The LuLac Edition #2125, July 14th, 2012
WHY THERE’S HOME RULE
In case you are wondering why there is Home Rule in Luzerne County, you only need look to the recent incident involving Carolee Medico Olenginski and County Manager Bob Lawton to figure that one out. As is his custom, Lawton took a stroll to the Prothonotary’s office one day and found that the duly elected, salaried head of the office was at church. Her deputy was on vacation. Apparently the support staff could not answer any questions for the County Manager to his satisfaction and he walked back out. Allegedly he said, to himself, “I guess the office can run itself”. Hey, I’ve been saying that about county offices as well as private business concerns for years. But apparently Carolee took exception to the Lawton’s comments, obviously relayed to her by some busybody in the office wishing to curry favor with the sometimes volatile Medico Olenginski. Typically, she lashed out at Lawton for having the temerity to drop by during regular business hours and threw one of her famous public tantrums accusing the taciturn manager of picking on her. This is why the voters voted for Home Rule and the abolishment of row offices. By voting for the new form of government, voters said enough to the individual little fiefdoms that have been run by elected politicians who say they answer only to the people. Yeah, the people who celebrate their mediocrity and don’t call them on running their office like a professional. Unless it was a funeral of a close relative or friend, Medico Olenginski belonged in that office and not in church that day. Much to his discomfort and to the Prothonotary’s chagrin, I think J.C. would side with Lawton on this one.HISTORY FOR THEM
During this week, Sony and the Neilson ratings people released a survey that polled adults under the age of 45 about the top news stories that were broadcast on TV. Here’s what made some of the top 20, Attack on the World Trade Center, the Challenger Explosion, the Obama acceptance speech in Denver in 2008, Princess Diana’s funeral, Hurricane Katrina and the death of Whitney Houston. The JFK assassination and 4 day wake that essentially changed the way that news was covered in this country? Number 15. What didn’t make it was the Moon Landing, perhaps the greatest achievement in human kind. This poll only proves that most young people today have no historical frame of reference. Talk to any young person today and they can’t and won’t delve into the past. Most will tell you, as I was told the other day by three different twenty somethings, “I don’t like history, I’m not sure why I need to know any of it”. This type of attitude politically is going to hurt President Obama this year. A large number of the youth who voted for him in ’08 have moved onto to other things. He cannot count on them as a voting bloc that will be reliable. Perhaps the most telling thing on the list is Whitney Houston. I wasn’t surprised by the fact that the Beatles didn’t make the list but I was rather surprised that the death of Michael Jackson, which happened just three years ago was not even mentioned. The King of Pop was out of sight and out of mind because his passing was old news. Just like most everything else that is broadcast today. In one ear and out the other.50 YEARS AGO
For those interested in history, fifty years ago this week, telecommunications was changed forever when the Tel Star satellite was launched. Tel Star gave us the ability to broadcast news from one continent to another. It was the first of communication vehicles that have made everything we do electronically possible today. And they even did a song about it.
posted by David Yonki @ 12:46 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Yonk. I love your blog but you continue to blast young people. Ask most people in your generation the same question during your younger years and they would have mentioned things during their lifetime. It's human nature. They would not be talking about the battle of Gettysburg or events during world war I. Our younger folks are not as bad as you make us out to be just as the good ole days were not as good as you remember!! I agree we have become an attention deficit society which is not good. However most of our young people are good people who work hard and are trying to make their way in a world that is more globalized and insecure. The jobs that supported your families and provided benefits and pensions are for the most part not available to us and our families. We are all in this together. I think you need a night out with some hard working young folks instead of reading about the minority who make the news!!! Keep blogging!!!!
Students, I realize that the classroom is half empty this afternoon, but I have made a solid commitment--a word very few of you slackers understand--to keep to my schedule. Even if half of the class is getting trashed at the local water hole across the street.
The business of this classroom goes forward.....
Students,
Of all the papers he has ever presented to me in this classroom, Mr. Yonki has never impressed me more than today. His reflections on your generation are straight on the mark. Particularly gratifying to me personally is his prediction that the youth vote will be nil for the President this year. Follow my past lectures from four years ago delivered at the height of the primary fight between Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton (check out 2008 editions of Gort 42). They mirror exactly what Mr. Yonki has stated about the fickle nature of todays youth. I think at least one student in this class has been doing his research. Congratulations young man! If it were possible I would give you a grade beyond A+, however this is as far as I can go. Good work!
Now, regarding the Bain Capital controversy...this is a load of hogwash. It is quite obvious that the Obama campaign is grasping at straws here. Never in the history of Presidential campaigns of the modern age have I seen such misrepresentation of a major party candidate. This illuminates the desperation of the Democrats. FOr if you cannot run on your record, try to distort your opponents with falsities. Shameful.
I can only hope that Gov. Romney stands up to these attacks with vigor and immediacy. So far, not so good. He needs to get on the ball. Even I give him a failing grade so far. And like him or not, I have to give the President his due in being a ferocious campaigner. This, of course, does not bode well for his character, but desperate people usually show their true colours.
In the end, I believe,however that the good Governor will prevail. Debates are a wonderful thing and there is nothing the President will be able to say or do when the Governor delivers the truthful charges in his presence. After all, one cannot defend such a dismal record.
