Politics is Local

Yesterday, Saturday, April 9, 2011, Rep. John Vines (D-Dist. 25) came to the Webb Center to address his constituency about the current legislature in Little Rock. Judging by the turnout, not many people were interested. Claudia Reynolds- Lablanc set the meeting up and told me she had also invited District 24's representative Cozart to attend but he politely declined saying after the treatment he received after his debate with Jerry Rephan for the position he now holds he just didn't want to be subjected to that again. It turns out, I guess, he got his feelings hurt when we weren't impressed with his lack of knowledge about the position he was seeking . John described the ongoing struggle the legislature is having with the issue of redistricting. It has to be done after every census so guess what, we get to be the lucky recipients of this year's results. He said some want to divide Garland County into 2 or more parts, putting some of it in District 4, some in District 2 or even 3 with Little Rock and Conway. The result would be our influence would be significantly reduced and we would be effectively removed from the decision making political process. He said he thought some Republicans had a good solution and then some Democrats had a good solution but dividing Garland County was not one of them. He would stand firm on keeping the county undivided.

Ginna Watson brought up the issue of keeping local taxes in the school district in which they were raised, not sent off across the state to other districts. I told them both, her and John, it was bullshit. Schools from poorer counties or districts would get the short end of the deal while the 'rich' schools got the best of what is available. I was offended by anyone, particularly a Democrat, that would bring up such an idea in the first place. It reeks of selfish, greedy, self-serving right wing Tea Party ideology.

I just wish more people were concerned about what is happening locally so that this kind of mindset would be brought to light and people could see what is keeping them down and our state from being the best that it can be by educating everyone equitably and fairly. This does not mean diluting the system so that everybody gets a mediocre education, it means that parents and the citizens of every community have a stake in all children's education. The only way to make it work is to share the burden and demand that the schools spend the money wisely and not just on sports equipment. Parents have to be involved as much as possible. They must be reassured that their child counts no matter how poor or rich. If we have a lottery to give scholarships to every child, we owe them the best foundation to utilize that money wisely and effectively.