I am glad that people are taking the time to read my column. I occasionally get personal phone calls at home or emails from people who wish to comment on the column. I got
this feedback today. It is an audio file that you can either listen to by clicking on the link or downloading it and playing it on your computer.
Here is my response and SPOILER NOTICE if you have not already listened to the clip!
I do not agree with the caller's assertion that without the antique shops, downtown Selma would be "dead". That would only be true if there were no other businesses in the world. "Uptown" Selma can be a triving business district if there are continued business friendly policies that encourage business growth and development. Punitive or discouraging policies do not help businesses grow.
For decades, there were and continue to be businesses that grow in Selma. Restaurants like Sweetwater's, The Anderson Street Soap Company, Selma Jewelry, Creech's Pharmacy, Seller's Auto Parts, and Short's Grill continue to operate successfully in Selma. Parrish Oil was around for a long time before Mr. Parrish passed away. The fact is that other businesses can be successful in Selma, not just antique shops.
Making Selma into a downtown centered around antique shops does a disservice to the local citizens who would normally patronize a wide range of businesses. As it is, I only go to a restaurant, to the soap company every few months, town hall, the jewelry shop a few times a year, the pharmacy once in a while, and the post office. Other than that, there is little in "uptown" that attracts me.
Antique shops do not attract locals. They attract visitors from out of town or out of state. In case you have not seen, Selma's downtown is almost dead, anyway, in regards to regular traffic of customers. There is little repeat business for buyers of old furniture compared to other businesses. There is certainly little reason for me to visit antique shops unless I am looking for antiques.
By the way, this is not meant to be a slam to owners of antique shops. I commend them for being entrepreneurs. For that, they deserve my kudos. It is a slam to the policy of alienating the very people who pay the taxes in Selma and are potential customers by the maintaining a downtown motif that does not serve the greater good.
It is not true that without the old furniture stores that Selma would be dead. It would just be filled with other types of stores to fill the void.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday, August 17, 2006
August 17, 2006 column
Here I am listening to my new iPod and debating which way to go with the column. I finally entered the yuppie techno world. I have a list of worthy topics on which to comment. I also realize that timeliness of the topic is important. So I have elected to comment on a few of the recent local happenings in the town.
I try to attend as many town council meetings as possible. I usually hear after the fact that the occasional one I miss always seems to have been great for entertainment value. This past meeting was entertaining to me personally, but at the same time, it was positive for the town.
One of the items handled was the council's decision to put off pursuing a railroad "quite zone" in Selma. I have written rather poignantly about this in previous months on the internet and in letters to the editor of this paper.
Since Selma is in a stage of budget constraints, staff reductions, and the like, pursuing the issue would be inappropriate at this time. There are other issues about this particular matter that I have addressed already and won't take up valuable print space for again. However, it will suffice to say that our mayor and two councilmen made the right decision to stop wasting time and nix this issue right now. Mayor Hester, Councilman Jackson, and Councilman Weaver, you have my personal gratitude for putting this matter to rest and not drawing it out any further.
Another issue that you will find reported in this week's paper is the decision by the Town Council to amend the business customer utility deposit policy in Selma. If Selma is going to recruit and keep businesses in town, this is the right direction for us. The idea behind the policy change is to encourage business growth and entrepreneurship in town.
Quite honestly, I have considered opening a shop in Selma. Hefty utility deposits would contribute to making me consider other options. Oh, that and the fact that I don't have the capitol budget needed. We give big breaks to big business to lure them to town. We also need to consider the small business owners who make "uptown" a destination place, as well as any other areas serviced by our utilities. The idea of being punitive in deposits for utility service for property and business owners because of the patterns of customers who are residential renters is unfair and just bad business. I am glad to see that the Council is heading in the right direction.
I personally don't go into "uptown" for much for shopping, since I am not in the market for old furniture or house wares. For the average citizen in Selma, the concept of keeping an "Antique Mecca" is not the most useful one. I may support my local pharmacy and restaurant. Other than that, I don't shop in "uptown" much. It is my sincere hope that the utility deposit coupled with a paradigm shift that I can only wish for in Selma will help this town develop into a thriving business community.
Almost but not quite changing topics, here is something for the town's consideration in the quest for the continuation of finding places to save money while working on the town's image.
Christmas is a special time of year, and the town usually decorates the town with utility pole ornamentation and strings lights throughout town. Most people take down Christmas decorations following the holiday. It is a stereotype that "rednecks" and "undocumented workers" (to use the politically correct term) leave their Christmas lights running all year long.
If we are trying to save money and create a positive image for the town, why is Selma spending money on Christmas lights all year? We seem to be taking away from the special time that we consider Christmas to while perpetuating a stereotypical image for Selma. It is a bad public relations move to lay off workers, cut budgets, levy hefty "fuel surcharges" on our utility bills (undisclosed rate hike) and then spend money on unnecessary Christmas lighting all year long.
