WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

Q: WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?
A: Read various answers below:

(In the COMMENTS section,

please feel free to add your

OWN versions of this Q and A).

DR. PHIL:
The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.

OPRAH:
Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W. BUSH:
We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL:
Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:
We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY:
Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

NANCY GRACE:
That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN:
To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART:
No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS:
Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:
To die in the rain. Alone.

JERRY FALWELL:
Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth?' That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side. That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA:
In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS:
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.

JOHN LENNON:
Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

ARISTOTLE:
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

BILL GATES:
I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^(C% ........ reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN:
Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON:
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE:
I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS:
Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY :
Where's my gun?

AL SHARPTON:
Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

and last but not least...........................

VILLAGE OF PLEASANT PRAIRIE leadership:
The chicken is boring. The citizens should not be interested in the chicken. We have taken care of the chicken. Relax, the chicken is fine. Your 'prurient' interest in the chicken is clearly self-serving. WE might let you hear audio recordings of the chicken, but you will not be able to see the chicken video. Stop asking about the chicken, if you insist on asking about the chicken again, you and the chicken will regret it.

NO APOLOGY, NO CONTRIBUTION

The lastest (12/3/2007) meeting video is up on YOUTUBE. For everyones info: I am getting better used to YOUTUBE so you will see that the meetings and the video clips are now in tidy buckets (playlists). The village UNANIMOUSLY approved putting audio of meetings on the official website. I appreciate the baby steps, but they will find that it really takes no more work to do video. So, go ahead and play your games.....

I was hoping to see someone step up and do the right thing and apologize for the insensitive comment heard during the discussion (11/5/2007) on the Hispanic female that was injured due to slipping at the RecPlex Pool.

I personally don't believe its likely that the village is liable for the injury. Signs appear to be posted, and it only makes sense NOT to walk on slippery tiles when they are wet, BUT AGAIN its how things are handled that leave a lot to be desired.

A BIG "NO COMPRENDE" to the new financial guru of the Village Board -- Trustee Clyde "On Whose Side?" Allen. By the way, this is the same financial guru who didn't think the Trustee Serpe quoted $105,000 estimate for videotaping meetings was enough so he raised it to $175,000! Not one peep as to why this new figure was justified.

The slipping injury incident could have made this go away by a simple apology, but this is an example of the sin (although dis-tasteful) being less wrong than the lack of atonement, remorse, and even more the OFFICIAL cover-up.

Village Administrator Mike Pollocoff did the usual 'song and dance' about what belongs in MINUTES and what doesn't. If he followed his own rules then perhaps things would be fine, BUT the rule is applied whenever it suits THEIR political needs.

The RULE you ask: According to Mr. Pollocoff, Robert's Rules of Order is the protocol of the day, and MINUTES will ONLY reflect meeting content that was recognized by Robert's. This implies that anything not recognized by the chair is forbidden from appearing in the minutes and likewise implies that anything recognized by the chair should be documented precisely. HMMM? Only time will tell if in fact these "rules" are being applied as stated.

The Board has it easy. They have the hired hand Pollocoff doing all their political dirty work, and THEY can appear to 'rise above it all'. This applies to research, action, and also to direct and visible activity at board meetings. Blind following doesn't take much work either. Must be nice!

When is the last time the BOARD disagreed with him?? Hmmm?

"CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG?"

The last couple of postings have resulted in some interesting remarks representing clearly both sides of the DO YOU LOVE OUR VILLAGE LEADERS or NOT factions. There clearly is no love lost between these 2 camps.

Instead of taking shots at eachother, lets try some constructive criticism? The goal of the YOUTUBE website and this BLOG is to create a 'conversation room' for those that like and don't like whats going on - this is in tandem with a CHANCE (FINALLY) for those that don't or can't come to meetings to have a source to see what is going on. Village leaders have a simple, available, and nearly cost free fix to solve this problem and they know it.

Political leaders are in a different position than John Q Public. They have positioned themselves (via elections) to sit as representatives of the jurisdiction they are elected from. As a result, they need to be willing and accepting of differing viewpoints and YES criticism. If they are not able to deal with this, then perhaps they are in the wrong place and should returned to private citizenry. The problem is that our array of leaders at Village Hall expect to be loved and above reproach.

This is criticism. If you 'conspiracy critics' can take a step backwards and deal with facts, you will see that the criticism that you so hate are really just viewpoints on how to make things better. The government of Pleasant Prairie belongs to ALL the citizens not just the 53% or so that support the current board this past Spring.

If you have been paying attention, you will know exactly who is managing the co-efforts of the YOUTUBE site and this BLOG. Please keep the content of your postings to village matters -- citizens AGAIN have the right to criticize their government and/or how it functions (it happens all the time at all levels of government - Pleasant Prairie is NO exception).

If an elected member acts like a rubber stamping follower then they will be criticized.

If an elected board cedes its authority to a hired hand then they will be criticized.

If an elected member has little to say except how great things are and how great of a job everybody is doing they should expect to be criticized.

What this has to do with anybodies garbage is irrelevant. If they can't stand the heat they should get out of the kitchen.

NOW, who is running against Kumorkiewicz and Serpe in April ??????????

