I love the line "We skipped the light fandango", which is from the Procol Harum song Whiter Shade of Pale. Why?
First, the line just sounds so very, very cool. And it sounds so very, very deep.
Second, it actually doesn't mean anything. Yes, that's right, it has no real meaning. I recall reading an interview with Procol Harum's keyboard player (and the individual that sings this song) Gary Brooker, who once said that the line actually has no meaning, despite how deep it sounds. In fact, I've read some speculation that the line is an ever so slight lift from an 1890 song "Sidewalks of New York", which has a verse that goes "We tripped the light fantastic".
The moral of the story? Not everything needs to have some deep meaning associated with it. Sometimes it's just okay.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
A Dozen Reasons Why "The Fairness Docterine" Is A Bad Idea
- The government can't really run the government...and they think they can determine what constitutes "fair"?
- The very concept of "fair" is arbitrary...my "fair" may be different that your "fair".
- Blowhards like Rush Limbaugh don't convince anyone of anything; they simply preach to their respective choirs. Anyone who thinks that Limbaugh's audience needs, wants or would listen to an alternative point of view should email me at genagrippa@gmail.com, as I have some potentially lucrative Serbian real estate deals for you to consider.
- Media is far too twistedly regulated already. Case in point: the government goes nuts over Janet Jackson's breast being shown during prime time. Tell me, how many people are killed in TV shows during prime time? Call me crazy, but I think a nipple is far less dangerous than mock violence, yet one is punished and the other is encouraged. Another case in point: Oprah Winfrey has had TV shows that reference aspects of female sexuality and was applauded for the effort, yet Howard Stern used the same basic language and ended up getting record fines by the FCC.
- Politicians are innately self serving, so any regulations centering around "fairness" would more serve their needs than ours.
- I like the asinine comments by people like Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh to go unopposed. Seriously, I do. Having an admitted drug addict like Limbaugh say "...and so if people are violating the law by doing drug, they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up..." (the Rush Limbaugh Show, October 5, 1995)...is simply priceless.
- The law shouldn't be in the business of under-writing any person's agenda, be they conservative or liberal.
- If we have a Fairness Doctrine for political speech, what next? Perhaps a fairness doctrine for religion too? I don't want to imagine just what would be shown as a counter to something like Benny Hinn's show.
- What degree would a Fairness Doctrine go? Would spew from a "Neo-NAZI Daughters of the Klan" supporter need to be countered by commentary from a representative from the "Destroy Evil Whitey" group?
- Anything aimed at the lowest common denominator of intelligence...i.e. those stupid enough to be swayed by media propaganda (be it left or right leaning)...is inherently an insult to the intelligence of those of us who have more than three functional brain cells.
- The prospect of a Fairness Doctrine plays into the hands of extremist nut-bags. They love the idea, as it provides some measure of proof that they are somehow right in their rants.
- Free and unencumbered discourse is the best antidote to the spew of wackos. Sunlight was, is, and always will be the best disinfectant.
Business 101: How NOT to Solve Your Bad PR Problem
"Toyota sends new gas pedals to factories before dealers"
This is an AP story that appears in this morning's Scranton Times on page one. I can't readily find the story on-line, but that's okay: this is a classic example of what a business should NOT do when faced with this kind of problem. Whether the story is true or not probably isn't nearly as important as the damage that this kind of headline can do to a reputation.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Urban Dictionary Word of the Day: "Snookie"
I love the Urban Dictionary. In fact, I'd say that if you have teenagers or 20-somethings at home, you need the Urban Dictionary.
Anyway, I kept hearing about this character on the TV show Jersey Shore named "Snookie". Sure enough, the Urban Dictionary came to the rescue.
You can find out what "Snookie" is HERE.
If you are really curious, this is what a "Snookie" actually looks like.
Anyway, I kept hearing about this character on the TV show Jersey Shore named "Snookie". Sure enough, the Urban Dictionary came to the rescue.
