My sister, whom I love dearly,
recently forwardedme the final col-
umn of well-known writer Charlie
Reese. Reese recently retired as a
columnist from the Orlando
Sentinel newspaper and wrote this
as his last contribution to the publi-
cation.
It is, to put it mildly, great. It
belongs in every high school gov-
ernment class as required reading
and we should all stick it to our
refrigerators and go reread it when
these politicians start spinning the
facts at us like the mentally defi-
cient sheep they believe us to be.
It is about as clear and easy to
understand as it is possible to be
and it is completely neutral, neither
anti-Republican or Democrat.
See if youagree.
Politicians are the only people
in the world who create problems
and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if
both the Democrats and the
Republicans are against deficits,
WHYdowehave deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all
the politicians are against infla-
tion and high taxes, WHY do we
have inflation andhigh taxes?
You and I don't propose a fed-
eral budget. ThePresident does.
You and I don't have the
Constitutional authority to vote on
appropriations. The House of
Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax
code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy,
Congress does.
You and I don't control mone-
tary policy, the Federal Reserve
Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435
congressmen, one President, and
nine Supreme Court justices
equates to 545 human beings out
of the 300 million are directly,
legally, morally, and individually
responsible for the domestic
problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the
Federal Reserve Board because
that problem was created by the
Congress. In 1913, Congress dele-
gated its Constitutional duty to
provide a sound currency to a fed-
erally chartered, but private, cen-
tral bank.
I excluded all the special inter-
ests and lobbyists for a sound rea-
son. They have
no
legal
authority. They
have no ability to coerce a sena-
tor, a congressman, or a President
to do one cotton-picking thing. I
don't care if they offer a politician
$1 million dollars in cash. The
politician has the power to accept
or reject it. No matter what the
lobbyist promises, it is the legisla-
tor's responsibility to determine
howhe votes.
Those 545 human beings spend
much of their energy convincing
you that what they did is not their
fault. They cooperate in this com-
mon con regardless of party.
What separates a politician
Chili entries are sought
To the editor:
Think you have a great pot of
Chili?
We are looking for chili cooks to
compete in the upcoming 16th
Annual Great Lakes Regional Chili
Cook-off in downtown Plymouth.
The winners will take home over
$2,000 in prize money, and the
chance to compete in the World
Championship Chili Cookoff put on
by the International Chili Society.
The World Champ wins $25,000.
This year's chili contest is from 11
a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday Oct. 9 in
downtownPlymouth.
Along with the traditional Red
Chili competition there is a Chili
Verde contest (Green Chili) and a
Salsa contest. ABest Booth contest
and Peoples Choice winners will
also be awarded prizes. Also this
year is the Battle of the Businesses.
Area businesses will market them-
selves while having a great time
competing against other businesses
making chili. You get to vote for
your favorite beginning at noon.
Just want to come and sample
chili? Over 60 different chilis will
be available beginning at noon for
a donation of $1 per sample.
Area restaurants will get in on
the excitement at the Restaurant
Chili Challenge. They will be serv-
ing up their best chili and compete
to be the best restaurant chili in the
area. Twenty restaurants will be
competing for this year's award.
Past winning restaurants include
The Penn Grill, 1999 Tavern, The
Picnic Basket Market, The
Omelette andWaffle Cafe (Yes, they
serve chili too!!) Station 885,
Boulders Restaurant (now
Plymouth Roc), Plymouth Pub,
Doyle's Tavern and Plymouth
Crossing. Bowls of chili available
for a donation of $4 per bowl or $1 a
sample from11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
All money raised during this
event goes to charity. This year the
recipients are Western Wayne
Habitat for Humanity and
Penrickton Center for Blind
Children.
Amotorcycle bike show and two
charity chili rides are also planned
by Dick Scott's Classic Motorcycles
and Motor City Harley Davidson.
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
6
A
UGUST
25, 2011
A fine
example
The filing deadline has now officially passed, as has the
deadline to remove their names fromthe ballot.
