July 31, 2002
Count me out

God grant my City Council the courage to change the things they can, the serenity to accept the things they can't, and the wisdom to know the difference.

So what's on the agenda for our City Council these days? The chaos that has been wrought by so much road work? Flood control? Term limits? Property taxes?

Would you believe slavery reparations?

I was going to write a long rant about he misguidedness of reparations, but I'll point you to this article in The American Prospect instead, which captures my feelings pretty well. Let's just say here that I consider this to be a waste of the Council's time, since after all they can do exactly bupkus about it.

In the meantime, let's hope that there's enough time in the Council meeting for them to talk about the West Nile virus outbreak, increased parking meter fees, the proposed pedestrian plaza for Main Street - you know, the things they can change.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on July 31, 2002 to Local politics
Comments

Some of my forebears were oppressed Irish potato farmers. Where can I go to get reparations for their pain and suffering? (That would sure help me buy that new truck I want....)

Posted by: Jack Cluth on July 31, 2002 9:42 AM

You know, when they are talking about something outside their balliwick, like reparations, they will not offend voters on either side of the pressing local issues.

Posted by: etc. on July 31, 2002 10:35 AM

Here's the part I find ironic:

"People are scared of it," Edwards said. "The time is now to stop skirting the issue, but stand up to the table and say this happened and it was inhumane. We need to deal with it and move forward."

Exactly WHO is staying it DIDN'T happen and it WASN'T humane? And exactly how is trying to open a potentially UGLY debate about how much MONEY this is all worth "dealing with it and moving forward"?

Argh!

Posted by: Amy on July 31, 2002 11:02 AM

Damn, I clicked too fast...

Obviously I meant "WASN'T _in_humane".

Posted by: Amy on July 31, 2002 11:03 AM

I once did a piece on the stupidity of reparations... I think I will repost it.

Posted by: Laurence Simon on July 31, 2002 12:58 PM