OFF MY CHEST

It is time to blog and get several topics off my chest. 

It is immaterial how many if any read this and subsequent ones, I have expressed my feelings.

The “open” committee hearings have just begun and if this committee recommends impeachment   it will come before the house for action and vote.

Although the Constitution is not clear, reference to impeachment is  in two places; In the Legislator section in Article I Section 2w Cause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Also in the Executive Section: Article II Section 4: The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

One must understand the origin of these two sections. The Revolutionary war was a fight against a tyrannical despot, The English King, who insisted on absolute rule. 

The wars end was succeeded by the Confederation of the United States of America.  The Federation had administrative and legislative powers but those powers were limited as each of the 13 States desired to be their own rulers. 

This Confederation by 1787 was in chaos and threatened by some of the states leaving. The central government could not have its own army or levy taxes that could ed. The states feared either a legislature body that could seize despotic power, and also an Executive who would be King.

In an attempt to save the union, the Continental Congress with delegates from all states met in Philadelphia. They conceived a government of three branches; Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary which had to have some control over each other. The Executive could use his power of veto, the legislature had to approve the Executives recommendation for rthe appointment of cabinet members, other senior officials and also judges

English law had reference to impeachment for Treason, Bribery. Self-augmentation and other Misadministrations or misadventure. The wording of the Constitutional writers was subject to much discussion behind close doors before the final nonspecific final form.

Personally, I think he should be impeached not because of the call but because he is guilty of “Misdemeanors”. He has used the office for his and family’s personal profit through the income from his hotels and golf course complexes. They have been used by all seeking something from his government. 

He has not been directly compensated but will benefit from his corporations and trusts although he has denied direct involvement. 

If the substance of the letter is correct or the testimony of the witnesses upheld, he has committed Bribery.

He has obstructed  by ordering people to ignore congressional subpoenas.

He has tried to obstruct in various ways and has lied and is a con man. He has demeaned the office.

 George Conway the husband of Kellyanne Conway. White house counselor. Said on TV: "He lies, Executive because he’s a. sociopath, a con man—to deceive others.
But he also lies because he’s a pathological narcissist—to deceive himself, to protect his fragile ego from narcissistic injury."

That sums it up. But, even if the House votes to impeach he will remain in office since the Senate vote will be political. That is contrary to the thoughts of the authors who considered that Congress would act as the representative of the people, not as political self-interested party members

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COLUMBUS DAY THOUGHTS

   I should not be writing or you reading this blog since it is Columbus Day and memorizes the so called:” Discoverer of America”, the western continents. In this era of ignoring history an individual like Columbus who brought the Spanish and other white supremist to these lands along with their conquests and enslavement of the natives.

  However, it is catch 22, if he or some other seeker of a route to the Orient had not found the West Indies this blog would not exist.

  It is also unthinkable to do as those who wish to destroy any reference Including statues to Columbus and replace with Mother Cabrini, a Christian saint. I believe that to do so would be a violation of the separation of Church and State since this day is celebrated as a legal holiday by all governmental offices, postal workers as well as schools and banks.
  It is also my opinion that although the Christmas tree is basically a symbol of a religious holiday we have accepted it through custom as "non sectarian; however a statue to a saint on non church grounds must be unconstitutional.  
  I have just returned from another short hospital stay where once again I found that staff and other providers may hear you but they don’t listen. Because one is 99, he must be senile and cannot know what must be done for him. That however is a tale for another time except it reflects on what is wrong with today’s health care and the populations general outlook which catteries everybody. Individualization is a foreign concept.

   Likewise, the circus in DC goes on while legislatures and governments forget their obligations to the people or the country. The same applies to state, regional (counties) and local governments, Party and self-interests (staying in office) are all that matters.

  Whether Democrat or Republican the last several administrations have not learned that Isolation, high tariffs, socialism or spending more than you can earn are roads to ultimate disaster.

MAPP AND TAXES

" As we try to find ways to alleviate the burden of our local property taxes; an area of opportunity is to remove the portion of the property tax bill that goes to the local school district and replace it with full state or federal funding.

We could replace the education portion of the property tax bill with a comparable increase in the payroll tax that would be spread across all who are employed by N.J. businesses."

So wrote our Mayor after giving several examples where the Federal Government has provided funds for specific mandated education programs.

His given reasoning is as wrong as his reasoning why it should not be a municipality’s charge to be responsible for the education of its children. 

The fact that perhaps the majority do not spend their adult life in that municipality should not excuse the municipality from fulfilling its duty.

If that portion of the “city” tax is onerous perhaps the answer is that the Board of Education should be completely transparent in its budget and receptive to taxpayer’s review.

A community like Plainfield where its own government lacks transparency and maybe honesty should not expect it from affiliated entities.

Neither occurs in Plainfield. Yes, we get a copy of the auditor’s report, but that does not indicate any nepotism or if open bidding is required to employ vendors. Yes, there has to be Council approval of the budget after hearings but we are dealing with a captive Council.

If the Mayor thinks that increasing the payroll tax will reduce the overall burden on taxpayers or not drive industry out of New Jersey he probably also accepts the claim that Mexico will pay for the Wall.