Disappearing flora due to the Climate Crisis, means disappearing fauna.

Cristián Samper, the new president and chief executive of the Wildlife Conservation Society, at the Bronx Zoo on Wednesday.

...“My stature (click here) with the kids went up dramatically,” Dr. Samper said jokingly on Wednesday, his first day of work at the society’s headquarters at the Bronx Zoo. “This is much cooler.”

Dr. Samper, 46, a tropical biologist, arrived at the society after leading the Natural History Museum for nearly a decade. Born in Costa Rica and raised in Colombia, he roamed the forests there as a boy, cultivating a lifelong passion for studying and protecting plants and animals, and rising to become the chief science adviser for biodiversity for the Colombian government.

The transition from administering a vast collection that lies mostly in drawers and jars to managing one that actively prowls four of the five boroughs was motivated, he said, by a sense of urgency. Some scientists say that because of habitat loss, climate change and other factors, the world faces the possibility of a mass extinction comparable to the one that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

“I’ve spent the last 30 years of my life studying wildlife, and many of the cloud forests that I once did research on are now gone — literally,” he said. “When I go back to the field, I see an incredible loss of species. Part of my decision to make this career change is that I feel I can’t be a bystander. This is an opportunity to protect and conserve these species....

Pennsylvania Conservation Officers take on ATVs.

Published: Sunday, September 30, 2012, 11:05 AM     

Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012, 11:12 AM

By MARCUS SCHNECK, The Patriot-News 

...Previously WCOs (click here) did not have authority to enforce Title 75 summary offenses, and "the Game Commission normally forwards these violations to other enforcement authorities, which typically ends in mixed results," explained commission Executive Director Carl Roe.

"Illegal ATV operation is a major source of wildlife habitat destruction across the state, and these violations are often accompanied by ATV classification offenses, such as a lack of registration or insurance, which are required under Title 75."

Board President Ralph Martone, noted, "This is giving more weapons to our officers in the fight against ATVs on commission properties."

Roe said, "Unauthorized ATV operation on state game lands and private lands enrolled in the agency's hunter access program continues to be one of the top 10 violations our wildlife conservation officers encounter each year."...

It's Sunday Night

Born to be wild - Steppenwolf

Get your motor runnin' 
Head out on the highway 
Lookin' for adventure 
And whatever comes our way 
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen 
Take the world in a love embrace 
Fire all of your guns at once 
And explode into space 

I like smoke and lightning 
Heavy metal thunder 
Racin' with the wind 
And the feelin' that I'm under 
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen 
Take the world in a love embrace 
Fire all of your guns at once 
And explode into space 

Like a true nature's child 
We were born, born to be wild 
We can climb so high 
I never want to die 

Born to be wild 
Born to be wild

Get your motor runnin' 
Head out on the highway 
Lookin' for adventure 
And whatever comes our way 
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen 
Take the world in a love embrace 
Fire all of your guns at once 
And explode into space 

Like a true nature's child 
We were born, born to be wild 
We can climb so high 
I never want to die 

His 47% statement at the fund raiser dinner party is his point of view. It was not a gaff.

There were also statements to journalists. I can't find the video, it wasn't that popular. He was in the jet talking to reports. He stated, "All I need is more than 50%." He sincerely has a philosophy regarding the poor and middle class. They are disposable for all intents and purposes. When one looks across the spectrum of his statements before the convention and after, it is all the same content. He works with the wealthy to drive job creation while reaping in monies. He isn't about the working class, he is about the elite. Money has value, people don't.

Until tomorrow....

We are getting there.

The increase in consumer confidence we are experiencing must have something to do with the return of home equity.

This movement improves the USA economic stability, but, it still does not answer the tax base issues being experienced in many cities across the country. Cities are still suffering from a smaller tax base since 2008.

But, we getting there. I think this is really good news.

Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) 

September 14, 2012

...The breakdown (click here) of information, and good news for homeowners, in CoreLogic's report is:

    •  This is down from 11.4 million properties, or 23.7 percent, at the end of the first quarter of 2012.

   •  An additional 2.3 million borrowers possessed less than 5 percent equity in their home, referred to as near-negative equity, at the end of the second quarter.

   •  Approximately 600,000 borrowers reached a state of positive equity at the end of the second quarter of 2012.

   •  More than 700,000 home borrowers moved into positive equity in Q1 of 2012.

   •  Over 1.3 million households regaining a positive equity position since the beginning of the year.

   •  The share of borrowers still underwater but current on their payments was 84.9 percent at the end of the Q2 in 2012, up from 84.8 percent at the end of Q1 in 2012.

“The level of negative equity continues to improve with more than 1.3 million households regaining a positive equity position since the beginning of the year,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic. “Surging home prices this spring and summer, lower levels of inventory, and declining REO sale shares are all contributing to the nascent housing recovery and declining negative equity.”...

Will someone please tell Michelle Bachmann she spelled Sterns County on her map wrong.

Michelle Bachmann website under "District" (click here)

There is a map of the Minnesota 6th Congressional District there. Now, I tried to be fair. I thought it was one of those eyesight things, but, the closer and closer I looked at, or should I say for, Sterns County the more I realized someone actually spelled it "Steams" County. 

I also noticed she does not legislate for Hennepin County where all the action is. See, Hennepin County is where Minneapolis resides. Do you know the Congressman for Hennepin County? No? None other than Congressman Keith Ellison.

Strange place, Minnesota. Even stranger to realize Bachmann and Ellison are neighbors. How did that happen?

The Sixth Congressional District is experiencing a sluggish return to housing values compared to the rest of Minnesota. I am not sure why, but, if there is something Bachmann objected to in the Recovery Act, it might explain it. Minnesota property values are rebounding. 

• Article by: JIM BUCHTA , Star Tribune 

• Updated: August 21, 2012 - 9:37 PM

The state's housing markets (click here) are seeing the biggest gains in places where jobs are most plentiful. Other areas aren't so lucky.

The Minnesota housing market continues to move away from the bottom, as July home sales climbed 4.6 percent, the Minnesota Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.

Other positive signs emerged during the month: the median home price was up 11.1 percent, sellers received a higher percentage of their asking price, and homes were selling faster, on average....

Minnesota also had a lion share of the homes underwater until recently. The increase in property values are returning equity to some homes. 

Odd about the Sixth District. One would expect the values to return quicker there simply because the homes are more expensive, as a rule. But, there is this other reality which is somewhat disturbing. There is a trend to leave low income people out of the district. Very strange.

Report: Area housing prices too high for low incomes (click here)

Coalition: Area has shortage

10:50 PM, Sep 3, 2012

Stearns, Sherburne and Benton are among Minnesota counties with the least amount of affordable housing for low-income renters, according to a new report from a nonprofit coalition.

According to the Minnesota Housing Partnership’s 2012 County Profiles released today, 94 percent of the state’s counties have a shortage of rental housing that is affordable and available to their lowest-income residents.

“It’s a long-term trend,” said Chip Halbach, the partnership’s executive director. “What we’ve noticed statewide is that renter incomes have been falling relative to inflation, while rents have been pretty stable and some locales have actually been increasing.”...

Richard Mourdock takes a swing toward the moderates of Indiana. He is untrustworthy.

He states he does not believe in bi-partisanship, but, principle. He believes in segregating his power in a way that will continue the Middle Class of the Indiana and the USA. He is another dangerous Tea Party Darling that will hurt the country and not help it. If Mourdock sees the profit in lying about his core principles now, he will continue to lie if he were elected.

He chronically cherry picks words and phrases out of context of their meaning when used. Typical of the Right Wing, they like to be walking dictionaries rather than addressing issues.

