" The only caveat I would insist on with such an endeavor is that if ANY public money is put into this "cooperative" that it be subjected to the Illinois Open Meetings Act!! Like a lot of people on here, I'm tired of taxpayer money being contributed to these quasi-public entities and then the public not being privy to what's going on inside those entities once they are established and running on their own. "

" This is scary, but I actually agree with you, on this issue, gringa. Should I seek professional help? LOL! "

" Don't be frightened, HP. LOL. I'm sure you know that as long as you're free, white and 21, you're welcome in the conservative arena.

Seriously though, I do find it interesting that you and I have found common ground on a number of local and state issues - just not at the federal level. As a conservative/semi-libertarian, I favor little or no federal government. I'm convinced that if we simply didn't send our money to Washington, DC in the first place, we'd solve about 90% of our big government problems. On the other hand, you seem to favor the feds siphoning off ALL our earnings and then doling it out as the special interests parties see fit.

You seem conflicted on this point; and sometimes I wonder if youre just playing devils advocate in your posts on here. Surely you cant be in favor of full accountability on a local and state level, but not at the far more significant federal level. "

" Gringa, like a stopped clock, is right twice a day, and this is one of those moments. "

" And so, Question, I assume you mean I am correct on two points:

1) The need to have the proposed Coles Community Health Program subject to the IOMA, and

2) HP playing devil's advocate on here. (HP is actually a conservative in drag.)

By the way, I see where Rockin Rotty and HP were right when they predicted that the story on the Airport Authority's land purchase was yanked from these boards after only 3 days (over the weekend) with 15 posts, and growing. "

" Right again, Gringa.
But I'm afraid it's the liberals who have sought full accountability on the federal level from the corrupt, incompetent, drunken-spending, notoriously secretive and now historically failed Bush administration, while right wingers were so busy themselves defending Bush. I didn't hear you boys cry about the $12 billion in cash in Iraq that simply vanished into the thin air (i.e., GOP Swiss bank accounts), or the no-bid KBR contracts for showers that electrocute troops, or the FEMA mobile homes left to sink in the mud, etc., etc. "

" Get serious, Question. SOME conservative Democrats have sought full accountability and SOME Republicans have done the same. The problem with both parties is that too few of them are willing to give up the gravy train that allows corruption on all levels in DC. That gravy train is fed by the current IRS code, by the way.

I'm voting for McCain. Although he wasn't my first choice for the GOP ticket, our primary is over and he's the chosen one. I'd rather have had Romney with Huckabee on board to campaign for The Fair Tax starting in January 2009.

We have entirely too many serious situations going on right now to entrust the nation to an inexperienced Obama and an insider like Biden.

In the interest of a better contest, the Dems should have nominated Clinton with Obama as VP. That would have been an almost unbeatable ticket and would have made for a tolerable campaign effort coming from both sides.

The primary reason I'm voting for McCain is because I believe he means business when he says he's a reformer, and, although inexperienced, Palin will be a good messenger for that reform. "

" Read Rolling Stone's current extensive profile of McCain, Gringa, and you'll find that his "experience" is not a plus. "

" If it definitely will help low-income & uninsured people from going to the hospital, as claimed, I am all for it.

I wouldn't even send my worst enemy to Sarah Bush Lincoln emergency room. "

" LOL! I'm sitting here wondering what your reaction would have been if Palin would have included Rolling Stone as one of her 'reads'. LMAO!

You actually admit to reading Rolling Stone? That certainly changes my image of The Question (and Harry Potter and Early Bird, etc, etc). "

" Sorry gringa, but I've never read a copy of Rolling Stone in my life. "

" OK, Harry, I guess that proves it then; you're not The Question or EB. Whew, that was close, wasn't it? LOL.

So, the story on the Airport Authority - gone! Just as you said it would be. Too bad. I had more posts planned for that one. Seems more than simple coincidence that a County Board member bought 65.48 acres in Lafayette Twp from First-Mid at $6,995 an acre; then sold 35 acres, also in Lafayette Twp, to the Airport Authority at $12,000 an acre. The question is: was the 35-acre sale a part of, or related to, the 65.48-acre purchase?

I guess we'll never know. Some things are better left unsaid (or unasked, if you work for the Lee Enterprises). If things are not as they seem, wouldnt it be better for a public official to clear up the question of impropriety? Am I treading on thin ice here? Will this story also disappear by tomorrow morning? The answer to those three questions: Yes. "

" Swoosh, off it went!
LOL!

Anytime you mention the Mr. Bigs of the county, or criticize the local rag, these stories & the comments, get put six foot under in the Archive burial lands.

How predictable.

Now, let's see if this comment actually makes it onto this thread.
LOL! "

" Harry Potter wrote on Oct 6, 2008 6:26 PM:

" Sorry gringa, but I've never read a copy of Rolling Stone in my life. "

You certainly share the same political views as Rolling Stone. "

" Ed, you say that HP shares the same political views as Rolling Stone.

