Posted on 05/01/2006 10:26:46 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
BUMP
I was in Chi-Town visiting my alma mater (a certain school on the South Side) on Friday. Such a shame that a great city where the "smoke filled" jazz club reached its apogee has become almost as annoyingly granola as Seattle.
Come to Kalifornia.
This Workers' Paradise has extended the smoking ban to certain outdoor public parks and beaches.
I am conflicted about this issue. We live under a Federal system of government. While I think the laws they are passing are stupid, and should be unconstitutional if passed by Congress, I think states (and by extension, counties and cities, etc) should be allowed to pass things like this, as long as its kosher within the state Constitution. Anyone who objects, can find another state.
Men and women whose sole occupation it is to make rules and laws are going to make rules and laws until the rule-bestridden, law-bestridden populace says, "Enough!"
I don't care whether the Marxists who support such Tyrannical law are well-meaning or not.
Ultimately, they, like their authoritarian counterparts on the poltical right, are about the task of minimizing human freedom, not maximizing it.
And that is as unAmerican as it gets: with majority Tyranny (unrestrained democracy), Freedom is inevitable reduced. And this is something the Founders warned about aand despised, as well as 19th century visitors like de Tocqueville.
Marxist authoritarianism was truly the scourge of the 20th century, and will become a bigger threat than Islamic extremism in the 21st century.
Long after the Islamofascists have been obliterated (and they will be, at a terrible cost), Socialism (which is inherently Marxist, and which Karl Marx himself said is "the road to Communism") will continue to be the same collective, murderous threat that it was in the last century...
They're so greedy because of the huge expense for all the vote buying social programs. I think they keep creating more stupid laws so they can collect more $$ from the fines from the violators. They're going to be selling out the naming rights for every possible municipal building, department, highway, etc. etc. !! It's crazy.
City Looking At Selling More Naming Rights .
With City Hall looking to raise as much as $3 million by selling naming rights to the Chicago Skyway, it is looking at raising cash by selling naming rights to other city entities.
The possibilities could include, hypothetically, The Hinckley & Schmidt Water Filtration Plant, Morton's Salt spreaders, The ADT 911 Center or The Geritol Senior Citizen Center.
Just as U.S. Cellular and United Airlines paid millions to put their names on stadiums, city vehicles, buildings and special events could someday bear the names of corporate sponsors, under a "request for proposals" issued Friday.
"There are many serious and valuable opportunities for public/private partnerships," said budget director Paul Volpe. "It's another creative effort to make the best use of the assets we have before turning to taxpayers."
The Sun-Times reported last fall that Mayor Daley was dipping his toe into the concept of "municipal marketing" with a "request for information" from potential bidders.
Now the city is asking companies to do an inventory of Chicago's physical assets and "intellectual property" -- like seals and computer software -- and determine the "potential income" from each category.
The possibilities are endless, but some assets are expected to be off limits.
Police squad cars and fire trucks are likely to be out of bounds, simply because they need to be uncluttered and easily identified. City Hall is also not for sale -- even though corruption-fighting federal prosecutors might argue otherwise.
Certain "municipal services" may also be of interest to advertisers and sponsors "because of their reach and presence" in Chicago neighborhoods, the request states. Direct mail from water bills provides yet another opportunity for corporate outreach, officials said.
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April 24, 2006 - By Gregory Meyer
Chicago Skyway naming rights going up for bid
(Crain’s) — City officials will take the first step toward selling off the naming rights to the Chicago Skyway when they circulate a request for qualifications from bidders over the next two weeks.
If deemed qualified, candidates will then be able to submit proposals to brand the 7.8-mile causeway’s neon toll plaza, signage and maps – and rename the Skyway itself.
The prospect of selling off naming rights to the Skyway first came to light last summer, after the city of Chicago had succeeded in leasing the road to private investors for $1.83 billion. The city deliberately kept naming rights and advertising out of that deal to preserve a revenue opportunity later.
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OUTRAGEOUS!! $1.83 BILLION! And STILL, their hands are out for mo money, mo money .. any way they can get it. (But, gee .. ain't it great that they WON'T sell space on the POLICE cars and FIRE engines????)
It's a gorgeous, thriving, clean city, but it's also the closest thing to a police state with the most intrusive governmental machine (big brother) I've ever seen in my life.
Let's see:
The Ford Foundation Grant Park
The Lindsey Buckingham Fountain
Ricki Lake Michigan
The Janet Reno Burnham Yacht Club
The Old Navy Pier
The Teddy Kennedy Water Crib
The Mayor Richard Daley Scandal Sheet
The Chicago Lyric Oprah
...
I disagree with that part. The cellphone conversation demands your immediate and continued attention as the other activities do not.
Pecos Texas now has NASCAR cop cars, signs on the side of the cars announce "this car maintained by NAPA."
Nanny State Ping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the ping. I am really beginning to regret that I caved in to my friends and will be joining them on the annual Chicago excuresion this year.
Maine and California have very intrusive government control as well. And just getting worse.
don't forget New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.
don't forget New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Well, heck, let's show all the states that are having government forced upon them:
There are 15 states with state laws in effect that require 100% smokefree workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars:
California: Restaurants and Bars
Connecticut: Restaurants and Bars
Delaware: Workplaces, Restaurants, and Bars
Florida: Workplaces, and Restaurants
Idaho: Restaurants
Maine: Restaurants and Bars
Massachusetts: Workplaces, Restaurants, and Bars
New York: Workplaces, Restaurants, and Bars
North Dakota: Workplaces
Rhode Island: Workplaces, Restaurants, and Bars
South Dakota: Workplaces
Utah: Restaurants
Vermont: Restaurants and Bars
Washington: Workplaces, Restaurants, and Bars
Note: The following state law has been enacted but is not yet in effect:
•Montana enacted a 100% smokefree bar law, which is scheduled to go into effect October 1, 2009.
.....and Casinos.
Michigan has banned smoking within 6 feet of all workplace entrances and smoking in all workplaces, except restaurants and bars. We all know what's next.....
Thanks for the ping. As you know, I live in this socialist city. No wonder I am looking for a nice place to retire to in a few years.
Any suggestions?
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