You can find out what "Snookie" is HERE.
If you are really curious, this is what a "Snookie" actually looks like.
Why Funding Space Exploration Matters
Article Link Here.
I've read several articles over the past few days that indicate President Obama's desire to gut funding for NASA's Constellation program. As noted in the article, this is the initiative to create launch vehicles (based on existing technology) that will facilitate further exploration of the Moon, Mars and other projects. Cutting this funding is an enormous mistake on many different levels.
Why?
Who we are as a people is at least in part defined by our ability to dream big dreams and act on them. Having a NASA budget that is focused on "Earth-science projects" is as about as inspirational as studying bacteria cultures on dish-rags. Of all the science we, as a species perform, the exploration of space has the potential to be the most inspirational and the most insightful. When we refuse to dream big...and act on those big dreams...we make ourselves small as a people.
In addition to being inspirational, space exploration drives technological innovation. Here is just a partial list of innovation developed from the work on NASA and space exploration.
Space exploration is uniquely suited to America's best-self. While as a people we make plenty of mistakes, we often make those mistakes as leaders. Yes, when you are out in front, it's often easy to point out flaws, but we never the less lead. If we don't lead in the exploration of space, who will?
Finally, while Americans are notorious for being short-term thinkers, there is a simply (but Geeky) fact to consider: Our future is out there. This place we live on, planet Earth, has a finite existence. Now we are talking hundreds of millions of years of habitable planet available to us, it is never the less finite. The technologies that are dreamed of today may play a role in saving our species in the distant future. I know, this is a difficult concept to grasp for a people that is mostly focused on how long the line will be for coffee in the morning, but our failure to think about it doesn't make it go away.
It's my hope that truly smarter heads will prevail and that the manned exploration of space will be funded to appropriate levels.
I've read several articles over the past few days that indicate President Obama's desire to gut funding for NASA's Constellation program. As noted in the article, this is the initiative to create launch vehicles (based on existing technology) that will facilitate further exploration of the Moon, Mars and other projects. Cutting this funding is an enormous mistake on many different levels.
Why?
Who we are as a people is at least in part defined by our ability to dream big dreams and act on them. Having a NASA budget that is focused on "Earth-science projects" is as about as inspirational as studying bacteria cultures on dish-rags. Of all the science we, as a species perform, the exploration of space has the potential to be the most inspirational and the most insightful. When we refuse to dream big...and act on those big dreams...we make ourselves small as a people.
In addition to being inspirational, space exploration drives technological innovation. Here is just a partial list of innovation developed from the work on NASA and space exploration.
Space exploration is uniquely suited to America's best-self. While as a people we make plenty of mistakes, we often make those mistakes as leaders. Yes, when you are out in front, it's often easy to point out flaws, but we never the less lead. If we don't lead in the exploration of space, who will?
Finally, while Americans are notorious for being short-term thinkers, there is a simply (but Geeky) fact to consider: Our future is out there. This place we live on, planet Earth, has a finite existence. Now we are talking hundreds of millions of years of habitable planet available to us, it is never the less finite. The technologies that are dreamed of today may play a role in saving our species in the distant future. I know, this is a difficult concept to grasp for a people that is mostly focused on how long the line will be for coffee in the morning, but our failure to think about it doesn't make it go away.
It's my hope that truly smarter heads will prevail and that the manned exploration of space will be funded to appropriate levels.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Skrep-Daddy Scores!
Yes, Wilkes-Barre's favorite football hero proves that he probably didn't take any Law...or Civics...or Political Science...or Common Sense...classes at Michigan. Yes, Skrep-Daddy is just now learning that accepting five grand in exchange for a vote is, in fact, considered bribery.
Article Here.
As I've said many-a-time, "football hero" qualifies you to maybe be, well, almost nothing (maybe a a football coach...just maybe). Now Skrep-Daddy will spend some time in jail, and perhaps the voters of Luzerne County will spend some time thinking about what the word "qualification" means the next time they elect a County Commissioner. Here's a hint: the words "football hero" are nowhere to be found.
