Jackson County Courthouse - Maple Tree Update September 29, 2014

It looks like the old Courthouse Maple will soon meet the saw. Jackson County Commission Chair Matthew Hodges commented that as much of the tree as possible will be saved for lumber, benches etc. 

Report by Landscape Management Consultants (click on images for an expanded view)

Jackson County Commission,Meeting Continuation from September 22, 2014, Bid Opening

photo by G. Morgan

Scottsboro, Alabama September 29, 2014; continuation of last Monday's commission meeting on Sep. 22,  2014. One agenda item, bid opening for pick-up truck for Parks Department.

AGENDA

Winning bidder with the low bid meeting specifications was Truck Equipment Sales of Mobile, Alabama -$30,559 was low bid, delivered. Harbin Motor Co. bid was $31,972. This exceeds the 3% local bidder prerogative. 

VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council, Info on Redevelopment

AGENDA

Bid Awards and more on Redevelopment

VIDEO

Redevelopment Info from City Council Video

Jackson County Commission Regular Session, Budget, Video and Agenda-10 Commandments Issue

Jackson County Commission: from left to right - Mr. Venable, Mr. Ledwell, Chairman Mr. Hodges, Mr Guffey and Mr. Miller 

AGENDA

BUDGET

Page 2

VIDEO

Liberty Institute and agreements: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2014/09/jackson-county-commission-attorney.html

Video citizen presentation

Jackson County Commission Attorney States Agreement with the Liberty Institute is Not a Public Record - More on the 10 Commandments Issue and What is the Liberty Institute?

Scottsboro, Alabama - September 22, 2014, The 10 Commandments issue continues. After the Jackson County Commission meeting I ask the Chairman of the County Commission with the County Attorney, John Porter present, if I could inspect the agreement/contract with the Liberty Institute once signed. Porter's comment, "You may not have a copy as it is not a public record." Commission Meeting article http://arklite.blogspot.com/2014/09/jackson-county-commission-regular.html

Section 36-12-40 Code of Alabama

Rights of citizens to inspect and copy public writings; exceptions.

Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. Provided however, registration and circulation records and information concerning the use of the public, public school or college and university libraries of this state shall be exempted from this section. Provided further, any parent of a minor child shall have the right to inspect the registration and circulation records of any school or public library that pertain to his or her child. Notwithstanding the foregoing, records concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including without limitation information concerning critical infrastructure (as defined at 42 U.S.C. §5195c(e) as amended) and critical energy infrastructure information (as defined at 18 C.F.R. §388.113(c)(1) as amended) the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the public safety or welfare, and records the disclosure of which would otherwise be detrimental to the best interests of the public shall be exempted from this section. Any public officer who receives a request for records that may appear to relate to critical infrastructure or critical energy infrastructure information, shall notify the owner of such infrastructure in writing of the request and provide the owner an opportunity to comment on the request and on the threats to public safety or welfare that could reasonably be expected from public disclosure on the records.(Code 1923, §2695; Code 1940, T. 41, §145; Acts 1983, No. 83-565, p. 866, §3; Act 2004-487, p. 906, §1.)

A comprehensive guide to Alabama Records disclosure and exemptions from disclosure - Alabama Open Records Study Task Force, 2008 by the Law Firm of Balch & Bingham, 2008 and reviewed by the Alabama Legislative Reference Service. Alabama Open Records Study Task Force   Competent legal council has advised that contracts and agreements made by the County Commission are subject to be disclosed upon request. That a refusal to produce such records, such as an agreement with the Liberty Institute for legal council, would be a violation of 36-12-40. 

The mission statement of the Liberty Institute ( along with bashing the ACLU here is their mission statement: https://www.libertyinstitute.org/about ) contains a clause that some might consider radical and extremist. It is reflective of the same mantra as Islamic Jihadists. It states, "...true religious liberty consists of recognizing individuals’ God-given right to follow their conscience and to live and act according to their faith in every area of life.” About the Islamic Jihad and Islam http://islamicsupremecouncil.org/understanding-islam/legal-rulings/5-jihad-a-misunderstood-concept-from-islam.html?showall=1  How far does the Liberty Institute intend on taking their mission in each individuals God Given right to live and act according to their faith? Does that include actions of Christian or Islamic extremists?

