Now What?

The election is over and we've gone back to our "normal" lives, dealing with the day to day things that keep us going: family, work, bills, holidays, tragedy, happy moments and the like.

Many have congratulated me on a job well-done with my candidacy for NYS Assemblyman. The election, which I recognized as a tough one prior to running, was sort of fun while grueling at the same time. I always enjoyed speaking with people when I could and laughing at those who shouted at me. I remember one fellow in Greenburgh telling me we need to stop big oil. I told him here in NY, we don't have "big oil" at all. "Oh," was his response. Then I asked him what he did for a living and he said he was unemployed. I went on to tell him how I planned to help those like himself by helping business create jobs. When his wife exited the supermarket, he said he would think about voting for me. That was good.

In the end, I received 12K-plus votes of confidence and want to thank everyone who helped me and believed in me. While I never say never, now that I've paid the Board of Election fines, I doubt I'll be back as a candidate. It was disappointing to see "major" candidates get all the help and lose. While I received nothing from the Republican party, I like to imagine what could have been had I gotten some real assistance from them. The real trouble with the Republican Party is they think they need to work the "big seats", ignoring the "little", local ones. It's the other way around. They need to build a base of solid, small level performers with positive track records and slowly work them into the higher positions.

I'm not going away and will see you at a meeting...

Just Vote

I just voted in the Election Primary this morning in the Town Hall on Hillside Avenue. There were no other voters there when I arrived. There were five people per table or "booth" to administer the voters. There's a new book to sign in, but still no way to verify I am who I say I am. That is a bigger issue to me than hanging chads, eye recognition and so on.

After signing in, one of the attendants said rather loudly, that I could not wear the t-shirt I had on in there. I intentionally wore it to see if someone would protest or just let it go. I offered to take it off.

Well, she wouldn't let it go. "Are you a democrat?" I asked politely. She turned away. Then she turned back and said again, "You can't wear that shirt in here." "Why not?" I asked. "Because you can't," was her clever retort. "It's political campaigning which is not allowed by law," said a second woman. "Are you also a democrat?" I asked her only to receive the parental/teacher stare we've all gotten when we were suspect of doing something wrong. "That doesn't matter," she responded, "you just can't wear it here." I told them that I am not a candidate in this primary so it shouldn't matter." To which I received folded arms by both and a "Hrrummp!" grunt from one. I was hoping they would harp on this discussion to see if MY first amendment rights would be violated. We didn't get that far. A male poll worker intervened and said the shirt appeared to be from an older campaign and is not a violation. Ooh, he must be a republican...

It always seems to be okay to invoke some irrelevant point when trying to stop a republican from saying or doing something. Those same people seem to continuously allow a democrat to "skate" when the shoe is on their foot. It's a sad state of affairs. Many have seemed to lose their moral compass from the smallest of issues to the largest. If the arguments are so weak or shallow that you must deflect from the real issue by masking with another, perhaps you should take an honest look at the logic. It's time to change from this tired model that served our multiracial president so well in Chicago but has no place in Westchester, New York, or America.

Back to what I hoped would be casting my vote. I had to take a marker, tied to a corrugated plastic table and mark off a rather large sheet of paper with my candidate choices to feed into the machine. I take issue with this as it ultimately removes my privacy of the act of voting for all to see as I walked across the floor to the automatic scanner, where I was instructed to feed my ballot. Everyone could see my votes if they were really interested. The other issues are the costs surrounding the process: the scanners need electricity to run, the lever-type machines did not; the large printed paper ballot must cost a fortune a) because anything governmentally purchased is usually overpaid for; and b) it was on a relatively high grade and weight of paper; required markers to actually cast your vote and finally,  had a cash register type roll of paper to record each ballot cast. I was next required to feed the paper ballot into the scanner. I was told after the scanner took the page, that it keeps the ballots so if a recount were required, the count would be accurate. Wow, now I'm voting for recounts. How ridiculous.

Do some homework and study the candidates. Don't just study their party allegiance, but read about, talk to and engage them. Don't try to shout them down or shut them up. Hear what they offer and then try engaging them in a discussion if you disagree. Vote honestly based on what you've discussed with them. Maybe that means crossing party lines. Maybe it even means foregoing one of your beliefs to support another. This year, make you vote a good vote, not just a cursory one because a party faithful coerced you into voting the party line. Regardless, please just vote.

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal, 

or by sending a check or money order to 

Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Ground Zero Mosque

As the debate continues over whether or not to allow the mosque at Ground Zero, it’s interesting to hear the reasons both pro and con. As an intelligent person, I agree that the pro-mosque supporters are correct that they have the right to build. I also feel that everyone who wants to build on their own property should be able to within the confines of their zoning and ordinance requirements. But having the right to do something and doing what's right are two completely different things.

