Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, this is my third post tonight. I just discovered that my posts over the last month or so were not publicly visible. I forgot I have to hit "publish" on the main dashboard after I hit "post". This should be corrected now!
This is the second of two parts.
Earlier today Fish Stick--err, Katie, my fiance--and I were driving up around Charlestown when we passed a church. The sign on the marquee said "Man your battle stations, Christians are under attack". My original thought was to sort of roll my eyes and keep on, but as I've thought about it as the day's gone by, I've come to form something of an intelligent thought regarding the subject. As someone who believes in God--although I admit I'm not a company man--I understand where they're coming from. But let's not go declaring a war against Christians in America simply because more secular forces are gaining ground on subjects such as abortion and gay marriage. If they want to truly see Christians under attack, go to Africa. We don't have Christians getting their heads cut off on a daily basis around here. But my point is actually far different than the whole "we have it worse elsewhere" number, although it's true. My point is, it's stuff like that that perpetuates our divisions. Special interests, which in my book include churches, play on our sharp divisions on matters social and otherwise to make it seem that one side is marginalized or "under attack". Each side wants their way, and part of their strategy is to make it seem like those who don't blindly follow their ideology are the enemy. And "ideology" here is in a broad context; I'm not just referring to religion and its numerous subdivisions, but also to political stance and other beliefs. They don't want a return to the not so distant past, where people could disagree on things major or minor but set those differences aside to accomplish things they agreed on. No, they want to see a divided nation. They want to see us at each other's throats. It serves to galvanize their support base, to give them fuel to feed the fires. It's an ongoing dick-measuring contest, comparing length, girth, and ability of the owner to use it to determine whose argument is the most valid, then declaring victory even in the face of overwhelming, obvious evidence that they don't have the longest, thickest, and/or best used dick there. I don't play into theories like this often, but I do believe that we may not be far removed from another civil war. Historically speaking, we're overdue for one--in fact, we're also overdue for another revolution, historically speaking. And it's coming. Maybe not in my lifetime, but we're headed down that path. And it's not going to be the government that sparks our next civil war. It's going to be the special interests. This is the first of a two-part post.
So Dr. Andrew Melin, the superintendent (kommandant?) of Greater Clark County Schools, has started his charm offensive of sorts, aiming to sell the ludicrous referendum plan he and his puppet masters--err, the school board--came up with on a populace he was possibly hoping would be receptive to the idea. Well. . . He kicked things off the other night at Spring Hill Elementary, one of the schools set to be closed under the plan. He started off by saying, essentially, "Screw you people, we're going to do this whether you like it or not, I just want to make it look like I actually give two fucks about your opinion". Except the people whom came to hear him speak, and speak to him, weren't having it. No, Dr. Melin ran into about as much resistance as the Allies did at Normandy. In fact, I'm pretty sure 90% of Obama's plans face less opposition from Republicans than Melin did. The folks around Spring Hill, which is situated in the Claysburg neighborhood--predominantly black, largely lower to lower middle class--made it perfectly clear that they did NOT want to see their neighborhood school closed. I wasn't there, but I've heard that nobody there came out in support, or if they did, they didn't rise to speak. So last night the good doctor (coincidentally the title of a book about a British physician who serial-killed some of his patients) headed to Maple Elementary, which is another one of the five elementary schools targeted for closure. He apparently tried to head the critics off at the pass, going on the offensive first by lamenting the fact that his integrity was being questioned. I hear he wasn't the most diplomatic about it; in fact, I hear he was kind of a dick about it. And as many expected, the crowd there was equally as receptive to the plan as the folks at Spring Hill. This superintendent was brought in because the school board wanted a puppet. Word is, he took the job because he wanted the money--we're paying him more than the Indianapolis-area district did. And thus far, he hasn't fought off the "super-majority" (as they call themselves) who want their way. In fact, they're like-minded. The board had no use for the previous superintendent, Dr. Stephen Daeschner--a former superintendent in Louisville--and did everything they could to get rid of him, even though he didn't do anything necessarily wrong or bad. He might have ruffled a few feathers, sure, and he came up with his own plan to close several schools, but once it became obvious that the public opposition was too great, he backed off. And that's not what Melin and his handlers realize. Daeschner wanted to close Spring Hill and Maple for similar reasons; the difference is, there was no $120-ish million referendum attached. But the people spoke out in opposition, and he and the board in place then backed off--reluctantly, but they backed off. And part of the reason this board now was elected was because people were ticked at them. One is wise to consider the past when looking to the future, so as to keep from making similar mistakes. Obviously that wisdom is lost on the current administration and board. Either that, or it's not lost on them, but they're banking on support that so far they don't have, at least not publicly. Some members on the Clark County Chatter support the referendum and the closing of five schools but they appear to be a minority. This whole thing is going to blow up in their faces and either they don't see it, or they don't care. And as far as questioning Melin's integrity, he doesn't have to worry about that from me--one has to have integrity before it can be questioned. Part 2 coming up next! WARNING: My brain to mouth filter is disengaged. Because of this, my opinions may be quite stronger and my language far saltier than usual--which probably isn't saying much. At any rate, proceed with caution.
