Planning To Succeed

It is understood that St. Senator Avella's proposed scratch off lottery that would fuel community grant funds is a means to support grassroot and nonprofit program objectives where Member Items had done so. It is clear Avella's proposal is in response to Governors Patterson and Cuomo's cessation of State Member Items.

The Member Items gave the nonprofit community a place to request funding on an annual basis, though of a smaller amount than the multi-year contracts, typical of state agency awards. Multi-year contracts closeout losers of the RFP process from agency funding for three to five years or even longer. Further, the award winners have years to develop relationships with agency employees. The sweetheart deals feared from Member Items exists with public agencies.

The Member Items gave unincorporated grassroot groups a chance to get funding for such activities as community gardens, intergenerational programs, special community events, and other small scale civic projects. These awards were contingent on the grassroot groups having a fiscal conduit, usually a community-based nonprofit. Public agencies tend to enter into contracts with either higher education institutions, groups with 501-c-3 determinations, or established businesses. Grassroot groups are ineligible for public agency awards. For these reasons and more, the state legislature had to bring home the groceries to their districts.

The State Senator's proposal will need to go through the usual vetting that occurs in NYS Senate and Assembly committees as well as public hearings. The legislature is in recess now and is due to resume December 2012/January 2013. Questions that need answering are why did so many years go by where Member Items were awarded to political associates and family members without correction? Was it necessary to discontinue Member Items altogether if that was the issue?

I concur that "Flexible funding for a broad range of nonprofits is a good idea." However, transactions done by agency administrators AND politicians require close monitoring. Agency administrators may have biases for or against eligible fund-seeking entities. All humans have flaws.

The Presidential Debates ought to draw out what a US Presidential candidate plans to do for the nation.  The moderator ought to keep the speakers to their times and pose thought-provoking and challenging questions.  Last night's debate was a gentlemen's beauty pageant.  The commentators liked the fact that Mitt Romney can keep a smile on his face.  While looking pleasant and being steady are great social skills, we need a President that isn't simply fluff or "a devil in a blue dress".

Though I honor national leaders, President Ronald Reagan is a fluff case in point.  Was he really The Great Communicator? Remember Reagan did say catsup was a vegetable and used unmarked charts to depict economic trends.  He was an average actor that used those skills to be the leader of the "free world."  Trouble was with his pleasant voice, pleasant smile, and joking, Ronald Reagan suffered with dementia while in office.  Americans must look more deeply into politics if we don't want adled or less than competent persons living in the White House.

My observations of President Obama's behavior are that he seemed tired and seemed preoccupied with a matter.  Of course, it's just my perception.  It was the first time that I saw his "play face."  It didn't surprise me that he and Michelle left the stage after greeting the Romney family.  If circumstances were such that the President had the liberty to wave and shake hands with the audience as he has done before, he would have done so last night.  I believe he left the way he did because he had to get back to work.  Our President did say that the security of the nation is on his mind daily.  His serious face, broken up by occasional very bright smiles, seemed pensive.

Like many Presidents before him, the position has taxed him as seen in the deeper creases around his mouth.  Barack Obama is no longer an Illinois State elected official or the US Senator from Illinois, he's Mr. President who's dealing with a Republican legislature that would rather let the nation run into the boulders than pass his decisions.  To agree, to collaborate would mean he ought to be respected.  It's like the old adage, "You'd cut off your nose to spite your face."  In this case, news commentators were vexing their nose.  The debate's seriousness was  trivialized by their statements as well as the Tweets from the cyber peanut gallery.

Romney stated he's been in business for 25 years.  That means he has business leaders as friends.  These friends may have lobbyists on Capitol Hill.  If Romney--Massachusetts- -Governor-self-proclaimed-business-executive--was to assume US Presidential responsibilities, one need only look at the wages and salaries paid at the Sports Authority and Staples stores to guess what life and income would be for the US citizenry.

Our President compared himself to President Abraham Lincoln (another man of African ancestry, though this fact is omitted from history books) who faced stiff opposition to his policies that are know hallmarks of our democratic republic.  Lincoln faced treasonous business and political leaders that were willing to sink the nation, rather than recognize the humanity of the Earth's first civilized, technologically-advanced people and peacefully end chattel slavery. President Obama experienced the downgrading of the US credit rating because Standard & Poors, "...changed our assumption on [revenue] because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measures that would raise revenues." These sons of Illinois have much in common.

Hopefully, President Obama will get a steam bath, massage, and a good night's rest the night before the next debate.  If the Presidential Debates are simply performances, then his intellect and power of speech won't cut it.  Obama will be rated on his tie, his smile, how long he looks at Romney, and his use of the right sound bites to stir emotions.  In the world of politics it's pretty looks and smiles.  So, let the beauty pageant continue.