Nebraska, A Unique Opportunity for the Taxpaying Citizen

Tonight I attended a monthly meeting of the Nebraska Tax Payers for Freedom, and while at the meeting the audience was asked a question.  How many houses are there in the state capital?  And she asked for everyone who thought there was 1 to please raise their hands, and my oh my how fast many of our hands went up, because as we all know so well we are the only Unicameral in the United States of America, so of course how could the answer be anything other than 1?  And then the answer……2…yes she said 2 and we all looked at each other and thought what???

And then she went on to remind us that Nebraska while being unusual with having the Unicameral has one other unusual aspect, with few exceptions bills must have public hearings, where the 2nd house comes into play.  We the taxpayers are the second house, we have the right and a duty to ourselves, and our futures and as well as our children’s futures to speak  and be heard.  Whether in favor or in opposition to bills.  Everything they vote on, every bill they pass affects us on a daily, yearly, decade basis and to not use the ability to be that house that holds elected officials in check is unwise and neglectful of our duties as citizens of Nebraska and these United States.  The advantage we have been given over other states is incredible, and even more incredibly we don’t know or we do and don’t use this prime example of the 1st Amendment, Freedom of Speech.  Our neighbors and other states in The United States, what would they give for this wonderful opportunity!!

So I impress upon you a few things at this point, get active in little ways or big ways, it can all add up.  We as a group of citizens were able to help our representatives understand our desire for them to vote no against LB 887, the Medicaid expansion bill.  While I couldn’t ride the bus down to Lincoln on Tuesday where approximately 100 fellow taxpayers went and simply asked for a few minutes time to ask the senators to vote against this bill, I facebooked, twittered, emailed, and contacted as many Senators as I could when I could.

Each person had an affect and will continue to have an affect if we have more people involved.  We need more people to help, its critical for us to continue with the momentum regaining ground and bringing our great state and nation back to the power of the people not just the elected few.   Taking 10 minutes a day to contact 2 elected officials, taking 10 minutes a week could make the difference between remaining a thriving happy free people or succumbing to the future that is being planned for us by officials who either don’t know any better or who truly desire the destruction of the United States of America, either way we can be content to sit back and let whatever happen or we take control and shape our destiny. 

Either way the decision is ours at this point.  Do you not want bigger, better and brighter than the dismal future the left and some of the right are laying out for you?

Questions feel free to contact me I may not have the answer you like or an answer  at all, but a conversation is a start.

And last but not least win or lose take a minute to thank your elected officials when they make the right decision or vote for you, if they disappoint you let them know that as well. If they are hearing from you, they know you are paying attention to their actions.  

   And just a little shout out for the unicameral, as quoted, US Senator George W Norris:

“There is no sense or reason in having the same thing done twice, especially if it is to be done by two bodies of men elected in the same way and having the same jurisdiction.”

Experiments Americans Results

Tomorrow I will be attending a monthly meeting, the Nebraska Tax Payers for Freedom meeting.  The meeting is held on a Wednesday evening, 6:30 pm.  The normal meeting has discussions regarding all aspects for our local community. A city watch, the school watch,  a assigned watch for each aspect of local government, great ways for the average citizen to catch up on the many government processes that go on around them on a daily basis.  They will also have two candidates there tomorrow who will most likely explain their platform, and then depending on our interest we will get to throw them a few questions. 

Now I want to ask, how many people usually attend?  While I have only begun to attend  meetings regularly, I would say they average 60 people.  Most the same faces each and very meeting I attend.  Great that 60 people are interested in having a say in the very operations and government doings that impact our lives on a daily basis, or GOOD G_D!   60 or so people out a city wide area that has approximately 450,000+ population.  That means .00013333 less than a 10th of 1% of the population is showing up to learn about the very decisions being made that affect every aspect of their lives.   Now I know everyone gets busy, I know some people are not interested in politics, however this is not all about politics and irregardless. How can anyone complain about politicians or the actions of cities, politicians and other governmental agencies after the fact?   60 people cannot save you from yourselves, from failed government policies that will not only affect you, but will affect your pocketbook, your homes, your schools, your children and their futures.

Help us help you, show up once in awhile. If you would only pay attention to what is going on around you, even once a week, once a month we could fix things, stop things, bring out the actions from what is  shrouded in darkness and mystery, because the majority of America reacts instead of making their voices heard before the votes.  You the American public have made it very easy for both parties to act as a unified body, to do whatever they want with little repercussions.  

