Granted, he's talking about national issues and the presidential race and, while I take issue with application of the point to the current presidential administration, I must agree that his position/opinion is certainly applicable to our city and county.
"People resist significant change. In Pittsburgh, we have voted slate after slate of Democrats into office since the 1930s as the city sank from the pre-eminent, wealthy position it had in the nation to the current, sad spot of the fifth poorest of America's larger cities. It is remarkable that the clear evidence that this city's leadership for 70 years has not been able to reverse our slide has not led to a change in political leadership.
That is not to say that the Republicans have put forward an inspired plan.
But continuing to take the same action in the hope that the next time it will have a different outcome is comparable to the theory that chickens peck the ground because they think this is what causes the yard to be scattered with feed."
The sad part is that such an opinion hasn't been targeted to our local elected officials, even when the situations are the same. I don't follow Pittsburgh politics, so I don't know if their paper has endorsed a complete change of political leadership. I know The Blade hasn't done so - although on occasion they seem to think that changing the faces, bringing in 'fresh, new, young' people equates to a change in political philosophy.
My hope is that voters will eventually realize what so many of us already know: that doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results, is perpetuating the problem - not solving it.
3 comments:
Maggie,
IMNHO, Blade editor & words of wisdom is an oxymoron...
"My hope is that voters will eventually realize what so many of us already know: that doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results, is perpetuating the problem - not solving it."
I think that as soon as known successful business leaders decide to serve our local government, things might change.
People just might vote for people of accomplishment, outside of elected office, if presented with the opportunity to...
I would not believe it had I not seen it. I only read Mr. Simpson's collumns if my supply of Tums is vast and reachable.
I wonder if JRB approves of his slam against Pittsburg "D's?" We can now call Toledo and Pittsburg the "twin cities." We have one river...they have three. Other than that, our histories are pretty much the same...and not very positive under Democrat leadership for decades.
Perhaps a trip to the woodshed is in Mr. Simpson's future?
Also,Pittsburg not only leads us in rivers...but in newspapers as well...2 to 1....wish we had 2.
We also have to share JRB. :(
Perhaps Mr. Simpson is being influenced by the more successful upstart newspaper in the Pittsburgh area, the much more conservative Tribune Review. Perhaps having more than one voice in print in a city is one of the keys for even the possibility of changing the status quo in a community.
Perhaps the crusading journalism of the Toledo Free Press will have a similar influence on the the city of Toledo.
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