The city work session lasted almost five hours last night. They talked about ideas for a long time.
Nothing really new, but at least some of the ideas got put on the table.
The development of an industrial park seems to be a big one. Exactly what that means is yet to be determined.
(They also had three private meetings - executive sessions - for various reasons, which took about 40 minutes when added up.)
The most interesting idea to me was developing a theme, or a branding, for the city. This didn't get talked about much, but maybe it will eventually.
With all the discussion lately, I was thinking about what the city really needs.
The thing is, it isn't ONE thing.
The Lowe's deal is not going to make or break the city. The bike path isn't going to make or break the city. Any idea isn't.
The answer to what we need is that we need everything.
Its like some of the commissioners have said, we need to work on everything at once.
We need ideas, and for those ideas to be explored.
Too often, like even happens here to some extent, people just shoot down anything that smells like a new idea. It might be better if people would at least think about new ideas.
We do need a new attitude, and of course, we need to refute the naysayers at every opportunity. (That means keep speaking the truth to shoot down their negativity.)
Maybe its better to ignore the naysayers, i'm not sure.
Anyway, one thing is not the answer. The answer is everything at once.
Another key component is public involvement. You can't just sit back and expect the city to do everything. Of course, we should be able to expect the city to make positive activities easier, or to pave the way to progress.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
47 comments:
The tough thing about truth and naysayers is who is looking at what. It can't be about who is or isn't on whose "side". It has to be about facts and honesty.
If a "naysayer" prevents Ark City from going off half-cocked and screwing it all up, then this really can't be a bad thing, can it?
One of the biggies in the hike bike discussion is the fact (truth) that some of the discussions were substantially overstating the possibilities of what could be done on the levee.
It could be said that those saying that some of these things might not be able to be done were naysayers, nattering nabobs of negativity, etc, and some indirect references were made to these issues not being truth.
But on the other hand, if the public is presented with a whole vision of one thing and once it is done, told that none of those things can be done, then what is truth and honesty, as it applies to this issue?
There is no doubt that this is the year Ark City will turn around. Even though the wringing out of the town's emotions over the Lowe's debacle was very negative, the unintended and very positive consequence is that it appears to be the catalyst for a change that Ark City has needed for years.
It has created open eyes that were closed, opportunities where there were only impossibilities. One of the key components of this catalyst is the "between the river blog" and the open and sometimes controversial discussions by people who have extremely diverse and differing opinions.
Some comments were stupid, some were hateful, some were progressive and some were brilliant, but it is probably one of the factors that the Commission is concerning themselves with the issues of growth and the future, instead of who will water the flowers in the planters in spring.
I would be disappointed to see the blog get blinder-ed with the idea that anyone who had a controversial opinion was to be ignored. Many times, contrary opinions can open many more paths of discussion and new ideas than if everybody just said the same thing.
I fully agree with the Commission that Ark City needs everything at once. I think there is enough diversity and horsepower on the Commission to make it all happen.
So let's get those 300 jobs filled.
Let's get new housing construction started.
Let's get in some new industry that has high wages and benefits Ark City, lowering taxes.
Let's develop the aesthetics of the parks and common areas.
Let's improve the schools with a new tax bond. Make it the school system of the first order.
Yeah... Let's do it!!!
If these things get started then nobody could deny that Ark City in on the move toward a massive upswing.
But don't ignore public opinion in the process.
Ark City doesn't need empty slogans or "branding". There seems to be a fascination in Ark City about sloganeering to make a change. The museum has one, the downtown development has one, the chamber has one, etc. and nothing about sloganeering makes any difference at all.
You can skip the slogan and image step.
Ark City will be known for what it is, as it always has been and always will be.
Nobody ever remembers anything about the slogan one week after the unveiling ceremony is over.
How can you overstate "possibilities."
The fact that they aren't real and won't be without any effort does not mean they can't happen. On the other hand, if we don't open up to the possibilities they can never happen.
They naysayers can spend all day telling us how hard and nearly impossible it is, but does that mean it cannot be done? Or just that they won't put out the effort to do it?
As far as the truth, does the truth say it cannot be done? Or is the truth the fact that we want to find reasons not to do it? Or is the truth something we just don't want to hear?
The fact is it can be done if we want to do it. The fact is we can do it if we try. The fact is the naysayers will win if we listen to them.
"One of the biggies in the hike bike discussion is the fact (truth) that some of the discussions were substantially overstating the possibilities of what could be done on the levee."
They are just ideas on a blog nothing more, nothing less. Brainstorming is just that- generating ideas. If you start telling people immediately without any real facts that their ideas are bogus you will just create apathy.
Are you a civil engineer? Is anyone commenting a civil engineer with levee experience? Has a study been done that emphatically states you cannot develop anything around (not on top of) the levee?
There is a big difference between being a constructive contrarian and being someone who wants to be contrary because they have an "opinion" that a project is unrealistic/not a good use of money.
You might listen a bit to what you are saying.