I try to attend as many town council meetings as possible. I usually hear after the fact that the occasional one I miss always seems to have been great for entertainment value. This past meeting was entertaining to me personally, but at the same time, it was positive for the town.
One of the items handled was the council's decision to put off pursuing a railroad "quite zone" in Selma. I have written rather poignantly about this in previous months on the internet and in letters to the editor of this paper.
Since Selma is in a stage of budget constraints, staff reductions, and the like, pursuing the issue would be inappropriate at this time. There are other issues about this particular matter that I have addressed already and won't take up valuable print space for again. However, it will suffice to say that our mayor and two councilmen made the right decision to stop wasting time and nix this issue right now. Mayor Hester, Councilman Jackson, and Councilman Weaver, you have my personal gratitude for putting this matter to rest and not drawing it out any further.
Another issue that you will find reported in this week's paper is the decision by the Town Council to amend the business customer utility deposit policy in Selma. If Selma is going to recruit and keep businesses in town, this is the right direction for us. The idea behind the policy change is to encourage business growth and entrepreneurship in town.
Quite honestly, I have considered opening a shop in Selma. Hefty utility deposits would contribute to making me consider other options. Oh, that and the fact that I don't have the capitol budget needed. We give big breaks to big business to lure them to town. We also need to consider the small business owners who make "uptown" a destination place, as well as any other areas serviced by our utilities. The idea of being punitive in deposits for utility service for property and business owners because of the patterns of customers who are residential renters is unfair and just bad business. I am glad to see that the Council is heading in the right direction.
I personally don't go into "uptown" for much for shopping, since I am not in the market for old furniture or house wares. For the average citizen in Selma, the concept of keeping an "Antique Mecca" is not the most useful one. I may support my local pharmacy and restaurant. Other than that, I don't shop in "uptown" much. It is my sincere hope that the utility deposit coupled with a paradigm shift that I can only wish for in Selma will help this town develop into a thriving business community.
Almost but not quite changing topics, here is something for the town's consideration in the quest for the continuation of finding places to save money while working on the town's image.
Christmas is a special time of year, and the town usually decorates the town with utility pole ornamentation and strings lights throughout town. Most people take down Christmas decorations following the holiday. It is a stereotype that "rednecks" and "undocumented workers" (to use the politically correct term) leave their Christmas lights running all year long.
If we are trying to save money and create a positive image for the town, why is Selma spending money on Christmas lights all year? We seem to be taking away from the special time that we consider Christmas to while perpetuating a stereotypical image for Selma. It is a bad public relations move to lay off workers, cut budgets, levy hefty "fuel surcharges" on our utility bills (undisclosed rate hike) and then spend money on unnecessary Christmas lighting all year long.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Column for August 10, 2006
Just within the past few days, I was accused of spouting "the party line" in one of my opinions. Usually, my views run contrary to both major political parties. Occasionally, they align. Rarely do I agree with Democrats on anything. Over the past few years, I have noticed one issue with which we are in agreement. Yes, I know, it may be a sign of the Apocalypse, but I actually agree with the liberals on aspects of The Patriot Act.
There are some provisions of The Patriot Act with which I agree. I don't mind interception of phone calls originating outside the country from known terrorist regions or enemy states. We did the same during the Revolutionary War, just low tech style. There are some major provisions with which I disagree. One with which I strongly disagree is turning librarians and other librarians into spies and servants of the Federal Government's intelligence gathering efforts.
The town of Arcata, California gets it right, in my opinion. As a matter of fact, I do believe that here in the town of Selma, we should adopt an ordinance similar to theirs, with minor revisions. Ordinance 1339 in Arcata states, "No management employee of the City shall officially assist or voluntarily cooperate with investigations, interrogations, or arrest procedures, public or clandestine, that are in violation of individuals’ civil rights or civil liberties…" With that, I wholeheartedly agree. The problem I do see is with another part of the ordinance, "No management employee of the City shall officially engage in or permit unlawful detentions or profiling based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, political or religious association that are in violation of individuals’ civil rights or civil liberties…" I would love to see an ordinance in Selma with that segment amended.
The fact is that the United States has been attacked by certain groups of people. Part of The Patriot Act is designed to access library records in an effort to provide intelligence on terrorist organizations. Honestly, your average "soccer mom", grandma, or student is not the problem, and we all know that. To make their library habits and activities available to the federal government is absurd.
Racial profiling is not a politically correct term or activity. But let's face it, all the alleged hijackers on Sept. 11, 2001 were from a particular area of the world. So were the attackers on the USS Cole, and the first Trade Center attack. The list goes on. So, unless a librarian observes young males checking out books on explosives while studying maps of Selma's pipeline terminals and speaking in Middle Eastern accents, why should anyone care what library activities are going on?
That is the "unreasonable search and seizure" aspect that the town of Arcata, California decided to address. They made it a violation of the town's ordinance to comply with such provisions of The Patriot Act.
I am all for that, since not all laws are legal, nor are they necessarily moral.