HISTORY ABOUT JEFFERSON, ISLAM and the SEPARATION of CHURCH and STATE or Ignorance Breeds an Extremist Theocracy of the few.

"In 1765, eleven years before composing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson bought a Qur’an. This marked only the beginning of his life long interest in Islam, and he would go on to acquire numerous books on Middle Eastern languages, history, and travel, taking extensive notes on Islam as it relates to English common law. Jefferson sought to understand Islam notwithstanding his personal disdain for the faith, a sentiment prevalent among his Protestant contemporaries in England and America. But unlike most of them, by 1776 Jefferson could imagine Muslims as future citizens of his new country."

 "A handful of the Founders, Jefferson foremost among them, drew upon Enlightenment ideas about the toleration of Muslims (then deemed the ultimate outsiders in Western society) to fashion out of what had been a purely speculative debate a practical foundation for governance in America. In this way, Muslims, who were not even known to exist in the colonies, became the imaginary outer limit for an unprecedented, uniquely American religious pluralism that would also encompass the actual despised minorities of Jews and Catholics. The rancorous public dispute concerning the inclusion of Muslims, for which principle Jefferson’s political foes would vilify him to the end of his life, thus became decisive in the Founders’ ultimate judgment not to establish a Protestant nation, as they might well have done."  http://www.monticelloshop.org/208079.html

It is revealing that the Liberty Institute attempts to demean the United States Armed Forces by the false accusation that they do not support religious freedoms. 

Does the Liberty Institute support the Islamic Jihad and are they anti-U.S. Military?  In this document the Liberty Institute falsely claims in testimony before Congress, "...the military used existing laws, regulations, or policies to justify its hostility towards religious freedom."  http://docs.house.gov/meetings/AS/AS02/20140129/101681/HHRG-113-AS02-20140129-SD011.pdf   The Liberty Institute's claim is a false claim, they use an Equal Opportunity  training course which describes hate and religious intolerance as a basis for their claim. Other right wing organizations then pile on supporting the attack on Race Relations Equal Opportunity Training in the military along with the usual bashing of President Obama. Reference: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/31/pentagon-training-manual-white-males-have-unfair-advantages/  Then as if it is a justification for absurdity and fallacy they use the opinion of a former military officer who is a disgrace, LTC Allen West who should have been Court-Martialed for his undisciplined actions and threats to Prisoners of War which included the coercion of false confessions by the threat of murder. West accepted non-judicial punishment and was forced to retire. The true story about a disgraced commander. Mr. West provides Fox News and the Theocratic Republicans their not so perfect African American token. http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2010/03/allen_west_military_career_abuse_iraqi_detainee.php  The right wing Republican Theocrats are always looking for additional tokens. Such as the case of the Alabama theocratic right : "see, we are not bigots, we pardoned the Scottsboro Boys." An act which could have accomplished much, such as race relations education. But of course, that is a real solution to problems and education costs money which right wing corporate theocrats do not wish to expend, they prefer their facts, not actual facts which support science, math and enlightenment. 

WHAT IS ALL OF THIS ABOUT? Simple, "the theocratic right, "Religous Right," regressive populism, and White racial nationalism make up a hard right political sector that is distinct from and sometimes in opposition to mainstream Republicanism and the internationalist wing of corporate conservatism." From the Public Eye - http://www.publiceye.org/lnk_antidem.html#Christian Right

"The best known sector of the hard right--dogmatic religious movements--is often called the "Religious Right" It substantially dominates the Republican Party in at least 10 (and perhaps as many as 30) of the 50 states. As part of an aggressive grassroots campaign, these groups have targeted electoral races from school boards to state legislatures to campaigns for the US Senate and House of Representatives. They helped elect dozens of hard-line ultraconservatives to the House of Representatives in 1994. This successful social movement politically mobilizes a traditionalist mass base from a growing pious constituency of evangelical, fundamentalist, charismatic, Pentecostal, and orthodox churchgoers."

