Seven Villages, Janet Joakim

I have been receiveing emails from a group of college kids who are taking a keen interest in the COG blog - www.capecog.com
They have asking for numbers and background and a couple of the math wizs have found their way to the DOR site and more.

One kid actually thought the whole thing was some sort of joke, not believing these were adults writing like this and putting such convaluted spins on the numbers.

They have agreed to try to keep reposting messages - or comments on this blog written and administered and written by Gary Lopez, and owned by Eric Schwaab.

Apparently every time they post - the messages are removed, and they quickly realized it wasn’t just them. Anyone who refutes figures, disagrees with Lopez’s posts, or anyone who posts messages that disagree with others who post messages of hate and viceral garbage, their messages are removed by Gary Lopez.

So they have now been collecting as many as they can catch, whether they write them or others they may not even know.

Today a group of roomates were trying to post and each of their computer ip numbers were blocked from leaving any comments on the CapeCog.com site- so they headed over to one of the campus libraries with their jump drives in hand and posted all the messages they had saved. Figuring if the computers they are using are blocked, they can just go to another one as there are over thirty computers in the lab.

In the process more kids are watching all of this and getting involved! Thus the “voice of the future” — this collective group that now reaches around the country, is formed.

They have asked me to post some of the messages or comments that are being removed - this is a rough collection of responses to yesterdays post on the http://www.capecog.com site. All of these posts were removed shortly after going up…. in the COG way - shame on them for disagreeing with them and for questioning their “facts” and “figures.”

Recognize these are from kids who are frustrated that one can post only if they agree….

***************************************************************************

reposts:
(by the way these are the workings of at LEAST 3 people. but i’ll still
take the blame for all of them since i know you’d find it hard to believe
so many have things to say against thee)

should i make up a name like john h or carol a so you’ll give me some
credit as a human being? i didn’t want to have to lie…

“I’ve been following this forum for a while now and I have noticed that many
posts have been deleted, especially those showing the faintest support for
President Joakim. Its not only your opinion that counts Gary!

Posted by: another young voice | March 02, 2007 at 01:59 PM”

^(not me, although their computer is mysteriously blocked, so it was sent
to me to post)

“how can you feel bad for gary???? have you seen the absolute FILTH he has
smeared across this festering webpage?

has HE recieved any attacks that come even close to that level? maybe from
some of the posters on this blog, but they seem to have significantly more
manners. which is sad, because it seems as though these voices aren’t even
30 years old.

how can someone with no soul have feelings. honestly. boohoo gary.”

^(not me)

“if “voice of reason” is a “projecting witch hunter” than what in the
blazes would you call gary lopez??????

i did not read anything negative or slandering in their 2 posts.”

and now MINE (although i add more deleted posts) which i have now reposted
5 times.

“DELETED AGAIN!!!!!

stop deleting comments, mr lopez. i don’t see “mis-information” anywhere
in my posts… what’s the reason for the removal???

and now my computer is no longer allowed to add posts. did i scare you or
something?

“hey lopez… where are all the posts that were up here a few hours ago
while you were being embarrassed at the council meeting??? oh, wait….
you didn’t even go did you. that’s a good way to make a difference.

no matter… i saved a few other people made some good points in.

