Wasting My Tax Dollars.

[mykcob4]

So I live in uppermiddle class neighborhood north of Dallas. The houses are of good size and the actually city is small. We have one firestation, one holding cell, half a dozen cops. You get the picture.
Every year in December, the firestation dispatches the one fire truck we have with one of the firemen dressed as Santa Claus. They drive around the entire city every night until christmas eve, playing christian christmas songs REALLY LOUDLY, and throwing candycanes at the people standing on the sidewalk. A whole parade follows the firetruck. Half a dozen police cars, the one ambulance, the one animal control truck, and others all follow along for the three to six hour round.
I got to thinking, "hey they are spending MY tax dollars for their goddamned religious celebration." Well I estimated that no less than 30 city workers participate in the parade, about a dozen city vehicles, and that doesn't include the cost of the candy, gas, costumes, etc...! This goes on for about 3 some odd weeks.
Well city council meetings are suspended for a time until January. The offical notice is that except for emergencies the city offices are closed for the "christmas holidays." Anyway I scheduled to be heard at the next available city meeting. A requirement is that you put in writing the subject and everything that you are going to say, to include any legal or official documents if required. In otherwords you can't just get on the docket and say anything you want. So I posted online what I wanted to talk about. I got an email today denying my request to talk to the city council. There was no reason given, just a denial.
I guess I could have been covert in my efforts but that really isn't my style.

[Solitary]

So much for freedom of speech.  :shock:  :roll: Solitary

[Special B]

It sounds like they are illegally using tax money to fund a religious parade. If they will not listen to your voice (which is a further breach of your rights), your only recourse is to bring the city council down using whatever means necessary. I'd start with a flier campaign to drum up support, but if your community is too ignorant to care, then violence may be your only recourse.

[mykcob4]

It sounds like they are illegally using tax money to fund a religious parade. If they will not listen to your voice (which is a further breach of your rights), your only recourse is to bring the city council down using whatever means necessary. I'd start with a flier campaign to drum up support, but if your community is too ignorant to care, then violence may be your only recourse.

Violence? Nah that isn't practical nor is it effective. I'm sure you're joking.
I think if I have enough energy I should bring a civil suit against the city. That would mean ofcourse harrassment and intimidation. I'll probably not do anything.

[Hijiri Byakuren]

Violence? Nah that isn't practical nor is it effective. I'm sure you're joking.

In the words of my business 101 instructor:

"Your generation doesn't know how to protest anymore. Back in my day, we blew shit up."

[mykcob4]

Violence? Nah that isn't practical nor is it effective. I'm sure you're joking.

In the words of my business 101 instructor:

"Your generation doesn't know how to protest anymore. Back in my day, we blew shit up."

I'm probably from the same generation as your professor.

[stromboli]

I can tell you as a former Firefighter that they aren't doing it because they want to. That kind of shit just lowers your ability to respond to real emergencies. We used to have to dress up like Smoky the Bear in the summer and go to parks to promote fire safety. Trust me, they don't do it for fun.

[stromboli]

So I live in uppermiddle class neighborhood north of Dallas. The houses are of good size and the actually city is small. We have one firestation, one holding cell, half a dozen cops. You get the picture.
Every year in December, the firestation dispatches the one fire truck we have with one of the firemen dressed as Santa Claus. They drive around the entire city every night until christmas eve, playing christian christmas songs REALLY LOUDLY, and throwing candycanes at the people standing on the sidewalk. A whole parade follows the firetruck. Half a dozen police cars, the one ambulance, the one animal control truck, and others all follow along for the three to six hour round.
I got to thinking, "hey they are spending MY tax dollars for their goddamned religious celebration." Well I estimated that no less than 30 city workers participate in the parade, about a dozen city vehicles, and that doesn't include the cost of the candy, gas, costumes, etc...! This goes on for about 3 some odd weeks.
Well city council meetings are suspended for a time until January. The offical notice is that except for emergencies the city offices are closed for the "christmas holidays." Anyway I scheduled to be heard at the next available city meeting. A requirement is that you put in writing the subject and everything that you are going to say, to include any legal or official documents if required. In otherwords you can't just get on the docket and say anything you want. So I posted online what I wanted to talk about. I got an email today denying my request to talk to the city council. There was no reason given, just a denial.
I guess I could have been covert in my efforts but that really isn't my style.

