By three methods we may learn wisdom.

First by reflection, which is noblest; second by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is bitterest.

Confucius

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. 

Margaret Mead

There is what I call the Theory of Political One Thirds. No matter what you propose 1/3 of the people will be with you, 1/3 will be opposed and 1/3 won’t care one way or another.

We have a mining issue in Wisconsin.  Here is a WPR article reporting on a Public Hearing on this issue. I have been following this issue quite closely myself. My findings would mirror those stated by  Iron County Development Zone Director Dale Kupcyck , “You’ve got this 10% who want it no matter what it costs, probably 10% who don’t want it no matter what. But you’ve got 80% who are willing to work with the state and say yes, if we can do it cleanly, let’s do it.”

My question without a good answer is … if 80% want it if it  is done right, why can’t we do it right and get it done?

How busy am I?

On top of everything else on my plate this year, I have added the title of Parade Czar of my hometown’s Quasquicentennial Parade to the menu. Yes it is our 125th birthday.

So when I am not working or training for RAGBRAI, I will be attempting to find entries for a historical parade.

So if posts to this blog get scarce at times, you will know why.

I’ve seen this situation happen over and over again. A governing body does not want to make a decision on an issue at this time.

What to do?

Postpone or table the issue?

The Local Call Blog explains this situation here.

There is nothing so costly as ignorance.

Horace Mann

I was visiting with an Executive Director of a member association. He had just attended their 2012 Strategic Planning Session. He was bemoaning the fact that many new ideas were discussed. He didn’t know how/when he was going to have time to do everything. He almost had a look of despair.

If those same tasks had been assigned to me, my reaction would have been… OH YES! I GET NEW IDEAS TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT!!!  I would have had a big smile on my face and a surge of energy would be overtaking me.

I don’t give those new ideas much of a chance of success. I fear they will die do to lack of enthusiasm.

Many good ideas die do to lack of enthusiasm.

This is my new toy.

They called it a HTC Inspire 4G at the AT & T Store.  I had a first generation web phone back when service was horrible and costs were sky high. Then I dumped it and went back to just a phone.

As I was purchasing this I thought of my old friend Steve Call. Steve was a computer guy back in college when computers were as big as a room and he carried around these binary cards. Steve left us a couple years ago. He would have been amazed at what these things in our pockets could do now days.

Instead of binary cards we have apps. Thousands and thousands of apps.

I need an app class.

My cable company gives me access to watch cable access channels from a variety of different cities. Thus I have the ability to watch a number of City Council meetings, of which I have no interest whatsoever. Except sometimes blog material.

So I was watching this council struggle with a very big issue. The council nor the issue, are of importance to the lesson. On this sitting council of 8 members plus a Mayor, only one person came to the meeting with a strategy what the council should do with this issue. One.  That’s it. One.

One person was willing to stick their neck out.

One person show leadership skills.

One out of nine.

That’s it.

That’s not enough.

I found this Fiscal IQ quiz. 

It ain’t easy.

It makes you think.

See how you do.

Just for the record I scored an 85.

Thanks to Fiscal IQ for the quiz!