As something of a coda to this post, I remember a few years ago when Skrep-Daddy had his short-lived sports show on WILK. This is the one where he would proclaim some high school jock the "Stud of the Week". I never did get a reply from WILK to the complaint email I sent them about just how offensive, in so many different ways, that whole concept was. Add this to the roster of other former glamorous and now potentially pin-stripped WILK show hosts, including:
...the "Mansions and Estates" dude who defrauded customers and then went bat-$hit crazy
...the "Money in Motion" dude who apparently did have money in motion...from investor wallets directly into his own bank account
That's a proud history, "hayna or no"*?
(*) Since WILK is so notoriously Wilkes-Barre centric, I thought it might be appropriate to end the post with some colorful local vocabulary.
Article Here.
As I've said many-a-time, "football hero" qualifies you to maybe be, well, almost nothing (maybe a a football coach...just maybe). Now Skrep-Daddy will spend some time in jail, and perhaps the voters of Luzerne County will spend some time thinking about what the word "qualification" means the next time they elect a County Commissioner. Here's a hint: the words "football hero" are nowhere to be found.
As something of a coda to this post, I remember a few years ago when Skrep-Daddy had his short-lived sports show on WILK. This is the one where he would proclaim some high school jock the "Stud of the Week". I never did get a reply from WILK to the complaint email I sent them about just how offensive, in so many different ways, that whole concept was. Add this to the roster of other former glamorous and now potentially pin-stripped WILK show hosts, including:
...the "Mansions and Estates" dude who defrauded customers and then went bat-$hit crazy
...the "Money in Motion" dude who apparently did have money in motion...from investor wallets directly into his own bank account
That's a proud history, "hayna or no"*?
(*) Since WILK is so notoriously Wilkes-Barre centric, I thought it might be appropriate to end the post with some colorful local vocabulary.
Dangling the Shiny Object
There was an announcement at work yesterday that employees could (continue*) to wear denim during the week, as long as it is neat, etc. Big deal right? Well it is to me.
Why?
Two reasons:
#1: It's the whole shiny object concept at play for me. People are being asked to do more with less and there are other challenges I don't want to get into, and rather than make a substantive change that would actually improve the workplace, we instead throw denim at the situation. The sad part is that this will make some people forget other "stuff". It will improve moral for some. How sad is that? We put a lot of our heart and soul into what we do professionally, and yet some can be distracted from real pressing issues simply by a pair of Levis. I can see the senior leaders patting themselves on the back, offering congratulations for helping to solve "the moral problem". I've heard the phrase "sold my soul for Rock-n-Roll", but I guess it has a business version that somehow substitutes "neatly pressed denim" for "Rock-n-Roll".
#2: Our office is one of four major sites for the firm. For years we've struggled to shrug off the whole "back office" view of what we do. Yes, we do have some transaction processing and other similar functions, but we also have account management, finance, marketing and other occupations represented as well. If anything, I think we should dress better. No matter what you do for a living you should strive to do it in the most professional manner possible, and whether we like it or not, how we look sometimes makes as big an impression as what we do. Anyway, if this change were being instituted across the entire firm I'd probably be less skeptical, but since I suspect that it's just a Scranton change, my fear is that it just reinforces a negative stereotype.
So there you have it. Big deal, huh? Well for me it is. Granted there is zero I can do about this organizationally, but I can continue to dress the way I want...which I suppose will be my silent little protest. Fight the power, don't you know.
(*) We normally could wear jeans on Fridays, but that was extended to Monday-Thursday in mid-December.
Why?
