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<channel>
	<title>Principle Over Party &#187; lennie</title>
	<atom:link href="http://lenniej.blogivists.com/author/lennie/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:02:37 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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			<item>
		<title>Mayoral Corruption in Baton Rouge?</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/10/04/mayoral-corruption-in-baton-rouge/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/10/04/mayoral-corruption-in-baton-rouge/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:16:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baton Rouge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kip Holden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Louisiana Conservative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mayor Holden]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=46</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Louisiana Conservative has been doing a great public service in exposing the possible corruption of the Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden.  Even though this was exposed, Mayor Holden has easily won his re-election tonight.
See images of the flyer below:
&#160;&#160;
Please help pass this around to help force a full investigation of Mayor Kip Holden and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://louisianaconservative.com">Louisiana Conservative</a> has been doing a great public service in exposing the <a href="http://louisianaconservative.com/?p=591">possible corruption of the Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden</a>.  Even though this was exposed, Mayor Holden has <a href="http://louisianaconservative.com/?p=618">easily won his re-election</a> tonight.</p>
<p>See images of the flyer below:</p>
<p><a href='http://lenniej.blogivists.com/files/2008/10/lcpage2.jpg'><img src="http://lenniej.blogivists.com/files/2008/10/lcpage2-300x286.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="286" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-50" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href='http://lenniej.blogivists.com/files/2008/10/lcpage1.jpg'><img src="http://lenniej.blogivists.com/files/2008/10/lcpage1-245x300.jpg" alt="" width="245" height="300" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-49" /></a></p>
<p>Please help pass this around to help force a full investigation of Mayor Kip Holden and his antics at taxpayer expense.</p>
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		<title>9/11 Memories</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/09/11/911-memories/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/09/11/911-memories/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:22:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[9/11]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flight 93]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United 93]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World Trade Center]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=43</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a reposting of an early 9/11 tribute post.  
I have decided to let the following pictures speak for me today.  They are why we must fight the evil in this world and share the love of Christ with all we can.


WTC Montage via StrangeMilitary
Someone&#8217;s Daughtervia StrangeMilitary
Multiple Jumpersvia StrangeMilitary


The following are images [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is a reposting of an early 9/11 tribute post.  </p>
<p>I have decided to let the following pictures speak for me today.  They are why we must fight the evil in this world and share the love of Christ with all we can.</p>
<table border="0" width="80%" cellpadding="10">
<tr>
<td nowrap align="center"><a href="http://xbip.com/911/wtcmontage.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://xbip.com/911/wtcmontage.jpg" height="100" width="170" border="0"></a><br /><a href="http://www.strangemilitary.com" target="_blank">WTC Montage via StrangeMilitary</a></td>
<td nowrap align="center"><a href="http://xbip.com/911/daughter.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://xbip.com/911/daughter.jpg" height="100" width="170"></a><br /><a href="http://www.strangemilitary.com" target="_blank">Someone&#8217;s Daughter<br />via StrangeMilitary</a></td>
<td nowrap align="center"><a href="http://xbip.com/911/jumpers3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://xbip.com/911/jumpers3.jpg" height="100" width="170"></a><br /><a href="http://www.strangemilitary.com" target="_blank">Multiple Jumpers<br />via StrangeMilitary</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="center">The following are images and flash movies from a <a href="http://chicagotribune.com" target="_blank">Chicago Tribune Time Capsule CD</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap align="center" colspan="3">
<table border="0">
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center"><a href="http://xbip.com/911/plane_tower2_lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://xbip.com/911/plane_tower2_lg.jpg" height="100" width="170"></a><br />2<sup>nd</sup> Plane<br /><font size="-1">Chicago Tribune Time Capsule CD</font></td>
<td nowrap align="center">
<b>Click each link below to view:</b>
</p>
<p><a href="http://xbip.com/911/pg_Day1Crash.swf" target="_blank">Planes Crash into Towers</a>
<p>
<a href="http://xbip.com/911/PG_Day1Collapse.swf" target="_blank">Towers Fall</a>
<p>
<a href="http://xbip.com/911/pg_cartoons.swf" target="_blank">Editorial Cartoons</a>
<p>
<a href="http://xbip.com/911/victims.swf" target="_blank">Victims</a>
</p>
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>For those of you who wish to donate to the building of a monument to Flight 93, the heros who fought back, please do so <a href="http://www.nationalparks.org/flight93/default.asp" target="_blank">HonorFlight93.org</a> site. You will be redirected to the National Parks site who is handling this.</p>