About ten years ago, two men, myself being one of them, took a stand when a group of people were being discriminated against here in Selma and vocalized objections to the discriminatory policies that were being enacted in town. I worked at the town's only radio station, back when we still had a radio station. It was unpopular, but it was the right thing to do.
Homeland security begins just as the term says, at home. It is all of our responsibility as citizens to be vigilant about our own protection and that of our fellow human beings. But we must be equally vigilant about protecting the rights of all men. For that reason, I believe that the town council should consider an ordinance similar to Arcata, California's Ordinance 1339. Sometimes, liberals do get it right.
I will put the text of Arcata's ordinance on troylaplante.com, or you can search for it online. It is well worth our consideration.
There are some provisions of The Patriot Act with which I agree. I don't mind interception of phone calls originating outside the country from known terrorist regions or enemy states. We did the same during the Revolutionary War, just low tech style. There are some major provisions with which I disagree. One with which I strongly disagree is turning librarians and other librarians into spies and servants of the Federal Government's intelligence gathering efforts.
The town of Arcata, California gets it right, in my opinion. As a matter of fact, I do believe that here in the town of Selma, we should adopt an ordinance similar to theirs, with minor revisions. Ordinance 1339 in Arcata states, "No management employee of the City shall officially assist or voluntarily cooperate with investigations, interrogations, or arrest procedures, public or clandestine, that are in violation of individuals’ civil rights or civil liberties…" With that, I wholeheartedly agree. The problem I do see is with another part of the ordinance, "No management employee of the City shall officially engage in or permit unlawful detentions or profiling based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, political or religious association that are in violation of individuals’ civil rights or civil liberties…" I would love to see an ordinance in Selma with that segment amended.
The fact is that the United States has been attacked by certain groups of people. Part of The Patriot Act is designed to access library records in an effort to provide intelligence on terrorist organizations. Honestly, your average "soccer mom", grandma, or student is not the problem, and we all know that. To make their library habits and activities available to the federal government is absurd.
Racial profiling is not a politically correct term or activity. But let's face it, all the alleged hijackers on Sept. 11, 2001 were from a particular area of the world. So were the attackers on the USS Cole, and the first Trade Center attack. The list goes on. So, unless a librarian observes young males checking out books on explosives while studying maps of Selma's pipeline terminals and speaking in Middle Eastern accents, why should anyone care what library activities are going on?
That is the "unreasonable search and seizure" aspect that the town of Arcata, California decided to address. They made it a violation of the town's ordinance to comply with such provisions of The Patriot Act.
I am all for that, since not all laws are legal, nor are they necessarily moral.
About ten years ago, two men, myself being one of them, took a stand when a group of people were being discriminated against here in Selma and vocalized objections to the discriminatory policies that were being enacted in town. I worked at the town's only radio station, back when we still had a radio station. It was unpopular, but it was the right thing to do.
Homeland security begins just as the term says, at home. It is all of our responsibility as citizens to be vigilant about our own protection and that of our fellow human beings. But we must be equally vigilant about protecting the rights of all men. For that reason, I believe that the town council should consider an ordinance similar to Arcata, California's Ordinance 1339. Sometimes, liberals do get it right.
I will put the text of Arcata's ordinance on troylaplante.com, or you can search for it online. It is well worth our consideration.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
August 3, 2006 column
OOOOPS! "The Selma News" punted my column this week. Sorry about that. I didn't know until I didn't see it in the paper, asked about it, and got a reply. Look for the column next week.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
The text of the Arcata, CA Ordinance 1339
Troy's foreword: I am putting the text of the referenced ordinance here for your reading pleasure. I highlighted the most important parts in red. Note that the ordinance takes the stand that the Constitution should actually be enforced.
ORDINANCE NO. 1339
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA
AMENDING THE ARCATA MUNICIPAL CODE
TO DEFEND THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
TITLE II: ADMINISTRATION; CHAPTER 2: OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES;
ARTICLE 5: DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES
The City Council of the City of Arcata does ordain as follows:
Section 1: Title II: Administration, Chapter 2: Officers and Employees, Article 5: Defending Civil Rights and Liberties, Sections 2190 - 2194 are hereby added to the Municipal Code as follows:
ARTICLE 5 - DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES
SEC. 2190: Purposes.
The purposes of this ordinance are as follows:
A. To protect the civil rights and civil liberties for all and to affirm the City's commitment to embody democracy, and to embrace, defend and uphold the inalienable rights and fundamental liberties granted under the United States and the California Constitutions, as set forth in Resolution 023-32, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata to Defend the Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties, adopted by the Council on January 15, 2003; and
B. To ensure that local law enforcement continues to preserve and uphold residents' freedom of speech, assembly, association, and privacy, the right to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, even if requested or authorized to infringe upon such rights by federal or state law enforcement agencies acting under new powers created by the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56), Homeland Security Act (Public Law 107-296), related executive orders, regulations or future enacted laws, executive orders or regulations.
