Letters

Where RI is headed, unless...

Posted 3/25/14

To the Editor:

“Here lies where Rhode Island used to be…” I can only imagine a speaker at an event in the future pointing to an outdated map of the United States during a lecture on crime, …

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Letters

Where RI is headed, unless...

Posted

To the Editor:

“Here lies where Rhode Island used to be…” I can only imagine a speaker at an event in the future pointing to an outdated map of the United States during a lecture on crime, corruption and the inevitable outcome of a state when voters continued to allow the same politicians and the same failed ideals to run a state year after year, election after election. Continual taxation, millions of dollars handed out to pet projects and the catering to and funding of whatever group can muster the most votes is a history in Rhode Island and who wants to change history? Instead of lowering corporate taxes and fees to attract business, more taxes and fees are added to pay for a failed economy because cutting the pet projects, cracking down on the millions in welfare fraud, investing in solid investment funds and opening contract bidding doesn’t give you a guaranteed two more years in office.

“What about the people of the state, the hard working taxpayers” someone asks… “Oh them … well they either moved out of the state if they could or eventually all became dependent on welfare.”

Does this sound like a bad novel?

It shouldn’t because it is exactly where Rhode Island is headed unless voters finally smarten up. We are yet again disgraced with the federal raid on the State House and the Speaker of the House’s home and law office. R.I. is the worst in unemployment, among the worst in income and property taxes and the most business unfriendly environment in the nation. We have state representatives like my opponent that concern themselves more with making sure their own family members have state and city jobs, than standing up and fighting for the voters that put them in office. She and so many more on Smith Hill continually vote yes for more taxes, penalties and fees regardless of their promises to their constituents for fear they would fall from the grace of House leadership and their precious little spot on the floor of the General Assembly.

This is your wake-up call, Rhode Island voters! A chance to end what mimics organized crime in our State House. One can only hope that more heads will roll with this investigation to give a breath of air to a dying state.

It is time to vote for new blood in this September’s Democratic primary and in November in the general election. It is a time to vote for those that have no other intent except to fight for you, the working man and woman that strive to provide a decent home and a future for your family. It’s time to vote for those that will stop pouring millions into the useless and favorite projects and organizations and put that money back into your pockets. It’s a time to vote for those that will eliminate and prosecute those that continue to defraud our welfare system, and it is time to vote for those that will speak out and fight for you, regardless of how House leadership or anyone feels about it. It is time for integrity, perseverance and guts and this is your last chance, before someone somewhere in the not too distant future says, “This is where Rhode Island used to be.” 

Edward Doyle

Johnston

Comments

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  • davebarry109

    How about voting for some REPUBLICANS to balance the power. A one party system is by definition, broken.

    Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Mr. Doyle: Clear thinkers can not disagree with you. However, your conclusion is a bit curious. "new blood in this September’s Democratic primary..."????? Do you really think there are Democrats in RI that will run on a platform of lower taxes, less regulation, welfare reform, and elimination of patronage? Are you serious? Democrats in RI NEED high taxes to feed the pig that is state government. And government dependence = a safe democrat vote, so welfare reform is off the table. Patronage is how these guys get elected in the first place. RI presently has 1 in 6 adults on a government payroll. Most of them are married, giving dems 33% of the vote out of the shoot. The only way to curtail this death spiral is to eliminate either the state income tax, sales tax, or both. Otherwise, the pig just gets fatter, dependency expands, and those with the means (i.e. taxpayers) continue to flee, leaving behind a shrinking pie.

    Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Report this

  • Michael2012

    REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE ALL THE SAME...... HOW ABOUT THE GREEN PARTY.

    CUT TAXES !!!!!! THAT HELPS US ALL. I GOT TAXED BUYING ONE OF THOS 5 DOLLAR CHICKENS ALREADY COOKED AT STOP AND SHOP. SINCE WHEN DOES FOOD GET TAXED? I HATE THIS STATE. IT'S AN UGLY STATE. LOTS OF LITTER AND POLLUTION. VACANT HOMES AND BUILDINGS. CORRUPT POLITICIANS.

    Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Michael, We don't really know if both major parties are the same because there are so few elected republicans in RI. When we look to states that are run by republicans, however, we see low taxes and low unemployment. RI is, indeed, corrupt and people are not only accustomed to it, they vote for more of it. It is not, however, an "ugly" state, and the vacancy rate for home ownership is about 30% lower than the national average. Agreed that there are a lot of vacant buildings. That is due to a lack of economic activity, which starts with burdensome regulations and (Yes) confiscatory taxes. But again, people can't wait to vote for more of the same because, corrupt or not, a disproportionate number are dependent upon this decayed system.

    Wednesday, March 26, 2014 Report this

  • warwick10

    Agreed... all parties are the same, looking out for themselves -- the state needs balance! Democrats are bringing the state of Rhode Island down! Bring it Republicans!

    Thursday, March 27, 2014 Report this

  • patientman

    Its not the democrats job to bring balance to the state. Its the republicans that need to get their act together.

    Friday, March 28, 2014 Report this

  • EdDoyle

    I can say that there are indeed differences in the Democratic party itself. I am considered not to be a conservative democrat but instead I and many others both democratic and republican to be a Constitutional democrat. A JFK type of Democrat that holds true the ideals that made this country great! You can follow my actions and ideals not only on my facebook page eddoyle2014, or my page www.doyle2014.com, but by simply googling me or listening to my weekly internet radio show on 990wbob.com. I have both Republicans and Democrats pulling for me because they see that I am not just words, I don not back down, and my family has fought for everything we have. Sick of the taxes, sick of every politician that does not have the guts to stand up to protect and work for Rhode Islanders. I say and do a lot of things that people have said to me... you are running for office maybe you should be a little less hard hitting on certain topics but I tell them the same thing I tell you all reading this. I will NOT sell out who I am or what is in my heart. I will not win every vote and if I win or lose I will do it by being true to myself, my family and those I wish to represent. I will NOT waiver back and forth to get votes, I will not try to agree with everyone I may be talking to at the time to get their support. What you see is what you get and we have not seen a candidate like that in a long time. Rhode Island is frustrated, angry and feel cheated and that is absolutely what has happened. It's time you mattered!

    Saturday, March 29, 2014 Report this

  • jtaxassoc

    First off, there are major differences between the 2 parties's; one likes to tax, spends, and embraces irresponsible behavior and welcomes big government while the other believes in less government, lower taxes, traditional values, privatization and holding people accountable for their actions etc… I want definitive explanations regarding the issues. What about community base housing for Welfare recipients, mandatory sentencing guidelines for criminals who steal our cars, break into our homes, muck us, steal our identity or repeat shop liters etc… What about making English the official language of our state, school vouchers, tout reform that would lower insurances. In addition, what about legislation that would give municipalities much more control over their finances and how they provide for their services without union intervention. In fact, what about Right to Work legislation including a realistic Voter Initiative method that will give Rhode Islanders the right to resend, enact or introduce legislation etc… Ed, please be more specific… Peter A. Filippi III

    Saturday, March 29, 2014 Report this

  • jtaxassoc

    First off, there are major differences between the 2 parties's; one likes to tax, spends, and embraces irresponsible behavior and welcomes big government while the other believes in less government, lower taxes, traditional values, privatization and holding people accountable for their actions etc… I want definitive explanations regarding the issues. What about community base housing for Welfare recipients, mandatory sentencing guidelines for criminals who steal our cars, break into our homes, muck us, steal our identity or repeat shop liters etc… What about making English the official language of our state, school vouchers, tout reform that would lower insurances. In addition, what about legislation that would give municipalities much more control over their finances and how they provide for their services without union intervention. In fact, what about Right to Work legislation including a realistic Voter Initiative method that will give Rhode Islanders the right to resend, enact or introduce legislation etc… Ed, please be more specific… Peter A. Filippi III

    Saturday, March 29, 2014 Report this

  • EdDoyle

    HI Peter, Thank you for your questions. Here are my answers to your specific questions.

