Time for a Reality/Sanity Check - PilcheskyDeceit True Freedom of Speech

Agamemnon

DD: Where logic & proportion have fallen sloppy dead.

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Posts: 3768

Date: Sun Oct 21 11:26 AM, 2007

Time for a Reality/Sanity Check	Permalink

As a service from yours truly, I'd like to present a brief REALITY CHECK for our friends from DD who read this site: FANTASY: Mayor Doherty is a criminal. REALITY: Chris Doherty has never been accused by any law enforcement official of any wrong-doing in his entire career as a public servant. That's not to say that he's performed in a stellar manner as mayor, but there is a big difference between poor performance and criminality. Also, if raising taxes is a crime, then every politician would be in jail. FANTASY: Scranton residents hate Judy Gatelli. Evidence can be found in the poor showing of her husband in the last School Board primary. REALITY: I talk to many Scranton residents and I've never found one that hates Judy Gatelli. More often than not, the people I talk to feel sorry for her. As for her husband's showing, it was a crowded field of candidates, he didn't mount a great campaign, and I personally think he was percieved by many as being too close to the SFT (Scranton Federation of Teachers). That's politics. FANTASY: A political machine, composed of Irish-Catholic Democrats, runs Scranton. REALITY: Scranton has a large Irish-Catholic population, so of course there will be many from that group involved in local politics. However, the term "political machine" implies a long-term system of patronage and control by a single group. If that were truly the case in Scranton, how can one explain the overwhelming popularity of Eugene Peters as mayor duing the 1970's? Peters is Lebonese and an engineer by trade, not exactly an Irish-Catholic political type. The same contradiction can be found with David Wenzel, who is German. Oh, and both Wenzel and Peters are Republicans. FANTASY: Scranton's tax policy is causing distress to the city's elderly population. REALITY: This is a favorite point made by Fay Franus. Scranton does have an oppressive tax system, but the most egregious part, the wage tax, only applies to earned income. It does not apply to pension benefits, social security benefits, investment gains, etc. What's more, property taxes in the city of Scranton are actually lower than in many of the surrounding areas. So, if for example an elderly person lives in a apartment (and does not own a home), it's entirely possible that he/she will not directly pay any taxes to the city of Scranton. Now this doesn't excuse fiscal mismanagement, and I firmly believe that city government is too big and spends too much money. However, implying scare tactics for purposes of adding drama to a city council speech serves no useful purpose other than pumping up the ego of the speaker. __________________ Free Speech does't require a multi-paragrah disclaimer Mr. Pilchesky.

LusOnlyVoice

Site Administrator

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Posts: 5099

Date: Sun Oct 21 11:30 AM, 2007

Time for a Reality/Sanity Check	Permalink

Great Post AG!!! __________________ I want everyone to stop and think about one thing ... Joe Pilchesky is not a lawyer ... he's just a guy playing a lawyer on the internet. Please don't trust your legal needs to this man.

IHavehadenoughofhaters

Guru

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Posts: 3414

Date: Sun Oct 21 12:20 PM, 2007

RE: Time for a Reality/Sanity Check	Permalink

Agam, as always, well done and completely accurate. __________________ Hey Joey?? Bite me! :))

His Girl Thursday

Guru

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Posts: 2621

Date: Mon Oct 22 9:18 AM, 2007

Time for a Reality/Sanity Check	Permalink

I think one of us should start a topic like this one across the hall. It's seems as though they need the reality/sanity check moreso than WE do. __________________ Stupid people piss me off !

Agamemnon

DD: Where logic & proportion have fallen sloppy dead.

Status: Offline

Posts: 3768

Date: Mon Oct 22 5:06 PM, 2007

RE: Time for a Reality/Sanity Check	Permalink

It's actually for their reading. I just can't get myself to register there, so this is the next best thing. __________________ Free Speech does't require a multi-paragrah disclaimer Mr. Pilchesky.

LusOnlyVoice

Site Administrator

Status: Offline

Posts: 5099

Date: Tue Oct 23 4:55 AM, 2007

Time for a Reality/Sanity Check	Permalink

I don't blame you Ag ... enough of them read this site! __________________ I want everyone to stop and think about one thing ... Joe Pilchesky is not a lawyer ... he's just a guy playing a lawyer on the internet. Please don't trust your legal needs to this man.