Mayor's Row...by Ned Mitchell
There are several enjoyable things about writing a weekly newspaper column. It gives me a chance to use that journalism degree from college. It gives me a chance to keep Sesser in the forefront and on the map. Whenever I am out shopping, working, visiting, or with the family usually someone will come up and say they are loyal readers of this column and even say "most" of the time they agree with what I write. I have only had one person tell me they did not like what I had written about drunk drivers. Now that is not to say everyone is in agreement with what I say its' just that most folks don't want to be confrontational and tell you when you have said something they do not agree with. I am sure many of my fellow democrats cringe at the thought of this column coming out weekly and me daring to speak the truth about fellow democrats. Of course if they are true democrats they surely must recognize that we all have the right to free speech! Republicans for the most part enjoy the times that I bash the democrats. They are less excited when I speak the truth about the republicans.
Writing this column sometimes is not easy, especially when a professional procrastinator like myself often waits until one hour before deadline to write this masterpiece. I think about the column all week long, jot down notes to myself, research on the internet, and read about 8 newspapers every day, some online and some that I buy at the local convenience store.
My whole purpose for writing this column though is to make an attempt to cause a reaction from readers, one that will make us all think. I often have an opinion about a particular subject only to change that opinion either after much thought, or research, or in talking with that great think tank known as the "Liar's Club" that meets daily for coffee at 3:00 pm at the historic Sesser Opera House Café. So in writing this column I am challenged to think and to put down into words my thoughts in the hopes that it will at least create some debate among the citizens who read it. I am sure that most of the time I am writing and publishing exactly what a lot of people would like to say. If I had a nickel for every time someone came up to me and said "I really like how you tell it like it is", I would be a rich man as far as money goes. That is my goal, to tell it like it is, and to let you decide if you want to make a difference in the world in which we live. We can change things we don't like if we get involved. The last thing either the democrats or republicans in this state want is a huge turn out on Election Day. They make it as hard as they can to get registered to vote. You see if only 30 percent of the voters come out the politicians will have that many paid workers controlling that vote. If 95 per cent of the voters turn out, there is no way either political party can control that many votes. I sometimes think that both major parties do such a good job of messing things up that we are brainwashed into believing that our one vote will not make a difference. We get so turned off by the system we just don't go vote. In all reality this is exactly what the politicians want us to do, stay home on Election Day.
The big question this week in Springfield will feature our State Senator Gary Forby's bill to freeze the utility rates like they were last year. Forby even admits this is not the solution to the problem, but hopes it will buy some time to hammer out an agreement with the utility companies. Attorney General Lisa Madigan is after the utility companies in court over the procedure they used to create the reverse auction that brought on this mess. It remains to be seen if Senate President Emil Jones will "allow" this bill to be voted on. This is one of those feel good bills that almost every Senator will take their 10 minutes of debate and bash the utility companies from the Senate floor. Most of them have taken contributions from the utility companies but not in large amounts directly. The millions of dollars in campaign cash were given to Jones and his counterpart Senator Frank Watson who is the republican leader in the Senate. They in turn hand out hundreds of thousands of dollars to members of their party when they face a tough re election campaign. Even though a particular Senator might be given a half million dollars by his or her leader in the Senate, it is hard to say exactly where all of that money came from.
During my brief service to the citizens of the 59th district I witnessed at least two bills that were passed in the Senate that were later overturned by the Supreme Court. We had a lot of debate and some of the most brilliant legal minds, including Sen. Barack Obama, advised and warned us that these bills were unconstitutional. In the end almost everyone voted for them, including me, because for the most part they were what we thought the folks back home wanted us to do. We also were well aware that once the law was ruled unconstitutional, we could come back home and issue press releases blaming the court system. We did our part, but they failed us in the courts, was the common theme. It was a way of passing the buck.
A few weeks ago I predicted that even if the law is passed in both the house and the senate to roll back the electricity rates and even if the governor signs it, that law will surely be found unconstitutional. Just a few days ago in Chicago one of the major utility companies dared the legislature to pass this law and bluntly told everyone they had their lawsuit ready to file. It is amazing how this system works. We have a legislature in Springfield that has known for 10 years that a day of reckoning was coming. Almost all of them have taken campaign cash from utility companies. Have you given any legislator a half million bucks? I know I haven't so what would make us think that our voice will be heard? It is like we are having a perpetual April Fool's Day everyday! Trust me, money talks and the system we have set up in this state is the most corrupt in the nation. If the legislation gets passed into law rolling back the utility prices, the utility companies will immediately file a lawsuit to stop it from taking place. That will put it into the courts for years to come. More than likely you and I will be stuck with paying the bill until a decision is handed down. The time to act on this problem was before it took place. We had 10 years to come up with a solution and failed. The politicians were not expecting quite the public outcry that has taken place. I am amazed that any of them get re elected but they simply must be doing an adequate job as we keep sending them back to Springfield. There are very few incumbent legislators who lose an election. It is a classic example of money talks and that other stuff walks! I hope you are encouraged to get involved in the electoral process and take the time to become an informed voter.
All legislators have to run for re election as do mayors, school board members, township and county officials so there is no excuse for not being involved. Every one of the above mentioned office holders have a telephone or address. Make your voice heard and get involved. It will make you feel better and it might very well be the thing that ends up saving this state from the career politicians who are eating at the trough on a daily basis.
The Sesser-Valier Thespians will be performing "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" this coming Friday and Saturday. They have been rehearsing in the theater for several weeks now and director Bethany Sink is doing an outstanding job of working with these kids to create a great production. You can call the school for ticket prices and starting times. All tickets are general admission and there are no reserved seats this year. Take the time to come out and encourage these future leaders and give them a pat on the back for a job well done. If you have time, come early and enjoy a fine dinner before the show at the Opera House Café. If you don't have time to eat before the show, stay after and enjoy a fresh ground cup of coffee and one of the home made desserts featured daily at the Opera House.
Sesser's hotline is open for business and as spring cleaning comes around it is a good time to either look over the selection of clothes or to donate items for others to use. Sue Lemons runs the hotline and she is there most mornings after 9:00 weather permitting. This is a valuable service to our community and we appreciate those who donate their time and items to make it successful. The hotline is located in the Goode Township building one block off main street at the intersection of North Walnut and East Callie Streets.
If you need us, give us a call at 625-5322 or 625-3611 or write to nedmitchell@verizon.net or www.sesser.org or P. O. Box 277 Sesser, Illinois 62884. If all else fails, Sesser is a small town so if you have a suggestion or need help look one of us up, we are not that hard to find! | |
|