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		<title>Iraqi Vet Sends Personal Message to Barack Obama</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/08/31/iraqi-vet-sends-personal-message-to-barack-obama/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/08/31/iraqi-vet-sends-personal-message-to-barack-obama/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:11:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iraqi Veteran]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joe Cook]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=41</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The video below is a message from an Iraqi Veteran, Joe Cook, to Barack Obama:

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The video below is a message from an Iraqi Veteran, Joe Cook, to Barack Obama:</p>
<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TG4fe9GlWS8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TG4fe9GlWS8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Antioch District 34 Group Recommends Referendum</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/07/21/antioch-district-34-group-recommends-referendum/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/07/21/antioch-district-34-group-recommends-referendum/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antioch d34]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antioch District 34]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antioch Elementary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[d34]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nav34]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[navigate 34]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[navigate34]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scott Thompson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Superintendent Thompson]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=27</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This falls in the no surprise category.  The small group of parents and teachers who came to the meetings recommended a referendum.  See the stories about it in the following local papers:

News-Sun: Antioch group recommends elementary school referendum (Excerpt below)
Daily Herald: Antioch group tabs education goals
Antioch Review:  Nav34 recommendations presented to board

 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This falls in the no surprise category.  The small group of parents and teachers who came to the meetings recommended a referendum.  See the stories about it in the following local papers:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun">News-Sun</a>: <a href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1059477,5_1_WA17_ANTSCHOOL_S1.article">Antioch group recommends elementary school referendum</a> (Excerpt below)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com">Daily Herald</a>: <a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=211943">Antioch group tabs education goals</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.pioneerlocal.com/antioch/news/1060245,an-nav34-071708-s1.article">Antioch Review</a>:  <a href="http://www.pioneerlocal.com/antioch/news/1060245,an-nav34-071708-s1.article">Nav34 recommendations presented to board</a></li>
</ul>
<blockquote><p> An advisory group of parents and staff studying the issues facing Antioch School District 34 for the past seven months recommended the district hold a bond referendum to build more classrooms to relieve overcrowding and the district&#8217;s reliance on 16 mobile classrooms.</p>
<p>Considering the slowed economy and two failed referendums since 2006, the earliest the district would pursue a referendum would be March 2009, said District 34 Superintendent Scott Thompson.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s too soon to do in November,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We have to determine when the right time is economically.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>What Superintendent Thompson means by November being too soon is they the district does not have the needed time to get their propaganda out in favor of a Yes vote.  This is especially true since their last 2 attempts have been beaten. </p>
<p>District 34, like virtually every other school district in Illinois doesn&#8217;t listen to the taxpayers.  They continue to put referendum after referendum on the ballot until it is passed.  They&#8217;ll do surveys and these consensus groups together to make it appear that they are listening to the taxpayers, when these attempts are just masquerades of propaganda to get what the district wants.</p>
<p>Our <s>public</s> government schools are overfunded currently.  They do not need more money.  They need fiscal responsibility to stop the spending problems instead.  One way to force this is to <a href="http://fundthechild.org">Fund The Child</a>.  Designate a specified amount of money for each and every child.  The parents then get to choose the school they want their child to attend and the money then follows.  This puts the parents in charge of the purse strings instead of the bloated and self-serving school bureaucracy.  The schools will actually have to earn the money by innovating and actually producing results.</p>
<p>You can take a survey about District 34 at <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=JGFWf8RgmyTbEJ3Chjoadw_3d_3d">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=JGFWf8RgmyTbEJ3Chjoadw_3d_3d<br />
</a>.  Let them know what you think.</p>
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		<title>Another Reason for Recall</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/07/18/another-reason-for-recall/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/07/18/another-reason-for-recall/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:49:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Con con]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ConCon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illinois Constitution Convention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nicholas Batson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wauconda school board]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wauconda school board member Nicholas Batson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yes For Illinois]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yes vote]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=26</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In todays Daily Herald they report about a Wauconda School Board member pleading guilty to domestic battery.  