Two reasons:
#1: It's the whole shiny object concept at play for me. People are being asked to do more with less and there are other challenges I don't want to get into, and rather than make a substantive change that would actually improve the workplace, we instead throw denim at the situation. The sad part is that this will make some people forget other "stuff". It will improve moral for some. How sad is that? We put a lot of our heart and soul into what we do professionally, and yet some can be distracted from real pressing issues simply by a pair of Levis. I can see the senior leaders patting themselves on the back, offering congratulations for helping to solve "the moral problem". I've heard the phrase "sold my soul for Rock-n-Roll", but I guess it has a business version that somehow substitutes "neatly pressed denim" for "Rock-n-Roll".
#2: Our office is one of four major sites for the firm. For years we've struggled to shrug off the whole "back office" view of what we do. Yes, we do have some transaction processing and other similar functions, but we also have account management, finance, marketing and other occupations represented as well. If anything, I think we should dress better. No matter what you do for a living you should strive to do it in the most professional manner possible, and whether we like it or not, how we look sometimes makes as big an impression as what we do. Anyway, if this change were being instituted across the entire firm I'd probably be less skeptical, but since I suspect that it's just a Scranton change, my fear is that it just reinforces a negative stereotype.
So there you have it. Big deal, huh? Well for me it is. Granted there is zero I can do about this organizationally, but I can continue to dress the way I want...which I suppose will be my silent little protest. Fight the power, don't you know.
(*) We normally could wear jeans on Fridays, but that was extended to Monday-Thursday in mid-December.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Dunmore's collision course with reality
Great article in this morning's Scranton Times.
Link Here.
I've said more than a few times that the borough of Dunmore is living in a dream-like state of denial, believing that it is somehow above the budget realities of the services it provides.
"The borough has a tax base that is insufficient to fund the municipal services it currently provides,"
- Dunmore Solicitor Thomas Cummings
It's nothing short of miraculous that a borough official actually is on record as saying this, although it's worth pointing out that Attorney Cummings doesn't hold an elected office. When you look at the statement of an elected official, as quoted in the article, you get a much more weasel-esque response of "We're still doing research on that,". Yupp, they really should look at the numbers, but here's some food for thought...
If revenue equals "X"
And Expenses equal "Y"
And "Y" is greater than "X"
...then they have a problem.
All ribbing aside, Dunmore (like many communities) has a structural deficit. The municipal budget's expenses are built around the best of times (when revenues are a-plenty), but yet reality dictates that the best of times never last. What then happens is a crisis...such as what Dunmore is inevitably facing...when those best-of-times expenses meet the worst-of-times economy.
Taking a step back for a moment, it's really no different than personal finances, a point that I've made time and time again. During the good times, politicians tend to be like 10 year old boys with $5 in their pockets: the desire to spend becomes this overwhelming force that they can not resist. It also helps that by spending recklessly politicians can then point to all the things they do "for the people". Again this is true in most communities, the City of Scranton most definitely included. However Dunmore (with its paid fire department) seems to me to be a particularly egregious example of living beyond the municipal means.
Dunmore, meet reality.
Link Here.
I've said more than a few times that the borough of Dunmore is living in a dream-like state of denial, believing that it is somehow above the budget realities of the services it provides.
"The borough has a tax base that is insufficient to fund the municipal services it currently provides,"
- Dunmore Solicitor Thomas Cummings
It's nothing short of miraculous that a borough official actually is on record as saying this, although it's worth pointing out that Attorney Cummings doesn't hold an elected office. When you look at the statement of an elected official, as quoted in the article, you get a much more weasel-esque response of "We're still doing research on that,". Yupp, they really should look at the numbers, but here's some food for thought...
If revenue equals "X"
And Expenses equal "Y"
And "Y" is greater than "X"
...then they have a problem.
All ribbing aside, Dunmore (like many communities) has a structural deficit. The municipal budget's expenses are built around the best of times (when revenues are a-plenty), but yet reality dictates that the best of times never last. What then happens is a crisis...such as what Dunmore is inevitably facing...when those best-of-times expenses meet the worst-of-times economy.