As a 9-11 responder, however, I have a much different point of view. I’m being told to tolerate another religion and to be more tolerant of their feelings. But if I’m supposed to be more sensitive, why aren't these Muslims being tolerant and sensitive to my and other responders and victim’s desires? 9-11 was a bigger attack and trauma upon Americans than Pearl Harbor.

Examples have been given that it would not be illegal for Japan to erect a massive Shinto shrine near Pearl Harbor. Being a compassionate and understanding people, they have chosen not to. Why? Because they were sensitive to the feeling of area people and America in general. Similarly, when the Catholic Church was planning to build a center for nuns near the site of a former concentration camp in Poland, the Pope intervened. He didn’t tout the church’s “right” to build, but rather repected the painful feelings of the residents. And at no point did he try to denigrate these feelings.

There is no question that the Muslims involved here are not representative of all Muslims in America. Arguments have been made about hallowed ground, Ground Zero participation – the wheel assembly of one of the jets crashed into this building. These same arguments have been eagerly dismissed by others. Apparently, we are witnessing a moral decline of our values in America. And, having our President weigh in on such an obviously local issue, has highlighted that he, as well as others, is not the cause of our downward spiral, but rather the culmination of it.

I would ask the Muslim proponents of the Mosque to do the right thing and seek a different location for their facility. No one is arguing their legal rights. While this may be construed as a Sharia victory, to build a mosque on the land of the conquered enemy, I prefer to think that the congregation and their leaders will opt for another location. In fact, I would hope that other Muslims outside of their congregation would push for this as well.

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal, 

or by sending a check or money order to 

Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Constitutional Convention - Let's Not Do It

In theory, a Constitutional Amendment is a great idea whose time is past due. In reality, however, the bastardization, partisanship and corruption of the process we currently face will make it impossible to get good, "clean", unencumbered representatives and the well-intentioned change we desire. It just won't work (& I do want it to). I'll explain.

In order for a constitutional convention or constitutional change to take place, the requisite representatives would need to be ELECTED. This requires campaigning. Campaigning is typically reliant upon money and exposure. I know this all too well as I am currently going through this as a candidate for the NYS Assembly (feel free to donate). There are no campaign finance laws that I'm aware of, anywhere in the US, to control the spending for this type of campaign. Consequently, special interest groups, corporations, current politicians, criminals, ex-cons, your wacko neighbor, etc., are able to run, spending unlimited amounts of money toward a campaign. And, anything goes, such as lying, incorrect information, and personal denigration and insults without recourse.  

Based on the pathetic responses we see at every election, the "wrong" person could get elected for this historic event, based on the campaign spending and exposure a candidate gets. As an example of how bad things are, 700+ or so people voted my last school budget election (Not bad, huh? Well, there are over 10,000 eligible voters!). It's no wonder our schools taxes are the biggest chunk of our tax bills. BTW, this lack of campaign finance control applies to the local, state and federal levels of a constitutional convention with no proposals for a change seeking regulation. Once these people are elected, there is no way to oversight of them as they create changes. Or, more importantly, as they vote for changes that should be in the best interest of all of us all, as they are not going to be up for reelection.

The city of Yonkers has cleaned house with term limits and while it's true you can also lose good people, we are all suffering with the alternative. I'd rather lose a few good people than having to suffer with most of the people we keep getting stuck with. NYC Mayor Bloomberg also proved the point by "buying" a third term in a normally term-limited two-year term.

Our constitutions are good, solid, time-endured documents that are not living documents. When people say appointments for judgeships don't really matter to us, they don't. At least, they don't until the balance is upset. As we are slowly witnessing, many of the same liberal judges are legislating from the bench, ignoring the constitution. It is the same social engineering from the bench that we see with a one-party democratic-party driven system; and the republicans have not proven to be much better but at least offer hope and change - heh, where have I heard that before?

There is more to it than what I've laid out here, but this touches on the highlights of some of the negative possibilities. Since there is no way to control the campaigning and outcome of the election and the decisions made by those elected, there is really only one viable recourse: vote in our regular elections. More importantly, vote the incumbents, professional politicians out of office and support term limits.

We don't need a constitutional convention to change the status quo into something most people desire: a better government with less spending, less taxes, less bureaucracy, less waste and real representation, not social engineering. If everyone they know told five people, or even more, about good candidates and why they should vote for them, we'd be in a better place. Of course, it's also reliant on their getting out to vote.

It really is simple: Vote!