Wauconda school board member Nicholas Batson was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 2 years probation Thursday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
Batson was facing up to 14 years in prison on two [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In todays <a href="http://www.dailyherald.com">Daily Herald</a> they report about a <a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221681&amp;src=3">Wauconda School Board member pleading guilty to domestic battery</a>.  </p>
<blockquote><p>Wauconda school board member Nicholas Batson was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 2 years probation Thursday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.</p>
<p>Batson was facing up to 14 years in prison on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old female relative at his Wauconda Township home on Dec. 5.<br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-<br />
&#8220;This conduct to which he&#8217;s acknowledged is bad, but in my mind he is not a bad person,&#8221; Menaker said. &#8220;The school board has not discharged him.&#8221; </p></blockquote>
<p>The last statement about the school board not discharging him is ludicrous because they can&#8217;t.  All they can do is ask him to resign but they have no power to force him off.  </p>
<p>This is just another example of why the citizens need recall for all elected officials.  Unfortunately, the elected officials are not going to give us this option willingly.  The only way to get recall is going to be via a Constitution Convention.  To make that happen, there needs to be a Yes vote this November.  For more information on the ConCon vote see <a href="http://YesForIllinois.com">YesForIllinois.com</a> and the <a href="IllinoisCitizenCoalition.org">IllinoisCitizenCoalition.org</a> websites.</p>
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		<title>Man Made Global Warming Consensus Disentigrating</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/07/17/man-made-global-warming-consensus-disentigrating/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/07/17/man-made-global-warming-consensus-disentigrating/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:43:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anthropogenic IPCC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[APS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global warming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[man made global warming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Physics and Society Forum]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=25</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have been following the whole man made global warning debate for several years.  It has been entertaining to say the least with all the arguments from both sides.  
It seems that now the Physicist world is reopening the debate as to whether global warming is man made or not.  The Al [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have been following the whole man made global warning debate for several years.  It has been entertaining to say the least with all the arguments from both sides.  </p>
<p>It seems that now the <a href="http://www.dailytech.com/Myth+of+Consensus+Explodes+APS+Opens+Global+Warming+Debate/article12403.htm">Physicist world is reopening the debate</a> as to whether global warming is man made or not.  The Al Gore consensus seems to be falling apart.</p>
<p><span id="more-25"></span></p>
<blockquote><p>The American Physical Society, an organization representing nearly 50,000 physicists, has reversed its stance on climate change and is now proclaiming that many of its members disbelieve in human-induced global warming.  The APS is also sponsoring public debate on the validity of global warming science.</p>
<p>In a posting to the APS forum, editor Jeffrey Marque explains,&#8221;There is a considerable presence within the scientific community of people who do not agree with the IPCC conclusion that anthropogenic CO2 emissions are very probably likely to be primarily responsible for global warming that has occurred since the Industrial Revolution.&#8221;</p>
<p>The APS is opening its debate with the publication of a paper by Lord Monckton of Brenchley, which concludes that climate sensitivity &#8212; the rate of temperature change a given amount of greenhouse gas will cause &#8212; has been grossly overstated by IPCC modeling.   A low sensitivity implies additional atmospheric CO2 will have little effect on global climate.</p></blockquote>
<p>This is exactly what should happen; scientist from multiple disciplines use the best science available from all sources and let the data lead them to the answer.  For too long now we have had hysteria and over zealousness. Let&#8217;s debate with real evidence and let the truth prevail.</p>
<p>UPDATE: A commenter below alerted me to an update to this story. My original linked source has updated their story as well with the following:</p>
<blockquote><p>After publication of this story, the <a href="http://www.aps.org/">APS responded with a  statement</a> that its Physics and Society Forum is merely one unit within the APS, and its views do not reflect those of the Society at large.</p></blockquote>
<p>It basically comes down to this, the group questioning the <a href="http://www.aps.org/">APS</a>, Physics and Society Forum, is a subset of the entire organization.  The <a href="http://www.aps.org/">APS</a> has not changed their stance that global warming is being caused by man.  Even though the <a href="http://www.aps.org/">APS</a> as a whole has not changed their position on the cause of global warming, the conclusion of Al Gore and others who claim there is a scientific consensus is still breaking down.  There are more and more scientists coming out against man mad global warming.  The debate is not over.  My conclusion still stands:</p>
<blockquote><p>This is exactly what should happen; scientist from multiple disciplines use the best science available from all sources and let the data lead them to the answer.  For too long now we have had hysteria and over zealousness. Let&#8217;s debate with real evidence and let the truth prevail.
