If you like to hear both sides -- and more -- on any current issue, a good source is TheWeek.com, or you can subscribe to the magazine. It's of value to me because I need more than just a bumper sticker idea upon which to base my beliefs. I would not say it is the opposite of Fox News, because on any given week, you may find something from Fox included in the collection of columns, editorials, and articles that provide what The Week bills as, "The best of the U.S. and international media."
As I write this, I am aware that the product has already been rejected out of hand by my friends who suspect that media in general, international media in particular, and anything that differs with their preconceived notions of what is American in general is liberal propaganda. They may be right; this magazine requires thinking, with an open mind, which is sort of the definition of liberalism.
But I will risk being infected with new information, or ideas that might go against my gut instincts, because, well, I can. I am blessed to live in an open society, for now, anyway, and I have always taken full advantage of the ability to question. Anyone, from church doctrine to parental wisdom to government decree, is open to examination.
I have always sought answers. As a result, I have infuriated people who think their answer is unassailable. I'm sure some of those people might be considered liberals by others, but they were conservative in defending their dearly held opinions. For instance, I have always questioned why liberal arts universities market their offerings as a means of ensuring higher salaries for graduates with degrees, on the one hand, but then defend some of the sillier degrees they offer as examples of the essential nature of and education, which is not to teach students how to be more productive in the marketplace, but how to think. They get really defensive when they are accused to teaching vulnerable young minds what to think.
The Week's issue for the week of Jan. 21 was filled with discourse about the events in Tuscon; was political rhetoric a factor, what about the gun culture of America, and there was strident dialog pro and con, pretty much as what we've seen in the local media, but by more and pretty well respected sources. There was The New Republic, and then The Wall Street Journal. The Christian Science Monitor was quoted, and so was Slate.com, TheDailyBeast.com, The Washington Post (including conservative writer Charles Krauthammer. Lots of range in the opinions and facts traded about, but not likely anything to change the mind of the average American.
In the poll section, which has the two inches or less that it deserves, the magazine reveals that a CBS poll shows that 57 percent of Americans say the heated rhetoric had nothing to do with the shootings in Tuscon, while 32 percent say it did. Republicans are more likely to say rhetoric was not to blame. Democrats, as usual, were split; 42 percent saying it did, a like number saying it didn't.
William Galston in The New Republic said the real issue is lost in the partisan bickering about who is to blame. Despite showing multiple signs of his instability, it's difficult if not impossible to commit a dangerously delusional adult until after they commit a crime.
But then, what's delusional? William Falk, editor in chief of The Week has an insightful column in which he relates a conversation with some very friendly members of a local gun club. He sees the rationale for owning a weapon for self defense, but why do we need to allow weapons created for military and the police to be sold so easily in America?
"They smiled at my naivete. One day, they explained, we may need weapons with serious firepower to fight the military and the police, in an armed rebellion against the government.....Though not discussed around hostile audiences, the belief that the "right of revolution" is a fundamental tenet shared by tens of thousands of gun enthusiasts..." To them, it's what the Second Amendment is all about.
So, with the support of the National Rifle Association, we can be like Yemen, which according to a news report, has 13 million people and at least 13 million weapons. The government cowers in the capital and the most extreme zealots have the run of the rest of the nation (who would oppose them?), fomenting revolution not only in Yemen, but throughout the world, including terrorist assaults on The United States of America.
None of which matters now to Christina Green. But we have other nine-year-olds to think about.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
It may be worse than we thought
As I was winding down my term as a commissioner, I was approached by people from the region and state, as well as locally, who had concerns about what they had been hearing about the new, five-member board of commissioners.
I tried to be as positive as possible. It was my hope that only two of the five were so extreme in their ideologies as to cause long-term problems for the people who live here; at worse, I thought, they would be an embarrassment.
Well, the embarrassment part has already manifested itself, and the deeper concerns expressed by others seems more likely that I had hoped. These five have already shown that they are way too long on political rhetoric, and way too short on considered thought and listening to good advice.
