Memorial Day

I have shamelessly neglected this space since my last post, my apologies. Let's try to make today interesting.

First, I checked on the final return of Shuttle Endeavour's final return flight. Great news for those of us who don't sleep much! It is scheduled for a "pre-dawn" return to Florida. Been done before, the actual landing is scheduled for 2:35 AM Wed. which will have it directly overhead about an hour before that here. I've had the luck to see this a few years ago, it is a spectacular show, well worth getting up for.

First time I saw a predawn return, I didn't know what it was at first, I was on a delivery truck. Looked up and saw this huge contrail, arcing from west to east really fast. Mind you, this contrail goes from west horizon to out of sight east in maybe three minutes, I'm thinking this has to be supersonic, where is the "boom"? Well, the sonic boom, actually a "double boom" comes about the time the contrail goes over the eastern horizon and it finally comes to me, has to be the shuttle, nothing else is high enough for that delay.

For background, I just thought, old fart that I am becoming, I'm talking to (I hope) two generations of people who have never heard a "sonic boom". When an aircraft breaks the "sound barrier", about 720 MPH, the airflow over the wings becomes a shock wave. In the 50s it was an awesome thing to design planes that could do that and not self destruct. I was living in eastern NC then, heard them all the time. Supersonic flight is now banned over most of the US, but it was a fact of life then. That shock wave literally broke window panes, scared the hell out of livestock and people would sue the military for damages. I recall the response: "Citizens, that is the sound of Freedom"! Really. Got to remember, the Cold War was at full throttle shall we say. The Russians were coming!

NASA loves early landings, they usually keep the crosswind problem minimal. Remember, this over-priced, under-used, but still beautiful piece of machinery is on landing, an overweight ungainly glider! It has no power, there is no wave off and approach again, this mother is going to land once approach is started, only question is whether it lands here or there and in one piece or not. Ain't the way I'd have designed a railroad, but our tax dollars at work. Whatever, we've already paid for it and it is a good show if one is awake for it. Time is tentative, everything depends on a 12 MPH crosswind limit in Florida.

On to more planet-bound concerns. I have had my sanity questioned on account of my recent divorce. No, I did not go nuts and get married again, but after many years, I have formally divorced the Republican Party, and taken up with the Libertarian hussy.

Why Ryan, I'm asked, why go to a Party with no chance of winning, why waste your vote? People, look at the Republican Presidential field. It isn't even a good joke. The Democrats are saved from similar embarrassment only by having an incumbent. I leave it to the reader whether that is a joke.

The man who recruited me into active Republican politics started the county Republican Party in 1952, the year I was born. Back then, the Republicans could hold a county convention in a phone booth and not inconvenience a caller. The Democrat Primary was the effective election. With a few exceptions, his vote and effort was "wasted" for nearly 30 years, in fact the obituary of Gov. Bill Clements today brings to mind a huge turning point in Texas politics, 1979. Anybody care to look at the state officeholders today and tell me Bob "wasted" his time?

I may rave about Constitutional shortcuts, but we still live under a government that moves incrementally, it was so designed and still limits the passions of the day. As it should be. I don't want "Change" to happen overnight, I know full well I will spend the rest of my life nudging this country in my small way in what I see as the correct direction.

At my age, I will be worm-food before we see a Libertarian President, and shortly after that, another political insurgency will rise up against the Libertarian abuse of power, I leave the naming rights to a future generation, BUT unless we have cratered as a civilization, the wheel will turn, something like this will come to pass. Ask the ghosts of the Federalists or the Whigs. Seen them on a ballot lately? They used to run the country.

The late William F Buckley is remembered for his declaration in the 50s "I stand athwart history and proclaim 'STOP'".

We are on the trembling verge of bankrupting the greatest nation in history. If America collapses, a Dark Age we cannot imagine will be our heritage. The Middle ages only had rats and plague, our world has nuclear weapons. It is time to holler "STOP!".

Labor Day Ups and Downs

Labor Day has an interesting history. While New York City celebrated the day as early as 1882, It became a national holiday in 1894 under one of my favorite Presidents, Grover Cleveland. The Pullman Strike had just ended. This rather ugly event had seen a number of deaths of strikers at the hands of police and even military personel. Cleveland was anxious to ease the discord with a growing labor movement and Congress was only too happy to go along, making it a national holiday in short order.

Had it not been for Chicago's Haymarket affair, Labor Day would probably have been set on May 1. At Haymarket, Chicago police were moving in to disperse a peaceful pro-labor rally when anarchists tossed bombs, killing 8 police, with a number of civilians shot in the ensuing gunfire from the surviving officers. Probably good fortune for American labor unions. Though it hadn't come to pass in the 1890s, Mayday would later become inextricably tied to the Communist celebration of that name.

Being in a good mood, let's start with good news. City Council last week passed a budget that gives us another one cent reduction in property tax rate. Staff turned in a really good piece of work here. They had been given two weeks from the prior Council meeting to come up with savings to permit at least a half-cent reduction. Frankly, I went to last week's meeting thinking perhaps that half-cent was all we would see, but they had managed to scrounge over $330,000 and permit another full cent. That makes five years running. Not that we want to get too comfy; our tax rate is still on the high end of Texas cities. For instance, Tyler, a city about our size, has been at this since the mid-90s and with some creative use of its 4B sales tax has a rate of about 25 cents, I believe the lowest for a city above 25k in the state. Still, we didn't get here overnight, we can't undo it overnight, but we are steadily moving in the right direction. I hope Staff and Manager Dominguez are enjoying this fine day off, you guys earned it.

