1 Love is a complicated thing. Think of us and then think harder. The future has little to hold unless we express ourselves the way God intended us to. Imagine a time in which the saddest day becomes no more than a blip on the radar screen of life. The happiest day would dominate; it would crush us with goodness and Jesus. And Jesus would smile grandly - hoping for our well-being, but also hoping that we begin to understand the true meaning of the lord and all he brings us in his wisdom. I love everything!

2 Superman...but do you love Llamas? Ogre great post as always, another A+

3 I bet he does, I bet he does, aye? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Thanks, Jay!

4 I read all the posts you put on NC and I can honestly say, I never want to live there. I never had this big pull to live there anyway, but after what I've read about your state politics it is way way way low on my list of places I ever really want to go. Blech. Which is good for y'all in NC because y'all are suffering from over crowding, I am sure!

5 But, but...the weather's nice! No, really, that's the largest draw, I think, to the state-- really good weather. Snowstorms are very seldom, no earthquakes, very few hurricanes (and those that do hit are relatively weak), very few tornadoes, etc., etc. Tons and tons of sunshine without getting too hot; freezing temperature almost never exists. Also, there's the business bribes. I know quite a few people who have moved here for business, and while the business climate is pretty bad, new businesses will get bribed with HUGE cash piles, and the banks have total control over the legislature, so the huge bank HQs will not move. That's enough to keep people from leaving in droves -- and the weather.

6 I see our sister state is following our path nicely here in PA. Our legislature just voted themselves a hefty raise. Up to 34% for the top dogs. The public didn't hear much of this at all until after the vote (which was cast at 2 AM). There are quite a few members that won't even accept the raise and are donating it for scholarships and charity. I guess they must have an election coming up. Now Pa legislators are second highest paid in the nation. We also have more legislators than every state except one. Beat that one Ogre, NC legs are rookies compared to PA.

7 Holy crap -- PA legislators get $81,000? NC idiots get in the $20-30K range (plus bribes and slush funds, of course). I'd bet the one state that has more legislators than you is New Hampshire -- did you know they have 400 representatives in their government? Now THAT'S representative government! The next competition will be to see which legislature is more corrupt...

8 This year the PA. legislature gave themselves and other state workers a healthy pay raise, too bad they can't seem to find the initiative to balance the budget though.

9 Sorry, didn't read the above comments before posting mine . . . stupid girl, *smacks self in face*

10 In Corruption's Grasp [Allentown Morning Call] Op-Ed 03.13.05 Corrupt. It's not a word to be used lightly. But sometimes, it's the only word that fits, and this is one of those times. Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation without a law requiring lobbyists to disclose what they're spending and doing to influence our legislators and our governor. The only state. http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/media/index.cfm?section=coverage&articleID=414&articleType=36 This should be an interesting contest. Not surprising, but interesting just the same.

11 This just in on the PA legislature pay raise. THis does sound like Jim Black does it not? HARRISBURG -- Three Western Pennsylvania House members who voted against a pay raise for state officials are being stripped of their subcommittee chairmanships as punishment by House Minority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene. Losing the chairmanships will eventually cost Reps. Tom Tangretti, D-Greensburg, Jim Casorio, D-Irwin, and Joe Petrarca, D-Vandergrift, $4,000 in annual salary, according to a letter from DeWeese that became public Thursday. They were among 15 Democratic pay raise opponents who were removed from vice chairmanships and subcommittee posts, which brought extra stipends on top of the 16 percent pay hike to $81,050 per year the Legislature approved for itself earlier this month. Pennsylvanians opposed to the pay hike called DeWeese's actions outrageous. "Obvious retribution being meted out to representatives who voted against the legislative pay grab clearly demonstrates how difficult it is for honorable individuals to serve in government today," said Oren Spiegler, of Upper St. Clair

12 Do PA legislators complain repeatedly about how they don't have enough money for "essential services" whilst giving themselves a pay raise? NC does have some laws regarding lobbyists, but when there are "investigations," they honestly say that there are too many lobbyists who violate the law, so they can't punish them! Seriously -- they have records showing how many lobbyists haven't complied with the law, but there is zero enforcement -- if you don't comply, there's absolutely no punishment of any kind. And yes, that sounds exactly like Jim Black -- even though the vote passed, because those people didn't vote with him, he punishes them. I wonder if Bill DeWeese's supporters will make the same cry Jim Black's do: "Well, he's not really a good legislator, but he's got seniority, so we're going to elect him." Is there any hope left for this Representative Republic?

13 "Is there any hope left for this Representative Republic?" I share the sentiments, but YES THERE IS. I can't say how it will done or when. It seems like a hopeless scenario, but maybe, just maybe if the public would just look and see what is happening around them, then these same reps won't get a free a ride only because of a political affiliation. I did run across this for PA. Seems like a good start, but I am not overly optimistic of the outcome. incumbents need not apply... Operation Clean Sweep is aimed at one simple goal: cleaning house in the Pennsylvania General Assembly by defeating every single incumbent officeholder up for re-election in 2006. The current members of the General Assembly have slapped taxpayers in the face by awarding themselves a huge pay increase. While some members did vote "no" on the increase, it is common knowledge that all votes were pre-arranged to protect vulnerable seats. Operation Clean Sweep is not a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Constitution or Green Party issue. It's us vs. them. The governed vs. the government. The taxpayers vs. the tax spenders. http://www.pacleansweep.com/main.html

14 Yes Ogre, we are always getting the line that there isn't money in the budget for certain services, yet the money is there for the legislators to grab for themselves, ironic no?

15 I read that site, Tomslick -- great idea! I truly hope that one will succeed! I'll be watching it closely, and if it even works partway, I'll be glad to get something like that moving here in North Carolina!

16 One more note that I didn't see in the rest of the PA comments - did you know that the folks who voted against the pay raise were penalized? Nice buncha goons we got up here. But at least we're not talking about making smoking in one's car illegal - that's Joisey, next door. (*)>

17 Yes, tomSlick mentioned that one, Birdwoman -- that's exactly how things work here in North Carolina -- agree with the king, or pay. And Jersey is very quickly becoming the California of the East.

18 Pay raises would be fine if there will be Government job cuts.

19 I still think that quite literally every single aspect of NC Government should be reduced.

20 Pennsylvania Activist Sues Over Lawmakers' Pay Raise The Associated Press Published: Aug 1, 2005 HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - An activist filed a lawsuit Monday contesting a pay raise lawmakers approved for themselves last month, saying the state constitution prohibits the legislature from increasing its own members' pay. The bill increased legislators' base pay from $69,647 to $81,050 and gives a bonus to the scores of lawmakers who hold committee posts. It also raised the salaries of Gov. Ed Rendell, senior executive branch appointees, judges, row officers and prosecutors. Activist Gene Stilp filed the lawsuit in Commonwealth Court, naming Rendell and Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., who are both Democrats, and House Speaker John M. Perzel and the Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer, both Republicans. Last month, 15 Democrats who voted against the pay raise were demoted from their committee posts and were replaced with colleagues who voted for it. Ok, This is getting interesting. The judges got a pay raise from this vote and will be deciding the case. No conflict of interest here. I wonder what the Vegas odds are on this one?

21 Excellent point -- if all parties without a financial interest in the case recuse themselves, there's no one left to judge -- except federal judges...