Comments on: Merry Christmas: I Mean It… http://blog.locustfork.net/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-mean-it/ A Wide Open Weblog for Big News, the Big Picture Wed, 23 May 2012 19:13:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: gen http://blog.locustfork.net/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-mean-it/comment-page-1/#comment-3722 gen Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:25:58 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=5643#comment-3722 Former Governor Don Siegelman did more for education in Alabama than any other governor, in addition to bring foreign car dealerships and businesses to Alabama. His reward was to spend Christmas 2008 in a Federal prison. Good luck with your campaign. Former Governor Don Siegelman did more for education in Alabama than any other governor, in addition to bring foreign car dealerships and businesses to Alabama. His reward was to spend Christmas 2008 in a Federal prison.
Good luck with your campaign.

]]> By: admin http://blog.locustfork.net/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-mean-it/comment-page-1/#comment-3721 admin Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:51:42 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=5643#comment-3721 I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of holiday seasons. Unfortunately, the joy of the season is tempered by the difficulties of our current economy. We face economic uncertainty that forces all of us to make very difficult decisions and carry a certain amount of anxiety about what the future may hold. I must speak very frankly with you and say that I personally find it frustrating if not infuriating that teachers in surrounding states are able to spend their Christmas season care-free, knowing that their jobs are not in danger. I find it equally disturbing that our elderly must spend this Christmas with the uncertainty of future health services from Medicaid. This morning, I saw a statement from the Tennessee Department of Education that stated that teacher layoffs are not likely in the foreseeable future. Contrast that forecast with the news we received last week indicating that nearly 4,000 Alabama teachers may lose their jobs. Our state school superintendent, Joe Morton, said the budgetary crisis is leading us to “the dismantling of our education system.” Our other neighbor states are not facing budget woes anywhere near the apocalyptic forecasts broadcast last week here in Alabama. Yet, we sit and suffer while education lotteries and casino gaming bolster other state’s economies, provide job security for thousands and educate the children in Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. Adding insult to injury, over the holidays, there is no doubt that thousands of Alabamians will travel to Mississippi casinos and cross the Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida borders to buy lottery tickets. You see, this is a safe bet considering that last year, Alabama citizens made over 4 million visits to casinos and bought $400 million worth of lottery tickets. So as this year comes to an end, let’s ponder the possibilities for the future. For months I have been telling the people of this state that some very clear choices need to be made. In budget hearings this week, Representative John Knight of Montgomery echoed my message that we are either faced with the imposition of massive tax increases or must generate new revenue by taxing gaming. Folks, our choices are clear. I am the only candidate for Governor who has been honest with the people of Alabama by offering a concrete solution to our budget deficits. You deserve better than that from those who seek to serve you as Governor. Regardless of the silence of the others in this race, I stand by the plan I announced in September. Our immediate economic survival hinges on the legalization, taxation, and regulation of gaming in Alabama. I leave you with a Christmas wish that our leaders will find the courage to make the difficult but obvious decisions necessary to guarantee our financial viability and that by next Christmas, not one teacher or elderly citizen in this state will face the holidays with uncertainty about their future. Warm holiday wishes, Ron Sparks I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of holiday seasons.

Unfortunately, the joy of the season is tempered by the difficulties of our current economy. We face economic uncertainty that forces all of us to make very difficult decisions and carry a certain amount of anxiety about what the future may hold.

I must speak very frankly with you and say that I personally find it frustrating if not infuriating that teachers in surrounding states are able to spend their Christmas season care-free, knowing that their jobs are not in danger. I find it equally disturbing that our elderly must spend this Christmas with the uncertainty of future health services from Medicaid.

This morning, I saw a statement from the Tennessee Department of Education that stated that teacher layoffs are not likely in the foreseeable future. Contrast that forecast with the news we received last week indicating that nearly 4,000 Alabama teachers may lose their jobs. Our state school superintendent, Joe Morton, said the budgetary crisis is leading us to “the dismantling of our education system.”

