Reader: Turner, could you go crawl off and die like an animal

I may have been mistaken when I wrote recently on social media about the qualify of comments on my blog compared to some that I see on some other sites like the Facebook pages of the Joplin Globe or KZRG, for instance.

I expected a strong response to my post on Donald Trump and the Access Hollywood video and I have certainly received one.

It is almost impossible to write anything about Trump or Hillary Clinton and not receive a strong response, since they may be the two most polarizing candidates we have ever seen in a presidential election.

But there are strong responses and then there are responses that reveal far more about the character of the writer. I received a comment this evening that makes me believe that I may be one of the most polarizing people in the Joplin area, at least with some people.

That being said, if it is true that you can judge a person by his enemies, and if this writer is an enemy, which appears obvious from the content, then I am feeling pretty good about myself. The comment. from the cleverly named "No Creepy Old Lying Hack Left Behind," is printed below:

We don't expect you to act in any way other than a complete hypocrite given that you are nothing more than a political hack for whom Bill and Hillary always get a free pass for whatever criminal things they do and Trump never gets any pass for what Trump says, but now that you are going to get all preachy about what was said privately to others about that which doesn't concern you, what say that you stop whining about how CJ Huff and the School Board found that what you wrote about them got you justly fired and banned for life as a teacher of the young?

That's what we like about Trump and not Hillary and to a lesser extent Bill: Trump has never pretended to be anything other than someone who will buy whatever some whore will sell or give away just as long as the price is right. If she has something to sell sometimes Trump would buy. 

But Bill Clinton would sexually assault ordinary women who didn't have any intention of having that sort of relationship with Bill Clinton. Then Hlllary would ruin those women. Ordinary women of all ages are perfectly safe with Trump as long as they don't try to throw themselves at him. Both the ex-wives of Trump have gotten huge divorce settlements and Trump cares for his children, unlike Bill who used his official power to assault numerous women, then leave them with his bastards to do as best they can with Hillary enabling. 

None of us really know what we are getting with Trump but we sure know that we are getting more of the same stuff that is destroying this country with Hillary and we will be judged as "deplorables" by the sick, degenerate and vicious like yourself, Turner.

Still wondering why we are so sick of you liars and degenerates who think you ought to rule over us while we want nothing much more to do with you?

Could you please just go crawl off and die like an animal someplace where we won't have to look at or smell you and further spare us your sermonizing hypocrisies?

It is great to have faithful readers.

Former employee on obituary charges: Joplin Globe has to get its money somewhere

The responses to retired Joplin teacher Brenda Schmid's well-written criticism of the Joplin Globe's milking money out of grieving families by charging high prices to print obituaries have continued to pour in.

One of those who commented described himself or herself as a former Joplin Globe employee and wrote the following:

The Joplin Globe has to get its money from somewhere, folks. 

The Globe is expected to turn a nice profit for its owner, Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. 

Papers which are locally owned, such as the Webb City Sentinel, still provide free obituaries. 

The problem with the Globe charging for obituaries is that it loses its unofficial status as the newspaper of record in Joplin and Jasper County. This is not important to CNHI, which cares only about making money. 

That said, CNHI is a much better steward of its properties than newspaper groups such as Gatehouse, which bleeds its papers dry and then moves on.

Gatehouse Media, it should be noted, owns the Carthage Press, Neosho Daily News, Pittsburg Morning Sun, and the Big Nickel in this area.

Insurance hike for Joplin employees far worse than Turner Report originally reported

For the second time in the last three years, Joplin city employees will see their health insurance premiums increase by nearly 12 percent.

If the City Council approves the tax proposals at its Monday, October 17, meeting, the cost increase will take effect beginning next month and will offset the first pay increase city employees have had in years.

In an earlier post, the Turner Report mistakenly said this year's increase was 4.3 percent. As it turns out, that was the increase for 2016. This year, premiums will go up by 11.8 percent. Two years ago, city employees were hit with an 11.7 percent increase.

The accompanying City of Joplin documents show the insurance increases and how they were explained to employees.

As noted in the October 6 Turner Report, the financial hurt could be even worse for Joplin city employees since the original budget submitted to the Joplin City Council called for no pay increases. Council members balked at that budget and sent it back to the drawing board, resulting in three percent pay hikes.

Why Donald Trump's critics are wrong about the Access Hollywood video

When the time comes to write the story of the 2016 presidential campaign, historians should note that the key moment took place in the first Republican debate.

When Megyn Kelly of Fox News asked Donald Trump her first question-  "You've called women you don't like 'fat pigs,' 'dogs,' 'slobs,' and 'disgusting animals.' Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?" she was accused of grandstanding, of trying to make a name for himself, and for unfairly attacking Trump.

