Water

Water is a precious resource that is much talked about these days in California.  With this resource being stretched statewide and with many of our communities facing mandated changes, the customers of Bighorn Desert View Water Agency remain relaxed.  We have only to turn on the tap and clean clear water is pumped from the reservoir beneath our feet and efficiently distributed to our homes.  The Board of Directors and our General Manager, Mrs. West, have fought very hard to maintain superior levels of service to every bdvwa customer.  The system is in good shape with improvements carefully mapped out for the future. The budgeting and cost controls employed at the local level have enabled our water agency to service their customers without a rate increase since 2008.  The residents of  Flamingo Heights, Johnson Valley and Landers are blessed to be able to take their water for granted.

In the last year the normal routine of bdvwa was interrupted by requests from the customers of the county run W1 system to join with our agency.  These folk are our neighbors, they pump their water from the same source as we do but county long distance management has resulted in higher rates with rate projections to go even higher in the near future.  One might ask, why?  Asking for some financial accountability from county officials is met with only blank stares and the unspoken accusation that Bighorn Desert View Water Agency is not operating in the best long range interest of the customer.  This groundless slander is typical big government excuse making for their own mismanagement and reckless spending.

Please forgive the pun but the grass is really greener at Bighorn Desert View Water Agency.

G.Goslaw
From the sand box

Applause

Board of Directors
Bighorn Desert View Water Agency

After two years, the Goslaw household has become familiar with the desert community of Landers.  Our early fascination with the desert has not waned but increased as my dogs and I have gotten to know the people of this community.  Getting to know you, the Bighorn Desert View Water Agency has taken almost as long but with each contact I have become increasingly thankful that such good folk are in charge of our water resource.  My only experience has been with those big government operations so I had a great deal of skepticism to overcome.  Thank you Directors and the staff for your patience, you are, indeed, special.

G.Goslaw
Landers, Ca

As I see it...

As I see it, Big Horn Desert View Water Agency is moving away from it’s mission statement to provide quality water service to the community at a fair and reasonable rate.  We were designed by the state, not to compete with the big government operations, but first to do right by the community.  This can only be accomplished by keeping management decision making as close as possible to the customer base.  Every decision of the Board of Directors should result in making this organization more customer friendly.

The Board of Directors does a disservice to the community when spending exceeds available resources.  A casual look at the numbers say that you are spending beyond your means.  The finances appear to be a yearly if not monthly juggling act.  None of us are perfect, we have all been there on occasion, but it has to stop.  If it does not stop, this board will have to raise rates.  As one of your customers, may I make it crystal clear that a rate hike is not an available resource.  Ours is an economically depressed community, some would say a community dying a slow death.  If you try to raise rates this customer will call for the resignation of every board member at every committee meeting and at every board meeting from now until eternity, be forewarned.

This customer is not willing to pay more for water so that you, the Board of Directors can go on the payroll. This customer is not willing to pay more for water so that the salaries of the operational staff can keep pace with those big government operations.  This customer is not willing to pay more for water so that we can send our leadership to cozy up with the big government mucky mucks at every opportunity.  Why can’t we be different?  Board of Directors, you need to take charge, please no rate hike!          

G.Goslaw
Landers, Ca

The Simple Fix

Here we go again!  The knowledgeable conservative voter has no real choice in another Presidential election.  Please forgive me as I mention the last thirty two years of the historical record.  In the presidential race of 1988 and 1992, George H. W. Bush was the Republican establishment choice, in 1996 Senator Robert Dole was the chosen one, in 2000 and 2004 George W. Bush was elected by the narrowest of margins and in 2008 the inept Senator John Mc Cain lead the Republican party to a resounding defeat, giving us President Barack Obama.  In the upcoming presidential election of 2012, Mitt Romney has won the job of confronting Barack Obama in his reelection bid.  The last quasi conservative presidential candidate or President was Ronald Reagan, who won election in 1980 and 1984.