So I ask for a few new faces, a few new voices show up for our meeting, get enlightened, get enthused, just get informed.  I will be there no matter because though the pessimist in me has grave doubts for our future, I have a little optimist in me as well, that hopes against hope that someone new will show, that someone else will help carry the torch, lift the burden from the struggling few so that we all win, all of America, especially our children and their futures.  Prove the pessimist wrong… show up tomorrow, you have time for your future, don’t you???

Millard public Library 132nd Westwood Lane, Omaha NE 6:30pm.     

I will be waiting…..

 

 

Super Bowl game VS the next Big Game

So while many people are preparing for this Sunday’s Super Bowl, I have been sitting and reflecting on the next Big Game that’s coming up, this year’s elections.

Did you know that in 2012 167 million people tuned in and spent hours watching the Super Bowl.  In comparison the 2008 Presidential election garnered the interest of a whopping 131 million voters, of whom some were dead, voting multiple times, and voting illegally.

Those facts alone cause me to just cringe when people starting talking about the Big Game.  I know they are not talking about any election that will impact their lives in every which way, but they are talking about a game that will have no impact whatsoever in improving my life or anyone else’s.

Something else that makes me cringe?  The word Republican…   see I can snicker and laugh at the word Democrat, I either take them seriously or depending on who they are I don’t.  However say Republican and I like many many many others I can’t laugh. I can barely hold back a sneer.  I had actively been Republican and supported the GOP since the age of 10.  And then approximately 5 years ago I resigned membership from the GOP and became an Independent.  I have been disappointed, discouraged and betrayed way to many times to continue throwing any time, money or effort on a party that was not only ineffective but actively betraying its own base.

Why do I write all this…well because I have a small smidgeon of hope that the party can be reclaimed from the Republicrats and become the party it was intended to be.  A party that has spawned numerous tea party, independent and libertarian groups who were able to meet on common grounds and whom fled and are continuing to flee from the broken, outright disgraceful party we today know, or should I say don’t know and don’t recognize.  

My hope is for candidates and officials such as Ted Cruz, are you career Republicans and Republican candidates even paying attention to what is going on around you??  How many of you would have stood next to Ted Cruz as he fought for the American people, his voters and the voters in other states who begged someone, anyone to stand up and fight the tyranny that is the unconstitutional mandate that is Obamacare.  WE WANT MORE Teds’ not traitors, not compromise, not one more tax, not one more cut to the military men and women who are serving, no more sacrificing our children to common core, no more Medicaid expansion, advertising of a US Food Stamp program on foreign soil.  Not one more betrayal of the conservative value we all hold so dear.

And if you don’t believe me, and if you don’t want my help, just look at Ted Cruz’s fundraising totals.  Forget big corporation donations, forget the dyed in wool old time party member who still has money to throw at you, look instead at his donors of less than $100.00, 41,000 of them.  30,000 of the 41,000 are first time donors!!!!   Are you even close to this.  I can almost guarantee that of those 41,000 people many of them could barely afford to donate the $100.00 or less, but in seeing the words and ACTIONS of Ted Cruz they saw hope, they see hope and this is why I can hope he will remain in his elected capacity. However for any man to stand as strongly as he had against opponents not across the aisle, but against the opponents in his own party brings me to another point.

Most likely the Republican party lives or dies in the next few elections, if it even makes it past the upcoming election.  To turn the party around you must regain former Republicans trust,  as well as any money they can afford to donate, and believe you me we don’t have much.  There are 5 voter categories that I wont even get into now, but know this you only have 1 of those categories sown up.  If you want the rest its going to be an uphill battle, a battle I would like to help with, in hopes that a few good men and women can help save what was once a great American party.  But you need us, you need me and remember you work for us, its not the other way around. 

You want to win, let me know, it can be done.  Or continue on the path the party has chosen and most likely Republicans of my lifetime will not be remembered fondly, if they are remembered at all.

 

I end with my favorite quote by Jefferson ” The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”

Where do you think we are and how, Nebraska Candidates, any and all nationwide candidates what do you say to that quote?? The one question I ask every politician I meet: ” Why should I ever tell or teach my children to work?? GIVE ME A REASON!!! (keep in mind by my very actions they will work, however I am starting to question why, honest to God why they should, so they can pay the tax man, have less, have more pay taken and given away, blown away, wasted and then what, die of a heart attack from working so hard in dismay and disgust?????)

Anyone want to answer let me know. Want to win, the hearts and minds, as well as the pocket book ( tiny as they are) of the middle class, let me know, find me, it can be done, although you have left it a little late….. its not too late, the Big Game is almost here.