The blog is not dead, just resting as not much going on at the local level. Once we get past the 4th the Town may come alive with important matters of which you should be made aware.
Exercise your right to vote on the 4th. Plenty of brave men and women have shed their blood for our freedom, liberty and rights.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
People are smarter than that
In today’s Portsmouth Herald, Kate Murray pulls out the tired old liberal wag that Republicans have a “War on Women.” Kate starts off with saying that “it was not until 1920 that women nationally had the right to vote.” What she fails to mention that it is only through the dedicated efforts of Republicans that a woman’s right to vote ever came about. For years, Congressional Republicans put forth a Constitutional Amendment to allow women the right to vote, and each time Democrats voted it down. When it finally got through Congress, the majority of the states that passed the Amendment had Republican legislatures and Governors. The majority of states that voted it down had Democrat legislatures and Governors.
To support her argument against Republicans, Kate conflates a woman’s right to decide her own health care choices with an employers’ right to provide benefits to their employees. No one denies that a woman should have the right to decide whether to use contraceptives. However, that doesn’t mean that an employer must be forced to pay for that choice if it violates the employer’s religious belief. That is what the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court decision was all about.
Kate is purposely trying to confuse voters on this issue and, unfortunately, some people don’t understand the difference between the right to choose and the right to not be forced to pay for something that violates your religious beliefs. Hopefully, enough thoughtful people understand the difference and see through Kate's charade.
In today’s Portsmouth Herald, Kate Murray pulls out the tired old liberal wag that Republicans have a “War on Women.” Kate starts off with saying that “it was not until 1920 that women nationally had the right to vote.” What she fails to mention that it is only through the dedicated efforts of Republicans that a woman’s right to vote ever came about. For years, Congressional Republicans put forth a Constitutional Amendment to allow women the right to vote, and each time Democrats voted it down. When it finally got through Congress, the majority of the states that passed the Amendment had Republican legislatures and Governors. The majority of states that voted it down had Democrat legislatures and Governors.
To support her argument against Republicans, Kate conflates a woman’s right to decide her own health care choices with an employers’ right to provide benefits to their employees. No one denies that a woman should have the right to decide whether to use contraceptives. However, that doesn’t mean that an employer must be forced to pay for that choice if it violates the employer’s religious belief. That is what the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court decision was all about.
Kate is purposely trying to confuse voters on this issue and, unfortunately, some people don’t understand the difference between the right to choose and the right to not be forced to pay for something that violates your religious beliefs. Hopefully, enough thoughtful people understand the difference and see through Kate's charade.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Crabapple Artwork
The recent vandalism on the pillar at the entrance to Swasey Park followed vandalism at a cemetery in Exeter. Both were committed by youths. In the case of the former, the mother gave a conflicted accounting of her daughter's activity. On the one hand she commented that her daughter was only expressing herself in art, while on the other hand she admitted, after learning the crab apple "artwork" did not rinse off in the rain, her daughter should not have done what she did.
Vandalism, the defacing of property, shows a lack of respect for what belongs to the public. Clearly the mother has sent a mixed message to her daughter. To assume vandalism is acceptable if it can be washed away misses the point entirely. Defacing public property or the property of others is a criminal activity. It is unclear what the daughter's special needs are, but it does seem appropriate for her to perform some community service as amends for her act of vandalism.
On a final note, it is disturbing to read that individuals stood around as the young girl defaced the pillar. Did it not bother them that public property was being vandalized?
Vandalism, the defacing of property, shows a lack of respect for what belongs to the public. Clearly the mother has sent a mixed message to her daughter. To assume vandalism is acceptable if it can be washed away misses the point entirely. Defacing public property or the property of others is a criminal activity. It is unclear what the daughter's special needs are, but it does seem appropriate for her to perform some community service as amends for her act of vandalism.
On a final note, it is disturbing to read that individuals stood around as the young girl defaced the pillar. Did it not bother them that public property was being vandalized?
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Focus on the real issue - accountability
Friday’s Exeter News-Letter had a front page, feel good story about an Exeter firefighter’s battle with his excess weight. While his perseverance to lose weight is admirable, the real story should have been: Why was he allowed to be a firefighter weighing 342 pounds?
He admitted that he could not climb a ladder in full turnout gear during an emergency. Doesn’t anyone else see that this man could have put people’s lives at risk? If he couldn’t climb up the ladder, how was he supposed to help someone else climb down a ladder to safety? The safety of a fire fighting team relies on each individual being completely fit to meet the demands of the job at hand. While this particular firefighter should have taken personal responsibility for his weight issue and inability to meet the requirements of his job, the focus here is on Fire Chief Comeau and the Town Manager.
Where was our Fire Chief? Where was our Town Manager? Didn’t they see what was painfully obvious to any casual observer? At 342 pounds, this person should not have been on active duty. Are there any others in the department that have similar performance problems? The Chief will probably try to use this as an excuse to get the physical exam money he was refused by the Budget Committee last year. This has nothing to do with an examination by a doctor. It has to do with personal and departmental accountability.
Someone in management should be taken to task for allowing this gentleman to have put himself and others at risk. The Chief is yet again trying to sell taxpayers on the need for a sub-station to reduce engine response time. He should be concerned about his firefighters being fully qualified to do the job when they arrive on the scene.
Friday, September 26, 2014
New Economic Development Director
You all should take the time to meet Darren Winham. Had the opportunity to meet him and speak briefly not too long ago. He seems bright and energetic and is aware of the issues that are felt to discourage business development in Exeter. It also seems he has a good handle on the personalities of those who are viewed as hurdles to such development. One can only hope he has the necessary support to affect change where it is appropriate and needed. The jury is out and the prospects of a positive outcome are in the balance.
Sidewalks
It is encouraging to read of plans to replace sidewalks on a 400 foot stretch of High Street in the vicinity of the dam. Replacing sidewalks in conjunction with adjacent roadwork does make sense. While it has been decided to use concrete for the new sidewalks because concrete lasts longer than asphalt, one is left to wonder if that is an economic decision. That is, was there a cost/life cycle analysis done to compare alternatives? How much longer is "longer?" With 35miles of sidewalks in "good to poor" condition, the difference in materials costs is substantial.
It is also good to read that Town Manager Russ Dean proposes spreading sidewalk replacement over a number of years to minimize the impact to taxpayers. Hopefully the discipline will be there to actually implement the plan each year.
It is also good to read that Town Manager Russ Dean proposes spreading sidewalk replacement over a number of years to minimize the impact to taxpayers. Hopefully the discipline will be there to actually implement the plan each year.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
No news is no posting
Have faith when time goes by and no new postings. When there is something worth passing along there will be a posting. Otherwise the blog will be silent. Things should pick up as we get into budget review and issues for the March ballot.
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