be confused with Those Who Call Themselves Activists, But Are Merely Out For Themselves ), individually and as a group. These are the same people who would swear their concerns are, first and foremost, the people of this city. That is a lie, as far as I am concerned, but lying is not a sin to this people. It is, quite frankly, a means to an end, if not a religion or, at the very least, an education. We are their weapons and we are expendable, or so they seem to believe. I choose to believe this is not the case.
People have had enough.
We know there are no easy answers to the problems facing Muncie. You could say this about almost any other city and town in America today. True, some towns are doing well, but they have had visionary leadership and follow-thru. They also stood up to dynastic politics which have hurt many communities and shown them the door. We can, however, make a stand, speak out against those still in power and who are bringing along a new group of acolytes - better educated, more attractive and certainly more articulate. They are still the same people, just spruced up and more palatable to the public, which makes them even more dangerous, more self-serving and we have been warned..." they are coming ! " Not that they ever left. Not while there was any sort of profit and power to be grasped and pockets to be picked.
They will have you believe lies and untruths to be Gospel.
They will have you believe they care for this city.
They will have you believe anything, but the truth.
Deborah King - Eichholz
June 22 The Kinder, Gentler Deb Would Say " Be Nice. " Forget It. Go To Hell.Replying to: I'm still waiting to see what Charlie King's kid has to say about the mayor's fire plan. You can't possibly think it's a good idea.
Posted by anonymousone08 in the MUncie StarPress Forums....22 June 2009 It is no longer my policy to respond to anonymous chicken shit on the Forums. I do not speak for Dad, nor does he for me. We covered that when I was 10. As for what Dad thinks of the Mayors' plan, I haven't asked. It's not that important or when you know The Brotherhood is really just a coffee table book selling for $50.00 on Amazon. He would definitely not want to see the MFD gutted, but this much I can say - he did recognize and verbalize his disgust with the so-called New Kids On The Block, in regard to grocery store field trips and the way the local union sold out the old dawgs - the ones who fought the fire, not stood outside and watched a burning building burn to the ground. I sat with Dad, Smalley, Lutton and more than a few other others when they discussed MFD - what it had been and what it now has become, ya bunch of pussies. Instead, you sic your women and meditating while driving lying fools on a public who allegedly want the best for this town. Bullshit, it's all about the money, jobs and political careers. The Best of The Best was a long time ago. There are a few good men left - Eddie Bell and Mark Adams, to be blunt. You lie, you cheat, you thieve our trust by making the Mayor a scapegoat for decades of bad management. You even dime out one of your own. Come on over, Chief...ya wanna read something good ? I got something for ya. The Brotherhood, my ass. You have a newbie who dimed y'all out - for his job and one for his louse. Sorry, that should read spouse, but if the bug fits. The daughter of Charles King thinks you are scum, period and your motives self-serving and your methods not one bit changed from the old days. The New Dems, my ass. You're still a bunch of liars, users and abusers. You want what you want for yourselves, not this city, nor the people in it. My father was a firefighter - like the Luttons, Al Kerr and so many others who did the job they loved and damned near went broke doing it. One thing is for certain. None of them ever stooped to the loathesome tricks and rumormongering of this present bunch. They make have eaten alot of smoke, but they never puked up their integrity. Now, stick that in your stam pipe and smoke it.
June 19 Re-Inventing The Wheel ( The Old Deb Would Have Said Re-Inventing The Wheel Tax ) There are times in life when you need to take a break or perhaps just " put the brakes on. " That's what I am doing. I've decided to ease off a bit. To take a break...or, I'll be trying to make a break for " it. " ( " It, " being undefined ) Let me bring you up to speed, according to The Gospel of 214 and several local unions.
Rumor 1 ) The Mayor is crazy. You hear this ALOT, usually where uninformed folks sits with uniformed people with their own agendas, plots, plans and ambitions. Fear is a disease, easily spread, but sometimes impossible to stop.
The Truth is no, Mayor Sharon McShurley is not crazy, but she aspired to an office which was soon to be overwhelmed with a tsunami of bills to pay, no place to run and a vindictive political party eager and anxious to paint her as many things other than what she is...her family, nothing more than collateral damage to the vermin who would sacrifice this ladys' family for their own self-serving interests. Truth becomes a casualty and the lines become so blurred between the bad guys and the good, the deceit and the honesty. The ordinary citizens suffer the most because they are, once again, pawns in a nasty little game where the worst of The Gang will swear that they care only for this city and the people who live here and who are watching their American Dreams become The American Nightmare.
Rumor 2 ) Just insert rumors 2,3,4,5,6, ad nauseum.
The Truth ? Again, thanks to The Gangs - it's almost too blurred to see clearly. Just the way they intended. Again, the city and the people - they suffer. Why not...it's worked for a long, long time.
You may not like Mayor Mac. You don't have to, but for the sake of this city and the people who live here, stop trying to make her job impossible. It's tough enough, dealing with the reality without the added nonsense of your lies and lack of integrity and, oh...this is important...the courage to speak out as yourselves, rather than hiding behind a screen name or a " trusted source at Wal-Mart. "
People by the thousands have lost their jobs. More taxes, for them, is not the answer.
It seems, and it has seemed for many years, that no matter how much money Muncie has had at its' disposal, it was never enough and even worse, some of it went up in smoke. That's not unusual in a town where we have seen and tolerated much worse. One of our most important freedoms - our votes - have been hijacked for years, not just the AVB's, per se, but the Voting Board which travels from home to home to secure votes from the housebound. Those votes which were not taken to be counted as proper votes, but tweaked in political party offices, befoe being counted.
We have lost so much over the decades - including our integrity and the promises made by The Founder Fathers of this great country. Now, in a calculated and triangulated attempt to derail Mayor Mac, a much needed dose of reality and learning to live on a budget, will we stand by and let The Bullies, The Thieves and The Scavengers feast off of what's left of this city or will we fight for what we know in our hearts to be right ?
We have grown so accepting of our reputation for corruption and thievery that it no longer seems a big deal to some people. I am not that tolerant and, yes, I do have a tendency to speak up and speak out. Join me, won't you. At least when your grandkids ask you if you did anything purposeful in life, you can say you protected their freedoms and their futures. Otherwise, you are simply rolling over and playing dead.
Deborah King - Eichholz
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