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Last Updated: Nov 14, 2008 - 7:05:00 PM |
Last week, we dedicated a couple of pages to this week’s election; this week is what I call a ‘tweener issue; that is, it’s the filling between two pieces of whole wheat bread, and the filling is not peanut butter or ham and cheese. It’s more like vegemite. Being a weekly newspaper, there are many times that we’re behind the curve. News breaks on Tuesday or Wednesday, and it’s a week before we can get it out in the Village News.
So in the space allotted to my weekly ranting, there’s not much to say about the election. When you read this, it should be over. We will have a new president – maybe. I think that the entire world has been holding its breath waiting for Americans to choose a new president.
That’s why this week is a perfect week for writer’s block. Most of those who know me will say I’m not usually at a loss for words, but this is your chance to quit reading, save yourself some time, and save me some embarrassment.
Recently, the national political scene has sucked the air out of anything else of importance. Even issues of local concern get tied back to what is happening nationally. The election, the economy, the economy, and the election.
The biggest local story last week, the developer pulling out of the Branner Station project, the largest development in recent county-growth history, was due to economics. Local building is down, carpenters laid off. Will the election help with that?
Is there a neurosis called carpenter’s block? “I just can’t seem to drive a nail; my hammer just won’t swing.”
As I see the footage of long lines in other states where they have early voting, I wonder how crazy it will be here in Chesterfield. And will Tuesday actually be the deciding day – remember 2000?
How about voter’s block? “I am so confused; I can’t seem to decide who to vote for.”
You have to hand it to those undecided voters. After non-stop media coverage, extensive Web sites exploring candidates’ issues, and almost everyone available to spin a yarn of he-did-this or he-won’t-do-that, how could there have been anyone left who hadn’t made up their mind by a month ago? Voter’s block, I tell you.
I wonder if CEOs suffer from greed block. “This company is going broke. I know it’s my fault and I can’t decide whether to take the $20 million or the $50 million golden parachute.”
As the trickle-down effect of the greed on Wall Street leaks into the budget of our community, you can’t help but wonder how deep this crisis will cut. I heard a report about the CEO of Japan Airlines, one of the top ten airlines in the world. When his company started taking some financial hits, he reduced his own salary to $90,000 a year. He says if you’re in business only for the money, you will not be successful. Good advice.
When an accountant has debit block, can he balance the budget? “I just can’t decide whether to debit or credit this account.”
It’s all about money in the end. In politics, it has more to do with how our tax dollars will be spent than if our roads are good, our students are learning, or how safe our communities are.
For many of us regular folks, it’s more about the price than where it’s made or what it’s made of, and that has been a substantial part of how we’ve gotten to where we are economically. Whether it’s the marketing of products or the keep-up-with-the-Jones effect we have gotten in over our heads. I think that’s why we have exported most of our manufacturing. Just so we can get more “stuff” cheaper. And in the end it has come back to bite us.
If Al Gore had windbag block, could he have invented the Internet? “Tipper, I have this idea that if we could give everyone access to all the information in the world, it would change things forever. Maybe a newsletter would work.”
As we wander around our McMansions in search of ourselves and ask why, who am I, and what is the meaning of life, it’s a good thing we can turn to the simple things like watching TV, surfing the Web, or texting someone.
If Bob Dole had Lizzy block, would he have invented Viagra? “Why Bob, you rascal, I hope we don’t end up in the emergency room four hours from now, like we did last night.”
Does Joe the Plumber get pipefitter’s block? “All I can remember is water runs downhill and payday’s on Friday.”
If a newspaper editor has writer’s block, does he put out a editorial? “Apparently not.”
mfausz@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421
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