A CHANGE - Continue to stay in touch!!

My new blog is empiricalcorner.wordpress.com. My love for this city, townships and county is great. I have experienced time away from this town, and realized just how deeply I care for the beaches, people, Peach Street traffic (A strange caring nature I am sure will be gone once spending more time within Erie County I am sure!) and the many things which make Erie Pennsylvania the Nile on the Isle. Our future is bright, and I am happy to say that although education is an important part in life, sometimes it takes us places we would rather not be. Read my blog and see interesting political thoughts, local flavor, and many other things as I work at finishing my education, continue my seeking and debating of knowledge, and deal with people who would rather stiffle progress then see true success.

As I re-shape a nonprofit I founded in 2000, work towards acquiring my Masters in Education, and seek about finding the true measure of just what life is, I hope you friends, family, colleagues...that you will help me debate life as it is truly meant to be debate. Through living it. They say religion, politics are things that should not be debated at the kitchen table. I have never been one to follow that mentality, but if we start now, then let us have this small measure of a medium to debate and discuss it on. Feel free to e-mail me at any time pointing out what things I should pay attention to, or asking me to write about some local Erie County Pennyslvania issue that you feel compelled to discuss. I am always willing to listen and more than willing to research to find out what truly is best for the place that you and I love so dear.

-Joe Iesue
citizen, student, son, friend

The Cardboard Candidate

Yet again we are faced with the problem of a Democrat trying to raise taxes. We should be used to it by now, especially when it is a Democratic Governor from the opposite side of the Commonwealth who knows little about Erie’s wants and Erie’s needs. Yet we have a Democratic State Representative right in our midst. So as a concerned conservative Millcreek resident, I ponder to myself, how will Mr. Hornaman vote? I am positive that if he wishes to get re-elected in this Republican leaning district he will vote against this tax which would destroy business Erie receives from Canada, Ohio, and New York etc. Do not get me wrong, deep down I wish Hornaman would show his true colors and a love for his new adoptive Party by siding with the out of touch and greatly ambitious Governor who is only trying to keep up with the strides of the Republican celebrity Governor of California. Then we would have yet another excuse to thank Mr. Hornaman for his services, and then politely ask him to exit stage left in the next election. But sadly I feel that we will not see his true feelings when it comes time to discuss this tax increase, and will see instead the cardboard candidate. However I will be watching very closely whether he votes just for a lower increase, or if he votes to keep state sales as is and temper the Governors plans for Democratic idiocy and Philadelphia superiority. Does Hornaman work for Philadelphia or for Erie will be one of the many questions on my mind? I will be watching very closely from the sidelines of a Party that believes that the people of the United States know where to best put their money; a Party that I have not abandoned, and an ideal I have not surrendered.

Response to Hornaman's Protector

Jim Karnes is, like every American, entitled to have a difference of opinion. It is this fact that makes the American society the best in the world. However I could not let Mr. Karnes's thoughts go unchallenged. First off, it is not idealism to talk about the respectable counterpart to Mr. Karnes' obvious party affiliation, just as it is not out of line to question the new Democrat taking Mr. Good's position. My point had nothing to do as Mr. Karnes knows with appointing a city manager, but had everything to do with stating that if Hornaman could not be counted on to stay with something during difficult times, what assurances do we as voters have that he will support us if things do not go his way? None. I was not suggesting that someone needs to vote strict party lines just as I would not have been lead like a sheep to the slaughter with the pay raise, and I agree with Mr. Karnes that we need to fix the problems of our county, city and townships by new ideas and positive changes, but I feel that Hornaman’s loyalty instead of to the agenda that Mr. Karnes and I both agree is needed, is only to himself. Let us not forget that the city of Erie has been for many years controlled by the Democratic Party exclusively, so if one wants to talk about the lack of success or positive changes taking place, maybe it is finally time for a Republican at the helm of the city of Erie. Dedication, loyalty to ones beliefs, hard work, and ideas are what this County needs, and the time for old ideas, betrayal, partisan politics, and laziness is done. Let us Mr. Karnes both agree to that! You feel that the Democratic Party has the answers, and I feel that Republican conservatism is the key, and somewhere in-between is a happy medium, but do not hope for Hornaman to be that moderate or someone who can think on his own, but instead watch as he undoubtedly scrambles to unsuccessfully prove himself. As many have criticized Bush, so too should the Democrats criticize Hornaman. Just because he has a dedicated, smart and loyal staff does not mean it will transpire into a dedicated, smart and loyal State Representative.

Christmas Spirit

The amount of houses displaying Christmas lights diminishes each year, yet the intensity of some keeps growing. Outsides lights soon seem to be a thing of the past, whether because of all the work it entails or the amount of attention it brings is unknown, yet the fact remains, that year by year, houses are more dormant than years past. It is obvious that the amount of Christians is not on that dramatic of decrease, yet I wonder if the amount of dedication to religion is not to blame? I would say if looking at the problem logically, one would need to address two issues. One is that today’s Christians are not as dedicated as Christians of past generations, as shown in the number of Catholics who remain involved in weekly mass after confirmation. Or whether the decrease has to do with increased laziness, or increased travel for the holiday season. Although the Christmas season is about Jesus Christ, it also is about family and friends, and the celebration of the uniting of families, and so if I was an outright optimist instead of a realist, I would hope that the decrease in outside Christmas lights has to do with the need for family, instead of just a desire to get Christmas over with as soon as possible. Being the realist that I strive to be, it seems that Jesus, nor family tops the list of Christmas definitions now-a-days, but instead is a season filled with hassle in stores, and discourse throughout the season. What will become next of Christ's birthday season? Maybe if stores did not start to try to sell Christmas products during September, we would not be so "christmased out". Yet who am I to interfere with Capitalism? Yet still, as a Catholic Christian, I am saddened by the idea that Christmas is becoming a dreaded season, instead of a season of remembering family values, and holiday joy. Maybe someday soon Christmas will be restored as holiday not just of toys and charities, but also of family and friends!