"The goal of many leaders of this ultraconservative religious movement is imposing a narrow theological agenda on secular society. The predominantly Christian leadership envisions a religiously-based authoritarian society; therefore we prefer to describe this movement as the "theocratic right." A theocrat is someone who supports a form of government where the actions of leaders are seen as sanctioned by God--where the leaders claim they are carrying out God's will. The central threat to democracy posed by the theocratic right is not that its leaders are religious, or fundamentalist, or right wing--but that they justify their political, legislative, and regulatory agenda as fulfilling God's plan."

Enter Mr. McGill, Mr. Guffey, Jackson County Commission, their legal representative and the Liberty Institute; supported by right wing ultraconservative hypocritical theocrats.

More on right wing extremism: http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=2.2.3

   Welcome to Alabama - We Dare Defend Our Rights! When this motto was first conceived it was representative of white males. Commissioner Guffey has remarked, "We are the majority and we should not bow to the minority." What Mr. Guffey and others who stand for ignorant concepts of theocratic rule is this, we are not a Democracy nor a Theocracy; WE ARE A REPUBLIC, where the rule of law governs our nation and communities for the benefit of all Americans, not just a few or the majority.

Many of us have shed our blood and given our lives so that even ignorant citizens may rise to office. It is the citizens responsibility to insure our nation remains a REPUBLIC and not decline into the throws of a theocracy by right wing religious extremists..

Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC) - Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Public Hearing - Concerning TVA's Sequoyah Nuclear Facility (NNSA Public Hearing Links on TVA Tritium Production)

(photo - wikipedia, Fair Usage rights for non-profit news reporting)

4 part video presentation, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for license extension-

The Sequoyah Nuclear Plant is a nuclear power plant located on 525 acres (212 ha) located 7 miles (11 km) east of Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee, and 20 miles (32 km) north of Chattanooga, abutting Chickamauga Lake, on the Tennessee River. The facility is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

The plant has two Westinghouse pressurized water reactors. Sequoyah units 1 & 2, as well as their sister plant at Watts Bar, both have ice condenser containment systems. In case of a large loss-of-coolant accident, steam generated by the leak is directed toward borated ice which helps condense the steam creating a lower pressure, allowing for a smaller containment building.

The operating license of Sequoyah's Unit 1 expires in 2020. Unit 2's operating license expires in 2021.^[2]

TVA's Sequoyah operating license was modified in September 2002 to allow TVA to irradiate tritium-producing burnable absorber rods at Sequoyah for the U.S. Department of Energy. The process of irradiating tritium-producing rods produces tritium, which is used in nuclear weapons and for various forms of research into nuclear fusion for commercial power production. Wiki article:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Nuclear_Generating_Station

NRC information on the License Extension - http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/sequoyah.html  It is remarkable that there is no date on the cover or other substantial documents listed on the NRC site references listed on the link referenced.

The Sequoyah plant has two pressurized water reactors. The current operating licenses are due to expire Sept. 17, 2020, for Unit 1 and Sept. 15, 2021, for Unit 2. The operator, Tennessee Valley Authority, submitted its renewal application Jan. 15, 2013.  

The NRC’s review of the application consists of a technical safety review and an environmental review. The draft supplemental environmental impact statement is Supplement 53 to NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants. It is now available on the NRC’s electronic document database, ADAMS http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ adams.html. under accession number ML14211A454.