here was one post resulting in the female prozac comment

Mr. Lopez,
I have only a few questions. You claim:
“Businesses pay off Councilors to retain the factor of one. Make no
mistake about it.”
While I have no doubt that you truly to believe this, this is a very
weighty claim that you seem to fail to substantiate. I would point out
that you are accusing the elected officials of this town as well as the
businesses of this town of a crime. Surely you do not think it responsible
or even moral (not to mention, possibly the making of a libel suit) to
make such accusations and fail to provide even a scrap of evidence. If I
may be frank, above everything else on this blog, I am offended by such
unsubstantiated claims.
“Unfortunately my finances say I’ll have stick with the kicks.”
So you position is that bribery is perfectly legitimate as long as it
serves the point of view that you agree with?
“Forensic evidence of tax inequities points to bribery rather than a
“political decision” as motivation for the council’s action.
What other logical explanation is left?”
A very logical one. I see how easy it is to make unsubstantiated claims of
bribery but the rate increase is very simple. It is called good tax
policy. With such a overwhelming majority of land use in the town of
Barnstable being residential and a small minority being commercial, it is
not financially responsible to increase taxes on commercial property. The
economics is simple. Higher commercial taxes discourages commercial use of
land. As commercial land use taxes increase, the amount of land that is
used as commercial will decrease. This is a basic economic principle, the
higher the price the less of the demand. So if you increase taxes on a
small minority, according to your own statistics it is less then 20%, that
minority will shrink. Thereby providing the town with less funds. Ergo
ipso facto a split tax rate, is a bad idea.
But that is not the reason for my comment. It is this:
“The only way the council will change its policy is either through a swift
kick in the ass”
Perhaps you do not understand the way our government works. We elect
representatives. They govern. At the next election, we either re-elect
them or we elect someone else. Simple, no? The purpose of a recall in the
town of Barnstable is the same as the purpose of a presidential
impeachment. For, as you said, “high crimes.” Such processes are not to be
used against someone who votes differently then you would if you were in
their position (although that is a moot point, since you are not in their
position). What is this really about? A personal grudge? A cry for
attention?
You preach accountability and standing by what you said. Lets take a look
at that, shall we.
“Barnstable is the only town ever in the Commonwealth to adopt a
commercial rate that is lower than the residential rate.”
You know that this is the result of the tax exemption on $100,000 on house
worth less then $800,000.
“She has to know the tax load on residences is unfair.”
Look up the word “fact” (that is what you claim this statement is) then
look up with word “opinion.”
“People who are employed or are retired have no means to recover from
higher taxes and fees.
Businesses can increase prices if the tax hurts them.”
Think about this logically. People who are employed, do have the means too
recover from higher taxes, I am going to assume this is a type-o and you
meant unemployed. If such people have not income and can therefore not
recover from higher taxes, how can they adjust their life style to the
“increased prices” that businesses must have in order to recover tax
increases? The simply fact is that those retirees and unemployed spend
more on products that they buy from local businesses then they do in
property taxes. I am a tax payer and I am paying less in property taxes
now then I have in years, because of the $100,000 exemption.
“The only way the bribed councilors, and I’m not saying Janet Joakim”
Then who are you referring to then?
“You must have just fallen off the turnip wagon”
Is this the quality that you hold you blog to? Ad hominem attacks?
“If businesses raise their prices, 70% and more of our property taxes will
be paid by people who don’t live in Barnstable.”
I have heard some illogical arguments but this tops them all. How do you
figure that is a business raises their prices then 70% of property taxes
that are paid to the town go to people out side of the time?
Mr. Julius,
I am sorry to say this but I was unable to derive any relevant point from
you first comment. It was rather a irate rant. If I may, why do you feel
the need to capitalize random words? It is very unprofessional.
“PLEASE explain to ALL THE VOTERS here”
I am please to see that you chose “voters” instead of “property tax payers.”
“Hmmmmm, now if other people had done NOTHING WRONG, then MOST would just
sit back and not care.”
So your argument is that since she is defending herself from proof less
claims she is clearly guilty of something? I thought here in the United
States of American, people are innocent until proven guilty. Your argument
would suggest that she is guilty.
“And the saddest part is that SEVEN senseless councilors can’t figure that
out! Those seven are also UNFIT for any office!”
Why don’t you run for town council? You clearly know so much better then
everyone else in this town.
Posted by: Voice of Reason | March 01, 2007 at 08:43 PM

and heres the other one this person wrote

“Oh and if I may add, I know that many on this site seem to think anyone
who disagrees with this site are either town councilors or town employees.
My post 3 minutes ago was posted during the town council meeting, this
should prove I am simply a town resident.
Posted by: Voice of Reason | March 01, 2007 at 08:46 PM “

WHY ARE YOU DELETING ALL OF THESE POSTS, MR LOPEZ?

and i’m glad mr julius stuck around after his comments after the mic. were
you intimidated or something? i don’t blame you. seems as though the room
was surprisingly against your actions.

don’t worry. i have these comments saved in case you decide to do some
more biased editing, lopez.

AND WHERE WERE ALL THE
SIGNATURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
oh, how the mighty cog has fallen.”

***************************************************************************