Academy of Local Politics » Uncategorized

Here come the bands?

alarnold — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:54:00 +0000

I have to admit I had never heard of the singer M.I.A. until today. Now her name will live in Super Bowl infamy.

Well maybe not her name will live in Super Bowl infamy, but the act of her flipping the finger to us during the half time show certainly will.

My question is … what’s wrong with marching bands?

Giving it your all.

alarnold — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:52:00 +0000

I was talking with an elected official about a project he has been working on. A project that seems to be in trouble.

I asked him how hard he tried to enlist a vital “friend” to help him with the project.

He replied, “Not very.”

New word

alarnold — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:10:54 +0000

I had never seen this word before it was recently sent to me.

Does it look familiar to you?

Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

Wisdom comes in many forms

alarnold — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:59 +0000

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

Yes you can do it!

alarnold — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:01:54 +0000

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

10 – 80 – 10 Rule

alarnold — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:20:15 +0000

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?

What did I volunteer for?

alarnold — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:34 +0000

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.

Postpone or Table … that is the question

alarnold — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:43:31 +0000

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.

Thought for the year

alarnold — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:16:41 +0000

There is nothing so costly as ignorance.

Horace Mann

Where good ideas go to die …

alarnold — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:34:57 +0000

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.