In a related Federal Register notice, the NRC provided detailed instructions on how to submit written comments on the draft supplemental environmental impact statement. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 29, 2014 .Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2013–0037   Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey; Office of Administration, Mail Stop: 3WFN–06–A44M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Drucker, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, telephone: 301–415–6223, email to David.Drucker@nrc.gov ; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
0001.  GPO Federal Notice Record link:  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-08-11/pdf/2014-18966.pdf

NRC Aug 12, 2014 · Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2  http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1437/supplement53/

TVA's home page on Sequoyah: http://www.tva.gov/power/nuclear/sequoyah.htm  No indications on  Sequoyah's home page concerning any documents relating to a license extension.
TVA  info on license renewal and environmental impacts
https://www.tva.gov/environment/reports/sqn-renewal/index.htm

Videos, NRC EIS Public Hearing  regarding a 20 year license extension of TVA Sequoyah Nuclear Facility, 4 part video presentation with  Citizen Input Regrding the EIS on September 15, 2014 at Soddy Daisy, Tn. Municipal Complex.

VIDEOS
NRC EIS Public Hearing Pt.1-TVA Sequoyah Nuclear 9-15-14 

NRC EIS Public Hearing Pt.2 TVA Sequoyah Nuclear 8-15-14 

NRC EIS Public Hearing Pt.3 TVA Sequoyah Nuclear 9-15-14 

NRC EIS Public Hearing Pt.4-TVA Sequoyah Nuclear 9-15-14 

BEST-MATRR's investigations into health, cancer and radiation in the Tennessee River Valley current summary:  Government health statistics and scientific investigations point toward this fact - radiation from man made ionizing radiation sources such as nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel facilities, nuclear weapons facilities and nuclear experimental facilities have increased ionizing radiation levels in the environment within the Tennessee River Basin area. Since the addition of nuclear facilities in the Tennessee River Valley, the cancer incident rates and mortality rates have steadily increased.  (National Cancer Institute statistics and maps http://seer.cancer.gov/statistics/scp.html  and BEST/MATRR Report: http://best-matrr.org/pdfs/AL_BFN_Report_2013-final-dig2.pdf  )" BEST-MATRR's investigations are ongoing in East Tennessee and North Alabama.

NNSA Public Hearing - The public comment period ends on September 22, 2014. 
http://nnsa.energy.gov/aboutus/ouroperations/generalcounsel/nepaoverview/nepa/tritiumseis
Videos in Chattanooga, Links:
NNSA introduction - Public Hearing, NNSA, Tritium Production 9-10-14 

Public comments, part 1:  NNSA-SEIS, 9-10-14 Public Hearing Chattanooga, Tn. Part 1 

Public comments, part 2:  NNSA-SEIS, 9-10-14 Public Hearing Chattanooga, Tn. Part 2 

Public comments, part 3   NNSA-SEIS 9-10-14 Public Hearing Chattanooga, Tn. Part 3 

Jackson County Commission Work Session September 15, 2014

AGENDA\

VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council Work Session - Redevelopment Authority Issue, A Blighted Downtown Scottsboro

Monday night's City Council work session agenda contained one issue - a written request from Deborah Light and Deborah Dunsmore, Attorney-At-Law, "Application to Authorize the Incorporation of the Downtown Scottsboro Redevelopment Authority."

Unfortunately it seems many are in denial that the downtown area of Scottsboro suffers from blight. Below you will find the definition of blight; a Redevelopment Authority could possibly benefit the citizens of Scottsboro. Unfortunately, there is no plan or understanding which has been expressed to date as to what a Redevelopment Authority wants to accomplish. 

No plan equals no action. To expand government just for the sake of expansion for the purpose of free government sponsored entertainment in the downtown area of Scottsboro is not Redevelopment. Hopefully the originators of the request will present a plan of action. 

The request and video of the session is posted below. The American Planning Association's guidance and link on this issue is provided below.

VIDEO
Free Entertainment on the public square is not redevelopment. However, revitalization plans which might contain public entertainment in public venues might be part of a redevelopment plan; the idea is to encourage economic growth of the area to be redeveloped, free entertainment might detract from business. Any entertainment event must compliment business, not remove customers from business. This is the reason the city does not allow new products to be sold at First Monday.

About Redevelopment from the American Planning Association

Redevelopment:  The term "redevelopment" is meant to describe one or more public actions that are undertaken to stimulate activity when the private market is not providing sufficient capital and economic activity to achieve the desired level of improvement. This public action usually involves one or more measures such as direct public investment, capital improvements, enhanced public services, technical assistance, promotion, tax benefits, and other stimuli including planning initiatives such as rezoning.

