[email protected] ) 2/18/2016 21:16:10 (for those who have forgotten their Government time; it is 9:16 PM)
"Fewer cells are used if the span is longer. The thought that that it would be any different would be a misguided thought. As the strength increases so does the the population".
Additionally, even though I put it in here as I try to allow one and all to have their say; I have no idea what the commenter is referring too in the original posting on the 18th? Was it beer thirty x 8?
Moving on too newer things, I again watched the Media Friday morning at it put out its story on the Tax increase on Tobacco to help with the Budget Deficit. Correct; but AGAIN, it failed to note the estimated $112 Million for an additional $1.00 for a Tobacco product is going to pay for the PEIA Health Insurance costs for Government Employees only. It is a kinda back handed benefit to the rest of the folks. Again, keeping costs down for a few at the expense of the many. Some of those who may have even yet under Obamacare, no insurance or paying huge premiums, co-pays, deductibles and even prescription drug costs.
I need to do some "Truth in Advertising" on my post from Saturday. (11:45 AM, 02/ 20/2016)
"But what is a bit "sneaky" is that the $1.55 is to be dedicated to paying the $120 Million shortfall for the PEIA Health plan. This is said to be $112 Million a year instead of the present take of $78 Million and only $48 Million for the Government folks. As I noted some days back the Legislature is pandering and simply put "buying" votes from the 200,000 plus Government workers in the plan. Nothing to reduce the current deficit shortfall in the $385 Million range or the anticipated $440 Million starting on 1 July 2016 for the 2016- 2017 Fiscal cycle".
I need to cover this a little better. The proposed new tax on Tobacco products is most likely to start on 1 July 2016. That $112 WILL have an effect on the $440 Budget Deficit, but maybe still short as who knows the cost of the benefit(s) at this time? And well may be in the new "Guestimate" of $440 Million Deficit without the new tax?.
State costs Could be out as the City says its premiums for 1 July 2016- 30 June 2017 are flat again. How can the City keep getting the same price when all the rest of Country is reeling from huge cost increases? The new folks are all "young and healthy"? That would work if it is the alleged reason? Yes, has went from about 62 Employees in past 18- 24 months up to about 80 as of upcoming 1 July Budget/ hiring cycle. That is about a 30% increase in Staff in less than two years. Yet, City population has continued to fall year by year. When we had 10,760 who lived here with about 64 Employees, it was approximately 1 City Employee for each 173.5 Residents. On 1 July 2016 with about 80 Employees and 10,600 (?) Residents it will be about 1 City Employee for each 132 Residents. Now, don't misunderstand me, we for sure needed some as for example the EPA/ DEP requirements have caused a lot of work for Public Works. So some increase is needed in some places. But it also show how the number of "Temporary" workers was for some time hidden from the actual cost to the City. A little in this account, some more in another but not all in one places. Now appears all "Temps" to be permanent employees? Somewhere between 2- 4 folks I think?
Talked to several folks on Friday who live in Vienna. Actually ran across some in P'burg at their place of work; others as I was walking out of the Mall. Was very surprised at how little attention some pay to what is going on in Vienna. Years of complacency and some unfortunate out right lying have left them as the old saying goes "keep me in the dark like a mushroom and feed me Bull S***". Has worked well for at least 20 years.
Talk on Taxes here in Vienna and the person at work said they get a bill and just pay it. Not really knowing or maybe caring that they are taxed to the max. And did not seem to know how to deal against its insidious crawling through each of our wallets and purses to grab all it can get each day/ month/ year.
The other folks at the Mall talked to me on a mutual acquaintance and the Health issues of one of them. End result was really sad on the person's condition. Best we can do is pray.
Than the C8 issue popped up and I was asked about what I had been hearing and seeing. I noted the City Council meeting on the 11th and what was said there and never made it into the paper or TV. We talked on the 500,000 gallon water tank at the top of Ninth St. and tying the Vienna water into that of P'burg's even if ours is more contaminated than the water there. Was some surprise at the suspicion that the tank was built for the main purpose of providing back up water to P'burg versus any real need of Vienna itself?
People are for sure paying attention to the C8 issue. More than I would have thought on such short notice. There is still many more shoes to drop from the feet of the Octopus that we call City Government I think as the year goes on?
Have thought some more on my posting a couple of days ago on Mr. Rapp and his ongoing problems with various Laws? If I have to file another case, I am going to ask that he be forced to step down until the Cases(s) are all resolved. Can not see where he should even be running if the issues are to go with out any answers for months on end?
A little more on our Social Security Benefits:
Here's why your Social Security benefits aren't going up
The Motley Fool Maurie Backman 2 hrs ago (12:15 PM 02/19/2016)
If you're among the 65 million Americans who rely on Social Security, then you may have been unpleasantly surprised when you saw your first 2016 payment and noticed it hadn't gone up.
For the third time in 40 years, Social Security benefits did not get an annual raise, leaving those banking on a boost out in the cold. Though Social Security beneficiaries got only a 1.7% cost-of-living-adjustment in 2015, the total lack of a raise this year is a hard pill to swallow for some retirees, particularly those who count on Social Security as a major source of income.
The reason Social Security didn't get a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 2016 boils down to something known as the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, which measures price changes in consumer goods and services over time. Social Security benefits are supposed to keep up with inflation, so when the CPI indicates a rise in prices, a COLA is made to help beneficiaries maintain their purchasing power. On the other hand, when consumer prices stay flat, or actually go down, Social Security beneficiaries don't get a boost (although, on the bright side, benefits don't decrease).
But have prices really stayed constant (or dropped) for Social Security recipients? There's no question that your missing benefits boost may owe to unusually low fuel costs. Gas prices dropped nearly 30% in the 12-month period from which the most recent CPI data was obtained. The problem, however, is that fuel costs aren't your average retiree's greatest expense. For the most part, healthcare and housing costs trump any other expense during retirement, and without a benefits adjustment, many retirees are bound to have a difficult time keeping up.
To make matters worse, COLAs have already been falling short to begin with. A study by the Senior Citizens League concludes that seniors have lost about 31% of their purchasing power since 2000. And while living expenses for seniors have risen 84% over the past 15 years, COLAs have contributed to just a 41% rise in Social Security payments. The fact that 2016 saw no benefits increase only adds insult to injury.
Most value to me on this were some of the numbers on how badly the payments have fallen behind versus the reality of what I will call the Market Place in determining same.
Please remember folks; even if you agree or disagree with me I ask that you Read, Think and Comment to your family, friends and neighbors. This is the possibly the last chance in years to take back your Community! 'nuff said
(Paid for by the Candidate- Lawrence Wilson for Mayor of Vienna).