Our other neighbor states are not facing budget woes anywhere near the apocalyptic forecasts broadcast last week here in Alabama. Yet, we sit and suffer while education lotteries and casino gaming bolster other state’s economies, provide job security for thousands and educate the children in Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Adding insult to injury, over the holidays, there is no doubt that thousands of Alabamians will travel to Mississippi casinos and cross the Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida borders to buy lottery tickets. You see, this is a safe bet considering that last year, Alabama citizens made over 4 million visits to casinos and bought $400 million worth of lottery tickets.

So as this year comes to an end, let’s ponder the possibilities for the future. For months I have been telling the people of this state that some very clear choices need to be made. In budget hearings this week, Representative John Knight of Montgomery echoed my message that we are either faced with the imposition of massive tax increases or must generate new revenue by taxing gaming.

Folks, our choices are clear. I am the only candidate for Governor who has been honest with the people of Alabama by offering a concrete solution to our budget deficits. You deserve better than that from those who seek to serve you as Governor. Regardless of the silence of the others in this race, I stand by the plan I announced in September. Our immediate economic survival hinges on the legalization, taxation, and regulation of gaming in Alabama.

I leave you with a Christmas wish that our leaders will find the courage to make the difficult but obvious decisions necessary to guarantee our financial viability and that by next Christmas, not one teacher or elderly citizen in this state will face the holidays with uncertainty about their future.

Warm holiday wishes,

Ron Sparks

]]> By: df1099 http://blog.locustfork.net/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-mean-it/comment-page-1/#comment-3720 df1099 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:21:43 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=5643#comment-3720 And one more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA And one more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

]]> By: df1099 http://blog.locustfork.net/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-mean-it/comment-page-1/#comment-3719 df1099 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:03:21 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=5643#comment-3719 View online: http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v19413634dwnGmEGR http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v16470106WCFAJWrJ View online:

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v19413634dwnGmEGR

http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/entertainment/watch/v16470106WCFAJWrJ

]]> By: R. Jordan http://blog.locustfork.net/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-mean-it/comment-page-1/#comment-3718 R. Jordan Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:06:53 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=5643#comment-3718 Interesting timing: I had just finished watching some documentaries on the history of Christmas when I read this column. I was reminded that when our nation was in its earliest stages, it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in some of the colonies. Christmas was detested & outlawed by our Puritan forebears. The holiday was not popular here until the 1800s; it was considered too English, & too "popish." George Washington actually attacked Hessian troops on Christmas 1777, a means of adding insult to injury toward an enemy that celebrated a holiday that held little meaning over here. After the Revolution, Congress continued to work through Christmas Day for decades, as did the common man. It wasn't named a federal holiday until 1870, & the White House never had a Christmas tree before 1856. In light of this, I always scratch my head in wonder at the allegations of a "war on Christmas" & that Christmas "has always been" part of our God-given, American heritage. Umm, no, it hasn't. Our forefathers didn't want it to be. The American Christmas experience has evolved over time, and apparently it continues to do so. As for myself, I'm grateful to live in a nation that permits all kinds of midwinter celebrations. Christmas, of course, is my favorite. I'm pleased to think you might enjoy this one, old friend. Interesting timing: I had just finished watching some documentaries on the history of Christmas when I read this column. I was reminded that when our nation was in its earliest stages, it was illegal to celebrate Christmas in some of the colonies. Christmas was detested & outlawed by our Puritan forebears. The holiday was not popular here until the 1800s; it was considered too English, & too “popish.” George Washington actually attacked Hessian troops on Christmas 1777, a means of adding insult to injury toward an enemy that celebrated a holiday that held little meaning over here. After the Revolution, Congress continued to work through Christmas Day for decades, as did the common man. It wasn’t named a federal holiday until 1870, & the White House never had a Christmas tree before 1856. In light of this, I always scratch my head in wonder at the allegations of a “war on Christmas” & that Christmas “has always been” part of our God-given, American heritage. Umm, no, it hasn’t. Our forefathers didn’t want it to be. The American Christmas experience has evolved over time, and apparently it continues to do so.
As for myself, I’m grateful to live in a nation that permits all kinds of midwinter celebrations. Christmas, of course, is my favorite. I’m pleased to think you might enjoy this one, old friend.

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