Public agencies typically offer a combination of incentives and undertake redevelopment programs pursuant to a statutory system for creating, financing, and operating redevelopment areas.

Changing Definition of Blight: In many cases, the "blight" to be eliminated is not the grotesque living conditions or deteriorated industrial areas that urban renewal programs were thought to address in the 1950s and 1960s. Rather, they are under-performing or obsolete land uses or buildings that exist where the rational private investment cannot overcome market forces. In such situations disinvestment and blight may have already occurred or are deemed likely to occur.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed., offers what may be the simplest definition of blight: "Something that impairs growth, withers hopes and ambitions, or impedes progress and prosperity." Within planning and redevelopment practice, blight may refer to these impairments on the physical fabric (buildings, properties, public improvements, etc.) on community structure and social fabric (neighborhood vitality, security, public health and welfare, etc.) or on the economy (property values, tax base, facility obsolescence, employment base, etc.).

Effectiveness of Planning in Redevelopment: Planning has not been as effective as we might like in keeping a central place in the economic engine. One result has been a failure to recognize that the circumstances that lead to blight often require a more comprehensive set of remedies than "economic redevelopment" proposals that simply change existing physical conditions.

Several factors may account for this shift in redevelopment practice. Planners, who in the early years of redevelopment practice were leaders in defining the scope and practice of redevelopment, are often eclipsed today by special interest redevelopment organizations that may or may not have the broadest possible perspective. While redevelopment has emerged as a significant specialty in public practice, there are few degree programs across the country focused specifically on urban and rural redevelopment.

Abuse of Process: The same procedural protections that we count on to protect the rights of individual property owners can also be used to thwart legitimate redevelopment. Where enabling legislation is badly written or misinterpreted, it may be possible that abuse of redevelopment authority undermines the public perception of the legitimate use of these powers elsewhere.

Basic premises that should underlie and support all redevelopment:

1) A clearly defined process for determining eligibility of designating areas in which the municipality or other governments have the authority to engage in redevelopment projects including both prevention and elimination of blight and provision for public/private partnerships.

2) A means of choosing partners that is fair, open, equitable, transparent (while protective of trade secrets or other proprietary data), and demonstrated to be the best choice for the public interest.

3) Mechanisms to prevent the use of partnerships to subvert the responsibilities that are imposed on the public agency through enabling legislation or case law to provide due process, demonstrate public purpose, and establish a nexus between the public purpose for redevelopment and the means to achieve that purpose.

4) Assurance that public/private partnerships adhere to the adopted plans of the jurisdiction.

5) Requirements for clearly defined responsibilities and liabilities of public and private partners.

Source - American Planning Association https://www.planning.org/policy/guides/adopted/redevelopment.htm

Chairman of the Jackson County Commission Matthew Hodges - 2014 State of the County Address - Jackson County Alabama - Discussion with TVA Officials

State of the County Address  by Commission Chairman Matthew Hodges - Hollywood, Alabama, September 10, 2014 at TVA's cannibalized, 5 billion dollar nuclear facility which has never produced electric power. It has been a long time since BFN's, Bellefonte Nuclear Facility, parking lot has been this full. It was revealed that approximately 30% of the commission's budget relies on TVA's in-lieu-of tax payments. Mr. Hodges did not mention the diversion of TVA in lieu of tax funds by the Jackson County Legislative Delegation.

Prior to Mr. Hodges' presentation I sat down with TVA Public Relations and Plant Management personnel, impromptu, and asked about the current status of the Bellefonte Facility. I was told that the Quality Assurance Records were reconstructed to cover the time frame of the nuclear facility's cancelled construction license and that the current plan was to begin construction in 2016. The steam generators which were removed/cannibalized between 2006 and 2008 were still on order. The management team also commented that much was dependent on the current IRP, Integrated Resource Plan.

