What's The Buzz? Tell Me What's a Happenin'
This is a call to all sociologists, poly sci majors, history majors, and any others with any factual ideas on how we got to this point in our society (nationaly & locally, but focused on locally) , followed by any plausible concepts on how we alter this course.
We have statutes in place from the city level all the way thru to the national level concerning common nuisanses, rodent infestation, refuse, dangerous animals, overtly loud noise, unsafe dwellings, abandoned vechicles, and the list goes on ad infinitum. So here I pose a twofold question;
Why is there no will at any level to enforce these laws beyond a letter of reprimand and a slap on the wrist?
And why, if there was no will to do so at the time of inception, did we go thru the process in the first place?
As I type these two, a couple more come to mind;
Are we as a people, really so naive, callous & apathetic that we will accept from our elected representatives any token response to our concerns over any serious issue?
Or, as was proported by a TV critic several years ago when "Roxanne" was the #1 show on the air, have we as a society become so dummied down that we view this inaction as acceptable norm?
PLEASE! Someone convince me it isn't so! Tell me what we can do, nay, must do as citizens individually and collectively to reverse this trend. Show me light at the end of this tunnel!
Discuss, discuss, discuss!
posted by Highwayman @ 8:05 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Dear Highwayman,
I am unable to find the post you mentioned what you wrote concerning the Neighborhood Fourm on the issue of a full time City Attorney. Please inform ne of what date you wrote the post.
Maury
Highwayman,
Allow me, someone who has spent the past 12 years of my life studying regimes, administrations, parties, policies, ideas and economic systems, worldwide and spanning many centuries, to answer as best I can.
When G.W. Bush first announced the possible invasion of Iraq by U.S. forces, I told my students that there was not, and there had NEVER been, a connection between Sadam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. In fact they were at opposite ends of the theological/social spectrums and very different politically too.
The most secular ruler in the Muslim world, Hussein, was not even liked by Bin Laden, the most fanatic of all Muslim extremists. I also told them that Hussein was a "loudmouth and a threat to his own people," but not likely a threat to the USA. As it turned out, I was correct. Why? EDUCATION!!!! And I don't mean Business Degrees...2+2=4, debit to the left, credit to the right, I mean the study of the world in which we live, how it got to be the way it is, and its people!!
So, in response to your (paraphrased)question: "Are we really that stupid and apathetic as a society?"
YES!!!!!!
How do you think GW Bush got elected, not once...but TWICE??!!!
Even after being proven to be a liar and calling up the US military for his own personal vedeta in Iraq, costing many lives, limbs, eyes, ears, etc...and also the STUPID way the invasion was carried out, litterally NOT having enough personnel to garrison the captured cities and to seal the borders, thus allowing the violence to begin since day 1.
YES...take it from someone who reads LOTS of college essays, grades 1 through 12 are NOT getting it done! Parents are NOT getting it done (many of them are as ignorant/stupid as their offspring...)
YES...American society as a whole is very, very stupid and apathetic.
Unfortunately, this filters down to all levels, including the local level. Most individuals don't even realize how they are connected to a wider nation/world...they don't understand how world/national happenings and past happenings are affecting them or will affect them and since they don't think about it, they don't care about it.
YES Lloyd, it's THAT BAD.
Do most citizens of New Albany KNOW that they don't even have a City Court for ordinance enforcement and ajudication? Do they realize that we only have 1 city attorney, and he's part time? And he has almost no staff??!!
No. They don't know and many of the few who do, don't see how it matters to them. The rest are swimming in blissful ignorance, or unwilling to enforce ordinances that will hurt their cronies or hold their cronies or themselves responsible for violations.
But I won't give up, so don't you either!! We fight on.
All of this, however, has made me yearn for a fine malted beverage...I'm headed that way.
Roz, that is so to the point and so true(sad, but true)that I will buy you one of those fine malted beverages next time I see you.
I see far too many people secure in their knowledge of "things". Looking only for answers that agree with their perceived knowledge and rejecting all others.
I don't know much BUT I KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW.
Maury,
My most recent post concerning the city attorney issue was on July 4,2006 (Chalk One...)
If you go to this link;
(http://www.cityofkokomo.org/egov/docs/1152718541_601898.pdf)
You will find a building/rental property ordinance which I think is a good pattern for us here in New Albany.
Pay particular attention to Section IV! I believe something along these lines to be necessary to correct our absentee landlord/property owner problem.
The remainder of this ordinance is similar lauguage to one that was proposed during the Regina Overton/Ronnie Hornung/Don Gibbons tenure. (A-03-30) I understand it was presented to the council but I'm not sure it ever got to the floor for consideration. Maybe you can fill in those blanks!
If you have email, send me your address at (hlwimp@insightbb.com.) I'll keep it to myself if you so desire.
OK, we have established what we know to be sadly true in many instances, but now how do we break this cycle & alter our course?
iamhoosier,
Thank you...the malted beverage was indeed fine and enjoyed by me!
