Subject: MAD COW ON THE MENU: Operating on the notion that an ill wind blows someone some good, I approached several big box meat counters inquiring if they were running any “mad cow specials”. Not yet was the common reply. Finally giving up, I stopped in a deli restaurant, opened the menu and was taken aback by a reinforced Post-It note that read: “No Mad Cow specials, but our Angry Chicken Boneless Breasts are today’s special and safe to boot. SJ

MULLICA'S PIT BULL SAGA

An interesting aspect of the dog fighting ring in Mullica that has not been reported is that when a search warrant was executed on the property where the pit bulls were caged a dirt bike was found that had been stolen from Virginia. Mike Amara the owner of the property was cited for possession of stolen property and that Complaint sits in the Atlantic County prosecutor's office. Amara's address of record is Clifton New Jersey.

To date there have been no citations issued regarding animal cruelty in a case that obviously involved a dog fighting ring. WHY? WE CALL THEM DUMB ANIMALS, AND SO THEY ARE, FOR THEY CANNOT TELL US HOW THEY FEEL, BUT THEY DO NOT SUFFER LESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO WORDS. (Anna Sewell) Foolishly the Mullica Police Department is letting the Atlantic County SPCA handle this matter. WHY? Any fines that the Mullica Court assesses signed by the SPCA go to the SPCA. Should the Mullica Police cite the two individuals the fines would go to Mullica.

While it is true that it is not the job of the Police to raise money for the Township the reality of where fines go should be in play. Traffic citations issued by the Mullica Police that generate fines are split 50/50 with the State. Further a policy that allows a quasi non profit entity like the SPCA to keep its fines itself is just asking for abuse.

FAITH MUST TRAMPLE UNDERFOOT ALL REASON, SENSE AND UNDERSTANDING (Martin Luthur)

Subject: Misguided Newspaper Readers: Larry, I too wanted to take a moment to thank all the contributors to this site for their interesting comments and observations and wish all a happy, dialogue and debate healthy New Year. President Bush has shown on a regular basis his ability to be "misguided" without reading a newspaper. Because he is in your words "intellectually lazy" he only gets information that is funneled to him, not all the information from the FBI and CIA. The CIA reports of doubts regarding various aspects of intelligence funneled to the President was that information was wrong about Iraq's nuclear capabilites, but as someone who allows others to filter what information he reads the President probably never got that information or was too lazy to read anything other than what was funneled to him. It was the media that exposed the information that was hid from our "lazy" President. Also, reading the OP/ED page affords columnist and opinions on both conservative and liberal sides of the issues. It is dangerous to have a President who is intellectually lazy and who accept the world in simplistic faith based terms of good and evil. SF

Subject: Why does he have to read the News paper, so he can be misguided as well? A president should read the newspaper for a laugh from the comics or maybe a good leftist commentary, but not for the facts. Why should a person who makes the news have to read it second or third hand? Do you really think the person behind the words of a news article know more intelligence and happenings then all of the FBI, CIA, Iteligence databases and on going investigations that are at his reach? Majority of the so called experts couldn't tell you what happen 4 days ago in any given country, but all of the sudden something happens, and these same guys are the so called experts, that everyone runs around quoting? Some of these articles are edited so much, that by the time they get to the paper, You have the editors points of view and not the writer of the article. This goes out to the Halliburton comment, Its better that 100 American soldiers die, then one single American citizen. Remember, all soldiers that are in the military volunteered to serve and protect their country and its way of life, they were not drafted or were they sentenced to serve. I understood this, and it was placed in every soldiers head during training. It was understood, the great risks and the sacrifices that were asked of us, and if we decided not to accept, we were given the choice to leave. The reason why we have such a great military is the dedication of its soldiers, not just the technology or its masses. Currently we have 214 American soldier deaths since 5/1/03 in Iraq because of combat situations (figures from www.antiwar.com), why is it, we had 148 police officers in the United States killed in 2002? (2003 figures are not in yet www.nleomf.com/FactsFigures/yeardeaths.html) Those numbers are way to close for comparing a combat zone and a non combat zone! Are we to expect a certain number of death while policing an area especially in a post war country? These people are like teenagers first year in college, there first tastes of freedom, they are going to test it to the limits! Some of these trouble makers aren't even Iraqi, they remind me of our parties as kids where unwelcome guest come in and make a mess of things. I read previous comments, and have heard on number of occasions, people complaining that there wasn't enough soldiers sent over, this coming from the same people complaining about the cost of the war? How many soldiers do we need to send over? A good number of them aren't even in Iraq or Afghanistan, rather they are on the out skirt countries and bodies of water patrolling, waiting to be called upon or just in waiting to relieve the current soldiers in the hot zones. To all the fellow readers of Gadfly, I hope your enjoying your holidays.and lets all have the strength and will to debate into the new year. Also lets all be sure to thank our host.Mr. Larry SOB Angel, who may be a SOB, but is our SOB..lol (Laughing out Loud for those non Instant Messaging fluent readers) Chris@mullicatwp.com

RESPONSE: Thanks for your kind words and indeed the debate is healthy and what makes America such a special place to live; whether we are politically to the right or to the left. As Adlai Stevenson said: AMERICA IS MUCH MORE THAN A GEOGRAPHICAL FACT. IT IS A POLITICAL AND MORAL FACT--THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN WHICH MEN SET OUT IN PRINCIPLE TO INSTITUTIONALIZE FREEDOM, RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, AND HUMAN EQUALITY.

Respectfully, the point I was trying to make was that this President is intellectually lazy. Let me quote him again regarding his not reading a newspaper: "I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves...our society is good, solid, democracy because of a good, solid media." Sorry, no typo; this man is a moron...yes, SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS A VILLAGE IS MISSING ITS IDIOT.

There ought to be a desire to understand the arguments being made by those who have a different view, or perspective. To just get information from those inside the frame who obviously have an agenda is worse than lazy; it is counter productive to wise leadership. The ability to communicate to the people like Churchill, or FDR, or Kennedy, is integral to leadership. THE LESSER came to power in control of the sole super power on earth and has chosen to ignore the wisdom of subtly and exert the power of the iron fist over reason and debate. A weak man, of little doubt; while great men are always filled with doubt. THE LESSER'S well documented sneer shows his joy in wallowing in power like the small lazy and cowardly man posturing in the flight suit he has always been. Contrast this with Jefferson's words: NEVER DID A PRISONER RELEASED FROM HIS CHAINS FEEL SUCH RELIEF AS I SHALL ON SHAKING OFF THE SHACKLES OF POWER.

Even when there have been debates in the White House more often than not THE LESSER has come down on the wrong legal side. Many Justice Department lawyers appointed by Bush argued strongly that the Constitution made THE LESSER'S actions as proposed by Ashcroft of calling detainees "enemy combatants" and holding them with out access to a lawyer, or charges, or the justice system was illegal; against the basic tenets of our Constitutional guarantees...analogous to the gulag of the Soviet Union. The Courts have recently ruled validating the basic rights of citizens jailed. The Bush/Ashcroft axis of evil will appeal...how sad for America. As Pascal noted: MEN NEVER DO EVIL SO COMPLETELY AND SO FREELY AS WHEN THEY DO SO IN THE NAME OF THEIR CONVICTIONS.

NO ONE IN THE WORLD NEEDS A MINK COAT; BUT A MINK

Larry, Because I can not make many township meetings, I have written a letter to the township asking them to look into the MESS on the pike known as Hauser's Tow lot. I am sure they will say they never recieved it, as it is easier to ignore then address. That place looks like a junkyard and is getting worse as the days go by. That business is right next to our township building. Trying to pull out of the sideroad next to it is impossible as the cars and JUNK is piled so that it blocks the veiw. If you make it to the next meeting, please let me know if this issue has been addressed. Also, I took a walk through our Rec Fields this week and am suprised at the disgust there. Why are we continually putting tax dollars to build "new" shit over there and we can't even keep the "old" shit up to par. Someone is going to get hurt. I will not allo my kids to play there as I see the place is not maintained, yet my taxes are through the roof , some of which is for that place. I bet if that committee had children or grandchildren going there it would not look like that!!!!

RESPONSE: With respect to the rec fields; EVERY CHILD COMES WITH THE MESSAGE THAT GOD IS NOT YET DISCOURAGED OF MAN; (Rabindranath Tagoree said). While it is clear that some basic maintenance work has been ignored the park is well worth the tax dollars that have been spent on it in my opinion. The failure of THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5 to address the required yearly maintenance is ridiculous as they have squandered tax dollars on many foolish projects. Sadly this is a group who doesn't care about our children as they are Republicans. Some of the blame however has to go to the Rec. Association for its failure to take more responsibility for the yearly required maintenance with volunteers. The Talmud says: WHO CAN PROTEST AND DOES NOT IS AN ACCOMPLICE IN THE ACT.

TAX THE RICH--STOP THE WAR ON THE WORKING POOR

Subject: Reply to your response on "Its not Saddam": Larry, Why do you constantly spin the second Gulf war as "an illegal preemptive war"? That's not right, and you are just wrong. Was there a UN resolution forbidding the US and it's allies from removing Saddam from power? No. Was there a UN resolution (1441) calling for Saddam to disarm, to allow weapons inspectors full and unfettered access, to abide by the cease fire agreement he had signed 12 years before and then broke before the ink was dry? Yes. (In case you couldn't tell I was answering these questions for you!!) You can't even compare the Bush doctrine to the methods used by Saddam & Hitler. Did Saddam & Hitler have a UN resolution calling for "serious consequences" if the countries in question did not abide previous cease-fire agreements, weapons inspections, & disarmaments? No. Did they just invade these countries without warning and with the only intention of acquiring territory and enslaving its citizens? Yes. I'm sure there are some people out there (people like you who are really out there) who could see the so-called "obvious parallels" even if it means adding your own twist on things. President Bush had the full backing of the Congress to go into Iraq, the Congress who was put there by the American people. Democracy at work, but since you don't agree with it, it was "unilateralism" and unconstitutional. Oh, and to answer the question as to why we were elevated to orange alert after the capture of Saddam the answer is "Because there are still animals out there who are trying to kill us any chance they get!!!" Do you get it yet? jdf

RESPONSE: Many of those of us who opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning and understood the subtleties that a secular tyrant like Saddam was no more in league with a religious fanatic like Ossama; anymore than Mother Teresa was in bed with Hitler. There are just radically opposing perspectives there that now seem obvious to all but the blind BUSH THE LESSER supporters.

