Specter of Liberalism Haunts Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is being haunted by liberalism and the city is still spending money it does not have. A little couple weeks ago Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D), the boy wonder, was concerned and fretting because many of his hopes and dreams were pinned to revenues projected from a new casino (being built by Don Barden) on the North Shore. This project had not only fallen behind schedule, but is now in the process of being transferred to new owners and delayed. Seems Mr. Barden did not have all his ducks in a row and did not have enough funding for his grand plans despite a government oversight and selection process that was supposed to pick the best candidate to build this new source of tax revenues for our liberal government. Corruption? Quid pro quo? Your guess at how this man got the sole gaming license for Pittsburgh is as good as any.

This entire hullabaloo however means that future budgets may not be met if this casino does not open on time. Oh! Whatever will we do?

But this is typical – spending money we do not have. Is it any surprise that a series of elected Democrats from Mayor Luke to Governor Fast Eddie Rendell would put the city in such a predicament?

I know that we, in general, as consumers are used to throwing money this way and that way ringing up our credit cards. We are too willing to take a risk that next month, and the month after that, and then the month after that that nothing will happen to prohibit us from paying for luxury we bought today and could not afford. It is the same mentality that got us into the whole sub-prime housing mess where people took out loans they could never reasonably assume that they would be able to pay back only to moan when it came time to pay the piper. But should not our elected official be at least a little smarter than the average Joe?

Apparently not! Apparently making promises based on money we do not have and mortgaging our future is something they are also willing to do. Why shouldn?t they be? Everyone else is doing it!

Now if we remember even further back in this whole fiasco of thinking a casino would be Pittsburgh?s saving grace, we remember more about how this all began. It all started with a threat by the owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mario Lemieux, to leave town if a new arena to replace the decrepit Civic Arena was not built. He even had someone willing to foot the cost of a brand spanking new place for the NHL?s Eastern Conference Champions to play. All that was needed was that the state of Pennsylvania to agree to give this investor one of the coveted, government controlled casino licenses.

Nope. Could not do that could we? The state must have control over who can and who cannot operate a casino in the minds of liberals. So they decided that there could only be one license for Pittsburgh and that they had to have a selection process to determine who the state would deem worthy of such an honor.

Governor Fast Eddie Rendell and the members of the state legislature had it all figured out when they passed the law permitting slot machine parlors did they not? So instead of an arena that would not have cost the tax payers a single penny, the government decided that Mr. Barden and his plan would win out. Although the deal included commitments that he would foot part of the bill for a new arena, the rest would be made up with tax payer dollars.

So we got hosed before on this too because of bureaucrats who are not qualified enough to be dog catcher much less controlling businesses. Now we see that the bureaucrats who made the determination did not do their homework on Mr. Barden, or had their palms greased by him ? take your pick, because he did not have the funds to complete the project he was given! And you trust people like this with being able to provide you health insurance? Heck they cannot even get a casino built!

Thankfully the crisis looks to be at least partially averted. Don Barden has moved to sell his development rights and interest in the casino (pending bureaucratic approval of course) that those in Harrisburg decreed from on high that he was best qualified to build. And Mayor Ravenstahl was seen recently breathing sighs of relief and slumping over his desk, kissing his lucky horseshoe and uttering thanks to God ? quietly however so as to make sure the ACLU would not hear him and decide to sue him for evoking the Almighty.

He is relieved because he has staved off having to explain to those that supported him where the money to pay for his promises was going to come from. Maybe he even learned a valuable lesson. But I doubt it. He will still be haunted by the specter of liberalism.

All this could have been avoided if only liberty had been embraced. If only the bureaucrats had kept their distance and let anyone who wanted to invest in a casino build one what is the worst that would have happened? That each would have either succeed or fail based on their own prowess and demand by the public for such an endeavor? Oh, the horror of the free-markets right?

Perhaps had the mayor embraced liberty then the lemmings that clamor at his heals looking for the crumbs he is tossing to them would not have nearly had a heart attack.