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal, 

or by sending a check or money order to 

Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: Cap and Tax

Did you know New York already has “Cap & Trade” aka Cap and Tax? It is called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – or RGGI. How did this get by most of us, slipping under the radar? Even though “Cap & Trade” has been stalled at the federal level, the RGGI scheme has been up and running for two years right here. This “Cap & Trade” program has already cost ratepayers across New York and nine other Northeastern states over $660 MILLION! As your Assemblyman for the 92nd District, I will work to eliminate this additional taxing scheme and look to develop incentives for everyone to use less energy and more green energy products without further taxes.

This “Cap & Trade” energy tax will cost New Yorkers more jobs and continue to cause energy prices to skyrocket. This is just what we need, higher energy prices. The states are now the battleground for “Cap & Trade”. If we don’t stop it now it will spread to other states across the country, some of which are already poised to adopt their own regional “Cap & Trade” programs, and our country’s already battered economy will be severely damaged for years to come.

You can help to fight this in New York City on September 8 – the date of the next secretive RGGI auction. The RGGI "Cap and Trade scheme operates in secret - a clandestine operation where you and I are told we have no right to know who is trading. Nor do we know how much the RGGI bureaucrats are making on the backs of taxpayers. This is ridiculous! That’s why we need to fight this “Cap & Trade” scam now.

There is an opportunity to send a message to the RGGI bureaucrats and the rest of the nation that we will not stand for a job-killing “Cap & Trade” energy tax! Join the Protest for New York’s Cap & Trade Program - WHEN: Wednesday, September 8 at 11:00am 
WHERE: RGGI Offices, 90 Church St., New York City.

New Jersey has already started a revolt and you can read about it by going here:

http://nonjcapandtrade.com/?page_id=23

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal 

or by sending a check or money order to 

Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

What’s Left?

New York's Legislature and Governor saddled New Yorkers with 243 new taxes and tax increases. It's time to stop this tax insanity. And, come the first of the year, we will be getting the tail-end of the tax double-whammy when the Bush Tax Cuts expire.

You may not be aware of what is happening with the Bush Tax Cuts, but they are set to expire as of the first of the year; all of them. Many in the media have tried to paint anything and everything that former President Bush did as bad. Was paying no taxes or less taxes bad? You’d think so by their accounts. In a nutshell, if the Bush Tax Cuts expire, everyone’s taxes will be increased by approximately 10%. It’s not going to matter that much for the wealthy. However, people who currently are in the lowest tax bracket, and/or pay no taxes, will now be paying at least 10% in taxes. This includes students, part-time workers and lower-skilled workers.

President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid say they want to renew the Bush tax cuts, but only partially. Some leading economists say their plan is a sham and may cause a serious recession or even a depression. Three leading Senate Democrats are breaking from Obama's plan and have called for a full and complete renewal of the Bush tax cuts. Finally, some legislators have stopped drinking the KoolAid. Pelosi and Reid plan a congressional vote as early as September on the Bush tax cuts. I’m not holding my breath for them to do the right thing based on what I’ve seen from them so far.

The Bush tax cuts can be renewed, but millions of Americans must have their voices heard by the major media and most importantly, Congress. Let your voice be heard. Let’s preserve the Bush Tax Cuts.

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign through his website and Pay Pal 

or by sending a check or money order to 

Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Let The Economy Fix Itself

When we talk about the economy, and whether or not we are experiencing a recovery, it garners a range of responses. But if you follow the business media, you’ll notice that corporate profits are increasing. Companies are amassing cash and yet, the unemployment rate is still increasing. Evidently, these same companies, already used to doing more with less, are still not hiring. The Washington Post stated the recession refuses to go away. Why could that be? I'm not sure but the National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed our Great Recession is over. Hmm. Tell that to people still out of work.


Today, businesses replace equipment and inventory, but they are not hiring new workers. Advanced technology is the only investment companies are making. What can they accomplish by doing this you might wonder? They can replace more people and free them up to work on other projects. Typically, that would be considered progress. That is if new projects are being undertaken. But they’re not.


Increasing production and reinvesting in our businesses is what will help our economy recovery. The economy can fix itself if government would simply stop interfering with it and superficially co-opting it through phony stimulus packages. Last year’s trillion-dollar dose of government help infused into the coffers of companies too big to fail just wasn't enough. If we want a quick indicator as to what or when the economy is working, watch the retail sector. Retail demand is the most obvious barometer of how well the economy or confidence in it actually is.


Most business owners prefer tax cuts and a lessening of unreasonable regulations to help the businesses. While I agree with their opinion, there must be concurrent spending cuts or we’ll not accomplish a true stimulus and the deficit will just get worse. I had a colleague today ask me, “Okay, I agree with cuts. But now tell me what you’re going to cut and how is it going to impact me? What do I have to lose?” I explained that just the waste in budgets is a good place to start and the abuse in our social services sector would be the next waste-ridden place to go after. Then there’s the Wick’s Law mandates that are costing government projects one-third more in costs and regulations. One example in the Town of Greenburgh is a fifty-foot section of sidewalk that is being put in for a cost of $238,000. Wow!