Mr. Matthew Hodges, Chairman of the Jackson County Commission delivers the State of the County Address at TVA's extremely wasteful, cannibalized, cancelled, then reinstated nuclear reactor project.

Comments and questions (33 min. 45 sec in the video) concerning the commission's history of support and non-support of open government and their recent history of secret agreements: Q 1) Secret financial settlement to previous County Administrator which cost taxpayers money (You Tube Video - http://youtu.be/Ld_L5zePSr4  ; Q 2) secret discussions concerning the 10 Commandments issue with representatives/attorneys of the right wing organization The Liberty Institute. (You Tube Video - http://youtu.be/nQkafuiph40  ) "The Liberty Institute is a conservative Christian advocacy and legal defense organization founded in 1972 under the name Free Market Foundation," Wikipedia.

County - City Government Report, Videos and Agenda's; Jackson County Commission Regular Session & Scottsboro City Council, Work Session and Regular Session

Jackson County Commission AGENDA

VIDEO

                           SCOTTSBORO CITY COUNCIL

Work Session Agenda

Discussion Items

 1) Deborah Dunsmore and Deborah Light made presentation regarding Scottsboro Redevlopment Authority formation.  

Alabama Code - Chapter 54A: DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT 

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/11/2/54A

COMMENT: Can the City of Scottsboro afford another corporate authority since the city must back all loans or financial commitments? Why not a "Downtown Revitalization Advisory Board prior to a Redevelopment Authority? It is my opinion the Revitalization Advisory Board is the smartest first choice. Reference: https://www.ida-downtown.org/eweb/docs/AP_Huntsville.pdf

2) Scottsoro Trails System 

VIDEO of Work Session

                                 Regular Session AGENDA

VIDEO

Propaganda and Media Manipulation 101 and My Experiences of Corporate Media Censorship

Some of you may have noticed that I have been writing on the subject of censorship for some period of time. The reason this blog was created was due to censorship on al.com's Scottsboro Forum. Censorship has taken place in local Face Book Groups. Some of the censorship has taken on threatening intimidating forms, including terrorist threats.

It has became apparent that there is an intentional effort on the part of local corporate media and political parties to keep the citizenry in a state of  "perptual mushroomitis" - feeding citizens crap and keeping them in the dark. This post concerns the reasoning and strategy for seemingly ridiculous attacks by anonymous parties and media propaganda . 

When the attacks of slander, defamation, threats and intimidation are closely examined and applied to a corrupted media/political system's communications processes of disinformation and propaganda another piece of the puzzle falls into place. It causes this writer to question the intent of criminal acts and why they were not investigated by authorities, although complaints were filed. Reference:


The problem is bigger than verbal threats and harassment by anonymous parties utilizing a news media's forum to convey threats and harassment.

Why would persons or corporate media be concerned about a blogger?  The independent blogger's story is an individual story about his or her perceptions of reality and life around us, it is not a corporate image laden with hidden agendas of corporations and government entities. I'm conveying to you my perception of political and news worthy events around me; including the interjection of my opinions on this blog, Face Book, forums and directly into the political process, this seems to upset some folks who go to extremes to wage personal attacks.

As we examine our history, which includes murdered Jackson County Sheriff Matt Wann, 1932         ( story of Matt Wann http://scottsborostories.blogspot.com/2010/10/sheriff-matt-wann-brave-man-and-untold.html ) no prosecution of the known perpetrator and the claim by law enforcement that there are no records about the Sheriff's murder case. This leads me to wonder, has a black veil of secrecy and corruption fallen over Jackson County and Scottsboro,  and how does this past history affect our community today? 

The extent of vicious verbal group attacks by whites on Face Book sites relating to Scottsboro History, when the group's members are reminded of the exclusionary history of Scottsboro, reveals that  mob mentality and delusional group peer pressure is present and facilitates a continuation of a racist culture.

When you add in intentional lies by prominent local citizens which resulted in me being questioned by the local Sheriff's Department in 2003 due to my filing of complaints against  politicians which included theft of property, embezzlement, etc. more of the puzzle falls into place.

