Martha Jane Tassin was the latest to respond.

8 Questions for Martha Jane Tassin

JB: What is your position on gun control and why do you take that position?

MJT: I fully support the Second Amendment and its protection for the rights of Americans to own legal firearms. As State Representative, I would not support any measure that would attempt to curtail those rights in any manner.

JB: How will you address the crime issue in this state?

MJT: I believe that crime is best fought on the grassroots level by fully trained and fully supported law enforcement officials, not by a government bureaucracy. It is a fact that more law enforcement officers on our streets means less crime for our citizens. However, as a locally elected official, I understand and remain frustrated by the reality of limited budgets and misplaced spending priorities. As a Metro Councilmember, I supported the concept of community policing and assisted a neighborhood of ordinary people in their efforts to work with community minded police men and women and turn that area around completely. As the next State Representative, I will take a similar approach and work closely with mayors, councils and others to secure federal grants to fund more of this type policing across our state. At the same time, I will encourage those local governments to fund public safety first.

JB: Exactly how will you help bring in businesses to the state of Louisiana. How will you help keep existing businesses here?

MJT: I believe there are 5 things I can do as a State Representative to help bring businesses to Louisiana. First, I will support the efforts of our Department of Economic Development and make sure it has the resources necessary to "sell" our state to the world. It's critical that we send positive Louisiana ambassadors - from both the private and public sectors - to court job friendly companies to locate here. It's even more critical that we close the deal! Second, I will personally fight against our reputation as a government corruption haven by spreading "Louisiana Positives" any time I have the chance. Third, I will encourage our legislature to resist lowering ethics standards and will personally hold myself accountable for conducting the peoples' business in a professional, above board manner at all times. Fourth, I will use my 20 years of experience as a classroom teacher in arguing for more of our tax dollars to flow to the classroom where it matters most. More companies will relocate to our state if we can show real improvement in education and produce a better educated workforce. Fifth, I will fight for low taxes, fees and regulations on our businesses so those businesses can worry more about hiring workers and turning a profit.

As for keeping existing businesses here, I believe there are three things I can do as a State Representative to help. First, I can encourage our Dept. of Economic Development to recruit complimentary businesses to our state. We harvest the nations' largest amount of wood products from our forests (per capita), yet we don't manufacture furniture. We are among the top three rice producers in the America, yet we don't box Rice-A-Roni. We can make our existing companies more globally competitive if we lure complimentary businesses to Louisiana. Second, I can help to educate our existing businesses about the many worker training options available to them through the "Louisiana Works" programs. Low cost, or even free, training is available to assist our workers in becoming more productive and better prepared for emerging technologies. Better trained employees also makes our existing businesses more competitive in the world economy. Third, I can encourage our existing companies to get involved in local public, private and parochial education. From financial support to volunteer hours, it is critical that our businesses become and equal partner in education throughout Louisiana. An investment in today's students will reap great dividends in the form of tomorrow's employees.

JB: What role should Louisiana government play in our lives?

MJT: I recently heard someone say that "government should do a few things and do them well." I couldn't agree more. Louisiana state government should provide the best public education found anywhere in America, should build and maintain the best infrastructure we can afford, and should act as the chief recruiter for new business and industry to our state. Turning around our state is all about changing attitudes and setting priorities.

JB: What is the most important thing to you?

MJT: My faith in God whom I thank everyday for the gift of my son.

JB: What is the worst job you ever held?

MJT: I can honestly say I have never held a bad job. I have learned much from them all over the years.

JB: What is the most important issue you think you will address during your first term?

MJT: Actually, there are two: fighting any efforts to lower educational accountability standards in K-12 schools; and, making sure Baton Rouge keeps its allotted share of state road and infrastructure money so that it doesn't wind up building roads, bridges and drainage in other parishes. If both were to happen, our parish would be setback 20 years.

JB: Why should the people of district 66 hire you to represent us?

MJT: I hope to earn the votes of the people of District 66 because of my experience getting things done for our area, my knowledge of ongoing and pending projects across the district, my integrity and character, and my full-time dedication to the job of State Representative.

What we will do is look at each child and their situation. We will give them bonus points to help them get a 'C' average. We know the grading system. 90-100 is an "A", less than 60 is an "F". What we need to do is make sure that every child meets the minimum standard of education.

One of the first phases of my plan is to institute a "Minimum grade" standard. For each class the student attends, he gets one point applied toward his grade, unless he is already making 76% or above.

