Neither Democrats nor Republicans on sure footing ahead of midterm elections

Neither Democrats nor Republicans on sure footing ahead of midterm elections

Towers of Remembrance

9/11/01 is burned into the collective
memory of people who were alive on that date. Watching those planes
hit the great towers in New York created a national trauma that will
last for the reach of those generations. The symbolism of the attack
on the edifice that represents our military might was not lost on us.
The bravery of those passengers who refused to allow Flight 93 to
complete its mission to attack the symbol of our great nation, the
White House, was inspiring. Much like 12/7/41 represents the bombing
of Pearl Harbor that date marks the national memory of a long battle
to combat extremism that desires harm for our country world wide.

We have draped those towers in the
national flag of remembrance and resolve to seek out those who gained
from that tragedy and bring them to justice. We have used those
towers to create a lasting enmity toward anyone we perceive to be
anti-American. Those towers represent justification for our response
and any excesses we may have committed in that response. We have
failed to take into account in our response the effect on the
national freedom and independence of the people who have given up a
bit of freedom in the quest for security.

Our initial response was appropriate
and directed. Our execution of that response had flaws that led us
into a decade and more of war in which very few had to feel the
effects of. It led us to establish a gigantic security bureaucracy
that had never existed before and, in some minds, create a government
that is prying into our private affairs. Did this improve security.
I am doubtful. One thing that has never reached the level of
national conversation is the why of the question. Why did they do
this? It is not enough to say they hate our democracy. It is not
enough to say it is a spiritual war of Islam against Christianity.
It is not enough to say there is a military solution and it is not
enough to continue sacrificing our young men and women to maintain a
sensation of actually doing something.

Even though those terrorists can
inflict pain on our national psyche they have no chance of defeating
us with such tactics. We could lose numbers like this weekly for a
long time, and these powers are unable to do that, without sustaining
great harm to our systems if we refused to be terrorized. Their
motive is to create dysfunction in our society and they have
succeeded in that goal. Not the least of the effects is the great
treasure we have expended world wide in combat. Perhaps the greatest
effect has been the surrender of our individual freedoms which is
what the terrorists wanted to do. That is what damages us most.

But, today we can mourn the loss of our
fellow citizens. They were victims of a cowardly attack, not on our
military but of the symbols of American Power. They were going about
their lives in a routine way without a thought for desperation and
hatred from places most had never given a moment's thought. We can
mourn the loss of the men and women who have died in the fog of war,
some necessarily and some not. And we can mourn the loss of our
innocence and our complacent attitude that we were looked upon with
envy by everyone.

But, just as we met the threat with
resolve we can also resolve to show that the United States is a land
that loves peace and compassion. We can resolve that, in addition to
defeating our enemies, we can meet them at the tables of negotiation
and attempt to resolve differences. Make no mistake, all of the
fault is not our own. Terroristic attacks on innocent people will
never be a proper response to perceived grievances but we are the
United States of America. We can afford to be great.

Why won't the Arabs fight their own battles?

US faces Arab reluctance in Islamic State fight - The Washington Post: “They need to be involved. This is their neighborhood. The dangers that are posed are more directed at them right now than they are us,” Obama said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”





The Saudis are scared to death that some group like ISIL is going to pop up on the Arabian Peninsula and try to overthrow the monarchy.  Jordan is the only country that has been helping the problem by taking in thousands of refugees from Syria and Iraq.  In the past the United States has jumped right in and took the lead role in the fighting.  Now, the President is insisting that the Arab states put some skin in the game.  I'm down with that.  I'm sick and tired of the United States being used as a mercenary army by the Saudis and other oppressive regimes.

What Should We Call It

Hypocrisy or something nicer?

I am not going to call it hypocrisy. That word carries a connotation of malevolent intent and effectively snuffs out conversation about an issue. If you want to really get someone's back up just accuse them of this fault. There are other words though. One may call it being disingenuous, one may call it a lack of understanding or just simply being unwilling to look at issues with an eye to the causes and effects of some action. I suppose one could sometimes call it selfishness but that is getting pretty close to hypocrisy.

I have been paying pretty close attention to the Centrepointe development in downtown Lexington that the Webb Brothers have been trying to take somewhere for quite a few years now. It seems to me that they knowingly misled the city administration and cajoled them into allowing the destruction of a historically and architecturally significant block of buildings just to create a bare space that would somehow encourage the city to eagerly accept anything to fill up the spot. They said they had financing in place for an expansive project and it was only after the destruction of those properties that they admitted the financing had evaporated. To be sure, the Great Recession intervened but there are a lot of questions of intent that have never been answered. Now they are asking the city to issue $30 million in bonds to underwrite the construction of a three story parking garage under the development. First the city asked the state to issue the bonds but it declined. Now, the city is looking at hooking itself for the bond issue and the developers wait with bated breath assuring everyone that the project will continue even if the bond issue is not approved. Hmmmm!

