Do as I say...Not as I did!

Timothy Geithner won confirmation on Monday as President Obama's treasury secretary despite not having paid a significant amount of taxes (over $30,000) that was due the IRS. If I had done that I would have had liens on anything I owned, partially owned or possessed and would have probably been in federal prison for tax evasion. How ironic it is that now he will be the IRS's boss. Will he have a sign on his desk saying "Do as I say...Not as I do (did)!" Will the IRS Agent who pursued those due taxes still have a job and if he or she does will it be on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. From my point of view this was not a good choice for an already sick economy. I can only envision the jokes around the Treasury Department's offices....smirk...wink...smirk.

Supreme Court pension ruling

On Monday, January 26, 2009 a second Supreme Court ruling was also handed down. Money from a deceased employee's pension plan will go to the named beneficiary, the court said, regardless of a divorce decree.

Justices rule for whistle blowers

In a 9-0 decision, on Monday, January 26, 2009, the Supreme Court of the United States stated that employees, workers who cooperate with an investigation regarding uncouth behavior by a supervisor are protected from retaliation under the civil rights laws. So now not only is the person who filed the complaint protected but any witnesses who might corroborate the truthfulness of the complaint are also now protected against retaliation by the employer. Justice David Souter said that protection "extends to an employee who speaks out about discrimination not on her/his own initiative, but in answering questions during an internal investigation."

Obama is a no show

President Obama, the Commander In Chief of this nation's armed forces was a "NO SHOW" at the inaugural ball that was attended by the recipients of the highest honor that this country can bestow on a member of the military: The Congressional Medal of Honor. A "NO SHOW" says something to me especially during a time of war against the terrorist threats faced by our members of the armed forces. The Commander In Chief of this nation's armed forces has two main mandates: the security of this nation and the well being of the troops he commands...maybe he just forgot....NOT! Wonder what the men and women who are laying it all on the line for their boss think of his "NO SHOW"; it must instill in them a feeling of really being appreciated.

Oh, by the way he was the first President to not attend this ball in 56 years.

Showing his true colors?

In spite of the genetic gifts inherited from his white mother and black father, God given ones and learned ones through study at elite universities President Obama still doesn't "get it". His superb rhetorical skill and affability promote and promise a Utopian world, peace, prosperity, health and universal happiness through his leadership and change. I agree these goals are admirable ones and we all should strive to make them reality. So much for his goals and words: now lets talk and look at the reality of his actions...the "real stuff" of a person that emanates from his inner voice of conscience which is the product of his "formation" from an infant to President of the United States of America.

On Friday, January 23 he struck down the ban on using tax payer money to assist international (foreign) groups that perform abortions. I believe that the President truly wants to do many of the good things he promoted during his campaign. However, a Utopian society cannot be achieved by promoting and subsidizing a "culture of death"; one that says it wants to make people free in the truest sense of the word but bases the achievement of that goal on the amoral assumption that the taking of life, pre-born, during birth, in diseased states, or in the elderly is warranted because it will be balanced by the good it will supposedly achieve for the many. This proposition has been used in the past and has only brought more death, misery and the collapse of nations and civilizations. To promote this course of action is to promote our eventual extinction from the face of the planet. The more we cheapen life the more its intrinsic value decreases...eventually to the point of being worthless.

The Smartest Person in the World

If you have a few minutes (whatever they are and relative to what) to think about three issues this weekend define the real nature of "life", "space" and "time". If you can tell us what the real nature and substance of these three entities is I guarantee that you will win three Nobel Prizes and probably be considered the most intelligent human being past, present and future. No one has been able to do it to date. Attempts yes, but inclusive full answers NO!

Think about it and let me know what your answers would be. I would be interested in hearing from you.

Another Continuance..in Woodstock IL

Will it ever end? Sgt. Gorski, almost 20 year veteran of the Woodstock PD, who was unanimously vindicated by the Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners almost a year ago of a complaint brought against him by Robert W. Lowen Jr., the current Chief of the Woodstock PD. Sgt. Gorski has been found guilty of nothing and has had absolutely no disciplinary action recommended by the Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. Yet for the last year he has been punished by the City of Woodstock for being found vindicated by its own Board of Fire and Police Commissioners buy not paying him his back pay with statutory interest as demanded by the State statute. Likewise when he tried to go back to light duties as recommended by his spine surgeon he was told sorry we've got nothing for you, have a nice day. Now understand this, he is still a sworn police officer, an employee of the City of Woodstock, vindicated by the Board but they have decided unilaterally not to pay him even though he is still technically an employee with the city; you try to figure that one out if you can.

