The End of an Era

This week is the end of an era.  Beginning Monday afternoon, the Executive Inn demolition is literally in full swing.  It's sad and disheartening to see yet another of Evansville's icons go the way of so many others.  The L&N train depot, the Orr Building, and so many others are forever gone from the area landscape. 

The Executive Inn has been a part of our city for as long as I can remember.  Our 1st Anniversary was celebrated here with my Mom and Dad.  Mom drank too much pink champagne in honor of not being a grandmother yet. But she'd come around by the time we broke the good news to her a couple of years later. 

This building is just one of many that have fallen by the wayside here.  That's a sad fact.  Our leaders believe that in order to have progress you must part with the past.  This is so far from the truth. 

Working to join the past with the future is the only way to provide continuity for a community.  Evansville is so busy shedding it's past that we have nothing to anchor anyone here anymore.  No one sees any reason to build the town into something more than it is because they have no sense of roots here.

A small town sticks together because of common roots.  While Evansville is no longer a small town, we still need common roots to cling to.  Outgrowing a small town status does not mean we must take on the mantle of big city sterility.  There has to be a balance between the two. 

Progress is only made when we blend the past and present with the future.  Fortunately the Old Post Office, the Old Courthouse, and the Old Jail still remain standing.  There is a lot of history to be learned from in the courthouse.  It's a shame it isn't used for more public purposes.  Many towns host tours of their older buildings and tell the stories of their beginnings.  Evansville tears them down and just keeps going, never looking back. 

Hopefully with the changings coming in the Mayor's Office this fall, the way Evansville views it's past will also change.  If you can't tell where you've been, how could you possibly know if you are going forward in the right direction?   

Let's hope that today will be the last time we have to stand by and watch an Evansville icon fall.

The last days of the "Big E"......

What is Gov Schwarzenegger thinking??? ALL politicians for that matter?

On July 3rd Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger came out with a plan to cut the pay rate of more than 200,000 workers.  Their rate of pay would decrease to the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour.  This pay cut would alledgedly stay in effect until the state produces a budget.  A state appeals court ruled that he would be legally allowed to do so when the budget is overdue.

California's budget politics have grown intensely partisan in recent years, with Republicans refusing to agree to tax increases while Democrats resist cuts in spending. In 2009, the state was forced to pay workers with IOUs when state money just wasn't there.

This year, California is dealing with a $19 billion deficit.  Yes, billion with a "B".  I'd be willing to bet that few of the state workers were involved in the spending of that $19 billion overage.  Yet, what is the solution!?!?  Decrease the pay rate of the few who are actually working for a living and paying their taxes. 

It seems every time some politician gets a wild idea to spend some money for anything, the ready solution is to tax the people more.  I don't get to go to my employer and tell him to give me more money every time I have some wild idea I want to spend on.  Why should the government get that option?   Most Americans must live within a budget, It's time our government learned to do so as well.  The politicians need to learn that they have "X" amount of dollars to spend.  If they can't accomplish what they want with that amount, then something will just have to fall by the wayside.  That's how real Americans are living every day.  And by "something will have to fall by the wayside"... I DO NOT mean skim off every program the taxpayers want / need so they'll divy up more money.  Police, fire and EMS are NOT the first things to be rationed!   Try taking a look at some of that pork politicians are so fond of producing!!!

Perhaps California would do well to follow Arizona's lead and remove all the illegal immigrants they are raising in that state instead of wasting time and money to boycott the new laws.  If California weren't spending who knows how much money on illegal immigrants and the expenses attached to that community, maybe they could afford to pay their honest hard working citizens a decent wage!  Imagine if California took all the illegal immigrants off of their welfare rolls, food stamp programs, medicaid programs and many other sources of money these people believe they are entitled to!   That would probably reduce the deficit to zero right there.

If it didn't, then perhaps the good Governor might be willing to part with the load of money he lives on, between the money he made from hard working people paying for movie tickets and the Kennedy money, I'm certain he isn't living on $7.25 / hour.   I don't see him offering to do so either!   If he did, that's when I'd be impressed with him.  

Evidently Gov. Schwarzenegger doesn't care that many in his state will lose their homes, their cars, their entire way of life because of his bad budget decisions.   He is the leader of that state.  He is responsible for seeing that the budget is met.  He is the one who allowed overspending of money he knew they did not have!  I'd say it's safe to bet that not one of the workers being threatened with this pay cut had a choice in any of the overspending.   Yet, they are the ones who will be made to pay the price. 

The is absolutely the most absurd idea I've heard yet.  I cannot believe Gov. Schwarzenegger had the nerve to even consider it, much less suggest it aloud.   I certainly hope the voters remember who he planned to throw under the bus when elections roll around!