But, I do not come here to talk about Lexington's downtown project but it serves as a fine example of something that quite a few people are beginning to talk about. Something that we, here in Somerset-Pulaski County, have had some experience with and could experience more in the future. What I am referring to is the creation of special taxing districts that would procure Tax Increment Financing for projects using the taxes generated by the project to pay the costs.

All that to get here. I read Mike Whitaker's letter in the newspaper the other day and I have to say that I agree with his point. We should do all that we can to present our community in the best possible light when it comes to making an attractive place for people to do business. I would not limit that effort to just being presentable to our visitors but also to other businesses that might locate here. The city has done a pretty good job of that but a lot of the local business district is still served by county government. I wrote a column a couple of weeks ago about perhaps planting medians with native wildflowers but that may not work as well along US 27 in the business district. In addition to mowing and not impeding traffic with construction we could also give more attention to better code enforcement and planning and zoning. There are stretches of US 27 that are now beginning to look like someone may have given some thought to development and it has only taken fifty years to get here. Things like that show that there are governmental structures in place that not only care what the area looks like but are sensitive to property values and advancements that would enhance commerce. One of the things that could indicate a progressive community is a public wi-fi system that would offer speeds only dreamed of with the current providers. The internet has now invaded every aspect of business and should be considered a utility rather than just entertainment. If private enterprise is unwilling to take on the task then governmental entities should shoulder the load.

One of the critical issues in this years County Judge Executive race is how the county will usher in an attitude that we are a community that wants businesses to locate here. This is not simply the old saw of getting out of the way and letting business do what it will. It also includes various intangible benefits that offer the employees of those businesses reason to believe they are not looking at an artistic and entertainment desert. Government must present itself as capable and knowledgeable and not just a pushover. Preparation of the population to supply the needs of modern industry has to be developed and made visible. Since tourism is a major industry here there should be attractions that offer plenty to do while not on the lake. Public/private partnerships can be useful here.

Both the city and the county have development districts that have the power to offer tax abatements to induce business to locate here and have done that quite a few times, some with success and some not. We must be diligent to insure that the taxpayer is receiving good benefit from the forgiveness of taxes. Here is where the TIF financing comes in. There is a certain logic for the use of tax increment financing but those who argue that it has no cost to the taxpayer are just wrong. They argue that the financing is paid for from taxes that would not have been generated otherwise and to a degree that is true. But not totally. If a government is expected to provide services then there must be revenues to support it and that has to come from somewhere. I would like to see a summary of how tax forgiveness has paid off for our area. It seems that we have been able to attract low wage jobs that are gone soon after the period of abatement is done. That only results in empty factories that present a poor picture to new business. What we must NOT do is be seen as a provincial town and county that does not want anything to change and we have been guilty of that in the past.

But if we are going to do that then government will have to be part of the solution. When we do that will there be howls of “SOCIALISM” or does that just apply when government tries to help citizens rather than businesses? Is it OK to provide benefits to businesses to the exclusion of helping the men and women in the trenches? That's not hypocrisy is it?

My Take? Let's make the candidates talk about specifics.

What Should We Call It

Debtor's Prisons in Ferguson

In Ferguson, Court Fines And Fees Fuel Anger : NPR



We are oh so modern when we say that we don't put people in jail for owing money like we and other countries did in the past.  Debtor's prisons used to hold the poor until some means would gain release for them but we abandoned that practice as barbaric.  We just don't do that any more.



Well, think again.  And now the largest prosecutor of such infringements are the people's own governments.  Those governments prey on the poorest members of their society in order to avoid asking the taxpayers to fund the kind of law enforcement they demand.  A thoroughly dishonest and deceptive practice.



A person is cited to court for a minor non-violent infraction such as speeding or failure to maintain insurance and then, when they can't pay, is assessed fees upon fees to be part of a payment plan while those who are better off just pay the fine or buy a lawyer to get off.  And heaven forbid that a payment can't be made or a person misses the appointment in court.  Such a dreadful infraction will result in an arrest warrant and additional fees thereby increasing the amount that must be paid and the time required to pay it.  Such measures make payday lenders look like charities.



It is a sad day when the governments of citizens become practitioners of the very kinds of behavior they are supposed to eliminate.  It is nothing less that racial and economic discrimination the result of which can be imprisonment and harassment by one's own government.



Of course, these people don't vote in the same numbers that the more well to do folks do so it is to the benefit of those seeking office to find ways to fund this despicable behavior that appears to be tough on crime at no expense to the taxpayer.



Just another of the ways that our society is becoming more stratified along economic lines.  We must speak out.

