Midterm state elections may not appear as exciting as national congressional ones, but it is at the state level that voters are tested for the ability to govern themselves wisely. If we are less than well informed about the issues, we may find ourselves voting for and encouraging short term, quick fixes for complex issues.
Whether health care, or gun control, or agriculture, or education or environmental regulations or privacy and abortion rights, we need to sort out deceptive advertising from real planning.
A case in point.
We need better public transportation to get to work, to school, to medical facilities or just to be able to move about freely. We need to fix and maintain our bridges, roads, streets, infrastructure.
We need to give men and women jobs to do these things, through the taxes we pay.
Put all these words together on a ballot here in Missouri, and ask voters to vote "yes" on "Proposition 7" which promises to do all that. Yet, in small print on the same ballot is the
following:
"Provisions in Amendment to Prioritize Projects and Prevent Other Taxes"
Groceries, prescription drugs, rent and utilities will be exempt from this sales tax increase;
Priority will be given to repairing the most unsafe roads and bridges;
Increases in the gas tax will be prohibited;
Funding can not be diverted for other uses.
Sound good? You betcha, until we start to ask questions.
Why these exceptions? Short term for sure, long term economically questionable. Why have a sales tax at all on the necessities listed? Who determines priority and for what reason? Why not tax gasoline which is needed by commercial and private vehicles which do not use public transportation? And what if there is a dire need to take funding from this Appropriation and use it for something like a disaster? Why not use it?
Sometimes, in midterm elections it's easy to push a voter's buttons by mentioning those things we dislike the most or by cleverly playing one need off against another.
As citizens we need to be aware of those "buttons" and turn them off and vote for issues and candidates concerned with improving the quality of life for all citizens in our communities.
So in this midterm election go to the Polls and vote but be armed with information and questions before you pull that lever or check that box!
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
MORE ON THE DELIGHTS OF WALKING
Here in St. Louis we have been experiencing glorious weather as much of the country suffers through horrific storms, flooding and draught. Even so, we are grateful for the cool, bright mornings and warmth which creeps in later in the day.
The weather is more "Fall-like" and walkers make the best of it on trails and in parks. I live near one trail, really more a path that runs about two miles in one direction but continues on for miles.
The trail near me has wild foliage on one side, while the other side skirts an area of commercial shops and homes. The walkers hail from St. Louis, Russia, Asia, South America, Europe and Mexico.
As I pass them I am treated to the lyrical sounds of their native languages mixed in with broad Midwestern drawls. No matter the spoken greeting, we "converse" with a smile, wave of the hand and a "good morning", and I feel we bring the world a little bit closer.
People walk alone or in pairs. Some walk with pets. Some ride bicycles with children. All smile easily and when the weather is good, gesture, "what a day!"
Our trail is inhabited by song birds. squirrels, and families of rabbits. Some walkers stop to pull a berry or two from a wild bush and one is growing his own herb garden in a discarded paint can.
The path is used by people of all ages. Two walkers in particular, who I guess are in their 80s or 90s
always walk together. One is half the size of the other. They move in unison and seem to roll from side to side with each stride.
The gentle breezes, the cumulous clouds and blue skies remind me of the seashore, but as the humidity begins to build, walkers will leave the delightful trail and head for the Mall. There,
bird calls will come through speakers, the air will be cool and dry but we will still be walking.
The weather is more "Fall-like" and walkers make the best of it on trails and in parks. I live near one trail, really more a path that runs about two miles in one direction but continues on for miles.
The trail near me has wild foliage on one side, while the other side skirts an area of commercial shops and homes. The walkers hail from St. Louis, Russia, Asia, South America, Europe and Mexico.
As I pass them I am treated to the lyrical sounds of their native languages mixed in with broad Midwestern drawls. No matter the spoken greeting, we "converse" with a smile, wave of the hand and a "good morning", and I feel we bring the world a little bit closer.
People walk alone or in pairs. Some walk with pets. Some ride bicycles with children. All smile easily and when the weather is good, gesture, "what a day!"
Our trail is inhabited by song birds. squirrels, and families of rabbits. Some walkers stop to pull a berry or two from a wild bush and one is growing his own herb garden in a discarded paint can.
The path is used by people of all ages. Two walkers in particular, who I guess are in their 80s or 90s
always walk together. One is half the size of the other. They move in unison and seem to roll from side to side with each stride.