In retrospect, Kelly, who came under vicious attack from Trump and his supporters after her opening question, was able to see through right through the GOP nominee from the start.

No matter what happens next month, Donald Trump has been defined, likely forever, as someone with no respect for women.

And that is the way it has been seen ever since the Access Hollywood video outtakes were leaked to the Washington Post Friday.

One political figure after another, in both parties, has condemned Trump's demeaning comments about women, his bragging about making a play for a married woman, and his talk of how he used his wealth and his star power to get any woman he wanted.

Many of them referred to their daughters, their mothers, or their wives. How could they look them in the eyes if they did not rebuke his statement, they asked.

Every one of them missed the point.

It's not just daughters, mothers, and wives- it's sons, fathers, and husbands.

When we allow someone to demean, diminish, and bully anyone and fail to take a stand, we make it that much easier for others to follow the same path.

No doubt there are still many who find Donald Trump amusing, who revel in his defiance of political correctness, people who love to whoop and holler when Trump talks about the size of his hands, the heroism of John McCain, and belittles his opponents by giving them childish nicknames.

It is true that political correctness gets out of hand at times, but common courtesy, as lacking as it may be in politics, has never gone out of style.

What Donald Trump, in his first apology, described as "locker room talk," is a feeble attempt to make it look as if this is something all guys do.

It isn't, not even in the locker room.

Most men do not treat women in that fashion.

When Donald Trump treats women like possessions or playthings and shows no respect for them, he doesn't just diminish women- he diminishes all of us.

Billy Long spends two extra days in Vegas to speak at Donald Trump rally

Billy Long did not head home to Missouri or to Washington, D. C. after his Weekend in Vegas fundraiser ended October 3.

Long stayed in Las Vegas and Nevada at least two more days, including a stint as a featured speaker before Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's rally in Henderson, Nevada, October 5.

The story is told on the Twitter accounts of Long and a reporter who covered the event.

The reporter notes that while Billy Long spoke for Trump, not one elected official from Nevada did the same.

Billy Long ‏@auctnr1  Oct 5

Big Crowd gathering here in Henderson #Nevada where I'll deliver remarks before our next President speaks #TrumpTrain

Billy Long ‏@auctnr1  Oct 5

Henderson #Nevada's finest helping out at the @realDonaldTrump rally including Bobby Long on my left. 2nd Cousin maybe? #HappeningNow

 

Riley Snyder‏@RileySnyder

MO congressman @USRepLong now speaking at Henderson Trump rally. No NV congressional/senate candidates here

Billy Long ‏@auctnr1  Oct 5

The #BasketOfDeplorables goes wild as the next President of the United States @realDonaldTrump takes the stage. #HappeningNow

 

Hensley, It is time for Hawley to repudiate his endorsement of Donald Trump

(From Teresa Hensley, Democratic Candidate for Missouri Attorney General)

"No presidential candidate should say what Donald Trump has said about a woman without being repudiated by those who have endorsed him. Missourians are waiting for Josh Hawley to do so.

Billy Long: Hyde Amendment saves lives

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

Forty years ago, 3 years after the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, the Hyde Amendment was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. It outraged me in 1973 as a high school senior to think you could legally stop a beating heart and it still does today.

September 30, marked the 40th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment. This amendment was passed in 1976 to prevent taxpayer money from funding most abortions under certain government funded programs. As expected, the Hyde amendment caused controversy, and was later taken up by the Supreme Court of the United States. The Court upheld the Hyde Amendment with a 5-4 decision.

Though abortion tends to be a hot topic, over the years, through different polling, Americans have continually supported not having taxpayer money fund abortions.

According to the Lozier Institute, more than 2 million lives have been spared because of this amendment. The research also shows that this amendment is one of the most significant factors in decreasing abortions. According to a Marist poll, even among individuals who support abortion, 45 percent of them agree that taxpayer money should not be funding abortions.

The Hyde Amendment does much more than just save taxpayers money from funding something they might not morally believe in, this amendment saves lives.

When the government doesn’t incentivize abortion, abortions are less likely to happen and more lives are saved because of it.

Though the Hyde Amendment is crucial in reducing abortions, it still doesn’t go far enough.

Just as recently as 2015 I cosponsored a bill, H.R. 36, the “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” that would prohibit any abortions performed after 20 weeks of conception, except in the case of rape or incest. Another piece of legislation I supported was H.R. 7, “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2015.” This piece of legislation would prevent federal funds from being used to cover abortions under the Affordable Care Act.

The House approved both of these measures with my support. Sadly, neither one of these bills made it past the U.S. Senate.

Even though these bills are stalled in the Senate, I will continue to support all legislation that helps to decrease abortions and saves lives.

Ed Emery: Public education responsible for homosexuality, socialism

Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, a long-time opponent of public education, took some of his strongest shots yet in a bizarre rant that included his statement of support for more charter schools in Missouri and flowing tears.