The question of WMD's however is a different matter and while frankly I believed they existed while not buying the Bush lie that Saddam could have a nuclear capability in less than a year, that still did not lead in the minds of many to the Bush dangerous and illegal doctrine of preemptive invasion of a sovereign state...no matter how much a butcher to his own subjects. The first Bush as you may recall put together a woldwide coaliton including Arab countries because there was an invasion of another soverign State. The argument was never posited by THE LESSER that we went to war for humanitarian reasons until the spin about the linkage to Ossama and WMD's was shown to be false. Oh, and if you forgot the perpetrator of 9/11 and other terroristic acts against the west was bin Laden...you remember the bin Laden family the old family friends of the Bushs. Do you get it yet? It's about oil and greed...oh, I'm answering the question for you too.

The chinese proverb is; THE MORE YOU SWEAT IN PEACETIME THE LESS YOU BLEED IN WAR. Others have stated here more eloquently than I the fact that THE LESSER'S actions have made the world much less safe for America thanks to THE BUSH THE LESSER arrogance. What U.N. support there was came from lies that the Bush administration articulated and large promises of money to Security Council small countries (buying their support) and even than the desired resolution blessing the invasion was not forthcoming. Do you get it yet? If you don't get it...the parallels to Hitler and Saddam's invasions of other states for oil and other wealth for their cronies and supporters.

As stated here in the past the initial strength of Bush in forcing inspectors back into Iraq was commendable. There apparently were no WMD's for them to find but your argument about containment not working as someone noted is refuted by history; the story of the Soviet Union, Cuba, etal.

The idea of hitting someone because they are a bully before they hit you is un-American. Even in war MacArthur said: I WILL NOT TAKE BY SACRIFICE WHAT I CAN ACHIEVE BY STRATEGY. THE LESSER'S arrogance means it is Americans who are dying and will continue to die because this is perceived as not being U.N. backed as the first Iraqi war was under THE LESSER'S father. The American way is that the other fellow gets the first shot in and than the country rallies together to win the last battle. Pearl Harbor and 9/11 were horrible tragedies but the betrayal of what America stands for along with the principles of international law by Bush give America the deserved disdain of most of the world...as the one who is the bully. And yes, another 9/11 or worse may well have been the price of staying true to principle, but the toll on the high road only seems steeper in the short run. To quote Camus: IT IS BETTER TO SUFFER CERTAIN INJUSTICES THAN TO COMMIT THEM EVEN TO WIN A WAR; SUCH DEEDS DO US MORE HARM THAN A HUMDRED UNDERGROUND FORCES ON THE ENEMY SIDE. And the lessons of Vietnam seem lost on the "bring em on" rhetoric of THE LESSER.

The Bush lies and the resulting greed of the rich cronies getting even more wealthy with no bid contracts is despicable and indefensible and yet somehow you defend it. Both Cheney and Bush played the rich boys game and avoided real military service. During other wars the income tax was established, the inheritance tax was passed so that we all sacrificed for our soldiers and all THE LESSER'S regime requests from his wealthy supporters is that they contribute more money to Republican candidates and in return they will sacrifice nothing while working class children are dying...oh, and of course the call is for more tax breaks for the wealthy. Do you get it yet?

Interesting it will be; as THE LESSER talks out of one side of his administrations mouth about staying the course and out of the other about getting substantial number of our troops out of Iraq before the November elections. Do you get it yet? Oh, and if he looses it is because as Will Rogers said; FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE VERY GENEROUS PEOPLE WHO WILL FORGIVE ALMOST ANY WEAKNESS, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF STUPIDITY....yes, I see the caveat "possible", but hope for the best...anybody but Bush!

MULLICA CHRISTMAS EVE BURGLARY

On the evening of December 24th there was a burglary of a home in the Weekstown section of Mullica. An undisclosed amount of cash seems to be the only thing stolen.

Subject: Possible fix for lack of cell phone service in Mullica Township: Verizon to erect short-term cell tower, By Lori Sykes  Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel; Miramar · A cell phone company plans to put a temporary tower at Bluegrass Lakes Park while waiting for a permanent site. At a recent meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to allow Verizon Wireless Personal Communications to place a temporary mobile facility on Honey Hill Road, just west of Flamingo Road. The tower is on wheels and can be removed in case of a hurricane. The facility consists of a modular building, which serves as an equipment trailer, and a tower surrounded by a security fence. The phone company will pay the city $25,000 to lease 1,600 square feet of space for up to one year. If Verizon needs the land beyond a year, the company would rent it for $2,100 a month. The temporary tower will be used while Verizon waits to lease space on the Broward County Tower, also situated within the city. Commissioner George Pedlar suggested charging Verizon more money to use the site. However, Mayor Lori Moseley pointed out that this is land nobody is using right now. "They are going to pay for a year upfront," Moseley said. "If they only stay there for three or four months, we get to keep the rest." In 2002, the city voted to ensure that, rather than build new towers, cellular facilities be placed on existing structures. It also established that city-owned property be considered first. At the end of the lease, Verizon must remove all its equipment and restore the site to its original condition.

RESPONSE: Another interesting idea certainly worth exploring. Thanks Sweetwater Resident

BUSH/CHENEY--AMERCIA'S SECOND CHOICE

Subject: Bush does no wrong? JDF in your effort to defend the President no matter what he does you do him the same disservice as those who defended Clinton despite his duplicity. So let me make the point a little less subtle; BUSH DOESN’T READ A NEWSPAPER AND IS INTELLECTUALLY LAZY. AND THAT IS SCARY! He is a man who sees the world as black and white, good and evil and that too is scary. There is no intellectual consistency and only a simplistic agenda lacking compassion or complexity that some wise leaders have referred to as “voodoo economics”. He argues to give tax breaks to the rich because there is a large surplus and argues for tax breaks for the rich because there is a large deficit. He is a simple man and it is a complex world. The goal of the war is Saddam’s WMD Saddam’s imaginary links to 9/11 and when no WMD are found no links shown to exist the war is about replacing a despotic tyrant. And now comes JDF ignoring the poor planning and misstatements about what would happen after we won the war, ignoring the “anarchy” that did occur, that Iraq did go to hell in a hand basket because of Bush administration’s bad planning, not enough troops, decisions made for political rather than military reasons and your spinning it all as some how justifiable because he apparently is your guy is simply irresponsible. A responsible adult JDF has the ability to see and acknowledge mistakes and bad judgments of friends; neither you JDF or Bush apparently have that kind of responsible maturity. Fortunately you are not President but you at least seem to be a reader. Unfortunately Bush is President and is not a reader and the cost in lives and the well being of our country is substantial Honestly I’d feel better with someone like you as President because there is a chance of intellectual growth as a result of reading. No such chance exists with Bush. The Halliburton comment came from a CNN news report. Read the paper today, tomorrow or next month; more people (Americans) are dying. RB

Subject: Bush, JDF and bait and switch again: So the search for Iraq weapons of mass destruction is winding down, with not a weapon in sight. When Bush sold this war to the public, unseating Saddam Hussein wasn’t the primary objective. Hundreds of allied soldiers and thousands of Iraqis have died because of Bush’s claims about those weapons. Bush’s rationale for this war is a fraud, just like his presidency. John

Larry, Why is killing people so wrong? I personally believe that we need to do this as some people are true MONSTERS! Look in the news and see, we have people admitting they killed, raped, mistreated others. Why should my taxes pay for their three meals and a bed along with Medical attention? Get rid of these leaches! You for one should know how much it cost to keep these people alive. Look at our prison systems, overcrowded and understaffed.

RESPONSE: Despite the “bleeding heart liberal” persona of this site; in an ideal world I would not be against the death penalty. However, as we have seen over and over again the system is way less than perfect. Eyewitnesses get it wrong often. In some states like Texas if you are poor and a person of color and charged with a death penalty offense you are quite likely to get an incompetent lawyer. By the way that is not some time in the distant past that is true today.

In emotional laden cases once again where the charged is indigent it is not all that unusual for the prosecution to break the law by withholding exculpatory evidence to get a conviction. Even in some cases where there are confessions that person is not guilty as they may be crazy or violated and intimidated by the authorities into confessing. It ain’t a perfect world…far from it even in our special country. In the words of Abraham Lincoln; I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THAT MERCY BEARS RICHER FRUITS THAN STRICT JUSTICE.

Oh, our prison system is over crowded because we have criminalized drugs and have in some states passed 3 strikes and your out laws that take away discretionary powers from judges and impose lengthy prison sentences for petty crimes. Indeed there are “MONSTERS” out there but our system of justice was rightly I believe designed on the principle that it is better to see 10 guilty people go free than 1 innocent person convicted…obviously not an idea that resonates with BUSH THE LESSER.


THE DEAD CANNOT CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE; IT IS A DUTY OF THE LIVING TO DO SO…the words of Lois McMaster Bujold. I point out to you in the case of Darryl Hunt who spent 18 years in prison the DNA that identified another man as the murder resulted not just in his release from jail but when the man who the DNA identified was arrested he confessed to the murder.

