We have reached an all-time low when we are inundated with commercials featuring talking mucous, the Pepto-Bismol dancers, and erectile dysfunction products. It prompts even this staunch anti-smoking activist to wish (just a little) to bring back cigarette commercials. If that weren’t enough, we have a record number of presidential candidates spending money like there’s no tomorrow, money that could be put to much better use; and using much of it to tell us why their opponents are the scum of the earth. Can new TV series shock us any more? How about a show called Californication? Where are Fred Astaire and Doris Day when you need them? I’m thinking of getting rid of television service and subscribing to Netflix to watch the old movies from kinder, gentler days, or at least gentler to our viewing sensibilities. Isn’t it time to say enough is enough?
Writing Archive
The Power of Letter Writing
One way to exert our activism is to write letters to the editor. Most people love to read these, especially if they agree with them. Then they write in, supporting your letter, and it snowballs. Hopefully, at some point, the paper sees the weight of the sentiment on the issue and decides to do a story on it. Then legislators seeking re-election see that story and decide to jump on the bandwagon. Pretty soon, change happens!
At least that’s the way it should work. But it all starts with the letter, which I think should be logical, well-organized, and clearly state your position in a way that isn’t a rant, or doesn’t assassinate someone’s character. Otherwise, you are dismissed and nothing happens. I’m on a letter-writing jag: highway projects, negative campaign ads, senior activism. Here’s my latest. Doesn’t this make sense to you?
Dear Missouri Department of Transportation:
Well, it appears we’ve lost a vital opportunity to decrease traffic from West County into the City. As most people suspect, we West Countians love our cars, and we’ve never had light rail as an alternative, so we don’t know what we’re missing. With the current plan, we probably never will.
Had this project been planned correctly, this is what could have happened:
- First, we build MetroLink out into the county.
- When that is finished, we tear up highway 40, with everyone knowing it’s a multi-year project. Therefore, we create pain.
- People start trying out MetroLink to avoid the pain. They find out the commute to work is a lot less stressful and they can actually accomplish things on the train. They build a comfort level with mass transit, surrounded by their compatriots. They have more money to spend on things other than their gas-guzzlers.
- Highway 40 is finished and a good number of those people continue to use MetroLink because it works for them. MetroLink makes money, we have less congestion and pollution, and everyone is happy.
What is going to happen instead:
- We tear up the highway, creating pain. There is no alternative to that pain.
- The highway is finally finished and pain in relieved.
- MetroLink is built and no one wants to forsake his SUV and independence to take the train.
- MetroLink loses money; pollution increases, and we have accomplished nothing.
Why was this so hard to figure out?
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