So, let me not be a dictionary by pointing out the word 'conquer' is used several times to describe his role in the USA Senate. A conquering flip-flopper is probably a very dangerous thing.

September 28, 2012 4:09 pm 
Associated Press

Welcome to "Extreme Makeover: Mourdock Edition." (click here)

Mourdock's awkward stagger to the center may be a necessary move if the Republicans are to hold a seat that had been a safe bet since Lugar first won it in 1976. The outcome will help determine whether the GOP manages to win control of the Senate, where Democrats now have a narrow four-seat advantage.

Advertising spending from both sides has topped $6 million so far and promises to explode in the final weeks. The candidates and outside groups have already surpassed the $5.6 million spent in Indiana's 2010 Senate battle.

The Tea Party has won Senate seats in South Carolina, Utah, Kentucky and Florida, but only one so far — in Wisconsin — in the more politically diverse Midwest. Mourdock and Texas Republican Ted Cruz represent the ultraconservative movement's best chance for increasing its clout in this election....

Nothing is sacred in Syria from Assad.

I am quite sure the market in Allepo was the one place citizens felt safe, until today. I am sure there are many people dead. It isn't like Assad was going to call a fire drill before he set the place ablaze.

By Karen Laub
September 29, 2012

...The Aleppo market, (click here) a major tourist attraction with its narrow stone alleys and stores selling perfume, fabrics and spices, had been the site of occasional gun battles and shelling for weeks. But amateur video posted Saturday showed wall-to-wall flames engulfing wooden doors as burning debris fell away from the storefronts. Activists said hundreds of shops were affected....

During his visit to the New York City, President Ahmadinejad stated in an interview with Piers Morgan he recognizes the rights of every individual human life. It is time for President Ahmadinejad to take himself seriously and remove any and all support from his fellow Shi'ite, President Assad.

President Assad is killing his own people in mass numbers. He is destroying their lives and taking away any hope. The time is long over due for the Iranian President to remove all forms of support from the Assad regime. He has no assurances the Iranians in Syrian custody are alive or will ever survive the Assad regime.

By DAVID STRINGER, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Iran (click here) should only play a role in international diplomatic efforts to end the violence in Syria if it withdraws support for President Bashar Assad's regime, Britain's Middle East minister said Thursday.

Alistair Burt told The Associated Press in an interview that Iran could only have credibility in efforts to press Damascus by withdrawing its backing for Assad.

"Until the Iranians change their position in relation to Syria and stop their active support of a regime that's killing its own people, it's difficult to take them completely seriously," he said, noting that several nations in the Middle East shared Britain's skepticism....

Congressman Peter King is politicizing the death of an ambassador.

The earliest reportings of the attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi were sketchy at best. There were four dead people and others were threatened with their lives.

The idea there would be accuracy beyond the fact there was violence is a hideous concept. Congressman King knows that.

No one is resigning over such diffuse information in ONE incident. Ms. Rice is far to valuable at the United Nations to simply dismiss her at first glance. She is a competent representative for this country and such hideous demands have to be ignored. Ignoring such nonsense will at least give the matter as much attention as it deserves.

It is well documented the events following the discovery of the anti-Muslim film were well underway when the violence was conducted in Benghazi. There was no way of knowing what occurred, yet alone that those alive were safe.

Congressman King needs to understand the working conditions of some of the members of the State Department. Ambassador Stevens was a hero to many in the State Department. He was willing to do the impossible. He was hoping he could carry out the impossible.

Congressman King needs to reflect on the aggressive nature of his past party members in the Executive Branch to realize there is real fear of the USA abroad. In a country that just experienced a government overthrow there continues fear of a larger power coming in to rule their country. The USA has obtained the title of 'Occupier' since Iraq. It doesn't make the work of the State Department any easier. 

In Benghazi of all places where a power vacuum exists, there are still armed militias securing their local territory. The presence of the USA Consulate was a threat to at least one, but, more likely two militias. There is no doubt today the consulate and its staff were under constant surveillance and threat by patrolling militias. 

I don't know how many times the Right Wing has to hear these words, "The USA missions are DEPENDENT upon the authority of the country to control the conditions surrounding their safety." No one knew that more than Ambassador Stevens. There was false confidence in the minds of those in Benghazi. THAT is something Congressman King needs to focus on and not the fact the information immediately after the death of four people and the threat of more was 'clouded by war.' Or in this case, violence.

Past administration with similar circumstances have had the same 'clouds' swirling around their 'inaccuracies,' too.

The sad truth is, the Obama Administration carries more expertise than the newly formed governments themselves. I think that is the reason for the over confidence of the Ambassador and staff. They believed appreciation of the expertise they brought to 'help' would out way any fear. It didn't. At least by the folks with guns and bombs. The militias had more confidence in killing than listening, thinking or understanding they were under no threat from the USA. To them; a dead American was a good thing.

Originally published: September 29, 2012 10:54 AM
Updated: September 29, 2012 11:38 AM
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) (click here) called Friday for the resignation of Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, after the nation's top intelligence agency accepted blame for the deadly attacks on the Libya embassy earlier this month.

Extremists from groups linked to al-Qaida struck the U.S. consulate in Benghazi in a “deliberate and organized terrorist attack,” the top U.S. intelligence agency said Friday, as it took responsibility for the Obama administration’s initial claims that the deadly assault grew from a spontaneous protest against an anti-Islam video.

The unusual statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence appeared to have two goals: updating the public on the latest findings of the investigation into the assault, and shielding the White House from a political backlash over its original accounts....

Missouri the Show Me State

John Ashcroft, the former attorney general, was from Missouri. Was he not? Indeed, he was. A two term Governor.

I've been through Missouri. The Gateway to the West. I know everyone is tired of my stories, but, that is too bad.

I had children with me. We stopped to look at the big McDonald's arch. Their observation, not mine.

There must be something about Missouri men that drives them to modesty of every measure. Left is the picture of the former Attorney General. It was this picture that caused him to put statues in a burka.

So, it would seem as though modesty plays well among Missourians. He had this 'thing' about his hair, too. Let me see if I can find the video. Hopefully it is still out there somewhere.

At any rate, I think Ashcroft did regret called our current President Osama. There was no comparison and John Ashcroft wrote the Patriot Act. At least I think he did.

The impression I've always gotten about Missourians is there seriousness. They are definitely serious about life. The mean it, when they declared their state "The Show Me State." They are a very sober bunch.

They don't like deception and they don't like games. They like life served up straight and don't have time for anything else.

Currently, Real Clear Politics has McCaskell leading by 5.3%. But, being the dedicated Missourian she is and knowing how she loves the people she serves she is not taking polls as a real measure of the outcomes. I think she is correct to be as sober and serious about the issues facing Missouri.

The state of Missouri (click here) can be divided into five basic political divisions. The Democratic base is in central Kansas City and St. Louis.  Republicans run strong in the rural southwest, which has long been Republican, as well as in the band of counties stretching up the Missouri River from St. Louis to Kansas City, which were settled by Germans in the 1800s. The fourth division is found in the Republican-tilting suburbs, while the fifth division is basically the rest of the state, which is essentially a salient of the South jutting into the heart of the state. Democrats' successes are normally dictated by how well they run in these latter two areas....

A strange thing though. For as serious and religious as one would expect such extremism as Akin professes, I would expect that to be everywhere. Not so. And this is an odd one.

Religion in Whiteman Air Force Base (zip 65305), Missouri (click here)

I am not sure when this survey was taken, but, only 19.20% are religious at Whiteman. I am curious if Senator McCaskell has visited the military in her state lately. She should address the serious problems they face and what she has done and WHAT SHE PLANS TO DO to help them and their families.

This is a recent editorial by Phill Brooks in "The Joplin Globe." 

