Transportation bill: it’s hard to see into the dark Machiavellian chambers of the Statehouse

But what I can see through the toxic mist, the hang-up for the transportation bill is that Republicans shrunk the Senate version which had a $2.5 billion transportation bill to about a $2 billion transportation bill to get a few of the more extreme right wing house members in the boondocks to vote for the bill.

 I think that the SEPTA service extension to Atglen, Parkesburg and Coatesville may be covered either way but I’m not sure of that. Maybe we need more than a 2 billion-transportation bill to get SEPTA service here. 

Either way we’re not getting more new roadways in SE Pennsylvania. Public transit especially rail and light rail is the only way to move more people and goods in SE Pennsylvania. And even the PA boondocks that suck on the tax money that we generate in SE Pennsylvania depend on expanding transportation here in SE, PA. 

 Democrats appear to be gunning for a larger transportation bill. They don't appear to be very far apart. But then I am watching this through that toxic mist. 

 “The plan sets a higher spending level than Gov. Corbett’s initial proposal, which topped out at $1.8 billion by the summer of 2018; but less than package that would raise $2.5 billion in new money.”

From:

House committee approves transportation funding bill, andfuel tax increase to support

See Harrisburg Patriot News for the latest on the budget.

VIDEO: “Going Public” exposes wealthy conservatives’ aim to gut public education.

What I have been saying since we encountered the Amway Betsy DeVos school privateers & their bussed in thugs when we tried to do an after school program at in the Perkiomen Valley School District in the 1990s.

Also see:

SOLIDARITY FOREVER: How the Amway De Vos family is taking aim atunions and public education... Teamsters tracking union busting, teacherbashing billionaires

There are ordinary jerks and there are jerks that are essential to the growth of the Democratic Party like Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R)

Legislator Blocks Openly Gay Colleague From Speaking About DOMA, Cites ‘God’s Law’

Even after historic ruling, Republicans still just won't give up.

Pennsylvania state lawmaker: Veterans who support climate change legislation are ‘traitors.’

To the jerk:

"Global warming is inextricably linked to national security, with the potential to “aggravate existing problems such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership and weak political institutions” around the world, which “could increase the pool of potential recruits into terrorist activity.” 

By Amanda Terkel on Oct 20, 2009 at 5:10 pm

Jerks like Rep. Metcaffe are essential to the growth of the Democratic Party and the demise of the Republican Party. Talk it up Daryl!

6 Insidious Ways Surveillance Changes the Way We Think and Act | Alternet

One paragraph in this article jumped out at me. Because I know someone who I believe would use his position just this way. Hint, he once worked for the City of Coatesville:

"Today’s private contractors also have incentives to use surveillance to commit crimes outside of any political agenda. How about a little insider trading? How about stealing business ideas? How about using collected data to sexually prey upon others? To blackmail for any purpose imaginable? To sell our information to the highest bidder? For every Snowden who balks at the use of data collected for surveillance, you can bet there are two other contractors using it to enrich or empower themselves. Unlike elected officials, there is no way for us to even attempt to make them accountable."

6 Insidious Ways Surveillance Changes the Way We Think and Act | Alternet

I assume that every keystroke I make might be recorded and that my location is traced.

But I more or less asked for that surveillance for my own and my families protection. Some people who know who I am won't let me be in earshot of them. And then again some people seek me out.

I live in Coatesville, a little town very much like a Sicilian village. Families here go back a hundred years or more. My family in Coatesville goes back to 1910. Everybody knows where everybody’s relatives live. Joe Carroll said that 8 people could be at a murder scene and no one saw anything. Coatesville is a witness intimidation hellhole.

If you are doing something that might be illegal don't tell me.  It puts me in an emotional quandary.  

I always look around when I am in a public place. I pick a table that has a view of the room when I sit down.

With the exception of some very well vetted people I don't trust telephone conversations.

With one exception I assume that anyone can read my email.

I only say what I think someone needs to know. I'm constantly worrying that I might have said too much.

I live in a town where the local government is rife with corruption, in a county that has motorcycle gang drug traffickers, black drug dealers that sell to white kids and has a good amount of potential domestic terrorist right wing extremists. For an informant it’s so much to do and so little time. But I think that wherever I might live I would do the same thing. It’s in my nature.

Maybe I live like a Czech, but I had information and I found a secure place for it.

One journalist that knows me well surprised me by saying "I'm proud to know you."