The gentle breezes, the cumulous clouds and blue skies remind me of the seashore, but as the humidity begins to build, walkers will leave the delightful trail and head for the Mall. There,
bird calls will come through speakers, the air will be cool and dry but we will still be walking.
Friday, July 11, 2014
COMMON SENSE DISARMS NRA & LEGISLATORS
The photograph of a tall man standing by the check-out counter of a store wearing a shotgun slung over his shoulder caught my attention. Below the photograph was a small article.
The article said that a new "trend" seemed to be happening in the battle for gun control. Chain stores, churches, malls, theaters and other public places are beginning to post signs that say "no guns," even in states that have carry laws.
When I read this, I wondered why would this be happening?
Why would this be happening in states and areas that have welcomed the gun business? Maybe it is because retailers, sales people and consumers do not want to shop in the middle of a shoot-out.
Why would the Clergy post "no gun" signs outside houses of worship? Maybe because Clergy know it is going to take more than faith and a "good person with a gun to stop an irrational person with a gun" from entering their sanctuary and killing people.
Why would legislators and the NRA need to blame lack of community mental health programs for the daily murders and massive atrocities committed in our neighborhoods? Maybe it is to keep us busy hunting for the needle in a haystack while the business of gun and ammunition sales soar.
Why would the NRA and legislators support laws to encourage parents to use shooting ranges and other devices to teach their children how to use guns "safely?" Maybe it is because the NRA and legislators want to lower the current age limit for the sale of guns to sell more guns to minors.
Why would public school administrators defy the NRA and legislators by not allowing teachers and students to bring guns to the classroom? Maybe because administrators and parents know that student and teacher safety is best assured by trained, accountable police forces.
There is much to celebrate in this country. There is much to be grateful for too in the concept of laws to guide us toward justice and fairness and for government which provides the opportunity to
learn, to speak our mind and to elect people who we believe will hold our well-being as a priority.
The NRA holds much power but it is not absolute power. We need to remind legislators that even in the "good old days" of the wild West, people posted "no gun signs" at the town's limits and elected a Sheriff to restore law and order and get rid of vigilantes.
2014 is the year to disarm the NRA by using common sense. 2014 is the year to elect legislators who will use their common sense to stop the sale and distribution of unregistered guns and ammunition that are killing innocent people and disrupting our way of life.
Common sense is a strong, old fashioned American virtue. We need to use it now.
The article said that a new "trend" seemed to be happening in the battle for gun control. Chain stores, churches, malls, theaters and other public places are beginning to post signs that say "no guns," even in states that have carry laws.
When I read this, I wondered why would this be happening?
Why would this be happening in states and areas that have welcomed the gun business? Maybe it is because retailers, sales people and consumers do not want to shop in the middle of a shoot-out.
Why would the Clergy post "no gun" signs outside houses of worship? Maybe because Clergy know it is going to take more than faith and a "good person with a gun to stop an irrational person with a gun" from entering their sanctuary and killing people.
Why would legislators and the NRA need to blame lack of community mental health programs for the daily murders and massive atrocities committed in our neighborhoods? Maybe it is to keep us busy hunting for the needle in a haystack while the business of gun and ammunition sales soar.
Why would the NRA and legislators support laws to encourage parents to use shooting ranges and other devices to teach their children how to use guns "safely?" Maybe it is because the NRA and legislators want to lower the current age limit for the sale of guns to sell more guns to minors.
Why would public school administrators defy the NRA and legislators by not allowing teachers and students to bring guns to the classroom? Maybe because administrators and parents know that student and teacher safety is best assured by trained, accountable police forces.
There is much to celebrate in this country. There is much to be grateful for too in the concept of laws to guide us toward justice and fairness and for government which provides the opportunity to
learn, to speak our mind and to elect people who we believe will hold our well-being as a priority.
The NRA holds much power but it is not absolute power. We need to remind legislators that even in the "good old days" of the wild West, people posted "no gun signs" at the town's limits and elected a Sheriff to restore law and order and get rid of vigilantes.
2014 is the year to disarm the NRA by using common sense. 2014 is the year to elect legislators who will use their common sense to stop the sale and distribution of unregistered guns and ammunition that are killing innocent people and disrupting our way of life.
Common sense is a strong, old fashioned American virtue. We need to use it now.
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