What a Pittsburgh Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Should Do for You

If you were injured during the course and scope of your employment, you are entitled to wage loss benefits. In addition, your employer or your employer?s insurance company is responsible for paying the medical bills related to your work injury. Workers? compensation insurance companies will at times settle workers? claims with a single lump sum payment. Furthermore, you may be entitled to specific loss benefits for the loss of hearing, sight, limb or other permanent injury. It is important to contact an experienced workers? compensation attorney to protect your legal rights.An experienced workers? compensation lawyer should offer the following:1. A free consultation.There is no reason you need to suffer financially because of a work related injury. There is also no reason for you to go into debt to pay for experienced legal advice. Find an attorney who offers a free consultation so you can explain your work related injury and decide if he or she is the workers? compensation attorney you choose to represent you.2. Immediate attention to your case.It would be nice if you could take the time after an accident for you or your loved one to simply focus on healing from the physical and emotional trauma. Unfortunately, you cannot. You need to address legal issues in a timely fashion. Your workers? compensation attorney should communicate directly with the workers? compensation insurance company assigned to your case. This communication should be accomplished in a timely fashion.3. Protection of your legal rights.Your employer has certain legal obligations to provide you with a work environment that is structured to keep you safe. A Pittsburgh workers? compensation lawyer will have experience helping clients win their battles due to work-related injuries in Allegheny County and surrounding areas. He will know the specific details of workers? compensation law and can assist you through the process.4. No legal fees unless your case is a success.Find a workers? compensation attorney who works on a contingency fee basis while representing clients in workers? compensation claims. This means the law firm is only paid if you are successful and receive compensation for your injuries by way of a settlement or award. This fee structure ensures all people have equal access to experienced legal counsel.

Pittsburgh Landscaping

Do you live in or near the Pittsburgh area and want to add value to your home or just enhance its overall curb appeal? Perhaps you should seek out a local Pittsburgh landscaping company and learn how a landscaping makeover can add 15% or more to the value of your property. That’s right 15% or more! A great landscaping makeover is a sure fire way to boost your home’s property value and beauty. Especially In a buyers market like this one, now may be the perfect time to make a leap into that beautifully designed landscape of your dreams. With little investment you can add more value than you ever imagined.
People often forget that landscaping doesn’t just include grass cutting, weeding, trimming shrubbery or adding a flower bed here and there. It is also about designing a whole visually aesthetic outdoor experience and showcasing what your property really has to offer with a beautiful landscaping makeover.
Landscape design really is an art form and it is very important to find someone who knows Pittsburgh landscaping design so that they have a good understanding of the design styles, plant selection and where to get all the right quality plant materials for the job. Pittsburgh Landscapers already have an idea of what’s popular and will work best for each specific area of your yard so there is no need to hire some fancy design firm in another state when you can support the local economy and have first hand knowledge on what plants will work best for your home and what materials will be readily be available for the job. A local Pittsburgh landscaping company should be able to make sure your specific landscape plan is unique enough to make your home stand out and get noticed with out breaking the bank. Landscaping is a great way to enhance your property’s own personality and feel by bringing out hidden beauty from accenting your homes features that may otherwise be overlooked. Pittsburgh landscape designer’s should think of all the four seasons of Pittsburgh and be sure to incorporate plants with interested for each of those season’s for a year round landscape experience that wont end with summer.
Hiring a Pittsburgh landscaping company that knows and has worked in the area is the best way to take advantage of local knowledge and use it to express your property’s specific appeal. A local company should have a vested interest in the area and want to build and maintain a reputation for quality and great service. Since Pittsburgh does not require landscape contractors to carry a license you must be sure to do your homework before hiring just anyone do the work. You should always check for proof of insurance, references and portfolios to be sure that you hire the right professional for the job. There are many companies around that don’t understand the principles of landscape design and a few years down the road when all your shrubs are dead or have out grown the areas they were planted, you will wish you spent more time seeking out the right professional.
There are many plant options in Pittsburgh to choose from some require more care than others. The right landscape designer should be aware of your ability to care for the plants He or She has selected for the project, so that you wont get over worked just trying to care for the plants. Also be sure to look for a company that will be around to take care of the plants in case you cant or just have no interest at all in yard work . Be sure to hire the Pittsburgh landscaping company who leaves you with the feeling, that “This is someone I can work with, someone who will listen to my specific needs and do what it takes to satisfy expectations” if you follow my advice than you will surely be satisfied for years to come with the yard of your dreams!