Nice rains across the Concho Valley. Save the applause, but I'll take credit for that thank you. See, I finally broke down and spent all night last week soaking my thirsty pecan trees. Donations to cover the water bill I will be afraid to open...Ah well, it was for the good of the community.

It wasn't such a good week for SAISD. They did pass a reasonable budget, but then came the now infamous Obama speech decision. Board member Max Parker was right, there simply was not time to convene a Board meeting, which might have allowed for a more thoughtful response. Not to be unduly harsh, indeed, overall I am still glad we have Bonds as Superintendent, but it looks as though in this case, she allowed a small vocal group to sway the decision not to air the President's comments where possible.

I do not recall a topic that generated the volume of posts on the Standard Times gosangelo site, overwhelmingly against the call. Even arch-conservative Charles Krauthammer of Fox News was saying that with the essay assignment, "How I can Help the President" struck from the package, he had no problem with having our first black President give American students a "Stay in school and study hard" message. You never know, it might actually help some of the kids.

It's hardly a secret that I did not vote for Obama, BUT..I've seen his short prime-time ad on the "stay-in-school" message, and it is just that. Nothing partisan, it isn't "stay-in-school-and-learn-how-to-be-a-good-Democrat", just stay in school and learn. I would be very surprised if this TV address is anything other than that message expanded. If even a small percentage of kids, especially disadvantaged kids react well to hearing that message from the man who proved even black children can grow up to be President, that will be a positive.

It is a fact of political life that the negative side of any topic will be expressed more quickly and noisily than the positive, thus the one-sided e-mails and calls the Superintendent fielded at first. For all the complaints about "negative campaigns" they are still widely used for one reason only: they work. Pure fact, a campaigner is more likely to stir an otherwise complacent voter off his duff to vote against something than to vote for something.

I dissent from Trustee Tim Archer's comment that this is not a "big deal". True, it will not be dominant in the context of a full year's education. Still, the symbolism, especially in the minority community that did vote heavily for the President, the symbolism is huge, and it will be remembered like a thorn in the side or a burr in the saddle. I have dabbled in matters political long enough to know, politically, symbolism IS reality. 'Nuff said on that.

Overall, I see a pretty good Labor Day for San Angelo. Economy is a bit down, sales tax revenues show that. Not quite boom time, but San Angelo has fared better than much of the country. We still have new construction going up, not the least the joint Martifer/Hirschfeld wind turbine tower plant.

I am thrilled about the turnout for the Mayor's race. Whatever one may think of him, J. W. Lown proved that though the Mayor is just one vote on Council, if someone is willing to work full time at this basically unpaid job (we need to correct that BTW) and build a city-wide coalition of support, the position can be quite effective. Conchoinfo does not, will not endorse candidates, but... I know some of the candidates, I intend to get to know the rest. I can say, we have a good field of qualified people running, the best I can recall. My thanks to all who have been willing to step up to the plate and run.

I will go this far out on a limb: I will not support any candidate who thinks people ought to raise fighting cocks in town. Another topic for another day.

Thoughts on JW and the city

This one of the most difficult stories I've ever written for ConchoInfo. In reality it is two stories. My friend J.W. Lown is at the center of both.

One story is about successful young politician. His win in his first run for mayor was a surprise to many people, especially his opponents. He ran on a platform of being a "full time mayor" and was probably the most active mayor anyone can remember. He was on the road to a long and successful political career when life intervened in the form of love. He had to make some hard decisions. He could have just walked away, accepted politics as his true love but he didn't. He could have also done what many politicians have done and tried to hide it. Instead he chose a path that is almost Shakespearean. He was honest with the public and did the honorable thing and resigned. Given the circumstances, I am not surprised by his decision. Still, his timing was terrible and the results will be felt for years.

This brings us to the second story. The story of a mayor that was at the forefront of the change from business as usual at city hall. He started his career as mayor wanting to make the office stronge than that of just another council member. He never succeeded in making the position stronger on paper. Instead, he showed that being the only city wide elected council member and being in charge and control of the city council meetings, when coupled with energy, ideas and leadership skills was all that was needed to be a strong mayor. He treated the mayors office as the active leadership position it truly is.

I am disappointed that this happened. It was an unwelcome surprise. On the one hand, relationships that heat up to the point of making major life altering decisions in a very short time tend to burn out very fast. They often play out like a Shakespearean tragedy. I hope that doesn't happen to J.W.. On the other hand, the city of San Angelo is left in a heck of a predicament. With the current council, I doubt we are in much danger of going back to the days of business as usual. Still, we need a mayor that will be in the lead, and not be just another council member and figurehead. There is a lot of work to be done, and we do need a full, effective council.

Memorial Day

This is my third Memorial Day reflection. With all the barbeque's, sales, etc. we must not forget that this day is set aside to honor those who "gave the last full measure of devotion". We also need to remember those who are still giving as we enjoy our freedoms.