en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/626701 Comments by Ask_Why http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/07/27/urban-chickens-in-cedar-rapids-get-final-ok#IDComment89388227 How so? Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:20:33 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/07/27/urban-chickens-in-cedar-rapids-get-final-ok#IDComment89388227 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/07/23/plan-calls-for-cedar-rapids-dogs-cats-to-be-licensed#IDComment88113930 As a longtime CR taxpayer who has never owned a pet, I'm tired of paying the bill for animal control to round up and house other people's strays. Licensing is probably the best way to put the cost onto pet owners. Fines for the owners who actually want their pets back should be another option. Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:03:58 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/07/23/plan-calls-for-cedar-rapids-dogs-cats-to-be-licensed#IDComment88113930 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/07/16/woman-who-lost-linn-county-job-after-marion-traffic-stop-was-once-a-police-officer#IDComment86991314 "Fact is" your comment about Marion cops tells me everything I need to know about you and value of your opinions. Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:58:34 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/07/16/woman-who-lost-linn-county-job-after-marion-traffic-stop-was-once-a-police-officer#IDComment86991314 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/05/19/shields-says-the-city-council-needs-to-save-the-sinclair-smokestack#IDComment86661756 "At any cost"??? Are you kidding or, are you just another socialist who loves the idea of taking other people's hard-earned money and spending it whatever gives you a warm fuzzy feeling? If you want to save it, use YOUR OWN money and/or raise money from any others who also wish to save it and buy it YOURSELF. Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:12:57 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/05/19/shields-says-the-city-council-needs-to-save-the-sinclair-smokestack#IDComment86661756 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/07/13/windows-shattered-at-cedar-rapids-mosque-by-vandals#IDComment86514520 If someone's goal was to drum up sympathy for Muslims and/or anger toward those who would be accused of persecuting Muslims, breaking a few windows in a mosque would be an easy and effective way of accomplishing that goal. Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:40:13 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/07/13/windows-shattered-at-cedar-rapids-mosque-by-vandals#IDComment86514520 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/06/29/human-services-cutting-back-to-42-full-time-offices-in-iowa#IDComment83156932 This is good news and, although it doesn't go nearly far enough, it helps to reveal how we no longer need 99 counties. Anyone know why Iowa has 99 counties? It was setup to ensure the Iowa resident can travel to the county seat, conduct his or her business there, and return home, all in a single day, without the need for an overnight stay in the county seat. Of course, this was designed back in the 19th Century, when people traveled by horse. Obviously, if we were to use the same reasoning to redraw county lines today, we don't need 99 counties or the 99 treasurers, courthouses, boards of supervisors, auditors, etc. that come along with them. How about combining our 99 counties into something more like 20? Just imagine how many millions of taxpayer dollars would be saved annually. But, I'm not holding my breath. The state legislature will never go for it. Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:56:22 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/06/29/human-services-cutting-back-to-42-full-time-offices-in-iowa#IDComment83156932 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/06/29/imon-expands-its-network-work-force#IDComment83151977 Bring it on, ImOn. The sooner I can tell Mediacom good riddance, the better! Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:10:15 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/06/29/imon-expands-its-network-work-force#IDComment83151977 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/06/24/branstad-pick-sen-reynolds-as-running-mate#IDComment81957796 Iowa hasn't had a male Lieutenant Governor since ... looking it up ... January 1987, when Robert T. Anderson was succeeded by Jo Ann Zimmerman. If Reynolds wins, she would be the fifth consecutive female to hold the office. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:39:59 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/06/24/branstad-pick-sen-reynolds-as-running-mate#IDComment81957796 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/06/24/branstad-pick-sen-reynolds-as-running-mate#IDComment81947731 Wonder how long it will take the Culver camp to try to make something of her two DUIs. I think I heard she's been sober for 8 years now. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:27:25 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/06/24/branstad-pick-sen-reynolds-as-running-mate#IDComment81947731 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/06/22/pomeranz-compensation-deal-much-sweeter-than-prossers#IDComment81702179 Such a deal! If memory serves, back in 2006, certain proponents of the council/manager form of government (Ron Corbett?) said it would cost us less than the old commission form. What a joke. That might have been true until Corbett and his cronies took over, gave Jim Prosser the boot (thanks for the memories, Jim!), and started handing out gold-plated, taxpayer-funded favors to their most-cherished friends. Can't wait 'til the Home Rule Charter Commission reconvenes in 2011. Back when we had commissioners with clearly-defined responsibilities (Streets, Finance, Parks, Public Safety), those fundamental city services got done and were done well. That's simply because if any one of them wasn't done to our satisfaction, we knew who was responsible and voted accordingly on election day. Now, this rag-tag bunch of know-nothings on the council can just stick a moist finger in the air to determine what's important today (hey, let's buy the MCI building from our past and future campaign donors, remodel it with union labor, and give it away! That'll fill it up with people to make our downtown donors happy!) vs. what can wait (crumbling streets? ... c'mon, we can come up with something more fun to make the voters forget about the streets ... how about let's buy the old Five Seasons Hotel, too?!). Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:15:53 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/06/22/pomeranz-compensation-deal-much-sweeter-than-prossers#IDComment81702179 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/city-room/2010/06/22/departed-prossers-compensation-deal-pales-compared-to-new-hire-pomeranzs#IDComment81460638 Such a deal! If memory serves, back in 2006, certain proponents of the council/manager form of government (Ron Corbett?) said it would cost us less than the old commission form. What a joke. That might have been true until Corbett and his cronies took over, gave Jim Prosser the boot (thanks for the memories, Jim!), and started handing out gold-plated, taxpayer-funded favors to their most-cherished friends. Can't wait 'til the Home Rule Charter Commission reconvenes in 2011. Back when we had commissioners with clearly-defined responsibilities (Streets, Finance, Parks, Public Safety), those fundamental city services got done and were done well. That's simply because if any one of them wasn't done to our satisfaction, we knew who was responsible and voted accordingly on election day. Now, this rag-tag bunch of know-nothings on the council can just stick a moist finger in the air to determine what's important today (hey, let's buy the MCI building from our past and future campaign donors, remodel it with union labor, and give it away! That'll fill it up with people to make our downtown donors happy!) vs. what can wait (crumbling streets? ... c'mon, we can come up with something more fun to make the voters forget about the streets ... how about let's buy the old Five Seasons Hotel, too?!). Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:26:44 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/city-room/2010/06/22/departed-prossers-compensation-deal-pales-compared-to-new-hire-pomeranzs#IDComment81460638 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/city-room/2010/06/17/animal-shelter-still-in-temporary-home-should-city-outsource-or-merge-operation#IDComment81232099 Whatever the solution, it should be funded 100% by animal owners and/or private donations. Taxpayers who do not own animals should not be forced to pay the tab. Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:43:13 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/city-room/2010/06/17/animal-shelter-still-in-temporary-home-should-city-outsource-or-merge-operation#IDComment81232099 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/06/10/bp-disaster-a-wake-up-call-for-breaking-oil-addiction-harkin#IDComment79512778 Harkin's just a well-paid w-h-o-r-e for his special-interest campaign donors. If he was a senator from an oil state, he'd be praising crude and dissing ethanol. If he's from West Virginia, he'd be pushing coal and dissing wind. Fact is, he represents no one but Tom Harkin and whomever is greasing his filthy palm. Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:26:24 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/06/10/bp-disaster-a-wake-up-call-for-breaking-oil-addiction-harkin#IDComment79512778 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/city-room/2010/06/10/corbett-and-hiawatha-city-hall-in-feud-over-jobs-and-incentives#IDComment79480209 For Corbett (the City) and us taxpayers to "give" the MCI building to GoDaddy, we will first have to buy it from its current owners, Steven Dummermuth and Kay Hill. How much more will we pay for the building than it would bring on the open market? Such a nice gift that will be from Ron Corbett and the taxpayers to Dummermuth and Hill. Does anyone think they will thank Corbett with a nice contribution to his campaign (if not directly into his pocket)? Then, just like the hotel, there will be renovation work. How much will that cost the taxpayers and, who will do it? More of the City Council's friends and campaign donors, no doubt. Take from the taxpayers and give to your buddies. What a deal! Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:31:31 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/city-room/2010/06/10/corbett-and-hiawatha-city-hall-in-feud-over-jobs-and-incentives#IDComment79480209 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/06/02/cedar-is-no-5-on-endangered-river-list-for-water-management#IDComment78406817 Let people have the LIBERTY to choose to build and live where they want. Just make sure they realize they themselves are ultimately responsible for any consequences of their choices. But, good luck with that in this age of people demanding the nanny state take care of their every need. Thu, 3 Jun 2010 19:16:53 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/06/02/cedar-is-no-5-on-endangered-river-list-for-water-management#IDComment78406817 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/06/02/linn-county-taxpayers-may-vote-on-funds-for-new-juvenile-court-building-2#IDComment78250315 Given how we tend to build our courthouses to look like modern-day palaces—our politicians love to pour public money into buildings so that they and their descendants can point to it for decades to come and say they had something to do with it—one wonders if the cost could be easily reduced by a half million dollars or more by using less marble, less granite, and making the place less palatial overall. You know, build it as if they were spending THEIR OWN money on it. Wow, what a concept. Wed, 2 Jun 2010 19:35:55 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/06/02/linn-county-taxpayers-may-vote-on-funds-for-new-juvenile-court-building-2#IDComment78250315 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/05/19/fema-funds-might-be-used-to-save-sinclair-smokestake#IDComment76241873 If individuals are unwilling to DONATE money out of their own pockets to save the smokestack, how can you or anyone else justify TAKING money from the taxpayers to do it? Wed, 19 May 2010 20:34:46 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/05/19/fema-funds-might-be-used-to-save-sinclair-smokestake#IDComment76241873 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/05/19/fema-funds-might-be-used-to-save-sinclair-smokestake#IDComment76229432 Sure, if the people who you'd expect to care enough to save it (neighbors, former workers and their descendants, Justin Shields and his fellow sentimentalists, preservationists) aren't willing to donate enough to pay for it, ... Hey, let's take other people's money and save it. Yeah, that's the ticket! That's what this amounts to. Tax the "rich" (people who actually pay taxes) to pay for the stuff we won't pay for ourselves. It's sickening. Wed, 19 May 2010 18:58:14 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/government/2010/05/19/fema-funds-might-be-used-to-save-sinclair-smokestake#IDComment76229432 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/05/19/shields-says-the-city-council-needs-to-save-the-sinclair-smokestack#IDComment76226745 I believe I read or heard where even the former plant's neighbors, workers and their descendants were unwilling to donate the funds needed to "save" the smokestack. So, I have one question for Mr. Shields: If the very people who should care about it the most don't care enough to give of their own money, how dare you suggest TAKING it from the rest of us? Wed, 19 May 2010 18:34:45 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/05/19/shields-says-the-city-council-needs-to-save-the-sinclair-smokestack#IDComment76226745 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2010/05/15/is-sen-harkin-really-listening#IDComment76220274 Actually, richgreer was correct. The singular "was" belongs to the singular "one." Wed, 19 May 2010 17:43:04 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2010/05/15/is-sen-harkin-really-listening#IDComment76220274