Groupthink

The groupthink that is the modus operandi of political parties, candidates and elected officials has to end, particularly, when the groupthink is directly related to campaign financing. I do not vote for parties; I vote for individuals. What I expect from those individuals is integrity, honesty and intelligence. Therefore, I expect the individuals to do more than just follow their crowd. In fact, I expect those elected individuals to make decisions and provide leadership that is in the best interest of the community, instead of just the best interest of their political party, campaign financiers or friends. If their votes happen to align with their party, so be it, and if they do not, so what. There are never only two options or solutions to any issue. Typically, the options debated in the public forum indicate that no imagination or serious thought has been given to any particular issue. I expect that individual thought will go into each decision, and that individuals will offer innovative solutions to problems, not just a constant rehash of the same (supposedly only) solution to the problem. And I expect that those opposing a proposal will offer creative and innovative solutions that make the populace think and debate the alternatives. Real innovative solutions would engage the public and foster more participation in public life. Isn’t that what we want?

IPS - Let the students do it.

IPS should not have any difficulty finding crossing guards and they should not have to pay for crossing guards, other than supervisory personnel. As part of a comprehensive education, the student body of IPS could and should be the majority of the crossing guards. In order to make it more feasible, a restructuring of the IPS school system to provide for walkable neighborhood schools, with a shifting of the majority of their transportation money to sidewalk and other pedestrian improvements (crosswalks, etc.), should also be considered.

There is no reason that the necessary number of crossing guards could not be obtained from the junior high and high school student body. These students would be selected, obviously, for their character, scholarship, etc. In fact, I would be surprised if IPS would not be able to find a surplus of crossing guards from their student body. These students could also get some credit for their efforts either through bonus points in related classes, like Civics, or via community service or academic awards. Training could be coordinated with the traffic section of the Metropolitan Police Department. However, the students should want to serve their community and school, because of its intrinsic value. If I and my classmates were expected to be responsible enough to serve as crossing guards in third grade (Our elementary school consisted of three grades) in my hometown; it is the least we should expect from the older students of IPS.

Kernville - Perception is Reality

The recent article in Forbes magazine about Johnstown and the Tribune article about the proposed designation of downtown and Kernville as a community revitilization strategy area bring back memories of the importance of image. When I was a teenager and young adult, I found out that Kernville had a really negative image, which was surprising to me since I thought it was a pretty nice place to live. I remember the concern of my junior high classmates at the prospect of attending Greater Johnstown High School in Kernvile. I also remember a college classmate (who, at the time, lived in the West End) and a significant employee of the New Day organization (based in Kernville) giving me rides to my home on Yoder Street in Kernville. In both instances as we turned the corner from Millcreek Road, I heard comments about how surprisingly nice it was there. In fact, one of them specifically exclaimed that it was an "oasis!" I was thunderstruck that my little average street, with average to below average houses could be considered an "oasis" by anyone. But that made me realize how negative the perception of Kernville was in the late 70's and early 80's.

Those negative perceptions of Kernville and Johnstown must be conquered by real investment in infrastructure. And I mean that type of investment that will lead people to make the choices made by the people highlighted in the book, "Life 2.0., How People Across America are Transforming Their Lives by Finding the Where of Their Happiness," written by the publisher of Forbes. That book brings to light what I believe (which I am going to keep saying until the day I die or am convinced otherwise)about the importance of creating a community that people want to live in. And if people choose to live in Johnstown that will invest in Johnstown. But to get that private home and business investment (sometimes in the same location as a home-based business), the city must have a strategic plan for investing in itself, including its people. As was indicated by the bank vice-president in the article about Kernville, it is a shame that a lot of the housing stock has been lost and not been renovated. However, every lost opportunity creates a new opportunity to promote mixed-use development that honors the city's past as a dense city with residential, commercial and industrial uses coexisting, except in a more modern context (sort of like the dream Mark Parker wrote about in his editorial). So, how about creating a real "oasis" in Johnstown that will give people of the region, state and nation something to get excited about.

Honda in Indiana

Letter to the Editor:

Kudos to Honda for extorting 141.5 million dollars (okay, only about $40,000,000 directly in their pockets) from the taxpayers of Indiana. Honda Motor is listed 27^th on the Global 500 by Fortune, with revenues of 80,486,600,000 and profits of 4,523,900,000. Those revenues would place them 17^th on the Fortune 500 list of American Companies, if they were an American Company and 32^nd on the list of most profitable companies (And I do not mean to pick on Honda, the previous incentives for Toyota, with more than twice the revenue and profits of Honda, are beyond ridiculous). Honda is just the latest recipient of government’s largesse in the name of economic development.

My first reaction to the request for incentive packages by Honda is that the location analysts for Honda should be fired for picking a site that can not meet their needs, without major infrastructure and other financial incentives being paid by someone else. So, why aren’t they picking a site that does not need massive infrastructure improvements, so that no one, including the taxpayers, has to spend millions of dollars beyond the cost of the plant? Either Honda really needs the incentives to make the project work, or they do not need it and just decided to steal some money from us. Of course, we were happy to give it, as “My Man Mitch” was grinning ear-to-ear, as were the Honda executives. Mitch, when you can get a company to locate in Indiana, without providing incentives other than advancing scheduled infrastructure improvements, I will be impressed. Until then, you have not done anything that any other yahoo, with millions of dollars of other people’s money at their disposal, couldn’t have done. So, stop grinning and get to work.