There are people on the blog who can authoritatively answer the question. They just haven't done it.
If the Corps of Engineers says there are restrictions on construction on levees, I think we shouldn't just casually ignore it.
Correct me if I'm wrong (please do), but it seemed to me that a number of bloggers were convinced that there would be restaurants on the riverside of the levee or there would be restaurants and pavilions on the top or close to the top of the levee.
If anyone can conclusively say that this is possible, please stand forward.
I am VERY enthusiastic about the development of Ark City.
AND, I really, really don't want to be the guy saying that there are no bananas when everyone wants a banana split.
But unless you see some bananas somewhere, there ain't no bananas.
A hike bike trail is a hike bike trail.
Reality is reality.
fast cars have good brakes
I think it was pretty much cleared up that you would not be able to put anything on the river side, which is a good thing to point out.
And no you shouldn't ignore the fact that most likely you can't build on top of the levee. However, how does that prevent there being development closer to the river with easier access to the hike/bike and river?
The point being that most of your comments seem to suggest that you can't do anything down there greater than a hike/bike trail so why even bother thinking about possibilities.
A hike and bike trail is development that would hopefully create greater access to the river itself. Calling it a River Park Development project or another name is not misleading. There are generally many stages of development. I can't speak for others but I certainly don't expect the hike and bike trail to suddenly turn into a commercial development project just because we kick around some ideas on a blog.
I definitely am not a civil engineer but other cities do have developments on levees. In no way does that mean that AC could do the same thing it is just an example of why you can't throw possibilities out of the window without real information.
http://www.rcreader.com/index.
php?option=com_content
&task=view&id=9543&Itemid=42
BTW, of those 300 jobs that need to be filled. Does anyone know of any electrical engineering jobs? Or just engineering in general?
My husband has been looking around and so far found some at Rubbermaid but I am interested to see if there are any smaller companies hiring.
Reference your link:
"Levee is Prime Real Estate for a Song"
I contacted the Davenport Reader and they said it is called the levee area, but it is not a real levee, it is a riverside dock area. There are a number of businesses there, mostly grain and gravel companies and a "Dock Restaurant" that has been abandoned since the flood of 1993.
"Calling it a River Park Development project or another name is not misleading."
Probably should wait until it is certain it can be something other than a hike-bike trail. It is never misleading if all the facts are on the table.
Patrick:
How close can permanent buildings be built to the levee?
What restrictions are there on construction?
Is there a levee easement?
Are there city ordinances concerning construction on the levee?
to the anonymous poster at:
February 5, 2008 12:26 PM
concerning electrical engineer
I think I heard Commissioner Hockenbury mention a need for engineers at Kan-Pak. I've heard him mention several times his shortage of qualified people. I'm sure it would be well worth going to find out.
Patrick McDonald
Great!
Those are all excellent questions and finding answers is not at all negative.
Interesting about the Davenport deal. I wonder why they call it a levee, if in fact, it isn't a levee at all.
Here is a better example of probably what it could be like, i.e, the river on one side, trail on top of the levee, and commercial development on the other side.
http://travel.nostalgiaville.com/Tennessee/Davidson/
37208&28nnshvl/nnshvl1.htm
It is a little down the page.
Also, this is just an interesting read about a riverfront study they did in Port Allen, Louisiana about development along the Mississippi river. They have several different possibilities with varying costs. I think it would be great to get a study like this done.
http://www.portallen.org/projects/
riverfront/program/altb.html
"I wonder why they call it a levee, if in fact, it isn't a levee at all."
Funny. Same question I asked. He said he didn't know why but it's always been called that.
Imagine a much smaller version of the Nashville photos and you are probably looking at Ark City. No direct construction on the sides of the levee, some setback for the foundations and a flat trail on the top with landward access.
In some places they prohibit tree growth on the upper riverside face of the levee and Fernwood NV believes their recent levee failure (and flood) was caused by burrowing rodents on the riverside of their levee.
Good luck getting even temporary appurtenances on the riverside face.
Does Patrick have any construction answers? (I know it may take some time)
Try this one again. Fernley NV.
Working on the construction answers. It will probably take some time.
Patrick
Someone pointed out to me yesterday (figuratively as I didn't have a copy) a story on the front page of the Wichita Eagle about creating landing spots along the river from Wichita southwards for kayaks. Unfortunately the southernmost spot was in Sumner County. Wouldn't it be great to get them all the way down to Ark City? Drivers would have to come here to pick them up. Maybe while they were here they could get gas, eat at our restaurants, and do a little business.
I asked the Convention and Visitors Bureau to have a look into it. We can sure try!
Patrick McDonald
Here is the real poser.
A five and one-half hour work session for a 'governing board' with educated, talented, and committed staff. What?????
I know from experience, that once elected the 'ins' know it all from the outset and only when seasoned realize that perhaps there were a few things they didn't understand going in.
About the negativity.
I dont see anything wrong with questioning things and such.
It just seems that some poeple are always taking the negative side ... thats negativity.