SEC. 2191: No Unconstitutional Detentions or Profiling.
No management employee of the City shall officially engage in or permit unlawful detentions or profiling based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, political or religious association that are in violation of individuals' civil rights or civil liberties as specified in the Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
SEC. 2192: No Unconstitutional Voluntary Cooperation.
No management employee of the City shall officially assist or voluntarily cooperate with investigations, interrogations, or arrest procedures, public or clandestine, that are in violation of individuals' civil rights or civil liberties as specified in the Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
SEC. 2193: Notification.
Management employees of the City shall promptly notify the City Manager when, in the course of City employment, the following occurs:
A management employee is contacted by another law enforcement agency and asked to cooperate or assist with an investigation, interrogation, or arrest procedure under provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56), Homeland Security Act (Public Law 107-296), related executive orders, regulation or future enacted laws, executive orders or regulations, where such procedure is in violation of an individual's civil rights or civil liberties as specified in the Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Upon such notification from a management employee, or upon such contact directly, the City Manager shall promptly report to the City Council specifying the law enforcement agency seeking cooperation or assistance and the actions requested of the management employee.
SEC. 2194: Defense.
The City shall provide legal defense to any management employee who is criminally charged by another entity for his or her actions in compliance with this Ordinance.
SEC. 2195: Severability.
If any section or sections of the ordinance is or are held to be invalid or unenforceable, all other sections shall nevertheless continue in full force and remain in effect.
Section 2: This ordinance will take effect thirty (30) days after the date of its adoption.
DATED: April 2, 2003.
ATTESTED: APPROVED:
s/ Dan Hauser
City Clerk, City of Arcata
s/ Robert J. Ornelas
Mayor, City of Arcata
Clerk's Certification
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 1339, passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata, Humboldt County, California, on the 2nd day of April, 2003, by the following vote:
AYES: Conner, Meserve, Stewart, Ornelas.
NOES: Machi
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None
s/ Dan Hauser
City Clerk, City of Arcata
ORDINANCE NO. 1339
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCATA
AMENDING THE ARCATA MUNICIPAL CODE
TO DEFEND THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
TITLE II: ADMINISTRATION; CHAPTER 2: OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES;
ARTICLE 5: DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES
The City Council of the City of Arcata does ordain as follows:
Section 1: Title II: Administration, Chapter 2: Officers and Employees, Article 5: Defending Civil Rights and Liberties, Sections 2190 - 2194 are hereby added to the Municipal Code as follows:
ARTICLE 5 - DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES
SEC. 2190: Purposes.
The purposes of this ordinance are as follows:
A. To protect the civil rights and civil liberties for all and to affirm the City's commitment to embody democracy, and to embrace, defend and uphold the inalienable rights and fundamental liberties granted under the United States and the California Constitutions, as set forth in Resolution 023-32, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arcata to Defend the Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties, adopted by the Council on January 15, 2003; and
B. To ensure that local law enforcement continues to preserve and uphold residents' freedom of speech, assembly, association, and privacy, the right to counsel and due process in judicial proceedings, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, even if requested or authorized to infringe upon such rights by federal or state law enforcement agencies acting under new powers created by the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56), Homeland Security Act (Public Law 107-296), related executive orders, regulations or future enacted laws, executive orders or regulations.
SEC. 2191: No Unconstitutional Detentions or Profiling.
No management employee of the City shall officially engage in or permit unlawful detentions or profiling based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, political or religious association that are in violation of individuals' civil rights or civil liberties as specified in the Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
SEC. 2192: No Unconstitutional Voluntary Cooperation.
No management employee of the City shall officially assist or voluntarily cooperate with investigations, interrogations, or arrest procedures, public or clandestine, that are in violation of individuals' civil rights or civil liberties as specified in the Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
SEC. 2193: Notification.
Management employees of the City shall promptly notify the City Manager when, in the course of City employment, the following occurs:
A management employee is contacted by another law enforcement agency and asked to cooperate or assist with an investigation, interrogation, or arrest procedure under provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56), Homeland Security Act (Public Law 107-296), related executive orders, regulation or future enacted laws, executive orders or regulations, where such procedure is in violation of an individual's civil rights or civil liberties as specified in the Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Upon such notification from a management employee, or upon such contact directly, the City Manager shall promptly report to the City Council specifying the law enforcement agency seeking cooperation or assistance and the actions requested of the management employee.
SEC. 2194: Defense.
The City shall provide legal defense to any management employee who is criminally charged by another entity for his or her actions in compliance with this Ordinance.
SEC. 2195: Severability.
If any section or sections of the ordinance is or are held to be invalid or unenforceable, all other sections shall nevertheless continue in full force and remain in effect.
Section 2: This ordinance will take effect thirty (30) days after the date of its adoption.
DATED: April 2, 2003.
