Straight from the Mike…Maybe It’s Just Me

Now that 2024 is upon us, it appears to me that a reality check is necessary, sooner, not later. For me, the tea leaves tell me that we are being inundated, flooded by examples of duplicity, doublespeak and obfuscation, that is causing a rise in social frustration that breeds apathy.

On the political front for me, the angst and uneasiness being expressed by some state and local representatives over the judge’s redistricting decision on the new maps that redrew certain district and congressional maps continues to be an anomaly for me. I have yet to understand the benefits of carving out a minority district.

You can say I’m out of touch, but I fail to see where the color of a candidate or an elected official had much relationship to the promise or competence of service to the voters in the district. I believe in competence, leadership and vision over trump’s skin color any day.

As a congressional candidate a time or two, I campaigned on the concerns and my vision for the district. I could feel the need and see the hopefulness in the eyes of the voters. Add that to the fact that with each minority congressional district carved out, the surrounding majority districts gain in strength. I have the belief that the motivation of our historical leaders, two of which we will honor later this month and next, had as their legacy, and the organizations that they were a part of, founded or help grow, the belief and desire that those that followed in their path would learn to think for themselves, not just become hapless members of the victimhood clan.

On the education front, I hear the hue and cry regarding how our children are behind and the pandemic reeked havoc with their education. Yet, I have not seen very much on the progressive front to help our children get caught up. Surprisingly, I recently suggested the idea of utilizing our, otherwise, closed schools for Saturday learning, albeit for a portion of the day. I know that some Korean parents gathered at the now Betty Gray School near me on Saturdays for several years with their kids. It does not take a PhD to figure out that if you are behind, you are not likely to catch up continuing at the same pace, or doing the same things you did before the delta occurred.

One of the joys of Track and Field events, especially with the Summer Olympics approaching, is how a good runner can be behind on the curve, but usually catches the opponent on the straight away and on to the tape. The recent statistics published by the Governor’s Literacy Council chaired by a gentleman and friend, Scott Johnson, clearly suggests that the time is now to hit that straight away. A whopping 56% of third grade students are not ready for the next grade. Only 32% of our students are proficient at reading, according to the National Association of Education Progress.

On the transit front, I sure would have thought that GDOT would have made a more concentrated effort to repair the abundance of potholes and concrete breakage in our

major highways and streets. The new adaptations sound nice but we should not forget that Americans love their cars. We deal with the roadways almost daily. There are some potholes that have been in place for so long, I just adjust my driving path in advance to avoid that normal thug. Why would we want to subject ourselves to a 30-year tax for transportation that proposes putting even heavier vehicles on the major thoroughfares to go along with the already heavy EVs? 

By the way, if you try to call GDOT to report a road hazard, be prepared to provide the mile marker as well. It seems to me a patrol team would constantly be on the lookout for road hazards. 30 years may work rather well for home mortgages. If you find a better deal along the way, you adjust things. With the MSPLOST, if it passes, you are simply straight jacked for the full period.

As we move forward into 2024, let us all strive to be better, more engaged citizens, better stewards of the environment, and inquisitors on taxes and expenses that merit review and public discussions. Speaking of which, a recent letter to the Editor suggested the selling of Truist Park to the Braves. After all, the original deal came about without a referendum and limited public discussion with our elected officials. It was done, in political terms, with the quick gavel down. I have not found many rapid public decisions to stand the test of time. A review of viable options, for the benefit of the taxpayer, sure makes for good government to me.

I am Michael Murphy…