Eighty nine percent (89%) of all marijuana violations are 'possession only.'

" Present enforcement policies are costing American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars, ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans, and having no impact on marijuana availability or marijuana use in this country. It is time to end this failed policy and replace prohibition with a policy of marijuana regulation, taxation, and education." http://norml.org/
NOTE: Above is from NORML.org......I'm not endorsing any 'taxation'......NOT!!!
ANOTHER NOTE: Please consider voting Libertarian. "The thinking Party."

Mail in Ballots on the rise. Why?

In East Ft. Worth, they've always been pretty high but now we are seeing them rise in other areas. Why? I think it's because they are easier to obtain (if you have money to send out the applications for such on campaign flyers) than going door to door and selling your candidacy and/or you do it the unethical, illegal way and buy them from voters, which if you have the money is easier than selling your candidacy, especially if you are an incumbent that isn't all that popular.

Why I love the The Libertarian Party of Texas

"The Libertarian Party of Texas supports more freedom and less government. We are fiscally conservative and socially tolerant.
We seek to restore the great American free enterprise system that made us the strongest, most powerful economy in the world: lower taxes, free markets, free trade, less regulation, and less red tape for businesses big and small.

We respect your right to live your life the way you see fit, and expect you to take responsibility for the consequences. "

Find out more at: http://lptexas.org/
Libertarian Party of Texas
Pat Dixon, Chair 512-771-3936
chair@lptexas.org
Robert Butler,Executive Director
512-758-9134
director@lptexas.org

Taxpayers are people too -- our politicians need to quit sucking us dry!

I've noticed that when one speaks up (or out) against unaffordable spending by our elected officials, you may get hit with, "But undocumented people are humans too, the poor are people too, the homeless drug addicts are people too, the homeless drunks are people too, the irresponsible parents are people too, the pregnant teenagers are people too, the drug addicted incapable parents are people too, the child abusers are people too, irresponsible pet owners are people too, police officers, Executives, criminals, politicians, and the list goes on and on.

I say, ABSOLUTELY.....ALL THE MORE REASON TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. All the more reason to start electing newbies to positions of decision making for your tax dollars, start electing people who actually are seated for the right reasons:

- care for people
- love of the City
- respect of the American dollar and hard work

Taxpayers are people too and our governments aren't running our businesses in a fiscally viable manner.

I say we start bringing some business sense to your investment in the community. We start bringing some new ideas, energy and commitment to tackling the money sucking issues affecting our pocketbooks. Elect me to Ft. Worth's City Council in May 2009 and you'll hear a vocal advocate for holding ourselves accountable to the City's shareholders.....you, the taxpayer!

http://www.suzetteforcouncil.com/
www.meetup.com/suzette-watkins

A Quote I can't get out of my head

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have."
Thomas Jefferson


If you look close enough at local politics here in Ft. Worth, Texas, ask questions and listen, you will hear that the money came from "a Federal grant, The City, The State, a Federal Grant, grant money." At the same time you will hear, "they've lost their front yards to eminent domain, gas companies, the government, they lost their small business due to eminent domain for big business development, etc." If you turn on your TV, you'll hear all about our elected officials using hard earned tax dollars to BAIL OUT big businesses. Webs are surely getting more tangled in our governments. What are the taxpayers doing? My hopes are that they are paying closer attention to how their elected officials are voting, what they are saying and how they are using their power. We the taxpayers are the judges! Judgements are delivered via our vote. Make sure you are paying attention, make sure you vote.

Racism doesn't belong to just one group of people. This is how we can all participate in the change. In a Free Society one does this...

"gains a sense of himself as an individual, rather than developing a group or victim mentality. This leads to a sense of individual responsibility and personal pride, making skin color irrelevant. Racism will endure until we stop thinking in terms of groups and begin thinking in terms of individual liberty. Liberty means having a limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights rather than group claims. Liberty means free-market capitalism, which rewards individual achievement and competence - not skin color, gender, or ethnicity.

Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike: as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called "diversity" actually perpetuate racism. "

It is the federal government that most divides us by race, class, religion, and gender. Through its taxes, restrictive regulations, corporate subsidies, racial set-asides, and welfare programs, government plays far too large a role in determining who succeeds and who fails.

http://www.ronpaulforpresident2008.com/pages/issues.html#Racism


Glad I come across readings that make perfect sense every once in a while. This one did!

Ridiculed, Violently opposed & Accepted

"All truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Secondly, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."

Arthur Schopenhauer
German philosopher

The quote above grabbed my undivided attention because it's been a belief of mine that one of our downfalls in America is our inability, collectively as communities and individuals, to discuss, own, and address, the truths of matters and their statistics which prevents us (or one) from truly solving problems because we are seldom, if ever, dealing with problems at their root cause levels.

Can you tell the truth w/out it being a "smear?" What is a "smear?"

The reason I asked is because I was wondering how other people viewed their City Council person's job responsibilities. I asked this question and gave examples of such things like the water main breaks in a neighborhood. I asked should a City Council person be able to deliver an answer to why so many break in one neighborhood on a regular basis? Someone accused my question of being a smear on someone. So I researched the word smear to question my own question. I really was just trying to find out how others felt, and compare it to where I personally fell in the mix. Maybe I am odd person out, maybe I am a little in the old school way of thinking when it comes to local politicians and their duties and responsibilities.

Since the definition of smear reads: "A smear campaign is an intentional, premeditated effort to undermine an individual's or group's reputation, credibility, and character. Smear tactics differ from normal discourse or debate in that they do not bear upon the issues or arguments in question. A smear is a simple attempt to malign a group or an individual and to attempt to undermine their credibility. Smears often consist of ad hominem attacks in the form of unverifiable rumors and are often distortions, half-truths, or even outright lies; smear campaigns are often propagated by gossip spreading."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smear_campaign

If one thinks that a politician isn't doing the job well and/or doesn't think highly of a politician because of things they have personally seen and/or heard and/or been a part of (some are verifiable, some are not), and one voices this displeasure, is that smearing? If so, then how does one speak out against things they think are wrong and it involve a politician?

Credibility - " Traditionally, credibility is composed of two primary dimensions: trustworthiness and expertise, which have both objective and subjective components. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credibility

Courage - "is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation."

Moral Courage - "is the courage to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courage

"How can anything be politically correct when politics itself is incorrect?!"

The title of this post, a quote from a very dear Black friend of mine who I love dearly and who has.......no......fear of political repercussions! In other words, is totally true to her beliefs. I've always resonated with Black women (most) because their spirit is alot like mine. Maybe because many of my Great Grandparents and family, including my Mother were poor and/or raised poor and there is an element of "survival" and ........ some pulling of the boot straps to get here from where we have come. Black women (some, not all!! don't take me literally all the time) have a "toughness of mind" that I find attractive and a much needed comodity in our communities.

I know on this blog that I mention Black people alot and some who don't know me may think I am a racist. Keep reading, hold tight and keep an open mind.

Anyway, I came across this and found it interesting. I'm not a fan of Barack Obama, I don't believe in him, I don't take him at his word. I don't find him to appear to, mean what he says, and words combined with actions mean alot to me. I hope he does not get the nomination.

I think the below link, ties in with the title of the post, I just took the long way around with the personal info which just came to mind, so I shared it. It felt like the "wright" thing to do. BTW, I enjoyed Rev. Wright, I loved his theatrics and he is the best orator I've ever heard. I respect him more than I do Obama because he is real. You can feel his belief and passion in what he says, unlike Obama. Just my p e r s o n a l perspective. Everyone has one.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,0,1843097.story?page=1

Why call yourself a public servant?

If you are not really concerned about things going wrong in your City or in Society, why run for public office and why call yourself a public servant. Why think you are better than others (your constituents) and that people "owe" you because you are in office and you are "somebody" now? This type of politician makes me sick at my stomach.