Anyone who ignores the conservative advice of Ted Zaleski, the budget director, on how much bond issue to request is showing off for the masses, not thinking for the long term. Zaleski advised against seeking only $11 million in capability, and suggested keeping options open for up to $20 million -- still a small number when you start taking bids for critical capital costs, which can pop up unexpectedly.
But our uber-conservative commissioners, eager to demonstrate how fiscally responsible they are, ignored one of about six people in the building -- not counting paid consultants -- and proudly called for the lower number. The point is, just because you reserve the larger allowance does not mean you have to spend it. And you save nothing by passing up on the currently low, low repayment rates. If you need to go back and get more later, it will cost the taxpayers more to pay off the bonds.
But false conservatism thrives on short memories and simplistic examples.
Then we have the State of the County appearance with the Chamber of Commerce, during which the five merely dusted off their campaign speeches, with some revisions.
During their campaigns, their position was that the county's situation was in dire straits, the economy in a shambles, the future grim. But after just over a month in office, they proudly asserted that the county is healthy, wealthy and wise.
If you listen for substance, you will not hear any. They have no cost-savings ideas of any significance -- penny and nickle remedies for million dollar challenges brought about by those they call irresponsible and intrusive liberals in Annapolis and Washington. Their strategy is to resist the state and federal mandates. The only way they can do that is to make a show of refusing grants to help pay for certain programs. And the problem is that it saves the local taxpayers nothing; the money has already been assessed and paid by Carroll County taxpayers.
What the commissioners are doing is refusing, on a misguided definition of principle, to go back and accept your share. They hope you'll notice the gesture, but not the consequences. They think they won't share blame for deficiencies in the services in schools, emergency services, road improvements, recreation programs and senior citizen services.
Ah, yes, they are thrifty with money you have already spent, but for which you will not get as much return as your neighbors.
Some of the concerns at the regional level were that we would slide back into the Fortress Carroll mentality of the local government prior to 2002; attempts to erect walls that would keep "those people" out and let "folks like us" come and build their sprawling developments.
Richard Rothschild has used the term "code words" so many times it's beginning to sound like a late-night television commercial for cheap used cars: Lots of noise, red, white and blue balloons, few facts.
He was an ambassador for isolationists in the eyes of of those who got to know him better at the recent Maryland Association of Counties mid-winter conference in a Cambridge resort. His diatribes against sustainability, planning, environmental regulations and government in general may play well to devotees of Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, but it does not impress serious, thoughtful and professional public servants -- elected and paid staff -- who understand the real challenges of a culture that wants more than it is willing to pay for.
Then there is the illusion created by lack of reporting. How long will the local press continue to ignore the push-back that is already surfacing; comments from members of the planning commission were all but overlooked in the reporting of the "work session" between the commissioners and the planning board, but Commissioner Doug Howard gets away with a "Gee, we had a good dialog" kind of quote attributed to him.
Watch the video of the meeting, and you might have a different take on how members of the legally appointed planning commission charged with developing the master plan view the "dialog" -- not to mention the abuses of the process by the commissioners.
I tried to be as positive as possible. It was my hope that only two of the five were so extreme in their ideologies as to cause long-term problems for the people who live here; at worse, I thought, they would be an embarrassment.
Well, the embarrassment part has already manifested itself, and the deeper concerns expressed by others seems more likely that I had hoped. These five have already shown that they are way too long on political rhetoric, and way too short on considered thought and listening to good advice.
Anyone who ignores the conservative advice of Ted Zaleski, the budget director, on how much bond issue to request is showing off for the masses, not thinking for the long term. Zaleski advised against seeking only $11 million in capability, and suggested keeping options open for up to $20 million -- still a small number when you start taking bids for critical capital costs, which can pop up unexpectedly.
But our uber-conservative commissioners, eager to demonstrate how fiscally responsible they are, ignored one of about six people in the building -- not counting paid consultants -- and proudly called for the lower number. The point is, just because you reserve the larger allowance does not mean you have to spend it. And you save nothing by passing up on the currently low, low repayment rates. If you need to go back and get more later, it will cost the taxpayers more to pay off the bonds.