Ed, Harry really doesn't share Rolling Stone political views. He's a conservative in drag. Let's not make a big deal out of that though because he'll stop posting and we'll all miss him.

Another topic though, since I have mentioned the Airport Authority and the questionable land deal, how long do you think this thread will last? "

" Let's find out, gringa.
LOL! "

" Ed, Harry really doesn't share Rolling Stone political views. He's a conservative in drag. Let's not make a big deal out of that though because he'll stop posting and we'll all miss him.
----------------

You might just be dumber than I thought, gringa. LOL! "

" Very good questions, Gringa. I commend you.
FYI, if you read Rolling Stone, you'd find some of the best long-form investigative journalism still being written today. And lord knows there isn't much of it elsewhere. "

" Stick a fork in the local rag, this is about my fifth attempt to post my opinion about our local heads, holy-rollers, & the connections there-of, & it seems my posts are meeting with certain doom.

Guess it's a no-no.

F for the day!
LOL!
:-P "

" This paper is firmly in the grasp of benevolent benefactors and philanthropists, proporting to have the benefit of the area as their goal. It is as responsible for the issues we find locally, as the bodies that enact their wills on the taxpayers.

It took a semi bold stand on reporting yet again that the caucus room is still part of mattoon city dealings. The only result, is now caucus topics scheduled go into the 24 hrs notice of important city business, being discussed and voted on.

We all know what drives threads to the archives, quicker than anything. This paper misrepresents just as fully, when they refuse to do their job, and investigate their own archives at a bare minimum, the nonsense that gets carried out by these taxing bodies. We need honest unconnected representation in combating these travesties against taxpayers, from every possible level.

Evidently we need outside reporting, to get involved in these issues. The locals aren't up to the stand it would take to print the unvarnished truths of these matters it is completely clear.

On the meat plant, I went through the archives here, and found possibly 3 times at least, 50 k has been approved for utility work, since it was proposed in 06. I did a story by story time line, in the comments of the public works board approving the work, yet again.

The bulk of reporting was by the same reporter, even. Its just one example of this paper not being interested in factually informing affected taxpayers, on any matter these bodies table and move on.

I don't know why they bother to even go through the motions to vote, the outcome is decided, before it makes the agenda in the first place. This is constant taxation without representation at its core. From ignoring referendums to TIF, taxpayers are not represented in any capacity, except for bearing the burdens and getting the ultimate bills. Action needs to be taken to close this city pawning shop down completely. Now they want 10M in bonds tied to sales tax, to pay for new projects, when they can't do their jobs on existing responsibilities on anything. Enough is enough. "

" I wouldn't even send my worst enemy to Sarah Bush Lincoln emergency room. "


I myself have been to SBLHC a few times and have always found their staff to be courteous, profesional and knolwedgeble. Every time.

For those of you who think you'll get 10 minute service because of a sniffle or a headache, do you think you will get it at a part time staffed clinic? "

" I wouldn't even send my worst enemy to Sarah Bush Lincoln emergency room. "


Tigerrose, do you know what the implied consent law means, basically, it states. You can be consious and say don't take me to Sarah Bush, as soon as you pass out, they'll take you to the nearest hospital, no matter what you want. "

" Personally I hope this isn't going to mean that as a Medicare and Medicaid recipient I will lose the right to choose my primary care physician. I have a physician I like and feel confident in. The trust that has been established with him is of the utmost importance when it comes to my care. The trust between physician and patient is too hard to come by and didn't happen overnight. "

" gringa wrote on Oct 4, 2008 2:09 PM:
" Don't be frightened, HP. LOL. I'm sure you know that as long as you're free, white and 21, you're welcome in the conservative arena.""""

hmmmmmmm........i won't say it. "

" Dave61572 wrote on Oct 7, 2008 11:16 PM:
" Personally I hope this isn't going to mean that as a Medicare and Medicaid recipient I will lose the right to choose my primary care physician.""""

they can't make you go to the proposed clinc. if your doctor would for some reason decide not to accept medicare/medicaid patients, then you might have to look elsewhere. "

" free, white and 21.

I'm glad you noticed, boob. I put that line in there just for you. Your response is solid confirmation that you consider my posts seriously. Thanks for the kudos.

So, now we're friends - even though I claim to be white? How bout one of those fist bumps next time we meet, so the whole world can see we're buds.

As Barney Frank would thay: Leth jus all be friends. Whaddaya thay there, big guy? "

" FATHER BOB, thanks so much for the info. Really appreciate it. "

" No where will you find more bigotry, hatred and prejustice than on this site, as demonstrated by one of the posts above by our friend gringa. "

" Gringa, that's low, even for you. Societies evolve to shed their ugly prejudices and vicious, brainless hatreds. Mocking gays as swishing sissies and blacks as lazy cowards hasn't been considered been humorous by thinking people for a long time. That kind of thing just makes people say to themselves, "What a pathetic jerk." "

" a typical conservative "