Corporate media propaganda and political intimidation have a purpose, it is to deceive you the citizen and isolate you the citizen from REAL NEWS and EVENTS occurring in our society. 

When persons outside of the corporate media and political structure come forward, such as bloggers, to report news and current events, it has been my experience local independent news reporters are threatened, intimidated and slandered, which has occurred in my case.  

The below lecture by Dr. Jerry Kroth concerns the propaganda and manipulation of news and how it affects you in today's  world. I relate my above experiences as an indication of problems in our local culture and how censorship and propaganda tie into the news you receive from the formal media.

                   CORPORATE MEDIA PROPAGANDA &

The methods of media propaganda and your manipulation: 1) reframing; 2)repeated affirmations; 3) vicariousness; 4) distractions and denial; 5) Classical and operant conditioning.

This is a video on the psychology of propaganda. Prof. Kroth reviews five major techniques for how American mass media manipulates and twists the view Americans have of their world. The seriousness of the distortion, and our progressive loss of contact with reality is dramatic. We are increasingly living inside a media-induced trance without knowing it. Children believe Ronald MacDonald is more real than Abraham Lincoln. From Coke to Carl's Jr., Hip-hop to the Iraq war, the role of subliminal propaganda in our lives is unveiled and exposed. This talk is based on Dr. Kroth's recent book, Duped! Delusion, Denial, and the end of the American dream (Genotype, 2013). Dr. Jerry Kroth's You Tube Channel  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTHZbk9nPwc3RmPl2izhChA

Senate District 8 Political Race - Candidate Answer, Candidate Refuses to Answer

Jackson County Legislative Delegation Office (photo by G. Morgan)

On the 17^th of August, 2014 I sent two questions to the candidates for Alabama Senate District 8 race. Republican Candidate Steve Livingston and Democrat Candidate Horace Clemmons both received the same questions in the same format. One candidate, Horace Clemmons answered the questions; the other candidate Steve Livingston did not reply. I sent him multiple requests through his Face Book campaign site and his personal Face Book Page, all to no avail. Apparently this old soldier’s and poor citizen’s questions matter naught to Senate candidate Steve Livingston. Below you will find Horace Clemons answer after the questions and my comment to Steve Livingston.

THE QUESTIONS

What are your thoughts on the Ten Commandments and Historical Documents issue which Commissioner Guffey has brought forward in the Jackson County Commission?

Do you support the Republican Sponsored Ten Commandments Bill that was introduced in the House but did not make it out the Senate in the last session. Reference HB 45 which will allow citizens to vote on a constitutional amendment to allow displays of the Ten Commandments on state property and in public schools.

Your answer may be used on my blog and other community information postings.

Thank you,

Garry Morgan

“In the Boro”  http://arklite.blogspot.com

Horace Clemmons for State Senate District 8 web site (Fair Usage rights)

Horace Clemmons answer:  "I believe that this issue has been settled by the Supreme Court and would end up costing taxpayers a lot of money for legal fees - money that could and should be used for economic development and education.  Further, the damage to our District's image that would be done by the resulting controversy and court battle would make the already difficult job of attracting high paying jobs to our area even more difficult.  Let’s focus on education and jobs.”

“I would not support any legislation that is likely to be declared unconstitutional and result in spending millions of taxpayers’ dollars paying legal fees to high-priced private law firms.  The legislature has engaged in enough of that kind of foolish fiscal irresponsibility over the last four years.”

Steve Livingston for State Senate District 8  (Fair Usage rights)

My Comment to Mr. Livingston: Your refusal to answer equals my refusal to vote for you and is an indication that you think of yourself as above the questions of a poor, retired old soldier. A simple answer would be fine, but a refusal to answer indicates the thinking of an “elitist snob,” or a refusal to answer a question about what your political party of choice represents. Either way, no answer equals NO VOTE. 

 About your above propaganda depiction of you teaching school children to"Fight Obama" in your Face Book campaign video ad - this is the hatred which we have come to expect out of the extremist wing of the Republican Party - Shame on You Steve Livingston! If this is what you are about, we do not need you representing the 8th District in Montgomery.

