(Op-ed submitted by Peter Children)
Now the sniff is in the air, the smell of money, big money or little money, its all the same. The mere chance that land might be acquired, construction materials ordered, along with interior furnishings that in the end add up to close to $15,000,000.00 makes people’s heart race. Nothing wrong with any of that; it’s the American way, its what each of us do in our own way, compete for the dollar the minute our feet hit the floor in the morning.
Each of us has a “nut” we must make to break even each day, it’s a figure we need to meet to stay even with debt; property tax, insurance for home auto, and health, groceries, utilities, entertainment, interest on debt, repairs for the home….all of this adds up to a fixed amount that we must generate each day just to stay even….it’s the reason we all hunt, but some of us just hunt for different things in different ways. If you’re in business and must meet a payroll each week then you need to sell your product or services with on going regularity in order to make sure your payroll checks are honored at the bank. If you cannot meet that requirement you either lay people off or shut down.
There is an old saying; “it takes money to make money.” Very true in most cases but there are exceptions to every rule. Ideas make money if you can implement them, but more often than not it takes money to build prototype and introduce your idea to the market. So how do you get money? There are many ways that can be done. If you were lucky enough to win the genetic lottery; your parents and grandparent and great grandparents were industrious and worked their ass off, lived a life of frugality, had no bad habits such as gambling or drugs….then one day you come along, present your genetic ticket and presto you’re the big winner. This form of wealth is quite commonplace.
Another “fast track” to riches can be found at the alter, or if you prefer, the Justice of the Peace’s office, or the Magistrate’s office in the Country Court House. That’s right, you can marry one of the genetic gene pool winners. However there are some serious down sides to that route. Each day when the sun goes down you have to take your dog and pony show into the bedroom and preform…and if you fail to please…..well then a new pony will be auditioned in that room where the big bed is located. That’s very hard earned money.
Most of us would prefer the more traditional paths to independence, like having the inside track in the creation of an new convention center. It’s hard work but someone has to do it. How many yards of carpet do you think center that size will need? Then there’s millions in equipment related to kitchens and tile, and light fixtures and the list goes on and on, and on……… And whose paying for all of this, you are. Can we make this thing work where other cities have failed? Are we special, can we draw big names to the stage were there is lacking population? How many people watch hockey besides the parents of the players…and maybe the grand parents? How much will the public pay for pop and a hot dog? Same as at Yankee Stadium? I doubt that and so do you. Are we then or are we not, stewards of our own destiny? If you vote then it’s you who actually run this city, it is your vote that decides who sits at the council table, who becomes mayor. Every now and then someone like the Beer Drinker or Turncoat slip through, it just means a lot of you were not paying attention. As long as we keep a close eye on these mistakes there isn’t much they can get away with….but don’t let it happen again.
In the end I have found it isn’t really how much money you make, but rather how much you get to keep, and in this case I think the people living here should just keep the money they’ve got now……..
Peter J. Children
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