IS IT TRUE? November 20, 2011
IS IT TRUE that with the 2012 election cycle upon us that it is time to start thinking about what will be the topics to tackle in the upcoming year?…that of course one very important topic to keep in the forefront will be just how our newly elected but not yet seated officials execute on their campaign promises and on how the Winnecke Administration will attack the unresolved issues that the Weinzapfel Administration will be leaving for his successor to resolve?…that the big issues that are unresolved are the McCurdy, the downtown Convention Hotel, the Parks Disaster, Combined Sewer Overflows, and of course Roberts Stadium?…that there are many other issues like friendly city employees, efficiency, fire contracts, board appointments, etc. that will keep the Winnecke Administration fully occupied just cleaning out the barn?
IS IT TRUE that Vanderburgh County will have a pretty full election cycle this year with two Commissioners and three County Council seats up for grabs?…that at the state level we will of course have the entire Indiana House of Representatives, some key Senate seats, and a Governor’s mansion to fill?…that nationally 2012 promises to be an election year to remember with the top office of interest being that of President of the United States?…that at the congressional level it will be interesting to see if the Republicans can extend their gains from the 2010 election cycle to hold both houses of congress?…that the real issues at the national level in most elections will be a referendum on the success or failure of the Obama Administrations first term?…that whomever the Republicans nominate will have their hands full as President Obama is already in full campaign mode and seems to be able to raise whatever money is possible?…that Indiana economist Morton Marcus opined one big thumbs down on Republican hopeful Texas Governor Rick Perry today stating in layman’s terms that Perry is just too dumb to be president?…that Governor Perry seems to have gotten an F in college chemistry to prove it?
IS IT TRUE that in a court of law if one withholds material information that means big trouble and is called “obstruction of justice”?…that in a public company that withholding material information or trading stock on inside information is punishable as a crime?…that it seems as though in every election cycle there seems to be someone somewhere that uses a strategy of withholding material information until after an election and that it is condoned as a viable strategy?…that the CCO believes that withholding or delaying material information until election day should be dealt with the way it is dealt with in court cases and business?…that who we elect is more important than who we electrocute?…that Penn State is going through serious issues now because of several people’s decision to withhold information?…that there is no place for that kind of behavior in politics?
IS IT TRUE that perhaps the most important decision locally next year will be the referendum on consolidated government?…that it is widely accepted that there is much potential for savings by consolidating all of Vanderburgh County under a single government?…that it is also widely recognized that the plan that we will be voting on not only failed to identify significant savings but that it has forbidden future officials from enacting savings in the largest budget items for a period of 10 years?…that the identified savings in the current plan only amount to 0.20% of the combined City-County budgets?…that if one scales that to the average family income in Vanderburgh County that this is the equivalent of $1.31 per week or the cash value of about 40 aluminum cans?…that what we are really faced with is to vote for a good idea with a poor plan or to vote down the poor plan?…that the consolidation committee could have killed this argument by developing a solid plan that identified solid and significant savings?
IS IT TRUE that on a statewide level the “Right to Work†issue seems to be the most controversial thing that will be under consideration?…that this issue may very well shape the narrative for the 2012 State of Indiana campaigns?…that the term “Right to Work†is much understood by both supporters and opponents and that the first real order of business should be to educate voters about exactly what “Right to Work†really means?…that the eyes of the country will be on Indiana with this as the natural fact is that if Indiana adopts “Right to Work†into law it will be the first of the traditional Rust Belt states to do so?…that the one thing that the City County Observer encourages from our state legislature is to stay in Indiana and enter into a constructive dialog as opposed to running for the border like the Democrat contingent did last year?…that this is the year to face this head on and make a well thought out decision for our state?
Morton Marcus stated in layman’s terms that Rick Perry is to dumb to be president?
Rick Perry was a fighter pilot in the military, serving our country at a younger age!….I guess he should have been a community organizer, maybe do a little experimenting with drugs when he was younger.
What do I know? I’m just a layman.
Marcus has not come right out and said that Obama is dumb. If you read Marcus you could only conclude that he thinks Obama is a big stooge too.
As for the question if you are trying to “buy American this Xmas”..so does that mean that these people aren’t going to drive their Toyotas to Wal-Mart, Best Buy or Target to buy their gifts???
I won’t be driving a toyota there
My Toyota was made in America, and it will not be stopping at WalMart, Best Buy, or Target.
My Chevy van and my wife’s Subaru both made in America will not be shopping at Wal-Mart. The wife does buy cat food made in America at Target.
Lon,
I’m with you. Ten year old dodge van. Dry American cat food from Target. Canned American cat food from Buelher’s. Dog Food usually Rural King, an Illinois corporation. Plus we are still getting some of our food out of our garden. The kale and the lettuce are still wonderful and until this weekend we still had tomatoes. Can’t get more local than our own yard.
I think a huge problem is that people still think that they need to buy/spend so much. We waste because we accumulate and overspend because of acquiring quantity not quality. And you can definitely find quality made in America.
What we need to do is find quality here in Evansville. Not quality to buy, although that is nice too, but quality in our way of life, a simple, lasting, humane, intelligent, productive way of life putting people first and things second. Much unlike Vectren. But very like some corporations who support community, are fair in their pricing (not putting corporate profits above the people they profit from), treat their employees well, are environmentally sound, and still make a decent profit. They do exist. Those we should be standing in line to support.
CCO: Are there plans for a year-end round up of open issues ? There are so many things that have not been resolved this year, a partial list would be:
1) ONB Insurance Consulting ($ 100K) on the Arena;
2) Dan McGinn’s quest for disclosure of Legal Bills (all of them) for the City;
3) The sweetheart “suites” deals at the Arena;
4) Amount of money squandered on Strikes 1, 2 and thus far on 3 (the consulting) for downtown hotel;
5) Advance sale of the Bob Seger tickets on-line/before local people got a shot at them;
6) Was VenuWorks contract ever made public ? How does that relate to # 3 ?
7) “Incentives” to be paid to Hunt Construction for things like MBE/WBE participation, the free rent event which triggered the “on-time completion” payment, etc.;
8) Vectren programs to infiltrate committees and boards around town;
9) Final Accounting on the Arena expenditures; and
10) Reporting on The Centre and its struggles/why new contract signed in Dec. 2010 with SMG (5 years)
Thank you, keep up good work,
The Biscuit
Oh yes, that Bob Seger advance ticket sales scandal really has been keeping me up at nights, and I noticed a lot of other insomniacs bothered by the same dreadful affair!
While it’s not a big deal by itself, it is just one of many examples of how things work in this town.
Big Pappa, you are correct, this type of “night moves” on these tickets are the symptom, not the problem. Also, Vectren has apparently hacked my computer, and every time I type their name, a smiley face with sunglasses appears (see # 8)
see, it did it again !
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