28.Apr.2012 Our News censorship

I always find it interesting in campaigns how much the news media censors the candidates.  I often joke to supporters, that as a third party candidate, I will get more publicity the day after the election then I will get the entire time before the election.  Newspapers and electronic median just want to give coverage to the approved establishment candidates.  Screw the right of the public to know who really is running or why they are running.  Last week I put out the announcement of my Governor race – after the Secretary of State certified me as a candidate.  NOT  ONE news outlet even mention I was running, let alone the positions I am running under.  Well so much for freedom and the right to know.  Oh, it would be so much nicer if the news media gave us all the news and not just the news they want to filter to us.   Roland

25.Apr.2012 Nay sayers at it already

The interesting thing about politics is how many people claim they personally know me and then make a negative judgment about me on the internet based on that personal knowledge.  Most of course I have never met.   Most recently Carol Port and Dustin Garylow claim first hand knowledge and conclude among other things I am just motivated by my personal hatred of the judicial system.

To set the record straight, I think like most government agencies, there are some good and some bad in the judicial system.  There are some judges who would like to put me in jail for life for suggesting the system is flawed, and others who I have extremely good relations with and if we meet in the courthouse hallway we will often engage in friendly social conversations. There are also many occasions I am before the court in regards to my business interest, and I have always treated the judges with respect as they have always treated me likewise.  Still, there is lots of problems that could use fixing in the courts and with the law.  But generally I personally have no real legal problems with the courts in regards to my life.  Any interest I have in court reform is for the benefit of others, not me.

If you want to say I am motivated by hate, then I will admit I hate unfairness and injustice in our society, no matter who is on the sending or receiving end.   Other then that I am generally a laid back and quiet guy who tries to be on good terms with everyone, but don’t overly worry about the few that I am not.

So, for those who falsely claim they know me and want to spread hate,  well, just crawl back under the rock you came out from under.  We really are not interested in hearing what your tiny mind has to say.

Roland

22.Apr.2012 THIRD CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR’S RACE

Long time Libertarian and political gadfly Roland Riemers has become the third candidate (and the only non-rancher) for North Dakota Governor. And while Riemers admits he can not come close to matching the money and political machines of his major party opponents, his goal in this campaign is to offer the voting public an alternative to politics as usual and to stimulate debate on the issues as well as helping to built up the Libertarian Party as a viable alternative for future years. He would also challenge his professional politician opponents to name even one instance they have stood up against their political interests and loudly defended our rights and freedoms..

SOME OF RIEMERS’ ISSUES

Proposition II

- firmly supports repeal of property taxes. And while it may take some legislative work and a lot of adjustments, he is confident a fair means will eventually be found to replace property taxes. And if additional money is needed locally, it can be raised by a local sales or income tax. His view is that FUBAR property taxes have been the cash cow of local government for too long and it is time to send this cow to the slaughter house.

Abortion

- solidly pro choice, and encourages birth control and zero population growth and the decreasing of green house gases. Riemers has seen too many neglected and starving children in this world. Riemers has watched children sniff airplane glue to suppress their hunger pains or lay down on the street to eat some garbage squished into the pavement because of birth control and poverty.

Civil Rights

- is the ONLY governor candidate with a track record of being willing to stand in harms way to promote the rights of all, and opposes special rights for any group. He would like to see a private right of legal action when laws or civil rights are violated and the local prosecutor is unwilling or unable to prosecute.

Family Rights

- has actively supported shared parenting initiatives and reform of family laws so that men and women are treated equally and fairly by the courts. He believes current child support laws are unconstitutionally structured and enforced. Support obligors should not face debtor prison when they are unable to make mandatory support payments. Child visitation must be actively enforced. And property and debts personally acquired before or after marriage should be that person’s separate property or debt during and after marriage.

Patriot Act

- Riemers totally opposes as it is more for oppressing then defending Americans.

Gun Control

- supports the right to bear arms for self defense and defense of family, property, and for lawful hunting, recreational, and other lawful purposes.

Criminal Justice

- he is concerned with the increasing number of Americans being put into jail. It seems the legislative solution to every social problem is a life sentence. Jail and watch lists should be for the worse of the worse, and reform should be our goal for the rest. He is especially concerned that more and more children (as young as 9) are being made life time criminals while at the same time government agents are granted immunity for their illegal actions. He also believes that any public official who violates their oath of office by not supporting the state and Federal Constitution, should be criminally charged with perjury. He would also like the state to actively fight cybercrime Generally it seems officials like to portray all Americans as either saints or sinners with all the sinners placed behind bars. But in the real world we are all a mixture of saint and sinner, and if our sins were all known then we would all likely be in jail. Thus we have to allow for some human stupidity and forgive those who have made mistakes.