The unifying character of all these Republicans, except Reagan, is that each one is an establishment moderate Republican politician, meaning that they are timid political adolescents who will inevitably  decide “to go with the flow”.  George W. Bush raised taxes despite a no new tax pledge.  He thought he could appease the liberal Democratic call for higher taxes to support bigger government.  The Democrats responded to his courage by refusing to cut spending as promised.  Senator Dole was a good man and a war hero but he had no real message, persona or governing experience to ignite the electorate.  As a result, William Jefferson Clinton was elected our forty second President.  President Clinton began by governing as a typical big government Democrat but his sexual scandal in the White House forced him to embrace some conservative policies in order to survive politically.  Surprisingly, for the first and only time since President Reagan, smaller government programs with the resulting lower cost and lower taxes produced good economic times for working, tax paying Americans.

George W. Bush was elected or crowned by the Supreme Court as President 43.  To King George’s credit, he never claimed to be conservative thinking, just another moderate establishment Republican, advancing bigger government programs in education, the supposed war on terror and feeding the insatiable dollar appetite of our war economy.  In addition, the insane expansion of housing programs for those folk who cannot afford to buy a house was pushed by Democratic liberal mentalities in Congress.  The Republicans offered little resistance as they were busy warmongering.  They stood by passively or even assisted when Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac were allowed to insanely expand.  Home ownership had become the unreal expectation of every American.

These good times were short lived, as we all know, the resulting economic pain from the bursting economic bubble threatened and profoundly impacted every American.  Well, it was painful for almost every American.  Our bumbling politicians bailed out the Wall Street banks who were largely responsible for the housing collapse.  Our bumbling politicians poured billions of taxpayer money into major industries, particularly union companies.  Our bumbling politicians enacted a “one trillion dollar” stimulus bill that was supposedly to ensure a speedy economic recovery.  Instead, most of the money was used to expand the governmental public sector and ensure for them a pain free recession.  The federal workforce was increased, little wonder that real estate prices in Washington D.C. went up when the rest of the country was losing equity.  Then our bumbling politicians sent a majority of the money to the states to fund the public sector, teachers, police, firefighters and emergency workers.  And of course, our bumbling politicians in every context were shielded from economic pain.

The private sector has been abandoned by our bumbling politicians to shoulder most of the economic pain.  The job creators of our economy were left to fend for themselves straddling ever increasing governmental regulation.  Is there any doubt as to why the unemployment numbers have remained so high?  Is there any doubt why so many Americans have given up hope for a job?  Is there any doubt why so many have elected to go on Social Security early?  Is there any doubt why the welfare and food stamp rolls have ballooned, in some cases doubling?  Is there any doubt why our college graduates have dismal prospects for employment in their field of study?  Is there any doubt why our high school kids can’t find a part time job?  Is there any doubt why our young adults are choosing to live with their parents into their thirties?  President O’Bama talks about economic fairness when his recovery policies are the exact antithesis of fairness.  Such rhetoric is so unjustified as to be simply a lie.  In cowardly fashion, those working in the government, the public sector and the unions support the lie.

Again, I apologize for this historical recitation but doesn’t the history make we voting taxpaying Americans wonder why we have been so stupid?  We support politicians who fail us and then they take no responsibility by dodging to blame the politicians of the other political party.  They are con artists and we keep playing their gamers.  Possibly it is time for the voting public to stop tolerating the political games and insist upon authentic conservative leadership.  We have yet to try that simple fix.  That kind of president will lead us toward smaller government, true tax reform, a balanced budget and a working America.  Why would we want to  accept anything less?

G.Goslaw
Landers, Ca.

we the fringe ( a revision)

Mr. Editor

Enclosed is a revision of a letter previously submitted. You are the editor and make the decision on what to print but this letter is better than 99% of those you do print. Is not your editorial philosophy to “stir up the stew”? You do a lot of stirring. Only one person has commented to me personally about any of my letters but I welcome all comments, positive or especially negative. Generally, the average American and your readers are timidly uninformed. I welcome the opportunity to stir also, regardless.

Letter to the Editor

Daily Press

Re: “History repeats itself”, Alex Varga; “Second coming”, Tom Freeman. Letters to the editor, Daily Press, Monday, February 28, 2011.