A Festival of High Notes

By any quantifiable means of measurement it seems that this year's Master Musician's Festival was a resounding success. Attendance was up and there were more and better vendors, some of which were local wineries Cedar Creek and Sinking Valley. Overall I would have to say there was not a weak spot in the entire artist lineup.

The festival was kicked off by Kelly Rae Burton, a local artist who writes most of her own stuff and performs it with panache. I have had the pleasure of watching this woman grow from a girl into a gifted artist never forsaking her dream. The performance I witnessed on Friday night impressed me with how Kelly has matured both musically and in performance. The group that followed her, The Little Ship, was also good. They are still quite young but very capably covered songs by several titans in the music world. The Seas are a hard rock band from London and are also very good.

I don't want to get into a critique of each performer but there are a few that stood out to me. Willie Watson, formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show, was a one man act. Watson left a successful group to focus on folk music. It has to be a love of the genre for someone to do that because you just don't hear of very many pure folkies these days. He also covered some old delta blues classics that are more recognizable from their covers in rock 'n' roll. Fifth on the Floor came out with some straight ahead Southern Rock with a heavy emphasis on country. I think of them as having licks like Skynyrd and vocals like Waylon. Darned good. The Apache Relay were very good musically but I likened them to The Lumineers or The Decemberists. Now, both of those bands have huge followings but I am not part of them. Just because it isn't my cup of tea doesn't mean they aren't good. I have found a few folks that disagree with me. Imagine that! St. Paul and the Broken Bones came flying in at the last minute having been caught in traffic on the interstate somewhere. They flew about changing clothes and hit the stage running. Great musicians every one but Paul Janeway knows how to pull off a soul song. Being a long time aficionado of soul music I loved every note and knew most of the songs. Janeway is an energy bomb with the look of a Baptist minister, one of whom just coincidentally happens to be his Dad. Counting Crows was the headline act and their performance showed the professionalism their status requires. They haven't been at the top of the charts for a while but that does not mean that they don't have fans that will drive a couple hundred miles to see them. I met a few from Nashville who were just ecstatic at being able to get that close to the stage. Adam Duritz and Company performed their hits and a fair amount of new material and, judging from the response of the crowd, did not disappoint.

While I love the music my real joy at this festival is wandering through the crowd, seeing old friends and meeting some new ones. I will recall those earlier days and marvel at how things have changed. One of the things I look for each year is something that will surprise me and there were a few. The crowd had changed from last year and the year before that. It was much younger and I didn't see many of the older folks that had been present in years past. Truthfully, the lineup wasn't very appealing for the older or more sedate set. There weren't any bluegrass, Celtic or Appalachian music acts unless you count Willie Watson or Stoll Vaughn. Tyler Childers might qualify.

As a matter of fact just this characteristic of this year's festival is what has caused me to be this long in writing my appraisal. As I studied the crowd noting the different makeup and attendance it gave me reason to consider whether the changes were good or a step in the wrong direction. I have spoken to quite a few folks, some of whom did not like the changes and some that thought they were stupendous. I think it is simply the perspective one takes. Being of the Boomer generation I have the quality and burden of eternal coolness so I try to approach decisions of this importance with soberness and I mean in all respects.

My Take? Times change and you can either change with them or be left on the porch. I'm not ready for that just yet although I do appreciate my time occupied in that pastime. There are new generations and, no matter what we think, they will demand their time in the sun. We Boomers have certainly had our time. Now, don't think I am going to just meekly walk off the stage. I have been accused of not being willing to cede power to the younger folks and there may be some truth to that. I will step aside sometimes and other times I will have to be kicked aside. Having said that, I think the festival was pretty darned good. It has grown up and attracts music lovers from far and wide who are hungry for events that are entertaining and family friendly and our festival is certainly that. Plus, it won't break you up. But what about the foundational criteria that Gabrielle and the others articulated those twenty one years ago? The qualities of celebrating Appalachian culture, the breaking down of gender and racial barriers and the educational benefits that music can bring to any event? Is it possible for an event such as this to be more than a party and actually strive for a nobler purpose? I think it can.

Don't get me wrong. The very first requirement is for the festival to be financially solvent so that it can continue and that has been admirably achieved. This festival is a premier event for our area and is just one of those things that sets the Somerset-Pulaski County Area apart from other communities. Tiffany Bourne and the Board of Directors deserve our thanks for that and a hearty “well done.” But those other things that were left behind this year are worthy goals and deserving of their spot on the stage.

Twenty One years and the Master Musician's Festival is successful. I remember when there was talk of closing it down. Aren't we glad it did not go that way. We now have a very active entertainment community and performance venues. We have more than our share of local talent so I have to ask this question. Do you think we could support another music and arts festival?