PEARL HARBOR

72 years ago, on a grey December
day, we heard the news of the attack.

There was no question that America
was at war. 

America was insulated then, by two
oceans. Yet, air raid drills became
the norm. Enemy subs lurked offshore
on the Atlantic, while the West Coast
braced for an invasion that never came.

On the home front rationing occurred.

My job was to cut and save metal cans
and tend the vegetable garden. Coal
was scarce. Many winter nights we
went without heat. 

America is a very different place now.

Changes in attitudes, demographics
and politics are evident.

We are still at war, but many people
scarcely notice, if all.

Yet, the home front has become the
front line in America's struggle to
survive.

We have a President and Congress
that has failed to secure our national
borders.

Tens of millions of illegal aliens have
invaded our land. Among them, those
that seek to destroy us.

The latter have also arrived via the
legal immigration process, and by
simply overstaying student and other
visas.

Drug dealers, foreign and domestic
disregard our borders, and have set
up operations everywhere in America. 
These, and, native born. antisocial
malcontents are the natural allies of
the foreign terrorists who seek our
destruction.


Our Navy has declined to the size
it was at the start of WW1. Yet,
the naval capabilities of our foes
continue to increase.

We have failed to enforce the
Monroe Doctrine.  Adversaries
are siting missiles in Venezuela
that are capable of hitting any
city in the U S or Canada.

Recently a ship carrying missiles
was discovered in the Port of
Kingston, Jamaica.  Scant mention
in the media.

Our Constitution is under attack
by a President, Congress, and
Judiciary who are violating their
oaths of office to uphold the
Constitution.

The main stream media has
become the mouthpiece for the
self styled "progressives" who
have taken control of government
at all levels, and all branches.

Our Second Amendment Rights
have been trampled under foot.
The so called NY Safe Act rammed
through the State Legislature by
the Governor, this year has, in fact
made citizens of NYS less safe
and more vulnerable to domestic
criminals and foreign invaders.

The 2014 Elections at the state
level and Congressional Elections
may well decide whether, or not
America will stand or fall.

Is the electorate up to the challenge?
The future of America, and all
Americans, are on the line.

                         Joe Sullivan







 

DO NOT INHALE?

Air pollution and asthma.

Read:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/asthma/air-pollution-link-to-asthma.aspx?xid=aol_rss

What about excessive road salt
dumped on roads, bridges, parking
lots every winter?

When the salt drys, it become
airborne and mixes with vehicle
exhausts.

Not good for asthma or for
persons on salt restricted diets.

Not good for roads, bridges
street trees or exteriors of homes.

Destroys our ever more expensive
vehicles, brake/fuel lines and tires.

RX? Slow down in bad weather.
Kick the road salt habit. Save
money and public health.

Assignment for politicians. Ram
through a ban on road salt in the
first day of the state legislative
session, just as you did with
the NY SAFE Act (gun control
law) January 2013. 

Albany County legislators take
note. Road salt is hazardous to
your, and our health.

A road salt ban makes more
sense than your selective
discriminatory styrofoam ban

                            Joe Sullivan

REAL  ELECTION
CAMPAIGN REFORM

This Times Union editorial
calls for Governor Cuomo to
champion campaign reform.

Read:

http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Editorial-It-s-reform-time-governor-5024696.php

Governor Cuomo, who has
amassed a multimillion dollar
war chest from special interests
is going to lead the charge for
campaign reform? Really?

The TU cites the key items
on the campaign reform list:

* lower contribution limits
* reining in soft money
* Board of Election overhaul
*a system of public financing
  of campaigns

Strike public financing of
political campaigns.

The electorate should not bear
the financial cost of political
campaigns. This would amount
to another tax increase and would
do little to reform campaigns.

The keys to real campaign reform
lie with the media, the candidates
and the electorate.

To begin: campaign time frames
should be shortened.

The media and candidates can refuse
to take the money.

The media should provide equal 
coverage to all bonafide candidates
in their own  words. Reporters refrain
from injecting their opinions and
editorials boards refrain from
endorsements. 

Candidates should present clear
positions on vital issues in their
own words, in writing, on air
and in public forums.

The electorate has the responsibilty
to vote and  to cast informed votes
rather than blind party line voting. 

Otherwise, campaign reform as
advocated by the TU and others
is just another political scam.

                       Joe Sullivan

TAX REDISTRIBUTION
IS NOT TAX RELIEF

Fred LeBrun hits the nail on the head
again with another insightful column.

Read:
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/LeBrun-Sleight-of-hand-or-tax-relief-5024627.php

Will the STAR and SENIOR STAR
programs be sacrificed on the altar
of election year expediency?

If the Governor plays this card, he
will be more vulnerable to defeat in 2014.

The same is true of state legislators
who would vote for replacing Star
and Senior Star with a circuit breaker
property tax program.

                           Joe Sullivan

SNAP REFORM NEEDED

In it's present form, the SNAP program
is subject to many potential abuses.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/11/25/food-stamps-insufficient-improve-food-security-diet-study/

The Supplementay Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP) needs to be reformed.

1. Restrict foods that can be purchased
to staples, such as, cheese, oatmeal, milk
peanut butter, olive oil, eggs, pasta, dried
beans, peas, potatoes, carrots, turnips, etc.

2. Require SNAP recipients to disclose
if they patronize food pantries or receive
free meals in schools.

3. Require SNAP recipients to prepare
a monthly food budget, to take advantage
of sale items,  and to learn how to prepare
low cost, nutritious meals from scratch.

4. Encourage SNAP recipients to buy
from local farmers and farm markets
whenever possible.

                                   Joe Sullivan

 

DON'T GIVE UP...

For three nights as the moon waxed
full, humped 42 wheelbarrows of chips
and compost to restore the garden plots
where I have gardened for nearly a 1/3
of a century. 

A way to regain one's bearings in a
world gone astray. 

The air was crisp and the sky clear.

The tiger cat greeted me each evening
as she went hunting for rodents.

The Dubliners  convey it all.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTmFXnWAy4w 

 and

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI8bPVw3scA&list=PL1D1E6F16CC6D16A4

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPf92gtptFE


                                          Joe Sullivan