Think it’s easy? Then you try it
Let’s hear someone make a researched argument on an issue of local interest
I have been writing a column for the MDH for less than a year. I have been a subscriber for many. Since I am away from home most of the time, my usual way of reading the MDH is via the Internet.
This is also my favorite way of reading it. Why? Because I love to read the comments on each story. Some of these comments are quite insightful, well-informed, and even quite humorous. Then there are some that just mystify the mind.
To some, everything is still President George Bush’s fault. To others, President Obama is the re-incarnation of Karl Marx.
Now, I am a pretty “black-and-white” personality, but I don’t put my ideals of right and wrong in people. It goes deeper than that.
I have also observed there are those who want to blame the MDH for our problems. They say the MDH doesn’t go after local corruption — that it is there to prop up those in power. There are comments like, “Why doesn’t the MDH investigate the mayor for his pay raise?”
Some think a one paragraph response on a blog full of negative opinion and no fact is enough.
Now, I am not carrying water for the MDH. I’m not told what to write. If the MDH ever did that, I would not waste my time. I don’t carry water for any political party, religion, or organization. I see the world and decide what I want to write. My political ideals come from the Constitution. All other political ways fail in my eyes.
If you really want to make a difference, I have a challenge. I recently wrote a column on the outrageous city pay schedules in Bell, Calif. I had one person comment on the pay raise the mayor of Morris recently received, and this gave me an idea.
First I was going to do it myself. But after reading the comments on a lot of articles, I want to take a different tack.
Here is the challenge. Someone. Anyone. Write a column on the pay schedules for the city of Morris. Why did Mayor Kopczick get a 22 percent raise? What about our other city officials? Or from one of the more commented stories, a column on the Rezin Orthopedics banners. Why/why not?
Let’s see who can put a cohesive column together. Remember, it is your opinion, but you need to base it on researched facts. To me, the writing is easy. Researching is the bear in the woods. You also have to limit the size. I could easily write a book on most topics I choose. Especially if I am passionate about it.
Let’s see who can turn venom into a coherent argument. Just type it out and submit it via e-mail. Not your job, you say? Mine neither. It is something I love to do.
So, get your spell checks ready. Stay off of Wikepedia. On your marks. Get set. Type.