Taking a step back for a moment, it's really no different than personal finances, a point that I've made time and time again. During the good times, politicians tend to be like 10 year old boys with $5 in their pockets: the desire to spend becomes this overwhelming force that they can not resist. It also helps that by spending recklessly politicians can then point to all the things they do "for the people". Again this is true in most communities, the City of Scranton most definitely included. However Dunmore (with its paid fire department) seems to me to be a particularly egregious example of living beyond the municipal means.
Dunmore, meet reality.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I struggle...
...with editing my own writing. Most of the time I'm fairly rushed when I am writing, so always end up finding "stuff" later that needs to be changed. Some times I make corrections, some time I don't.
...with small-talk. It's not that I'm unfriendly, it's just that I really, truly don't feel comfortable with the small-talk that sometimes comes with saying "hello" or talking to someone in the cafeteria at work. Here's a little secret: sometimes I'll actually try to make a comment to someone while out shopping or waiting in a check-out line, just because I know it's so difficult for me.
...reading national political news. There seems to be so little common-sense, middle-ground stuff out there; most of it falls into either the "Democrats Evil" or "Republicans Evil" camp.
...understanding why people fall for talk-radio. I don't care about partisan political rants, but I do care about honest discussion and debate about issues and ideas. Glenn Beck ranting about "culture" or Rush Limbaugh trying to convince all his listeners (who don't need convincing, by the way) that President Obama is a closet Muslim/Socialist isn't discussion or debate...it's simply a form of verbal masturbation. Yes, there are those on the left who are just as bad (I can't really watch/listen to Keith Olbermann), but let's be honest here: Republicans have a lock on talk radio. So much for the "media" being filled with "liberal elites", unless someone can make a convincing argument that Limbaugh's 15,000,000 million listeners somehow don't count.
...taking personal risks. I don't consider myself risk-averse, but from the outside looking in I probably am. I'm not sure why either. There is this odd dichotomy about me: I have no problem speaking in front of a group of strangers for an hour (such as what I did on Friday), but yet I stress and worry about spending $600 on new appliances. Why? It's not just money either, as think long and hard about things like career and family-life stuff.
...being healthy. Eating is a constant struggle for me. It takes a lot of effort on my part to ensure that I exercise most days. It may seem like I am disciplined from the outside, but on the inside it's an hour-by-hour, day-by-day struggle.
...trying new things. I guess this goes along with the "taking personal risks" thing. I don't like to try new foods, I don't watch new TV shows, I rarely-to-never listen to new music.
...with small-talk. It's not that I'm unfriendly, it's just that I really, truly don't feel comfortable with the small-talk that sometimes comes with saying "hello" or talking to someone in the cafeteria at work. Here's a little secret: sometimes I'll actually try to make a comment to someone while out shopping or waiting in a check-out line, just because I know it's so difficult for me.
...reading national political news. There seems to be so little common-sense, middle-ground stuff out there; most of it falls into either the "Democrats Evil" or "Republicans Evil" camp.
...understanding why people fall for talk-radio. I don't care about partisan political rants, but I do care about honest discussion and debate about issues and ideas. Glenn Beck ranting about "culture" or Rush Limbaugh trying to convince all his listeners (who don't need convincing, by the way) that President Obama is a closet Muslim/Socialist isn't discussion or debate...it's simply a form of verbal masturbation. Yes, there are those on the left who are just as bad (I can't really watch/listen to Keith Olbermann), but let's be honest here: Republicans have a lock on talk radio. So much for the "media" being filled with "liberal elites", unless someone can make a convincing argument that Limbaugh's 15,000,000 million listeners somehow don't count.
...taking personal risks. I don't consider myself risk-averse, but from the outside looking in I probably am. I'm not sure why either. There is this odd dichotomy about me: I have no problem speaking in front of a group of strangers for an hour (such as what I did on Friday), but yet I stress and worry about spending $600 on new appliances. Why? It's not just money either, as think long and hard about things like career and family-life stuff.
