Corben Rice's blog

"Four others were acquitted of the crime...

She identified the men at their jury trial in December but because the lights were turned off after they came in, she could not say for certain who was on top of her other than to say she was certain that the men took turns assaulting her. The young woman required surgery for internal injuries she sustained in the attack."

Ok someone please explain to me how this makes sense.  Just because we don’t know for sure 100% that these young men physically participated they get off scott free?  At the very least, they sat by and “watched”.

Can these youths be tried again as accomplices or does that fall under double jeopardy?

A young woman will physically and emotionally never be the same.  One youth gets 26 years and the others nothing?  Where is the justice in that?  I understand that justice should be blind but ignorant as well?

Any time the head of a huge government bureaucracy stands up and asks for less money taxpayers should pay attention.  Kudos go out to Obama on this one. 

Gates a Republican appointed Secretary of Department of Defense has said we are spending too much on equipment that we don’t need.  Congress wanting to make sure that money flows to their districts says buy anyway.  I have a suggestion, instead of spending 143 million per plane that we don’t need, let’s give the service men a raise.

There are 1450000 enlisted men in our army instead of buying 22 raptors how bout we give each enlisted member a 2150 a year raise… I am sure they wouldn’t complain.  Alternatively, perhaps we could really start funding our veteran responsibilities and take care of them the way they should be taken care.

*Edit fixed first link

Not to long ago the government came out with a report talking about the solvency of the Medicare and Social Security Funds.  It is not surprising with the economy doing poorly that these funds are not doing as well as expected.  The social security fund will be exhausted in 2041 and Medicare will be exhausted in 2020.

That is a little alarming but really that still is a few years away we can sit on this awhile longer right?  Wrong!

What they don’t tell you is that the tooth fairy has sold you a bill of goods.

Welcome to reality folks.  That SS “trust fund” is a figment our imaginations.  Where exactly does the government put this money it is saving?  In US Treasury bonds.   Hmmmmm so in the year 2017 when our income in SS tax is less then our anticipated expense the government will be able to cover it with what????  Who actually pays back these bonds with interest?

That’s right they can print more money or increase our taxes….. yea problem solved.

Ok I have to admit that this is a pet P of mine.  How long are we going to sit by while the county spends massive amounts of money to run a private business? 

I want grandma taken care of as much as the next guy but what is the county nursing home providing that is not provided by other nursing homes in the area?

If I cannot afford to be taken care of and do not qualify for Medicare/ Medicaid will they take me in?

Do they give preference to the poor or those on Medicare?

What exactly am I and other taxpayers getting for all the money that is being spent at the County nursing home?

March is a loss of 50k not including the pension subsidy and free building.  This for a government business that is run like a business not as a charity.

What liabilities are taxpayers taking upon themselves?

How long are citizens of Champaign going to sit by while money intended for the poor and elderly is squandered on an unsustainable plan?

What if we took the 50k, plus what we are spending on the building, plus the pension payments, and just hand it out to the 200 elderly at the nursing home?  At least then maybe they wouldn’t have to risk being punched in the face or dieing of a broken leg caused by incompetence.

How many people could be helped with that money if we weren’t too prideful to admit that we suck at running a nursing home?

For those who don’t know me, I am Corben Rice and I live in Champaign, IL with my lovely wife and 5 young children. I work as a chemist at Isotech Laboratories and I am running for County Board in Champaign Illinois District 5.

I had not anticipated running for public office this year, or any year in the near future.  I had envisioned myself at the ripe age of 60 or 65 retiring, and perhaps running for some local office.  However, this primary season when I went to vote I was disturbed to see that I did not have candidates to vote for in the primary for county board, which means that I won’t have a choice in the general election either.

By default, I would be voting for incumbent democrats, or not voting at all.  I felt cheated.  What kind of democracy do we have if we have no choice when we vote?  That is false democracy and an exercise in futility.  How could the incumbents face the voters and claim to represent them when the voters had no other choice.

To this end, to further democracy in my district, I put myself forward as an alternative choice.  Fellow Republican Will Kyles has also stepped up to the plate and together we are getting out and meeting the voters.  We are finding out what issues are important to them.

I stand on the principles of fiscal responsibility with the idea that tax payers monies are a special trust and cannot be abused or taken for granted.  I understand that taking money out of the economy in the form of taxes hurts employers and workers alike.

We should provide equal treatment under the law and provide equal access to a good education.

With other Republicans in Champaign, Will and I are working on rebuilding the Republican Party in Illinois.  As Tip O’Neill once said,” All politics is local”. 

Please consider supporting us. You can find more information about Will and me at www.ccboard5.com.

Thank you