Does anyone think that no one at the city or KDOT checked on whether a bike trail could be built on the levee before they did the grant?
Doing the bike path is hardly going off half cocked. Its been in the works - and studied - for years.
Obviously you cant go building houses or other buildings on the levee, or even on the river bank.
There needs to be some common sense applied here :)
"About the negativity..... There needs to be some common sense applied here"
It is not about negativity and is all about common sense.
Building a trail on the top of the levee is not going half-cocked. Planning to give away land for development without knowing where development is possible *could be* going off half-cocked.
Concerning the trail on top of the levee; of course it can be done, providing it goes through all the hoops and procedures that have been planned for. I don't think that has been an issue.
What else can be done and how close to the levee it can be done is something that hopefully will be answered by Patrick in the next few days.
It is not about negativity, it is about nuts and bolts.
If the Army Corps gives a green light to construction on the side of the levee, then that is useful information. If they give the green light to construction 200 feet, 300 feet or 500 feet away, then that is useful information too.
The results of this will tell what other development is possible at or near the levee. Once you have that, and only when you have that, can you intelligently evaluate, design, decide, dream, create and plan what (or if) to do as additions or developments to the hike bike trail.
Someone needed to find out this information. It's probably better to find out now by discovery than to find out later by surprise.
Have you looked at the Nashville pictures? It gives a good look at an example of what it might be.
This reads so much like a debate between locals who want to see forward progress and locasl who have lost hope that anything will ever change. Odd that really, change is. or was, desired by most all. It's like sitting in a Sunday school class listening to two Psuedo- theologians who arguing the same point against itself.
I am convinced we want and are ready for change. Maybe there issome concern about who gets the credit and that affects how the citizens respond to some really solid ideas. My grandmother in her life time always told her grands, "much good can be accomplished when we stop fretting over who gets the credit."
Now, I am would not argue that she holds the origins on that quote. The quote offers profound truth regardless of to whom it should be credited.
I have read some really good ideas on here and heard some well thought out proposals.
Perhaps teh next iteration of this blogathon is to find a way to query for people to sign up to chase one, or more, of these ideas out and see what can happen.
According to the words recorded ni the OT book, Nehemia, the wallwas rebuilt and the city fortified against adversity because the citizens and neighbors had a mind to work.
Another philospher stated this way:
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost;
that is where they should be.
Now put the foundations under them.
(H.D Thoreau)
Not trying to be negative but seeking information, maybe truth ;).
On one of the other pages, Jean Snell indicated that the total debt for the school bond was about 60 million dollars. Is any of this right? How much of this is paid for by the matching funds? I did a quick calculation and I can't see how it would be $80/$100,000 in property tax.
It seems to calculate way, way much higher than that.
Could someone do a cross check of the math? Maybe indicate how it was calculated?
The way it seems is 60 million divided by 20 years is 3 million a year. 3 million a year divided by 11,000 people is 273 bucks per person per year. Not everyone is a property owner..... so.....
Looks like it might be pretty close to just the Cowley College tax base.
Maybe there is someone else other than property owners paying into this thing?
Could some uninvolved 3rd party could do a quick reality check on this? Maybe the information is bogus. Anybody know for sure?
the total is 38 million.
the state is paying half, so local part is half of 38 million.
we've had that in the paper several times.
the cost is around $35 a year for a 75,000 house ... that "35" is probably offa 2-3 $ either way .. but its close.
thems the facts :)
ill try to post more on the bond issue later.
im having allergies ... yuck.
Someone needed to find out this information. It's probably better to find out now by discovery than to find out later by surprise.
>>>>>>>>>>
I agree with this.
Maybe it was just the tone of some of the posts.
It just seemed that some people were trying to shoot it down without even considering it.
Its too early for nuts and bolts. We need to get some people interested enough to pursue things, and they will find out whats possible as they pursue.
That was my goal :)
You might try buckwheat honey. It's hard to find. Regular honey won't work. They did a study comparing buckwheat honey and dextromethorphan in kids under 6 and it worked and the DM didn't.
I used to eat claritins like skittles until I started the buckwheat honey about 2 months ago.
Works great. Swirl it in your mouth and swallow hard (gulp). Coats your mouth and throat. If no effect, repeat about 1 hr later.
Even though allergies are sneezy things, they all start in the throat.
My BP (systolic) is about 20 points lower because of no antihistamines.
Tastes like a fair barn smells, though.
Might not work on everyone. Your mileage may vary.
Does the $38 mil include interest?
Why would Jean say these things? He used to be in a position to know about such stuff.
OOPS!!!
Really important and I forgot. If there are any parents reading this , DO NOT GIVE HONEY to KIDS UNDER 1 year old. There is a medical danger in doing that.
I second the honey deal-- it works even better if it is local honey. Brown's used to have Kansas products not sure if they do anymore.