Could you have a nice day knowing that there is no income to support your family which includes three young daughters? I don't think so.

Today he was told that the Hearing in Judge McIntyre's Court was continued and will not take place tomorrow. He does not know why as of yet or who asked for it. I am looking forward to the reason for the continuance. I hope its not going to result in another several months of no pay or back pay for being found vindicated by Woodstock's own Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. Imagine that: being punished because you have been found innocent. Must be a new legal concept being allegedly promulgated by the City of Woodstock against its long term employees or could it be allegedly something more personal between Lowen and Sgt. Gorski that the city does not want aired in the arena of public opinion and its citizens' good judgement.

Poll Results..Governments truth and trust

Some time ago I conducted a poll on my blog. The question was "Do you trust the truthfulness and integrity of your local and national government?" I was surprised by the result; 100% of the responses were NO TO BOTH. This is a sad time in our national history when the "people" no longer have faith and trust in their elected officials. Will this despair eventually lead to the end of this great country because of the loss of trust by the people in their elected politicians...it probably will until the people stop electing politicians and elect leaders who do what is right for the country and not for themselves or the particular party they belong to.

War..an awesome teacher

The article "Docs in training", Voice of the People, Dec. 8, 08, Tribune brings back similiar but different memories of the heady days of the late 1960s when the U.S. was embroiled in a brutal war that killed as many Americans that now fill the "Wall" in Washington D.C. and many more "Walls" that will never be built with the names of Americans that were wounded physically and psychologically. How many of these Americans are now dead due to injuries directly related to that war only God really knows.

Within the blurr of a few days I went from the relatively stable life of an intern at Connemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital in Johnstown PA (the hospital built by donations from around the world after the Johnstown Flood)to the entirely different world of a Naval Medical Officer and first year resident in orthopaedic surgery at the Naval Hospital in south Philadelphia PA. Along with me on this turbulent odyssey came my wife Kristina and our two very young sons, Steven and Michael.

I did not know what to expect on the first day I reported for duty to the Chief of Orthopaedics, Captain Joseph Cremona. Well my fellow first year resident, Tom Lang and I found out fast that first day. We were not only involved in being first assistants in doing surgery but actually doing some of the surgery when our staff orthopaedic surgeon mentors felt we were ready. To say the least we had to learn and do things quickly because we were constantly (daily) getting wounded naval and marine personell air evacted from Viet Nam or Japan to Fort Dix New Jersey and then transported via bus ambulances to the naval hospital. At the high point of the war we had over 1200 orthopaedic patients in the hospital.

My first responsibility was the care and treatment of almost 300 amputee patients. I learned quickly from the staff ortho surgeons, my more senior residents and especially from the savy senior nurses and corpmen who would "suggest" certain things might be considered in a particular patient. Ego was not an option that either I or my patients could afford. I learned and did it quickly all along improving my skills in diagnosis, treatment and surgical technique. The residents of which there were only two in eacy year would rotate through the various types of othopaedic practices which we were required to be trained in by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery over the four years we trained. We had to pass tests after our second and fourth years sucessfully in order to complete our residencies successfully. Along with this our personal fitness reports from our staff surgeons had to be satisfactory.We had duty schedules, weekend schedules, night schedules and every other kind you can think of but we as a group, including the staff orthopedic surgeons never thought of it as a burden. We would work as many hours or days until the work was done and all were seen and treated. We would look around and see all these young self-sacrificing Americans, 18, 19 and 20 year olds and the occasional one in his 20s that the younger marines and naval personell would call "pop" and in some fashion feel it an honor and priviledge to have worn the same uniform and helped restore their broken bodies and lives to the best of our ability....I still feel the same to this very day and make it a practice to salute every military person in uniform I may come into contact with too this very day.

Alleged Falsehoods Told to Woodstock City Council?