...being healthy. Eating is a constant struggle for me. It takes a lot of effort on my part to ensure that I exercise most days. It may seem like I am disciplined from the outside, but on the inside it's an hour-by-hour, day-by-day struggle.
...trying new things. I guess this goes along with the "taking personal risks" thing. I don't like to try new foods, I don't watch new TV shows, I rarely-to-never listen to new music.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
PA 112th Distrct Candidates
I've been reading a lot on-line about the upcoming primary election, in particular for the seat currently held by Ken Smith for the 112th District. Since this is my district, I'm thinking that I actually should spend some quality time pondering all of this.
Here's what I'm thinking so far...
Ken Smith, the incumbent, lost any and every chance of me ever voting for him via his poorly plotted political ploy of opposing the proposed Methadone clinic in Dunmore. I've done more than my share of ranting against that in prior blogs, so no sense re-hashing the past and raising my blood pressure on a Saturday morning. Suffice to say I question the timing of Mr Smith's actions on the clinic, I question his personal motives, and I question the real intent of his proposed legislation. Mr Smith wants us to believe that a "for profit" medical care is somehow evil. If that's his true stand, then I'll expect to see him bright and early on Monday morning picketing in front of the CIGNA building on Montage Mountain.
Kevin Haggerty, a challenger, has baggage, but not the baggage that others may think. Personally I don't care about his past drinking and bad check problems. We all do make mistakes, and what counts is not that this things happen but rather how a life is changed for the better having made the mistake. No, for me the baggage is that Mr Haggerty works for the county government. To be straight up, I simply question how most folks got their jobs working for the county. Now I believe that Mr Haggerty has worked for the county for a few years, but when he was hired, was the open position advertised? How many applicants were there? I strongly distrust the personnel system in both the city and the county governments; both seemed more designed as job factories for friends and relatives rather than places where the best and brightest desire to work. Look, if I'm wrong and Mr Haggerty got his position without the benefit of any connections and via an open, competitive interview process then I'll gladly retract what I've just written. It's just that the needle of the Burden of Proof meter in NEPA has moved towards "government must prove it is ethical", as opposed to "government is ethical unless we have proof to the contrary".
Bob Lesh was a good friend of my late father-in-law (one of the greatest men I've ever had the privilege to know), Bob Kirchner. As such, I had the opportunity to meet Mr Lesh a few times over the years. This should be a lay-up then in terms of support, right? Well that's the problem: it's not, and here's why...
School Board Service - I think Mr Lesh has done an adequate job as School Director...not spectacular, not an abysmal failure...but adequate. I do realize that making real change on something like a school board is difficult, as there are countless conflicting constituencies at play at any given time. On the plus side, I do believe that the Scranton School District does provide a quality education and has some of the best educational facilities in the area (Scranton High School is probably one of the best secondary education facilities in Pennsylvania). On the minus side, the District is heavily bloated with administrative personnel. How bloated? So bloated that they don't want to even provide the public with an organization chart, despite requests by folks such as myself (I actually spoke at a meeting a few weeks ago specifically to ask for one). So for his work in the District, I can't say one way or another that it benefits his candidacy.
Work Experience - Mr Lesh's work experience doesn't add anything to his ability to serve in the legislature. It simply doesn't. Well maybe only if the subject of public transportation comes up. I just can't see this being of much help to Mr Lesh.
Education - A real minus against Mr Lesh. I'm not an educational snob, but the fact that Mr Lesh dropped out of high school doesn't send a very good signal. The fact that he ended up receiving his G.E.D. helps somewhat, but what would help even more would be some evidence that he has at least pursued some aspect of lifetime learning. Why? I want the people who make decisions...be they at the county administrative building or in Harrisburg...to be smart, well-read, and capable of using logic and reasoning to solve problems. A solid education helps you do those things well.
