20080411
Late April Watch - Click!
Sometime in late April, it always seems to happen. Something terrible that the media will spin their "Lets remember what happen last year" just in time for more "An Heroism".Hopefully that will not not happen this year. Next year on the other hand will be something different being the 10 year anniversary of The Media's Kneejerk Reaction.
But since alot of bad things often occur around this time of year, I predict that this year it won't be some student with a chip on his shoulder.
Fifteen years ago, the flood of 1993 flooded out much of the St. Louis Area, including my grandparents' farm. But the City of St. Charles, Missouri could likely learn a hard lesson in the part of St. Charles County that is built on a floodplan called New Town.
St. Charles clames that they have build levees to prevent flooding like in 1993 or even 1995. But this is a lie. And with river gagues in Grafton, Illinois, Alton, Illinois, and St. Charles, Missouri set to crest next week above flood stage, is St. Charles willing to bet the house on it?
The Meramec River in South St. Louis County has swallowed Interstate 44 atleast once this year. Given the amount of preciptation that may be in store for us, this is a flood year for the St. Louis Area.
I don't know if it was the construction workers or nature, but the Discovery Bridge (the Highway 370 bridge in North St. Louis County) has moved atleast a foot downstream the Missouri River over those many years. (It may have been the construction workers who made a mistake, but reguardless, the Missouri river has a strong current.) If the rivers flow over their banks there will be nothing lefter but the concrete foundation. It is like a slow moving explosion. There once was a house next to the bridge and the '93 flood swept it away.
Let this be a warning to the people of New Town. You are in danger. Even if it does not flood, flood insurance should be a must have.
Turn around! Don't Drown!
Labels: missouri, stlouis, thevirus, weather
posted by Bushido Hacks 4/11/2008 11:33:00 PM (0) comments top
20080315
Get to know your Elected Officials - Click!
You don't need to go to Washington, DC or your state capital to get to know your elected officials. What you should know is who your elected representatives are.I recently took a trip to my state capital of Jefferson City, Missouri, to support a group that helps people with head injuries as well as physical and mental disabilities.
The trip rekindled my interest in being involved with state and local politics, as it is at that level individuals have the best opporitunity to have a voice in government. It is also at this level where elected officials understand the issues that are important in your community, not just the issues that are important to a small group of men in a smoke filled room.
Every state seems to have a small little clique of upper brass state officials. It is usually composed of people who are in the greatest position of power or part of a family has had a history of wealth or strong relationships with corporate leaders. At the federal level, it is pretty obvious. At state level not as much. The further down the ladder, at regional district, county, and municipal levels, the greater chance there is for individuals to contact and make friends with their elected officials. The highest level of communication should be at municipal ward or municipal district level. But then you have cities with about 50,000 people where all they do is meet up every other Tuesday and say "I" to whatever proposal the mayor thinks is a good idea making the meetings feel scripted or predetermined.
So the best idea would probably be to get to know who your elected officals are.
Labels: foia, government, missouri, politics
posted by Bushido Hacks 3/15/2008 12:22:00 PM (0) comments top
