tony jeter dot com

Click here to view a PDF of last week’s building permits.

Is it legal for our elected representatives in Congress to exempt themselves from just about every law that they pass for our benefit? Legal, yes – right, no. Just being legal doesn’t really cut the mustard these days. The good old “it has to be OK if it’s legal” argument is just another rationalization for those that support elected Council people juggling their responsibilities to the taxpayers with their own self interests. There are lots of Pro Self Politicians out there. They are all over the place. It’s really good for them that the there are very low hurdles that have to be cleared to stay within the law. Incredibly, even lawyers are supposed to abide by higher ethical requirements than our City Charter requires of its elected officials. BTW, I think the taxpayers (the people who pay the bills) would get a much deal better on healthcare reform if our elected representatives and their staff handlers were required to participate in the same program.

Read this and this.  I think it is down right scary the direction things are taking.

The following excerpt is from a post on the blog The Daily Reckoning. This is a blog that I occasionally read because their take is usually contrary to what the popular financial pundits (and the Feds) are saying at any given time.  While I don’t always agree with them they do make for good reading.  BTW, I think his take on government below is right on.  Click here to read the entire post.

In its naked form, government is not evil; it is merely a self- interested parasite, like a bank lobbyist. Its main value comes from its ability to elbow out other parasites. Of course, the typical citizen is no saint either. Instead, he is merely a parasite in the larval stage. If he is lucky enough or cunning enough, he could grow into a parasite himself. The citizen, generally, doesn’t mind being lied to and robbed - just so long it is by someone he elected. Or at least by someone whom tradition or local connivance put in place. He does not usually resent his homegrown government, even though it routinely costs him a substantial part of his output. On the contrary, he grows so fond of it he even dons his helmet from time to time to protect it. Naturally, the feds return the favor.

The basic business model of government is to keep order, protect campaign contributors and lure supporters with the promise of other peoples’ money. The game plan of the typical citizen is even simpler: to be on the receiving end, not the paying end. Over time, more and more of them get into position. And the whole society becomes more costly, and more corrupt.

I have lost count of the people that have been upset with me beacuse I would not publish their comments on this blog.  I ususally get a couple of comments a week that I think are over the line for various reasons.  My reasons for not publishing these comments is, for the most part, plain old good taste.  Another reason I don’t post numerous comments is to avoid liability - for the commenter.  When I first strted this blog I was warned by more than one lawyer to be “careful” to keep from getting sued.  There is a common thought that a person can anonymously say anything they want online no matter how incenidarry.  A recent ruling in New York could go a long way in changing this attitude.

So if the Government can’t even run the cash for clunkers program how in the world can they run a nationalized healthcare system?

Click here to view a PDF of last week’s building permits.

How in the world did the City manage to get by all those years pre-1989?  We had none of the enlightened business people the Mayor referenced as truly qualified to hold elected office. Temple just had to make due with those less than industrious people that didn’t live off of taxpayer’s dollars.  It’s hard to fathom what Temple would look like today if our forefathers had not so ignorantly discriminated against those poor people that yearned for the opportunity to be a Councilperson. Just think we could’ve been like Austin or Dallas has we just had the leadership to take us to the moon.  I wonder if we could be sued for our past offences of discrimination.

The Mayor, and others, have rationalized their stand against a Charter Review that might ultimately lead to the barring of elected officials being able to do business with the City by stating that such a prohibition would lead to a deficiency in both the quality and quantity of people that would be able to run for a Council seat.  They say that the 1990 Charter amendment was a good for the City because it would open the floodgates to all of the qualified people that were being excluded from public service because they “did” business with the City. Below are lists of each Council since the Charter was amended.  Give them a quick scan and see if you think the argument holds any water.  I plan to write more on this topic as the week progresses.

CITY COUNCIL - 1990
District #1                Hanes H. Brindley, Sr.    Physician
District #2                Nathaniel Mitchell          Retired Military
District #3                J.W. Perry                         Office Supplies
District #4                William J. Hardin           Physician
Mayor At-Large       Dennis Hobbs                  CPA/Investments

CITY COUNCIL - 1992
District #1                Keifer Marshall, Jr.        Insurance
District #2                Nathaniel Mitchell        Retired Military
District #3                Tommy Stone                 Driving School/ Internet-Media
District #4                Wade Matthews             CPA
Mayor At-Large       J. W. Perry                      Office Supplies

CITY COUNCIL - 1994
District #1                Keifer Marshall, Jr.       Insurance
District #2                George English              Rancher/ Retired Teacher
District #3                Tommy Stone                Driving School/ Internet-Media
District #4                Wade Matthews            CPA
Mayor At-Large       J. W. Perry                     Office Supplies

CITY COUNCIL - 1996
District #1                Keifer Marshall, Jr.        Insurance
District #2                George E. English          Rancher/Retired Teacher
District #3                Tommy Stone                 Driving School/Internet-Media
District #4                Wade Matthews             CPA
Mayor At-Large       J. W. Perry                      Office Supplies

CITY COUNCIL - 1998
District #1                Jack M. Morris                 Insurance
District #2                George E. English           Rancher/Retired Teacher
District #3                Scott Brookshire             Auto Dealer
District #4                Sally H. Myers                 Homemaker
Mayor At-Large       Keifer Marshall, Jr.        Insurance

CITY COUNCIL - 2000
District #1                Jack M. Morris                 Insurance
District #2                George E. English            Rancher/Retired Teacher
District #3                Martha Tyroch                 Nurse/Vocational Rehab
District #4                Sally H. Myers                  Homemaker
Mayor At-Large       Keifer Marshall, Jr.         Insurance

CITY COUNCIL - 2002
District #1                Tony Jeter                          Media/Marketing
District #2                Patsy E. Luna                    Medical Secretary
District #3                Martha Tyroch                  Nurse/Vocational Rehab
District #4                Sally H. Myers                  Homemaker
Mayor At-Large       Bill Jones, III                    Food Handling/Battery Equip

CITY COUNCIL - 2004
District #1                Tony Jeter                          Media/Marketing
District #2                Patsy E. Luna                    Medical Secretary
District #3                Martha Tyroch                  Nurse/Vocational Rehab
District #4                Russell T. Schneider        Road Construction
Mayor At-Large       Bill Jones, III                    Food Handling/Battery Equip/ Quarry/ Steel Supplier

CITY COUNCIL - 2005
District #1                Tony Jeter                          Media/Marketing
District #2                Patsy E. Luna                    Medical Secretary
District #3                Martha Tyroch                  Nurse/Vocational Rehab
District #4                Russell T. Schneider        Road Construction
Mayor At-Large      Bill Jones, III                   Food Handling/Battery Equip/ Quarry/ Steel Supplier/Advertising

CITY COUNCIL - 2008
District #1                Tony Jeter                         Insurance
District #2                Patsy E. Luna                   Medical Secretary
District #3                Marty Janczak                  Granite Business
District #4                Russell T. Schneider        Road Construction
Mayor At-Large      Bill Jones, III                   Food Handling/Battery Equip/ Quarry/ Steel Supplier/Advertising

I thought this Forbes piece was interesting.  The last paragraph is especially apropos in light of the town-hall fiascos of late.