Steve Williams, this reader is mad at you too. Where do you find these people? The only positive thing to say about these folk is that they have the courage to crawl out of there progressive cocoons and speak up. And what do we see and hear? Politically progressive octopuses whose arms are most adept at picking the pockets of the American taxpayer to further their big government agenda. Wikipedia informs us that the octopus is a very intelligent creature but two thirds of it’s neurons are located in their eight arms instead of their brains. The shoe seems to fit.

When a progressive talks about protecting jobs it is about public sector union jobs. The fate of the unemployed, the underemployed and those who have given up hopes for employment, are of no real concern. Our California experience is that the teacher, police, firefighter and correctional unions have been defrauding the taxpayers for the last thirty years. The theft has been dishonest because the unions give money to support the campaigns of the politicians sitting across the bargaining table. How can that be called bargaining? Would not the term “conflict of interest” be more appropriate?

Not only is the dollar their primary focus but they negatively intrude into the management of the various organizations they claim to serve. Intrusions that prevent the success of these organization. The failure of the California public school system with it’s monopolistic teacher tenure priority seem to be obvious. Full blown collective bargaining as defined by the Wisconsin and California unions, is not an American right nor is it the American norm.

Thankfully, right to work states that include the public sector in their legislation are doing better in this depressed economy. Their more business friendly climates works for the American worker. The painful truth for the progressive is that if you are unemployed, the best advice is to cross the state line and live in a right to work state. Our families have been forced to separate because the young folk understandably need a job. And if a government job is not their thing, they have to go to a business friendly state, which is not California.

That brings us to that “fringe conservative”, Californian, Ronald Reagan. He was not intimidated by anyone throwing around intended slurs like fringe. President Reagan knew that he was right and knew it would tick off the less informed (a gentle term). Maybe that is why so may of us relate and honor this man. Calling a spade a spade whether Republican or Democratic was his most admirable character trait. That is not to say that the second best president in our American history was a perfect president. Mr. Freeman correctly points that out for us. However, as a political philosopher and communicator, he was so very close to perfection.

If Ronald Reagan were president in our America, what would he say to the full blown public sector unions?

“Fire them all!” And we the fringe agree.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, Ca

we the fringe

Letter to the Editor

Daily Press

Re: “History repeats itself”, Alex Varga; “Second coming”, Tom Freeman. Letters to the editor,Daily Press, Monday, February 28, 2011.

Steve Williams, this reader is mad at you too. Where do you find these people? The only positive thing to say about these folk is that they have the courage to crawl out of their progressive cocoons and speak up. And what do we see and hear? Politically progressive octopuses whose arms are most adept at picking the pockets of the American taxpayer to further their big government agenda. Wikipedia informs us that the octopus is a very intelligent creature but two thirds of it’s neurons are located in their eight arms instead of their brains. The shoe seems to fit.

When a progressive talks about protecting jobs it is about union jobs not jobs for the unemployed. Our California experience is that the teacher, police, firefighter and correctional unions have been defrauding the taxpayers for the last thirty years. The theft has been dishonest because the unions give money to support the campaigns of the politicians sitting across the bargaining table. How can that be called bargaining? Would not the term “conflict of interest” be more appropriate?

Not only is the dollar their primary focus but they negatively intrude into the management of the very organizations they claim to serve. Intrusions that prevent the success of these organization. The failure of the California public school system with it’s monopolistic teacher tenure priority seem to be obvious. Full blown collective bargaining as defined by the Wisconsin and California unions is not an American right nor is it an American norm.

Thankfully, right to work states that include the public sector in their legislation are doing better in this depressed economy. Their more business friendly climates work for the American worker. The painful truth that the progressive will not acknowledge is that if you are unemployed, cross the state line and live in a right to work state. Our families have been forced to separate because our young have to work. And if a government job is not their thing, they have to go to a business friendly state, which is not California.

That brings us to that “fringe conservative”, Californian, Ronald Reagan. Maybe his fringe status is the reason why so may of us relate and honor this man. Ronald Regan was not intimidated by anyone, least of all the name calling of politicians. Calling a spade a spade whether Republican or Democratic, was his most admirable character trait. That is not to say that the second best president in our American history was a perfect president. Mr. Freeman correctly points that out for us. However, as a political philosopher and communicator, he was so very close to perfection.