Next, we must help the poor minded students by taxing the rich minded students. If a student is getting a 76% test score average, then he should his extra grades taxed. Since the student made better grades, he can afford to give some of his points to the more needy students.

Any student who doesn't meet the standard 75% will receive and "Earned Income Grade Break". It is unfair to the students that don't achieve 75% or higher have to suffer because of the greedy kids at school who take advantage of the needier students.

I know what you are thinking, this is "Scholastic Socialism". I assure you that it is not. It is merely the government helping the poor minded. It does not affect the middle class students, they can work just as hard and still receive the same grades as before. This is just instituting a more compassionate system, one that "leaves no child behind." Our aim is to make the richest students pay more. The more you have, the more you ought to give. We are building a bridge to the 22d century today. The future is now!

Also, students will be prohibited from talking about the myriad of failed socialist systems. We are thinking progressively, so the past no longer matters. Progressive thinking is allowed. Regressive thinking is not. The schools may place further restrictions on speech if abuse of free speech hurtful to others.

If necessary, congress may step in and further prohibit protests, unfair grade changing for the rich, and antisocial thinking..

The point system will be administered by the federal government.

During the California gubernatorial race, I thought that it would be funny to email all the candidates and joke with them. I was surprised by how many responses I received. Instead of playing a joke on them, I decided to be serious with them. So I sent them some serious questions. I even got some responses to those questions.

Recently I have been inspired to ask some questions to candidates seeking office. This time, it's in a local race for our representative in the state house. So far I have emailed these questions to 3 of the 7 candidates and am working on emailing at least 3 more candidates. I will not alter their answers in any way.

The first to respond was Hunter Greene

8 Questions for Hunter Greene

JB: What is your position on gun control and why do you take that position?

HG: I do not believe in gun control. I am a firm believer in upholding everyone's 2nd Amendment rights, except for convicted felons.

JB: How will you address the crime issue in this state?

HG: Supporting our police and trying to attract the best possible people for the job will help. The dangers our police officers face are numerous and there are so many of us that would not trade our occupation regardless of how high the pay is. Improving our education system will help with one of the underlying causes of crime -- poverty. However, there are people that will commit crimes regardless. Those individuals need to be given severe punishment.

JB: Exactly how will you help bring in businesses to the state of Louisiana. How will you help keep existing businesses here?

HG: This would be a long one. The state should be looking at our successful neighboring states for ideas.

JB: What role should Louisiana government play in our lives?

HG: In my opinion, the more limited the Louisiana government is, the better. The government should encourage economic development with incentives, without having burdensome overregulation.

JB: What is the most important thing to you?

HG: My relationship with God is the most important thing to me.

JB: What is the worst job you ever held?

HG: The worst job I ever had was a job in college running errands for the owner of that company.

JB: What is the most important issue you think you will address during your first term?

HG: If I am fortunate enough to win, the budget will probably be the most important issue this upcoming session. There are a number of key issues that I will focus on if elected, but it would be difficult to select one.

JB: Why should the people of district 66 hire you to represent us?

HG: I believe that I have the most qualifications and the most experience.

Thank you Hunter Greene for answering these questions.

www.fanshopinc.com
N.Y. Jets at Pittsburgh -
Jets crash in Blitzburgh
AV~Picks Blitzburgh 38 Jets 17 (55)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
St. Louis at Atlanta-
Blackburds look to head south for the winter. All the way down to Jacksonville.
AV~Picks Blackburdz 27 Rams 19 (46)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005 --

Minnesota at Philadelphia -
Without Terel, the Eagles ain't got no wings. McNabb also chokes in big games.
AV~Picks Vikes 27 Eagles 16 (43)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Indianapolis at New England -
Colt Train gets derailed in New England
Patriots 31 Colts 30 (61)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Last Week 2-2 By the way, did you see the way my Broncs dominated the Colts? Man they looked good! The Broncs looked unstoppable. All through the thrid quarter the Broncs dominated winning that fifteen minute period 14-0.

www.fanshopinc.com
St. Louis at Seattle -
Hawks give Rams the blues
AV~Picks Hawks 23 Rams 14 (37)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
N.Y. Jets at San Diego -
Jets upend the Chargers
AV~Picks Jets 24 Chargers 23 (47)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005 --

Denver at Indianapolis -
Indy had two weeks to prepare for Denver.
AV~Picks Colts 49 Broncs 16 (65)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Minnesota at Green Bay -
Packers run over Moss, Vikes.
Packers 27 Vikes 10 (37)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com

This is not something that would be good for America, nor the world. The highest office an American should be able to hold is as the United States President. The American President should be focused on the interests of the United States first, the rest of the world is secondary.

