MAYBE I’M AMAZED
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………that even though this past election seemed to be so crucial to local voters, less than 23% came out to vote. It proves that politics in this nation/county has almost become a closed shop. The junkies as well as the insiders, those who have something to gain, those that want to be somebody will make the effort to become our leaders. There are those who will run for office to serve but most people will tell you those are isolated cases. Is there a solution to voter apathy? Should we put voting online? (Can you imagine the Luzerne Ciunty Voters Bureau handling that one!!!!) Should we have multi day voting? Should we jazz it up a bit to get the American Idol crowd? Hold it, that’s not an option. Can you imagine your dolt of a neighbor who watches “American Idol” religiously voting on issues important to your community? Yeah maybe we can live with lower turnout for people who actually think about things. The challenge is separating those who think and those who are told to think.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..and pleasantly so at the actions of the Wilkes Barre Ara School Board this week who named Reverend Shawn Walker to another few years on the board. There was speculation that the Board would put on another education crony from Plains to fill Mary Ann Tole’s seat, but they made the right choice in appointing Walker.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that one of the ramifications of the recent Ned Evans-Kathy Grinaway School Board race in Wilkes Barre is that people will be watching more closely the shenanigans of this board. Perhaps new blood infused in it might make it more responsive to the entire community. One thing the Grinaway campaign did was focus on the Coaches club mentality of the majority. Two new members to watch will be Ned Evans and Denise Thomas. Thomas wants to install security systems in the schools and I’m not sure has thought about the ramifications and long term costs of such an action. Concerning Thomas it will be real interesting to see who will replace her as Wilkes Barre Area School, District attendance officer. That job is pretty much equivalent to the old Weights and Measures job cronies had at the Courthouse in the 60s and 70s. Watch who gets that job. The second thing to take a gander at is if Hawkeye Security Systems gets the gig for the District concerning the cornerstone of her campaign. Christine Katsock might have pulled a good vote in the General Election but did next to nothing in terms of helping Grinaway in this race. She showed up late for her own rally in the fall at the Plains Pavilion. Having won a double nomination and therefore having her election secured, she missed an opportunity to bring another person in who could have become a political ally of hers on that board. But unlike Senator John Yudichak who has used his political clout in rebuilding a Democratic organization and helping candidates, Katsock remained the lone wolf. To me that’s the distinction between Yudichak and Katsock: John wants to do something, Katsock just wants to be somebody.
People tell me that Joe Caffrey is a fair man. I met him once and think he will have an open mind. Evans is still an unknown commodity and did nothing to enhance his stature when he did poorly answering basic questions on the radio before the election. Look for him to go along with the crew. But given the Lupas, Leighton and Elmy power grabs, people will be watching.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………………..that men spend 5 months of their lives shaving. That average might have taken a dip with this year’s 2013 Boston Red Sox but we’ll see.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……………….that the same Republican party that is bitching about the Health Care roll out, (and it was a disaster believe me) still have not articulated what the health care plan they have for America is yet. We’re still waiting.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…………..that people are shocked that the President bended the truth, exaggerated, fibbed, lied, shaded the truth, etc. when he told people they could keep their health care. Presidents do this. Politicians do this. Remember “Mission Accomplished?” by President Bush? Let’s grow up and face the facts, politicians lie. The greatest of our leaders, Roosevelt, Wilson, even the sainted Lincoln lied. Even St. Ronald of Reagan lied. Shut up and get over it. He apologized.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that the right wing is also using the Health Care debacle as a way to once more stall background checks on guns. Let me reiterate this fact one more time: Teddy Kennedy was for Gun Control all his life. In political ads he was vilified for wanting to take people’s guns away. He’s four years and counting in the ground at Arlington and everyone has more guns than they will ever need in America.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that within five minutes of waking, 50% of a dream is forgotten. Within 10 minutes, 90% of it is forgotten.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………that in France there is a strike going on regarding stores being opened on Sunday. The unions want the stores closed on Sundays. The workers want them opened on Sunday. Why? Because businesses are willing to pay a worker time and a half and give them another day off to compensate them working Sunday. In our country, there is no such thing as time and a half in retail. I think it is hysterical that the Health Care Act is being blamed for businesses cutting hours of full time workers. This has been going on for years in retail. I’m not advocating moving to France but I think it’s an interesting dichotomy. And by the way, are there any private businesses out there that allow employees to buy back their sick time? Didn’t think so. Luzerne County does though.
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that 2013 was the first baseball season since 1979 when the Pirates (World Champions), Kansas City Royals ( Second in the American League West) and Cleveland Indians (Sixth in AL East) all had winning records in the same season.