Rich Swier

Member For

1 year 10 weeks

Website:

Contact:

Red County Editor -
Sarasota County, FL
rswier@comcast.net

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Richard M. Swier, Ed. D., LTC, US Army (Ret.)

Richard holds a Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA, a Master's Degree in Management Information Systems from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Richard is a 23-year Army veteran who retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1990. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his years of service. Additionally, he was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for Heroism in ground combat, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry while serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officers Basic and Advanced Courses, and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Richard was the Founder/CEO of Sarasota Online, a high technology company that was sold to Comcast Cable in 1996. He helped start Backsoft Corporation an enterprise software development company in 1997 whose clients included Coca-Cola, Anheuser- Busch, Hyundai Electronics, Volkswagen, Moen and Goodyear. Backsoft was sold in 2001.

Richard twice chaired the Sarasota Better Business Council, sat on the Board of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and served from 2000 to 2009 on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. He currently serves on the Sponsorship Advisory Committee to the Sarasota County School Board.

He is President of the Sarasota County Veterans Commission, an honorary member of the BRAIVE Fund, and has been elected Chairman of the Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee.

Rich is the Publisher of Red County – Florida and Editor of Red County – Sarasota, www.redcounty.com, an internationally read website dedicated to center right grassroots commentary, news and politics.

COMMENTARIES

Grand Theft-Climate

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/25/09

Article Courtesy of Bob Shoup. Grand Theft-Auto is a popular virtual reality video game. The game allows players to commit a series of crimes in order to rise through the ranks of an organized crime syndicate. The IPCC and its handling of human-caused global warming has many parallels to the game Grand Theft-Auto. The Syndicate In Grand Theft-Climate, the syndicate is the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

No show Charlie Crist disses President Obama

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/25/09

You have go to love the irony and hypocrisy of Governor Charlie Crist. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune points out that Governor Crist will not attend an appearance by President Obama in Arcadia, Florida this Tuesday. According to the Herald-Tribune: "Since taking office nearly three years ago, Charlie Crist has made his mark as the green governor. He organized climate change summits with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, mandated... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

The Five Lessees versus the Four Mores

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/25/09

No! You can’t drill in Sarasota County, Florida because I say so. On September 29, 2009 there was a joint meeting of local Florida elected officials from Sarasota County, the City of Sarasota, the City of Venice, the City of North Port and the Town of Longboat Key, also known as the "Convocation of Governments". At this meeting the Board/Commissioners/Council Members discussed the 2010 Legislative priorities of the County and... read more »

2 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

Florida CO2 Emissions impact on climate? Negligible

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/23/09

This is the second in a series of articles about local government's obsession with power and control of our lives and the programs or ideologies they use to expand that power and control. The first in this series "Smart Growth and Agenda 21" may be read here. This second article deals with what drives local politicians to embrace this radical environmentalist agenda - human caused global warming. From Florida Governor Crist to my... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

“Buchanan Sunshine Resolution” Snowballs

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/21/09

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) announced Wednesday that in less than 24 hours, more than 100 bipartisan House members have co-sponsored his resolution to open health care talks to the public. Buchanan’s resolution, H. Res. 847 would put the House on record against secret, closed-door deals on health care reform legislation. “Democracy thrives best when the people are fully involved and... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »Sarasota County (FL) |

Rubio no show at Charlotte County Republicans Club debate

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/21/09

Marco Rubio was to be on the stage in Charlotte County, Florida. For the first time two candidates for the U.S. Senate in Florida were to be discussing issues. The West Charlotte County Republican Club worked for three months to get this first ever debate. Rubio was to appear with the former U.S. Senator Bob Smith from New Hampshire. Governor Crist did not appear at the event. According to a campaign spokesman Marco Rubio backed out of the... read more »

5 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

Florida Unemployment hits 11%

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/21/09

Article courtesy of Matthew Falconer: Unemployment in Florida topped 11% this week demonstrating that high taxes, high levels of government spending and corporate welfare are bad for our economy. Orange County, despite the fact we have 100,000 theme park jobs, saw unemployment rise to 11.4%. While elected officials will blame Wall Street, subprime, or anything they can, we must realize that local governments are the primary regulators of... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

Port in a Storm: How to Lose in Afghanistan 101

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/20/09

Rich discusses how we are losing in Afghanistan is occurring not because of the Taliban or Al Qaeda's strategic advantage but because of a lack of leadership on the part of President Obama, a Congress that is raiding the Defense budget to pay for earmarks, Rules of Engagement (ROE) in Afghanistan that favor the enemy and have lead to the death of our own troops and allies and finally, the failures of our primary infantry weapon the M4 carbine.... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) endorses Marco Rubio

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/20/09

I just recieved confirmation from two sources that Senator Jim Inhofe from Oklahoma has endorsed Marco Rubio for the U.S. Senate. Senator Inhofe is a strong conservative voice with great credentials. His endorsement will elevate Marco's credibility among GOP party members against his opponent Charlie Crist, who is running TV ads promoting his conservatism, to the chagrin and chuckles of some Republicans. More information to... read more »

4 Comments | Related Topics »FLORIDA |

Smart Growth and Agenda 21

By Dr. Richard Swier | 10/20/09

I recently received a Facebook link to a document produced by the United Nations. This document is titled “The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide”. Sounds innocuous don’t it? It is not, in fact it is a dangerous document that a number of counties and cities in Florida have embraced as their guide to produce a more” just” society. So who are these counties and what have they elected to do to you and me? These... read more »