But false conservatism thrives on short memories and simplistic examples.
Then we have the State of the County appearance with the Chamber of Commerce, during which the five merely dusted off their campaign speeches, with some revisions.
During their campaigns, their position was that the county's situation was in dire straits, the economy in a shambles, the future grim. But after just over a month in office, they proudly asserted that the county is healthy, wealthy and wise.
If you listen for substance, you will not hear any. They have no cost-savings ideas of any significance -- penny and nickle remedies for million dollar challenges brought about by those they call irresponsible and intrusive liberals in Annapolis and Washington. Their strategy is to resist the state and federal mandates. The only way they can do that is to make a show of refusing grants to help pay for certain programs. And the problem is that it saves the local taxpayers nothing; the money has already been assessed and paid by Carroll County taxpayers.
What the commissioners are doing is refusing, on a misguided definition of principle, to go back and accept your share. They hope you'll notice the gesture, but not the consequences. They think they won't share blame for deficiencies in the services in schools, emergency services, road improvements, recreation programs and senior citizen services.
Ah, yes, they are thrifty with money you have already spent, but for which you will not get as much return as your neighbors.
Some of the concerns at the regional level were that we would slide back into the Fortress Carroll mentality of the local government prior to 2002; attempts to erect walls that would keep "those people" out and let "folks like us" come and build their sprawling developments.
Richard Rothschild has used the term "code words" so many times it's beginning to sound like a late-night television commercial for cheap used cars: Lots of noise, red, white and blue balloons, few facts.
He was an ambassador for isolationists in the eyes of of those who got to know him better at the recent Maryland Association of Counties mid-winter conference in a Cambridge resort. His diatribes against sustainability, planning, environmental regulations and government in general may play well to devotees of Rush Limbaugh and Fox News, but it does not impress serious, thoughtful and professional public servants -- elected and paid staff -- who understand the real challenges of a culture that wants more than it is willing to pay for.
Then there is the illusion created by lack of reporting. How long will the local press continue to ignore the push-back that is already surfacing; comments from members of the planning commission were all but overlooked in the reporting of the "work session" between the commissioners and the planning board, but Commissioner Doug Howard gets away with a "Gee, we had a good dialog" kind of quote attributed to him.
Watch the video of the meeting, and you might have a different take on how members of the legally appointed planning commission charged with developing the master plan view the "dialog" -- not to mention the abuses of the process by the commissioners.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
After Tucson, what is left to debate?
As a lifelong news guy, I have surfed all the coverage of the events in Arizona that I can, and it makes me wonder if we ever learn.
I visited the Murrah Building Memorial in Oklahoma City a couple of years ago, and what really grabbed me then was the carnage visited on Americans -- women, children, older citizens -- by Americans. Two weeks after that bombing, Rush Limbaugh, the hero of the American Right wrote an editorial with the headline, Why I am Not To Blame.
In the days after the shootings at an Arizona shopping center, the Rabid Right is all over Fox news and the talk shows and the internet saying they are not to blame.
Hatred is the fuel for evil deeds, often carried out by people who do not fully understand their own actions.
I support the Constitution; I do not support hate speech to support the Constitution.
I support the right to free speech. I do not support the right to inflame masses by spreading lies and half truths because I am frustrated and angry.
I support the right to own firearms. I will not defend the right to show off automatic weapons at political rallies, or places where our politicians gather to address the public.
I support reason. I do not support the excuses of the hate mongers, after murders of nine year old children, that they bear no responsibility.
I agree that guns do not kill people, people kill people; but if ideas are worth dying for, then it seems to follow that words and ideas also can kill. Use them with as much care as you would a loaded automatic pistol.
I visited the Murrah Building Memorial in Oklahoma City a couple of years ago, and what really grabbed me then was the carnage visited on Americans -- women, children, older citizens -- by Americans. Two weeks after that bombing, Rush Limbaugh, the hero of the American Right wrote an editorial with the headline, Why I am Not To Blame.
