The last couple weeks have been interesting. For global readers, this blog originates in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin (USA). For those in 'Creek - it's true, this blog has intermittent and regular readers from around the world. Hang on a second while I check the list... Here it is:
Canada
Singapore
United Kingdom
Philippines
Kuwait
Malaysia
United Arab Emirates
Sweden
Australia
France
Guam
Portugal
Italy
Ireland
Brazil
and even though it didn't come up on my stats software, there may be a potential reader in Kyrgystan.
Granted 90 percent of 'Fieldtrips' readers are from the USA and 70 percent of those are from Wisconsin. Almost all of the readers also read CreekNews the intermittent cyber newspaper/magazine that tries to keep up with the local news.
One of the things I like about the news field is that it is 24/7. But for the first time in a long time I feel like taking a break. Not a vacation, but a real break to step back and look at things. Not that I'd assess things differently upon return. Just a step back to look, like a sculptor who steps away from his work to take a good look, a writer who sets aside a manuscript before editing it. Like a sailor who drops all sails and throws out a drogue after an unforeseen gale slams a near upset - giving skipper and crew a chance to reassess, and for pulses to return to normal.
There are several curiousities that have accumulated of late, and they need to be considered.
As those who are in the 'Creek area know, several issues have arisen lately. THe issue of a new public safety facility for the Fire Department and EMS has ridden a rollercoaster. A site is chosen, then discarded, a design is chosen then discarded, a new site is chosen then a new design is accepted then both are discarded...
A new school issue went before the public along with a decision on school operating costs. Those two offerings were defeated at a 4 to 1 ratio.
(In one way I feel very good about Tuesday's decision: It is very unlikely that this showing at the local polls had any influence from any voting machine manufacturers. The number of people who voted clearly reflected the number of votes cast, so there is every reason to believe that - unlike the November vote in Florida and Ohio - the polls reflected the actual wishes of the people, and that is something to celebrate. But that's another blog.)
But there are some points of confusion...
You've heard those sometimes curious sets of silly questions that go, "Why does the drive-up ATM have instructions in Braille?" or "Why is a quickly avoided mid-air collision called a near miss instead of a near hit?" or "Why do people use the term 'hot water heater' instead of just 'water heater?'"
In that vein here are some questions:
Why does it appear that people don't care if the Fire Department and EMS are properly equipped until their own house is on fire or their loved one is having a heart attack?
Why do people say they value education, but really don't find that value to be worth...oh...let's say paying for?
and here's a good one...
Why won't people do their homework to get or check facts, but will spend plenty of energy, time and yes sometimes money to spew inaccurate opinions? "I'm going to wait until a loud person says what I want to hear...because I live on Fantasy Island...Boss, de plane, de plane."
Oh such silliness - as the toddler character 'Stewie' on the animated television program 'Family Guy' might say in his demonic British accent, "Eerie isn't it? Almost like seeing the future."
Well, I don't know if 'Creek needed a new school or not. I DO KNOW, based on published data, that students learn in the best possible environment. Additionally, the local information was reliable, because I am paid to observe this and other schools' operations in meetings on the behalf of the public who cannot or don't wish to attend.
I also KNOW that the operating expense need is very real, NOT because a school board is just spending everyone's money to have a good time. Hell, as a group, I can't think of any organizations or individuals MORE FRUGAL than the typical school board. But the loud people sure can get the attention of the rest of you who don't do your homework on these issues. (One could conclude that you're not in favor of supporting education because you look in the mirror and say "Heck, look how far I've got without one.")
The FACT IS the amount of money a school in Wisconsin can levy is limited to the district valuation formula and a 1.5 percent increase annually. This FACT was in place while health insurance companies decided to have a sudden increase of 25 to 35 percent (as they did six years ago, and five years ago, and four years ago...and...) with impeccable timing pushing most districts 10 to 15 percent over total budget.
That's right ladies and gentlemen, that money is collected by the schools on behalf of the health insurance companies. It doesn't even go near anything having to do with education, makes a sharp U-turn and zing! Off it goes in a premium check to the health insurance companies.
(Speculative conversation of insurance company execs in smoke filled conclave: "Hey, here's a way to collect money from EVERYBODY and put the blame on the schools."
The TRUTH is nobody has ever given a reason for the outrageous increases in those specific costs, although some I contacted gave excuses. And it is only one extreme example.
Meanwhile teachers and programs have been cut, and teachers have made concessions in health benefit coverage.
As Jefferson resident Dr. Stoner, member of the Jefferson School Board said last year, "It's as if they back an armored truck up to the school every month for the insurance premium funds."
And of course there are the normal increases in expenses. Now really, you and I are paying more at the gas pump, right? Do you think the schools have a special magic energy resource?
As this gets written the current bill for the war in Iraq is $160.4 billion.
Let us consider one billion of something...anything. Fellow blogger Cosmo McMoon who writes the Freedom File blog pointed out that one billion seconds ago it was 1959, one billion minutes ago Jesus was walking the Earth, one billion hours ago humans were pretty much begining to come into their own on the planet. BUT one billion dollars was only 8.5 hours ago for US government spending.
Do a little more homework and you'll find Wisconsin's portion of that $160.4 billion spent on the effort in Iraq if divided per capita would have provided more than 46,000 teachers in state schools for a year. (Does the state need that many teachers? Probably not, but there would have been less of a need for an operating expense decision at the polls Tuesday.) But nobody is being loud about that spending. Nobody is using fact OR loud inaccuracies to question those priorities.
Nobody wants to pay out any more of their earnings than they must for anything, but it is the nature of this nation to jointly support things that we value. Not only do EMS and Fire Department personnel volunteer to be called out at any hour in any conditions to help you and your family and your neighbors, they also pay taxes.
Yep, there is no question that a new school would be a chunk of change, and I won't try to argue the FACT that schools have a positive influence on local growth which in turn brings down taxes and increases the standard of living and makes the facility a tangible community asset - data based info, by the way. (I know some people have trouble with things like facts and truth.)
I'm not independently wealthy, especially while trying to get two college students through school and closer to pushing them out of the nest..."Okay my children, if you're reading this '...Fly, be free,graduate from college, test your wings, buy and eat out of your own refrigerator...!'" And remember that each school board member and each teacher and administrator also pays taxes (and many have children in college nearing the edge of the nest, too.)
Here's the way I see it. Somebody paid for me to have an education, many of those people at that time may have moved from a different community to the town where they paid for me to have a school and education. Since then many may have moved on, indeed many of them may not be living anymore, period. I have moved from that community, and instead of paying any compensation for the education I got in my hometown back to that hometown, I pay that compensation to the local institutions. It may be after I move on if I choose to, or maybe after I'm gone entirely, but the students who benefit from the education I help provide them with now will be responsible for making sure that the young people where they choose to live have an adequate education.
In the meantime, I know I can look eye-to-eye with myself in a mirror and say "I value education."
'Eerie, isnt it?'
Best to all,
Lloyd
