On Tuesday March 3rd United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made her first visit to Israel as Secretary of State and announced that the United States would be “vigorously engaged” in the creation of a Palestinian Authority state. As the conversation continued Clinton commented that “There is no time to waste”.
The idea of creating a PA state within the nation of Israel is not a new concept. Going back in history we find that the idea existed even in the 1920’s. Yet the questions arise “What are the ramifications to Israel and the United States for such an action?” and “What is America’s incentive?” For years Israel has contributed to the lives of the American people by exporting items such as flowers, fruit, spices, plastics, and technology, as well as diamonds that have been milled in Israel. On the other hand what has the Palestinian Authority offered America? In an article published by Arutz Sheva last week the PA was declared as being the leader in the Arab world of Anti-American feelings.
Concerning the ramifications of such an action for Israel and the United States we find in scripture a warning to the nations that part the land.
Joel 3:1-2 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
What benefits would the creation of a PA state give to Israel? It would create a haven for groups like Hamas and Fatah to continue in their terrorist acts against Israel. It would not appease the Arabs and we know this by looking at the concessions that Israel has made in the past in giving up land for peace and receiving only more terrorism against its citizens.
What benefits would the creation of a PA state give to the United States? It will embolden a people who have blatantly vowed to destroy the "Great Satan" (referring to the United States.) It will encourage the expansion of a society that has from old been known to exist in chaos and fear, controlled by the ruthless few. It will reward the other Arab states for being unwilling to take care of their own. In short, instead of "bringing peace", it will encourage and enable the very terrorism that is already threatening western society.
I find it interesting that Clinton’s trip to Ramallah was protected by anti-terrorism checkpoints – of the same type that the U.S. opposes when they are put up for the protection of Jews in the area. When she leaves the area the checkpoints will be removed and the Arabs will once again be allowed to travel through the area.
Her meeting with Israel follows a conference in Egypt, where she pledged $900 million in US aid money towards rebuilding Hamas-ruled Gaza. In my opinion I see very little good coming from any of this yet hope that there are things that I do not see that will be beneficial to both Israel and the United States.
March 2, 2009
God's Economy
Watch as Pastor Tony Hammack of Jubilee Family Church shares from God's word and current events how to not just survive but thrive during the global recession. To watch the video click here
Scam Alert! There are NO Obama Stimulus Checks OR Grants for Small Businesses
The ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center just received an e-mail from our Small Business Development Center National Information Clearinghouse (SBDCNet) concerning a new scam that has hit the Internet promising small businesses and individuals Obama Stimulus Checks AND Grants as part of the Federal Stimulus Package. For $95 for the first month and $73 per month thereafter you can purchase "FREE" GRANT SOFTWARE" to get your share of the action. If you follow the ads you find pages with questionable advertising practices like fake blogs with fake comments and a fake "ads by google" all of these are attempts to relieve you of your money but you will never see any grant money or stimulus check. The economy has been hard on many small businesses in our area without being taken advantage of through this scam.
I am attaching a link to our SBDCNet website that provides the details about the scam at Scam Alert! There are No Obama Stimulus Checks or Grants that will provide you with more information.
To date the new stimulus bill DOES NOT include any tax refunds like we saw last spring/summer. What the new stimulus bill WILL DO IS put more money into existing programs to build infrastructure. Yes there will be some new grant money in the package BUT most of it is going to existing programs and to state or local organizations that already have grants or grant programs. Bottom line is that there NO GRANTS for small business start up or bail out.
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center Network is in the process of developing seminars around the state for small businesses to learn about legitimate opportunities for small businesses under the stimulus package. We anticipate rolling these seminars out in the next four to six weeks once the details of how the stimulus package monies will be allocated has been determined. Unlike the SCAMS these informational seminars WILL BE free of charge.
If you would like more information about these seminars as they are developed subscribe to our newsletter or send me an e-mail at hlawrenc@astate.edu and we will make sure you are informed about these as they come out.
Please feel free to forward this to any other small businesses you may know and invite them to sign up to our newsletter to receive updates on assistance and other small business news at it comes out.