In the days after the shootings at an Arizona shopping center, the Rabid Right is all over Fox news and the talk shows and the internet saying they are not to blame.
Hatred is the fuel for evil deeds, often carried out by people who do not fully understand their own actions.
I support the Constitution; I do not support hate speech to support the Constitution.
I support the right to free speech. I do not support the right to inflame masses by spreading lies and half truths because I am frustrated and angry.
I support the right to own firearms. I will not defend the right to show off automatic weapons at political rallies, or places where our politicians gather to address the public.
I support reason. I do not support the excuses of the hate mongers, after murders of nine year old children, that they bear no responsibility.
I agree that guns do not kill people, people kill people; but if ideas are worth dying for, then it seems to follow that words and ideas also can kill. Use them with as much care as you would a loaded automatic pistol.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Should commissioners make policy, or try to run everything?
Look for some significant retooling in the office the Carroll County Commissioners, as the board seeks to put people in place to take orders, rather than advise elected leaders.
This will mark the most significant difference between this board and prior one, which relied on information from senior staff and outside consultants to make policy, then turned the work over to the professionals and county employees.
This new board has been consistently sending signals that it will take charge. Haven Shoemaker, as a candidate, promised to clean house. Richard Rothschild and Robin Frazier have made no secret of their intentions to down-size government and the services the county provides. Doug Howard, despite his difficulties making the Carroll Area Transit work on the funds provided, commented that the five new commissioners have sufficient business skills to divide responsibilities among themselves and run the departments that are now administered by professional directors.
The morale in the county office building is at its lowest since the last time Frazier had an office there, apparently the results of micro-managing and inconsistent signals from the commissioners' office. Word is that Steve Powell, who as chief of staff for the previous board of commissioners was at the top of the chain of command, is now left out of policy meetings held by the commissioners directly with senior staffers.
Part of the chill in the building is that there are those around who remember what happened the last time commissioners tried to run the county by decree, instead of with the input of the people who do the work. Key leaders left the building in the 1990's, some on their own, others pushed out, as then commissioners Donald Dell and Frazier, who served one term, attempted to micro-manage the county. Several employees, competent in lesser positions, were given additional duties because they were willing to salute, take orders, and not challenge what later turned out to be bad decisions.
By the end of the 1990s, the county had been under fire from the state government for failing to keep up with environmental efforts, growth management and planning. Schools were overcrowded, residential housing was out of control and new permits exceeded the allowance under the adequate facilities ordinance. Planning was in shambles and there was a disconnect between county government and the Board of Education, the volunteer fireman's association, and incorporated towns. Economic development efforts were out of sync with modern corporate needs.
The reputation the county government created for itself in those years cost it credibility with neighboring counties, the Baltimore Metropolitan Area Council, and the professions who maintain consistency in state agencies. That made it more difficult to deal with official Annapolis, and to recruit and retain employees. The pay and benefits packages for county employees was among the lowest two or three subdivisions in the state, and some employees had not had raises in five or more years, while others with friends in high places had seen salaries go up disproportionately.
If this new board continues on the path it seems to have chosen, the effect will be like watching amateurs try to keep the dozen or so plates spinning that professional jugglers had been hired to put in place.
This will mark the most significant difference between this board and prior one, which relied on information from senior staff and outside consultants to make policy, then turned the work over to the professionals and county employees.
This new board has been consistently sending signals that it will take charge. Haven Shoemaker, as a candidate, promised to clean house. Richard Rothschild and Robin Frazier have made no secret of their intentions to down-size government and the services the county provides. Doug Howard, despite his difficulties making the Carroll Area Transit work on the funds provided, commented that the five new commissioners have sufficient business skills to divide responsibilities among themselves and run the departments that are now administered by professional directors.
The morale in the county office building is at its lowest since the last time Frazier had an office there, apparently the results of micro-managing and inconsistent signals from the commissioners' office. Word is that Steve Powell, who as chief of staff for the previous board of commissioners was at the top of the chain of command, is now left out of policy meetings held by the commissioners directly with senior staffers.
