I thought this exchange to be worthy of *group *content. The CIP taxes are voted on by the people once every three years with a SUNSET clause specifically so the people's representatives can determine if the economic conditions exist for it being asked for again. Once more when people come to understand that we are a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC and not a DEMOCRACY we will have a much more informed electorate on how government should be working and not how government has taken over.
Everyone one this list has the choice this election to cast a ballot in the manner you see fit, I hope you take this position of power with research and cast your ballot for the individual who is going to lead the city back from the verge of bankruptcy. YES bankruptcy is a HARSH word however the only way the city can and will pay off the debts currently on the boooks is to take more of what you earn by force or ballot box. As you read this exchange remember you are part of that vocal minority that wants to trample on the rights of the people. Dear people: Well, that was a fast but unexpected response from O'Neal. I don't know whether I should be flattered as being a potential person worthy of civic input, or I might be a candidate for subversion of my principles by a vague promise of appointment. I gotta read up up on what Machiavelli would say about this situation. He was an expert on giving survival advice to the "Princes" of his day. Oh, I have a strong feeling O'Neal is feeling some pressure, and more than a few people are raining on his parade. Jim Hornaday ----- Forwarded Message ---- *From:* Jim O'Neal <jon...@oandstrucking.com> *To:* James Hornaday Jr. <rail...@sbcglobal.net> *Sent:* Friday, March 27, 2009 8:19:18 AM *Subject:* Re: Your appeal to the undecided voters of Springfield Mr. Hornaday, Thank you for your comments. Unlike my opponent, I value the opinion of those who disagree with my positions. I don't believe you understand my position and your assesment of the city I believe to be inacurate. Nevertheless, I respect and value your input and if I am wrong I'll be the first to admit it. If I am elected I would hope you would offer your service to our community on one of the several task forces I will ask to be created. My best regards to you, Jim O'Neal Sent from my iPhone On Mar 27, 2009, at 5:57 AM, "James Hornaday Jr." <rail...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr. O'Neal: I think it is most fitting that you made your appeal for voter support. You have fully explained your position and your election platform. We can now see how you would direct the activities of Springfield if you were elected mayor. We can now see what you'd do if you were sitting in Tom Carlson's center council seat. You want to keep up the City's rapid pace of capital spending for big capital items. Whatever the Vision 20/20 people or the Park Board or the city administration wanted to buy or build, you'd never look at the price tag. You'd push it through Council for approval. Your next year's Capital Improvement Budget proposal would be bigger than it ever was. The fact that Springfield has accumulated a $412,000,000 long term debt obligation wouldn't be a problem to you. You are well aware of the fact that Springfield can always sell more bonds to finance anything. If the City's sales tax revenue in the midst of this economic downturn falls short of expectations, we can anticipate you will push new tax increase proposals onto the citizens for our voter approval. Maybe your trucking company is doing just fine, and you can afford a higher sales tax without being pinched in the pocketbook. That's something a majority of voters in Springfield didn't want. They demonstrated that fact back in February. You stated in your appeal "The only way taxes can be changed are by a vote of you the citizens." It would appear you talk the talk, but you can't accept the results. Priorities change with the times, and you are stuck back in the era when money was plentiful and Springfield hadn't spent itself into debt. We certainly thank you for making your appeal. We, as citizens and voters, now know you much better. By your own words, we know how you would govern Springfield. We can decide on whether to vote for you with confidence. James R. Hornaday, Jr. 4470 S. Park Ave. Springfield. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - March 24, 2009 Good morning loyal supporters. First, I am here to thank you for your continued support throughout this campaign. But now I must plead for your help once more. Many of you may have read the editorial in today’s News-Leader by Ryan Cooper. It seems I am running against Mr. Cooper not Mr. Donegan, as he seemingly can’t speak for himself. I couldn’t find much in this article as to why Mr. Donegan would lead our city or his qualifications to be mayor; he simply attacks me in ways that are designed to stir up discontent. This is the only way he can win. But it is unfortunate that this can be very effective. We have run a clean, honest, heartfelt campaign and for that I am proud. I need to ask those of you than can, compose a letter to the editor in support of my desire and ability to become mayor. Please mention in your letter about your support of the capital improvements tax and our support for citizens input and citizen task forces to develop solutions to community issues such as the pension problem. This organized, overexposed, vocal but small group wants to take away your right to vote on issues regarding the CIP, parks and other issues designed to keep Springfield moving forward. The only way taxes can be changed are by a vote of you the citizens. These people don’t like that because the vast majority of people are voting for the CIP program, a program they want to kill. They have also endorsed an incomplete, non-comprehensive solution to the pension funding written by a very limited and narrow group of people. The last thing they want is for a broad based diverse group of citizens to have a voice in solving the problem. They‘ve already made up their mind and the public be damned. Mr. Cooper has had front billing in our newspaper for many weeks and it is absurd and his articles are more absurd. Time for us to go to the mattresses! These letters need to be sent as soon as possible to the News-Leader and they can also be done online. They will want your address and phone number and sometime they prefer a photo to accompany. We have many more yard signs and magnetic car door placards being delivered next Monday. If you want one please e-mail me at <jon...@oandstrucking.com> jon...@oandstrucking.com and we will see that you get them. We also have some larger commercial signs going up this weekend. Lastly, our biggest threat is apathy. I can’t tell you how many people continue to come up to me and say, “Oh, you’ve got this in the bag.” I DO NOT!! You must get out and get others out to vote on April 7th. We must win this election and win by as large a margin as possible. Please get letter to the editor out and please register to blog online to the news-leader and watch for negative attacks and be prepared to respond. It works. Your support is so greatly appreciated. Thank You. Jim O’Neal -- "No man who is corrupt, no man who condones corruption in others, can possibly do his duty by the community..." President Theodore Roosevelt "Abuse of power isn't limited to bad guys in other nations. It happens in our own country if we’re not vigilant". ~Clint Eastwood~ "There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him". ~Robert Heinlein~ "If you have fifty problems and one of them is government, then you only have ONE problem." “[A] faction [is] a number of citizens... who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” —James Madison, Federalist No. 10 -- http://votetom4council.webs.com/ www.moliberty.org http://417-political-pundit.blogspot.com The power to tax involves the power to destroy. ~Justice John Marshall~ Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you! -Pericles (430 B.C.) "no cause is lost if there is but one fool to fight for it" ~Will Turner~ ~Pirate's of the Caribbean @ World's End~ A legislative act contrary to the Constitution is not law. ~Justice John Marshall~ http://www.radiofreeliberty.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ This is a Free Speech forum. The owner of this list assumes no responsibility for the intellectual or emotional maturity of its members. If you do not like what is being said here, filter it to trash, ignore it or leave. If you leave, learn how to do this for yourself. If you do not, you will be here forever. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
