For years, I have wondered why we did not have single-line veto, and continued to pass bills in congress with tons of “add-on” bills that would not pass on their own merit. I even asked that question in college. My professor, with a straight face, said simply, that without adding some bills to other more important bills, there was no chance the smaller add-on bills would get passed.

This seemed to make sense to the professor, as he stood there looking at me with a big smile. His expression quickly turned from a smile to a look of frustration when I responded by saying, maybe we would be better off if these bills that didn’t have a chance of passing on their own, simply didn’t get passed.

Does it really make any sense to anyone that we are hiding worthless bills deep inside of important bills, just to get them passed? That was what bothered me 30 years ago. Now we are at a point in time, when the Speaker of the House, is urging her members to hurry and pass an important bill so they can see what is inside the bill!

Now I don’t want to offend anyone, but that nasty common sense makes me think that our law-makers should actually read every bill, especially major important bills, and know what is inside them, PRIOR to voting on them.

I am just stunned to hear explanations from our congressmen why they don’t have time to read every bill before they have to vote on the bill. My goodness folks, why are they voting on items that they do not understand and haven’t even read? If the urge to vote is so over-whelming, just vote to table the bill until you do have time to read and understand it.

Each and every bill should be judged on its own merit. If the bill is important enough to be proposed as a new law, then it is important enough to be voted on by judging its own merits. That way, a politician’s voting record would be accurate and truly representative of his or her performance in Congress. As it is today, politicians actually state that yes, they did technically vote to pass a particular bill, but they were really voting to pass the “major” bill and these other bills were just tossed on. So just about each and every bill that is passed, is also carrying “inferior” bills without merit, that are getting to piggy-back along and get passed into law.

That practice is how pork “Earmarks” are getting passed, and how we end up with so many ridiculous expenditures and worthless studies being passed during a time when we should be cutting the budget and reducing spending.

If we went to a simple system of voting and understanding each and every bill, then common sense can also start working its way back into American thinking.

Can you imagine the reduction in court cases if simple common sense was applied on a daily basis. We need to stop stumbling over political correctness and massive misinterpretation of the Constitution.

If you stick your hand under the protective cover of a lawn mower while the engine is running and you cut off your hand. It is not the fault of the lawn mower manufacturer, it is your fault for being stupid. If you drive through MacDonald’s and buy a cup of hot coffee and then burn you mouth because the coffee was hot, that isn’t MacDonald’s fault, that is your fault for not using any common sense.

If we continue to vote for politicians that do not read the bills before they vote on them, that is our fault for being stupid and not using common sense. If you send an idiot to Congress, you are going to get idiotic behavior.

When I was a boy, a grown man would have been embarrassed if the town knew he didn’t attend church regularly. Whereas, a lot of grown men today would be embarrassed if the community knew he even considered attending church, let alone actually attending. I remember when the Democrat Party was proud they were considered Christians, believed in daily prayer, and faithfully attended church. Yet, today, most of the Democrat Party wants prayer banned and the mere mention of God could get you kicked out of the party.

When I was a boy, men were proud of their honest principles and were respectful of women, marriage and families. But, today, the only marriage that is respected by the Democratic Party is gay marriage. Women are not supposed to marry (a man) and reproduce, and homemaking is the lowest thing a woman can do today.

When I was a boy, entire families got together, and watched TV in their living rooms, spending the evening together as a family. TV was good family entertainment. Back then, TV did not have bloody violence, nudity, homosexuality, or sex. Today, you are lucky to find a commercial that is free of those things, let alone a TV show or a movie. No longer can grandma and the grandkids all watch the same show with the family.

When I was a boy, the entire family ate together – breakfast and dinner. How many families do that today? Unfortunately, only a few families partake in that practice, and even then it is only occasionally. Today’s family not only has suspended group dining, but they no longer pray or talk together. In fact, how many families still have family reunions and celebrate being together?