    What about community base housing for Welfare recipients.

    First I do not like the idea nor ever have liked the idea of housing projects for low income.

    They breed despair, crime and are often neglected and bring down the value of the rest of the area of the community they are placed in.

    I would rather see, instead of dumping state and city money into these types of environments, assistance to those that truly need it in the form of rental assistance or even low interest mortgages. This in my opinion is much better because it sets a much more positive environment mentally for those on assistance to better themselves and have a feeling of normalcy to thier lives which also sets a better environment for their children which is less likely to end up being involved in the local gang mentality.

    Mandatory sentencing guidelines for criminals who steal our cars, break into our homes, muck us, steal our identity or repeat shop liters etc…

    I so want to see harsher and longer sentences for criminals. This server a third of your time to come back out and start all over again must be changed. I believe in the old you do the crime you do the time way of thinking. It takes a mental decision to break the law. Regardless of your environment or the way the times are you know right from wrong. Without deterrent, without consequences to strengthen the line in someones mind that separates right from wrong, crime will grow. We have lost our values and respect for life, property and our neighbors and in my opinion it is because there is no longer that hard reality of paying the price. No more plea deals to get those associated with the criminal. The criminal goes to jail AND we go after his associates.

    What about making English the official language of our state.

    This one really bothers me to even say we have to make it the official language. This is the United States of America and the we speak English.

    It is ok to print and offer instructions in other languages as it is a help to those that wish to be Americans as I would be desperate to find English signs and instruction if I were in Germany or France etc, But... If I planned to stay there I better darn well learn to speak the language and I feel the same way should go for here.

    School vouchers.

    Depends on what you are referring to.

    Tout reform that would lower insurances.

    Absolutely correct. Insurance fraud and the lawyers that prey upon insurance is rampant.

    There must be specific qualifications, proof, and limits placed on many types of insurance claims. Simply finding a doctor to say you hurt your back in an accident and filling out a form is ridiculous. There must be rules in place to hold those doctors accountable also.

    In addition, what about legislation that would give municipalities much more control over their finances and how they provide for their services without union intervention.

    I have answered this type of question before.

    While there are hard working people that belong to unions we cannot throw them out in the cold.

    I do believe however that open bidding to both union and non union is needed desperately and the local municipality can vote on the bid they take not leave it in the hands of one person to make the decision.

    In fact, what about Right to Work legislation.

    A Right to Work law guarantees that no person can be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join or not to join, nor to pay dues to a labor union. Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act affirms the right of states to enact Right to Work laws. I agree with this fully. It is the persons choice if they wish to join a union or not and should never be the factor of if they are hired or not and this must be protected by law.

    A realistic Voter Initiative method that will give Rhode Islanders the right to resend, enact or introduce legislation etc…

    This is something that we desperately need in Rhode Island. Because there are very few Reps that meet often and regularly with their constituents, I will be doing that if elected, the normal everyday Joe and Jane need a way to be able to introduce legislation that directly affects them. Rhode Island politics have more than proven that we are not what is important at the State House.

    I hope this answers your questions.

    Saturday, March 29, 2014 Report this

  • jtaxassoc

    Ed, community base housing whereas recipients would be given the responsibility of maintaining every aspect of the facility including furthering education and job training that could be paid back via payroll deductions overtime. In addition, there must be random drug testing and military protocol etc. If some so and so has one child after another the last thing I want to do is give her a low interest mortgage etc.

    As for English only, we spend $millions annually just here in Rhode Island on printed materials, interpreters, and bilingual education that must end…

    In addition, government labor unions and their loyalists are throwing taxpayers under the bus everyday. I say privatize everything, throw the contracts in the waste basket, and start over period… I'm glad you agree with me on the other issues but your answers were a little soft in which we need emphatic representation that has that the courage to tell it the way it is.

    As for school vouchers compensate parents who wish to place their children wherever they want including home schooling, again privatization is and will always be the solution… Thank you for getting back, Peter Filippi

    Sunday, March 30, 2014 Report this