Our economy is not recovering, unemployment nationally/NY is stuck around 18/10 percent respectively and if we just got government out of the way, left the economy alone, it would correct itself. In short order, the clouds would part, angels would sing and businesses would start spending their profits, reinvesting in themselves, taking on new projects and most importantly for New Yorkers, begin hiring again. But that’s not happening. The economy is not being left alone. The rules from the top are unintelligible and unpredictable. When New Yorkers, as employees, are potential threats because of Labor Department regulations, businesses have little confidence to hire. Our governor and more importantly, our legislature have mirrored the actions of our President and saddled our entrepreneurs and businesses with a larger burden via taxes and regulations. They are now being forced to carry the big companies that we deemed to big to fail. So, what are we doing for them?


Three arenas: health insurance, financial regulation and impending new taxes have taken the wind out of any economic “sail” that had any chance of working. The 2,300 page Dodd-Frank finance regulatory act contains 243 new formal rule-makings by eleven various federal agencies. Social Security and Medicare are teetering precariously. There’s talk of a value-added tax in addition to all of our other taxes. C’mon! All of this only increases a businesses vulnerability to government. It freezes business in a place that forces them to become a bigger and bigger loser the longer they stay in New York. Government should get out of the way or they will have the opposite affect on the economy, stimulating a gray or underground economy. And what then of jobs? What then of taxes and revenue? In short, investors face a regime of uncertainty to an extent that few have experienced in this country. Uncertainty, created by Obama's legislative "successes", perpetuated by Albany, can only be compared to the Depression and World War II. We are quickly about to surpass Greece's economic failures. It must change!


I need your vote on November 2nd. Help me change Westchester and ultimately improve New York. It’s time to make New York the Empire State again. Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

Thomas Bock is the endorsed candidate of the Republican and Conservative parties for the 92nd Assembly District seat. He can be reached at info@Bock2010. Visit his website at www.Bock2010.com or his blog at www.electtombock.blogspot.com. You can contribute to his campaign by sending a check or money order to Elect Tom Bock, PO Box 1098, 405 Tarrytown Road, White Plains, NY 10607.

Government Just Keeps Failing

This should be read and understood by Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Socialists

and everyone who believes government, especially big government is the answer.

   

The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. After 234 years to get it right, it is BROKE!

Social Security was established in 1935. After 74 years to get it right, it is BROKE!

Fannie Mae was established in 1938. After 71 years to get it right, it is BROKE! 

War on Poverty started in 1964. After 45 years to get it right; trillion of dollars of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and it hasn’t worked. 

Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. After 44 years to get it right, they are BROKE!

Freddie Mac was established in 1970. After 39 years to get it right, it is BROKE! 

The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. After 32 years to get it right, it is an abysmal FAILURE. 

Government has FAILED in every "government service" they have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars on member items, special interests and themselves. 

Americans know government cannot be trusted to run anything, especially a health care system like the one recently passed and being forced upon us. We should vote to "opt-out" of government run health care.

Thanks to Todd Nelson for sharing this with me.

Remarkable Arrogance - Let's Invent Tomorrow!

Have you noticed our elected officials know what's better for us than we do? Are you tired and disgusted about being marginalized? I am. Here's one example at the federal level.

This past Tuesday saw Missourians overwhelmingly vote and pass a measure, exempting residents from President Obama’s costly health care law mandate. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, flatly dismissed the pelucid message from 667,000 Missourians. When he was asked what it means that voters in Missouri would vote against the federal mandate, Mr. Gibbs said: “Nothing.”

Many of us find this kind of condescension and political deafness from the Obama administration not only unbelievable, but insulting. Even though the White House has shown a blatant disregard for the votes cast by Missourians as ‘nothing’, it shows just how out-of-touch the Obama Administration and Democrats are with average Americans.

I am running for NY State Assembly because I am tired of being marginalized and dismissed because I am too something-or-another or not important enough to be a loud-enough voice (read: vote). I am tired of our politicians finding new ways to spend the precious monies I’m forced to relinquish via taxes (a different sort of ‘gun’). Help me Invent Tomorrow!

I need your financial support as well as your votes. There are two democratic challengers who must primary or exhaust each other until one of them quits. Regardless, they have both bragged that they each have the luxury of spending $100k on this campaign. This doesn’t sound like the kind of people who can feel the pain of anyone in our state who is suffering.

