To the Editor,
Hi folks…First of all, local government. For those who watched, or read about the last City Council meeting: how reckless! When your only issue is cut taxes, I guess it is to be expected. BUT, as long as the private sector supplies government, and knowing that there is great profit to be made in doing so, the cost of government can and will only go up. Thus, the mandate is to generate greater revenue. With a lack of imagination, or mind locked into certain, limited, thinking, we get stuck with conflict rather than develop and advance. The purpose of the City Council is come up with solutions, and to provide for the public good. Cutting many areas are a contradiction to that purpose. They should be pooling their smarts to do so. And, not trying to be heroes in their own minds. They frequently find a way to reject new businesses. And, it is out of the question to be innovative, and creative; a fundamental to the Human ability to adapt and advance. We see other communities around us coming up with creative new ways and means. Are we doing anything to rail link with Springfield as it becomes the hub for economic growth and for transportation? What about the revenue being generated by the sale of cannabis? What about creating a reason to come and shop here? We are having this discussion re: downtown development. Where are the fresh new, 21st Century ideas? Not happening. Static and stagnant go together, like entropy and atrophy, thus the death of a community. Oh, I’d like to thank Matt VanHeynigen for his kind thank you for my mention of him in my last edit.
Next: To quote Steppenwolf: “America, where are you now? Don’t you care about your sons and daughters?” This past weekend was horrific. Now we get the presidential spin that it has to do with Immigration. OK to borrow from his tirades, and as the murderer said; he was out to kill as many Mexicans as possible; and was out to stop the “invasion from Central America.”, and as your President has said so many times. (I said: you’re your president…I did not hire him, and those who did have a lot of blood on their hands.) Mentioned so often by the President. And, as pointed out so well by Congresswoman Escobar: we are experiencing an epidemic of hate.”
The Pres. seems to want to blame these mass shootings on Mental Health issues. With, of course his standard: lock them up response. A lot of those states that spawn these killers do not fund things like mental health services. They do not even like spending on education, or public health services to deal with their anti-abortion. States, as ours, that do have lower abortion rates. They love declaring their religion driven morals unless it costs money. And, they do advocate pro hate and pro kill. How one can be pro-life and pro kill is beyond me. Maybe that is the mental health issue that the Pres is talking about?
Ok, Progressives are not in the clear on this subject. Since the late 60’s in to the 70’s; Dems evolved this we will take care of you routine…dysfunctional for New World Americans. JFK had it right…enabling people to help themselves and each other, and that includes living up to their Civic and Civil responsibilities as hands on Americans. My behaviorist history tells me that this has a lot to do with a lot of the social/cultural deviations in America. They joined the Neo-cons in declaring: take care of yourself, and they will take care of all the rest. This while celebrated by “not my problem/responsibility” types and took the advice, “it is your money so be popular,” not involved: trust us. Right? Fundamental to being a stable Human being are being a part of a contributing member of a community. This gave people a sense of purpose, meaning, and value and self-worth. You know, the positive mental health stuff that we all need. Since the 80’s go play and self-indulge; be popular has dominated the norms of our American culture. Old World principles of the few “take care of the many.” And the many obey the few. Yet as we see regularly the Real New World America still exists as people rush to help in a tragedy, or crisis. Even our New World kids respond by fund raising, or finding ways to help in this social/psy. crisis that threatens our nation and our American way of life. It is only that we lack organization to reunify us. So, maybe, as in the beginning (1774), we have to do it ourselves; for the others are only doing it their selves, the few, at the cost to us, the many, upon which this nation was established. OK, the preaching is done for today, thank you for reading this.
Your former Ward 3 City Councilor, Brian Hoose, [email protected].