Scottsboro, Alabama Labor Day First Monday Chronicles September 1, 2014

HISTORIC PHOTOS OF FIRST MONDAY

April 1931 First Monday, Scottsboro Boys Trial (photographer unknown - Fair Usage Rights for non profit education and news reporting)

1943 First Monday  (photographer unknown - Fair Usage Rights for non profit education and news reporting)

Original Art Work by John A. King for December 1956 Ford Times  (Fair Usage Rights for non profit education and news reporting)

Original Photographs by Clark Stallworth and Jim Atkins for December 1956 Ford Times  (Fair Usage Rights for non profit education and news reporting)

In memory of an old friend and fellow knife trader - John T. Dolberry, from the 2008 Labor Day First Monday Chronicles

VIDEO

Video of First Monday - Long 11 1/2 minute version SHORT VERSION, 6min 26sec

Scottsboro City Council September 2, 2014 Election Results Certification

Scottsboro, Alabama September 2, 2014 - Continuation of Regular Session of the Scottsboro City Council. Voting Certification, final results announced. Ms. Ann Chambless announces Movie Night on the Square, Saturday, September 13, 2014. Movie to be shown after nightfall; food vendors and band. "Downtown Scottsboro:"   https://www.facebook.com/downtownscottsboro

         Saturday Night Movie on the Square Madagascar Trailer

SHHH- WE HAVE SECRETS AT THE JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION - SECRET DELIBERATIONS ABOUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WITH SECRET RIGHT WING POLITICAL ATTORNEYS

(photo by G.Morgan)

JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETS AND CONDUCTS SECRET DELIBERATIONS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ONE HOUR WITH THE RIGHT WING LIBERTY INSTITUTE ATTORNEYS, THE ISSUE - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS DISPLAY.

September 2, 2014 - Scottsboro, Alabama:  Today's county commission work session was a long one. 17 items on the Agenda with #17 added, an Executive Session to discuss pending or threatened litigation. There is no pending litigation, there have been letters requesting the commission to not display the Ten Commandments. WHY THE SECRECY?

The commissioners, the county attorney, and the two attorneys from the right wing religious Liberty Institute were in the executive session for 1 hour deliberating the TEN COMMANDMENTS public display issue in secret.

About the Liberty Institute - quote: "Our nation was founded on the premise that rights come from God... Liberty Institute’s mission is to defend and restore religious liberty across America—in our schools, for our churches, inside the military, and throughout the public arena... freedom does not mean confining religious expression to church or home, but that true religious liberty consists of recognizing individuals’ God-given right to follow their conscience and to live and act according to their faith in every area of life.    https://www.libertyinstitute.org/about

Following the Liberty Institutes reasoning - DOES THIS MEAN RELIGIOUS FANATICS HAVE A RIGHT TO KILL AMERICANS IF THEY ARE FOLLOWING THEIR CONSCIOUS?? WHOSE RIGHTS ARE BEING PROTECTED, THE CITIZENRY OR GLORY SEEKING RIGHT WING  POLITICIANS AND THEIR EXTREMIST ATTORNEYS?? 

Commissioner Tim Guffey says: "What I'm trying to do is erect a monument of historical documents," Guffey said Thursday in an interview with AL.com. "It's the Constitution, the Ten Commandments and the Declaration of Independence. I feel like that's what this country was founded on. These documents helped America become the greatest country in history...I'm using it in the context of this is historical. I'm not doing it to push religion at all."  http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2014/08/jackson_county_commissioner_wa.html

Fair Use, education and news reporting - TimGuffeyforcommission.com Gov. Bentley on left, Commissioner Guffey on right. 

I do not believe any of Guffey's statements for one second about the Ten Commandments issue. This is not about history, or for that matter, religion or responsible speech, this is about deceit and right wing extremism of power hungry politicians attempting to politicize religious freedom for the express purpose of furthering their personal political goals of power and glory.