Part of the chill in the building is that there are those around who remember what happened the last time commissioners tried to run the county by decree, instead of with the input of the people who do the work. Key leaders left the building in the 1990's, some on their own, others pushed out, as then commissioners Donald Dell and Frazier, who served one term, attempted to micro-manage the county. Several employees, competent in lesser positions, were given additional duties because they were willing to salute, take orders, and not challenge what later turned out to be bad decisions.
By the end of the 1990s, the county had been under fire from the state government for failing to keep up with environmental efforts, growth management and planning. Schools were overcrowded, residential housing was out of control and new permits exceeded the allowance under the adequate facilities ordinance. Planning was in shambles and there was a disconnect between county government and the Board of Education, the volunteer fireman's association, and incorporated towns. Economic development efforts were out of sync with modern corporate needs.
The reputation the county government created for itself in those years cost it credibility with neighboring counties, the Baltimore Metropolitan Area Council, and the professions who maintain consistency in state agencies. That made it more difficult to deal with official Annapolis, and to recruit and retain employees. The pay and benefits packages for county employees was among the lowest two or three subdivisions in the state, and some employees had not had raises in five or more years, while others with friends in high places had seen salaries go up disproportionately.
If this new board continues on the path it seems to have chosen, the effect will be like watching amateurs try to keep the dozen or so plates spinning that professional jugglers had been hired to put in place.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
No plan is their idea of a best plan
It appears that the new Carroll County Commissioners not only hated the proposed Pathways plan for managing growth, but they didn't like the 2000 master plan, either.
In fact, it was clear from the recent exchange with staff over the current planning commission's recommendations that the only thing that will make the ultra conservative commissioners happy is essentially no plan at all. Or as little as law allows.
To their consternation, the law requires more planning than they thought when they came into office.
Richard Rothschild in District Four is a strict constitutionalist. He doesn't even like the words used by those who would make a master plan. He says their proposals contain "code words," and "sneaky Pete" terms that have a way of becoming law and taking away the rights of people to do what they want. He dislikes, apparently, words like global, collaborative, cooperative, jointly, preservation, environmental zone, wildlife protection area.
Robin Frazier, too, made comments showing that she would prefer to allow businesses and developers to do what they will with the laws already on the books, and let the future take care of itself.
Two citizens, expressing appreciation for the apparent rejection of the planning and zoning commission's recommendations for managing growth, spoke for the property rights advocates and constitutionalists constituencies. One man said there are two schools of thought about master planning. One is that you try to see what's coming and prepare for it, and the other is deciding what the future should be like and make it happen. The latter, he said, is socialism.
A woman said she came here from Boulder, CO., and had seen the future of Carroll County. Boulder, she said, has been ruined by planning; we don't want a Boulder here.
There was no one in the room who stood up and pointed out that Boulder, a vibrant university town near Denver, has been considered by many to be one of the more desirable communities in America, but there you have it; those who like progressive communities with adequate facilities and managed growth and protected environments did not show up for the meeting.
Maybe they didn't show up for the election, either.
But everyone knows that politics is a pendulum, swinging right and left and never really pausing in the middle. Eight years ago, people who might like Boulder showed up to vote. They voted Frazier and others who expressed views like Rothschild's out of office. They may be back in 2014.
In fact, it was clear from the recent exchange with staff over the current planning commission's recommendations that the only thing that will make the ultra conservative commissioners happy is essentially no plan at all. Or as little as law allows.
To their consternation, the law requires more planning than they thought when they came into office.
Richard Rothschild in District Four is a strict constitutionalist. He doesn't even like the words used by those who would make a master plan. He says their proposals contain "code words," and "sneaky Pete" terms that have a way of becoming law and taking away the rights of people to do what they want. He dislikes, apparently, words like global, collaborative, cooperative, jointly, preservation, environmental zone, wildlife protection area.
Robin Frazier, too, made comments showing that she would prefer to allow businesses and developers to do what they will with the laws already on the books, and let the future take care of itself.