I’m an average guy with a small home in Greenburgh. Greenburgh has seen double-digit tax increases for a long time. It’s time for this to stop before the only people left are my democratic opponents and their rich friends and the social services supported poor. Help me change the way New York is run. Many people say they wish they could vote for somebody good for a change. Well, that time is upon us. I will be good in and for Albany, and I will be good for you! Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

www.Bock2010.com

info@Bock2010.com

ElectTomBock

PO Box 1098

405 Tarrytown Road

White Plains, NY 10607

Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

We know that many politicians pander to their constituents. It’s not limited to only one party. I can point a finger toward many politicians and know I'm correct about their pandering. The one thing we continually hear from many of the current administrations from the local to the federal levels is the need for a stimulus package to create jobs. It’s a concept that seems on target. But is this what we really need or are they pandering?

I don’t believe the previous stimulus packages have had the desired effect. “Real” jobs have not been created, because “real” jobs have staying power. Every locale would be happy to have jobs, but those developed through these pork-laden packages cannot sustain a family, much less have the necessary payoff needed to grow a community. Often, not only do the positions created have little value in terms of a community return, but they are awarded to select people who may not truly be in need. An example of one such job is a music director for one community.  Huh?

Other examples of a few grants that are available are 1) $2 million to retrofit or replace 575 diesel engines on public vehicles. The “goal”, which I interpret as an excuse, is to reduce emissions. What vehicles qualify and by when does it need to be completed, if ever? 2) $662k to rehabilitate and paint the steel gates of dams. Which ones? What is the criteria? Shouldn’t the requisite maintenance for these already have been budgeted? 3) And finally, $25k to hire a music director. Just one? Let’s all sing along… Later, we can have a group hug! It’s pandering at it’s best and worst!

The real question is whether or not this type of spending will actually stimulate the economy or is simply more pork? Contrary to what we’re always told, there is no long-term growth with these expenditures, only a very short term and limited impact. And, its not that the efforts won’t accomplish anything, but like any position that is created with federal monies, once the funding runs out, it’s up to the locale to fund the position or let it expire. These types of pork are a fleeting, feel-good, Three-Card-Monty type of shell game. They do not drive the creation of new and or additional jobs. Small business does. Keynesianism simply won’t work as it is continually forced upon us. We should abandon it completely!

Many who support the Keynesian model believe government can better spend our money than we can. Those in government who like this model believe big government can allocate massive sums of money toward their pet projects and the special interest groups they’ve relied on for votes. Only it doesn’t work. For instance, when a union backs a candidate, they typically make a donation to “their” candidates campaign with members’ money and then they “own” the candidate. All of the candidates will say that they are beholden to no group and will act in a fair and even-handed way when it becomes time to vote for against their donors issue. That’s crap!

Depending on which set of figures you prefer to believe, unemployment is at either about 10% or 18%. I tend to believe the 18% number because there are many unemployed who have given up looking for a job. Yes, there are jobs out there but they’re not being advertised as readily because businesses are afraid to commit to hiring people because of the uncertainty around us, mostly in the form of tax increases. We have issues in the Middle East with Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Al Qaeda, Hamas and more. We have a health care bill that promises to cost businesses more than they can afford. It whittles away at private options and pushes a public option. It’s loaded with pork, and waste promises to be rampant. Unemployment insurance has risen, numerous other costs to business have increased, fuel costs are constantly rising and gasoline has creeped over the $3 mark and promises to be back up to $4+/gallon shortly. Property taxes are rising, seniors are leaving, our kids are going out of state to school and can’t afford to come back, even with college degrees. And these aren’t fluff degrees like those of philosophy and archeology. Trickle-down bureaucracy doesn’t work. Jobs work!

Help me fix Albany. Help me fix New York. Dare to change the way you’ve been thinking and what you’ve been doing. It hasn’t been working for a long time. Out of control government spending, record high deficits, an ever-growing federal debt, increased welfare spending cannot produce an economic boon. It’s time to think differently. Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

I pledge to work toward lowering taxes for businesses and individuals. I pledge to work toward having our seniors be able to afford to live here on their fixed income and still be able to splurge once in a while. I pledge to work toward having our kids be able to live here when they come back after college. I pledge to work toward closing the budget gaps and having a balanced, on-time budget. We need some grown-ups in Albany! I don’t want to be elected and then stay there forever. Richard Brodsky was in office for 28 years! Tom Abinanti is in office for 20 years! Haven’t we had enough of these kinds of politicians? I think it’s time we dare to change Albany; for Westchester’s sake. Expect more! Let’s Invent Tomorrow!