If Ronald Reagan were president in our America, what would he say to the full blown public sector unions?

"Fire them all!" And we the fringe agree.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, Ca

Government Unions

Letter to the Editor

Daily Press

It’s about time. Thank you Wisconsin and Governor Walker for finally taking action against the greed of your public employee unions. Collective bargaining has helped to get we taxpayers into the current financial disaster. The demonstrators are advertising their selfishness and now are asking us to be sympathetic. This makes no sense. Keep on demonstrating teachers, police, firefighters, prison guards, and judges, for the longer you fight the more you are alienating those of us who pay your salary and pensions. Tell your AWOL senators that this isn’t America when they cowardly run to Illinois.

This reader is beyond tax paying years but where it is possible I refuse to pay taxes. We private sector employees should band together for a Tax Boycott until this injustice is fixed nationwide. Down with the governmental Madoff Ponzi scheme when the taxpayer has to make the investment for you. The rest of the country is suffering and now it’s your turn. The public sector will never get the workers of America working so you are of diminished value to us!

G.Goslaw

Victorville, Ca

Union Arrogance

latimes.com/opinion

February 4, 2011

Thank you L.A. Times for your expose’ telling the truth about our prison guards union. The article in today‘s paper, “Workers Blamed for Rise in Prison Phones” by Jack Dolan, is a bit of a welcome surprise. This reader enjoys reading your paper to remain aware of how liberal California is not thinking. However, this article is an accurate and truthful description of this union and offers California some hope for meaningful change.

The Prison Guard’s union is a glaring example of the few arrogantly spitting in the face of we taxpayers. They are one of the primary reasons that California has become such a dump. The teacher’s union is cheering them on. Their educational system failure, all in the name of concern for kids, is a ridiculous and obvious lie. Instead of more money, they deserve less and must support independent charter school and home schooling directives. Reform would then be possible. Don’t hold your breath.

California is dying and the unions continue to keep the plug pulled. There is a filthy nasty ring forming around the taxpayer tub and when it is empty, our state will finally have to confront the greedy villains. At that time it will be too late.

G.Goslaw
Victorville, Ca.

Guilty

The criminal mind is a part of our DNA, each and every one of us, even me. You can chuckle but it is the human condition. When the bent of our criminal minds takes control of our actions, then our minds may produce criminals who break the law. There are moments when the vicissitudes of life fog up the distinction between having a criminal bent and being a criminal. I am guilty. Please allow me to confess.

In my sixty five years, forty seven behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and thirty eight years of driving commercially, I have never worn a seat belt voluntarily in the drivers seat. I just can’t bring myself to put it on. This criminality is indeed a part of my DNA. Will I insist that all passengers riding with me are attached properly? Do I wear a seat belt when riding with another driver? Always, but this stubborn California driver will remain a seat belt criminal. For short moments I ponder why but only for a few moments.

Such moments have occurred in the last six months. I have been stopped twice by the man for not wearing a seat belt. And as I said I’m guilty. My first seat belt violation was about ten years ago as an add on to a speeding ticket. Fair enough but it was only $82.00. Three months ago an Apple Valley sheriff pulled me over lights flashing within a few miles of the house for no other reason than my seat belt. Despite bubbling anger at such irrational enforcement of the seat belt law, I did pay the fine of $152.00. Three calls to the traffic commander, elicited no response, he is still hiding.

This criminal driver is protesting. No rational argument can be made that this ticket was about the safety of the other guy. Was it about my own safety? This is still America, if I choose to be confident enough to trust myself behind the wheel while being unattached, it is nobody else’s business! The law be damned, or more accurately the immoral enforcement of the seat belt law. The red light camera’s are another case in point. Municipalities, including Victorville, are taking them down because the truth is that their use was and is more about raising money for the system than they are about driver safety. Again, another case of unjust enforcement.

