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Rally in Tally Epiphany!
Rally In Tally Epiphany!
Getting up at 2am to take a bus ride to your state capitol is not likely a top 10 item on most people’s list of “things to do”. However, March 8th thousands of Floridians did just that. In the parking lot of a local Target we met early Tuesday morning to head to our capitol for the opening day of the legislative session.
We stopped in MacClenny to pick up more patriots for the journey. Despite the early morning hour, everyone was energized and ready to participate as engaged and informed citizens.
We arrived in Tallahassee and found more patriots waiting for the doors of the capitol building to open. Once the doors opened we filed in through security and began looking for the offices of our representatives and committee rooms. What a great site, patriots recognizing that it is essential to be engaged in the process and, with our elected officials, complacency is not an option.
On the other hand, this was an eye opening experience. I am a mom, grandmother, and veteran. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought there were people out there that would choose to ignore reason and pragmatism. This is exactly what I encountered during our trip to Tallahassee.
As the time for the noon rally drew near, our group decided to head out of the capitol building to get something to eat. Inside the capitol the principles of our constitution - fairness, reason and civility - prevailed. Outside the capitol we found a very different picture. Across the street the “Awake the State” rally was going on. The walk to a sandwich shop offered an opportunity to speak to some of these individuals. I stopped to speak to a man holding a sign that stated “Florida is Drowning in Tea” and he stated that Governor Scott was destroying the middle class by offering tax breaks to the wealthy. I tried to explain to him that tax breaks for companies would bring jobs to Florida and help all Floridians. He again repeated his talking point, so I asked him “Who creates jobs?” and, with that, he turned and went back to the other side of the street.
While this gentleman crossed to the other side of the street another one, Danny Gordon, was behind us listening to our conversation. I turned around and introduced myself and he did as well. Mr. Gordon stated he was against Governor Scott because he did not have a car and wanted the high-speed rail to go through. I conveyed that the majority of Americans prefer their cars and a train system would end up under utilized and heavily subsidized by taxpayers. He cited mass transit in foreign countries and I used the analogy of a “balance sheet” with assets and liabilities to demonstrate the negative impact of such a project. After a lengthy and courteous conversation we shook hands and wished each other well and I joined my group at the sandwich shop.
Afterwards, we headed back to the capitol and found the “Awake the State” rally had grown both in size and in anger. As none of us wished to create confrontation we found it best just to head to the “patriot” rally. Unlike our sentiments of remaining civil and recognizing the right of all points of view, the other rally participants felt it necessary to have presence in our group. The “Florida is Drowning in Tea” individual was quite vocal and unfortunately one of our patriots felt it necessary to engage. Immediately news photographers focused their cameras on the altercation, which was getting loud. I walked up to the patriots, rested my hand on their back and asked firmly, “May I step in?” and the patriot’s backed away to let me speak to the “agitators.” I asked one of them, a teacher, why she was protesting and she stated, “Governor Scott is stealing from teachers” as this is what her sign stated. She said that she did not steal money from the pension fund so why should she have to pay into it now. The wealthy citizens of Florida should be responsible for paying the increased liabilities. I asked her why is it not fair to ask public sector employees to contribute to their pensions. She replied that it is unfair because 5% of the people in the country possess 90% of the wealth. I stated that almost 50% of Americans pay no taxes, therefore, are already being subsidized by those who do pay income tax. She replied that my ideology has misrepresented facts. I responded by asking her to verify this on the IRS website and she stated it is probably skewed to look that way. She also added that she, as a teacher of 28 years, pays more income tax than Governor Scott. She guarantees that! I stated that facts and statistics on government websites disprove her views. It is at this time we agreed to part on friendly terms rather than get into an unproductive argument.
In short, this trip to Tallahassee provided an education I could not have received from any institution or book. Although I rely on facts to both support and counter views, pragmatic discussion to discover and exchange ideas, and love of country to share in the gift we have in America, I learned that there exists in our country a danger far greater than any war or invasion and it is the distortion of our education system. The mindset of the wealth redistribution group does not recognize reason or facts and this, my fellow patriots, is our GREATEST DANGER. If I had said to one of these individuals that the sky is blue and it did not coincide with their beliefs, despite the physical representation of the fact, they would say it is my ideology, my misrepresentation of facts, or my attempt to change their mind. Sadly, there is no foundation to even open a dialogue with such individuals.
My request, to all patriots, is to get involved in what is being taught in our schools at all grade levels – from elementary to doctorate degrees - and who is doing the teaching and PRAY!
God Bless America
Views: 59
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Comment by JL Gawlik on March 25, 2011 at 11:56am
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Kay, i don't understand what you are talking about. Most union members do not agree with the ideologue of the their union bosses. I have been a part of that also, as well as just like you, where i have family and friends who are involved in Teacher, Electrical, Maritime, Police, AFSCME, Fire Unions, who do not agree with the progressive liberals, and they have very conservative principles and values.
I am way over the 20% who don't agree because they have risen in power by lying and deceiving people. Why did the majority of people vote this administration in? Because they believe in what candidate Obama said. If i had just listened to his campaign speeches, i would of voted for him, also but i have always researched who i vote for, especially since i voted for several people years ago who were nothing near what they claimed they were. Applying actions speak a lot louder than words.
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Comment by Kay Ragan Durden on March 25, 2011 at 10:31am
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Oh my word, I am just not seeing this. JL come on, get a grip we are all on the same team. Remember Reagan's 80%20%?? Listen we need to start saying the Union's don't have 100% of there members with them because if they did there would be so many more. Many of the union folks were with us. I have teachers in my family, and only the young one is with the unions, the rest have lived long enough to know the real TRUTH, and they are with us. I also have police in our family and all of them are with us. Anyway, we must unite to beat them so get over the 20% where we don't agree and lets get the job done.
