We the People and the Water Company

Few things annoy me more than folks who are decidedly un-political. As far I'm concerned, lazy Americans who shrug off their civic responsibility to be informed enough to form an opinion and exercise their right to vote should lose their citizenship status.

I go ballistic When I hear someone say, "Why bother voting? Politicians are all a bunch of crooks." If they are all a bunch of crooks, all the more reason to get off your lard butt and vote in some new blood. How does someone get so cynical? How does an adult come to feel that their right to vote - which people DIED for - should be abandoned at the curb with yesterday's trash? This is America! We ARE the government! Didn't these people have to take a civic course in high school?

There are crooks in government, no doubt. Nixon to George Ryan, there is power in politics and hence it will always be attractive to the corrupt and evil among us. There is power in politics and hence it will always be attractive to the best, brightest, and idealistic among us - those who want to make a difference for the better. We have a duty to sort out between the two types and elect and dismiss accordingly.

The worst thing government can do is not heed the will of voters. Even if government is right and has better information and knows more than the average voter, it is wrong to go against the will of the People. Voters are not children to be sheltered from their own mistakes. Politicians are charged with exercising the voters' will, not their own. When elected officials go against the will of the people - even when they are sure it is in the people's best interest - they breed a population of more disgusted, distrustful, and disheartened would-be voters. What is the point of voting if no one is going to abide the final tally? This is how banana republics are built.

A lot of new information has surfaced regarding the water company. It looks like a buy out might be profitable. Moreover, Illinois American will be asking for a rate hike after promising it wouldn't do so for three more years. Maybe Illinois American is gouging consumers. Or, maybe Illinois American Water Company LIKES the idea of a $220 million buyout. It is too late to have another referendum on the possible purchase.

The Peoria City budget is very tight. We need new revenue. Desperate for it in fact. That said, it would be better to raise taxes later than have voters distrust our new City Council for all time.

When in doubt, listen to your constituents.

Missed me! Missed me! Now you gotta kiss me!

What an odd week it has been.

An Al Qaida wanna be terrorist group, with really bad aim, launched several missiles at U.S. amphibious assault ships. They missed, hit Israel instead, and killed one Palestinian.

Jews are pulling out of the Gaza strip. The Israeli Army, after boot kicking fellow countrymen from their previously State sponsored homes, are mowing down the vacated structures at Palestine request. (See Rachel? CAT machines destroy Jewish homes too.) Gaza has a 60% unemployment rate, but apparently Palestine has the bucks to build brand spanking new homes that haven't been exposed to Israeli cooties. The news footage from Gaza this week has been heart wrenching, but it is the first tangible progress in a LONG time. Would it be too much to ask that peace talks resume?

The mother of a soldier killed serving in Iraq is protesting the war by sitting on a lawn chair outside President Bush's Crawford, Texas ranch. The media flocks to the scene like it's an actual story. The lady isn't even on a hunger strike. Meanwhile, back at her place, an embarrassed husband files for divorce.

Blago's order to pharmacists requiring them to fill birth control prescriptions is about to become law. Yup. The law states that those pharmacies that carry birth control and the "morning after pill" must dispense it. Er, okay. So a pro-life pharmacist who doesn't believe women should be having fruitless sex simply won't carry birth control in their inventory? Works for me. And how is this such a big change from before? Small, individually owned pro-life pharmacies won't carry the offending drugs. Pro-life pharmacists working for big chains will say, "Sorry, all out." Nonetheless, look for this faux Blago victory to be touted in upcoming re-election ads. Puke.

Because his constituents"begged" LaHood won't be running for Gov after all. Well, only if you define "begged" as constituents not contributing money to his campaign. I admit, I admire LaHood's ability to turn lemons into lemonade. Personally, I define "lemonade" as the ability to spew total bullshit with a straight face.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the weekend.

Maybe school IS the problem...

I've been giving thought to District 150's truancy problem and started wondering, "Why don't kids WANT to go to school?" I loved college but hated everything that came before. College was great because you got to study subjects you were interested in, especially after getting all the general education requirements out of the way. Professors were truly interested in their fields and were interested in what their students had to contribute.

If I had to sum up my elementary, junior high and high school experience with one word it would be BORING. I spent a great deal of my time looking at the clock, counting off the minutes until it was time to bolt out of my chair to go home and... Read. That's right. Read. My parents didn't allow us kids to watch T.V. We didn't even own one until I was in the third grade, when a horrified uncle bought us one.

So, I don't expect education to be entertainment. I don't think it should attempt to mirror Disney World. I do think schools have largely become inefficient bureaucracies with meaningless rules on top of rules, filled with unhappy, bored educators and administrators biding their time until retirement and even unhappier bored students biding their time until graduation.

Of course, there are exceptions. There are teachers who love kids and truly enjoy their work. In my high school, these teachers could be found teaching the best and brightest -and obviously college bound- students, those taking advanced placement classes. However, if you were an average kid, on the mainstream track, you were treated more or less like a nuisance.