ATTESTED: APPROVED:
s/ Dan Hauser
City Clerk, City of Arcata
s/ Robert J. Ornelas
Mayor, City of Arcata
Clerk's Certification
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 1339, passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Arcata, Humboldt County, California, on the 2nd day of April, 2003, by the following vote:
AYES: Conner, Meserve, Stewart, Ornelas.
NOES: Machi
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None
s/ Dan Hauser
City Clerk, City of Arcata
Friday, July 28, 2006
GET YOUR COLLECTOR'S EDITION COPY OF THE SELMA NEWS
GET YOUR COLLECTOR'S EDITION COPY OF "THE SELMA NEWS"
Quick, before they sell out! Get your collector's edition copy of this week's "The Selma News" before they are all sold out. This week's edition has the first and ONLY edition that will contain the banned photograph of me with one of my favorite firearms for a column picture. Since the picture will be gone starting next week, this is your ONLY week to get a copy. They may be worth money some day, you never know. Make this edition a huge seller for "The Selma News"! And now for a little subliminal advertising: BUY, BUY, BUY, BUY, BUY your copy of "The Selma News"! Subscribe, subscribe, subscribe to "The Selma News"! NOW!
Quick, before they sell out! Get your collector's edition copy of this week's "The Selma News" before they are all sold out. This week's edition has the first and ONLY edition that will contain the banned photograph of me with one of my favorite firearms for a column picture. Since the picture will be gone starting next week, this is your ONLY week to get a copy. They may be worth money some day, you never know. Make this edition a huge seller for "The Selma News"! And now for a little subliminal advertising: BUY, BUY, BUY, BUY, BUY your copy of "The Selma News"! Subscribe, subscribe, subscribe to "The Selma News"! NOW!
Society of the offended
We have the right to free speech, free press, freedom of religion, and others so enumerated. For those who have never read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, I have just given you links to go and download your own copies. You will even find a few "freedom from"s in there. What you will not find, however, is freedom from being offended.I don't go out of my way to attempt to offend (except this week when I got ripped off by and ebay seller, but that is another story). The picture that you see on this page for a profile and was used this week in my column was used for a reason. I had actually considered names such as "Shooting Straight", "Taking Aim", or something similar for my column in The Selma News. The picture identifies three passions in life. One is on my head, one is in my hands, and the other on my finger. All three represent common sense, time tested, family oriented, conservative values.
It didn't take long for people who must live to find things to be offended about to complain to the newspaper. Did they complain about my writing, my opinions, or the fact that there was a new column taking up space in the local paper? No. They complained that there was a picture of a gun pointed at them. Not a real gun, a picture of a gun. Actually, of me holding a gun, in a picture, shrunken down and printed in a newspaper. That is supposedly offensive.
That is one thing that I have struggled with here in the South. Don't get me wrong, it is rampant in the liberal mindset propagated across the country. People who are offended are portrayed as victims. Everyone is allowed to be offended about something (unless you are a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant male, apparently) in the current political scene. People in general have little in the way of sense of humor compared to the French Canadian, European, and Yankee influences around which I was reared. It is not a matter of holiness or piety here in the "Bible Belt". That is a peril of zealous piety; self righteousness and false holiness that permeates a society. I say that as a born again Christian and one who has ministered in pulpits, in small groups, and online for years.
I don't blame the newspaper for wanting to pull a picture about which they received a whopping two complaints. I received one phone call of compliment and had a few in person. I do, however, detest the paradigm of taking offense at everything in life in the name of decency.
It was for this reason that I don't have fellowship with some brethren whom I loved dearly. I would not submit to their ideas of things that were unrelated to holiness. Here is a link to a book that I found to be greatly helpful in giving me freedom from that mindset. It is perhaps one of the greatest books I have read on the subject and mirrors what I had in my heart as impressed by the Lord. As a matter of fact, I just paused my writing to order another copy on the internet. I had lent my copy to someone several years back and never got it returned.
Anyway, I don't plan on removing the picture from this site unless I just want a change of scenery, which I tend to do from time to time, as evidenced by the change of the blog appearance recently.
If you like the picture as is, call the paper. I gave you the link to the newspaper web site. They will use the standard portrait picture, probably, until I can come up with something better. Look out, I have a few ideas.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
July 27, 2006 column
July 27, 2006 column
For some time, we have been barraged with the need for building more schools, "No Child Left Behind", More at 4, the need for smaller class size, an "education" lottery, and the mantra of "it's for the children".
What we are really doing is saddling those very children that we are supposed to be caring about with record debt that they will have to work to pay off in the next thirty years every time we pass another bond referendum.
The Johnston County school system has a seven year plan in which they desire to float a bond of up to $234 million to build nine new schools and renovate dozens of others. The School Board desires to have another bond referendum on the ballot by 2007 for funding.
If there is one thing that we should have learned by now is that the cost of building schools and renovating existing ones NEVER works out to be the amount contracted. Just a few weeks ago, it was reported that construction and renovation projects at six Johnston County schools came in $7.27 million over estimates. Do you REALLY believe that any bond we pass will actually cover the projected costs seven years from now? I don't.