</p></blockquote>
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		<title>Free Olympic Prayer Band</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/07/17/free-olympic-prayer-band/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/07/17/free-olympic-prayer-band/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:13:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=24</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Voice of the Martyrs is giving away free Olympic Prayer Bands to help you remember to pray for the persecuted Christians in China during the Olympics.  I encourage every Christian to order theirs today at Voice of the Martyrs.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.persecution.com/">The Voice of the Martyrs</a> is giving away free Olympic Prayer Bands to help you remember to pray for the persecuted Christians in China during the Olympics.  I encourage every Christian to order theirs today at <a href="http://etools.780net.com/a/vomso/bg_vomso_Blogs-china-prayer-band_325.html"><strong>Voice of the Martyrs</strong></a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Democrats Claim Family Values But Support Same-Sex Marriage</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/06/10/democrats-claim-family-values-but-support-same-sex-marriage/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/06/10/democrats-claim-family-values-but-support-same-sex-marriage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:31:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barney Frank]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Democrats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family values]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gay marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homosexual marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Howard Dean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[same-sex marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tammy Baldwin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[traditional family values]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=23</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Democrats continue the farce that they are for traditional family values when in fact they support the exact opposite.  They released a proclamation in support of Same-Sex marriages on June 3rd.  This came from DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Massachusetts Democratic Representative Barney Frank and Wisconsin Democratic Representative Tammy Baldwin.
&#8220;Today, on behalf of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Democrats continue the farce that they are for traditional family values when in fact they support the exact opposite.  They released a <a href="http://www.afa.net/dnc060608.asp">proclamation in support of Same-Sex marriages</a> on June 3<sup>rd</sup>.  This came from DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Massachusetts Democratic Representative Barney Frank and Wisconsin Democratic Representative Tammy Baldwin.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Today, on behalf of Democrats across America, we join together in celebrating the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and their families make to our society and reaffirm our Party&#8217;s commitment to promoting full equality under the law for every American.</p>
<p>&#8220;As leaders of the Democratic Party, we stand proudly with the LGBT community and commit ourselves to working together to build an America that is truly inclusive. Every American has the right to live in dignity, with equal rights, responsibilities and protections under the law.</p>
<p>These are our country&#8217;s and our Party&#8217;s core values. Across the country, at every level of government, Democrats have championed sweeping protections in the areas of employment, housing, domestic partnerships and civil unions, adoption, gender identity or expression, and hate crimes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Despite all we have accomplished, our work is not done. We need to fight efforts to write discrimination into our laws and constitutions.(This statement is in reference to H.J. RES. 89, the Marriage Protection Amendment, which makes marriage legal only between a man and a woman. The Democratic Party opposes the Marriage Protection Amendment because they believe it is discriminatory against homosexuals.)</p></blockquote>
<p>At least some of the Democrats no longer pretend to be a traditional family values supporter.  They are making it very clear that they will support same-sex marriage at all levels of government and will fight to keep traditional marriage amendments from passing in state constitutions.  This makes the choice for Evangelical Christians and other supporters of traditional family values in the upcoming elections clearer.  Don&#8217;t elect the Democrat if you support traditional family values.  </p>
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		<title>Financial Miracle Needed</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/06/09/22/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/06/09/22/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:33:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Debbi Tepper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Debbie Tepper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debbitepper.com]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fifth Third Bank]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PKD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Team Up For The Teppers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tepper Family]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/?p=22</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The following is from the neighborhood coordinator who is leading a campaign to help a fellow neighbor in need.  This neighbor lives across the street from me and is in great financial need.  Please read the letter below and pass it along to other bloggers to spread the word about this need.
