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Anonymoose comments on Why are our legislators so complacent regarding our local economy?

Anonymoose — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:58:44 +0000

Big deficits, phony jobs programs, all thanks to Lynch.. 2010 can't come soon enough.

Robert Giuda comments on Why are our legislators so complacent regarding our local economy?

Robert Giuda — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:44:11 +0000

The ruinous spending of the Democrat-dominated House and Senate, with the full complicity of the Governor, has produced a business climate in NH that is toxic to business startups, expansions or relocations. The very essence of what New Hampshire has stood for for centuries is being shredded. Instead of representing the frugality, common sense and self-reliance for which our citizens have become legend, those in power have chosen to spend money the state doesn't have, on programs we don't need, incurring a budget deficit of half a billion dollars. Their answer to their wasteful spending? Do exactly the wrong thing in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression: raise taxes and fees, and further burden business and family finances at a time when every penny is critical to keeping their heads above water.

Instead of creating jobs, businesses are preparing to lay off additional workers as the ruinous LLC tax, brainchild of the Commissioner of Revenue and the Chairwoman of the Ways & Means Committee, is implemented. Even the Department of Revenue is struggling to try to figure out the rules for this travesty. But one thing is certain: it will cost jobs in a down economy - exactly what we do not need.

I have complete faith that the good people of New Hampshire are going to vote to return some semblance of fiscal sanity to our state In November.

Bob Giuda
Candidate for Congress, 2nd CD, NH
www.bobgiuda.com

Rob comments on Why are our legislators so complacent regarding our local economy?

Rob — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:48:36 +0000

I think it is typical of the spend then spend some more attitude almost all politicians have had in the last decade. I hope Concord smartens up soon but I doubt it. As someone that will be affected by the LLC tax I am very concerned about it and the impact it will have on my company and employees. I hope this prompts more people to start calling their state reps and getting involved before NH winds up in the same bankrupcy situation as California and NY.

NH INSIDER comments on CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM HAS FAILED: HOW DO WE BRING IT BACK?

NH INSIDER — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:30:19 +0000

STEVE: No question: CFR is not anywhere near the top of the list of voters' concerns. But this is just one of many examples of how I'm usually on the leading edge and so able to help voters get ahead of issues instead of reacting too late for them to make a difference. The "op-ed" piece you reviewed is far from just a think-piece; it offers a practical solution. How did you miss it? Any additional comment?

You further wrote: "Your ideas are just like your campaign for Congress. Good cocktail conversation." I could take this as a snide remark, unworthy of your generally worthy blogs. The "good cocktail party conversation," though, helps to raise money over drinks.

Good "ideas", moreover, are one of my strong suits. They make my campaign message stand out from the others, along with other features that clearly set the candidate apart. These include being: (1) the only Dr. (Ph.D.) of Economics fully able to lead the way on economic recovery and help folks through the hard times; (2) the only long-term (40 year) activist in a time when activists are jumping in to make a real difference (as in Massachusetts); the only candidate to have set forth a new, 21st Century "Contract with America" (leading, not following Gingrich recent remarks of how he's now working on this); and the only candidate to pledge to use most of his congressional salary to establish two additional constituent service centers to help folks (in the northern part of the district, where constituent services are lacking). Not "practical" enough for you, when the poor state of the economy is overwhelmingly issue #1??
PETER

NB: Posted by NHInsider on request of Peter Bearse.

Thom comments on Definition of Elite

Thom — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:58:09 +0000

So you would oppose marriage of infertile couples, the aged, or those who are marrying out of their mutual love for each other with no desire to bear children? Because that would be consistent with all of you reasoning above.

Thom comments on Illegal Immigration

Thom — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:05:31 +0000

"....and a firm determination that newcomers integrate, as did my forefathers, into the American way of life is the answer."

And that last statement is what this is really all about, isn't it? When do you expect to start leaning Algonquin?

NH INSIDER comments on CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM HAS FAILED: HOW DO WE BRING IT BACK?

NH INSIDER — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:40:12 +0000

DENNIS: Thank you for the reminder about the experience with public campaign financing in Arizona. It reminds me of another problem with what I've seen with the experience, not only in AZ but in other states: Proponents make a big deal of how more people are enabled to run but produce little or no evidence regarding my overriding concern: The effect on people's participation in the political process. What light can you shed on this?

JIM: Please forgive the overstatement; I should not have included the word "only." We can agree to disagree about public financing. I love Granny D; I've walked with her. We should all celebrate her centennial and here roles as New Hampshire's leading activist. But I have to disagree with her, too, on the issue.

As for your stress on transparency, we're 4-square together. The Supreme Court decision raises the bar for us to find more timely and powerful ways to ensure reporting on campaign contributions – from whom, when and where in real time. Let's pick up the challenge together. You're right; shed the light bright and let people draw their own conclusions of who's being bought and paid for by big money interests.

Thank you again for your good work and thoughtful response. PETER

NB: posted and edited by NHInsider on request of Mr. Peter Bearse
/bobdm

Thom comments on CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM HAS FAILED: HOW DO WE BRING IT BACK?

Thom — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:01:55 +0000

Limit nothing and no one. Let Democracy's raucous domain be as chaotic and messy as it was meant to be, and let all entities say as much as they want. Allow the marketplace of ideas and the enormity of newscasters and commentators and bloggers sort through it.

Simply require Transparency. Let us know who's saying what, who's buying what, who's prooting who....and let voters make their own decision in the privacy of the voting booth.

Freedom works.

Jim Splaine comments on CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM HAS FAILED: HOW DO WE BRING IT BACK?

Jim Splaine — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:29:49 +0000

Peter, I have NEVER said that the only "solution" is public funding of campaigns. There are several things that can and need to be done.

I have joined Granny D's cause for the past decade and more because I think it is part of the solution -- allowing for voluntary public funding of campaigns gives candidates who don't want to beg for money from major financial sources and who don't have a deep pocket of their own to qualify, by getting a large number of small donations from citizens within their district, for a pool of funding that will allow them to be competitive. Maine has such a process, as does eleven other states. There are over 130 Congressional cosponsors on legislation to set up a similar process of federal candidates. That is one way to take reliance of big money out of politics.

But we also need to have disclosure -- transparency -- to be aware of whom is trying to buy political and government influence with whom. We need to be able to clearly trace where money is coming from to sponsor which candidates. It is the public's right-to-know about which candidates are possibly being bought and paid for before they decide to whom to give their votes.

That means we need better disclosure laws, more immediate disclosure of political contributions, and a clearer indication of who is paying for those attack ads that suddenly appear on our 42 inch HD television sets, which soon will be 3-D.

The current system is exploited by both Democrats and Republicans. We just need to be sure the public sees who's trying to sell them a bill of goods before they buy them.

JenifferGU comments on "Freedom's Way" is anything but...

JenifferGU — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:57:04 +0000

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