Impoverished Children suffer because of current Welfare failure

In this world, sometimes I think we forget that children are our future. Without them, our world would not function, nor would it be able to last very long. I have always tried to model myself to be a child advocate, yet as I grow older, I realize that more causes compete for my time, such as Conservative values, Senior Citizens issues and protection, traditional family values, and more, but child issues will always hold a special place in my heart. We see commercials to feed the children, yet they are not referring to the 12.9 million children who were impoverished in the United States (2005 statistics). They were referring to other countries in Africa, Asia, South America, and yes even in industrialized European countries. Americans sadly do not like to hear about American poverty, because it goes against the grain of modern public policies, and to admit there is American poor, and hungry American children, would be to admit that Democrat’s policies of Welfare are not working effectively. Most of these children who live in poverty learn the hard way to work themselves up, but also too many have an increased risk of developing criminal records through drug trafficking or joining gangs which is talked about less and less, but still posses a risk to tomorrow's generation. Yet sometimes these children fall victim to sometime more dreadful than drugs or gangs, which is underachieving parents. Our Welfare system as it stands does not encourage some families to make it without governmental help. Some would suggest for this reason alone the Welfare system must be scrapped, and I could not DISagree more! The system was created with the best of intentions, and helped many of our parents and grandparents during times of great need not only within their family, but within our country! Poverty is by no means as prevalent as it once was, but what must be prevented is a deterioration of our nation’s goodwill through greed, laziness, and disgrace, leaving families who legitimately try out in the cold and reward those who take advantage of the system with an unlimited amount of resources. I have volunteered my whole life, striving to mandate community service in many of the organizations I have been in charge of in order to give back to a community and a nation which has given me so much, and to see that others give to a society in which allows us to help others without receiving any form of payment other than humility. Many children need our help, and we can not allow the laziness of a few to destroy the integrity of a system that with timetables, or other incentives could be changed to benefit all, protect the children, and encourage progress while still helping those who desperately need our assistance. Stand up and join the fight against childhood poverty by fighting against the political norm!

Erie County in need of someone else but Hornaman

Erie County needs leadership rooted in competent dedication, honor, and loyalty. Both Republican and Democrat alike have issues they both can agree to, and we are now so focused on national Party blunders, we forget that there is real hometown needs for real hometown people. The GOP has lost some faithful dedicated public servants all in the name of change and growth, and with the loss of Joy Greco and resignation of John Mizner, it should be a wake up to Republicans, myself included that times are changing yet again. Yet I am doubtful whether John Hornaman (D) can truly fulfill the leadership needs our County is demanding. Erie is longing for youth and vitality; for fresh ideas not tinged by old scandals, or political infighting, and they long to lay blame where blame is due, on both sides of the aisle. Hornaman who left the GOP and said "he was angry with the Republican majority over the whole pay-raise flap and its spin-off issues." Yet why then if this is the reason for his change in Party affiliation would he become Democrat, for they also voted for a pay increase. Hard questions without much of an answer. If Hornaman was as dedicated as he would have us believe, he would have remained a Republican and tried to correct the problems he saw, but instead he defected to another Party hoping to seemingly teach the Republicans a lesson. Yet a lesson at what cost? Now instead of being seen as a moderate on issues such as taxes as he claims to be, he will be viewed as a defector when things get rough. What happened to loyalty to an ideal, or to a Party? I too was disappointed in decisions made about the pay raise, hoping for an understanding that never came and I come from a family of Democrats and liberal values yet was not willing to surrender my membership in a Party which like all Parties is not perfect, but holds the values I believe dear. Mr. Hornaman seemed to defect in order to win an election, and that to me is a cowards way out. I do not know Mr. Hornaman personally, but shall be watching his tenure with renewed interest not because of his newest Party label, but because of his lack of dedication to his old one. Change has to be the change you initiate, and to sit back and apostatize over one issue, leads me to question if he will in fact against all of his protests defect the Democrats if they vote against him. Personally I think little child games should be left to little children, and Erie Pennsylvania politics should be left to the big boys and girls who do not throw their blocks if things do not go their way. Although not as old and wise as Hornaman's 59 years, I myself have been faced with dilemmas when disagreeing with the Republican Party or even President Bush, but realize it is my dedication to the conservative values that are the meat and potatoes issues of Erie County, and a patriotic loyalty to a pro-family, pro-defense, and pro-economy that will hopefully shine through not deserting my beliefs in exchange for political points. I wish Mr. Hornaman luck in his new Party, which is very happy for his defection, but it says a lot about a person who is so willing to throw away their beliefs just to win an election.

Just something to start out fun

http://www.myheritage.com

http://www.myheritage.com

http://www.myheritage.com

http://www.myheritage.com

not that they would but they should print this!!! lol