J.R.R. Tolkien perhaps said it best: MANY THAT LIVE DESERVE DEATH. AND SOME DIE THAT DESERVE LIFE. CAN YOU GIVE IT TO THEM? THEN BE NOT TOO EAGER TO DEAL OUT DEATH IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE, FEARING FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. EVEN THE WISE CANNOT SEE ALL ENDS.

Subject : OFF the cuff observation: JDF should verify the "train wreck" of a response to RB. I was pleasantly surprized to find out that the President has a big stick. LH

RESPONSE: Did you mean off the cuff or below the belt?

VETERAN BENEFITS FOR OUR HEROES

From the Bible: Matthew 5:9; BLESSED OUR THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD. Gov. Jim McGreevey signed into law new benefits, including a “veteran” designation, for soldiers who have recently served in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Henry David Thoreau said: HEROES ARE OFTEN THE MOST ORDINARY OF MEN.

Subject : Rebuttal to RB on "We all Loose": RB, Just because one is proficient at speaking such complex words like beneficiary, arbitrary, and anathema and putting those words into a sentence does not make them an intellectual. It’s easy to speak if front of people when you are sitting behind your keyboard using “spell checker”. Try doing it live, unscripted and on the cuff. Actions speak louder than words & speak softly but carry a big stick are just a couple of sayings that come to my mind when I think of people who are not gifted with more than desirable speech abilities. While I do agree that under normal circumstances no-bid contracts are not good for the American people the situation over in Iraq is not your normal circumstance. There were people injured, hungry, without food, water, electricity, or fuel. People were dying and the country could have reverted to anarchy if we hadn’t gotten a handle on the situations. Now imagine us telling them to wait a couple of weeks or months until we assess all of the situations, put together a damage analysis and wait for all of the bids to come in before we can review them and decide on what we are going to do. The country would have gone to hell in a hand basket and you are your kind would be screaming, “we told you so and how come that damn Bush administration is letting this happen??!!” When you are at war and especially after the war you need to stabilize situations, not bid on contracts. If you didn’t then more people would die but hey you’d get the best price! Where can I find the article or report of Halliburton saying that they should be able to keep the money because it was a bookkeeping error? I wish to verify. jdf

VIOLENCE IS THE LAST REFUGE OF THE INCOMPETENT

Darryl Hunt was convicted twice for the murder, rape, kidnapping and armed robbery of Debra Sykes. After 18 years in prison he walked out of prison this week after DNA evidence linked another man to these crimes Had this been a Texas prison one can be sure that BUSH THE LESSER when governor would have had no trouble executing Hunt as he did with over 150 humans while serving as governor. WHY DO WE KILL PEOPLE TO PROVE TO PEOPLE THAT KILLING PEOPLE IS WRONG?

An example of compassionate conservatism as practiced by BUSH THE LESSER: “On the morning of May 6, 1997, Governor George W. Bush signed his name to a confidential three-page memorandum from his legal counsel, Alberto R. Gonzales, and placed a bold black check mark next to a single word: DENY. It was the twenty-ninth time a death-row inmate's plea for clemency had been denied in the twenty-eight months since Bush had been sworn in. In this case Bush's signature led, shortly after 6:00 P.M. on the very same day, to the execution of Terry Washington, a mentally retarded thirty-three-year-old man with the communication skills of a seven-year-old.

During Bush's six years as governor 150 men and two women were executed in Texas—a record unmatched by any other governor in modern American history. Each time a person was sentenced to death, Bush received from his legal counsel a document summarizing the facts of the case, usually on the morning of the day scheduled for the execution, and was then briefed on those facts by his counsel; based on this information Bush allowed the execution to proceed in all cases but one.”

THE MAN WHO SAYS HE IS WILLING TO MEET YOU HALFWAY IS USUALLY A POOR JUDGE OF DISTANCE (Laurence J. Peter)

Subject: Response to JDF, We all loose: Ah hem, I thought Lisa really said it well that at bottom we are a country of laws and when there is no respect for the law under a leader that leader rightly earns the distain of all who are not the beneficiary of the arbitrary nature of the decision making process. Let me quote for you President Bush on a Pentagon audit finding that Halliburton, “VISE” President Dick Cheney’s former company, potentially overcharging up to $61 million for gasoline delivered as part of its no bid contract to help rebuild Iraq’s oil industry. “If there’s an overcharge, like we think this is, we expect the money be repaid.” NO, that’s not my typo, but the way this intellectually lazy man who doesn’t read a newspaper speaks. Halliburton says it was just a bookkeeping error and therefore we should like Kenny-boy be able to keep the money. I think I’ll try that line the next time I short the IRS on my income tax. Process matters and the failure to openly bid contracts should be anathema to all Americans. Just as the Clinton pardons and the selling of the Lincoln bedroom should be anathema. When party loyalty is placed above principle we all loose; Democrats, Republicans and all Americans. RB

MULLICA’S OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE THEY’RE JUST FADING AWAY

With dwindling numbers the VFW post on the White Horse Pike (Devonshire) has given up its Mullica Township liquor license and is likely to merge with another VFW post.

THEY JUST CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT

Michigan’s governor has issued an order banning discrimination against gays in state employment. This makes Michigan only the 10th state to adopt such a policy. Critics quickly claimed that some how non-discrimination in employment was the first step toward legalizing gay marriages. HUH? As Edmund Burke noted: NO PASSION SO EFFECTUALLY ROBS THE MIND OF ALL ITS POWERS OF ACTING AND REASONING AS FEAR. And as is so obvious among Republican strategists and an integral part of the effective Republi CON: PREJUDICE IS THE REASONING OF FOOLS.

GOD IS NOT DEAD BUT ALIVE AND WELL AND WORKING ON A MUCH LESS AMBITIOUS PROJECT

Subject: It's not Saddam: If the capture of Saddam has made America safer, then why did the government immediately issue an Orange Alert? Maybe Howard Dean was right after all.

RESPONSE: It is a respect for the law that makes the world, a community, a country, a society; safer. The notion that an illegal preemptive war would make the world safer was BUSH THE LESSER lunacy. There is a basic intellectual irrationality that the doctrine of feeling threatened by another sovereign state gives one the right to invade that state. BUSH THE LESSER has established an administration that has no respect for international law nor our own Constitutional laws. Nietzsche warned us all about becoming what you hate and this Bush doctrine is what Saddam used when he invaded Iran and what Hitler used when he invaded Poland and Czechoslovakia. Don’t tell me Howard Dean is the only one out there who gets this, who sees the obvious parallel. We are all less safe as a result of this unlateralism. Kissinger was commenting about the Nixon administration but he could be commenting about THE LESSER'S when he said: THE ILLEGAL WE DO IMMEDIATELY, THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL TAKES A LITTLE LONGER.

ASHCROFT SLAPPED DOWN BY THE COURTS AGAIN

"A federal judge has admonished Attorney General John Ashcroft for violating a court order by making remarks about defendants in the nation's first major terror trial after Sept.11."

The Judge stating; "The attorney general's office exhibited a distressing lack of care in issuing potentially prejudicial statements about this case." Ashcroft apparently violated the judge's order twice with his stupid rhetoric.

"Margaret Raben, a lawyer for Elmar-doudi, said the admonishment was recognition that 'the attorney general is bound by the same rules as anybody else.'"

As more and more Court rulings come down finding that with regard to due process issues and environmental laws the BUSH THE LESSER administration is in violation of the law and the basic tenets of our Constitution one might wonder if these arrogant and greedy Republicans understand or comprehend anything that doesn't make them and their cronies richer. UNDER BUSH THE LESSER, WE DON'T HAVE A DEMOCRACY WE HAVE AN AUCTION.

OAKCREST 11TH GRADE TEST SCORES, 2003 HSPA

There were 328 students enrolled at Oakcrest in the 11th grade and 319 took the tests. The scores showed that 21.6% failed the Language Arts Literacy (Reading) section and 43% failed the Math Section. Only 10.3% scored Advance Proficient in Reading and 10% Advanced Proficient in Math.

It should be noted that the percentage of students passing required by a school is 73% for Reading and 55% for Math. As reported here earlier 4 sub-groups failed to meet this standard (disagregated) and thus GERHS received a first warning letter from the State that it was not doing its job of educating our children under No Child Left Behind standards.

A look at the sub-groups shows that of 150 females 14% failed the Reading and 43% failed the Math. While 16% scored Advanced Proficient in Reading and 8.7% were Advanced Proficient in Math.

Among the 150 males who took the test 28.4% failed in Reading and 37.6% failed in Math. This while 5.3% of the boys scored Advanced Proficient in Reading and 11.2% did so in Math.

Of the White students 15.6% failed the Reading test and 28.6% failed the Math. The Advanced Proficient scores here were 14.6% for Reading and 14.1% for Math.

For the 63 black students 31.7% failed the Reading test and 60.3% failed the Math test. The Advanced Proficient scores were in Reading 3.2% and Math 1.6%.

For the 9 Asian students 11.1% failed in Reading and 22.2 % failed in Math. Of this group testing Advanced Proficient in Math were 33.3% while none so tested in Reading.

Of the 45 Hispanic students; 33.3% failed in Reading and 64.4% failed in Math. Scoring Advanced Proficient in Reading were 2.2% and none did so in Math.

There was only 1 American Indian who scored Advanced Proficient in Reading and Proficient in Math.

It should be noted that there are students who may fall into more than one of these sub-groups as another sub-group was economically disadvantaged which had 58 students. Here 46.6% failed Reading and 69% failed Math. From this sub-group scoring Advance Proficient in Reading were 5.2% and in Math 1.7%.