This context brings me to my second seat belt ticket in November 2010 and the third in a life time. Shame, Shame! While driving alone in my own vehicle within a few blocks of the house, obeying all other traffic laws, the California Highway Patrol pulled me over lights flashing. Officer J. Martin, badge # 19874, was watching for we criminal’s at the corner of Spring Valley Lake Parkway and Kalin Ranch Road. This is a favorite hangout for tax collection, for it seems that only the man considers it unsafe. The officer in question, who was barely old enough to shave, politely informed this driver that my seat belt was not attached. The ticket cost this driver $166.00. Guilty.

Can we put this conversation in the context of Miss Valles’s desire to restore nine more deputies to Victorville? Please shake up City Hall, Miss Valles, but we the legally driving public do not need more bullies in uniform to financially support your governmental employees. Their unions are about unfairly robbing the tax paying public, they think of themselves first, and we don’t need nine more. Contrary to the word’s of Miss Valles, the number one job of the government is not safety. Staying out of the pocketbook of responsible citizens is number one. Just because one governmental employee says we need more governmental employees is no surprise.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, Ca

A Challenge

Human events are in much confusion. A missionary to Mexico, Nancy Davis, is shot and killed by the druggies. There are riots in the streets of Egypt. The world is in financial crisis, the younger generations are rightly upset with this world’s political expediency. Injustice is the long tolerated norm of our politicians as they perpetuate abusive school and welfare systems. The hard working, tax paying, risk taking private sector worker is being victimized by American institutions that have been corrupted in the last forty years. As is, there seems to be few real options and little hope for future generations.

This reality confronts us every day. To date the only national response is for our politicians to kick the football around while the people suffer. Where can we look for authentic leadership in these times? Should the peoples of the world expect leadership from our spiritual and religious institutions? Where are they, saving the soul’s of men? Are they hiding behind their golden silence and the walls of the Church? The Church has volunteered to be irrelevant in the current crisis and therefore in the lives of men.

What have we learned in the 2000 years since Jesus walked the byways of Palestine? What has the Church learned since Jesus called to account the religious institutions of that time? Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter ten. The “robbers and thieves” of our time are leaving the people half dead and the predicted response of the “priest’s” and “lay leadership” is to pass on the other side in a time of crisis. Jesus did not open up a perpetual checking account for the man in crisis as some would assert. Rather the Samaritan showed mercy in a time of crisis which made personal responsibility possible.

The biblical mandates are clear and seemingly unavoidable. But where is the voice of the Church? The sinning church is an institution bent upon self preservation as opposed to doing Good. The Almighty dollar is the rule of this community. Those in institutional robes will retort, “who are you to criticize us, you are not Jesus”! Correct, but this chief among of sinners must speak out because the best of us won’t.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, Ca.

Bugs

Letter to the editor

Daily Press

Victorville, Ca

Re: “Welfare Parasites?”, John E. Douglass, Letters, Jan. 26.

Thank you Mr. Douglass for your letter in response to Mr. Irwin’s critic of our present welfare system. Welfare is an honorable function of the American government for it gives the most desperate of us a chance at a positive success story. Your story beginning at least sixty years ago is such an admirable case in point. Thank you again for the testimonial.

Today’s welfare system is not about compassion for it has lost it’s original mission. To criticize the present system is an act of compassion because desperately needed change may save the honorable mission that the structure was intended to fulfill in our community. Please do not judge the criticism harshly but attempt first to evaluate it in light of the current parasitic system.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, Ca

Hey Jerry ...

Are you a proponent of the advertised Democratic motto of representing the disadvantaged? This budget plan declares war on the little guy, the bottom 20% of the economic ladder in California. Are we as a mature society to make the least of us support the economic greed of the working advantaged? It is positively sinful.

These are desperate times for all Californians with the necessity for dramatic cuts to governmental services. Please, the public sector has to bear the cuts. The grossly overpaid working secure unions have to be confronted with their greed, not assisted in their felony by our politicians. You may pay a price by being a one term governor but do it for California.

Besides union cuts, the welfare system needs targeting for it is broken. Welfare should be taxpayer funded for the dangerously needy but this state has a system that reeks of a ballooned undeserving clientele. Fraud, illegal aliens, mismanagement and those who are milking the system combine to bleed the honest taxpayer. It is not fair as well as sinful. We do not understand how the thieves among us can sit in church under a cloud of self imposed self righteousness. The blind are following the blind.