Remember: "Socrates, The Apology"
By Plato
GREAT stuff there...should keep us all trying to learn more.
Highwayman,
Well, firstly, we must not give up. We must continue to TRY to make things better. In my own 'little' way, I think that what I do in the classroom, correcting 12 years or more of innacurate and incomplete information that has been given to most young people, is a vital start. But I know it barely scratches the surface and will take time to show any effect it may have.
Long term, we must overhaul grades 1-12...EDUCATION, indeed PROPER EDUCATION, of the 21st century variety, is what will ultimately turn the tide.
In the short term, well, this is where the problem lies. We must keep "beating our heads against the wall" and get as many positive changes enacted as possible until the long term changes (education) can kick in (i.e. probably after we're all dead).
This can be best done by direct interaction, time after time after time, with the local/state polititions. Don't let them put you off...BOTHER them!! The other thing to do, is to get rid of polititians who are "not getting it done," and especially the polititians who don't try or are just plain backwards and stupid. Vote 'em out!!
That's my opinion Lloyd.
Not intentionally...LOL!!!
Roz
Roz Tate is Andrew Lloyd Webergrill.-wink-
This community has been realing since I moved into in the late 70's. Only of late has Clarksville shown to be a model of success, but it has whored itself to big box stores. Jeffersonville has done a real good job of moving forward after Tom Galligan set the newest ideas in motion. Folk gave Tom hell for his do now, pay and explain later attitude but he got things done quickly instead of laying victum to CC's version of the Gang of Four. Honestly, if you could get someone to run on Tom's ideals and way of doing local business in NA, I'd vote for and back the person 100%. The city has run up such a huge debt, that it will take years to recover and whomever is the next Mayor is, he or she better be real good with the pencil and paper if you get my drift. Look at my homeotwn of Bedford and that is what this city is turning into rapidly. I'm all for the progressives and what they are trying to establish, but where is the money going to come from? The county wants no part of merging because of the city's finacial woes.
On the national front, you really wish not for me to start, we differ big time on that subject.
You asked, I typed...
ED,
You and I are in agreement on nTom Galligan. I worked around him for years before he became mayor and got to know him fairly well.
As mayor and as a businessman, he always rode that ethical fine line to the near breaking point, but he got 'er done! The Jeffersonville we see now is the result of that aproach and it seems to be working well.
Unfortunately, I don't know of anyone in our city that is cut from that particular piece of cloth.
As I see it, New Albany's problem is not so much the lack of money as it is lacking the will & skill to allow money to let it work for us. We either want to hoard it for a rainy day, or we want to spend it foolishly.
Back to Galligan, he was not opposed to rolling the dice & taking a chance, but he stayed on top of whatever the project was to insure every penny of it squeaked throughout the process. Again, Jeff won more often than it lost as a result.
We, however, just sign a contract and walk away trusting that all will be as it was promised. By the time we realize that not to be true, the hole is so deep, we have to spend double to recover.
As I see it, lacking a TG, our only alternative is for we the voters to ride herd on our elected officials until a leader steps forward.
Lloyd, another problem I see is that things have been allowed to get bad for SO LONG that the city has many, many blighted areas. It would be a horrible task to undertake to bring it all up to snuff. I don't think that a full time attorney and a couple more inspectors would cut it.
I was walking down East 18th Street this morning, and just about every house there is a wreck! Imagine a) trying to inspect them all, then b) issuing citations, then c) follow-up and court action for non-compliance. Then you have the problem of condemning/demolishing, along with the issue of homeowners who cannot comply due to their economic status (do you make them go homeless? what do you do when they are too poor/elederly to fix the place up and have nowhere else to go?)
It is such an enormous, impossible task that it boggles my mind.
Ann,
What you say is true, the task is enormous. However, there are a multitude of options and monies available in the form of non profits & grants to help those who actually do not have the resources to help themselves. One that comes mind is New Directions Housing Corporation through a program they call Repair Affair. They work with neighborhoods to identify homes that are owned by the elderly & handicapped that are in need of maintenance, furnish the supplies, and use volunteers to do the work. Last year they repaired 122 homes in the Louisville area and 50 here on our side of the river. It is up to us in our own blocks to identify those types of situations and help coordinate these efforts.
Likewise, since our city staff is so strapped for manpower and resources, it is up to us to help identify those who have the resources to act but feel that they’re exempt from responsibility.
The taking of Iwo Jima was an enormous task during World War II, and many sacrifices were made to accomplish it. However, I doubt that any of us older than 30 can see the picture of the flag being raised, or better yet the monument itself in Washington DC and not know the how, why, & where of it. And after viewing it, not contemplate how different our lives would be if that event and thousands more just like it had turned out differently.
The outcome of what we are facing here is not for our benefit as much as it is for your daughter, Gina’s son, Courtney’s first born & unborn, and my yet to be grandchildren. From what I see, if we don’t start the ball rolling & keep it rolling, it is not going to get done regardless of the enormity of it all.
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