A few days ago I was told by a reliable source that the Woodstock City Council was informed sometime ago in April or May by someone in city government or intimately involved in city government that when Sgt. Steve Gorski was told by his spinal surgeon that he could return to a trial of light administrative duties he chose not to return to duties. This is an absolute lie.

Sgt. Gorski telephoned Deputy Chief Neuzil and informed him of the release by his surgeon and was told over the telephone not to even bother to come in because there was nothing like that available for him even though in the past other officers were accommodated in similar fashion.

As you may recall Sgt. Gorski was vindicated of charges filed against him by Chief Lowen by a 3 to 0 decision of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners in February. He still has not been offered a light duty posting and has not been paid in over a year in spite of being found that the evidence did not prove the Chief's complaint. I can only wonder if someone or someones are telling the City Council their allegedly altered side of the story to allegedly cover their hind sides and how they may have allegedly abused and continue to allegedly abuse the system and the truth to their advantage. If these allegations turn out to be true I would wonder if there might be some opening positions in city government and departments?

Belated Thanks for Serving Your Country

Nothing new, I am usually a day late and a dollar short so this should not surprise you. I just wanted to say "thanks for the service you gave to your country and for the sacrifices you made". I extend this salutation to the the relatives on my wife's side of the family who fought in the Revolutionary War right up to the current conflicts. Many of her uncles never made it back from the Pacific and their remains are only known to God.

I especially want to thank my maternal grandfather, John Vondra who fought in WWI in France as an Army infantryman; following the war came home to run a gas station on Pulaski Ave. in Chicago. My father, Ted R. Gorski, a radarman second class who served on the USS Haskell, a landing ship transport of troops in the Pacific. On returning home he drove a bus for the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) for over 35 years. Also my uncle John Vondra, the son of the above John Vondra, who was a marine in the Pacific and fought in most of the major Pacific island battles. He made it back and got married to my Aunt Carrie and raised a family in Los Angeles.

Lastly thanks to all the servicemen and women I served with in the various Naval Hospitals I was stationed at; it was a privilege and honor to be associated with all of you. Lastly, but always in my prayers, are the marines and naval personnel patients who gave so much and asked so little in return. I will always remember you. God be with you all.

David W McArdle...Did Not Phone Back?!

Well its been a few weeks since David W. McArdle called for a special meeting of all the attorneys involved with the litigation between the Chief of Police, Robert Lowen and Sgt. Steven R. Gorski of the Woodstock Police Department. Well the meeting occurred with all the city's paid attorneys and the two representing the Sergeant.
All the attorneys had their say if they wanted to say anything and Mr. McArdle said he would get back to the Sergeant's two attorneys as soon as possible with a response to the Sergeant's request. Well guess what...to the best of my knowledge...there has been no response. No response that the Sergeant has heard from either of his two attorneys or Mr. McArdle of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle a law firm in Crystal Lake that has been being paid for over a year now by the City of Woodstock's taxpayers money. This is getting to be a really expensive adventure for these tough economic times to expend the tax payers money to infuse into the coffers of a well endowed out of town law firm. I suspect that the city's payments to Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle will continue until at some point the tax payers, many of whom are out of work, say "end this" ..."enough is enough". The only people who are winning in this scenario are the attorneys. Maybe its time for the taxpayers of Woodstock to have a special meeting with their elected city officials who I presume have been calling the "shots" and "spending their money".

$175,000 versus millions

The ultimate in hypocrisy was manifest tonight with the televising of Sen. B. Obama's infomercial. The Democrats condemned the Gov. from Alaska for getting some new duds to wear, $175,000 worth, during the campaign which will be auctioned off after the campaign is over and given to charity but not a peep from anyone about the millions spent by Sen. B. Hussein Obama to sell himself to the people of the United States. Doesn't that seem a little unfair and not balanced to you? If all its going to take to win the Presidency is a lot of money and good fitting suit and being able to read a teleprompter well this country is going to be in for some hard times. Leadership has nothing to do with money, TV time and slick talk but everything to do with keeping your promises and maintaining your core principles. Senator McCain did not break under seven years of torture at the Hanoi Hilton...I think the White House should be a breeze for him.

BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR SEN. OBAMA...CHECK THIS OUT!

www.americasright.com/2008/08/q-with-phillip-berg.html

David W McArdle...Back Again In Court

Remember the previous article about David W. McArdle, a managing partner of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle, attorneys for the City of Woodstock Illinois and the phone call and meeting with Sgt. Gorski's attorneys to work out something more amicable and efficient in settling their differences? Well to the best of my knowledge Sgt. Gorski's attorneys received no calls back in regards to it but I am sure the Sergeant's legal bill increased and so did the city's because of this exercise in futility. I suspect it may have been just another tactic in trying to extend this whole matter by trying to bankrupt the Sgt. so that he could not go on and continue to defend his position in court and for the City of Woodstock to continue to not pay him any wages for more than a year now.

At court,Mr. McArdle brought out his tripod and poster boards and in a few minutes tried to convince Judge Maureen McIntyre that the 4 1/2 months of evidence and testimony presented by Anne Brophy, the attorney who handled the prosecution for the city against Sgt. Gorski and an attorney for Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle; that the decision in the case, by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners should have been decided differently and against Sgt. Gorski. That they, the Board, should have found him guilty of the charges brought against him by the Chief of Police, Robert W. Lowen Jr. and he should have been fired from his job after 20 years of exemplary public service to the community of Woodstock Illinois. So much for advancing amicability, efficiency and trust but I will say it was a valiant effort in trying to rewrite history and a valiant attempt to forget about the concept of double jeopardy of the defendant. As far as justice...you be the judge.

Now the citizens of Woodstock and of McHenry County have an even clearer idea of what Sgt. Gorski and his attorneys have had to deal with.

LINE OF DUTY PENSION BENEFITS FOR POLICE OFFICERS

About three weeks ago a telephone conversation between two attorneys representing Sgt. Steven R. Gorski, an employee of the Woodstock Police Department for the last 20 years and Mr. David W. McArdle, a partner in the firm of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle, representing the Chief of Police and City of Woodstock took place. It was my understanding that Mr. McArdle wanted to have a meeting of the legal representatives of the Chief of Police, Robert W. Lowen Jr. and the City of Woodstock and the Police Pension Board and those of Sgt. Gorski to see if this litigation on the part of the Police Chief and the City and the Police Pension Board could be resolved in a more amicable and efficient manner. I presume since Mr. McArdle arranged this meeting he self-assumed the role of moderator. This meeting took place in the afternoon of October 8, 2008 in the City Council Chambers.

After about two hours of talking and the usual "posturing" that attorneys are known for, the position of Sgt. Gorski was finalized to the understanding of Mr. McArdle and he said he would get back to Sgt. Gorski's attorneys after discussing this with the City Council as soon as possible. To date, Oct. 18, 2008, Sgt. Gorski's attorneys have not heard a word back from Mr. McArdle; so much for amicability and efficiency.

Also during this meeting one of the attorneys for either Workman's Comp or the Pension Board allegedly said that they were not sure that the injury ever happened during line of duty even though the appropriate form (Form 45) was filed and investigated an verified by a deputy chief of police. According to "Municipal Matters" dated July 2007, Vol. 2, Issue 3, a news letter produced by the firm of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood and McArdle a police officer is entitled to Line of Duty Pension Benefits and I quote:

"Any act of police duty inherently involving a special risk, not ordinarily assumed by a citizen in the ordinary walks of life, imposed on a policeman by the statutes of this State, or by ordinances or police regulations of the city in which this Article is in effect or by special assignment, or by any act of heroism performed in the city having for its direct purpose the saving of the life or property of a person other than the policeman."

Sgt. Gorski was at 3:30 am trying to do what he could for a man who was gravely injured in a single car accident on the side of Route 14 in Woodstock Illinois. The man expired and later it was found that his blood alcohol was in excess of the legal limit. It was at this scene during the course of his assisting in the later investigation that he incurred his injuries. Now that does not sound like an act "ordinarily assumed by a citizen in the ordinary walks of life " to me. How about you?

This gives you just a little feeling of what Sgt. Gorski has been dealing with in connection with the Chief of Police, the City of Woodstock and its hired and well paid attorneys.