Our concern is primarily resources for the disabled. On a visit to the doctor a young man in a wheel chair struck up a casual conversation with those of us in the waiting room. He is facing his limitation with great courage but we as taxpayers want to assist him not the selfish. To make this distinction is a difficult job but take this moment in your long career and be the change agent that will give California a future. The departing governor missed his opportunity for the change he promised. This is your hour. No halfway measure will work.

Who knows I could even vote for you next time.

Kindest Regards,

G.Goslaw

Victorville, California

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Letter to the Editor
Daily Press
P.O.Box 1389
Victorville,CA 92393

Re: Tighten the System, Michael Snow, Daily Press, Sunday, November 28, 2010.

Mr. Snow, do you watch Law and Order? As taxpayers we need leverage to change an agreed upon broken welfare system. Fixing the system from the bottom up, while desperately needed, is beyond our ability as taxpayers to effect. That is the job of those hired to manage the system but why should they? The more welfare folk to manage the more secure is the welfare of the managers.

What we as taxpayers don’t need is more welfare managers not doing their jobs. What we do need is our hired managers doing the job they were hired to do.

I was wrong, you have convinced me that your government employee management folk should have a 25% cut in their taxpayer funded welfare system.

G.Goslaw
Victorville, Ca

Poor Baby II

Letter to the Editor

Daily Press

October 26, 2009

A response to a letter from Judith Grounds of Barstow, California. Her letter to the editor appeared in the Daily Press of October 26, 2009.

Again, one of our sacrificing educational public sector employees has exposed her spoiled, self centered and elitist persona. Judith Grounds “deserves a decent salary and a decent pension

( her words )”, so she states in her letter titled, “It’s Not The Money”. The hypocrisy of that statement is exponential. These teachers live in another universe of unreal expectations and whine when we blue collar, private sector stiffs resent paying her $62,896.20 a year for sitting on her duff in retirement, as long as she may live. Where is the justice?

Most of us have lead fulfilling lives working for much less. We have owned homes, raised families and contributed to going businesses with our blood sweat and tears. We also started businesses that mostly failed but we were always able to manage the vicissitudes of life. Our taxes usually got paid. For most of us, in the best years, our incomes fell very short of Judith Grounds yearly pension. The private sector does not whine, we chose the independent life and we have no regret. We pride ourselves in hard work and not taking a dollar unjustly from anyone who is also in need of a just (decent) income.

Judith Grounds, you have your pension but don’t expect we private sector workers to smile at tax time. Teaching is a noble career but you work no harder than the rest of us. In fact, how was your summer vacation, Judith Grounds?

G.Goslaw

Victorville CA

Poor Baby

July 13, 2009

Have you ever sensed that the known world was crushing your personal space? So it seems to be with Lisa Bradley, a Marin County Kindergarten teacher. She was quoted in the Daily Press this morning, July 13, 2009. The article is about our politicians latest attempt at constructing a budget that is revenue neutral.

Ms. Bradley’s comments expose a sense of educational entitlement that parallels that of the social welfare system. To her, educational concerns and their funding are somehow special and not to be subject to the axe. The supposed mission to teach the children of California and Mexico is so righteous that dollars are of no concern.

The taxpayers of California have said no to this mindset. Sacramento is finally awaking to the fact that our educational system must share the pain of these times. Raising taxes is self destructive to California. Any educator whose mental process won’t accept this reality should take a life long sabbatical.

She pleads ignorant of the causes of our state’s economic crisis, “ I don’t know how this happened”. Burying her head in the sand like an ostrich, will not make the math go away. California may be the eighth biggest economy in the world but like any household budget, when expenses exceed income there is a crisis.

This could be a lesson worthy of her kindergarteners, although the lesson plan will have to be written by one of her instructional assistants. Then again, she could get back to teaching. Poor Baby.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, CA.

Folly of the Foxes

July 9, 2009

Billionaire stock market mogul Warren Buffet is promoting another stimulus package. Mr. Buffet is crazy like a fox. Why would a major player in the market advance another bailout for public sector jobs?

