Down The Sewer Pipe – Politically Speaking

Every now and again elected office holders have no clue about what to do about something.  They want to fix a problem, but don’t know how, or supply a solution to a problem that will get them reelected.  You know that they haven’t even the remotest idea about whatever issue needs solved because they form a “Blue Ribbon Committee”.

These “Blue Ribbon Committees” are made up of  ” a cross section of the community”.  If this is true then why are the lowest income people never invited to serve on one?  Look closely at the last “Blue Ribbon Committee” that was formed in Portland Oregon.  Eighty-six people on the committee and none of them made less that forty thousand a year in income.

With no single voice devoted to the lower income households this “Blue Ribbon Committee” made choices that hurt, or has the ability to hurt, fifty percent of the population that lives in Portland Oregon.  Two percent of the population uses a pedal bike, yet this “Blue Ribbon Committee”, recommended seventy percent of new road funds be spent on pedal bike infrastructure.

The result of the “Blue Ribbon Committee” recommendations is the City of Portland Oregon has shelved placing the road “repair” funds on the ballot until November.  It also means that Sam Adams has alienated thirty percent of the voter base.

The lesson here is this:  If you form a “Blue Ribbon Committee” then make sure all that every income bracket is represented.  Other wise the ideas that the “Blue Ribbon Committee” comes up with will find nothing but opposition.

Sherman