Size of government

- less government, less taxes and more freedom. Riemers would like the size and budget of state government decreased by 10% a year.

Education

- more emphasis on education instead of socialization. Supports vouchers for those who don’t want public education. Supports getting university professors back into the classrooms instead of living the elite academia life style. Supports lowering the cost of higher education.

Water Resources

- the state must built structures and programs to get water where it is needed, and away from where it isn’t. If ancient Romans could transfer water hundreds of miles with slave built aqueducts, we certainly should be able to do better then we do now.

Energy

- we should encourage additional transmission lines to move our wind generated electricity. But, for a long term energy solution and to decrease greenhouse gases this country needs dependable 24 hour a day renewable electricity, and that can only be had with geothermal power. Riemers would also like to see a slow- down of North Dakota oil development so it can be better managed.

Military bases

- while it is nice to have them here, there really is no need for two large Air Force bases in North Dakota, and the only reason we still have two bases is due to the political muscle of our senators and not because our country needs them. Riemers believes one of the bases should be closed.

RIEMERS BACKGROUND:

Roland was born in Lake City, Minnesota and grew up on dairy farm in Forest Lake, Minnesota. Following high school Roland served 4 years as a medic in the USAF, and an additional 8 years in the North Dakota National Guard and Army Reserve. He has worked as an engineering technician, utilityman, Registered Nurse, third grade teacher, alternative energy expert, and is currently self employed in property management and investment. He has an associate degree in nursing, a BS degree in Industrial Technology and has attended the UND Law School.

Politically Riemers has run for a number of offices in his life, but not so much with the goal of winning, but with the goal of presenting his own sometimes unique ideas or observations to the voters. His last election attempt was a run for Grand Forks sheriff in 2010.

Besides politics, Riemers enjoys flying ultralight aircraft, sailing, scuba diving, ballroom dancing, world travel and exploration, a life time learner, gardening, blogging, building energy efficient buildings, movies and enjoys the study of law and provides free legal help for men and women in family matters (at the threat of being prosecuted for practicing law for doing so).

08.Mar.2012 March2012

Well this evening I had some notices that there were some comments to approve, and they must have finally improved the web site recently as I was actually able to get online and go through a years of comments and passed a number of them on to you readers.  

An interesting thing happened in regards to my temporary live-in sex offender.   After all the big splash on the news this little old later from down the street came over with a welcoming food basket “for the nice young man who recently got out of jail.”  Both  he and my family were floored.  I guess there are still a few people out there who believe the way to change a person’s life for the better is to treat them with respect and kindness.   Mike is a nice enough fellow, but he does smoke, which is about the only bad thing I can really say about him in the days I have gotten to know him.  I am of course encouraging him to quit. 

On the political side, I was very disappointed to see that Santorum actually won the ND GOP primary vote.  Shows we got a lot of brainless voters in ND.  Santorum is a radical die-hard Catholic who doesn’t believe in birth control, abortion,  or the teaching of evolution in our schools.   He also equates male homosexuals as men who have sex with dogs.  As a senator he actually lived in a different state, and that is one of the reason he is now and ex-senator.  His idea of  religious freedom is his right to impose his hates and  religion onto the rest of us.  His supports  the constitution only as it supports his ideas.   Frankly, he is much more dangerous to us then all the other foreign religious fruitcakes combined.  By the way, notice how Santorum, Gingrich and even Hoven came out strongly in support of the Catholic Bishops opposition to birth control.  SURPRISE, all 3 of them are Catholic.  (as is Scott Hennin on KNOX)   It appears the Catholic Church is attempting to take over America and turn us into the Catholic States of America.  I suppose we will also have to set up the Catholic Bishops as a forth branch of our government?

I am not too much into traditional religions.  I can not support Gods who act like little kids,  ask for sacrifices,  demand blind faith,  and promote killing of every man, woman and child that opposes him (as in the old testimont).   I do believe in treating all people fairly and with respect.  Something that most major religions seem to have forgotten.   I believe the way to have a good society is to lead by good example and not by violent force.