These poor scores reflect much work and improvement need to be done and hopefully focus the staff on the many areas where they have failed our children. For as Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar said: EDUCATION IS THE GUARDIAN GENIUS OF DEMOCRACY. IT IS THE ONLY DICTATOR THAT FREE MEN RECOGNIZE, AND THE ONLY RULER THAT FREE MEN REQUIRE. These low scores undoubtably reflect why our area keeps on voting Repbulican!

THE PROBLEMS WE FACE WILL NOT BE SOLVED BY THE MINDS THAT CREATED THEM

Subject: Rebuttal to: Bush helps rich cronies/Schizophrenic Policy: Ah hem, excuse me RB but in case you didn't know I believe that is the function of an American president, to speak in the name of the American people. That's why we elect a president, to make decisions and to set policy on behalf of the majority of the population. While I don't doubt that the president and vice president (and members of congress, etc., etc.) have many friends, in many different places and undoubtedly in large companies. This is no reason to constantly suggest that their actions are only tied to personal and professional gain for both themselves and their "friends". Anyone who knows or has any idea about what needs to be done over there in Iraq knows that The Halliburton Company is simply the best company at what they do and for what needs to be done. They have the infrastructure and resources needed to tackle the enormous challenges. I also believe that it wasn't Halliburton who was directly overcharging for the fuel contracts; it was a subcontractor of a subcontractor, which happens to be a Kuwaiti company! President Bush said that the appropriate branch of the government was looking into it and if there are overcharges like we think there are then they will be expected to repay them. Allow me to also let you in on a well-kept secret "All of the American Companies working over there in Iraq are full of American workers, with families and mortgages and taxes to pay". Most of the money for the contracts is American money, not French, or German, or Canadian. Isn't it better that the money comes back to American companies with American employees? Why should those other countries that had no interest in helping us with the war now be able to walk away with American money from contracts? Because we want to make nice, nice with them, screw them! It's our soldiers who are coming back wounded and in body bags, not theirs, its because they still refuse to help. jdf

BUSH ASKS WORLD COURT TO HALT DEATH PENALTY CASE

"The United States last week asked the highest U.N. legal body not to interfere in the American criminal justice system, urging that it throw out a case filed by Mexico over the death penalty. The International Court of Justice is hearing a suit that alleges 52 Mexican citizens on U.S. death rows were denied a fair trial because they were not told they had a right to help from a Mexican consulate."

It seems that BUSH THE LESSER'S disdain for human life (with the exception of the fetus) due process and the rights of the accused is ubiquitous. We abide by the law when it suits us both internationally and nationally with the Bush, Ashcroft, Cheyene axis of arrogance...and principle is always trumped by politics. James Carville's words seem apt for this group whose idea of politics is self interest and greed: POLI IS A GREEK PREFIX MEANING MANY, AND TICS ARE BLOOD SUCKING ANIMALS.

Subject: Re: Stem Cell Research: Larry, you failed to inform your readers how our local legislators voted on the bill to alowe stem cell research. SF

RESPONSE: Sorry, my failure: frank DOCTOR DEATH blee & kirt THE DOUBLE DIPPER conover both voted no...validating their credentials as a part of the religious nut right wing of the Republican Party. They of course are both charter members of the racist and bigoted wing of their party too.

In the Senate our Senator Bill THE BOSS Gormley once again established his credentials as a member of the moderate rational wing of the Republican Party by voting yes.

IN MULLICA THE MEANING OF A CEASE & DESIST ORDER

It would appear if you have the right friends in Mullica's Police Department a Cease and Desist Order can just be ignored. In April of 2000 a Cease and Desist Order was issued to John McKelvy the then owner of Shed Depot on the White Horse Pike. Mckelvy was having workmen do some major excavation work...conveniently on the weekend without any permits. A Cease and Desist Order was issued by Mullica's Code Enforcement Officer and ignored...illegal excavation simply continued. When on the following weekend the work continued a police officer told the workmen they needed to obey the Order. After the cop left they continued their illegal excavation on the property; one assumes under the orders of McKelvy.

Mckelvy who is a personal friend of some of the higher ups in the Mullica Police Department and rumored to have provided free accommodations for them in Florida and the Poconos must of felt he was above the law. To date he is!

In Court in 2000 his attorney nelson THE JANUS FACED johnson apparently argued successfully that nothing should occur regarding the Complaint alleging ignoring a Cease and Desist Order until the Pinelands determined whether McKelvy was going to be able to continue his illegal excavation.

Now at the end of 2004 the Court administratively inquires of Mullica what happened with the Mckelvy Complaint that had been on hold. To the credit of Mullica's Code Enforcement officer the Complaint against Mckelvy alleging ignoring a Cease and Desist Order has been reissued and McKelvy has hired a new attorney...Jacobs & Barbone.

We shall see if Mullica enforces the law and addresses McKelvy's contempt for the law despite his friends in high places. As Millard Fillmore said: THE LAW IS THE ONLY SURE PROTECTION OF THE WEAK AND THE ONLY EFFICIENT RESTRAINT UPON THE STRONG.

IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE SINCERE UNLESS YOU ARE ALSO STUPID (George Bernard Shaw)

Subject: Comments on "To the Victor go the Spoils": And that would be for Saddam as we saw with Kuwait to rape pillage and plunder. I thought we were different before the Supreme Court gave the Presidency to Bush. VICE President Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld had little problem supporting Saddam when he was the enemy of our enemy Iran even though he used chemical weapons on Iran and his own citizens; the Kurds. Then they told us we would be welcomed in the street for freeing Iraqi citizens from Saddam's abuses (which we had turned a blind eye to) and it would cost the American taxpayer nothing because of the oil wealth of Iraq. Had there been less arrogance on the part of our present leadership and at least after the perceived military victory we had placed the administrative efforts to govern Iraq under the auspices of the United Nations perhaps we would not be perceived as out to rape, plunder and pillage the country we invaded. And it is American tax payers who are being raped, plundered and pillaged and American soldiers who continue to die. Gloating victors like Bush only draw the enmity of the vanquished. Under the World Trade Organization's procurement pact, for which the United States lobbied heavily and is a signatory; governments must open their purchasing processes to international competition and treat domestic and foreign businesses equally. It is likely that a formal complaint will be filed against us for this administration once again breaking its agreements with the rest of the world when it suits its own purpose. The contrast between the Bush administration's free trade rhetoric and its Iraq bid policy is fueling perceptions that we are an unreliable partner willing to undermine its international obligations when it suits our interests. The mushrooming ill will from our allies could lead to retaliation against American firms abroad and make it tougher to resolve other thorny world disputes. These are our long time allies and when questioned about adherence to the law and the pacts the United States has signed the President spoke the way Saddam might; once again in his rape, pillage and plunder arrogance: "International law? I better call my lawyer. I don't know what your talking about." Before Bush was elevated to the Presidency I thought my country was better than this; to the victors go the spoils, the ends justify the means. Honoring the law and one's word should mean something. As we saw with the Soviet Union and now Libya containment works. The maxim that we should invade every country with a despotic leader who kills and tortures his own citizens to maintain power even if they don't have a large repository of oil does not seem to this casual observer to be the Bush doctrine. Lisa

FLU HYPE

Has the flu been overly hyped this year? The raw numbers seem to suggest so. In an average year's flu season kills 36,000 Americans and the flu hospitalizes 114,000. In fact the flu normally affects up to 20% of all Americans.

The CDC states: "We are referring to this as an epidemic of the flu like we see every year...we are experiencing here is a typical pattern of influenza with an early onset."

The warnings are as follows: "If a fever goes away and comes back, or if it stays high for more than 4 days, parents should take their children to see a doctor or clinic. Difficulty breathing, a blue tinge to the skin, rapid breathing, unusual lethargy or irritability also are reasons to seek medical care."

So, as Mark Twain said: BE CAREFUL ABOUT READING HEALTH BOOKS. YOU MAY DIE OF A MISPRINT.

Subject: Comment: Larry, you provide a service to Mullica Township with the Blog site, however at times you seem to publish less than factual information. Critics are necesary to keep the government in check but it always helps to have accurateinformation. Seasons Greetings. Sweetwater resident

RESPONSE: Seasons Greetings to all and sincerest wishes to all for a happy and healthy New Year. There is no claim here to infallibility. Further there is a desire that the facts be accurate and little problem acknowledging when they are wrong. Most importantly everything gets published here...no censorship. Thus while individuals may differ about the facts or the interpretation of the facts it is all there for each reader to access and evaluate on one's own. As Adlai Stevenson noted: SELF CRITICISM IS THE SECRET WEAPON OF DEMOCRACY, AND CANDOR AND CONFESSION ARE GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC SOUL.

Subject: DEAN'S THE ONE: With the endorsement from Al Gore, the Democratic Party now can throw itself behind Howard Dean with no reservation. The time has come to take our country back. Dean is the only candidate with the guts needed to take on President Bush next year. It is time for the rich to stop lining their pockets with our soldier's blood. E

RESPONSE: As has been reported New Jersey's Governor, LITTLE JIMMY mcgreevey endorsed Dean. What is not so widely known is that a week before the LITTLE JIMMY endorsement the chair of the Atlantic County Democratic Party CHUCKY CHEESEBURGER Charrilo came out for Dean. As Claude Monet noted: IT IS A TRAGEDY WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE PHYSICAL COURAGE IS SO COMMON, AND MORAL COURAGE IS SO RARE.