www.Bock2010.com

www.ElectTomBock.blogspot.com

info@Bock2010.com

Immigration: Semantics or Support and Defend

As a Native American, but not an American Indian Native American, I am offended by the assault on
my country by the illegal aliens that are here in violation, disregard and contempt of our laws and sovereignty. I applaud the recent change in the Arizona law that added a layer of state penalties to what already exists under federal law. I only wish our own New York State legislators had the backbone to follow suit. They don’t and it’s one reason I’m running for the assembly seat. Arizona’s was a desperate cry for help from the federal government that was and is still being ignored. None other than our president is leading the brouhaha that some politicians have falsely created over this new legal update. This is no different than when he made the comment that Boston Police Officers were stupid because they arrested the professor for breaking into his own house when he refused their request for identification.

Our politicians, other leaders and even foreigners who are simply publicity whores are not acting in the
best interest of our country. By the way, I’m not looking to insult prostitutes when I mention whores, whose chosen profession, in most places, is also illegal. But the question remains, why are our politicians being so dishonest and so openly anti-America? Could it be, as some have suggested, that once these illegal aliens are given what Congressional candidate Jim Russell has coined as “Obamnesty”, they will shortly thereafter receive driver’s licenses, along with the ability to vote? I believe the answer is, “Yes!” Once they can vote, they will assuredly drift toward voting for Democratic Party candidates, whose leadership validated the illegal actions to permit the “Obamnesty”.

When a politician takes office, they swear an oath to that office. Here is the complete text for any number of federal offices, and I have made “bold” what I believe relevant to this argument: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.” In New York, it is slightly
different: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the
constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of (position), according to the best of my ability.”

I find it interesting that while Arizona’s pleas for help went unheeded, everyone at the federal level turned a blind eye to the crime, gangs and kidnappings that were running rampant for over a decades’ time near the border and beyond. Following the exact tenets put forth under the Constitution of the United States, Arizona legislators followed to the letter, the oaths they swore to uphold when assuming office. A fact largely dismissed by “pro-illegals” advocates is that when an American travels legally to a foreign country, they are required to carry identification and provide it when requested by the authorities. This being the case, should this not be a requirement of the global citizenry the president is so desperate to reduce our country to? So Mr. President, since you are no longer a community organizer, and in fact 

our president, how about acting presidential? Start securing our borders, bring deportation proceedings against those people who are here illegally and then you can criticize Arizona.

The violations of trust and respect for our country has been a long, on-going issue that won’t be resolved overnight. The president didn’t create what is going on but he is certainly exacerbating it. Arizonians, tired of being ignored by a system of corrupt individuals who are running our government into the ground, took action. Like a schoolyard of spoiled brats who complained to the teacher when they were finally exposed, they tried to spin the truth into something it wasn’t.

Finally, what a welcome relief to see legislators with “a set” who are willing to take action and do the right thing for their constituents! Here’s a link to read the actual law. You’ll be able to see that nowhere in the law is the scenario the president so wrongfully touts about getting arrested while buying your kids ice cream because you don’t have your wallet with your ID. Please, read it for yourself:
h t t p : / / w w w. a z l e g . g o v /l e g t e x t / 4 9 l e g / 2 r / b i l l s /sb1070s.pdf

One more interesting bill that Arizona is proposing, and it’s been largely ignored by the lamestream media, as well, is their House Bill 2281, which amends Section 15-843 of Arizona Revised Statutes relating to School Curriculum. It prohibits a school district or charter school from including courses or classes that either promote the overthrow of the United States government or promote resentment toward a race or class of people, as well as banning ethnic studies and promoting equality. Wow! I’m liking these guys more and more.

Thomas Bock, a Systems Administrator, is a candidate for the 92nd New York State Assembly in Albany. He is a life-long resident of Elmsford/Town of Greenburgh and a 37-year member and former Chief of the Elmsford Fire Department. You can read more on ElectTomBock. com; ElectTomBock.blogspot.com and can reach him by directing email to ElectTomBock@gmail.com.

Why I'm a Candidate for New York State Assembly-92nd District

My name is Tom Bock, and I live in the Fulton Park neighborhood in the Town of Greenburgh, NY. I was just asked again to describe myself and thought I should re-post a little bit about me. I did a similar post when I was running for County Legislator. So, here goes...


I am a life-long Greenburgh resident and when I got married, twenty-two years ago, I moved to Fulton Park with my wife, Sue. We had the dreams that most young couples have when they are starting out and began to plan our future. We worked non-stop on our fix-er-upper house for a year, slowly making it nicer for us. It's still not done. Many projects have been put on hold as we continue to subsidize the local, state and federal governments more and more. My son, Cameron, now 18 years old, is quite an accomplished musician and hopes to pursue his education in music, following in the footsteps of his teacher and mentor, my dad, John. My parents still live in Greenburgh as well.