Let's Get Our Swerve On - Modern Driving

Letter to the Editor:

It seems that a few people are still living in the Stone Age. Don’t they know that, when driving, one must ”Get Their Swerve On.” I am frankly amazed that the automobile manufacturers have not latched onto this latest trend and removed the turn signal mechanism from all new vehicles. With the removal of those unnecessary devices, eventually everyone would have to join in. Swerving is the only way to go. But some fuddy-duddies insist on signaling before they shift lanes, as if it was something that impacted traffic safety or something. Oh, well.

Amanda - Infrastructure and Investment

Hey, everybody, it's Amanda from Princess Elementary School. I'm back and as curious as ever. I just graduated sixth grade and will be attending Princess Middle School next year. Princess Middle School is directly adjacent to our city hall and it got me thinking about the purpose of government. Is the purpose of government to create flashy projects that make everybody say "Wow." I hear about a lot of new taxes to fund big projects in Indianapolis, like Conseco Fieldhouse, the new Colts stadium, the convention center and various hotels. I also hear about a lot of other things that need funding like combined sewers, police and fire pensions, the court and correction system, schools, roads, and the bus system, etc. But I rarely see results with respect to funding those activities. I only hear alot of talk about it, but little action. So, since I was confused, I asked the mayor, Bart Simpson, of Prince, IN what he believed the role of government should be. He indicated that government collects tax money so that it can be reinvested in facilities that encourage the future growth and economic vitality of a city. He said that some people try to make government exciting by focusing on big fancy projects, but that real government was not that exciting. Real governments keep their nose to the grindstone and focus on investing in the community by providing and improving services and infrastructure. He also said that it is important to keep up with new technologies, like wireless communications, including broadband. He indicated that not only do small cities like ours have to make sure that we upgrade our sanitary sewer plant to accommodate future growth, but that we also must have the foresight to provide for the future technological needs of our community's economy. Otherwise, a small town like ours will most definitely decline, he said. Unfortunately, he indicated, many people are hypnotized by the fancy projects and do not focus on this type of investment because the results of the investments are not as immediately obvious. Bart believes that if you invest in your city, neighborhood by neighborhood and stay away from the glamour projects that you can maintain solid, steady growth and continue revitalize your community. He believes that there is no reason for any area of city to turn into a ghetto if the city leaders focus on investment and reinvestment in infrastructure and services.

Well, after having a talk with our mayor, I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't be excited about providing a sound infrastructure in our community to enhance our economic development and prosperity. Now I can't wait until I have civic class in eighth grade and can discuss these important issues with my peers and teachers. But now, I need to do my own research to find out what progressive communities are doing. My mayor said that I might have to look outside Indiana for progressive thoughts, actions and results. I hope that is not true, but I'll let you know what I find out.

Citizenship

Section One of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, indicated below, should be amended to eliminate one of the arguments of the apologists for illegal immigration. Children born of illegal immigrants should not be citizens because their birth in our country was the result of an illegal act. The children of illegal immigrants should not be rewarded by the illegal act of the parents. Section One of the Fourteen Amendment should say that “All persons born, whose parents are United States citizens, and all persons naturalized in the United States.” With this amendment, there is nothing preventing the return of the entire family back to their country of origin.

Amendment XIV

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

New Orleans

The New Orleans tragedy reveals the fundamental problem for the future; misplaced priorities. Poorly constructed and maintained infrastructure, poorly constructed buildings, and inappropriately located development are the fundamental causes of natural disasters. Quality construction and properly located development mitigate the impact any disaster has on the general public and emergency workers. We already know we can't control the weather. So, we must focus on developing and maintaining our built environment properly. Natural disasters are never 100% natural disasters. In most cases, these disasters have been exacerbated by or directly attributable to man's action or inaction.

The old adage of "pay me now or pay me later" rings true in every disaster. While expense is used as a reason not to reinforce buildings, properly maintain levees, build elsewhere, relocate development or maintain and improved existing infrastructure; that expense is only delayed, not eliminated. It is much cheaper and easier to do it right the first time, then it is to retrofit or correct existing situations. Please just think about how we approach these issues in the future, as a city, state and nation.

Ilegal immigration

The apologists for illegal immigration do not know when to stop. They continue to ignore the real reasons that illegal immigration and abuse of the legal immigration policies are being ignored. As with most situations, follow the money and see who is benefiting from the current state of affairs. I guarantee that the working class is not benefiting from illegal immigration. Business is clearly benefiting from an influx of illegal immigrants who depress wages. And, of course, the working class is hammered a second time as the criminals among the illegal and legal immigrants terrorize their communities. Meanwhile, the children of those same working class people are off in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting terrorists, while our country is being invaded (See Michelle Malkin’s book “Invasion” for information about the invasion). This permitted invasion is contrary to all of the rhetoric surrounding 9/11 and the need for increased security (i.e., the Department of Homeland Security). While distracting us with new laws like the “Patriot Act,” and a middle-eastern war, no serious action has been taken to control our border. Maintaining the sovereignty of our nation will not be possible if we continue to allow our country to be invaded without fighting back. The real war is along our borders, and the country of Mexico and their citizens have been winning the war and are close to declaring victory (especially in the southwest). Twenty years ago, a Geography professor of mine asked whether it would make sense to have Mexico become the 51^st state of the Union. I replied that it would be illogical to want to incorporate a nation of 100 million poor people into the United States. Well, it appears that it is going to happen anyway unless this nation decides otherwise.

Now, if we want to get serious about illegal immigration, we should arrest all of the illegal immigrants and illegal “legal” immigrants, and as an alternative sentence, make them build immigration walls along our borders. We can do as the Chinese did (The Great Wall of China – 4,163 miles long), using natural materials found in the area to build the wall, thereby keeping material costs low and labor costs low. Since illegal immigrants want to work, let’s put them to work; but let’s make sure that they are on the exterior side of the wall when it is finished.