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Comments by conchsoup

Written on OBAMACARE – THE TROJAN HORSE OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY? (No More Doubletalk by Victor Rios):

Just thought you might like to know there is no such organization as the one you list above called United Nations International Health Organization. And the numbers you attribute to them are made up.

You may actually be pleased and you will definitely be surprised by how many benefits there will be once the bill is passed.

Written on Another Tea Party Candidate To Consider (Naples Tea Party):

Where are the comments posted yesterday in response to this blog? There were many critical responses and now they are missing. Something seems fishy here.

In particular, I asked whether Willoughby had actually read the position his new hero Ryan has for eliminating the US debt. Ryan wants to privatize Medicare and Social Security. He proposes giving our seniors vouchers to purchase health care services and rationing the services available.

Instead of just trashing the currently debated health care reform measure before Congress Willoughby should be honestly presenting the platform details he supports for us to review and debate. Especially if he truly believes they have merit. I suspect he knows full well the public will throw the tea bags out in the trash when they learn the truth of his real motives and so he continues to hide behind trash talking and innuendo.

Written on The Composition Of The Tea Party Movement (Naples Tea Party):

Mr. Willoughby-Please go to the websites of the groups you mention and review what groups and principals they are founded upon. I hope you will be surprised to see this statement: "The actual silver and gold will be held: (i) in a State vault controlled by the Militia, and (ii) in the hands of Militiamen (the private holding of silver and gold will be as important as the private possession of arms)." from and article entitled Tea Parties Need Teeth http://www.committeesofsafety.org/tea...

I googled Patriots for Freedom Foundation and the first listing is for "One Nation Under God" which included links to their supporters including the Committee for Safety from which the quote above was copied.

The principals for these groups are politically radical and include overthrowing the Federal Reserve and the Department of Homeland Security, reverting to the gold standard, forming militias, and being Christian evangelicals led by a founder in Columbia.

We may have problems in this country which need addressing by thoughtful open discussions but beware the snake oil salesmen exploiting the fears of gullible people. Do you really want to be casting your lot with them?

Written on Marco gets $30 million welcome mat :

Investment in the infrastructure and aesthetics of the community that will only enhance the value of the properties here and the appreciation of those living here and still bored grumpy old men complain. You can enhance the quality of life here by not complaining so much. Try it, try complimenting the good and you might even feel better yourself.

Written on VIDEO UPDATE: Citizens’ movement for Marco high school picks up momentum:

Let's look at the players to discern the motives.
Faye hates the founders of the solar panel project. They have been adversaries throughout the sewer debate and have been arm wrestling for power on the Island for years. Before that she was fighting against some of the old guard who wanted to incorporate Marco Island. Now she will do anything in her power to sow dissent against anything they propose even a solar panel project.

This is not about the merits of the solar idea. It is a power struggle pure and simple being played out on track K. Faye is up to her old tricks of trying to divide the Islanders again, this time by teaming up with "Professor" Mario who teaches Microsoft office skills http://147.70.30.31/spring2009/course... in Miami-Dade.

Mario home teaches his daughter and this ploy to start a high school on Marco is following a failed attempt to start a Christian high school here.

If Faye Biles really wants to help the local kids she would do well to bring FGCU to Lely High School which could really benefit from the input. I speak as a parent now: Lely offers incredible opportunities to Marco's children. Hundreds have gone on to excellent universities and military academies often with wonderful scholarships. The advanced placement program there has truly served our local pupils well. The extracurricular activities like the marching band and sports and the debate team could not be matched in a small satellite high school.

Faye's politics of division and her never-ending struggle for power and influence and relevance are alive and well. But her motives are suspect.

The solar panel plan should be weighed on its merits, not by the distractions of a screwy team of odd bedfellows stirring up controversy.

Written on Marco man who contributed to countless charities is now in need :

It is very difficult to read about people who are so good and beloved abandoned to the charity of others. Those who read these NDN posts often know that I frequently try to rally support for universal healthcare. I hope Disco Dave will excuse me for taking up space from his many admirers who will leave their kind words here, but there is a very powerful message that his experience should convey.

We are a nation of people who care about each other and so we cannot leave the availability of health care access in the hands of those whose only motive is profit i.e. private insurance companies. This is not about the free market and how competition is good for business. Competition is good when the goals are maximizing the best health care practices and covering the most people, but in the free market world, competition ends up being how can we maximize profit by cutting people who have pre-existing conditions, and those who might have expensive needs, and how can we skimp on providing services etc. And yet, premiums continue to rise at a pace many times the increase in wages.

Consider an alternative: All income receiving adults (except retirees) pay, on a sliding scale, into a nationalized system that is in effect the bridge between Medicare and Medicaid. The premiums would be less per person than the current costs because as a non-profit, there are no advertising expenses, no corporate jets, no huge lobbying expenses, no golden parachutes, no incentive fees to middlemen and so on.

We need to have a universal healthcare program so people like Disco Dave and many of our other friends and their children will not be left without healthcare insurance.

I wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

Written on Are failing seawalls a threat to Marco?:

fossil not withstanding- I'm ready to bet that more than 50% of the property owners with seawalls would vote for a seawall insurance program.

Written on Letter to the editor: Add value:

Let it go Russ. The battle is over. Your war has been lost. Throwing eggs now reflects more about your poor character in the face of defeat than anything else.

Time for bygones to be bygones.

Written on Satisfaction, disappointment — and ultimately — hope abound in days after Marco election:

The election results show overwhelmingly that more than anything Marco Islanders reject the contentious behavior of those who were constantly bringing lawsuits against our City and who could not disengage from vicious personal attacks on our City Council members and City management with whom they disagreed.

It is apparent that some of them such as Mr. Colombo have only contempt for those who disagree with him. It is disappointing that Dr. Biles continues to foment dissent by refusing to acquiesce with a decisive majority decision.

It will be interesting to watch their behavior in future council meetings. It will be interesting to see whether or not the anti-STRP and MITA folks will get the message from the voters that their obnoxious behavior is what distanced them from the majority as well as a clear understanding that the STRP is desirable.

Written on Elections complaint lodged against Celebrate Marco:

Hawk-it is a fantasy that you and others who are facing having sewers but refuse to accept responsibility for paying for them actually think the rest of island is going to subsidize you. The slate of anti-sewer candidates are one issue candidates and the vast majority of the island is already on sewers. People on sewers already are supportive of the STRP and see the desparate measures you and the angry few are still trying to foist upon the rest of us. You are the one who will lose yet again in your already long string of loses.

We are looking to put the likes of you and the negative candidates in our past!

PS
I accept responibility for paying for the STRP in my neighborhood.

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