Lennie
Friends,
We are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The following is from the neighborhood coordinator who is leading a campaign to help a fellow neighbor in need.  This neighbor lives across the street from me and is in great financial need.  Please read the letter below and pass it along to other bloggers to spread the word about this need.</p>
<p>Lennie</p>
<blockquote><p>Friends,</p>
<p>We are on a journey together to save a home from Foreclosure. <a href="http://debbitepper.com">Debbi Tepper</a> passed away on May 29<sup>th</sup> leaving behind a husband, George, who is need of a kidney transplant; a son, Brandon Tepper who is twelve years old;  and a daughter Jamie who is 23.</p>
<p>Debbi was admitted to Condell Hospital in Libertyville, Illinois on May 21, 2008 with a mysterious illness that aggressively ravaged her body to the point where she became paralyzed. She was on a feeding tube and ventilator. She also received a tracheotomy. This illness eventually attacked her body to the point where her brain was no longer functioning leaving her on life support, until eventually the family had to let her go. </p>
<p>Debbi is at peace now, but her family is not. The government was declaring a Sherriff&#8217;s sale on her home the very same day she passed away. An extension was able to be obtained until July 28<sup>th</sup>, 2008. That is the day the house is up for auction. </p>
<p>George, her husband has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). Because of his PKD, he is in immediate need of a second kidney transplant. He goes to dialysis three times a week and is awaiting a second kidney transplant.  The extensive medical bills the family has incurred has forced them to get far behind on their house payments.  </p>
<p>Jamie just graduated from college only to eventually see her mother who was the picture of perfect health die from a mysterious illness which violated her body in less than two weeks.  Jamie and Brandon have gone through more than any child should ever have to in a lifetime. </p>
<p>Debbi was the hub of our entire neighborhood Lakewood Hills in Round Lake Beach Illinois. Brandon, her son, is undoubtedly the most popular child in the neighborhood. He does not deserve to lose the home he has grown up in.</p>
<p>We are on a mission to save their home and we need your help! Please give ASAP to “Team Up For The Teppers” at any Fifth Third Bank Location, donate online at <a href="http://debbitepper.com">DebbiTepper.com</a>, or mail a donation to the following Fifth Third Bank address:</p>
<p> Fifth Third Bank<br />
Attn: Randy Angsten<br />
750 Northwest Hwy<br />
Cary, IL 60013</p>
<p>Thank you for your kind support. Everyone is telling me it looks hopeless but I am believing God for a miracle! Please give from your heart. We are on a massive fundraising campaign in our community and we are not giving up! Keep the Faith. </p>
<p>Friends of The Tepper Family.</p>
</blockquote>
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		<title>Gas Taxes Increase Government Revenues to Record Highs</title>
		<link>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/05/23/gas-taxes-increase-government-revenues-to-record-highs/</link>
		<comments>http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/05/23/gas-taxes-increase-government-revenues-to-record-highs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 05:27:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>lennie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Illinois]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gas prices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[record high gas prices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[record high taxes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senator Durbin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://lenniej.blogivists.com/2008/05/23/gas-taxes-increase-government-revenues-to-record-highs/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While the Senators were grilling the Oil Company Execs about the high cost of gas, the revenues the government receives from the gas taxes are bringing in record revenues into their coffers.  In fact in Chicago, who has the highest gas prices in the nation, taxes account for approximately 20% of the gas costs. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While the Senators were grilling the Oil Company Execs about the high cost of gas, the revenues the government receives from the gas taxes are bringing in record revenues into their coffers.  In fact in Chicago, who has the highest gas prices in the nation, <a href="http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/gas.prices.taxes.2.729939.html"><strong>taxes account for approximately 20% of the gas costs</strong></a>.  [Emphasis mine]</p>
<blockquote><p>
Tired of seeing the price at the pump jump every time you need to buy gasoline? Well, the <strong>record-high price of gasoline</strong> in the Chicago area is <strong>linked to a record-high rate of taxation</strong>: nearly 20 percent of the Chicago price.<br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br />
&#8220;It was $4.20. I can come over here and get it for $3.93,&#8221; said Tikvah Wadley, one of the many fleeing Illinois taxes.</p>
<p>Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin complained to oil company bosses at a hearing on Capitol Hill about Chicago having the highest gasoline prices in the United States. <strong>Largely ignored was the role taxes are playing &#8212; an astounding 10 levels of taxation</strong>. </p>
<p>&#8220;Does it trouble any of you when you see what you&#8217;re doing to us?&#8221;  Durbin asked..<br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br />
The watchdog Civic Federation says that <strong>on a $4 gallon of gas, the total tax is 79.2 cents</strong>. That compares to 77 cents in Los Angeles and 65 cents in New York City.<br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br />
And that, of course, is exactly the point for the politicians. <strong>Gov. Blagojevich</strong>, for example, <strong>is counting on the high price of gasoline to bring at least an extra $220 million in the State Treasury</strong> in the fiscal year that begins this July. Most of that will be used to balance the way-out-of-balance budget.</p></blockquote>
<p>Senator Durbin, does it trouble you when you see what you&#8217;re doing to us?  Don&#8217;t you and your fellow Senators care about the poor and middle class working families?  Why are you are forcing them to pay nearly a 20% tax rate on the gas they need to get back and forth to work?</p>
<p>Eventually, the majority of the taxpayers are going to find out the truth that Congress, State Legislators and local governments are to blame for the high gas prices.  They will understand that you and your cohorts don&#8217;t want to fix the high gas prices.  You just want the tax revenue so you can spend more of our money on your pet projects and never have to make decisions to actually cut spending.</p>
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