Do we really need this?

   Over the last few weeks I have been reading various articles in the paper debating the placement of a proposed “multimodal” building. All of the articles and stories debate the pros or cons of having it this place or that. While everyone is busy debating where to put the building no one has seemed to mention its true cost. Sure, some have surmised that most of the estimated 15 million dollar price tag will be soaked up by the federal government and that a paltry 1.5 million will be left for the cities tax payers (not to be confused with its citizens), but even this dollar figure isn’t the true cost. There are those applauding the fact that the city might receive 13.5 million dollars from the federal government.  We must not seek to take money from the federal government for a pet project back home. If the city can’t afford to do it on its own then the project should be dead in the water. Just as if I wanted to buy a new car or build an addition to my house but didn’t have the money then I couldn’t do it. Incase people didn’t realize it our federal government does not have its financial house in order. It does not have the money to give away. After all it’s not even its money, It was borrowed from the Chinese.  The true cost to the city and our State will be the continued tax and borrow and spend policies that have helped us arrive at our nations current location; the corner of Broke and Bail Out.

Should I shave?

    So a couple weeks ago I was walking out of a quick stop when I noticed out of the corner of my eye someone walking a path to intercept me before I made it to my truck. So I sped up and he sped up. Then I slowed down and he slowed down. So finally I just stopped and asked if I could help with something. As it turns out I learned a few days later that this person was a kid that got hooked on drugs and never recovered from his addiction. He asked if I had any work he could do and when I told him no he asked for a couple bucks if I could spare it. I was walking out of the store holding a Coke and a bag of chips and figured I did have the money to spare since I was buying myself junk food. So I gave him the only cash I had and went on my way. The grand total was two dollars and thirty cents.
    About a week later I stopped back by the same quick stop to get me and Pete a drink for break time while we were splitting firewood. As I walked up to the front of the store I received a phone call. It turned out to be a wrong number. As a side note to all this it seems like I get more wrong numbers on my cell phone than anyone I know...pressing on...I hung up and looked across the street because a totally rad Dodge Challenger caught my eye. As I was staring off across the street a car pulled up in front of me and a well dressed man stepped out and walked over to me and said "Here you go, here is two dollars. I hope it helps." At first I looked at him like he was crazy. I hadn't asked for anything, I was just standing there. Then it dawned on me that he thought I was homeless and needed money. At which point I quickly made it known that I didn't need it but that I appreciated his offer and he went on his way and I on mine.
    I walked away from that experience with a number of conclusions. Firstly, there are still people willing to give their money to those in need. Second,even during hard economic times people can still be generous. And finally that I need to shave and not go to the store after work in my work cloths, I look like a homeless man...