When I was a boy, divorces were few and far between. Today, I only know of a few couples that have stayed together. Dysfunctional families have become the norm. The Norman Rockwell image of a family was something that brought smiles to people’s faces and warmth to their hearts. That image has been replaced with images of suicide bombers, death-defying wild-eyed terrorists, flag-burning fanatics, hate-mongering racists and anti-Semitics, and devil worshipping atheists. Hate, murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, shootings, stabbings, burglary, child perversion, mayhem and anarchy, rules the land.

God blessed the United States and made it the most powerful and productive country on earth. The early settlers praised and thanked God at every opportunity. Unfortunately, God is just as likely to be cursed and insulted today. If perversion and erosion of faith continues, how long do you think God will continue to bless this wonderful country? Can you say Sodom and Gomorrah?

It is not a coincidence that the removal of God’s presence is directly correlated with the rise in evil in this country. Boys and girls in Sunday school are being replaced with pornography perverts and prostitutes . . . and the rise of Islam is watching it all.

Jason Dragon (L) and Tony Rivero (R)

Tony Rivero is launching a very visible campaign with signs, postcards and flyers all over Acacia District. His opponent, Jason Dragon has signs, but they are one to every twenty of Rivero’s, yet Dragon’s signs are disappearing at an alarming rate. Rivero shouldn’t be worried that people are going to read Dragon’s signs, Rivero should be worried that people are going to read his personnel file while he was working for the City of Peoria!

Rivero boasts that he has five years experience working for a city municipality, which may or may not be true. However, not all of his experience was positive. According to a personnel report filed by his immediate supervisor, from 11/14/08 to 05/20/09, when Rivero worked as a Human Resources Analyst for the City of Peoria, Rivero was always late; had extended lunches; spent little time at his desk; rarely turned in his assignments; forced his colleagues to do all of the research and preparation for meetings and special projects; and constantly confided to his colleague stating he had no clue as to what was going on or what to do. These are just a few of the complaints lodged against Rivero, and commented on by his supervisor.

He constantly disappeared and others had to fill in for him, which explains what happened to him when he disappeared at a recent meeting and Vicki Hunt had to fill in and speak for him. It would also explain why he failed to turn in his Campaign Finance Report last June. It might further explain why Tony Rivero has changed his name and no longer uses his first name, Jose. All of his employment records are under the name Jose Rivero.

Another very suspicious discovery found while reading Tony Rivero’s personnel file is a letter he turned in himself to be included in his file. There is no date on the letter; yet it appears to be written on City of Peoria, Human Resources Department letterhead, and signed by Human Resources Manager, Bobbie J. Kimelton. While the letter itself does not have a date, it is time stamped received on April 15, 2010. It is also hand-dated as received by the Human Executive Assistant on the same date as having been submitted by Mr. Rivero for inclusion to his own personnel file.

What is strange about this letter is that it arrived a year after he had been terminated, and at the same time Rivero was beginning his election campaign for city councilman. To add to the strangeness of the letter, it also states that he had been terminated due to the economy, which is opposite of the statements being made by Peoria City Manager Carl Swenson and Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett, both of whom claim there were no employees terminated due to the economy. They both seem very proud of that statement. Are they making a false claim, or is Rivero’s letter a forged letter?

After reading his supervisor’s report, along with other sources calling and telling things they had witnessed Rivero has done, it is very clear to me that we do not need a man like this on the city council.

Gary Cooper

We have come a long way in 50 years . . . but is it the wrong way? I grew up in the 50s and 60s and remember how upset my grandmother got when she saw a commercial for Pepsodent Toothpaste that had a couple kiss each other.

I also remember back then we could watch a movie with grandma in the room and we wouldn’t have to worry about any embarrassing scenes, or have to turn off the TV if the preacher arrived for a visit. We did turn it off, but it was to be polite, not for fear he would catch us watching anything bad.

