Something’s gotta give
Attending a Fund-raiser, Wednesday evening, for Ted Nixon county legislature candidate, I was able to get a feeling for what Mr Nixon has to offer this community, and why it is so important to elect him and the other Democratic leg candidates. Democratic County legislator, Paul Haney says that this county is at an all time low in regards to economic progress. The F.A.I.R. F.O.U.L. plan is not the cause (although it adds considerably to the problem) but is a symptom of a wider reaching disaster. The two parties have to cooperate, have to agree enough to move forward. The Republican majority does not know how to collaborate, and one party rule leads to stagnation and ultimately destruction.
Ted Nixon, a former businessman and current teacher, has the ideal mix of experience to contribute greatly in the transformation of our county government. He would like to see businesses and academia forming liaisons to push forward the jobs in our community and keep local talent in the area. Taking a lesson from Raleigh-Durham, NC,
Private-sector clients benefit when their researchers gain insights from the academic world, while university scientists get a glimpse of the commercial side of things. This sort of interaction between academia and business is such a part of the Raleigh/Durham ethos that the N.C. State community barely blinked when ABB leased a new building right on campus and stuck its company logo on the side. At N.C. State, the potential benefits to students and faculty outweigh any worry that scholarly independence might be compromised. ”This is a place where people understand they can get things done in the real world,” says Phillip Styles, who gave up a post as vice president for research at Brown University to become provost at N.C. State.
We have the capacity in Monroe county and the greater Rochester Area to turn things around and start climbing back up the hill, down which we are so treacherously tumbling with the current leadership (or lack there of) in place. My favorite quote of the evening was when Ted stated:
“I would be happy to go home and sit on my couch and let these guys lead us to glory, but it’s not gonna happen”
No, it’s not. Something’s gotta give.
I was there Wed. too. We do indeed have the resources in Monroe County and Eric, Ted, along with a majority in the Legislature can make it happen.
WHy not interview all the candidates from top to towns and put up some Rochester Turning endorsements?
I think this group has shown their ability to speak the truth, and I believe your endorsement process could carry some true weight in helping change the political environment out there.
This is a good year to do it - you’ve interviewed half of the candidates already. Kick it up a notch guys - make some endorsements - and then make endorsements an annual event.
Or how about offering all the candidates the opportunity to respond to questions posed by readers and RT bloggers, with the understanding their responses would be posted and open to comments, but that they could then respond to comments? A bit of almost live blogging.
Very interesting ideas. They sound great to me, let me collaborate with the big guns and get back to you.