I've been a volunteer firefighter in the Elmsford F.D., for 37 years and am still active in firefighting, technical rescue and hazardous materials responses. In 1989 and 1990 I served as the Chief of the department. On a County level, I have been a member of the Westchester County Hazardous Materials Response Team and am a co-founder of the Westchester County Technical Rescue Team. Both of these teams are all-volunteer and serve to protect the entire County and it's guests. I am a director on both the Westchester County Association of Fire Chiefs and the Westchester County Volunteer Firefighter's Association.

When Hurricane Katrina struck, I organized a one-weekend fund-raising drive through the fire service and the Chiefs' Association. We raised and distributed over $180,000 to the emergency services in the Harrison Fire District in Mississippi. I also helped coordinate a delivery of $35k in Christmas gifts to this same Gulf region with our great corporate neighbor, Modell's Sporting Goods.

I am also proud to be a founding Board member for the Just Imagine Making Miracles Yours (J.I.M.M.Y.) Foundation, of Somers, NY, helping terminally and seriously ill children and their families. I have also been involved with the Burn Center at the Westchester County Medical Center.

I responded with many of my fire service colleagues to NYC when we were attacked on September 11, 2001. As a result of my involvement in the fire service, I was asked to participate on the (volunteer) Westchester County Weapons of Mass Destruction Planning Committee and the Special Operations Oversight Committee. These very important organizations work to help Westchester's residents and guests be safe and be prepared for many types of emergencies that we never dreamed of before 9-11. 

Like most of you, I am disgusted with the exorbitant tax increases we've been punished with over the years. We have seen patronage positions given out without regard to need, expertise, or expense. The abuses and waste are pervasive and needs to be stopped! I want to work to end these abuses, reduce the size of government and return accountability and responsibility to the people of New York! I will do my best to help bring business and jobs to New York, reduce taxes for individuals and business and revamp the never-ending drain of subsidized housing that helps developers profit and keeps individuals from owning their own home, whether it's a co-op, condo or house.

I'm running in this election for New York State Assembly 92nd District to try and take back control of our Albany government. I am not a career politician. Richard Brodsky, who is a career politician, has been there for years and I believe is part of the Albany debacle. In fact, I never considered running for a full-time position for anything until Albany began the relentless tax assault upon us. Albany should treat our neighborhoods, the fabric of our society, with respect. That hasn't happened in years!

I can't sit back and hope others will step up and do something. I am stepping up to the challenges we face and will work to represent all the neighborhoods in the 92nd District, which includes Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant, White Plains, and Yonkers. I don't have every answer for every issue. My opponents will and they will be very slick ones at that. 


If you feel your voice has been ignored, if you are tired of being abused and if you want to see honesty and accountability in New York's Government, help me to help us fight back. Join my campaign to help and vote for me.

Together we can make a difference.

Thank you.

Tom

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Rejuvenating Good Government!

Tom Bock
ElectTomBock.com
email: ElectTomBock@gmail.com
264 Old Kensico Road
(Greenburgh)
White Plains, NY 10607
914-437-2635

Government Salt - We Can Do Better!

   Recently, in practically every facet of the news media, a serious and life threatening issue has been brought to light. You may be thinking that some group has been discriminated against, or performing more abortions or even workplace deaths! Nope. It’s that Americans in general, and New Yorkers specifically, here it comes: eat too much salt! OMG! Too much salt. How did that happen? Who was in charge here? Can we enact a law to limit salt content? C'mon, let's go people. Let's get a microphone and stick it in front of Chuck Schumer to hear what he has to say.

   Okay, hold on just a second. You might not be able to tell, but I'm being facetious here. Not only do I think this salt intake issue has gotten out of hand, the media is covering it like a plane crash of school children going to help aids victims. Not only is this not a big deal, who cares how much salt I eat? Sure, you can argue that salt is not good for you in general and that too much salt is unhealthy. So? Smoking is no good for you but the government doesn't tell you how many cigarettes to smoke. Although, I am more than a little fearful that that might be next. 

   The first issue I have with the government's role is that government is supposed to protect its citizens. That's the primary responsibility of government. I always believed that meant on a federal level to keep America from being attacked from our enemies. To that end, I disagree with the President's nuclear disarmament plan, especially with the ever-growing list of crackpots getting more and more nuclear weaponry. And, I'm not even talking about how the panty-bomber was able to get on an airplane and then failed, thankfully, to blow it up, only burning his groin. While I cringe even thinking about that, how embarrassing will that be for him when he gets to prison?

