Candidate for 5th Ward City Council Seat Speaks out on Local Feudalism

Strong Mayor… weak council…weak boards

By: Brent Grafton

I am on record with the CCO (ref e-debate……….), stating that as an elected City Councilman I would focus a great deal of energy to try and re-establish the balance of power between the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch and Citizen Boards that was originally designed into our City Government. If the experiment in government that the world knows as the United States of America proves anything, it proves that however inefficient the rule of Law becomes, in the end it is the most fair and sustainable form of government. Power can only be trusted when it is executed in a system that has checks and balances.

What I believe we see in Evansville today is an attempt to rule by loyalty to a personality rather than loyalty to the Law. This is the system, that the medieval world knew as feudalism, where the King owned everything and if you were loyal to the King, not necessarily that you were competent, you would be given a fiefdom over which you would be a vassal of the King.

As Americans, we naturally feel that there is something wrong with a system that breaches the rights of some citizens to give advantage to another. We have fought many wars to leave feudal monarchy across the ocean and away from our shores. What a surprise to wake up one morning and discover it alive and well in a conservative Midwestern town !!!!

The political pile of debris we see in our community today is the consequence of a very poor execution of personal loyalty governance. The page in the playbook that appears to be missing is the one where it explains that if you are going to demand loyalty you must also be loyal. If you do not return loyalty to those who have sacrificed their competence and fiduciary responsibilities to serve at your pleasure, you will fail, and more importantly your government and your community will suffer from your failure.

The good people of our community deserve a good government. Now is the time to return to the rule of law where every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, is treated the same. No more sweet heart deals cut behind closed doors that give special advantage to a few good servants. We are a good people. We need the opportunity to work together for the greater good of the place we call home. That will only happen if we can reinstate the checks and balances that were designed into our system. Those checks and balances will help to guarantee that the people’s business be done in the public arena.

The world has changed and that change has created immense possibilities to create a much more healthy community.

EPD Activity Report July 30, 2011

The Fruits of Local Governance that chooses Headlines over Reality

Excerpts from the 2007 Article Announcing the McCurdy Deal:

“The Redevelopment Commission is expected today to approve a development agreement with Indianapolis-based Kosene-Hilliard-Kosene, which, since 2003, has developed at least six major residential projects in Indianapolis. The agreement includes an incentive package potentially worth more than $1 million.”

“Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, who announced the McCurdy deal with Kosene officials, said it amounted to “the keystone of our residential efforts in Downtown Evansville.”

“Stephen Scott, Kosene president, said the firm selected Evansville because of strong city leadership and community leaders “who through the Redevelopment Commission have taken some steps already to revitalize the Downtown. Asked about possible completion of the project, Scott replied, “People will recognize the McCurdy as a new Downtown destination by the end of’ ’08.”

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/may/15/another-joint-deal-between-developer-and-city-gove/

The Myth of Democracy is an Unsustainable form of Governance

Whoop there it is!

http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/integra.html Visit this URL to view the full FDIC Failed Bank Information regarding Integra Bank.

The following press release was published on the FDIC website 15 minutes ago:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2011

Integra Bank, National Association, Evansville, Indiana, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Old National Bank, Evansville, Indiana, to assume all of the deposits of Integra Bank, National Association.

The 52 branches of Integra Bank, National Association will reopen during their normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of Old National Bank. Depositors of Integra Bank, National Association will automatically become depositors of Old National Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of Integra Bank, National Association should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Old National Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Old National Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Integra Bank, National Association can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of March 31, 2011, Integra Bank, National Association had approximately $2.2 billion in total assets and $1.9 billion in total deposits. Old National Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of 1.0 percent to assume all of the deposits of Integra Bank, National Association. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Old National Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Old National Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $1.2 billion of Integra Bank, National Association’s assets. Old National Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers with questions about today’s transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-830-6698. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/integra.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $170.7 million. Compared to other alternatives, Old National Bank’s acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC’s DIF. Integra Bank, National Association is the 61st FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in Indiana. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company, Columbus, on September 18, 2009.

# # #

Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation’s banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation’s 7,575 banks and savings associations and it promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars – insured financial institutions fund its operations.

FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically (go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC’s Public Information Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-128-2011

We will update this story as more information is received.

What would it look like if we stacked up our entire US Debt and all unfunded liabilities with physical currency?
A website called http://usdebt.kleptocracy.us/ has helped model that image for us.

Read the full article at Source: http://usdebt.kleptocracy.us/

This clip is more of a “feel good” Friday. Enjoy!