Here is a website for honey grown in Kansas. These people are located in Lawrence so I am not sure if that is local enough.. but it would be better than nothing.
http://www.anthonysbeehive.com/
Anthony is developmentally disabled and his parents started the business because he watched a video on bees in school and become obsessed with bees. This was a way for him to have a fulfilling job even though he suffers from disabilities.
I met him in New York City believe it or not. It is a really great story and he is a really great kid.
It's gotta bee ;) buckwheat honey.
Only stuff I found was from Pennsylvania Amish country.
Tastes horrible, but works great.
This is not that really sweet, tasty Kansas clover and wildflower honey you might put on your toast or in your tea. That's good, but for so many other reasons.
"As someone has said. "The harder I work the luckier I get.""
Yep that's how it works. The more homework done, the better the outcome.
(Luck is "chance" in french)
"Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen? Chance favors only the prepared mind." -Louis Pasteur
The current bond issue figures from the USD 470 office vary a bit from the publication of the issue in The Traveler, but the issue plus the interest totals $59,925,463.00. Sounds like $60 million to this old man.
I am not trying to make a case against the issue, it just seems fair that people know what they are voting on.
"The State," which will pay for half is "us and them," taxpayers, not Bill Gates.
Personally, I would suggest a new elementary in town south of Madison as opposed to $9 million (issue and interest) into IXL. The area around new elementary would help develop the south end of town like nothing else could.
"The State," which will pay for half is "us and them," taxpayers, not Bill Gates.
This should read The State will pay for half is "us and us" where does everyone think the state money comes from, Oklahoma, sorry it comes from us the taxpayer.
I have not made up my mind yet but I do have concerns if all options have been explored. Mr. Snell has a good point about build a larger elementry and combining some resources.
Another question I have is how is it the College can add to our taxes anytime they choose without a vote from the public. If I vote for the bond issue and take the tax increase, what prevents the college from building something else and raising property taxes again?
"Local officials recruiting laid off workers in Emporia"
Good for them!!!
Next, if and when any of the new workers come to Ark City, let's make sure they are felt welcome and at home.
Over the past years I've spoken with a number of newcomers who say they go to events, churches, etc. and the Ark City people group into their cliques and nobody talks to them; that it is hard to meet people and hard to make friends.
It's understandable, most in Ark City have long term friendships and are very comfortable with those cohort groups and not necessarily looking for new friends. When people in Ark City describe themselves as being very friendly, they really mean they are very warm and friendly to their friends and family, which I've found to be true.
There seems to be a degree of suspicion of the unfamiliar, people included.
It may not seem obvious to most to reach out to newcomers, but it's time to make it a habit.
It's time to continue the outreach. If Emporia workers come to town, they are new Ark Citians; they shouldn't be regarded as strangers.
If there is a slogan Ark City should adopt, it is "Ark City, where Nobody is a Stranger" (well, maybe not, but you get the point).
Let's make sure that there is an outreach to newcomers to make them feel at home: a welcome wagon, gift packs, etc., with small samples of local wares, maybe discount coupons, helpful brochures with city phone numbers, church contacts, real estate contacts, etc.(but don't mob them). And follow up over the following months. Make it a part of the Ark City future habits.
After all who would not feel at home with a sample of Brown's homemade fudge?
Don't do things to embarrass them, like calling them out in church services, etc, but approach and include them on a one on one, individual basis.
Newcomers who develop friendships are very likely to love Ark City and stay. Like it or not, outside influences will greatly help Ark City grow as a culture as well as a town.
And, come on,..... grow up and get over the hispanic issues. Ark City has a such a very tiny percentage of hispanics as compared with the rest of the United States, and they are directly responsible for at least one decent restaurant in the area. Welcome them. Make sure the welcome wagon people have a fluent spanish speaker (not just someone with Kansas high school spanish) and make sure there are spanish language welcome wagon packets for them as well.
Filling the jobs is the first step. Welcoming new Ark Citians is the second (and biggest) step. Bring them into the community. Redefine Ark City's version, and start showing the always-stated, "midwestern friendliness". Make it real. Make it permanent. Do this forever.
anonymous 8:51am
I agree with you post until you say we need a spanish speaking individual to make them feel welcome in our community.
They are welcome here, but they should be the ones who speak english and try to fit into the community, as Ark City residents.
You're saying welcome them, but only after they speak proper english? Be sure you let them know that before they come here, OK?
Maybe it's best to put up a sign at the edge of town, like the Jim Crow signs, but for hispanics? "If you won't speak english good then you ain't welcome here."
That's the attitude and it's all baloney. Time to get over it.
Remind them of that the next time you go to Cancun. Speak nothing but spanish.
Ark City, open your minds to friendliness and tear down the barriers. Barriers hold Ark City back.
I have a friend in a neighboring Oklahoma town where the churches pair hispanic families with local families to help them get more fluent and involved. It's a great idea and it really helped the churches. If you have never had fresh bunuelos with the Kansas miel that was talked about before, then you have no idea. If you have not ever shared an afternoon barbecue with hispanic friends and a cold cervesa talking about this week's game, same thing.
