Free Press –
Open Space, Compulsory Service,
Dear Friends,
Good
morning. Today’s topics are: the Bucks Commissioners pare its open space
referendum;
Let’s begin with compulsory service.
I often listen to the Joey Reynolds’ early morning show as I drive down to Boathouse Row. At 4:30 in the morning, listening to stimulating conversation keeps me alert. A week ago, he was interviewing Jack Jacobs, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner and author. After listening to this Vietnam War veteran, I thought about compulsory service.
Jacobs says that there is a disconnect in the U. S. about the War in Iraq. Thousands of young men and women, America’s very best, are in harms way, yet few of us have any association with the war. Jacobs told the radio audience that in World War II, you could knock on every door in America and find that someone in the family was serving…a father, brother, son, nephew, daughter, niece.
“Do you know how many doors you’d have to knock on to find someone in the military today,” he asked? He answered his own question immediately…“One household in 200 [households].”
For years, I’ve been saying that compulsory service is the answer. Personally, I think that every boy and girl who turns 18 or graduates from high school, which ever comes first, should give two years of service to America…no exception. If I could write the law, I’d give each young person the choice to serve in a military or non-military capacity.
I’ll try to track down Congressman Patrick Murphy (8th District) for his reaction. Murphy served in Iraq and has attracted favorable attention nationally. It will be interesting to discover whether he agrees with me. And if he does, would he make the compensation commensurate with the hazards involved. For example, would he pay a higher salary to someone serving in the military rather than the national park system? Could that service provide a free, or discounted college education? You get my drift.
If we had compulsory service, where every young person had to serve, how many foreign wars do you think this or any administration would start?
Item.
The Bucks County Commissioners voted unanimously to trim $5 million from its open space preservation referendum. The original plan was to seek voter approval for the county to borrow $92 million to fund open space programs for the next 10 years. This November, the electorate gets to OK or disapprove.
In 1997, voters overwhelmingly approved a $59 million open space program that preserved more than 15,000 acres. I’d bet that the $87 million referendum will pass easily. Residents have seen how the county and townships have worked together to keep open space from developers. As my fellow commissioner, Joe Canby, advised me 40 years ago, “Cows and cornfields require no water and sewer lines, more roads and new schools.”
Item.
Will
Was adding two supervisors a good decision? It depends upon whom you ask. “I feel that Springfield Township’ five member Board of Supervisors works well together, so why not a Zoning/Hearing board of five people,” Bedics opined.
Personally, I think that anytime you add officials to the mix, you’re asking for trouble. I wonder, if in their heart of hearts, whether the other four Springfield Township Supervisors are still enthusiastic about an increased board? My guess is that if Springfield had it to do all over again, they wouldn’t have increased the board of supervisors. Keeping the Zoning Board at three members makes more sense…but, hey, what do I know?
Final item.
In last week’s column, I promised to give you Terry Madonna’s comments about next year’s Presidential election. Madonna is a well-known pollster and spent a day with the Quakertown Education Foundation last fall. Madonna told us that he’s writing a book about the history of Pennsylvania elections. That will be fun to read.
“It’s the most fluid election since World War II,” Madonna began. “There’s no sitting president or vice president in the mix. There are no clear favorites. Unpopular wars always cost the incumbent president’s party. Such was the case in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
“The political environment is horrendous for the GOP,” Madonna continued. “On the other hand, 40 percent of the electorate won’t vote for Hillary Clinton under any circumstances. Rudy Guiliani’s personal life will hurt him. Conservatives won’t vote for him because he’s a liberal on social issues.” Madonna thinks that Al Gore could surface as the standard bearer.
It’s way too early to predict. Plus…what about the Bloomberg factor?
It’s too bad that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg hadn’t announced his switch to an independent before Madonna’s talk earlier this month at the AAA Pennsylvania Federation meeting.
If Bloomberg enters the presidential race as an independent, how will that influence the outcome? As a third party candidate, Ross Perot won 19 percent of the vote in 1992. Many political historians credit Perot for Bill Clinton’s victory over Bush the First. President Theodore Roosevelt, running on the Bull Moose Party ticket in 1912, almost became a third party winner…the first ever. But his running guaranteed the victory for Woodrow Wilson.
If Bloomberg is smart, he’ll wait until after the Democratic and Republican conventions before announcing his bid. We’ll just have to stay tuned. One thing is appealing. Bloomberg is not pleased with the performance of either the Democratic or Republican Party. Who is?
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith