by Sue | Sep 13, 2018 | 2018 Elections, Commentary
Please Vote “No” on Initiative 1639 (I-1639) in November
By Jim McEntire
September 10, 2018
I’ve read the initiative myself and here’s a short take on what is wrong with this initiative. For an in-depth review, please see Larry Williams’ posts on Facebook. Larry’s a former Port Angeles City Councilor who now lives in Omak.
First, a couple of facts about I-1639. It was sponsored by three Washington billionaires, plus a billionaire who is from New York city. It says its purpose is to reduce gun violence by adding further restrictions on who is allowed to buy “semi-automatic assault rifles” which is the term used by those who seek more stringent gun control to get people to be scared of semi-automatic rifles of any type. This initiative is a good example of special interest legislation that comes from those who desire to have control over the common person, and to make exercise of our rights under the federal and State constitutions more difficult for the common person. (more…)
by Sue | Sep 13, 2018 | Commentary
by Jodi Wilke
We can all agree that a housing crisis exists, both relating to availability and cost of housing. Supply and demand are the primary cost drivers of Real Estate yet government regulations, zoning, buildable land, and taxes, all create the conditions that hurt the housing market. One builder in Sequim stated that $27-30,000 in permits, impact fees and connection fees are required, and for a $60,000 lot it costs $100,000 to break ground – IF he didn’t also end up in court over a wetland dispute.. This places a modest starter home in the neighborhood of $250,000 best case scenario. Unaffordable for most middle-income people.
The unfortunate cries of the public moan about having “Affordable Housing” and often they look to the same government entities that caused this problem to somehow solve the problem. But a closer look at the way government approaches the issue of unaffordable housing reveals some disturbing facts. (more…)
by Sue | Sep 10, 2018 | Commentary
by Susan Shotthafer
Just under Mother Jones’s, banner reading “Help Elect More Democrats, another article reads, Inside the Right-Wing YouTube Empire That’s Quietly Turning Millennials into Conservatives.
After Trumps’ November victory, Mother Jones reported, when people asking question about the Electoral College, “People turned to the New York Times and the Washington Post, Fox News, and even the Constitution for answers. But few sources were as widely consulted as Prager U’s Do You Understand the Electoral College.” Receiving 850,000 views before November’s election, two weeks later, fifty million people had had viewed this presentation. Phenomenal?
Illustrating Prager U’s effectiveness, Dennis Prager explains that until releasing this video, polls tallied increasing numbers of people supporting abandonment of the electoral college in favor of popular vote for U.S President. After the video, support for removal of the electoral college began steady decline.
Inside the Right-Wing YouTube Empire That’s Quietly Turning Millennials Into Conservatives
Frequent first responses when hearing about Prager University’s lawsuit against Google’s restriction of videos is, “Google is a private company, so how can PragerU win?
The simple answer: Can United Airlines; the Hilton or Marie Callenders legally deny service because of someone’s gender, race, religious beliefs. or political views? However, apparently, businesses can now discriminate because of political preference, Sarah Huckabee, for example.
https://www.prageru.com/press-release-prager-university-prageru-takes-legal-action-against-google-and-youtube-discrimination
Google’s claim to provide a platform for all views is false. Google has blocked 8o Prager U videos in homes filtering out pornography and adult material, libraries and schools. Google’s reason for is that the PragerU content is” inappropriate” for children—an absurdity. The truthful reason—PragerU threatens leftists’ agenda.
Responding to the ruling a Prager University states the crux of their argument:
[T]he judge made a “startling omission” when she described YouTube’s own self-description as a “community where everyone’s voice can be heard” no matter their “point of view” as non-binding “mere ‘puffery.’”
PragerU lost its first court battle but the judge left open the door for appeal that PragerU has now filed.
To counteract leftist university and public-school indoctrination, Dennis Prager founded Prager University in 2011. Primarily, Prager U’s states it missions as, “We Teach what Isn’t Taught” by presenting the “values that shaped America and made U. S. the strongest force the world has ever known.” First, videos were released monthly. A year or so ago, PragerU began releasing a new video weekly. You can learn more about Prager U’s impact and vison, at What We Do.
https://www.prageru.com/what-we-do
Last reported, videos numbered 250. Sixty percent of viewers are under 35 years old. Twenty-five percent of Americans have viewed the videos. PragerU acquired 60 million viewers in 2017. On December 15, 2017, PragerU surpassed one billon views, including many from foreign countries, Views soar at about a thousand per minute, now at 1,560,618, — 10:15 a.m. 8-27-18. Watching the numbers grow at the website is like watching our national debt clock.
https://www.prageru.com/
PragerU presenters are scientists, theologians, historians, university professors, and represent many more disciplines. In addition to videos and video transcripts, PragerU provides lesson plans and other resources. The next time you write a report or letter to the editor, try Prager University for reliable sources. Promote liberty and all American values by supporting Prager University with a donation and by signing their petition.
Links for More Info
This next link contains a list of 80 videos now restricted and the petition you can sign to help Prager University.
YouTube continues to restrict many Prager U videos. Fight back!
https://www.prageru.com/petitions/youtube-continues-restrict-many-prageru-videos-fight-back
This link contains the first Prager University video providing background info bout Google’s restricted list
Who Will Google Silence Next? https://www.prageru.com/videos/who-will-google-silence-next
Dennis Prager Explains Prager University Lawsuit Against YouTube: ‘If America Looks Good, It’s Restricted’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YnDpoAeSjA
This last link provides more detail about Prager U’s appeal and Google discriminatory restrictions of Prager U videos
Prager U files appeal in censorship case against YouTube
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/prageru-files-appeal-in-censorship-case-against-youtube
Prager U Sues YouTube For Discriminating Against Conservative Videos
http://thefederalist.com/2017/11/01/prageru-sues-youtube-discriminating-conservative-videos/
by Sue | Jun 6, 2018 | Commentary
by Susan Shotthafer
In 2014, I organized and led a transparency and right-to-work initiative effort for the City of Sequim working with Freedom Foundation. The city council ignored Washington State law after a few volunteers and I, walking door-to-door, collected the required 648 valid signatures (over 800 in total because of invalidity) to qualify these initiatives inside the city of Sequim. Freedom Foundation sued. Judge Rohrer ruled against us and for the fatuous union arguments. The hearing provided a wrenching, very intense, but memorable learning experience. Similar volunteer efforts in Shelton, Blaine, Chelan met the same end.
After reviewing the new WA union legislation at the WA Policy Center’s Washington Votes website. I recognize the public unions’ intransigent determination to regain membership and funds lost from Freedom Foundation’s push-back. Democrats/progressives will continue to dominate and eventually destroy Washington State unless we elect more genuine conservatives and weaken public union’s stranglehold. Concentration of power (in this situation, public/union/government) produces corruption and tyranny. (more…)
by Sue | Jun 5, 2018 | Commentary
By Jim McEntire
Friends, I’ve written recently about the rural vs. urban divide in our great state, the state of our rural economy in Clallam County, and the disturbing statistics relating to hopelessness amongst some of our young citizens in our schools.
The individual “pursuit of happiness” – one of our unalienable rights – begs the question of “what makes people happy”?
Of course, the answer is as varied and multi-hued as the number of people, but I have a notion that common to every notion of happiness is being able to live a dignified, productive life. “Productive” can mean many things: it could mean creating great art for the individual and others to enjoy; it could mean finding the medical treatment that prevents the common cold; it could mean the joy of creating and marketing products or services that delight customers and keep them coming back for more. And countless other things … . Common to the meaning of “productive” is the bedrock quality of human dignity and a deep sense of self-worth. (more…)
