2007: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly...Part 1

In Fort Wayne at least, it looks like a year whose political plotline might be better served by some obscure Sergio Leone scripted western. I only wish we had Clint Eastwood starring as the "Man with no name", doling out "his" brand of justice...'cause we're all gonna NEED it!

On todays's JG editorial page there are TEN (count 'em 10) stories that will be in the headlines to no small degree. I think most of you know what they already are, but if you don't, I'll list them (along with my pungent social commentary and MY "solutions").

1) FWCS repair costs: First off, any agency that allows maintenance to go down the crapper to THIS degree needs to be scrutinized. Maybe if they DID AWAY with all the "freebie-handout" programs that the taxpayers are being bilked on already, FWCS would have HAD a lot of the money needed for fixing things as needed instead of taking up to ONE BILLION BUCKS from the homeowners of this city. MY solution: Let them get a LOAN....a BIG LOAN (like all of US have to do from time to time...maybe THEN they'll get the idea on FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY!

2) CostaPlenty Field (aka Harrison Square): This is easier than falling off a log....DON'T BUILD THIS WHITE MASTODON. Fort Wayne should be UNIQUE, and not trying to emulate other cities that alrady HAVE somethibng like this (and aren't really seeing a lot BACK for it). MY solution: Stop paving paradise to put up parking lots....put a world-class park downtown istead...make a place people WANT to go to and save a ton o' $$$ in the process!

3) Smoking Ban: Another no-brainer...let the BUSINESSES decide how they should enforce the ordinance. Who's going to suffer most from the ban? The BUSINESSES, that's who. My solution: Make the "ban" on a business by business basis, period.

4) Full Day Kindergarten: This is a "cop-out" for the laziest of so-called parents that have neither the desire, nor the inkling to watch THEIR OWN kids until they're of school age. My solution: If the parents don't want to be RESPONSIBLE, by all means, take the kids AWAY from them, let the "state" educate them, and then smack the parents across the face repeatedly when they piss & moan about "how" the state is bringing them up. The parents can't have it BOTH ways.

5) Property Taxes: THIS should have been in the TOP TWO (imho), as far as stories go, because THIS will make the most print, trust me! The homeowners of the city have been paying for the city (and it's foul-ups) for way too long, and it's time someone turned off the money faucet, becasue that's apparently how the city thinks money flows (from our pockets). Sorry folks, the river is about to be "dammed up" unless you find another source of "water". My solution: Find someone with the balls to LOWER property taxes and KEEP them lowered. You're not going to do away with them, but let's keep them from being the ONLY source for the 30+ city/county entities that KNOW whatever project they "desire" will be funded by the homeowners. If not...you won't see a "brain drain"...you'll see a frigginmg mass EXODUS from Ft Wayne. leaving it with no one but welfare lazy-asses...then we'll see where all that money will be coming from, won't we?

6) Petitions/referendums: This has to do with city /county "ramrods"...passing legislation that should be referred to the people for the "yay" or "nay". My solution: Put very damn thing you can on ballot questions....it's STILL called DEMOCRACY, folks!

7) Privatization : OK, the state has been auctioning off toll roads, and even the welfare system (now that was a good idea...IF it works), but does it merit continuation? My solution: ANY privatization should be well thought out FIRST, then taken to the people with ALL the good AND bad points (if any) noted. THEN...refer to #6 above!

8) City Elections: I can't say I get enthused over this, but if people want to dish dirt (remember the Steve Shine tabloid reporting over his personal life?), they are going to do it....I just say to any and all candidates... be careful! My solution: C-Y-A!!!

9) Political Preparations: This is a "non-story" as far as I'm concerned. I don't really need to know this, so it's not on "my" radar. My solution: Bury these stories and report something worthwhile (or add more cartoons)!!

10) Gambling: Legalizing "Cherry-masters" among other things as well as privatizing the lottery system. MY solution: People will always gamble on anything....always have, always will. I don't really gamble (unless you consider a college-educated, middle class white family living on the SOUTHEAST side of Fort Wayne "risky business"...lol), so it's not a major thing to me. My solution: Regulate, regulate, regulate....oh, and monitor it closely too.

Also listed were government reorganization, alcohol sales (package stores vs. grovery stores), and ethanol/alternative energy.

Now I'd the first one to admit that the writer of the article has NOT placed these stories in "order of importance"...that's a no-brainer! They have even left out other stories I feel need to be told. I will include them tomorrow in part 2 of this post.

As to the alcohol sales, if the STATE wanted to make some real money, they should take a page from the PA handbook: My solution: Take alcohol out of ALL gorocery stores, have BEER distributors open up and sell beer ONLY. Wines and all other hard liquors are bought ONLY at state run stores (at comparable prices). THAT will bring home the bacon, financially speaking. Robberies of liquor stores will all but evaporate...robbery now becomes a STATE concern, and they hate when THEIR money (and product) is taken.

The alternative energy thing.....I wouldn't mind having a roof full of SOLAR panels (and geothermal heating), but the cost is up there with FWCS repairs...LOL! Methanol, ethanol, and all other derivitives...won't flow in MY car, and no one's busting down MY door to "retrofit" me gratis, so I'm basically stuck (as is every other owner of a classic or near-classic car). It IS a good idea, but I'd much rather go with hydrogen fuel cell tech (until "Mr. Fusion" comes along...LMAO)! My solution: don't build too many ethanol plants....you'll be sorry.

Government Consolidation....not going to work untill EVERY SINGLE BUG is ironed out. My solution: To approach this logically would be to have the public safety departments merge....BUT, we don't want another Indianapolis on our hands, so take the time, look at all the angles, and do your homework...a lot. That's all I can advise to those wanting to merge.

There you have it....all the problems of the city solved in less than 5 minutes reading....
Yeah...right, would it be that it WAS that easy.

'Tis the stuff that dreams are made of....stay tuned.