Someone moving to town, bringing their family, shopping in the stores, paying rent or buying property and paying taxes helps Ark City and deserves to be welcomed.
A new language is not so easy to learn and learn well enough to be confident speaking. Try it.
Ark City should reach out with a welcome to everyone who helps grow the town.
1. Recruitment
2. Outreach
3. Welcome
When i go to Cancun i do not scoop all the money i can by working cheeper than the cancunites and send it back here to America..
Nor do i sneek accross the boarder, I get a passport and only stay as long as permitted or as long as i can afford, i do not ask Cancuns government to pay for my childs education nor do i ask thier hospitals for free medical care, i dod not ask them for food stamps and haul full baskets of beef out of thier stores while their working natives haul out post toasties,, So blow me with your socialisitc crap and wake up this is the real world
In the real world, a lot of U.S. citizens do just that. There are a lot of retirees who retain U.S. citizenship who go to Mexico (or other places) and live, and guess what? U.S. citizens who live in Mexico qualify for almost free healthcare, schooling for their children (they will have to learn spanish)and live there off of U.S. pensions and social security and can come and go as they see fit.
And yes there are many U.S. citizens who stay beyond their initial permits. They are granted permanent status by Mexico and it is no big deal (as compared to what we require of the Mexicans).
Many, many U.S. citizens work in Mexico and South America, but you're right, they don't steal jobs and work cheaper. They steal jobs from the college educated Mexicans and make many times more than what the Mexicans would make even though the Mexicans are equally, sometimes better, qualified.
And the U.S. citizens are not treated poorly and no, most of the U.S. citizens in Mexico don't even pretend to bother to learn the language.
I can name about a dozen Ark Citians who have moved and done it, starting with Beeson to Guatamala.
Being unfriendly to hispanics won't do anything except show them that you're racist. They won't go to Mexico, they will go to Hutchinson (or Okema, or Lincoln, etc.)
If you applied the same words to blacks or muslims or asians, it would be clear what it is. For some reason we forget our conscience around hispanics and it shows narrow mindedness and bigotry.
The hispanics who are here under green cards or work permits are in the U.S. by permission, just as you would be in Mexico under Mexican permission when traveling to Mexico.
So tell me once again why it makes sense to be unfriendly to them.
You also didn't say: do you speak spanish when you are traveling under a Mexican permit in Cancun?
I speak spanish where ever i need it to communicate, whither it be here in Ark City or guatemala, Elsavadore or Costa Rica,, And if you have not been there and are only reading crap keep your mouth shut,, the Mexicans hate you and think your stupid.
And this goes for all gringos not just the save the world gringos,
I agree Americans are retireing in other countries, however most retired americans do not have children in school and will not use mexican medical care as it is majorly inferrior.
The americans are leaveing america because it is cheeper to live there, at a higher level of standards, ANd your the one who is makeing this raceist,,, BY singleing out the MExicans and letting them have free grata,, if we let the Philippineos, the Russians, the Hatians, and Iranians all come flooding across the boarder we would be screwed for sure as a nation,, if your wanting to let one race have privalege let them all,, we stole this country fair and square and there is no reason to not keep it
Immigration is an incredibly complex issue. Illegal immigration is definitely a bad thing. Illegal immigrants use up tax dollars in filling jails, hospital bills, and schooling among other things. This is a huge problem and must be fixed. But should we allow legal immigration? This question leads to many important follow up questions. How many legal immigrants should we allow? Should their be any criteria to immigrate? Should there be a cap for certain ethnicities? Should immigrants have the same rights and privileges as citizens? Right now with a new immigration bill going through the senate. Both parties are criticizing the bill; Democrats don't like the skill based system, while Republicans don't like that illegal immigrant would have a path to citizenship. The big problem I have with how immigration is approached by this bill, is that an "immigrant" seems to mean Mexican to everyone. All immigrants should be treated equally. I will lay out the main points why I think ALL immigration should be either stopped or severely cut down.
Those who say that immigration is a fundamental part of America are correct. Many people preach the famous quote: "Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free". All people have an inherent right to attempt to make a better life for themselves and their families. But a country has the right to sustain itself and the welfare of it's people. Sadly, what is good for humanity and what is good for the people of the United States is a completely different thing. Living in America is not a requirement to have a good life. Denying people the right to live here is hardly sentencing them to a life in poverty. Yes, it will probably be harder for them. But life is neither easy nor fair.
Another problem with unrestricted immigration is the character of the people who come to the United States. Easier paths to immigration means it will be easier for criminals and terrorists to enter the country undetected. Unless we require credentials and a background check for potential immigrants, people wishing to harm the country or it's citizens will easily be able to get in the country. Of course we will not be able to prevent all of these people from entering the country. But we will be able to stop some which could indirectly save American lives.
Currently the United States is in debt over a trillion dollars. Immigrants consume much need resources. If anyone could immigrate, elderly people would be entering the country who already would be taking money from social security. They would also be using money in hospitals and some of them, welfare. Americans born in the United States, pay taxes most of their lives. This money gives them the right to use the countries resources. What gives someone the right to use the resources of someone else who is a hard-working tax payer for his or her entire life?
