Procrastination + Politicization + Negative Motivation = Cerebral Constipation

Ok I know! Lots of big words to begin with so I'll follow with a vocabulary lesson lest I be totally misundertood.

Procrastinate; to habitually put off doing something unpleasant or burdensome until a future time. ( ie; table the motion)

Politicize; to make political in tone, character, ect. ( ie; the other side said _______!)

Motive; Some inner drive, impulse, intention, etc. that causes one to do something or act in a certain way. ( ie; think outside the box)

Constipation; Backed up, stopped up, unable to move. ( I had to sterilize this one for the kiddies, but you get the idea)

Now on to today's lesson! I have been going to New Albany City council meetings with as much regularity as my schedule will allow and I have observed a couple of themes that seem to be repetitive throughout them all.

The most prevailant is quote " This is the first I've ever heard about this issue !"

The second, which is being mouthed before the first is even completed, is quote " This occurred prior to my arriving here!"

This first is, in my humble opinion, a total copout. If one is serving in a public office and can't find the time to accquire the needed information to serve his/her constituency, that person would better serve the public by sticking to his/her dayjob. In today's world, lack of information can only be attributed to a lack of motivation to look for it. It only requires one to know what questions to ask. Every blog, coffee shop, and water cooler in the world is discussing in livid detail the issues that are on the peoples minds on a particular street corner. If one will only listen, one will learn what's on the peoples minds.

The second is in many ways even more lame. The fact that one's predecessor dropped the ball has nothing to do with the now. The question before us is what's the plan for going forward while dealing in as positive way as possible in cleaning up the broken glass simultaneously. And, by the way, doing both in such a manner as to minimize the possibility of the former mistakes repeating themselves.

Tall order? Damned right!! But it is what we in the real world have to deal with on a moment by moment basis in our daily functions of trying to make a living and hopefully enjoy the fruits of our labor. For those who represent our interests in government to be allowed to get by with a lesser standard is unacceptable.

Poignant examples of both afore mentioned issues arose at last Thursday's City Council meeting. When the subject of the 2004 budget audit came up there were laments applenty from all sectors of elected officialdom stating that "I haven't got a copy of it yet!" At this point a private citizen came forward with enough copies for each of the council members to have one of their very own.

Albeit I know first hand the dangers of assuming anything, I have no reason at this point to doubt the authenticity of said documents. How and from whom it was procured I know not. Was there an agenda at work in the process? Probably, but the fact that it took away an excuse for the council members to deny knowledge of it in the future is a plus as far as I'm concerned. Their only fallback position now is going to be that they will not or cannot read it!

On a personal note, I would have taken the high road and given the Mayor a copy as well but since I had no input in the action, I can't speak to why he didn't get one.

Following that, the Mayor arose to defend his position and did so very well considering he too was apparently hampered by lack of current information. Although I acquiesce to the fact that this debacle is not of his making, I tire of hearing it as an excuse for not moving forward. I prefer to hear a specific hardwired plan for cleaning up the mess while moving forward.

Now this is thinking out of the box. We have in this area a variety of schools of higher learning at our disposal. What if a student or group of students whose major was business from one or more of these institutions were to work with city officals to research and correct the long history of acccounting snafus? The students could do it as a grade enhancement in their field, get some hands on experience, and have no reason to deal in anything other than the facts before them. The city would be out very little if any money for the project, and just to keep it aboveboard one or more city councilmen could participate in the process along side of the administration and the students. What a novel concept!

No! I haven't been drinking! Maybe that's a detriment here.

Class Over! Discussion anyone??