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John, what is your problem with size? Both you and Steve Meyers keep bringing size up?
I was just illustrating union membership numbers. Many people are not aware of them.
Point out to me where ANYONE stated because of small numbers: quoting you: "So using your math, no reps should listen to us."
That does not even make sense.
Why do you and Steve keep trying to pervert what i and others are saying?
Besides i do not think you and Steve are part of the movement, it is my personal opinion that you both are progressive liberal agitators.
Do you both realize that people can actually read and comprehend these posts and actually know how to critically think and decide for themselves what actually is being said?
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Steve are you actually reading the posts thoroughly? What is your point? The last time i checked on a US government site, union membership in the private sector was actually under 12%, and that was in 2010. Jeez, did it fall again? The people as a whole are suppose to be the government, not just unions, small groups of people, or progressive liberals who only represent right around 20% of the people, but the people of the United States of America.
What don't you get? Perhaps you should S L O W L Y read the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
Here is a question, do you believe our founding fathers created a democracy or a republic?
Thank you for quoting me.
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No one said ANYONe's voice is less than anothers'. I NEVER said nothing about redress of grievances.I think i have FINALLY figured it out, you and dear John Stephenson are a tag team. No one EVER said anything about any race, union member or class of Americans not having a right to protest or not having their voices heard.
It is has become very clear that Steve Meyers and John Stephenson do not get it but are trying to pervert all that is said. You both seem to relish in twisting facts and the truth and i would betcha', both are clearly progressive liberals. Their lost...
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John,
Where did i say IF someone does not agree with me, they have no right to protest? I personally know many teachers who were told to join the union here in Duval county so they would be better protected by Union lawyers in case of a lawsuit. Personally i have a dialogue with a lot of union members. If you read my posts ==> V E R Y C A R E F U L L Y <== you will understand i do not support union organizations, their management, their tactics, their ideologue, their political campaigns. Union members have a voice just like any American, where did you get that they don't?
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Meant to add to your statement also: And really I don't care why you gather and seek government's attention, it is your right, and that to me is more important than what you have to say.
...why you gather and seek the government's attention...
The government is supposed to be BY, OF and FOR THE PEOPLE. The people are supposed to be the government, not certain groups, unions or small groups of people, but THE PEOPLE. Last time i checked the UNIONS were lesser than 12% and dropping, of the private sector although they make up more than 51% of government jobs, which makes up right around 35% and rising of jobs in America.
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Do you think our tax dollars going to government employees and then going to support UNIONS and campaign contributions through the DNC for Progressive Liberal candidates is NOT a threat to our country and it's constitution, and our liberties and freedoms for a government BY, OF and FOR the people?
We have a President who in my opininon is not a President of ALL Americans, he is a President that stands up for UNIONS, Progressive Liberals, he has stated this over and over.
He is NOT a President of people in Arizona who want their borders protected as outlined in our Federal laws by the federal government.
He is a President who picks and chooses what Federal laws he wants to enforce and what laws in our country he wants to declare constitutional without due process of that law.
You have NOT offended me, I want my representatives to stand up for what is right, for the truth, for our U.S. Constitution and to honor their oath of office to the people while serving in the peoples' seats:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
From where do you get standing up for, means to attack? If you don't care, WHY did you even bother to post? Why do you twist what people are saying and pervert it?
You and John Stephenson clearly do not get it.
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Somehow something got mistranslated in my earlier post about the Rally in Tally and the people protesting against Governor Rick Scott, comparing him to el Gadhafi, and the many "BILLIONAIRES" in Florida not paying their fair share of taxes so that others can enjoy more from their government, and John Stephenson's comment about dialing 911.
I have NO problem with anyone protesting or speaking their opinion, i have a problem with lies and not stating facts, i have a problem with violence. Every voice should be heard, but people should be stating facts, not miss information. That is what i thought was so painful to watch, actual adults being asked about what they stood for, even one young man embarrassed about the very sign he was holding and stating that he had nothing to do with it, but was handed the sign to hold. One wonders was he paid to come and hold a sign? There is a LOT of deception and lying going on, and i just loved the way, Debbie G. who wrote the original post here, talked to opposing protesters and gave them facts, and the truth.
NO ONE said that people do not have the right to let their voices be heard. Again, people are making false statements. I am just sitting here, right now shaking my head over how both Steve Meyers and John Stephenson seem to twist what people are saying... or is it just me?
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John,
When you call 911, you get a profession EMT worker not a union management member. I know of many people who must join a union to be able to work in their professions and they literally hate the way unions operate. You can go on many educational blogs and see how many teachers are upset having to be part of a union, having their salary deducted for union payments, campaign payments, etc., and if they could stop it they would. You can read about how upset they are over the deteriorating education system and they know what the problem is. My brother was a fireman, he did not support the union's views or their ideologue, nor did he vote for the candidates they tell their members to vote for because he did not agree with their views or content of their character.
Unions are for unions, they could care less about the people who are members, they only care about their power, the money that they bring in, that is the bottom line with unions.
When you look at the over ALL picture in the government/public sector, it is OUR TAX DOLLARS subsidizing unions, period. It is our tax dollars paying for Progressive Liberal political campaigns, period. It was our very own tax dollars that elected President Obama and all the other progressive liberals through out our country.
Retiring NEA Attorney said it all in a nutshell:
And that brings me to my final, and most important point. Which is why, at least in my opinion, NEA and its affiliates are such effective advocates. Despite what some among us would like to believe, it is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children. And it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them, the unions that can protect their rights and advance their interests as education employees.
Go to: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/retiring-general-counsels-shocking-a...
You can read his entire statement.
This whole idea that unions are for the working people, unions made middle class is a lie, they helped with both but the time for unions have come and gone.
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