Berkeley secedes from the union (or attempts to)

[eagl]

Not sure if this was already discussed, but I didn't see anything in here on it so...

I think what Berkeley REALLY wants is to secede from the union.  They're certainly trying hard to get the military to react.  Fortunately the military is being adult about this, but some in congress are working on a way to give the Berkeley liberals exactly what they want...  Remove as much of the federal govt as possible from Berkeley, including millions in what are essentially pork-barrel funds for special projects there.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/07/berkeley.protests/index.html

As a military member, I don't think I'm allowed to have an opinion about this other than to point people at the USMC press releases...  So you guys can make your own decisions about a local govt and populace that twists opposing a government war policy into a recruiting office being an "invasion", with USMC "predators" roaming the streets of the town.  Apparently they want to "take back civilian control" of the military not by changing out the civilian leadership of the military, but by demonizing both the USMC and individual military members.

[Chairboy]

I disagree with what Berkeley did and the things they said were terrible, but I'm even more disturbed with the way the federal government used the threat of withholding federal funds to force compliance.  Big central government goes against everything our founding fathers stood for.

[john9001]

last i heard berkley city council changed it's mind when threatened with losing $2 million in govt funding, ( govt funding=taxpayers money give away).


$2 million for berkley and people wonder why the govt is in debt. Imagine how many "berkleys" there are in the country, all with their hands out.

[eskimo2]

Hippies are funny.

[Scatcat]

I saw a video of the pink protesters physically blocking the entrance to the USMC office.  If these would have been anti-abortion protesters, they would have been arrested and charged via the RICO act.

[eagl]

Originally posted by Chairboy
I disagree with what Berkeley did and the things they said were terrible, but I'm even more disturbed with the way the federal government used the threat of withholding federal funds to force compliance.  Big central government goes against everything our founding fathers stood for.

The alternative might be to send in federal employees with guns...  Which would you have?  The threatened funding appears to be pure pork-barrel funding, not entitlements or program money that "everyone" gets.  Seems reasonable to me...  Although I think that most pork-barrel projects ought to be in fact funded by state and local governments, it seems reasonable to me that "gift" money be withheld if the recipient fails to comply with, or actively attacks, federal government policy.

It's not much different than Montana missing out on decades worth of highway funding because they refused to implement a 55mph speed limit...  Fail to comply, and you don't get the extra money.  Simple.  Congress is applying the same principle, except here its a direct action rather than a generic rule.  Attempt to remove a very high priority federal government office from your town, and you risk losing your pork barrel funding.

And regarding those who say it's an attack against "the children" because one of those pork barrel projects is a school lunch program...  Who gives a flying fart?  The state of California has a ROBUST school meal program.  This program is not that big, and it would be trivial for the state to pick up coverage if in fact it is actually necessary and the governator thinks Berkeley really needs the money.

[AKIron]

What I heard was that the sniveling coward of a mayor profusely apologized when he thought he might lose federal funds. This should serve as an example to everyone just what sort of people these are who enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness secured by those very people they hold in contempt. I expect children to be ignorant and sometimes foolish. When adults act this way they need to be treated as children.

[Maverick]

Berkley city government has decided to recognise and support bias and discrimination officially. As such there is no reason for the Federal Government not to withhold funds in the face of a lack of equal protection and expression on the part of berkley city government.

[Trell]

I dont see a problem with the city deciding what businesses are in the city.   They do it all the time with walmarts.   If they don't want bars, strip joints walmarts or recruiting stations it should be the cities choice.

Think the people with the signs are over the top,  The government threatening them is worse.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Trell
I dont see a problem with the city deciding what businesses are in the city.   They do it all the time with walmarts.   If they don't want bars, strip joints walmarts or recruiting stations it should be the cities choice.

Think the people with the signs are over the top,  The government threatening them is worse.

Do you honestly not see the difference between Walmart and a recruiting station? What has this country come to?

[texasmom]

Originally posted by eagl
As a military member, I don't think I'm allowed to have an opinion about this other than to point people at the USMC press releases...  So you guys can make your own decisions about a local govt and populace that twists opposing a government war policy into a recruiting office being an "invasion", with USMC "predators" roaming the streets of the town.  

Eagl ~ I believe that you're ALWAYS allowed to have your own opinion on any topic. I think that sharing it with the public may be what is sometimes frowned upon.

[eagl]

Originally posted by Trell
I dont see a problem with the city deciding what businesses are in the city.   They do it all the time with walmarts.   If they don't want bars, strip joints walmarts or recruiting stations it should be the cities choice.

Think the people with the signs are over the top,  The government threatening them is worse.

Ummm....  The USMC is not a "business", and it is already fully under the control of civilian leadership.

Except for the emotional aspects, this is little different than trying to kick the US post office or the IRS office out of town.

[eagl]

As for the "government threats", that's utter BS.  Allocating federal funding is one of the explicit duties of congress.  They voted to give Berkeley these extra pork barrel funds, and it's at least as legitimate of an act to vote to halt this funding for any reason seen appropriate by congress.  That's what they DO.

If Berkeley was entitled to those funds, they'd get them.  That's why certain federal funding programs are called "entitlements".  Everyone is entitled to get that money.  The rest is gravy, subject to congressional votes on who does and does not get it.

Threats...  Some people sound like they think the government is going to roll in the BATF and shoot/arrest everyone in sight.  What a bunch of nonsense.  Taxes and funding change every time a new law is passed, so by that argument, every citizen is constantly threatened by the government every day of their lives.  Ron Paul might agree (heh) but I don't think this meets the test of emotional hysteria being put forward by those shocked (shocked I say, shocked!) that the federal government might not be willing to shovel pork barrel money at a city that is attempting to remove an official federal office while demonizing the organization's employees.

[john9001]

the city council of Berkley did not think the threats were BS, they ran like scared little rabbits.

[AKIron]

Isn't Berkeley where they installed the pot vending machines?



Nah, was LA