A Government (or Leader) that Does not Get It
Greetings:
News from Lehigh Valley Live.
You know, such situations are complicated. There are no easy answers. But, I would expect more, much more.
Michael
Of College Athletics
Greetings:
While running on the treadmill yesterday, I watched most of the Kansas / Iowa State men’s basketball game. Iowa State upset Kansas. I was rooting for the Cyclones because they are not ranked, and Kansas stood at #5 last week. Later, I watched a different game. Yes, I was rooting for a team, but the experience differed.
For many reasons, I have grown to dislike the major, Division I college athletics, especially basketball and football. The money, the hoopla, the exploitation of athletes, the ego of athletes, the lemmings behavior of fans — each leaves me cold. For many, playing sports and watching sports are fun, but the D1 system has deteriorated into a cauldron of behaviors that take away from the contribution to human development that athletics make. Worse, D1 (and professional) sports influence young children to mimic selfish attitudes that only serve to cause problems later in their life. Thank goodness we do see examples of coaches, teachers, and players who exemplify the ideal of athletics. Certainly, Mr. Paterno was one such person, regardless of what happened at the end of his life. To him and many others, sports is not meant for Gladiators to perform in front of rabid fans.
The Arena Authority Board Nominations
Greetings:
The Morning Call published today the proposed membership of the Arena Authority Board.
Of Insight
Greetings:
While in college, my father and I had a major fight. The details are not important, but the moment was a tough one for both of us. Years later, while raising my boys, I suddenly saw the incident in a different light. Almost, I was across the room, a different person, watching the argument, and its climax.
Is this what capitalism is supposed to be like?
Greetings:
I suppose that the title to this entry could apply to many weaknesses associated with capitalism. Readers know that I celebrate savings, investment, innovation, rate of return, and the benefits that these bring on a broad scale to society.
What I do not like is how so many forget that capitalism was a social invention to reward those who brought benefits to the society. The benefit of major innovations would ripple out (not trickle down) to all. Major innovations from élite scientists, engineers, or creatives would free up resources to support a growing global population. Then, other entrepreneurs would compete to gain a share of those freed resources, even if the products did not add to the overall welfare of society, other than satisfying hedonistic urges (luxury cars, large homes, expensive bottles of wine, fashion clothing, etc.)
If anyone has Sirius radio in their car, they might notice the general tendency of advertisements to push “snake oil” products and investments. I suppose we could say “buyer beware,” however I cannot stand the junk pushed on Sirius or any number of media channels and wonder what happens to the people who get fooled.
Greetings:
About 20 years ago, as the current account deficits were beginning, I would note in classes that I taught on economics or marketing how my generation faced an uncertain future because as we got older and consumed the nation’s resources purchasing products made outside our borders, jobs traditionally available for those without degrees beyond high school would disappear.
Concerning Human Understanding…
Greetings:
No, I am not going to rewrite Hume or Locke.
However, I do wish to point something about time and learning. We live in a society where blocks of time — 12 years, 2 years (or 14), and 4 years (or 16) are the most prevalent antecedents to success in education: primary/secondary, community/technical, college/university.
The expectation of schools and employers is mastery of concepts (if only age-related) within these time frames.
We disparage the individual who just gets by, but does graduate, or the individual who gets a “D” in a course that is not their strength, assuming that the grade is the correct measure of the student’s long-term capacity to learn. We also critique the person who does not graduate, for any reason.
We often hear that adults later in their life should take a course of any type to chart new ground or to reinvent oneself.
Of Coaches (I wish I originally titled this, “Of Coaches and Love”)
(UPDATE: A grammar school friend, whose sister was influenced by the individual described in this post caught a mistake that I made in a sentence at the bottom of the post. I forgot a word that did not convey my meaning correctly. Thank you to an old friend.)
Greetings:
This is a dangerous post to write, but my thoughts about the death of Joe Paterno and the widespread disappointment/anger associated with his firing motivate me to put words to screen.
I never met Mr. Paterno. I have known about him since my high school days of playing football in Massachusetts during the late 60s and early 70s. Certainly since moving to Pennsylvania eight years ago, I have learned much more about him and the love for him throughout the state and beyond.
Love. That is the key emotion in this tragedy. Mr. Paterno developed lasting relationships and taught extraordinary values. Ideal athleticism, strong academics, loyalty to your institution were expectations he pursued and people revered. People from all walks of life loved him.
Just as I loved my coach.
I also loved a man who stood for exactly what Mr. Paterno believed. So did hundreds of other young men and women who experienced a relationship with Mr. Bill Rodan of Lynnfield, Massachusetts. No different, and I am sure that there are hundreds (thousands?) of other teachers and coaches around the country who also equaled Mr. Paterno’s commitment and dedication — lesser known, but similarly loved.
EIT and the Arena
Greetings:
Received the following comment, which I felt it and my reply should be presented as a post for those who do not read through to comments.
Michael, sure be interested in your thoughts about how the NIZ is raping every other town in the Lehigh Valley with the EIT transfer, particularly as to how secretive it was.
Wouldn’t honesty have been a better policy?
Do you really wonder why the rest of the Valley hates Allentown anymore?
I’m sorry but I’m ticked, this is wrong. I already told my mayor I would make a personal contribution to cover the costs of any lawsuit filed to overturn this travesty. Our only hope is to tie Allentown up in knots so the damn thing never gets built.
My Response
Hello John, and thank you for writing. I am also going to post your comment and this reply separately.
Since the beginning, I have been describing this as all taxes other than real estate taxes derived inside the NIZ would go to Harrisburg. This included non-Allentown taxes. I have always been clear in any presentation that I have made. However, I have also noted that there was a cash flow timing issue that needed explaining, including estimates of how much would be delayed.
Thoughts on Tatiana Tooley
Greetings:
My concern with the campaign of Mike Schlossberg included the lack of candidates who would face him in the primary. I had heard rumors of Tatiana running, and initially felt that while energetic and dedicated, she might not succeed in fighting the “club” that possesses power in Democratic Party circles. Mike’s campaign is financed well and connected to the traditional circles of influence.
That concern changed when I met with her and learned of those who are behind her candidacy, and I am glad she has taken up the torch. She starts from the ground up, and works directly and closely with the residents of Allentown in many ways. Mike starts from the rarefied air of party politics and marches closely to the whims of the regional business community through his chamber position. It is a contrast, and Tatiana has the right experience to bring Allentown’s true story to Harrisburg.
We are a city, like others throughout the Northeast, that are no longer manufacturing communities dominated by an upper class that lords over a blue-collar community. Instead,an exodus to the suburbs where technical and professional jobs exist hollowed out our cities, and left crumbs for those unable to leave. Rural legislators and those who are from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia rule the state legislature. The third class cities have trouble achieving public policy goals that can solve urban problems. Tatiana would bring the perspective of a changing population to the legislature that is vital.
This is a great opportunity for Allentown to move beyond traditional politics and begin the change that is necessary to attack and solve our urban problems. Yesteryear is not going to return.
Best regards,
Michael
