Buffalo Rising Online

On the topic of kids, a neat cartoon in the Snooze today:

http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/localeditorialcartoon.asp

As for the post above, why would college students be invited to a youth rally. Can you picture a 20-year-old bringing their parent(s), or "another adult" to a "youth rally?"

Lets try to make sense here.....Most raffles allow you to place a ticket in a container and them a number is picked. I would presume there were 3 containers, thus no hierarchy of the prizes. Haven't you ever run an event or program?

Brown is all for bringing kids in to the electoral process. I also hear he has a neat summer reading program that has run for the past 6 years or so. Fitting programs of the next Mayor of our great city!

What's Helfer or anyone else done to bring kids in to the fold?????

Kids between the ages of 16-25 were the target. That's why the college kids should have ostensibly been invited.

I wonder what the Brown supporters would be saying if it were Helfer bribing the "youth" with sneakers to attend a rally.

it speaks volumes...

I think they would say great! What a great idea with the aim of bringing the demographic least likely to vote in to the fold. The real question is what would you be saying if Helfer did so? Let me take a stab at it: "Kevin Helfer, he's just great; see what a great guy he is trying to raise awareness to this group; I think I'll vote for him."

What's Helfer done to support civic participation? Ever?

Well, he hasn't bribed kids with sneakers....

I'll remember to use the word "support" rather than "bribe".

Okay, folks. I agree with Chris - a youth rally is just that - youth - not college kids - especially with the prizes - Harry Potter books - most college kids have inhaled each one by now. As far as the hierarchy of the prizes...C'Mon - marketing to the masses. What brings them in?

We all have to take a few steps back, sit down and breath here. We're ready to jump each other's throats and for what? One of the great things about the US (as I was told throughout my life) is the freedom of expression and opinion. Dang! Slow down!

No matter the outcome of the election - just remember one thing - if we approach the new admisinistration in a postive, proactive manner - we might get things done. If they're not into working with the citizenry - then we can bitch. Until then - chill and remember we're all neighbors here - we can work together, no matter what.

Well, FWIW, while a council member, Helfer helped run a program in which teens were taught building skills while helping to rehab houses in his district. I'm not sure of the exact age range, but the idea was to get kids involved in beneficial activity while learning useful skills. And some houses got fixed up.

DR. T. L. JONES, GEDOeOe.FOR MAYOR

P.O. Box 306 Central Park Station Buffalo 14215

THE RIGHT MANOeOeWRITE HIM IN

For immediate release further information, contact:

October 23, 2005 tljonesformayor@aol.com

Interview opportunities available

Who is Dr. T. L. Jones and Why He Wants to Become Our Next Mayor

There has been much speculation, and we ourselves have received, a number of queries pertaining to the background and qualifications of Dr. T. L. Jones, GED and his motivations for entering the mayoral race at this time. We hope this helps in explaining not only the nature of the man and the myth, but why he is the logical choice to lead Buffalo at this critical juncture in its history.

WHO Oe.Is Dr. Jones ??.......Dr. Jones is NoOne and EveryOneOe..a true intellect and renaissance manOewho has been, over time, a: noted author (his latest: iThe Tao of DrinkingOeThe Way of the Lushi ..in press), motivational speaker, acclaimed addictions researcher (see: iSomebody Call Me A Cab: Appropriate Psychosocial Intervention in Male Public Intoxificationi, British Journal of Dipsomania: 2(5), pp 11-20, 2003)), itinerant blues musician (under the nom de muse: T. n Big Cat Daddy - Jones), disbarred attorney, cosmetics salesman, carnie and founder of the Manley Mann University n For Transgender Studies, from which he was bestowed an honorary doctorate. Currently, he is in training to become a blackjack dealer, while petitioning the Seneca Nation for admittance based on lineage traced to his great-great-great-great grandfather,

Typhus Longboat Jones.

It is a diverse, eclectic, encompassing, accomplished personal history, well-suited to the challenges and opportunities confronting our beloved City.

HEARD ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL:

On Mandatory ROTC at iFort Kensingtoni: Too Little, Too Late. By age 16, kids are already doing drugs, having sex and shooting people n just like real soldiers. We need to start earlierOein grade school and make certain that every student is an active NRA member before going on to high school. Only with more guns in the hands of more people n who really know how to use them n will domestic security ever be assured.

On Crime and William Bennett: Billis a smart guy but held back because he didnit want to offend his conservative base and those NASCAR daddies. What he REALLY wanted to say is that

we should institute a means test, based on income, for anyone who wants to have a baby. Basically,

- more -

Dr. T. L. Jones, GED

Page 2

the higher the income of parents, the more children you can have..just like in China. Iim certain that he would agree that crime would go down even more if we could abort and totally eliminate all them white, cracker-headed, pork-rind teethini, trailer trash babies as well Oe.ANDOe their evangelical, pig-farming mommas, who, after all, are absolutely uselessOe. except for cheap sexOewhich is the only kind they have.

On The Business of Government: Itis too bad that recent scandals involving private enterprise in all their many splendours have (nearly) deprived certain candidates, if not entire political parties, from trotting out, like an old, hobbled, glue-factory horse, the notion that iGovernment ought to be run just like eBusinessii The question however is: Just Like Which One?..(see: Corporate Scandals 2000Oeattached)..There has never beenOeand can NEVER be, the kinds of public graft and corruption equal to that. Giambrais Furniture?... Palidinois Politician?......pleaseOe...For 25 years, for more than an entire generationOe.Republicans especially have been obsessive in promoting their domestic agendaOe...Reduce taxesOe..permanentlyOe.for ibusinessi and the wealthyOe (like they need it)Oe .Shrink the size of governmentOe(government- bad corporation-good) Oe.and Oe Shrink the size of the human service systemOe. (letiem eat Food Stamps)Oe.What happens on the Federal level very much influences NYS, Erie County and the City of BuffaloOein its own kind of trickle-down the sewer.

Class Warfare?...HellOeweire getting massacred.

-30-

OK. My guess: Is it an attempt at satire, maybe?

Alan,

You are just so snarky about the Comic Sans. I am partial to Garamond myself.

xoxoxo,

Jen14221

BTW, frats from UB and Buff State and Law Students from UB participated in this rally.

Curious...If he had GIVEN SNEAKERS to every kid who brought in a vote, er, adult for his campaign, that would be bribery or some sort of vote buying scandal, right?

But it's OK to give them a chance to WIN new kicks for a vote?

And if you really want to get kids interested in politics, I favor mock elections where kids can participate in the electoral process. Teaching them that if you give the politician something (a voting adult), they give you something back (a raffle ticket), is just perpetuating the problem we already have....Kickbacks for support.