Two citizens, expressing appreciation for the apparent rejection of the planning and zoning commission's recommendations for managing growth, spoke for the property rights advocates and constitutionalists constituencies. One man said there are two schools of thought about master planning. One is that you try to see what's coming and prepare for it, and the other is deciding what the future should be like and make it happen. The latter, he said, is socialism.
A woman said she came here from Boulder, CO., and had seen the future of Carroll County. Boulder, she said, has been ruined by planning; we don't want a Boulder here.
There was no one in the room who stood up and pointed out that Boulder, a vibrant university town near Denver, has been considered by many to be one of the more desirable communities in America, but there you have it; those who like progressive communities with adequate facilities and managed growth and protected environments did not show up for the meeting.
Maybe they didn't show up for the election, either.
But everyone knows that politics is a pendulum, swinging right and left and never really pausing in the middle. Eight years ago, people who might like Boulder showed up to vote. They voted Frazier and others who expressed views like Rothschild's out of office. They may be back in 2014.
Monday, January 3, 2011
It's okay that all five of the new commishes are at a resort
All five new commissioners are suffering through the tedious meetings and fattening meals and posh overindulgence of the Hyatt resort hotel in Cambridge this week, but it's okay.
Well, Robin Frazier might have participated in such rituals when she was commissioner before, but with restraint, I'm sure.
I certainly can't find fault, because I attended such gatherings of the Maryland Association of Counties in my first four to six years as a commissioner. I even went to one National Association of Counties meeting in Phoenix, and two mid-winter meetings, I think, in Washington.
It's good to go and learn. Talk with other commissioners and county council members or executives for a few days. Meet state government people with whom you will be interacting for four years, do a little face to face, because there's time later for watching your back.
Know the terrain. Learn that as conservatives in a state run by moderates and liberals, there will be dues to pay, and crow to eat, and get to understand the games that are played in Annapolis. Meet the governor and his cabinet. Learn to define futility, or put on a happy face and convince yourself and your consituents, if you can, that you will have better luck with the state than the previous 50 or so boards of commissioners from a county that most people in attendance consider an afterthought. It will be Baltimore City and Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties who will drive the agenda. Five Carroll County delegates and senators in Annapolis? Who they?
Oh, there will be graciousness and gladhanding and promises of cooperation, but in the end, the best thing you can do as a new commissioner is attend the classes on How Things Work, both the formal ones, scheduled by the Association of Countyies' competent staff, and the informal ones in the cocktail lounges and hospitality rooms after hours.
The formal classes, offered in conjunction with the University of Maryland, familiarize the new elected official and whatever paid staff allowed to attend with the lastest in law, regulations, how to govern; courses on planning and zoning, environmental protection, economic development, parks and recreation, law enforcement, effects of new rules by the federal government -- the list goes on. It takes about two or perhaps three conventions to earn a certificate designating you as a Fellow -- a graduate of the school of governance. Your education will continue, though.
I don't know the cost this year -- you can look it up -- but with gas and other expenses, I'd guess it will run about $8,000 minimum, perhaps a little more.
A lot of money, at first glance, but it's a fair price for the education of commissioners who have a lot to learn. And there's a lot at stake.
How much will it cost the average taxpayer? Less than a movie rental. You've got to save, or spend, a million dollars plus to make a one penny change in the county tax rate.
I do think, if I may indulge in a little Monday morning quarterbacking, that it's important to have one spokesperson for the board attend those meet and greets with influential state people. And it's better to spend money for continuous education for paid county employees who advise the commissioners and run the departments than it is any commissioner who has attended three or more semi-annual conventions.
Well, Robin Frazier might have participated in such rituals when she was commissioner before, but with restraint, I'm sure.
I certainly can't find fault, because I attended such gatherings of the Maryland Association of Counties in my first four to six years as a commissioner. I even went to one National Association of Counties meeting in Phoenix, and two mid-winter meetings, I think, in Washington.
It's good to go and learn. Talk with other commissioners and county council members or executives for a few days. Meet state government people with whom you will be interacting for four years, do a little face to face, because there's time later for watching your back.