Yeah, we've noticed covert is not your style.

[mykcob4]

So I live in uppermiddle class neighborhood north of Dallas. The houses are of good size and the actually city is small. We have one firestation, one holding cell, half a dozen cops. You get the picture.
Every year in December, the firestation dispatches the one fire truck we have with one of the firemen dressed as Santa Claus. They drive around the entire city every night until christmas eve, playing christian christmas songs REALLY LOUDLY, and throwing candycanes at the people standing on the sidewalk. A whole parade follows the firetruck. Half a dozen police cars, the one ambulance, the one animal control truck, and others all follow along for the three to six hour round.
I got to thinking, "hey they are spending MY tax dollars for their goddamned religious celebration." Well I estimated that no less than 30 city workers participate in the parade, about a dozen city vehicles, and that doesn't include the cost of the candy, gas, costumes, etc...! This goes on for about 3 some odd weeks.
Well city council meetings are suspended for a time until January. The offical notice is that except for emergencies the city offices are closed for the "christmas holidays." Anyway I scheduled to be heard at the next available city meeting. A requirement is that you put in writing the subject and everything that you are going to say, to include any legal or official documents if required. In otherwords you can't just get on the docket and say anything you want. So I posted online what I wanted to talk about. I got an email today denying my request to talk to the city council. There was no reason given, just a denial.
I guess I could have been covert in my efforts but that really isn't my style.

Yeah, we've noticed covert is not your style.

Quite different from my military career.

[Hijiri Byakuren]

Violence? Nah that isn't practical nor is it effective. I'm sure you're joking.

In the words of my business 101 instructor:

"Your generation doesn't know how to protest anymore. Back in my day, we blew shit up."

I'm probably from the same generation as your professor.

Only if you're in your 70's and forgot to tell us.

[mykcob4]

Only if you're in your 70's and forgot to tell us. [/quote]
Nah just 56 but we're both from the "baby boomer" generation. After the baby boomers came a butt load of generations every ten years or so. It wasn't that way in the past. Only significant changes were recognized like in my case the tweenty+ years of high population griwth known as the baby boomer generation.
A baby boomer is someone born between 1947 'till 1964. That is an approximation. I was born in 1957.

[Special B]

Violence? Nah that isn't practical nor is it effective. I'm sure you're joking.

False. Don't be naïve. Violence has brought down tyrants and corrupt nations, protected and created civil and legal rights, and freed slaves. Violence is a last resort, and it works. History has proven this time and time again. The U.S. is a good example. The RNC is another, which is more timely. I can provide several hundred examples of how violence has been used for political and social good if you would like, but I would prefer you that just open a world history textbook.

Peace is preferable, but it is peace that is sometimes neither practical nor effective.

BTW, my suggestion of violence does not automatically mean violence against a living person. Most civic or political violence is against property. It has been an effective tool for the oppressed for as long as we have had governments. When the powers that be will not listen to reason, or the law itself, violence can make them listen. Again, this doesn't necessarily mean hurting people, though it has rightfully come to that many times in history as well.

I suggested that you use every legal and peaceful means available, and if those fail, then violence is your only other option beyond "do nothing", that is at least if you actually wish to defend your rights and prevent criminals from stealing tax money and using it for illegal religious displays. Sadly, "do nothing" is what most people decide, as they have been incorrectly taught that violence is always bad.

[PickelledEggs]

While it is going to cost more money than the money you are already giving them through taxes, I would suggest this.

Strap a giant P.A. system to the top of your car and circle the church while you blast this.

[youtube:2xjkzdcb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkQrOugHOo8[/youtube:2xjkzdcb]

Two can play at that game...

[spoil:2xjkzdcb]by the way, make sure you have more torque and horse power than their cars, in case you get chased[/spoil:2xjkzdcb]

[mykcob4]

While it is going to cost more money than the money you are already giving them through taxes, I would suggest this.

Strap a giant P.A. system to the top of your car and circle the church while you blast this.

Writer posted a YouTube video

Two can play at that game...

[spoil:311rspd1]by the way, make sure you have more torque and horse power than their cars, in case you get chased[/spoil:311rspd1]

I don't believe in devils either.

[Johan]

Is it possible that no tax dollars are being used for these activities?