By Phill BrooksSpecial to The Globe (click here)

Nearly every election season, I am surprised at the disconnect between what politicians are debating versus the real issues that have been at the center of attention for government leaders.

Even issues that dominated the legislative session just a few months earlier usually appear forgotten when the campaign season begins.

Let me highlight the top issues in Missouri’s state government that likely will be at the forefront of attention for the next few years.

Education: The state’s formula for allocating state funds among Missouri’s public schools is broken....

Missourians are tired of the rhetoric. They want something from their leaders. They want to hear how their problems are being addressed. And according to Phill here, Education (Arne Duncan) is at the top of the list.

See, rhetoric is SAFE for any politician. It is standard jargon of which says to people "I am you." Remember that video from a Delaware race?  People need to know they have representation that is REAL, not rhetorical. They need to know their representative is solidly appreciative of their concerns, problems and strife. There is real strife in the USA. There is profound poverty.

If I were Senator McCaskell I would be touring the military bases to shake hands and LISTEN. I would be visiting Joplin and listening closely for healing hearts and success in moving forward. I would be listening and speaking the words of my constituents and talking seriously about the future.

Missourians do not want to hear promises. They don't want to hear how the government is going to control child birth. They don't want to hear about science and whether or not Akin is correct. Missourians want to hear from their Senator how she HAS solved their problems, how much she takes them seriously and how much she believes in herself to move Missouri forward. 

Is Senator McCaskell married, because, if I were her spouse I would not appreciate what Mr. Akin has said about my wife, either. If she is unmarried, like other women in DC who dedicate their lives to serving people, then she needs a male champion. Whoever that might be to come forward in her defense. It isn't right a wonderful woman like Senator McCaskell be talked down to by a man with little kindness in his heart toward all women. But, someone needs to speak up and defend her dignity. It is correct to do that.

Poverty is not a minor issue in Missouri. There has been a lot of hardship, too. Wasn't there some significant floods? I am getting that right? How is the recovery going?

September 16, 2010 9:00 pm

The number of Americans living in poverty (click here) rose sharply last year. It rose even faster in Missouri.

Since 2000, the percentage of Missourians living in poverty has nearly doubled, new figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau show. That number grew at more than 3.5 times the national average.

Also up sharply: The number of uninsured. Nationally, about 51 million people had no health insurance in 2009. That’s the largest number since the Census Bureau began collecting data on the uninsured in 1987....

Senator McCaskell can have a photographer take pictures, but, don't do photo ops. The visits to any place in the state has to be real. People suffering at this level have little patience for insincerity.

McCaskill Votes to Advance Bill to Help put Veterans Back to Work (click here)

Senator: Today’s vote a step in the right direction towards helping our veterans and their families

September 11, 2012

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, the daughter of a World War II veteran and a founding member of the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus, today voted to advance a bill that would help put more military veterans back work.

"After standing up and serving our country with honor, our veterans are returning home to find their unemployment rate is higher than the national average-and that's unacceptable," McCaskill said. "Today's vote is a step in the right direction towards passing legislation that will give our veterans and their families the help they need to find work. I'm determined to keep up my fight for expanded job opportunities for our returning veterans and I'm hopeful my colleagues will work together and pass this legislation into law."

The Veterans Jobs Corps Act of 2012 would establish a veterans jobs corps to expand local job opportunities for veterans as firefighters and police officers, and employ veterans to maintain, protect, and preserve our public lands...

Senator McCaskell has every reason to be proud of her voting record to help Missourians. She might even talk about how the Senate was unable to pass the American Jobs Act which was paid for and would not add a burden to the national debt. She might point out that many returning veterans might be finding jobs now if that bill had been passed.

Missouri Farmer Today (click here) I read this as often as I can get my hands it, don't you? No one is going to believe this either, but, I was once a farmer (produce primarily) that grew 40 acres of soybeans every year. No lie. Just fact.