To all the citizens of Woodstock Illinois don't forget that your elected officials are allegedly condoning this by setting policy and allowing their subordinates to proceed in this matter as regards Sgt. Gorski. Last but not least it is your tax money being used to pay the legal fees of these attorneys to pursue this course of action. That tax money could be used in a much better way in these troubled times.

Woodstock IL....Continuing Saga of Sgt. Gorski

On February 14, 2008 the Woodstock Illinois Fire and Police Commissioners vindicated Patrol Sergeant Steven R. Gorski, for lack of evidence, of all complaints filed against him by Police Chief, Robert W. Lowen Jr. This followed a 4 1/2 month prosecution by Lowen and his city paid attorney Anne Brophy of the firm of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle. After all was said and done by the prosecution, including taking the testimony of a multitude of witnesses the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners returned a unanimous decision in Sgt. Gorski's favor; not one commissioner voted against him. Of even more significance is the fact that not one commissioner asked that any disciplinary action be taken against him.

On February 14, 2008 the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners signed the following official document:

"IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Charges against the Respondent (Sgt. Gorski) be dismissed. The Board having held that the Charges against the Respondent (Sgt. Gorski) are not sustained, orders that the Respondent (Sgt. Gorski) be reimbursed for any wages withheld as a result of the Respondent's suspension without pay pending the hearing. The Chief of the Police Department and other appropriate corporate authorities are directed to implement this order forthwith."

Well, it is now (8) eight months later and the Chief, Robert Lowen and other appropriate corporate authorities of the City of Woodstock Illinois have not implemented the direct order of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. From all sensible points of view that sounds like the Chief and appropriate corporate authorities are allegedly guilty of insubordination and not obeying a direct order given to them. Sgt. Gorski still has not seen one penny of the money due him. How many of you could survive and take care of a family on no income?

I would hope and pray that the City Council of the City of Woodstock Illinois would stop this travesty of justice and common sense from continuing by complying with the order and directly dismissing those individuals who were ordered to comply forthwith by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners and freely choose not to follow the order. The Sgt. should also be paid all money due him per order of the Board.

No one in public service, no mater what rank or level of power and supervision they hold are above the rule of law and those who believe they are need to move on to some other endeavor. I pray that this foolishness ends.

WOODSTOCK ILLINOIS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER...FILLED TO CAPACITY

The chamber was filled to capacity with about a dozen or so citizens standing along the side and back wall. I was only able to attend the first half of the public comments section of the meeting; I suspect another blog will give you a more in debt report (www.woodstockadvocate.com).

Two members of the public voiced their dissatisfaction on the apparent increase in crime and crime related activities in Woodstock and the apparent lack of leadership and transmission of information to the public. One of the speakers, was very displeased with the way the "man with a gun" incident was managed and questioned the alleged quality of the leadership of the Woodstock Police Department. The mayor, Dr. B. Sager stated that the council is aware of the communities concerns and will implement actions that will make sure this, to the best of their abilities, does not happen again. The Police Chief, Robert W. Lowen Jr. was present at the time of the public comments and had no comments.

PEOPLE UPSET WITH CHIEF LOWEN?...TO FILL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS THIS TUESDAY?

Unofficial word on the street is that the citizens of Woodstock Illinois are allegedly very, very upset with the way things have been handled by the Chief of Police Robert W. Lowen Jr. From what I have heard a number of them will be showing up for the Tuesday meeting of the City Council to voice their complaints of the way public safety and crime matters have been handled over the last several days and I don't think they will be willing to settle for a cup of coffee...even a premium imported blend.
PS: Meeting will be held a 7 PM on this coming Tuesday at the City Hall in the Council Chambers.

POLICE CHIEF ROBERT W LOWEN JR QUERIED BY RESIDENTS OF WOODSTOCK ILLINOIS AND THE PRESS

In a Editorial printed by the Northwest Herald on Sept. 12, 2008 the paper stated that Police Chief Lowen "needs to understand that dealing with the public and releasing information on crime that occurs in Woodstock (Illinois) is an important part of his job." They also stated "Woodstock residents deserve better."
Read the entire Editorial entitled "Information was lacking" on line at NWHerald.com for Sept. 12, 2008