PENULTIMATE ? ON GUNS

 “I got to watch some deputy sheriffs perform this weekend. They weren't exactly Medal of Honor winners, all right? The way they performed was, frankly, disgusting. They were listening to what was going on — the one in particular. He was then — he was earlier, and then you had three others that probably a similar deal a little bit later, but a similar kind of a thing. You know, I really believe — you don't know until you test it, but I think — I really believe I'd run into — even if I didn't have a weapon. And I think most of the people in this room would have done.”

  Thus spake Trump; he who had FIVE deferments for a heel spur during the Vietnam War.

  Today, Trump who has been vacillating on various measures of gun control told congressmen that he would issue an executive order banning bump stocks if congress didn’t act.

  If he follows through that will be the first positive action out of capital city besides hot air. Other action such as raising.the age to purchase guns and stricter background checks may suffer Congress’s action; talk to death.

POTPURRI 2/26/18

  At last the sun. Perhaps there may be some sunshine in DC. Congress now has to act not only on immigration and DACA as well the budget but also about new gun laws. The latter will be difficult even though the latest polls has shown that a vast majority of Americans are in favor of stricter laws especially regarding assault weapons, Congress has been reluctant in  the past to alienate 2^nd Amendment adherents.

  Add to this concerns over the Mueller Russian involvement in the election investigation which keeps on landing small fish. Although to date there has been no connection found that would indicate any Trump involvement the catches are growing bigger.

  Today the Supreme Court refused to hear an Administration request to vacate a lower court’s order blocking enactment of Trump’s DACA ending action.
   Dawg says hello.
 

THE RAIN WILL STOP

  98 and counting. Despite the rain and cold this was a delightful weekend. My son and daughter-in law took me to dinner Friday night. Joining us was an old friend of his who was also the son of old friends of ours. A most pleasant evening and I did not have to cook.

  An unexpected interlude was a long call from an old patient of mine whom I had not seen in 50+ years. They had moved to Ohio in their 30s and have been retired in Florida for almost two decades. I had delivered her first two children, doctors used to do that even if they had other specialties.

  Saturday my nephew and wife joined us for lunch, visiting for several hours and then Dawg and I spent the evening trying to stay awake while I caught up with the world.

  If I had been drinking I would have thought I had a hangover since every time I started to work at the computer I dozed off. Perhaps I have been swamped the local financial news and by DC shenanigan s.

  For once the Ledger had positive words for Christie praising him for vetoing last year a bill  that would give the Police and Fire unions complete control over their pension funds including ad lib favorable changes  which we  taxpayers would bear the brunt. This bill is in the works again; and this time the Governor, the Senate, and the Assembly are overwhelming Democratic.

.. I am not antiunion nor pro employer be it government or private; I do believe both are necessary but that neither should have unrestricted power over the other.

  Monday SCOTUS is hearing a case which for the first time may negate the 1977 ruling that individuals who do not wish to be union members must pay at least a fee to the Union since they do share in any benefits obtained.

  Today (Sunday) TAP in Plainfield ran a story by Bernice on the salaries of the Mayor’s City Administrator, Department Heads, Chief of Staff and Corporation Counsel. These total to about 740K a year. Add to that sum and not included is the outsourced fees paid to sundry legal firms as well as the cost of the Corporation Counsel’s office; plus outsourced engineering fee. 
  I do feel we are getting value receive from our Department heads and did from the new City Administrator in his previous  position. 

  Do not forget that our Mayor received an increase to 70K for this his secondary part time job and the Council voted itself a substantial raise.

  Also not included are the “perks” that each individual gets. I would surmise that Plainfield’s Taxpayers are spending over a million dollars on executive level alone without the slightest idea if a better more economical structure could be available.

  How many of the total city jobs are patronage related?

If government at any level were truly by the people for the people we would know what it should cost to operate.

  An open society of checks and balances is the best for all.