I don't have a problem in maintaining existing facilities. I don't have a problem with new school construction if we as a county are growing as fast as we are told we are. I do have a problem with the idea that we are supposed to just accept the same answers and paradigms concerning school district administration.
It has been shown that in California, the concept of class size reduction is a failed one. Results have been dismal. I read that California is abandoning the idea of class size reduction because the results have been so insignificant. Why then are we continuing to duplicate their failed system? The idea as policy originated in California, and the innovators have decided that it is not worth the cost.
One reason is that teachers today in general, are softer than the ones I had while growing up. They have been through an inferior school system themselves, have been raised with a soft upbringing by contrast, have been shown far less discipline and therefore model poor discipline themselves. I don't blame the instructors themselves, since there are many great teachers and the rest are basically a product of a failed liberal experiment that has crippled the education system in this country.
Another major reason is that the largest labor unions in the country are those for educators. Smaller class size, higher salaries, more and newer buildings all mean more educators, more union dues, and therefore more money and power.
If private schools can educate children better for less money, as we have seen repeatedly over the past half century, then why do we persist in patterning our education system after the same failures?
Keeping quality educators, eliminating those educators who should find other career paths, using existing facilities to their fullest, being thrifty with the money we send to the schools, and eliminating non-essential administrative staff will go a long way in improving education and keeping costs down.
Recently, the school system was threatening to sue the county in order to get 1/150th of their requested budget back, claiming that they could not function without that last million dollars. I don't buy that stance and neither should taxpayers.
If textbooks have to last one more year, they have to last. The information about how to add, subtract, form sentences, and write letters has not changed and will not change in the next year. History will only have changed by having one year added to it. I used some ratty, old textbooks while in school and facts do not or should not change from one year to the next.
Take an interest in your county school system. Contact your elected school board and county commission members. Demand accountability from them. Demand quality education at the lowest possible cost, abandonment of failed experimental methods, and the restoration of our schools to the methods of administration and education that made this country great.
For some time, we have been barraged with the need for building more schools, "No Child Left Behind", More at 4, the need for smaller class size, an "education" lottery, and the mantra of "it's for the children".
What we are really doing is saddling those very children that we are supposed to be caring about with record debt that they will have to work to pay off in the next thirty years every time we pass another bond referendum.
The Johnston County school system has a seven year plan in which they desire to float a bond of up to $234 million to build nine new schools and renovate dozens of others. The School Board desires to have another bond referendum on the ballot by 2007 for funding.
If there is one thing that we should have learned by now is that the cost of building schools and renovating existing ones NEVER works out to be the amount contracted. Just a few weeks ago, it was reported that construction and renovation projects at six Johnston County schools came in $7.27 million over estimates. Do you REALLY believe that any bond we pass will actually cover the projected costs seven years from now? I don't.
I don't have a problem in maintaining existing facilities. I don't have a problem with new school construction if we as a county are growing as fast as we are told we are. I do have a problem with the idea that we are supposed to just accept the same answers and paradigms concerning school district administration.
It has been shown that in California, the concept of class size reduction is a failed one. Results have been dismal. I read that California is abandoning the idea of class size reduction because the results have been so insignificant. Why then are we continuing to duplicate their failed system? The idea as policy originated in California, and the innovators have decided that it is not worth the cost.
One reason is that teachers today in general, are softer than the ones I had while growing up. They have been through an inferior school system themselves, have been raised with a soft upbringing by contrast, have been shown far less discipline and therefore model poor discipline themselves. I don't blame the instructors themselves, since there are many great teachers and the rest are basically a product of a failed liberal experiment that has crippled the education system in this country.
Another major reason is that the largest labor unions in the country are those for educators. Smaller class size, higher salaries, more and newer buildings all mean more educators, more union dues, and therefore more money and power.
If private schools can educate children better for less money, as we have seen repeatedly over the past half century, then why do we persist in patterning our education system after the same failures?
Keeping quality educators, eliminating those educators who should find other career paths, using existing facilities to their fullest, being thrifty with the money we send to the schools, and eliminating non-essential administrative staff will go a long way in improving education and keeping costs down.
Recently, the school system was threatening to sue the county in order to get 1/150th of their requested budget back, claiming that they could not function without that last million dollars. I don't buy that stance and neither should taxpayers.
If textbooks have to last one more year, they have to last. The information about how to add, subtract, form sentences, and write letters has not changed and will not change in the next year. History will only have changed by having one year added to it. I used some ratty, old textbooks while in school and facts do not or should not change from one year to the next.
Take an interest in your county school system. Contact your elected school board and county commission members. Demand accountability from them. Demand quality education at the lowest possible cost, abandonment of failed experimental methods, and the restoration of our schools to the methods of administration and education that made this country great.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The first article
Here is my first "LaPlante's Rants" column for July 20, 2006. The newspaper has hit my mailbox, so I figure it may be in a lot of others.