The second issue then, is how much protection should our government render and to what extent? At the state and local levels I believe government should make sure we are safe and reasonably protected in our neighborhoods and homes. So when government officials, unable to pass new laws because we already have more than enough, begin to harp on superfluous things like my salt intake, I get mad! Instead of worrying about displaying calories on menus for overweight people in fast food restaurants, where they shouldn’t be anyway; instead of worrying if I am wearing a bicycle helmet when cycling (not to be confused with motorcycling helmets); instead of worrying about whether or not a hair-stylist trims my beard (it is actually against the law), how about focusing on some real issues that might not get a TV camera to focus on you.

How about securing our borders? How about eliminating wasteful social programs and reducing my taxes and focusing on performance of basic services and a diminution of the less essential services? How about a tax moratorium on new businesses and businesses moving to NY State? How about simply making NY State more business friendly? How about giving tangible financial breaks and incentives to people who volunteer their time to help others and their communities? How about term limits? How about a ceiling on how much a state employee can make in their position in overtime? How about a use it or lose policy with regards to state employee vacation and sick time?  How about doing away with the unfunded mandates that are crippling our villages, towns and cities? How about a NY State Constitutional amendment to ensure a balanced, on-time budget before taxes can be raised?

If these questions make sense to you, I ask you to vote for me this November for New York State Assembly - 92nd District. The seat is currently held by Richard Brodsky. He's been there so long, I can't even tell you who was there before him! It's time for a change and to clean house. It's time to take back New York from the politicians and special interests and give it back to the people! Help me to make the Empire State great again!

Can "Needless" Lowey Be Beaten?

I believe the answer is finally, yes! I received a mailing from her, probably the groundwork for other, future mailings as we approach the November Elections, where she claims she is lowering taxes for Westchester residents. Wow! It's an amazing piece of (false) advertising. If she keeps saying it enough, eventually even she will be able to believe it. But you shouldn't. She is one of the premier tax-and-spend representatives we have. 

The Republicans should be able to pick up a few political seats this November. Previous elections have been in favor of the Democrats. It's proven counter-productive, removing balance and proportionality from the creation of law and the tax-and-spend part of responsible and responsive government. We see this in many cities, towns and villages. My first hand account of a one-party debacle in high gear is the Town of Greenburgh. To read more, go to: ABetterGreenburgh.blogspot.com.

The Republican field of candidates hoping to defeat "Needless" Lowey has been huge. The order of appearance at the first Forum held for these potential challengers was Alexander Block, Mark Rosen, Patrick Whalen, Jim Russell, Paul Wasserman,  and Patrick Gillespie. During the forum, Patrick Whalen surprised everyone when he announced at the end of his half hour speech that his "advisors" recommended it wasn't the right time for him, so he dropped out. You're killing me Pat - why wait so long and drag this out if you plan to quit?Since then, Mark Rosen also dropped out siting his possible military reserve recall. Of the current batch of candidates, the only two viable candidates seem to be Jim Russell and Paul Wasserman.

I think Rosen may have seen the race as too difficult even though he seemed to have the unofficial backing of the Westchester Republican party. They circled the wagons and dismissed the other candidates. It was evident at the forum held in Hastings. When Rosen spoke, they were all in the room, then half the room disappeared when the others spoke. Even if the deal was done, shouldn't the party faithful have given the courtesy of listening to all the candidates? Certainly.

When Russell and Wasserman spoke, they spoke of issues. And, Russell had more of a tangible command of the issues. The republicans should back Russell. But, they'll probably go with Wasserman, the former democrat-now-turned-republican, because he has money and can raise more. Russell doesn't have that going for him. They never ask what someone brings to the party and what the party can do for them, only how much money they have. That's a sad commentary on our political process, regardless of party.

In the end, between T.E.A. party-goers, frustrated Americans, dishonest politicians, politicians who beat their wives and so much more, it's time for Albany to get some real change, positive role models and a tax system that offers not only to take huge amounts of your money, but to use it wisely.

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

This one is a little different......

Two Different Versions....

Two Different Morals  

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OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.    

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Be responsible for yourself!

 

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MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

 

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

 

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

 

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

 

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

 

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

 

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green...'

 

ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the aunt’s house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome.” Then Rev. Jeremiah Wright has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

 

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

 

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of thegrasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

 

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

 

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

 

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because thegrasshopper doesn’t maintain it.

 

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

 

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood.

 

The entire Nation collapses, bringing the rest of the free world with it.

 

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Be careful how you vote in 2010.

 

I’ve sent this to you because I believe that you are an ant, not a grasshopper! Make sure that you pass this on to otherants.

 Don’t bother sending it on to any grasshoppers because they wouldn’t understand it, anyway.