Friday, December 30, 2011

ORLAND PARK SURVEY

Posted on December 30, 2011 at 6:26 pm The December 29th edition of the Orland Park Prairie Newspaper published an article that the Village wanted to conduct a survey to find out how the people think the Village can improve Orland Park. The paper conducted their own survey asking such questions as: the need to fill empty stores, repair roads, timing of traffic lights, more bike and pedestrian paths and other. The cost of the survey(s) would be around $30,000.



In these difficult times do you think a Village should be spending $30,000 on things they should already know? All of the questions asked in the newspaper have been around for some time. Isn't the staff and Board of Trustees competent enough to handle these issues? Could it be that a friend or donor needs some work that the Village is willing to waste $30,000 on another survey. What ticks me off is when the people filled the hearings for the Orland Plaza they ignored us. They wouldn't listen and gave no credence to the issues raised. They wouldn't compromise. Only one trustee voted with the people. Now they want the people's opinion. Give me a break. That proposal has only one place to go and that's the trash can. Don't be fooled. They can't afford $30,000 and they don't want your opinion.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

CLOSING THE BOOK ON 2011

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad the time has come to close the book on 2011. For many it was the worse year in their lifetime. If you lost your job or your home thru foreclosure, it was a disaster. For those who survived, unscathed, it was still a time of doubt and anticipation. Very few were confident that their job or financial security would be there tomorrow. As we open the pages for 2012, it is a time of uncertainty.

During 2011 government seemed to lose all sense of purpose. It was all about politics and little or nothing about governing. The actions and decisions of our leaders made you wonder if they knew what they were doing. They created bills, 2000 pages in length, that no read or understood and then passed them... We have a deficit of 15 trillion dollars and they keep spending. They don’t have the guts to face the reality of making tough decisions. Washington hasn’t passed a budget in over two years and they continue to pass short term measures to keep the government running. The Fed prints money as needed... How’s your money tree doing? Is this the way you manage your money? When it comes to their own money they used insider information to buy and sell investments that benefitted themselves, their family and friends. In 2012 we need to send people to Washington who will represent the people not themselves or their Party.

In Illinois, another Governor was sentenced to prison. Before that we saw power brokers Tony Rezko and Dave Cellini take the fall. Maybe one day we’ll see the corruption and power politics in Illinois end. Do you see that happening soon? Will the day come when the state enacts fair and honest legislation? Were you upset to see Union Bosses getting state funded pensions for practically no time working in the system? Were you upset to see how clout benefitted those seeking free tuition to state schools? How’s clout working for you? In Orland Park the Village won its eminent domain battle to take over the Orland Plaza. It was another win for developers and a loss for the little guy. We said good bye to Randys’ and Lang Lee’s as they closed their doors forever. Orland Bakery, the Barber Shop, Mirobellis, will move to new locations while the remaining establishments will move to places in or around Orland Park.

The City of Chicago elected a new mayor while it searched for ways to fund big government. The Occupy Movement invaded downtown Chicago. It was a good idea to challenge Wall Street but it went awry when it was taken over by radicals and unions. Gangs continued to plague Chicago as we saw innocent life’s lost to senseless violence... Schools continued to be a major problem and the new mayor seems determined to make changes to fix the problem. The new mayor has made a good start and hopefully things will improve for the people of Chicago.

2011 was a tough year with a lot of concern for families and their way of life. As we leave 2011 we pray and hope that 2012 will bring the Hope and Change needed to create a stable, free and safe society. So as we close the book on 2011 we wish you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Friday, December 16, 2011

SHOPPING FOR A PRESIDENT

During this Christmas season have you taken any time to think about the up and coming 2012 Presidential Election? With current events so volatile most people can’t avoid the politicking that is taking place, but again there are always those that will be oblivious to what’s going on around them.. The Republican Debates have been numerous and informative. The dirt is being dug up and sometimes brutal as the candidates begin to fall. The polls change daily. The good news is that the electorate is getting an opportunity to uncover each candidates good and bad points. The candidates are being forced to expose their positions on the issues: economy, jobs, taxes, social security, housing, health care, debt, immigration, big government, environment, abortion, marriage, foreign affairs, corruption, leadership, experience, integrity, moral values, consistency , trust. Is there anything that is not an issue? There are big differences between the incumbent, Barack Obama, and the Republican candidates. Next year will be the debate of all debates as Barack Obama goes up against the last Republican standing.

We know that Barack Obama, at this time, faces no Democratic opposition. The Republican Candidate is yet to be decided. The Republican candidates have been campaigning hard and long. Primaries will soon be held in Iowa and New Hampshire. As November 2012 draws near we have to start shopping and determining who will be the best candidate to serve as President of the United States. During Christmas you spend a lot of time shopping for family and friends. At Christmas, maybe you prepare a list of people with dollars to spend, than you search the ads, stores and internet for the gifts. Or maybe you use a helter skelter approach to which store you will shop or maybe use the internet. Which approach will you use to make your Presidential choice? Will it be planned and thought out or helter skelter? Will it be for the good of the country?

Many have said the 2012 election will be the most important election in our lifetime. The choices will be very different. Will it be the liberal, Barack Obama or the yet to be decided conservative or moderate Republican. The question is, should the country continue its move to the left or return to the right. It will be a battle of ideologies: big government, social justice and redristribution of wealth vs smaller government, a return to the constitution, and capitalism You’re going to have to make a choice. What do you want the United States to look like? A European socialistic society or a capitalistic ,free enterprise system. After Christmas and your shopping and partying is done, I ask that you take the time to seriously think about shopping for the next President. I truly agree with the ideology that this will be the most important election in our lifetime. If you love the United States and what it stands for, let’s make it right. Make this decision more important than selecting a Christmas gift.