Subject: More on Mullicas Police: Larry,First of all, what is up with all the funky characters in your latest postings? So what you are saying is it is acceptable to just get by with two cops per patrol and not cover everything. I don't know about you, but when I need a cop there damn well better be one available to respond to my call! If not, why have a police force at all, let the state police cover it like they do in fine other towns like Collins Lakes and Folsom!! We all pay enough taxes here in Mullica, we don't have trash pickup, we don't have public sewer or water, we were stripped of a good working ambulance service, we don't have an adequate road dept. service (which is evident every time it snows). The least we can have is a police dept. that can respond to every call all the time. With two cops on duty and one of those cops in court, one cop on patrol for all of Mullica is unacceptable! One cop on patrol cannot make traffic stops because of the lack of back up, I know I wouldn't if I didn't have backup. He therefore cannot write the tickets you mentioned before. While I don't agree with the police dept. writing less tickets to force a contract resolution, it is not the purpose of the police to write tickets just to generate revenue to offset their costs, its wrong and if it is not it should be illegal. Route 30 runs from Camden to Atlantic City, you have more than just the local residents traveling up and down it. When a cop pulls someone over they never know who is in the vehicle. Besides with fewer cops and less traffic stops, there will be less money generating tickets. I know the pie is only so large and difficult decisions have to be made, decisions that many people will not be happy with. Maybe the direction we need to look at is not shorting the people of Mullica any longer by cutting services that are already stretched thin to begin with but to look at ways to generate revenue for Mullica (besides writing tickets). jdf

RESPONSE: I apologize for my lack of clarity...we have only now and have had only in the past two cops on patrol...that is the norm and has been the norm in years past. All jobs have risks and working as a cop is much less dangerous than many believe, especially in a low crime area like Mullica. Oh, at the top of the list I believe of dangerous jobs is fisherman and several others top being a cop. Society needs cops but not to note the abuses of the Police is irresponsible and unwarrented.

Every one is entitled to their own opinion, but respectfully the largest expenditure is clearly where any reasonable person should be looking in terms of making cuts and we can not continue with the kind of tax increases we have gotten from THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5 the past couple of years. There is waste in all areas of government. In case you didn't get the numbers the draft budget just for local services is calling for a 24 cent increase next year...that is not including the school projected increase here in Mullica. Clearly the ultimate figure will be lower but still will be substantial as a result of the fiscal irresponsiblity of THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5.

Ideas about generating revenue exist and have been posted...the interesting idea that someone posted here of Medford Lakes building their own cell tower and keeping all the profits themselves is worth exploring. THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5 it is assumed here refuse to look at ideas that this site generates.

Running the Township's own impound lot is something some communities do to generate income to off set taxes. With janet THE ATLANTIC COUNTY AUTO INSURANCE FRAUD QUEEN forman, the new Republican member come January on Committee one might guess this is an idea that won't be explored...though it has been around for awhile here in Mullica.

The notion of looking for ways for the Township to generate income has merit. As Abraham Maslow quipped: IF THE ONLY TOOL YOU HAVE IS A HAMMER, YOU TEND TO SEE EVERY PROBLEM AS A NAIL. Thus it is noted here that both cuts and revenue ideas together should be explored.

IN MULLICA TO THE VICTOR BELONG THE SPOILS

With the November victory of the Republican Party in Mullica THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5 have appointed Joe Perona to the road department.

HEMP! HEMP! HORRAY!!

There are now 9 States that allow sick people to smoke pot with a doctor's recommendation. The Ashcroft Justice Department under Bush has argued that state medical marijuana laws were trumped by Federal drug laws.

A Federal Appeals Court has once again told Ashcroft and THE BUSH THE LESSER administration that they got it wrong. The Court stating that smoking marijuana on the advice of a doctor is "different in kind from drug trafficking," and that it was unconstitutional to prosecute medical marijuana users if the marijuana was not sold, transported across state lines or used for non medicinal purposes.

The case concerned two seriously ill California women who sued Attorney General John Ashcroft. They asked for a court order letting them smoke, grow or obtain marijuana without fear of federal prosecution.

Once again we see with THE LESSER'S administration the proof of P.J O'Rourke's observation: ANYWAY, NO DRUG, NOT EVEN ALCHOHOL, CAUSES THE FUNDAMENTAL ILLS OF SOCIETY. IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE SOURCE OF OUR TROUBLES, WE SHOULDN'T TEST PEOPLE FOR DRUGS, WE SHOULD TEST THEM FOR STUPIDITY, IGNORANCE, GREED AND LOVE OF POWER. These guys all test positive here!

RESPONSES to JDF

Subject: Bush helps rich cronies: I am offended that President Bush would dare to speak in the name of the American taxpayers when explaining why he wants the contracts to rebuild Iraq to go to his rich friends instead of to the lowest bidder He must think the American voter is a very stupid animal. Instead of expressing outage at Halliburton Co.'s overcharging for fuel contracts in Iraq, Bush has been busy devising rationales to give them more business. We expect better from a man who promised to restore integrity to the office. RB


Subject: Schizophrenic Policy: I am furious about President Bush's schizophrenic foreign policy, which endangers our troops in Iraq. He asks European and other traditional allies to provide assistance to the understaffed U.S. forces in Iraq and to forgive Iraq's debt at the same time he bans these same countries from bidding on Iraqi reconstruction contracts. Predictably, countries that might have helped us, such as Canada are alienated by this form of extortion. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz's justification that the ban "is necessary for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States" is preposterous. Our troops are being killed and maimed at a staggering rate (81 died in November alone) and need more international help. Diana

I CAN'T GO TO WORK TODAY THE VOICES SAID STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS

Subject: Comments on response about Mullica Police Dept. Larry, Maybe you didn't take the time to actually figure this out or maybe you are getting like Bruce Crow and sticking your foot into your mouth or maybe you are just so use to criticizing everything that you overlook the facts. The facts are there are 8,760 hrs. in a year. Three patrol people working 8 hrs. a day, 40 hrs. a week (that's 9 patrol people) can cover 6,240 of those hours, that leaves 2,520 hrs. left to cover. One more patrol person can cover 2,080 hrs., that leaves 440 hrs. left to cover. Now lets just say each person gets 15 days for vacation, sick, & personal time(however we know it is more). That's 15days x 8hrs./day x 10patrol which is 1,200 hrs. that need to be covered. Add that to the previous 440 uncovered hrs. and you have 1,640 uncovered hours. So you need to bring in another patrolperson to cover those 1,640 hrs., that leaves you with a 440hr. surplus. This additional person also gets 15 days of vac/sick/per time which is 120 hrs. 440 – 120 = a 320hr. surplus. So, so far we are up to 11 patrol people, this does not include a detective and a chief which brings the total up to 13. Now take into account that the patrol are often called into court or needed for depositions or the occasional times when two or more are out at the same time because of illness or personal reasons and it becomes evident that 14 is the minimum amount needed. And That's just to cover the "normal" hours in a "normal" day just sitting around and waiting for something to happen and has nothing to do with crimes or the times when there are fires or auto accidents or the occasional bad weather such as last summers hurricane when it may become necessary to bring in more than 3 people. And don't forget just because it may be the end of an officers 8hr. day does not mean they can just stop whatever they are doing and go home. If something happens towards the end of a cops shift it can take 2, 3 or more hours before things can be wrapped up before they can go home. As far as adding 2 more cops the real total is really 1 because one is to replace Davis who is moving to the Chief position. Maybe with the additional cop they will now have enough personnel to cut down on some of the overtime? Please Larry, do your homework, we don't want to have to start calling you larry THE TOE SUCKER angel. Jdf

RESPONSE: As someone who has both literally and figuratively sucked more than his share of toes let me acknowledge in the posting in question a lack of enough specificity. As I remove that foot again from my mouth (may have to use it to count on my toes) and sharpen my pencil, using your statistical analysis with Disraeli's observation always in mind: THERE ARE LIES, DAMN LIES AND STATISTICS.

The reference to 3 cops per shift was to cover everything. The reality according to the new Chief is that there are 2 patrol cops per shift...ideally (the latter my word...for when a cop is on Court call we may just have to get by with one cop on patrol).

So we need to cover as best we can, given are resources 17,520 hrs. So that's 3 shifts a day with 2 cops equaling 6 cops/day. With a 40 hour week the 6 cops cover 12,480 hrs. So let's hire 9 cops and that gives us coverage for 18,720 hrs. Hey, we only need coverage for 17,520 hours

Let's give the cops 20 days off (not your 15 for vacation sick and personal days) and 15 holidays. So that's 35 days we need to compensate for as 8 hr shifts. That's 280 hrs and for 9 cops it is 2,520 hours that we need to cover. Oh, but we have an extra 1,200 hours we need to subtract so that leaves us with only 1,320 hrs we're short. Another cop more than covers that with vacation and holidays. Hey don't forget as Jeff Marder said not about Mullica but about everywhere: WE LIVE IN AN AGE WHEN PIZZA GETS TO YOUR HOME BEFORE THE POLICE.

Yes we need one Detective and one Chief I suppose. That is 12 cops and we have 14. I guess the 2 extra are to sit at the Dunken Donuts in Hammonton and Egg Harbor City. Oh, and let's reward the self serving Department that cost the taxpayer's $40,000 in revenue in not writing tickets as a tactic to put pressure on during their most recent contract negotiations (this according to the Mayor at the last budget meeting). A contract that as has been pointed out here in the past that is obscene with benefits.

Let me close with the need to place priorities given the reality of the size of the pie. In the words of Einstein: EVERY KIND OF PEACEFUL COOPERATION AMONG MEN IS PRIMARILY BASED ON MUTUAL TRUST AND ONLY SECODARILY ON INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS COURTS OF JUSTICE AND POLICE.

CLONING OR MEDICAL HELP FOR THE ILL

New Jersey will become only the second state, joining California to sanction stem cell research by a 41-31 vote in the Assembly. The Senate had passed the bill last December and it had become bogged down in the Assembly as a result of strong oppositon from the Roman Catholic Church and abortion foes who consider the destruction of any embryo a moral crime and as always seem to want to impose their morality on the rest of us.