Come election day good hard working men/women will line up at their various polling places and pull the liver for Willard Mitt Romney, from sea to shining sea. Whilst your generation will be sleeping off the shots and beers, ecstasy, and cocaine from the night before. As I said four years ago, "Young people are fickle, at best."
Something to think about this cloudy afternoon.....
Class Dismissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IN RESPONSE
Yonk. I love your blog but you continue to blast young people. Ask most people in your generation the same question during your younger years and they would have mentioned things during their lifetime. It's human nature. They would not be talking about the battle of Gettysburg or events during world war I. Our younger folks are not as bad as you make us out to be just as the good ole days were not as good as you remember!!
THERE ARE DEDICATED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTO POLITICS. THEY ARE INTO THE NUANCES AND KNOW A GREAT DEAL. I'VE MET MANY OF THEM AT LOCAL POLITICAL EVENTS. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CARE ABOUT THEIR X BOXES, THEIR TATTOOS AND THEIR BOOZE. I JUDGE THE TEMPER OF THE TIMES BY MY WORKPLACE. MONDAY NO ONE DISCUSSED THE MURDERS IN PLYMOUTH. THE DAY THE HEALTH CARE DECISION CAME OUT, NO ONE SPOKE OF IT. ON ELECTION DAY, NO ONE SAID A WORD ABOUT VOTING. BUT "DANCING WITH THE STARS" AND "AMERICAN IDOL", THEY CAN GIVE YOU CHAPTER AND VERSE. I BET IF I WENT OUT WITH A GROUP OF YOUR FRIENDS......YOU'D FIND THAT YOU ARE THE MINORITY IN YOUR OWN AGE GROUP.
Yonk - I wonder, as I wrote a few months back, that Carolee and Steve Urban talked themselves right out of a job?
Joe
The Prof pontificates on and on and displays a great disdain for all young people and you all attack Yonki for being anti young?!
Geez.Dag Nabbit! Young 'Uns just 'taint as respectful as they usta' be and thats a fact, folks. Yessiree. A fact.
Pops DeLaney
Yonk, you and Joe V are all wet. Lawton was dead wrong in making that comment. First of all, keep in mind that Carolee lays no part in county government and works as a volunteer. Her job was eliminated as was her authority. It is not her fault that Home Rule passed, it was the mindless apes such as yourself who pushed it. The baby went out with the bath water and you need to accept your share of the blame that it passed. There was no one in charge because there is only one manager and he is certainly entitled to a vacation. Keep in mind that Carolee has no authority, her position was eliminated. Why are there no managers on the county payroll? Because Pribula left the cost of them out of the budget and don't blame his oversight on the Council. All he needed to do was lay the correct budget on the table and tell them to Sh*t or get off the pot. This Home Rule is going to cost lots of money to operate and that means taxes. Oh, I forgot, lets just fire people and that will make up for it. Well my friend, consider the cost of 7 mangers making in the area of $70,000 each and then consider how many $20,000 a year jobs must go to fund those 7. Remember, the senior employees make the highest pay while the least senior earn the beginning salaries. The people didn't vote for Home Rule because of Carolee or Urban. Fact is that Urban was reelected to the Council and was the first turn coast who switched parties to get elected and he was high vote getter. No, the people voted for Home Rule because they continue to be stupid at the voting place and they are influenced by people such as yourself who are filled with anger at your own failure to have a political job. Look what Home Rule has done for Luzerne County. The Council hires only two people and they went out of town for both of them. The woman doing the Council's clerk position has county government experience and was doing the job for over 6 months and if she were doing a bad job, why wasn't she fired long ago? No, that ship of fools went to Scranton and hired a 24 year old with a resume that closely resembles that of Lawton. Too many jobs in too few years. But the Scranton resident was the most qualified? You sir make me sick! I urge you to turn your blog over to Mrs. LuLac, she obviously has a handle on common sense and doesn't hate county workers.
I noticed that Yonki is a genius
and an excellent writer according to the Professor only when he is in agreement with the Professor.
Prof you've about worn it out. Your act is pompous and very boring. Pretend youre somebody else for awhile will ya?
the Dean
IN RESPONSE
Why are there no managers on the county payroll? Because Pribula left the cost of them out of the budget and don't blame his oversight on the Council.
YOU CAN"T BLAME THIS ON THE COUNCIL OR PRIBULA. THE NEW MANAGER HAS THE REINS NOW AND YOU FIND THE MONEY THIS WAY. ONCE THE DEPARTMENTS ARE CONSOLIDATED BASED ON THE NEW ORGANIZATION CHART EXCESS MANAGEMENT CAN BE ELIMINATED RESULTING IN ENOUGH DOLLARS TO FILL THESE POSITIONS EITHER FROM WITHIN OR WITH NEW BLOOD. SIMPLY PUT, IF YOU BUDGETED A HIGH PRICED VACATION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU NEED A CAR YOU SIMPLY SWAP ONE FOR THE OTHER. WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE THIS SO HARD????? AND WHY AREN'T YOU CALLING OUT LAWTON FOR NOT MOVING ON THIS?
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