The spectacle took place at the annual chili supper of the Columbia Pachyderm Club Thursday, according to an article in the Columbia Missourian. Emery was the keynote speaker.

"If our schools produce socialists, collectivists and gender confusion, we are headed in the wrong direction" Emery said to applause from the crowd.

He went on to explain that because educators in the U.S. don't teach Christianity, things like homosexuality and gender politics have become normalized. He referred to homosexuality as a mental illness, and said the increased acceptance of homosexuality represents a "reversal of the character of America."

"How can harmful thoughts and unnatural behavior that formerly portrayed mental illness, suddenly become normal behavior, even privileged by government mandates," Emery said. 

Emery whose children did not attend public schools, and has little or no knowledge of what takes place in today's public schools became quite emotional during his speech.

Emery, choking back tears, continued, saying that schools do not focus on student achievement, only the "strength of the institution." He told a story of a legislative event he attended, along with many school administrators.

"We were informed about the positive impact on the community, how many groundskeepers they hired," Emery said. "But there was not a single word about students."

If Emery listened to more than this particular public school educator, he would have found few, if any others, who did not speak about their students.

Of course, that wouldn't be worth any tears.

(Note: The story has been edited to remove a reference that said Emery had not attended public schools.)

Brenda Schmid: What the Joplin Globe charges for obituaries is obscene

I have been fortunate enough I have never had to deal with the Joplin Globe on the cost of printing an obituary of a loved one.

So it came as quite a shock to me when I read Joplin resident Brenda Schmid's Facebook post last week about how much the Globe is asking to print obituaries.

The business of cashing in on grief has angered me over the years and was the primary reason I began publishing Inside Joplin Obituaries in November 2013. Since then, the blog has published 3,944 obituaries and recently passed one million visitors.

The idea behind Inside Joplin Obituaries is that everyone has a story and it deserves to be told. It should not depend on whether or not the family has enough money.

Brenda Schmid's Facebook post is printed below:

I have written my mother's obituary, and have found the process with placing the obituary with the Joplin Globe to be quite disconcerting. 

How do you sum up 88 1/2 years of living and loving of my mother's life into small bits and do it justice? If I write 100 words or less, the bill will be $155. Try summing up a person's entire life in 100 words or less. It is virtually impossible. 

If I were to write up to 200 words, the cost is $205. If I were to write up to 300 words, the cost goes up to $380. 

I think the amounts they charge are obscene. But, I WILL write an obituary and place it in the Joplin Globe, simply because many of her elderly friends will have no way of knowing when the services will be, if not for reading it in the Globe. 

Thankfully, my friend, Randy Turner, will post it with no charge, because he knows in his heart that it is wrong to charge bereaved family members even a cent just to let people know about the death of a loved one. 

What a sad commentary of a pitiful excuse of a newspaper to charge such exorbitant prices just to let people know their loved one has passed. What it this world coming to when the greed of the local rag is so exploitative? Sad, indeed.

Much touted raise for Joplin city employees will barely cover insurance increase

(UPDATE: The insurance increase for Joplin employees is far greater than the original documents I received indicated. The Turner Report will have a more complete update with up-to-date information on the increase this afternoon.)

After three years without pay increases, Joplin city employees will receive a little extra in their paychecks, under the budget the Joplin City Council is expected to adopt later this month and it is a good thing.

The increase will barely cover rising health insurance costs and it obviously won't mean a thing to the eight people whose jobs are being eliminated.

Even worse, had it not been for the City Council, city employees would essentially be taking a hefty cut in take-home pay since the original budget recommendations submitted by city officials did not recommend any pay increase.

City employees have been told their insurance costs are increasing 4.3 percent and while that is considerably less than the 11.7 percent increase of 2015, there is still an anger among workers who have watched while money has been diverted to pet projects over the past few years.

There is also a growing resentment that the City Council continues to rubber stamp a quarter of a million dollars a year to the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce for economic development. Though the money comes from a different part of the city budget, the big buck giveaway to a private entity with a president, Rob O'Brian, who pulls in a salary of more than $175,000 a year, continues to bother some employees.

One city employee told the Turner Report the anger over the way money has been spent with city employees being given short shrift has been growing for a long time and has boiled over with the announcement of job cuts and the insurance increase.

City employees have watched over the past few years as city officials have shown a willingness to throw away millions of dollars in taxpayer money on renovating Joe Becker Stadium in the pursuit of a professional baseball team, and on a shady master developer.

And while city officials continued to pursue their expensive hobbies, the people whose hard work played a key role in helping Joplin recover from the most powerful tornado to hit the U. S. in six decades, were told each year they would have to wait for pay increases because the money wasn't there.