I always like to have good things to say. It gives me great pleasure to compliment Barbara Sam on the wonderful job she has done with the Farmers' Market. As I was walking over last week, I couldn't help but appreciate the look of the market. All of the colorful tents lined up looked like a miniature fair. And then the talent show presented was awesome! They even had a four year-old boy perform, and he was good! All the presenters were great. I was pleased to see so many young people as part of the show. The teacher should be commended. Her name is Sandra K. Leary.
Remember when I mentioned a young writer who has illustrated children's books? I didn't know his name then, but now I do. It is Don Munch Jr., and I recommend his books to parents. They will go a long way to help with parenting, especially teaching children to have positive attitudes. Munch's books will make great birthday and Christmas presents from grandparents, parents, or anyone else in the family. I was very impressed by his work.
It reminded me of a game we used to play. Actually, it was my son, Dan, who reminded me. It was called "Yes, Yes, No, No." It went like this: I'd say a word or an expression, and if it was negative, that was a No, No. If it was positive, that was a Yes, Yes. For example, if I said "Fighting," that was a No, No, or "Crossing the street without looking" was also a No, No. My children would make serious faces and shake their heads. But if I said, "Love, laughter, helping someone out," they were all, "Yes, Yes" and they would jump up, clap their hands, and smile!
Try it. You'll love the response.
But now I have to get serious. Last week I got the September issue of Lowdown. I think I got it because there was a feisty woman reporter who used to write for them. She's gone now and I can't remember her name - senior moment! Here are the headlines I read: "Guided by the Koch Brothers, Republicans have installed czars to run Michigan Cities." This is scary. The story, as presented, tells of Rick Snyder, who became governor of Michigan. He had a plan to revive the economy of the auto industry and middle class, even though until 2007 he had been a top executive and director of a computer corporation that shipped thousands of Americans' jobs out of the country. Finally, the corporation itself was shipped to Taiwanese owners. He advocated to eliminated Michigan business tax, cut taxes $1.5 billion for job creators, slash needless regulations (but who is to decide they're needless?), and help small businesses. He was called "The Businessman with a Plan."It only took two weeks in March 2011 for the "Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act" to be rushed through both houses of the legislature and signed by Snyder. This act authorized the governor to establish his own autocratic republic. This law lets the governor seize control of any local government he deems to be in fiscal trouble, suspend the people's democratic authority, impose a corporatized version of martial law, and install his own "Emergency Financial Manager" to govern by diktat, (what Lowdown calls a hybrid of Soviet czar and tinhorn potentate).
Emergency managers begin by usurping the power of all elected officials or simply firing them. They can then rewrite the budget without any public participation, unilaterally eliminate various services, cancel contracts, seize and sell off public assets, privatize government functions and dictate new laws.
They can even dissolve a city's charter. They want to impose their anti-union, government-shriveling, privatizing, partisan agenda on vulnerable people.
There is so much more in the September issue of Lowdown. Get it and read it all.
For the first time in my life, I may not vote. I fear the economic plans the Republicans will impose on us, and I disagree with the moral issues the Democrats have supported. I hope the American population is strong enough to know right from wrong and to have their own morals!
The Koch Brothers are pouring money into Romney's campaign. He will have to listen to them. That's why I'm so furious with the Supreme Court giving permission to the candidates to spend as much as they want to on campaigns! No, no, no! I urge you to support The League of Women Voters who are fighting this. I also wish someone would initiate the limit of campaigning time! I think three months would be good, six months maximum. We need people at the grassroots level to get involved! Just remember, there are more of us than them!
Margaret Valone is a Fredonia resident. Send comments on this column to lifestyles@observertoday.com