What we have seen is a progression in politics, one starts off as a city council member, then moves on to a State representative, then runs for governor, before making a run at the presidency. By allowing an American president to become Secretary General of the UN, we will have devalued the POTUS. The President, an ambitious person, would no longer put the United States first. The President would be concerned about helping the right countries in order to help him become Secretary General.

The Presidency would no longer be the highest office in the land, rather, just a stepping stone to greater ambitions.

Furthermore, this only encourages the strongest military nation to be more proactive in the world, more willing to force countries to submit to our will. The United States President would be more likely to take action to give the UN more power over both the United States as well as other countries. An ambitious politician wants to govern as many people as possible. An ambitious politician wants to be remembered. An ambitious politician doesn't care about people, they care about theirselves.

It has been the dream of many leaders to be in control of an entire empire, not just a small country. People remember leaders by the empires they controlled. American Presidents would be focused on how to empower the U.N. for a day when they can be the Secretary General. The POTUS would term his presidency on appeasing countries necessary to win the vote of the council in order to become World President.

I fear that if U.S. Presidents can become Secretary General, all politicians would put the will of the United Nations as a far greater service than they would of the American people.

Not only would politicians be focused on the new high prize, but they would more willing to go to war, less likely to recognize liberty. It's a beautiful thing that the United States and the United Nations are two different entities. Let's not mix the Ambassadors of the world with the most powerful military, we'll save wars by not doing so.

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

It seems to me a great mistake that government punishes its existing businesses while giving favor to new business. Locally we have raised taxes here in the community and wonder why existing business will leave the state, then turn around and give tax breaks so that new businesses will come in. Our new mayor has promised today that he will be the most travelled mayor in Baton Rouge history, that he wants to let the world know about what we have to offer and the talent we posses here in Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish."

Unfortunately, this Democrat has raised taxes time after time on not only businesses but the public as well. We lobby hard for new business come into the state, businesses that have not yet delivered jobs to the state, while we tax into oblivion the the businesses that have been providing jobs in the state.

Reward those who have done nothing for you, crucify those that have.

We think we benefit from making the rich pay their fair share, as if the rich ought to pay more than the rest of us. Is it true that we are all created equal? Why is it then, that we consider the rich unequal to ourselves? Does it make us happier that another pays a higher tax rate than the rest of us? We have came to the belief that by empowering the government we level the playing field for the weak. Truth is, we do not empowered the weak, only weaken the strong and strengthened a much crueler enemy.

There are those in our society that do not want to achieve their happiness, their own wealth, their own place in the world. They want everything given to them. Certainly the Daytime talkshow analyst comes to mind, but they are not alone. We have thieves that steal from others rather than get a job and earn their own things. There are those that will sue others for any reason whatsoever. There are so many examples of selfishness and laziness that I could go one for sometime.

I am reminded of Smeagol in the Lord of the Rings, how his face was destroyed, his mind, his sanity wasted over a tiny ring. I can't help but to see him as a crackwhore, wasting his life away for a small piece of nothing.

Lying, cheating, tricking, stealing, and manipulating others, and for what? For a little bit of something today?

People, it seems, want everything today. We even want to live forever and we want others to pick up the hospital bill for us. We call it compassion, but in truth its selfishness, we want our health at somebody else's expense. We want everything now, and we want to give so little in return. We have become a selfish society.

Again, make the rich pay for it.

But many wealthy people didn't get rich by birth. Well, I can't speak for the Kerry's of the world, but most have not. They have sacrificed more than the rest of us. While we bought cable, they did without and invested. They did without the big screen television while we sat back and watched the big game and drank beer. We lived for today, they lived for the future.

I am not one of those that hate the rich, I appreciate them, they sacrificed more than I have. By the same token, there are those who sacrificed much less than I have and in turn see me as being rich. Many of them had more than I did when we were kids.

But am I so much worse off than the rich? Is Donald Trump so much better than me? I think not, just as I am no better than the potsmoker who has done nothing with his life. I've made different choices, but I was still created equal to everybody else. I didn't always believe it, may God help me to never forget it.