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I have heard it said that opinions are just like armpits; everyone has a couple of them and they usually stink. Fortunately for those around me, I do use deodorant. My opinions, on the other hand have been found to be sweet smelling to some and malodorous to others. That having been stated, I welcome you to my first weekly opinion column here in "The Selma News".
By popular demand, I want to discuss a recent issue that I have written about already on the internet. I have already gotten a decent amount of feedback from some people on my commentary.
Right down the street from my humble abode is an old water tower that belongs to the town. In a recent edition of this newspaper, it was reported that the Selma officials would like to tear down the tower with the reasoning that it is unused and an eyesore.
I wish to applaud the efforts that the town has made in attempting to make Selma "a charming place to be", by cleaning up the town's signage, enforcing town ordinances, and the like. This particular instance, however, needs to be approached in a different manner, in my opinion.
The town is increasing taxes, laying off employees, and cutting expenses. The town is in "crisis mode" financially. Thus, I don't believe this to be the proper time to consider the expenditure of anywhere between $6500 and $12,000 just to tear down a water tower that has been standing harmlessly for years.
Instead, I would much rather see this tower contribute to the image of Selma being a railroad town, an "antique Mecca" (hey, I didn't come up with that slogan. It was here years ago), and a "charming place to be". Either that, or if we are indeed going to dispose of the tower, perhaps we could find a better way of getting rid of it than paying someone to tear it down.
Possible ideas are to search for collectors, theme parks (hey, Disney may want to save a few bucks), and scrap metal dealers willing to take the tower. I even joked on the internet about putting it for sale on ebay. We have the time to take for that process. If it is considered expensive to make the phone calls, then I will gladly donate my free long distance phone line for the purpose.
Other ideas are to make this tower available to cell phone companies looking for a tower location, much like the recent Alltel lease the town is entering with said company. An arrangement for painting and maintenance of the tower in exchange for a portion of the first year's rent will go far in enhancing the town's image and remove the eye sore part of the tower's existence.
Perhaps the county would like to have a high rise rescue training facility for emergency personnel practice. All that would be necessary to keep the tower would be to keep it painted.
I don't really care about the nostalgia of the tower. I really don't care if we tear it down instead of keep it. I do care about spending the taxpayers' money on something for which we may not need to spend it. I would much rather see some creative thinking and effort go into use of town resources.
I understand the concept that the town will seem hypocritical for demanding property owners keep their own properties up to code and looking good and the town not doing the same. However, the town has already been making honest efforts thus far, and have been spending resources and money on those efforts.
I live right down the street from the tower behind The Selma Cotton Mill property. I pass by it almost daily, and don't see it as the eye sore that the town apparently does. I see it as opportunity, instead. I can only hope that the town will approach all such items with this sort of thinking in the future.
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I have heard it said that opinions are just like armpits; everyone has a couple of them and they usually stink. Fortunately for those around me, I do use deodorant. My opinions, on the other hand have been found to be sweet smelling to some and malodorous to others. That having been stated, I welcome you to my first weekly opinion column here in "The Selma News".
By popular demand, I want to discuss a recent issue that I have written about already on the internet. I have already gotten a decent amount of feedback from some people on my commentary.
Right down the street from my humble abode is an old water tower that belongs to the town. In a recent edition of this newspaper, it was reported that the Selma officials would like to tear down the tower with the reasoning that it is unused and an eyesore.
I wish to applaud the efforts that the town has made in attempting to make Selma "a charming place to be", by cleaning up the town's signage, enforcing town ordinances, and the like. This particular instance, however, needs to be approached in a different manner, in my opinion.
The town is increasing taxes, laying off employees, and cutting expenses. The town is in "crisis mode" financially. Thus, I don't believe this to be the proper time to consider the expenditure of anywhere between $6500 and $12,000 just to tear down a water tower that has been standing harmlessly for years.
Instead, I would much rather see this tower contribute to the image of Selma being a railroad town, an "antique Mecca" (hey, I didn't come up with that slogan. It was here years ago), and a "charming place to be". Either that, or if we are indeed going to dispose of the tower, perhaps we could find a better way of getting rid of it than paying someone to tear it down.
Possible ideas are to search for collectors, theme parks (hey, Disney may want to save a few bucks), and scrap metal dealers willing to take the tower. I even joked on the internet about putting it for sale on ebay. We have the time to take for that process. If it is considered expensive to make the phone calls, then I will gladly donate my free long distance phone line for the purpose.
Other ideas are to make this tower available to cell phone companies looking for a tower location, much like the recent Alltel lease the town is entering with said company. An arrangement for painting and maintenance of the tower in exchange for a portion of the first year's rent will go far in enhancing the town's image and remove the eye sore part of the tower's existence.
Perhaps the county would like to have a high rise rescue training facility for emergency personnel practice. All that would be necessary to keep the tower would be to keep it painted.