This mentally deficient observer can muster enough wisdom to run with the fox. He is part and parcel of America’s invested class. The public sector is the major revenue stream for the well being of Wall Street. Everyone working for some government welfare program is invested with a multitude of financial products. Politicians, teachers, I.R.S., staffers, Washington staffers, prison personnel, every job in medicine, state, county and city employees and the like are invested regularly through their employers.

If the public sector takes a hit, so does the market and so do the billions of the fox. There has been and is a class warfare a foot in our country. One day, when it is to late, then we shall understand. One day, if we continue this economic violence against fellow Americans, we shall all be broke. One day and soon, our grandchildren will suffer from our error. One day, we shall all be rudely awakened from the folly of the foxes.

G.Goslaw

Victorville, Ca.

The California Axis of Evil

Letter to the Editor
Daily Press

June 30, 2009

Kudos to representative Steve Knight! Our states version of the axis of evil is on the attack against certain state politicians with a glossy mailer. Representing the axis is “The Fair Budget Coalition“ as described by James Rufus Koren, the Redlands Daily Facts on 6/16/09. As a Victorville resident, we received the said deceptive mailing.

The Fair Budget Coalition is fed by the axis of evil which includes the state teachers union, the state school employees union and the public employees union. This self serving trinity and it’s deep pockets is responsible for the political impasse that has held the future of Californian hostage.

The coalition has no respect for the intelligence of the California voter. They assume we all can be deceived so easily. The supposed issue sited as hypocritical, auto expenses, is received by all state assembly politicians, whether they are for or against tax increases. Judged by the Sacramento standard, Steve Knight’s car expense is not exorbitant.

The only plausible motivation for the unions’ actions is to bilk the taxpayers of California of every spare nickel. Wake up coalition members, confess your evil, there are no spare nickels!

Representative Knight is correct, accurate and truthful. More taxes to support more spending is a California killer.

For California to move into governmental integrity, the unions must accept less not more.

G.Goslaw
Victorville, CA.

Public or Private

Letter to the Editor
Daily Press

February 6, 2009

In economic terms a balance should exist between unfettered capitalism and a big government methodology. The key word is “balance”. We have increasingly experimented with unfettered capitalism over the last twenty years. The economic disaster that has us by the throat is a direct result. By electing Barack Obama, the people spoke and rightly want our economic system to change .

In our efforts to put people to work, are we going to overcorrect toward big government as the employer of first resort? Are we going to abandon the strength of our economy, the historic dominance of the private sector over the public sector? This dominance seems to be threatened when the federal government only has to print, borrow or steal money.

Prior to this economic downturn the public sector was already making great progress toward supremacy. The seeming affluent economic atmosphere of the last six years stimulated massive, costly hiring in the public sector. Now the public sector is twice the size of the private sector and wages are twice as high even without benefits.

The private sector is impacted almost immediately in an economic downturn, as has been experienced. As people loose their homes and businesses the tax base is reduced. Now the public sector begins to awaken, the downturn is coming after my job. The massive spending of the stimulus package was largely a bailout boondoggle for this public sector. Yes, a few jobs may have been saved in the short term, but there was very little long term revenue stimulus directed toward the private sector.

Just for the purpose of definition this sector includes all governmental employees, federal, state, county and local municipalities. The educational establishment from kindergarten to graduate schools. The medical communities must be included. All these jobs are funded either directly or indirectly by our taxes and are a part of what this opinion calls the invested class, who have only suffered slightly in the market. This class makes decisions and votes according to the health of the stock market, their IRA’s, and pensions. The private sector is left to fend for itself.

Fend we shall but regardless of any stimulus package, we shall all be fending together very soon. California is a case in point. The tax base refuses to support the liberal excesses of our politicians who operate in an intellectual vacuum. There isn’t the money or the will to support big government, a big public sector and every illegal alien who strolls across our border. Yet this is what the politicians give us.

The rest of the country should take warning because as California goes “ so goes the nation”. The imbalance is critically visible and destructive to our country and freedom. It won't work.