I don't know what others want, but as for me, I want nothing from the government. I don't want to sue anybody, I don't want to win the lottery, I don't want free healthcare. I don't even care to have Social Security when I retire. I want to earn everything I have, I'll appreciate it far more than if it were simply given to me. Like my good friend John once told me, 'I'll take the road less travelled.'

I am going to try to see this from President Bush's point of view, as well as the House and Senate's. Let's see if I am sitting in most seat on an airplane, I won't be able to do much with a lighter. For example, with a window seat, I couldn't possibly light the toilet on fire. But, if I am sitting in the aisle, I might be able to light the carpet on fire, which will make the captain so mad, he'd ram the plane into the Statue of Liberty, just to teach me a lesson.

A lighter? Seriously, what could somebody do with a lighter? Can you imagine a terrorist with a lighter, crashing into the cockpit and demanding the captain to turn over the control of the cockpit, or he's going to have his hair burnt, praise Allah?

I really don't believe this provision has anything to do with anti-terrorism.

www.fanshopinc.com
Cincinnati at Philadelphia -
Bengal pluck Burdz
AV~Picks Bengals 27 Eagles 14 (41)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Cleveland at Houston -
Texans pummel Browns
AV~Picks Texans 37 Browns 17 (54)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Detroit at Tennessee -
Lions slip past the Titans
AV~Picks Lions 31 Titans 30 (61)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Green Bay at Chicago -
Packers skin the Bears
Packers 27 Bears 16 (43)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Miami at Baltimore -
Baltimore crushes the Fins
AV~Picks Blackburdz 27 Fins 0 (27)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Minnesota at Washington -
Vikes slam the Skins
AV~Picks Vikes 31 Skins 10 (41)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
New Orleans at Carolina -
Panthers claw the Saints
AV~picks Panthers 27 Saints 17 (44)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
N.Y. Jets at St. Louis -
Jets blast the Rams
AV~Picks Jets 28 Rams 13 (41)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Pittsburgh at Buffalo -
Streak continues
Steelers 24 Bills 21 (45)
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
San Francisco at New England -
Patriots shred the Niners
AV~Picks Pats 37 Niners 9 ()
Final Score ()
Week Record
Season Record

www.fanshopinc.com
Atlanta at Seattle -
Hawks escape with a win
AV~Picks Hawks 29 Falcons 28 (57)
Final Score ()
Week Record -
Season Record -

www.fanshopinc.com
Tampa Bay at Arizona -
Buccs cruise by the Cardz
AV~Picks Buccs 33 Cardz 17 (50)
Final Score ()
Week Record -
Season Record -

www.fanshopinc.com
Indianapolis at Denver -
Colts end Broncs playoff hopes
AV~Picks Colts 32 Broncos 12 (44)
Final Score ()
Week Record -
Season Record -

www.fanshopinc.com
www.fanshopinc.com
Jacksonville at Oakland -
Jags poke out Raiduhs udder I
AV~Picks Jags 24 Raiduhs 13 (37)
Final Score ()
Week Record -
Season Record -

www.fanshopinc.com
www.fanshopinc.com
Kansas City at San Diego -
Chiefs scalp the Chargers
AV~Picks Chiefs 45 Chargers 13 (58)
Final Score ()
Week Record -
Season Record -

www.fanshopinc.com
www.fanshopinc.com
Dallas at N.Y. Giants -
Army Ants bury the Boize in the North endzone
AV~Picks Army Ants 23 Boize 10 (33)
Final Score ()
Week Record -
Season Record -

www.fanshopinc.com
Open date: None

It has been said that 'God doesn't give you more to handle than you are capable of handling, you just got to be willing to handle it.' I've had a lot of struggles in my life, but the last couple of years have been filled with challenges to overcome, each challenge followed by what seemed to be a greater challenge. I may not be so willing for the new challenges, much less like the challenges, but what other options are there other than to try to overcome it? What good could possibly come from submitting to our weaknesses?

I remember when I left the Democrat party and was a lone Republican. Yeah, I was raised Democrat. Everybody I knew was a Democrat, my Grandma was going to hit me over the head with her cane because I was helping the local Republican party. I just knew what I believed and decided I was going to stand for those beliefs.