Maybe we shouldn't just be looking at increasing teacher pay, increasing truancy fines, decreasing class size and studying economic factors that keep some kids out of class. Maybe we should be looking at the class itself. Would you be looking forward to going to work every day if you were treated like the enemy? What if you were a social outcast? What if you were subjected to the same lectures over and over and had to endure a curriculum that never advanced? What if you were written off as "average" and no one ever bothered to reevaluate your potential as you matured?

Perhaps it is time to make sure that we are providing an education to kids and not just warehousing them until parents get home from work. Perhaps a policy of "Tough Love" and "Like or Lump It" isn't working. We are talking about kids after all. Education should be intrinsically rewarding. School shouldn't feel like prison. Learning something new, accomplishment, and conquering something that you didn't think you were capable of is one of life's greatest joys. Why are so many of our kids missing out?

I don't know who said the following, but I think it deserves a lot of thought... If children don't learn the way we teach, we must teach the way they learn.

Run! Ray! Run!

Today is the big day. Ray LaHood will inform us if he will seek the Gov's job. Kinda hope he does. Sorta think he won't. The slate is already full and he doesn't seem to be the Party favorite. If Edgar doesn't run, I think the Republicans will get behind Judy Barr Topinka. Topinka was the only Republican voters allowed to stay in office in the election following the George Ryan scandal.

Local politicians Morris, Nichting, and Leitch wait LaHood's decision with baited breath.

I wonder if LaHood might announce his retirement instead? I think he has grown tired of congress and wants to spend more time traveling (to France) with his family. I think Ray might be chomping at the bit to make some real money in the private sector as a (nuke energy) consultant. Puke.

Silly Willy Nilly is a Dirty Old Bastard

The name of Willy's blog keeps changing. Is he trying to clue us on his identity? Silly AND a Dirty Old Bastard? Hmm? Gary Sandberg perhaps?

Clyde Gulley, Please Report for a Piss Test

Council members should have to take drug tests. Seriously, I want to know if Clyde Gulley is smoking something. It would be the only reasonable excuse for his asinine comments regarding the truancy plan District 150 and the City want to implement.

Gulley said that he hopes Peoria Police will not be using tasers, chains, dogs or unreasonable force to get kids back into the classroom. Peoria Police rarely uses deadly force when called for, and Clyde thinks they may bring out chains for the brat playing hooky from Algebra? Are you freaking kidding me?

Clyde believes kids from his neighborhood who are truant fail to attend school because they don't have lights, water, food, or soap. Huh? This kid is so poor that his home could be condemned and instead of intervening and trying to help, we should just ignore him until he winds up dead of starvation, dehydration, drug overdose, or a failed robbery attempt?

Poverty stricken families can't afford food and lights, so how in the hell will they pay the expensive truancy fine? Here's a thought. Don't pay it. Get your kid's butt to school. Working two jobs and can't control or force Junior to do anything? Call the police or the District so that Junior can make a choice between school and jail. Moreover, the Truancy Plan calls for kids who can't pay the fine to serve the community on the weekends (10 to 2) by washing police cars or picking up litter. Brilliant.

I've been poor and it really, really, SUCKS. Poverty simply isn't a viable excuse for missing school, and no one should be able to plead "Poverty" when punishment is justified, regardless of the crime. Could you imagine a defendant saying to a Judge, "Um, well, yeah, Your Honor, I was drunk out of my skull when I mowed down that entire family with my car. But, see, I'm POOR and miserable, and that forced me to drink. If you send me to jail then my family will be even poorer, and so, could you cut me some slack?"

Nope.

My sincere gratitude to Council Members Van Auken and Grayeb who called Gulley along with Eric Turner and NAACP President Don Jackson on their racist card crap.

Holy Mother of God! You must act now! Time is running out! These prices will never be seen again! No reasonable offer refused! No credit check!

My father is the cheapest man alive. He never picks up the check. When my mother leaves a tip for a waitress at a restaurant, he waits until her back is turned and then steals it. The only way my mom could ever get consent to make a major purchase - say a lamp - was to wear him down. She wouldn't stop talking about the lamp. She would find a way, no matter how inappropriate, to insert it into every conversation. "Your best friend died today? That's sad. You know George would have loved the lamp I want. He always was a great fan of good lighting." Pictures of the lamp would appear wrapped in a napkin with Dad's sliverware at the dinner table. His eyes would take in the lamp first thing upon waking in the morning as a picture of the lamp would be taped to the alarm clock. A picture of the lamp would be posted on the bathroom door so Dad could ponder it while using the toilet. Eventually Mom would always win. "Damn it Donna, buy the thing already. I just don't want to hear about it any more." The strategy was annoying as hell but fool proof.

Apparently this is City Council's strategy regarding the possible purchase of the water company. Citizens overwhelming voted not to buy it, but council continues to investigate it. We have heard our rates will go up, but now Third District Councilman Bob Manning - CPA and auditor extraordinare - has taken another look at the books. He sees something no one else has seen before (despite a VERY expensive investigation process). Our rates might go down! No matter what it will profitable! But we must act NOW before interest rates go up and the deadline passes! Starting to sound like one of those obnoxious used car commericals, eh? I get so sick of hearing stupid announcers yelling at me on t.v. and radio that I would be willing to buy a lemon if I never had to endure another one.

