We Are All Winners Now
Published 9:27 am Friday, October 16, 2009
Last week President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a heady trophy for an American presidency still in its infancy. And by many accounts a presidency that has actually accomplished very little. However in today’s “Trophy-for-showing-up” society it should come as no surprise that a group of Vikings without horned helmets would have given the President an award for doing nothing. Perhaps the committee was looking at the peace prize like a signing bonus for a promising athlete or maybe like a parent’s praise for a child who eats their food without throwing it all over the kitchen. Then again, it could be just like one of those made-in-China trophies given for just being on the team. We are all winners aren’t we?
This whole prize business has caused me to consider what kind of award would be appropriate for the mayor and city council of Pell City.
While they have helped to bring about the finalizing of the deal to build a hospital in St. Clair County and they have acquired the money to fix Pell City’s troubled sewer system, it seems on almost every other turn they have been vexed by the fickle finger of fate. (Doesn’t that sound better than saying that over the last 11 months they have almost uniformly mismanaged every problem and opportunity facing the city?)
From the show trial of Molly O’Neal to the discontinued funding of the children’s Halloween and Easter celebrations the mayor and council have shown, at best, insensitivity toward the citizens they were elected to serve and, at worst, hubris and bumbling.
Example, the Park and Recreation fiasco seems to grow larger everyday as not one but two former mayors point out that the city is heading in the wrong direction. The unilateral decision to turn sports activities over to a parent’s organization may not be just wrong headed it also smacks of being out of touch. Who is advising the mayor and council? My fear is that the answer is no one.
Of course, someone commented the other day that when “Councilman No” begins to sound like the voice of reason it is a clear sign that city government is veering dangerously out of control.
This is sad irony because the mayor and city council are smart, successful and caring individuals. Each one standing alone represents what is good, honorable and right about Pell City, (to varying degrees). And no doubt their intentions have been good, but as my poppa used to say, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
So, what kind of award should be presented? How about the “My Way or the Highway Award” or the “We Changed Our Mind After Reviewing All the Facts Trophy?” Or perhaps the “Don’t Expect Me to Make a Tough Decision I’m Clueless Medallion.” Sadly, I will recommend the “A Nod is as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse Certificate.” (Please come by my office to receive yours.)
Of course, the mayor and council’s problems would be as clear as a mule’s backside at high noon if they would watch the videos of their meetings on the city’s new $80,000.00 dollar web cams.
Then again maybe we should give them an award if they will, like Obama, do nothing.
I am sure many in city government would be happy to give me an award if I would stop writing. Hum, maybe if I didn’t write anything for a year I could win a Pulitzer. But then what would be the fun in that? Guess I’ll just wait for my made-in-China trophy, inscribed with “U 2 R A Weiner.”
