John McCain

Look out America! Beware of John McCain. Check out this video of apperances he has made and how is double talking! http://therealmccain.com/

January 22, 2007

In Monday’s Alton Telegraph someone called in Sound Off and blasted another person for criticizing the mayor and other public officials. This person mention to look around and see the new businesses and the Weed and Seed program and how successful things have been in the last ten years.

I am not critical of our mayor or city officials. They have done the best they could, but it is just not enough. They are working hard with the Weed and Seed program, and businesses coming in are minimum wage jobs. This is great, but a lot more needs to be accomplished. When was the last time this caller had an opportunity to join in a round table meeting with the mayor or alderman? It is my belief the government needs to be brought back to the people for the people. Additionally, the city needs to look how it runs and become more business orientated. There are many techniques out there to stream line the government to save money which in turn can offer more things for the community. Businesses need to be offered reasons to stay in Alton, and we need to show how Alton is willing to except a company other than stores or fast food.

No, our mayor and aldermen have not done a bad job, but it is time for fresh ideas, and this should include the every day citizen in making recommendations to our leaders.

My goal, if people are willing to accept it, is to be that mayor of Alton, and I will bring more open meetings to every part of this city. I do not expect the people to come to me; I expect that I should have to meet with the people in their part of town. Listen to their concerns, and find ways to get more citizens pro active in improving our city. I think there are great ideas out there just waiting to be unveiled.

We also need to look new strategies to bring high paying jobs into Alton, and also companies who sell high ticket items which bring in revenue on sales tax.

I have an entire list of things to look into, but it will take a good 10 years to put in place. But my hat is off to our current city leaders for their hard work in the past, but we need to bring new and progressive ideas to the table with new blood in our city government. Watch for more information from me and soon I will be holding some meetings with citizens of Alton.

January 21,2007

As the tresurer of AVEC, I am inviting everyone to join our Trivia Night on Friday, January 26. Check out all the information at www.avecsar.net.

Green Party

As a local member of the Green Party, I am working with several other folks to organize the Green Party of Madison County. Go to their website, www.ilgp.org and see what they are all about. The biggest item I am in favor of is no corporate donations. Corporations today is one of the biggest causes of pain for the average citizen. They do not care anything about the average citizen. Take the oil industry. They get millions of dollars in aid for exploration and alternative fuel ideas, but do they help out the average ciziten? Oil has drop 19% in the first weeks of January while gas only dipped 12%. Why is that? Corporate greed! Plain and simple fact.

Soon the Green Party will be meeting at SIUE. We will be showing the film "Iraq for Sale" which is about the profiteering of the war by greedy corporations. It is time to take a stand against corporate greed!

Check back as it will be posted when our next meeting is to be held.

Alton Challenge # 2

In reference to Abe Lee Barham, Jr.’s letter to the Telegraph editor on January 15, 2007, is a prime example of the challenges the city of Alton needs to address. Mr. Barham is right that we do have economic development, housing, and political empowerment, and needs to be addressed as a whole, not buy just one group of concern citizens. His comment that the most powerful way to fight these challenges is to vote, and that is exactly what I have been saying now for months. We the citizens need to stand united not matter the race. Until this happens, we will never see any changes to these challenges.

I am for the everyday working person I Alton, and think it is high time we develop a strategy to find new ways to relinquish the inadequacy we have today in local governments. If interested, email me at rwj4green@sbcglobal.net.

January 15, 2007

It was interesting to see Godfrey reach out to the business and community by forming committees to help build a strategy for the community in the coming years. This is one of the ideas I have had for years that Alton needs to be doing. Not only in Alton itself, but it needs to identify itself with other communities as well and discuss the things that work for them, and things that don’t.

I am considering running for the office of Mayor in Alton in 2009. If this surfaces, I have many areas that we can touch to make this a better place to live, and the first thing would be giving the government back to the people! Secondly, I have no ill feelings with our current government as they are trying the best they know how. Bringing in new blood and thoughts is what we need now as progressive thinking is a requirement today to keep our city in good standings. I am not saying I can do this alone. We need the community involved much like Godfrey has enlisted.

Political Orphans

Are you a political orphan? I once was, but find a new direction to fill the void. But before I explain the new direction let me define to you what political orphan is. Have you been let down by your political party’s guidance? Is your political party taken a stance of violence instead of diplomacy? Is our party known for its power because of the social and monetary support it receives from corporations? Is your party known for taken personal responsibility of mistakes or problems?

Well the questions are only a few you need to ask yourself. I myself have become so disheartened by how the two major political parties run our country and even local politics. As US citizen, we all have rights to vote any way we feel, and in 2006, I decided enough was enough. The majority of my life I voted Republican, but never voted a straight ticket. But I am now changing my views on the political scene. In doing so, I have become a member of the Green Party of Illinois. Before going off on a tizzy, you need to understand party’s ten key values which you can find on their web site at www.ilgp.org. It is time for this area, and the country to begin taking steps to turn our society around and bring the government back to the people, all of the people. Many people associate the Green Party with Ralph Nader, but the party is not about Ralph Nader, it is about you, the American citizen! The key values of the party is what really made me sit up and pay attention to this party, so now it is time for me to issue my first challenge to the fine citizens of Madison County.

I was approached by the co-chairman of the Illinois Green Party to assist in organizing the party in Madison County, which I have agreed to. I have held a brief meeting with a few people in late December and are moving forward soon to hold a public meeting. I urge you to take the challenge and at least research and come to some meetings to see what this is all about. If you are interested, please send me an email to RWJ4green@sbcglobal.net.

Thank You Alton Police Department

I was impressed today with the Alton Police Department. I had written to them about an incident that occurred at one of my rental properties. It seemed they may have caused some damage to the door of the apartment, and I wanted to express my concerns on the way they knock on doors and how they treat innocent people. In this case, they really scared the tenant and has threaten to move, but that is not my major issue, it was the dimples they left on the door.

Well this afternoon I received a call from the APD, asking how to resolve this issue. My only response was to please refrain from knocking on doors with instruments other than their hands. I was not trying to get anything free from them. I only wanted a policy reinforced with their police force. Many landlords would take this to the point of wanting a new door, I just want the respect from the police and know that I respect them as well.

Thank you so much!

January 2, 2007 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to everyone and hoping that you had a very happy holiday not matter what faith you believe in.

In the past week I have been actively busy in the forming of the Green Party in Madison County, Illinois. The party has done all the necessary work to be recognized as a political party in Illinois. Now the next step is bring it to the people. In Champaign County, the party was quite successful in the 2006 elections. Even though they did not win that had very strong showings. In Madison County, where there was no establish leadership for the Green Party, estimated votes on various offices had 3 to 4%. Considering there was no real effort to recognize the party, I think this can be good base in the county.

Hopefully within 12 to 18 months, we will see the results of forming the Green Party in Madison County, which will help me in my aspirations to enter the political arena by 2009. A lot has to be done, but if you live in Madison County, Illinois, and are interested in an alternative political party, email me at rwj4green@sbcglobal.net.