G. Goslaw (Submitted but not Published)
Victorville, Ca. 92395

The Henhouse of Public Education

Letter to the Editor
Daily Press

March 23, 2009 (Published this Day minus henhouse reference)

As a long time Victorville California resident and taxpayer, this reader would like to express an opinion about public education. My familiarity extends to the practical experience of sending two children through this once great educational system.

The Daily Press has in recent days run an excellent and informative series of articles on the educational morass that we parents must navigate. As a faithful reader I am grateful for the clarifications expressed and hope that we all get the picture.

Regardless of the caring protestations of our elected officials and educators, their focus is not on the receivers of these public sector services but first upon money. Then the secondary priority becomes that of intellectual control over our children and what they learn. Because of these two public sector priorities, the possibility of parent directed change in education are practically nil, even though we pay the freight. After all, all of our children are both a revenue stream and wards of the state, are they not?

In true self interest style, the competition must be stifled by the public sector even before any form of voucher system is given credence. All this centralization might be acceptable if it produced the desired result, a young adult stimulated to begin a life long expanding awareness of his or her place in the universe. And, in addition, the possible positive shared experience that life offers to each of us. Our educators have touted less lofty goals that are easier to measure but have superficial value. Comparative numbers are easier to understandand more easily justify the bottom line.

Even by their own measuring system, California places last among all the states in educational success. That embarrassing data makes the public sector’s intransigence impossible to defend.
The funding equalizer, the voucher system, is absolutely essential to any hope of educational progress in California. Our system is failing most of the children, particularly those in less affluent districts. However, the public sector guru’s will not voluntarily allow competition for the above stated reasons. ( Henish reasons )

Rise up California taxpayers, demand change, but don’t get your hopes up.

GGoslaw

Pay Cuts

April 29, 2009

Mr. Jim Miller
Riverside Press Enterprise
P.O. Box 792
Riverside, Ca. 92502

Dear sir:

Thank you for listening to my bluster today. Being a native Californian and resident for most of my life, my perspective, at least in my own mind, is to ask what is best for our future. I’m listening to President Obama contend that his goal isn’t big government but that the hardship of these times give him no choice.

As you know President Reagan rightly saw government to be the problem, not the recessionary economy. Only smaller government will prove economically viable going forward. As we discussed, the dwindling tax base will force more taxes upon those who remain loyal, most will move away. The result can only be a downward spiral. The times demand big change not big government.

So what shall we do? Vote no on all the propositions. Wake up California, let us reject further denial and deceitful advertising. The government is not the employer of first resort in any growing economy. Cut the size of the public sector. Cut back on the extravagant benefit and pension plans. Cancel the failure liability for the state if employee pension and retirement funds go bust. Life in California is not without risk, let’s accept the risks and reject the entitlement mentality of the public sector.

Government can pump up the private sector if we make the effort. The editorial in the Daily Press by Mr. Getty was correct with it’s touch of libertarian moxie. Each suggested action could make a positive impact on the private sector. Some are rather extreme but the times demand these kind of actions. As a small business person, an investment tax credit kept me in business on two occasions. Where are our politicians? The priority seems to be, let the government do the hiring.

What was most shocking in the article was the disparity of incomes between the two sectors. The public sector makes twice as much! In another Daily Press article it was noted that a senior teacher in Apple Valley makes over 80,000 dollars for nine months work. The tax base can not sustain the inequity. A Victor Valley School District Superintendent wants a million dollars. These salaries are insane when the struggling private sector is mandated to pay the retail price.

Our discussion turned to the question, could there be any other untried alternative. Why not require an across the board pay cut of 10% for the entire public sector? Why not include healthcare professioals, educational professionals, correctional professionals, city, county and state workers? Most importantly, all the various politicians would volunteer for the axe. What a wonderful world that would be!

This would be an opportunity to set California on the path of being great once more. Could the pipedream happen? It is not likely, but what would be the fiscal impact upon the budget with such a plan? Mr. Miller, with your resources, would such a cut balance the budget? Is it in the neighborhood of $14 billion dollars?

I must confess to being slightly curious. What is the total payroll of California’s public sector? If you find out or are even able to make a guess, please call so I can relax just a bit. Thank you again for listening.

Sincerely yours,
G.Goslaw (There has been no reply)