The debate the other day in the Assembly was as one might imagine impassioned with one Republican declaring it a "human cloning bill". Friedrich Nietzsche may have gotten it right: IN CHRISTIANITY NEITHER MORALITY NOR RELIGION COME INTO CONTACT WITH REALITY AT ANY POINT.

Stem cells which are essentially blank cells created in the first days of pregnancy multiply quickly and are valued for their capacity to become different types of cells for organs, bone, skin, muscle. The hope is that research will some day allow us to grow replacement organs and tissues that could treat such diseases as Alzheimer's, leukemia and Parkinson's. The wisdom of Henry David Thoreau seems apt: AIM ABOVE MORALITY. BE NOT SIMPLY GOOD, BE GOOD FOR SOMETHING.

New Jersey law now allows residents who use fertility clinics to donate their unused embryos for research. The law also specifically makes it a first degree crime to use stem cells for human cloning.

As one wag noted: THE CLONING OF HUMANS IS ON MOST OF THE LISTS OF THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT FROM SCIENCE, ALONG WITH BEHAVIOUR CONTROL, GENETIC ENGINEERING, TRANSPLANTED HEADS, COMPUTER POETRY AND UNRESTRAINED GROWTH OF PLASTIC FLOWERS. (Lewis Thomas)

Subject: Propaganda hype: One of the time honored principles governing human behavior that I learned as a child was that “the end never justifies the means.� As I have watched and listened to the propaganda hype over the capture of Saddam Hussein, my thoughts have been that this sacred principle is now being totally disemboweled. I suspect that the image of the disheveled, filthy Hussein is being successfully employed to dupe the public into forgetting the death, disruption, lies, deception and billions of dollars that have allowed the Bush administration to arrive at this point. My experience is that this public relations spin will have its desired effect overall. But I for one will have none of it as justification for the geopolitical philosophy of a few ideologues in Washington. JJM

MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER THE THINGS WHICH GOVERNMENT DOES FOR THEM AS SOCIAL PROGRESS, BUT THEY CONSIDER THE THINGS GOVERNMENT DOES FOR OTHERS AS SOCIALISM (Earl Warren)

OLD MOTHERS

The average age at which American women are having their first child has climbed to an all time high of 25.1

Subject: Comments to Lisa on "The Cronies Get Rich": Lisa,The reason France, Germany, & Russia are being banned from Iraqi reconstruction contracts is simple "THEY DIDN'T HELP US WHEN WE NEEDED THEM!!" Ever hear the term "To the victors go the spoils"? Why should they be allowed to profit from Iraqi reconstruction after our allies and we paid the price with our monies and blood to liberate Iraq? The countries banned from Iraqi bidding have no choice but to forgive the debt owed to them. That debt was a deal with the now deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, not the Iraqi people. These countries have no chance of collecting on that debt so they might as well make it look good by forgiving it. And wasn't it Saddam Hussein that plotted to have the first President Bush assassinated! You don't consider that a threat to the United States? You don't think he would try to do something like that again? He was actually being contained at reasonable costs? Reasonable costs to whom, the thousands of Iraqis he was murdering each year? How much was it costing us each year to contain him? How long would we have had to contain him? Another 20 or 30 years until he grew old and died and then one of his tyrant sons took over? Do you think containing him for 20 or 30 years would cost less than getting rid of hi and then being able to get out of there in 4 5 years? I think not. jdf

CAN THE TUNA!

Because tuna are not in the category of large, fatty fish such as swordfish and king mackerel which carry heavy loads of methylmercury--a pollutant widely believed to harm fetal brains they have not been on the FDA's warning list. That should change next year...well depending on how large the campaign donations are from the tuna industry to THE BUSH THE LESSER campaign.

Draft guidelines last week called for the counseling of woman to limit tuna intake to 6 ounces per week if nursing, pregnant, or even thinking about having a baby. While tuna tend to have lower levels of mercury; tuna steaks and albacore contain more mercury than "light" tuna.

With the whoring of THE LESSER'S administration's environmental standards to cash contributors to the Republican Party and BUSH THE LESSER'S plan to loosen factory regulations regarding mercury discharges it is problematic whether these FDA new warnings will be codified. As Ronald Reagan said: POLITICS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SECOND OLDEST PROFESSION. I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT IT BEARS A VERY CLOSE RESEMBLANCE TO THE FIRST.

Subject: Police Staffing: Larry, I was surprised to read about the large numbers of police officers we have. I seldom see a officer on patrol. We are very much a rural community with little crime. Mayberry RFD! For anyone who is a regular reader of the Atlantic City Press it should be obvious that we have very little crime in our town. The last big crime wave here was kids stealing ATVS. I must confess as a conservative republican I voted for you. I have never before voted for a Liberal and your liberal views I am in disagreement with but your willingness to talk about specific cuts and waste in my tax dollars won me over. I work hard and am willing to pay for reasonable services but our town provides few local services with very high property taxes and it has to be clear to many that there are many areas of waste where cuts can be made. R


RESPONSE: The proposed areas of cut backs here for Mullica are:
1. Close the land fill. (Interestingly this suggestion by larry THE MISANTHROPIC S.O.B. angel at the recent budget meeting received a warm reception from some of THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5.) The illegal use of the dump by non residents and businesses is something that with closing, would cease and the savings would not just be a wash to homeowners to go to private service, but would be a genuine saving.

2. Stop the ridiculous service of chipping. We are a rural community and this convenience is unnecessary when property taxes are so high...the manpower and equipment costs here are substantial.

3. The restructuring of Mullica's Fire Companies down to 2 with 4 locations would result in the removal of the need for fire companies that make way less calls to have the same number of expensive fire vehicles as the other local companies. Weekstown which makes the fewest calls of the 4 companies wants an expensive pumper because it is its turn to get one. This despite the State audit that states Mullica has at least one too many pumpers.

4. No new cops should be hired...this would lower the number to 13 with the retirement of the Chief. Overtime should be strictly monitored by the new Chief and when last minute call outs occur that shift should work short handed. We will get a quick judgment in the New Year of the new Chief with a look at his ability to curtail the abuse of overtime by his men.

5. It is more difficult to address contractual issues such as health benefits which are Mullica's second largest expense. Make no mistake about it theses are cushy packages that the taxpayers are paying for and forcing larger co-pays the way the private sector has been doing is critical to control these out of hand double digit yearly increases.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE ONE DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO ACT LIKE ONE

Subject: Mullica Police: Larry, this is in response to your posting on staffing of Mullica police department. Using the "cops per crime" index is a poor way to establish staffing ratios. The International Association for Chiefs of Police has determined that somewhere about 2 cops per thousand of population is about the average nationwide. If you were to use the 'cops per crime' as the blogger wrote, you'd never need any US Capital Police, or any of the smaller agencies. Having a municipal agency is expensive - sure there are cheaper options. The State Police or contract with the County Sheriff for services may be cheaper, but at what cost? When an officer responds and knows you, your neighborhood, and is courteous, what is that worth? If the local cops were not there and your place got robbed, you'd be crying about how long it took the other agency to get there and what a poor job they did with the investigation. Why didn't you use "cops per square mile" ratio? This would give Mullica about 1/3 of a cop per square mile while places like Medford Lakes would have about 10 per square mile. Hmmm - it makes no sense, that is way. Hence, the IACP's numbers. On who is doing what and staffing levels, there has to be a detective, a sergeant or two, an administrative officer - lieutenant or chief as well. That changes the numbers a bit. If the agency has a lot of long-term cops, this changes the vacation ratio as well. Tenured cops have higher vacation accrual rates and this must be factored into the scheduling scenario - then add in court, sick time, and Family Medical Leave Act time & the staffing gets tougher. But what the heck to I know....Sweetwater resident

RESPONSE: With all due respect, statistics from the IACP are less than biased. This is an institution that like most has an interest in empire building and is certainly inside the frame and thus has a difficult time seeing the entire picture.

Everyone says taxes are too high but don't cut my portion of the pie cut the other guys. Want lower taxes but no less personal services. Sorry the pie is only so big. As an inveterate complainer there is a responsibility found here to suggest remedies. Our community is bitching about high property taxes and has cast votes in effect or perhaps unwittingly for them in voting Republican at a County and State level. The large cut in State income taxes for the wealthy means less money for towns like ours and resulting higher and higher property taxes.

From the Bible, Proverbs: WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH. Difficult decisions are required and this site has attempted to suggest a number of areas where there are waste and cuts can be made.

The belief here is that Mullica is not a high crime area and the large amount expended on the Police department is a prime area to cut. Oh, that's two cops on patrol and one detective or court cop. There are not easy answers...but property taxes cannot continue to rise at the going rate.

Once again the community would be safer if we doubled the number of cops or fire companies but leadership requires acting within realistic boundaries. We cannot afford to save every life...that is a decision that is made everyday in one staffing way or another everywhere and the argument that its worth the cost if just one life is saved is simplistic and self serving at best in the opinion of the host of this blog. And as Erasmas noted: IN THE COUNTRY OF THE BLIND THE ONE EYED MAN IS KING.

As this posting about police staffing provoked a number of responses some other points will be addressed in responses to follow.

MULLICA'S POLICE CHIEF'S RETIREMENT DINNER A SUCCESS EXCEPT FOR THE FOOD

Reports were that Saturday's retirement dinner for Chief Pennese was attended by almost 300 well wishers. Reports from a number of attendees were that the food served at Kerry Brook was worse than bad...made some folks sick. Of course as Lucretius noted: WHAT IS FOOD TO ONE MAN IS BITTER POISON TO OTHERS. Well it is hard to tell about fish I guess: FISH IS THE ONLY FOOD THAT IS CONSIDERED SPOILED ONCE IT SMELLS LIKE WHAT IT IS; said P. J. O'Rourke. That however is no excuse for what was served according to some. Wonder if the caterers just don't like cops?

