By Pat Orr
Apple Valley Review
Yes, it’s that time of year when middle and high schoolers get some basic political training as the annual Mud Fest takes place this Saturday at the Horseman’s Center. Teams will compete in events such as the Tug of War, Mud Mountain, Diving for Ducks and How to Smear an Opponent (I made the last one up). The six-member teams compete for the top prize: a shower when it’s over.
Call the Parks and Recreation Department for more information. Get ready for 2014 by going out to watch the mud-slinging this weekend.
Not my voter — don’t talk to me
It annoys me that I cannot reach out and email any elected representative I want in California about stupid things they intend to vote for. If you have tried, you also now realize that unless your zip code is in their District your email will be rejected with a message to go talk to your own local representative.
Hey, my local guys are conservatives and sane, it’s the whacked out liberal Dems I want to reach.
Try a phone call and if you don’t lie about your address, you won’t get through. One assumes this means that local councils and boards don’t have to let anyone speak unless they are residents of the city, town or district governed by the meeting — right?
Random info bites
News bits that are a boon to small talk presented for your enjoyment:
• Victor Valley home prices are up 24.6% over a year ago. You’re less underwater on your mortgage than you thought.
• The Town Council set Nov. 19 for the Wal-Mart vote — I still like December 31st better.
• The nuts in the Capitol are trying to pass Assembly Bill 4 through the Senate which would prohibit any California law enforcement official from honoring an “immigration hold” if the individual is to be released from custody for local offense. So a mass murderer from Mexico or Canada is free to go after positing bail in Barstow for his DUI?
• The New York Police Department is being sued because they check too many black and Hispanic individuals in their “stop and frisk” program which has dramatically reduced crime in poor neighborhoods. The problem is the NYPD just hasn’t been able to attract enough white stock brokers and insurance salespeople to stroll through high crime areas to be able to search equal numbers of non-minority individuals. The cops are so racially insensitive that they search for crime where it happens.
• About 47 percent of Americans pay no taxes. Reportedly about 48 percent of Americans will earn tax credits to help offset Obamacare premiums they can’t afford but must sign up to pay. Which mental giant is going to figure out that a tax credit isn’t worth anything if you owe no tax? I bet tax “credits” will turn into tax “rebates” — and exactly where will that money come from?
• The rate of Americans giving up their citizenship and leaving the country is double the total of 2012 in the first six months of 2013. Many are well-to-do professionals trying to protect assets.
See the item above for sample reason.
Oops
A few weeks ago I used the wrong date for an upcoming event and now they have changed the location slightly, so it’s time to restate the whole deal. The Victor Valley Republican Club will be gathering for lunch at 11:30 a.m. on Monday in the Fireside Room in the Golf Course Restaurant to hear Sheriff John McMahon speak about the prison realignment plan and its affect on our county.
Pat Orr is a local business owner, community volunteer and political junkie.