We've experienced a vicious virus, an unstable economy, widespread unemployment, cultural unrest, and political upheaval. The music industry is becoming stale along with the rest of the entertainment industry like my popcorn. Hell even James Patterson is contemplating a vampire novel these days and career suicide. It seems like they will rehash everything and anything. Apparently there are no fresh ideas out there.
People are just plain sick. Sick of the monotony of life. Sick of the pay check to pay check. Phil Luciano, who is a journalist that writes for the Peoria Journal Star pointed out in an article sometime over the summer that someone on Facebook said, "They were sick of #blacklivesmatter and all the COVID-19 stories." I agree with Phil's feelings and think he reacted appropriately when he stated in print, "Are they sick of the discussing? Are they uncomfortable?" I'll add this to his comments. Good. I hope they are uncomfortable. This is why I exist. I'm going to make you really f@#$ing uncomfortable right now so hold on. (Please forgive my French it is only to get and retain your attention.)
We have to move forward in our personal lives, in our relationships, as a nation, as a community, and in our walks with our higher power. We need to focus on our communities. We have to be brutally honest with ourselves. Before all this didn't we isolate, stay inside, keep to ourselves, and not say much at all anyways? Don't we wait for other people to speak up and then comment in private about it? We need to ask ourselves some hard questions and look in the mirror while doing so.
Why work here?
Why stay?
Why live here?
Am I happy?
Am I OK with this?
Why keep my mouth shut?
Year after calendar year, business quarter after business quarter, month after month, pay check to pay check, closing bell to closing bell, day after day, hour after hour, dollar after dollar, minute after minute, penny's on the dollar, second by second, dividends, and interest. Interesting...
What we pay attention to controls us. I don't watch TV and I get my news from online sources only. I'm part of a movement. It doesn't have a name but I' call us TURNED OFF. Once your no longer distracted you will notice your self paying attention to other things. Focus on what you want. Not what you don't want.
I want to see better jobs that raise the standard of living and not put a burden on entrepreneurs by just raising the minimum wage. Before the new minimum wage was passed in Illinois it was $8.25 an hour. After January 1st it will be $11.00. What kind of standard is this still? Our small business owners should be able to pay their employees as much as it takes to live comfortably and as it sits they can't. Hell the Illinois' business climate is in such a sad shape that Caterpillar has threatened to move out of Illinois. I want to see better preventative healthcare that utilizes mass screenings for parasites across the board, because they effect tests doctors do for major diseases and cause misdiagnosis. I want to see free access to feminine hygiene products along with raising the standards already put in place with planned parenthood. I want to see more access to subsidized housing for single, full, and part-time dads. I want to see reduced restrictions on renting property to felons like me. I want to see free college education up to an associates degree. I want to see the Demarcates and Republicans quit arguing about AR-15's with the NRA and arguing in general (the debate should be over.) I want to see law enforcement reform by mandating body cams nationwide (among other things.) I want to see decriminalization of all scheduled substances and we can start right now by passing a city ordinance which will decrease government burden to house inmates and pay subsidies on them which will in turn increase the labor pool and alleviate city, state, and federal budgets. I want to see implementation of a nation wide drug court program in each state like the state of Illinois has. It helped me fine my self and saved my life. I used to be an intravenous daily heroin user and now have 12 years clean from it. I want to see a return to manual voting or something more tamper proof. I want to see more representation from our districts. I want to see more concerned citizens participating in government (this is why I am writing this.) I want to see fiscal transparency (we need to know what every dime is used for.) I want to see legal transparency (FOIA on steroids and Tazewell has this.) Last but not least. I want to see Edward Snowden come home. I want to see Julian Assange set free. I want to see John McAfee set free and his charges dismissed. These men are hero's and should be treated as such. They're not America's enemy. America is America's enemy.
My generation demands change. I demand my generation participate in that change and change it's self in the process. I no longer want people to see my generation as a group of ______.
Andy Ray Uppole is an artist from Peoria, Illinois that specializes in audio and video production, graphic design, commercial art, and creative consulting. You can contact him by calling 209.509.4120 or email him at subversiondesignsolutions@gmail.com
Here is a list of sources:
Minimum Wage Increase Hurts Small Business https://www.nfib.com/video/minimum-wage-increase-hurts-small-business-nfib-your-bottom-line/
Emerging Need For ParasitologyEducation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110372/
The State of Period Poverty https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/live/news/1545-the-state-of-period-poverty-in-the-us
Feminine Hygiene Market Report 2020 Share https://apnews.com/press-release/pr-wiredrelease/5966bd78d30b05c6a4faaa73a56c342a#:~:text=Looking%20forward%2C%20the%20market%20is,period%20(2020%2D2025).&text=Market%20Summary%3A,holding%20the%20largest%20market%20share.
