Incumbents need to go

Congressman Mollohan from West Virginia was ousted in the primary election Tuesday, May 11, 2010.
The rest of the country needs to follow West Virginia’s lead and Vote out ALL INCUMBENTS. This is the only way to get rid of the status quo in Washington. This isn’t a matter of voting out the Dems but voting out the incumbents. It is time for change in Washington and the only way to achieve that is to get rid of those that have been in there for years. Both parties are responsible for the mess our country is in and the so-called health care reform was just the icing on the cake. Term limits have been proposed in almost every new congress and is swept aside by the incumbents never seeing the floor for a vote. If the voters keep the same old cronies from both parties in office then there will never be real change in Washington. It is time “We, the people” took back our government from special interests, lobbyists,corporation and bankers. Follow WV’s lead and get rid of the incumbents.

The incumbents from both parties must go and the voters and taxpayers in this country need to demand fiscal restraint. Our borrowing and deficit is out of control. Portugal and Spain recently had their ratings dropped after the Greece financial crisis. Greece has a deficit vs. GDP of 118 percent. Portugal’s debt is 86 percent of their GDP and they were downgraded. By the end of this year, the United States debt will be 92.6 percent of the GDP. What does this say for the US? We have yet to be downgraded because it would put the entire globe into economic crisis. The United States is close to bankruptcy and our government keeps on spending and borrowing. Bailout after bailout at taxpayer expense with the latest being Fannie Mae, who is seeking another $8.4 Billion in aid. The housing crisis has continued even with the bank bailouts and the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailouts. The banks are still foreclosing at record pace and the bailouts aimed at homeowners keeping their homes are not working. These agencies are keeping the money and investing it to make more money for themselves while the homeowners are kicked out. It seems that Washington thinks bailouts are the norm now. There are small businesses closing every day and they don’t receive help from the government so why should the bigger companies/corporations?

Government has to be held accountable and one way to succeed at this is to get rid of the incumbents. We need term limits today more than ever before. Every year, term limits are brought up by a newly elected member to Congress and each time the incumbents sweep it aside keeping it from reaching the floor for a vote. The incumbents do not want the new members in Congress to change the status quo. They enjoy the high life they are living with all of the perks at the expense of the taxpayer. Nothing will change until we get these incumbents from both parties out of office so that other members elected will realize that the people are now holding them accountable.
I for one am mad as hell at the political shenanigans of both parties. They do not seem to care what the people think or want. They do not seem to care about our country and the current shape it is in. They only seem to care about blaming each party, fighting with each party and having back room closed door meetings to ram through so-called reforms so they can give each other attaboys and pats on the back. It is time both parties work together and do what is best for the country or our country will be the next Greece and we will fall like Rome.

Deputy, former Marine, fired over tattoo

What a way to honor our Marines. An outstanding Sheriff Deputy was fired for having a tattoo on the inside of his forearm of praying hands and dog tags. He and his platoon lost one of their own while serving in Iraq and the entire platoon got the same tattoo in memory of the soldier. I would say the Sheriff needs to revise his tattoo policy. They hired him knowing he had the tattoo and fired him without due process after he served his probation period.

================================================================
Parkersburg News article link

Wood County deputy fired over tattoo
Natalee Seely
POSTED: April 29, 2010

PARKERSBURG – A former Wood County deputy is fighting for his job after being fired in April over a tattoo on his forearm.

Christopher Piggott, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and former Parkersburg firefighter, said the circumstances of his termination were unfair and his right to due process was violated.

“I’m not ready to give up my career in law enforcement. Being a deputy is something I’ve pursued all my life,” said 29-year-old Piggott. “This whole situation has dumbfounded a lot of people.”

Piggott received a letter of termination April 15, a little over a year after being hired by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and 11 days after the conclusion of his year-long probationary period, he said.

The termination was over Piggott’s refusal to remove a tattoo on his right forearm depicting two praying hands cupping a Marine Corps ID tag, an image memorializing his five years of service in the armed forces and his two tours of service in Iraq.

Above the hands is the phrase “Unless you were there,” etched in ink.

In 2008, the sheriff’s office implemented a new policy restricting visible tattoos. The policy states, “Tattoos are not to be visible while wearing the summer uniform.”

During his time as a deputy sheriff, Piggott said he covered the tattoo while on duty by wrapping a fitted black band around his forearm or wearing a long-sleeved uniform.

When asked to have the tattoo removed, Piggott refused. A few days later he was terminated, found to be in violation of the rules of conduct and personal appearance, he said.

“I was terminated rather quickly, and no due process was given,” said Piggott. “I feel it was dealt with in an unprofessional way.”

Piggott declined to confirm whether he signed any documentation when hired about agreeing to have his tattoo removed within a certain time frame.

Officials with the Wood County Deputy Sheriff’s Association said the heart of the issue is the violation of the former deputy’s right to a board review before his termination.

Lt. Shawn Graham, president of the Wood County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, said once a deputy’s probationary period has ended, he should be given the right to due process. Citing West Virginia Code 7-14-C, Graham said punitive issues should be presented to a review board before action is taken.

“We feel he was fired without proper procedure. The deputy sheriff’s association held a meeting on his behalf and voted to support Chris and try to get his job back,” said Graham. “I think we are doing what is in the best interest of the citizens. To lose one of our best officers over something like this is wrong.”

The Wood County Deputy Sheriff’s Association notified Wood County Sheriff Jeff Sandy about its decision to support Piggott. Graham said the association is lobbying for his reinstatement.

“I know many of our deputies have tattoos, and I think they are more socially acceptable now. I can’t think of anyone who would be offended by a tattoo,” said Graham. “The bottom line is, Chris is a fine young man and an asset to the sheriff’s office. His heart is in law enforcement.”

Piggott and his attorney George Cosenza have sent a letter to Sandy requesting reinstatement. A pre-disciplinary hearing was scheduled for May 19, but was postponed because several witnesses were unavailable, said Cosenza.

“I think there are legitimate issues that need to be resolved, and we are just in the beginning stages. Now that the sheriff has decided on punitive action, Piggott is entitled to a pre-disciplinary hearing,” said Cosenza. “There are issues regarding how he was notified of his termination and what exactly his status is now.”

Cosenza said Piggott was sent a letter of termination that advised him of his rights, and he is exercising his right to a pre-disciplinary hearing.

“If the review board believes punitive action should not be taken, the sheriff has a right to appeal to the civil service commission, and the same goes for Piggott. Depending on the outcome, the matter could end up in circuit court,” he said. “I do not believe a deputy sheriff can be fired without a pre-disciplinary hearing, and we have not yet had that hearing.”

Sandy said he could not comment on personnel issues under the advisement of Wood County Prosecutor Jason Wharton.

While Piggott awaits a decision, he has been working various construction jobs.

“I’m just trying to get reinstated. I’m a little nervous about the outcome,” Piggott said. “One of the big reasons I would feel comfortable going back to the department is because I know a lot of the deputies are backing me up.”