MASSACHUSETTS GAY MARRIAGE RULING

The Massachusetts Senate voted the other day to ask the state's highest court if Vermont style civil unions would satisfy the court's decision legalizing gay marriages. Some lawmakers and legal observers say that anything short of gay marriage will not satisfy the Massachusetts's Supreme Judicial Court, which ruled in November that gay couples have a right under the state constitution to marry. Echoing the words of Jefferson: EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL, SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR NONE. It gave the Legislature 180 days to change the laws accordingly.

Here in New Jersey a Judge decided that the issue of equal rights for gays viz. a viz. marriage was not a judicial one but one that should be addressed by the legislature. Thus, in the lame duck session a domestic partner's bill is pending that is similar to Vermont's. Said bill recently passed the State Assembly. Both local assembly men, frank DOCTOR DEATH blee & kirt DOUBLE DIPPER conover voted against the bill...establishing there credentials as in tune with the extreme bigoted right wing of the Republican Party. As of this posting bill THE BOSS gormley has not decided how he will vote when the bill comes to the Senate. Will the Senator validate his moderate Republican credentials or vote with the bigots?

TO BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN ABOUT SOMETHING, ONE MUST KNOW EVERYTHING OR NOTHING ABOUT IT (Olin Miller)

Subject: The Cronies get Rich: Larry, What possible reason could President Bush have for banning France, Germany and Russia from bidding on Iraq reconstruction contracts? Including them would mend differences between our countries, reduce U.S. casualties and unite the world in the reconstruction of that country. Certainly the countries banned from bidding will be in no mood to forgive Iraqi debt. It makes no sense. The only possible answer is money. I am saddened to think that this whole war was about enriching Bush's cronies. sure, Saddam Hussein was a bad guy, and it's good he's gone, but he was not a threat to the United States. He was actually being contained at reasonable costs. But now that we are in it, our best interests will be served by creating a stable and democratic Iraq with worldwide cooperation. Lisa

Subject: comments on Mullica police dept. Larry, I read your comments on the police dept. and I find some of your points very interesting. The one thing that I continually hear is that we have way too many cops per crime here in Mullica as compared to the State average. My questions/comments here is what do we want in Mullica? Are less cops and more crime acceptable? How many cops do we currently have in the township and how are they scheduled to cover the township? Could we reduce the number of cops and not see a rise in our crime rate? And last what is the State average and who is anyone to say it is acceptable for Mullica Twsp? You? jdf

RESPONSE: There are 14 cops in Mullica at present. The Chief is scheduled to retire Dec 31st and the Police Department is calling for the hiring of 2 new cops. But lets work for the moment with the 14 figure. Three eight hour shifts each day, with 3 cops on each shift..that's 9 cops. Okay, there is sick and vacation time and weekends that at best may require 2 additional cops to cover the needs of not a high crime area...Mullica Twp.

So we have accounted for 11 of the cops; what the hell are the other 3 cops doing...okay, now there is a Dunken Donuts in Egg Harbor City and Hammonton? There should be no overtime and yet because of the bad management of the Department and lack of oversight by THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5 this year had the most overtime ever...over $50,000. Yes, there were some rule changes regarding staffing as a result of a Court case.

Respectfully, are low crime rate is because we are a rural community not number of cops in the department...we are not Atlantic City or Pleasantville in terms of crime. Indeed, responsible leadership involves weighing of the benefits versus burden decision regarding the appropriate number of cops for any community. And everybody here is entitled to an opinion...you, me and the Mullica police department. As Charles Evans Hughes noted: IN THE GREAT ENTERPIRSE OF MAKING DEMOCRACY WORKABLE WE ARE ALL PARTNERS ...and it is the debate and open exchange of thoughts that is so integral to democracy that in some small way the debate here one hopes assists...as opposed to the close-out the public mentality of Mullica's present offica DUMB.

The last statistics I saw regarding crime per number of cops placed the State average of one cop for every 24 crimes. Interesting high crime areas such as say Vineland had one cop for every 47 crimes. Oh, Mullica was tied with the wealthy community of Avalon for having the most cops per crime; 1 cop for every 16 crimes. Yea, that's Avalon where millions of extra non residents visit in the summer because it is a beach community.

The burden of ever rising property taxes causes responsible citizens to look around and see where there is waste and where legitimate cuts can be made that do not drastically alter the safety and minimal services those taxes provide. The police are the largest local budget item, second on that list are health benefits for Township employees.

Please keep in mind we are just talking about local services excluding the school...that is an entirely different budget. But note THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5 had no problem calling for the cutting of over $200,000 from the school budget...we now have 2 less teachers. When it came to their own budget they borrowed over $400,000 from surplus, passed a major bond without a public vote, (none required by law) that's more debt and failed to make any substantive cuts.

Quite the contrary, they spent money like a drunken sailor. Remember that of the 23 towns in Atlantic County THE CORRUPT MULLICA 5 gave the citizens of Mullica a larger tax hit than 20 of those towns. The picture to anyone who has attended budget hearings in Mullica for next year are equally dire. As Alexander Pope said: BLESSED IS HE WHO EXPECTS NOTHING, FOR HE SHALL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED.

SOMETIMES GETTING A BOOB JOB JUST MAKES ONE A BIGGER BOOB...or should that be two

With the proposed retirement of lou THE OLD SNAKE simon as Mullica's Clerk in March the proposal is to elevate the Deputy Clerk kim THE QUIZZLING CHRISTIAN BIGOT johnson....not an uplifting prospect for the community. Certainly competent but as the sign on her computer notes "DRAMA QUEEN", there does seem to be an immaturity...below the surface, a lacking of temperment substance...sort of airy, or silicony, or affective femenity...an example of why some animals eat their young. Sort of like gay men who take the worst aspects of being female and exagerate them.

But hopefully she will grow into them...the job, the maturity that is.

CHANGE HOW YOU SEE, NOT HOW YOU LOOK

THE PERONA BROS. JUNK YARD & THE SCOFFLAW WASZEN

Today was Court in Mullica's Municipal Court and on the docket were a variety of Complaints relating to the recent dumping on the Perona property by steve THE SCOFFLAW waszen the new owner. While THE SCOFFLAW waszen was not in Court, his attorney was.

The Consent Order agreed to and formalized today calls for; 1. "Waszen acknowledges that the property's use as a junk yard or scrap recycling center as well as any and all other uses associated therewith have been abandoned." So this property will no longer be used as a junk yard.

2. All scrap metal will be...removed ...by Feb. 16, 2004
3. All scrap tires removed by Feb 16, 2004
4.. All trailers removed by March 1, 2004.
5. Demolition of all structures that are on the property by March 16, 2004
6. Property to cleared of all debris by April 16,2004
and property will be graded and grassed by then.

THE SCOFFLAW waszen further pled guilty to operating a solid waste disposal site without proper permits for 49 days (this concerning the illegal dumping of about 25 truck loads of construction debris on the adjoining Mike Perona property.) and a fine of $49,000 was assessed. This fine is reduced to $2,500 if the clean up (1 through 6) are completed by January 16, 2004...or $5,000 if it takes till Feb 1, 2004...or $10,000 if it takes until Feb 16, 2004.

The Complaints were not dismissed and should be rescheduled sometime after April 16, 2004 to allow the Court to asses the situation.

"Steven Waszen shall be responsible for addressing environmental health and safety issues that are associated with clean up activities...not limited to removal of...stored tanks and gas cylinders...asbestos materials stored in trailers or elsewhere (and) a separate agreement will be executed...(for) the repayment of sums expended through the..clean up of tires at the site before December 17th 2003."..The Court held.

At the moment this looks like a good deal for all...but given THE SCOFFLAW'S record one needs to be wary. As Earnest Hemingway noted: NEVER MISTAKE MOTION FOR ACTION.

Subject: Ambulance: OK, we are half way there. Lets pay $20,000 and get a paid company full time. But I still have a few questions. I see that GF and the committee may have found a way around the bid process by giving monies to the squad and they paying Hammonton. But this is still Township money and bidding should still be done. There may not be any other companies out there that are interested but we right now we don't know. SO Gary Franklin FAILED with all his promises and lies about how HE would make the Ambulance Squad better, where are all these EMT's he had lined up and all that were going to school ??? More lies !! By my count only two people have attended EMT class since Gary took over and neither are present members. I wonder if Gary can do the same with his fire company, maybe someone should look at Sweetwater fire company as he may be running that into the ground also. "T"

RESPONSE: I think the new State threshold requiring going out on bid is now around $25,000.

Subject The capture: The capture of Saddam Hussein does nothing to diminish my anger at George Bush. I want an apology from Bush for wasting over $100 billion on his war of deception. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, there were no ties with al Qaeda, and there were no weapons of mass destruction. If I had a terminal illness, I would live until November to cast my vote against him. K

Subject: Where’s Osama?: I think the Bush administration has done a wonderful job of bait and switch on the American public. Why is it we can find Saddam Hussein but not Osama bin Laden? Who was the first since the Japanese to murder Americans on their own turf and throw us into a paranoia we will never get over? Why are we so happy that Hussein was found? Will it really make a difference in our homeland security? I think that there is a method to this madness, confusing the public with the two figures. Finding bin Laden is far more important to our future than getting a few new oil wells, spending $87 billion rebuilding what we destroyed, and finding Hussein. SF

SUCCESS DIDN'T SPOIL ME, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INSUFFERABLE (Fran Lebowitz)

WEST NILE INCREASES IN 2003

Last year there were 24 West Nile cases in New Jersey and this year there have been 32. That is an increase of 33%. New Jersey health officials do not tract these cases by age as some states do. Interesting though is the fact that New Jersey did record 3 times the amount of horse (equine) cases in 2003 compared with last year; 2002.