So it's been kind of busy around here lately, what with Fish Stick (Katie) coming out of the hospital and work, work, work. And it's been one of those nights where my give a damn left hours ago (hence the warning above), I've got a lot on my mind and here's a nice, cozy place to rant. I read on some media outlet's website earlier that a bunch of McDonald's employees have been protesting outside corporate headquarters, demanding a $15 an hour wage. While I empathize, I can't say I sympathize anymore. I work in a prison, and although I make more than the typical Mickey D's employee, I don't make anywhere close to $15 an hour. I make $23,346 a year, which comes out to around $11.22 an hour. Today, the department of corrections announced that we're getting 13.1% raises in the next month or two. This brings a correctional officer's salary to $26,400 a year. This is truly, honestly a great thing, and will help myself and a lot of my colleagues, and I for one am grateful that our commissioner fought this battle. But here's the thing: even with the raise, our hourly rate will be roughly $12.69, still less than what they're demanding. And I guarantee my job's harder--they may have to deal with angry customers from time to time, but I deal with convicted felons all the time. I get that there are people who work at McDonald's or any other minimum-wage joint who are trying to raise families. I get it. I've been there, and the shit ain't fun. You do what you gotta do to get by. But that doesn't mean go to corporate headquarters and demand money that the franchise owners probably don't have; it means get promoted, or go to school (college and/or get a GED), or take your talents and skills to some place that pays better. Hell, come work with me; believe me, we need the people, and 11.22/12.69-ish an hour ain't great, but it's a damn sight better than minimum wage. Meanwhile, Matt Bevin won the Republican primary for governor of Kentucky by 83 votes over James Comer. They said that comes out to 4/10,000ths of a percent of the total vote count. 0.0004%! Naturally, Comer's not satisfied; he's demanded a recanvass, where the county clerks look over their figures to make sure they reported the right numbers. Next step's a full-fledged recount, followed by court action. Will this work? Probably not. But at least he's trying. This Republican primary was particularly nasty. Seems some allegations surfaced that Comer smacked around a girlfriend in college, and they each seemed to engage in a dick measuring contest over who was more "conservative". Meanwhile, Jack Conway, who won the Democratic primary for governor, stood back and watched the show; his challenger raised not a dime. He managed to win just over 20% of the vote, so he must've done SOMETHING, but still. Something that's always made me scratch my head is how Kentucky can cast so many damn votes for Republicans in congressional and presidential elections, yet elect Democrats as governor. And I thought Indiana voters were schizo. . . The Greater Clark County school board shit out a gem not long ago, coming up with some half-assed idea to do a whole assload of school renovations. They want to place a referendum on the November ballot that will raise about $110-120 million for this work, with a resultant increase in property taxes. The thing is, they want to close five elementary schools in the process. Under their plan--which has not been publicly released despite numerous attempts--Maple and Bridgepoint would merge into a renovated Parkview Middle School, which will be repurposed as an elementary school; Spring Hill will merge into Northaven Elementary, which will be expanded; Thomas Jefferson will merge into Wilson, which will get a new building; and Pleasant Ridge in Charlestown will be closed. No idea if they're merging with Jonathan Jennings--the other elementary school in Charlestown--or if PR will go into the new elementary they want to build there. A replacement for Parkview would be built, and most other schools would be renovated. Bridgepoint's building would become an alternative school and the others sold. Except for Pleasant Ridge--it would be razed,and an athletic facility for Charlestown High School built in its place! These morons on the school board, and their lap-dog superintendent, must think we're fucking stupid or something. It wasn't that long ago that we passed a property tax increase to pay for renovations at the high schools, including an expansion at Jeffersonville High School. We're still paying for that one. And they want us to pay AGAIN? For a project that will lead to schools closing? And an athletic center being built where one of those schools is at? Over in Floyd County, they shot down a similar referendum during the recent May primary that would have cost just over $80 million. What the fuck makes these people think we're going to support a bigger referendum? Luck? I think I'm going to run for school board. We need someone with an actual functioning brain up there. Meanwhile, I got to spend part of the day hearing about "priorities". Seems my future brother in law has his priorities straight: go to singing classes, go be the man about town, you know, fun stuff. Nowhere in there is replacing that tire that keeps going flat, or making an effort to pay his share of the "house tax" here, you know, responsible adult stuff. I know that I probably shouldn't throw rocks at glass houses, because my shit ain't completely together. I'll at least admit it. He won't. He thinks he ought to be able to do whatever he wants to and you know what? Fuck it. Let him. When he ain't got a way to get anywhere because his van's broke down somewhere, he'll. . .well, I was going to say he'll figure it out, except he won't. Not by a long shot. He'll get mad at his and Katie's mom for staying on him about what his real priorities ought to be, then probably get mad at me when I tell him that I ain't playing taxi for him. And I damn sure ain't going to. Nor is he taking my car anywhere. That's just the way it has to be. I know my shit's not all there, sometimes I gotta be brought back to reality, but at least I can be brought back. And I am at least making an effort. He's not. And the worst part is, I've kept my mouth shut about it. But I don't know if it's my place to say anything. And I just saw another gem--Josh Duggar resigned from the Family Research Council because it recently came to light that he was accused of molesting some kids a few years ago. Five girls. Four were his sisters. These are all allegations, of course, but there is a police report out there. We'll see where this goes. I've little use for the Duggars, and if these allegations prove true, perhaps it'll be the jolt necessary to knock them off their high horses and bring them back to reality themselves. Glass houses. . . That's my grab bag for the evening. Enjoy! |
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July 2015
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