Can Felons Rent Apartments In Illinois https://pocketsense.com/can-felons-rent-apartments-illinois-12015876.html (In Pekin Illinois where I live Monge owns nearly 90% of all apartment rental property or manages it and ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT RENT TO FELONS. This contributes to the homeless rate here among other factors.)
Public Housing For Felons https://helpforfelons.org/information-public-housing-for-felons/
Free College Would Be A Disaster https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/free-college-would-be-disaster-just-ask-europe (This article was apparently written to discourage socialism and most likely paid for by a private institutions.) If college was free it would be regulated by the states like public schools are now and have a standardized curriculum. Yes we would have to pay higher taxes but this would undoubtedly increase the amount of money people earned and the standard of living. The amount of educated workers would jump through the roof and propel our economy forward by leaps and bounds. Anything beyond an Associates degree would have to be financed like it is now privately through lenders in my plan. The demand for those higher levels of education would again sky rocket and therefor compound competition among students and prospective employers that are already seeking students with those degrees and skills sets and increase the amount of interns and students experience in their chosen fields. This would all snowball into a climax that put America back on top again and make us more completive globally.
AR-15's You have the right to protect your self against attempts on your life and should be allowed to use deadly force if the other person is. The AR-15 is the most advanced rifle money can buy and affordable. However again I can't own one because I am a felon. I believe non-violent offenders should be able to own a gun regardless. I also believe that all gun owners should have to pass a psychology evaluation and safety courses as well. I do not want to debate anyone on this issue because the NRA does a good job. https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2019/12/11/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-ar-15/
Victim, Shooter Identified in rural-Delevan Confrontation https://www.pekintimes.com/news/20200227/victim-shooter-identifed-in-rural-delavan-fatal-confrontation
Body Cam Approved For Pekin Police https://week.com/2020/09/14/body-cams-approved-for-pekin-police-other-items-voted-on/
Polis Signs Bill Defelonizing Single Use Drug Possession https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/polis-signs-bill-defelonizing-single-use-drug-possession-for-schedule-i-and-ii-substances
730 ILCS 166 Drug Court Treatment Act https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2014&ChapterID=55#:~:text=%22Pre%2Dadjudicatory%20drug%20court%20program,as%20part%20of%20the%20agreement.
Illinois Debt https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-05/illinois-delays-1-2-billion-debt-sale-after-yield-penalty-soars
CAT CEO Talks Leaving Illinois https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/caterpillar-ceos-letter-talks-of-leaving-illinois/article_3c23590c-572a-11e0-afc0-001cc4c002e0.html
LaHood https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/09/24/darin-lahood-introduces-plan-for-federal-loans-to-state-local-governments-but-exempts-illinois-from-/42829677/ There is no excuse to have a massive pension problem like we have. If we can not foot the bill changes need to be made now! Layoffs will just upset people. However as a Republican we are for SMALLER GOVERNMENT not more. If we had our way this problem would have never existed in the first place.
District Representation from Mike Unes helped develop East Peoria however Pekin fell short on his to do list as it appears (not that he was awful or something.) I Can't wait for Mark Luft to step in. I'm anxious to see what happens next. He has done some great things as mayor in just a short time.
Tazewell County Budget https://www.tazewell.com/Finance/Audits.html
Auditor Suit https://www.pekintimes.com/news/20200529/tazewell-county-settles-suit-with-auditor
I think 105k is a bit much for one person to represent someone in court. I have no idea why the government agreed to the suit. We have bigger problems. I sure could use a 100k small business loan to create jobs. I have several small business plans and proof of concepts as well as some of my friends that would eventually lead to dozens of jobs for the county.
Former Pekin Mayor Convicted Of Using City Credit Card To Fund Gambling Gets Hearing Before States High Court https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/former-pekin-mayor-convicted-of-using-city-credit-card-to/article_fa9d21c0-78e1-5e22-a0ea-800fb78d412f.html The mayors office since this story came out in 2008 has really began to turn things around. Here are some highlights. Laurie Barra - First Female Mayor in Towns History. Mark Luft - Elected to Congress this last November.
Legal Transparency In Action:
https://iltazewellportal.tylerhost.net/Portal/