What MORE DO WE NEED?? -- we already have the VILLAGE MINUTES.

WHY ALL THE HUB-BUB? After all, we have "VERBATIM" village minutes, right? According to Webster's: Verbatim -- "in EXACT words", "word for word".

Well besides "NO COMPRENDE" being edited out of the 11/5/2007 meeting minutes, I have here for your listening and reading pleasure an audio clip from the 2/19/2007 Village Board meeting.

Comrade Kumorkiewicz is heard here speaking for almost 6 full minutes - this is a privilege the Village President would not allow anyone else to have unless he WANTED to.

My suggestion:

Open the MINUTES PDF at --

http://www.pleasantprairieonline.com/boardsandcommissions/villageboard/2-19-07%20VB%20Minutes.pdf

scroll to page 4

and then listen to the video clip (no video/only audio) and see if you agree that the frequently 6+week old VERBATIM minutes are really that reliable.

Video clip is right here:

WE WILL NEVER GO TO REFERENDUM AGAIN!!!!!!

I don't know if you find this ironic, but last year the village went to the PEOPLE in a referendum to buy what basically could be described as public safety items (ambulance, plow, emergency equipment). The voters KILLED the referendum by a devastating NO vote (around 70% opposed).

In the 2008 BUDGET and meetings, the "leaders" of our village vowed never to go to referendum again, and instead of giving the voters another chance to chime in on this, they have elected to simply bulldoze their plans through and increase the former HOLY GRAIL of measurements (our MILL RATE) by 5.8% and ON TOP OF THAT they are doing $2.2 million dollars of BORROWING to make ends meet in 2008. They vowed not to go to referendum again, because they don't want another public trouncing--not because they are worried about you.

Now wait a second, we were supposedly in great financial condition just last year when for political expediency it was necessary to keep the mill rate flat. Then voters rejected a voluntary tax (the referendum). AND NOW they justify sticking it to you twice with a mill rate increase and a new $2.2million DEBT all in 1 year? A comment was made that with this adjustment hopefully no increase would be needed next year. Yes, that is probably right in the mill rate, as they will likely stick you with an assessment increase which will result in MORE OF YOUR MONEY going out of your pocket.

Trustee Clyde "on whose side" Allen made a closing comment in his Dr. Strangelove-esque video that challenged viewers if they could keep their lifestyle and standard of living intact without a "pay increase". This is how these guys view more taxes as a "pay increase" for them. HMMM? Boy oh boy, all that government employment experience sure is paying off.

Isn't new development supposed to take the burden of growth off the shoulders of existing taxpayers? That is what SUPER TRUSTEE Mike Pollocoff keeps telling us when he wants to get a development approved. But when asked why this is not happening he just kind of shrugs his shoulders and says things are not quite happening like expected...

Government like business should get more EFFICIENT as it grows, but this government seems to keep needing more from the existing taxpayers to keep things floating.

Is the super trustee label troubing for some of you -- I am sure it is really frosting some of you. Well take a look at my perspective. We have 5 elected board members (1 President and 4 at-large trustees). We have an nearly bulletproof 3 year golden-parachute-protected appointed Village Administrator (Mike Pollocoff). At meetings, Citizen Comments are followed by a chance for BOARD OF TRUSTEE members to comment. Mike Pollocoff is routinely given a nod and the wink to have a round at responding to comments.

On the 2008 Budget hearing he spoke for something in the range of 15+ minutes before we heard from any other board member (the elected ones). Then in almost now routine fashion, the elected trustees and village president followed Pollocoff's comments by considered additions such as "I really have nothing left to say because it was already said", "I just want to thank everyone who was involved with this great experience", "I am so proud to be in this village and on this board", and "I have to stand in line to talk with Mike Pollocoff these days since everything around here is so harmonious these days". Lets face it - a bunch of fluff, but no real answers about debt, repayment plans, tax philosophy, or "how dare the Kenosha Water Utility treat its largest customer (us) at an unpreferred rate!" No they talk about how nice it is now.

Finally, thank the WI ASSEMBLY for keeping a cap on your increase. The current law allows for a maximum increase of either 2% or growth (whichever is greater). In the 2008 Budget discussions, it was revealed in many instances that this cap is a real pain for folks like Mike Pollocoff and John Steinbrink. They and apparently many more decision makers at village hall would be much happier if no cap existed so that they would have the ability to REALLY get at your money. 5.8% this year. How many of you existing taxpayers had a 5.8% increase in your household incomes this year. This is just a fine example of not being to worried with OPM (other people's money). BUT, IT'S ALL OUR FAIR SHARE, right?

They forced us to do this............

Who forced us?

Well, after a couple of years as asking for the village leaders to do the right thing and make village meetings viewable on CH25, they have refused. Citing that meetings are too boring or too complex to broadcast. The REAL TRUTH is that they do not want you to be able to SEE what is going on, and if you spend anytime watching CH25 you will have to agree that recording meetings CANNOT in anyway be too complex.

So here you have it -- the ability to see what is going on (when you want it) combined with the ability to comment on what you have seen.

This is in its infancy, and ALL constructive advice is welcomed......