Roland

16.Nov.2011 ND Supreme Court didn’t read the real law

Well, once again the ND Supreme Court put their foot in their mouths.  For the past 50 years or so they have been making rulings that in a probation revocation hearing, the court can replace the old prison sentence to a much more harsh sentence, irregarless if the old sentence was the result of a good faith plea bargain. But WRONG.  In 1997 Senator Wayne Stenjhem offered and got pass Senate Bill 2020 that had an un-noticed paragraph that has gone un-noticed by lawyers, judges and the Supreme Court. I would guess the change never made it to the electronic legal services like West Law,  so now you have the old law given out to the legal computer nerds, and the new and drastically different law in the written code.  Dah!   How is the Supremes going to explain to those who have been setting in jail illegally for years, that they forgot to read the real law?    Well, I guess it is always better to have 1000 innocents rot in jail then let one guilty get away, or worse yet, one judicial reputation tarnished?    Roland

08.Jul.2011 Sex Offender Lists

In today’s Herald they had a story about what great good the various state sex offendor lists are doing, which is of course contrary to the findings of a 2001 federal study. More interestingly, the article fails to give balance by telling about the injustice of this whole system. For example, it speaks about the Texas system started in 1999, but doesn’t mention that the Texas system will allow boys as young as 10 years of age to be put on the sexual predator lists. It also fails to point out thet list continues to be expanded and covers things such as public urination, which is some cities – due to the lack of rest rooms – may not be much of a choice. Could you just see a 10 year old Texas boy put on the sexual predator list for life because he pissed on someone’s lawn when he couldn’t get to a restroom fast enough? Roland

03.Jul.2011 Federal Study Shows Sexual Predator List a Failure

Megan’s Law is a federal law that requires states to register sex offenders and that they publish their addresses, etc. so the “public can be protected.” If states don’t follow the federal law, they could “loose federal money.” All bullshit of course. Recent 2009 federal study has shown that the law has had absolutely no effect in decreasing sex crimes or protecting the public. In a nutshell, it is a bunch of crap that stigmatizes and dehumanises people and prevents them from ever getting their lives back on the right road. I suppose next we will want to register all prostitutes, tax evaders and illegal fireworks users. Bull. Also many of the offenders were minor children when they committed their offense. So if a young boy and girl play doctor, the boy could end up on a sex registry for life as well as spend 5-10 years in prison (with numerous horny adults to educate them in real life). I say it is time to end this madness. (by the way, kids aren’t to be kept with adult offenders, but again, ND ignores their own laws)

In the most recent case in GF, Juan Deleon was listed as a high rish sex offender. Juan, at the age of 14, was with a group of young girls and had sex with a 13 & 15 year old girl and sexual contact with an 8,10, & 12 year old. Given inadequate legal representation, this 14 year old boy was convinced to plead guilty and got 3 years in prison and 7 years in probation. (Like a 14 year old boy has the mentality to make a guilty plea to two felonies that will destroy his life forever!) The sexual contact cases were all in juvenile court, and that record is not to be used in later proceedings and are closed cases to the public, but that is exactly the one the news media plays up – without once mentioning Juan was just a kid himself. Before being released from prison, Juan is handed another paper to sign, putting himself on GPS monitoring and additional probation. These were all signed without the right to an attorney, and Juan getting no advantages obtained for signing up for additional punishments and controls. For his youthful mistake, Juan also has to be listed as a life time high risk sexual predator. Which means it is about impossible for him to get a job and impossible to get any decent housing. And of course, if you have no housing, you go “back to jail.”

To me, Juan made a mistake, but most males I have known have done that or worse in their lives. He deserves a chance to become a responsible member of our community (as does any person who makes a stupid mistake in their lives), instead of being branded with a scarlet letter and driven from work and home. I hope you might agree with me on this?

Roland Riemers

Sexual Predator List a Failure

Megan’s Law is a federal law that requires states to register sex offenders and that they publish their addresses, etc. so the “public can abe protected.”   If states don’t follow the federal law, they could “loose federal money.”  All bullshit of course. Recent 2009 federal study has shown that the law has had absolutely no effect in decreasing sex crimes or protecting the public. In a nutshell, it is a bunch of crap that stigmatizes and dehumanises people and prevents them from ever getting their lives back on the right road. I suppose next we will want to register all prostitututes, tax evaders and illegal fireworks users. Bull. Also many of the offenders were minor children when they committed their offense. So if a young boy and girl play doctor, the boy could end up on a sex registry for life as well as spend 5-10 years in prison (with numerous horny adults to educate them in real life). I say it is time to end this madness.  (by the way, kids aren’t to be kept with adult offenders, but again, ND ignores their own laws)