Currently the unemployment rate of citizens above age 16 in the United States is at 4.5% according to the Department of Labor. This means out of about 300 million American citizens, a little more than 13 million people are without a job. Making legal immigration allowed, means millions more citizens in the country looking for jobs. The fact is that the majority of immigrants are poor and will work for lower wages. Hard-working Americans would lose their jobs to people who have given very little if anything to the United States. Many of the immigrants will be less skilled at these jobs as well. These factors combined will ultimately hurt the economy of a country already deep in debt.
Another important issue involving legal immigration is how it affects our culture. America has been called a "melting pot". In the past, immigrants would retain parts of their own culture as well as adopt parts of American culture. Many immigrants, especially Mexican ones, instead of immersing themselves in to our culture, keep their own cultures in their own isolated communities only speaking their own languages. Because many immigrants from the same country tend to live in the same areas, this forms places that do not speak English. English speaking workers of course cannot find jobs in these areas unless they speak the particular language of that area. This does not help our economy.
If immigrants want to retain their culture and not speak English so badly, then why not just stay in their own country and try to improve it? Many of the immigrants are intelligent; many doctors and engineers immigrate from Asian countries. If intelligent people leave their country for the United States, they are hurting their homeland. They should stay and try to improve their country and the lives of it's citizens.
Today, Americans face an unprecedented illegal immigration crisis facilitated by multi-billion dollar drug and human importing cartels as well as corporations which are inducing the invasion by aiding and abetting illegal aliens and using their influence on the Executive Branch and elections to paralyze existing immigration laws supported by over 80% of the American citizenry.
These events are not random and chaotic. Massive illegal immigration is the result of non-enforcement and under-enforcement of our existing immigration laws.
Supporters of illegal aliens love to claim that our immigration system is broken. The system is not broken. Elite financial and political business interests who could care less about the death and devastation they are causing Americans have sabotaged the system. Their profits continue to rise as they send the rest of America spiraling downward on a path to anarchy and Third World quality-of-life conditions.
By using their influence to suspend our existing laws, these globalist special interests have deprived all Americans of political representation as well as their votes, their voice, and a functioning Republic for which our flag stands.
When the laws of the American people – debated and voted on by their duly-elected Congressional Representatives and signed into law by the President – go intentionally under-enforced by the Executive Branch, all of the principles, sovereignty, and self-governance of Americans are derailed. The will of the American public, the existing laws, the US Constitution, and the borders of our great nation are perceived as market hindrances to the global elite. We the people of America are perceived as peasants and subjects beneath the power of their influence.
The American public has spoken through our lawmakers and in numerous polls. A super majority of Americans want our existing laws enforced, those responsible for illegal immigration fined and/or imprisoned, the borders secured, and illegal aliens deported from the United States for many years or permanently. These fact remain, despite several politicized polls which attempt to manufacture consent and make you believe such views represent a minority.
The truth is that most Americans want the illegal aliens to return to the nations of which they are citizens. The rallying cry is: "Illegals Go Home!"
We could easily list 101 reasons why Americans are upset about illegal immigration. Most are concerned about the 4,000+ preventable deaths of Americans by the criminal acts of illegal aliens on our soil each year. No corporate propaganda will change the fact that most Americans do not want to surrender or capitulate to the lawless masses rushing into our nation.
No poll or politicized source is needed to prove this point because the decision is based upon our nation's successful history and basic common sense. The answer is based on something that every judge, lawmaker, and even street thug knows. The penalties must outweigh the benefits if you want to deter any action.
It is common sense and common practice in America that for any law to be a deterrent, two important factors are in play. First, the laws must be enforced, and second, the penalties for any crime must exceed the benefits to those breaking the law.
It is truly amazing that we find ourselves as a nation having to explain these basic foundations of law to corporations and politicians in the year 2007 despite their existence since the dawn of civilization! Can you imagine what would happen in America if the penalty for robbing a bank was that you had to return half of the money you stole if, and only if, you were apprehended for the crime? What if the penalty for car theft was paying a $2,000 fine if you were caught with the stolen vehicle?
The answers are clear. Within a month, you would not have a bank open in America and you would not be able to keep a car worth more than $2,000 in your driveway for more than a week. How many millions of people would quickly take up the careers of bank robber and car thief once the rewards for the crime were higher than the penalty?
If American businesses and homes left their windows and doors unlocked each night and robbers were merely removed by police when detected – only to try again the next night – what do you think would happen? If big, global businesses practiced the same non-enforcement of security similar to the lack of border security and lack of immigration enforcement they have facilitated for Americans, they would be out of business in a matter of days or weeks. If they left their doors unlocked at night and just pushed people back to the street, America would quickly descend into such chaos and anarchy that we would be unable to sustain a population of 300 million. Our population would take a hit similar to the impact of the Black Plague on Europe, and we would quickly enter a new dark age.
