Stuck in idle

The most common error people make is assuming that because they have rights, they have the right to do anything they want. We at times make decisions to do things where we actually have voluntarily chosen to give up some rights.  

Call it you can't have your cake and eat it to. Call it a multiple choice test where all options may be correct statements on an individual basis, but only one is correct based in the application to the limiting question.

Simply put you get to pick one.  Not the combination you like or prefer. "Why can't I" is easily answered your prior choices. 

Can you figure out what that is about?  You actually have multiple choice on scenarios existing. This one is a trick question though. All the choices would be correct answers.

Anyway ...

Time is marching on.  Time more than any other thing ends up dictating action.  When you run out of time, what other choice is there.  

Sometimes time does seem to stand still. Most often when you are waiting for something to be done by government.  

Most obvious examples presently are our two special acts yet to be.  

Hey the legislature is in recess, and elections are coming up.  All understandable right?

In fairness, it would have been unrealistic to expect the passage to have occurred by this time.  It would make life easier for a great many if it could occur say in October and if we hold a STM by mid-November to ratify the TA special act.

Make my life easier certainly.  Puts instant responsibility and accountability squarely on one set of shoulders. The established chain of command will finally funnel to a specific point.  

Well to only two specific points until the town wide vote on the BPW occurs.

I sit here looking at the week in review and the things to come and realize there are really several important past and future events that should be truly worthy of a good old fashioned rant.

Yet it seems all I have been able to work up lately are mild tears. 

Anyway ...

This is a crazy world.  We all see that to some extent. Nothing gets crazier than some of the opinion polls.  Gallup and Rasmussen Reports each have release the most recent approval polls for the President.  Gallup as it at a -12. Rasmussen at a -3. The one difference is Gallup is still using all voters while Rasmussen is using likely voters. 

You might say at first blush, well that explains it.  Well it actually doesn't.  Why not? Because there have been significant differences between the two before the shift by the one using likely voters.  In the next month or less, all the pollsters worth anything will shift to likely voters. There is some real debate in those practicing this fine art about when it makes sense to actually shift.  Anyway ...

Polling is in fact as much art as science, no matter what anyone tells you.  The questions, the segments of the population sampled, the areas of the country sampled.  You might say those factors would go to science. I would say "art" plays a bigger role.  Not here to debate that at this point.

The point is a negative approval rating at any level doesn't provide coattails.  A smaller one might keep the mid-term fall out that is fairly standard from becoming a complete free fall.  Where it will be significant though isn't nation wide, but once again in the battleground states, and most significantly those for senate seats.  

It means nothing in as blue as you get Massachusetts.  Scott Brown you say? I counter with the self-destruct campaign of his opponent. Still early as to realistic predictions but ...

But that is enough on that for now.  

Suffice it to say, I disagree with those who opine that the upcoming mid-terms won't have much of an effect. A Republican gain of control of the senate will certainly call for cries within that party to play tit for tat with the nuclear option for voting the Democrats implemented for some votes.

It will certainly give the president plenty of opportunities to wield his pen with legislation that could come pouring out of both chambers of Congress.  The "do nothing" congress could get very busy with a few of its own rule changes under Republican control.

All simple "what ifs" at this point.

Anyway ... time to get closer to home.

The birds aren't chirping as much lately about our potential April races.  Kind of expected "lull".  If the Board of Health race doesn't end up contested though, I will eat my hat.  Not anything I am worried about to be honest.  It wouldn't be the first time I had to dine on it. Use the right condiments and you can eat just about anything.

The selectmen's potential race has entered into the "wait and see" realm. Wait to long and see your chances fly away with the chirping birds.

Way early on that front too I suppose.

Okay, one more thought I guess.  A personal perspective.  Open meeting laws require any majority of a board to conduct discussions in well an open meeting.  There are certain issues that require detailed discussions. We know that.  We see it.  We hear often issues raised during open meetings that because of time constraints cannot be hashed out only because of time constraints.  We see attempts at forcing decisions on matters first raised, than put off for another 15 minutes of fame, and another, and another.  

Some things just require special attention, and more time than an allotted appointment can address, even if more time is devoted than scheduled.  

Scheduling issues simply should not be an issue.  The fact that time is devoted to scheduling during a scheduled meeting is itself perplexing. Simple concept here.  You meet Mondays.  Adjusted your personal schedule to allow you to meet Mondays. Every Monday if needed. You might be surprised how quickly things could be cleared up after just a few working meetings. 

We are reaching a point where the first question from any candidate for office to boards should be are you available to meet as needed to do the "job".

Getting a TA will eventually, in principal anyway, alleviate many of the problems. Until then, life must proceed.  

Idle musings from an idling mind I guess.  

Enough of those right now.

Be safe.