...Biodiesel (click here) is made through a simple refining process called transesterification. The process involves mixing methanol with sodium hydroxide, then mixing that with an oil such as soybean oil. The final products are methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerine. Glycerine is a valuable material used in the manufacture of soaps and other products.

Methyl or ethyl esters can be produced from vegetable and tree oils, animal fats, and/or used oils and fats....

Now, of course, everyone wants to know what transesterification is. Please don't talk down to them and say it is a strange name for a woman. Bring an expert that can explain the darn thing. But, more than understanding the process of biodiesel (which I believe is a great invention actually) lets talk about the price of soybeans. Okay? Let's talk about drought, the cost of fuel and the increased cost of food because of the high cost of fuel, but, most of all talk about alternatives and how it makes a difference and how much more it can make a difference.

Talk about forming cooperatives for farmers to GROW THEIR OWN fuel. Talk about how the federal government stands by our farmers and how much they DESERVE all the attention they need. 

There is a lot for Senator McCaskell to talk about. There is more for her to listen to. I think the Missourians are going to be fine. She needs to stay away from the rhetoric and insults and let Mr. Akin prove how he can insult a wonderful Senator without the consideration of her honor.

Good luck, Senator. They need you in the Senate. It is up to you to let them know how much. OH, and if I can quote the Late Senator Edward Kennedy, "You have to ask them for their vote." Remember that. People like to be asked.

It wasn't hair combing that caught the imagination of others, it was this one.

I think it was Ashcroft, too, not just Wolfowitz. Let me see. It's got to be there somewhere.

A real gentleman would not make such a statement.

I suppose a legitimate rape can only happen if it occurred to a lady. A lady could shut down fertility of her egg from hostile sperm.

See, even if a lady were assaulted and inseminated she would be sooooo, very traumatized she would abort the fertilized egg.

Todd Akin must be a vampire with his orientation in the past where science hasn't existed yet. There is no other logical explanation for his estrangement from reality while holding so many in the population of Missouri voting captives.

That aside, the Republicans don't care about women. They care about power and Akin is the only game they have so of course they are going to back peddle on everything.

The Devil is in the details. Ah, ha, ha, ha. I kill myself.

The angel sure didn't seem to be in the outcome though.

It appears Israel received its response to the 'Red Line.'

MOSCOW, September 28 (RIA Novosti)

Russia hopes (click here) to see the next round of six-party talks on Iran take place soon, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday.

“We believe it is necessary to agree on the time and venue of the next round,” Ryabkov said, stressing the need for the meeting to be held as soon as possible, in October.

Russia would like the talks to be unaffected by the electoral process in Iran and the U.S., he added.

“The negotiating process should continue in any event, regardless of the outcome of elections in Iran or the United States,” Ryabkov said.

Iran and the group of countries comprising Britain, China, France, Russia, the US and Germany, known as P5+1, have held several rounds of talks over the Iranian nuclear issue....

Iran urges P5+1 for "clear response" over nuclear stand-off (click here)
English.news.cn   2012-08-03 16:38:42

TEHRAN, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili has demanded a "clear response to ideas put forward by Tehran" in the nuclear negotiations with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1), satellite Press TV reported On Friday.

In a telephone conversation with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday Jalili said," A clear and specific response (from the P5+1) to the Islamic Republic of Iran's sensible ideas is a logical request," said the report....

China underlines need for immediate continuation of Iran-P5+1 talks (click here)

...“The relevant parties should remain committed to a diplomatic solution and begin a new round of dialogue as soon as possible,” Yang said in a speech at the UN General Assembly on Thursday. 

China has always supported efforts to continue to work with parties concerned and play a constructive role in seeking a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear energy issue through dialog and negotiation, he added....

What does every Plutocratic Billionaire want?

Answer: To be a Trillionaire.

Why not prepare to abandon a planet no one can save? And exploit every dime out of it before it is too late to do so.

