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Category Archives: US Government

Does Deregulation Create Jobs?

30 Dec

Yes, I am wandering a bit far afield here by taking a look at a National issue, but I have heard so much about how we have got to deregulate in order to get the economy going. In fact, it is the opinion of some that, without significant deregulation, the United States is doomed. So … off my little fingers go into Google land to take a peak at what information is available to support the assertions that deregulation creates jobs.

Deregulation does not create jobs when you have a failure in …  nope…not there. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on December 30, 2011 in Economic Development, US Government

 

Moving on after the elections

10 Nov

The elections are over and it is time to move on. By “move on” I do not mean it is time to winterize the garden, calk windows, etc. I mean it is time to “move on” by getting ready to watch and evaluate the performance of our returning and new employees, elected officials.

Money is tight. We all know and feel that! Stopping the spending of money is not going to do anyone any good. Careful, thoughtful spending of money is making an investment. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on November 10, 2011 in Education, Local Government, US Government, VA government, Your Tax Money

 

Throwing Money or Investing Wisely: What does that mean in government?

20 Oct

While I’m sitting around pondering who to vote for in this election, spending keeps rolling around in my head. It seems to me that there is a lot of talk about either spending or not spending and not much about the wise use of taxpayer dollars.

I hear candidates talking about “I’m gonna do this.” “I’m gonna do that.” but there is something routinely missing. “How ya gonna pay for this or that?” Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on October 20, 2011 in Local Government, US Government, VA government, VOTE, Your Tax Money

 

Occupy Blacksburg

16 Oct

Having Lupus and being under a doctor’s orders to avoid direct sunlight, I don’t get out much in the daytime unless it is something I consider to be very important. Such an event occurred on October 15, 2011 in Blacksburg, VA. It was “Occupy Blacksburg” a spin-off if you will of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on October 16, 2011 in Citizen Participation, Local Government, US Government, VA government, VOTE

 

Are there benefits to Unions?

23 Sep

I hear people talking, all the time, about how “poorly” things are made these days. In particular, I hear a lot about how structures, like homes, are just “shoddy” compared to what they use to be. I recently had such a discussion with someone when that old “light bulb” above my head flashed a few times. (You know it’s important when it flashes instead of coming on and staying on — unless of course you have a short in the synapses:) Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on September 23, 2011 in US Government, VA government, Your Tax Money

 

Talking About Education? If You Aren’t Maybe You Should Be!

15 Sep

What do you think the role of Federal Government should be in K-12 Public Education? What are the “Common Core Standards”? What affect could changes in the role of Federal Government have on our local schools? Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on September 15, 2011 in Citizen Participation, Education, Local Government, US Government, VA government, VOTE, Your Tax Money

 

Children Living in Poverty in Virginia

20 Aug

 

I first heard of the Annie E. Casey Foundation when I was volunteering as a Guardian ad Litem in Florida. Over the years, I’ve continued to use it now and then to answer a question I was pondering. The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, VA is currently studying the Role of Federal Government in Public Education, and I find myself again drawn to the wealth of data provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on August 20, 2011 in Economic Development, Local Government, US Government, VA government, Your Tax Money

 

The 10th Amendment and Education

28 Jul

The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. The goal of this Amendment was to make it such that all powers NOT specifically granted to the federal government or prohibited by the Constitution are reserved for the states (or the people) to control.

This Amendment was applied to Education. In 1790, the first U.S. Census was conducted (including only states, not the territories). Now, let’s take a look at what conditions were at the time that the 10th Amendment was written and interpreted to include education: Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on July 28, 2011 in Citizen Participation, Education, Montgomery County, US Government, VA government, VOTE, Your Tax Money

 

Weldon Cooper Center School-Age Population Data

27 Jul

The Weldon Cooper Centers School-Age (5-19) Population Estimates for Virginia’s Incorporated Towns shows that:

  • Blacksburg has a school-age population of 3,556 which is 27.01% of the County total of 13,164.
  • Christiansburg has school-age population of 3,781 which is 28.72% of the County total of 13,164.
  • Montgomery Count’s school-age population is 13,164. (Subtract Blacksburg and Christiansburg from this and you have the Montgomery County count at 5,827 school-age students (over 44% of the total). Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by on July 27, 2011 in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, VA, Education, Local Government, Montgomery County, US Government, VA, VOTE, Your Tax Money

 

Open Government Focus in Latest Issue of The Community Planner

20 Jun

The Community Planner is a quarterly journal on Planning. What makes it unique is that it is written to provide information to citizens as well as professionals. It is produced on a CD rather than in print because along with the 60 or so pages of each journal, there are also additional features added. For instance, in the article I wrote for the just released Volume I Issue 3, I refer  to several tools that can help people understand the Freedom of Information Act and several sources of on-line information that citizens can find useful for determining what documents they need to request. Attached to the article, via links, are 3 pdf files which have a list of websites where you can find information on each state’s Freedom of Information Act, Retention Schedules for documents, and websites for each state’s auditor/Auditor of Public Accounts. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on June 20, 2011 in Citizen Participation, Economic Development, Environment, FOIA, Historic Preservation, Land Use, Local Government, US Government, VA government, Your Tax Money

 
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