Last year the United States recorded 4,156 and this year there have been 8,734; an increase of 110%. Neighboring states show Pennsylvania going from 62 last year to 240 this year. Delaware went for only one case in 2002 to 16 cases this year. Many believe that the wetter winter and spring bred more mosquitoes this year.

Subject : Elder Abuse: Taking the words “Retired Persons” out of the title AARP is one thing. Stabbing the organization’s older members in the back is another. There was a time when AARP opposed elder abuse. This 64-year-old member is outraged and out. TC

Larry what the heck happened to the pine cone zone taking care of itself? when that place was built, it was built with donations and was SUPPOSED to be maintained with rec funds? Why is it now on the taxpayers? Its shit like this that causes the damn taxes to be sky high! Along with our WONDERFUL chief who is now robbing us blind. Along with Gary who doesn't have the GULLS to step down from the ambulance squad and let the REAL volunteers take over. What a mess this committee is making and of course we have a few people out there ready to take advantage of the Corrupt 5's incompetence.

RESPONSE: According to cathy THE BAG LADY chasey, there are broken pickets in the fence that pose a danger and the sealing and water proofing has only been done 2 or 3 times since the park was built when it should be done yearly.

HIGH SCHOOL TEST FAILURES (11th grade) GERH 2003

For Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School the 4 sub-groups that failed to meet the pass standards under No Child Left Behind testing for the 11th grade (disaggregated) were: 1, Hispanics, 2. African Americans, 3. Economically Disadvantaged, 4. Special Education students.

MULLICA’S LARGEST RATABLE INCRESE—2003

For the calendar year 2003 Mullica has added 3.4million dollars worth of ratables (assessments from new building in the Township) to its tax base. The resulting increase in ratables will lower property taxes by how much?

For the morons who want new ratables in our Township as a way to lower the property tax burden like our new police chief jim THE LITTLE OINKER davis 3.4 million dollars in new ratables and property taxes will once again go through the roof. Oh, and because THE LITTLE OINKER can’t figure numbers…just look at the poor scheduling of cops and the resulting large unnecessary overtime burden put on the taxpayers…the ratable numbers are that for every new one million dollars in ratables for Mullica there is large increase in revenue to off set the property tax burden on those of us already living here of less than $8,000. Not enough to pay 20% of the salary of one dumb cop.

HE WHO DESPAIRS OVER AN EVENT IS A COWARD, BUT HE WHO HOLDS HOPE FOR THE HUMAN CONDITION IS A FOOL...perhaps Camus was speaking about THE LITTLE OINKER'S elevation to chief.

Subject : spelling: Will you please consult the dictionary you idiot

THERE ARE SEVERAL GOOD PROTECTIONS AGAINST TEMPTATIONS, BUT THE SUREST IS COWARDICE (Mark Twain)

MULLICA’S PIT BULL STORY (CON’T)

A letter read at Tuesday’s township meeting from the K9 Coalition called for the euthanising of all the pit bulls recently recovered and turned over to the SPCA by the Court in Mullica. While to date there have been no new charges filed against either the owners of the dogs or the owner of the property, the investigation into what was clearly a dog fighting enterprise is very much alive. All but four of the twenty plus dogs were euthanised.

Subject: The Church: Larry, why are you so anti-Catholic in your postings?

RESPONSE: THIS IS MY SIMPLE RELIGION. THERE IS NO NEED FOR TEMPLES; NO NEED FOR COMPLICATED PHILOSOPHY. OUR OWN BRAIN, OUR OWN HEART IS OUR TEMPLE; THE PHILOSOPHY IS KINDNESS; said the Dalai Lama. A better question is why don’t these statements from the leadership of the Catholic Church outrage you? Do you remember Jim Jones and the focus on the few hundreds of deaths from the Kool Aid and the interest and disbelief at the willingness to just accept the teachings of a leadership so sick?

The Catholic Church’s pronouncements on AIDS, that the use of condoms spreads AIDS, will doom thousands of human lives to illness and death and one hears only silence. It was Mark Twain who said: IN RELIGION AND POLITICS, PEOPLE BELIEFS AND CONVICTIONS ARE IN ALMOST EVERY CASE GOTTEN AT SECOND HAND, AND WITHOUT EXAMINATION.

One of the things that makes our country so special and the debt and gratitude we seem to ignore so often to the Founding Fathers, for their doctrine of the Seperation of Church and State and the doctrine of tolerance and liberty; is a travesty. George Washington ‘s unequivocal words: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS NOT, IN ANY SENSE, FOUNDED ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION should perhaps be repeated in our schools instead of a prayer to educate and remind us that we are all free to find belief where we may with our own minds and without government interference. We should keep in mind that THE PRICE OF FREEDOM OF RELIGON, OR OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS, IS THAT WE MUST PUT UP WITH A GOOD DEAL OF RUBBISH as noted by Robert Jackson.

But rubbish should be called rubbish by us all…whether rubbish about Kool Aide or rubbish about condoms. SUCH EVIL DEEDS COULD RELIGION PROMPT. (Lucretius)

Stupidity and ignorance will be discussed here and those who use religion in an evil manner the way the Taliban has and the way bush has will be commented on here as it is perceived here that it is a danger for us all...and all others are welcome to the debate here. It is clear that THE LESSER intends to use religion and the issue of “Marriage” as a wedge issue. As Voltarie said: AS LONG AS THERE ARE FOOLS AND RASCALS, THERE WILL BE RELIGIONS.

Hey, if you read the Bible what one finds is marriage being one man and several woman at the same time…or concubines. Our own countries history regarding marriage was to ban inter-racial marriages in most states until 1967, and that included all races, not just black. Further for the first half of our history slaves couldn’t marry anyone, not even each other.

The words here are Jefferson’s: I never told my religion nor scrutinize that of another. I never attempted to make a convert nor wished to change another's creed. I have judged of others' religion by their lives, for it is from our lives and not from our words that our religion must be read. By the same test must the world judge me.

The notion of civil unions which Democrats seem to grudgingly accept is nothing more than the discarded doctrine of separate but equal. Marriage should be an individual religious decision not one that is defined by government. The wisdom is often in perhaps seemingly (to us) strange places; the Quran: THERE SHALL BE NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION.

Citizen actions that are personal and harm no one else are none of government’s business...a right to privacy. The attempt by Republicans to use the marriage issue the way they used racism to divide us for political gain should be rejected…but is likely to be politically successful.


Ours is an age of criticism, to which everything must be subjected. The sacredness of religion, and the authority of legislation, are by many regarded as grounds for exemption from the examination by this tribunal, But, if they are exempted, and cannot lay claim to sincere respect, which reason accords only to that which has stood the test of a free and public examination. (Immanuel Kant) These are the principles of the Enlightment that are the foundations are Founding Fathers based our country and government on.

Subject: Feeling Betrayed by AARP: I am one of millions of Americans who have had to go without certain medications because of cost. The new Medicare reform bill the AARP endorsed appears to protect drug companies from competition and forbids importing prescripton drugs from other countries, Canada in particular. Many of us will acturally be worse off now that this bill has passed. I have to question whether the tens of millions of dollars the AARP will make from the passage of this bill influenced its judgment, or if its ruling council is no longer capable of representing our best interests. JM

MULLICA UPDATES:

Recyclables will be picked up on December 26th and Mullica’s reorganization meeting is scheduled for Jan 2nd at noon. Steve THE SCOFFLAW waszen is scheduled to be in Court on Tuesday Dec. 16th, 9:30 A.M. A consent Order involving the clean up of the Perona Junk Yard property should be signed. The rumors are that it is his plans to apparently turn the property into a large transfer station that will ship all...or a great deal of Jersey trash by rail out of State. Proving that a SCOFFLAW doesn’t change its ways; a new summons has been issued against THE SCOFFLAW waszen for placing an illegal trailer on the site.

Someone needs to tell Mullica’s Judge when he is free from is own illegal real estate deals that he needs to show some toughness with THE SCOFFLAW or waszen will walk all over Mullica as he continues to do with his often contemptuos of the law, trash business in Egg Harbor Twp.

It should be noted here that the property in question on the Pike, the Perona Junk Yard property is in the Elwood village zone and as such while zoned for light industry and commercial; what that means is such enterprises that serve the village residents primarily. The operation that steve THE SCOFFLAW waszen is rumored to be proposing for this site…a garbage transfer station for the region would not be a permitted use. One might argue that were the area zoned “pineland’s town” a commercial or industrial use that served the larger region might be a permitted use; but in a “village zone” only commercial and light industry that serve the village residents primarily would be permitted. This is a proposed operation that constitues "heavy industry" given the high truck traffic and its impact on the area of the Elwood Village.

Further there are major pollution areas of concern on that property (soil and ground water) and large government liens against that property. One would agrue that waszen now becomes liable for these liens and once the deeds are registered officials should go after THE SCOFFLAW for more than just the surface clean up that it is suspected here is all that is in the Consent Order pending for Court on Tuesday. The fact that all these taxpayer's dollars were spent recently by government officials should trouble all that this has all been a back room deal involving a sellout of Mullica by County officials.

For all of you who voted for County republicans like denny DER FUHEUR levinson, kirt THE DOUBLE DIPPER conover, joe ALL IN THE FAMILY silipena, frank DOCTOR DEATH blee, jim THE GARBAGE SELL OUT curcio and the rest of THE FREE-LOADERS you have been sold out again, as it seems there is another backroom deal here.