Monday, September 19, 2011

Class Warfare in Ironwood County

The Boys at Bill's Diner are debating what the Republicans mean by all their talk about "class warfare." George thought they were talking about the juniors and seniors who are planning pranks against each other for next week's homecoming game at Maple Valley. Bill replied, "No, that ain't it at all, George. They're talkin' about the poor goin' after the rich and taxin' them at a higher rate."

"That ain't class warfare," George replied. "That's just class fairness. Don't the rich already benefit from our economic system far more than the poor and middle class?"

The rest of the Boys had to agree. They're not sure why the Republicans are so bent on self-destruction. They know that the big money players will continue to fund anyone in Congress that will keep their money flowing, but at some point Main Street America is going to wake up and see that the rich don't create jobs, businesses do.

"So why don't we give a tax break to companies based on how many Americans they employ on American soil?" George asked. "Penalize those who use phony headquarters overseas?"

Again, the Boys had to agree. They urged George to run for Congress. "Sorry," he said. "You know Mary hates it when a job forces me to walk through [manure]."

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Dry weather in Ironwood County continues; school starts

The Boys at Bill's Diner at now officially complaining about the dry weather. The corn crop isn't filling out as it should with this fall drought and will result in lower yields. Of course, the crop is still great when compared to other parts of the U.S. that have experienced droughts all summer.

Now some of you might be wondering what "officially" complaining means. Complaining is a regular occurrence with the Boys--Congress, the weather, the Vikings, the weather, taxes, the weather, pot holes--you get the idea. To "officially" complain means that they are serious. The Boys are worried.

In education, the Ironwood schools seem to be doing fine. What that means is that they didn't have to make further cuts. Of course, parents are paying more fees for everything that used to be included in a "free education." Sports and other extra-curricular activities were once considered a vital part of a Minnesota education. No longer. Now it's an after school option that parents must pay for if they want their child to participate.

One must wonder how many children over the years were saved by being on the basketball team or helping on a stage crew. They never knew that they would like it, or even be good at it, until they tried. Some just felt part of something special if they could sit on the bench.  Now they have to pay to do that.

Minnesota's pot holes aren't just showing up on the highways.