Sincerely,
Herb Lawrence ASU SBTDC Center Director
February 23, 2009
Tax Increase for Sewage; It's not the Answer
23 February 2009
The one cent sales tax proponents’ approach to gain votes by education of the masses is a waste of time and effort. Everyone concedes that repair and modernization is required.
They let the system reach this stage of disrepair by not properly maintaining and modernizing through the years. Our argument is how to correct the problem, short of a 1 cent tax on everyone who shops in Batesville.
It is possible to do, but we have to go back in history so we don’t repeat it in the future; otherwise, the situation will recur in this or other departments of city government.
We have all known about the sewage problem for some while. The problem is obviously lack of management and attention to detail within city government, and the answer lies in this fact.
If fees were not sufficient to maintain and occasionally modernize the system, they should have been increased, or reallocation of funds from revenues returned from the state should have been affected. Reallocation of funds will result in lower priority funding to be reduced. In a depressed economy, it may also require that manpower be reduced, as is taking place with the majority of corporations at present.
I would recommend that the city cancel the upcoming vote to increase the taxes on the people, who are slated to face a significant increase in fees as well. Establish a comprehensive plan to overcome the problem, by setting minimally needed fees, reallocation of funds, and manpower reductions, if needed. Further, establish timelines and milestones. It could take five to ten years, but that is more reasonable than trying to force the total amount all at once.
Next, get to Little Rock, with Van Thomas in tow, if possible, and see Ms. Theresa Marks, Director of ADEQ. The Mayor should become an advocate and negotiator, showing her that the city is on top of the problem and making every effort to correct it. I am convinced that she will accept the proposal. If not, Sen. Mark Prior contacted EPA in Washington on a project for me in the past, and I believe the problem can be worked out.
Why irritate almost everyone in the city and surrounding area unless it is absolutely necessary? Perhaps someone sees an opportunity for personal gain in having such a large sum of money, in interest, issuing bonds, or underwriting them, as seen in the past.
Failing this approach, I recommend that the out of town people buy, as much as possible, outside of the city, and that the residents of Batesville vote “No” on the issue. The city gets sufficient funds to keep it
operating properly! How they spend it may be a problem. Check the Municipal League Journal, in the City Clerk’s office for the past several years, and you will see that, except for the past few months, while in recession, that the monthly tax revenue returns to Batesville have greatly exceeded inflation.
Don Bice
139 Rorie St.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251 2714
The one cent sales tax proponents’ approach to gain votes by education of the masses is a waste of time and effort. Everyone concedes that repair and modernization is required.
They let the system reach this stage of disrepair by not properly maintaining and modernizing through the years. Our argument is how to correct the problem, short of a 1 cent tax on everyone who shops in Batesville.
It is possible to do, but we have to go back in history so we don’t repeat it in the future; otherwise, the situation will recur in this or other departments of city government.
We have all known about the sewage problem for some while. The problem is obviously lack of management and attention to detail within city government, and the answer lies in this fact.
If fees were not sufficient to maintain and occasionally modernize the system, they should have been increased, or reallocation of funds from revenues returned from the state should have been affected. Reallocation of funds will result in lower priority funding to be reduced. In a depressed economy, it may also require that manpower be reduced, as is taking place with the majority of corporations at present.
I would recommend that the city cancel the upcoming vote to increase the taxes on the people, who are slated to face a significant increase in fees as well. Establish a comprehensive plan to overcome the problem, by setting minimally needed fees, reallocation of funds, and manpower reductions, if needed. Further, establish timelines and milestones. It could take five to ten years, but that is more reasonable than trying to force the total amount all at once.
Next, get to Little Rock, with Van Thomas in tow, if possible, and see Ms. Theresa Marks, Director of ADEQ. The Mayor should become an advocate and negotiator, showing her that the city is on top of the problem and making every effort to correct it. I am convinced that she will accept the proposal. If not, Sen. Mark Prior contacted EPA in Washington on a project for me in the past, and I believe the problem can be worked out.
Why irritate almost everyone in the city and surrounding area unless it is absolutely necessary? Perhaps someone sees an opportunity for personal gain in having such a large sum of money, in interest, issuing bonds, or underwriting them, as seen in the past.
