AnalogEllen

Begin Again

2010-02-08T12:52:00.004-05:00

Parisian Cat 2008 36 x 30"
Brown toned gelatin-silver print
with oil paint and colored pencil,
Hand carved and gilded frame

Hello Friends,
I've decided to end the blogging hiatus.
This will become a randomly-tended devotional to art and aesthetics.
The new format will mostly feature my own artwork plus the works of some artists I admire.
I hope this space develops a conversational quality that includes many voices, critique and constructive exchange.
I welcome comments, even disagreement, but a lack of politeness will always be deleted.
Until next time - - - AnalogEllen

Edmund Burke said :

2007-08-28T17:15:00.000-04:00

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good people do nothing.

2007-08-16T11:18:00.000-04:00

Hello friends,

I want to remind you that reform doesn't come easy (i know, duh). The fight for taxpayer-friendly laws in Indiana is ongoing. Please don't give up, stay informed!
By the way, i'd like to encourage you to seek unbiased news that isn't from the regular places. Locally, you can start with some blogs. Here are a few i read often :

AdvanceIndiana.blogspot.com

HoosiersForFairTaxation.blogspot.com

IndianaBarrister.com

IndyUndercover.blogspot.com

http://www.blueindiana.net/

also see :

http://www.howeypolitics.com/

and for a dose of national reality, don't miss :

http://www.freepress.net/ Important stuff. They claim to be a national non-partisan organization working to reform media and transform democracy. That's not all, they also promote diverse and independent media ownership and universal access to communications. Sounds good to me ! Read your news - AnalogEllen

Many Thanks

2007-07-28T23:41:00.000-04:00

To the kind fella who gave me his copy of this book by Neal Boortz

I can hardly put it down.....

Good stuff....

2007-07-28T23:40:00.000-04:00

The property tax assessment-stuffed teabag was lowered into the Indianapolis canal as onlookers cheered. In case you were wondering, they let it steep in there for a spell.

This guy was wondering if his shirt could be a legally binding contract since it was signed by bona-fide legislators.

Your neighbors rally

2007-07-28T23:39:00.000-04:00

Some of the spectacle

2007-07-28T23:33:00.000-04:00

I like to see people having fun while they're making serious statements, don't you ?

Personally, I think this cause is worthy of every one's consideration. I appreciated the creativity that was put into this particular tax protest. Speaking of protest, you should'a heard the boo's & hisses when Representative David Orentliker (briefly) spoke. I'm noticing a prevailing public disdain for incumbents of any kind. That reminds me....folks, Don't Forget to Register to Vote - in time for the Primaries, too !

Tea Party

2007-07-28T23:26:00.000-04:00

Today from 11am until nearly noon o'clock, The Indianapolis tea party happened. Incidentally, it took place on the border of the MeridianKessler and Warfleigh neighborhoods.

Hundreds of people showed up, many walked from their homes.

Others informed me they had travelled from outside the city to attend.

The news-gather-ers were out "in force".

Indianapolis Tea Party

2007-07-24T22:33:00.001-04:00

Join the Revolution : Saturday July 28, 2007 Taxation Protest :

11 : 00 am, where Central Avenue crosses the Broad Ripple canal.

Everyone who is appalled at their outrageous property taxes is invited....
Bring a copy of your tax assessment and stuff it into a Giant Teabag !
Once filled, the teabag will be ceremoniously dunked in the canal.

To find out more regarding citizen outrage and recent Indiana taxation news,
don't miss these excellent sources of information :

HoosiersForFairTaxation.blogspot.com
AdvanceIndiana.blogspot.com
http://www.howeypolitics.com/

Maybe I am guilty.

2007-07-19T14:17:00.000-04:00

Maybe the blame for our community & state fiscal problems rests on Us.
Yes, our elected officials are directly responsible to us, but how are we guiding them ? It appears that we simply allow elections to happen, then hope that the ones sworn in will make smart choices. We gotta quit that.
We the citizens own our government. It's under our control if we will have it. If we don't assume that rightful ownership, the government ends up owning us. Remember your property tax bill ? Don't forget it just because the Governor stepped up to the plate. Indiana's taxation problems are not disappearing soon.

A little quiz :
1. How often do you look at actual township, city, county and/or state spending budgets ?
2. How often do you attend public meetings where these things are discussed ?
3. Do you occasionally or regularly seek contact with legislators to voice opinions
- not only in times of crisis ?
My answers :
1. Have never looked on-purpose, but observed occasional snippets in publications.
2. Practically never......uh, never.
3. First-timer only recently because I was mad about my property taxes.

I fail this quiz because things governmental have always seemed a bit "over my head".
I assumed that my opinion wouldn't matter. Now I think I was wrong. Linking to the events of the last few weeks here in Indiana, I'm convinced that if all of us "me's" will work together into "we", then We can guide our government. Maybe if We all keep local government on our minds, and seek out ways to have impact, We can force frugality. - - - AnalogEllen

p.s.
I'm considering a new view of Elected Employees: they're like teenagers allowed to go to the mall with their parent's credit cards. If we (the taxpaying parents) are monitoring the monthly statements, the kids can't get too carried away. If we ignore the itemized sections & quickly make the minimum payments (kinda like being a general election voter and that's all), they figure it out and eventually we get shocked by some expensive weirdness.

From www.HighTaxesKill.org

2007-07-18T14:36:00.000-04:00

Indiana leads the nation in home foreclosures.

Indianapolis city spending increased 10% in 2006.

City hand-outs & tax breaks to wealthy corporations in the past year :
$78 Million to Jim Irsay
$100 Million to hotel developers

This one isn't from www.HighTaxesKill.org :
$ ? Million + a lovely city park (which they immediately demolished) to the Simon family's enterprise.