What populous needs an education or culture if they aren't going to be around forever?

The question is do they believe in the future 'for all' or 'just a few?'

Anyone can guess what this is about. 4% Growth and Privatized Space Travel.

Both Branson and Bush are looking for Venture Capital for their purposes and the private equity firms are looking to make a lot of quick money. Branson is more or less a longer term investment, but, after Romney is elected, Bush's plan is far more short term than anyone could realize.

Bush's plan will find Gingrich child labor focus helpful as a family survival tool. Welcome the India paradigm to the USA.

...Former president George W. Bush (click here) isn’t exactly doing Mitt Romney any favors on the messaging front. As the current face of the Republican party, Mitt’s single biggest challenge has been distancing himself from his image as a business tycoon who got rich by outsourcing American jobs and then keeping big chunks of his fortune in Swiss bank accounts and invested in the Cayman Islands.

On election week, George W. will rub the sketchy Cayman Islands playboy image right in Mitt’s face....

Voter ID Laws are expensive.

The problem is people age, they have accidents and plastic surgery. The voter 

ID laws rely on the photo as a means to providing proof. The frequency of

which a photo ID has to be produced is yet to be determined.

I have a passport I am about to renew. It is ten years old. I look different on 

my current passport than I do today. I was told by a TSA employee about 3

years ago I should have a back up ID as my physical features had changed 

enough to challenge the validity of the passport. I don't lie. It occurred.

..."What I'm thinking is blocking (click here) implementation of one '

specific section that contains disenfranchisement language," Simpson 

said from the bench.

"The provisional ballot seems to be the sticking point," he said. "It's not the 

smoothest part of" the voter ID law....


The voter ID laws have to be challenged as a poll tax. They also have to be

challenged as an inaccurate way of providing identity for voting.


If the state provides free Voter ID cards that does not end the problem. The

Voter ID legislation has to provide for BUDGET provisions in any state's

budget. So, in the case of free voter ID cards it will be an ongoing budget 

problem which will have to provide for replacement cards whenever there is 

a problem with the ID matching the facial features of the voter.



In the case of a requirement for a Voter ID not paid for by the state, it

definitely is a poll tax. Absolutely. And if voters have to repeat the expense 

frequently it will oppress the vote. A state could require Voter IDs as current

as a month before any balloting. If the voter has to pay for those IDs it will

be a cost they may not be able to afford and will be obstructive to any

balloting.


Voter IDs are a new toy to oppress the vote. This is not the end of it. It will

morph into permission to cause chaos year after year. This dynamic of a 

Voter ID is prohibitive to our democracy.



I have a suggestion.



If a state wants to prove positively a voter is who they say they are

throughout their balloting lifetime, then technology has to be put in place.

It has to be put in place at the time of balloting.

The only way to secure a person's identity 

with any assurance and without 

manipulation is through the electronic 

ready of a thumb, finger or toe print.


A simple mechanism whereby any person 

lightly presses on its surface is then 

matched automatically to a data base. 

First time IDs can be registered at the 

polling station as people enter for 

balloting. That print can follow them

everywhere forever. 


It only requires the current balloting system 

and technology in place to start the process.


It is the only valid means of providing proof of identity without changing 

circumstances beyond the first data grab.


The Photo Voter ID is insufficient in its ability to assure the integrity of

balloting today or in the future. It is far too costly and will cause tampering

with balloting integrity. Voter ID laws will require trained personnel at the 

balloting stations who are certified to read the Voter ID card or photo ID.


The Voter ID Laws provide no assurance of accuracy of the personnel at the 

polling station to ascertain a positive identification of an individual to cast

a ballot. Voters will be turned away by people with challenged eyesight and 

the inability to understand how to look at the ID picture and then the voter.


The Voter ID Laws can allow bigotry, racism and discrimination with a new 

procedure never proved to be effective and fool proof.