In the most recent case in GF, Juan Deleon was listed as a high rish sex offender.  Juan, at the age of 14,  was with a group of young girls and had sex with a 13 & 15 year old girl and sexual contact with an 8,10, & 12 year old. Given inadequate legal representation,  this 14 year old boy was convinced to plead guilty and got 3 years in prison and 7 years in probation.  (Like a 14 year old boy has the mentality to make a guilty plea to two felonies that will destroy his life forever!)  The sexual contact cases were all in juvenile court, and that record is not to be used in later proceedings and are closed cases, but that is exactly the one the news media plays up – without once mentioning Juan was just a kid himself.  Before being released from prison, Juan is handed another paper to sign, putting himself on GPS monitoring and additional probation.  These were all signed without the right to an attorney, and Juan no advantages obtained for signing off on these rights.   For his youthful mistake, Juan also has to be a life time high risk sexual predator.  Which means it is about impossible to get a job and impossible to get any decent housing.  And of course, if you have no housing, you go “back to jail.”  

To me, Juan made a mistake, but most males I have known have done that or worse in their lives.  He deserves a chance to become a responsible member of our community (as does any person who makes a stupid mistake in their lives), instead of being branded with a scarlet letter and driven from work and home.  I hope some of you agree with me on this?

Roland Riemers

02.Jul.2011 County shafts teenagers for life

Recently the case of Juan Deleon was brought to my attention.  Back in 2001 Juan, at the age of 14, made the mistake of getting involved with a group of similar aged young girls.  He ended up having sex with two of them.  Anyway, things went down hill from there, and he was charged with 2 counts of statutory rape, both felonies.  Given an inadequate attorney, the charges were moved from juvenile to adult court without challenge or a hearing.  This 14 year old boy was then pressured into coping a deal for 3 years of prison, 7 years of probation, and a life of second class citizenship on the sexual predator list.  Juan is now 24 and has not been in trouble since prison, but still walks around with an electronic monitor and a 6 p.m. curfew.   With adequate legal representation none of this would likely have happened.

I spent some time reviewing the case and talking to Juan, and he admits his earlier mistakes, and admits as a young teenager, he signed about anything the lawyers put in front of him.  The result is that the system has totally screwed him.  The legal system’s crimes against kids, are far worse then anything Juan did.

The purpose of having juvenile proceedings is to allow young offenders a second chance, and not destroying their lifes for a youthful mistake.  The ND legal system has forgotten this.  They force young kids into signing away their rights.  They put young kids in with adult offenders which is contrary to state law.  And they unjustly put young offenders on lifetime watch lists when even the professonals hired by the state say the kid is not a danger.

Roland

16.Apr.2011 Back Again?

Well, someone told me they had finally fixed some of the bugs in Area voices, so I thought I would try it again. After 5 or 6 attempts, I was finally able to get an Avatar on page. Of course, it would not let me do it unless I agreed to crop the picture. Why it just couldn’t take the origional picture is beyond me. So I still think this new format sucks.
As for what is new. In G.F. the city leaders want a new 20.8 million dollar library, and they want to tear down the existing one million dollar library. Their main complaint always seems to be it is not ADA compliant. Well, I have watched wheel chaired patrons in the library and they seemed to get around without much problem. Sure, some improvements could be make, but society should not be put on hold just for the benefit of a very small percentage of the population. Remember also ADA is suppost to have only “reasonable accomodations”, and to me reasonable means it is not an absolute right. Tearing down a usuable building just to make it slightly more accessable to me is not “reasonable.”
On the other hand, the Library could use more room, but instead of building I have suggested getting a 10 year lease on one of the empty commercial buildings on South Washington and making it a Library Annex which would then have computers, meeting rooms, storage, and even a coffee shop. All at little expense to the public, or certainly not 20.8 milllion worth.
I finally fired up the old white sound truck van 2 days ago and got everything working again. Got it painted up for “Vote No” and used poster paint so I could clean it off more easily. Naturally today we had our April wet snow storm, and the lettering is about washed away. So Saturday it is off to the car wash to make it a clean slate, and then back to painting it up again when the weather turns sunny again, which hopefully will be before the May 3 election. The lettering goes on fairly quickly and it only takes about 20 minutes to do the whole van. So giving it a good washing will probably take longer then the painting. I also plan on improving the printing a bit, and be a little more creative.
Roland Riemers the ND Gadfly