Other Background - It's a real plus (at least in my book) that Mr Lesh served his country in the United States Marine Corps. The Marines teach discipline, focus, hard work and dedication to duty...all things that we expect in public servants (but seldom see)
Given that I will vote for one of these candidates, it will boil down to either Mr Haggerty or Mr Lesh. I'm hoping that as the campaign progresses, I'll learn enough to make my vote one of conscious affirmation for the best candidate, as opposed to simply picking the "least worst" of those running.
Here's what I'm thinking so far...
Ken Smith, the incumbent, lost any and every chance of me ever voting for him via his poorly plotted political ploy of opposing the proposed Methadone clinic in Dunmore. I've done more than my share of ranting against that in prior blogs, so no sense re-hashing the past and raising my blood pressure on a Saturday morning. Suffice to say I question the timing of Mr Smith's actions on the clinic, I question his personal motives, and I question the real intent of his proposed legislation. Mr Smith wants us to believe that a "for profit" medical care is somehow evil. If that's his true stand, then I'll expect to see him bright and early on Monday morning picketing in front of the CIGNA building on Montage Mountain.
Kevin Haggerty, a challenger, has baggage, but not the baggage that others may think. Personally I don't care about his past drinking and bad check problems. We all do make mistakes, and what counts is not that this things happen but rather how a life is changed for the better having made the mistake. No, for me the baggage is that Mr Haggerty works for the county government. To be straight up, I simply question how most folks got their jobs working for the county. Now I believe that Mr Haggerty has worked for the county for a few years, but when he was hired, was the open position advertised? How many applicants were there? I strongly distrust the personnel system in both the city and the county governments; both seemed more designed as job factories for friends and relatives rather than places where the best and brightest desire to work. Look, if I'm wrong and Mr Haggerty got his position without the benefit of any connections and via an open, competitive interview process then I'll gladly retract what I've just written. It's just that the needle of the Burden of Proof meter in NEPA has moved towards "government must prove it is ethical", as opposed to "government is ethical unless we have proof to the contrary".
Bob Lesh was a good friend of my late father-in-law (one of the greatest men I've ever had the privilege to know), Bob Kirchner. As such, I had the opportunity to meet Mr Lesh a few times over the years. This should be a lay-up then in terms of support, right? Well that's the problem: it's not, and here's why...
School Board Service - I think Mr Lesh has done an adequate job as School Director...not spectacular, not an abysmal failure...but adequate. I do realize that making real change on something like a school board is difficult, as there are countless conflicting constituencies at play at any given time. On the plus side, I do believe that the Scranton School District does provide a quality education and has some of the best educational facilities in the area (Scranton High School is probably one of the best secondary education facilities in Pennsylvania). On the minus side, the District is heavily bloated with administrative personnel. How bloated? So bloated that they don't want to even provide the public with an organization chart, despite requests by folks such as myself (I actually spoke at a meeting a few weeks ago specifically to ask for one). So for his work in the District, I can't say one way or another that it benefits his candidacy.
Work Experience - Mr Lesh's work experience doesn't add anything to his ability to serve in the legislature. It simply doesn't. Well maybe only if the subject of public transportation comes up. I just can't see this being of much help to Mr Lesh.
Education - A real minus against Mr Lesh. I'm not an educational snob, but the fact that Mr Lesh dropped out of high school doesn't send a very good signal. The fact that he ended up receiving his G.E.D. helps somewhat, but what would help even more would be some evidence that he has at least pursued some aspect of lifetime learning. Why? I want the people who make decisions...be they at the county administrative building or in Harrisburg...to be smart, well-read, and capable of using logic and reasoning to solve problems. A solid education helps you do those things well.
Other Background - It's a real plus (at least in my book) that Mr Lesh served his country in the United States Marine Corps. The Marines teach discipline, focus, hard work and dedication to duty...all things that we expect in public servants (but seldom see)
Given that I will vote for one of these candidates, it will boil down to either Mr Haggerty or Mr Lesh. I'm hoping that as the campaign progresses, I'll learn enough to make my vote one of conscious affirmation for the best candidate, as opposed to simply picking the "least worst" of those running.
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