My point is, we could watch a movie or TV series with mom and dad, the kids, and grandma and grandpa all in the room at the same time. Today, not only are the TV shows and movies filled with homosexuality, nakedness, sex scenes and other adult content, but the commercials are out of control.

Randolph Scott

Yesterday, while watching TV in the middle of the day, commercials for his and hers fruit flavored KY lubricants that when mixed together create the ultimate explosion; Extenze Male Enhancement that not only increases the size, but also the fun; Viagra and Cialis; and Trojan Condoms. How would you like to watch those commercials with your granddaughter, or your grandmother, let alone the other sexual innuendos in commercials that are way beyond subtle.

John Wayne

I haven’t even begun to discuss the out right sexual solicitations that appear on late night TV, nor the porn filled internet. Let me point out, I am not a prude, and if someone wants to watch porn – that’s their right. However, it does not mean that just because there are some people who enjoy porn, that does not mean all of the rest of us “HAVE” to watch it also.

Gregory Peck

Even today, with thousands and thousands of movies available, I still prefer watching the classic movies with: Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, Randolph Scott, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster, Charlton Heston, Jimmy Cagney, Humphry Bogart, and Edward G Robinson, as the stars of the movie. None of them ever made a movie naked.

Jimmy Stewart

They solved crimes, committed crimes, beat people up, and got beaten up, they shot people and got shot, they made us laugh, cry, and marvel at the character they portrayed. They did all of this with their clothes on, and without exposing a woman’s breast, or having sex in the hallway. There also was an absence of homosexuals in their movies.

From the fifties to the present, apparently Hollywood got it in their minds that explicit nudity and sex scenes are mandatory ingredients to make a successful movie. Well, they also have to include the brilliant and likeable homosexual, and someone throwing up. While some of today’s movies make me want to throw-up, I have no idea why every movie has to show someone throwing up.

James Cagney

Very few of today’s movies have the content and solid story line of yesterday’s classics. That might be why they try to fill it with nudity and sex. To tell you the truth, I don’t need to see a head explode into tiny pieces in slow motion for me to get the idea they were shot in the head. I grew up watching Roy Rogers shoot people who didn’t bleed, even though they were killed in the shooting. I knew right away when the bad guy grabbed his stomach and fell off the horse that he had been shot and killed.

Burt Lancaster

I long for the days when grandma and the grandkids can all sit down and watch TV, and/or a movie as a family, and not be shocked or embarrassed by what comes on, including commercials. And, I don’t want uncontrollable “pop ups” popping up all over my computer advertising porn or sex products.

Is this what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? Did they start out being nice places to live and then lost all morality and finally God had to destroy them, as I am sure will happen to the United States if we continue to allow this type of behavior to go unchecked.

Charlton Heston shares a laugh with President Ronald Reagan

Immigration in Arizona is a hot topic right now . . . hotter than the Sonoran Desert in July. To complicate matters, there appears to be hundreds of theories, but no one has come forward with a plan that is not full of compromises and questions. Most people are opposed to amnesty, but what do you do with the millions of undocumented Mexicans that have lived here for decades? Obviously, it is impractical to deport them, even if you could locate and detain them.

Most people want aliens to legally cross into the United States, and to most people’s surprise, undocumented aliens also want to be able to legally enter the USA. But a 10-year process is too long for it to be a practical plan for oppressed people wanting to start living the good life in the United States, or at least experience the benefits of living here.

Mexicans are going to keep coming into America – and it does not matter if it is legal or not. A simple plan would be for the United States to set up an immigration plan that is self-funding, and actually be a benefit to America. The United States could turn their U.S. border crossing points, into “Visa” access stations. Charge immigrants $2,500 each for a Visa, with a required background check. That is the average amount “illegals” currently pay smugglers to get them across – but instead of the “Coyotes” (illegal smugglers) making the money, the U.S. Border Control would receive those funds.

