Quotas And Set Asides Coming To A Small Town Near You

History is as interesting as it is often tragic.

Once upon a time, in the name of "democracy", Germany, limited the access of a talented and successful minority of its population to a whole host of occupations and positions within society. Of course, we all now know that the Nazis had a lot worse in store for the Jews than ruining careers. German Jews were successful and that led to resentment, which was, of course, Hitler's political capital. Power and not democracy was the focus of the Nazis agenda and removing a "pesky" group of people seen to be blocking the road to power was the goal.

The Maoists during the "cultural revolution" promoted a leveling agenda that specifically excluding informed and articulate academics from their occupations. In the name of equality and "democracy", they were sent to fields to be worked to death. Again, these folks stood in the way of the communists and their dream of their "democratic" ideals and power.

America is a "kinder gentler nation" when promoting quotas and set asides. Here, "democratic" inclusion goes under the name of "affirmative action". However, a quota by any other name is still the same. FOR SOMEONE TO BE PUT FIRST IN LINE, SOMEONE ELSE HAS TO BE HELD BACK. Of course, voting blocks and political parties seeking good old fashion power are the engine that drives the "affirmative action" phenomenon.

What does this have to do with reality in small town America? Every type of foolishness eventually comes to town. And, there are small towns where town managers propose limiting how much citizen volunteers may serve their town. In the cases I'm familiar with, the criteria has nothing to do with righting old racial wrongs. Such proposals are promoted in order to "open up" more positions and bring more people "in" and make the system more "democratic". Plain and simple, it's a "set aside" or quota system. Such proposals are all the more amazing when NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM THE VOLUNTEER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT DETERMINE TOWN POLICIES. In fact, there are rarely enough people available to even fill the openings on most of the town boards and commissions. WHY WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS MOST TOWNS FACE WOULD SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM BEEN ADDED TO AN AGENDA? I submit that this smarmy move is a SET ASIDE for THOSE WHO WILL SAY "YES " to whatever an administration proposes. The INFORMED citizens who give of their time and serve on multiple boards and commissions or boards are simply in the way of those who would lead us in a direction only the UNINFORMED would follow.

Obamamania Or Bust

Barack Hussein Obama, if nominated, now has a chance of success in November. Supporters swooning and tearing up at his rallies is a phenomenon not seen in America since the sixties. This doesn't mean, however, that the Democrats are guaranteed the Presidency. As it has RECENTLY developed, this election is now ONLY a Democrat VICTORY WITH OBAMA.

First, the conservative opposition to John McCain is a major factor in the growing possibilty for a Democrat victory this November. Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh are right in depicting McCain as a chameleon. And, they have already done major damage to his candidacy that will lead many to third parties or on a proverbial fishing trip on election day.

From the right, however, it is Pat Buchanan who is in the position to deliver the knock out blow. There is no forgiving McCain on the Paleo-right. Despite the war, most of it grudgingly voted Republican in the close 2004 election, and, were paid back with a Supreme Court judge. However, McCain isn't trusted on the Supreme Court and he certainly is not trusted on Iraq (and Iran). Don't forget that Buchanan has opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. Buchanan takes McCain at his word when he says that we could be in Iraq for 100 years. Because of the war (and other issues such as "free" trade), Buchanan's magazine the "American Conservative", even flirted with the possibility of a Ralph Nader endorsement back in 2004. Now that Nader is once again considering a run for the presidency (if no anti-war candidate wins the Democratic nomination), he could be able to count much of the Buchanan anti-war right among his supporters.

Would the war be enough to transfer Paleo votes to Obama if he as the anti war canadidate wins the Democrat nomination and Nader doesn't run? Thinking about the war producing such an outcome is mind-boggling. He is the most liberal member of the Senate. The fact that he has gotten as close as he has to the presidency is, however, also mind boggling. Support from the Paleo right for him may come indirectly through the already mentioned election day fishing trips.

The next important ingrediant is the Clintons. Today, Hillary slipped behind in Texas polls. This leaves her Pennsylvannia, Ohio and the "super delegates" with which to pull out a victory. Pennsylvania is still very much in play. Despite the Osama Obama phemonenon that I referred to in Philly (January 4th post), the older voters from Philly's river wards and other older traditional Democrats in the coalfields from Shamokin to Scranton may not be enough to save her. Remember, vote rich Philly is three cities. In this case, the young and liberal mostly white Center City will unite with the black North and West to give Obama the edge in PA. What's Ohio going to do? It's similar to PA with Cleveland analogous to Philly. Ohio is no firewall for the Clintons either.

If they can't win with the voters, this only leaves them with the "super delegates". The Clintons have a lot of IOUs out there and many of the "super delegates" are recipients of the Clinton largess. Winning enough of them is still a very big question. However, WINNING the nomination WITH the "SUPERS" would be an absolutely WORTHLESS Phyrric victory. With Obama having made it so far, the sense of BETRAYAL that would overwhelm the black base of the Democrat party would sink any chance of victory in November.

To my Democrat friends, it's Obama or bust!

The Development Dependency Complex

Development is like a drug addiction for some small towns. This town needs to be careful not to yield to the temptation to use the fees to be generated by development as the cornerstone of its budget. It's a deal with the Devil and the temptation is right here on our doorstep. WE MUST NOT GO INTO DEBT IN ORDER TO ATTRACT DEVELOPERS AND THEIR FEES. Ridgely must be careful to continue with the policy that DEVELOPMENT MUST PAY ITS OWN WAY.

Many of you have heard about the problems that Ridgely faces with getting its development plans approved by the Maryland Department of the Environment. Many of you also know that our town is way off budget. Sadly, spending has gone on as if everything was already approved and the money needed has been taken from the water/sewer fund. If(and it's still a big "if")the Ridgely Park development falls through because of the delays, we must NOT go ahead and borrow money (about $5 million) to build a wastewater treatment plant. If Ridgely Park is not OK, Ridgely and its plans to build a wastewater treatment plant are not OK. Ridgely Park is to pay for the plant. This fact can't be more plain and simple.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR DEVELOPERS TO MAKE HUGE PROFITS. The town has correctly made sure developers cover their costs to the citizens of Ridgely. We've increased our impact fees from $3,000.00 (at the time of Lister Estates) to $12,000.oo (by the time Ridgely Park was proposed). Ridgely Park is a carefully planned development that RESPECTS our community traditions AND IT WOULD PAY ITS OWN WAY. WE SHOULD SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS. Without it, we are back to the drawing board. And, we should certainly not put ourselves as a community over a financial barrel. WE MUST NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE MUST DEVELOP IN ORDER TO PAY FOR DEFICIT SPENDING.

We are not alone in facing such a problem. Below is a link to a town that is still fighting to regain control of its destiny after making mistakes. >http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=13844