I Still like a Good Western.... Watch Out for that Chair!

I must admit I didn't actually watch any of the Republican convention. But then again, I have to admit when I read the article today saying Clint Eastwood talked to a chair and told it to shut up I was kind of saddened. Really??? Clint is this what you've become??? You should have stopped with the Chrysler commercial that was an instant classic!! Imported from Detroit!! Man, you blew it, now people are talking about Eastwooding... I won't tell you what I thought when I heard that term this morning... So do you turn to the East when you are playing with your.... I have to admit I lost some respect for you Clint...and then you had to say the line... why did you say the line... Make My Day Punk. Please say it isn't so. I had to ask myself... did he lose his mind 5 times or 6....well did he? I have to admit I won't be able to watch a Clint Eastwood movie the same way again. I'm going to wonder now if he is actually talking to the other actor in the scene or maybe he's just been talking to the props all this time. You Clint became a senile old man last night and that saddens me. But hey I hear you stole the show at the convention... Actually, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo stole the show!! Yes that is a fact, the reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo had more viewers than the Republican National Convention. Just proves the Republicans are winning the war against intelligence. Have you seen the show? They actually have sub titles because you can't understand what they are saying... wait a minute.... HEY is that a reality show about Limbaugh and Hannity??? No wonder... which one is BOO BOO?

Let's dumb it down shall we

No really, let's dumb it down... what are we dumbing down? The American voter of course. Think about it for a minute... are you done thinking? I ask you, what do you think the real issues are when it comes to the current Presidential election? The economy? A balanced budget? Gross government overspending? Health Care reform? Taxes? Social Security and Medicare Reform? Welfare Reform? Can I get a big Hell NO! It's about Abortion rights and obviously the definition of Rape, because obviously there is a difference between forced and "unforced" rape. Let's pause and reflect on that last statement..."unforced rape" isn't that a contradiction in terms? Rape is defined as: the unlawful compelling of a person through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse. any act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person. So, I ask what is unforced rape? I'll let the Republicans answer that they seem to be doing such a great job lately... by the way according to GOP Senate hopeful Tom Smith it's the same thing as having a baby out of wedlock.
Back to the program. So the major issue number one is Abortion rights, Number two is Mitt Romney's failure to disclose his taxes(this is payback for "Where's your birth certificate") but politicians have short term memories. Do you see what is happening here? Politicians constantly play a smoke and mirror game with social issues so they don't have to explain economic plans, health care reform plans etc. to the American voter. Do you know why they do this? Because there isn't a politician who actually has anything concrete when it comes to major issues. Have you ever tried to explain a plan when you don't actually have a plan? Ask Alpena's current Mayor how that works, you just say you are heading in a new direction and then fire someone so the story gets shifted. See how it works. Politicians want to cut spending to schools for one reason... Educated Intelligent People can see through the smoke and mirrors. Politicians already know what percentage of the populous will always vote for them the key is to know what social issues pull at the heart strings of the rest of the populous to swing the vote their way. Have you noticed that the abortion issue comes up every four years? And what usually happens after the election? It fades away, why, Roe V. Wade that's why. It has been settled and it would take one hell of a Supreme Court to overturn it. You my friends are being duped by both parties. Where do you think all that campaign money comes from.. Did hear everyone say the Republicans get theirs from Big Business... Uhmmm, So do the Democrats otherwise they would even come close to the same amount of money... So what does this mean.. There isn't really a left wing anymore, there has been a shift and the shift has been to the right so we are more of a center/right wing country. When you get money from big business you walk a fine line when it comes to policies and the people who give you the money always expect something in return so the democratic party is more along the lines of an independent party. I will say this much though.. why would you vote for someone who wants to take away your bargaining power, you health benefits, your pension, and raise your taxes while cutting the taxes of the rich. If that's what you think is right for you than vote for Romney. Sorry but if you can't see that ultimately this country will end up with two types of people, the haves and the have nots, Rich and Poor. That is what smoke and mirrors causes. Are you going to have your intellect insulted? Until there is a viable third party this country will continue to wallow in the current plutocracy. One more thing, don't blame just our current President for the state of our country.. it was well documented that the Republican party vowed to make sure that a Democratic President would not be able to accomplish anything whatever the cost... Well they did it and now they are betting that you will think the Democrats couldn't get the job done. Politicians are betting that you aren't smart enough to do your homework. Do your homework and make an intelligent decision based on viable issues before you vote. I don't care how you vote just make it an intelligent vote.

I found it disheartening to read two editorials over the course of a week stating that Alpena is not likely to entice and is not shelf ready to entice a large manufacturer to the area in order to create family wage supporting jobs. Although I think it is a great thing when local people open local businesses I also think it doesn’t necessarily create the “family wage supporting” jobs we need. It is my opinion; these types of businesses more than likely create minimum wage types of jobs and in a sense recycle local money. Tourism aside, if a business does not have a statewide, national, or global presence it recycles local money. The issue with this process is, it creates a stagnate local economy. In other words, we need the influx of the external dollars a large company operating on a global scale would bring to jump start Alpena, entice one, more will come. Kind of like the “if you build it they will come” philosophy.

Here is the other problem. We as a community need to stop thinking that we are solely a manufacturing community. Manufacturers have been leaving this community slowly over the last decade so it is now time for the community to think outside of the manufacturing box. Last I heard there was a pretty good broadband infrastructure being installed in the area. Has it occurred to anyone to entice someone along the lines of a Google, Yahoo, or other internet based service? We can leverage our Community College and our Hospital (think billing services), not to mention our natural resources. Not everyone wants to live and play in the big city! By enticing these kinds of companies you will eliminate logistic and warehousing issues while increasing Alpena’s national and global base giving us an influx of external dollars.

I believe Alpena and our surrounding communities, if handled correctly, could be on the verge of something great and exciting. Stop thinking manufacturing and start thinking and embracing internet style services. Start thinking globally.