I don't really care about the nostalgia of the tower. I really don't care if we tear it down instead of keep it. I do care about spending the taxpayers' money on something for which we may not need to spend it. I would much rather see some creative thinking and effort go into use of town resources.
I understand the concept that the town will seem hypocritical for demanding property owners keep their own properties up to code and looking good and the town not doing the same. However, the town has already been making honest efforts thus far, and have been spending resources and money on those efforts.
I live right down the street from the tower behind The Selma Cotton Mill property. I pass by it almost daily, and don't see it as the eye sore that the town apparently does. I see it as opportunity, instead. I can only hope that the town will approach all such items with this sort of thinking in the future.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
prweb.com press release
I am having to get used to this new template. I found out that when published, it does not give the post title or link. So, I am putting it in manually. This press release is going to be on prweb.com within the next day or two.
New opinion columnist announced for "The Selma News", in Selma North Carolina.
"The Selma News", a weekly newspaper in Selma, North Carolina, has added a new local opinion columnist. Troy LaPlante, a local resident and activist will be providing weekly commentaries.
Selma, NC (PRWEB) July 17, 2006 --
"The Selma News", on the web at www.theselmanews.com, a weekly newspaper in Selma, North Carolina, has added a new local opinion columnist. Troy LaPlante, a local resident and activist will be providing weekly commentaries.
Troy LaPlante is no stranger to writing commentaries, being a long time blogger and internet forum regular. He writes regularly in his blog, www.troylaplante.com and owns the regional web site, www.i9570.com.
Last fall, LaPlante ran an unsuccesful campaign for a local town council seat. During that time, he stepped up his blogging and internet presence efforts. This led to more interest in local affairs and getting to know many local government officials.
"I have always had a heart for public service," LaPlante says, "and have been involved with my community and the public since I was a young teenager. Within the last year, I have really had it on my heart to get involved in my hometown and community. If not through serving on the town council, I can still have an effect on my community through just plain getting involved."
LaPlante's blogging efforts have gotten the notice of many local officials in the Town of Selma and the surrounding area. Thousands of local visitors as well as national and international visitors have also been regular readers. Regular involvement at town meetings, a county committee, letters to the editor, and consistent commentaries have all contributed to Troy's success so far.
LaPlante's first published regular column entitled "LaPlante's Rants" will appear in the Thursday, July 20th print edition of "The Selma News". Internet publication of the column will appear after print publication on http://laplantesrants.blogspot.com. A reader feedback voice mail number and email response address will be available to column readers. Feedback may be published online, as well.
Troy LaPlante is a long time North Carolina resident. He is a member of The Constitution Party of North Carolina. He makes his home in Selma, North Carolina along with his wife, Teresa.
New opinion columnist announced for "The Selma News", in Selma North Carolina.
"The Selma News", a weekly newspaper in Selma, North Carolina, has added a new local opinion columnist. Troy LaPlante, a local resident and activist will be providing weekly commentaries.
Selma, NC (PRWEB) July 17, 2006 --
"The Selma News", on the web at www.theselmanews.com, a weekly newspaper in Selma, North Carolina, has added a new local opinion columnist. Troy LaPlante, a local resident and activist will be providing weekly commentaries.
Troy LaPlante is no stranger to writing commentaries, being a long time blogger and internet forum regular. He writes regularly in his blog, www.troylaplante.com and owns the regional web site, www.i9570.com.
Last fall, LaPlante ran an unsuccesful campaign for a local town council seat. During that time, he stepped up his blogging and internet presence efforts. This led to more interest in local affairs and getting to know many local government officials.
"I have always had a heart for public service," LaPlante says, "and have been involved with my community and the public since I was a young teenager. Within the last year, I have really had it on my heart to get involved in my hometown and community. If not through serving on the town council, I can still have an effect on my community through just plain getting involved."
LaPlante's blogging efforts have gotten the notice of many local officials in the Town of Selma and the surrounding area. Thousands of local visitors as well as national and international visitors have also been regular readers. Regular involvement at town meetings, a county committee, letters to the editor, and consistent commentaries have all contributed to Troy's success so far.
LaPlante's first published regular column entitled "LaPlante's Rants" will appear in the Thursday, July 20th print edition of "The Selma News". Internet publication of the column will appear after print publication on http://laplantesrants.blogspot.com. A reader feedback voice mail number and email response address will be available to column readers. Feedback may be published online, as well.
Troy LaPlante is a long time North Carolina resident. He is a member of The Constitution Party of North Carolina. He makes his home in Selma, North Carolina along with his wife, Teresa.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
My first column
My first column has been written, submitted, and I have already gotten feedback from the publisher. It will start in this Thursday's print edition of The Selma News. If for no other reason, you now have a good enough reason to subscribe. ;^) I have been a subscriber for some time, since it is my hometown paper, after all. There are stories and commentaries in the print edition that you will not see in the online edition.
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