The folks who have declared their willingness to serve on
their local city councils, school boards or boards of trustees
will now begin campaigning to win voters' favor in the Nov. 8
election.
What a courageous bunch of people. From what we can
see, from perhaps too far back from many of the elections,
these candidates all deserve an early vote of thanks for even
offering to serve in these economic maelstroms. Not all of
them are going to be elected, and many will spend far more
on their campaigns than the sought-after job even pays. The
sincere members of the group will be knocking on doors
throughout their respective communities, introducing them-
selves and asking for voters' support, while attempting to find
out what is really important to those they hope to represent.
Others, well, not somuch.
They'll do whatever seems easiest or within their comfort
level and figure that it would be nice to have an official title
tacked onto their name----might look good on a future
resume, one never knows.
Sure, we know that there are candidates like that out
there. People who have no real concept of public service and
absolutely no idea that they are supposed to be a representa-
tive of their constituency, doing the will of the public rather
than inflicting their own prejudices and ego on whichever
elected body they seek. They are out there, those with
motives that are less than pure, and those who simply want
what they perceive as power without any regard for the
responsibility they owe anyonewho votes for them.
But overall, this season has brought out an incredible crop
of candidates who will serve, we believe, the very best inter-
ests of their community. There are people who are willing to
take on these incredibly tough jobs and make decisions that
will affect the life paths of children and alter their educa-
tions; decisions that will mold the lives of residents in the
communities; decisions and policies that will determine
where businesses open or remain. This is heady stuff.
Do not ever minimize or denigrate those who serve in
these community and school offices. The decisions they
make, the actions they take, have a profound effect on the
very fabric of community life. If they take their responsibility
seriously and are doing the job they were elected to do, that
is.
We applaud those who have stepped up in this time of
deficit revenue, foreclosures, public safety reductions, union
negotiations and constant budget cuts while trying to protect
services andprograms.
The jobs these people have offered to do are important,
serious and influential. They aren't easy and they don't guar-
antee any sort of popularity or approval. Much the contrary,
as many have learned. The stress of doing the right thing in
the face of loud and vociferous criticism has taken a toll on
many local elected officials.
We thank all the candidates for their offer to serve and
hope that voters give each of them the consideration and due
diligence they deserve beforemaking a decisionNov. 8.
Do not ever minimize
or denigrate those who serve
in these community and school offices.
”
Candidates stepping up to often thankless jobs
Northville teachers have
signed a newcontract with the dis-
trict that includes some pretty sig-
nificant salary reductions and
increases in expenses previously
paidby the school district.
Good for them.
If anything should demonstrate
the commitment and dedication
these professionals have to the job
they do, educating children, this
contract and their agreement,
although reluctant, to take this
kind of financial hit should prove
that the state test scores in
Northville are no fluke. These are
professional educators who
already spend some of their pay-
check for teaching supplies. Now,
they will take a 4 percent reduc-
tion on top of that and go from
paying about $350 a year for med-
ical coverage to, in some cases,
$3,500 a year. They will receive
only the barest minimum in salary
increases going forward and will
now teach larger classes, despite
the callback of nearly half the
teacherswhowere laid off.
The Education Action Group
Foundation says that the teachers
only accepted the contract
because Board President Joan
Wadsworth said the designation of
an emergency financial manager
was a possibility in the financially-
strapped district. That may have
motivated some people, but we
suspect, after meeting some of the
educators inNorthville, that it had
far more to do with the kind of
people who teach there and the
atmosphere of professionalism
and dedication that is prevalent
throughout the district.
Former Superintendent of
Schools Leonard Rezmierski cre-
ated this productive and effective
climate of priorities and excel-
lence during his more than 20
years with the district. His succes-
sor, Mary Kay Gallagher, seems
determined to follow that path,
too, treating the teachers with the
professional respect they deserve
in an atmosphere of camaraderie
The mere 545 who control our lives
See
The 545
, page 7
See
Teachers
, page 7
See
Letters
, page 7
Letters