The residents of Denver, Colorado will soon be paying an eight percent increase on their water bills. Why? Because they have been dutifully CONSERVING water. Frankly, I didn't see it on my last visit, Denverites water their sidewalks. I think Colorado has simply recieved Illinois' share of rain. The City of Denver owns the water company and is dependent on it as a source of revenue. So, if residents don't use enough water,although they are required by law to conserve it, the City is screwed. If Denver's water company was privately owned the City could just say "Sorry Suckers. No rate hike for you. Tell your investors too bad so sad." However, since Denver needs the revenue, residents will be punished for being evironmentally responsible.

So, about Peoria's possible purchase of the water company... BUY THE DAMN THING ALREADY!!! I just don't want to hear about it anymore.

Promises, Promises...

We are being forewarned. The Journal Star reports that the upcoming City budget will be VERY tight. Really? Ya think? I can't recall a time when local, state, or national government reported, "Yup. Thanks to generous tax payers we have plenty of revenue. No problems here." What about the $2 million surplus last year brought to us by the special census and The Shoppes at Grand Prairie? We can absolutely bank on politicians suggesting that any surplus be spent on non-essentials instead of banking unexpected revenue for the ever rising health care and pension costs of City employees.

Peoria City Council will receive a preliminary 2006 budget in early October. This budget will be the first real test of our newly elected "essential services first" City Council. Those who voted the last regime out will be watching this new crew very closely and we expect any extra to go to repealing the $6 per month garbage fee that is now being applied to our water bills, replacing sidewalks, opening Fire Station 11 to full capacity, etc. You know, the decisions made by the last administration that disgusted you so much when you campaigned for your current job... Or so you said.

If this new administration votes to spend more for parks, basketball hoops, or neighborhood association newsletters, they will need to be reminded of promises made and the very reason Ardis, Manning, Van Auken, were elected to their new posts and Spears and Nichting were re-elected.

I recall a Letter to the Editor that Bob Manning wrote to the Journal Star after the "progressives" voted to take vital fire fighting equipment out of service due to budget restraints. The Journal Star editorialists chastised him for threatening the then Council with serious regret for such a move. Manning wrote back, "It isn't a threat, it's a promise."

It sure would be refreshing to see a Council keep its promises.

How Sucky Politicians Win Elections

I like Jennifer Davis, I do. She is less cynical and her articles are less slighted than most that appear in the Journal Star. Which is why today's Word on the Street column strikes me as odd. She writes that Clyde Gulley put priority on personal contact rather than financing to win his First District election. I'm afraid Jen has been spending too much time with the "progressive" editorialists at her place of employment. According to today's column Clyde spends lots of time with his constituents. He knows them. He loves them. He chauffeurs them around. Hell, on their birthdays he sends them cards and when they die he attends their funerals. Moreover, Gulley spent very little money on his campaign - especially considering he had five opponents. Uh, Jen, Clyde won because he HAD five opponents. The vote was split during the primary and the just barely winner, Greg Banks, did not have the name recognition or campaign insight it takes to win. Gulley did not spend much because he couldn't raise much. If there is one thing that Clyde Gulley doesn't do is return phone calls, e-mails, or show up at first district events. Hence, Gulley had five people so pissed off by his neglect they decided to run against him. I have been to anti-crime vigils in the First District and have yet to see Gulley at any of them. Gulley also has another big in. He is a member of the huge City of Refuge Church which carries a lot of clout in the area. Nonetheless, 47% of the First District voted for Banks, not Gulley, in the final election.

Hint: Politicians who spend time with their residents don't have five opponents. Billy Spears and Pat Nichting return their calls and their weakling opponents never had a chance. Thetford was taken to task for being non responsive and it cost her the election. She had two high spending opponents and was creamed in the general election. Thetford may well have lost in the primary had one of her challengers, Angela Anderson, lived in Peoria longer (six years) and been better known. As it was Anderson took 20% of the primary vote, which, for an unknown transplant, is quite remarkable in Peoria. Teplitz was booted because she was seen as aloof and only paid heed to the Second District's political and financial elite. Van Auken easily defeated her in the general election, but even I was surprised that the very odd wanna be doctor/realtor D. Doc took 6%. D. Doc was so bad that he admits that he didn't vote for himself.

Today's Word on the Street Column got one thing correct, contact can overcome currency in an election. However, it failed to address the elephant in the room, which is that neglect can breed a win by breeding a few too many candidates.

Peter Jennings Dead at 67

I really came to appreciate Peter Jennings during 9/11. As awful as that day was, as well as the days that immediately followed, Jennings kept his head and his calm, and I was better able to keep mine - sort of.

I recall New Years Eve of 2001, right after mid-night, he appeared on air in a tux. Because it was Jennings, it didn't seem corny at all.

I will miss him.