Holy cats, Batman !

the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy

2007-07-18T13:44:00.000-04:00

Hi folks,
I was cruising through the internet today and noticed some interesting info on www.in.gov/s30/. This is a web page for state Senator Teresa Lubbers, on it she posts a letter to her constituents (us) regarding The Property Tax Fiasco. She offers two nuggets which I liberally edit :

Those politicians and bureaucrats involved in the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy will be having their first meeting on Monday, July 23 @ 9am, in the Auditorium of the Indiana Government Center South (302 W.Washington St). It's open to the public and they will give time to county residents who wish to testify and share stories. Hmmm, protest at the Gov's mansion or sit in a meeting ... Hey, did I mention that the meeting will be Broadcast on the internet ? I think I'll watch it here: www.in.gov/legislative/session/video.html .

Ms Lubbers lists eight proposals which she is interested in considering, the last one is the best one to me : Elimination of property tax. Move it to the top of your list, Teresa!
Later - - - AnalogEllen

Upcoming Tax Protests

2007-07-18T13:07:00.000-04:00

Protest rallies are never dull...
Pack some snacks, and bring the kids. Heck, offer to take the little granny next door !
It's fun to see the creatively decorated signs. Some people wear crazy t-shirts, funny hats and paint their faces. Go go go go go
~ Friday, July 20, 11:30am @ the Governor's Mansion (the one on Meridian Street)
I hear there is transportation assistance available : dwestmanagementgroup@hotmail.com
~ Monday, July 23, 5pm Protest march from Monument Circle to the City-County Building
(pssst - wear red clothing)
I have noticed something Every Time I attend a public display of protest :
they (is it the cops? & why?) put signs on every parking meter within five blocks of the protest site. The signs threaten you with a towed car if you park in those spaces. Maybe such irritants are meant to discourage us. Go go go go go a little bit Early. - - - AnalogEllen

Info & Telephone Manners

2007-07-18T12:07:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends,
I stumbled upon a flier in the Meridian-Kessler area, and found it inspiring. That group of neighbors is Banded Together - I admire their ability to act in unison for their causes.
I want to share some of that info with you & more, so here goes:

Call all those politicians. Dare to be a pest ! Here's a phone list :
Governor 232-4567
Mayor 237-3980
Speaker Bauer 232-9628
Rep.Bosma 232-9604
David Orentlicher 232-9818
Cindy Noe 382-9831
Teresa Lubbers 232-9400
City-County Council members :
Rozelle Boyd 327-4242
Lonnell COnley 547-6652
Ron Gibson 562-1556
Joanne Sanders 283-6040
Isaac Randolph 216-9555
Angela Mansfield 872-3306
Ryan Vaughn 327-4242
Scott Schneider 845-1815
Virginia Cain 823-2460
Lynn McWhirter 387-9078
Cherrish Pryor 327-4242
Monroe Gray 327-4242
Jackie Nytes 370-6184
William Oliver 546-7467
Paul Bateman 327-4242
Sherron Franklin 327-6855
Robert Lutz 241-4020
Marilyn Pfisterer 244-7156
Patrice Abduallah 262-8943
Scott Keller 637-1829
Mary Moriarty Adams 359-6940
Vernon Brown 501-6680
Dane Mahern 506-2707
N Susie Day 787-2417
Lance Langsford 356-7249
Bob Cockrum 856-5549
Phillip Borst 327-4242
Mike Speedy 786-6689
Lincoln Plowman 557-7594

OK. It's a long list, but if you could save hundreds (or even thousands) in property taxes just by sitting on the phone for two hours, then maybe it could be viewed as time very well spent.

Have hope, dear friends ... it isn't as hard as those butterflies in your belly would say ! As I made some calls (yes, I felt a little "chicken" and yes I was nervously perspiring), I was frequently surprised to actually reach live humans who were polite. Practice the Smile&Dial and let your opinions be heard.
More to come - - - AnalogEllen

Look Around

2007-07-17T01:05:00.000-04:00

These things are everywhere! I wonder how many will be replaced with actual, non-joke "ForSale" signs ?

Protesting with Pictures

2007-07-16T23:28:00.000-04:00

I hope some of you will see these photos and remember that you're angry about your property tax bill . Don't let that anger slip away. I challenge you to chuck any apathy, possibly some entertainment plans & fear of large crowds and GO FOR IT. Yeah, go in person to that next public taxation protest, or write a dozen letters to legislators, or at least step outside and talk up your neighbors about this tax deal. Change is possible and it starts with each one of us. Don't let your hard-earned money slip away...Don't accept mediocrity and lack of frugality from our elected officials.

More Protesters

2007-07-16T23:15:00.000-04:00

Dear readers, don't forget to check out : www.FairTaxIndiana.net , HoosiersForFairTaxation.blogspot.com , and here's one that I just heard about, www.StopIndiana.com

Ever been to a public protest?

2007-07-16T22:07:00.000-04:00

You should go sometime. Really, it's a bit like a festival with lots to see and hear. Today's tax protest in front of the City-County building was fueled by anger, frustration and a good dose of solidarity. In light of our city's taxation woes, I felt sadness as I noticed desperation on some faces. On a lighter note, I can confidently say that the determined resolve of most of these people is contagious. It's time to get involved if you aren't already.

protesting property taxes

2007-07-16T13:34:00.000-04:00

hi folks.

this is my inaugural blog posting.

i felt it was time, with the taxation hoopla

happening here in indiana.

most taxpayers appear to be angry, and

i guess i'm here right now to fan those flames.

i'm accompanying this entry with some images

from yesterday's "black sunday" property tax protest.

dear readers, please get involved,

stay mad & fight the bad guys!