This Visa would be the immigrants’ ID card, which would be valid for three years. They could use this ID card to open checking accounts, get a driver’s license, get insurance, get utilities in their name, etc. – but more importantly, it would also be used to pay their taxes. If they wanted to renew it, charge $500 for another five years, or $100 each year. Immigrants after ten years of good behavior would be eligible to apply for citizenship. If they are convicted of a felony, their Visa would immediately be revoked and they would be deported – after doing their jail time, and/or paying their court ordered fine.

This program would also apply to the undocumented “illegal” workers already in the United States. They would be treated the same as new immigrants, except there would be a $1,000 fine added to the cost of their Visa. If they want to stay, they need to purchase an ID card. The ten-year time clock would not stat until they purchased their ID Visa, not from the time they illegally entered into the United States. Therefore, they would no longer have an advantage to obtaining citizenship.

Yes, there will be some Americans complain that too many immigrants will come into America. Don’t kid yourself; they are going to come anyway. Wouldn’t it be nice to have them registered, and have billions of dollars to supplement a more effective Border Control?

The Border Control would have a new and large source of funding to be able to improve their staffing and equipment – and be freed from time-consuming rescue attempts of illegal immigrants.

The most dangerous border crossing of all – the Arizona Sonoran desert, has claimed the lives of over 2,000 illegal immigrants who have died trying to cross the desert. With all non-harmful immigrants crossing in a legal, safe and orderly manner, the U.S. Border Control can more effectively search for drug dealers, terrorists and other undesirables that are trying to avoid detection by crossing illegally. “Coyotes” would  be driven out of business. The only ones trying to “sneak” into the country would be the bad guys, and now we would have the funds to catch them!

by Kenneth Carroll

It was nice enjoying a movie without worrying who else was in the room. My mother, daughter, or a member of the church could have sat down and enjoyed the movie with me, without me being embarrassed what scene might be showing. I have often wondered why Hollywood felt they had to put a sex scene in the middle of an action movie, or felt that it was not a movie without showing a lot of breasts.

None of these scenes add anything to the movie’s plot. Are they inserted into the movie because Hollywood thinks a guy won’t watch the movie unless he sees a naked girl, or someone screwing in the hallway (while standing up)? It is ridiculous, and I think it takes away from the movie’s value.

If Hollywood wants to make a porn movie, then it should be able to do so, and those that want to watch it can go into the porn section of the video store, or change the channel to the porn station, and watch away. However, there are a lot of people like me that would just like to watch a good movie, and we don’t want to watch a porn show.

While I am at it, there are two other things Hollywood inserts into every movie: Homosexuals and people throwing up. Homosexuals, I understand. Hollywood wants us to become brain-washed that homosexuals are wonderful people and should be in every family, crowd or office setting. But, people throwing up? What community value are we missing in our lives that Hollywood feels we need to see people throwing up in EVERY movie?

PUSD Board member Joe McCord, in a recent blog on Peoria’s Independent Newspaper, said there was no money available to spend on Old Main’s upkeep. An obvious question is if PUSD thinks it is the United States Congress, that can spend any money, anywhere it pleases, then they need to wake up?

Secondly – One must also ask, why has PUSD stopped doing anything to keep or maintain Old Main in good condition? It is common knowledge that a building will accelerate deterioration if it is not being maintained. If a window gets broken, they do nothing. If the roof is leaking water, they do nothing.

The problem is further accelerated by the various tests PUSD keeps ordering to be done on the building. While these test have all returned positive for saving Old Main, the report results are never made public. The more tests that are run, the more holes and open surfaces are left unprotected from the elements. Is this the plan? Does PUSD want to test Old Main until there is nothing left to test?

What happened to the previous Old Main committee’s decision? Was it ignored, like the test results, because the board does not want to hear a favorable opinion?

Finally – To make matters worse, various board members have been making statements that indicates they could care less what the committee suggests, PUSD has already made up its mind, and they want to demolish that old building that sits in the middle of their new school.

