In the Huddle: John Landwehr's Next Play

Widows, Orphans and Red Light Cameras

From what I have heard, State Senator Will Kraus is a good guy. I mean him no harm. But his recent idea to direct fines from red light cameras away from cities to local school districts is a small example of a very bad style of leadership and prioritization that has become too common.  A recent news story in the Republic outlines the idea. (I won't even go into why State Government should keep its snoot out of local government budgets until they balance their own.)

It's politically very easy to not really take a stand on an issue, but endorse it as long as some money goes somewhere that no one can holler about. The poster child for this is gambling. "I don't like it, but all the money is going to education." BALONEY. You just reduce the General Revenue level for education and they get no net increase. The latest example is allocating fixed sums from casinos for a very good cause: veterans. Who could argue with that?

Here's the lesson:  Any time a politician combines a policy issue (e.g., red light cameras) with an allocation issue (e.g., all the fines go to widows, orphans or schools) tell him to vote on the two issues separately so you know where he really stands on both. And stop with the politcal shell games already. 

 

Apostrophe Patrol 2012: Double Dumbness in Morgan County

It's rare that the Patrol discovers two completely distinct violations in the space of just seven words. This sign in the Morgan County Courthouse in Versailles, Missouri, has one misplaced apostrophe and one missing in action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice San Fran Article on JC's Own - Justin Smith

Here is an article in the San Francisco Chronicle describing Justin's early years here.

 

 

Apostrophe Patrol 2012: Bank Failure

Whenever I have to appear in Moniteau County this is what I see looking south from the courthouse steps.

Makes me want to Occupy Main Street in protest. Where is the FDIC when you really need them?

 

 

Agreements In Place For Bright Future @JCMO

Here is Randy Allen's summary of the letters of intent and agreements presented to the City Council last night for the partnerships with the State of Missouri, Lincoln University, St. Mary's Hospital, Hawthorn Bank and Central Bank that will allow the major Transformation Projects to go forward. 

It's time to stand up and design our community's future.

 

Without Rewards There Will Be No Effort

Anyone who really thinks income redistribution and having 50% of America on welfare (or paying no income taxes) is going to work in the long term should read this article about an experiment in a college classroom. 

We have to take care of those who cannot fend for themselves, but society aka government must reward risk and hard work or . . . there will be neither.  Entrepreneurs, investors and risk-takers will continue to go elsewhere. There are lots of countries ready to accept job creators. Those left behind will just wait every month for what Washington says they should get.

 

Apostrophe Patrol 2012: Fowl Language

The Patrol could not provide any insight into this. It's a darned Res Ipsa Loquitur.

 

 

Message from Ron to Repubs: Lighten Up, Already

There's a lot of stress among Republican candidates. To be fair, it's because they're running against an incumbent and each of them is trying to stand out.  But they seem so SERIOUS all the time.

Ronald Reagan and a few other leaders from both parties throughout history teach us that part of being a good candidate and a statesman is to have a very carefully controlled . . . sense of humor. 

 

                       

Any role for Liberal Arts today?

This article by Virginia Postrel in Blumberg Review suggests that herding the next generation into technical fields may be short sighted. 

This is similar to what Steve Jobs told the audience when he rolled out the iPad 2 last March.

His commencement speech at Stanford was a broader explanation of his conclusions.

                     

Goodbye to an Imaginary Friend

We have used Quality Cleaners on Leslie Boulevard for many years.It's a Saturday morning ritual. Mary Ellen, the nice lady on duty, presides over the front desk. There are no cleaning operations going on. It's very peaceful. 

As I leave the store, a male voice always says, "Thank You." I know the owner. I presumed he was in the back room doing books, there to help Mary Ellen if necessary. I always said, "You're welcome," loud enough so he could hear it in back. Truly a Mayberry RFD moment.

Last week I realized there is no one there on Saturdays except Mary Ellen. The "Thank You" was generated by the cash register every time Mary Ellen entered a transaction. 

I still enjoy going by Quality Cleaners every Saturday. It's still a Mayberry RFD experience even if my Imaginary Friend is no longer there. I do wonder what Mary Ellen thought about me talking back to the cash register all those years.