Failing this approach, I recommend that the out of town people buy, as much as possible, outside of the city, and that the residents of Batesville vote “No” on the issue. The city gets sufficient funds to keep it
operating properly! How they spend it may be a problem. Check the Municipal League Journal, in the City Clerk’s office for the past several years, and you will see that, except for the past few months, while in recession, that the monthly tax revenue returns to Batesville have greatly exceeded inflation.
Don Bice
139 Rorie St.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251 2714
Sewage Tax
I see no comparison in the recent analogy, about law enforcement cooperation and the proposed Batesville sewage tax! In one, we get law enforcement, and the other we get to help Batesville pay for the terrible condition that they allowed the sewage system to deteriorate to.
So a Fayetteville Consultant said there was no other option, other than the one cent tax increase? I have never seen one consultant say that there was only one option. I would not do business with any doing this! There are always more options!
Usually, the annual cost for upkeep of the system, while allowing for future modernization, is determined. Customer fees are established accordingly. I am not asking why this was not done over the years, but the concept can still be an option. You have previously stated that there would be an increase to the users, even with the new tax, and much more without it. Why not set the fees at a proper level now and incrementally repair/modernize as funds become available. For the long term, this would be a better permanent solution, short of taxing Ash Flat, if funds are not sidetracked to other perceived needs. This way, the city could be self sufficient, even if you had to set fees higher for a few months for seed money. It has been my experience that the EPA will accept any reasonable approach.
Why not submit the project to be a part of the stimulus package, going through state government. They have been looking for such projects.
They could apply for state and federal grants. These things were conceived in five minutes! How many could one come up with in a day?
What is the source of divisiveness now? Those in the local area have little choice but to shop in the city, and they are the main cause of Batesville being a city. Doesn’t the State Constitution say that taxes may not be levied without a vote of the people. The outlying areas represent a majority in this case.
Don’t you trust democracy and the people to make right decisions? If not, the proposal must be a flawed.
The people in the outlying areas could boycott to the extent that you lose on the deal, and I would not blame them. I will decrease spending in the city by at least 50%. If the city does not give the county area a chance to vote on this issue, you may have less cooperation. Maybe we can find an option or two ourselves. The outlying areas are growing, especially Southside, which will make it less dependent upon Batesville.
The usual routine here is to personally attack those who disagree. That has been done, and I know about it. Enough said!
(Signed)
Don L. Bice (Colonel USAF Ret., and Management Consultant)
139 Rorie St.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251 2714
So a Fayetteville Consultant said there was no other option, other than the one cent tax increase? I have never seen one consultant say that there was only one option. I would not do business with any doing this! There are always more options!
Usually, the annual cost for upkeep of the system, while allowing for future modernization, is determined. Customer fees are established accordingly. I am not asking why this was not done over the years, but the concept can still be an option. You have previously stated that there would be an increase to the users, even with the new tax, and much more without it. Why not set the fees at a proper level now and incrementally repair/modernize as funds become available. For the long term, this would be a better permanent solution, short of taxing Ash Flat, if funds are not sidetracked to other perceived needs. This way, the city could be self sufficient, even if you had to set fees higher for a few months for seed money. It has been my experience that the EPA will accept any reasonable approach.
Why not submit the project to be a part of the stimulus package, going through state government. They have been looking for such projects.
They could apply for state and federal grants. These things were conceived in five minutes! How many could one come up with in a day?
What is the source of divisiveness now? Those in the local area have little choice but to shop in the city, and they are the main cause of Batesville being a city. Doesn’t the State Constitution say that taxes may not be levied without a vote of the people. The outlying areas represent a majority in this case.
Don’t you trust democracy and the people to make right decisions? If not, the proposal must be a flawed.
The people in the outlying areas could boycott to the extent that you lose on the deal, and I would not blame them. I will decrease spending in the city by at least 50%. If the city does not give the county area a chance to vote on this issue, you may have less cooperation. Maybe we can find an option or two ourselves. The outlying areas are growing, especially Southside, which will make it less dependent upon Batesville.
The usual routine here is to personally attack those who disagree. That has been done, and I know about it. Enough said!
(Signed)
Don L. Bice (Colonel USAF Ret., and Management Consultant)
139 Rorie St.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251 2714
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