Since illegal aliens can never afford to compensate Americans for what they have taken, they must go. We do not need to go door to door looking for illegals to deport in America. Attrition through enforcement works. Illegal aliens are leaving the states of Georgia and Pennsylvania in droves, not because they are enforcing the laws but because they have simply announced they plan to start!
Unfortunately, the current state of affairs in America has illegals flooding in by the millions each year and many law-abiding Americans fleeing the states of California and Texas and many towns and cities in search of more safety and security. Many Americans are on the run and finding few places left to run to.
The illegal aliens are sending a clear message on the streets of Los Angeles and other major urban centers. They are saying: "This is our land. White, black, and legal Hispanics get out!"
This is great news for the housing and real estate markets, Wal-Mart, and McDonalds. They are growing the economy using rapid population growth. This is great news for big corporations and bad news for Americans.
Attrition through enforcement will work. In fact, if President George Bush were to announce on national television that America would begin securing our borders and enforcing our existing laws in one month, so many illegal aliens would leave America that Mexico would have to set up refuge stations!
Another important reason that the illegal aliens must leave for the long term is that they'll return to their home communities with a message for their neighbors that their ill-gotten gains did not pay off in America. This is the only thing that will stop, or slow, the flow. Deporting illegal aliens and sending them packing is the only real way we can put a stop to this crisis.
The politicians in DC are very aware that Americans want the illegal aliens to go. That is why their latest Scamnesty legislation includes a “touchback” provision. Under these laws, the illegal aliens can hop across the Mexican or Canadian borders where special "Ellis Island" stations are set up for them to pay a fine, receive new documentation and be back in the US within days or hours.
The lunatics advocating this plan are counting on Americans to be so stupid and so gullible that they can say, "Look, the illegals left and walked back in legally. Problem solved!" They are eager to pretend to accommodate the American desires for the illegals to leave while quickly returning their slave labor force to our nation.
They know that Americans want illegals to leave and get behind a long line of legal immigrants waiting to enter the US, including millions of people who have been waiting 5-10 years. These politicians and the illegal aliens need to be shown the way to the back of the line. The back of the line is back in the country in which they are citizens, 5-10 years down the road behind all of the talented and law-abiding people who respect our laws.
If these traitorous corporations and politicians succeed in setting up these Ellis Island stations for “Operation Touchback," the revered symbol of Ellis Island will take on a new meaning that Americans see with contempt and resentment. Ellis Island will become a name associated with the horrendous betrayal of free Americans and the deathblow to the American Republic. This is a symbol of America’s surrender and the subjugation of all her people.
If we allow the politicians in DC to sign off on the many Guest Worker, Temporary Worker, Path to Citizenship, Amnesty, Scamnesty bills written by the US Chamber of Commerce, then no wall with an army on top of it will stop the next 20 million from crashing down on our country. We will have signaled that America is weak and will capitulate and accommodate. Already, the word is out in Central and South America that they can come and stay. Each time President Bush has opened his mouth about such programs, the US Border Patrol reports massive spikes in illegal crossings.
Since there is literally no end to the stream of illegals who want to be in America, this will be the end of America as we have known it and as history has praised it.
In the past, when America has cracked down on illegal immigration and the American people have signaled they want the immigration brakes applied, the policies have worked. New laws written near the turn of the 20th century greatly reduced the amount of immigration into America. When Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower launched large deportation campaigns in the 1950s and 1930s, illegal immigration slowed to minuscule levels as a result.
Whether you agree or disagree with the decisions of the past, these policies were part of the successful formula that have led America to become the most opulent and successful civilization in human history.
While some argue that these enforcement measures were racist and that some American citizens of different races were improperly deported at the time, we now have the technology and methodology in place to assure that American citizens and legal immigrants are not improperly affected by our immigration enforcement efforts.
The difference in 2007 is that the globalist corporations that have hijacked the American government want to stop the American citizenry from applying the brakes this time. They have taken away our ability to determine who can enter our nation and our ability to stop armed and unarmed invasions as granted by the US Constitution.
To take away the self-governance of Americans is to kill the very thing that has made us such a great and successful nation.
In a time of crisis like this, we must stand firm on the principles that have made America an attractive and great nation. We must stand firm on the rule of law. The law must be applied equally to big corporations and illegal aliens alike lest we all become slaves subject to the plans of masters instead of a free and empowered citizenry.
Illegal aliens and corporations must endure penalties for their illegal, deadly, and destructive actions that exceed the benefits they gain from their illegal activities.
The hour is late and it is time for Americans to stand up and say with one voice...
No Amnesty! No Guest Worker! Secure our borders and enforce the existing laws! Restore the American Republic!
The illegals must go.
Illegals go home!
You guys are too easy.
What does it matter what the nation's policy is? You won't change it by being mean to people in Ark City.
The Ark City employers check I-9 status and don't hire illegals. Illegals should go home. (period, no question).
Ok, so do we still need to put up that hispanic Jim Crow sign?