You would think because PUSD board members are elected, the fact there are thousands of Peoria High School (PHS) alumni that are avid supporters of saving Old Main, the board members should take the time to listen to the community. My suggestion is, if they want to keep their seats on the PUSD board, they had better pay attention to the masses gathering outside in the streets. The community will not tolerate PUSD demolishing Old Main. Even if it is PUSD’s intent to let it fall due to neglect.

To make matters even worse, they have just told this singer they are being kicked to the curb, and they are off the show. Then they hand the microphone to the trembling, and an emotional wreck, to sing in front of the very people who voted them off the show. Does that make sense to you?

American Idol, please listen to us . . . we want to hear the singer that gathered the “MOST” votes. The one America liked the best – that is who we want to sing to us. Especially with them re-surged with the confidence they would have knowing America loves them the best. That person would love to showcase that song selection again.

If American Idol really feels that the loser is who they want to sing, at least let them sing a different song. We would have a 50-50 possibility that the song might be one we would love to hear. As it is now, it is 100% guaranteed to be the worst song.

The loser sings the same awful song that has been confirmed by 30 million people as the worst song sang the night before. That same song is what Simon said, “It was horrible. It was like a cat with its tail caught in the mower”; or Randy considered it to be a song he “just couldn’t feel”; Ellen saying, “I don’t think that was the right song for you. I don’t think you were feeling what you were singing”; and Kara saying, “What can I say? It was all wrong.”

I just think it would be a win, win if they would not only announce who the most popular singer of the night was – the one that got the “most” votes – and have them sing the song to close out the evening. They can even promote it as a special feature – i.e. – “And now, the performer who gathered the most votes of the evening . . .  Joe Blow!!!” And, he will sing the song that he sang last night.” Spot light on the winner as the audience claps. Mr. Slick hands him the microphone and last night’s best song is sang again. Win, win!

More Skin During Superbowl Halftime Show

Type of Article: Op/Ed

Written Feb. 7, 2010

Body word count: 328

By Ken Carroll

During Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) halftime show, Justin Timberlake tears off part of Janet Jackson’s wardrobe during their performance in the Super Bowl halftime show causing quite a controversy, despite the fact that most people watching didn’t even notice.

But this year’s halftime show with the “Who” performing during Super Bowl XLIV (44) has to be more objectionable and controversial. “Pete” Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for The Who will be 65 years old this summer. During the show, while playing guitar, and during the final wave to the crowd, exposed his English, pale white stomach to the estimated 168 million people that watched the show.

Folks are you with me? Townshend repeatedly exposed his ugly stomach area, which was three times the size of Janet Jackson’s breast. Janet Jackson’s breast, adorned with a nipple shield, was exposed by Justin Timberlake for about half a second, in what was later referred to as a “wardrobe malfunction”.

Jackson’s exposure led to an immediate crackdown and widespread debate on perceived indecency in broadcasting, and resulted in a record $550,000 fine levied by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against CBS, as well as an increase of the FCC fine per indecency violation from $27,500 to $325,000. Additionally, some commentators saw the halftime show as a sign of decreasing morality in the national culture.

I am all for morality, but I am having a hard time deciding which was more disgusting, seeing Jackson’s breast momentarily, or Townshend’s ugly stomach repeatedly?

Since the infamous Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction 6 years ago when cameras briefly caught Jackson’s partially exposed breast, over 500,000 complaints were received, leading superbowl organizers to actually discriminate against potential performers by only inviting classic rockers unlikely to spontaneously disrobe for its half-time shows, inviting Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and most recently Bruce Springsteen and This year’s “Who”. After Townshend’s display, old classic rockers are not even safe to have doing the shows.

Ken Carroll is a Peoria, AZ native, and a former newspaper editorialist in Tennessee, Kansas, Utah and Arizona. He currently is a freelance columnist living in Peoria, Arizona. Mr. Carroll encourages rebuttals and feedback. He can be reached at: kennethcarroll@cox.net

Copyright © 2010 Kenneth Carroll

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