tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30130444.post116066939582139721..comments2024-02-16T09:00:32.845-06:00Comments on FromDC2Iowa: "Hat's Off" to the Press-CitizenUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30130444.post-1161035247439209192006-10-16T16:47:00.000-05:002006-10-16T16:47:00.000-05:00John: What we need at all levels of government are...John: What we need at all levels of government are public officials who are (a) willing to <I>listen to</I> (without becoming bound by) the special interest pleaders and the "astroturf" support they are able to create (e.g., letters, calls, email, crowds), but (b) mindful of the interests and positions of those from whom they don't hear, and (c) willing to advance what they believe to be in the best public interest -- however unpopular it may be. Unfortunately, there aren't many of those. -- NickNickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08467682953748756539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30130444.post-1160683180297763102006-10-12T14:59:00.000-05:002006-10-12T14:59:00.000-05:00Every time the IC Council has considered an ordina...Every time the IC Council has considered an ordinance to restrict bars to persons 21 and older several hundred persons show up at the council chamber to oppose the ordinance and pehaps a dozen appear to support the ordinance. The outcome is always the same the council drops the subject.<BR/><BR/>The way I interpret this is that the support for a 21 ordinance is very shallow and my reading of the present council is there is one vote for 21, one maybe, three solidly against 21 and two that hope that the issue does not come up.<BR/><BR/>A view expressed by a former council member is "I don't care if the kids drink. I just don't want them to get drunk."<BR/><BR/>Some of them plan to get drunk and that part of the plan is perfectly executed. However they do not plan to spend the night (or morning) in jail or to make an initial appearance before a magistrate. A typical reactions is "Things like this don't happen to me someone has made a mistake." Yes someone has.<BR/><BR/>A referendum on 21 might pass because students say that they will turn out to vote but most of the time they do something else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com