Or can Ark City welcome the hispanic chicken plant workers who may relocate here?
Answer that one carefully. Ark City's future depends on it.
"Mexicans hate you and think your (sic) stupid. And this goes for all gringos not just the save the world gringos."
I'm not sure how Mexicans feel about you when "you" go there, but maybe it might have something to do with attitude.
I'm sure the Mexicans I know don't hate me. I'm certain of that one. I have very good friends in Mexico.
The ones I don't know definitely don't hate me. In fact, most Mexicans don't even know me. ;)
So I take it if they supposedly hate all of us gringos then we should hate all of them? Seems pretty shallow.
With the republicans in office so long, I'm really not keeping up with which groups I'm supposed to be hating today. Some of this stuff changes so quickly that I get easily confused.
We used to hate the Vietnamese, Russians and Chinese because they're communist but all of that has changed now.
We were told to hate the French because they said there were no "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq and they wouldn't support the coalition. We're supposed to continue hating them today. We were supposed to take our hatred out on wine and french fries.
We hate the Iraqis because of Al-Qaida (even though there were no Al-Qaida before we invaded). And we are supposed to love the Saudis, even though all of the terrorist hijackers and Bin Laden and most of the funding to the terrorist groups came from Saudi Arabia.
We are supposed to like the Afghanis even though they are growing their largest crop of heroin right under the Army's nose, etc.
We are supposed to fear "illegal aliens" even though all of the hijackers were here on legal student visas (one of them even attended flight school in Oklahoma).
We are supposed to love the Mexican Wall because it protects the integrity of the U.S. against terror, even though all of the terrorists arrived in the U.S. by scheduled commercial flights and there has never, ever been a terrorist act caused by any Mexican in the U.S. since Pancho Villa (before WW1).
It is supposed to secure our border, but anybody that has ever been to a real dock will tell you there are dozens of smuggled foreigners brought in on ships every week.
We're supposed to hate the Mexicans and all the people in Central and South America, because they supposedly hate us gringos and come to our country to work and send money home to support their families.
Yeah, that's a lot of folks to hate. In fact almost everybody. In the Western Hemisphere. I think we wiped out everyone except the Canadians, eh?
What does all this matter to Ark City?
The only thing that matters is that it is a bunch of baloney.
It's time Ark City started being friendly instead of unfriendly. It can start at home and will help develop the town.
Get over it. Grow up.
We're talking about real people and real families. Make them feel at home. Haul out the Golden Rule.
Good post by all both pro and con on the subject of Immigration -legal and illegal!
But we cannot afford to physically round up all illegals and deport them nor can we prevent them at the boarders 100%.
Now I know this is radical - but we must work by all means short of war to get their Governments to make the efforts necessary to keep their citizens at home!
Those who are in power who wish to remain in power by whatever means must be confronted!
It is the Govenrments or lack of them who do not wish to provide for their citizens! Mexico has or had the Second largest producing oil field in the World! They are not a poor country!
The battle cannot be won on our soil!
I didnt see anything in any post that said american should hate anyone your letting your mouth get ahead of your brain,, all i read was Mexicans hate Gringos,, and fact is they do, now you might have a mexcian house maind that kisses your butt,, belive me when your back is turned they want to end you life,, that just the way it is like it or not,, Americans are hated would wide,, even in texas
I've traveled a lot and found that people in the world are about the same everywhere. Almost all people are good and honest. They care about their own lives, supporting their families and making their lives better.
Xenophobia is a fear or contempt of that which is foreign or unknown, especially of strangers or foreign peoples.
The only way it works is if you make up a story about them being bad people.
It's time for Ark City to get over it.
if you do not like it move away its that simple, most of like it like it is
"if you do not like it move away its that simple, most of like it like it is"
It doesn't have to be that way. I say Ark City should open its mind and become more friendly.
You may not (ever) know it, but you just proved my point.
Not to create a stir, but a thought: if we keep our comments short, they might get read.
Long posts are kinda soapboxy.
Not mean to be offensive and this is not directed at any one person... just a thought. Thx
if we keep our comments short, they might get read.
Long posts are kinda soapboxy.
>>>>>>>>>
Thats what I always say :)
shorter is better.
Ill admit, i usually don't read longer posts.
Just looks too hard :)
It's time Ark City started being friendly instead of unfriendly. It can start at home and will help develop the town.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes.
I moved here in 2003, but in 1991 I passed through town.
I stopped at an antique mall downtown, and ended up buying something that had to be mailed.
someone there helped me get to the post office, and the lady at the post office was really nice too.
I think I also stopped at a convenience store in town that day.
Anyways, I remember thinking that this was a very nice friendly town.
No idea that i would ever live here,
But I have heard people say the city isnt friendly.
There are some jerks around, that is true.
But there are also some really nice people too.
One thing though, is that you do reap what you sow in this area.
You may get treated badly here and there, but ... there are good people too.
I think it is important to try to be one of the friendly people.
Post a Comment