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

Shame that it has to come to this!

The freedom of the press, which history shows is rare for any country, and something we should never take for granted. It allows citizens to state what they feel without presecution from the government and holds governmental officals accountable for their actions. However even our press agencies sometimes alow their bias to show, which is why this blog was created. I have dabbled in blogs before unwillingly but mostly have preferred to put my opinion front and center for those to read and either agree or disagree, choosing a path of civic involvement as opposed to closet politics. Yet my opinion seems to differ with what local Erie Pennsylvania papers feel can be published, and so to protect the integrity of my beloved hometown I have started this blog, which can be open at a later time to anyone who finds their opinions stifled by lack of print space. For now though I will just share with you my own writings, and ramblings for a time. This blog is made possible by organizations such as the Political Enterprise Network (www.politicalenterprise.org) so please visit their page and become involved. It is a shame it has to come to this! This is not a post worried too much about grammar, or concerned with partisan politics, but to get out the words about a variety of issues that the Erie Times has decided not to print.

-Joe Iesue
Manager of the Protecting Erie campaign