Know the terrain. Learn that as conservatives in a state run by moderates and liberals, there will be dues to pay, and crow to eat, and get to understand the games that are played in Annapolis. Meet the governor and his cabinet. Learn to define futility, or put on a happy face and convince yourself and your consituents, if you can, that you will have better luck with the state than the previous 50 or so boards of commissioners from a county that most people in attendance consider an afterthought. It will be Baltimore City and Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties who will drive the agenda. Five Carroll County delegates and senators in Annapolis? Who they?
Oh, there will be graciousness and gladhanding and promises of cooperation, but in the end, the best thing you can do as a new commissioner is attend the classes on How Things Work, both the formal ones, scheduled by the Association of Countyies' competent staff, and the informal ones in the cocktail lounges and hospitality rooms after hours.
The formal classes, offered in conjunction with the University of Maryland, familiarize the new elected official and whatever paid staff allowed to attend with the lastest in law, regulations, how to govern; courses on planning and zoning, environmental protection, economic development, parks and recreation, law enforcement, effects of new rules by the federal government -- the list goes on. It takes about two or perhaps three conventions to earn a certificate designating you as a Fellow -- a graduate of the school of governance. Your education will continue, though.
I don't know the cost this year -- you can look it up -- but with gas and other expenses, I'd guess it will run about $8,000 minimum, perhaps a little more.
A lot of money, at first glance, but it's a fair price for the education of commissioners who have a lot to learn. And there's a lot at stake.
How much will it cost the average taxpayer? Less than a movie rental. You've got to save, or spend, a million dollars plus to make a one penny change in the county tax rate.
I do think, if I may indulge in a little Monday morning quarterbacking, that it's important to have one spokesperson for the board attend those meet and greets with influential state people. And it's better to spend money for continuous education for paid county employees who advise the commissioners and run the departments than it is any commissioner who has attended three or more semi-annual conventions.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Things to keep in mind in 2011 -- and beyond
Everything you think you know may be wrong, but you can catch up if you're particular about where you get your information.
Honor is less popular than, well, being popular. Popularity sells, honor almost never does. Popularity is noticed and emulated, honor, not so much. Honor is aloneness, but popularity is just plain loneliness when everybody goes home, and they will.
Be careful about being too proud of a culture that pays one baseball player more than most school systems pay the entire teaching staff, plus administrators, janitors and cafeteria workers.
Health care will work when the people who need it will get as much consideration as lawyers, insurance company executives, big-corporation providers and the politicians who are trying to figure out how to do it all without losing votes.
Despite what you want to believe, judges are not chosen from the best lawyers available.
Everybody complains about the costs of everything, but we have more disposable income than most people in the world. The real gripe of those who have a job, at least, seems to be that there is never enough for what they want, and they tend to forget to be thankful when they have enough for what they need.
The value of freedom of the press will continue to decline the more it is abused. It's tough to be competitive and responsible at the same time. The media can't reconcile the differences between market and relevance.
Truth is worth more, but lies sell better.
George Bernard Shaw said that life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself.
I think that's a task that should never be put down.....
Honor is less popular than, well, being popular. Popularity sells, honor almost never does. Popularity is noticed and emulated, honor, not so much. Honor is aloneness, but popularity is just plain loneliness when everybody goes home, and they will.
Be careful about being too proud of a culture that pays one baseball player more than most school systems pay the entire teaching staff, plus administrators, janitors and cafeteria workers.
Health care will work when the people who need it will get as much consideration as lawyers, insurance company executives, big-corporation providers and the politicians who are trying to figure out how to do it all without losing votes.
Despite what you want to believe, judges are not chosen from the best lawyers available.
Everybody complains about the costs of everything, but we have more disposable income than most people in the world. The real gripe of those who have a job, at least, seems to be that there is never enough for what they want, and they tend to forget to be thankful when they have enough for what they need.
The value of freedom of the press will continue to decline the more it is abused. It's tough to be competitive and responsible at the same time. The media can't reconcile the differences between market and relevance.
Truth is worth more, but lies sell better.
George Bernard Shaw said that life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself.
I think that's a task that should never be put down.....
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