I made the switch a friend said to me, "That's that Roman Republican brainwashing that you're getting". The other guy at the table stood up and forcefully said to me "YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIE BECAUSE YOU GOT KICKED BY A JACKASS ON THE SIDE OF YOUR HEAD??" I wasn't a Republican at the time, but I took his comments serious enough to switch party affiliation. I've been a Republican ever since and I'll be damned if I let anyone control my thinking.

What led to the Roman Republican comment and the quasi-threat was a conversation in which I questioned whether or not I could succeed. I believed that I could, that I could overcome any obstacles placed in front of me. I was told that people didn't want to give me a chance because I was poor, that I was status quo, that I didn't belong, that I simply just could not do it. I decided that I would try anyway. I was certain then, just as I know now, that I could live with failure, but I could not live without ever trying. I had to know just how far I could go.

So off I went and I worked my way up in the business world, working long hours which helped me get the job I am currently working at. It's not the greatest job in the world, but it definitely isn't the worse, though I admit, somedays I think otherwise. Someday I will talk more about what I currently do. It's not illegal btw.

One of those challenges that I had to overcome was being robbed. I was riding with my boss at the time when two men approached my car one on my side and the other on my boss's side. We were getting in the car at the time it happened and I tried to close my door quickly, but he was faster. I grabbed the guys gun, I wanted to take it from him, I wanted to shoot him. Before any of you give me a lecture on how stupid that was, let me tell you that you don't know how you are going to react in that situation until it happens to you. I didn't think he was trying to rob me, I thought he was trying to kill me, I was trying to save my life, too bad I didn't end his in the process.

He pulled the gun away, then stuck the gun back in my face and said "Give me your money". I thought to myself Oh, he's going to rob me, then he's going to shoot me. So I grabbed the gun and began to push the barrel towards him. Again the gun was pointing at me. "I ain't playing with you."

At that point I noticed my boss with his hands up in the air. I reached in my pocket and pulled out the money. Knowing I had no other options calmed down just enough to submit. After they got the money they took off and I started the car. As I started to drive off I grabbed my cell phone and called the police.

When the police came, they began to ask all the questions that police people ask, most of which seemed like senseless questions. Normally I don't cuss, it makes people sound, well, stupid. But this was a special occassion so I was cussing quite a bit.

In her attempt to calm me down the officer said to me "You have to understand, they have to make a living out here." That comment ignited me. My response was "Let me f***ing tell you something, I f***ing starved, I never f***ing robbed anybody!" I'm almost one year removed from that night.

Needless to say, the thought crossed my mind to quit my job. I didn't have anything else lined up, much less a good paying job like I currently have, so I didn't quit immediately. It gave me time to reflect on what had happened. I thought long and hard about it, my past, my present, and my future.

I thought about what would happen if I quit my job, but then I realized that I couldn't quit. Quitting only gives these punks a permission slip to go out and rob somebody else. It only encourages them because they can scare people enough to chase them out of their neighborhood. I figured my best option was to stick around. Why should I quit? I didn't do anything wrong, it was them. It was these punks who ought to be afraid. It should be them that ought to go in hiding, not me. I ought not back down to these punks. What choice did I have, either they can hide everytime they saw me drive down their street, or I could teach them if they rob somebody, the person will get scared and they will never see them again.

It's sad enough that a handful of punks, members of the new KKK, hold hostage and in fear, 95% of the people who live in the ghetto. Why give them anymore power over people?

I am thankful that it happened to me, not because I enjoy getting robbed, but because the situation helped me to grow as a person. I had my courage tested, as well as my heart. I didn't give into hatred. I understood that the majority of blacks in America don't approve of such cowardly acts, and the many blacks I have talked to since then have reiterated it for me. The vast majority of people desire goodness and righteousness.

Most importantly, it helps put life into perspective. What really is important to me? What did I want to accomplish in life. Did I accomplish it? Why haven't I accomplished it yet? I also realized it's not the amount of time we have on earth, it's what we do with the time we are here. I know I'd rather be here for the betterment of the world. I also realized the only way to make the world a better place to live, is to become the best possible person that I can be.

I may not be able to change you, but I definitely can change me, unfortunately, most of us just give lip service to that. Many of us realize that we can change who we are to make the world a better place, then go thinking we are better people for it. We realize what we ought to do, then praise ourselves for thinking about doing something we could've done, but in the end, didn't do.

Another incident happened to me Wednesday night that could have had similiar results. Fortunately what could have happened, didn't happen, but it put the robbery incident back on my mind.